Goatboy here and just like the title says – Flawless Blades from Emperor’s Children still just aren’t very good. What’s the solution?
The Emperor’s Children Flawless Blades got an extra attack but are still sitting on the sideline as other “Elite Assault Units” are just doing better work. If you look at both Eightbound varieties and compare them to Flawless Blades you have to wonder what is the point of these Scarred Swordsman?
Flawless Blades – Just Not Lethal Enough
Let’s look at the big issue at hand with these guys. They just don’t do enough. They do not punch hard enough to make them worthwhile. I say this as I look at my EC models and start to mess with a scheme. Why are they just so bad? I think I can blame them on the one thing the other armies just do better – and that is just having a much more interesting Datasheet.
Their initial data sheet power is using the Call to their Daemonic Patrons they get to go crazy and wound things better. That is cool and an ok idea to have on paper but when the output is just getting Critical Hits on a 3+ and then if they don’t kill a model they lose a model you start to see how this isn’t that good. There is nothing cool about it.
More Dynamic Special Rule Needed
So what do we do? Well I think step on to this is to keep the idea of Calling to their Daemonic Patrons but instead of just getting Critical Hits on a 3+ why not do something like all the Marine equivalent sword masters get to do. They get to pick an ability from a list of 3 and then do that. I would also remove the whole if you don’t kill something lose a model and instead give one of the abilities Hazardous for something cool. I know you could roll a bunch of 1’s but that is considered the price you pay for awesome swords so be it.
Alright let’s pick 3 cool powers. I don’t think we do nearly as many defensive abilities and instead go crazy some kind of strike first, strike last, and exploding hits option. I think will also fit in some cool abilities in all of this and see if they feel too powerful.
I’m going to list this all as types of Dances as I would think Slaanesh would be into that. It feels fluffy and matching some kind of daemon ally they might like. Or at the very least we could just add blood and other weird names in it to make feel real grim dark.
The Heavy Hand Breaks the Rock:
This units Damage stat for melee attacks becomes 3, Strength goes to 8, and melee weapon gains Hazardous.
The Striking Serpent:
This units gains Fights First.
The Kiss of Death:
This unit gains Sustained Hits 2 with Critical Hits on a 4+. Their Melee Profile goes down to 1 Damage.
The Method To My Flawless Blades Madness
As you can see I went with three abilities that all seem good and makes you choose based on what you are fighting. Do you need to get to Damage 3 to do some damage? You now can but gain Hazardous. Do you want to be a real mean counter attack unit into the Elite MSU you see around you? Go Fights first and get real to control that area. What happens when you hit a giant blob of weak little guys? Go crazy with your horde clearing attacks that hit weaker but now can grant you a ton of attacking options.
I really think so many units could just get a simple bump by creating a more unique Datasheet with choices. I don’t think we need to invent new rules just give them options that make taking them interesting. If this sword guy is good with a sword – make them good at hitting things with that sword.
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Do you think this would fix Flawless Blades? Would you take them in your EC list?
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Thomas Reidy, aka Goatboy, the ever-evil member of BoLS. I do arts, play 40k, and even paint a lot of stuff. I have been playing Warhammer 40K since the 1990s, and have won multiple national events including Adepticon and GW GTs. I’ve been writing for BoLS for 15 years. Look at my Instagram to see what I am working on – or working on for someone. I am always doing something hobby related.
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