So as many of you will have read/heard there is a new edition of 40k coming. The big topic of this is the prospect of “unbound” armies. Unbound armies are ones which completely ignore the Force Organisation chart and can basically take whatever you want in the allotted points. For example fancy taking an army of Leman Russ tanks? Done. An armada of Necron Flyers? Not even a problem! A Crusade of 30 individual Grey Knight Paladins? No sweat!!
So obviously the internet has exploded (or imploded?) with this news: rage quit and nerd rage is running amok in the abject fear of what is coming. What hasn’t come to light yet is the penalty that will be incurred should you take an unbound army. I’m not clued up on 40k but from my rudimentary understanding I don’t think there are many penalties which would suitably hamper the super filth but I am hoping it is the inverse and “bound” armies benefit from some cool rules as this would be much more interesting.
Anyway enough round basing here is the crux of this post: What would WHFB be like with “unbound” armies? In my opinion this is a pretty likely future outcome and no this is not a rumour blog post, this is pure speculation after I got thinking about it. I actually think with the right penalties or restrictions this could lead to very fun varied games and some cool characterful armies. Yes this system will be able to be abused, there is no escaping that but with a sensible adult hat on (mine is dusty…) it could work even in tournaments.
So in my opinion the following “hard” comp penalties should be incurred for an Unbound army:
- The Army may not benefit from the “Inspiring Presence” or “hold your ground” special rule (General and BSB rules): Your army is not a cohesive fighting force and as such no military leader could hope to control it.
- Ambushing units arrive on a 4+ rather than a 3+
- In the Meeting engagement scenario units are delayed on a roll of 1 or a 2 not just on a 1.
- In the Dawn Attack Scenario rolls of a 6 for deployment must be re-rolled.
By no means comprehensive but it is a rough starting point. I wanted the above to be tactical impediments instead of “Max of 10 warmachines etc etc” as that flies in the face of the point of unbound armies. I also suspect making tournaments require fortitude for scenarios to stop some of the more bonkers lists but for now ill see what daftness I can come up with!
The next direction I think tournaments will have to take to accommodate the change in rules would be to enforce soft comp more heavily. This is a dirty phrase in the UK but is widely accepted (successfully in my opinion!) in other countries, notably the US (Midwest certainly) and Australia. Some of these ideals will be controversial but I think in principal would curb the worst excesses of unbound armies if not by hard restrictions then by peer pressure and ridicule.
- Armies must be fully painted to a table top standard (subjective but basically don’t take the piss…)and WYSIWYG. Basically this is here to stop folk taking a ridiculous new hotness/filth army straight off the release bandwagon, burn it out at an event where it circumvents the comp. 2400 points of warlocks (96!!!) is no fun for anyone involved….
- You must submit a “Fluff” story to accompany your army explaining the theme, characters (if present) and motives of the force. Preferably an A4 page story which isn’t taking the piss (subjective I know but brining 20 cannons and saying it’s a Nuln gunnery school on a gun range is pretty pathetic lol)
So with the above in mind and to have a bit of a laugh I have written up some unbound armies which are filth and fluff to try to illustrate the good and bad possibilities that this would present. I put a post up on twitter so some of these ideas have been shamelessly pilfered!
The Great Bulls!
Doombull: Dragonhelm; Talisman Of Preservation; Gnarled Hide; Ruby Ring Of Ruin; great weapon; heavy armour; shield
Gorebull: Armour Of Destiny; great weapon; shield
7 Minotaurs: great weapon; Bloodkine; Musician; Standard Bearer
7 Minotaurs: great weapon; Bloodkine; Musician; Standard Bearer
Ghorgon
Ghorgon
Ghorgon
2,394 points
The Dragon Prince Court of Caledor
Prince: Golden Crown Of Altrazar; Charmed Shield; Giant Blade; Khaine's Ring Of Fury; dragon armour; Star Dragon
Archmage: Talisman Of Preservation; Book Of Hoeth; Level 4 Wizard; Lore of Death; Star Dragon
Prince: Armour Of Destiny; Ogre Blade; shield; lion cloak; Star Dragon
Dragon Mage of Caledor: Gem Of Sunfire; Talisman Of Protection; dragon armour
2,399 points
Woodland Ambush
Spellweaver: Acorns Of The Ages; Level 4; Lore of Death
Waystalker: The Bow Of Loren
Waystalker
5 Deepwood Scouts: Trueflight arrows
5 Deepwood Scouts: Trueflight arrows
5 Deepwood Scouts: Trueflight arrows
5 Deepwood Scouts: Trueflight arrows
5 Deepwood Scouts: Trueflight arrows
5 Deepwood Scouts: Trueflight arrows
5 Deepwood Scouts: Moonfire shot
5 Deepwood Scouts: Moonfire shot
5 Deepwood Scouts: Moonfire shot
5 Deepwood Scouts: Moonfire shot
5 Deepwood Scouts: Hagbane tips
5 Deepwood Scouts: Hagbane tips
5 Waywatchers
5 Waywatchers
5 Waywatchers
5 Waywatchers
5 Waywatchers
5 Waywatchers
5 Waywatchers
5 Waywatchers
5 Waywatchers
2,400 points
The Council of Chaos
Skarbrand
Kairos Fateweaver
Ku'gath Plaguefather
Keeper of Secrets: Level 4 Wizard; Exalted Gift; Lesser Gift
2,380 points
Blitzkrieg
Master Engineer: Talisman Of Preservation; Charmed Shield; grenade launching blunderbuss; Mechanical Steed
Steam Tank
Steam Tank
Steam Tank
Steam Tank
Steam Tank
Steam Tank
Steam Tank
Steam Tank
Steam Tank
2,400 points
The Heart of Chaos
Morghur, Master of Skulls
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
2,370 points
PanzerSmash Extreme!
Hunter: Dragonbane Gem; Charmed Shield; harpoon launcher; Stonehorn
Stonehorn: harpoon launcher
Stonehorn: harpoon launcher
Stonehorn: harpoon launcher
Stonehorn: harpoon launcher
Stonehorn: harpoon launcher
Stonehorn: harpoon launcher
Stonehorn: harpoon launcher
Stonehorn: harpoon launcher
2,400 points
The Great Maw Hungers
Skrag the Slaughterer
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
2,405 points
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
Chaos Spawn
2,370 points
PanzerSmash Extreme!
Hunter: Dragonbane Gem; Charmed Shield; harpoon launcher; Stonehorn
Stonehorn: harpoon launcher
Stonehorn: harpoon launcher
Stonehorn: harpoon launcher
Stonehorn: harpoon launcher
Stonehorn: harpoon launcher
Stonehorn: harpoon launcher
Stonehorn: harpoon launcher
Stonehorn: harpoon launcher
2,400 points
The Great Maw Hungers
Skrag the Slaughterer
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
1 Gorger
2,405 points
So guys after reading all of the above would Unbound Warhammer Fanatsy excite you? Would you take Fluff or Filth?! Post up your lists, ideas and thoughts! I'm going to write up a few more "balanced" lists that only make light use of the unbound possibilities but these will take a little longer to come up with :)