Topic: My Character Wishlist: Master Engineer / Grand Engineer

[pippin_nl]

Master Engineer, 65 points, Hero
M   WS   BS   S   T   W   I   A   Ld
4   3   4   3   3   2   3   1   7

+10   Warhorse
8   3      3   3   1   3   1   6

+25   Mechanical Steed; D3 impact hits
8   1      4   4      1   1   -

Special Rules:  Master of Ballistics; Extra Crewman.

Upgrades
free   Hand Weapon
+2   Light Armour
+10   Grenade Launching Blunderbuss, Repeater Pistol
+15   Repeater Handgun
+20   Hochland Longrifle
+25   Pigeon Bombs
+35   Grenades; 8” range small template as mortar

Grand Engineer, 100 points, Lord
M   WS   BS   S   T   W   I   A   Ld
4   3   5   3   3   3   3   1   8

+10   Warhorse
8   3      3   3   1   3   1   6

+25   Mechanical Steed; D3 impact hits
8   1      4   4      1   1   -

Special Rules:  Master of Ballistics; Extra Crewman, Master of Repairs (+1 bonus on Misfire Chart).

Upgrades
free   Hand Weapon
+2   Light Armour
+10   Grenade Launching Blunderbuss, Repeater Pistol
+15   Repeater Handgun
+20   Hochland Longrifle
+25   Pigeon Bombs
+35   Grenades; 8” range small template as mortar

[Athiuen]

I think you might want to change the grenades from being mortar scatter to 1d6" scatter.  Imagine getting 10" back towards you, that wouldn't make much sense.

Also I'd like to see the engineer go to BS5

[pippin_nl]

I did not want the grenades to scatter at all, just a BS shot and with the strength of a Mortar but a small template. Would BS5 not make an already good character (already alwats use 2) too good?

[sebster]

No, BS5 wouldn't make him too good.  It wouldn't really affect anything (the main reason I don't think we need it).

The real problem with the master engineer now is that he's really good in his primary roll, allowing artillery re-rolls, and completely useless for anything else.  65 points for a master engineer is bargain for a guy who stands next to artillery and gives a re-roll.  65 points for a guy on a mechanical horse is rubbish, let alone 90 points.

This is why they need to re-build the engineer to be a guy who's cheap as chips, maybe just 20 points with the existing stat-line, and then have 'master' as an upgrade that allows the engineer reroll for 45 points.  Suddenly, if we have the mechanical horse as a 25 point upgrade, you're only looking at 45 points for a guy who'll charge the enemy on a mechanical horse, or 35 points for an independant character with a hochland long rifle, and so on.

It opens the door to have engineers with wacky guns and gadgets, who have a roll in an army other than servicing artillery.