N18 Redemptionist Zealots starting Options

[Borvin]

Short rule Question, in the Necrodamus dec. 23 rules it states Zealots can be equipped with all close combat options (of the Redemption house list i guess). However in Underhive tool on Yaktribe the options are Fighting Knife, two handed Hammer, Sword and Chainsword. In the House of faith book however the zealot specific equipment list doesn't allow for chain sword, only knofe and the two two-handed options.
So my question is: has there been an Errata or something that allows me to field Zealots with chain-swords from the start or are those just errors and i have to go with a fighting knife and buy the chain sword from the Market later on?

Thanks!

 

[Lunarcruiser]

Necrodamus is a non canon source as is Yaktribes. As such deviations can occur from the primary source (GW does get it wrong to start with on occasion too).

There is no Errata allowing Zelots to use chainswords

As per the House of Faith book it states " A Zealot may purchase weapons and Wargear from the Zealot equipment list" (direct quotation)
Again from the HOF "During the course of a campaign a Zealot may be given additional weapons purchased from this list." (again direct quote). it does not say they can have weapons from the Trade Post at all.
Zealots have no chain swords on thier Weapon List at all. They can not get chain swords at all.
They only have Wargear access through the Trade Post not weapons.
They can take the Eviscerator which is on thier list but not a chain sword.
The Fighting knife is the only one handed weapon on the Zealots list.

Even in the general gang composition rules it states that gang members are limited to the weapon choice restrictions in thier entries. If a base weapon is not on thier list then thats it. You can freely add weapon accesories and adjuncts like ammo to weapons they already have access to but you can't add extra weapons to the list.

Even if you promote the Zealot to a Redemtionist specialist they don't have chainsword on thier list either and they are similarly restricted to thier list as well. You need to get to Deacon or Firebrand and Wordkeeper or Priest to get access to the chain sword.

 

[Borvin]

Ok, I did read the sections of the BoF again and you are right. I somehow allways interpreted wargear as any type of item from the trading post that fits the weapon type limitation of the ganger.
I have to say RaW this makes Zealots utterly useless. And it honestly pisses me off bc the close combat options given for the redeptionist zealots and bretheren are really arbitrary. Their whole spiel are chainweapons but zealots can only take eviscerators and bretheren only chainaxes? No chainswords? This seems like the rules are designed in such a way to prevent you from kitbashing zealots/bretheren with chainswords of other origins and force you to buy as many GW kits as possible in a very obvious and blunt way.

And honestly, since the rule about equipment applies to everyone except Leaders & Champs it also takes huge portion of fun out of the game, as it really reduces your normal gangers to more or less characterless goons with no real option for (relevant) development. Geez this just takes the fun out.

 

[Gdolkin]

Interestingly, it seems Underhive Outcast Hive Scum (pp30-31 Book of the Outcast) differ from most in that they cannot promote one Ganger to Specialist at Gang Creation, they have to earn it via XP and 2/12 on the Ganger ADV table, and as such the Equipment List contains no Special Weapon section, but during campaign play both Specialists and regular Scum Gangers can get weapons as well as wargear from the Trading Post as well as their own Equipment List as long as they're of the correct weapon types available to Gangers/Specialists, meaning a regular Scum Ganger can be equipped with whatever mad illegal alien heretical shiz they can find in the Trading Post Basic, Pistols or Close Combat sections as long as the gang can make the Availibilty roll and pay the creds. But a Redemptionist Zealot isn't allowed a 25cred Chainsword until he reaches the rank of Deacon or Priest, he's stuck with his poxy 90cred Eviscerator I'd say screw that rule, make a badass model, pay the 25creds and continue to have fun in the Emperor's name

 

[Lunarcruiser]

Interestingly, it seems Underhive Outcast Hive Scum (pp30-31 Book of the Outcast) differ from most in that they cannot promote one Ganger to Specialist at Gang Creation, they have to earn it via XP and 2/12 on the Ganger ADV table, and as such the Equipment List contains no Special Weapon section, but during campaign play both Specialists and regular Scum Gangers can get weapons as well as wargear from the Trading Post as well as their own Equipment List as long as they're of the correct weapon types available to Gangers/Specialists, meaning a regular Scum Ganger can be equipped with whatever mad illegal alien heretical shiz they can find in the Trading Post Basic, Pistols or Close Combat sections as long as the gang can make the Availibilty roll and pay the creds. But a Redemptionist Zealot isn't allowed a 25cred Chainsword until he reaches the rank of Deacon or Priest, he's stuck with his poxy 90cred Eviscerator I'd say screw that rule, make a badass model, pay the 25creds and continue to have fun in the Emperor's name

The outcast gang does not have fancy things like Esher Alchemy 0rlock legendary names or and out the Clan specific special rules and no access to either cheaper equipment or any of the Clans specialist weapons and equipment so having thier Scum have access to all Pistols, Basic and Close combat weapons gives the gang a much needed boost so there is that.

Ok you can have one badass leader in charge but that's only one guy. Your normal leader and champions as Outcasts actually have relatively poor equipment selection to start. (They can't pick respirators or photo goggles at start yet Hive Scum can. Why?).

 

[Lunarcruiser]

Ok, I did read the sections of the BoF again and you are right. I somehow allways interpreted wargear as any type of item from the trading post that fits the weapon type limitation of the ganger.
I have to say RaW this makes Zealots utterly useless. And it honestly pisses me off bc the close combat options given for the redeptionist zealots and bretheren are really arbitrary. Their whole spiel are chainweapons but zealots can only take eviscerators and bretheren only chainaxes? No chainswords? This seems like the rules are designed in such a way to prevent you from kitbashing zealots/bretheren with chainswords of other origins and force you to buy as many GW kits as possible in a very obvious and blunt way.

And honestly, since the rule about equipment applies to everyone except Leaders & Champs it also takes huge portion of fun out of the game, as it really reduces your normal gangers to more or less characterless goons with no real option for (relevant) development. Geez this just takes the fun out.

Zealots are juves. Juves are the lowest form of gang life on necromunda. They are supposed to be worthless. They don't even have the devout masses rule to make them worthwhile.

Your redemptionist Brethren are better. They have access to shotguns. Shotguns are good. Plus they have access on thier class list to nasty ammo for them on thier class list. That's before you go to the Trade Post. (Ammo is not a weapon, just try throwing the shells, so can be added to shotguns later).

No help with the chain swords though. (Chain axes are still pretty good).
Just think of it as your lowly boys who pick through trash having all the best stuff nicked by thier overlords.

 

[Borvin]

@Gdolkin yeah you are absolutely right, just hope the arbitrator agrees, bc the Models are already converted and painted

@Lunarcruiser well if you want to go for close combat, which I think fits the Redemptionist topic rather well, the Zealot would actually be the better base stat. You swap -1BS for +1" Movement, save 10cr and get to pick advancements. Which i think would compare well to how good prospects of other gangs are. Just sucks you can't get any viable cc options.

 

[Xisor_of_Karak_Izor]

In thinking House (of Faith) Rules...

A third attractive option might be to allow the Redemptionist Zealots to acquire eviscerators for cheaper (and minus the template, +Xcr to get to full price for that; or extra 'limited'/one-shot rule on the template effect).

Not cheap mind, but substantially cheaper than you'd otherwise expect. 40cr? 50?

Similarly, discounting the two handed axes and hammers (to e.g. 15cr and 25cr?) for Redemptionist Zealots might, again, work in making them a creditable route.

It might be fair to also apply this to Cawdor Zealots, but I get the impression Cawdor don't really suffer so much here, right?

(It goes without saying, I was never entirely happy with the way Cawdor/Remptionists were combined. Nor that the Redemptionist kit is so limited. I'd be very keen to hear the 'oral history'* of how that all unfolded as it did.)

* I'd settle for any/many of: the skinny; the inside scoop; beans, spilled; the tea; i.e. gossip from a creditable source, even - especially!** - if biased.
** more entertaining, innit. Schismatists! *shakes fist*