Editing Chaos Terminator (section)

==Tabletop==

Two general facts about Chaos Terminators: they have always been there since the beginning and they have also always been the premier elites (or equivalent) choice for the Chaos Space Marines. Of note, they are tough, they pack a lot of dakka and they hit hard in close combat. What has always set them apart from their loyalist counterparts is the weaponry loadout and availability with a little help from the dark gods, even back in the Rogue Trader days. There are no assault terminator variants so chaos termies are known for mixing up CC weapon and shooting weapon loadouts, their preferred ranged weapons being the combi-bolter, other combi-weapons and either a heavy flamer or the well-known reaper-autocannon for special weapons. They're also known for being cheaper than loyalist termies as they pack power weapons default instead of power fists. Second Edition termies were basically the same, sporting higher weapon skills, attacks, wounds and their namesake terminator armour, which back in the day was 3+ on 2d6 back then (no invulnerable). With some deity goodies, they were the go-to support choice albeit on the expensive side and even more so if riding in a Land Raider, their other preferred transport option next to Teleport Attack (aka Deep Striking).

===Third Edition Roller-Coaster===

Terminators in general took a battering in third edition, especially for chaos. Reason being, deep-striking units could only fire assault weapons when deep-striking (initially, but this was changed later), meaning combi-bolters were unusable for striking termies. Also was the introduction of the 5++ and the reduction of termie statlines down to PAMs with another attack, a better save, deep-striking, the total loss of grenades, no pistols and the ability to move and shoot heavy weapons (unless deep-striking). Termies had to compete hard against Veterans, Berserkers, Thousand Sons, Plague Marines and chaos dreadnoughts in the elites slot, though the first four of these could be shuffled to troops with a choice of HQ. There are also options for cult terminators which were fleshed out more fully in a FAQ, but they pail in comparison to 3.5. Speaking of, that book merged Chosen and Terminators together with terminators being an upgrade to chosen. There's a lot to say about how awesome and skubtastic this was, but suffice to say that these were some of the earliest roots of what will eventually become Death Guard and Thousand Sons special terminators (and hopefully more to follow). It was also in 3.5 that rules for deep-striking were amended to allow them to shoot any of their weapons - basically, if you can normally move and shoot, you can deep-strike and shoot. Unfortunately, Terminators had to compete with the original, uniquely chaos TEQ in 3.5 - the Obliterators, which GW thought would be great to move into the Elites slot this time around. FWIW, oblits were just flat out better terminators in 3.5 if they could be afforded, though most armies could only take one squad of oblits.

===The Age of Termicide: Fourth through Seventh Editions===

Basically, 4th edition either nerfed everything in the elites slot for CSM or they were moved out into other slots, leaving them largely as the only viable elites option. This state of affairs persisted for 3 (possibly 4) editions, but 8th is somewhat special. Weirdly enough, termies didn't change at all (aside from being split off from Chosen, who were arguably the only other serviceable elites choice for CSM) - everything else around them did! Along with the nerfing of CSM units, the rules changed granting termies the ability to shoot their weapons, without penalty, after deep-striking. Which was great - you loaded up your boys with guns, plopped them down (easy with icons guiding deep strikes) and blast what needs blasting! Combi-plasma was also introduced as a weapon option for termies increasing the punch for a turn of shooting against the Space Marine Meta. Or you could take Combi-meltas if there's a tank that needs opening or Combi-flamers, but they would need 6th-edition and overwatch to truly make them useful (ACTUALLY, deepstrike a terminator unit with 5 template weapon was devastating even before 6th BUT it was tricky getting into place and very situational).

===Eighth and 9th Edition: Enhanced Termicide===

Termies got buffed 2 wounds per model, combi bolters are rapid fire 2, other combi weapons are no longer one shot and both profiles can be fired simultaneously. Oh, and they can charge after deep-striking (tricky needing to make 9" on 2d6, but still). Truly, everything got a buff in this edition eventually, but termies are still better than most other choices due to their versatility. They don't really need any stratagems to make them playable and their pretty scary when they are used on them; they don't require synergy with the rest of the army but can synergize rather well with them, especially with Termie Lords or Sorcerers.

9th edition is still up in the air but given that CSM now have 3 attacks base, it's not hard to imagine termies getting an upgrade as well. So far, they're slated to get 3 wounds and attacks, putting them in line with everything else in the elites slot. It seems that termicide might get reined in a bit as there will be limits as to how many of each combi-weapon can be taken per 5 termies.
It's worse than we thought; Combi-Weapons have been limited to what's in the box, same with powerfists and chainfists. Every other melee weapon is now an “accursed weapon” akin to a power sword. What this means is that[[derp| Terminators now have less customization than their loyalist equivalent while having less power to kill anything in close combat, since all melee weapons share a profile as a Power Sword.]] The Chosen got the same problems too,[[fail| turning 2 of the most versatile units in Chaos Space Marines and making them useless to many situations.]] We waited 2 years for this?

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