Indomitus Crusaders Warlord Trait

[Ish]

So the new Indomitus Crusaders Specialist Detachment looks like something I will probably end up using a lot with my shiny new All-Primaris Imperial Fists army. It basically makes them better at everything they already did pretty damn well to begin with... Plus, it just seems nice and fluffy. I like nice and fluffy.

But I can’t wrap my head around the Warlord Trait that the Specialist Detachment unlocks (quoted below). Although I love the idea of the tactic, it seems to me that the only real use for it is with the Ultramarines’ tactic. I can’t really see any benefit to picking any of the others... any ideas?

Grey Shield: Once per battle, at the start of your Movement phase, if your Warlord is on the battlefield you can choose for INDOMITUS CRUSADERS units in the same Detachment as your Warlord to gain an additional Chapter Tactic until the start of your next turn. Pick the additional Chapter Tactics from the following: Codex Discipline (ULTRAMARINES), Lightning Assault (WHITE SCARS), Siege Masters (IMPERIAL FISTS), Righteous Zeal (BLACK TEMPLARS), Master Artisan (SALAMANDERS), Shadow Masters (RAVEN GUARD), The Flesh is Weak (IRON HANDS). Until the start of your next turn, friendly INDOMITUS CRUSADERS units gain the benefit of that Chapter Tactic in addition to any others they already have. They are considered to have the keyword of the appripriate Chapter for purposes of resolving that Chapter Tactic.

[Sgt. Rock]

I mean, I could see it being useful. If you REALLY need to wipe out that unit in cover, you can make someone an Imperial Fist for a turn. If you want to make absolute certain that your Aggressors or Reivers get into CC, make them Black Templars. It's situational, but being able to tack on an additional trait for the duration of a turn at the right time & place could be useful.

[Ish]

Well, I am Imperial Fists to begin with... 

White Scars and Black Templars make it easier to get into mêlée, but since it only benefits Primaris Captains, Lieutenants, Ancients, Intercessors, and Inceptors, well, none of those are really units that you want to put into mêlée. 

Raven Guard or Salamanders would be nice, but the Warlord Train only works for one turn and only on units you've paid 1 CP to upgrade into Indomitus Veterans. So that really limits its utility... Might as well just use a CP to get a re-roll.

Iron Hands? Yeah, 6+ FNP just does not seem worth it. Even for the Iron Hand themselves!

[Sgt. Rock]

Ah, I didn't realize it was limited on what units you could add the keyword to. That makes it much less useful, yeah. 

[Ish]

Essentially, you have to pay 1 CP during list building to "unlock" the Specialist Detachment. This gives you access to the Warlord Trait, the Relic(s), and the Stratagems. One of the Stratagems, "Indomitus Veterans," adds +1 Ld, +1 A, and the INDOMITUS CRUSADERS keyword to one of the units, but you gotta pay 1 CP to do it per unit... And everything else in the Specialist Detachment hinges on affecting only the Indomitus Veterans units. 

It's very situational and probably not the most efficient expenditure of Command Points. But it does seem fun and fluffy. 

[SPaceORK]

They are also considered to have the keyword for that chapter, they would unlock strats from that chapter as well.

[Ish]

3 minutes ago, SPaceORK said:

They are also considered to have the keyword for that chapter, they would unlock strats from that chapter as well.

Nope, I'm afraid not. They are considered to have the keyword of the appropriate Chapter for purposes of resolving the Chapter Tactic that you choose when using the Warlord Trait and only for that purpose. GW was actually careful to word it to stop those sorts of shenanigans. 

[WestRider]

8 hours ago, Ish said:

Essentially, you have to pay 1 CP during list building to "unlock" the Specialist Detachment. This gives you access to the Warlord Trait, the Relic(s), and the Stratagems. One of the Stratagems, "Indomitus Veterans," adds +1 Ld, +1 A, and the INDOMITUS CRUSADERS keyword to one of the units, but you gotta pay 1 CP to do it per unit... And everything else in the Specialist Detachment hinges on affecting only the Indomitus Veterans units. 

It's very situational and probably not the most efficient expenditure of Command Points. But it does seem fun and fluffy. 

You're adding in one more hoop that you don't actually need to jump through. Just taking the Detachment Stratagem gives all the appropriate Units the Indomitus Crusaders Keyword. The only Keyword that the Veteran Stratagem adds is, well, Veterans.

Raven Guard could be situationally handy for a Unit that's temporarily exposed as they re-position or grab an Objective or something. It's unfortunate that Hellblasters can't benefit, but Plasma Inceptors or some Characters could benefit significantly from Salamanders, too.

[VonVilkee]

Salamanders gets you two rerolls... hit and wound so situationally good

[Ish]

@WestRider Right you are. This is what happens when you start planning how to use a new book before you actually get to read it! 

I’m starting to that that Gray Shield’ing the White Scars Chapter Tactic on a squad of Inceptors (bolter or plasma) could be pretty handy too, since they “proc” mortal wounds on the charge (6+) but aren’t otherwise all that great in mêlée... Although if you also toss the Liberators Stratagem (two for one hits when rolling 6’s) they suddenly punch well above their weight.