re:[Epic] Khorne Berserkers

From: Cameron Bentsen <stu7i95_at_...>
Date: 12 Feb 1997 22:54 EST

In message "[Epic] Khorne Berserkers", you write:

> This is a "new" unit for use with your local Chaos army :) It is a
> transfer of the same unit from 40k (from the Chaos Codex) to Epic. Most
> of the writing below is from the Chaos Codex, page 31.
>
> ==========================================================================
>
> Khorne Berzerkers are Chaos Space Marines that have dedicated themselves
> to the Chaos God Khorne. They live only for battle and charge into combat
> chanting their famous war cry "Blood for the Blood God". Khorne
> Berzerkers are normally bought in detachments of five stands.
>
> Stats:
>
> Move Save CAF WPNS Range AD HIT SAVE MOD Notes
> 10cm none +5 Bolt pistols 25cm 1 5+ 0 see below
>
> Mark of Khorne:
> All Khorne Berzerkers are blessed with the Mark of Khorne. This means that
> they are subject to frenzy. The effect of this in epic is to increase
> their CAF (from +3 to +5) and to increase their morale value (from 2+ to
> 1+).
>
> Furious Charge:
> Such is the ferocious enthusiasm of Khorne Berzerkers to get to grips with
> the enemy that they triple their move when they charge instead of only
> doubling it (for a total charge of 30cm). However, each stand can only
> use this bonus if it allows it to get into hand-to-hand combat that turn.
> The tripled charge move may not be used by stands that are not able to
> reach the enemy!
>
>
>
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> Front of Card:
>
>
> KHORNE BERZERKER DETACHMENT
>
> A Khorne Berzerker detachment of Chaos Marines consists of five stands of
> Chaos Marine infantry.
>
> Points Value 150
>
>
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> Back of Card:
>
>
> KHORNE BERZERKER DETACHMENT
>
> Break Point 3: The Detachment is broken once it has lost 3 stands.
>
> MORALE VALUE 1: Khorne Berzerkers must roll 1 or more on a d6 to pass
> their morale check.
>
> VICTORY POINTS 2
> Your opponent gains 2 VPs when the detachment is broken.
>
>
> ==========================================================================
>
>
> In putting the stats together I looked at what the unit does in 40k (great
> H-H) and then looked at other units in Epic, the unit that this closely
> approximates is the Juggernaught. Both are 150 pts, come in detachments
> of five and have a +5 CAF. The Juggernaughts beat out the Berzerkers in
> that the Juggernaught can always charge 30 cm (it has a base of 15cm) and
> will always complete its charge (a BIG advantage). The Juggernaught
> also has a save of 5+ v. the Berzerkers having no save. The Berzerkers
> have a little better ranged attacked (hits on a 5+ v. the Juggers 6+) and
> have the advantage of being infantry (move in any terrain, ride in
> vehicles, Chaos Cards). Probably the Berzerkers aren't as good a deal as
> the Juggers, maybe another +1 CAF. I usually prefer to come in a little
> low on the power scale for new units and then see what everyone else
> thinks. So, what does everyone else think?

The card seems pretty well balanced to me at +5 CAF. It also seems to fit the
40K concept pretty well, although Chaos has so many kinds of CC beasties that
I doubt it really needs another one.
 
> I had considered giving them the Daemon Engine rules: if winning then +1
> save (for a whopping 6+ in this case), a +1 to hit, and an extra d6 in CC.
> This is in trade for the ability to FF. As far as I can tell by looking
> at other models, this seems to be a straight up trade.

This wouldn't be a good idea here, IMO. Daemon engine abilities for the various
powers seem to be limited to engines, and should probably remain so for the
purposes of keeping them distinctive. Also, since these guys would almost never
go on FF, you would be giving up less than most daemon engines do and getting
a lot more (since that extra D6 in CC would be tres handy.)

> While the description given in the Chaos Codex doesn't support this ability, it
> would fit the Epic "feel" of how such a unit might have been developed for
> the current edition.

Cameron Bentsen, Ottawa
Received on Thu Feb 13 1997 - 03:54:00 UTC