June 2018 Dynamic Update Developer’s Notes: Exemplar CID

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

Cygnar

Trencher Blockhouse

Reduce point cost from 14 to 10

Change Forward Deployment to:

This model can be deployed up to 8" beyond your deployment zone.

Protectorate

Grand Exemplar Kreoss

Increase MAT from 7 to 8.

Increase CMD from 9 to 10.

Add Tough .

Remove the Tactician [Exemplar] rule.

Add the Paragon of the Faith rule to Kreoss:

Paragon of the Faith – While in this model’s command range, friendly Exemplar warrior models gain Tough .

Add the Life Trader rule to Justifier:

Life Trader – When an attack with this weapon hits, this model can suffer 1 damage point to gain an additional die on the damage roll against the model hit. Life Trader can be used only once per attack.

Add the Battle-Charged spell:

Battle-Charged 2 Self Ctrl – UP No

While in the spellcaster’s control range, models in its battlegroup gain Countercharge. (When an enemy model advances and ends its movement within 6˝ of a model with Countercharge and in its LOS, the model with Countercharge can immediately charge it. A model can use Countercharge only once per round and while not engaged.)

Replace the stats and text of the Sacrosanct spell with the following:

Sacrosanct 3 Self * – RND No

When an enemy non-warcaster, non-warlock warrior model destroys one or more friendly Faction models in the spellcaster’s command range with an attack, immediately after the attack is resolved the attacking model becomes knocked down.

Kreoss 2 underwent rather substantial changes to both his abilities and his play style. Giving him more solid offensive stats and abilities allows him to contribute a little more to the fight himself. Combine this with some new spells and a reworked Sacrosanct, and he becomes more aggressive than ever!

Harbinger of Menoth

Increase CMD from 10 to 12.

Increase warjack points from +24 to +27.

We felt the Harbinger had a strong tie to Exemplar list-building, but we saw she was a little behind in the warjack points category and was being picked off a little too easily in her games. A bump in CMD will help her play a little more safely and increase the power level of her feat as well as several of her key abilities.

Devout

Replace the text of the Spell Barrier rule with the following:

Spell Barrier – While this model is B2B with its battlegroup controller, its battlegroup controller cannot be targeted by enemy spells.

This is a minor quality-of-life change that allows Spell Barrier to function on journeyman warcasters.

Fire of Salvation

Reduce point cost from 16 to 14.

Increase MAT from 7 to 8.

Remove Imprint: Holy Fervor

Change Bond [Kreoss] to:

Bond [Kreoss] - If this model begins the game in Kreoss’ battlegroup, it is bonded to him. This model is not considered to be bonded while under your opponent's control. While this model is bonded to Kreoss and in his control range, it gains Divine Inspiration. (A model with Divine Inspiration gains an additional die on melee attack and melee damage rolls. Discard the lowest die of each roll.)

Gain Relentless Charge:

Relentless Charge - While advancing as part of a charge, this model gains Pathfinder .

Absolver gains Dispel:

Dispel - When this weapon hits a model/unit, upkeep spells and animi on that model/unit immediately expire.

Fire of Salvation was not performing quite how we wanted it to at the end of the CID. After looking through the feedback, we internally tested the above changes and found they created a much more compelling ’jack.

Indictor

Reduce point cost from 15 to 14.

Replace the text of the Consecration rule with the following:

Consecration – While within 6˝ of this model, enemy models cannot cast, channel, or upkeep spells.

The Indictor was a powerful model during the CID cycle and has been slightly adjusted downward in power level from its CID version but up overall.

Judicator

Reduce point cost from 36 to 34.

Increase SPD from 4 to 5.

Increase the RNG of the Flamethrowers from SP 8 to SP 10.

Replace the text of the Reliquary rule with the following:

Reliquary – This model gains an additional die on attack and damage rolls. Discard the lowest die of each roll. While its S system is disabled, this model loses the benefits of Reliquary.

The Judicator is a powerful combined-arms model with these changes. It was not living up to its point value originally, but with an increase in offensive power and a slight bump in speed, we found the Judicator to be a much more enticing option.

Purifier

Add the Ashen Veil rule to the Purifier:

Ashen Veil – This model has concealment. Living enemy models without Immunity: Fire suffer –2 to attack rolls while within 2˝ of this model.

Cut Critical Fire.

Immolator gains Continuous Effect: Fire .

Immolator gains 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.

A difficult model to find a home for, the Purifier can now play an interesting role as a pseudo board-control piece. Ashen Veil, Beat Back, and Continuous Fire all help the Purifier ??missing text??

Revelator

Increase SPD from 4 to 5.

A consistency update: the Revelator receives the same change to its speed as the Judicator does.

Exemplar Bastions

Reduce point cost from 10/16 to 9/15.

Increase CMD from 7 to 8.

Increase the POW of the Consecrated Halberd from 4 to 6 (P+S 13).

Add the Defensive Strike rule to the Leader & Grunts:

Defensive Strike – Once per turn, when an enemy model advances into and ends its movement in this model’s melee range, this model can immediately make one basic melee attack against it.

With some rather aggressive changes, Bastions have been reworked to be a more exciting unit. Defensive Strike gives them a solid frontline application against charges while retaining their weakness to ranged attacks.

Visgoth Juviah Rhoven & Honor Guard

Change the model subtype to “Protectorate Exemplar Unit.”

Remove the Exemplar rule.

This change affects how the unit functions inside of the Exemplar Interdiction theme force, allowing the unit to generate free points.

Exemplar Cinerators

Reduce point cost from 10/16 to 8/13.

Increase CMD from 7 to 8.

Reduce the POW of the Blazing Sword from 5 to 4 (P+S 11).

These changes are designed to help separate Exemplar Cinerators from Exemplar Bastions. Along with their new Command Attachment, they are now a strong defensive option.

Exemplar Errants

Add Pathfinder .

Errants are picking up Pathfinder to help solidify their role as the scouts and frontline of the Exemplar forces.

Exemplar Errant Officer & Standard

Add Pathfinder to the Officer and the Standard Bearer.

Officer gains Mark Target:

Mark Target - Other friendly Faction models gain +2 to ranged attack rolls against enemy models within 5˝ of this model and in its LOS

Replace the second sentence of the Purity rule with the following:

Enemy upkeep spells and animi on this unit immediately expire.

Replace the Tactics: Assault rule with Tactics: Quick Work:

Tactics: Quick Work – Models in this unit gain Quick Work. (When a model with Quick Work destroys one or more enemy models with a melee attack during its Combat Action, immediately after the attack is resolved the model with Quick Work can make one basic ranged attack.)

A rather large update to the Exemplar Errant Officer & Standard that will hopefully breath new life into the unit. Our goal is to have the unit fill the skirmishing roll that some players enjoy in Exemplar Interdiction.

Exemplar Vengers

Increase STR from 6 to 7.

Increase ARM from 17 to 18.

Slight armor and strength increases bring Exemplar Vengers up to par with other cavalry options.

Knights Exemplar Officer

Reduce points cost from 5 to 4.

We found this Command Attachment to be a little too expensive when compared to other options. This change should help keep Knights Exemplar the mainstay of any Exemplar force.

Exemplar Bastion Seneschal

Reduce points cost from 6 to 5.

Increase the POW of the Consecrated Halberd from 5 to 6 (P+S 13).

Replace the Drive: Blessings of Iron rule with Drive: Rhythm of Steel:

Drive: Rhythm of Steel – While in this model’s command range, a warjack under its control gains Flank [Bastion]. (When a model with Flank [Bastion] makes a melee attack against an enemy model in the melee range of a friendly Bastion model, the model with Flank gains +2 to attack rolls and gains an additional damage die.)

Add the Set Defense rule:

Set Defense – A model in this model’s front arc suffers –2 on charge, slam power attack, and impact attack rolls against this model.

Add the Tactician [Exemplar] rule:

Tactician [Exemplar] – While in this model’s command range, friendly Exemplar models can ignore other friendly Exemplar models when determining LOS. Friendly Exemplar models can advance through other friendly Exemplar models in this model’s command range if they have enough movement to move completely past them.

Along with the Bastions, the Exemplar Bastion Seneschal received a rather large overhaul. Tactician should create a very desirable model that brings a unique rule to the theme force.

Exemplar Errant Seneschal

Reduce point cost from 4 to 3.

Increase CMD from 9 to 10.

Remove Assault .

Add Pathfinder .

Add the Quick Work rule:

Quick Work – When this model destroys one or more enemy models with a melee attack during its Combat Action, immediately after that attack is resolved this model can make one basic ranged attack.

This is a new direction for the Errant Seneschal. It is now a cheap but effective combat solo that brings some minor buffs to its parent unit.

Exemplar Warder Elias Gade

Remove Assault .

Add the Sniper rule:

Sniper – Instead of making a damage roll to resolve a ranged attack, this model can inflict 1 damage point. A model disabled by a ranged attack made by this model cannot make a Tough roll.

Remove the Leadership [Exemplar Errants] rule.

Add the Quick Work rule:

Quick Work – When this model destroys one or more enemy models with a melee attack during its Combat Action, immediately after that attack is resolved this model can make one basic ranged attack.

Picking up many of the same changes the Exemplar Errants did, Gade is now an even more potent combat solo than he was before.

High Exemplar Gravus

Reduce point cost from 9 to 8.

Increase CMD from 9 to 10.

Add the Desperate Pace [small- or medium-based Exemplar] rule to Gravus:

Desperate Pace [small- or medium-based Exemplar] (★Action) – RNG CMD. Target friendly small- or medium-based Exemplar unit. If the unit is in range, small- or medium-based Exemplar models in the unit gain +2˝ movement during their Normal Movement this turn.

Reducing point costs, slightly increasing command, and adding Desperate Pace to Gravus are all powerful options that give a lot of variety to this old man. Adding new options to the Exemplar Interdiction theme force was the goal for these changes.

Knights Exemplar Seneschal

Increase CMD from 9 to 10.

The Exemplar Seneschal was changed mostly for consistency’s sake, but this is also a slight bump up in power level.

Theme Force Errata

Protectorate Theme Force: The Creator’s Might

Add “Exemplar Warders” and “Protectorate structures” to the Army Composition section.

We believe the Warder should be allowed to stand guard over those fighting with the might of the Creator! Additionally, the Shrine of the Lawgiver deserves the protection of the mightiest machines of the Protectorate!

Protectorate Theme Force: Exemplar Interdiction

Add “Fire of Salvation” and “Hierophant solos” to the Army Composition section, and remove “Visgoth Juviah Rhoven & Honor Guard.”

Bringing more character ’jacks into themes is something we would like to continue doing as CID cycles progress. The addition of the Hierophant opens up which ’casters are incentivized to play in this theme force. Because of the changes to Rhoven and his bodyguard, he is no longer required to be called out by name in order to be included in the theme force.

Protectorate Theme Force: The Faithful Masses

Add “Protectorate structures” to the Army Composition section.

Replace the second benefit to the following:

For every full 20 points of Paladin solos, Reclaimer solos, and Protectorate units in this army, you can add one Protectorate weapon crew unit, Protectorate command attachment, or small- or medium-based Protectorate 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.

Faithful Masses worship at many shrines throughout the land; its addition to the theme force should bring a new style of list to bear. Additionally, Reclaimer solos will now add toward free points in this theme force.

Protectorate Theme Force: Guardians of the Temple

Add “Protectorate structures” to the Army Composition section.

Replace the first sentence of the second special rule with the following:

For every full 20 points of Flameguard models/units and Protectorate structures in this army, you can add one Flameguard command attachment or one small-based Protectorate solo to the army free of cost.

We have added the Shrine of the Lawgiver to the Guardians of the Temple theme force as well as allowing it to add toward free models.