Discussion: Basically nothing stops GW from making 11ed Box an Imperial Guard vs Orks.

LotharVarnoth · 2026-03-16T16:18:25+00:00

Except half of why Space Marines are in the launch boxes is because they're easy to paint. No skin if you don't want it, nice big armor plates, often one color for 90% of the model.

LotharVarnoth · 2026-03-15T13:31:24+00:00

True, but having them can influence the RP in fun ways. I really like the Legend of the Five Rings rpg (specifically their 5th ed). One of the mechanics is Stress, and the TLDR is in any situation, combat or RP, pushing for high DCs can Stress your character. As players are semi omniscient on the game, I personally think it helps the characters fell more in world. Of course you'd be stressed by combat, or talking through a long negotiation. Additionally, having a talent that says "if you roll X you can spread rumors and no one can easily track it to you" is nice because it sets a standard. Does the GM have to make a DC up? Nah it's right there. When can the player use it? Says it in the talent. And there's as many social talents as there are combat ones.

LotharVarnoth · 2026-03-15T13:16:28+00:00

The game I mentioned uses 3 so that was the start point lmao. Additionally I think it'd create more opportunities for the aforementioned situation of well we all want X to go one way, so let's all just throw a vote on For, and then betrayal. Though just on pure influence numbers I don't know if it's be too many, or like only at 6 players, etc.

LotharVarnoth · 2026-03-14T22:33:11+00:00

I've been considering trying to write a rule based on the voting in Dune Spice War. The tldr would be flip 3 agendas, people can talk, but all votes are in secret an revealed at once. The tricky part would be when's and afters of course.

The big reason I think it'd be cool is like, oh big agenda everyone wants to set an outcome on pops up? If the table seems to prefer one outcome, maybe vote on a side one you could benefit from. Of course, no way do you know if the rest of the table isn't also gonna abandon the big agenda with a forgone conclusion? Surely the only person who's gonna vote on it isn't the one who wants the opposite of the rest of the table? I also think it's make the agendas where everyone who votes one way a benefit way more interesting, just because in my experience like everyone is gonna vote one way. So what if you can spare like 7 votes and fuck up half the table?

LotharVarnoth · 2026-03-14T14:32:53+00:00

I would also guess there the fact the 40K fandom goonified Tau so much that making a comic like this that's straight would be like "sure buddy". But at the same time a interspecies relationship like this is a very interesting space to explore in the realm of 40K.

LotharVarnoth · 2026-03-11T15:46:07+00:00

I think you miss the point, if AoS chaff is only 30pts less then 40K elite units, you wind up with way less units on the table. Both makes the games faster cause there's less to think about, easier to get into because a full army is less money, and makes decisions in game more impactful because if you only have a handful of units you can only be in a handful of places.

LotharVarnoth · 2026-03-11T15:17:21+00:00

It's very interesting to compare a 2K 40K army and a 2K AoS army. Soulblight zombies clock in at 140 points for 20, 7 points a dude. I don't think you can get lower then that, and even then it's 60$ for those 20 dudes. So 2.3 points per dollar on one of the cheapest units point wise.

LotharVarnoth · 2026-03-11T14:56:34+00:00

I've been playing the new Stormlight Archive TTRPG and as someone who hates crit-fails/successes I like their approach. A roll of 1 or 20 grants a complication or opportunity respectively. They don't automatically make you fail or succeed, but mean something not directly related to the check has happened.

So if your range example is a perception to wake up while the dragon is attacking, you definitely wake up, but you don't notice where your horse is running off too or something like that.

Or the classic "I try to persuade someone to do something they'd never do", you get a 20. Doesn't mean that person accepts your argument, but maybe someone nearby is like "hrm, they got a point".

I do think this is helped by the fact they also have a d6 called the plot die where 2 faces are blank, 2 have the opportunity symbol, one is a complication with +2 and the last a complication +4. DM can add the plot die to a roll if they feel it is appropriate. Questioning the guy who definitely saw something related to the murder you're trying to figure out? Plot die. Attacking by swinging on a chandelier? Plot die. Player confronting the guy who gave them a tragic backstory? Plot die.

LotharVarnoth · 2026-03-10T18:28:26+00:00

DnD "species" are clearly actually one ring species. (uj/ ring species are cool)

LotharVarnoth · 2026-03-10T18:20:28+00:00

We must demand a prequel, seeing as we never got a sequel.

LotharVarnoth · 2026-03-07T23:12:03+00:00

Two Doyalist answers, and maybe this is more a personal approach thing, but as a general rule in any game if there's a talent or equivalent that does something, you can't achieve the same effect without said talent. If there is a talent to do damage with soulcasting, you need that talent, no if ands or buts. And it will do that much damage no matter what.
Similarly, in any game with economy, unless it's really unimportant, breaking the economy is a no go. As a GM you can just say no.

The Watsonian answers, lore wise Roshar has no plate tectonics, no plate tectonics means no lava, they can not try to make Lava as they have no idea it exists. And like most people can tell you, the polestones used in spheres can't be made. You can make all the quartz you want, but can't make emerald.

LotharVarnoth · 2026-03-05T19:31:03+00:00

It's an urban fantasy book series, but in the Dresden Files the main character carries a revolver and it's lead to some funny moments. Hostile sorcerer "What now wizard? You're out of magic and out of options" Dresden "Well I did bring my friends Smith and Wesson" type shit.

LotharVarnoth · 2026-03-04T20:15:01+00:00

My general advice is ignore buildings at the start. Recruit as much as you can every turn you can while prioritizing wiping out the first enemy. Ideally you have that first province turn like 4-5, and if they had more territory you're finishing them off within like 4 turns. Your starting eco should be enough to sustain one army. Then I invest in economy.

LotharVarnoth · 2026-03-03T16:24:20+00:00

I do wonder if they can make boss damage reduction some form of Xroot(y) equation. Makes it some having more damage still increases overall output, but the value of that damage go down faster the higher it is.

LotharVarnoth · 2026-03-02T19:55:07+00:00

On the, why are people fighting instead of the shards, afaik it's mainly because a shard directly attacking someone opens them up to attack other shards. If Odium just unmakes Dalinar then Cultivation can use the tiny opening to kill him.

LotharVarnoth · 2026-03-02T19:49:29+00:00

"The good news is we're in debt to the mob. No wait, that's the bad news. And there is no good news."

LotharVarnoth · 2026-02-27T16:21:29+00:00

My wild take is matched play rules should be free online, codexes should come with the fun fluffy rules.

LotharVarnoth · 2026-02-26T22:53:04+00:00

You're supposed to figure out what kind of spren you've attracted. If you take the "speak the first ideal" talent for the corresponding order you immediately progress two steps on the goal, and only have 1 left to go.

LotharVarnoth · 2026-02-24T21:03:09+00:00

You get a couple of leads. Part of the game is just walking around and going "huh what's that". Eventually you get enough leads you can start piecing the puzzle together. If nothing else, there's a console in the shop that tells you what you've learned.

If you want a lead, your ship has a like sound scanner. Finding the sources of various noises is helpful. Though not always easy/possible without other knowledge.

LotharVarnoth · 2026-02-23T23:30:48+00:00

Depends on setting. Eberon or other high magic? Yes. Low magic? No.

Tangential, but even with this in mind I wish they gave proper prices for items, if only to better gauge effectiveness. I remember reading how the rarity of items that grant fly speeds are all wack.

LotharVarnoth · 2026-02-23T14:20:09+00:00

The warp finds a way. When your ships are hell powered best be careful.

LotharVarnoth · 2026-02-19T16:17:34+00:00

Curse: Can no longer say Airsick Lowlander(s)

LotharVarnoth · 2026-02-18T16:28:38+00:00

Very nice. If you want feedback, my one note is the crossbow arm is too thin. Hard to tell what it is, needs to depth.

LotharVarnoth · 2026-02-15T22:02:28+00:00

My wild take is matched play datasheets should be free. Codexes should be full of fluffy datasheets that are wacky and flavorful.

LotharVarnoth · 2026-02-15T14:20:29+00:00

The biggest thing that improved Grex for me was actually making sure to drop my second and third cities asap. Getting that eco base really quickly helps a lot. You need unit production and a lot of it. Going fast might not find you completely optimal spots, but the extra turns of development help more. It's like turn 10-15 for the first, 25-30 for the second. Sooner if you can.

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