"Grey Knights Codex: Improvements?" Topic

How could the Grey Knights Codex have been improved? What would you like to have seen?

To start off…

* more leeway for alternative color schemes
* more info on using the Grey Knights against non-Chaos foes
* why are they called Grey Knights?
* more info on the individual Brotherhoods

I think that making them into a stand-alone army was a mistake – because they have lost the "special forces" appeal of having a few units which are sent in to deal with daemonic issues and only when it is a dire circumstance. So, to start, they should have gone away from the Daemon Hunter codex and toward an "allies" codex for use with other armies – like Imperial Guard or Space Marines, and then allow them to take an Inquisitor from the new codex. The inquisitor would make certain Elite, Troop, Fast Attack, and Heavy Support choices available to the army instead of a full on force/codex in and of itself. I know this is a bit off topic, but those were my hopes. Now, how to improve what they did:

There is still no explanation on why they are called the Grey Knights – but I find this relatively minor as there is no explanation on why the Ultramarines are called the Ultramarines other than they were called that and they wear blue armor. Why are the 82nd Airborne called the Screaming Eagles? Why are any Space Marine Chapters called what they are called? You get my point.

I would have liked to see an elimination of the Inquisitor forces completely if they are now a stand alone army. Since they included them, I would have liked to see more inquisitorial forces available. I suspect that it will happen in another codex at some point.

It would have been nice to see an expansion of the Grey Knights into various "Orders" instead of the ONE order. It would have been nice for the Grey Knights Hospitallers, Templars, etc., instead of only ONE type. I agree with your assesments on what they could have improved upon for the most part.

I think the first thing they could have done is not let Matt Ward write it.

After that, trying to jam in the Inquisition and completely leaving out Inquisitorial stormtroopers was a massive mistake.

"There is still no explanation on why they are called the Grey Knights – but I find this relatively minor as there is no explanation on why the Ultramarines are called the Ultramarines other than they were called that and they wear blue armor. Why are the 82nd Airborne called the Screaming Eagles? Why are any Space Marine Chapters called what they are called? You get my point."

There are several things wrong with this statement.
1. Ultramarines were based in the Ultramar region of space. It seems only natural to make them "Ultramarines", rather than say… "Ultramar Marines."

2.The 82nd Airborne are the "All Americans", the 101st are the "Screaming Eagles" and they're called so because their divisional patch is an eagle with it's mouth wide, as if letting out that fierce scream it does just before diving on it's prey. Hence. "Screaming Eagles."

3. The main chapters are usually very obvious in where they get there names….you just need to read the fluff. I don't consider the Grey Knights a main chapter as they never came from one of the original 20 Legions. Their geneseed was taken from multiple chapters formed by those Legions. It really mostly comes from…once again… The Emblems! The Insignia! Naming a Chapter of Space Marines is no different fundamentally from naming a real life combat unit. They get their name from their emblem and they get their emblem from their leaders. So, it all comes down to the decision of whoever was first in line in forming the unit.

What Jovian said +1

I looked at the new Grey Knight codex last night for the first time. I remember the last edition where you could take IG units as troops, and wanted to see what troop options I could do with my IG. But to my horror no options. I was thinking of doing a IG force that would be used to locate the enemy on the battle field and then call in the GK to eliminate the enemy.

Chris

I think they should have combined the Grey Knights and the Sister of Battle in a Codex. They are both specialized and Inquisitorial in nature. It would have made for a much more interesting book and force selection for the army.