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One of the many things that bothers me about the current Chaos Codex is the fact that Marks are weak for some units and great for others.
In a World Eaters force you may feel like spending points on giving your Havocs Mark of Khorne to fit the theme but you also know that it's a waste of points.

My idea is to introduce 2 tiers of Chaos Marks. The basic Marks we have now and 2 sets of advanced marks which units can choose from that should prove somewhat useful no matter what unit you are.

Basic Marks

Mark of Khorne : +1 attack
Mark of Nurgle : +1 toughness
Mark of Slaanesh : +1 initiative
Mark of Tzeentch : + 1 Invul OR 6++

Advanced Marks

Ranged

Mark of Frenzied Fire: All non template ranged weapons fire an extra shot. -1BS.
Mark of Virulence: Relentless. ( replaces slow and purposeful if applicable)
Mark of Excess: Models may shoot then run or run then shoot.
Mark of Infernal Ammunition: Enemies suffer a -1 modifier to cover saves.

Melee
Mark of Carnage: +1WS, Furious Charge.
Mark of Endurance: 5+FNP.
Mark of Insanity: Rending. Reroll a single dice for charge distance.
Mark of Fate: Reroll armour saves of 1 and 6. (This is the one I am most unsure about. It's really strong to balance out the very mediocre 6++ for most basic units.)

You can only pick the advanced mark that corresponds to the basic mark you've chosen.

Basic Marks allow access to one of the 2 advanced sets for units like CSMs, Raptors, Bikes and Havocs etc
You get access to both sets of Marks if you are a more "Veteran" unit like Terminators, Obliterators, Possessed, Warp Talons etc

Marks would have be costed on a per unit basis. Mark of Fate is going to be pricy on your Terminators for instance.

There may be some obvious competitive choices here and for people who play in that mold, that's fine. For people who play less seriously it might open some cool variety for them.

Any thoughts?

Overly complicated; you've multiplied the number of potential combinations in the Codex by several factors and it'd be a nightmare to balance/test/price.

The other issue I'm seeing here is that you've made Berserkers and Plague Marines a Mark upgrade, but not Noise Marines or Thousand Sons. Do you have a reason for this?

 AnomanderRake wrote:
Overly complicated; you've multiplied the number of potential combinations in the Codex by several factors and it'd be a nightmare to balance/test/price.

Yup, careful attention would have to be paid to each unit, especially the multi-wound / 2+ armour ones.

 AnomanderRake wrote:
The other issue I'm seeing here is that you've made Berserkers and Plague Marines a Mark upgrade, but not Noise Marines or Thousand Sons. Do you have a reason for this?

That is sort of a nod to the idea of having Terminator Berzerkers or Plague Terminators and other units of that type. This is in the absence of proper rules for the the various Chaos Legions.

Noise Marines have unique weaponary and Thousand Sons have ap3/psykers. It seems much more difficult to add that to a Mark upgrade. I would imagine that Berserkers have Mark of Carnage built into their profile, likewise with Mark of Endurance and Plague Marines.

just no...

A naked CSM is 13 flash lights and is still too costly. Adding multiple marks is not cost efficient.
However, I propose a compromise to get free marks or just cost 1 pt.

MoK=[WS+1][S+1 because you hit harder when you is mad][BS-3 because you are not suppose to shoot][LD-1 because you are mad]
MoT=[T-1 because daemonic energies drain you to power your invul ward][S-1 strength is drained away too][Armor saved is 6+ because you are insubstantial like a daemon][but Invul is 4++ like a daemon!] [LD-1 because of Tzeentch driving you insane]
MoN=[WS-1 because your ability to fight is weakened][S-1 the sickness weakens you][T+1][I-1 because atrophy makes you slow]
MoS=[I+1][LD-2 because you now have ADHD...Oooh sparkly! also makes you choose between IoE or IoV]

Maybe that is too complicated.

 Filch wrote:
just no...

A naked CSM is 13 flash lights and is still too costly. Adding multiple marks is not cost efficient.
However, I propose a compromise to get free marks or just cost 1 pt.

MoK=[WS+1][S+1 because you hit harder when you is mad][BS-3 because you are not suppose to shoot][LD-1 because you are mad]
MoT=[T-1 because daemonic energies drain you to power your invul ward][S-1 strength is drained away too][Armor saved is 6+ because you are insubstantial like a daemon][but Invul is 4++ like a daemon!] [LD-1 because of Tzeentch driving you insane]
MoN=[WS-1 because your ability to fight is weakened][S-1 the sickness weakens you][T+1][I-1 because atrophy makes you slow]
MoS=[I+1][LD-2 because you now have ADHD...Oooh sparkly! also makes you choose between IoE or IoV]

Maybe that is too complicated.

I just plain like MoK
MoT gives you less toughness? I highly suggest you read both the Ahriman books. His constitution is godly because he is a psyker who's able to regrow flesh, bone and organs on the spot. There should be an exception where psykers /w MoT should be penalized less.
I'm conflicted about MoN, it's VERY punishing on melee combat while it doesn't impose any disadvantage on shooting. And plague marines don't have an arsenal of special weapons (like noise marines) so I feel they should get some for this to work.
MoS, is a weird one. It's like a slightly less useful MoK, which is weird because noise marines should be a shooty unit. Maybe a special rule? [Music to my ears] If a unit w/ MoS causes an unsaved wound with a shooting weapon, 1 model in the unit can immediately fire 1 shot using one of its ranged weapons.

 Filch wrote:

MoK=[WS+1][S+1 because you hit harder when you is mad][BS-3 because you are not suppose to shoot][LD-1 because you are mad]
MoT=[T-1 because daemonic energies drain you to power your invul ward][S-1 strength is drained away too][Armor saved is 6+ because you are insubstantial like a daemon][but Invul is 4++ like a daemon!] [LD-1 because of Tzeentch driving you insane]
MoN=[WS-1 because your ability to fight is weakened][S-1 the sickness weakens you][T+1][I-1 because atrophy makes you slow]
MoS=[I+1][LD-2 because you now have ADHD...Oooh sparkly! also makes you choose between IoE or IoV]

I don't like your rules. But i like your explanations

Yeah my idea will never fly. Any suggestions on how to persuade GW to lower lower cost of marks?

Mark of the Deprived cost: Makes your model cost 5 pts less

[WS-1][BS-1][S-1][T-1][A-1 (can not be lower than 1)][I-1][W-1 (can not be lower than 1)][LD-1] [Sv+1 (make armor worse)]

Rationale: You is a heretical guards man wearing fake Power Armor! Your bolter is actually just a big gun. Jk, you been in the warp too long. Your weapons n armor degraded. Your senses, body and mind is weakened.

You might just aswell get scouts or real guardsmen as this suggestion is really bad.

0 pt cultists that are still better than grots?

I forgot that cultist can take marks. People usually never mark them.

Grots are just a painful topic for me.
I compare them to conscripts and cry.
To zombies from renegades and heretics and start googling anti-depressants.