AoS 2 - Ossiarch Bonereapers Discussion

[Gdead909]

So has anyone else noticed there is a lot of negativity floating around the net about this faction. Not so much on TGA but man FB people are losing their minds. I don’t remember nighthaunt or the deepkin being this polarizing

 

Do you think it’s fueled by the tomb king players that wanted new tomb king stuff?

[Sception]

I think it's because these guys are very goofy and toyetic.  As in they look self consciously like kids toys - he man villains, inhumanoids, etc.  Goofy grins, four-faced, four armed guys that look like they'd have some button on the back to make the arms wiggle & faces spin. Weird proportions.  Wacky, chunky weapons.

I can absolutely see where more serious minded players wouldn't like it, though for me it all just looks better and better.

Edited September 8, 2019 by Sception

[Overread]

11 minutes ago, Gdead909 said:

So has anyone else noticed there is a lot of negativity floating around the net about this faction. Not so much on TGA but man FB people are losing their minds. I don’t remember nighthaunt or the deepkin being this polarizing

 

Do you think it’s fueled by the tomb king players that wanted new tomb king stuff?

I think there's several things to consider:

1) More people complain than compliment in general - the internet tends to amplify this. Not just because of the nature of the medium, but also because you get a good few people who hang around the forums and sites, but who are not actually "in" the hobby any more. Or if they are they are no longer fans of the franchise/game. So they can come off as being overly negative because they are basically on the "outside" of it all. You don't tend to meet as many in "real life" because they don't come down to the club/store and they just lurk in online communities because they don't have to "go" anywhere to take part in them as such. It's not that they are trolls or such; just that they've moved on but not moved on. 
TGA being quite new and being very much focused on a single franchise which started out VERY unpopular in general (for all the fans there were many more non-fans and anti-AoS at launch); so it tended to not attract nor retain as many of those who had moved on or who dislike AoS and who want Old World. 

2) The models aren't out yet, nor are the rules. Photos do good things, but they don't tell the whole story of models. The real world is where its at so some of the criticism is simply that. 

3) Some is people wishlisting and dreaming and going way off-base with the info we do have and then getting disappointing when things don't match up. Others start imagining the worst of things all the time.

4) The army isn't Tomb Kings. This is a valid criticism and disappointment to many. GW's removal of armies from AoS, in particular Brets and TK, was very unexpected and abnormal for GW in general. They mostly don't retire armies. They might retire models and alternative sculpts and subfactions of larger factions; but a whole army in one go - that's very rare. Even in old specialist games GW rarely retired one force and would normally retire the whole game instead. So there was a lot of hope building up that GW might bring the TK back, if not in actuality then in spirit and re-use some of the old classic sculpts in the new force. 

Bonereapers are not that army. Their visual design is totally removed from the TK. On the one hand its a good thing because it means the army is free to have its own identity and free to release its own models and focus and not be slaved to repeating the old army. On the other hand it means all those people with classic TK models and all those who wanted them and never got them; are still left with a legacy army that might well die off entirely at some point. Already events won't generally have legacy armies and as time passes they will likely not get updates etc... So part of it is the sadness that their grand army is dead and Bonereapers appears to be the deathnail for them. Killing hope that TK would "one day" return.

 

I should not BR doesn't confirm that there is never a chance, but just that it wasn't them and it dwindles the chances somewhat. 

5) Sometimes its selective bias in what you choose to read or where. Some sites are a bit more overly negative than others - Dakka forums can be like that and you can see more negativity around almost most things often quite easily. Sometimes you've got to keep that in mind with certain forum groups just like some sites are overly positive in their outlook. 

6) So far as the models are not out we've only see GW paint schemes and GW assembly. Many people like to see the imagination and creativity of others and tha can often spark more interest in something than just the one official scheme and design approach. Sometimes a few neat conversions and some cool paint schemes makes an army look WAY more interesting! Not that the studio schemes are bad, just that they are but one interpretation and style choice. 

 

 

 

In general I wouldn't worry about it. With no battletome and no models to hand a lot of the negativity might well blow over. Also don't forget some of the other armies came out a bit quicker or were such a surprise that it got overlooked. Bonereapers are bit more polarizing if only because Nighthaunt and Idoneth didn't have any links to old forces even in spirit if not in design. I think if Idoneth came out now after the big High Elf purge there'd be a bit more hostility toward them. Same models, same end result but many wouldn't like it after the removal if they then saw "new aelves, but totally different" because it would still mean that their swifthawk and dragon were going to sit on the shelf gathering dust. 

 

 

[Overread]

4 minutes ago, Sception said:

I think it's because these guys are very goofy and toyetic.  As in they look self consciously like kids toys - he man villains, inhumanoids, etc.  Goofy grins, four-faced, four armed guys that look like they'd have some button on the back to make the arms wiggle & faces spin. Weird proportions.  Wacky, chunky weapons.

I can absolutely see where more serious minded players wouldn't like it, though for me it all just looks better and better.

I think most of that is also in the impression the photos and studio paint scheme give - the line between wacky and twisted dark is very fine and I bet with some bloody and dark schemes or some more mature or jsut different paint schemes the models will take on a very different appearance and appeal.

 

[Sception]

I doubt it.  They're just too over the top.  I mean, that big monster with the massive upper torso & arms and the itty bitty kegs with a separate face & arms in the crotch?  That's just inherently goofy as heck.  Again, I love it, but that was always going to be a pretty divisive model.  I'm honestly surprised and impressed that such a fun, goofy concept made it all the way through development.

[Overread]

4 minutes ago, Sception said:

I doubt it.  They're just too over the top.  I mean, that big monster with the massive upper torso & arms and the itty bitty kegs with a separate face & arms in the crotch?  That's just inherently goofy as heck.  Again, I love it, but that was always going to be a pretty divisive model.  I'm honestly surprised and impressed that such a fun, goofy concept made it all the way through development.

See I think once you see it in person the arms won't appear as dis-proportioned. Remember most models are made to be viewed at around 1 ft from the viewer. It's the same reason many model lines have enlarged weapons over many other features - heck drop down to say 15mm games or even 6mm and things like weapons are grossly oversized for practical reasons (not just casting but also being visually easy to see when on the table). 

I also think that the tail and lower legs will balance each other out - more like a gorilla with a backpack than anything else. 

Still the line between goofy and creepy is a subtle one to walk. 

[Panzer]

40 minutes ago, Gdead909 said:

So has anyone else noticed there is a lot of negativity floating around the net about this faction. Not so much on TGA but man FB people are losing their minds. I don’t remember nighthaunt or the deepkin being this polarizing

 

Do you think it’s fueled by the tomb king players that wanted new tomb king stuff?

Maybe to some degree, but I think for the most part it's due it not meeting expectations. Many people expected their bone-y death army to be classic skeletons as basis and then maybe some constructs on top of it, not it being entirely constructs with weird faces instead of skulls.

[Sception]

4 hours ago, Overread said:

I also think that the tail and lower legs will balance each other out - more like a gorilla with a backpack than anything else. 

You say that like the idea of a gorilla with a backpack isnt also a pretty inherently silly idea.  😛

[Neck-Romantic]

I look at it as a Bone Golem...it isnt the skeleton of one animal or monster but a construct cobbled together with bone matter

[Saxon]

The issue is that people have these expectations based on nothing but what they feel they want to see and then get shirty when they don't get what they want.

My first thought was AOS Necrons. 

[Evil Bob]

3 hours ago, Saxon said:

My first thought was AOS Necrons. 

IKR?  Artificial constructs with souls jammed into them.  This one was a no-brainer.

I’ll have three painting goals for my deathcrons.

1. Make the bone part unnatural in some way.  Something red-ish.
2. Work some bone color back in (maybe with a tiny bit of dry brushing or edging).  Just enough to remind the observer these constructs are made of people bits.
3. Paint up the armor like a storm cast to give Sigmar the proper middle-finger.  That soul stealing ******.

[Panzer]

1 hour ago, Evil Bob said:

IKR?  Artificial constructs with souls jammed into them.  This one was a no-brainer.

I’ll have three painting goals for my deathcrons.

1. Make the bone part unnatural in some way.  Something red-ish.
2. Work some bone color back in (maybe with a tiny bit of dry brushing or edging).  Just enough to remind the observer these constructs are made of people bits.
3. Paint up the armor like a storm cast to give Sigmar the proper middle-finger.  That soul stealing ******.

Background wise I agree for the most part, but visually Necrons are way more classic skeletons + constructs instead of construct-men.

That being said Bonereapers from Chamon could probably be painted looking like metal. Some quick leadbelcher primer, washes, details and done.

[Souleater]

Surely you just grab your can of Retributor Armour and have at it? 🙂

[Panzer]

42 minutes ago, Souleater said:

Surely you just grab your can of Retributor Armour and have at it? 🙂

No.

[Souleater]

Would mildly troll the SCE players, though. 

[Panzer]

Not saying you can't do it. It's just not something I'll do or even what I meant to write since if I did I would've done so instead of writing Leadbelcher.

[Souleater]

Ah, sorry. I didn't mean 'you', Panzer. Rather that we as OBR players in general could go gold as well as any other colour. What with different originating realms or construction materials. 

 

I am hoping that we see a really wide variety of different colour schemes for OBR. 🙂

[Lightbox]

I'm considering sticking with the bone theme but a nice deep red for the armour/shields and possibly for the faces as well or maybe silver for the faces.

But I am super excited about walking chair priest/priestess though I would like to see more melee smashy smash heroes. 

[Yokai]

7 hours ago, Evil Bob said:

IKR?  Artificial constructs with souls jammed into them.  This one was a no-brainer.

I’ll have three painting goals for my deathcrons.

1. Make the bone part unnatural in some way.  Something red-ish.
2. Work some bone color back in (maybe with a tiny bit of dry brushing or edging).  Just enough to remind the observer these constructs are made of people bits.
3. Paint up the armor like a storm cast to give Sigmar the proper middle-finger.  That soul stealing ******.

I think the problem with the percieved derpiness/goofyness of our new favourite bone construct bois stem from the official GW bone-coloured paintjob.  Bone colour = traditional skeletons in most people's minds, not grinning constructs with noses.

Therefore, if I jump the gun and buy them (which I am sure I will, who am I fooling?) they will be burned and charred terracotta, Aqshy-style. 🔥🔥🔥

[Sonnenspeer]

You can debuff the Ossiarch Bone reapers just by singing the scooby doo song

[Sception]

I'll probably do dark grey bone for the bodies, ghostly green trim, eyes, & teeth, green gems, dark green cloth, black with green highlights for the armor plates.  I slapped together a mockup that i mostly like:

[Gdead909]

I think I am going to a deep blue purple of color changing paints for the armor and then basic bone colors 

[sandlemad]

Gonna a link a fan translation of the background here from Atia's blog: http://disq.us/p/247r2sf

Quote

Punishment of Pain - Castigo de Dolor: Choose an enemy unit wholly within 18, on a 4+ subtract 1 to hit rolls until your next hero phase.
Punishment of Death - Castigo de Muerte: 1 mortal wound on a 2+ to an enemy unit within 36
Punishment of Ignorance - Castigo de Ignorancia: Choose an enemy Wizard within 36", on a 2+ subtract 1 to rolls for casting, shooting(?), and unbinding until your next hero phase.
Punishment of Lethargy - Castigo de Letargo: Choose a unit wholly within 18" and fully visible. Roll a die, on a 4+ that unit cannot run until your next hero phase, in addition they may only roll 1D6 to charge instead of 2D6 until your next hero phase.

Quote

But wait, there is more!

Black guy is a Mortek Guard of the Null Myriad.
Red is a Mortek Guard of the Crematorians.

Left page is Arkhan the Black
Right page is a Mounted Hero, abilities are hard to read, but here's some. A weapon has a damage of 3 instead of 2 on the turn it charged, looks like Reroll wounds of 1 against Destruction and Order models, and possibly reroll wounds against Chaos models. Command ability seems to be +1 to hit to an Ossiarch Bonereapers unit within 12", can't be used on the same unit more than once per phase. "Que dejes de respirar!", literally "Stop breathing!", use in Shooting or Combat phase, he passes on his reroll 1's to wound vs Order/Destruction and reroll all wounds vs Chaos. The ability I couldn't read is called "Unstoppable Charge" and says something about inflicting a mortal wound.

The Ossiarch Bone reapers surge forth in all their...splendor, now that they are the manifested will(literal translation is "living will")...Everything they touch is turned into..., such as the corpse as is the soul.

...method of maintaining distant of the...unliving horrors(?), to avoid(something happening)...drown in the flesh...an option the Ossiarch leaders... to explain the dry, sepulchral tone...with their future victims in a joke(prank?)...of a parliament. Their heart is frozen when the real horror of their proposal is made evident(artistic liberty): giving a tithe of bones...the Ossiarch Empire can maintain itself...at least for a time.

...a military force unlike any other...with supernatural organization and efficiency...led by generals created by...Nagash, that have received a portion...of necromantic power. During times...immemorial, the legions of Bonereapers...inactive below the ground, in rows...occult catacombs created when Nagash and Sigmar were still considered allies. Now,...the echos of the Necroquake(called Necroseismo, ****** badass) invigorated his...skeletal, they march for war. Katakros, the Mortarch of the Necropolis leads them, an eternal strategic genius whose...of ages past is consecrated to perfect the art of war.

The Ossiarch Bonereapers soley exist to conquer. Their only objective is to establish a new order from the bones of the ancient. Those who do not fulfill the tithe, either by choice or inability, are confronted by a terrible destiny. They will be cruelly ripped apart, their flesh separated from bone and their body from their soul until they becpme nothing but raw materials. Then, starting with tier remains, the same essence of what they were, they will be made into new bonereapers. This is the terrible truth of the Ossiarchs. They convert their victims into more of their own, and like death itself, they cannot be stopped.

The Null Myriad is an rock solid name for a force and to an anglophone 'Necroseismo' does sound cool.

[Panzer]

1 hour ago, Sception said:

I'll probably do dark grey bone for the bodies, ghostly green trim, eyes, & teeth, green gems, dark green cloth, black with green highlights for the armor plates.  I slapped together a mockup that i mostly like:

With such a colour scheme the faces don't even look that bad anymore. I like it!

 

15 minutes ago, sandlemad said:

Punishment of Pain - Castigo de Dolor: Choose an enemy unit wholly within 18, on a 4+ subtract 1 to hit rolls until your next hero phase.
Punishment of Death - Castigo de Muerte: 1 mortal wound on a 2+ to an enemy unit within 36
Punishment of Ignorance - Castigo de Ignorancia: Choose an enemy Wizard within 36", on a 2+ subtract 1 to rolls for casting, shooting(?), and unbinding until your next hero phase.
Punishment of Lethargy - Castigo de Letargo: Choose a unit wholly within 18" and fully visible. Roll a die, on a 4+ that unit cannot run until your next hero phase, in addition they may only roll 1D6 to charge instead of 2D6 until your next hero phase.

Gotta love that he's just sitting back and handing out different punishments as if the enemy is just a bunch of plebs having an audience with the king.

 

16 minutes ago, sandlemad said:

"Que dejes de respirar!", literally "Stop breathing!", use in Shooting or Combat phase, he passes on his reroll 1's to wound vs Order/Destruction and reroll all wounds vs Chaos.

Sorry, not sorry.  

 

[Sception]

16 minutes ago, Panzer said:

With such a colour scheme the faces don't even look that bad anymore. I like it!

Maybe it's the color scheme, or maybe it's just that the image I started with had one of the nose-less faces.  🤔