The Big Problem with Space Marine Balance - How Should GW Fix It?

Let's talk about space marine balance issues and what GW could potentially do to try and make things better for the core codex marines...

-- Patreon Page --
-- SubscribeStar --

-- Buy Warhammer 40K miniatures here --
These are affiliate links that also hep to support Auspex Tactics videos, though cost no extra to use.

-- Social Media --

-- Subscribe to Auspex Tactics --

0:00 Intro
0:35 The Main Problems
5:56 Advantages Core Codex Chapters Get
7:48 Option 1
8:47 Option 2
10:14 Option 3
11:37 Option 4
12:59 Option 5
14:36 More Radical Options?
18:21 Outro

[juan_]

The non symmetrical limitation for chapters is what makes the difference. Iron Hands only have Feirros and he can't be included in a Dark Angels detachment, while divergent chapters have more variety of datasheets and can use them in their own detachments and also in the core ones.

[lorenzosgarallino]

PS: you do not need broken rules on epic heroes. You just need more of them to give meaningful choices and create comboes.

[NornQueenKya]

GW: Clearly we need to release more Space Marines to balance this out

[sneedfest]

Part of the issue is a space marine doesn't feel anything like a space marine should. They're a semi-horde unit, the boltgun doesn't kill anything, their melee sucks and and they die incredibly easy.

[thefloridaman]

The obvious answer is Codex exclusive models… like upgrade sprues to allow unique weapons on units if run as “White Scars” you get to swap chain swords for spears with Lance on your Assault Intercessors, or Lightning Claw Assault Intercessors if Raven Guard, Breacher Shields on Heavy Intercessors if Imperial Fists, a Meltagun for the Intercessors Sgt if Salamanders, an upgrade to turn Bladeguard into Victrix Guards with their buffs added on top of the Blade Guard rules if Ultramarines and for Iron Hands probably a Deepstrike upgrade for the Brutalis Dread.

[liamdc]

Id make it more like the chaos ones where the divergent chapters would get access to units that make sense for the chapter but dont get everything in the standard SM codex

[josephplatt]

Here's an idea: we already have a mechanism for excluding units from divergent chapters: named characters. Bring more back from the compliant chapters. Give them pizzazz and spice.

[Rexir]

I'd say give the codex compliant chapters a bunch of unique non-epic hero options. Among the older ones gone to legends, Ultramarines' Terminus Ultra land raider is a favorite of mine.

[AbysmalFalcon]

If only they printed a separate codex for divergent chapters, they could put different point totals for balancing problematic unit combos without affecting the normal space

[MattTrussell]

They already had something for this in previous versions. Just bring back Chapter Traits and don't allow the divergent codices to use that rule. You either get the traits or the expanded

You could also have a highly customizable "Chapter Legend" datasheet to let people make their own hero of the chapter, and disallow that datasheet in any chapter that already have specific units. This would be great for bringing back all those forge world heroes they culled, and letting people have something unique if they actually want to play a chapter of their own instead of the famous ones.

[Aguycalledomar]

My hot take, if the primaris are gonna replace all the first born units. At least give them many war gear options like the older editions. I'm down for Captain and Librarian on bike with Thunder Hammers. Hell give the Outriders Plasma, Grav and more melee options.

[giantnanomachine]

1. no more Codex:SM detachments for divergent chapters
2. different points costs for Codex:SM units in divergent chapter armies

[kingdragune]

I really like the idea of option 4, gives people more reason to run the appropriate detachment for there units and would be a nice buff idea for lesser used detachments.

[chaindler]

For every normal player, everything in power armour is Space Marines, regardless of the chapter or codex. And from this POV, they are one of the strongest faction in the game. No need for fixes.

[jackfrozr]

They should make new units by releasing upgrade sprues for existing models, like hounds of morkai.
- Heavy Intercessors gets a (thunder hammer/bolt rifle) and shield for fists, and call it Huskarls.
- Outriders gets a new power weapon for White scars, so now scars can actually bring 6 unit of bikes, yey bike.
- Give Salamanders a big effing flamers on their dreadnoughts.
- Raven guards gets a new reiver that is not only playable, but actually good.
- Iron Hands gets new cybernetic arm and plasma gun or power weapon for their heavy intercessors.

[mikemcguinness]

give them old oath; improve the detachments, vastly improve the codex epic heros, make Guilliamn ~300pts or less, implement the multiple points that imperial agents, where things that are over powered in the non codex compliant armies are more expensive than their regular codes counterparts.

[ChristopherFreitas-le]

Every main space marine chapter in the game right now should be it's own entity.. make them all divergent. Give them their flavor back

[ffckinga]

The most obvious for me: add just one unit for every chapter, which already exist in the codex but with chapter keywords
For example, "Khan's outriders" with +1 damage and lance on a charge for the good points with the keyword "White Scars"

[ShadowLordDurant]

How about stop sunsetting models for those of us who can't afford to replace our army?

[Paradukes]

I like the idea of boosting core detachments if you aren't using units from outside them; right now SM players are basically being forced to take epic heroes, making custom chapters utterly uncompetitive, and merely saying you _can_ use epic heroes but don't have to would be beneficial. However, if we do get a fix, I think the vastly most likely one is going to be separate entries in the MFM for divergent chapters; that would at least solve the problem of the Storm Raven spiking in points due to some players using it with a Dark-Angels-specific model.