With how lacking the faction is and the potential of the spread out sub-factions I'm pretty confident Death is getting models to fill the gaps. AoS army releases at least have 3 a year so even factoring in Nurgle and Shadowkin there's still a spot for Death.
As for what the event's about. I think the biggest take away is the hint that everyone will be paying the price at the end, even chaos.
So I'm betting on a big event similar to the Summer Campaign.
So they spoke about this at WHW. They have said the Sigmar has had his time and the time of hope is drawing to a end.
The age of Death is coming to Sigmar (hense the new logo) and have said each grand alliance will get a new herald model (I'm assuming death will be getting more, the word on the grapevine is deathrattle).
Expect to see the fluff to develop to show Sigmars grip on the mortal realms weaken.
Whatever it is, I'm honestly just glad to see the focus shift away from Order for a bit. I'm as excited as the next guy at the prospect of Aelves, Nurgle, and Slaanesh in the future, but it's time for someone other than Order or Chaos to get the spotlight for a bit.
EnTyme wrote: Whatever it is, I'm honestly just glad to see the focus shift away from Order for a bit. I'm as excited as the next guy at the prospect of Aelves, Nurgle, and Slaanesh in the future, but it's time for someone other than Order or Chaos to get the spotlight for a bit.
the fokus on order aint the issue, it is the mono fokus on the sigmarines and total ingnorance of everything else from fantasy that is.
elves should have had a battletome 2 years ago.........
I'd be amazed if after their awesome new skellies for ShadeSpire they didn't make anymore for a Death focused year.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to the setting shift as the realms become embroiled in conflict once more. Cities to rise and fall and new warriors to arise to combat the hordes.
The age of hope may fall but an age of glory awaits.
EnTyme wrote: Whatever it is, I'm honestly just glad to see the focus shift away from Order for a bit. I'm as excited as the next guy at the prospect of Aelves, Nurgle, and Slaanesh in the future, but it's time for someone other than Order or Chaos to get the spotlight for a bit.
the fokus on order aint the issue, it is the mono fokus on the sigmarines and total ingnorance of everything else from fantasy that is.
elves should have had a battletome 2 years ago.........
The problem is the ridiculous amount of focus CHAOS has been getting, especially considering how damaging Chaos's overall powerlevel has been to variety in the competitive scene.
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auticus wrote: Damn so not really a campaign or anything. Story advancing is cool though.
Why does the story advancing make it not a campaign?
EnTyme wrote: Whatever it is, I'm honestly just glad to see the focus shift away from Order for a bit. I'm as excited as the next guy at the prospect of Aelves, Nurgle, and Slaanesh in the future, but it's time for someone other than Order or Chaos to get the spotlight for a bit.
the fokus on order aint the issue, it is the mono fokus on the sigmarines and total ingnorance of everything else from fantasy that is.
elves should have had a battletome 2 years ago.........
The problem is the ridiculous amount of focus CHAOS has been getting, especially considering how damaging Chaos's overall powerlevel has been to variety in the competitive scene.
Since AoS released, Chaos has gotten Khorne Bloodbound/Blades of Khorne (which is considered fairly mediocre) and Disciples of Tzeentch (which is what I assume you're referring to when talking about Chaos' power level). Order has gotten Stormcast Eternals, Seraphon, Stormcast Eternals, Sylvaneth, Stormcast Eternals, Kharadron Overlords, and Stormcast Eternals. These two Grand Alliances have definitely gotten the most attention, but I don't see how you can say Chaos is the main problem.
EnTyme wrote: Whatever it is, I'm honestly just glad to see the focus shift away from Order for a bit. I'm as excited as the next guy at the prospect of Aelves, Nurgle, and Slaanesh in the future, but it's time for someone other than Order or Chaos to get the spotlight for a bit.
the fokus on order aint the issue, it is the mono fokus on the sigmarines and total ingnorance of everything else from fantasy that is. elves should have had a battletome 2 years ago.........
The problem is the ridiculous amount of focus CHAOS has been getting, especially considering how damaging Chaos's overall powerlevel has been to variety in the competitive scene.
Since AoS released, Chaos has gotten Khorne Bloodbound/Blades of Khorne (which is considered fairly mediocre) and Disciples of Tzeentch (which is what I assume you're referring to when talking about Chaos' power level). Order has gotten Stormcast Eternals, Seraphon, Stormcast Eternals, Sylvaneth, Stormcast Eternals, Kharadron Overlords, and Stormcast Eternals. These two Grand Alliances have definitely gotten the most attention, but I don't see how you can say Chaos is the main problem.
Stormcast Eternals and Khorne Bloodbound came out at the same time. Stormcast Eternals did get the "Extremis Chamber" book, which was just the Dracothian stuff, in the intervening time before the first General's Handbook but once we saw the introduction of some stuff like points and relics?
Khorne Bloodbound and Stormcast Eternals both got issued a new book; with Stormcast having all their stuff rolled into one book.
As far as books, yes, but how many new kits have Stormcast received since launch versus every other faction combined? I never said they're the only faction to receive support, but ERJAK seems to be saying that somehow Chaos has gotten all the focus. The only other release I can think of other than the ones I mentioned was the Blightwars set, but that was also a Stormcast release. I guess Nurgle is supposed to be getting a release soon, too. My initial statement, though, was that I was happy to see something other than Order and Chaos getting some love. I really don't see, though, how anyone can see Chaos as being the real issue here.
EnTyme wrote: As far as books, yes, but how many new kits have Stormcast received since launch versus every other faction combined? I never said they're the only faction to receive support, but ERJAK seems to be saying that somehow Chaos has gotten all the focus. The only other release I can think of other than the ones I mentioned was the Blightwars set, but that was also a Stormcast release. I guess Nurgle is supposed to be getting a release soon, too. My initial statement, though, was that I was happy to see something other than Order and Chaos getting some love. I really don't see, though, how anyone can see Chaos as being the real issue here.
So you're just ignoring that Chaos had existing stuff that got beefed up versus a brand new range?
What are you referring to? The fact that the Bloodbound were made somewhat viable with Blades of Khorne? I'd hardly call that a "Chaos focus". And in any case, my original point is still "I'm glad something other than Chaos or Order is getting a little attention".
(Also pleasant flashbacks of Medievil's intro when Zarrok turned Sleeping Village's people into undead minions.)
I had previously mentioned Tzeentch, and I don't count Silver Tower sense it was a stand-alone board game. The AoS rules created for those units were either placeholders until the main Tzeentch release (Tzaangors and Acolytes) or just token rules so people could use them (Grots). But once again, I don't know why you guys are so damned focused on this. I never said "Chaos doesn't have enough. Give me more Chaos!" Someone else implied that Chaos was the alliance that had an unhealthy focus, and I said it wasn't.
EnTyme wrote: What are you referring to? The fact that the Bloodbound were made somewhat viable with Blades of Khorne? I'd hardly call that a "Chaos focus". And in any case, my original point is still "I'm glad something other than Chaos or Order is getting a little attention".
I was referring to the fact that everything for the Stormcast's releases was new. You made a comment about how the Stormcast got a lot of releases. Well duh--they were a new army from the ground up.
Stormcast got a lot of stuff...but it also looks like it was intended to be 3 separate books that then got rolled into themselves for whatever reason.
When one compares the releases in that vein, the stuff they received(which was staggered I might add--each one could have effectively been a "book" on their own) is on par with the other AoS releases that weren't just repacks.
Well, Khorne Bloodbound, Tzeentch Arcanites, Ironjaws and Kharadron Overlords are also new, and Sylvaneth is mostly new, but none of them have received anywhere NEAR the releases Stormcasts had. Khorne had the most, but just about everything that had a Khorne model in it also and a Stormcast model. It just seems weird to me that anyone would try to defend how obviously the last two years had been weighted toward Stormcasts.
EnTyme wrote: Well, Khorne Bloodbound, Tzeentch Arcanites, Ironjaws and Kharadron Overlords are also new, and Sylvaneth is mostly new, but none of them have received anywhere NEAR the releases Stormcasts had. Khorne had the most, but just about everything that had a Khorne model in it also and a Stormcast model. It just seems weird to me that anyone would try to defend how obviously the last two years had been weighted toward Stormcasts.
Like I said, it was also obvious that Stormcast were meant to be separated into three different "armies". For whatever reason, that got changed. We saw book I(Stormcast Eternals) and book II(Extremis Chamber)...but then they reversed ideas and built them into one massive book.
Look at them in that context, as I said, and suddenly things make more sense as to why I'm defending the concept.
Warrior Chamber: Liberators Judicators Paladins(three different units get built from this) Prosecutors The majority of characters(don't know why they got so many aside from to tie them up with Khorne. The Heraldors got a second sculpt for whatever reason and the Veritant and Castellant could have been a single kit if necessary) Celestant-Prime Gryph-Hounds
Extremis Chamber: Stardrake kit(builts two different hero options) Dracothian Guard kit(three different units plus builts a generic Lord-Celestant on Dracoth with any of the weapon options that the Dracothian Guard variants have)
Vanguard Chamber: Hunters Raptors Palladors Lord-Aquilor Naeve(not yet available solo)
To put it in perspective, Sylvaneth(a combination rebox/rebranding and new army) saw: Alarielle(new) Drycha with Mechatree Action(new) Branchwych(new) Branchwraith(repackaged/rebranded Drycha from the Wood Elf range) Tree-Revenants/Spite-Revenants(dual kit box) Kurnoth Hunters(new) Tree-Man(triple build box--Tree Lord, Tree Lord Ancient, or Spirit of Durthu) Dryads(repackage/rebranded from the Wood Elf range)
That's about on par with the Vanguard...which looks like it would have been a relatively "elite" army;something fast moving and hard-hitting.
I really don't have anything against the Stormcast faction, I've actually grown to like their fluff. I'd just like to see something of the other factions and alliances get a chance to grow. I'm anxious to see how some of the legacy factions fit into the AoS lore, and I feel like focusing so much on a few armies has really slowed the process down.
Alright, well we're starting to drag this thread off topic, so let's just go back to speculating at the interpretation of dreams and discussing that cool new champion they just teased!
pm713 wrote: So instead of focusing entirely on one army they were supposed to focus entirely on it's three subfactions? That's not really better.
You forget that we have some subfactions that, as of right now, consist of two or three units.
Shadowblades, for example, are Dark Riders and Assassins. Nothing else.
I'm, personally, thinking that's why it has taken so long for more books to come out. It seems like their intentions were to keep up minibooks and campaigns to roll out new armies rather than just rolling out new armies.
But with the reaction that happened? They've gone back and tried to make "complete" armies to release all at once instead of as part of campaigns/lore advancement.
auticus wrote: Damn so not really a campaign or anything. Story advancing is cool though.
Why does the story advancing make it not a campaign?
campaign like firestorm set or realmgate series, the story advancing has "in story" campaign, but not a physical product like blightwar set or the other two.
pm713 wrote: So instead of focusing entirely on one army they were supposed to focus entirely on it's three subfactions? That's not really better.
You forget that we have some subfactions that, as of right now, consist of two or three units.
Shadowblades, for example, are Dark Riders and Assassins. Nothing else.
I'm, personally, thinking that's why it has taken so long for more books to come out. It seems like their intentions were to keep up minibooks and campaigns to roll out new armies rather than just rolling out new armies.
But with the reaction that happened? They've gone back and tried to make "complete" armies to release all at once instead of as part of campaigns/lore advancement.
The reaction is probably because a "subfaction" of two units just makes things overly complicated and reinforces the idea GW split things for copyright. As well making three subfactions just for Stormcast that have a decent amount of units comes across just as badly as one big army. Both get too much focus.
auticus wrote: Damn so not really a campaign or anything. Story advancing is cool though.
Why does the story advancing make it not a campaign?
campaign like firestorm set or realmgate series, the story advancing has "in story" campaign, but not a physical product like blightwar set or the other two.
I meant campaign as in a campaign book. A physical campaign product.
auticus wrote: Damn so not really a campaign or anything. Story advancing is cool though.
Why does the story advancing make it not a campaign?
campaign like firestorm set or realmgate series, the story advancing has "in story" campaign, but not a physical product like blightwar set or the other two.
I meant campaign as in a campaign book. A physical campaign product.
so interesting bit of lore dropped in a white dwarf leak; they finally explained how undeath is different to nurgle, saying that the magic to make undead things leaves beings in a state of stasis instead of allowing them to decay and make new things via demonic rot. so the magic that binds such undead things allows nothing new to grow from corpses, only withering and a transformation to such magic.
The fantasy side has never had Nurgle zombies, that's always been an exclusively 40k thing. That's why I keep trying to tell people there won't be AoS poxwalkers.
NinthMusketeer wrote: The fantasy side has never had Nurgle zombies, that's always been an exclusively 40k thing. That's why I keep trying to tell people there won't be AoS poxwalkers.
oh yea, I guess they don't! okay no problem.
now what is the difference between khorne and vampires in regards for the blood lust?
Tiger9gamer wrote: so interesting bit of lore dropped in a white dwarf leak; they finally explained how undeath is different to nurgle, saying that the magic to make undead things leaves beings in a state of stasis instead of allowing them to decay and make new things via demonic rot. so the magic that binds such undead things allows nothing new to grow from corpses, only withering and a transformation to such magic.
here are the pictures from january's white dwarf, which explains the concept.
Thats been around for quite some time - its one of the reasons that the undead have fought Chaos - especially the Vampires - who also have the they need mortals with actual blood in their veins not pus, maggots or something else (this was also previously why they were not keen on Nagash killing Everything - Nagash of course does not care and if everythig is dead and in his service, souless and unchanging - Choas is no longer a threat to him.
now what is the difference between khorne and vampires in regards for the blood lust
Vampires feed on blood to "live" - they often enjoy it but they must to a greater or lesser extent do so (well except if you drink the blood of a Dragon but thats rare), the actual drinking of blood is secondary for Khornate worshipers - who are about the killing itself - skulls for the Skull throne. Khorne wants blood to flow - he cares not from where it comes or if its drunk or not.
Tiger9gamer wrote: so interesting bit of lore dropped in a white dwarf leak; they finally explained how undeath is different to nurgle, saying that the magic to make undead things leaves beings in a state of stasis instead of allowing them to decay and make new things via demonic rot. so the magic that binds such undead things allows nothing new to grow from corpses, only withering and a transformation to such magic.
here are the pictures from january's white dwarf, which explains the concept.
Thats been around for quite some time - its one of the reasons that the undead have fought Chaos - especially the Vampires - who also have the they need mortals with actual blood in their veins not pus, maggots or something else (this was also previously why they were not keen on Nagash killing Everything - Nagash of course does not care and if everythig is dead and in his service, souless and unchanging - Choas is no longer a threat to him.
now what is the difference between khorne and vampires in regards for the blood lust
Vampires feed on blood to "live" - they often enjoy it but they must to a greater or lesser extent do so (well except if you drink the blood of a Dragon but thats rare), the actual drinking of blood is secondary for Khornate worshipers - who are about the killing itself - skulls for the Skull throne. Khorne wants blood to flow - he cares not from where it comes or if its drunk or not.
okay, that helps me also, seeing as i'm not as well versed in the AoS fluff as I am 40k. Thanks again, as I couldn't really find that explanation on a wiki
Pretty much what Morden said. Drinking blood is symbolic or ceremonial for Khorne worshipers; Khorne wants the blood spilled but even in that case 'blood' is somewhat symbolic for mortals/creatures being slain. Vampires literally drink blood to survive, but it's also a drug that they can over indulge on and go crazy (this was the old fluff for Varghulfs; vampires that did not control their bloodlust), I believe vargheists are the eventual fate for blood-bingers nowadays. For vampires that do control themselves they need less blood as they get older; the likes of Mannfred or Neferata may very well not need to at all.
The old fluff involved them being entombed specifically within the Von Carstein catacombs where warpstone did indeed mutate them. Now they are described as vampires that "have lost the last shreds of humanity".
Warpstone is still a thing, along with realmstone. Realmstone is basically warpstone without chaos corruption.
Do you think Nagash accidently handed the chief architect the blueprints upside down, and nobody dared ask him if it was supposed to look like that when completed?
Mangod wrote: Do you think Nagash accidently handed the chief architect the blueprints upside down, and nobody dared ask him if it was supposed to look like that when completed?
Whatever the boss wants. If he wants floating black pyramid that's upside down, then that is what he's going to get.
Mangod wrote: Do you think Nagash accidently handed the chief architect the blueprints upside down, and nobody dared ask him if it was supposed to look like that when completed?
Whatever the boss wants. If he wants floating black pyramid that's upside down, then that is what he's going to get.
So on Facebook they were asking questions and said that new model lines are planned for AoS this year. Death of some sort is obvious. What could the second be? Dare we dream of a third?
Gamgee wrote: So on Facebook they were asking questions and said that new model lines are planned for AoS this year. Death of some sort is obvious. What could the second be? Dare we dream of a third?
Unaligned Chaos barbarians, Goblins and Ghosts? 't would fit with the Heralds.
Gamgee wrote: So on Facebook they were asking questions and said that new model lines are planned for AoS this year. Death of some sort is obvious. What could the second be? Dare we dream of a third?
Unaligned Chaos barbarians, Goblins and Ghosts? 't would fit with the Heralds.
I really would love to see a golbins battletome come out, I was planning on jumping straight into the nurgle train with their release coming out, but now I am gonna wait a bit to see if any goblins are on the horizon.
Gamgee wrote: So on Facebook they were asking questions and said that new model lines are planned for AoS this year. Death of some sort is obvious. What could the second be? Dare we dream of a third?
Unaligned Chaos barbarians, Goblins and Ghosts? 't would fit with the Heralds.
It’ll probably be a new line of storm cast and 2 new chaos lines.
Aelves are all but confirmed, rumors are saying there will be TWO factions of Aelves (light/dark?). Potentially a new Death faction but not sure of that. The rest I think is wishful thinking, but it depends if they need to bring out new model ranges or not; if not then you could very well see a Moonclan battletome and reboxing, without adding new models.
Wayniac wrote: Aelves are all but confirmed, rumors are saying there will be TWO factions of Aelves (light/dark?). Potentially a new Death faction but not sure of that. The rest I think is wishful thinking, but it depends if they need to bring out new model ranges or not; if not then you could very well see a Moonclan battletome and reboxing, without adding new models.
Today's video definitely feels like Morathi. After the whole "watching, waiting" thing two weeks ago not being Xenos, though, I can't guarantee that the LVO reveal won't be more Custodes.
Wayniac wrote: Aelves are all but confirmed, rumors are saying there will be TWO factions of Aelves (light/dark?). Potentially a new Death faction but not sure of that. The rest I think is wishful thinking, but it depends if they need to bring out new model ranges or not; if not then you could very well see a Moonclan battletome and reboxing, without adding new models.
The "rumors" are built off of stuff we already know.
We know there are three factions(as in whole nations of them rather than scattered colonies/clans), at least of Aelves. Wanderers. This part is a bit speculative but it is mentioned that they're starting to gather and there were hintings at them having something in the works. Tyrion and his Light Aelves in the Realm of Light. Malerion and his Shadowkin in the Realm of Shadow.
Where things get wonky is how exactly Morathi will fit into things. Her and Malerion are supposed to have joined forces or some such. Seems odd that she's the one speaking for the Shadowkin, if that's what this teaser today actually was.
Marleymoo wrote: So, in the latest Malign Portents story, I reckon the grot cave shaman is just sacrificing weak clans to try to soften up the skeleton forces.
What do you folks think?
Its an odd thing to do as the clans will then just be animated to provide new troops - attrition warfare against the dead is a really bad idea.
Marleymoo wrote: So, in the latest Malign Portents story, I reckon the grot cave shaman is just sacrificing weak clans to try to soften up the skeleton forces.
What do you folks think?
Reckon he's keeping the Dead Gits pinned in place, before they can wander off and worry 'ard gits.
Marleymoo wrote: So, in the latest Malign Portents story, I reckon the grot cave shaman is just sacrificing weak clans to try to soften up the skeleton forces.
What do you folks think?
Its an odd thing to do as the clans will then just be animated to provide new troops - attrition warfare against the dead is a really bad idea.
Unless they're sticking with the obscure Dust Goblins stuff from an equally obscure White Dwarf.
In that teeny snippet, it explains Greenskins, and Gobbos in particular don't make for good Undead - too much of their spiteful malevolence persists to make them biddable.
Marleymoo wrote: So, in the latest Malign Portents story, I reckon the grot cave shaman is just sacrificing weak clans to try to soften up the skeleton forces.
What do you folks think?
Reckon he's keeping the Dead Gits pinned in place, before they can wander off and worry 'ard gits.
Marleymoo wrote: So, in the latest Malign Portents story, I reckon the grot cave shaman is just sacrificing weak clans to try to soften up the skeleton forces.
What do you folks think?
Its an odd thing to do as the clans will then just be animated to provide new troops - attrition warfare against the dead is a really bad idea.
Unless they're sticking with the obscure Dust Goblins stuff from an equally obscure White Dwarf.
In that teeny snippet, it explains Greenskins, and Gobbos in particular don't make for good Undead - too much of their spiteful malevolence persists to make them biddable.
Hmm interesting - don't recall that - is it AOS or WtW? Don't suppose you can recall which WD as like to have a read of that.
In the old world we had greenskins being animated - the Cursed Company even had models, Chaos Champions are being animated in the current MP stories. Maybe they will do that Gorkamorka gives them resistance - be an interesting element to add to the mix.
I picked this up today at the FGS. It's a hard cover fairly thin-ish book. It has about a half dozen scenarios to play out and gives you some rules for wizards and general''s command traits. It also has a command point type mechanic similar to 40k. It also has nice art and some fluff.
If they had done this over, say, three White Dwarf issues I don't think I would feel as disappointed even though the price would have been slightly higher. I think I was expecting more game meat.
Pros: It's cheap, the fluff is good, a lot of the ideas seem interesting.
Cons: Like basically everything here will never see the light of day in any sort of Matched Play game, even though there are two pitched battle scenarios that don't seem too bad. The Prophecy Points stink of Command Points/Stratagems from 40k (which I absolutely despise). The realm of death rules aren't actually crazy unbalanced, but have enough bonuses that you'll never see them used. The Skirmish part was pretty lackluster (but so is Skirmish itself)
So basically, another cool idea that will be totally ignored because it doesn't really fit into the "100% balance" matched play concept so prevalent in the game. Like most interesting things, there are just too many potentials to get bonuses and whatnot for it to be accepted.
For me the issue with non-matched play content is there's already tons of it. There is so much narrative/open play content available that my gaming community would never really play through it all beyond a superficial level even if we didn't do matched play at all. More stuff I'll never get around to seeing on the table doesn't excite me as much as updating/refining what's already there. The path to glory supplement, for example, we get a bunch of mileage out of. To me the battletomes have the right mix since there's something in there for everyone. It would've been great to see the time of war rules rolled into the recent Nagash battletome.
That said, I liked the old campaign books but those were more focused on things to try out/adapt like scenarios/times of war rather than side-rules to layer on top of the game. But that really nails it; I'd rather see more things to do within 'vanilla' AoS than 'expansion packs' that add more laters to the game when allegiance already fills that role.
I also dig me some new fluff so pretty happy on that angle regardless.
I view the book as rules for fighting in the realms of Death.
I am running a two month campaign in April and May, expanding on GW's "choose your own" adventure idea, but incorporating skirmish and Hammerhal as well (rewritten as the dungeons below one of the manses)
I enjoy material like this, but if you don't have an organizer or someone running events using it, I can definitely see no one bothering to pick it up.
I think in our area they sold 2-3 of the book and that was it. There will be more because I'm running an event out of it but otherwise the interest level in my area is near nil because its not tournament oriented.
I do kinda wish the harbingers did more for a variety of armies. They only benefit specific subfactions, for the most part. Like my Flesh-Eater Courts have zero reason to take a Knight of Shrouds.
Why not? IMO, they add a layer of strategy and can help to mitigate a string of bad rolls. It's one thing I've been hoping to see added to AoS for a while now. Personally, I'm glad to see them.
I bought the queen and will use her in my Chaos army. My local store seems to be participating in the campaign, so hey, maybe I'll even get to use her with all this portent stuff. No idea if she actually does anything for Blades of Khorne one way or another, but the model is too pretty to pass up.
EnTyme wrote: Why not? IMO, they add a layer of strategy and can help to mitigate a string of bad rolls. It's one thing I've been hoping to see added to AoS for a while now. Personally, I'm glad to see them.
I can think of a couple of reasons:
1. No idea how the portents are handled, but stratagems depend on how your army is built which is in no way balanced across armies. As a result, some armies simply get more use out of them than others. That can't be desirable.
2. Stratagems are typically front loaded to improve or enable an alpha strike. They don't so much turn around situations or games as prevent games from happening at all.
3. Stratagems are used much more in the list building stage than the game itself. Instead of improving the game by using a tactical option that is wise at the time, and thus using the entire breadth of option available, lists are built around a handful of options, and thus those are the options employed because the decision which tactical choice is the wisest has long been made when the game is played.
I think Age of Sigmar is better off sticking with (carefully distributed) command abilities than adopting stratagems. Stratagems are the formations of 8th ed: you get something for free, but your opponent gets so much more for free that you aren't even playing the same game anymore.
Geifer wrote: I bought the queen and will use her in my Chaos army. My local store seems to be participating in the campaign, so hey, maybe I'll even get to use her with all this portent stuff. No idea if she actually does anything for Blades of Khorne one way or another, but the model is too pretty to pass up.
EnTyme wrote: Why not? IMO, they add a layer of strategy and can help to mitigate a string of bad rolls. It's one thing I've been hoping to see added to AoS for a while now. Personally, I'm glad to see them.
I can think of a couple of reasons:
1. No idea how the portents are handled, but stratagems depend on how your army is built which is in no way balanced across armies. As a result, some armies simply get more use out of them than others. That can't be desirable.
2. Stratagems are typically front loaded to improve or enable an alpha strike. They don't so much turn around situations or games as prevent games from happening at all.
3. Stratagems are used much more in the list building stage than the game itself. Instead of improving the game by using a tactical option that is wise at the time, and thus using the entire breadth of option available, lists are built around a handful of options, and thus those are the options employed because the decision which tactical choice is the wisest has long been made when the game is played.
I think Age of Sigmar is better off sticking with (carefully distributed) command abilities than adopting stratagems. Stratagems are the formations of 8th ed: you get something for free, but your opponent gets so much more for free that you aren't even playing the same game anymore.
Disclaimer: Anecdotal evidence is anecdotal.
You should probably read the portents before you comment on them.
I just don't like stratagems in general. They add a strong unbalanced element. Although I do like the way MP handled it better than how 40k handles them. I especially liked how the matched play version gives you static prophecy points, you can't "game" the system to get more.
Geifer wrote: I bought the queen and will use her in my Chaos army. My local store seems to be participating in the campaign, so hey, maybe I'll even get to use her with all this portent stuff. No idea if she actually does anything for Blades of Khorne one way or another, but the model is too pretty to pass up.
EnTyme wrote: Why not? IMO, they add a layer of strategy and can help to mitigate a string of bad rolls. It's one thing I've been hoping to see added to AoS for a while now. Personally, I'm glad to see them.
I can think of a couple of reasons:
1. No idea how the portents are handled, but stratagems depend on how your army is built which is in no way balanced across armies. As a result, some armies simply get more use out of them than others. That can't be desirable.
2. Stratagems are typically front loaded to improve or enable an alpha strike. They don't so much turn around situations or games as prevent games from happening at all.
3. Stratagems are used much more in the list building stage than the game itself. Instead of improving the game by using a tactical option that is wise at the time, and thus using the entire breadth of option available, lists are built around a handful of options, and thus those are the options employed because the decision which tactical choice is the wisest has long been made when the game is played.
I think Age of Sigmar is better off sticking with (carefully distributed) command abilities than adopting stratagems. Stratagems are the formations of 8th ed: you get something for free, but your opponent gets so much more for free that you aren't even playing the same game anymore.
Disclaimer: Anecdotal evidence is anecdotal.
You should probably read the portents before you comment on them.
Good thing I commented on stratagems and not portents then, isn't it?
I definitely agree that they were handled better in AoS than 40k. I think the gap will be better in 40k once every faction has a codex, though. Hopefully, this is another case of GW using AoS to "beta test" 40k rules, and CP will be standardized in the next version of CA.
I think it needs to be. But that's neither here nor there. I sadly feel, as I said originally, like most of the malign portents things will be ignored in matched play.
So played a game yesterday using Malign Portents. Made the game quite interesting and threw some unexpected things at us.
First thing I noticed was that I had a distict advantage when genereating points because I played DoT. I had 6 Wizards on the table vs his 2. I generated between 7 and 9 points a turn. I think the most he generated was 6. Neither of us had a Harbinger (he had Nagash soo....).
I haven't really read the different Portents but they seem to work around a kind of theme. In my case I had rolled the Balemoon which liked to do things on the Opponents turn and mess with units during battleshock. His Portent had some interesting effects, like -6 to shooting range or letting a unit Fly for a turn.
We both found them to not be game breaking while adding some fun elements into the game
One good thing is that the Matched Play scenarios give a fixed number of Prophecy Points, so you won't run into the 40k issue of one side having 30 CP while the other has 6.
I spent some time up at my store over the weekend talking about the Malign Portents thing I was running Apr - May. We have about 12 interested to play, but of the 12 I'm the only one that has the Malign Portents book. No one was interested in picking that up or in using the rules.
The rules will be in effect for the campaign but will largely not be used by the bulk of the players unless I am there because there is no incentive for them to buy the book since it won't be used in typical matched play.
EnTyme wrote: One good thing is that the Matched Play scenarios give a fixed number of Prophecy Points, so you won't run into the 40k issue of one side having 30 CP while the other has 6.
Good. I was hoping that would be the case. What is it, like 3 for Vanguard, 6 for battlehost and 9 for warhost?
EnTyme wrote: One good thing is that the Matched Play scenarios give a fixed number of Prophecy Points, so you won't run into the 40k issue of one side having 30 CP while the other has 6.
Good. I was hoping that would be the case. What is it, like 3 for Vanguard, 6 for battlehost and 9 for warhost?
It's 12 for battlehost. Also, fun fact, while you don't get an Extra D6 in matched play or the extra 3 for taking a harbinger, you DO get +1 for every priest or wizard still. Meaning a Tzeentch changehost has enough prophecy points to use EVERY stratagem at MAX power in whatever group of 6 they so choose.
These are far, far worse and far far less balanced than they are at 40k.
To be specific its 3 points for every 500 with an additional 1 for every wizard or priest. Harbingers do not generate points, but if both players have a Harbinger in their collection and NOT in their roster they can field 1 for free. However, if the (free) Harbinger is either a Darkoath Warqueen or the Cave Shaman they can generate 3 additional points. Yeah I don't get it either.
You can get points for playing in Shyish or having a Hero garrisoning a Warscryer Citadel but that's not going to happen even in Open/Narrative play 99% of the time
we have a campaign just started, one of the requirements was that everyone had to have the book, which solved much problems and with games at only 1000pts, the abilities and games I found much more fun. playing the narrative games with matched play points meant at most people had 6 points per tunr.
How is the Malign Portents painting competition going in your areas?
In my local GW and about 30 people signed up for month one, with only about 6 completing the task. (Understandable really, painting a starter box in a month is a big ask.) Month two only 2 of us painted a Harbinger. (I guess the price tag put people off.) Now month three, which should be ending Saturday 31st, the shop is putting on a Forgebane mega battle!
It's as if they completely forgot, or don't care. Did I just waste my time painting all that stuff? :(
Well Tuesday will be the last short story for the Portents as the new edition dawns. Sad to see such amazing shorts come to an end but there's always more amazing lore on the horizon.
At least the Hammerhal Herald will give a slight fix for fluff content as new books and the rpg are released.
Fingers crossed that next year sees such an amazing event with equally glorious trailers as the Soul War concludes, Slaanesh makes literal hell break loose and the mortal realms keep thr Age of Hope alive.
As for the Necroquake, one thing I know about it is that when it struck the other realms it caused Shyish magic to tear great canyons in the lands that unleashed the malevolent NightHaunt hosts in the realms as the native spirits of criminals and the damned are conscripted for Nagash's campaign.
So the NightHaunt battletome should go more into as well show wraiths native to their own realms.(I hope the lightning geists from Azyrheim get represented)
Necroquake and it's effects are detailed in the core booj and I suspect will be in the last short story as well. Suffice it to say that this is the second time Nagash has tried to kill everything and make it undead, and history repeats itself in poetic fashion.
Have they ever? The Elf gods of the old world didn't care much beyond their own little sphere either. I actually like how they emphasized that in the End Times fluff by making Malekith still the rightful heir to the phoenix throne--being burned by the fire was a trial that he simply failed. Asuryion didn't give a dam about morality or quality of character; the bloodline was what mattered.
NinthMusketeer wrote: Have they ever? The Elf gods of the old world didn't care much beyond their own little sphere either. I actually like how they emphasized that in the End Times fluff by making Malekith still the rightful heir to the phoenix throne--being burned by the fire was a trial that he simply failed. Asuryion didn't give a dam about morality or quality of character; the bloodline was what mattered.
Remember that a part of it as well was that his claims that the Flame of Asuryan was tampered with? They were legitimate claims too!
The Elf gods were definitely...interesting. I really want to see what we get out of Kurnous and Lileath now.
NinthMusketeer wrote:Necroquake and it's effects are detailed in the core booj and I suspect will be in the last short story as well. Suffice it to say that this is the second time Nagash has tried to kill everything and make it undead, and history repeats itself in poetic fashion.
Spoiler:
Skaven screw it up.
Is that really how it goes down?
Baron Klatz wrote:Indeed, devs confirmed Tuesday will be the last story as afterward the new edition lands and the Soul Wars finally kicks off.
Darn that's a shame we won't be getting more. I've been enjoying the stories so far.
NinthMusketeer wrote:Necroquake and it's effects are detailed in the core booj and I suspect will be in the last short story as well. Suffice it to say that this is the second time Nagash has tried to kill everything and make it undead, and history repeats itself in poetic fashion.
Spoiler:
Skaven screw it up.
Is that really how it goes down?
Spoiler:
Not that they specifically masterminded the whole thing, more of a 'happy accident' involving the untimely trapping of some elite eshin infiltrators expendable slaves.
NinthMusketeer wrote:Necroquake and it's effects are detailed in the core booj and I suspect will be in the last short story as well. Suffice it to say that this is the second time Nagash has tried to kill everything and make it undead, and history repeats itself in poetic fashion.
Spoiler:
Skaven screw it up.
Is that really how it goes down?
Spoiler:
Not that they specifically masterminded the whole thing, more of a 'happy accident' involving the untimely trapping of some elite eshin infiltrators expendable slaves.
Spoiler:
I'll save my full reaction for when I get about to reading it, but my knee jerk reaction from reading that is that it's really silly. I thought AoS is trying to be serious from here on out.
I found Lileath rough around the edges but even at the end she meant well, doesn't negate the B moments though.
Darn that's a shame we won't be getting more. I've been enjoying the stories so far.
Indeed, hopefully they'll do this again in the future. At least we'll still get free comics and Hammerhal Herald content. There's the Gotrek audio drama and AoSrpg to look forward to as well.
Is that really how it goes down?
Spoiler:
Don't worry, Nagash still pulls through and makes the cackling dark gods finally shut up in the process.
That said he really needs to make use of all the dead ratcatcher souls he has lying around.