"Suppressing Fire!"

[Turner]

This thread is dedicated to the Imperial Guard, and more specifically the "Imperial Guard Orders"


This is just an order for the Junior Officer, better known as the Platoon Command Squad.





"Suppressing Fire!"
The Guardsmen relentlessly fire at the enemy, requiring each step to be paid for in blood.

If the order is successfully issued, choose one enemy unit visible to the Junior Officer. The ordered unit immediately shoots at the nominated target. If the enemy unit suffers an unsaved wound from a lasgun then the enemy unit takes a moral test. If the enemy unit fails, until the end of the Imperial Guard player's next turn the enemy unit counts as though it were moving through difficult terrain.





I feel it is a fairly balanced rule. I specifically think it should have the "unsaved wound from a lasgun" and not just an unsaved wound due to the possibility of someone shooting say a single Lascannon shot at the enemy and then forcing them to move through difficult terrain. Yes, heavy bolters and possibly auto cannons could suppress enemy infantry but without going through every single weapon in the imperial guard arsenal and putting each weapon into one of two categories, suppressible weaponry/not suppressible weaponry?, it's just seems simpler to state an unsaved wound from a lasgun. (Mortars and sniper rifles would fall into an interesting category. Maybe giving them a much needed extra "uhmfff" Maybe if the enemy unit is simply hit with a mortar or sniper rifle then take a moral test and then they count as moving through difficult terrain? I digress) Also note "moral test" and not leadership test. Units that are fearless, a giant mob of orks/tyranids monstrosity /generic fearless unit, wouldn't bat an eye at an enemy tank trying to run them over nor should they if a few stray lasgun rounds hit them. Also, do you think that opening line is to harsh? I know that 40k isn't rated PG or anything, or even PG-13? But looking at all the other Imperial Guard orders and their little fluff explanation they don't really have anything like that. It could be changed to something to the effect of
"The Guardsmen relentlessly fire at the enemy, making it all but impossible to advance under the torrent of fire." A friendlier atmosphere, so to speak, in the grim dark future that is 40k… where there is only war.

Anyway, that’s pretty much it. Just a neat little thought I had. What do you all think? Balanced? Broken? Not needed? Silly?

[SotonShades]

I like it really. Not sure its needed, but I like playing Guard without orders anyway lol. Rule seems fairly balanced and in line with the other orders. I'd be tempted to use it to help protect me against assaulting units. I'd keep with the idea of it just being the lasguns, similar to front rank, second rank. I imagine you'd have more limited ammunition for the other more specialised/heavy weapons, so it'd make sense to fir for effect with the lasguns while saving the rest of the ammo.

I like the fluff, blood and all. If you felt the need to change it, your alternative works pretty well too.

[I NoSe]

Very balanced and also now stolen. My own junior officer has turned into quite the hero in the trenches and the group has decided to make him a special character. This order might be the dash of special he needs.

[wkz]

I would only add one tiny addition: "This order can only be issued to units with at least one heavy weapon or a weapon having blast"

After all, traditionally Heavy weapons are the guns of choice for suppressing fire (although Infantry weapons can be used in a pinch). The above should cover all of these weapons without your worry of having to wade through all the weapons in the codex (to declare as suppressive or otherwise).

Also, don't worry about the language: GW have written even worse things in their own codex fluff. "requiring each step to be paid for in blood" is relatively mild in comparison.

[Fellend]

As for fluff, sure if you want it why not.
Balance issues, it's not really needed for IG as they are already seriously powerful
Rule issues. Supressing fire is basically pinning. It's the samething, the rules takes into account people moving from cover to cover, it's why they only move 6 inch.
Fluff reasons, lasguns supressing anyone... seems kind of ... weak. The whole point of having power armor is that you ignore lasguns and simular weak weaponry. The rule would fit alot better on heavy weapon teams than it would on lasguns, but once again, these rules are already taken into account in the normal movement speed.

Wow, I'm such a negative person, sorry

[DarkLink]

Right, and I never really got why comparatively poorly trained Guard can suddenly get way better at shooting when a comparatively inexperienced officer yells at them, compared to say Space Marines or Eldar with decades or centuries of combat experience can't.

[Mr.Pickelz]

when orders were still rumors i was hoping for the on my coordinates, from Apoc.

Only have it turned into D6 Basilisk shots centered on the commander(or vox caster) and have them always scatter full distance. That would be one heck of a way to go out... with a bang.

[Turner]

I would only add one tiny addition: "This order can only be issued to units with at least one heavy weapon or a weapon having blast"

After all, traditionally Heavy weapons are the guns of choice for suppressing fire (although Infantry weapons can be used in a pinch). The above should cover all of these weapons without your worry of having to wade through all the weapons in the codex (to declare as suppressive or otherwise).

Also, don't worry about the language: GW have written even worse things in their own codex fluff. "requiring each step to be paid for in blood" is relatively mild in comparison.

Speaking of lascannons...

Yeah I thought for simplicity sake that only lasguns could do it, plus then you get into the problem of if they heavy weapon moved could the unit still fire argument and it's just easier to say lasguns. Note that also not las pistols or shotguns, because they can't put out the rate of fire a lasgun can, fluff wise anyways.

[Skragger]

Right, and I never really got why comparatively poorly trained Guard can suddenly get way better at shooting when a comparatively inexperienced officer yells at them, compared to say Space Marines or Eldar with decades or centuries of combat experience can't.

A most excellent question Darklink. The answer is quite simple. The junior officer merely expains to the troops that the alien scum has taken the platoon's supply of Kool Aid and Eldar pr0n, and now that talks for it's return have collapsed, it must be returned at any cost!

[Mauglum.]

Hi all.
IMO it a pity 40k doesnt include a simple supression mechanic,(like epic Armageddon does,) in the basic rules.
It would allow for far better weapon and unit definition.

Only allowing one army acess to supression, is restrictive counter intuitive and unbalancing....oh so it fits right in with the current codex develpment then.

TTFN