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So the current MoS is fairly bleh...

To make it less so (and fairly amazing), what about making it Always strikes first as a universal effect, rather than the current giant/spawn rule.

Obviously considerably more expensive per unit but a very useful effect. What think you? (it would be overruled by magic items with this ability).

I wouldn't have any problems with it. If every goddamn High Elf gets it, then why shouldn't the disciples of an exeptionally agile god have it..?
The cost would be quite similar to how much MoK and MoN costs, I think.

While that would work for Warriors of Chaos and the like, wouldn't that require the Herald of Slaanesh to be redone, as I believe he currently grants ASF to any Daemonettes he joins?

And lo, everybody's Slaanesh dudes from 7th edition would suddenly start worshiping Slaanesh again

I'd be fine with a fairly cheap +1I ala 40k, with ASF for spawn/giants/heroes. Actually, I miss the Horde marking system, where heroes, chariots and minotaurs (probably other things) got amped up versions of their marks while the scrubs got more generic ones. Like nurgle characters cause fear and have +1W, while RNF just cause fear. But I guess that's complicated, which makes GeeDub cry

- Salvage

ASF might be a little too mighty for rank and file, but I do like the idea of either Immune to Psych or +1 I for a slight uptick in cost.

I also like the idea of lords/heroes getting better effects from marks than scrubs, since they are presumably more awesome and well loved by their gods.

Points though would be tough. +1I is pretty good on marauders, but not so much on warriors. 15 points vs 5 maybe? Immune to Psych (not what it is now, but proper) probably would be worth 10-15 as well. ASF would have to be around 20-30 though for lords and heroes as that is around what items cost for it, and adding in immune to psyche maybe pushes to 45? One worry is that the Mark change effectively gives Chaos characters another 20-50 points of magic item to play with, since they don't need to spend it on ASF or Frenzy.

What about +1Ld for the Mark? Slaaneshi worshipers are also supposed to be extra charismatic, and maybe that is a better bonus to represent being unafraid of new experiences? Or maybe +1I & +1Ld just to keep it valuable, and make Slaaneshi worshipers with great weapons viable?

So, revised could look like this:


Rank and File:
Mark of Slaanesh = Initiative +1, Ld +1

Heroes, Wizards, Giants, Spawn and other assorted gribblies, Always Strikes First and Leadership reroll.

What points cost would folks put that at?

For the rank and file, I would say 15-20 would be fine. You are competing with MoK being amazing, and MoT as well. Your I difference is not as big as it might seem, as Marauders are already going before other gribble, and Warriors go before darn near everything less than a lord. If marauders could get additional hand weapons it would be dead sexy. The Ld basically gets you a better chance to avoid breaking due to combat loss and panic, which is a pretty good start. 20 points is probably too high, but 10 seems low... so I would be ok with say 15, maybe 20.

Pricing it for characters though, I would say at least 30. ASF gives you a reroll as well since your I is so high, something you already pay 25 points for on a weapon, or a hat that also causes Stupidity. Saving on item slots and cost should be worth at least 5, maybe 10. A reroll is cool too, though +1 Ld would also be fine I think. So, 30-40 for characters, maybe 35 on Lords, 30 on Sorcerors and Exalted Heroes.

ASF is just amazingly good, especially with a high init army.
You're not just going first, but you're also re-rolling misses.
In the hands of a warrior w/halberd horde, you'd be looking at up to 40 WS5 S5 attacks, that re-roll to hit. IMO, that's too huge of a jump for a mark. The jump in killing power would rival that of khorne, which doesn't seem right.

I would rather see slaanesh giving a unit Init10, just shy of ASF. So against most opponents, you gain the go first part, except you don't get the re-rolls. High elves still go before you, but lose out on re-rolls thanks to your higher init.

Marauders of Slaanesh with flails would become a competing horde choice.


ATTENTION: Thread Hijack in progress.
I'd like to see Nurgle redone too. I think -1 BS against shooting and giving opponent ASL would be rad.

-Matt

ASF is way too good. It's 40 on a Giant and a Giant with ASF is pretty silly. I don't think WoC should be getting it on rank-and-file.

I think +1I and +1LD is very fair. Alternately swap one of those for +1M. But it would still be costly. I could see 20-25 on rank-and-file. That helps a lot with "kill-you-all" spells, which are highly useful against elite armies.

Though some number-crunching mirror matches with alternate marks could tell you how it really pays off.

How about a chart for each mark

1 mark = 20p - +1I
2 marks = 50p - +2I
3 marks = 100- ASF

Thoughts?

Matt: That's a good point, I don't think I really took the rerolls into account.
However, I don't think that it is quite as amazing as MoK. Your MAX killing capacity doesn't go up, only your average. MoK drives up both numbers, by doubling attacks in the first rank for marauders, and increasing by 50% in warriors. MoK also gives you Immune to Psych, which is pretty massive.
Of course, the downside is that you can lose the benefits of MoK through losing combat. ASF doesn't go away, which is better. Also, MoK requires a Ld check to avoid dumb charges, but then that doesn't seem to make most people avoid taking it

So you improve average kills, but not maximum. You don't get the penalties of Frenzy, but you don't get all the benefits. I would be ok with that for just a little less than MoK.

As to giants with ASF, I don't know many people that consider giants anything other than "fun" choices, and likewise spawn with ASF are not considered really good, just pretty decent.
As to spells that kill whole units, only +1 I helps against those, and only 2 that I can think of. Others target Str or T. Ld helps against other things that wreck units though, so you are right that either ASF or +1I and +1L, assuming we are looking at points less than MoK.