Legiones Astartes – Drop Pod
- Drop Pod 50 Points
UNIT COMPOSITION: 1 DROP POD
Drop pods are self-contained, recoverable orbital descent capsides, each designed to carry a squad of Space Marines (with modified versions fitted to carry Dreadnoughts and other gear). They are used for surprise attacks and combat drops into the midst of active war zones, with Space Marine warships showering them down like ordnance from the edge of space towards their target. Drop pods are armoured and reinforced to withstand the rigours of re-entry (and ground fire to some extent), but their only true defence is speed and unaugmented humans have little chance of surviving flight and landing within one.
| Armour | Transport Capacity | ||||||
| M | BS | Front | Side | Rear | HP | ||
| Drop Pod (⌀Use model) | |||||||
| Drop Pod (⌀Use model) | - | 2 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 10 |
WARGEAR
- Pintle Mounted combi-bolter
TRAITS
- [Allegiance]
- [Legiones Astartes]
ACCESS POINTS
- This Model has Access Points on all Facings.
Movement (M) – The Movement Characteristic is primarily used to determine how far a Model can move during the Movement Phase, with higher values denoting an ability to move further (see Moving Units). If a Model’s Movement Characteristic is reduced to 0, then the Controlling Player may not move, Rush or otherwise change the Model’s position on the Battlefield regardless of any other Rules that may affect it until its Movement is changed to a value greater than 0.
Ballistic Skill (BS) – The Ballistic Skill Characteristic is primarily used to determine a Model’s ability to make attacks during a Shooting Attack, with a higher value making it easier to succeed at attacks (see Ranged Hit Tests). If a Model’s Ballistic Skill is reduced to 0 then that Model cannot make Shooting Attacks, even if no Hit Test is required or it would have otherwise automatically succeeded due to the use of a Special Rule.
Strength (S) – The Strength Characteristic is primarily used to determine the effectiveness of Wound Tests inflicted by Melee Weapons, with a higher value making it easier to inflict wounds. If a Model’s Strength Characteristic is reduced to 0 then any Wound Tests made that would use that Characteristic or for any Melee Weapon automatically fails and no Dice are rolled for it (if the Wound Test could have triggered a variable Special Rule, then that Rule is considered to automatically fail to activate as part of the Test).
Range (R) – This Characteristic determines the maximum distance, in inches ("), at which attacks may be made with a Weapon. A Weapon with Range 0 or ‘-’ may not make attacks as part of a Shooting Attack.
Firepower (FP) – This Characteristic is used to determine how many Dice are rolled when making attacks with this Weapon. A Weapon with a Firepower Characteristic of 0 may not be used to make attacks of any kind.
Ranged Strength (RS) – This Characteristic is used only during Wound Tests or Armour Penetration Tests for attacks made using ranged Weapons. If a Weapon has a Strength Characteristic of ‘0’ or then any Wound Tests made for it automatically fail and no Dice are rolled (if the Wound Test could have triggered a variable Special Rule, then that Rule is considered to automatically fail to activate as part of the Test).
Armour Penetration (AP) – This Characteristic is used to determine if a Model Hit by attacks made with a Weapon may make an Armour Test. Like Saving Throws, lower values are more valuable for this Characteristic. When modifying the Armour Penetration Characteristic the same Rules are used as those for modifying Saving Throws.
Damage (D) – This Characteristic determines how the Wounds or Hull Points Characteristic of a Target Model that fails a Saving Throw after sustaining a wound from a Weapon is modified. A Weapon with a Damage Characteristic of 0 cannot inflict Damage on a Model, regardless of the Weapon’s other Characteristics or Special Rules.
Rules and Special Rules
The term Rule refers to any instructions that allow Players to resolve game actions as part of a Battle, covering all of the interactions between Models and Units (such as moving, Shooting and making Assaults). All of the material in the Principles of Combat, Rules of Battle and Battles in the Age of Darkness sections of this book are considered to be Rules. Special Rules modify how a Rule works, but do not present new basic game instructions, and in this book are mostly found in the Armoury of the Age of Darkness section. In all cases, Special Rules take precedence over Rules where the two present differing instructions.
Traits
Traits are a special kind of Characteristic, one which all Models have but which confers no inherent Rules or benefit on its own. Instead, Traits are used by other Special Rules and effects to target specific Models and apply benefits or penalties. The most common Traits are those for Allegiance and Faction, which are possessed by almost all Models. Allegiance requires that each Model have either the Loyalist or Traitor Trait, and most Models will gain one or more Traits based on the Army List from which they were selected.For example, a Legionary selected from the Imperial Fists Faction and selected as part of a Loyalist Army would have the Loyalist and Imperial Fists Traits. On their own these Traits have no effect on the Model’s Characteristics, Points cost or other features, but Rules that target Imperial Fists or Loyalist Models will apply their effects to the Model.
In addition to Models, Weapons can also have Traits. These are usually different to those possessed by Models, but are used for the same purposes. Weapons will commonly have Traits that define the type of Weapon it is or a specific type of usage. For example, a bolt pistol has the following Traits: Assault, Bolt. These identify which ‘family’ of Weapons it belongs to for any Rules that might only affect ‘Bolt’ Weapons and notes that it can be used for attacks where only ‘Assault’ Weapons may be used.
While they appear similar to Characteristics, it is important to note that Traits never have a ‘value’ attached to them. Furthermore, Traits cannot be modified in any way by another Special Rule or effect during a Battle, unless a Rule specifically states it affects a Trait.
The [Allegiance] Trait is used in the following Legiones Astartes datasheets:
The [Legiones Astartes] Trait is used in the following Legiones Astartes datasheets:
Army List
Datasheets collatedFaction Rules
• Wargear
Transport Capacity – This Characteristic is only used to determine how many Models may Embark upon a Model (see the Transport Rules). Most Models with the Vehicle Type will have a Transport Capacity of 0/-, which simply means that no Models may Embark upon that Model.
Armour (Front, Side, Rear) – This Characteristic will often be presented with various separate Sub-Characteristics, one for each of the Model’s Facings (see the Vehicles and Damage). Each of these Sub-Characteristics is used to determine the effect of a Model’s armour and how hard it is to defeat. When any Armour Sub-Characteristic reaches 0, then any Hit on that facing will result in an automatic Penetrating Hit without any Dice being rolled (if the Hit could have triggered a variable Special Rule, then that Rule is considered to automatically activate as part of the Hit).
Hull Points (HP) – The Hull Points Characteristic is primarily used to determine a Model with the Vehicle Type’s capacity for receiving damage during a Battle, with a higher value allowing a Model to sustain more damage before it is removed from play. When a Model’s Hull Points Characteristic is reduced to 0 that Model is removed from play as a Casualty, see the Rules for Destroyed Vehicles here.
Defensive Weapons – All Weapons on a Model with the Vehicle Type that have a Strength Characteristic of 6 or less are Defensive Weapons. Other Weapons may also be specifically designated as Defensive Weapons on their profile. When a Player chooses to have a Model with the Vehicle Type attack multiple different Units in the same Shooting Phase, Defensive Weapons do not have to make their attacks as Snap Shots.
Pintle Mounted – Pintle Mounted Weapons may attack targets in any Firing Arc without restriction, and are always counted as Defensive Weapons and as having the Assault Trait regardless of the Weapon’s Characteristics.
Transport
From armoured transports, to fleet orbital shuttles and even more esoteric modes of travel, mounting infantry atop faster moving transports is an ancient tactic. The best transports offer a safe haven for fragile infantry as well as a means to traverse even the most difficult terrain at speed.
All Models with the Transport Sub-Type are bound by a set of Rules regarding how they operate:- All Models with the Transport Sub-Type have a Transport Capacity Characteristic, which determines the maximum number of Models that can Embark upon it - one Model per point of Transport Capacity, unless another Rule states otherwise.
- Only Models with the Infantry or Paragon Type may Embark or Disembark upon a Model with the Transport Sub-Type.
- A Unit may only Embark on a Model with the Transport Sub-Type if all Models in the Embarking Unit have the same Faction as the Model with the Transport Sub-Type.
- A Model with the Transport Sub-Type may only have a single Unit Embarked upon it at any one time (Models with the Specialist Sub-Type, Command Sub-Type or Paragon Type that have joined a Unit are considered part of that Unit and may Embark alongside it).
- A Unit may not be partially Embarked on a Model with the Transport Sub-Type - either all Models or no Models in a Unit may be Embarked on a given Model.
- If a Model with the Transport Sub-Type has a Unit Embarked upon it, the Embarked Unit is not considered part of the same Unit. The two remain separate Units for all purposes.
Light Transport
Some transports are made to carry a lighter cargo, and the bulkiest of troops cannot make use of them in combat.
Models with this Special Rule cannot carry Models with the Bulky (X) Special Rule.Models that have any variant of the Bulky (X) Special Rule may not Embark on a Model that has this Special Rule.
Access Points
Each Model with the Transport Sub-Type will have a number of Access Points defined in its entry. These are the doors, ramps and hatches that passengers use to get in and out of the Vehicle. All Access Points are defined as being within a specific Facing, corresponding to one of the four Armour Facings that most Models with the Vehicle Type have - for example, a Rhino has one Rear Access Point, and Access Points on both Side Facings. An Access Point must be physically represented on the noted Armour Facing, and when Models are Embarking or Disembarking using that Access Point they count all points on that Armour Facing as an Access Point. Where a Model has two Side Access Points, this indicates one Access Point on each Side Facing. If a Model has an Access Point on only one Side Facing, then this will be noted as Side (Left) Access Point or Side (Right) Access Point to indicate which Facing the Access Point is present on.
Models that do not have the Vehicle Type but that do have the Transport Sub-Type and a Base, count the entirety of the edge of their Base as an Access Point, regardless of the facing of any Access Points they have. Likewise, Models with the Flyer Sub-Type that are mounted on Flying Bases also count the entirety of the edge of their Base as an Access Point.
If any Models in the Embarking Unit are more than 2" from a Facing on the Transport Model that has an Access Point, then no Models can Embark and the Unit remains in play. If all Models in the Embarking Unit are within 2" of a Facing on the Model with the Transport Sub-Type that has an Access Point, then all Models in the Unit are removed from the Battlefield. Players may find it useful to mark or otherwise note which Unit has Embarked on which Model with the Transport Sub-Type and this information should be declared to all Players.Models that do not have the Vehicle Type but that do have the Transport Sub-Type and a Base, count the entirety of the edge of their Base as an Access Point, regardless of the facing of any Access Points they have. Likewise, Models with the Flyer Sub-Type that are mounted on Flying Bases also count the entirety of the edge of their Base as an Access Point.
The entire process of Embarkation is resolved during the activation of the Embarking Unit during the Move SubPhase, and as such does not interfere with the activation and movement of the Model the Unit Embarks on. A Model may have Units Embark on it after it has been activated and moved, and also may be activated (if it has not already been activated) and then moved during the Move Sub-Phase after another Unit has Embarked on it.
Combi-bolter
| Ranged Weapon | |||||||
Ranged Weapon | R | FP | RS | AP | D | Special Rules | Traits |
| Combi-bolter | |||||||
| Combi-bolter | 24 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 1 | - | Bolt |
Impact Reactive Doors
Many drop pods have doors or hatches designed to release via explosive bolts upon landing, either allowing their passengers to disembark as swiftly as possible or for built-in weaponry to be unleashed upon nearby foes.
A Model with this Special Rule must be deployed with its doors open.When a Model with this Special Rule is Deployed, any doors on the Model must be opened to their full extent. Any Unit Embarked upon a Model with this Special Rule must Disembark in the Move Sub-Phase immediately following the Reserves Sub-Phase in which it was Deployed. Any Model that cannot Disembark from the Model with this Special Rule in that Move Sub-Phase is Removed as a Casualty.
Furthermore, once a Unit has Disembarked from a Model with this Special Rule, no Models may Embark upon that Model with this Special Rule for the duration of the Battle.
Ranges or Line of Sight from this Model must be measured from the central hull, including for Disembarkation. The doors are ignored for all purposes.
Orbital Assault Vehicle
Drop pods and other dedicated orbital assault vehicles are intended for one purpose only - to deliver warriors and equipment from orbiting spacecraft to battlefields on a planet’s surface. Once deployed they play little further part in the battle, serving only to support the onslaught of their passengers.
A Model with this Special Rule must Deep Strike.A Model with this Special Rule must be Deployed onto the Battlefield using the Deep Strike Special Rule and is treated as though it has that Special Rule. It may never be deployed without using the Deep Strike Special Rule, regardless of any other Rule or Mission, and if forced to do so it is immediately reduced to 0 Hull Points.
This datasheet has Transport Battlefield Role. Full list of Legiones Astartes units sharing same Battlefield Role follows: