Melcavuk's Faction Expansions - Revitalising the Lore

Cool ideas and warscrolls.

Have you made any of the models table-ready yet? I'd be keen to see them progress.

Keep up the creative work, and  keep posting

Quite interesting warscrolls. So I'm not the only one, who considers to harness deers in front of a chariot.

Didn't checked anything, but I'm a little wondering about some things:

For some reason, the Skinners Knife of the of the Gladeshards seems a little strong. A knife/dagger that wounds better than a sword. I mean, we have Sisters of the Watch and Shadow Warriors at the high end of Archers but non of them are wounding on 3+.

In case of the chargers I think there is something wrong with shortbow and javelin (and why do they need both? Shooting 3 shots in the shooting phase with 2 weapons. How about the shortbow for shooting and a spear for close combat?

51 minutes ago, EMMachine said:

Quite interesting warscrolls. So I'm not the only one, who considers to harness deers in front of a chariot.

Didn't checked anything, but I'm a little wondering about some things:

For some reason, the Skinners Knife of the of the Gladeshards seems a little strong. A knife/dagger that wounds better than a sword. I mean, we have Sisters of the Watch and Shadow Warriors at the high end of Archers but non of them are wounding on 3+.

In case of the chargers I think there is something wrong with shortbow and javelin (and why do they need both? Shooting 3 shots in the shooting phase with 2 weapons. How about the shortbow for shooting and a spear for close combat?

 

Cheers, a few of these things lingered on my mind as I wrote them, hence the need for feedback

For the Chargers its literally the clone of Stormcast Pallador scrolls at the moment, the boltstorm pistol has merely been renamed to a short bow since I wasnt fond of boltstorm for an Aelf. When I alter the scrolls it'll become more unique arrow types for the bow and a short range stabby spear instead (The palladors do indeed get 3 shooting attacks with different weapons)

I was trying to find a decent name for the blades for the gladeshards, you're right the skinners knife sounds wrong but bsically looking at a short sword designed to pierce the the toughest hide and cleave the heart from mighty beasts.

For the To Wound stat on gladeshards I looked at current decent archer battleline (Judicators at this point) in terms of hitting and wounding, then made them a little worse (armour, no fancy bow on sergeant etc). Having played with and against shadow warriors they tend to feel lacklustre in terms of output for "elites" compared to the Judicators as troops.

2 hours ago, Gwill_of_the_Woods said:

Cool ideas and warscrolls.

Have you made any of the models table-ready yet? I'd be keen to see them progress.

Keep up the creative work, and  keep posting

Currently the Wyldmare conversions, Glade Shards,  The reavers and the Chargers have been converted. Once I've gotten a few painted I'll put up some shots of them but for now they look like below:
 

The model concept for the Wyldrunner chariot is to take a slaaneshy chariot and weave the flexible creeping vines around it to make it look like an organically grown elegant tool of death. Will tend attach flowers to the vines once fully painted and have it pulled by the stags to round it out with the Noble on the back

1 hour ago, Melcavuk said:

 

Cheers, a few of these things lingered on my mind as I wrote them, hence the need for feedback

For the Chargers its literally the clone of Stormcast Pallador scrolls at the moment, the boltstorm pistol has merely been renamed to a short bow since I wasnt fond of boltstorm for an Aelf. When I alter the scrolls it'll become more unique arrow types for the bow and a short range stabby spear instead (The palladors do indeed get 3 shooting attacks with different weapons)

I was trying to find a decent name for the blades for the gladeshards, you're right the skinners knife sounds wrong but bsically looking at a short sword designed to pierce the the toughest hide and cleave the heart from mighty beasts.

For the To Wound stat on gladeshards I looked at current decent archer battleline (Judicators at this point) in terms of hitting and wounding, then made them a little worse (armour, no fancy bow on sergeant etc). Having played with and against shadow warriors they tend to feel lacklustre in terms of output for "elites" compared to the Judicators as troops.

Hm, the Problem with the gladeshards is, you compared them with units of the size of Kurnoth Hunters or Blood Stalkers (these are the units Judicators with there 40mm Base could be compared at best). Monstrous Infantry stat normally has 3-5 Models for the cost.

The right comparisson are Shadow Warriors, Sisters of the Watch, Gladeguard, Namarti Reavers( these are quite similar to Shadow Warriors). To Wound on 3+ you often need something like a Grandsword/Grandhammer/Grandaxe etc. I have seen many profiles for aelfs and most of the time 3+/4+ is the best you get if you don't have a Grandweapon (in that case it's often 3+/3+/-1)

In case of the Chargers. A short bow with 9" doesn't fit. That the range of a Repeater Handbow of the Black arc Corsairs (and those have 5+/4+ as rolls.)

There are two points with the Javelins. Stormcast Eternals are some sort of "Supersoldier". They are the only units that can throw a Javelin 18". Every other unit I know has 9" (Sisters of the Thorn, Chaos Marauder Horsemen or  a Icebrow Hunter throws his Throwing Spear for example) or at best 12" in case of the Khinerai Heartrenders. It's looks like your guys are a little on steroids.

Another thing is the plausibility. A shockbolt pistole is some sort of Repeater crossbow. This thing could be fired with one hand, while Throwing the Javelin with the other one (even it is also not the best design in case of the Palladors). Your "shortbows" that normally should be some sort of bow, like the other units in your army have does need both hands (1 holding the Bow and 1 holding the arrow). Do they really have the time to throw a Javelin in between.

Edited June 20, 2018 by EMMachine

1 hour ago, EMMachine said:

Hm, the Problem with the gladeshards is, you compared them with units of the size of Kurnoth Hunters or Blood Stalkers (these are the units Judicators with there 40mm Base could be compared at best). Monstrous Infantry stat normally has 3-5 Models for the cost.

The right comparisson are Shadow Warriors, Sisters of the Watch, Gladeguard, Namarti Reavers( these are quite similar to Shadow Warriors). To Wound on 3+ you often need something like a Grandsword/Grandhammer/Grandaxe etc. I have seen many profiles for aelfs and most of the time 3+/4+ is the best you get if you don't have a Grandweapon (in that case it's often 3+/3+/-1)

In case of the Chargers. A short bow with 9" doesn't fit. That the range of a Repeater Handbow of the Black arc Corsairs (and those have 5+/4+ as rolls.)

There are two points with the Javelins. Stormcast Eternals are some sort of "Supersoldier". They are the only units that can throw a Javelin 18". Every other unit I know has 9" (Sisters of the Thorn, Chaos Marauder Horsemen or  a Icebrow Hunter throws his Throwing Spear for example) or at best 12" in case of the Khinerai Heartrenders. It's looks like your guys are a little on steroids.

Another thing is the plausibility. A shockbolt pistole is some sort of Repeater crossbow. This thing could be fired with one hand, while Throwing the Javelin with the other one (even it is also not the best design in case of the Palladors). Your "shortbows" that normally should be some sort of bow, like the other units in your army have does need both hands (1 holding the Bow and 1 holding the arrow). Do they really have the time to throw a Javelin in between.

As stated in the initial post the charger is literally a cloned Pallador scroll so my partner can use her army whilst I work on revising the scroll for the unit just with wording changed. The mechanics is an exact copy paste of the scroll (along with points cost, base size, core model) in terms of fluff the two wont align until after I change anything. The rules as is is a pallador scroll with wording change, thus the mechanics remain.

Namarati reavers are at best a disappointing unit with some decent shots are short range, in terms of decent archers they are... lacking, in terms of short range support they do OK.  the aim with the glade shards is to essentially make the Namarati Thralls of the archery world (the reavers lack this), so looking at that scroll as a baseline, (3+, 3+, rend 1, damage 1) but halving the number of attacks and making it harder to hit (range), but keeping the high to wound (toxin laced arrowed hewn from ironbark) and converting it over into a bow makes a useful ranged unit that doesnt hit as well as Stormcast nor have their resilience but becomes a functionally unique unit. The melee weapon can easily drop down to a 4+, 4+ but then that leaves them with fewer attacks and flat worse than the namarati reavers in melee. The aim for the unit is to provide quality of shots over weight of fire provided by a Namarati reaver.

10 Namarati Reaver bow
3 shots each, 9 inch range, 4+. 4+. no rend
7.5 dmg vs - save
6.25 dmg vs 6+ save
5 dmg vs 5+ Save



10 Gladeshard Bow at its best
1 shot, 18 inch range, 3+, 3+ -1 rend. (only against units of 11 or more models at this stage)
4.3 dmg vs - save
4.3 dmg vs 6+ save
3.63 dmg vs 5+ Save

 

So whilst being functional at peak at double the range, it is only getting that 3+ against units with more models and still provides statistically worse damage against every save until you reach a 3 or more, lowering the melee to be lower and worse too would mean the newest equivalency unit (Namarati Reavers) whilst functioning at shorter range would be mathematically better when both are in their ideal situation (short range vs horde)

Also Namarati Reavers are 20 points cheaper. Same base size, similar roles. (both potentially battleline, archers, same save)

Bearing in mind with the release of the Idoneth Battletome Namarati Reavers were considered disappointing for their role within the codex.

Edited June 20, 2018 by Melcavuk

The Centaurid Huntresses have become Centaurid Hunters (the bits in the conversion unfortunately were incompatible so the revised conversion is definitively male)
 

I like these guys so far, a bit more unusual when looking at your previous work, but still.

1 hour ago, TheR00zle said:

I like these guys so far, a bit more unusual when looking at your previous work, but still.

I think unusual is relative, one of my Ogor is literally a massive volcanic rock fueled by a gods energy and with a grot priest chilling out on his shoulder  compared to that a centaur is logical.

11 minutes ago, Melcavuk said:

I think unusual is relative, one of my Ogor is literally a massive volcanic rock fueled by a gods energy and with a grot priest chilling out on his shoulder  compared to that a centaur is logical.

I meant you doing anything involving Order. I honestly thought that these dudes were destruction aelves, then I saw the Warscroll

Aeloran Noble on Wyldrunner Chariot

 

 

 

 

Edited June 20, 2018 by Melcavuk

I absolutely love those models!

Nice kit-bashing! Have those Wildrider archer dudes got ungulate legs? are they part beastman kit?

 

I've always loved the Wolf-Kin idea! I tried to integrate fenrisian wolves into a 10-15 model unit of Wild Riders in 8th.

I may bring them back out for a 10 man 240point unit.

1 hour ago, Gwill_of_the_Woods said:

I absolutely love those models!

Nice kit-bashing! Have those Wildrider archer dudes got ungulate legs? are they part beastman kit?

 

I've always loved the Wolf-Kin idea! I tried to integrate fenrisian wolves into a 10-15 model unit of Wild Riders in 8th.

I may bring them back out for a 10 man 240point unit.

Do you mean the infantry? Sorry half the archers in the army are atleast part wildrider models  The infantry are pure aelf at this stage, one of the bloodlines thats has been preserved either through varied blends or just strength of soul to resist the deterioration, they seem to have gained the benefits of the blend through the enhanced muscle strength and antelope leaping but have atleast visually resisted a change in their physical forms.

Wolves are the third tier of the list to be looked for me, the centaurs are up first, then the avian aelves after which I'll go into the wolfkin just because my partner wants fast and archers as the key theme to begin.

Test scheme for the first of my Gladeshards, the aim here is to get a scheme my partner can easily replicate without feeling overly pressured due to less experience in basing. Whilst it isnt to my usual level of heavy detailing I've limited it to basic techniques executed to provide a nice colour contrast, something that will provide good looking table top standard army.

Bit o' Background:

Some call them Wanderers, Nomads, Forest Aelves, it is said within the borders of Ghyran their name has been struck from every record in that woodland realm. Those that call them wanderers know little of the reason why, of the darkness that took root in the very souls of these forgotten Aelves in times long since past, over the disease of the Wyld that now lurks in every drop of blood coursing through their every changing forms. It is said that these Nomads travel ever onward not because they wish to, but because they must, every footprint seeds the nightmarish plants of the Wyld land, a curse that travels with them wherever they go.

Born once long ago to the Goddess Alarielle when all of her Aelven kin sought to take their share from the gullet of Slaanesh, they her loyal huntsmen within Ghyran. Born children of Kurnoth and Alarielle both these Woodland Aelves found the forests of Ghyran their sanctuary, stalking beasts that upset the natural order of their home and enforcing the will of their Goddess upon all who strayed within her sacred borders. Their lives were full, peaceful and safe in the knowledge that their Goddesses powers within the walls of the forest were absolute, it was this knowledge that led them to rebuke Sigmars offer of sanctuary when the tides of Chaos first began to encroach upon the realms. It is said that these Wanderkin stood as Alarielles sentinels on the very edge of her forest kingdom, keeping watchful gaze across the horizons for any sign of the tide of chaos. Few know what shook the faith of these Aelven hunters, perhaps the sanctuary they had become accustomed to had softened them, perhaps they knew not the true savageries of war, whatever their reason when their faith was tested it was found wanting. In the dead of night these Nomads abandoned their posts at the edge of the forest, fleeing with all speed from the tide of darkness that had drowned the horizon and blotted out the stars themselves. The wrath of their Goddess would send tremors throughout every root within the Realm, every tree shook with her rage, her children had forsaken her.

These accursed Wanderers fled, the tide of chaos ever at their heel as the forests they once knew as sanctuary became drowned in an onslaught of flame and axe. Finding all gates to Azyr sealed to them they took the only route that had been left open, travelling through the Primal Gates of Ghur they fled beyond the very edges of the mapped world, into the swirling madness of the Maelstrome at realms edge. Here, amidts the shifting Wyld winds that ravage the very distant corners of Ghur they found sanctuary… for a time.

2 hours ago, Melcavuk said:

Bit o' Background:

Some call them Wanderers, Nomads, Forest Aelves, it is said within the borders of Ghyran their name has been struck from every record in that woodland realm. Those that call them wanderers know little of the reason why, of the darkness that took root in the very souls of these forgotten Aelves in times long since past, over the disease of the Wyld that now lurks in every drop of blood coursing through their every changing forms. It is said that these Nomads travel ever onward not because they wish to, but because they must, every footprint seeds the nightmarish plants of the Wyld land, a curse that travels with them wherever they go.

Born once long ago to the Goddess Alarielle when all of her Aelven kin sought to take their share from the gullet of Slaanesh, they her loyal huntsmen within Ghyran. Born children of Kurnoth and Alarielle both these Woodland Aelves found the forests of Ghyran their sanctuary, stalking beasts that upset the natural order of their home and enforcing the will of their Goddess upon all who strayed within her sacred borders. Their lives were full, peaceful and safe in the knowledge that their Goddesses powers within the walls of the forest were absolute, it was this knowledge that led them to rebuke Sigmars offer of sanctuary when the tides of Chaos first began to encroach upon the realms. It is said that these Wanderkin stood as Alarielles sentinels on the very edge of her forest kingdom, keeping watchful gaze across the horizons for any sign of the tide of chaos. Few know what shook the faith of these Aelven hunters, perhaps the sanctuary they had become accustomed to had softened them, perhaps they knew not the true savageries of war, whatever their reason when their faith was tested it was found wanting. In the dead of night these Nomads abandoned their posts at the edge of the forest, fleeing with all speed from the tide of darkness that had drowned the horizon and blotted out the stars themselves. The wrath of their Goddess would send tremors throughout every root within the Realm, every tree shook with her rage, her children had forsaken her.

These accursed Wanderers fled, the tide of chaos ever at their heel as the forests they once knew as sanctuary became drowned in an onslaught of flame and axe. Finding all gates to Azyr sealed to them they took the only route that had been left open, travelling through the Primal Gates of Ghur they fled beyond the very edges of the mapped world, into the swirling madness of the Maelstrome at realms edge. Here, amidts the shifting Wyld winds that ravage the very distant corners of Ghur they found sanctuary… for a time.

Are you an author IRL? If so please send me links to your books!

Awesome fluff! 

 

So within the lore of the aeloran nomads, are they a splinter of the traditional wanderers armies or are they what the majority of wanderers became? Could you have an army of wanderers with aeloran nomad allies or vice versa?

1 minute ago, Necroshadow said:

So within the lore of the aeloran nomads, are they a splinter of the traditional wanderers armies or are they what the majority of wanderers became? Could you have an army of wanderers with aeloran nomad allies or vice versa?

By current fluff (from my recollection) the faction dubbed the Wanderers are those that actually entered Azyrheim in the age of chaos, since the opening of the gates they have since well... wandered. The Nomads are those who believed in Alarielle enough that they chose not to flee at first, but when their faith came to be tested they were found wanting and disappeared too late to escape the Azyrheim (gates sealed). 

The two factions (Nomads vs Wanderers) are two halves of the same coin, each abandoned alarielle at different stages and each are likely burdened with that guilt, for that reason they are natural allies and would likely work together more often than apart. Though such alliances will likely be short lived and somewhat cold, the Nomads curse of the wyld runs rampant through their kind and Wanderers would likely fear contamination from too long spent in proximity, whats more Nomads would likely only tolerate the burden of their cousins pity for so long before their paths diverged.

 

To summarise: Same Origin, Different factions, Would Ally, but awkward family reunion.

Win one for the suneater!

Looks great, creative conversions are always fun!