Codex - Blackstone Constructs: /tg/'s 8th Edition

In the galaxy of the 41st millennium the caretakers of the Blackstone Fortresses are more dangerous than any living race.

This page has the aim to make the security systems of a Blackstone Fortress as a playable army in a 40k game. The idea is that of an army that becomes more and more powerful as the more friendly models are destroyed.

The primary inspiration will be that of an actual immune system with all its functionality and behaviour; if anyone wants to suggest something, write it in the discussion page.

Army Rules

Universal

• Cold Machines: These constructs know no fear nor remorse and advance unyielding on the black pavement of their home.

Blackstone Constructs units automatically pass all Morale and Leadership tests and cannot be affected by special rules or stratagems that harm them based on their Leadership characteristic.

• Gradual Aggressivity: The central system of these guarding machines is programmed to crush the intruders with an ever-increasing strength that matches their threat value.

During the course of the battle, depending on the amount of friendly lost models, Blackstone Constructs units gain bonuses as per the table below (all effects are cumulative):

-<20% of points lost: nothing.

-Between 20 and 40%: You can re-roll advance and charge distances for those models.

-Between 41 and 60%: Add 1 to the models' Strength and Attacks characteristics.

-Between 61 and 80%: Add 1 to the result of hit and wound rolls for those models.

->80%: Consider the Ap and the Damage characteristic of the weapons the models are equipped with as one point better.

Detachment Rules

• Protectors of the Fortress: The drones and systems of the Blackstone Fortress have only one directive: protect the structure and its vital points at all costs.

If your army is Battle-forged, all units in Blackstone Constructs Detachments gain this ability. Such a unit that is within range of an objective marker (as specified in the mission) controls the objective marker even if there are more enemy models within range of that objective marker. If an enemy unit within range of the same objective marker has a similar ability, then the objective marker is controlled by the player who has the most models within range of it as normal.

Stratagems

• Enhanced Aggressivity (2 CP): The main network of the fortress can order a specific group of constructs to enter a state of absolute aggressivity, normally only used in dire situations.

Use this Stratagem at the start of your turn. Select one Blackstone Constructs unit from your army. Until the beginning of your next turn, consider the points cost of the number of models lost in your army as 21% higher for the purpose of that unit's Gradual Aggressivity special rule.

Warlord Traits

• 1: Marked by the Old Ones: The creatures and constructs in the black stone fortress are ancient, predating the fall of the Eldar as the fall of humanity. But even amounts these ancient machines there are those who are even older, and whose construction came directly from the hands of the old ones. Such heritage means that these systems are vastly superior to anything else in the entire galaxy, and they show it both in army management and combat.

Your Warlord with this trait always hits on a 2+, regardless of any modifiers. In addition, at the start of the battle, you gain D3 additional command points.

• 2: Vital Systems Compromised: This commanding construct possesses a deep connection with the main network of the fortress, if such link were to be destroyed, it would send the entire system in a fighting frenzy.

If your Warlord is slain, you automatically lose D3 victory points, but, in addition, consider the points cost of the number of models lost in your army as 41% higher for the purpose of the army's Gradual Aggressivity special rule. In addition,

Wargear

Melee Weapons

• Stabilizer Feet:

Weapon	Range	Type	S	AP	D	Abilities
Stabilizer Feet	Melee	Melee	User	-1	D3	Subtract 1 from the hit rolls when attacking with this weapon.

• Thermo-electric Appendages:

Weapon	Range	Type	S	AP	D	Abilities
Thermo-electric Appendages	Melee	Melee	User	-2	1	Make 2 hit rolls instead of 1 for each attack made with this weapon. Against a VEHICLE, a wound roll of 4+ inflicts D3 mortal wounds in addition to the normal damage.

Ranged Weapons

• Disgregator Cannon:

Weapon	Range	Type	S	AP	D	Abilities
Disgregator Cannon	36"	Heavy 1	9	-4	D6	An enemy unit that has to make a save roll against a wound caused by this weapon has to subtract 1 from the result. Treat damage rolls of 1, 2 or 3 made by this weapon as 4 instead.

• Drone Weaponry:

Weapon	Range	Type	S	AP	D	Abilities
Drone Laser	24"	Assault 1	5	-3	D2+1	-
Drone Pulse	18"	Pistol 1	3	0	1	-
Enhanced Drone Pulse	18"	Pistol 1	5	-2	2	-

• EMP Blaster:

Weapon	Range	Type	S	AP	D	Abilities
EMP Blaster (Close Range)	6"	Assault 2	-	-	-	Don't roll to wound for this weapon. Instead, roll a die for each attack that hits a VEHICLE. On a 3+, the target suffers D3 mortal wounds. D6 on a 5+.
EMP Blaster (Medium Range)	12"	Assault 2	-	-	-	Don't roll to wound for this weapon. Instead, roll a die for each attack that hits a VEHICLE. On a 4+, the target suffers D3 mortal wounds. D6 on a 6+.
EMP Blaster (Long Range)	18"	Assault 2	-	-	-	Don't roll to wound for this weapon. Instead, roll a die for each attack that hits a VEHICLE. On a 5+, the target suffers D3 mortal wounds. D3+1 on a 6+.

• Flamer Weapons:

Weapon	Range	Type	S	AP	D	Abilities
Flamer	8"	Assault D6	4	0	1	This weapon automatically hits its target.
Heavy Flamer	8"	Heavy D6	5	-1	1	This weapon automatically hits its target.

• Kinetic Bombarder:

Weapon	Range	Type	S	AP	D	Abilities
Kinetic Bombarder	48"	Heavy 4D3	6	-3	D3	This weapon can be fired at units that are not visible to the bearer. Units attacked by this weapon do not gain any bonus to their saving throws for being in cover and until the end of their next Movement phase its Move characteristic is halved and they cannot Advance.

• Thermic Atomizer:

Weapon	Range	Type	S	AP	D	Abilities
Thermic Atomizer (Dispersed)	8"	Pistol D6	5	-1	1	When you use this profile, this weapon automatically hits its target. This weapon can be fired even if the bearer advanced in its Movement phase.
Thermic Atomizer (Focused)	12"	Pistol 1	8	-4	D6	When you use this profile, if the target is within half range, you can re-roll the wound roll; in addition, roll two dice when inflicting damage with it and discard the lowest result.

Units

HQs

Control Drone

This unit contains 1 Control Drone (Power Rating 3).

Name	M	WS	BS	S	T	W	A	Ld	Sv
Control Drone	6"	3+	2+	5	5	4	3	10	3+

Wargear:

• Enhanced Drone Pulse

Special Rules:

• Gradual Aggressivity
• Swarm Coordinator: You can re-roll hit rolls of 1 for friendly Infantry Blackstone Constructs units within 6" of this model; 12" if it didn't move during its previous movement phase.

Keywords:

• Faction:Blackstone Constructs
• HQs, Infantry, Control Drone

Troops

Spindle Drones

This unit contains 4 Spindle Drone (Power Rating 3). It can include up to 4 more Spindle Drones (Power Rating +3) or up to 8 more Spindle Drones (Power Rating +6).

Name	M	WS	BS	S	T	W	A	Ld	Sv
Spindle Drone	6"	3+	3+	4	4	2	2	10	4+

Wargear:

• Drone Pulse

Special Rules:

• Gradual Aggressivity
• Threat Level Rising: Improve the Strength, Armour Penetration and Damage characteristics of a models drone pulse by 1 for each model in its unit that has either lost wounds or been destroyed (for example, if 2 models in a unit of Spindle Drones have been destroyed and another has lost 1 wound, the 2 remaining models’ drone pulses would have a Strength characteristic of 6, an AP characteristic of -3 and a Damage characteristic of 4), up to a maximum of +3.

Keywords:

• Faction:Blackstone Constructs
• Troops, Infantry, Spindle Drones

Elites

Shockpiercer Drones Squadron

This unit contains 1 Shockpiercer Drone (Power Rating 6). It can include up to 1 more Shockpiercer Drone (Power Rating +6) or up to 2 more Shockpiercer Drones (Power Rating +12).

Name	M	WS	BS	S	T	W	A	Ld	Sv
Shockpiercer Drone	12"	3+	3+	6	6	12	3	10	4+

Wargear:

• Thermo-electric Appendages
• Two EMP Blasters

Special Rules:

• Gradual Aggressivity
• Independent Enforcers: The first time this unit is set up on the battlefield, all of its models must be placed within 6" of at least one other model in their unit. From that point onwards, each operates independently and is treated as a separate unit.
• System Override: At the start of your Shooting phase, choose an enemy VEHICLE model within 12" of this model and roll a D6. On a 4+, choose one of that vehicle’s weapons. You may shoot with that weapon at another enemy unit. The weapon fires using the vehicle’s Ballistic Skill.

Keywords:

• Faction:Blackstone Constructs
• Elites, Vehicle, Shockpiercer Drones Squadron

Fast Attacks

Outrider Drones

This unit contains 4 Outrider Drone (Power Rating 4). It can include up to 4 more Spindle Drones (Power Rating +4) or up to 8 more Outrider Drones (Power Rating +8).

Name	M	WS	BS	S	T	W	A	Ld	Sv
Outrider Drone	12"	5+	3+	4	4	2	1	10	4+

Wargear:

• Drone Laser

Special Rules:

• Gradual Aggressivity
• Scuttering Advance: Models in this unit don't suffer penalty to their hit roll for Advancing and firing Assault weapons.

Options:

• All models in the unit may exchange their Drone Laser for one of the followings:

-Flamer - 6 pts.

Keywords:

• Faction:Blackstone Constructs
• Fast Attacks, Infantry, Outrider Drones

Heavy Supports

Suppressor Drones Squadron

This unit contains 1 Suppressor Drone (Power Rating 6). It can include up to 1 more Suppressor Drone (Power Rating +6) or up to 2 more Suppressor Drones (Power Rating +12).

Name	M	WS	BS	S	T	W	A	Ld	Sv
Suppressor Drone	*	5+	*	6	7	14	*	10	3+

Remaining W	M	BS	A
8-14+	8"	3+	3
4-7	4"	4+	D3
1-3	2"	5+	1

Wargear:

• Disgregator Cannon
• Stabilizer Feet
• Two Drone Lasers

Special Rules:

• Gradual Aggressivity
• Independent Enforcers: The first time this unit is set up on the battlefield, all of its models must be placed within 6" of at least one other model in their unit. From that point onwards, each operates independently and is treated as a separate unit.
• Weapon Platform: If this model does not move in its Movement phase, you can add 1 to its hit rolls in the following Shooting phase. If you do so, it cannot charge in the same turn.

Options:

• Any model may exchange its Disgregator Cannon for a Kinetic Bombarder - 40 pts.
• Any model may exchange it two Drone Lasers for two Heavy Flamers - 28 pts.

Keywords:

• Faction:Blackstone Constructs
• Heavy Supports, Vehicle, Suppressor Drones Squadron

Point Costs

Units

HQs

Unit	Models per unit	Points per model (weapons not included)
Control Drone	1	60

Troops

Unit	Models per unit	Points per model (weapons not included)
Spindle Drones	4-12	15

Elites

Unit	Models per unit	Points per model (weapons not included)
Shockpiercer Drones Squadron	1-3	104

Fast Attacks

Unit	Models per unit	Points per model (weapons not included)
Outrider Drones	4-12	10

Heavy Supports

Unit	Models per unit	Points per model (weapons not included)
Suppressor Drones Squadron	1-3	70

Weapons

Melee Weapons

Weapon	Points per weapon
Stabilizer Feet	free
Thermo-electric Appendages	free

Ranged Weapons

Weapon	Points per weapon
Disgregator Cannon	30 pts.
Drone Laser	10 pts.
Drone Pulse	free
EMP Blaster	8 pts.
Enhanced Drone Pulse	free