I’m making a codex for my Grey Templars
It’s balanced for 5th Edition, but with some minor tweaks it’ll fit for any edition (add movement values, WS/BS 4 becomes “hits on a 3+” etc). I’m going to follow the basic codex format of some fluff, including origins and a short overview of their history since then, their relationship with the wider Imperium, notable quirks etc etc, followed by the army list used to represent them - since they don’t adhere to the Codex Astartes, I’ll have free reign to design unique units and rules. I’m thinking a mix of the Black Templars codex, the CSM codex, and the Legiones Astartes army list is in order - BT are the base of my idea, the Legion army list shows what the Imperial Fists were organised like, and the CSM show how Legion-like forces might be organised in the 41st millennium.
A little teaser, for their basic troops choice (so far, I’m thinking of restricting the number of upgrades further, at least for some of the weapons, and I’ll probably add some neophyte/scout upgrades to this):
Astartes Fellowship – 75 Points
Astartes: WS 4 - BS 4 – S 4 – T 4 – W 1 – I 4 – A 1 – LD 8 – Sv 3+
Veteran Sword Brother: WS 5 - BS 5 – S 4 – T 4 – W 1 – I 4 – A 1 – LD 9 – Sv 2+
A Fellowship of Astartes consists of 5 Astartes, each armed with a bolter, bolt pistol and frag/krak grenades. The unit may purchase the following upgrades:
The unit may take up to 15 additional Marines - 15 points each
Any model may exchange their bolter for a chainsword - Free
For every 5 models in the unit, 1 model may exchange their bolter for a special weapon from the following list, or exchange their bolt pistol for a plasma pistol, at the cost indicated:
Flamer - 5 points
Melta gun - 10 points
Plasma gun - 10 points
Plasma pistol - 7 points
Power weapon - 5 points
Single lightning claw - 7 points
Power fist - 10 points
Pair of lightning claws - 15 points
Heavy bolter - 5 points
Heavy flamer - 5 points
Missile launcher - 8 points (15 with flakk)
Multimelta - 10 points
Lascannon - 15 points
Plasma cannon - 15 points
A Fellowship may be joined by a veteran member of the Sword Brethren for an additional cost of 30 points. The Sword Brother may purchase melee weapons from the list of special weapon upgrades, and for a cost of +2 points per model, a Fellowship led by a veteran Sword Brother may reroll failed charges. The Sword Brother may purchase melta bombs for +5 points, or a plasma pistol for +5 points. The Sword Brother has access to the same list of unique wargear as do other Characters. (Not 100% with the Sword Brother, I’ll probably rewrite him somewhat.)
Basically, a better equipped CSM/Initiate/Tactical squad that can buy a character upgrade, but loses out on Marks and Combat Squads, potentially leaving you with very expensive blobs of inflexible troops, vulnerable to being swept aside by explosives, Howling Banshees, Terminators, Genestealers etc. Bulking up prevents you from buying a transport, as well, but a unit of 20 with 4 heavy weapons might make good objective holders, depending on how the board is set up.