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So between the handful of games I've played against the Warriors of Chaos book and multitude of army lists I've seen here on Dakka, one common theme has stood out: There are a LOT more devotees of Slaanesh than there were before. At 5 points for characters and 10 points for units (except Spawn and Giants), it's not only the cheapest Mark, but arguably the most powerful. It gives the benefit of Immune to Psychology without the drawback. Look around at your local Chaos players - how many have most of their units with the Mark of Slaanesh?

So I'm wondering if it's just me, or does the community at large think that Slaanesh might have been sent a little over-the-top?

You Make Da Call.

I usually take my marauder horsemen with MOS and warriors and knights with MON. I just don't like autobreaking against fear causers, my friends play them constantly. When it comes down to regular tests I find the rerolls that all the units get usually take care of things without having to resort to MOS.

So they are immune to Panic. Not that big a change when you consider vanilla Chaos get re-rolls on Panic anyways. Fear and Terror Immunity is quote tasty though.

Mark of Khorne is good as well. Making stuff Frenzied is fun, and thanks to units of exceedingly cheap Chaos hounds, the baiting tactic can be minimised.

Nurgle. -1 to hit, or -1 to WS. Thats damned good, as it keeps your stuff alive a lot longer.

Tzeentch is a tad weak on it's todd, but stacks nicely with other things.

ANd now that the Mark of Undivided is gone, you no longer trade out your re-roll for your Mark. Thus Slaanesh actually gives you the least benefit out the lot. And speaking as a player who regularly plays his Dark Elves with 4 Terror Causers, it is very rare Terror has that big an impact on the game. Of course, when it does work the result are spectacular.

So, no, I wouldn't say it's overpowered at all.

The no fleeing being such a huge downside was one of the main reasons they weren't taken before. Being immune to fear without a downside isnt a huge bonus if you consider most armies don't cause fear often and therefore it doesn't work against most of them.
The fact that the two predominant armies do cause fear is more of a balance thing and I am all for them getting hosed a little.

cypher wrote:The no fleeing being such a huge downside was one of the main reasons they weren't taken before. Being immune to fear without a downside isnt a huge bonus if you consider most armies don't cause fear often and therefore it doesn't work against most of them.
The fact that the two predominant armies do cause fear is more of a balance thing and I am all for them getting hosed a little.

The armies that do cause are pre-dominant, because they cause fear. You have to prepare for them. It's like playing against magic - if you don't prepare for it, you will get in trouble quickly.

Armies that cause fear: TK, VC, Demons. Armies that have the ability to have one or more fear- or terror-causing units: the above, plus WE, O & G, Empire, DE, HE, mortal Chaos... in short all armies except for Dwarfs (they can also, but the rune is too expensive to ever see the tabletop)

So, since all armies have the capability, you need to prepare for it. The Mk of Slaneesh does so, admirably. It's a good mark. 10 points per unit is a no-brainer, unless you have any other Mark you would prefer to use. Let's ask this: in any army, if you had the option to pay 10 points per core choice and make them immune to psychology, would you? Yes. Same answer if it is 30 points. so, I would say that it is a little bit undercosted.

I'd say nurgle's way more powerful.

Armies that cause fear: TK, VC, Demons. Armies that have the ability to have one or more fear- or terror-causing units: the above, plus WE, O & G, Empire, DE, HE, mortal Chaos... in short all armies except for Dwarfs (they can also, but the rune is too expensive to ever see the tabletop)

im not saying you dont see much fear, im saying that generally multiple fear causing units only come from VC and demons (TK being rare currently). Leadership 9 (characters) will see you past most fear causers.

In a tournament army i think nurgle is the better and more powerful choice. (slanesh on any marauder cav though)

Useful? Yes, very. Overpowered? Not a chance. It competes for other nasty marks (Nurgle, Khorne) and offers some low priced stability in an army lacking the LD of some other armies yet still largely dependent on pushing past shooting and magic.

The big benefit is on marauders, chariots, and the like, since knights already enjoy fear. Sadly, there is little reason to take the MoS on a character as he can simply join a MoS unit and gain the benefit while packing MoN or MoT for the defensive benefit.

In general Chaos are the bullys of Warhammer they are big, mean and tough but if you give them a good hit on their nose they will run away crying. The MoS just makes it a little more difficult to do that but in no way does it completely change the way they are to be played.