Ah et j'avais loupé:
Q: Will the Blight Bringer still largely do the same stuff since it was so close to the MK3 release?
R: Blightbringer has remained basically the same as well outside of a new PC and some general rules language streamlining.
Q: I just bought 10 warspears and uas, are they still going to Prey? If so, what kind of point cost compared to Skornes 12/20 cetrati?
R: Warspears still have Prey. PC 9/15 for the unit with the UA being PC 5
Q: Say if I gave you Shredder dog eyes(which is a trick because I got none) could you tell me about the Carnivean?
R: It's a Carnivean. Outside of Spiny Growth being SELF now, going to SPD 5, and gaining RNG 1 on its melee attacks it does what it always did. Messes things up.
PC 19
Q: The insider said that our premier battlegroup warlocks are still Thagrosh, Absylonia, and Saeryn. Did these guys' approach to their battlegroups change a lot for the new edition? What are some differences in how each of them supports a beast-heavy playstyle?
R: This first one is a huge and chunky question. And one that I'm not going to likely be able to answer to your satisfaction in the amount of time and space available to me here. That said here's the quick and dirty version.
Thagrosh 1 & 2 really didn't change much overall (though Thagrosh 1 can no longer bring back Huge based models with his feat). Same with Absylonia 1 & 2. Absylonia 1's feat changed to not require her to take damage to heal her warbeasts (everything in her battlegroup in control range just heals) and Absylonia 2 gained Reposition [5] instead and replaced Teleport with Hex Bolt.
Saeryn 1 changed most significantly as her feat now grants friendly faction models +3 ARM and models in her battlegroup gain Retaliatory Strike. This obviously changes her play style a bit in that you can't just run right up the field and deny your opponent a turn to do anything to you, but the ARM plus Retaliatory Strike still puts them in a difficult position. Especially now that she also has access to the Blight Bringer spell which is Cost 4, AOE 5 POW 12 offensive spell which has the AOE remain in play for one round and prevents enemy non-warcaster/warlock models within it from spending Focus, Channeling or being forced. Coupled with Respawn and the overall reduction of trivial upkeep removal and Saeryn still feels like Saeryn but in a new way more in line with the desired approach to the new edition.
Q: Are there any specific rule changes you can share that speak to facilitating legionaries and swordsmen in the specific roles they're meant to fill?
R: Swordsmen have higher SPD, higher DEF, RNG 1 on their swords and weapon master. Legionnaires have higher ARM are slower, have a lower MAT and P+S, are RNG 2 on their swords and have CMA and Vengeance. Effectively Swordsmen are solid alpha strikers due to their speed and Weapon Master allowing them to deal high damage to even high arm target. RNG 1 is also huge since it really lets you leverage more attacks against large based models. Legionnaires on the other hand are better at taking a hit and retaliating, though they don't have the raw damage output of swordsmen. The biggest key factor here is that these two units now cost the same but excel in two very different roles. Will some people still prefer one over the other? Probably since it comes down to play style and what role you want filled in your army. But having played with and against the two extensively I think both have a solid place and niche now.
Q: Does the succubus still allow for a free upkeep? What else does she do, if anything?
R: Yes the Succubus still provides a free upkeep. She also has access to three Magic Abilities: Blizzard, Hex Bolt, and Influence. So she stands out as a bit more of a magic support solo than an animus battery.
Q: Could we get a spoiler on the Teraph?
R: Gun went to RNG 12 AOE 4
Pour les millions de fans de Bethayne
:
Q: Is there any way we could get a couple more hints/spoilers as to what Bethayne actually does now? She has always been my favorite Legion caster so I would love to see how she changed. Thanks!
R: Overall she is a bit more support focused. She obviously can still Flesh Meld with Belphagore. She swapped Carnivore for Invocation of Blood which either grants her +2 SPD, STR, DEF, and ARM for one round while melded or allows her to make a full advance toward Belphagore if unmelded (limited to cast once per activation).
She swapped out Gallows for Venom, kept Ashen Veil (though the spell is now called Cloak of Ash), and kept Blood Thorn. She also swapped out Eruption of Spines for Disintegration which is Cost 3 RNG 10 POW 13 and model hit suffers -2 ARM for one round. And should you be boxed by it you are RFP'd.
Belphagore kept Despoiler and picked up a SP 6 Acidic Breath attack which causes Corrosion. Though he's no longer immune to Cold or Electricity.
Q: Is the Reposition [5] her feat [NdT: Absylonia2], or simply an ability she can do every turn now?
R: Just an ability she can do every turn.
Q: Combat lights were pushed to the wayside in MK2 for the heavy warbeasts options. Do the combat lights have viability to them now? Nephilim solider was never taken because for 4 more pts the. Scythean was a plainly better option. Is that still the case? What makes the solider stand out other than precision strike?
R: By and large its PC. You can get two Soldiers for the cost of a single Scythean. Or a Soldier and a Protector for the cost of a Carnivean. Now will either of them on their own be able to match the raw damage output of their larger cousins? No, that would swing the pendulum way too far the other way. However, the new point cost system combined other small tweaks (the Soldier is MAT 7 now, as stated in the Insider the Protector has Guard Dog, the Bolt Thrower has Quick Work) I believe make them viable options depending on what you want to do in your list.
Q: Sprint is just an ability in the Neraph, not its animus. As far as I can tell.
R: Yep. It's just a native ability.
R: Clarification, Swordsmen are still SPD 6. Though the Command Attachment still provides Overtake and Cleave which are solid with their increased melee range.
