The venue has more than enough capacity for this many players and it also means more money in the pot for raffle prizes and to add the Best Conversions award to the painting competition. This will take the form of a certificate and a £15 Element Games voucher. I'm also going to increase the prize for Best Painted Army to £20 (from £15). Not quite as much as winning the tournament but still a decent recognition for the effort it takes to produce a winning army. This means the prize pot for the "tournament" prizes now stands at a total of £100.
Daemonology
Whilst I'm on the subject of Blog Wars 9, I wanted to discuss some thoughts on Daemonology. I may be biased in this particular area but personally I can't stand the conjuration powers in any form. I dislike the notion that any army in the game (except GK & Nids) can summon Daemons. Sure, you can justify it by saying they don't intend to summon them, they're just a by-product of manipulating the warp when using regular psychic powers. Trouble is, it just doesn't sit right with me that a non-Chaos psyker would be conjuring Daemons into existence. Ignoring the fluff issues I have with the system I think it's an overly abused mechanic in competitive play. You can look at someone's army list thinking you know what to expect only for his psyker to start conjuring Daemons. Finally, if nothing else, I think it's boring to play against an army like this.
There are two questions that need answering then. Of the people coming to Blog Wars (or thinking of buying a ticket), who thinks there should be restrictions on Daemonology? Secondly, how should it be restricted?
Here's my suggested answer to the second question. I'm already limiting Warp Charge to 12+D6 each turn. This should help minimise the amount of Daemons that can be reliably created. However, I want to go further and limit the use of Malefic Daemonology. Of course Daemons should be able to use it but what about CSM? The other question is what about Sanctic Daemonology? If I'm limiting Malefic it's only fair to limit Sanctic too right? Perhaps only GK should be able to use it. I really want to know what you guys think as I'm not sure what's the best thing to do here. Ultimately I'd hope that people would see Blog Wars as a friendly tournament and therefore not run cheesy summoning lists but I know that people will be tempted. Any comments are appreciated, even if you aren't coming to BW9.
Think you've got it balanced there with Malefic for Daemons and CSM and of course, Relictors ;) if I could make it. Sanctic for GK and INQ. Bottom line is keep it the friendly atmosphere and avoid the WAAC crowd. Fluffy is best IMHO
ReplyDeleteHi Jonathan Lyness here I am attending and think that what you have is appropriate above on a side note would it be OK for me to run a CAD and destroyer cult if I decide to for the event?
ReplyDeleteYes, you can run a CAD and a formation.
DeleteYep Daemons/CSM for malefic & Grey Knights/Inquisition for santic sounds fair.
ReplyDeleteI don't think anyone apart from Daemoms or CSM should be messing with the dark arts of summoning.
Payment sent.
ReplyDeleteOnly issue I have demonology is Eldar do it better than anyone else!?!
I agree with the sentiments so far. Daemons summoning more daemons is fluffy and also you know what you are dealing with. A ranged army summoning daemons to cover it's weaknesses in close combat is another thing entirely.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with the limiting of Daemonology. Playing 1850pts vs 2500pts+ just isn't fair. Imagine if it were Space Marines summoning more Marines? Crazy.
ReplyDeleteSo I fully support the 12+D6 WC limit.
And moreover, I fully support the notion that only Daemons and CSMs should be able to summon.
I hate all forms of summoning. Grazer is right that 1850pts v 2500 ect is just not right for any army, fluffy or no. However it is part of the game so I agree with it being limited as you suggest :)
ReplyDeleteWow - awesome work on pretty much selling out - just bought my ticket now.
ReplyDeleteGot to think about what to bring now - my 'pure' 40k list barely ever seems to change, so I am thinking about bringing a completely bat-sh*t carzy/stupid list that will probably implode and take out all the surrounding tables with it...
I've never experienced how bad Daemonology can get, but it seems fair that if you are trying to level the playing field you limit the powers as you suggest.
You had me worried there for a minute. Thought you were going to break your 100% record. I'm looking forward to an imploding army now...
DeleteNot sure it automatically follows that if you limit Maelific powers to certain armies you need also limit Santic, they have rather different effects on the table. Also not sure it follows that only GK and Inq should have Access to Santic as some have suggested; for fluff reasons? Harlequins fight chaos almost exclusively in the fluff, should they not have access? What about Eldar? Ulthwe have been fighting Chaos around the Eye of Terror for millennia iirc.
ReplyDeleteI can't think of a single reason you would want to limit Santic to only GK that would improve game balance either (tho I'm prepared to be corrected, I don't play Marines of any stripe) - in fact the CenturionStar relies on being Gated around by Draigo to work properly.
Well it isn't for a fluff reason or a gaming reason really. Seems harsh to say one thing is restricted and not the other. That and it follows since Daemons can use Malefic without suffering as many perils and GK can do the same with Sanctic.
DeleteThe shadowseer in the Harlies book can officially use Sanctic I suppose (but notably not Malefic). I'm sure this is the way GW will go with it to limit it's use. Strange they didn't do it with Space Wolves though.
You're right though, there's less reason to limit Sanctic to just GK. What do other people think?
Santic is very, very situational (and poor) unless you can guaranteed a certain power - eg Draigo with a Centruion bomb or A ork green tide with a Wierd boy and hope for hammer hand.
DeleteWhile making whole new units has no down side! Apart from perils but eldar bypass that.
I don't think Sanctic needs any limiting.
ReplyDeleteI agree with restrictions to malefic daemonology as fluff wise it makes sense and should lessen possible abuse. Sanctic doesnt need it as much as its very situational really except for grey knights as they have alot of them pre determined. Good call for the discussion topic!
ReplyDeleteI don't think you need to limit sanctic. As on a gaming side it is less open to abuse. And on a fluff side not just GK use it. Just as a very bias example (pure wolves player) Njal is know to use sanctic. Which also begs the question why can't he use it with out penalty...... Hmm.... Maybe I will ask GW that.......
ReplyDelete