Aegleif, the Aspiring Paragon [Special Character Contest]

[Penniwhistle]

Hey hey there - if you didn't get the email, there's a competition running for the creation of a special character, along with a unit or piece of terrain, and a short story. Round one, the special character, is currently underway, and I'm gonna post my work-in-progress design here - some feedback would be awesome.

I feel that Tzeentch's special characters are extremely lackluster - both the Dragon and Vilitch both just feel "meh" to me, both rules and fluff wise. Also, I feel that female characters are very much under-represented in the Warhammer world - and the ones who are presented tend to be sexed-up to the maximum.

I wish to create a Hero-level Tzeentchian character, below 250 points, that does what Vilitch failed to do - to blur the line between fighter and mage. I want to create a character who's not as good at fighting as an Exalted Champion, and who's not as strong a mage as a Sorcerer - but who can fight better than a Sorcerer, and who magicks better than an Exalted with the Book of Secrets.

The character can have up to 3 special rules/unique pieces of wargear. With this, I want them to emphasise that fact that she isn't a level 2 Sorcerer, with less wargear than an Exalted Champion would normally pack. I also want to have a special rule that upgrades a unit of Marauders to something mid-way between Marauder and Warrior.

Fluff-wise, we have 120 words to describe the Hero. In my mind, I see her as the leader of a band of Northmen, not yet blessed with their Chaos Armour, ripping apart any enemy, including Chaos Warriors [of any god, even Tzeentch] and looting their gear. To her, and maybe to Tzeentch, they are being tested before their "promotion" to Warriors.

Well...there's the wall of text I have so far. Here's the character I have so far! I'm worried that her special rules are too wordy, so if anyone has any way to condense them, I'd appreciate it.



Aegleif, the Aspiring Paragon - 205 points.


M: 4 WS: 6 BS: 3 S: 4 T: 4 W: 2 I: 6 A: 4 Ld: 8

Magic: Level 1 Wizard, that chooses spells from the Lore of Tzeetnch

Equipment: Chaos Armour, Staff of the Aspiring Paragon

Special Rules: The Will of Chaos, Eye of the Gods, Fickle Blessing of Tzeetch, The Blades of the Changer


Staff of the Aspiring Paragon: The blessings of Tzeentch have been poured on this staff, granting Aegleif a stronger control over the Winds of Chaos. Aegleif knows an extra spell [for a total of two] but can become overwhelmed by the powers borrowed from the artefact. If two spells are cast by Aegleif in the magic phase, then the second spell miscasts on double 5 or double 6. On double 5, the spell is cast as normal if the casting value is reached - the spell does not benefit from Irresistable Force. In combat, treat the Staff as a halberd.

Fickle Blessing of Tzeentch: Tzeentch has "blessed" Aegleif with greater favour than usual. This manifests as a 4+ Ward Save. However, Tzeentch demands Aegleif shows a greater level of mastery over the Winds of Fate than normal - the Ward save does not apply to miscasts.

The Blades of the Changer: Aegleif's warband are comprised of Northmen still petitioning for the favour of Tzeentch. They have scavenged armour from the bodies of Chaos Warriors they have killed in the name of Tzeentch, and the few still alive are veterans of multitudes of battles. For 4 points per model, a unit of Marauders may be upgraded to the Blades of the Changer - they gain +1 S and heavy armour. The unit upgraded must buy the Mark of Tzeentch upgrade, and Aegleif must deploy with this unit [though she may leave the unit after play begins.]

[rothgar13]

I like most of it, except for the Blades of the Changer. The concept behind it is fine, but the rules text is incredibly clunky. I would suggest phrasing it in a manner that reflects force organization. What I mean by that is to write it up as a separate paragraph, and then reference to it using the special rule.

[cell0097]

Is Games Workshop running this contest? I checked the website but didnt see anything and am interested in reading up on it.

Thanks

[rothgar13]

Nah, this is a LO contest. http://www.librarium-online.com/foru...ash-money.html

[Penniwhistle]

Thank you for the feedback, Rothgar - can you give me an example of how you mean? I don't think I see what you mean.

Also, does the point cost seem fitting? I'd share my maths, but I'm worried with violating copyright by posting it, as I've used specific items to base the points on.

[rothgar13]

Take for example the General of the Empire. He gives a unit of State Troops the ability to take a magic banner of up to 50 points - but it doesn't say so in his unit entry, it says so in his army list entry, and it makes more sense for it to be there. The same applies to Orc Big 'Uns and Inner Circle Knights, though those stats show up in the individual unit's entry. Another thing you can do is force the upgrade on the unit, and simply charge a preset price for it, the way Grimgor Ironhide and others do.

[Penniwhistle]

I getcha - however, we don't get a unit entry and an army list entry, just the unit entry, it seems. Also, I think it'd cost too many points for heavy armour on potentially a horde of Marauders, if I were to just give it as a free upgrade to the unit. Imma try and re-write the entry instead. Removed the rule requiring her to start with them also, as it doesn't add anything to the unit's uniqueness.

The Blades of the Changer: Aegleif's warband are comprised of Northmen still petitioning for the favour of Tzeentch. They have scavenged armour from the bodies of Chaos Warriors they have killed in the name of their god, and the few still alive are veterans of multitudes of battles. For 4 points per model, one unit of Marauders with the Mark of Tzeentch may be upgraded to the Blades of the Changer, gaining +1 S and heavy armour.