Najohammer Rules Workshop

[najo]

So as I am working on Najohammer, when I need some input or to bounce ideas around or tear rules apart, I am going to post questions or rules quandaries here. What I want you guys to do is help me think tank the issues so I can get to solutions faster or catch an angle I missed.

First issue:

1) Combined Profiles for non-character units. These simplify game-play and are pretty easy to do. The issue though they create some odd areas (like mounts benefiting from rider effects or losing individual parts of a model i.e. Handmaidens, Spirit Host and Coven Throne becoming one statline). Where I see one of the biggest issues is supporting attacks (although just capping them at 1 and capping monstrous creatures at 3 is easy enough). Any rate, layout the pros and cons and perceived hurdles of combined profiles.

2) Supporting attacks and by extension, hordes. Pros and cons. How would you change them?

 

[logan054]

Supporting attacks should be a simply rule. half of model attacks rounded up. It prevents the need for separate rules, it scales based on attacks. Models with high attacks aren't wasted to the same degree as currently. The chaos fake MI are a prime example of a unit that would benefit greatly from this while not being OP. It would also nerf a few of the more powerful MI units.

Hordes should be designed to smaller weak combat units, it should be a rule for units like halberdiers, clanrats, zombies. It should not be for units like White Lions. I don't think it should be based so much on the width but rather giving an additional rank of supporting attacks. You could give them some kind of leadership bonus representing how they might feel more confident in a massive blob of bodies.

 

[Quinten]

Like the idea on supporting attacks but I really feel that combined profiles aren't the best way forward. To represent something like the coven throne you will need a truckload of special rules instead of the combined profile. Some things may be streamlined to a combined profile others I just don't think it works.

 

[Dragonet]

Whatever benefits combined profiles bring in terms of speed, consistency is key for me. If it's decided that some models can't have combined stat lines I'd much rather see all units have separate stat lines, then at least you're using a single clunkier mechanic than having a 2-speed system. I like that it details the specific characteristics of the mounts as well.

 

[najo]

So far, from what I've seen, combined profiles work fine for most units. It makes the combats more streamlined too. I agree that you don't want to lose indivudual traits of mounts, but most of the time it has little impact on gameplay.

Where I see combined profiles not working is character mounts. In those circumstances, the rider and the mount are to distinct and to different.

 

[najo]

If supporting attacks were limited to just one attack, what is the consequences of that? How does it negatively impact the game?

 

[logan054]

It really depends on the rest of the game. If you gave models which are paying to have mutiple attacks but only getting one, the back ranks become very expensive wound markers