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I'm designing something like the current SM traits, but for CSM. Not as dramatic as the legion rules, more like alterations to options etc. This is in development, so I'd like some help, and I'll put it into Adobe Reader format when complete.

Ashes to Ashes; some Chaos marines have a hatred for their enemies so strong that they simply wish to obliterate them from physical existence by incinerating all traces of them. Any Chaos Space Marine squad, instead of taking one of the normal heavy weapons, may take an additional flamer or meltagun at the normal points cost if they are at 10-man strength. (Thus they can have 3 meltaguns/flamers.) Chaos Havocs and Chosen may take a Multi-Melta for +25 pts as one of their heavy weapon choices.

Blind-Fighting; warbands such as the Night Lords who hail from worlds shrouded in perpetual night become used to the darkness, and are capable of exploiting the night to their advantage as well as having night vision. Any infantry unit or Daemon Prince may use the Night Vision universal rule at +3 points per model. In addition, if the Night Fighting rules are in use, any infantry unit may take the Hide in Shadows skill for +2 points per model, which grants them a passive 6+ cover save. If any members of a unit choose Hide in Shadows, the whole unit must do so.

They are unworthy!; many warbands see the other servants of Chaos as unworthy of serving the Chaos Gods. Any models may take the Preferred Enemy (Chaos Space Marines) special rule for +3 points per model.

Iron within, iron without!; some warbands choose to place their trust in their wargear and vehicles, using their heavy weapons and wargear to crush their enemies from afar rather than sending in rapid assaults. The player may choose to exchange two fast attack choices for one additional heavy support choice. Any Chaos Lord, Sorcerer, or Aspiring Champion (cult troop champions, Terminator Champions, Raptor Champions, Possessed Champions and Chosen Champions included) may take bionics for +5 pts. (see 3rd edtion CSM codex or current SM codex). May not be taken with Strike Swiftly!.

By Daemons be driven; the Chaos marines of fanatical warbands such as the Word Bearers see Daemonic possession as the greatest honour below Daemonhood. As such, only their most skilled warriors are chosen for possession. Any Possessed may be upgraded to Possessed Chosen for +5 points per model. Chosen Possessed may choose which of the Daemonkin rules to use, and have +1 to their WS and toughness OR initiative stats. May not be taken with Trust not the Daemonic.

Blood Brothers; squads of Chaos marines have sometimes been together before turning renegade, and, in the cases of the Traitor Legions, since the Horus Heresy. However twisted and evil they may be, they have developed such a bond that they will recklessly attack any foe who kills their comrades. If a unit of infantry suffers at least 50% casualties, the remainder of the squad becomes fearless and gains the Preferred Enemy special rule against the opponent's army.

Strike Swiftly!; some Chaos warlords prefer to forgo heavy vehicles for fast units, relying on cutting off enemy squads from their comrades and moving out of sight before they can retaliate. The player may choose to exchange two Heavy Support choices for an additional Fast attack choice. In addition, any unit of Raptors, Bikers, or any independent character with a jump pack or wings may take the Hit and Run skill at +2 points per model. May not be taken with Iron within, iron without!.

This is under construction, so feel free to make suggestions or me. I'm busy thinking of negative traits.

I really like the Possessed Chosen. That's an excellent idea.

BYE

Well, as a Chaos devotee, I for one like the idea, but I much prefer the restoration of my Legion's glory, which can be found here: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/207707.page

Nice work on the traits though.

As to the traits themselves, are you going to make a table similar to that found in the present SM codex?

Indeed I am. So they have the X traits=Y penalties rule. I've just added some more.

Seems good. Would make Chaos armies more individual and unique rather than all be vanilla and so on with DP as hq's all the time and so on.

Cheese Elemental wrote:IIron within, iron without!; [i]some warbands choose to place their trust in their wargear and vehicles, using their heavy weapons and wargear to crush their enemies from afar rather than sending in rapid assaults. The player may choose to exchange two fast attack choices for one additional heavy support choice.

You know, some of us are glad to have seen this particular thing disappear into the muck.

As the old Iron Warriors list showed, 1 Heavy is easily worth 2 Fast. Perhaps if the tradeoff were ALL Fast *and* 1 HQ to gain a single Heavy slot, it might be fairly balanced.

But getting more creative, perhaps the mandatory drawback should be that only Troops may hold or contest Objectives if they are over half strength. This makes it extremely difficult to have any chance at winning via Objectives (can't contest with non-Troops, Troops can't contest down to the last model).


Anyhow, in a nutshell, my suggestion is that every "trait" have appropriate trade-off *and* punishing penalty. Also limit each army to a maximum of one trait.