GK versions of Marine units and Power Levels

[Gentlemanloser]

There are some generic Space Marine units we have access to, like Dreadnoughts, Techmarines and Land Raiders.

 

Some of these version have increased Points Costs for the Grey Knights, over their vanilla counterparts, for the extra rules we get.

 

I can't see any mention of an increase of Power Levels though?

 

So even though a Dreadnought costs more points when taken as a GK, it still costs the same 7 Power Levels?

 

An oversight?  Or just another highlight about how Power Levels are unbalanced and can be abused?

[Myunch]

When I was at my local gaming store this past weekend for the release of 8th, the topic of Power Levels came up several times. The general consensus that I gathered was that nobody seemed to think they were intended to be balance but rather a quick and dirty "open play" type of game where you "kind of" get a semblance of structure from the power levels that isn't completely just "bring whatever you have", because they're more than obviously unbalanced.

 

Personally will only play games involving point values, both in Narrative and Matched play. It was exciting to see games of 8th where you didn't already know who was going to win. I know it's early but from what I saw 8th is a drastic improvement on 7th in terms of balance, however imperfect it may be.

[Waking Dreamer]

When I was at my local gaming store this past weekend for the release of 8th, the topic of Power Levels came up several times. The general consensus that I gathered was that nobody seemed to think they were intended to be balance but rather a quick and dirty "open play" type of game where you "kind of" get a semblance of structure from the power levels that isn't completely just "bring whatever you have", because they're more than obviously unbalanced.

That's how I've always seen power levels and their intended use.

 

If someone loads up, you play them one power level game (to be polite), and then either not play them again, or just engage him in matched play. If someone loads up on upgrades for power play, he won't get many more power levels games after his first stunt. Simple as that. If he wants to be that competitive...he'll only get matched play from then on.

[duz_]

 

When I was at my local gaming store this past weekend for the release of 8th, the topic of Power Levels came up several times. The general consensus that I gathered was that nobody seemed to think they were intended to be balance but rather a quick and dirty "open play" type of game where you "kind of" get a semblance of structure from the power levels that isn't completely just "bring whatever you have", because they're more than obviously unbalanced.

That's how I've always seen power levels and their intended use.

 

If someone loads up, you play them one power level game (to be polite), and then either not play them again, or just engage him in matched play. If someone loads up on upgrades for power play, he won't get many more power levels games after his first stunt. Simple as that. If he wants to be that competitive...he'll only get matched play from then on.

 

Yes this!

My first game was IG vs GK power levels.

We threw together 85 points each, it was a lot of fun and seemed fairly well balanced considering how crude it is.

I think I will play a lot of casual games this way, because its fun and easy to throw a list together.

 

As WD said, if someone tries to game the system in future just don't play them or goto the matched played system.

 

So going back to the OP, PL is not meant to be a hyper balanced way to play, just a fun casual way.

I suspect they probably didn't consider the upgrades from C:SM entries to GK entries required any additional PL increase.

[Gentlemanloser]

But a year of playtesting with balance as the focus.

 

And they forgot things like this?

 

This thread isn't really about gaming anything. If we want those units to be gk units we get those 'upgrades' for free.

[Myunch]

But a year of playtesting with balance as the focus.

 

And they forgot things like this?

 

This thread isn't really about gaming anything. If we want those units to be gk units we get those 'upgrades' for free.

Let's be honest with ourselves, it's more than apparent that not all of this was playtested, however long they claim it to be lol

[duz_]

I am not sure what your concern is?
Is the issue that the rough casual point system (power levels) are too rough and casual?

There seems to be 2 very simple solutions to that:

1. Give it a try and see how unfair it is. In my short experience with it I really enjoyed it and didn't find any side had a significant advantage over the other
2. Don't play it, use the more "granular" point system and problem is solved

To be honest given how broken 7th got with opponents regularly having 200-1000pt extra for free + formation bonuses even the PL system as rough as it is seems fairly balanced.

As I already said, I suspect I will be playing a lot of games this way! You're more than welcome not to GML.

[Myunch]

I am not sure what your concern is?

Is the issue that the rough casual point system (power levels) are too rough and casual?

There seems to be 2 very simple solutions to that:

• Give it a try and see how unfair it is. In my short experience with it I really enjoyed it and didn't find any side had a significant advantage over the other
• Don't play it, use the more "granular" point system and problem is solved

To be honest given how broken 7th got with opponents regularly having 200-1000pt extra for free + formation bonuses even the PL system as rough as it is seems fairly balanced.

As I already said, I suspect I will be playing a lot of games this way! You're more than welcome not to GML.

I like this perspective. At the end of the day it's all relative! =D

[TheMostGood]

Power levels is for a quick and dirty game as others have described. It is not meant to be balanced.

 

If you play power levels LOAD your dudes up with the good stuff. Assuming both sides do it, you can probably get a decent game.

 

The whole point is to be able to make a game with a random or a new player set up quickly. If you wanted competitive you go matched play with points. One is for beginners the other is for experienced players.