40K: Will Daemonkin Replace CSM/Daemons?
As I read through the Khorne Daemonkin dex, I am really liking what I see. This codex may just be the new King of Chaos.
Admittedly not a Chaos/Daemon player, I am still drawn to this new book. I own both the Chaos Space Marine and Daemon codices. However, I am asking myself; IF, I repeat IF, GW eventually comes out with a Daemonkin book for each Chaos god, will the Daemonkin pantheon replace the CSM and Daemon codices?
The new Khorne dex was something I considered for a while. Why another book who’s army I obviously won’t play? Well, something about Chaos that is fascinating to me. As stated earlier, I do own both the other Chaos dexes; the fluff and unit descriptions alone were worth the price. Now they throw Khorne Daemonkin in the mix. Bloody hell, the first fifty pages are backstory! Wow! Add in the special rules, unit descriptions (most of which we already know from the other dexes) and all the requisite kit (wargear, icons, etc.) and you have a grand read!
Wait…what about the gaming side of things? This is where my original question comes in. If GW releases (again, a BIG if) a Daemonkin book for each Chaos faction, why do we still need the CSM and Daemons books? Well, what is the Khorne book missing? The biggest thing I see is named characters. That is easy to fix with a supplement. Can you say increased sales? Also, there is no Boon Table. I for one am fine with that. This game is random enough, being a dice game by nature. Moreover, if each faction dex has a special table, such as the Blood Tithe, then this will lend a unique nature to whatever faction is used. By the way, I like the mechanic of the Blood Tithe table; the absence of randomness and the ability to allocate those tithe points the way you decide is a nice change in the world of “roll the die on this table and see what the hell happens.” Psychic Power or Warlord Trait “selection” anyone? Another issue that will arise is that faction specific dexes leave those who play specific CSM chapters (Iron Warriors, e.g.) a bit on the fringe. Another supplement perhaps, complete with Chapter Tactics similar to those in the Space Marine codex.
Next, many of the people that I have seen with CSM armies are already playing a specific faction. This comment obviously does not apply to you Daemon players, as you bring all four courses to the dinner table on a regular basis. But I know two players with Nurgle CSM lists, two with Khorne CSM armies, and another with a Tzeentch CSM army. The Daemonkin book is just what the doctor ordered for these type of Chaos players. What is not in Daemonkin (besides the previously mentioned named characters) that they would need? Just about every unit from the CSM codex is included, and all of the Khorne units from the Daemon dex; even Blood Thrones and Skull Cannons.
In terms of lore/backstory, a move to faction specific dexes also makes more sense. Frankly, I can’t recall when I have read a story where all of the Chaos gods send representatives to a battle at the same time. I mean, aren’t they supposed to hate each other anyway? Slaneesh hates Khorne, Nurgle hates Tzeentch (well, everybody hates Tzeentch); you get the idea. I have read Alaric fighting Khorne, Wolves fighting Tzeenth or Nurgle, Soul Drinkers fighting Slaneesh, but never two or more at the same time. Even as someone who doesn’t play Chaos, the plethora of fluff and focus on a specific faction in the new Khorne book was a great read and actually motivated me to start thinking about lists, models, etc. Does the creation of four separate codices leave Daemon players out? Not at all. If they want to, current players who want more than one faction on the table at a time could just ally with other factions. If course, there is the expense of having to buy multiple rule books. Then again, when has that ever stopped a die hard 40K player?
As much as I have enjoyed the new Khorne book, I would definitely invest in another three of these, despite the fact that I don’t play Chaos. I hope that GW moves forward and brings us more Chaos goodness in the near future.
Do you think Daemonkin codices will replace CSM/Daemons?
