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Made in gb
Excited Doom Diver





I've been thinking recently about the way that Necron units are divided, in order to understand what's considered Core in-game, and there's a bit of an oddity.

Essentially, most units in the Necron army can be split into one of four categories:

- The Dynasty's "regular" army, including the Royal Court, Warriors, Immortals, vehicles etc.
- Canoptek constructs, artificial creations which maintain and defend Tomb Worlds during the Great Sleep.
- The Destroyer Cult, which are Necrons who have gone insane and desire nothing more or less than the brutal death of all living things
- Representatives of the Triarch.

Core units in-game are those which are part of the "regular" army but are not members of the Royal Court itself or vehicles.

What's left which doesn't fit into these categories? There's the C'Tan, which are the remnants of enslaved star gods - sure, makes sense that they don't fit into the Necron hierarchy. There's the terrain piece, which is... well... terrain.

And then there's the Flayed Ones.

When I think of the Flayed Ones, I think of Necron troops which have gone insane and desire only the brutal death of all living things. Which... kinda sounds like the Destroyer cult. So is there a good lore reason that they're not considered Destroyers on foot? What's the fundamental difference I'm missing?
   
Made in gb
Decrepit Dakkanaut




UK

The key is that Destroyers and Flayed ones have a different kind of madness. Destroyers are focused on destruction and on self mutilation and improvement toward that goal.

Flayed ones are almost totally insane and crave flesh above all else. They aren't "improving" themselves toward a goal they are trying to go back to what they were.

If anything they represent madness at two extremes - one embracing the machine; the other rejection. Yet both are shackled to the reality that they are Necrons. Neither perfect machine nor living.

A Blog in Miniature

3D Printing, hobbying and model fun! 
   
Made in us
Terrifying Doombull




Aelyn wrote:

When I think of the Flayed Ones, I think of Necron troops which have gone insane and desire only the brutal death of all living things. Which... kinda sounds like the Destroyer cult. So is there a good lore reason that they're not considered Destroyers on foot? What's the fundamental difference I'm missing?

Destroyers want _everything_ to die.

Flayed ones want to remake themselves as flesh. In a way that doesn't work, obviously, but they're obsessively trying to get their flesh aspect _back_, not the brutal death of all living things. If their method worked, they might just stop, content. (except grimdark warhammer reality, so they wouldn't, but...)

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/02/16 18:10:29


Efficiency is the highest virtue. 
   
Made in gb
Ork-Hunting Inquisitorial Xenokiller




As if by magic, or perhaps the cause of the question...

https://www.warhammer-community.com/2021/02/16/how-to-avoid-becoming-part-of-a-flayed-ones-favourite-outfit/

It's a curse from a C'Tan that causes a different "madness" to the Destroyer cult.
   
Made in gb
Excited Doom Diver





Okay, I understand what the difference is between the Destroyers and the Flayed Ones. But (and this might be a bit off-topic for the Background subforum) is there any real reason why they're distinct?

It made sense when the old Destroyers out there were long-ranged gun platforms and the Lord, but now there are multiple types of melee-focused Destroyers, iit feels like there's no reason that Flayed Ones are distinct except a quirk brought about by changing and expanding lore.

I for one thi k it would make a lot of sense if it turned out that the curse from the C'Tan was just a premature awakening of the Destroyer madness, which manifested differently due to different expectations ahead of the Great Sleep.
   
Made in us
Lead-Footed Trukkboy Driver





Yes, the reason is that flayed ones have a literal virus (flayer virus) that makes them utterly insane. They infect other necrons if they get too close. So, no one wants them around, they just sense battle from their pocket dimensions then appear to join in the slaughter. Destroyers want to exterminate life, they aren't actually insane (well, not to the degree that flayed ones are).

If that isn't a good enough reason, then nothing will convince you. It is literally the reason for the distinction.

Active armies, still collecting and painting First and greatest love - Orks, Orks, and more Orks largest pile of shame, so many tanks unassembled most complete and painted beautiful models, couldn't resist the swarm will consume all
Armies in disrepair: nothing new since 5th edition oh how I want to revive, but mostly old fantasy demons and some glorious Soul Grinders in need of love 
   
Made in us
Mekboy Hammerin' Somethin'





Sedona, Arizona

It's been said, but:

Destroyers are insane in that they have an evil goal (although it's rarely reflected on by the story) and are utterly without scruples and restraint in their pursuit of that goal. To the point where they will sacrifice their "form", something which all other Necrons cherish as a reflection of what they were, and (in their circuits) will be again. To just go ahead and get Godwin's law out of the way, they're the Nazi's of the Necrons. Both their ends and means are evil, but they do make sense and follow pretty straight forward (though devoid of morality) logic.

Flayers are insane in that their minds (or circuits) simply do not function correctly. If the Destroyers are Nazi's, then the Flayer virus turns its victims in Jeffrey Dahmer. They act bizarrely and erratically, taking actions which do not follow any train of logic / cannot be reasoned out or properly explained. So while the over-tier of Necrons view the Destroyers as tools, their methods and goals as strange but usable, the Flayers would be the crazy bastard you keep in a gak-smeared cell down in the basement. Worst comes to worst you might let him out in times of great emergency, but largely you want nothing to do with him and he's best left there.

   
Made in ca
Storm Trooper with Maglight




Fictional wrote:
As if by magic, or perhaps the cause of the question...

https://www.warhammer-community.com/2021/02/16/how-to-avoid-becoming-part-of-a-flayed-ones-favourite-outfit/

It's a curse from a C'Tan that causes a different "madness" to the Destroyer cult.


It's not a curse . Please dont say it is. If we all ignore that stupid fluff maybe it will go away. As far as I know, it's just necrons who have gone insane from being trapped in an unfeeling, metal body

123ply: Dataslate- 4/4/3/3/1/3/1/8/6+
Autopistol, Steel Extendo, Puma Hoodie
USRs: "Preferred Enemy: Xenos"
"Hatred: Xenos"
"Racist and Proud of it" - Gains fleshbane, rending, rage, counter-attack, and X2 strength and toughness when locked in combat with units not in the "Imperium of Man" faction.

Collection:
AM/IG - 122nd Terrax Guard: 2094/3000pts
Skitarii/Cult Mech: 1380/2000pts
Khorne Daemonkin - Host of the Nervous Knife: 1701/2000pts
Orks - Rampage Axez: 1753/2000pts 
   
Made in gb
Regular Dakkanaut




123ply wrote:
Fictional wrote:
As if by magic, or perhaps the cause of the question...

https://www.warhammer-community.com/2021/02/16/how-to-avoid-becoming-part-of-a-flayed-ones-favourite-outfit/

It's a curse from a C'Tan that causes a different "madness" to the Destroyer cult.


It's not a curse . Please dont say it is. If we all ignore that stupid fluff maybe it will go away. As far as I know, it's just necrons who have gone insane from being trapped in an unfeeling, metal body


That insanity sounds like a curse to me
   
Made in us
Decrepit Dakkanaut





I liked it when the Flayed Ones were infiltrators, putting on the flayed skins of whoever they were infiltrating. Infiltrate.
   
Made in us
Lead-Footed Trukkboy Driver





Nurglitch wrote:
I liked it when the Flayed Ones were infiltrators, putting on the flayed skins of whoever they were infiltrating. Infiltrate.


There is something deliciously horrifying about a murder bot flaying a human face, wearing it, and then actually trying to blend in. There is no stretch of the imagination where it wouldn't look like a bulky, spikey, blade-handed machine with tattered flesh dripping with blood trying to act casually human. But, it would probably work because everyone knows that if they blow its cover, then it will butcher them.

Really, if flayers were infiltrators (if any necrons were) they should just wear mechanicus robes.

Active armies, still collecting and painting First and greatest love - Orks, Orks, and more Orks largest pile of shame, so many tanks unassembled most complete and painted beautiful models, couldn't resist the swarm will consume all
Armies in disrepair: nothing new since 5th edition oh how I want to revive, but mostly old fantasy demons and some glorious Soul Grinders in need of love 
   
Made in ca
Storm Trooper with Maglight




Umbros wrote:
123ply wrote:
Fictional wrote:
As if by magic, or perhaps the cause of the question...

https://www.warhammer-community.com/2021/02/16/how-to-avoid-becoming-part-of-a-flayed-ones-favourite-outfit/

It's a curse from a C'Tan that causes a different "madness" to the Destroyer cult.


It's not a curse . Please dont say it is. If we all ignore that stupid fluff maybe it will go away. As far as I know, it's just necrons who have gone insane from being trapped in an unfeeling, metal body


That insanity sounds like a curse to me


Yeah, I guess you're right... But the curse they're talking about is more the magic type where somebody curses you to be crazy, which is what I dont like. If that makes any sense, lol

123ply: Dataslate- 4/4/3/3/1/3/1/8/6+
Autopistol, Steel Extendo, Puma Hoodie
USRs: "Preferred Enemy: Xenos"
"Hatred: Xenos"
"Racist and Proud of it" - Gains fleshbane, rending, rage, counter-attack, and X2 strength and toughness when locked in combat with units not in the "Imperium of Man" faction.

Collection:
AM/IG - 122nd Terrax Guard: 2094/3000pts
Skitarii/Cult Mech: 1380/2000pts
Khorne Daemonkin - Host of the Nervous Knife: 1701/2000pts
Orks - Rampage Axez: 1753/2000pts 
   
Made in us
Confessor Of Sins





Tacoma, WA, USA

As Arthur C. Clark said, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” The C'Tan cursed them with a techno-virus that corrupts them into insanity and spreads to other Necrons.
   
 
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