Leverage: A new short story

To follow up on the release of The Third Mirror, I've written another Thelenic Curriculum short. This one is called 'Leverage' and is set at roughly the same time as The Oath of Sherenith.

As always, if you find the story interesting, you can buy the first book, The Wake of Manadar, on kindle or paperback right now from Amazon, as well as reading both that book and The Third Mirror for free digitally with Kindle Unlimited. Think of it like Patreon, only it only costs £2 once...

Alternatively, if you'd just like to learn a bit more about the world of the books, head on over to the Thelenic Curriculum Landing Page.

The Law of Unintended Consequences

It's a well-known fact that tweaking a game like 40k is complicated. With the enormous amount of factions, special rules, models, rules (and differing interpretations of said rules) in the game now, anything GW does to fix an issue runs a very real risk of breaking something else. Several of the changes in The Big FAQ and its related documents have done just that.

Kabalites Can't Have Spearheads, and other stories
Of all the Codexes for 8th Edition, you'd expect the Drukhari to be the most compatible with the most recent FAQs, seeing as it came out something like a week before them. However, the unique way that DE are split into Kabalites, Cults and Covens poses some pretty serious issues, at least in 'events'. It's already  well documented that due to the limit on Detachments, the DE's ability to gain Command Points by taking multiple Patrols doesn't work very well, but what's been discussed less is that the changes also deprive them of some Detachments altogether. For example, one list I was playing about with had a Wych Cult Battalion, supported by a Kabalite Spearhead. However, this was a 1000 point list and at that point level, you can only take two of each Datasheet, and since Kabalites only have one Heavy Support choice (Ravagers) it's not possible for them to take a legal Spearhead. Even at higher point levels, the fact that most of the DE sub-factions only have one HQ choice, plus the special characters, means that even if you could take multiple detachments, you'd soon have no-one legally available to lead them.

Yes, somehow they nerfed Sisters of Battle
If you're a Sororitas player you probably read that last part going 'yeah, cry me a ***** river.' However bad the limits are for Drukhari, they're much, much worse for Sisters of Battle. With a grand total of one HQ choice that isn't a special character (plus Celestine and maybe Uriah Jacobus, depending on your tolerance for shotgun-toting hillbillies) it starts to get really, really tricky to field more than one Detachment. It's sort of ironic that in an update that was supposed to crack down on 'soup' armies, Sisters have been all but forced to field other Imperials to make legal lists.

You can't see me because I'm not hiding
I've talked before about the fact that I think the current Character targeting rules are dumb, and the most recent changes have done little to change my mind. I understand that Rhino Sniping was a thing, and I even made some suggestions to address it in the previous post, but GW still don't seem to think there's anything wrong with units being forced to not shoot at a model which is literally the only thing they can see to shoot at. The idea that a player can lock a unit in combat so they can't be shot, and then have a character standing behind them who can't be shot because there's a closer unit is silly, and it's the sort of thing that makes any game a hard sell to new players. Sure, old hands know about all the exploits the rule is there to stop, but to a newcomer "your guys won't shoot him because they don't think he's important." sounds plain daft. I miss Look Out Sir!

You can't hit me because I said so
This is the worst one for me, the real gear-grinder. The FAQs confirm that if a player manages to place his models in such a way that enemy models can't get into base contact with them, most typically by standing on any elevated floor of a GW ruin, then they can't be Assaulted. Doesn't seem to matter if you're a Knight Titan or a Lord of Skulls who one might expect to be quite pleased to not have to bend down so much, and no-one much cares that you've got a Jump Pack or even that you're standing on the level above with a Power Lance, they're immune. Fill a Ruin floor with Scouts, and 2000 Daemonettes can do nothing to them apart from give them some funny dreams. Put Alaitoc Rangers there and a buff or two later you can push Orks into the 7+ to hit bracket for their shooting whilst making it impossible to charge you because bricks.

Of all the changes, this is the one I think is going to cause the most trouble. GW better hope that the players at live-streamed tournaments get the hint and drop assault units like they're on fire, because the pros are going to abuse this one until it begs for mercy. At my own FLGS we've generally just house-ruled this sort of situation as a Wobbly Model Syndrome scenario, but that's not going to fly at Adepticon or Throne of Skulls, I fear.

The Inevitable Cheerful Bit
I should say, though, that overall I like the intent of the Big FAQ, if not all of the results. Hopefully GW will continue to listen to feedback and the kinks will get ironed out. Hopefully....

New book, free book..

My second novel, The Third Mirror, is out! Return to the Empire of the Thelenic Curriculum to see what befalls Amanda Devereux this time around. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you could head over to the Thelenic Curriculum Landing Page to learn more, or better yet, from Monday 16th April to Friday the 20th, you can get the eBook version of the first book, The Wake of Manadar, for the low, low price of free!

And no, before anyone asks, the second book isn't going to be free when the third one's done. I play 40k, I'm not going to leave that obvious an exploit lying around..

A sniff of the lost Legions?

Not something I generally do, but I haven't seen this posted yet. The Regimental Standard just posted a new article about field dressing Lasgun wounds. Now this text is actually (literally) cut-and-pasted from the Uplifting Primer, but what's interesting is that the page it's been pasted over refers to a campaign called the Rangan Xenocides- a campaign in which the II and XI legions apparently participated alongside the Solar Auxilia.

This is pretty interesting, since very, very little information about either Legion exists and the article also implies that the Solar Auxilia regiments were also at some point lost. What does it mean? Who knows, probably nothing, but it's always fun to see stuff like this...

Sisters of Battle, some whispers and prattle.

So, unless you've been living under a rock and also not reading Faeit, the latter of which is statistically impossible since it's pretty much my only traffic source, you'll know that among the many exciting reveals from Adepticon was the news of plastic Sisters of Battle in 2019. I thought I'd talk a little about that, and also slip in a review of Black Library's recent Sisters short, Mercy

Girl Power (Armour)
Of course the first thing that all existing SoB players want to know is whether what we're getting here is a new Sororitas range that looks similar to the existing models in design, or whether the Studio is going to take the opportunity to redesign the Sabbat-pattern power armour. The first thing we can say with some certainty is that the new models will be bigger. At the very least, their posture and proportions will be updated, so that those of us (like me) with large existing armies will at the very least have units that look like they're suffering from some sort of spinal condition. That's par for the course, and anyone who expects that the new models will slot right into their current force without standing out at all is likely to be disappointed.

The case for the status quo
So, should the overall look of the Sisters stay the same? There are quite a few arguments to support this. People with existing SoB collections, who have been patiently waiting for in some cases two decades for new models, will be understandably miffed if the new releases so radically redesign the faction that their old models become utterly useless overnight. Some of the current models, notably the Sororitas Rhino and Immolator, are great kits that really don't need to change, and if the basic Battle Sisters changed too much they'd look odd. Likewise, changing the look of the Sisters (particularly the Seraphim) to any great extent would make the Celestine model obsolete which would be met with more than a little irritation.*

The case for change
On the other hand, some people (and this is weasel words but I don't have any real data to go on) really don't like the look of the Sisters. The old 'boobie armour' argument pops up again here, but I've also heard some people refer to Sabbat-pattern armour as a 'bondage outfit', in part due to the leather corset that covers the chest, though in practice whether or not it's any such thing is often down to the painter's interpretation. GW have said that they're going to be keeping us updated on the progress of the new Sisters, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if they do some sort of survey to gauge whether there's any mass support for such a view- as we all know, the Internet can be a very shouty place at times and people who want things changed usually do it louder than people who don't.

The Third Way
There may be at least some potential for a compromise here. Marine power armour, after all, has long had the various 'Marks' which allow for some fairly radical variations of design. One approach GW could take is to create a new Mark or Pattern of armour for the SoB, with a more 'practical' (i.e. less boobie) chest-plate as an optional part for the new Sisters kits, much like many models at the moment which have back and front pieces for the torso. That would allow those players who really can't stand the sight of the accursed Lady Lumps to exorcise them without alienating the old-school purists. Of course some people on both sides would still probably complain that the other lot even got an option, but I tend to think everyone should be able to do their own thing as much as possible.

New Toys**
So, what extra things might we Sisters players be able to look forward to? I think the combination Heavy Bolter/ Heavy Flamer weapons used by the Deathwatch are the sort of thing that Retributors would kill to get their hands on, if they can lift the things. Certainly, the Aggressors with their mix of bolt and flame weapons and liking for mid-range combat would fit right in if Cawl can come up with a way to get a Battle Sister into the suits. (One possibility might be a 'lighter' version with either two Storm Bolters or two Flamers.)

More realistically, a few more weapon options for Seraphim Superiors would be nice to see (since the existing rules and models only allow for a power sword for melee) and I doubt I'm alone in wanting to see the Jump Pack option for a Canoness return, especially given that Celestine's retinue are Canonesses and have them. The Palatine, a lower-ranking Sisters commander, may well also make a comeback and serve a similar role to a Lieutenant. Some sort of air support, either in the form of a plastic Avenger or some other new flyer, would be good to see, though a stop-gap might be an anti-air variant or fire mode for the Exorcist. Still, speculation at this stage is a little pointless.

(Short) Short Story review: Mercy by Danie Ware

As a die-hard Sisters fan, I snapped up this new short from Black Library on the grounds that it's just this sort of thing that shows people are still interested in the faction. I'm also working on my own short story pitch for Black Library again so it was interesting to see what sort of thing they were putting out. In this case, however, the answer was.... a little worrying. Now, it's important to note a few things here- apparently Danie Ware is the author of some other books called the Ecko series and has a RPG background so I don't know how much she knows about 40k. It's evident that she's done at least some research because everything has the right name and is described as looking as it should, etc. I also had no problem with the writing style, which was fine and didn't waste too much time, always an issue with a short story.

***POTENTIAL SPOILERS FROM HERE ON IN***

The big problem I had was that it read like the writer had never played 40k in their life and didn't understand how things work. (Again, this is only from reading the story, for all I know Danie plays 40k all the time.) EDIT: Apparently this isn't true, according to this Warhammer Community interview.
 'Plot armour' is a notorious issue in 40k fiction, but in this story not only do a five-strong squad of Sisters defeat Orks led by a Warboss in melee with no casualties, but the one loss they do take is to a direct hit from a Stikkbomb, which is odd considering the Orks have a Rokkit launcher that they use precisely once. For some people, none of this would be an issue and the 'punchline' of the story works fine, but for me it was a bit of a deal-breaker and an unnecessary one given that the squad was in a strong defensive position and had both a Heavy Bolter and a Flamer (which I don't remember actually firing) and so could well have held the Orks. The entire squad struggling to take down a wounded, angry and flaming Warboss would have made for a much better final scene, IMHO, as opposed to the Sisters actually picking Orks up and throwing them around or punching them to death. (These feats could have been explained by an Act of Faith, but nothing of the sort is described as happening).

In summary, 'Mercy' is competently written and has a solid sting in the tale, but feels a bit 'off'. The benchmark for Sororitas 40k fiction is still very much James Swallow's work, as collected in the Omnibus. 

*i.e. utter, Internet-scouring fury.

** not those sort of toys, get your head out of the gutter. Honestly, I know I talk about Slaanesh a lot, but some people...

Quick update

So, here's a quick, and somewhat overdue, update on what's going on over here. To get the really bad bit out of the way first, I recently lost my father in an accident. Obviously this has hit me pretty hard, and due to the way our family business was organised has lead to all manner of related headaches. If you're wondering why I went with this image, that news is represented by the black bit.

On the happier side, I've just about completed my second full-length novel, "The Third Mirror". I'm just waiting on Sean Harrington to complete my cover art and I've also received a beautiful new world map from Tiffany Munro.  The map can bee seen on the Thelenic Curriculum Landing Page on this blog- be sure to scroll right to the bottom, the map you want to see is the nice colour one, not my ugly monochrome effort. (This news, if you hadn't figured it out yet, is the white bit)

As for the blog going forward, I will return to the whole 40k and related scene soon, once my life settles into its new routine a little more. I have plans for the Dark Eldar when they release, and hopefully it won't be long before I feel like putting the beginnings of them into practice.

Dark Eldar- things I'd like to see

So, the Drukhari codex is bearing down on us, and this is one I'm particularly looking forward to. Let's take a look at a few things I think they need.

NOTE: This is all personal opinion, not any sort of leak or rumour. I wish I had those sorts of connections, but I don't.

Lancing the Boil
To begin at the beginning, the Dark Eldar currently have a bit of an issue with anti-vehicle firepower, and for a long-time player of the faction the fact that that sentence is even a thing is a worry. With 8th Edition, Lance weapons currently, well, aren't. The old Lance rule, of always doing damage on a 4+, is long gone. This isn't the massive nerf it immediately appears to be, since due to being S8 Lances still damage all but the toughest Lord Of War on 4+ at worst, but it does leave the Dark Eldar short on options against such targets. Only the Void Lance on the Voidraven can realistically threaten something like a Fellblade. I'd like to see the Lance rule make a comeback. Now of course Craftworlders don't have it on Brightlances, but they have other, high strength options, as well as melta. The Dark Eldar have other options too, but...

Blasted Haywire
On a similar note, both Blasters and Haywire Blasters need sorting out. Blasters, despite being sawn-off Dark Lances, inexplicably only do D3 damage, meaning even a suicide Scourge squad with four can't expect to kill anything much in a single volley. Haywire blasters, on the other hand, are possibly even more pathetic, only inflicting a single Mortal Wound on a 4+ against vehicles. Yes, they do D3 on a 6, but still the fact remains that for a glass cannon faction, there's very little bang for your buck. Let's also not forget the Heat Lance, the closest thing that DE have to an actual melta weapon with a pathetic Strength of 6. In general, the Drukhari anti-vehicle weapons need a bit more lethality, especially the Haywire which is just sad at the moment.

There's no I in TEAM, but there is in DRUKHARI
The current DE are very lacking in synergies. The worst example of this is the Court of the Archon- rather than improving their master, the various retainers just improve themselves for being around him. The Lhamean does basically nothing (she doesn't even get a bonus attack despite the model having two blades), the Medusa has a ranged attack specifically designed to be useless out of a Webway portal with its 9" range, and the Sslyth and Ur-Ghul both have a 'feel no pain' type ability that gives them an Invulnerable save rather than a wound ignore, which is especially irritating with the Sslyth since it has a Bodyguard rule. I feel that the Lhamean should either become a lot more lethal, or should boost all poison weapons within a radius, the Medusae should gain a little range, and the other two should at least get a 5+ FNP. The Archon should also get bonuses for having his retainers around.

Which Wych is the worst Wych?
Wyches really need sorting out. For one thing, their complete lack of durability outside of combat makes them extremely annoying to use. I think at the very least their 6+ Wychsuit save should become an Invulnerable to reflect them at least trying to dodge incoming fire, which coupled with the 6+ wound ignore from Power From Pain might at least allow some of them to survive. They also really need some way to affect vehicles. With EMP grenades apparently no longer existing, Drukhari currently can barely damage vehicles in combat. One possibility might be some sort of shock gauntlet weapon for the Wyches, or maybe bringing back the grenades as a stratagem. Wych weapons also need sorting out- at the moment, only the Hydra Gauntlets, with their re-roll to Wound, are worth bothering with. The hit re-roll from Razorflails is pretty worthless since Wyches hit on 3+ most of the time and through drugs or PfP frequently hit 2+, and the Impaler... well. The Impaler is actually ok, with its -1 AP and 2 damage, but the Wych doesn't get a bonus attack and the Shardnet it's paired with does literally nothing. Razorflails could perhaps switch to being a re-roll of 1s to hit and wound, which I think would be an improvement. As for the Shardnets, assuming GW are determined not to bring back their old Attacks-reducing ability, there would seem to be a couple of possibilities- either give the Wych two additional basic Attacks like Lelith's hair does, or represent an entangling effect by adding +1 per net to the Wyches' No Escape roll. I have to say I really like the latter idea, since No Escape is one of the best things Wyches have going for them.

Top That
I really hope that Open Topped keeps being a thing, because it really is central to how Dark Eldar play. I'd like to see it improved a bit, at least for Wyches, to allow them to either jump out after the transport moves, or use a Pile In move to disembark into a combat that their vehicle has charged into that turn. Both of these might be considered powerful enough to be a Stratagem, which would still be an improvement. Also bring back Splinter Racks, pretty please.

Sneaky spiky pixie tricks
So let's talk Stratagems and Warlords. Chapter Approved was a good start, though I think DE should also get their own version of Cloud Strike to go with Webway Portal to allow Raider drops. The Crucible of Malediction should probably also be a Stratagem, so Psykers would have good reason to fear Dark Eldar armies. I'd really like to see some abilities where the Archon can punish his minions to inspire the rest- for example, inflicting Mortal Wounds on a nearby unit that fails to wipe out the enemy with a shooting attack in order to buff other nearby units with re-rolls, and of course it should be called "You have failed me for the last time.."

It'd be nice as well to bring back Duke Sliscus, Baron Sathonyx, and the other missing DE special characters, though Lady Malys might be tricky since despite still existing in the background she seems to have been basically replaced by Yvraine. (Same weapons- a fan and a blade, met a mysterious entity in the Webway, has unusual powers etc).

Anyway, this is all a bit wish-listy I know and I've barely scratched the surface, but I'll wind this up here. Tune in soon for the inevitable DE codex review in which I'll do my best not to whinge. Much.