BoLS POLLS: 40k Changing ICs Edition
So I’ve noticed an interesting pattern of late with the Ork and Space Marine codices.
If you look back at many of the older codices from the tail end of 4th you see the “old fashioned” view of ICs. From the Phoenix Lords to the Chaos villians you see important individuals with some pretty unique wargear, a special rule or two, and generally a pretty beefy statline.
Sneaking in with the Dark Angel codex, and following it in Codex Orks and Space Marines a new trend emerged. These books have unveiled what I’m terming the “new fangled 40k” ICs who are “keys” to unlock completely different army builds and variants. Where Codex Eldar in the old style presented army variants within the individual unit rules (for example making full sized wraithguard units count as troops; to allow Iyanden buildouts), we now see things such as Pedro Kantor making veterans scoring, Sammael and Belial unlocking Ravenwing and Deathwing buildouts. Codex: Orks provides more examples, but in general the trend seems to be increasing as time goes forward.
My question is what do you guys think of this? On the one hand it would seem to be an attempt to bring ICs back into Warhammer from their early 4th edition state of “by permission only” exile. On the other hand, I find it a little odd that you HAVE to take a particular individual whenever you wish to field a particular army variant, as if it simply can’t take to the field in the IC’s absence.
~Whats your take on this emerging trend and more broadly; what are your feelings on the common use of IC in games? You know the drill, poll right column, attack!
