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I know it's been out a while, but after revisiting the Beta test change for Smite I got to thinking that Smite itself isn't really the issue.

To me it's more of a problem of the current psychic rules not being very scaleable.

To that end I would like to put forward the idea of a new universal stratagem, a slight tweak to the rule of one (as I've seen proposed else where before) and a new group Psychic rule.

So the older bit first - change the one use per power to per one successful use. Not a massive change, but it would help with that must use power and cut down a little on the problem for some armies of only have Smite left to use.

The second bit would be a stratagem which allows you to caste each power a second time (3 command points) with the added caveat that this can only be used once per complete detachment (eg no unused slots, except maybe fliers).

Finally, this is aimed more at Grey Knights (but could work for others). For the main troop units give each class back its own power (eg on Purgation squads have the ignore cover power) and leave the main list of powers for the Characters. Alongside this, squads of the same type can group together to caste it. Eg for each additional Strike squad with 6 inches of the 1st Strike Squad, add 1 to the roll. The power then effects all Strike squads involved but counts as them using their chance at casting another power(s) for the turn.

so, in principle do people think this kind of thing could work, and what would you change to help it keep things simple and flowing?

I think the group one works fine if you’re casting a mediocre GK Power, but think about offensive powers (death hex, doom): how would they work? And I’m not sure I want a group of daemons being able to cast an undeniable +1 to invul save. The “group psychic phase” was a thing in 7th edition, and it was a way to guarantee certain powers going off with no hope of denial, granted we don’t have invisibility anymore but the reduction of guaranteed success has made the 8th ed psychic phase something that isn’t out of control.

Well what I meant was units with that rule wouldn't have access to the main lists. They'd have baby smite + a unit specific power. Things like Doom would be Character only.

Then units (not Characters) could team up to boost their special power but would have zero effect on then main powers list(s)

So no teams of Farseers buffing up powers (or SM Liberians).

For starters that stratagem is worthless. The requirements to use it are so incredibly restrictive and then it also costs 3 CP. Consider any time you have ever played against someone who met the requirements to use it. Then consider whether or not they would spend 3 CP to do so. A stratagem that is never used is a stratagem that might as well not exist.


Why not just extend the beta smite rules to all powers and call it psychic focus?

Psychic Focus: Every time you try to manifest the same power more than once in a turn it is a cumulative -1 to the result of your psychic test.

Well, my issue with Smite is it's WAY too powerful.

It should be 3 auto-hits at S6 AP-2 D1, with 3 auto-hits at S8 AP-3 D2 if cast on an 11+.

ScarVet101 wrote:


So the older bit first - change the one use per power to per one successful use. Not a massive change, but it would help with that must use power and cut down a little on the problem for some armies of only have Smite left to use.

Hmm. My first thought is that this will let people take multiple shots at casting things like Warp Time or Word of the Phoenix. Not necessarily broken, but I'll be able to do things like assault with terminators or rocket launch shining spears much more reliably.

The second bit would be a stratagem which allows you to caste each power a second time (3 command points) with the added caveat that this can only be used once per complete detachment (eg no unused slots, except maybe fliers).

I could see myself using this. I'm not sure it would be good for the game for me to be using this. I'm picturing double Executioners, double Doom, or double Word of the Phoenix to let Dark Reapers shoot 3 times a turn. Though granted, that last one is more a problem with one particular power than with this proposed rule in general. The detachment thing feels very awkward and alien. It gives the impression that you feel this particular rule is too good on its own and needs to be mitigated in an arcane fashion, or it gives the impression that you're kicking around some ideas for how to handle detachments in general. If the latter, those ideas probably ought to be presented in their own thread and discussed for their own merits.

Finally, this is aimed more at Grey Knights (but could work for others). For the main troop units give each class back its own power (eg on Purgation squads have the ignore cover power) and leave the main list of powers for the Characters. Alongside this, squads of the same type can group together to caste it. Eg for each additional Strike squad with 6 inches of the 1st Strike Squad, add 1 to the roll. The power then effects all Strike squads involved but counts as them using their chance at casting another power(s) for the turn.

I like the "give units their own powers back" part. The second part feels kind of odd in combination with the other rules you've proposed. If I have two purgation squads and they each know the same two powers and I can only attempt a given non-smite power once, then letting help each other cast seems fine. Sort of like a weird boy getting help from nearbye boyz' waaagh energy. If I can take two stabs at casting a power, however, then I'm probably better off not giving a bonus to my first roll's casting attempts because just rolling a second psychic test has a better chance of succeeding, plus it lets me baby smite if the first attempt to cast is successful.