Large update wave out now!

Going over the upcoming updates for the non-official books, I felt that since they are all going to be pretty quick ones with little discussion required, I might as well publish them all at the same time so I can get started on the Main Rulebook sooner.

The plan is to publish another quick update wave again for the official books next week, so stay tuned for that. 

 

Albion 1.61:

Main change is the removal of Son of Ogmios - it was added last update, but frankly does not work well considering full Giants are still WS3 - meaning Half Giants as characters suddenly being WS5 is very inconsistent. Regular Half Giants have gotten a bump to T5 making them consistent with regular Giants, and can now take a command group.

• Removed Son of Ogmios.
• Shieldbearers give Inspiring Presence (6), costs 25 pts.
• War Hounds have M8.
• Shields and light armour for chariots cost 4 pts.
• Half Giants have T5, I3, costs 37 pts. Added command group options. May take javelins.
• Giants and Bonegrinder Giants may take Woad Paint for 30/50 pts.
• Stone Thrower has 3 crew.

 

Araby 1.72: 

• Cleric has Magical Attacks.
• Bowmen can take bucklers, not shields.
• Janissaries have bucklers by default, cost 7 pts. Can replace them with shields or other weapons. Cannot take shields in combination with other weapons.
• War Elephant causes D3+1 Impact Hits. Spike Chain increases this to D6+1. Costs 120 pts. Can take light armour and/or barding, not armour plates.
• Khalil al-Zahir has Inspiring Presence (6), costs 305 pts.

Estalia 1.22: 

• Tactical Supremacy: Any unit with this rule has the Cold-blooded special rule when taking tests to March, Reform, Redirect Charges, Restrain from Pursuit and when using Support Fire.
• Warrior Priests have Magical Attacks.
• Fixed bug with Hidalgos missing Tactical Supremacy.
• War Dogs are M8.
• Knights of the Blazing Sun: The model must be armed with heavy lance, shield and barding. Whenever a unit where the majority of models have this special rule makes a successful charge, the enemy unit being charged suffer -1 Weapon Skill and Ballistic Skill for the duration of the turn.
• Isabella Giovanna Luccelli has Magical Attacks and Magic Resistance (2).

Halflings 1.21:

Two larger changes - Treemen are now Monstrous Creatures and solitary units, like in the Wood Elf book. This is also more in line with how they worked historically, and solves the inconsistency issue between the two books. I've also decided to remove the Halftank - it being a miniature steam tank with completely different rules made little sense, and I did not feel it was right to just copy the Empire's most unique unit wholesale. It's also more akin to a special character than a unit since there's only one Halftank, and it does not really play into the rest of the Halfling theme at all. Hence it's being relegated to a historical foot note rather than a common battlefield unit.

• Hobilars may take javelins.
• Shearers have scythes.
• Treemen are Monstrous Creatures, Unit Size 1.
• Removed the Halftank.

 

Hobgoblins 1.22:

• Fixed bug with Orlok statline.
• Merged Cutthroats and Archers into a single unit.
• Dire Wolves renamed to Snarlfangs.
• Hobhounds are M8, have Frenzy.
• Ravagers cost 11 pts.
• Kheshig poison only applies to close combat attacks.
• Mangudai poison costs 2 pts.
• Fixed bug with Nergui's statline.

 

Kingdoms of Ind 1.21: 

• Thronebearers give Inspiring Presence (6), costs 30/20 pts.
• Royal Chariots may take up to three additional Crew.
• War Elephants may take light armour and barding.
• Giant Bows and Jingals are slow to fire.

 

Kislev 1.22:

• Supreme Patriarchs have Magic Resistance (2).
• Kossars are Unit Size 15+. 
• Fixed bug with Winged Lancer stats.
• Strength of the Great Bear: Ilja may forfeit his normal attacks in favour of doing a special attack. This attack has the Multiple Wounds (D6) and Ignores Armour Saves special rules.

 

Nippon 1.31:

Katanas now follow the rules for "Oriential longswords" in both Cathay and Dogs of War, so they are consistent with each other. It's now the Samurai's defensive weapon with Parry, and Armour Piercing on top (even if the latter does not really make much sense). Way of the Warrior has seen a bit of a nerf so it's more in line with the Knight's Vow in Bretonnia, and also makes the Warrior Monks stand out more. 

 

• Katanas give Armour Piercing (1), Parry (6+), Requires Two Hands.
• Way of the Warrior no longer re-rolls failed Psychology tests.
• Clan Mons count towards the Magic Item limit.
• Uesigo Clan Mon: Yamabushi may re-roll failed Leadership tests when using Prayers of the Kami. Costs 15 points.
• Warriors Monks and Yamabushi have Magical Attacks.

 

Norsca 1.21:

• King renamed to Jarl.
• Jarl renamed to Hersir.
• Bondsmen, Marauders, Reavers, Shieldmaidens are unit size 15+.
• Jarls, Hersirs, Marauders and Horsemen may take flails.
• War Wolves are Unit Size 10+, cost 7 pts.
• War Wolf Chariots may replace javelins with throwing axes
• Great weapons for Trolls cost 6 pts.
• Fixed bug with Werebeast's stats.
• Frost Giant’s great weapon costs 10 pts.
• War Mammoth may take light armour.
• Fixed bug with Styrmir Rimefrost missing.
• Jora and Bjorn may not be the Army General.

 

Pirates of Sartosa 1.31:

• Multiple minor bug fixes. 

 

Zombie Pirates 1.51: 

• Updated Red Thirst and Necromancy to be on par with Vampire Counts.
• Fixed bug with Vampires being listed as Undead.
• Syreens are Loners.
• Bloated Corpse is Expendable.
• Scurvy Dogs have M8, WS/I2.
• Necrofex Colossus does not have Magical Attacks.
• Magical Void: Luthor Harkon channels dispel dice on a 4+ rather than a 5+.

Warhammer: Kislev 1.21 out now!

A medium sized update here, featuring a lot of bug fixes. I’ve trimmed a few units by merging them instead, so Kossars and City Guard are now the same unit, just like in Total War. Likewise, Ungols and Kossivites are also merged, starting with a hand weapon with options for other two hand weapons or shortbows. 

Streltsi have seen a bump in both BS and I, marking them out more as an elite unit. Bears now only has a 6+ Natural Armour like most other similar creatures. Lastly, there is a new lord choice in the form of Supreme Patriarch.

Next up: Zombie Pirates 

  

Patch Notes: 

• Steady in the Ranks does not allow models to fire within the charging unit's Movement characteristics. 
• By Our Blood: A unit with this special rule is Steadfast in the first round of close combat (including Skirmishers) even if it has fewer ranks than the enemy. If the unit has more ranks than all individual enemy units in base contact, it instead becomes Stubborn in the first round of close combat. If the unit is already Stubborn, it instead becomes Unbreakable in the first round of close combat.
• Heart of Winter, Stormcall and Cursed Cauldron scatter D3".
• Crystal Sanctuary is remains in play, lvl 4 spell. 12+ to cast.
• New Magic Item: Dazh's Flint
• Father Niklas Mantle: The unit carrying this standard may re-roll Dangerous Terrain tests. Costs 10 pts.
• Increased the cost of great weapons.
• Boyars/Atamans can take polearms.
• New Lord: Supreme Patriarch.
• Patriarchs cost 90 pts. Have Magical Attacks.
• Ice Witch has A1 (bug fix).
• Droyaska has A4 (bug fix).
• Merged Kossars and City Guard into one unit. May take additional hand weapons and pistols.
• Merged Ungols and Kossovites into one unit entry, starts with hand weapon at 10 pts.
• Bows for Ice Guard costs 4 pts.
• Streltsi have BS4, I4, cost 13 pts.
• Gryphon Legionnaires are S4 (bug fix). Barding costs 1 pt.
• Removed handguns from Sibyrian Hunters.
• Light War Sleds may be taken in units of 1-3.
• Heavy War Sled has Natural Armour (6+)
• Snow Leopards have M9 and Natural Armour (6+), cost 22 pts.
• War Bears have Natural Armour (6+), cost 37 pts.
• Bear Tamers cost 10 pts.
• War Bear Riders have S4 and Natural Armour (6+).
• Elemental Bear has Natural Armour (5+), costs 220 pts.
• Clarified that the Tzar Cannon uses the small round template.
• Kostaltyn has Frenzy. 

Warhammer: Chaos Dwarfs 1.72 out now!

Pretty small update overall - you have the addition of several new magic items from AoS to play around with as the main addition. Heavy armour for Warriors is now restricted similarly to the Dwarf book, rather than being essentially a default upgrade. This was done both to better represent them as common warriors rather than elites, as well as limiting the amount of heavy armour generally available in most army books. Warriors can also take spears like in AoS.

The Blunderbussers are now called “Razers” like in AoS, since the old name really does not match their other weapon options (as well as just not being a very good name for a unit to begin with).

Lastly, the Dreadquake Mortar now uses the large template to make it stand out more compared to the Hellfire Cannon since they both otherwise used S5 round templates, and is more in line with how other large mortars work.

Next up: Kislev

 

Patch Notes: 

• Updated Treacherous Gits to be on par with the Hobgoblin book.
• Added several new Magic Items.
• Magma Armour costs 35 pts.
• Talisman of Obsidian costs 35 pts.
• Spell-Wrought Sceptre costs 35 pts.
• Overlords have Infernal Cohort: You may upgrade one unit of Warriors or Razers with heavy armour for +1.5 points/model for each model with this special rule in your army.
• Daemonsmiths can take blunderbusses.
• Palanquin gives Inspiring Presence (6), costs 25 pts.
• Warriors may take spears. May not take heavy armour by default.
• Blunderbusses renamed to Razers. May take Flamehurlers. May not take heavy armour by default.
• You may not take 1-2 Devastators as a single Special choice.
• Merged Cutthroats and Archers into a single unit choice.
• Updated Black Orcs to be on par with the Orcs & Goblins book.
• Doomfire is a Flaming Attack.
• Dreadquake Mortars are S4, uses the large round template.

Warhammer: Tomb Kings 1.61 out now!

Another fairly small update, though it adds a few important things. First up is "Indomitable" which is the same rule as "Animated Construct" in 8th ed, except that it only affects characters and lone models for balance purposes. In short, it means that your lone models now won't crumble as easily if they lose combat.

Other than that, I've done a few adjustments to the archers and cavalry - the former was a bit overpriced due to complaints, and the latter was underpriced also due to complaints - despite the math not really supporting it. They should now hopefully be priced a bit more accurately for what they bring to the table when compared to other units.

Tomb Scorpions are now Monstrous Creatures which fits how it worked back in 6th ed, which makes it more useful as a lone model. The Tomb Barque has been moved to Rare Units which is more in line with similar units in other armies, and Necroserpents are now S4, also in line with most other Monstrous Cavalry mounts.

Next up: Chaos Dwarfs!

Patch Notes:

• New Army Special rule: Indomitable: Models with this special rule suffer 1 Wound less than they normally would due to the Unstable special rule, or following the death of the army's Hierophant. Applies to most characters, MB, MCr and Mo.
• The unit carrying the Icon of Rakaph may attempt to make a Swift Reform at the start of their Movement phase instead of the Remaining Moves sub-phase.
• Skeleton Warriors are Unit Size 20+.
• Skeleton Archers cost 7 pts.
• Skeleton Horsemen have WS2, cost 11 pts.
• Horse Archers cost 11 pts.
• Transmogrifying Gaze is Quick to Fire.
• Tomb Scorpion is a Monstrous Creature, has W4, costs 100 pts.
• Tomb Barque is a Rare Unit.
• Necroserpents have S4. Necropolis Knights cost 50 pts.
• Casket of Souls does not have a Ward save. Costs 125 pts. Clarified Light of Death is a Magical Attack.
• Vortex of Souls: The Casket of Souls can use one of the following abilities at the start of your Shooting phase as long as the Keeper of the Casket model is alive, is not engaged in close combat, and has not moved this turn.
• Light of Death only works on unengaged units. 

Warhammer: Daemons of Chaos 1.72 out now!

Minor update here, mostly serving to make the rules up to par with WoC and Beastmen in terms of Magic and stats, as well as some minor balance changes.

Next up: Tomb Kings

 

Patch Notes: 

• Updated spell lores to be on par with Warriors of Chaos and Beastmen.
• Staff of Change only affects enemy models.
• Chromatic Tome costs 10 pts.
• Daemon of Slaanesh for Daemon Prince costs 15 pts.
• Juggernauts have Strength 4.
• Palanquin gives Inspiring Presence (6), costs 30 pts.
• Brimstone Horrors costs 10 pts.
• Bloodcrushers costs 55 pts.
• Blood Chariot costs 145 pts.
• Death Heads have range 6". Do not cause Multiple Wounds. Each Hit from a Death Head is multiplied into D6 Hits.
• Epidemius costs 190 pts.
• Scrolls of Sorcery only roll a D6. 

Warhammer: Beastmen 1.72 out now!

Small update that sounds larger on paper than it is in play. I've gone ahead and removed Beastmen Ambush as an army special rule - this rule is another legacy rule from 7th ed, before Ambushers became a normal special rule. The only unique thing about it in WAP was gaining +1 to the roll - which only affected the first roll of the game anyway. Beastmen also already have two magic items and one special character affecting the chance to Ambush, so the additional rule was largely redundant.

I've also limited Ambush on Characters - almost no one would be taking their Shamans in ambush to begin with since it will cost you 1-2 Magic phases, and taking your General in ambush means the whole army will suffer from low Ld in the first 1-2 turns. Thus Ambushers is now an optional upgrade for Beastlords, Wargors and Warhoofs rather than being granted by default.

Bloodgreed now works like in 7th ed and TOW regarding the pursuit distance - the old version had no effect since they would pursue 2D6 anyway. 

On a positive note for Beastmen players, I've gone ahead and added a bunch of new "Chaos Mutations" from AoS - these are more "traits" or "instincts" than mutations, but they serve to give Beastmen characters some new suitable upgrade options that extends the rather limited selection they previously had. 

 

Patch Notes: 

• Removed Beastmen Ambush – it now uses the rules for normal Ambushers. Most characters are not Ambushers by default.
• Models with Bloodgreed only roll one D6 for their pursuit distance.
• Clarified that Tusker Charge applies to the porcine models only.
• Added multiple new Chaos Mutations (now called "Mutations & Traits") from AoS.
• Uncanny Senses gives +2 Initiative.
• Brayblast Trumpet: When used, all friendly units with the Ambushers special rule gain a +1 bonus when rolling to see if they enter the battlefield that turn.
• Preyseeker costs 10 pts.
• Renamed Khazrak's "Ambush" rule to Bestial Cunning. 

Warhammer: Beastmen 1.71 out now!

A bit of larger update here, containing a few nerfs for the army overall due to Beastmen being considered a bit too oppressive by many players.

Minotaurs are wildly considered one of the best MI units in the whole game due to having high Strength, Impact Hits, stackable Frenzy (up to 8 Attack each), the ability to take Marks and even being fieldable as Core Units, so Bloodgreed is now limited to only lasting one turn at a time, rather than the whole game - this means less stacking, less bookkeeping, and that Mark of Khorne is not worse than the other Marks. In addition, Minotaurs can no longer be taken as Core Units unless Taurox is in your army.

Thunderous Charge now follows the rules for updated Tusker Charge in the Orcs & Goblins book, which brings down the impact damage of the porcine units a bit, for which they have been compensated by lower points cost.

Chariots are now Special Units, with Razorgor Chariots being upgrades rather than standalone units. There frankly was no logical reason for Beastmen to have Chariots in Core other than it being a legacy rule. The only other armies with Core chariots are Tomb Kings and Albion who field light chariots in units. Tuskgor Chariots on the other hand are heavy chariots like Orc Boar Chariots, which are Special Units. Chariots still remain a Core option if Gorthor is leading your army, however.

As for a few other unit changes; Harpies are now Core like in Dark Elves, but still limited due to Expendable. Warhounds are now on par with WoC with Unit Size 10+ and Movement 8. Bestigors no longer have armour by default to better accommodate the new Pestigor models, but can still choose armour as normal. The Ghorgon has gained +2 Attacks to better represent its extra arms, and also compensates for it no longer being able to stack on multiple attacks from Bloodgreed.

Next up: Daemons of Chaos!

 

Patch Notes:

• A character may only join a unit with the same Mark of Chaos, and characters without a Mark of Chaos may not join units that have one.
• Mark of Slaanesh: Models with the Mark of Slaanesh have the Immunity (Psychology) special rule and may re-roll the lowest dice on their charge and pursuit distances.
• Bloodgreed: Whenever a model with this special rule wins a round of close combat, it gains the Frenzy special rule until the end of the next close combat phase.
• Thunderous Charge replaced with Tusker Charge: Mounts with this special rule have the Mighty Blow (1) special rule in any turn that they charge.
• Updated Magic Lores to be on par with Warriors of Chaos.
• Chaos Mutations: Each can only be chosen once per army, and no model may choose more than three.
• Added multiple new Magic Items.
• Reduced cost of great weapons for S5 models.
• Doombulls and Gorebulls have Impact Hits (1).
• Doombulls cost 230 pts, Gorebulls 155 pts.
• Ungor Herd may take a magic standard.
• Warhounds are Unit Size 10+, have M8, cost 7 pts.
• Tuskgor Chariots are Special Units, costs 75 pts. Razorgor Chariots are upgrades.
• Harpies are Core Units.
• Bestigors do not have armour by default.
• Minotaurs pay 3 pts for additional hand weapons. All Marks except Nurgle costs 4.5 pts. May not be taken as Core Units.
• Centigors may take javelins.
• Razorgors cost 42 pts.
• Endless Malice: If the Preyton has killed one or more models that round of close combat and the enemy unit Breaks, it may not pursue.
• Cockatrice has S5, T5.
• Petrifying Gaze is Quick to Fire.
• Ghorgon has A8, costs 240 pts.
• Ramhorn costs 240 pts.
• Bagrar the Tamer: If Gorthor is mounted on a Chariot, he may re-roll all Charge, Flee and Pursuit distance rolls.
• Chariot Master: If Gorthor is included in your army, you may take Tuskgor Chariots as Core Units instead of Special Units.
• Scion of the Dark Gods: At the start of each friendly Magic phase, randomly generate a spell from the Lore of Chaos up to Level 2. Gorthor may use this spell during this Magic phase as a Bound Spell, with a Power Level equal to half the casting value of the spell, rounding up.
• The Hordes of Morghur: In addition, you may upgrade any Gor Herds or Gor Raiders to Warped Gors for +1 point per model. Warped Gors have the Chaos Mutations special rule (see Mutants).
• Malagor may use the Lore of Chaos.
• Taurox has Impact Hits (1), costs 320 pts.
• Brass Body: Taurox has a 2+ armour save. However, if Taurox suffers an unsaved Wound from an attack that rolls a natural 6 To Hit and then a natural 6 To Wound then he will be slain outright.
• Slaughterer's Call: Any friendly unit of Minotaurs that is joined by Taurox gains the Frenzy special rule. In addition, if Taurox is included in your army, you may take one unit of Minotaurs as a Core Unit instead of a Special Unit.
• New Special Character: Kralmaw, the Prophet of Ruin