Editing Karlaen (section)

==On the Tabletop==

===for 7th===

Finding rules for Karlaen is a little annoying, since he's inside the Deathstorm expansion for the Shield of Baal expansion (so you don't get him if you bought Shield of Baal box set), and even then he's mediocre at best.

His personal statline at first seems a bit...meh. Just a regular old captain in terminator armor with the bonus of an iron halo and a MC Thunder hammer and counter-attack. He can get the job done if used proper, but other named characters will most likely come out on top over him (looking at you [[Darnath Lysander|Lysander]]!) 

...And then you take a look at what he does to the Formation he gets attached to. +1 to seize the initiative rolls, in addition you can re-roll any reserve rolls, failed or successful. Holy balls! For a deep-striking army like the blood angels this is utter gold. Turning your entire force into an alpha striking juggernaut that can deep strike onto your enemy's molars on the first turn.

In the end, Karlaen, just like Krom Dragongaze before him, is a character you'll choose to play, because you like his fluff and model, and not so much for his rules. If you are out to forge the narrative and create some new quest for your favourite heroes, Karlaen, Krom and the rest of the newly introduced characters from the Stormclaw, and Deathstorm are your men. If you are out to win you some tournaments, leave him for some [[Chapter Master Smashfucker|overpowered unfluffy bullshit]].

===In 8th/9th Edition===
The Hammer of Baal has become a standard Relic, so if you want to field this guy, just have a Terminator Captain wield it. Making for a pretty durable and killy melee fighter. Stock him with his normal storm-bolter and let him go. Not much fluff to go on as to what his warlord trait would be other than the codex saying that he's good at planning and he's usually pretty dour--sooo...I dunno...Soulwarden? Just roll for it, you really can't go wrong. Giving The Veritas Vitae to a Lieutenant could also be worth dipping another CP if you REEEEAALLY wanted to fluff it as his tactical acumen--I mean VV, it's always worth it, but this is for if you just want a fluff battle.