Ganelon, the Fallen Falcon

[Rev. Tiberius Jackhammer]

Radius seems more fitting, but the radius would have to be lowered - 24" to Ganelon would result in a circle on the table 48" in diameter which is subject to Rage! Since the "typical" gaming table is supposedly 6'x4', Ganelon's 4' rage circle would be a bit extreme :P

 

Still, if the radius is lowered to something less dramatic, it becomes kinda insignificant since Ganelon would then be close enough to assault it on his own. The LoS method is probably best, then. If he pops into a backfield with two or more static fire support units, he can always enrage one of them, then assault another, leaving him with some good utility, since such units are usually the bane of assaulty Chaos armies.

[Chengar Qordath]

Maybe we could add an LoS restriction to the rage bubble and/or have it only effect X number of units?

[Rev. Tiberius Jackhammer]

Hmmm, maybe adapt the "only effect X number of units" and have a sort of trade-off effect, where he's channeling his/his unit's rage into the enemy?

 

"At the beginning of his Movement Phase, Ganelon may choose an enemy unit that has a Weapon Skill statistic within 18" which he can draw line of sight to. That unit now has the Rage USR until the beginning of Ganelon's next Movement Phase, and Ganelon and any unit he's attached to suffer a -1 modifier to their Initiative stat until the beginning of their next Movement Phase. Ganelon may repeatedly use this capability until he is reduced to I1 (the attached unit is not affected by the Initiative modifier after being reduced to Initiative 1)."

 

So he can enrage many enemy units, but suffers a penalty for it. Orrr maybe have a backfire mechanic;

 

"At the beginning of his Movement Phase, Ganelon may choose an enemy unit that has a Weapon Skill statistic within 18" which he can draw line of sight to. Ganelon must then take an Initiative test; if he succeeds, the target unit now has the Rage USR until the beginning of Ganelon's next Movement Phase. If he fails, immediately resolve 2d6 S4 AP- hits on Ganelon and any unit he's attached to, as they tear into each other with savage fury. If he succeeded, Ganelon may attempt to use Ragebringer again. For each successive use of Ragebringer in the same Movement Phase, the Initiative Test has a +1 modifier applied to it (this modifier is cumulative with multiple uses of Ragebringer.)"

[Chengar Qordath]

Basing Ragebringer off of an initiative test seems a bit random, and between the test and the description it seems a bit too much like he's using some sort of psyker/sorcerer power, which doesn't really mesh for a Khornate. Fluffwise, a passive aura of rage fits a lot better than a directed power he consciously controls. Maybe something like:

 

Ragebringer: At the start of every turn, the closest d3 units (friend or foe) that can draw line of sight to Ganelon and have a WS value gain the Rage USR for the remainder of that turn.

[Rev. Tiberius Jackhammer]

Khornate daemon-ish thingies being so incredibly angry that they can channel it to do stuff is reasonably common in the background (the Bloodthirster special character is so incredibly angry that his roar is a wounds on 4+ AP2 template weapon :P)

 

Still, the d3 method works as well, and would be quicker to use. Adding the "closest" requirement's a good move, but maybe add a range cap to prevent him randomly ragin' a unit far in the distance.

[*Furyou Miko]

Chen's power is the best of the options presented in my opinion. It puts a reasonable limit on its effectiveness without completely crippling the ability to the point of pointlessness.

[Chengar Qordath]

So, here's where we are now?

 

Ganelon

Ganelon

6

5

5

4

3

5

3(4)

10

3+/4+

Ganelon {HQ}.......... 185 points

Jump Infantry (Unique)

1 Ganelon

Power Armour Wings Mark of Khorne Savage Talons Frag and Krak Grenades

Fearless Furious Charge Blessing of the Blood God Touched by Khorne Independent Character Lust for Battle Ragebringer

 

Savage Talons: Ganelon's hands have been twisted and mutated into a pair of viciously clawed hands. The Savage Talons count as a pair of lightning claws with the Rending USR.

 

Lust for Battle: Such is Ganelon mad desire to close with the enemy that he will seek to charge straight into battle within moments of his arrival on the battlefield. Ganelon and any unit he is attached to have the Rage USR, and if one or more units are within assault range at the start of the assault phase they must initiate an assault. However, their eagerness to close with the enemy also means that Ganelon and any squad he is attached to may initiate an assault on the turn they arrive via deep strike so long as they do not fire during the shooting phase.

 

Blessing of the Blood God: See Codex: Chaos Daemons

 

Touched by Khorne: Ganelon has served Khorne well, and Khorne has granted him many gifts. In addition to the improved strength in his statline, Ganelon has a 4+ invulnerable save. He also counts as a Daemon for the purposes of any attacks or special abilities which effect daemons.

 

Ragebringer: At the start of every turn, the closest d3 units (friend or foe, but not counting Ganelon himself or any unit he is attached to) within 24" that can draw line of sight to Ganelon and have a WS value gain the Rage USR for the remainder of that turn.

[Rev. Tiberius Jackhammer]

Looks about right, but add to Ragebringer that it doesn't effect Ganelon himself or any unit he's attached to (most other radius effects, like Sang. Priests or Banners tend to affect the user and his unit as well). Not huge, but it'd be good to clarify.

[Chengar Qordath]

Looks about right, but add to Ragebringer that it doesn't effect Ganelon himself or any unit he's attached to (most other radius effects, like Sang. Priests or Banners tend to affect the user and his unit as well). Not huge, but it'd be good to clarify.

Edited to clear that point up; they already get Rage from his Lust For Battle rule anyway.

[Rev. Tiberius Jackhammer]

Yeah, it's a picky thing, but worth clarifying. Actually, maybe change it to "the closest d3 units, ignoring units which already have Rage"? Stops him from wasting his talents in the rare event he's fighting death company or somesuch.

[Chengar Qordath]

Final Version?

 

Ganelon

Ganelon

6

5

5

4

3

5

3(5)

10

3+/4+

Ganelon {HQ}.......... 190 points

Jump Infantry (Unique)

1 Ganelon

Power Armour Wings Mark of Khorne Savage Talons Frag and Krak Grenades Personal Icon

Fearless Furious Charge Blessing of the Blood God Touched by Khorne Independent Character Lust for Battle Ragebringer

 

Options:

• One Daemon or Power-Armoured infantry squad dedicated to Khorne in an army which includes Ganelon may take wings (Ganelon must Deep Strike with this squad): 10 points per model
  

Savage Talons: Ganelon's hands have been twisted and mutated into a pair of viciously clawed hands. The Savage Talons count as a pair of lightning claws with the Rending USR.

 

Lust for Battle: Such is Ganelon mad desire to close with the enemy that he will seek to charge straight into battle within moments of his arrival on the battlefield. Ganelon and any unit he is attached to have the Rage USR, and if one or more units are within assault range at the start of the assault phase they must initiate an assault. However, their eagerness to close with the enemy also means that Ganelon and any squad he is attached to may initiate an assault on the turn they arrive via deep strike so long as they do not fire during the shooting phase. This ability may only be used if Ganelon is attached to a squad dedicated to Khorne, and may not be used if other Independent Characters or any models in Terminator Armour are part of the squad.

 

Blessing of the Blood God: See Codex: Chaos Daemons

 

Touched by Khorne: Ganelon has served Khorne well, and Khorne has granted him many gifts. In addition to the improved strength in his statline, Ganelon has a 4+ invulnerable save. He also counts as a Daemon for the purposes of any attacks or special abilities which affect daemons.

 

Ragebringer: At the start of Ganelon's shooting phase, the closest d3 units within 24" that can draw line of sight to Ganelon and have a WS value gain the Rage universal special rule until the start of Ganelon's next shooting phase. This ability can effect friend or foe, but passes over any unit which already has the Rage universal special rule (units that already have the Rage universal rule are not counted for purposes of how many units the Ragebringer ability can effect).

[Rev. Tiberius Jackhammer]

Yeah, that looks about right. Can't really think of any other criticisms/comments/suggestions.

 

EDIT: Hey, I thought of some! :P

 

Couple of observations: Currently, Ganelon could allow a unit of Terminators or Obliterators he Deep-strikes in with to assault. Kinda weird. Secondly, he'd also allow any other character joined to the unit to assault.

 

His Ragebringer doesn't work on the turn he enters play; dunno if that's intentional or not. If it isn't, having him activate it at the beginning of the Shooting Phase (and having the effects last until his next shooting phase) would work.

[Chengar Qordath]

I'll make a note on the Terminators/Obliterators/ICs, but I do want him to be able to DS in with a Daemon squad and grant his abilities to them; after all, the guy's pretty close to a full-out daemon as it is.

 

Moving Ragebringer to the shooting phase.

 

Also, gave him a fun new option.

[*Furyou Miko]

My only nitpick is that in the Touched by Khorne ability, it should read "abilities which affect daemons.

"

[Rev. Tiberius Jackhammer]

For the excluding Oblits/Termies part, just saying "Ganelon and any Power Armour-equipped unit he is attached to..." should do the trick.

 

Maybe have the Wings upgrade only be for specific units (Possessed or Bezerkers, perhaps)? Currently it can be used to give wings to plague marines/thousand sons and other things that'd just seem kinda awkward with wings.

[Chengar Qordath]

For the excluding Oblits/Termies part, just saying "Ganelon and any Power Armour-equipped unit he is attached to..." should do the trick.

 

Maybe have the Wings upgrade only be for specific units (Possessed or Bezerkers, perhaps)? Currently it can be used to give wings to plague marines/thousand sons and other things that'd just seem kinda awkward with wings.

But specifying Power Armour only would disqualify him from DS-ing with Daemons, which I don't want.

 

Wing upgrade changed to Khorne-only.

[Rev. Tiberius Jackhammer]

Ah, point, forgot about the Daemons. You'll probably want to clarify how he interacts with the Lesser Daemon summoning special rules, though - they have a few odd restrictions - they may only deep strike near a chaos icon (if there are none upon the field, they are destroyed) and can always assault after deepstriking.

[Chengar Qordath]

Ah, point, forgot about the Daemons. You'll probably want to clarify how he interacts with the Lesser Daemon summoning special rules, though - they have a few odd restrictions - they may only deep strike near a chaos icon (if there are none upon the field, they are destroyed) and can always assault after deepstriking.

Hmm, I'd forgotten just how wonky the Lesser Summoned Daemon rules were, probably because nobody in my area ever uses Lesser Summoned Daemons. Think we'll have to rule out attaching him to LSD squads; it adds too much rules wonkiness for my taste; you can still attach him to a squad of bloodletters if you run in Codex:Chaos Daemons though.

[*Furyou Miko]

Personally, I think it's a good idea to rule out LSD in general... (boom boom).

 

The other option is to let him count as an Icon for the turn he arrives, leading to the vicious circle of Ganelon DSing, followed by a ton of Lesser Demon squads DSing, followed by a same-turn assault from the lot of them - it balances slightly because if you drop three LSD squads in with him, that's his entire Ragebringer quota used up until he joins one of them.

[Chengar Qordath]

Yeah, no attaching to LSD; Lust for Battle's new wording rules out any non-Khornate units, which naturally includes the generic LSDs. Tossing on a personal Icon works for giving him a demon-y connection; it's a common and cheap piece of wargear, so why not?