[5.0]Chaos army list

From: Peter Ramos <primarch_at_...>
Date: Mon, 18 Nov 2002 18:58:58 -0400

Hi!
 
We can now consider the imperial forces a done deal and I ask Jar to
finalize whatever he needs to from those corresponding books.
 
On to chaos!
 
Out all the army lists this one needs the most "clarification". Before
diving into the army lists proper some discussions on the nature of the
lists themselves needs to be done.
 
For many years it has been pointed out to me that the chaos lists are
"unbalanced". For those years I was mostly of the opinion that it was
player inexperience that produced those complaints. That was until one
game I had with Darius when I lived in Philadelphia. I played my typical
force of chaos space marines backed up by demons and won easily. Too
easily in my opinion. Darius is a veteran player so "inexperience" was
not the answer. Then it dawned on me what the problem was and as usual
it was staring me in the face all these years.
 
It's not a problem of the units themselves or the army being too
powerful. The problem is that chaos has too GOOD a selection of troops.
We have always known that playing a combined Imperial force makes a
powerful combination since you can get the best troops (SM) and the best
tanks/artillery (IG). Net Epic enforces "pure" armies since this
guarantees the best balance available. Allies are by CONSENT only.
However the chaos list violates this since we can choose between chaos
space marine equipment, demon engines, demons themselves and some IG
cultist equipment. The chaos lists have evolved to exactly what we don't
permit in any other army list.
 
The fix, of course, is obvious. The list MUST be divided in order to
provide balance to it since, as it stands, it is unbalanced. I recommend
it be broken in to the following parts that form ONE book (akin to
armies of the Imperium):
 
Chaos space marines: This is the most obvious division. In effect the
army will be similar in strengths and weaknesses to the standard SM
army. We will define what "Imperial" equipment is available to them and
leave it at that. The CSM legion card will become a company card as per
standard rules and this will eliminate those annoying confusions over
how to attach those cards. In effect the center of a chaos space marine
army will be the Legion, its primarch or a greater demon. All other
rules remain as usual.
 
Cultists: This will mainly be a PDF style army with all their
limitations (they are not supposed to be as good as IG), led by demons.
 
Demonic hordes: These demon heavy armies with fantastical beasts (like
minotaurs and such) and demon engines.
 
We can also designate if desired, some common units used by any branch
of chaos.
 
I await some opinions and discussion before entering the list itself.
 
Peter
Received on Mon Nov 18 2002 - 22:58:58 UTC