Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Well, I just read Xenology, and I have to say that it has one of the most freaky ass endings I've ever read. Excellent twist in the end and you really felt the madness and dread that was overcoming the facility. Now the question is...does the Necron dex retcon all that?
I mean, there were references to star gods, and the whole "the metal lives" thing (which btw, is my favorite scary mantra ever. Really, it adds to the menace of the necrons), and I am not sure if the new fluff supports that.

"Retcon" stands for "retroactive continuity". Since 40k does not have a continuity and Xenology has contradicted GW fluff before, I don't see the problem. If you like the information that Xenology offers and prefer it to the new version of Necrons, I suppose you could still roll with it - you just have to remain aware that others, especially newer players who have never read the pre-5E fluff, may endorse a different interpretation.

The end of Xenology was a representation of what the Necrons once were: diabolical, heartless, all-consuming. The Newcrons are defined by honor, courage, and royalty. They wouldn't bother with those kinds of schemes anymore, unless you had "defective" Necrons anyway.

Harriticus wrote:The end of Xenology was a representation of what the Necrons once were: diabolical, heartless, all-consuming. The Newcrons are defined by honor, courage, and royalty. They wouldn't bother with those kinds of schemes anymore, unless you had "defective" Necrons anyway.

In that case, I'm keeping my defective necrons. The psychological horror in the old necron fluff was one of the few good things in it, and I was hoping that they kept it.

CthuluIsSpy wrote:The psychological horror in the old necron fluff was one of the good things in it, and I was hoping that they kept it.

Have to agree there... Kudos for your "defective" oldskool Necrons.

Harriticus wrote:The end of Xenology was a representation of what the Necrons once were: diabolical, heartless, all-consuming. The Newcrons are defined by honor, courage, and royalty. They wouldn't bother with those kinds of schemes anymore, unless you had "defective" Necrons anyway.

Newcrons are necessarily defined by honor and courage. Royalty, sure, but it seems like the other two are rare and only exhibited by certain rulers.

I wouldn't say it's "rare", it's specifically said that Necron "society" is one where honor/your word is of the utmost importance and going back on your word is a huge insult. It's why that non-honorable Dynasty are outcasts to the rest of the Necrons.

The old Necrons didn't even comprehend or care about concepts like honor or respect, and it made them all the more terrifying.

The NuCrons are just humans in robot cosplay, while that opens up a lot of story possiblities it also robs them of much of their uniqueness.

Harriticus wrote:I wouldn't say it's "rare", it's specifically said that Necron "society" is one where honor/your word is of the utmost importance and going back on your word is a huge insult. It's why that non-honorable Dynasty are outcasts to the rest of the Necrons.

The old Necrons didn't even comprehend or care about concepts like honor or respect, and it made them all the more terrifying.

Well at least there's still one dynasty that doesn't mind playing downright dirty.

And then the Nihilikh (i think that's how you spell it) are more like we won't bug you but if you dare set foot into our territory we will slaughter you.

And then there's that Tombworld system that became a self-proclaimed Overlord (more like overmind) who still lines up with the old fluff so if the crons in Xeno are these guys then it still works out completely.

The funny thing is, Necrons went from being a tireless horror to the "good guy" race of the 40k galaxy. I mean, there's no corruption (aside from programming corruption), they don't hate aliens for simply existing, and their society isn't out of 1984.

Their new fluff is actually one of the reason I like the Newcrons so much. Their old fluff? Not my bag of two by fours, but if you want a Terminator-esque robot army, I think it would fit very well within the new fluff. I mean, creating the concept of Necron Dynasties, and by extention, creating your own Dyntasy was a fantastic idea by GW and allows for everything.

Bit off-track here but I remember that in every Eldar piece of fluff before NewCrons that I've read, there was always sheer horror at the Necrons awakening.

Now I haven't been able to look through the new codex save for rules and unit profiles, but does this still hold true?

Iranna.

Well, the Necrons did beat the Eldar and the Old Ones in the War in Heaven with the C'Tan. I would be fairly afraid as well if the foe who previously whooped my arse in a war came back to life.

McNinja wrote:Well, the Necrons did beat the Eldar and the Old Ones in the War in Heaven with the C'Tan. I would be fairly afraid as well if the foe who previously whooped my arse in a war came back to life.

Indeed.

However, the old Necrons were a mechanical tide of undead, so to speak. You could really see why they were feared.

These NewCrons resemble humanity somewhat, with the concept of honour etc.

Obviously the Eldar would hate them, but I don't see why they'd fear them, especially since they are no longer on a genocidal rampage of doom.

Iranna.

Iranna wrote:

McNinja wrote:Well, the Necrons did beat the Eldar and the Old Ones in the War in Heaven with the C'Tan. I would be fairly afraid as well if the foe who previously whooped my arse in a war came back to life.

Indeed.

However, the old Necrons were a mechanical tide of undead, so to speak. You could really see why they were feared.

These NewCrons resemble humanity somewhat, with the concept of honour etc.

Obviously the Eldar would hate them, but I don't see why they'd fear them, especially since they are no longer on a genocidal rampage of doom.

Iranna.

They still fear them. The necrons are still soulless, and according to the Eldar, that makes them unholy abominations of nature.
Something that has to do with what Isha said, apparently.

Doesn't Xenology actually confirm the Newcrons? It was ahead of its time.

KamikazeCanuck wrote:Doesn't Xenology actually confirm the Newcrons? It was ahead of its time.

Not really. There was a reference to the deceiver at the end, and it had the "the metal lives" mantra that wasn't present in the new book (sadly. I liked that mantra)

But it also presents the Necrons as wily, independant and talkative.

KamikazeCanuck wrote:But it also presents the Necrons as wily, independant and talkative.

They kept their sinister nature and connection to the C'tan. Current Necrons are obsessed with honor and Dynasty nonsense. I never objected to certain Necrons talking, only their portrayals.