Representing ‘Evil Clones’ as Army Tactics

[Schlitzaf]

Inspired by a why play Chaos thread (and the generic Gaurd thread from ages ago I made. Through the critique of that idea basically made me dumpster it). Back when Admech was released, I was thinking about Dark Mechanicum for a variety of reasons. The rerelease of Gaurd and the Blood Brothers rules made me think.

 

What if simply put, factions for lack of better term ‘ubitiquous’ in lore. Had a Tactic Equivalent that essentially only changed Keyword. The question of recent Marine converts and how to cover it. Made me think, what if their was a tactic in C:SM that was simply put “All Units with this Tactic change Keyword Imperium to Chaos.”

 

As of right now it be ackward because well only Dreads/Infantry gain Tactic Keyword. Then I thought a bit more. That be a cool way to represent a recent converted chapter.

 

Essentially speaking, the new chapter unless only Dread/Infantry, would be limited to Units with (Chapter) or Adeptus Astartes Keyword. And Fallen(?). And to incorporate actual Chaos Elements, it would require summoning. So it would be very flavorfully represent a chapter still having its old loyalist toy but having not embraced Chaos lacks Chaos Support on the infastructure stage. However given it lacks Imperium Keyword it can not access the Imperial level support it lost.

 

And the reason I posting this here, in general if you incorporated such a tactic more universally for Dark Mechanicus, LostAndDamned* and Tau Auxiliaries. And use it as a way to represent Corsair Forces*. And Kroot should totally have the unaligned Keyword and get a Master Shaper for an HQ.

 

*With Forged World already representing these, it feel somewhat redundant. Except it would allow Corsairs to become a Craftworld and Drukhari Tactic to become essentially Ynnari 2.0.

 

Three Core Questions

1) Is this a mechanically clean solution?

—1b) Is this poor band aid level solution that could have diseaster consequences for armies represented this way?

2) The biggest fear as IG players very validly raised would it dilute the overall Faction Identity but making it more generic?

—2b) Could it reasonably result in a return to 7th inane ally system? Or worsen already prevalent soul style lists?

3) Would it be a disservice to the actual faction?

(Would Dark Mechanicum becoming Mechanicus Army that is only distinquished because it replaces Tactics with ability to summon. But lacking functional access to Daemon Engines like the new Dinobots without a Double Detachment. Or Tau Human Auxillaries not having Tau Tech.)

 

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1) I think it is a mechanically clean solution for any army bar limited applied Tactic Armies like Space Marines. And while bandaidy I think it’s a good way to utilize armies that exist in lore and functionally exist in rules.

2) This is the biggest caveat, is you get the 7th system where you have distinctive losers (Nids for example) and only increases the picky and choose elements of 8th. Or further derail the point of Keyword if every reasonable ‘clone’ faction is represented. IG would most suffer from this and that concerned of identity diffusion is valid one.

3) Depends. I think the Space Marine ‘NotRenegade’ could work. And be very flavorful. Be a cool way to represent Badad conflict too. As you can include units or allies with “Adeptus Astartes”. On the flipside Dark Mechanicum would unless I am mistaken flavorfully (and the tactic would need to change certain rule level referenced appropriately) would on an army level, include a good deal of Daemon Engines. Forcing a Double Detachment or otherwise. Or having the rules apply “Daemon” Keyword onto certain units (defeating the purpose of a relatively clean solution).

 

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My concluding thoughts on my own idea it while in its base form can clean and can flavorful for some armies. It’s rarely both.

[Claws and Effect]

I'm planning on doing a Renegade Chapter called The Immolated that is actually the escaped remnants of the Flame Falcons. 

 

They're on fire pretty much all the time now and Tzeench has taken an interest in them. But they don't actively use any Chaos elements. I gave as many units as possible the Icon of Flame simply to represent them damaging things that get too close simply by being on freaking fire. 

 

I could see your idea working, but I'm playing these guys as Legion - Renegade Chapters because I wanted the advance and charge tactic. 

[General Strike]

Changing the keyword wouldnt change the mark of chaos system, would it? So your units wouldnt be marked? A lot of stratagems are coded for that. Edited November 12, 2017 by HCMistborn

[Schlitzaf]

The only keyword changed in this case, is Imperium to Chaos. Sense it be for the Vanilla Marine Codex