I'd like to get this clear in my head before our game starts. First, a little background/group composition. We have a Storm Warden Librarian, Blood Angel Assault, Blood Angel Devastator, and a Dark Angel Apothecary. Now, so I'm clear, only the Blood Angels will benefit from using their Chapter specific attack and defense patterns, and only those two can enact them (providing one or the other is the Kill Team Leader) correct?

If this is the case, what is the use of having a mixed batch of Marines? Wouldn't it be better to have members of a kill team be all from the same Chapter? After all, that would open up all Attack and Defense patterns available (or, at least, you'd have access to one more attack pattern and one more defense pattern that if you had a mixed bunch of Marines.).

Illithidelderbrain said:

No, they all can benefit from their own chapter abilties. They just have to meet the conditions of being in squad mode and pay the cohesion cost. They don't need a partner of their own chapter. Remember that no marine can benefit from more than one ability during his entire turn.

Alex

You are correct in thinking that only two can trigger them.

However, neither needs to be the team leader to do so. Likewise any of the other Marines can trigger their Chapter pattern, but only they gain benefit.

Indeed you are correct: Per RAW unless someone is playing a Tactical Marine with the relevant class ability, Chapter Patterns are pretty useless in a mixed party.

I would instead consider allowing the team access to Patterns as per their oath AND to allow the team to use the patterns of the appointed team leader. That way the Chapter patterns see some more use, and the group might change team leaders from mission to mission depending on Chapter patterns (ie putting the Templar in Charge when facing demons). It's a much more fun way to play the game.

Thanks for the replies. I re-read what was written about Squad Mode and realized (after posting, of course lol) that each member can activate a pattern. For some reason I was under the impression that only the Team Leader could activate a pattern and the other members took the benefits if they were applicable. This makes a bunch more sense now

Siranui said:

That's how I did ran it so far too but I believe the official ruling (I'm speaking from memory so not 100% sure) is that a Space Marine can activate his chapter-specific abilities as long as he is in Squad Mode even if no chapter brother is nearby.

Alex

I'm too a bit curious on the effect if you house rule the team-leader to be able to make the others in the KT benefit from his chapter patterns, without being a tactical. Would really make rotating team leaders much more attractive, and change up the dynamics, I think. But you gotta change the tac's ability then too.. hmm.

BrotharTearer said:

Let anyone share a Chapter Pattern with a Fate Point and a -20 Command test (regardless of Rank). Tactical Expertise removes the need to spend a Fate Point and the Command test gets easier with Rank (as described in with Tactical Expertise).

BrotharTearer said:

You could change the tac ability... or still keep it. It means that they can share their Chapter pattern if if they're not in charge. Or...they can just take the other Tactical ability (And I'm hoping that RoB has at least one more Class ability per Class in it for us, too) and be great with bolters. The change wouldn't make the ability useless, although I'd agree that it may diminish it's use. Perhaps just ditch the -20 check penalty.