Age of Darkness FAQ

[Gorgoff]

In relation to dreads and pods, am I correct in understanding that to put dreads in pods, the maximum talon size is one and, therefore, each dread coming in via drop pod takes up one elite slot?

 

Yupp.

[Supe robot gangster #1]

Didn’t they change that a while ago in the actual ROW stating you can still take talons of three and put them in pods? Or am I just going crazy?

[Gorgoff]

Didn’t they change that a while ago in the actual ROW stating you can still take talons of three and put them in pods? Or am I just going crazy?

It was in an older version of the FAQ that you could do that but they changed it again due to practical reasons.

[Pearson73]

 

Didn’t they change that a while ago in the actual ROW stating you can still take talons of three and put them in pods? Or am I just going crazy?

It was in an older version of the FAQ that you could do that but they changed it again due to practical reasons.

 

 

Well that's a bugger, I really enjoyed that decision in the older FAQ, pity they've changed it.

[Gorgoff]

 

 

 

Didn’t they change that a while ago in the actual ROW stating you can still take talons of three and put them in pods? Or am I just going crazy?

It was in an older version of the FAQ that you could do that but they changed it again due to practical reasons.

Well that's a bugger, I really enjoyed that decision in the older FAQ, pity they've changed it.

Throwing up to nine Leviathans in pods onto your opponents lines is no fun for anybody. ;)

[Hfran Morkai]

I thought it had only applied to Contemptors and Boxnoughts (which to be fair was still pretty strong and I didn't see the points for extra dreads in a list, needed more bodies).

[Slips]

For all intents and purposes, to me that orbital assault change sitll applies.

[Baluc]

Wasn't it drop because of the interactional between the talon rules and Drop pods?

[Slips]

Wasn't it drop because of the interactional between the talon rules and Drop pods?

The FAQ that contained the changes specifically made mention of the whole unit coming in together essentially deploying under the effects of "Dreadnought Talon" ie: theyre a unit and must deploy in coherency but once done, they act independently.

[SkimaskMohawk]

A lot of interactions have slipped through the cracks when they do fresh faqs.

[Mazryonh]

The FAQs shows that Destroyers have been reduced in cost and buffed in a few ways, but for starters they still can't carry as many Rad Missile Launchers as Techmarine Servitors can. Destroyers lost access to Volkite pistols and still aren't as characterful as they could have been. Sure, they can now hold their own in melee very well, but to me are still not that different from Assault Squads in role and performance. We've known ever since Angels of Caliban that Destroyers have a lot in their bag of tricks that isn't shown in the game so far, but it's been a long time and we still haven't gotten Destroyer rules or models that reflect that fluff. When are we going to get that?

[Charlo]

The FAQs shows that Destroyers have been reduced in cost and buffed in a few ways, but for starters they still can't carry as many Rad Missile Launchers as Techmarine Servitors can. Destroyers lost access to Volkite pistols and still aren't as characterful as they could have been. Sure, they can now hold their own in melee very well, but to me are still not that different from Assault Squads in role and performance. We've known ever since Angels of Caliban that Destroyers have a lot in their bag of tricks that isn't shown in the game so far, but it's been a long time and we still haven't gotten Destroyer rules or models that reflect that fluff. When are we going to get that?

 

Bare in mind that these are just trial rules. Quoting myself before from earlier in the topic:

 

 

 

 

Destroyers point reduction is nice, and Hardened Armour makes sense (because of model and background) but I thought they were going to give them new weapons (phosphex missiles, acid shells, irrad, etc...). 

that might come in Malevolence, I don't see FW releasing new rules in full for a unit in the FAQ when they *might* be in the next book with more options.

 

Now i wonder if the removal of the choom pistols is to make the BA special destroyers more special, kinda a bad way to do it tbh, make us (BA's) more unique by removing options from everyone else

 

While this information is old now (could even be the '18 weekender) but Destoryers were talked about as a known problem unit and not reflective of the fluff or how they should perform in game. BAs were noted as getting a unique Destroyer unit at this point and that their one would almost be "the template" for an updated generic unit to follow, obviously without the BA flair. However it was also said that this update would not be done until post all Legions having at least their base rules and the time of a new Army List book for them.

 

Fast forward to now though and a few of these tid bits have been changed, we've had units updated in an FAQ outside of the book twice now (Custodes, Consuls, Drop Pods and the new stuff) and a shiny new profile for Destroyers to test out! I don't think they have a profile in Malevolence, else why release the FAQ for a months testing when it's already printed?

 

[Marshal Rohr]

Why is Skimask allowed to tell me I deserve to lose every game, but I can't tell him to take a hike for being a power gamer? Seems pretty :cuss inconsistent.

[Baluc]

Because that's what the rules say mate. In this context he is right and you are wrong it really is that simple.

[Marshal Rohr]

Sure, if it was a tournament. But Its a silly rule people should throw out when actually trying to play the game like you should instead of just trying to start a game you win in turn one like a five year who declares 'I win!' before anyone else can do anything. Some of us play campaigns and narrative games.

[carlisimo]

I would also prefer if you didn’t auto-lose if you had no units on the table but did have some in reserve. You’d be at a disadvantage because your opponent could spend a turn moving into better defensive positions and then you’d arrive piecemeal, but if you felt you had a chance, why not continue?

 

That’s clearly not how the game works, though.

 

As for Destroyers losing volkite weaponry… I was about to say that it makes sense because they represent a Terran style of fighting and volkite is Martian, but it looks like rad weapons are pretty common among Martian units. So much for that idea. Dunno.

[Unknown Legionnaire]

All 'drop pod' / 'orbital assault' / 'drop assault' lists have the following advantages and / or disadvantages to an extend, depending on whether you null-deploy or not:

 

Advantages:

- Potential for null deployment, essentially robbing your opponent of their first turn (if they go first), which a valid strategy.

- Positioning yourself to your utmost advantage and delivering an alpha strike which can be devastating (if you go first).

- Arranging your pods / DS'ing units in a matter that advantageous for yourself, depending on how your opponent has deployed, plus potential reserve shenanigans.

- DS'ing dedicated specialist units (anti-armour vets / anti-elite seekers, etc.) and / or Dreads in pods is hideously strong.

- You can keep your scoring units for the 'second wave', thus keeping them relatively safe for scoring purposes in later game turns.

- Etc. etc.

 

Disadvanatges:

- You're (potentially, and I say potentially because you can more or less easily avoid it) screwed if your opponent manages to annihilate your 'first wave' before the rest of your army comes in.

 

 

Now compare those advantages / downsides to another.

Okay ... so the rule that you might actually lose if you fail to have any models on the table at the end of any particular game turn makes a lot of sense actually, you see.

Of course you can house-rule whatever the hell you like, sure, but in an 'equal' terms for all environment, these conditions are necessary.

 

Now, back on topic, shall we ?

[Mazryonh]

 

The FAQs shows that Destroyers have been reduced in cost and buffed in a few ways, but for starters they still can't carry as many Rad Missile Launchers as Techmarine Servitors can. Destroyers lost access to Volkite pistols and still aren't as characterful as they could have been. Sure, they can now hold their own in melee very well, but to me are still not that different from Assault Squads in role and performance. We've known ever since Angels of Caliban that Destroyers have a lot in their bag of tricks that isn't shown in the game so far, but it's been a long time and we still haven't gotten Destroyer rules or models that reflect that fluff. When are we going to get that?

 

Bare in mind that these are just trial rules. Quoting myself before from earlier in the topic:

 

 

 

 

Destroyers point reduction is nice, and Hardened Armour makes sense (because of model and background) but I thought they were going to give them new weapons (phosphex missiles, acid shells, irrad, etc...). 

that might come in Malevolence, I don't see FW releasing new rules in full for a unit in the FAQ when they *might* be in the next book with more options.

 

Now i wonder if the removal of the choom pistols is to make the BA special destroyers more special, kinda a bad way to do it tbh, make us (BA's) more unique by removing options from everyone else

 

While this information is old now (could even be the '18 weekender) but Destoryers were talked about as a known problem unit and not reflective of the fluff or how they should perform in game. BAs were noted as getting a unique Destroyer unit at this point and that their one would almost be "the template" for an updated generic unit to follow, obviously without the BA flair. However it was also said that this update would not be done until post all Legions having at least their base rules and the time of a new Army List book for them.

 

Fast forward to now though and a few of these tid bits have been changed, we've had units updated in an FAQ outside of the book twice now (Custodes, Consuls, Drop Pods and the new stuff) and a shiny new profile for Destroyers to test out! I don't think they have a profile in Malevolence, else why release the FAQ for a months testing when it's already printed?

 

 

 

I guess that's reason to be optimistic then. Still, FW is in the business of selling models, and if models have better rules, they're likelier to sell better, which begs the question of why they didn't move Destroyers up the schedule sooner.

 

At least Ashen Circle, a Destroyer derivative unit, are much more effective now.

[Pearson73]

 

 

 

Didn’t they change that a while ago in the actual ROW stating you can still take talons of three and put them in pods? Or am I just going crazy?

It was in an older version of the FAQ that you could do that but they changed it again due to practical reasons.

Well that's a bugger, I really enjoyed that decision in the older FAQ, pity they've changed it.

Throwing up to nine Leviathans in pods onto your opponents lines is no fun for anybody.

 

 

Haha, it somehow hadn't occurred to me that Leviathans come in talons...

 

There was me, just thinking of throwing fistfuls of box dreads about.

[SkimaskMohawk]

Something I mentioned in the news and rumour thread.

 

Moritats are back in the realm of being an interesting option rather than awful, which is great.

 

But I think kaedes nex needs a tweak in the wake of this. He actually got nerfed going from the previous version to this one, as his BS 6 won't kick in for chain fire now.

 

Either let him join destroyers like normal moritats so he can join up later after his deployment thing, or give him an extra attack like how the destroyers did. Something to incemtivize his unique combat or something, idk

[rendingon1+]

Moritat's are more playable, but worth it? I wouldn't say that. They still have more negative rules than positive ones. No buffing in ANY way, no joining units except destroyers, who are sitting ducks after the chain fire, Extremely expensive if intended to actually kill anybody (dual serpentas or bolt? why take it?).

Just removing "no charging after chainfire" would make him quite tempting.

 

Kaedes Nex is a victim of bad rules design: after slightly unnerfing chainfire in this new errata they shoudn't add a paragraph about rerolls - it's still in the "Lone killer" special rule, moritat has. Kaedes Nex had was never "Lone killer" and divination or PE worked on him. I think it was unintentional but still. Personally I think his pistols should rend on 5+.

[SkimaskMohawk]

Wow, that's honestly something I never even realized. Double nerf to him then from what I initially thought. Maybe, give him the original chain fire rule. The average is still the same, but it would allow for some rare big output moments, and at the end of the day he only has str 4 Rending. I am considering a janky knight errant-kaedes nex list to generate as many bonus VPs as possible though

 

Volkites were the best option last version, simply because they had the highest damage output for most moritats. Now I'm not too sure, I think plasma is back to being the best.

[Jarl Kjaran Coldheart]

how did I miss the Ashen Circle getting so many upgrades!

Between the lowering of points for squad, additional dudes, plasma pistol, the axe-rake becoming AP3 (!)  and can now be joined by certain characters, Im scared of Rayray.

[Gorgoff]

ody (dual serpentas or bolt? why take it?)..

Imperialis Militia or possible against Demons?

[SkimaskMohawk]

how did I miss the Ashen Circle getting so many upgrades!

 

Between the lowering of points for squad, additional dudes, plasma pistol, the axe-rake becoming AP3 (!) and can now be joined by certain characters, Im scared of Rayray.

Did I miss something? Their unit size is the same and the plasma pistol was always an option