Know thy Enemy (Codex: Space Marines)

This will be the second Know they Enemy article.

Ah, Space Marines, if you are one of the 87 people out there who does not play Space Marines, I hope this article proves useful for you. I will break this down into 2 different parts, the first will deal with special units, the second will deal with the multitude of special characters.

Codex Space Marines makes use of a number of new units, all with special rules that make your units look like crap.
Vanguard Veterans, this is a specialized assault squad that has the ability to deep strike and assault on the same turn. Great. Also, they can have Str 6 power weapons. The downsides are that they are expensive and that they die just like normal space marines.
Sternguard Veterans, this unit is an abhorrent shooting monster. Their rules basically mean that they can win a firefight against a multitude of opponents. They can make their boltguns effectively either AP 3, ignore cover, or wound on a 2+. Fantastic. They suffer the same weaknesses as Vanguard Veterans. They are both Elite units.
Now onto the Land Raider Redeemer, so it has Str 6, AP3 Flamers. How cute. Is it the cheapest of all other SM Land Raiders? You bet!
There is a new slew of Scout-esque models, like scout bikers and the Land Speeder Storm. The latter has the ability to disrupt deep strike within 12", other than this, who cares?
Drop Pods have a new model, so, expect to see entire armies of Drop Podding Marines.
There is a unit called the "Thunderfire Cannon". It sucks. Fire some boltguns at it and destroy it.

Now, as a reader, you may have need to hear more obnoxious things! Fear not, I will now deliver. Onto the Special Marine Characters.
Marneus Calgar: He is a bit of a Tank, but not invincible. He grants everyone in the army the ability to choose to pass or fail morale tests. He also has an AP 2 Storm Bolter and can re-roll wounds from Shooting and Close Combat. Other than this, he is just expensive.
Cassius: His claim to fame is T6 and Feel No Pain. (He still gets IK'd by a powerfist, so no one cares about him)
Tigurius: If you love a character that can get killed easily, pick Tigurius. He can use 3 psychic powers a turn, but does not appear to be worth his points.
Sicarius: He gives you the ability to re-roll the "seize the initiative" roll. He also gives one tactical squad in your army a special rule (Tank Hunter, Counter Attack, etc..) He also has a coup de gras attack, where he can make a single Str 6 attack that causes Instant Death.
Telion: Mini-Vindicaire Assassin.
Cronus: makes a vehicle AWESOME. For about the cost of another vehicle.
Darnath Lysander: He has a 2+/3+ invul, a Str 10 Thunderhammer that gives +1 on the vehicle damage table and any squad he is with may re-roll missed bolter shot rolls (like Sternguard) Also Immune to Instant Death, what a beast!
Shrike: Shrike can give an entire army fleet. His Lightning Claws Rend. He gives a unit he joins Infiltrate. Compared to others, he is rather tame.

Here are some that are not tame.
Cantor: Assault 4 AP 4 storm bolter. Makes Sternguard scoring units, gives +1 attack to friends close by. Everyone becomes stubborn. Has an orbital bombardment. (wouch) Most Tame of the Untame characters.

Vulkan: Invulnerable 3+, Master Crafted Relic Blade, ALL Flamers, Heavy Flamers, Meltaguns, Multi-Meltas become Twin-linked. All Thunderhammers become Master Crafted. (Go fuck yourself Vulkan.) This is far worse than it sounds, trust me.

Kor'sarro Khan: I can ride a bike that makes bike squads troops. I cause Instant Death on a 6 in close combat. Everyone outflanks, even dedicated transports! So, in effect, lets have that LRC filled with Termies or Vanguard assault Squad roll in from the board edge with those Rhinos and Bikes! (Khan can Rusty Trombone me.)

Codex: Space Marines actually allows a lot of variety in army types, unfortunately, all you are going to see is drop podding Vulkan/Lysander lists and outflanking Khan lists.

Good luck in your endeavors.

-Mike