8th Ed. Are some Special and Rare categories arbitrary?

[Scalenex]

I think some armies the grouping of Core, Special, and Rare make sense. The artillery heavy armies like Skaven, Dwarves, and Empire having their truly weird stuff as Rares. For others it seems like GW got sloppy and just wanted to throw some things to make sure every category had something.

It makes sense for Ancient Stegadons to be less common than regular Stegadons.

Kroxigor are part of the normal LM community and Temple Guard are too much of a staple to LM armies to be Rare. However I don't see any reason why Salamanders and Razordons would be less common than chameleon skinks or Terradons.

High Elves and Dark Elves seem really off. I would think that repeater bolt throwers would be readily available than any particular unit of elite infantry.

Should Brettonian trebuchets really be less common than flying cavalry?

 

[Agrem]

Sorry to shoot you down here so to speak. But I don't think GW has actually thought about whether something would be more common or rare than other. I think they have just made the split strictly on the gaming perspective. (GW thinking of gaming and rules :O oh nooooooh, can't be... ) Things that are thought to be more powerful are rare and those that pack the less punch are core and so on. Of course this is just rough allocation but still.

Otherwise I think you are correct in thinking that some things seem to be a bit off.

BR
Agrem

 

[Taipan]

Kroxigor are part of the normal LM community and Temple Guard are too much of a staple to LM armies to be Rare.

That's true, but Kroxigor are specialised builders and their deployment in war is more an act of desperation (ie they're tough and strong, but not gifted with the talent for war that Saurus have). Saurus are the dedicated soldier caste, if they can't repel the intruders their labourers don't have a hope. Also, Temple Guard are a Special, not Rare choice . They are commonly seen in battle, but they're the elite shock infantry. Hence, they don't form the figurative 'core' of Saurus regiments.

However I don't see any reason why Salamanders and Razordons would be less common than chameleon skinks or Terradons.

Well, if you remember, Salamanders and Razordons have to be raised from eggs in order to be trained and herded in battle. They're already pretty reclusive and rare creatures anyway (predators always are, it takes a vast amount of prey to sustain even a small population of carnivores), so the few hatchlings that are stolen from nests and are successfully trained would be pretty small.

Terradons are scavengers, and their ranges extend all across Lustria, so they're more common. They're still pretty pricy, but I would guess that they act as messengers and observers in non-military situations, hence their placement in Special.

High Elves and Dark Elves seem really off. I would think that repeater bolt throwers would be readily available than any particular unit of elite infantry.

Its especially amusing when you realise Empire armies all seem to pack at least six cannons (Nuln must be swimming in gold by now), and they live in Special (ie they're considered a pretty commonly sighted support weapon). Meh, High Elves have their haxy magic and elite infantry (and dragons, just jks lol cannons kill them), Dark Elves take Hydras anyway (who are far less worried about cannonballs, due to Regen). I'm sure when they get an update, they'll have their fancy giant crossbows moved to Special.

Should Brettonian trebuchets really be less common than flying cavalry?

Well, yeah. If you remember, the nobility of Bretonnia are uptight Frenchmen, who don't believe in fighting war from afar. Pegasus cavalry are silly, but its at least more in keeping with their fighting style. Trebuchets are really only for siege warfare, they're not meant to be deployed except when they can't just horsey-charge the enemy to death.