Sonoftherubric21

That sounds about right. I think we will get some "walker/engine" equivalent. I don't think we will get more infantry either, though I am hoping we get something for it, perhaps even a simple character for the elites slot the way so many armies have them. "Sorcerer" in the elite slot of some variety, or aura-generation, unique spell or what have you.

Exalted Sorcerers are our "Chaos Lord" equivs, they won't become elites. Thing is: we have a total of 4 generic HQs, and 2 of them will be "1 of each" despite us getting a 3 man box set of 3 exalted sorcerers?

Anyone else have thoughts on the "1 lord / prince per detachment"? I have an odd feeling Exalteds may not get this rule, or a different version perhaps. Why you ask? We get *THREE* in one box set. Given we have 4 HQ choices (discounting Ahriman) I think princes will still be 1 to a detachment, but Exalted may very well not be.

Did you mean a 5 man squad? so 1x chain, 3x sword, and power wep/plasma pistol sarge? Or did you mean a 10 man, 2x chain, 4x bolter, 3x chainswords, and sarge? I could feasibly see 5 mans being pretty great, so I could agree with either!

I dig the engines personally, but I get its a taste thing. Though I totally echo the sentiment regarding "heresy" tanks (or heresy guns? unit types? or anything else!) in a Chaos Marine army.

Bare in mind the C:SM upgrades have *massive* opportunity cost involved. That is to say: When you buy that points upgrade you get a bonus for the character, and THEN have an unlocked set of relics and traits to go with it that are unique for that character. But that relic and trait still have opportunity cost involved with spending points, followed by spending CP. I would imagine that Vectors will cover the "extra relic/extra trait" aspect that you are seeking, Masterdeath.

In most casual metas or even semi-casuals it will probably do fine. I used engines regularly and did fairly well locally, and that was when they were considered awful. YMMV however!

I really don't get GW on this release schedule, if we are getting updated plauges, engines, and weaponry...... can't they just drop an FAQ they could throw together in 10 minutes that would allow us to use some updated profiles? Its odd and also frustrating.

YOU HEAR THE VOICES TOO!?!? How do I keep them at bay? HAH! Embracing the insanity. Though I am not saving for a wedding so I suppose my 3 separate vanilla Chaos armies (WB, BL, IW) and my massive Thousand Sons army are..... perhaps going overboard.... On a serious note: I stopped a while ago collecting models until the book is out for vanilla chaos and am going to recommit (I.E: pick one and stick hard with it and down-size just a smidge) when the book drops and we finally know what our 9th armies are going to look and feel like. Though I will say that I have found collecting "several" 2000 point armies, at least for myself, is far more enlivening for the hobby then (1) 4000-6000 point army. As above "Self-contained" armies are a really good idea and limit overspending, hence the idea of getting a single army and setting a hard point/unit limit and *sticking to it* stops some of the overspending and deep-dives we all do in our minds from becoming an expensive reality. If you have a major financial goal: limit yourself to 1 kit a month. Helps sate the hobby need and the prices become reasonable when you buy 1 of a kit per month.

I think we are guaranteed something. Look at the current release pattern. No codex has dropped without *at least* one model and orks, sisters, marines, crons, death guard, are all getting (or have gotten) something new. Death Guard are getting a new character, I would bet we will get something similar + a terrain piece. That would be my bet. The "ideal" would be a psyker dreadnought or psyker vehicle of some variety which (honestly) I would bet will occur *eventually* but who knows when that may be. I would rest assured that we are going to get something, but "what" that something is depends on GWs release schedule and what they want to put effort into.

The real advantage is that we PICK our engagements. Something is probably gonna die, that game one of the rockgrinder popped top of 1, but I was able to deploy in such a way (using the extra blips strat) to effectively "Zone out" his executioner so turn 1 it killed nothing. The fact that we pick where things drop top of their shooting phase is *hugely* advantageous for us. I am only one game in but frankly I think we are in a solid position. GSC seems like we are going to do fine in 9th. I have a russ, a sentinel, and aberants, but frankly I don't want to use any of those ATM.

The Rockgrinder wiffed that particular game, but that was on a charge against a primaris walker (the one with the Marine in the chassy) and awful dice rolls on my part! I adore rockgrinders, on decent rolls they can shred a ton of hard targets on a charge with minimal support. (I had a Rockgrinder in 8th grind a Chapter Master into a fine red paste in one charge, and plow through whole units of intercessors in a turn. Hilarious and fitting!) Rockgrinders are almost always going to die, so explosive charges are a solid option overall, leaving random characters near units for support especially in tight setups makes for perfect rockgrinder charges. As for my other big units: IMHO in this edition they are fantastic. We can very handily stop claiming of certain objectives, The acolytes are often a "one and done" kinda deal, but they hit hard *AND* are troops with Obsec which is critical this edition. The 20 man Shotgun/Grenade unit of neophytes is similar, I plan to often use "perfect ambush?" (the one where you drop 3 inches away) and feed something 36 Str 4 shotgun shells and 2 Krak Grenades from Launchers preferably on an objective. Support optional depending on how the table is setup, but the Kelermorph is good support for that unit, as he creates an Aura by killing a single model (very likely against infantry of most stripes) The Ridge Runners and Jackal Alphus form a module that runs around, tags important tanks, and Fires 3d3 Lascannon-equiv shots into them hitting on 3+ and wounding on +1 to the wound roll.

Just saw the question, sorry for late reply! My list is a good number of vehicles, and is primarily mounted. This list is using Rusted Claw, as that (situational) bonus to save is amazing on bikes and infantry. 5 bikes x2, shotguns/mining lazer 15 man acolytes with 6 saws 10 man acolytes with 2 demo charges and 2 saws. Two 10 man units of Neophytes with 2 nade launchers and 2 mining lazers each. 20 man Neophyte with 2 grenade launchers 2 Trucks (Demo charges in each) 2 Rockgrinders 3x Ridge runner (single unit, triple mining lazer) Jackal Alphus Magus Patriarch Primus Kelermorph. I have only played one game with it, and it was a *very* close win against Salamanders primaris. I think the bikes were the biggest letdown as of now, but I need to play them more to decide. But everything else functioned very well.

hmmmm, Ill be including one for a while to see given the 6+++ it gives combined with my rusted claw with bikes and such perhaps would beneift from that. couple of acolyte drops with that bugger behind them certainly has uses.

Question: Do you guys think Acolyte Iconwards are valuable enough to be worth taking? Given the points increases part of me feels yes, but another part of me thinks for its points (60) you could get a whole 10 extra bodies on the table or some relvant gear upgrades. Thoughts? Addendum: this is given that in the new edition Aberrants will see table time far less given their drastic increase in cost. I don't wish to use aberrants beyond something minimal as I am primarily an..... unorthodox list for GSC.... as such until they see a change regarding their overall cost Aberrants will probably be on the shelf.