RocketPropelledGrenade

I would not be surprised if you're right, but I could also see a small increase in that allotment for one or two of the battletomes--a unit and a hero, for example. And as @Goatforce mentions, there are possibilities like Valkia or a mounted Vampire Lord that would be cool single model releases. I suspect we'll find out for one or more of the tomes within a few weeks--there's only so many already previewed minis for GW to release across all their lines, and they've been hustling stuff out lately.

FWIW (which is admittedly not a lot, as GW is not always consistent with templating) there is a mechanic in the new S2D book that is based on rolling a double as you describe it (specifically double 1s on 3d6) that does not use the word "double" at any point. Instead, it says "if the unmodified roll on 2 or more of the dice is 1." So, I could see an argument from that as well.

Not wrong in either direction about what could help them best. I would love to see either of those changes (especially the defenses, like making the Skare Tactics just a general -1 to be hit instead of the convoluted tangle it is now. What I worry we'll see more than useless rend is continuing points drops. Enough Wounds for cheap enough can be a real pain on the table. For Gloomspite, it's kind of their whole schtick, and horde armies are pretty limited by reinforcement points anyways. If Gutrippaz get too close to Stabba/Clanrat range in terms of wounds per point, that could tip the balance too far in the other direction (and would probably be better for Big Waaagh! than Kruleboyz to boot).

I was looking at the most recent releases for Kill Team and Warcry, since they are both theoretically on 3 month cycles, and Kill Team was a month ahead of Warcry on the schedule last time. So I would guess not this weekend. However, since Kill Team is about a month or so overdue (it last dropped in October, so a February release would be four months), it could be, or at least seems likely to be soon.

I've been kinda tempted by something similar, but while warriors have good offensive output for a screen, they aren't a hammer. You would need some Chosen, Varanguard, on top of them. That being said, I could definitely see rocking 3x10 warriors or something like that for a solid wall of iron that can claim and take objectives without reprisal.

While it's generally best to have really good attacks or straight up mortal wounds, improving the efficacy of massed attacks that benefit from VEW can be very strong, because you don't only roll on the 6s (or 5s and 6s). Having the hits that aren't MWs matter more can be valuable. It isn't always--Gutrippaz probably aren't getting meaningful amounts of non MW attacks regardless due to 4+/4+ (or 4+/3+ with way less attacks), but for models with a 3+ or better to hit, it can be a real boon to make those lower hit rolls still valuable.

I was deeply skeptical of him, glad to hear he's a neat option.

I'd send those questions in to the AoS rules team--you can e-mail them at aosfaq@gwplc.com. They don't respond immediately, but I found when I sent in some questions for S2D immediately after the battletome release, they found their way into the FAQ.

For sure. The exemplar of this change is probably the Saurus shields. They used to be just more dino hide and scales with a bit of a metal frame, and now they are not just all metal, but metal worked in stylized patterns that feel as much sci-fi as fantasy. From deadass basic to high tech without ever changing functionality or even much in the way of form. The laser clubs or whatever the skink cavalry have are just icing on the cake. Lizardmen/Seraphon have always had some weird and esoteric tech in some cases. It's when it filters out to everyone that it gets even more noticeable.

Another piece of advice, in addition to the good comments already posted, is that when breaking down what didn't work in the post-game, is not to focus on what caused a direct problem for you (e.g. Fulminators making a charge and doing tons of damage) but what enabled that direct problem to happen in the first place. Often rewinding to earlier stages of the game can help discover what seemed like inevitable issues were in fact avoidable. An example: In a recent game against Nighthaunt, I got my reinforced Chosen swarmed and destroyed after they charged, and spent a while debating what I could have done that would have been better. I could maybe have not charged, but given Nighthaunt's move, even that 11" charge would have let them easily do the same thing on their turn, right? What I realized is that my mistake wasn't in charging, but in how I placed them during the movement phase before the charge, which left them in that bad-choices-only position during the charge phase. I assumed "melee army, better move forward" without thinking about it, and got punished hard. This ties in with Holy_Diver's point. Sometimes you are up against a master player or a truly vindictive set of dice, but more often, the power to win is within your reach. There is no such thing as a 0% win rate faction.

2e was almost entirely pre-COVID. That we've gotten as much as we have is probably because some of it was put into place before 2020 happened, and we're still suffering the effects of the pandemic because of long production times.

The thing about a big wave redo is that it is very taxing on GW's production capacity. I'd have loved to see Skaven get one for sure, but with all the game lines and armies they are supporting, there's only so many new molds they can make per edition, let alone per year. On the other hand, this doesn't mean that Skaven are off the list--just that they were deemed lower priority for whatever reason. I would wager we absolutely do see a huge refresh of them, just later on, when the stuff like Seraphon and Cities/Dawnbringers that GW has put ahead in the pipeline no longer needs the production capacity as much. Cold comfort, I know. But I find thinking about it in these terms at least helps me set expectations that are less likely to be disappointed.

Nope. Core enhancements are still around.

My Daemonrift-using list has yet to be tested, but you could almost build it out of those models--only problem is missing an extra Exalted Hero of Chaos (I've been running double Sorcerer, but shaving off the 20 points let me fit in a third spell.) The short version is: Cabalists Kark Lord, Sorc Lord, Exalted Hero x2 for heroes. Untamed Beasts, Warriors (Nurgle w/ Banner), Knights (Khorne) for battleline. Fill in with reinforced Chosen (in my case, I go Undivided with Banner, but it's a personal preference), and Varanguard (also Undivided). Endless Spells are Burning Head, Eightfold Doom Sigil, and the Daemonrift. Like I said, it's yet to be tested, but it's similar to another list I've been running with some success. That one has 2x Sorc instead of 2x Hero, and runs Quicksilver Swords + Burning Head for the spells. I like the extra reach of the Daemonrift compared to the Swords, though, and I've blown up enough Sorcerers with Draw on Power to think the less magic from the Exalted Hero is worth it for the wound and the ward.

Been playing mostly S2D lately, but with the removal of Bounty Hunters and the addition of Gallet Champs (mostly the former), I am debating mixing in some Soulblight games. Unfortunately, my favorite lists aren't the ones that would benefit as much, and I am really sick of our existing Grave Guard models*--the only ones I have left to paint. So I'm not sure. As much as FEC and OBR deserve Spring battletomes more, I'm starting to come around to the idea that a spring SBGL tome might still be nice, if it does the right updates. There's a few things that have really been bugging me after how much Soulblight I played last year. *Doing the Sons of Velmorn now, and the difference is like night and day in terms of quality and enjoyability to paint. I said before I would replace all my Grave Guard, finished and otherwise, for new ones in that style, and this just makes me feel vindicated.

I've been busy and distracted from posting for a while, but I'm also excited for the previews tonight. Partially because there's some stuff I'm very excited to see the models for (Seraphon, Warcry) and partially because there's stuff I genuinely have no idea what it will be (Underworlds, possibly a second reveal for something where we already know one thing). It's full of possibility. And I know there's the whole risk of getting myself overhyped, but I'm pretty used to the cadence of these things by now and know the limits of what to expect, in both directions. So I think I'll be satisfied, whatever happens.

Beasts of Chaos would be cool! I'm using some as allies in S2D, so I have a small personal stake, but new kits for them would be great regardless.

I would usually agree, but Soulblight was so close to the 3.0 release and so obviously written for it in some of the wording (like Riders of Ruin) that I suspect it will still be taking a while. Certainly open to being proven wrong, though.

Yeah, but he can benefit from a second Mark each game with one of his warscroll rules.

Almost any role an Incarnate fills can be filled by another unit with more conventional rules. The only exception is that of an anvil that can't be one-turned no matter what, and I don't think the game needs that. There's other units that can be made for factions that lack a key role. I do think we'll get more incarnates, and I'm not necessarily opposed to that! The key is that instead of locking them to a faction, they should be locked to their battlepack (or to Narrative Play). Krondspine should not have appeared in any Matched Play games outside of those using the Season of War: Thondia battlepack instead of the GHB one. Fix that, and they can make whatever incarnates they want without me having a negative opinion--I might even have a very positive one if the model is cool!

Fun news on my own army's front! I've been doing more testing, and the thing I've been least satisfied with has been my Chaos Knights. They're not bad by any means, but I gave them the Mark of Undivided because I was running mono-Undivided for lore reasons, and they don't benefit from it as much as objective taking units or Chosen who can take the Dread Banner for their start of game roll. Add to that an excess of targets for Chaotic Conduit and only one possible cast for it a turn, and I was having real problems with a pure Undivided loadout. I hadn't been having trouble getting the charge with them more often than not, so I figured the Mark of Khorne would let them punch at the level I needed to for their role. But my lore still stood in the way--I was running a profane knightly order devoted to self-mastery who worshipped a shadowy entity that might or might not be Be'lakor. Then it clicked. Drawing some inspiration from Darkoath fluff and especially from the LotFP allegiance ability, I realized I could justify the Mark of Khorne on the knights by making it a ritual test. Before battles, they would bargain with Daemons of Khorne for greater fervor and rage, giving them the Mark effects. But they wouldn't keep it--the order would test if they could control their rage after the battle rather than succumbing to it. Those who managed to do this for multiple battles would join the inner circle of the order and once more take the Undvided Mark and the blessings of their shadowy patron. These guys would be represented by Varanguard when I have the chance to fit some in a list. I'm always really happy when I can get game mechanics and lore to not just align, but complement each other, and this feels like a great example of constraints breeding creativity. I'm really happy with it, and will be testing the gameplay effects of the change tonight (and in the next few games to come--don't want to draw data from anecdotes). I think the effect should be both an improvement to effectiveness of my list and to the depth of my lore.

I'd love to see heavily armored Tzeentch warriors. I get some of the arguments against it, but I also have a soft spot for that aesthetic. I played a Chosen in Warhammer Online back in the day, and the Tzeentch-themed armor that class got was baller.

Fair. I guess I was a little verbose--my answer was meant to just be "No, I don't think so." with a little elaboration on my logic. Mea culpa!

That sounds like fun. I would probably grab a second unit of Savagers (maybe up to 3 units total depending on how you divvy up reinforcement points) for more subfaction recursion options, but I can see not wanting to spend too many points on unarmored models. The nice thing is how much cheaper they are than the armored stuff though, even without bringing them back later. And if you can recur them onto an objective, you can almost insta-complete their oath if it's one your opponent had to abandon or that you cleared with a charge from other units. I'd also recommend building the Prince with the Trophy Rack if you're taking at least one reinforced Cultist unit, because their bravery is not so great (better on the Darkoath than some, admittedly). Of course, if these recommendations do not spark joy, definitely go with what you're doing already or feel like doing instead. I'm just sort of brainstorming what I'd do in your boots!

Soon? I doubt it. Soulblight were the very last 2E army to release, like right before 3E. Gitz, FEC, OBR, KO, etc all have much higher priority claims on new battletomes. GW doesn't always follow what seems like the obvious move externally, but I don't seen Soulblight line-jumping unless it's for a single-hero release to fill the gaps in product in while they polish one of the more challenging lines up. And honestly, while Soulblight could definitely use a bit of polish in places, they are far from needing to line-jump either. They're functional and have a diverse plastic model range, which is more than you can say for some others.