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So, what's everyone's opinions on creating a custom codex? It obviously couldn't be used in a tournament per se but fluff-wise, in and out of store casual gameplay, that kind of thing.

You see, I've got it planned out and I want to release it on Dakka, basing it on the different codices of the last few editions for Imperial Guard and Space Marines for the Drassilian Honour Guard, my red and black Astra Militarum units. I think it could be pretty cool, though it'd need game testing against all the armies and different objective games. The main reason is because I would like my own custom HQ characters (Such as General Marius) and models to have their own special rules that suit my army's fluff and also the types of warfare I prefer, and fluff-wise it would be pretty nice.

It would be based on a mix of Roman culture and the Kingdom of Stromgarde of Blizz's World of Warcraft, with a hint of the warrior society of Sparta, but put into the 41st Millenium.

What are your thoughts? Has it been done? Has it ever been good? Have you ever done it? Which forum do I even put it on?

Lots of people try to make custom stuff, a lot of the time it ends up looking like Timmy's stuff.

Here's the problem with custom codices.
1. They will generally be seen by people at your store as too overpowered and "Mary Sue" for use, no matter how balanced. (Homebrew Effect)
2. People do not like using non-official rules, and will not let you run your specific set of non-official rules in pickup games.
3. Barring incredible exceptions, your army is not unique enough to warrant its own codex. Find equivalents in IG codex, run that. If you don't like the IG codex, run it as IG with some Tau allies (if you have exoskeletons, for example)

I believe there have been one or two custom codexes written that I would actually consider playing, so it's not impossible, but about as hard as (forgive the esoteric reference) writing a successful 001-proposal on the SCP wiki.

 MarsNZ wrote:
Lots of people try to make custom stuff, a lot of the time it ends up looking like Timmy's stuff.

...Did Dakka spawn a new meme?

 Verviedi wrote:
Here's the problem with custom codices.
1. They will generally be seen by people at your store as too overpowered and "Mary Sue" for use, no matter how balanced. (Homebrew Effect)
2. People do not like using non-official rules, and will not let you run your specific set of non-official rules in pickup games.
3. Barring incredible exceptions, your army is not unique enough to warrant its own codex. Find equivalents in IG codex, run that. If you don't like the IG codex, run it as IG with some Tau allies (if you have exoskeletons, for example)

I believe there have been one or two custom codexes written that I would actually consider playing, so it's not impossible, but about as hard as (forgive the esoteric reference) writing a successful 001-proposal on the SCP wiki.

 MarsNZ wrote:
Lots of people try to make custom stuff, a lot of the time it ends up looking like Timmy's stuff.

...Did Dakka spawn a new meme?

I do see your points, though the IG have innumerable types of armies. I mean look at the difference between the worlds, compare the Mordian Iron Guard to the Attilan Rough Riders. The same applies for Drassilia, though I completely agree if you compare say, Cadians and Valhallans as a lot of their weapons and tactics are similar.

I wouldn't use it against anyone I don't know well, of course. We have a group of 5 of us that have knew each other for years, and we've created custom units for campaigns that we've agreed on and some of them I've spoken to seem okay with it... I just trust in the Dakka community a fair bit more than most forums and it could improve the games we have if we get more feedback.

The problem is, I'm fluffier than a bunny, and I couldn't run my Drassilians with a Xeno army, and only an SM army if there was a very good fluff reason. And the units, vehicles, Commanders and even formations that Drassilians use are different to IG. I was thinking of having a "DIG IN" formation that meant they can't move and the range on their weapons are halved but they have a +2 to their cover save or something like that, or a forced march which halves their armour saves and stops them from firing and all models in the unit must stand 1 inch from each other but they have double movement. Maybe they're terrible ideas... Maybe not, which is why I'm asking.

You say it's not impossible... So perhaps there's a chance, perhaps I can improve it to meet everyone's advice and needs and it might do well, and if not I'll say screw it and go back to IG.

 MarsNZ wrote:
Lots of people try to make custom stuff, a lot of the time it ends up looking like Timmy's stuff.

I've just looked at that.... It's not pretty. In fact the word I'd use is disheartening....

I certainly hope mine doesn't go that bad.

Angry Marine codex checks out.

Well, here are some broad tips and advice for building your own codex:

1. Keep things simple. The biggest error that I see amateur codex-writers do is that they get completely wrapped up in new rules, new units and ESPECIALLY new tables. Creating those things is fun, and it is great to put it all in your imagination, but you really need to keep a rein on it, otherwise it is completely out of control and you have some really insane amounts of rolls to make. For example, some time ago on this board, someone created a daemonhost kind of character who required 2 2d6 table rolls every movement phase, and about 4 or 5 of those 2d6 results required either additional rolls on other tables, or note-taking. Another example was a "Marine Chapter" codex that literally had no Marines, every unit was something else, had different weapons and rules.

So when you get to your codex, keep things controlled and simple. Get your basic idea in mind of how you want the army to behave on the tabletop and come up with a handful of rules that support that.

2. Start small and build up. This is purely in reference to power and strength. It is much easier to start with something underpowered and gradually walk it up than to decide an overpowered rule is your cornerstone and not shift from it. Keep your rules and buffs modest at first, it is much easier to shift them up than down.

3. Do not have "false weaknesses". This is another very common issue I see from a new unit/codex writer. They create super powerful units, but heavily emphasize a weakness. The biggest example is some WS9, S10, A128 berserker with AP2 coming out of his ears given a 'weakness' of BS2. It's a false weakness cause you're never shooting with that guy anyway.

Anyway, that's some starting advice, the best place to go to post it is Proposed Rules. Good luck!

 curran12 wrote:
Well, here are some broad tips and advice for building your own codex:

1. Keep things simple. The biggest error that I see amateur codex-writers do is that they get completely wrapped up in new rules, new units and ESPECIALLY new tables. Creating those things is fun, and it is great to put it all in your imagination, but you really need to keep a rein on it, otherwise it is completely out of control and you have some really insane amounts of rolls to make. For example, some time ago on this board, someone created a daemonhost kind of character who required 2 2d6 table rolls every movement phase, and about 4 or 5 of those 2d6 results required either additional rolls on other tables, or note-taking. Another example was a "Marine Chapter" codex that literally had no Marines, every unit was something else, had different weapons and rules.

So when you get to your codex, keep things controlled and simple. Get your basic idea in mind of how you want the army to behave on the tabletop and come up with a handful of rules that support that.

2. Start small and build up. This is purely in reference to power and strength. It is much easier to start with something underpowered and gradually walk it up than to decide an overpowered rule is your cornerstone and not shift from it. Keep your rules and buffs modest at first, it is much easier to shift them up than down.

3. Do not have "false weaknesses". This is another very common issue I see from a new unit/codex writer. They create super powerful units, but heavily emphasize a weakness. The biggest example is some WS9, S10, A128 berserker with AP2 coming out of his ears given a 'weakness' of BS2. It's a false weakness cause you're never shooting with that guy anyway.

Anyway, that's some starting advice, the best place to go to post it is Proposed Rules. Good luck!

That was a very useful post, thank you!

I will try to keep things realistic, and so far I've tried making things underpowered like you said, to prevent loads of overpowered-ness from occurring in which case nobody would trust me with using the codex anymore.

And I do see your point on false weaknesses, yes.

Thank you, I will write it up, ask my friends, use it in games against a few armies, just to make any adjustments before posting it.