Been sitting on this for a while but figured I might as well throw my hat into the ring. It started with a fairly concrete idea for two new enemy Elites but figured I’d might as well toss a few extras in since some of them make more sense with the context of what the main attractions bring to the table, some of the others I felt would just be fun additions as is.
Scab Sergeant
The Scab Sergeant is the evolution of the Scab Vox Operator from the old event months ago. Rather than just being a cloned Gunner, the Sergeant enters the fray with a Bolt Pistol in one hand and a chainsword in the other. The Pistol is slow-firing but deals respectable damage (slightly less than a Captain’s Plasma Pistol but not by much) while the Chainsword’s teeth hit multiple times per weapon swing - Furthermore because they’re dual wielding, Sergeants can swap from melee to ranged attacks instantaneously. They’re covered in Flak Armor but have as much durability as a Plasma Gunner so while they hang back behind their suboridnates, they won’t take too much punishment to bring down.
What makes these sergeants truly dangerous is their ability to not only summon reinforcements but to issue commands to scabs in their vicinity. They can command any Scab Shooters to lob a grenade(the grenade being identical to the mini-bombs seen in the Light the Fuse and Rumbling Giants events, mild toughness damage but also throws you back), pull back towards a more defensible position, or command them to charge in for a melee attack. The reinforcements they can call in range from 6 Scab Shooters, 2 Scab Gunners, or 2 Scab Plasma Gunners.
Dreg Priest
The Dreg counterpart of the Scab Sergeant, these heretic priests follow the same generic blueprint but specialize more in corruption damage and direct support for their brethren. They can order Dreg shooters to throw Blight Grenades in liue of standard grenades (very similar to the proximity bombs Rodin Karnak uses, though they explode on their own with being triggered) and can even heal all friendly units nearby with a wretched chant of their patron god. The reinforcements they can call on are more melee focused, consisting of 6 Dreg Brutes, 2 Dreg Ragers, or 2 Mutants.
In battle Dreg Priests utilize a double barreled shotgun that fires in two bursts (duh) with each round dealing similar damage to Shotgunners and carry a Plaguesword (or at least as close to one as the cult can replicate) that can deal nasty amounts of corruption damage per swing. They’re also about as durable as Scab Sergeants but their armor is their fanatical faith in Nurgle, hence they have the Maniac type applied to them despite only wearing robes of the Admonition.
Scab Grenadier
Essentially a more direct counterpart to the bombers, Scab Grenadiers use Rotary Grenade Launchers to blow apart closely knit reject teams. Each grenade acts like the mini-bombs seen in the Light the Fuse and Rumbling Giants events, but the Grenadier fires in bursts of three. Defensively they’re primarily covered in Flak armor but their chests have Carapace.
Fortunately they’re no marksman and tend to come in closer to unleash their payloads compared to other ranged enemies and since they’re no more durable than Shotgunners, they can be fairly easy prey for any Acolyte able to close the distance to them. Also their ammo belts are volatile enough that if struck with an grenade/explosive weapon, the Grenadier’s ammo will also explode and deal bonus damage to any enemies nearby.
Scab Warden
Scab Wardens are a more defensive elite like Ogryn Bulwarks, though instead of charging into battle behind their shields, Wardens hang back and pepper Rejects with their Las carbines from the safety of Suppression shields looted from Tertium’s dead Enforcers. While more of a nuisance on their own, they can easily form a phalanx around their fellow Sixth Elites and Shooters.
These shield are able to withstand most small arms fire and can defend fairly well against quick attacks from lighter melee weapons, Wardens are far more easily staggered by Heavy melee attacks/heavy weapon fire compared to Bulwarks and go down about as easily as other Scab ranged Elites.
Dreg Mauler
Much like their Scab counterparts, Dreg Maulers serve as a slower but more durable melee Elite than Ragers. What sets them apart is that their plague-coated scrap axes deal nasty amounts of corruption damage per swing and while their overheads don’t one shot like Scab Maulers, Dreg overheads are far quicker which makes their corruption damage a more deadly prospect.
Defensively Dreg Maulers primarily use the Infested armor type with Flak armor on their heads and chests while their health is comparable to that of their Scab counterparts.
Dreg Snatcher
While most Mutants within Admonition are Slamhulks used as little more than living battering rams, the few that still display enough intelligence and cunning are employed to acquire additional specimens for Urmals experiments by way of catch-poles. These large and bloated creatures even possess enough strength to catch and drag Ogryns away for the Cult’s twisted rites.
Dreg Snatchers are a specialist unit that replace Trappers the same way other Dreg Elites/Specialists do when Admonition are the dominant faction of enemies. Mechanically they operate almost exactly like Skaven Packmasters in Vermintide, grabbing players with their catch-poles and dragging them away from safety before hoisting the poles up and leaving them to dangle as the horde finishes them off. Due to their mutated nature, Snatchers are one of the more durable specialists outside of Mutants/Slamhulks and use the Maniac armor type exclusively, furthermore they are too big to be able to be pinned by Cyber Mastiffs. However their additional bulk leaves them somewhat slow and should they miss, they can easily be chased down by pursuing Rejects. Snatchers can be identified by their heavy plodding steps, raspy wheezing, and the hollow clacking of their adorned skulls.
Ogryn Bulldozer
Just as Reapers are even bigger Scab/Dreg Gunners and Crushers are even bigger Maulers, Bulldozers are Ogryn-sized Shotgunners. Much like the Ripper Guns that loyalist Ogryns have been using in the Tertium war, the Rippers that Bulldozers utilize fire in 3-round bursts with each round dealing similar damage to that of the more standard Shotgunner - Plus, these things will push non-ogryn players back which makes direct melee combat a more harrowing prospect.
Defensively, Bulldozers have a heavy chest plate and shoulder pads that utilize the Carapace type but their heads are unprotected. Furthermore, their chest armor doesn’t cover the backs of Bulldozers which makes them vulnerable both to headshots from afar or backstabs/backshots from any Acolyte circling a Bulldozer in combat.
Dreg Sorcerer
Many in the underhive of Atoma have fallen under the Cult’s sway, and rogue psykers are no exception. These loathed witches are fully indoctrinated in Nurgle’s embrace and make full use of such foul warp energies in his service. Sorcerers are unorthodox combatants that specialize in ranged combat and disruption, firing balls of sickly green energy that can deal moderate corruption damage or larger balls that explode into a sickly puddle that slows down Rejects much like Beasts of Nurgle. Sorcerer’s also utilize more support-oriented powers such as temporarily de-activating a Reject’s blitzes or resetting the cooldown timer of their active abilities. If danger is too close, the Sorcerer may also belch a cloud of rot-flies to push away attackers and deal damage much like how Scab/Dreg Flamers are capable of doing.
Fortunately for the Rejects, Sorcerer’s are among the less durable among the Dreg Elites. While they utilize the Infested armor type due to their devotion, their total health values are fairly low and their green robes offer little protection against a well aimed lasbolt.