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 warboss wrote:
Someone in Age of Sigmar obviously paid a visit to the Ministry of Silly Hats. The decorative as opposed to protective top to the shield is also a bold choice.

I’ve been pondering that.

Historically, decent quality steel was expensive. Hence swords were, to my understanding comparatively rare. After all, the steel it took to make a single sword could make a large number of axe heads, arrow points, spear tips etc. So outside of Knights, who could afford that sort of thing? Steel was used relatively sparingly. See also Brigandine.

And whilst a shield might have a steel perimeter? It was a waste of good steel where thick wood would do.

Here, it does look like he’s pinched a Garden Gate. But, it is still steel. In the cut and thrust of combat, the body of the shield should cover legs and torso (not necessarily all at the same time). And the noodly stuff? Well, if you want to shove a blade or a spear through that? You risk it being trapped. And against chopping? You’re still hitting steel.

So, it is an ostensibly silly design, but I think such a device might be more practical than we first think. It still provides defence, lowers the overall weight, provides a mix of visibility and defence (especially when your head is clad in a steel helmet) and could, probably with a skill not massively common because I don’t want to claim everyone is a ninja or even all that competent, could be used to trap or otherwise foul a blade. Which when fighting in ranks can easily leave the foe open for a mate of yours either side to give them a good poking.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Hence swords were, to my understanding comparatively rare.

What's the point of reference? Spears? Sure, more of those around than swords. Anything else? Likely vastly outnumbered by swords, at least in Europe.

In any case, that shield is pretty bad against projectiles, and likely very top heavy (and heavy in general), which would make it pretty bad in melee. I don't see any redeeming features in that design.

Although the idea of trapping a blade in iron filigree is not without some historical precedent. There were Italian style bucklers with fixtures on the face meant to trap the opponent's blade. The Italians sensibly did not put holes in the face of the buckler itself.

While I agree the shield is ultimately less than realistic, it's not too offensive by Warhammer standards.

 NAVARRO wrote:
I like the sculpted blood on the sword. Looks quite cool. The cities have great minis if it wasn't for all those helmets designs that look like comedy bells.

Was about to say something to that ilk. Its a great looking model, bar for that ridiculous and "kitch" comet on the helmet

Tzeentch and LRL next week:

https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/qsxg0ftc/sunday-preview-a-magical-melee-rocks-the-mortal-realms/

Have to say, i love the dice for both. And still tempted by the Argent Shards even though i've got zero use for them.

 Inquisitor Gideon wrote:
Have to say, i love the dice for both. And still tempted by the Argent Shards even though i've got zero use for them.

They are nice pieces. Worst case, they're a bit of decorative terrain.

Me, I'd house rule them to randomly drift across the battlefield and do... interesting things to nearby units. Opponent willing, of course. No idea what terrain rules look like in AoS these days, but I think 1st ed had a hazardous terrain random table? Might be a good place to start looking for inspiration. Might be a fun little thing to spice things up once in a while.

Prices from TGA

Is Argenteos the shards?

 Inquisitor Gideon wrote:
Is Argenteos the shards?

It's the other one - Esquirlas Argeteas €51.50

Oh ok, they're a decent price of the size. Neat.

Bit more than I want to pay for the LRL Vanari Regent but I like the model and it would be nice to have a cheaper alternative to the blender ghost to use.

Hmmm witch hunters handbook would look nice next to my "The life of Sigmar" book.

 Astmeister wrote:
Hmmm witch hunters handbook would look nice next to my "The life of Sigmar" book.

They do in fact look really good together.

Lumineth battle trait:

https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/ijbn2gge/inscribe-runes-and-create-power-from-harmony-with-the-dazzling-new-lumineth-realm-lord-battle-trait/

Seems like an interesting idea. I'm curious to see if it can be broken to hell or not.

 Inquisitor Gideon wrote:
Lumineth battle trait:

https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/ijbn2gge/inscribe-runes-and-create-power-from-harmony-with-the-dazzling-new-lumineth-realm-lord-battle-trait/

Seems like an interesting idea. I'm curious to see if it can be broken to hell or not.

They're High Elves, so... yeah, probably.

Hey! Whoa there Pedro!

I had a High Elf army once. When you had to contend with “Intrigue At Court”. Helves have absolutely sucked at times!

Even ASF only really helped with Swordmasters and White Lions, on account being slapped in the face with a wet tissue is still being slapped in the face with a wet tissue, whether or not before you got to smash their head in with a brick first or not.

I'm old enough to remember when every High Elf army included the Banner of the World Dragon because of how busted it was.

Besides, I played Dark Elves - hating High Elves was a requirement.

 BorderCountess wrote:
I'm old enough to remember when every High Elf army included the Banner of the World Dragon because of how busted it was.

I'm very much against comp systems that remove options, but that thing was way too OP especially at the cost it was.

Tzeentch time:

https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/cutbwtz8/alter-fate-and-play-tricks-on-foes-with-new-disciples-of-tzeentch-battle-traits/

And apparently victory through failure. Also making the Argent Shards pretty much mandatory going forwards.

That was a given - GW tries to make faction terrain a core part of faction mechanics. It encourages sales.

Most of the AoS faction terrain is either central to the army's mechanics or super useful that you'd not leave home without it. I am glad to see them doing more sensibly sized ones. That huge Ossiarch Nexus looks cool; has a cool ability and is so freaking huge it just doesn't work if the table already has actual terrain on it.

 Inquisitor Gideon wrote:
Tzeentch time:

https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/cutbwtz8/alter-fate-and-play-tricks-on-foes-with-new-disciples-of-tzeentch-battle-traits/

And apparently victory through failure. Also making the Argent Shards pretty much mandatory going forwards.

Isn't all faction terrain effectively mandatory?

Largely, yes. I believe there have been some instances where some factions have avoided taking theirs solely because it's been so bad it's not been worth giving enemies an extra target for battle tactics. But that's rare, and generally it's just free power.

Imho faction terrain being defacto mandatory is not too bad because at least you only need to buy and paint one. ^^

Yeah the only time its bad is when its freaking huge.

Yes because the transportation problem.

My main issue with faction terrain and endless spells is the 0 point nature of them. It would be one thing if they had points, so the choice to include them was the same as picking up any other unit from the range. But being fee, they are more or less must buy/takes. Which is another barrier to entry. If you want to go from having fun with a spearhead to a full army you need to grab the army book, terrain, and spells. And that’s before you get more units to get up to the point value.

And the way GW treats terrain rules, who knows if it’s just going to be junk next edition. At least for those of us who don’t have out own tables and just play in stores.

 Astmeister wrote:
Yes because the transportation problem.

Not just transport, but technically they go down after terrain; which means if they are huge they are suddenly a pain to position in the right place. (again ossiarch nexus is the worst offender I've seen esp as it ideally wants to sit in the middle of the table)

The null choice because they are 0 points I don't mind cause they are just baked into the army like an army wide ability. They can be a bit situational sometimes, but overall I don't mind them.
Endless spells jump around, they've costed points before like a regular model to field.

Bit of a Teclis focus:

https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/cbvh8cjv/master-magic-with-teclis-and-bring-enlightenment-to-the-mortal-realms/

I like the pike ability.

Argent Shard focus:

https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/s2u3hnhx/summon-shifting-argent-shards-into-battle-and-shower-foes-with-spectacular-spellcasting/