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Putting together a (hopefully) competitive list. Not going with the usual Duplicity or Time as I think Scheming has a couple of tricks up its sleeve that are worth sacrificing the Time durability (which I've never found has done all that much) and the teleporting (which again I find I do maybe once or twice maximum, having the Crystal and positioning well is enough).

+++Cult of Scheming Battalion+++

Exalted Sorcerer (165) Warlord (Grand Schemer), Disc, Khopesh, Dilettante (Thrydderghyre & Athenaean Scrolls) Weaver of Fates, Temporal Surge
Ahriman (180) Disc, Tzeentch's Firestorm, Glamour of Tzeentch, Presage
Infernal Master (90) Cha'Qi'THl's Theorem, Glimpse of Eternity, Malefic Maelstrom, Empyric Guidance

10 Rubrics (279) 9x Warpflamers, Warpflame Pistol, Icon of Flame, Pyric Flux
5 Rubrics (115) Soulreaper Cannon, Empyric Guidance
20 Tzaangors (145) Herd banner

Helbrute (120) Multi-Melta, Helbrute fist
Helbrute (120) Multi-Melta, Helbrute fist
10 Scarab Terminators (445) 2x Soulreaper Cannon, 2x Hellfyre Missile Racks, Rites of Coalescence, Doombolt
Tzaangor Shaman (70) Umbralefic Crystal, Perplex

5 Chaos Spawn (115)

Forgefiend (155) 3x Ectoplasma Cannon

1999pts, 10CP,13 Cabal Points


Plan in outline:

- Scarabs usually deploy and then get Crystalled turn 1 into a commanding central position, ideally on an objective, Ahriman supports them
- Flamer Rubrics take another objective (or bait an opponent into doing so then clear them off)
- Tzaangors are just a big obsec dump for a backfield
- 5 Rubrics and Tzaangor Shaman are psychic utility, doing actions/the cabal ritual to generate CP
- 5 Spawn take 4++ and Obsec from Exalted Sorcerer and are a v mobile objective threat
- Helbrutes can perform fairly independently

I think it's important to note that because of sequencing with re-deploy wording and the fact that stuff was REMOVED from our FAQ recently for some reason, Duplicity lost some of its power since we can't pull back an aggressive Risen Rubricae unit. As such, I am inclined to also agree that Duplicity and Time have lost their luster.

Also, Scheming is the only <Cult> where all 3 things it gives are useful. Even Duplicity's relic blows.

That said, I do have some experience with Scheming in the tournament area even though it's just FLGS. I was on top table vs. Harlequins round 3 and took #2 recently with my TS and I run them often, including with <Scheming>

I think the relic disc combined with the Grand Schemer trait is amazing because since we are already a reactive/adaptive army, applying that aura he has with a little more finesse is amazing.

The list seems fine but if your plan does NOT include teleporting, Risen, or Webwaying the Flamer brick, you might want to consider making them 2x5. You can do the same thing, and it'd be an efficient way to get more Cabal Pts.

One last point- I don't think your Exalted is making good use of the Scrolls. I think you should lean into Firestorm with it. Ahriman should carry Weaver. Even though it is easy to cast, it's something you want up on the Spawn every turn and there is synergy with him re-rolling to cast 3 buffs. Throwing a Witchfire in there sort of breaks that synergy but that's not to say it's not a good plan.