OkayestDM

Warcry is a fantastic vehicle through which to feed out thematic and/or realm specific terrain! Hopefully they do like they did last edition and package the terrain separately for purchase. I never got into Warcry (though I confess tha addition of reactions has caught my attention), but I've picked up a bunch of the terrain for use in AoS proper.

It also has gameplay implications. If the rumors are true, then StD may get a Seraphon or Orruk Warclans style split where you have Belakor and Archaon's legions, each with their own unique allegiance abilities.

That'd put it smack in the middle of September, which would line up with the Autumn release time. I'm just an eager-beaver over here. I collect both Tzeentch and Lumineth, and am hopeful that they'll be updated so that they offer more list-building diversity and are more fun to play against for my friends.

So, it was about 40 days from the official announcement of the Skaven/Sylvaneth box to the release date for both battletomes. If the Lumineth/Tzeentch release follows the same time-frame, we could potentially see the books as soon as the first week of August. Admittedly, this runs counter to the "autumn" release time indicated by the roadmap, but GWs always been a bit wishy-washy on the exactness of such things.

Ooof. My sympathies. Good call.

To my understanding, that is correct.

I couldn't make out any details on the Bladelord warscroll card, but it was chuck full of writing and the weapon profiles looked largely unchanged. Not exactly thrilling, as they're easily my favorite models in the range, but just aren't that good on the table. I'd like to think GW is pulling some kind of fast one, but it looks like the proper warscroll design for the new edition. EDIT: I managed to get a zoomed in look at the warscroll. As far as I can tell, it's exactly the same as the current one.

It was discussed on here ages ago that weapon ranges should be changed into "ranks" that can roll attacks. t's not a flawless system, but it would certainly speed things up. Have a universal rule where (if there's a choice between spears and hand-weapons) spears allow you to fight with 1 additional rank.

While disappointing, it's probably also for the best. Between the massive number of attacks and the mortal wound output, they'd be too killy a unit by far. As is, there's still incentive to bring them as a block of 10, because even though you don't get the additional attacks, you do still roll for their mortals, meaning that you aren't just buying ablative wounds when you reinforce the unit.

Not for nothing, but if the rumors about the way the next GHB rules will work is true, Vanquishers in a 10-15 block would suddenly actually be able to bring their ideal killing power to bear while also still being a reasonable threat to units or models that they don't get their extra attacks against. I don't know if it makes them good, but at least it makes them functional.

The article said 5 wounds apiece, which is nothing to sneeze at. The real question will be how good their save is. My guess is that between the beetle shell and the shield they'll have a 4+, which is quite respectable but would keep them from becoming egregious.

Which surprises me, because from what I've heard Gloomspite Gitz was extremely well received when it launched, and it's aesthetic is highly praised.

*derble terble*

While I know Slaanesh is supposed to be the worst enemy to all aelves, Lumineth and Tzeentch are such perfect rivals. I was a little disappointed when the fluff didn't make more of how those two factions would be natural enemies (Severith shooting the Blue Scribes not withstanding.) They also happen to both be factions that I collect, so whenever that release comes out, it'll be a good day for me!

If true, these are very good quality of life changes all around. The only one I can't comment on would be the Thunder Lizard change, but I've never had to fight against them so I don't know how significant it actually is.

If they do go the Order vs Order route, they could easily do Dawnbringer and Stormcast vs either Morathi, Idoneth, or Malerion. It would be a real shame if they didn't actually pull on that narrative thread and sew some right and proper division between the order factions.

I hope that we see book releases every other month, meaning that the next two are out by July, but GW said Fall for the next few tomes, so we'll see.

If these speculations are correct, maybe Allarielle will get a once-per-turn ability to automatically make a terrain feature overgrown. It would be both thematic and fitting of her godly status.

That's definitely one of the big questions. Will Sunmetal weapons go away as a faction ability, and Power of Hysh become the means by which a unit gets access to MW? Does it staying the same, but now PoH can only be cast once per turn? Does it work like the Kruelboyz MWs? Will they move it to the wound roll? Is it going to get the Nurgle treatment and be gated somehow? There's lots of ways they could handle it, it's just a matter of what they go with. I'm also curious how they'll tweak the Cathallar and spells like Total Eclipse. Perhaps the Cathallar will now work like the Nighthaunt terror ability, preventing the use of Inspiring Presence to one or more units? Does TE stay the same, or get toned down to only double the CP for the first command issued instead of all of them.

Not for nothing, but a lot of folks felt the same way about Nurgle and Fyreslayers at first too until they hit the table. Thus far 3.0 has less exciting rules for units, but a more stable and robust foundation overall. I wouldn't count out the sneaky rat-men just yet.

Personally I doubt we'll get anything other than the book this time around (I'd certainly be OK with being wrong about that though!) Its possible that the stoneguard ignore rend ability just becomes a part of their warscroll, or gets turned into a unique Alarith Command ability or "once per round, one unit may" ability. I think it very likely that a lot of our rules are just going to go away or get folded into our unit stat lines. That would be on par with other books so far. Most factions seem to have 3-4 allegiance abilities, and I'll be amazed if the current Vanari, Alarith, and Hurakan sub-abilities make the cut. Aetherquartz is almost a shoe-in for one of the Allegiance abilities. Same with Lightning Reflexes. Given the Kruelboyz and Nurgle treatment, I'm curious if Sunmetal Weapons will become one as well. As for units, the one I'm most hoping receives a glow-up are the Bladelords. Fantastic models that just . . . aren't really worth taking at the moment. I just want them to be good in melee. They'll probably keep some iteration of their bodyguard rules, as GW is real fond of those at the moment. Wouldn't mind Dawnriders getting some love either. I'd like our generic cavalry unit to be good against all enemies, not just hordes (then maybe I could finally run an all or mostly cav army with my aelves!) Setting aside my belief that we won't get any new models, I'm curious how GW will keep the River Temple clearly water-based without dipping its toes too much into Idoneth territory. Alarith are tough, and Hurakan are maneuverable, so will water temple units be flexible? Healing/lifegiving? Calm/brave? There's lots of design space in there, the question is, which way will they go? If I recall correctly, the River Temple is supposed to be the most populated of all the temples, which makes me thing the troop will be a 10 strong infantry unit. Not sure what weapon option they would go with though. Swords, spears, and hammers are already covered, and daggers or axes just don't seem like the Lumineth style. Bowstaves maybe?

Honestly, this Lumineth player is just hopeful that a new book will be easier to play and will fix our units so that the army is actually fun to fight against. With the sheer number of rules that I currently need to remember now that we're in 3.0, my Lumineth have been nothing more than a fun paining project thus far. I'd like to play them at some point.

Now I want to make a squad of Kairic Acolytes who delved into too many secrets . . .

I've thought the same thing. Very close in design. I'd love it if an updated Thunderstrike Liberator mirrored that design though, looks freaking amazing.

When you consider their mortal wounds ability, however, it at least makes running them as a larger unit worth considering, rather than utterly useless. Sure, you don't get the benefit of their weapons, but their lightning is still gonna sting, and the survivability boost is nothing to sneeze at. Not the best option, but certainly not the worst.