When Games Workshop rewrote the Necrons rules I decided to dig out all the Space Crusade androids I had stored away. It was then that I realised that with a metallic blue paint job they were dead ringers for Boomers. So if the 40K universe has Boomers, then why not the Knight Sabers (clones or descendants if you need a reason). So here goes...

Special Character Squad- The Knight Sabers

The Knight Sabers count as an Elites choice and may only be used in a game where both players allow the use of special characters. The Knight Sabers may be included in any Imperial force, or any force that is fighting Necrons (although they are not counted as part of the army). The Knight Sabers are four independant characters, Sylia Stingray, Priss Asagiri, Linna Yamzaki and Nene Romanov(a).

Sylia Stingray

Wargear: Jump Pack, Power Weapon, Meltagun (counts as a one-handed weapon), Power Armour (3+ save)
Special Rules: As a hero Sylia gets an Invulnerable Save. While she is alive, the other Knight Sabers may use Sylia's Leadership for morale tests.

Priss Asagiri

Wargear: Sniper Rifle (counts as a one-handed weapon), Plasmagun (counts as a one-handed weapon), Close Combat Weapon, Power Armour (3+ save)
Special Rules: Invulnerable Save, Fearless.

Linna Yamzaki

Wargear: Two Lightning Claws (one may be used as a Chainfist), Power Armour (3+ save)
Special Rules: Invulnerable Save.

Nene Romanov(a)

Wargear: Master Crafted Lasgun (counts as a one-handed weapon), Close Combat Weapon, Auspex, ECM (see new rules), Targeting Suite (see new rules), Power Armour (3+ save)
Special Rules: Invulnerable Save

All of the Knight Sabers are Independant Characters. In missions that allow it, the Knight Sabers may Infiltrate or Deep Strike.

Special Equipment

ECM: Enemy units may not Deep Strike or Infiltrate within 18" of Nene. Daemons may be summoned as normal.

Targeting Suite: In Night Fight missions, models spotted by Nene may be fired upon by other Knight Sabers (assuming range and line of sight). Nene's spotting range is double the usual range.

"We'll be back- NOT!" rule

The Knight Sabers are experts at hunting down and destroying Necrons/Boomers. Any Necron model destroyed by a Knight Saber in close assault is immediately removed as a casualty and may not recover. A Necron model destroyed in any other way may be assaulted by any Knight Saber as if it were still active- this automatically destroys the Necron permanently. The Knight Saber may make a normal 3" consolidate move after this attack.

Design Philosophy

As with all the new Warhammer Characters the Knight Sabers are designed to add character rather than win battles. You'll have to work out a points costing for yourselves I'm afraid, as my mind doen't work that way.

The weapons are the closest approximations I could find. Linna's Lightning Claws represent her Laser Ribbons in case you were wondering. Feel free to tweak with anything you disagree with. Oh, and apologies to Nene fans (myself included) but her hardsuit is pretty naff in a stand-up fight.

Tim's Suggested Points Value: 400 points.

The Sabers are a little tougher than a Space Marine Leader so say 35 points each basic. (35 X 4= 140)

Add 20 points each for Jump Packs (140 + (20 X 4)= 220)

Weapons:

Sylia's Power Weapon (15) plus Meltagun (10) : 25 (220+25= 245)

Priss' Sniper Rifle (5) plus Plasmagun (6): 11 (245+11= 256)

Linna's Lightning Claws (30) and Chainfist (30): 60 (256+60= 316)

Nene's Master Crafted Lasgun (16), Auspex (2), Targetting Suite and ECM (say 15): 349

Round the total up to 400 to take into account extra special abilities.

Miniatures

The old Anime Projects miniatures have been re-released by MVM, you can get them through Ground Zero. You could also try building your own from scratch or using bits from Games Workshop's plastic Eldar and Dark Eldar. Space Crusade androids make excellent Boomer stand-ins, as I mentioned above, ask around, somebody may have a few they don't want.

The Series

BGC is available as an eight part series (now being repackaged on three tapes), a three part spinoff Bubblegum Crash, and a complete re-write Bubblegum Crisis 2040 (due in the UK sometime in 2000). US comic artist Adam Warren has also done a Graphic Novel, giving his own take on the girls, called Grand Mal.