Wraith

It would be in character for GW to do something weird like introduce Fimir as a new faction.

Surely global supply chains can be reorganised to prioritise toy soldiers over food. Caffeine should not be deprioritised. We need toy soldiers and caffeine. Hopefully more people that think like us will gain influence in Davos. The world economy needs the right sort of leadership. The first starter box was SCE versus Khorne, and the second was SCE versus Nighthaunt. So it should be SCE versus one of the Destruction factions this time, right?

It seems odd that the Lumineth promotional model and medallion is out this month. One would assume the new models, and possibly the new battletome, would be released in the same month. Of greater interest, I wonder if a promotional model for Be’lakor’s release will be offered. Maybe a cool little daemon?

Dear Mz Taylor, Thank you for bringing to our attention the matter of representation of worn animal fur in model form, and its replication on a number of fictional characters in the Warhammer universe. To address your first point, that wearing the fur of dead animals takes no skill and thus does nothing to significantly the martial prowess of the characters under contention, is a position that can not be supported under existing game lore. To the contrary, these characters are described as ripping the hides from these beasts after defeating them in battle with nothing but their bare hands, and thus creating the offending garments as depicted on the models. Clearly this does show a display of martial prowess. Unfortunately, I must dismiss your first claim as without foundation. As regards your second point, that any product derived from animals is unethical due to the unavoidable cruelty that must accompany that artefact’s production, let me assure you and your organisation that Games Workshop takes the matter of equality and equity very seriously indeed. Games Workshop would not, as a matter of principle, promote in any way the differential treatments humans and other animals. If I might draw your attention to such characters as Fabius Bile or Necron Flayers, we find their garments are produced from human hides, obtained through truely and deliberately cruel methods. It is clear that the standards to which we subject animals to in our game lore is no different to the standard we subject humans to. There is no inconsistency in unethical treatment between humans and non human animals, and thus we reject your insinuation of any anthrocentricity on our behalf. I find the clear discrimination inherent in your letter, that is a complete lack of concern for the of cruel and inhumane treatment of humans, as shown by omission, to be a matter of much greater concern that our depiction of animals products on models of fictional characters. Given the organisation you represent bases it’s claims to ethical validity on the principle that anthrocentric thinking is descriminarory, could you please explain how placing a different ethical value on one species of animal, in this case Homo sapiens, is not itself an expression of anthrocentric prejudice? We believe our depiction of the treatment of animals in our fictional lore can be construed as ethical, by the standards of PETA’s own ideology, given depicted treatment is entirely consistent across species including humans. There is no discrimination going on here. I encourage you to critically assess the extent to which your own organisation has been encouraging discrimination between animal species, and thus the normalisation of unethical treatment of animals by our own species, through your assertion of an ethical difference between humans and other animals. I think it is fair to say that we should expect better from an organisation that aspires to represent animal liberation. Your sincerely, Some obscure offical, Adeptus Administratum, Terra, Imperium of Man.

I want to see Sigmar himself, show up on the table. My bad boy plastic warriors are waiting to kick his butt. Aside from that, maybe Order is in for a reappraisal. Should it stay as one grand alliance? It seems to be splitting into two rival camps, with Sigmar, the free cities and Dwarves in one group, and the four elven factions in a second camp. Seraphon remain aloof from partisan folly, and sits as a third faction, neutral toward the other two. Is Order heading for a civil war? I guess Nagash was once part of Order, so it could happen again. Anyway, come on Sigmar. Show your face on the table top. I think we can all agree that Destruction needs a place in the narrative. I is conspicuous by its absence. We really need to see more characters coming from various Destruction factions, with novels to develop them. One suggestion from the other thread was Sky Pirates. Goblins used to have fliers back in 3rd Ed. Also there were goblins equipped with wings that were launched by slingshot. So flying goblins is not without precedent. This time around they would have air ships like the KO, maybe captured, but flying the Jolly Rodger. Possibly the faction could be mixed, with Orks and Ogres too. Pirates and other rogues provide a ready source of inspiration for characters and plots, so GW novel writers should have no problem hooking into the idea. And it should give opportunities to develop Dwarves in world building too. As to models I personally wish for? I don’t think it makes any difference. Honestly, GW will do what their flawed market research tells them to do. But more monsters would be nice. Like bring back that Warcry Chimera, FW Baslisk, etc.

How would this alternative mammoth do for a chaos mammoth? From Shieldwolf miniatures.

Looking at the map of Ulfenkarn, 5 sites are associated with villains supplied in the box. There are 5 other sites. Will these be populated by villains and minions from an expansion? If so, can we guess what the nature of those new villains might be? From map on Cursed City website: The Hangman’s Corpse - bats Van Alten Skydocks - no hint Shadowed Crypt Halls - haunting music and screams The Clot - sounds like ghouls to me Ghiestgale - ghosts, no doubt

I’d rule that you’d get Furies for 9-10. They could use the Undivided keyword too. 11-12 result is when the hero finally makes up their mind which god they follow. So chose your mark. It would be nice to get an offical faq for this.

Really, I think the biggest thing that needs to change for Destruction is that GA playing a bigger part in the narrative. At present Destruction is sort of like a fifth wheel, lore wise. Ideally, whatever cunning plan Destruction comes up with to take over the Mortal Realms, or achieve godhood, or whatever, should involve the old rivalry with Dwarfs, to bring them back into the story also. I like the idea above of sky pirates. Surely such aerial pirates would be the nemesis of the KO. What story lines could be built around that idea?

Well, some of their flaws have been brought to, ahem, light. But no mention of the wide spread Aetherquartz habit. Someone should write a short story about a Lumineth Aetherquartz den proprietor acquiring his supplies of Aetherquartz from his black market Skaven dealers.

I think there is already a month delay on releases this year. If the Lumineth stuff doesn’t come out this month and CS/ Be’lakor gets pushed back, that will tell us GW has serious supply chain issues. I’m not fussed if it does get pushed back, to be honest. Undead and Chaos releases means bake beans on toast for dinner. At least with all the pointy eared models with flower pot hats being released means I get to eat better fair for dinner.

I believe there is a very good chance of new chaos marauder miniatures being released with Be’lakor. The basis for my claim rests on the fact that I will have just finished building and painting the 40 old marauder models I am currently working on by that date. Support for this superstitious view comes from the new Be’lakor being announced just after I bought the old model and also that it rains every time I put out the washing.

Just remember you need a command point to summon and each general can only do it once. Marauder horse should do ok as screens. They can retreat and shoot or charge, in theory. I wouldn’t expect them to live long, though. If their untimely deaths lead to your chariots and knights doing max damage with charges, then I guess the marauder horse have done their bit ‘for the team’.

Ok, so that makes it impossible for the general to have two traits anyway. What about the list? Would he be better off splitting the Chaos Knights into four units of five each, so to maximise the MW from the battalion trait? Also, he needs chaff to help ensure the heavy cavalry and chariots get the charge. He needs to have those ones charge. I guess he could use the Marauder Horse for screening. Or drop something to get some Untamed Beasts or allied Ungor Raiders.

It is a bit confusing. Also, is it the general plus 5 more Heros, or does that 5 heros figure include the general. For any casual reader’s reference, we are talking about how the Ravager legion trait “Glory for the Taking” works.

The Sentinels could go to 210, so to stop order armies taking more than 10 as allies. They are still worth it at that point cost. Some of the other Lumineth battleline seem a bit undercoated also, considering that MW output. Anything with Slann keyword could group 100 points. Other Seraphon are undercosted. 10 points could be added to anything with Saurus keyword, and 20 points to anything with Skink keyword. That would drop Seraphon down to normal levels. At present they are like a 2500 point army in 2000 point games. No wonder the army does so well in tournaments. I like your idea of 4+ to pawn wounds to another unit with 3”. You set the conditions to only Heros with ten wounds or less, or unit in melee. What if any unit could offload wounds to any other unit in 3”. Heros with ten wounds or less get -1 to hit from shooting, no conditions. Individuals should always be harder to hit than units, so attacker must choose to lose effective shots if he goes after small characters. The off loading wounds from shooting attacks mechanic makes shooting much less discriminating as a way to do damage. Missile spells, life is Lord Kroak’s spells, could possibly be classified as shooting attacks and thus subject to the wound pawning rule too, giving support characters a longer life expectancy.

In the Ravagers legion, does the general get both a command trait and a Ravagers command trait?

I beg to differ. There is something appropriate about the Seraphon range being composed of truly prehistoric models.

Yes, that's right. His legion already has rules but maybe they will expand on those rules now. Also, will he get his army standard back. Remember he had that standard in WFB with what's his name chained to it. Who will Be'lakor chain to the standard this time. A Stormcast Eternal?

I think we need a separate thread titled "Elves are pointy eared pansies. In 3000 words or less, discuss". Otherwise, keep it out of the rumour thread.

I try to send an email to the GW faq address to remind them of the need to give the Darkoath characters the Undivided keyword. Which reminds me, I haven't pestered them about it this month yet. By lore, the Darkoath Queen and Chieftain can't really have a chaos mark as per usual on other StD characters, because they are not supposed to be committed to one god or another. I think an Undivided keyword would solve the problem, rather that the chaos mark option. The Ogroid Myrmidon should probably get a chaos mark option, though. Maybe you could email GW and ask why the Darkoath characters don't have the Undivided keyword? And take the time to explain how you want to include them in your army but can't because the points are better used on characters with chaos marks. And finally, add the remark "what a shame to have such lovely models that aren't playable outside of narrative games". If they get enough people raising the matter, maybe we will get the desired change in a future faq. AoSFAQ@gwplc.com

Be’lakor isn’t just STD. He has his own demon legion, as in Wrath of the Everchosen. I expect his warscroll to be updated and maybe new rules for Chaos Ascendent First Prince legion. It would be great to get new minis for his legion but there will probably just be a repackage of assorted lessor daemons for the release, as per repackaged boxes that came out with BR Morathi. I am worried Be’lakor might lose STD keyword on his new warscroll. Further baseless speculation: will Skaven now get him as an ally?

Belakor (the finecast rendition) is sold out online on the GW Oz website.

The Alliance system is a bit adhoc. Maybe it should have been two axis, one with order and chaos on opposite poles, and the other with creation and destruction on opposite poles. Death would be a perversion of creation (artificial life) in this scheme. So creation would have the Sylvaneth and some Dwarves, plus death as it 's dark side. I find the suggestion that Idoneth Deepkin are a Death faction to be an appealing idea. So they would be in creation too. Order would keep DoK as the black sheep of that family. Or not. Possibly they are really Chaos elves. They don't seem very 'orderly', do they? But no elves in destruction? Perhaps that is what the goblins really are? Also, the opposition of Dwarves in creation and Orks in destruction would help explain their instinctive animosity. See, this concept has explanatory power. Anyway, order/ chaos axis and creation/destruction axis would seem a bit more logically consistent than GW's current Alliance concept. Could it be tied in with the winds of magic? Surely it would be easier to build some fantasy cosmology around a consistent pattern than an adhoc arrangement?

I think the next Broken Realms book is Teclis versus Nagash. So a new Death unit or two makes sense. The 3rd book is Alarielle versus Be’lakor, it seems. Maybe we will see some new Chaos stuff in addition to Be’lakor’s new model.