Post by munchy2x2 on Jul 1, 2015 13:32:12 GMT
One of the coolest features of the warhammer table top game is the capacity for customisation. Every army list you bring to the table has an element of personal design. Formations would appear to push against this core pillar of the game, removing room for the players own choices and occupying a large number of points with pre-structured bundles of units which don’t reflect the particular desires of the individual commanding them. Why do we want formations then?
When formations are useful:
When they breathe life into unplayed units with minor buffs.
When the formation in total isn’t too many points or too large so as to minimise the removal of player customisation.
When the formation itself allows for customisation within it, as far as unit upgrades, numbers or quantities, so as to maximise player customisation.
When the formation consists of a minimal number different units, to avoid “tax” units (models brought onto the table just so you could get the other cool thing you actually wanted).
When they are released with the wisdom of hindsight after a codex as a patching opportunity, since updating the individual rules for units mid-codex is difficult whilst we still have hard-copy books.
When the special rules added are somewhat unique and build thematically with the models.
Example of a good formation: Sporefield. Only 90 pts so it by no means removes much choice, brings life to underplayed sporemines and was released a year later to patch up the nid codex.
When are formations not useful:
When the special rules added are too numerous/too strong to the point that the formation becomes a bread and butter necessity.
When the formation consists of a large number of points with little customisation within the units, removing player choice. (Not to mention those ridiculous 3000+ point formations).
When formations consist of already balanced or strong models, giving them extra rules unnecessarily that push the balance of the game further out of whack.
When formations are released with a codex, so they are mere filler content and update units before they know what needs updating. Everything in a codex should aim to find a use in an army without needing to rely on formations. Don’t design units with the formations they will make up in mind, let them stand individually.
Example of bad formation: Decurion Detachment +Reclamation Legion (Yes that counts as a formation, don’t try and pass it off as anything else you necron scum). This breaks a ton of my guidelines, taking balanced units, adding a plethora of strong rules, being a large point sink that takes a large portion of an army and also being so good that it is a default choice for most necron players and this was also released with the new cron codex.
GW pls just straighten out your bloody design philosophy on formations, cause you’ve got it pretty muddled with most of them right now, and I feel the couple of good uses of formations so far have been blind luck.
TLDR: I see the potential in formations I just think GW's use of them right now is not the best way of doing it. Do you guys think they add or subtract from the expirience of 40k and why?
When formations are useful:
When they breathe life into unplayed units with minor buffs.
When the formation in total isn’t too many points or too large so as to minimise the removal of player customisation.
When the formation itself allows for customisation within it, as far as unit upgrades, numbers or quantities, so as to maximise player customisation.
When the formation consists of a minimal number different units, to avoid “tax” units (models brought onto the table just so you could get the other cool thing you actually wanted).
When they are released with the wisdom of hindsight after a codex as a patching opportunity, since updating the individual rules for units mid-codex is difficult whilst we still have hard-copy books.
When the special rules added are somewhat unique and build thematically with the models.
Example of a good formation: Sporefield. Only 90 pts so it by no means removes much choice, brings life to underplayed sporemines and was released a year later to patch up the nid codex.
When are formations not useful:
When the special rules added are too numerous/too strong to the point that the formation becomes a bread and butter necessity.
When the formation consists of a large number of points with little customisation within the units, removing player choice. (Not to mention those ridiculous 3000+ point formations).
When formations consist of already balanced or strong models, giving them extra rules unnecessarily that push the balance of the game further out of whack.
When formations are released with a codex, so they are mere filler content and update units before they know what needs updating. Everything in a codex should aim to find a use in an army without needing to rely on formations. Don’t design units with the formations they will make up in mind, let them stand individually.
Example of bad formation: Decurion Detachment +Reclamation Legion (Yes that counts as a formation, don’t try and pass it off as anything else you necron scum). This breaks a ton of my guidelines, taking balanced units, adding a plethora of strong rules, being a large point sink that takes a large portion of an army and also being so good that it is a default choice for most necron players and this was also released with the new cron codex.
GW pls just straighten out your bloody design philosophy on formations, cause you’ve got it pretty muddled with most of them right now, and I feel the couple of good uses of formations so far have been blind luck.
TLDR: I see the potential in formations I just think GW's use of them right now is not the best way of doing it. Do you guys think they add or subtract from the expirience of 40k and why?
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