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s a bit of a rant, but also more observation and opinion. Its just that ever since the newest books in 7th edition were released, special characters no longer require the permission of your opponent to be used. I know, they are mostly balanced - or supposedly - but now it seems you can't go three steps without an army having a special character in it. Something which I feel ruins the battle. I don't want to have to face Teclis or Mannfred in a 2000pt battle week in and week out. And I shouldn't have to!
I think that GW have taken a step back in terms of this ruling. It is my opinion that special characters ruin the game, if used all the time. Personally, I never plan to use one, unless its in a game of over 3000pts, a special campaign, special scenario or I had previously agreed on it with my opponent. I understand GW have taken steps to balance the rules for them, so the permission is now just defunct and it was likely that many opponents would have refused to fight them at any point (who'd fancy fighting 6th ed Teclis?). I can see why, but at the same point its now dumbed a lot of list down. There are many lists where the list is built around a special character - I can imagine Mannfred is very popular for VC, or the Thorek gunline for Dwarfs - and this is one of my main dislikes. It shouldn't be this way. In my mind a special character is just something extra and fun to have once in a while, and using them each game is lazy, boring and lacks fun/imagination. Why build a character when you can get a special character for more cost, but with special rules and would do the job better?
My other point, linking in with Elazar's post on fluffy armies, is that it is much more fun to build your own character. It raises more challenges than the cookie-cutter hero from the book, and you can add your own background to them. I have always found this to be a great part of the hobby, building an army and living with it. As you play, it begins to take on its own personality and honour roll. Its not "Remember when Teclis burnt that Treeman to a crisp?" and more "Remember when Leiun managed to get that lucky fireball off and killed the treeman?" Something you can get behind and enjoy - building their history.
Admittedly everyone has their own tastes, but I personally never plan to take a special character for any my armies unless its once in a while and for a bit of fun. I urge you to do the same.
Kuffy
I think that GW have taken a step back in terms of this ruling. It is my opinion that special characters ruin the game, if used all the time. Personally, I never plan to use one, unless its in a game of over 3000pts, a special campaign, special scenario or I had previously agreed on it with my opponent. I understand GW have taken steps to balance the rules for them, so the permission is now just defunct and it was likely that many opponents would have refused to fight them at any point (who'd fancy fighting 6th ed Teclis?). I can see why, but at the same point its now dumbed a lot of list down. There are many lists where the list is built around a special character - I can imagine Mannfred is very popular for VC, or the Thorek gunline for Dwarfs - and this is one of my main dislikes. It shouldn't be this way. In my mind a special character is just something extra and fun to have once in a while, and using them each game is lazy, boring and lacks fun/imagination. Why build a character when you can get a special character for more cost, but with special rules and would do the job better?
My other point, linking in with Elazar's post on fluffy armies, is that it is much more fun to build your own character. It raises more challenges than the cookie-cutter hero from the book, and you can add your own background to them. I have always found this to be a great part of the hobby, building an army and living with it. As you play, it begins to take on its own personality and honour roll. Its not "Remember when Teclis burnt that Treeman to a crisp?" and more "Remember when Leiun managed to get that lucky fireball off and killed the treeman?" Something you can get behind and enjoy - building their history.
Admittedly everyone has their own tastes, but I personally never plan to take a special character for any my armies unless its once in a while and for a bit of fun. I urge you to do the same.
Kuffy