Warhammer 40K Hot Mess – Chaos Space Marine Dark Commune
I just had to build the CSM Dark Commune. They were… challenging. So many small pieces for a unit that is just… a hot mess. Let’s talk.
Did anyone want some kind of crazy cultist leaders that are not too good? I know I didn’t. Look I know the new CSM stuff is really new. I haven’t had a true chance to test the unit out over time. But I don’t think I have too. It is a group of weak cultists that kind of do some stuff to the cultists around them. But since you can’t take that many cultists or a pure army of true believers, what is the point? The new landscape of 40k is very harsh on more than 3 HQ choices in any army. So having a weird extra troop choice that doesn’t do a whole heck of a lot is not the best thing to take in this age of cut throat 40k.
CSM Dark Commune Basics
Here is the group of leaders on top of the MLM pyramid that is the Chaos Space Marine outfit selling company. They are supposed to be the priests, icon bearers, and tough guys of the cult. Instead you get a few jerks that can do a few things but not particularly well. The group can throw out a prayer, cast a spell, and attack someone very poorly. It is just a weird unit that doesn’t push anything it tries to do in a way that is actually viable. This is where it just feels like a very weirdly bad unit in a book that is overfilled with HQ choices.
First – Let’s Make Them Unique
Ok first thing I would do is remove the whole HQ choice for this role. This needs to be some kind of “advisor” option that you can take if you purchase a Chaos Lord and a Unit of Cultists. You get this unit that doesn’t take up a force org slot and lets you do some weird things. Also – let’s make the unit purchase transform into a group that can be a few IC’s that run around and buff stuff too. Push each of the models into something cool. Let’s make the hired blades actual cool little assassin options that bust out of a Cultist unit and smack someone. Make the Mindwitch a cool little caster that gives bonus’s to cast for caster and maybe some other fun bonuses. Let’s make this unit neat.
I Talked a Little Bit But Make Them Better!
Again make them feel like they are truly the leaders of a cult. Have them amp up the cultists blobs into some crazy stuff. Have them explode into some kind of Daemon to help the Chaos Space Marines do stuff. Heck make them have marks that make all the options unique. I love the idea of these are the models your armies Daemons get summoned thru just to make this neat.
We need more help!
Instead of Praying Just Give Them Zealot-like Auras
You now how I said you should give them Marks so let’s make the Marks unique. If you give them Nurgle they turn your cultists into Zombies with FNP and fearless. If you make the Dark Commune Slaanesh they become crazy pleasure/pain seekers who are coming to take your candy. You throw Khorne on them and they get a point of Strength and AP on their weapons. You give them Tzeentch and let them give some kind of casting bonus to their psychic leaders and other fun options.
Let’s Make This Unit Neat!
Look I just don’t understand this unit, but would love the idea of creating a sweet little unit that made your army better. Instead of small little things that don’t matter too much. The additional leadership doesn’t matter because your cultists suck. So any kind of attention they are paid will kill them in the end. Heck you could have the Dark Commune actually run the sacrifices to power something Chaotic up. Let them throw Mortal Wounds on nearby cultists and you get something like simple rerolls or other fun and weird chaos things all dependent on the Chaos God they worship.
Chaos is supposed to be Chaotic and weird. This unit needs to be off the wall a bit because if it isn’t – why even buy it?
Let us know how you would fix the unit, down in the comments!
