Jump to content

Create Your Own Faction (why not)


Nubgan

Recommended Posts

The thought and topic was inspired via the Kharadron Overlords thread. With the release of our Bioshock style, Steampunk Sky Pirate Dwarves I think we can all agree for the most part that GW has nailed the high fantasy setting for the most part. From the gold, immortal warriors that are Stormcast, to the Blood Frenzied horde that is Khorne Bloodbound, to the Sudo-elf-tree warriors that are the Sylvaneth. They have all been fantastically realised and really fed off the individual traits and personalities that made the factions (apart from Stormcast) what they were in 8th edition fantasy.

My fun question is:

'If you were in the drivers seat at Warhammer World Design Office thinking about a new faction for AoS, what would it look like?'

As I suggested in the other thread, I kind of think it would be cool to have Goblin Sky Pirates to go with/opposite our Dwarven friends. They have both been factions that have shared a big rivalry in the past and Goblins too have had a crazy way of creating technology in the past, so perhaps they would just flat out have air baloons with bolt throwers and Doomdivers firing from them.

What would you guys create, the rules are simple, lets not just boringly recreate Bretonnia, its got to be High Fantasy-ified!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've never been overly keen on High Fantasy, as my tastes run more to the intersection of Dark Fantasy, Sword-and-Sorcery, and Historical. If someone would figure out how to write a Brother Cadfael / Cthuthlu crossover, I could die happy. But I digress...

What I feel Age of Sigmar is lacking is in reasons for intra-factional fighting. Now, some of the Alliances have plenty of reason to fight: Destruction is always ready for a brawl, Death has all sort of "palace intrigue" going on, and Chaos is... well, Chaotic. But how do we justify, narratively, two players' Stormcasts going at it? Why would Seraphom fight Seraphon? What can turn Aelf against Aelf?

I say we dust off a very old concept from the World That Was... The Gods of Law.

The gods of Law weren't "good guys," in the same sense as Sigmar, Morr, Ulric, or the regular pantheon of any Old World culture. They were, in their own way, just as dangerous as the Chaos Gods. Where the four main Chaos Gods represent constant dynamic change and possiblity, the Gods of Law represent unyielding, unchanging, perfect stasis.

Enter the Sons of Solkan.

So let's have Solkan come back and corrupt some Stormcasts, Devouted, and Seraphon. Whispering promises of retribution against Chaos, punishing the oathbreakers of Death, and bringing civilization to the barbarians of Deatruction... and dammit of those other Stormcast aren't going to help, maybe we need to show them the error of their ways. With a hammer. To the face.

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, Thain said:

But how do we justify, narratively, two players' Stormcasts going at it?

 

This is already covered in the lore.  There is a stadium/coliseum in Azyr that stormcast fights stormcast for training.

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm putting together a Death Mortals list because I like the idea of it thematically. Draws a lot from Aztec styling and religion, they worship Nagash as a God and see death as a transcendent release from these frail mortal bodies. On the table they tend to involve a lot of transformation. There are ghostly Ancestors and mortal Adherents, one can possess the other to empower them at the right time with the skill and fury of ancient warriors, and as the latter dies they can be reborn as Ancestors.

You have Fleshknitters who use Death magic to slay a dozen of their fellows and amalgamate their corpses into Morghasts, which serve as mini-heroes and walking avatars of the Death God. There are Empraisers who exhort the Ancestors to come to the aid of the Mortals, summoning them to the field or empowering them to fight harder in battle.

It's very fun writing all this stuff up, actually. I'm channeling a lot of 40K Eldar in how they're empowered by the souls of their enemies and the fluff of how the seers coax the dead into fighting for them, (there's a chance the Ancestors lash out at the Empraiser for their insolence.)

Also going to have a shrine carried by Adherents and ghosts with a priest riding it, and perhaps some sort of bone mammoth general because what faction is complete without a big centrepiece toy?

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

There was on Dakka an amazing fan Battletome for Void Swarm - aka Tyranids. AoS rules for every Tyranid model that looked relatively decent. Nids are a good fit for AoS anyway - they're not SciFi other than being Ridley Scott Alien expies, and in all the Mortal Realms (or rather, the void between them), there's plenty of room for an omnicidal bug race. Sadly hasn't been updated in a while, but I was a fan and would immediately start a force if GW made an official port.

Link: https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/697553.page

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm really interested in having the details of how mortals survive in the mortal realms expanded upon.

How do men live in the realm of beasts for example? I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that there are cities on the backs of giant worms. I'd love to see a nomadic, slightly barbarian slightly 'sand raider's style faction that crossed racial boundaries including ogruns (ogroid?), Humans, aelfs etc who have based.a culture entirely on a realm full of monsters and orruks.

I think this sort of thing could be applied to any realm. A mortal faction native to the realm of death could exist in such away that they recognise nagash as a god but do not worship him, in a similar way to how many indigenous cultures venerate and fear natural disasters.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Thain said:

What I feel Age of Sigmar is lacking is in reasons for intra-factional fighting. Now, some of the Alliances have plenty of reason to fight: Destruction is always ready for a brawl, Death has all sort of "palace intrigue" going on, and Chaos is... well, Chaotic. But how do we justify, narratively, two players' Stormcasts going at it? Why would Seraphom fight Seraphon? What can turn Aelf against Aelf?

[...]

Enter the Sons of Solkan.

So let's have Solkan come back and corrupt some Stormcasts, Devouted, and Seraphon. Whispering promises of retribution against Chaos, punishing the oathbreakers of Death, and bringing civilization to the barbarians of Deatruction... and dammit of those other Stormcast aren't going to help, maybe we need to show them the error of their ways. With a hammer. To the face.

 

I completely agree. Maybe it's because the fluff isn't too fleshed out yet, but AoS seems very Good vs. Bad oriented. Cool thing about the Old World was that every race had at some point a feud with other races, and also had internal strifes (perfect justification for same race war).

The Solkan idea is a good one. One thing I thought was introducing a faction similar to radical Inquisitors in 40k. Good guys (Stormcast, Aelves, Sylvaneth,etc...) that deviate in their quest to destroy Chaos and end up corrupted using chaos artefacts and demonic invocations, giving room to a sort of limbo where everyone hates them and they grow bitter.   

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Faction wise, I think we need to see something more closely associated with the Realms themselves, something a little more supernatural than we've seen so far, without leaning towards too close to the others. Maybe something elemental, an embodiment of the various realms.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

14 minutes ago, Circus of Paint said:

I've started making notes for reinventing the Zombie Pirates of the Vampire Coast for Age of Sigmar.

All I have so far is a faction name and loose ideas in my head - "Drownwalkers"!

I really like the idea of drowned zombies.

In fact I think, what with the age of chaos having lasted so long, that there's scope for a whole drowned civilisation

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, DWCScubaSteve said:

Sadly due to moving at the time, I was unable to back the Kickstarter Campaign, but I will be looking to start an empire based on the Nippon using the Dragon Empire

 

Interesting, I had a similar idea after seeing that kickstarter. But I thought that they would make a fine cathay army. Ninjas and Samurais tend to outshine its neighbours, even though medieval china has a rich history aswell.

These minitures gave me enough motivation to try to make my own warscrolls.

I have made two until now, one inspired by medieval warrior monks and the Shaolin. And one thats just the Chu Ko Nu repeater crossbows transported to the mortal realms. I even have a rough idea for a background story thats more than just basicly chinease history. 

Maybe putting them into GA: Chaos, as tzeentch was know to be openly worshipped by some parts of old cathay. 

58caeaf772c9a_2017_02.27ChuKoNupng.png.eda54d0fb83bc42719118ccb386344c9.png

This is just my first attempt for a completely fan made unit, so Im not sure in which direction I want to take this. But I thought about intergrating some kind of order system like the AM in 40K to show how highly disciplined cathays troops are.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was thinking along these lines the other day.  With the coming of the Kharadron, it seems as though the GW design studio has been taking one aspect of a race that previously existed, then blowing it up to a Battletome sized force. It'll be interesting to see which features they seek to explore. 

When It comes to the Duardin, we have Fireslayers and Kharadron, representing fire and air respectively and taking previous design elements of the stunties and turning them up to 11. With the Slayers and the Gyro's having been expanded upon, I think it might be fun to take the Miners and really explore that aspect of the Duardin. They could encapsulate everything 'Earth'. Lumbering stone golems, burrowing mole-like Duardin, the ability to walk along walls and ceilings! with special gripping apparatus and they could have a crazy subterranean submarine! They'd be utterly consumed by precious metals, minerals and materials with armor covered in gemstones. Their sworn enemy would be the dirty Rat men! 

That would leave the element of 'Water' to be represented. Although, as we all know, the only liquid a Dwarf is interested in... is Ale! This Battletome would explore the Drunkin Duardin! and could take design cues from the war-machine aspect of the race. The biggest, most bonkers war-machines ever conceived, all blasting thunderbolts, beer barrels and cannon balls made from water with horrible sea-monsters floating within. (That would be a hell of a challenge design-wise) Due to their close relationship with all things liquid, we could see Duardin fishmen! Flippers for feet, Zeus inspired bidents. Their armor would be all shells and crabs with bright tropical colors to contrast with their constant foe. The shadow Aelves. 

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Back in 7th Edition, I had the idea to gather a bunch of miniatures from the Warring States period in China. But paint the rank and file in drybrushed stone and clay colors. But with some Chinese courtiers and officials converted into wizards: Terra Cotta Tomb Kings

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Kingdom of Sunthaamar.

"Honor is all"
"Chivalry is all"

This words are spoken as a spiel amongst the loyal knightly circles of the Sunthaamarii. These noble beasthunters strive for martial purity and perfection as they ride their exotique beasts.

These words hail from the Ur-Paladin. Jerrod the World-Stryder, He who strode the last charge of the World-That-Was and broke its last lance against the fell forces of chaos.

Basic Units: demi-gryph knights an footmen.

"Scouting"/"Pariah" unit: the Rough Riders, units riding gore-gruntas (an unknightly steed) and wielding axes and bows (unknightly weapons)

"Fast attack units" a unit riding gryph-chargers "Wingless-Ussarans" and a unit riding some bird-like creature "Ikarea-Lancers"

Heavy chargers, have them ride dracoths or some very mean critter. "Tiamathia Chargers.

Heroes: lady doing magic (self-explanatory) Paladin riding a fast steed and another riding a big critter.

Unique Hero: [Insert Cool Name], King of Sunthaamari. Rides one of the dragons that the bonesplitters are hunting in their battletome, wields Jerrod's weapon.

Unique Hero: Athessia the Eternal Paladin. Clad in Jerrod's cuirass and riding a white-feathered dragon into battle while wielding a sword and shield.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

'From the depths, a new threat rises.'

I would love a merfolk army. Something about them being tired of having their water ways corrupted, and moving to take revenge on the surface dwellers. 

They could be an Order army, but I would love them to be in Destruction. They are not necessarily 'evil', but they are tired of being pushed around, and have taken things into their own hands. 

Kraken, Sea serpents/dragons, merfold infantry, creature of the deep abyss... so many possibilities.

Bonus points if there are merlock infantry. wahblurrglegurgleworgle!

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It might be nice to see (sub)factions that break the "Order Good, Chaos Evil" status quo...

I mean, Games Workshop has long been the master of the "good is not nice" trope (Can you say Imperium of Man, kids? *Blam!* Heresy!) But they never seem to use the opposite... So how about a "Beastlords of Ghur"?

12-lion-man-finished-mid.jpg[/img]

Natives to Ghur, Realm of Beasts, the Beastlords are the barbarian-kings of that untamed realm where only the strongest survive. Noble savages, who have risen to rule in a world where only the strong survive.

The whole overall aesthetic would be a "Pan-African" one: Zulu shields and spears, lions, buffaloes, rhinos, etc.

"Elites" and "Heroes" would be lion-men, for that whole King of the Beasts vibe. Think Conan crossed with Tarzan for the basic personality profile.

"Basic Infantry" would be female lion-men (female lions hunt in groups, male lions are solitary) acting as skirmishers. With small units of young males as the "Heavy Infantry."

"Fast Cavalry" wouldn't really be a role as the whole force would be mostly rapidly moving skirmishes. But cheetahs or antelopes could serve as a fast flanker akin to Chaos Hounds or Gryph-hounds.

"Heavy Cavalry" would be rhino-men. Ogre-sized or possibly even bigger, mean dudes who should be able to headbutt a charging Gore-Grunta and win.

"Big Freaking Centerpiece Model" should be giant godzilla-scale elephant. Because elephants are cool.

Edited by Thain
Vv
  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Voodoo Zombie Cult

thid is somewhat like a genestealer cult

A great spirit known as a Kongo Loa had infected a town, taking over a charismatic individual and moulding them to their image. The Kongo loa has started a cult of death worshipping mortals who believe in the power of the spirits and that becoming a zombie allows them to commune with the spirits of their ancestors, gaining power.

Beneath the Kongo Loa leader are

Voodoo Priests who use voodoo dolls to damage and debuff enemy heroes as well as unbind

Bokor darkmagicians who channels the energy of the spirits to create power spells and illusions.

city guard who have been dragged into the cult. Some standard cheap troops.

Supplicants crazed mortal dancers who attack with a flurry of blows. Quite weak but At any point in the battle supplicants can be converted to voodoo zombies. This is a one way change done at the order of a leader.

Voodoo zombies a very very slow but very hard to shift unit. Perfect for holding an objective

death dancers are a specialist infantry unit - great at hand to hand combat and very very fast but expensive. Death dancers can change in a battle to a ghede loa spirit host whereby they lose some powers  but become harder to kill. They have become possessed by the spirits so it is a one way hangs.

Cacophonists a unit of musicians who can buff nearby units to greater heights of frenzy while debugging enemy units due to the confusion caused by their music. The more musicians the wider and more potent the buff/debuff.

Loa summonable spirits - these possess units so they replace a unit with the new spirit unit

Rada Lia which can cast spells, possess a hero and add spell cast power

Petro Lia who is a combat spirit, possesses a hero and  provide combat power 

Ghede a swarm of spirits. These can only be brought in by possession of death dancers. They cause the dancers to lose some powers but gain save and maybe other powers.

bit of a melee magic force  with no obvious range (maybe city guard?) but with the unique point of some units being converted to another type mid battle and some debuff fun. I see them as a brightly coloured force charging across the table to cause damage with some units being changed at key points in the battle.

Edited by Praecautus
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Praecautus said:

Voodoo Zombie Cult

thid is somewhat like a genestealer cult

A great spirit known as a Kongo Loa had infected a town, taking over a charismatic individual and moulding them to their image. The Kongo loa has started a cult of death worshipping mortals who believe in the power of the spirits and that becoming a zombie allows them to commune with the spirits of their ancestors, gaining power.

Beneath the Kongo Loa leader are

Voodoo Priests who use voodoo dolls to damage and rebuff heroes as well as unbind

Bokor darkmagicians who channels the energy of the spirits to create power spells and illusions.

city guard who have been dragged into the cult

Supplicants crazed mortal dancers who attack with a flurry of blows. Quite weak but At any point in the battle supplicants can be converted to voodoo zombies

Voodoo zombies a very very slow but very hard to shift unit.

death dancers are a specialist infantry unit - great at hand to hand combat and very very fast but expensive. Death dancers can change in a battle to a loa spirit host whereby they lose some powers  but become harder to kill.

Cacophonists a unit of musicians who can buff nearby units to greater heights of frenzy while debugging enemy units due to the confusion caused by their music

A Los spirit host

 

Okay, sorry, don't want to hijack your army idea. But you pushed my button, guess which one that is? Also, no critique meant in this post, just inspiration, hope it comes across as this as well:

Okay, Fun idea (but a minefield)! Seeing as you've actually researched some of the real names for inspiration (bokor et al) why not go the whole way ?

Vodou has several pantheons (Petwo fiery and aggressive, rada family and healing etc etc), and instead of using kongo as your death faction, which is a little off seeing as kongo is a  semi peaceful and colourful pantheon in vodou. Why not the call them the Gede alternatively spelled Guede, the proper death faction in vodou?

They could be led by the family of Barons that lead the real one. Baron Samedi (Baron saturday) you know the guy in old fashioned mortuary suit with tophat big boss of the dead. Also Maman Brigitte (Mother Bridget) and Baron La Croix (Baron the Cross), Baron Cimitiére (Baron Graveyard) the protector of the graveyards and the only guede/kongo/petro crossover Baron Kriminel the feisty fiery devil of the gang (and also maybe the most scary of them all) -name says it all.

Also the gede, though they can be scary sometimes, are not evil far from it, which is nice from a fluffy point of view. I tire of the evil/good dichotomy of some of the races in warhammer. Every faction should have some kind of entry point for the player to be able to identify with it. Baron Samedi both takes and gives being the key holder to death, but he's also a powerful healer and loves especially kids, protects them like all the gede do. This opens up for human followers further than the houngan/bokor type. Maybe the children in the town were infected by some sickness and everyone started offering to the Baron for help? He helped them. In return its his town. Everyones happy. Loads of cult members.

And why not have possessed? Those are your troops with inhuman powers and no thought of themselves. And drumbeaters, kind of like the ironjawz war chanters to keep the possessions going and giving +1 to hit and an extra save  or something.

This would definitely be a magic heavy list with all those vodou priests: houngan and mambo (male and female vodou priest working with traditional vodou -usually) and bokors working with the left hand dark magic curses, zombies and all, as well as the gangan - traditional leaf healer.

In haitian vodou they also have loupgarou -werewolves and many other weres- actually, weredogs werecrocodiles, werecows you name it, - so why not go for these as well. Maybe the cows would be a bit off! They'd definitely be under the bokors. Theres the secret societies also, which mete out justice, when this is needed. Groups of magicians, leaders of the communities, meeting in the dead of night to hold mock trials, sometimes ending in punishment of taking away the perpetrators soul (zombification) and the like. Again, they are not bad, they only meet when judgement is needed -and everyone knows the sigmarines should be judged by others than the inhuman god Sigmar! maybe styled somewhat like the 40k inquisition? Stealthy judgement is the vibe I get of those, knowing next to nothing of 40k.

Of course, you already have inspiration for the colors as the gede and the Barons primary colors are purple and black, with the followers of gede having flour blown onto their faces to emulate the white skin of the dead, somewhat like orruk warpaint. They also wear hats and sunglasses with only one eye having glass in it (as they have an eye in both the worlds of the living and the dead) and smoke copious amounts of cigarettes. Often two-three-four-five cigarettes in their mouths at the same time! Bad ass. Top hats! Baron Kriminels colors are RED.

Ah, sorry, for the rant. Just some ideas for your fantasy faction. I'd probably go for something else myself. :) Thats a loaded subject!

T

 

Edited by Teletomas
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...