Template Templars

Space Marines Tau

Bonus short story below for extra fluff

The negotiations were tense. The Black Templar crusaders had arrived on the planet a few days ago, alerted by its inhabitants that an enemy raid, rumoured to be aided by some locals, was underway at a munitions store, and was threatening the safety of a sacred relic stored in a nearby chapel. The Space Marines had secured the relic and now turned their attention to the raiders. Unfortunately, by this time, the raiders had managed to steal a sizeable cache of Imperial weapons and had cowardly retreated and scattered. In their search for them, the Space Marines were alerted by a passing rogue trader about a small alien craft orbiting the planet. Frustrated by the delay to their righteous crusade, the battle-brothers were about to annihilate the vessel, when they were astounded to receive a message from the blue-skinned Tau inside, requesting a parlay. “We are not the ones you seek, humans. Permit us to safely leave the planet and we shall allow three of our best scouts to lead your forces to the raiders’ base.” The Space Marines had argued amongst themselves with fervour as to whether or not to destroy the Tau for their impudence, but ultimately the needs of their crusade prevailed. A Space Marine team met with the Tau negotiator and his three scouts. Aided in the negotiations by the rogue trader (although the Space Marines suspected that he may have operated as a pirate before), the parties eventually reached a deal. “It is agreed. You will show us their base. But tell us”, the skull-headed Chaplain who was leading the negotiations, despite his disgust with the alien freaks, asked with suspicion, “why did you not flee when our ship approached? Why are you keen for us to defeat these raiders?” “The Ethereals say that Commander Starblaze has exceeded his authority. To lead you to him is for the Greater Good,” intoned the Tau negotiator. “For the Greater Good”, echoed the three Tau trailblazers.

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I threw this deck together using the balanced template I proposed on this thread: http://www.cardgamedb.com/forums/index.php?/topic/31479-key-elements-of-a-balanced-deck/

Combat: BAVs are the main stars, but the Sig squad and the Initiate are decent fighters too, especially with Mavros' ability and if brought in cheap via Drop Pod or the Neophyte.

Cards and resources: 9x1-1 (including full set of Pirates and Traders), 3x2-2 (and with mobile), 3xPromo, instead of a second 2for2 we have the Techmarine (an absolute boss on blue planets), Primal Howl, BAV deploy delay, the cost reduction of Drop Pod and the Neophyte, plus Tense Negotiations and Dreadnoughts can also generate cards or resources, depending on planet array.

Control: Exterminatus iand Black Sword. Tense Negotiations and the Dreadnoughts' ability can provide control if Ferrin is out. Overall, very little control, but with 7 double-shields, 2 Indomitables, the signature non-unit cards and the unstoppable specialisation, the units are very hard to damage and they hit back hard. The Dreadnoughts and the Champion are an answer to big threats.

Anti-swarm: Much better with this. Tactical Squad Cardinis. Black Sword. Tense Negotiations and Dreadnoughts depending on planet array (Atrox Prime, Tarrus).

Double-shields: Mentioned above + Indomitable (less key for Mavros than the other SM warlords as BTs are generally ok with a bit of damage going through, but it’s still an amazing card, so x2).

Anything else? Nope. Getting the card and resource synergies (max number of Black Templar units and enough 3 cost units) required a big investment in the relevant cards.

I really like Tense negotiations and the Dreadnoughts (plus I wrote the short story with Tau in mind), but clearly both cards are high variance and require a degree of luck with the planet array. For a more reliable build, one could swap out Tau for AM, with Suppressive Fire replacing Tense Negotiations as a control option. It may then be best to drop the Dreadnoughts and perhaps even the Black Sword for 3 Crushing Blow. Command will be slightly worse (due to no mobility on Iron Guard Recruits) but the six free events will significantly drop costs overall. A copy of Iron Fists Devastators would be good to fit in as well.

— — —

As they approached their destination, one of the Tau trailblazers dared to ask the hulking Space Marine Chaplain what the Space Marines intended to do next. “We shall hunt down the leader of the raiders and the Emperor’s Champion shall challenge him, and slay him with The Black Sword in glorious combat.” “And then you shall convert this planet back to the Imperium’s cause?” asked the Tau. The Space Marine emitted a deep laugh. “No, of course not”, he said harshly, despising the xenos’ ignorance, “we shall slay all the inhabitants for not calling us sooner, and we shall exterminatus the planet for good measure.” The Chaplain could not resist smiling when he saw the Tau’s horrible eyes widen with realisation and fear. “Yes, it is a shame that your ship has already left the planet.”