Sageheart wrote:I like the new SM codexs, i think they are really interesting and add new things to the game. i would like there to be some way to do the saem thing with orks, eldar, IG, etc.
Of course, everyone likes the fluff. The more fluff and story the better. Rules-wise, though, that's Codex Creep happening why everyone likes them. Name one thing the Vanillas can do that the
BA can't? Now name all the things the
BA can do that the
SM can't. No units specific to
SM... no penalty of any sort for the
BA... but plenty of bonuses, special units, more options. The only thing they don't have is the Vanillas special characters, but that's just fine because they get their own. Take
SW as another example. Superior AND cheaper basic units (grey hunter is 1 point less than a 'nilla, has a
ccw, and has all the
SW special abilities), better psykers, better everything but wah wah we can't combat squad.
Maybe if that could be the defining issues for an all encompassing Marine chapter codex is that different chapters have different psyker powers and different special characters combinations to set apart different chapters (I am so sick of seeing Shrike/Calgar together in the same army for competative fluff-defying cheese). I see no reason why Grey Hunters should be better and cheaper than
SM tactical marines, or why devastators from a precise and well organized army are incapable of co-ordinating their fire like the Long Fangs from a savage and charge-happy army can. Because it sells models and sells books when everyone wants the shiney new better-for-cheaper easy win Codex.
You can use a vanilla codex to make a viable
SW or
BA or
DA or
BT army if you could just get over needing all those little leg-up special rules and bonuses from having a 'special' codex. If you want white scars, take more bikes, if you want dark angels, paint your guys dark green,
BA take more jump packs, etc. They don't all need their own rulebook. If everyone is on the same page ruleswise, with the only differences being between special characters and psykic powers, it would make for a much more even game.
Even better to have some special charater archetypes like 'master psyker', 'hit and run captain' and so on that are available to whichever chapter, but not in conjunction with each other (like Marneus+Shrike leading some army together as I mentioned before). The
BA 'Death Company' doesn't need a fullon codex overhaul, it could just be an assualt squad with some special rules possibilities for add-on options you pay for. Some other home-made chapter could call them the 'kamikazi' or the 'bound-for-doom' or whatever depending on what you want to invent.
There is just NO reason other than fluff, for the
BA to have so many advantages over smurfs, yet no drawback. A balanced codex for all chapters with options for customizing would do far more good for all marine players.