December 2018 Dynamic Update Developer’s Notes: Skorne CID

Below are changes that came out of the Skorne CID. Our thanks to all who participated in this CID cycle!

Convergence

Enigma Foundry

Change Reconstruction (★Action) to Reconstruction:

Reconstruction - During your Maintenance Phase you may remove one soul token from this model to return one destroyed medium-based friendly Faction construct Grunt to play, or remove up to three soul tokens from this model to return one destroyed small-based friendly Faction construct Grunt to play for each token removed. Place each returned Grunt completely within 2˝ of this model and in formation.

The change to the Enigma Foundry should help increase the relevance and power level of the Clockwork Legion theme force and return a unique feel to the recursion mechanics inside of the Convergence of Cyriss.

Skorne

Makeda & the Exalted Court

Bonus points +25.

Change the text of Dance of Death to the following:

Makeda immediately casts Incite without spending fury. Additionally, when a model in Makeda’s battlegroup destroys one or more enemy models in her control range with an attack, either Makeda can gain 1 fury point or 1 fury point can be removed from a model in her battlegroup that is in her control range. Dance of Death lasts for one turn.

Makeda & the Exalted Court gain Overtake:

Overtake - When this model destroys one or more enemy models with a basic melee attack during its Combat Action, after the attack is resolved it can immediately advance up to 1˝.

Cut Ground Zero, Hand of Death, and Vortex of Destruction.

Add Bladed Gale, Bulwark, Deathbringers, and Incite.

Bladed Gale 3 SP 8 – 13 * Yes

Models hit lose Flight for one round.

Bulwark 2 Self Ctrl – UP No

While in the spellcaster’s control range and B2B with one or more models in its battlegroup, models in the spellcaster’s battlegroup gain +2 DEF and cannot become knocked down.

Deathbringers 2 Self Ctrl – Turn No

While within the spellcaster’s control range, the melee weapons of models in its battlegroup gain Grievous Wounds. Deathbringers lasts for one turn. (A model hit by a weapon with Grievous Wounds loses Tough and cannot have damage removed from it for one round.)

Incite 4 Self – – Turn No

Friendly Faction models gain +2 to attack and damage rolls against enemy models while the enemy models are in the spellcaster’s command range. Incite lasts for one turn.

A substantial overhaul. Makeda 3 is almost an entirely new warlock. I will let the changes speak for themselves, but players should be able to play this warlock in a few different armies and lead the Skorne Empire to victory on the front lines.

Supreme Aptimus Zaal

Gain Irregulars [Ancestral Guardian]:

Irregulars [Ancestral Guardian] - Ancestral Guardian solos can be included in any army that also includes Supreme Aptimus Zaal.

Change the text of Soul Converter to the following:

Soul Converter - Once per turn at any time during its activation, this model can spend 1 fury point to give each friendly Exalted model with Soul Taker: Gatekeeper currently in its control range one soul token.

The addition of Irregulars allows Zaal to bring Ancestral Guardians into any theme force he plays in, which should really open up the themes available to him. Slight wording updates to Soul Converter help smooth out some of the issues in the Exalted theme force.

Void Seer Mordikaar

Gain Irregulars [Void Spirit]:

Irregulars [Void Spirit] - Void Spirit solos can be included in any army that also includes Void Seer Mordikaar.

Much like Zaal 1, Mordikaar 1 will be able to bring Void Spirits in any theme force.

Agonizer

Add “Titan” to sub-header.

This change is minor but will allow the Bronzeback Titan to interact with the Agonizer.

Aradus Sentinel

FURY 3.

Cost 14

Change animus to Recoil:

Recoil 1 Self – – Turn No

The spellcaster gains Swift Hunter. Recoil lasts for one turn. (When a model with Swift Hunter destroys one or more enemy models with a basic ranged attack, immediately after the attack is resolved it can advance up to 2˝.)

Gain Snacking:

Snacking - When this model boxes a living model with a melee attack, it can choose to remove the boxed model from play. When it does, this model can remove d3 damage points.

Gain Sturdy:

Sturdy - This model cannot be pushed.

Venom Blaster RNG SP 10, AOE -, POW 14.

Cut Arcing Fire and Scather.

After a rather substantial rework, the Sentinel is now quite different from the Titan Cannoneer. Changing the ranged attack to a Spray opens a unique place for the Sentinel.

Aradus Soldier

Change animus to Swarm:

Swarm 2 Self – – RND No

The spellcaster gains concealment. Living enemy models suffer –2 to attack rolls while within 2˝ of the spellcaster. Swarm lasts for one round.

Gain Snacking:

Snacking - When this model boxes a living model with a melee attack, it can choose to remove the boxed model from play. When it does, this model can remove d3 damage points.

Gain Sturdy:

Sturdy - This model cannot be pushed.

Much like the Sentinel, the Aradus Soldier received updates to further differentiate it from other options in the Faction.

Bronzeback Titan

Cost 17.

Gain 1 Mind damage box.

Change the text of Puissance to the following:

Puissance 1 Self – – RND No

The spellcaster gains Unyielding. Puissance lasts for one round. (A model with Unyielding gains +2 ARM against melee damage rolls.)

Gain Hyper-Aggressive:

Hyper-Aggressive - When this model suffers damage from an enemy attack at any time except while it is advancing, after the attack is resolved it can immediately make a full advance directly toward the attacking model.

War Gauntlets gain Beat Back:

Beat Back - Immediately after a basic attack with this weapon is resolved during this model’s Combat Action, the enemy model hit can be pushed 1˝ directly away from the attacking model. After the enemy model is pushed, the attacking model can advance up to 1˝ directly toward it.

The Bronzeback received significant updates to bring it in line with the rest of the game. Hyper-Aggressive, Beat Back, and a strong animus make this a much more enticing model.

Cyclops Brute

MAT 6.

A slight bump in MAT makes the Brute a stronger choice.

Desert Hydra

Cost 35.

DEF 10.

Acid Spray RNG SP 8, POW 14.

Cut Concentrated Blast (★ Attack).

A point drop and some upgrades to its ranged attacks put the Desert Hydra into a solid place.

Despoiler

Cost 17.

Despoiler was operating in lists how we wanted it to, but it did not feel worth its points. A slight point drop helps mitigate this issue.

Mammoth

Cost 35.

RAT 5.

Cut Assault and Shooting Gallery.

Gain Pain Maddened:

Pain Maddened - When this model is damaged by an enemy attack, this model gains +2 SPD for one round.

Siege Battery RNG 14 and gains Full Battery Fire (★ Attack):

Full Battery Fire (★ Attack) - This weapon becomes POW 20 for this attack. On a direct hit, models hit are thrown d6˝ directly away from the attacker. Roll distance once for all models affected. Models thrown do not deviate. Move models farthest from the attacker first. Instead of suffering blast damage, models hit but not directly hit suffer a damage roll with POW equal to half the POW of this attack. The POW of collateral damage is equal to half the POW of this attack.

Tusks RNG 3.

Dropping points, increasing RAT, and adding additional special rules carve out a unique place for the Mammoth to exist in the Skorne Faction. As a strong melee presence and a solid gun platform, the Mammoth brings something unique to Skorne.

Razor Wurm

Bite melee range 1˝.

A slight bump in melee range should increase the viability on the Razor Wurm.

Tiberion

Cost 19.

Tiberion is a strong melee warbeast but cost slightly too many points. A drop was warranted.

Titan Cannoneer

Cost 16.

FURY 4

Gain 2 body damage boxes.

The Cannoneer had some minor tweaks that should make it shine as a hybrid melee-ranged heavy warbeast.

Immortals

Cost 8/13.

Reducing the point cost of Immortals to 8/13 should bring them in to line with other similar infantry.

Extoller Advocate

Cost 3.

Change the text of Grave Mist to the following:

Grave Mist - At any time during its activation, this model can spend one soul token to give models in its unit +2 DEF for one round.

In this CID, we needed to be expand the niche use of the Extoller Advocate. Grave Mist now grants +2 DEF all the time instead of Concealment, standardizing the rule, making it easier for players to utilize, and increasing the power level of the Command Attachment.

Ancestral Guardian

Change the text of Resonance [Immortal] to the following:

Resonance [Immortal] - An Immortal model/unit activating within 5˝ of this model gains +2 movement when advancing as part of its Normal Movement that activation.

Halberd is POW 6.

A slight bump in POW of the Halberd will increase the offensive potential of this model slightly. Additionally, Resonance received a wording update to make it clear how it functions.

Aptimus Marketh

Gain Gunfighter .

Gain Harmonious Exaltation Magic Ability:

Harmonious Exaltation (★Action) - RNG CMD. Target this model’s warlock. If it is in range, once this turn when the warlock casts a spell, reduce the COST of the spell by 1.

Cut the Soul-Powered special rule.

Gain RNG 8, ROF 1, POW 6 Spirit Eye with Damage Type: Magical and Annihilating Gaze and Ghost Shot:

Annihilating Gaze - When a living or undead model is hit by this attack, add its current STR to the damage roll.

Ghost Shot - This model ignores LOS, concealment, and cover when making attacks with this weapon.

Marketh received a substantial upgrade in abilities and effects that should help not only The Exalted theme force but several others as well.

Hakaar the Destroyer

Cost 6.

A small point drop helps Hakaar feel more at home in the Exalted theme force.

Supreme Guardian

Replace Soul Ward with Direct Spirits.

Direct Spirits - When a friendly living Faction warrior model is destroyed in this model’s command range and generates a soul token, you choose which model with the Soul Taker ability gains the destroyed model’s soul, regardless of the proximity of other models. Enemy models are not eligible to gain soul tokens from models destroyed in this model’s command range.

Replace Well of Rage text with:

Well of Rage - Once per turn, at anytime during this model's activation, you can remove up to three soul tokens from this mode to return one destroyed small- or medium-based friendly Faction Grunt warrior model to play for each token removed. Models return with 1 unmarked damage box. Place the returned Grunts completely within this model's command range, in formation, and completely within 3˝ of another model in their unit. Returned Grunts must forfeit their Combat Actions the turn they are returned to play.

The Supreme Guardian upgraded its soul manipulation mechanic to Direct Spirits, a much more powerful version of its previous rule, Soul Ward. Additionally, Well of Rage has been modified to allow the return of Grunt models, opening up the ability to a wider variety of options.

Theme Forces

Convergence Theme Force: Clockwork Legions

Change the third benefit to the following:

For every full 20 points of Convergence units and solos in this army, you can add one Convergence command attachment or Convergence solo to the army free of cost. Free command attachments do not count toward the total point value of units in the army when calculating this bonus.

Change the fourth benefit to the following:

Eradicator, Perforator, and Reciprocator units in this army gain Vengeance. (During your Maintenance Phase, if one or more models in a unit with Vengeance were damaged by enemy attacks during the last round, each model in the unit can advance 3˝ and make one basic melee attack.)

Clockwork Legions received clerical updates, removing confusing interactions with its benefits.

Skorne Theme Force: Disciples of Agony

Add “Chiron” to the Army Composition section.

Change the first benefit to the following:

This army can include any number of Minion units and Minion solos. These models/units can be included even if they have the Partisan [Skorne] special rule.

Disciples of Agony had its composition rules tweaked slightly to open up list-building options.

Skorne Theme Force: The Exalted

Add “Despoiler” to the Army Composition section.

Change the third benefit to the following:

Construct models in this army gain Immovable Object. (A model with Immovable Object cannot become knocked down, cannot be placed, and cannot be moved by a push, slam, or throw.)

The Exalted received a new theme benefit that replaced the original Death Rage benefit. Players during the CID found this to be a much more exciting and compelling benefit.

Skorne Theme Force: Imperial Warhost

Add “Molik Karn” and “Aptimus Marketh” to the Army Composition section.

Change the second benefit to the following:

For every 30 points of Skorne warbeasts and battle engines in this army, you can add one Agonizer or Basilisk Krea warbeast or Skorne solo to the army free of cost. Free warbeasts do not count toward the total point value of warbeasts in the army when calculating this bonus.

Adding both Marketh and Molik Karn and opening up the options for free models really makes this theme feel more versatile and should allow players more freedom when list building.

Skorne Theme Force: Masters of War

Cut “non-character warbeasts without ranged weapons” and “Basilisk Krea warbeasts” from the Army Composition section.

Add “non-character warbeasts,” “Ancestral Guardian solos,” and “Supreme Guardian” to the Army Composition section.

Change the second benefit to the following:

For every full 20 points of Skorne units, Skorne dragoon solos, and Skorne battle engines in this army, you can add one Skorne command attachment, one Tyrant Commander & Standard Bearer unit, or one small- or medium-based Skorne solo to the army free of cost. Free models do not count toward the total point value of units in the army when calculating this bonus.

Removing restrictions from Masters of War and adding additional models opens up list building for the theme. Additionally, opening up free model options can really let the theme find its stride.