Unlikely allies

By Robin Graves, in Warhammer 40,000: Conquest

If you could just put any two factions together: wich ones would it be?

For me it would be Space marines/ Eldar because they can in the minature game, and it has happened many times in the game's setting.

Would you consider the free choice of allies, ok as a house rule? Or is there one deck that would be unbeatable compared to a "legal" deck? Since i don't have my copy yet (**** you local game store!) I don't have any input on that. So let me know what you think:

Free choice of allies:

Good or Bad? Is it Unbalanced or just plain heresy?

Edited by Robin Graves

Free allies is probably going to create ungodly combos somewhere simply because they weren't tested and for and balanced.

For thematic reasons I'd love to see Tau with Gue'Vesa (human, or AM) Allies, representing Imperials who've decided to throw in and become part of the Tau Empire.

For thematic reasons I'd love to see Tau with Gue'Vesa (human, or AM) Allies, representing Imperials who've decided to throw in and become part of the Tau Empire.

I totally agree with this....Tau and IG would be a slam dunk combo!

I think I would prefer more of an allied matrix rather than the simple circle presented in the base rules.

Also, if I'm not mis-remembering this, the Necrons will be able to ally with anybody in the circle. Am I the only one that thinks this makes no sense? Aside from the Nids, the Necrons seem to me to be the least likely folks to have buddies.

Free allies is probably going to create ungodly combos somewhere simply because they weren't tested and for and balanced.

That would be the case. Agreed.

For thematic reasons I'd love to see Tau with Gue'Vesa (human, or AM) Allies, representing Imperials who've decided to throw in and become part of the Tau Empire.

I would love to see this too; for thematic reasons of course. :)

I think I would prefer more of an allied matrix rather than the simple circle presented in the base rules.

Also, if I'm not mis-remembering this, the Necrons will be able to ally with anybody in the circle. Am I the only one that thinks this makes no sense? Aside from the Nids, the Necrons seem to me to be the least likely folks to have buddies.

I agree. My guess would be it's some kind of mind control rather than allies, but that also makes little sense: Necrons kill stuff they don't enslave it. I asume when they come out, you can make a necron only deck- but you'll probably have to buy the expansion 2 or 3 times.

The other thematic problem is the trouble with tyranids. Why wouid 'nids fight other 'nids? Even if they are from difrent splinterfleets, they are still all part of the hive mind.

Mindshackle Scarabs, apparently.

Mindshackle Scarab – A Mindshackle Scarab is a specialised Canoptek Scarab variant that is one of the Necrons’ chief methods for controlling sentient alien races. At the bearer’s command, a swarm of these tiny robotic scarabs bury into the victim’s head and bypass his or her cerebral functions, turning the victim into little more than a puppet under the control of the scarabs’ master. When released during combat, they can be used to force a person to attack his own forces for at least a short time before he can wrest back control of his mind. Mindshackle Scarab hives are found exclusively as part of the armouries of Necron royals, such as Necron Overlords, Necron Lords and Necron Destroyer Lords.

I asume when they come out, you can make a necron only deck- but you'll probably have to buy the expansion 2 or 3 times.

How did you come to that conclusion? That has not been the case for most of the LCGs. Some of the early deluxe expansions were that way (but have been reprinted with x3 of each card). The SW:LCG you needed 2 with edge of darkness, but it's kind of got it's own weird thing going for distribution so I don't think it's comparable. Now, you could be right, but so far the evidence is pointing away from this being the correct.

The other thematic problem is the trouble with tyranids. Why wouid 'nids fight other 'nids? Even if they are from difrent splinterfleets, they are still all part of the hive mind.

Bragging rights???

:D

For thematic reasons I'd love to see Tau with Gue'Vesa (human, or AM) Allies, representing Imperials who've decided to throw in and become part of the Tau Empire.

Well, they already have Kroot and Vespid, there's no reason to believe we won't see their human allies as well.

Mindshackle Scarabs, apparently.

Quote

Mindshackle Scarab – A Mindshackle Scarab is a specialised Canoptek Scarab variant that is one of the Necrons’ chief methods for controlling sentient alien races. At the bearer’s command, a swarm of these tiny robotic scarabs bury into the victim’s head and bypass his or her cerebral functions, turning the victim into little more than a puppet under the control of the scarabs’ master. When released during combat, they can be used to force a person to attack his own forces for at least a short time before he can wrest back control of his mind. Mindshackle Scarab hives are found exclusively as part of the armouries of Necron royals, such as Necron Overlords, Necron Lords and Necron Destroyer Lords.

Going by this, perhaps Necron allies can only be around for a short while. Whatever effects they may use in the game to control them, may wear out after a phase or turn, leading to a forced discard. Complete guess, of course.

I agree. My guess would be it's some kind of mind control rather than allies, but that also makes little sense:

It is going to be mind control. If you look at the diagram of the alignment wheel in the back of the Learn to Play Guide, it talks about the Necrons and "their dark possession abilities".

The other thematic problem is the trouble with tyranids. Why wouid 'nids fight other 'nids? Even if they are from difrent splinterfleets, they are still all part of the hive mind.

Actually, it's been established that if two different Hive Fleets meet, then they will fight until one defeats the other and absorbs the defeated fleet's biomass into itself, thus improving the Tyranid race as a whole due to the stronger and better-adapted or better-evolved fleet gaining biomass from a weaker element of the Tyranid organism, while gaining whatever positive traits the defeated fleet may have adopted. It's basically a violent, brutal, and rushed form of the Tyranids' constant evolution.

From the 4th Edition Tyranid Codex:

CONVERGENT EVOLUTION

Recent reports of the splinter fleets of the known hive fleets turning on each other in a full-scale cannibalistic war have been greeted with elation only by the short sighted. When one considers the end result of any usual conflict involving Tyranids it becomes apparent that when one hive fleet fights another no resources are expended whatsoever. Infighting of this kind, usually taking place upon the surface of a planet, is the perfect way to determine which of the two hive fleets has the stronger component parts. Eventually, the weaker of the two forces is driven back and finally slaughtered. Then, as with all victims of the Tyranids, their bodies are rendered down and absorbed by the bio-ships of the victor. In this manner, none of the biological matter seemingly destroyed in this internecine conflict is wasted at all. Furthermore, any strengths that the losing hive fleet may have assimilated or evolved over the course of its conquest thus far are absorbed at a cellular level and mingled with those of the victorious hive fleet in a new hybrid generation of warriors more effective than the sum of its parts.

I asume when they come out, you can make a necron only deck- but you'll probably have to buy the expansion 2 or 3 times.

How did you come to that conclusion? That has not been the case for most of the LCGs. Some of the early deluxe expansions were that way (but have been reprinted with x3 of each card). The SW:LCG you needed 2 with edge of darkness, but it's kind of got it's own weird thing going for distribution so I don't think it's comparable. Now, you could be right, but so far the evidence is pointing away from this being the correct.

Like you pointed out yourself: some of the early deluxe expansions and the fact that the core box is 1 of each.

Mind you I could be wrong about it, and the necron box could be 3 of each. However and this just my theory again, the game seems to be made with the concept of allies in mind, like: don't make a solo chaos deck, make a chaos+ dark eldar deck.

So my theory is: necron box is gonna be one of each necron card and a bunch of stuff from the other factions that can be allied with the necrons for a full necron deck (and maybe some anti necron cards for the other factions aswel)

The other thematic problem is the trouble with tyranids. Why wouid 'nids fight other 'nids? Even if they are from difrent splinterfleets, they are still all part of the hive mind.

Actually, it's been established that if two different Hive Fleets meet, then they will fight until one defeats the other and absorbs the defeated fleet's biomass into itself, thus improving the Tyranid race as a whole due to the stronger and better-adapted or better-evolved fleet gaining biomass from a weaker element of the Tyranid organism, while gaining whatever positive traits the defeated fleet may have adopted. It's basically a violent, brutal, and rushed form of the Tyranids' constant evolution.

From the 4th Edition Tyranid Codex:

CONVERGENT EVOLUTION

Recent reports of the splinter fleets of the known hive fleets turning on each other in a full-scale cannibalistic war have been greeted with elation only by the short sighted. When one considers the end result of any usual conflict involving Tyranids it becomes apparent that when one hive fleet fights another no resources are expended whatsoever. Infighting of this kind, usually taking place upon the surface of a planet, is the perfect way to determine which of the two hive fleets has the stronger component parts. Eventually, the weaker of the two forces is driven back and finally slaughtered. Then, as with all victims of the Tyranids, their bodies are rendered down and absorbed by the bio-ships of the victor. In this manner, none of the biological matter seemingly destroyed in this internecine conflict is wasted at all. Furthermore, any strengths that the losing hive fleet may have assimilated or evolved over the course of its conquest thus far are absorbed at a cellular level and mingled with those of the victorious hive fleet in a new hybrid generation of warriors more effective than the sum of its parts.

Thanks for posting!

But this still seems odd to me, You'd think the hive mind would know wich one was the better hive fleet and just willed the weaker one to have itself omnomnommed by the stronger one. That would waste a lot less time fighting, and reconstituting/spawning new 'nids. Also Tyranids are suposed to evolve to better kill the inhabitants of this galaxy, and by having the two fleets fight you get a winner who is better at fighting 'nids, rather than say tau or humans.

With the exception of Edge of Darkness, every single deluxe expansion has a complete playset of cards. Some of the earlier ones didn't have that distribution, but those have all been re-released to have 3 copies of all cards. The chances that we will have to buy multiple copies of any expansion for this game are slim to none.