yet another take on 9th! this one from an ETC chairman http://warhammer.org.uk/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=130276&sid=45be4f5d0a82384af40ed1b4f22f3f02 Have only read the lizardmen part so far, but it seems interesting!
Even though there are some rather uncalled points increases here and there (I've scimmed through most books) I think I like this version much better than the 9th ed. Just simply because Furion hasn't gone and rewrote everything. As I think I've mentioned before I don't think that 8th ed was bad. There was just couple of issues that clearly needed fixing but other than that I don't see the need for a complete overhaul. And this is what I feel Furion is doing. Just fixing the most obvious faults and leaving the core game as it was. I'd just like to see the "fixed" rulebook before I can make my final decision. I'll read the LM book better once I get home from work and comment a bit more in depth about it. BR Agrem
I personally like most of the changes, but I do not understand why the scar vet got 20 points more expensive and the oldblood 30. And lords such as Dwarves got 20 points cheaper. I do like that the blade of realities got cheaper, so you can actually use it and still have some decent defense. The Carnosaur got way cheaper, 65 points I think, I won't complain, but maybe that is a bit too much. The same thing can be said about the Stegadon, which got a 60 point price cut, wow. Most special characters also got cheaper (often by a lot). Mazdamundi is 450 points for example, and Kroq-Gar is 350. Chakax might be usefull now as he is 145 points. Tetto'eko however jumped up in price, and now costs like a 100 points more. Saurus warriors got cheaper by 1 point. I'm not going through all the changes, but there really is a lot of price cuts in there, and that seems to be a general theme for the other armies too, especially where special characters are concerned.
I Honestly felt like, just adding to the cost of a Cold one, would do a lot for the Cowboy spam, we tend to see. This seems interesting though, but I don't know if I'll say it's specifically well balanced. Haven't looked at other armies, so I guess it depends what one feel is balanced
I just took a look at the Empire book, and while I agree with the vast majority of it, they gave their Rare section a big "Screw You" and the Witch Hunters just got waaaaay better for no points increase. 50 points for a character who has a 4++ ward save, rerolling any To Hit misses vs characters and monsters, and killing blow with three attacks each (if given a brace of pistols)? Um, YEAH. I'd take an entire front rank of these guys with (cheaper) Halberdiers and Warrior Priests backing them up (the warrior priest can also take a new magic item called the "Holy Relic" which would allow the unit he is with rerolls for hatred on the first and second rounds of combat. Not to mention that Greatswords also got cheaper (which they should have) but also went up to strength 4. You'll see more of them! Demigrypghs, Steam Tanks and Cannons all got point increases (which they should have). The Demis, maybe a little too much, but pretty close overall. Finally, somebody made the General worth something too! Let me just say, way better.
I don't particularly like the changes to the Bastiladon. They made the Ark of Sotek better, which is a good start (although written in a very convoluted way), but making the Beam of Chotec "One Use Only" is silly (even if it can't be dispelled and uses no power dice). The "Grand Moment of Clarity" spell in the Lore of Old Ones has to be may favorite change. It seems extremely useful and meshes so well fluffwise with our Slanns. Overall, I'm surprised to see just how big some of the points increases and decreases are. Interesting.
My initial thought on the Engines changes to "one use only" was that it was bad too. But then I thought that it actually has its uses, as it has become more "reliable". You can actually plan on WHEN it will go off, which mean you can plan AFTER it. Look at it this way Turn 2 - Blast the Solar engine on an enemy unit that needs to get softened Turn 3 - Closing in for combats the Ancient blasts its Engine of and further softens the lines Turn 4 - With key combats going on the Troglodon lets out its roar to press the combat further into Lizardmens favour As it doesn't need power dice, and the Slann is secured plenty dice to be active by itself, a lot of things can go down. ^ This is a plan you can RELY on, it is not a random thing. My key argument against the one time use is that Cannons aren't one time use.
I was initially take aback as well at that, but as I thought more about it, the more it made sense. When thinking about my games, how often do I actually use PD on it or simply forget all about it? I think I'd rather get off the "sure thing" once a game than not really be able to ever use it six times. Heck, it can't even misfire!
I'm glad that they simply gave Cold One Riders spears. That always bugged me. Love that they can take a magical banner now as well. A little surprised that Chameleon Skinks didn't drop in cost to 12 points. Love Jungle Swarms being Core. Don't quite get why Terradon Riders went up to 40 points. Overall, I like most of the changes though.
I've reread the LM book now and I honestly think that he has done quite decent job with it. The worst offenders Tettoeko, Cowboys and Skinks got hit with points increase which is ok to me. Keeps the spam a little more in check. However I think the points increase for Scar-Veteran and Tetto are a bit too high in my opinion. 30% increase for Vet on CO and almost 50% increase for Tetto are a bit ridiculous. Tetto is way too strong as mere 185 points but then again 285 points makes him almost non playable. BR Agrem
You got me to read it, and I am seriously pissed at the revelation of the Charimans favourites. I had no problems going through the unit changes, that seemed cool! BUT THEN! WHAT THE !?!?!?!? Sure! more wardsaves for the elves! Lets just get back the abominations that was the annulian crystal and banner of sorcery! lets NOT entirely fix the outrage that is the banner of the world dragon! Lets give them a an item that gives an extra spell (3 if its the Lore Master of hoeth) for 10 pts!!! and lets NOT give a damn that the "extra spell" addition for the slann costs 35pts!!
Or how about loremaster at lvl 4 with book of Hoath and +1 PD banner. You just created a cheaper WD Slann Also HE players are backing Furion's update and care not for 9th Age. I wonder why.
Also don't forget he removed tempest from high magic and added a spell where you can give any unit a 5+ ward and any other spells you get off can add to that ward. Casting value at 8. There's also an item that grants the wearer a 4+ ward and reroll armour saves at 55pts
I haven't looked the HE army addition up yet, but this seems like a very inexperienced and thoughtless remake, if these are true.
He is part of the Polish ETC Team, and as Poland has an incredibly competetive environment, I wouldn't exactly call him inexperienced.
Wow.I just looked at the High Elves book too. I have a HE army and love them, but those point totals... I didn't see hardly any nerfs at all. The Frosty went up a few (very minor) points, but geez. Stuff that really didn't need any help got cheaper. Waaaaay cheaper. Spearmen went from being 9 points a piece to 6 and have the option for heavy armor for +1 point?!? That's cheaper and much better! How many core troops get to take heavy armor and shields and still can send 50+ attacks at their enemies? All for 7 points?!? Ridiculous. Shadow Warriors get to take Great Weapons and only cost 11 points? C'mon. There's a 115 point differential between a Flamespyre Pheonix and a Frostheart Pheonix? Why? If people weren't taking the Flamespyre, it wasn't because it wasn't good, but rather, that the Frostheart was soooooo much better! Why decrease it's point total? Koril 68 points? Caradryan 94 points? Where does that come from? Odd point choices and way cheap. All that being said, there are some things that I do really like though. Magic and magic items don't really bother me. That's a High Elf thing. They should be good at magic and when this 8th edition book came out, I was really disappointed with some of the things that were left out (namely the Banner of Sorcery and the Annulian Crystal). The Banner of the World Dragon was decreased to a 3++ ward save, but it should have had a points increase to 85. I like that he moved Tiranoc Chariots to Core. Glad that he made Skycutter Chariots 75 points as well. Still a very playable book, IMO though.