Clan's Cynic

Characters unlocking specific, thematically-appropriate units is definitely one of my favourite things about Conquest listbuilding, so I'm very happy to see it mimicked here.

Sounds like the Detachments in 10th. EG you no longer pick Imperial Fists as your Space Marine sub-faction, now it's a 'defensive ranged tactics' set of rules instead. There's been some controversy around it, but I actually think it's a much better system. EG If I want to run a Phobos/stealth-themed Imperial Fist army, I can do that without feeling hindered by my paint scheme. So for example, the Magmadroth-heavy sub-faction would no longer specifically be Lofnir Lodge, it'd probably be something like "Magmadroth Tamers Battle Formation"

Army Building changes in 4.0. Some pretty big changes, so worth giving the article a read. Summary: Every army now comprises of 1+ Regiments. Regiments are led by a Hero, who can take up to 3 non-Hero Units (4 if the Hero is a General). Heroes have a list of what units can be in their Regiment (EG Alarith Stonemage can take ALARITH units and Vanari Auralan Wardens). Unique faction leaders can usually include any unit from their army. Some Heroes allow you to take additional Heroes in the Regiment ontop of that (EG Mighty Lord of Khorne can take GORECHOSEN Heroes) Units in a Regiment are deployed as a single drop. Most non-unique units can be reinforced "with more than one model" but double-reinforcing is gone. No limit on the number of units you can reinforce. Other 3.0 restrictions are gone. Battlefield Roles (EG Battleline, Behemoth) are gone. Auxiliary Units are units outside of a Regiment No limit on Auxiliaries, but they're each a single drop Player with the least Auxiliaries gets an extra Command Point Command Points are a "scarce resource in this edition." Sub-Factions are called Battle Formations Battle Formations focus on the fighting style rather than specific backgrounds (EG like the 40k Detachments do in 10th) Command Traits have become Heroic Traits, can be given to any Hero.

Interview about the Blood Bowl Gnome Team. Mostly linking it because I love the art.

Is that Donald Sutherland?

Annnnd there it is. Standalone release of the Wildercorps Hunters and Gorger Mawpack also.

I've said this on various other threads before, but my point still stands. I've never known as many people get turned off AoS as when they find out or remember that Double Turn is a thing. Ultimately, if you're struggling to get people through the door due to a single mechanic that is already controversial among people actually playing the game, something is up. No amount of "trust me bro, you'll totally get used to it after you've played the game at 2000pts for a while!" is going to convince people who were already looking for an excuse to keep playing 40k or going to another game instead. I also find the argument that people who dislike Double Turn need to "git good" very much contrary to what I've seen many of the same people try and sell AoS on - that it's a far more accessible, casual friendly, relaxed wargame compared to 40k. Frankly, if the designers believe Double Turn is this amazing, unique mechanic that all their playtesters and influencers adore, why I have I pretty much never seen anybody pushback or gripe when it's been increasingly neutered every edition going forward? Everybody knows a GW hobbyist's favourite thing to do is complain about basically everything, so it's funny that - anecdotal as my experience may be - watering it down is largely seen as a positive. Why do they feel the need to do that if it's so good as the marketing insists?

They are very much designed for casual readers who aren't hanging off GW's every word and WarCom post, which is fair enough when there's a large, quiet majority who are that way, but it would be nice if they did actually have some meat on the bones for the people like us who are 'in the know' to chew on as well.

Calis and Toll are back (again) for this week's Dawnbringer Chronicle.

Priority Roll article for 4.0. Nothing new here, just more marketing talk and another reiteration that it'll stop you selecting Battle Tactics if you take it. Also a tease that list building/composition has changed somehow, but that'll be in another article.

Given how massive Blight City is supposed to be, I could definitely see that being where Underworlds and/or Warcry takes place going forward. Even with billions of billions of Skaven, there's probably still space to have people end up stranded there, or venture inside as an extremely dangerous dungeon crawl. Hell, maybe even there'll be a new WarhammerQuest game set in there?

'Modular Rules' article for 4,0.

Might be interesting for anybody around Nottingham, or in Texas. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a Preview Event around the same time, since they've done IRL and Online WarhammerFests in May before (albeit usually earlier in the month).

Shrimplified not Shrimple is definitely just marketing buzzwords they know people like to hear, but I have a bit more faith in the AoS team to pull it off than 40k's.

Maybe. Unfortunately I rarely know what I'm doing weeks in advance so it can be difficult for me to put down a definite Yes.

Not much meat on the bones, definitely just a marketing buzzword video rather than anything in-depth or what we didn't already know from Adepticon. Glad it's confirmed back in Aqshy. I know, I know, people wanted somwhere new - and I totally get that - but as a Fyreslayers player I'm bias.

Pinkertons must've got to them. Wait, wrong company.

Well, look what finally turned up.

Underworlds: Wintermaw pre-order next week.

Dawnbringer Chronicles with Elves in it, bah! Things don't sound too swell for the Phoenicium.

So I just watched the trailer again (as one does) and noticed this. Looks like Belegar might be the second named character? Makes sense, since his model is still in production as the Warden King, but I did expect something new.

Hoping for Grombrindal, expecting Young Thorgrim.

Sounds like it's everywhere, but focused on the Great Parch.

Anvilgard being destroyed in a bit of universal spite towards Morathi would be hilarious. So much of the Great Parch going nuclear makes me a bit more optimistic we'll see a second Fyreslayer wave, particularly as it's a good excuse to have Robo-Bael in the fore. Dang, now I know how Destruction players who were optimistic about Era of the Beast felt...