Power Level..

[Hive Bahamut]

So at the start of 8th power level was dropped on us. GW pushed for people to use it so much so it was even the only thing they brought up with their "army builder." That has seemingly disappeared?

Then the FAQ tried to make it relevant again by adding that half your power AND points must be deployed. Which is hilarious as there is 0 consistency in PL.

What is this next FAQ going to do to the Power level? The underdog gets +1 instead of who finishes? You must not exceed 50% PL in allies?

Does anyone actually use it for super unbalanced pick up games? Every time I look into it I see the glaring problem that armies with no upgrades excel and vise versa because it assumes you have everything.

Also.. The argument for new players is silly. You are teaching them how to listbuild wrong..

[gigasnail]

I've always thought it was dumb. Haven't ever used it. Resent having to deal with it to calculate reserves (nice try to prevent trash deployments though).

[hivefleetkerrigan]

It's good for non-matched play. I've used it in for fun campaigns so the players could try out different equipment and list building could go fast. It's not good for matched play as armies become really unbalanced.

[Hive Bahamut]

Question, I see people using formulas to figure out points from power. Is this a thing? Or are they inconsistent?

[gigasnail]

it's not consistent, but it's generally 1PL per 20 points of a unit that has taken a sizable chunk of its available upgrades.

it's ludicrously stupid in some cases, in some cases, it works out ok.

[tomcaet]

Gets very muddy with unit upgrade options and point changes (PL is rarely updated alongside) but check out upgradeless units, or ones with one-dimensional upgrades like GSC Familiars - pretty consistent. It should be, too, as both points and PL are supposed to measure the same thing - seems so from Designer's Commentary, it has a question on that. The "exchange rate" seems to be around the PL=20pts.

[hivefleetkerrigan]

What giga said. Note the caveat that it's based upon about how they expect you to equip a unit.
Example, hormogaunts: 150 points + 30 for adrenal glands = 180 points vs 9 PL

[Hive Bahamut]

Just a small note. I've been messing around with lists and have done anything from about 95-160 power at 2000 points. That's an extreme variance, and kind of proof in the pudding for me.

Power level was never needed, and someone up high was just so proud they came up with it, that we have to deal with it for reserves now, because it had no pull.

Narrative: has missions and units, no balance at all. That's the goal.
Open play: uses matched play points for unique scenarios.
Matched play: the OG

Not seeing the use for it other than getting clobbered by a rando, who stacked their no upgrade army.

[tomcaet]

I haven't done big comparisons, but it seems it's just GSC that's an offender when it comes to PL and points imbalance. For an upcoming event I got a Brood Brothers Detachment - 23PL 451p - and a GSC Detachment - 39PL 549p - but by just setting the Neophytes aside it becomes 19PL 394p.

Feels to me the new Aberrants should be PL8. And Neophytes PL is off the charts, funny a unit like that is in the army caring the most about reinforcements.