Have you seen this unit? Part 8

Varro Tigurius is the Chief Librarian of the Ultramarines. He was appointed this rank after many years of fighting and because of his deep knowledge of the galaxy and his immense psychic powers. So he sounds pretty cool. Wow, Chief Librarian of the Ultramarines that has quite a ring to it, the best of the best of the best, or is he?

Tigurius has a standard Librarian stat-line: WS 5, BS 4, strength toughness and initiative 4, 2 wounds, 2 attacks, leadership 10 and 3+ power armor save. He comes with the Rod of Tigurius, bolt pistol, frag and krak grenades and the Hood of Hellfire. He also has the rules of Master Psyker and Gift of Prescience. He has the regular Marine army wide rules and is an Independent character.

Rod of Tigurius is a master crafted force weapon.

Hood of Hellfire allows him to use 3 psy powers per turn. It is also functions as a psychic hood.

Master Psyker gives Tigurius access t all the Marine psy powers.

Gift of Prescience lets Tigurius re-roll any reserve roll.

Having access to all the “vanilla” powers is pretty awesome. It allows for multiple rolls on the battlefield. He can move troops with gate. There is the added fire power from Avenger Vortex of Doom and Smite. He can be a close combat specialist with the Quickening and Might of the Ancients. He can even de-buff with Nullzone or add some defense with Force Dome.

The ability to adjust your reserve rolls can be useful. It can almost guarantee you get off table units when you want or hold them back a turn if needed. This could allow for a fairly reliable deep strike or reserve force.

The biggest problem I see with Tigurius is his cost. He is twice as expensive as a regular Librarian. Why is that a problem? Well a regular boring nameless Librarian has the exact same stat-line as Tigurius. So why pay the extra points when I get the same stats for less?

There is the ability to use three powers per turn, but that is way more awesome on paper than in game. The majority of the "vanilla" Marine powers are shooting powers, so one per turn. The assault powers are good and the few movement phase powers are ok, but neither need to be cast every turn. Why take him when a regular Librarian, once again can upgrade to use two powers (the two powers you know you'll be using and ignoring the rest of the list) a turn and be just as effective as Tigurius?

If you want a Librarian in your army just take a regular one, heck take two instead of paying the points for this guy. It is really disappointing that the uber Marine psyker is just not that great. If he had special just for him psy power, got a psy hood re-roll, had just a modest stat difference or was able to use two shooting powers per turn he might be on the tables. Someday he might get mad props like Mephiston, or Njal. Until then he is just too expensive an option for what he brings. Especially, when it can be done just as well and cheaper.

I'm not angry at you Tigurius, I'm just disappointed.