Reviews: Traitor Legions - Word Bearers

Second on the list for Traitor Legion reviews is The Word Bearers. We were going to do Alpha Legion, but I had some compelling messages to get this one out the door quick...

Content sourced via the Combat Phase podcast
Edits after additional content sourced via SpikeyBits

The Word Bearers

The Word Bearers are one of the nine First Founding Space Marine Legions that betrayed the Emperor of Mankind during the Horus Heresy. They became Chaos Space Marines, their allegiance pledged to their Daemon Primarch Lorgar and to Chaos Undivided. The Word Bearers were also the first Space Marine Legion to be corrupted by the Ruinous Powers of Chaos many decades before their counterparts turned to the Dark Gods and through their actions they corrupted the Warmaster Horus and brought on the terrible civil war of the Horus Heresy in all its savagery.

What makes a Word Bearer Detachment?

To be a Word Bearer detachment, much like what we saw in the Wrath of Magnus there are a number of restrictions:

• The army can have none of the Chaos Space Marine unique characters.
• Any existing unit with a Mark of Chaos (eg. Khorne Berzerkers) cannot be taken.
• Models who can purchase a Mark of Chaos (eg. Chaos Space Marines) may do so.
• All models that can purchase Veterans of the Long War (VotLW) must do so, but for free.

So what do I get for being a Word Bearer Detachment?

If your detachment is a Word Bearer detachment then you get the following special rules:

• Unholy Pact: Units of Possessed have the Troops battle role.
• This is kind of like Crimson Slaughter, but of course better...
• Psykers harness Conjuration powers from the Malefic discipline on a 3+
• This is pretty damn awesome.
• Blood Feud: Models with VotLW re-rokk to hit vs Ultramarines in each round of Combat, but grant Hatred to Ultramarines.
• Profane Zeal: Word Bearer units within 6" if a Dark Apostle gain Zealot.
• A Zealot bubble is pretty solid. These guys are going to be hard to budge

Word Bearer Warlord Traits

1. Warlord gains Zealot, if he already has Zealot he gets to re-roll to hit in all rounds of combat.
2. Warlord becomes a Mastery Level 1 Psyker, or gains a Mastery Level
3. Pick a unit within 12" of your Warlord and they gain Counterattack, Fearless, Furious Charge and Relentless (not sure on timing, but most likely start of the Movement Phase)
4. Warlord gains Adamantium Will and Fearless
5. Units within 12" of the Warlord can add or subtract 1 from the 2nd dice they roll on the Boon table.
6. Warlod can roll on the Boon Table (basically another Gift of Mutation).

Word Bearer Relics

Unfortunately information on the Word Bearer Relics are still clouded in mystery, all we really have so far is the one below.
Note: More detail on the Relics found

• Skull of Monarchia (15 Points): Bearer and unit can re-roll to-hit rolls in close combat vs. armies of the imperium. If striking against ultramarines they can also reroll to-wound.
• Crown of Blasphemer (30 Points): 4+ Invulnerable Save, Adamantium Will, Fear
• Malefic Tome (10 Points): know 1 additional power from Daemonology (Maelific) Psychic Discipline.
• Script of Erebus (15 Points): Once per game, at the start of any psychic phase, generate and additional D6 warp charge.
• Baleful Iron (15 Points): If a units successfully rolls a large enough charge distance to engage you or your unit, they must re-roll the charge distance. In addition they so not gain their usual charge attack bonuses.
• Curded Croszius (35 Points): Melee S+2, Consussive, Bane of Men (you have preferred enemy: Armies of the Imperium)

Word Bearer Formation Based Detachment (FBD)

• Dark Crusader: Non vehicle units get the Crusader special rule.
• 8-Fold Path: Each turn you can pick a character to roll on the Boon table. You cannot pick the same character more than once in a game.

Core Choices:

• Chaos Warband: As per Traitor's Hate
• Lost and Damned: As per Traitor's Hate

Command Choices:

• Lord of Legion: 1 of the following; Chaos Lord, Sorcerer, Dark Apostle or Daemon Prince

Auxiliary Choices:

• Helforged Wrack: As per Traitor's Hate
• Daemon Engine: As per Traitor's Hate
• Heldrake Terror: As per Traitor's Hate
• Cult of Destruction: As per Traitor's Hate
• Fist of the Gods: As per Traitor's Hate
• Raptor Talon: As per Traitor's Hate
• Terminator Annihilation Force: As per Traitor's Hate
• Spawn: As per Traitor's Hate

And thats all we have so far on the Word Bearer's, Alpha Legion is next on the cards for a review.