I don't like the +10 Agility that Corvus armor gives to its wearer. Mainly, because I think the reasoning behind that bonus (a smoother fit of its moving parts) should be better represented as a lessening of some previous penalty (because the armor is lighter than usual) instead of a plain bonus. After all, the Astartes Scout Armor is lighter and "smoother" than any Power Armor, and it doesn't gives any bonus to Agility!

So, in my games, I house-ruled thas the Corvur armor has no +10 Agility, and instead of that, its penalty to Concealment and Silent Move test is -20 instead of the usual -30. I know that this is a negligible advantage, but I think that it better reflects the description of the armor.

Yeah, basically I agree with you, it does seem to be a little odd.

A possible explanation for the +10 Agility could be the fact that a power armor is connected to the marine via the black carapce. That's the reason why normal power armor does not hinder the marine's movement contrary to normal humans in power armor. So when you now have a corvus power armor a marine can move even better, effectively making him more agile.

That would be a way to explain it, but your house rule also fits very well.

Nice idea, though I'd also give it +1 to initiative to balance this change a bit (not that the +10 Agility wasn't overpowered in the first place).

If it's less clunky and more like -- for example -- your own skin, maybe swap the Ag +10 for removing that fine hand/tool manipulation rule, to represent gauntlets that are more articulated and responsive.

I agree that the Silent Move and Concealment penalty should be lower, as well. Except, if I wasn't getting +10 Ag, I'd want more than a 10-point discount on two non-combat skills. Maybe remove the penalties altogether?

In my head, I see it as one of those rare examples of Mars favoring micro-circuitry and streamlining over their usual diesel-powered-train-engine-electric-toothbrush method. Think less "Iron Monger" and more "War Machine". Neither design is akin to the comfort fit of mesh, neither of them are MORE agile in a thick metal shell than they would be in gym shorts but -- in Tony Stark's designs, at least -- he was able to sneak around on the rooftop...and use his one gauntleted hand just as well as his other, ungauntleted hand.

Maybe the cogboys actually uncovered the Corvus pattern from an old STC pattern --a S tark T emplet C onstruct.

With that you would nerf it for assault marines because that +10 goes to their pilot personal rolls for their jump packs.

+10 to Agi is strong. But 1 AP less on the Body it heavy, too.

Yesterday, while rolling a new character for one of my players, I rediscovered my gripes with the Corvus armor Ag bonus. When he rolled the history for his armor (a Mark V), one of the results was that the original right leg of the armor had been replaced by a Corvus one, giving him a +5 bonus to Ag.

I failed to understand the reasoning behind how having a "lighter" leg armor could improve your chances to successfully landing after a jet pack jump or dodging an enemy attack, although images of a Space Marine constantly jumping on his right leg went through my mind.

Also, there is one reference in "Rites of Battle" about the Corvus armor having "improved bio-monitors". Have they any effect rules-wise?

Corvus grants +15 to awerness tests("auto-senses" rule) while standard aquila has +10 bonus.

If I recalled correctly the RoB also mentioned aJump Pack is part of the Corvus Armour. That seems rather... broken.

Deepstriker said:

You recall incorrectly. It just said that jump packs are often fitted to suits of Corvous Armour used by Assault Marines, there is nothing there to suggest that this is a standard practice for all suits of Corvus Armour ever produced.

Daisuke said:

Okies my bad

Umbranus said:

Agreed - I wouldn't change it. The AP reduction is a bigger deal than you may think. Look at the math: Two marines, one in Corvus & one in Aquila, both get hit in the chest by ten attacks. Each attack deals 15 wounds. This results in an extra TEN WOUNDS getting through the armor of the marine in the Mark VI armor. ( 15damage - 9AP = 6 X 10 attacks = 60 vrs.15damage -10AP = 5 X 10 attacks = 50 )I know that this is a very simplified example that ignores Toughness & such. I just wanted to point out that over time, the Corvus marine is going to take a significant amount of extra punishment due to his choice of wardrobe. Not worth it to me without a healthy bonus to balance it out. I too dislike the Artificer History table & think it's a little wonky. I'd me more inclined to "fix" that than the Corvus stats.

Had a player roll up a White Consuls Assault Marine to join my Deathwatch game yesterday. He picked Corvus armor, then rolled for tables. Got the Battle Scarred history (the one that's +10 Intimidate, -5 Charm), and then got the Artificer table. He got MAJORLY lucky and slapped an Errant chestplate on it. So... yeah. He just eliminated the only downside to beaky armor.

Gaire said:

I'm not sure without my books but wasn't there a problem with errant chestplate and the beaky Helmet?
Or was that only if you have the gorget or whatchacallit the errant normally comes with?

There is a combinations of beaky helmet and chestplate where you end up with a helmet you cant put on.

Umbranus said:

You are correct that the corvus helmet can''t go on an errant suit due to the armored gorget. Recalling the artificer table, it's JUST the chest plate, with the gorget being a seperate result on the table. So yeah, a lucky result that does effectively counter the drawback of the corvus. That being said, the history tables are there to give bonuses. He could just as easily picked up Fear (1) from the basic table or an additional boost to agility. I stand by my assertion that it's a fair trade-off, as I'm looking at the basic rules for each suit, not how they can be modified to "get around" the weakness or flaws of the different marks.

Some points have to be made.

First in my game when a player roll for Mk8 Chest plate he also get the gorgeret, don't even mind, they are melted and smithed together.

Second, i agree +10 Ag is quite a heavy bonus, but remember that this suit of armour is called corvus not because of his beak, but because of the raven guard primarch. The beak is nowaday the reasobn why the armour is called corvus, because knowledge fade.

This armour had been made for swift and agile move not to keep the line. It has been made to be perfectly fit with raven guard tactics and btw the use of jump pack. Maybe should it give less in strenght if something have to be done +15 S.