8th Ed. To ETC or not to ETC?

[rammramm]

I have now played a few games uncomped, a few games with selfimposed comp (I tone down my list to avoid the power-builds) and some games with the ETC rules. However I have yet to decide what I prefer and why.

I hate the idea of crippling armies and thereby effectively minimising differences in armybooks and reducing the freedom of the game.

I hate the fact that the ETC-rules streamlines all competitive armies into the exact same units (no matter the army there only seem to be 1 good way of fielding that army).

However I also hate seeing Dwellers below being cast on a character-heavy unit and killing off 500 points in the first round without any chanse of stopping it and purple sun destroying an entire army in a round.

I dont mind having to face strong/cheesy armies if I can bring my best. That said LM best is realy good and I see the problem for people who play overall weaker armies.

I hate the victory points rules in the new rulebook.

Now I am wondering what I should do and what your opinions of the ETC-comp, or other homemade comp, are. Is it a crippling ruleset that ruins the game or is it the much-needed balance in a game that otherwise is as random as Jack Vegas?

 

[Juhaaha]

They aint perfect but are way better than uncompend Cheesefest

 

[Tubbe]

I have to disagree on this. The ETC rules are getting there but as they are atm, i think they are nerfing some armies, to the point where they can't withstand the cheese other armies are still able to bring. DoC/DE flying circus/Marauder spamm/Skaven cheese can't be beeaten by any other list as the ETC-comps are now, in my opinion.

Tbh, I think playing by the rules given in the book, alowing everyone to bring some cheese, is more balanced. maybe cutting some scenarios and perhaps providing low scoring armies like brets or OK with 10% more points could be befitting.

 

[Juhaaha]

Opinions are like arseholes, everyone has one

I'd rather play uncomped 7th than uncomped 8th.

 

[novatomato]

rammramm, could you perhaps enlighten us as to the nature of your gaming group? Is it a group of friends, or a club? Are you going to tournaments?

If it is a group of friends the solution is easy. Make house rules for those over the top things. Example; change the book of hoeth to casting at irresistible force on doubles, only when the dice match or exceed the casting cost. Additionally houserule that on spells like dwellers/the 13th/purple sun, that wardsaves and LOS are allowed. Get together with the group and see what everyone has issues with and work out those issues as house rules.

If your at a gaming group all you can do is bring the lists you think are fun and competitive, if you show that you are enjoying yourself with 'sub-optimal' lists that would encourage others to follow suite.

If your going to tournies then you are fecal-matter out of luck.

 

[Genty]

All depends on your gaming environment. One club i go to just bans the power scroll and that seems to do well.

See what people like/dislike sit down together and all come up with something your happy with.

God i miss 7th edition though.

 

[HoverBoy]

change the book of hoeth to casting at irresistible force on doubles, only when the dice match or exceed the casting cost.

Thats not a change its the rules, the item clearly states the casting roll must be succesfull for IF to occur.

That being said the OP should just check his local meta and see how things are done.

 

[novatomato]

really? I have always been under the apprehension that it was Teclis who had to meet the casting cost. Learn something new everyday.

 

[Gor-rok]

Best thing I've found so far, amongst pals in friendly games, is to write the lists you'll be using together. As in, "you take this, and I'll take that to counter it, and this will give you the advantage but then I'll have... blah blah blah." Then arrange some sort of basic scenario, maybe with a simple narrative to go with it, and you're good to go.

When I play my brother's WoC army, I try to get him to take a good sampling of everything. Marauder hoard is fine, but I also want to fight a shaggoth, some knights, a Hell cannon, some spawn, some frenzy warriors, etc. I'll take one or two salamanders and usually a Slann, but also skrox, cold ones, stegadons, and even some razordons. (Traditionally every game, Wulfrick and his marauders show up on the back table edge, declare that they are hunting my oldblood, and then try to run down the razordons. Sometimes they make it, sometimes they don't.)

In tournaments (other than banning the power scroll), I think anything can and should go. If I win, I want to be able to say that I took the absolute worst that everyone had and still came out on top. And I owe them the satisfaction of not holding back in my list, either.

 

[HoverBoy]

really? I have always been under the apprehension that it was Teclis who had to meet the casting cost. Learn something new everyday.

It's both actually, altho Teclis is more ambiguosly worded.