Nightbringer ascendant - An actual stargod on the battlefield (Updated 9dec)

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**TompiQ**

Hey Dakka!

I have a friend coming to town next summer, and we intend to play a campaign over his stay which will focus on his Imperial Guard and my marines, versus mine and another friends necron forces. The plan is to have some skirmishes leading up to several apocalypse battles, but we ran into the issue of having plenty more points of imperials available over Necrons. Now, instead of introducing some sort of "phase-in" mechanic, we wanted to pull it off in style and decided to allow a huge amount of shards coalesce into what is essentially the actual nightbringer reborn - I happen to appreciate the C'tan as they were presented in the oldcron codex, although with the change of average power level I want this Nightbringer to feel... rather godlike. This includes converting a Nightbringer that's fitting of a gargantuan creature, we're talking at least a 16cm round base such as the one the new Archaon model has.

The base concept is trying to create a sort of transcendent C'tan at least equal to a reaver, based on the various incarnations of C'tan rules we've had. It is very much intended to be over the top and brutally strong as is fitting for the actual God of Death, but hopefully it can be done within playable limits. We're talking a points cost of roughly 1.5-2k, so definitely Titan territory. While it is intended for narrative play, I'd like to end up with something others would at least remotely consider playing against, which is why I'm posting here and want to tweak everything.

Aza'gorod, the Nightbringer - 1500pts

WS/BS/ S / T / W / I / A / Ld / Sv
- 8 / 5 / 10 / 9 / 15 / 5 / 8 / 10 / 3+

UNIT TYPE
Gargantuan Creature (Fear, Fearless, Feel No Pain (5+), Hammer of Wrath, Move Through Cover, Relentless, Smash, Strikedown, Stomp, Unstoppable)

WARGEAR
Powers of the C'tan (Coalescent profiles)
Scythe of Aza'gorod (Range: - S: D Ap: 1 Instant Death)

SPECIAL RULES
Master of Natural Law: When moving, Aza'gorod can move over all other models and terrain as if they were open ground, and automatically passes Dangerous Terrain tests. However, it cannot end its move on top of other models and can only end its move on top of impassable terrain if it is possible to actually place the model on top of it. In addition, the Nightbringer is immune to weapons with the Graviton rule, but psychic powers targeting him cannot be denied by Deny the Witch rolls.

Transcendent Necrodermis: This model has a 3+ invulnverable save. If it suffers a Deathblow as result of a Strength D attack, this model only loses D6 wounds rather than 6+D6. However, immediately after Aza'gorod the Nightbringer loses it last Wound, it suffers Catastrophic Damage exactly as if it were a super-heavy vehicle.

A stargod reborn: Aza'gorod may use the Powers of the C'tan twice every turn, resolved as separate shooting attacks. In addition, when using Powers of the C'tan, the player controlling Aza'gorod may select a specific power to use rather than roll for one at random.

Gaze of Death Incarnate: In its shooting phase, in addition to using Powers of the C'tan, this model can target one non-vehicle enemy unit within 24" to which it has line of sight. The unit suffers 2D6 wounds resolved at AP2 and with the Ignores Cover special rule. If at least one unsaved Wound is inflicted, the Nightbringer immediately regains one Wound lost earlier in the battle.

Manifestation of Death: Any unit that wishes to charge the Nightbringer must take a Leadership test. If the test is failed, the unit may not charge at all that turn. This rule has no effect on units from the Ork faction.

Etheric Tempest: When making a Stomp attack, Aza'gorod the Nightbringer may elect to summon etheric winds. If this is done, instead of resolving the stomp attack, all models within 6" of the Nightbringer suffer a Strength 6 hit with no armour or cover saves allowed.

That's my draft so far. Way too broken, or just in need of tweaking?

EDIT - Changelog

Spoiler:

**raverrn**

Underpowered if anything. A Reaver Titan, for comparison, puts out 8 S

large blasts a turn.

Also a strength value of D doesn't work for rules purposes. You need to be Strength 10 with a D melee weapon or else you ask awkward questions when it comes to characteristic tests.

Also Psychic defense would be nice. Deny on a 3+?

**Grimskul**

raverrn wrote:
Underpowered if anything. A Reaver Titan, for comparison, puts out 8 S large blasts a turn.

Also a strength value of D doesn't work for rules purposes. You need to be Strength 10 with a D melee weapon or else you ask awkward questions when it comes to characteristic tests.

Also Psychic defense would be nice. Deny on a 3+?

I agree with the sentiment that he should be S10 base with a special D weapon to compensate but psychic defense seems really unfluffy. The Star Gods consider the Warp to be an anathema to them, due to their nature as beings of purely the physical realm. The warp should be one of their major weaknesses so giving them some form of avoiding warp-based attacks seems out of line. Most psychic attacks won't do much against a C'tan anyhow.

**McNinja**

raverrn wrote:
Underpowered if anything. A Reaver Titan, for comparison, puts out 8 S large blasts a turn.

Also a strength value of D doesn't work for rules purposes. You need to be Strength 10 with a D melee weapon or else you ask awkward questions when it comes to characteristic tests.
/quote]

I agree with the sentiment that he should be S10 base with a special D weapon to compensate but psychic defense seems really unfluffy. The Star Gods consider the Warp to be an anathema to them, due to their nature as beings of purely the physical realm. The warp should be one of their major weaknesses so giving them some form of avoiding warp-based attacks seems out of line. Most psychic attacks won't do much against a C'tan anyhow.

raverrn wrote:Underpowered if anything. A Reaver Titan, for comparison, puts out 8 S large blasts a turn.

Also a strength value of D doesn't work for rules purposes. You need to be Strength 10 with a D melee weapon or else you ask awkward questions when it comes to characteristic tests.

Tell that to the Warlord Titan.

**Tactical_Spam**

McNinja wrote:
raverrn wrote:
Underpowered if anything. A Reaver Titan, for comparison, puts out 8 S large blasts a turn.

Also a strength value of D doesn't work for rules purposes. You need to be Strength 10 with a D melee weapon or else you ask awkward questions when it comes to characteristic tests.
/quote]

I agree with the sentiment that he should be S10 base with a special D weapon to compensate but psychic defense seems really unfluffy. The Star Gods consider the Warp to be an anathema to them, due to their nature as beings of purely the physical realm. The warp should be one of their major weaknesses so giving them some form of avoiding warp-based attacks seems out of line. Most psychic attacks won't do much against a C'tan anyhow.

raverrn wrote:Underpowered if anything. A Reaver Titan, for comparison, puts out 8 S large blasts a turn.

Also a strength value of D doesn't work for rules purposes. You need to be Strength 10 with a D melee weapon or else you ask awkward questions when it comes to characteristic tests.

Tell that to the Warlord Titan.

Titans dont take strength tests

**raverrn**

McNinja wrote:

Tell that to the Warlord Titan.

Just because GW writes terrible rules isn't an excuse for us to.

**TompiQ**

Thanks for the feedback!

The Warlord titan was indeed the source of inspiration for his native S: D, but I agree that it muddles too many rules interactions. Instead, I've given him a profile for his Scythe. I also changed the Etheric Tempest to cause a hit at Str 6 rather than a Str test. Does this make it too strong compared to a normal stomp?

In addition to that I allowed for using Powers of the C'tan twice in a phase, to get some more mileage out of his shooting. I've considered removing Gaze of Death Incarnate and allowing for a third use, but I'm unsure about that.

What are peoples opinions on the new version? Too strong, too weak? And most of all, would you agree to face it on the battlefield in a larger battle?

**krodarklorr**

I think this thing is awesome, and would love to A. See a model for it. Seeing the Nightbringer but the size of the Wraithknight makes me need to change my pants. And B. Use this on the battlefield.

**ALEXisAWESOME**

Great rules, I would also love to see this thing on the battle field. My only suggestion is to change the Etheric Tempest to be Str 6 Ap 3 instead of ignore armour saves. The reasoning for this is plainly thematic because you actively want the enemy to charge his greatest monsters and elite squads into this guy to see if they can tear him down. But Etheric Tempest is a massive deterrent for this.

Rule-wise, he is great. Thematically I would make that singular change, to allow for the epic fights you no doubt wish to happen.