Warlord packs seem to only offer a new warlord and their signature cards (which is fine). As far as getting excited about meta and trying to change it (lol) not much really changes (there isn't enough cards to change it). Your eventually going to use the cards listed literally other then a card here or a card their (for this warlord and that there is just a handful of cards your simply going to use once you discover them). Seems like my deck still mostly consists of core cards and a splash of a few others, and they aren't really that nessesary to me I can still swap them back the other way and it still be competitive. This is my deck(s) as it changes with warlord packs......not going to list signatures you all know them.

Shadowsun

Deck 1

3x Fire warrior elite--------> why on earth wouldn't you! You have snipers that need protecting or a warlord

3x Stingwing Swarm

3x Vior'la Marksman

3x Earth Caste Technician

3x Vash'ya Trailblazer

3x Rogue Traders--------->deck 2 can reduce this to 1

3x Eldar Survivalist------->deck 2 can change this to the zero cost drons can't remember name

3x Carnivore Pack-------->deck 2 can change these to Bork'an Recruits (there is a eldar version of these Bork'an Recruits).

3x Gun Drones

3x Crisis Battle guard---->deck 2 lot of people don't like the cost of these guys but they aren't bad in a Tua/Eldar deck

3x Ion Rifle

3x Repulsor Impact field->deck 2 can reduce or take out (I mainly use these for Ragnar decks)

3x Ambush Platform------>deck 2 can reduce this to 2 and add 2 Homing beacons

3x Deception

2x Dooms--> these cards are ok they are situational and I find them hurting Tau more then the other player but they come in handy sometimes. You could change this to Superiority 2x these are useful.

My point is the changes aren't supper game changing or auto win both ways still SEEM competitive. There is no right or wrong as long as you got 50ish cards in a deck that works well together. Btw I may of missed some of my cards in the list but most of those I remember from the top of my head. I'll probably edit this for the spelling or wording of some cards that I don't remember on the top of my head.

I agree with you that the Core still is the backbone of many decks. However it's still a bit early to see what specific changes there are to each faction. Currently however I'd say:

AM: Has gotten some great changes for the good and will continue to change as soon as Coteaz is out.

Cards that really made a big impact for AM (and alliences):

- Inquisitorial Fortress

- Iron Guard Recruits

- To Arms!

- upcomming Staging Ground

- upcomming Tallarn Raiders

All in all I'd say that AM initially was the worst deck but gains the most out of each Warpack so far. All are small pieces but all make AM a bit more viable in a competative setting.

SM: On the other hand is getting very little from their initial Core besides Ragnar, who playes a very different game. Which is good because I've felt they where the best faction initially. The cards that do make some impact seem to be: White Scars Bikers and Crushing Blow. Which is good/enough. Altough it does mean many fantatical players will shy away from Cato play unless it's an important tournament.

Tau: Got Aun'Shi basicly and again Zogwort's Curse (like AM) will make a huge impact for them. Heavy Marker Drone is likely to get Shadowsun back on the map again as it's implications are often better as their current Repulsor Impact Field. Apart from that people also seem very excited about Tense Negotiations (rightly so) and even the 6 Costed Broadsuit deluxe.

Eldar's Warpack cards impact (currently together with Dark Eldar) seems to have brought a huge change in terms of competativeness. Warlock Destructor still can be seen as the best 2 Costed drop and rightly so. Unfortunatly their other cards from the Warpacks so far havn't been to exciting altough Empower and Eldritch Corsair can be very important cards to certain strategies. But in special Warlock Destructor and Empower have pushed Eldar in the right direction.

Dark Eldar have gotten arguably the best Support, Archon's Palace and a fantastic Klaivex Warleader. The next pack will bring them Blood Reavers to fill a gap in powerfull 2 drops (besides not in-faction Warlock Destructor). Again totgether with Eldar they have gotten the boosts to remain highly competative.

Chaos' cards have gotten better slowly. Initially they only got Heretek Inventor and now have gotten the Rotten Plaguebearers. Currently however it seems that Chaos has got the worst Support in their arsenal (Throne of Vainglory) but I hope that card will eventually be awesome... Heretek Inventor and Rotten Plaguebearers have given Chaos the boosts they needed to remain semi-competative but Im looking very forward to their "Warlock Destructor".

Last but not least Orks have gotten some favour, altough it still is all very focused on the mid to lategame. Which is suprising as Orks could have been quite the aggro faction aswell (would fit their theme). Nontheless they have gotten some fantastic Supports, which AM and Chaos is also enjoying. Biggest change makers where:

- Dakka Dakka Dakka! (for Orks)

- Kustom Field Generator (for Orks)

- Ammo Depot (for Chaos)

- upcomming Evil Sunz Bikers (for Orks and Chaos?)

Currently however I'd say this would be the following Tier system and for Eldar, Dark Eldar and Chaos the Warpacks where a way to keep them quite tournament viable.

Tier 1: SM, DE, E

Tier 2: Chaos, Tau

Tier 3: Orks, AM

So I am hoping that Coteaz will be able to make AM Tier 1/2 and also am hoping for another great Ork card or two. For sure Heavy Marker Drone will keep Tau Tier 2 and maby even Tier 1.

I feel the same exact way with your tier 1. I'm hoping all will be tier 1 by the time all warpacks are done/out.

I can't wait to try the Broadside and Tense Negotiations to see if they are worth a darn, that AOE (2) on the broadside I'm hoping and praying I can fit it in a deck. Might half to replace Crises Battle Guards if they have descent cammand (can't remember if they did). If it doesn't I'll see how they do in a Aun'Shi deck. In a Shadowsun deck I like to keep cammand in my favor even in mid late games because that's the theme of the deck. Denying opponent of command struggle is the whole idea behind it, then you just overwhelm or wait for concede.

Yeah they have beyond decent command. My only issue that they dont have aoe2 without attachment and is 6...

Didn't notice that last time i looked! Gun drones, gun drones here we come......again.

I'm hoping somewhere down the road there will be a good mobile unit that isn't elite so I can try to get a Death From Above deck working.

Made a new deck thought it was fun (not tested competively/tournament wise, but with that in mind). Meta will probably change again and I have no idea what it looks like yet. This deck was designed with the Blood Claw being used.

Ragnar Blackmane (51 card deck)

Army units:

1x Land Raider

3x Rattling Deadeye

3x Tallarn Raiders

3x Iron Guard Recruits

3x Tactical Squad Cardinis

3x Blood Claw Pack

3x Honored Libraian

2x Rogue Trader

2x Void Pirate

3x Morkai Rune Priest

3x Steel Legion Chimera

4x Blackmane Sentinel

Events:

2x Blackmanes Hunt

3x Indomitable

3x Drop Pod Assualt

3x Crushing Blow

Attachment:

1x Frostfang

Support:

3x Catachan Outpost

1x Ragnars Warcamp

I thought it was pretty good, test it out see what you all think. This had Eager Recruits but I changed them to Tallarn Raiders. Land Raider probably can go try it first though. Things can potentially come out cheap or free in the deck, the Land Raider just their as a support,spend resource,or a finisher if needed.

I wish I can change my topic to My Deck(s) Journal because that's what I'm basically doing right now and maybe giving some ideas to new players and veterans. I been messing around with Shadowsun again but it doesn't feel competitive worthy yet. My main problem with Shadowsun is Ragnar decks right now. I've taken out Eldar entirely (Gun line change). After playing around with above deck for awhile I wanted to try a Tau/SM deck even though in the past I could never make a good one I still feel it's weak against Ragnar decks. And yes I've tried Tense Negotiations, the Broadside and so far I don't like them in any deck I've made with them. Sadly! This is what I'm running as of right now.

Shadowsun (50 card deck)

Army Units

3x Fire warrior Note: I can't seem to break from these bodyguards. I like them to follow THIS warlord around everywhere he goes.

I have considered and tried others like Iron Hand TechMarines,Blood Angels Vets., and Bork'an Recruits all are useful in different situations but none other then Fire Warriors helps keep this warlord alive better. These are also 3 cost and I don't want to cut anything for the 3 cost (except for Bork'an). Problem I have with Bork'an is their often just a 2/2 I think they are a waist unless you take advantage of their 4/2 with warlord. Since I can't always use them as a 4/2 I'd rather use Fire Warrior elites. Another thing I like about Fire Warriors is if my opponent goes warlord hunt on me these guys dropping in kind of changes their mind.

4x Shadowsun's Stealth Cadre

3x Void Pirates

3x Vash'ya Trailblazers

3x Gun Drones

3x Earth Caste Technician

3x Recon Drones

3x Vior'la Marksman

3x Eager Recruits

3x Tactical Squad Cardinis

2x Crisis Battle Guard Note: I had The broadside but this feels better and I figured even before the broadside came out this would be the case even though I wanted them to work. The mobile is so useful and I miss that in prior Tau decks..ahh! who knows they still might!

Attachments

3x Heavy Marker Drones

3x Ion Rifles

1x Command-Link Drone

Support

2x Ambush Platform Note: had 3 but feel only 2 is needed

1x Communications Relay Note: does anybody ever drawl this card? I rarely do.

Events

3x Deception

2x Squadron Redeployment Note: I've have decent plays with this card but I'd rather have Fire Warriors be the signature instead of these.

2x Even the Odds Note: This had two Tense Negotiations but got rid of them for these and haven't tested this deck with these yet but I think I'll like what you can do with these better, but will see. If I don't I'll either put Tense Negotiations back or something else. Maybe more SM army units will see. Might take these out and put Blood Angles back or at least 2.

Anyways it was fun to play with. Edit: I should say I still like gun line deck I'm just trying something new I'm really starting to like SM more and more and wanted to give this another try I've made a similar deck to this before but didn't like it.

^Actually even the odds will stay it works well with deck.

^Tried Firedrake Terminators instead of Crisis Guard and still prefer Crisis Battle Guard over them, mobile to me is still better. I'm really liking Even the Odds I might add another and replace....I don't know what I'll replace I figure something out.

^Dropped 1 ECT might change it back.