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As it stands GW has two codices and there is some supplementary (but non-official) material covered by Forgeworld.
The problem is that even taken together this barely scratches the surface of the possibilities for Chaos armies (from a 'fluff' perspective) and there are very few competitive builds available either.
So what would need to be in to cope with all eventualities?
The Legions. The last survivors of the heresy, these should be among the galaxy's most elite warriors and more than a match one on one for a standard marine. They need equipment options that reflect both their pre-heresy wargear and prolongued exposure to the environments of the Daemon-worlds they call home; they also need the skills and abilities that 10,000 years of conflict has honed.
Oh yes, and there needs to be 9 different types to accurately capture the the differing nature of the legions.
Daemons. Servants of the four greater powers and access to preferrably more than just the one variety (furies) of unaligned lesser daemons.
Cultists. Worshippers of Chaos (either a single power or the pantheon), likely to be smaller groups, often with a high degree of mutation (especially for the cult magus and other high ranking members). Functioning as infiltrators or saboteurs or engaged in summoning rituals.
Traitors. Guard and/or Marine units who have been corrupted from within and who have thrown in their lot with Chaos forces. Will retain their previous skills and equipment for the most part. Ranking members likely to show the first outward signs of corruption.
To fully flesh out every option would give you hundreds of unit choices and/or options, combining most of current IG, SM, CSM, Daemons, Forgeworld Cult/LatD stuff and probably some new bits and pieces as well.
Whilst it could be done the whole thing would be broken beyond belief as advantageous (however unfluffy) combos would be coming from all angles.
The only way to attempt any measure of control would be to introduce a hellishly complex 'unlocking' system where taking certain units would allow some options and restrict others. Its the kind of thing you could do with a clever computer programme but not easily in a book or series of books.
There are a few considerations here:
1. GW will not write a system that 'Little Timmy (TM)' will struggle to understand.
2. As much as GW isn't exactly strict on balance issues they won't let you have a free-for-all that even Jervis could exploit the loopholes in.
3. GW policy is not to do 'crossovers' so there is no clever way of exploiting having allies from other codices in the manner of the old Witchhunter/Daemonhunter books (although this could form the basis for more elegant solutions).
4. GW will never give Chaos as much love as Marines, so the likelihood of multiple books covering individual legions is zero. I doubt Chaos will ever run with more than 3 lists - one unreliable rumour has it that the new Chaos book will be in addition to, rather than replacing the current CSM 'dex.
Given this, do you think its possible (and if so, how?) for GW to come up with any way of allowing Chaos players the freedom to make the armies that they want and - lets be honest, I think we'd all like to see?
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