Dataslate changes - spill over from the new Astartes Codex

[Dr_Ruminahui]

So, the last of the "post introduction" data slate changes dropped today and it pretty much just carries the new design philosophy for marines over from the new Astartes codex to EC and the other "marine adjacent" factions.  These are set out in the faction pack and munitorium manual.

 

What this means is a bunch of stat and weapons changes, with some accompanying point hikes.  There are also a few point drops (landraider, foot princes, the "multi-unit" tax for winged princes, but all the other points changes are increases and are for units that have had their profiles improved as a "spill over" from the new Astartes paradigm.

 

Importantly, this means our T4 marines (infractors, tormentors, sorcerers, exultant lords) go to T 5, our T 5 marines (terminators, lords kakaphonist, Lucius) go to T 6, except for noise marines who stay T5 by get 3 W - making them the same T & W as flawless blades, whose base profiles don't change.

 

Additionally, most of our bolt weapons  (boltguns, bolt pistols, combi-bolters) gain a S and AP (going to S 5 AP-1) for all units that have them.  Our "basic" close combat weapons (Dueling Sabres and Close Combat Weapons) get +1 S (going to 5) on all units that have them.  Other weapons (all power weapons, all whips, etc) weirdly don't change.

 

For these changes, the sorceror and kakaphonist get them for free (no points change), tormentors and exultants cost +5 more (+10 for 10 tormentors), infractors, terminators and Lucius are +10 more (+15 for 10 infractors) and noise marines are +15.

 

Oh, and the Slaanesh's Chosen detachment has gone down to 1 DP (still doubt anyone will use it), Carnival of Excess has gone to 3 DP (which seems unwarranted, given the massive points increase to our demons last update) and the 3 DP detachments have gotten a second force disposition (Carnival is now Disruption & Priority, Coterie is Purge & Priority).

 

Good to see that we don't have to wait 1/2 an edition to get the improvements given to marines (I'm looking at you, 9th edition, where chaos had to wait forever to get 2 wound marines after all the codex Astartes marines got it with their first codex), though the ultimate question is whether the buffs are worth the new point costs.  My own infantry heavy list went up 105 points, necessitating some cuts - it will be interesting to see how it performs.