Brainstorming a Sonic Cult detachment

[LSM]

While I love most of what the EC release has done, one glaring omission to me is that lack of a Detachment focussed on Noise. As such, I had been brainstorming some loose ideas on the sort of thing I'd like to see, and thought it'd be better with some collaboration amongst all the fine folks here. (Especially from those who manage to actually hit the table with some regularity.)

 

(Part of me does still hope we see a 'Grotmas in July' bonus EC Detachment... whatever happened to that "Murderous Orchestra" reference that Alex brought up in the LVO video?)

 

The three main components of a Detachment being Detachment Rule, Enhancements, and Strategems, they seem like a good way to organise things.

 

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DETACHMENT RULE

 

One of the things I'd want to note, in a Sonic Cult detachment, is that the focus shouldn't just be on Noise Marines. In the previous lore, the Sonic Cult had been taking over all aspects of the Legion - the Kakophoni and Orchestrators being the overt example, but key to their existence was the Fleshcrafters, and the Palatine Blades, Phoenix Terminators, and line-troops were all getting sensory modifications and sonic improvements as well. So I'd like to see there not be too narrow of a focus.

 

Two of the things to take inspiration from (for me) would be the 2002 Codex, as well as the rules for the Horus Heresy legion. I'll note the latter first, where they have had two Rites of War: the Maru Skara, and the IIIrd Company Elite. The Maru Skara represented the "classic" Emperor's Children way of war - well disciplined, combined arms tactics that relied on the army acting in perfect concert... so that's out. The IIIrd Company Elite, on the other hand, represented the emerging Emperor's Children style, which was said would become "emblematic" of the Legion - Kakophoni could be taken as Troops, and all Infantry (not just the Palatine Blades and Phoenix Terminators) could take Surgical Augments (ie. Sonic Shriekers, Sonic Lances, or Sub-Sonic Pulsers).

 

Sub-Sonic Pulsers merely let you ignore Night Fighting drawbacks, Sonic Lances are low Strength template weapons that pin enemies and have ~[Devastating Wounds], and Sonic Shriekers give -1 To-Hit to enemies when Charged or Charging. (Note: in HH 1.0, only Sonic Shriekers were available, and gave +1 Initiative in the first round of combat.) Later, Exemplary Battles Vol 1 would add three more "Debased Augments": Abhorrent Sensoria (~[Precision]), Sublingual Glands (template weapons, wound on 2+, reduce enemy WS/BS), and Warp Scream (a bonus attack on the Charge with ~[Devastating Wounds]).

 

The reason that the other thing I'd go back to is the 2002 Codex is that it was the last time we had full rules for an Emperor's Children force who were conceptually all Noise Marines. In that book, the Mark of Slaanesh gave the ability Warp Scream. (Not to be confused with the HH ability of the same name.) The fluff described it as a piercing scream that blurred the borders between reality and the warp, disorientating opponents. (Every enemy within engagement range is at -1 Initiative.) 

 

So: basic kicker to the Detachment rule:

• Noise Marines gain the <BATTLELINE> keyword.

 

And then primarily, I'd go for some sort of Warp Scream/Sonic Shriekers effect.

• When enemy units within Engagement Range of an Emperor's Children Battleline unit target that unit for an attack, subtract 1 from the Hit roll.

 

[If this seems too much, perhaps add when Charged/Charging, though I think that might just clutter things to little effect. Alternatively, as there is no Initiative in the game any more, recent Codexes attempted to ape the old Warp Scream effect by giving a blanket Slaanesh-wide Fights First. Giving that to EC Battleline could be a solid option as well. I think that either will help with the survivability of close-range shooting units, allowing them to still be around to Fall Back and find new targets.] 

 

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ENHANCEMENTS

 

Of the four Enhancements, two would obviously be taken by those found in the 2022 Codex: Fatal Sonancy and Remnant of the Maraviglia.

 

Fatal Sonancy was basically a way to give a character an amped up ~Doom Siren. (End of Movement Phase, enemy unit within 12", 6d6, on a 4+ deal a MW.) Arguably, the Lord Kakophonist's Doom Siren ability has taken on a version of this, but I still think it should be generally available (to a Lord Exultant/Daemon Prince/Sorcerer) in this sort of Detachment. I'd suggest moving it to the Shooting Phase, and making its use be instead of Shooting with a ranged attack. 

 

Remnant of the Maraviglia was a once-per-battle use, which increase the Attacks characteristic of Core/Character models within 6" by 1. Would probably transfer over as the bearer and their attached unit getting +1 to the Attacks characteristic of equipped Melee Weapons (once-per-battle).

 

As for the other two, one thing I'd like to see is some sort "Power Axe", as a nod to the previous The Noise Marine model. (I'm still holding out hope that next edition the model can come back as a D-Rokker or Oblivion Marine character datasheet.) I think I'd try to work it as: Emperor's Children Infantry model (or perhaps just the Lord Kakophonist), increase the range of one Screamer Pistol equipped by this model from 12" to 24" (representing the Bolter-ness of the original-look Sonic Blaster) but remove the [Pistol] keyword, and increase the Damage of one Power Sword equipped by this model by 1 (if applicable).

 

A fourth possibility would be what I'd like to call Psychosonic Overdrive. Each time this model's unit is selected to shoot, it can use this ability. If it does, until the end of the phase, its ranged weapons have the [Devastating Wounds] and [Hazardous] abilities.

 

Beyond that, I'd like the possibility of something to maybe make a Sorcerer worth taking? I'd knocked around giving them and their unit Deep Strike, or perhaps a once-per-game Remove from the battlefield and place in Strategic Reserve + for the purposes of setting up Strategic Reserves, can count the Battle Round as one higher. (Using the thinned reality of the Sonic Cult to skip around.)

 

I also like the idea of something like Fleshcrafter Tools, allowing a character to return wounds to a unit (or a FNP, though I personally like to minimise FNPs).

 

I miss the old Stimulated By Pain (for each Wound lost, add an Attack, up to +3) though it's not inherently Noisy. The 6th edition Symphony of Pain psychic power could maybe be reworked (enemy gets -1 WS/BS and shooting is at +1 S against them). Some of the HH Augments could also inspire options.

 

Finally, part of me wants an Enhancment called 'Sonic Juice', though I'm not sure what it would do.

 

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STRATEGEMS

 

Need six, and the first up would have to be Endless Cacophony. I'm not a big fan of "shoot again" though, so... maybe when one unit has shot an enemy unit, a different EC Battleline unit may also make a shooting attack at that enemy unit (ignoring Thrill Seekers restrictions, and not counting as their regular attack for that phase), but only hitting on 6's. (Like a weird Overwatch.) Or just "shoot again", but only hitting on 6's?

 

As for the other five, if Endless Cacophony is just a "shoot again" type thing, then I'd definitely want a 'strat that is some sort of "EC Battleline units can ignore the Thrill Seeker restrictions". Maybe call this Murderous Orchestra?

 

I'd like something like a Shooting Phase version of Death Ecstasy - don't remove casualties, instead those models may shoot as if it was their Shooting Phase, then remove them. (Might pair nicely with Psychosonic Overdrive, if like Hellblasters it's explicit that models killing themselves via [Hazardous] are affected.) Rapturous Demise?

 

A reference to the original Noise Marine rule - Psychic Cacophony - could be nice. I'd rename it to Psychic Dissonance (to avoid confusion with Endless Cacophony), and maybe just make it that all weapons equipped by an enemy unit with the <Psychic> keyword gain [Hazardous] for the phase.

 

The Photon Flash Flares could also inspire a stratagem (though part of me wants to tie it to <Grenades>, Noise Marines don't have them). Maybe give [Stealth] to a Grenades unit? (Something for the non-Noise Marines.)

 

In the Index Chaotica, much was also made about the modified shells that Noise Marines used in their Bolters - which scream, shriek, and howl to a mad rhythm unappreciated by those who don't worship the Dark Prince. A Boltgun Choir that could effect Tormentor/Infractor 'Bolt Weapons' in some way ([Sustained Hits 2]? Improved AP? Shoot twice?).

 

Older edition's Warp Amplifier could be pulled in, to allow EC Vehicles to lower the leadership of nearby enemies.

 

Excruciating Frequencies in 9th gave a unit ~[Devastating Wounds] plus no Overwatch for enemies hit... so maybe just force a unit hit in the Shooting Phase to take a Battleshock Test?

 

Stealing 'Point Blank Destruction' from Fellhammer Siegeforce could also be an option. (Ranged Weapons gain the [Pistol] keyword.) Pit Slamming.

 

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Those are some of the thoughts I've jotted down over the last few days; I'm interested in what other people can cook up.

 

Edited Saturday at 04:57 PM by LSM

[Indy Techwisp]

I think an interesting way to represent the old "Rockerboy" Noise Marine with an enhancement would be turning it into an Aura basically, rather than modifying a Gun.

Something like "At the start of each battleround, you may either lower the OC of enemy models in [range] by 1 or increase the OC of models in your unit by 1." representing the excessive noise of the Combi-Guitar hampering the enemy or your unit revelling in the cacophony.

 

As for a "Noise Juice" thing, that reads like a Stratagem name (tho with a slightly different name).
Giving ranged weapons in the unit Assault maybe?
This would allow the ranged units to zoom about the board more.

[LSM]

My main thought with the possible Oblivion Marine enhancement would be to help with WYSIWYG. I know plenty of people are just running him as a Lord Kakophonist, but his combi-guitar doesn't really have the right look for a Screamer Pistol + Power Sword (or two Screamer Pistols).

 

In an actual datasheet, I agree that he should be an aura character. (Probably just armed with a Bolter or Combi-Weapon, etc. But I still like the Power Axe joke.) 

 

As for giving weapons [Assault], that's covered by Thrill Seekers allowing everything to Advance and Shoot already. (I also solely want such an enhancement because the words 'Sonic Juice' amuse me - the name is non-negotiable. ;P)