Second large update wave out now!

Second update wave here before the Main Rulebook update, this time for the official armies. Nothing major really, just bug fixes and minor consistency changes.

 

Beastmen 1.73:

• A character with a Mark of Chaos cannot join a unit that has a different Mark of Chaos. A character with a Mark of Chaos cannot join a unit that has already been joined by a character that has a different Mark of Chaos.
• Bloodgreed models do not suffer penalties to pursuit. However, they may never choose to Overrun. Bloodgreed has no effect against Animated Constructs, Daemons, Forest Spirits or Vampires.
• Shamans may be upgraded to Ambushers.
• Gor Herds are Unit Size 15+.
• Ungor Raiders are Unit Size 15+.
• Giants have Natural Armour (6+), costs 180 pts. Cannot take Mutant Monstrosity.

 

Dogs of War 1.53: 

• Dwarfs have Magic Resistance (1).
• Halflings are Unit Size 10+.

 

The Empire 1.72: 

• Hochland long rifle is Move or Fire.
• Squintsoffen’s Marvellous Magnifier: Master Engineer only. The bearer may re-roll failed rolls To Hit with missile weapons (excluding artillery). Costs 10 pts.
• The Crystal Ball costs 10 pts.
• The unit carrying the Banner of Sigismund gains the Inspiring Presence (6) and Stubborn special rules. Costs 50 pts.
• Arch Lectors/Warriors Priests have Magical Attacks.
• Hunting Hounds are Movement 8.
• Dwarfs have Magic Resistance (1).
• Steam Tanks may not take Hochland long rifles if upgraded.
• Karaghul, the Wyrmslayer Blade: Magic Weapon. Felix only. The Wyrmslayer Blade gives +2 Attacks. In addition, Felix must always declare a charge against Draconids if it is possible to do so. Against Draconids, the Wyrmslayer blade allows Felix to re-roll failed rolls To Hit and To Wound.

 

Grand Cathay 1.72:

• New Lords: Grand Alchemist and Supreme Astromancer.
• Monkey Warriors have A1, cost 5 pts. 
• Grenadiers have light armour by default, cost 9 pts.

 

High Elves 1.63: 

• Null Stone is a Talisman.
• Ellyrian Reaver bows cost 4 pts.
• Aislinn has two hand weapons, not shield.

Lizardmen 1.65:

• Blessed Spawning of Tlazcotl: Models with this Blessed Spawning may re-roll failed Psychology tests.
• Mage-Priest Palanquin: The Palanquin gives the Slann Mage-Priest the Inspiring Presence (6) and Strider special rules.
• Slann Mage-Priest costs 365 pts.
• Temple Guard Palanquin costs 25 pts.
• Sacred Duty: Whilst they are part of a combined unit that has been joined by a Slann, all Temple Guard models in the combined unit have the Immunity (Psychology) special rules.
• Kroxigors cost 47 pts.
• Standard of the Sacred Serpent is the army's Battle Standard.
• Giant bows and giant blowpipes are Slow to Fire.
• Giant blowpipes have Rapid Fire.
• Lord Kroak costs 525 pts.

 

Ogre Kingdoms 1.63:

• Frostshard Javelins cost 20 pts. 
• Shrunken Priest Head costs 15 pts. 
• Gnoblar Blast Keg costs 20 pts. 
• Rimespeakers have WS4, T5, costs 185 pts. 
• Rhinox Chariot costs 100 pts.
• Fixed bug with Rhinox Rider stats. 
• Stonehorn costs 255 pts. 

 

Orcs & Goblins 1.63:

• Clarified that Tusker Charge applies to the porcine models only.
• Dire Wolf renamed to Snarlfang.
• Ogres have Natural Armour (6+), costs 27 pts.
• War Paint for Giants costs 30/50 pts. 

Skaven 1.93:

• A unit with Smoke Bombs may use them at the end of any Close Combat phase in which they take part. If they do so, the unit may disengage the combat by making a flee move. If they do so, the enemy cannot pursue them and they will rally automatically in their next turn.
• Poisoned Wind Mortar has a range of 12-36".
• Krittok Foulblade has a Warplock pistol, costs 180 pts.
• Morbus Sanguis is not a Wizard, costs 90 pts.

 

Tomb Kings 1.63:

• Stone Shaper applies to Monstrous Creatures.
• Blessed Blade of Ptra effect applies to all lone models.

 

Vampire Counts 1.74: 

• Skeleton Horsemen cost 9 pts.
• Skeleton Archers cost 4 pts.
• Skeleton Chariots may take shields.

 

Warriors of Chaos 1.63:

• 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.
• Daemon of Slaanesh for Daemon Prince costs 15 pts.
• Vampiric Axe costs 40 pts.
• Favour of the Gods: The bearer gains a +1 bonus when rolling on the Eye of the Gods table.
• Mark of the Destroyer: However, if the wearer fails to kill at least one model each close combat phase in which they are part of, they are automatically turned into a Spawn of Khorne at the end of that close combat phase. Remove the model as a casualty, and place a Spawn of Chaos model within 1" of their last position. This Spawn is under your control for the rest of the game, and is not worth any additional Victory Points. If no Spawn model can be placed, the model is only removed as a casualty.
• Blade of Blood costs 15 pts.
• The Fecund Flask: On the roll of a 1, the bearer gains the Stupidity special rule for the remainder of the game.
• Mirror of Knowledge costs 5 pts.
• War Chariots cost 100 pts for characters.
• Soulflayers have A2, costs 200 pts.
• Gorebeasts cause Fear.
• Ogres have Natural Armour (6+), costs 30 pts.
• Palanquin gives Inspiring Presence (6), increased cost.
• Forsaken have M5 and Fear, use the normal Marks of Chaos. Do not have Immunity (Psychology). Cost 16 pts. You may not have more units of Forsaken than you have units of Chaos Warriors in your army.
• Marauder Chariots are Special Units, Unit Size 1-3.
• Skin Wolves use the normal Marks of Chaos.
• Fell Aura: Enemies targeting this model with missile weapons suffer -1 To Hit.
• Rot Knights cost 80 pts.
• Death Heads do not cause Multiple Wounds. Each Hit from a Death Head is multiplied into D6 Hits.
• Sayl the Faithless have WS5, I4, A2, costs 340 pts.
• Bloab Rotspawned has WS4, I4, A2, costs 450 pts.
• Glutos Orscollion has WS4, I4, A2, costs 660 pts.
• Vilitch has two hand weapons. 
• Festus may be mounted on Gathoblyt.
• Dechala has Swiftstride.

 

Wood Elves 1.64: 

• You may take one unit of Eternal Guard as a Core Unit instead of a Special Unit if Araloth is included in your army. 

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.