Looks like the new GK Codex is gonna be the go-to Inquisition codex, which means the Sisters codex rumored to be coming along the pipeline probably won't be. Lately it seems like GW has been avoiding crossover between codexes (the notable exception being Harlequins in the new DE) so it makes me wonder if the Sisters codex is going to be an Ecclesiarchy codex rather than an Inquisition one. This would provide opportunity for new unit types like confessors or missionaries, and new unit types means new models, and new models means $chaching$.
That's not really what I'm looking into here though, but rather the obvious concept of Codex Creep. Codex Creep is the name used to describe how each newly released codex is slightly more powerful than the last. Sometimes this can be very subtle or minimal, take for example Blood Angels and Space Wolves. And sometimes it's really really not. Example: Daemons and Imperial Guard. This exists as a way to draw interest into the new armies and as a way to slowly progress the metagame. Right now I want to look at a prime example of Codex creep by examining some identical units from Codex Witch Hunters and Codex Grey Knights.
Both of these are current codexes (GK isn't actually current, but enough of the leaked test codex has been passed around it's as good as for casual play) and both contain examples of the same units. For instance let's look at Inquisitor Lord Fyodor Karamazov.
Witch Hunters:
205 pts WS4 BS5 S6 T5 W4 I5 A3 Ld10 Sv2+/4++
He's got the ability to give all units within 2d6" of him +1 attack for a turn, can choose to pass or fail any morale check, all friendly units within 12" of him can re-roll failed morale checks, and he's a Monstrous Creature. He's got a Multi-melta that can fire even if he moves, and a master crafted power sword.
Grey Knights:
200 pts WS4 BS4 S5 T5 W4 I4 A3 Ld10 Sv2+
He loses the attack bonus power, and in its place is an Orbital Strike like a SM Chapter Master, except he can choose to center the blast marker on one of his own army's models, and if so, the blast doesn't scatter. He can still choose to pass or fail morale, and his buddies still get the morale rerolls. Instead of a Monstrous Creature he's now an IC, so can join a squad, though he can't embark in a vehicle. His Multimelta has become Master Crafted, and he's got Relentless now, and he's got every grenade type known to man, plus some. He's also still got his master crafted power sword.
So, let's look at the differences. He loses a point of BS, but his only gun is now Master Crafted. So he went from an 83% chance to hit to an... What's this? 83% chance to hit. Same result. Even Score.
His Strength has lowered by one, and he's no longer a monstrous creature, so his CC attacks are less effective against vehicles, but he now has Krak grenades to help make up for it, and Frag grenades to keep him in the game when he assaults units in cover. His initiative is lower now, but we'll call the addition of Frag grenades about even, but the old Karamazov has an advantage in CC thanks to his higher Strength and his ability to take out vehicles.
Survivability is always an issue, so we'll look at that next. While it seems obvious that the old Karamazov would have the advantage here with his 4++ thanks to a Rosarius, I'm actually going to give survivability to the new Karamazov for being an Independent Character. Surround him with a unit of 10 GK Terminators and he's a hell of a lot harder to kill than the old one who succumbs quite readily to a single Railgun shot or Power Klaw if his save misses. No wound allocation options means the new Karamazov is a definite winner.
Now, special abilities. Everyone around him gets +1 attack seems pretty potent, but when compared to a S10 AP1 Heavy Blast that doesn't scatter (slap the center marker on any one of the GK heroes who have Eternal Warrior, take your pick) and you've got a hell of a lot more reliable method of dealing wounds, especially if your target friendly model is in close combat after a pile in. Advantage New Guy.
So, in four categories: Shooting, Close Combat, Survivability and Special Abilities, we see that Karamazov has been outclassed by his new iteration two to one, despite the new fellow being five points cheaper. And if no sudden changes happen it means two codexes will have two versions of the same Unique Character, and one is markedly better than the other, despite being cheaper.
Welcome to Codex Creep. To be fair, it'll have been seven years to the month since Witch Hunters was printed when Grey Knights comes out, and currently Witch Hunters is the oldest codex in the game (Except Necrons, but who cares about those guys?). So, the Oldest vs the Newest? Definitely the newest wins.
And this is just one example of codex creep. Take, for instance, 70 pt Chimeras in Witch Hunters vs 55 in Grey Knights, and the Witch Hunters still have to pay for the weapons that the GK get for free on that transport. And the assassins... Well, that's a post for another day.
PS: Dear Fyodor also seems to have been demoted, as he is now simply Inquisitor Karamazov, rather than Inquisitor Lord. Maybe the extra points cost is for the title.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Battle prayer of the Cleansing Fire Commandery
Would that I had been a flame
Burning brightly in His name
To serve my purpose and then die
To have no will but His
Would that I had been a gale
To scour the land of sins
Would that I had been a gun
Dealing death without a thought
Woe that I am born of will
Surrounded by temptation
Blessed are those with minds like Iron
Blessed are we who have no doubts
Blessed by He who sits apart
Blessed to be his fire.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Rejected Inquisitor Upgrades for the new GK Codex
Wargear
Crate of Mongooses: Make 12d6 extra close combat attacks at S1 AP-. "DIE DEMON!" Skreeskreeskree!
Daemon Screwdriver: Functions as Daemon Hammer, but even more suggestive. "Pound or Screw? Choices choices..."
Psychic Condom: Functions as Psychic Hood, but only works against Slaanesh. "You don't know where she's been."
Big Black Coat: Provides no armor save but makes the Inquisitor even more Inquisitorial. "Screw armor, I'm an Inquisitor!"
Badass Hat: All units wishing to assault the Inquisitor's unit must pass a morale test or fall back. "Nobody messes with the hat."
Flying Circus: The Inquisitor and his retinue gain the Infiltrate universal special rule. "Nobody expects us!"
Signature Sidearm: S6 AP3 Bolt Pistol. "Then I blew the Space Marine's head off..."
Retinue
Untouchable: All Cullexus special abilities -and- cannot be specifically targeted by daemons or psykers. "You too can have a deus ex machina!"
Badass Bounty Hunter: All stats at 5, 3 Wounds, 3+ Armor, 2+ Invul. "Bald guys never go out of style."
Busty Redhead: All stats at 4, 2 Wounds, 4+ Invul. Starts with two one handed weapons of your choice, loses both after first turn. "We don't keep her around because she's particularly good at her job..."
Cannon Fodder: Statted as an Inquisitorial Stormtrooper. Give this model an intriguing backstory. All wounds must be assigned to this model first. "He'd been with me for years..."
Really Smart Guy: Allows a re-roll of any single dice per turn, but Ld must be tested each time or unit becomes Pinned. "Yes, that's very fascinating, but we're kind of busy here."
Rogue Trader: All stats at 4, 2 Wounds, Ld10. Can take any wargear from any codex. If Rogue Trader model comes within 12" of an objective model detatches from unit becoming an Independent Character and moves as fast as possible towards objective. Should he reach it, he and the objective are immediately removed from the game. "That bastard stole the MacGuffin!"
Crate of Mongooses: Make 12d6 extra close combat attacks at S1 AP-. "DIE DEMON!" Skreeskreeskree!
Daemon Screwdriver: Functions as Daemon Hammer, but even more suggestive. "Pound or Screw? Choices choices..."
Psychic Condom: Functions as Psychic Hood, but only works against Slaanesh. "You don't know where she's been."
Big Black Coat: Provides no armor save but makes the Inquisitor even more Inquisitorial. "Screw armor, I'm an Inquisitor!"
Badass Hat: All units wishing to assault the Inquisitor's unit must pass a morale test or fall back. "Nobody messes with the hat."
Flying Circus: The Inquisitor and his retinue gain the Infiltrate universal special rule. "Nobody expects us!"
Signature Sidearm: S6 AP3 Bolt Pistol. "Then I blew the Space Marine's head off..."
Retinue
Untouchable: All Cullexus special abilities -and- cannot be specifically targeted by daemons or psykers. "You too can have a deus ex machina!"
Badass Bounty Hunter: All stats at 5, 3 Wounds, 3+ Armor, 2+ Invul. "Bald guys never go out of style."
Busty Redhead: All stats at 4, 2 Wounds, 4+ Invul. Starts with two one handed weapons of your choice, loses both after first turn. "We don't keep her around because she's particularly good at her job..."
Cannon Fodder: Statted as an Inquisitorial Stormtrooper. Give this model an intriguing backstory. All wounds must be assigned to this model first. "He'd been with me for years..."
Really Smart Guy: Allows a re-roll of any single dice per turn, but Ld must be tested each time or unit becomes Pinned. "Yes, that's very fascinating, but we're kind of busy here."
Rogue Trader: All stats at 4, 2 Wounds, Ld10. Can take any wargear from any codex. If Rogue Trader model comes within 12" of an objective model detatches from unit becoming an Independent Character and moves as fast as possible towards objective. Should he reach it, he and the objective are immediately removed from the game. "That bastard stole the MacGuffin!"
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Celebrating the New Convent
To All Loyal Subjects of The Imperium,
This notice hereby informs all residents of the Davoth Subsector that the Order of Our Martyred Lady has recently build a new cathedral on the recently christened planet of Autarch's Folly (formerly Hesperia IV). The Cathedral of the Impervious Celestian is built upon the site of the great battle in which Sisters of the Cleansing Fire Commandery drove off the defending Eldar forces of the once Xenos held world, and will serve as the new headquarters of the Cleansing Fire Commandery.
The cathedral is named after Celestian Jenna Falcone who, along with her sisters, dropped directly into the center of the Eldar stronghold and proceeded to give their lives distracting a Wraithlord, which gave the rest of the Commandery's forces the time they needed to assault the exterior of the Eldar fortifications. Falcone was the last of the Celestians to fall, after receiving blow after blow from the Wraithlord, protected only by the power of her faith.
Also participating in the battle was Inquisitor Harold M. Stansfield of the Ordo Hereticus who led his personal squad of Stormtroopers, the Hellboys, directly into the fray in order to kill an Eldar Farseer who was giving aid to the Wraithlord. Though the Farseer was torn apart by Psycannon Bolts and Plasma, the Inquisitor was too late to save the proud Celestians. Upon killing the Xeno Witch, Inquisitor Stansfield withdrew from the field along with the lone surviving Hellboy.
Victory was achieved when Canoness Angelica Cross, leader of the Cleansing Fire Commandery dropped into the enemy stronghold along with an honor guard of ten Seraphim. They destroyed one of the enemy's bastions, then engaged the Wraithlord. Though many Seraphim lost their lives to the Xeno beast, Canoness Cross scored it a vicious scar across the face that left it too dazed to further participate in the battle. The Canoness and her surviving Seraphim disengaged and continued to wreak havoc throughout the base until only the Canoness was left alive.
Canoness Cross then challenged and engaged the Eldar Autarch, high commander of the xenos forces, in single combat. Weilding her blessed weapon and garbed in holy relics of the Order, Canoness Cross cut down the Autarch, sapping the will of the Eldar host and forcing them to flee.
The planet was taken for the Imperium, but only at great cost. Eighteen Battle Sisters of the Cleansing Fire Commandery, nine Inquisitorial Stormtroopers and an Inquisition Assassin all died taking the site. Their blood has sanctified the land and insured the blessings of The Emperor upon the beautiful Paradise World.
-BBC Davoth
This notice hereby informs all residents of the Davoth Subsector that the Order of Our Martyred Lady has recently build a new cathedral on the recently christened planet of Autarch's Folly (formerly Hesperia IV). The Cathedral of the Impervious Celestian is built upon the site of the great battle in which Sisters of the Cleansing Fire Commandery drove off the defending Eldar forces of the once Xenos held world, and will serve as the new headquarters of the Cleansing Fire Commandery.
The cathedral is named after Celestian Jenna Falcone who, along with her sisters, dropped directly into the center of the Eldar stronghold and proceeded to give their lives distracting a Wraithlord, which gave the rest of the Commandery's forces the time they needed to assault the exterior of the Eldar fortifications. Falcone was the last of the Celestians to fall, after receiving blow after blow from the Wraithlord, protected only by the power of her faith.
Also participating in the battle was Inquisitor Harold M. Stansfield of the Ordo Hereticus who led his personal squad of Stormtroopers, the Hellboys, directly into the fray in order to kill an Eldar Farseer who was giving aid to the Wraithlord. Though the Farseer was torn apart by Psycannon Bolts and Plasma, the Inquisitor was too late to save the proud Celestians. Upon killing the Xeno Witch, Inquisitor Stansfield withdrew from the field along with the lone surviving Hellboy.
Victory was achieved when Canoness Angelica Cross, leader of the Cleansing Fire Commandery dropped into the enemy stronghold along with an honor guard of ten Seraphim. They destroyed one of the enemy's bastions, then engaged the Wraithlord. Though many Seraphim lost their lives to the Xeno beast, Canoness Cross scored it a vicious scar across the face that left it too dazed to further participate in the battle. The Canoness and her surviving Seraphim disengaged and continued to wreak havoc throughout the base until only the Canoness was left alive.
Canoness Cross then challenged and engaged the Eldar Autarch, high commander of the xenos forces, in single combat. Weilding her blessed weapon and garbed in holy relics of the Order, Canoness Cross cut down the Autarch, sapping the will of the Eldar host and forcing them to flee.
The planet was taken for the Imperium, but only at great cost. Eighteen Battle Sisters of the Cleansing Fire Commandery, nine Inquisitorial Stormtroopers and an Inquisition Assassin all died taking the site. Their blood has sanctified the land and insured the blessings of The Emperor upon the beautiful Paradise World.
-BBC Davoth
Sunday, January 16, 2011
1k Witch Hunters : Holy Word Mission
Having decided to help my dear friend test her 1k list for her tournament, I decided to make my own 1k list. After a few plays I found that at this points level taking an Inquisitor Lord with Retinue is kind of points intensive for little payoff, I cheesed it up and replaced him with Melta-Dommies in an Immolator. You know, the Mathamancy way. Check it.
Palatine: PW & Inferno Pistol
5x Celestian Retinue: Sacred Standard, Melta, Brazier of Holy Fire
10x Repentia w/Priest
10x Battle Sisters: Heavy Flamer, Melta
10x Battle Sisters: Heavy Flamer, Melta
5x Dominions: Melta x4, Immolator
Eversor Assassin
Results: Everyone has always told me that Repentia are not even remotely worth the points cost, and there aren't nearly enough vehicles to work with the metagame. Seeing as, with this list, I have now gone 4-0 against heavily mechanized lists I have discovered that people are made of stupid sometimes. This list has taught me that Repentia get better the lower the points cost and the later into the game they're introduced, so keeping them in reserve is a necessity. The Eversor, honestly, is pretty hit or miss, but when he hits he hits hard. I'd honestly like more than just the two faith points provided by the Pally and her retinue, but I haven't found myself really needing them.
Having anti-tank in every squad except the Eversor has really made the difference here, compared to my normal list where I ten to rely on Krak Grenades in all my squads and Meltas with Seraphim. What can I say? I like burny. The Heavy Flamers help a ton too, as at 1k they tend to annihilate everything that isn't a Space Marine since people tend to rely more on the free cover saves than Invuls or extra armor. Dominions always make up their points cost, no matter what they're armed with, especially when you drop them in an Immolator. My 2k list runs two squads of them with so much flamer. So much flamer......
I do miss my Excorcists (Der Uber Tank) but they're much too points intensive for this level of play. Without screening units, even with AV13 they're too vulnerable to anti-tank, most especially on a 4x4 board.
Palatine: PW & Inferno Pistol
5x Celestian Retinue: Sacred Standard, Melta, Brazier of Holy Fire
10x Repentia w/Priest
10x Battle Sisters: Heavy Flamer, Melta
10x Battle Sisters: Heavy Flamer, Melta
5x Dominions: Melta x4, Immolator
Eversor Assassin
Results: Everyone has always told me that Repentia are not even remotely worth the points cost, and there aren't nearly enough vehicles to work with the metagame. Seeing as, with this list, I have now gone 4-0 against heavily mechanized lists I have discovered that people are made of stupid sometimes. This list has taught me that Repentia get better the lower the points cost and the later into the game they're introduced, so keeping them in reserve is a necessity. The Eversor, honestly, is pretty hit or miss, but when he hits he hits hard. I'd honestly like more than just the two faith points provided by the Pally and her retinue, but I haven't found myself really needing them.
Having anti-tank in every squad except the Eversor has really made the difference here, compared to my normal list where I ten to rely on Krak Grenades in all my squads and Meltas with Seraphim. What can I say? I like burny. The Heavy Flamers help a ton too, as at 1k they tend to annihilate everything that isn't a Space Marine since people tend to rely more on the free cover saves than Invuls or extra armor. Dominions always make up their points cost, no matter what they're armed with, especially when you drop them in an Immolator. My 2k list runs two squads of them with so much flamer. So much flamer......
I do miss my Excorcists (Der Uber Tank) but they're much too points intensive for this level of play. Without screening units, even with AV13 they're too vulnerable to anti-tank, most especially on a 4x4 board.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Happy Holiday Special
The pict screen video cleared, revealing a warm, rustic room in what appeared to be a log cabin. In the hearth a rogue psyker's body burned with a pleasant crackle. Two large chairs dominated the center of the room, both black leather and very comfortable looking. In one sats a thin woman with light red hair pulled up into a fashionable bun. She wore a pair of pince nez glasses and was dressed in a simple black dress and robe with a white sash around her waist. She smiled pleasantly and raised a teacup in salute, "Hello friends, and happy Emperor's Day from the Cleansing Fire Commandery. As you no doubt know, this is something of a tradition of the commandery, bringing the light of The Emperor to everyone on this, the day of His birth. Isn't that right, Angelica?"
In the other chair slouched a more severe woman in battle worn power armor, her white hair cropped very close. Her face was almost pretty, except for the scar across her left eye and the look of tedious boredom on her features. "You got me on the fucking camera Kora. Don't expect me to fucking play along. I'll rip out your fucking windpipe and use it as a straw to suck your brains out through your eye sockets." Angelica picked up a flamer from beside her chair and shot it over her shoulder into the fire, catching most of the hearth alight and sending flames licking up along the walls. A moment later a trio of battle sisters rushed by, tossing buckets of water on the blaze.
"Right," Kora said, completely unflappable. "And what a wonderful Emperor's Day it is. It almost makes me want to break into song."
"Don't."
"Or not!" Kora said with a bright, if somewhat nervous smile. "As our Cannoness has rightly pointed out, this is no time for singing. There's a war on!"
"There's always a war on," Angelica said as she kicked her feet up onto the small table in front of them, splintering the wood. "Think I'd be doing this if there wasn't a fucking war on? God damned morale boosting piece of-"
"Oh look," Kora interjected suddenly, rising to her feet. "There's someone at the door!"
"There is?" Angelica craned her head around to look, and for a few awkward moments there was dead silence, then finally came a knocking.
In the other chair slouched a more severe woman in battle worn power armor, her white hair cropped very close. Her face was almost pretty, except for the scar across her left eye and the look of tedious boredom on her features. "You got me on the fucking camera Kora. Don't expect me to fucking play along. I'll rip out your fucking windpipe and use it as a straw to suck your brains out through your eye sockets." Angelica picked up a flamer from beside her chair and shot it over her shoulder into the fire, catching most of the hearth alight and sending flames licking up along the walls. A moment later a trio of battle sisters rushed by, tossing buckets of water on the blaze.
"Right," Kora said, completely unflappable. "And what a wonderful Emperor's Day it is. It almost makes me want to break into song."
"Don't."
"Or not!" Kora said with a bright, if somewhat nervous smile. "As our Cannoness has rightly pointed out, this is no time for singing. There's a war on!"
"There's always a war on," Angelica said as she kicked her feet up onto the small table in front of them, splintering the wood. "Think I'd be doing this if there wasn't a fucking war on? God damned morale boosting piece of-"
"Oh look," Kora interjected suddenly, rising to her feet. "There's someone at the door!"
"There is?" Angelica craned her head around to look, and for a few awkward moments there was dead silence, then finally came a knocking.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Da Dark Eldar Menass
Sender:+seren.null@xeno.inq+
Sub: ++Fwd: Intercepted Inquisitork Research Report++
CC: ++palatinehalquin@cleansingfire.ecl++
+Burning Sands Battle Barge Tea Time intercepted this transmission from an Ork held world in the Dresdiff system. Some kind of scientific report on the Dark Eldar by an Ork calling himself Interrogatork Snog. Could have link to Inquisitor Kane? Thought you'd want to see. Been translated to Gothic for convenience.+
Dis is da news on dem tiny little gitz what gots dem pointy ears and wear dem spikes all da time, right? Da Boss said I was da smartst ork he knew dat weren't himself so I'm supposed ta study dem. So 'ere I go.
Dem boyz da boss calls da Dark Eldar is made of Goes Fast. I seen dem do stuff dem Cult of Speed boyz couldn't do with all da teef in da verse. Dey gets up in da air with dese big sleds what gots guns on dem and dey flies around real fast goin' bang. Dey gots dese guns that shoot 'urty bits, and dey shoots 'em from da sky sleds like woosh. I dunno what dey's like on da ground cause da only time we ever sawed them on the ground was when we blewed up da flying bits theys on. Dats easy though. A one armed grot with a spanner could knock one outta da sky.
Anyway, dey flies around a lot, and they shoots a lot, and I heard deys right choppy when dey get stuck in, but good luck ever gettin' 'em ta do dat. It's all flyin for dem boys. Dey gots dese lasers what don't make no noise but dey's still deady shooty, which I thought was dumb. Who wants somethin' dead shooty if nobody knows you's shootin' it?
Dey also gots dese ugly beasts what run about bein ugly and chompin' but dey's no match for some good Nobs and choppas. I did once dee dis Dark Eldar git with a sword what killed stuff right proper, suckin' da water outta da boyz, but he went all chopped up too when da boss got to 'im.
So dat's all. Dey's fast, dey's choppy but don't chop, dey flies around a lot and are dead shooty but not too dead shooty and dey's really annoyin'. Dere, I did my brain bitz. Can I go shoot stuff now?
Interrogatork Snog of da Inquisitork Horde used ta be Big Mek Snog of da Bad Moon Clan.
Sub: ++Fwd: Intercepted Inquisitork Research Report++
CC: ++palatinehalquin@cleansingfire.ecl++
+Burning Sands Battle Barge Tea Time intercepted this transmission from an Ork held world in the Dresdiff system. Some kind of scientific report on the Dark Eldar by an Ork calling himself Interrogatork Snog. Could have link to Inquisitor Kane? Thought you'd want to see. Been translated to Gothic for convenience.+
Dis is da news on dem tiny little gitz what gots dem pointy ears and wear dem spikes all da time, right? Da Boss said I was da smartst ork he knew dat weren't himself so I'm supposed ta study dem. So 'ere I go.
Dem boyz da boss calls da Dark Eldar is made of Goes Fast. I seen dem do stuff dem Cult of Speed boyz couldn't do with all da teef in da verse. Dey gets up in da air with dese big sleds what gots guns on dem and dey flies around real fast goin' bang. Dey gots dese guns that shoot 'urty bits, and dey shoots 'em from da sky sleds like woosh. I dunno what dey's like on da ground cause da only time we ever sawed them on the ground was when we blewed up da flying bits theys on. Dats easy though. A one armed grot with a spanner could knock one outta da sky.
Anyway, dey flies around a lot, and they shoots a lot, and I heard deys right choppy when dey get stuck in, but good luck ever gettin' 'em ta do dat. It's all flyin for dem boys. Dey gots dese lasers what don't make no noise but dey's still deady shooty, which I thought was dumb. Who wants somethin' dead shooty if nobody knows you's shootin' it?
Dey also gots dese ugly beasts what run about bein ugly and chompin' but dey's no match for some good Nobs and choppas. I did once dee dis Dark Eldar git with a sword what killed stuff right proper, suckin' da water outta da boyz, but he went all chopped up too when da boss got to 'im.
So dat's all. Dey's fast, dey's choppy but don't chop, dey flies around a lot and are dead shooty but not too dead shooty and dey's really annoyin'. Dere, I did my brain bitz. Can I go shoot stuff now?
Interrogatork Snog of da Inquisitork Horde used ta be Big Mek Snog of da Bad Moon Clan.
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