War of the spider and covens

https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2020/03/40k-breaking-fabius-bile-mini-war-of-the-spider-revealed.html

OK I'm not arguing that thing is related to fabius but anyone else notice those canisters on its back are identical to coven canisters?
Do you think we have some kind of crossover in fluf with fabius and covens or something

Nah, he's always had canisters on him, honestly it looks very close to the old model from what we can see so far.

I meant his minion /helper or whatever that is

Isn't there some story or something somewhere where Fabius and the Haemonculi are said to have worked together in some capacity? I swear I remember either him being referenced or the Haemonculi actually having contact and working with Bile.

SCP Yeeman wrote:

Isn't there some story or something somewhere where Fabius and the Haemonculi are said to have worked together in some capacity? I swear I remember either him being referenced or the Haemonculi actually having contact and working with Bile.

Yeah, there was an early Psychic Awakening story about it.

Well, that and he learnt all his stuff from the covens. Dark Eldar are the main reason he is what he is today.

I seriously doubt the haemonculi let him study for free ... so I have to wonder what he offered/did for that knowledge (i dont know much about the lore of him studying under the coven ... it might be in there somewhere)

The codex notes that Fabius studied with the haemonculi in Commoragh for a while.

In one of the early PA short stories, Eldar corsairs board one of Fabius Bile's cruisers, and catch sight of a haemonculus hanging out inside.

I'm not expecting this at all, but my personal wishlist would include having Fabius Bile's army be considered a separate chaos subfaction, perhaps without the ability to take daemons as allies, but instead with the ability to take allied coven detachments.

The Haemonculii seam to get getting around quite a bit in the fluff lately. I find it unlikely GW will be smart enough to take advantage of that and make some cool new models, however.

Archon_91 wrote:

I seriously doubt the haemonculi let him study for free ...  so I have to wonder what he offered/did for that knowledge (i dont know much about the lore of him studying under the coven ... it might be in there somewhere)

If I remember the fluff correctly, they indulge him because they're basically amused that a mon-keigh is both willing and able to dabble in their kind of science.

Burnage wrote:

Archon_91 wrote:

I seriously doubt the haemonculi let him study for free ...  so I have to wonder what he offered/did for that knowledge (i dont know much about the lore of him studying under the coven ... it might be in there somewhere)

If I remember the fluff correctly, they indulge him because they're basically amused that a mon-keigh is both willing and able to dabble in their kind of science.

I'd be astounded if his tutelage didn't also include the "gift" of Astartes geneseed (prolly not E-kids, but it's not like he didn't have lots to choose from). As a bigwig apothecary, it's one of the most precious resources in the galaxy, AND one he had access to.

I wonder if that means we might eventually see wracks or grotesque that have a bit of that geneseed in them ... doubtful but it would possibly make a great book

I have legitimately assumed they already do.

That's my headcanon for why the 5e Grotesques are so much more swole than the 3e ones.

If GW was smart it'll be a good way to introduce plastics

As I heard that book was more likely Bile/Custodes/Harlequins.
Drukhari have had their entry, so are unlikely to get another unless the others start getting another entry too.

Squidmaster wrote:

As I heard that book was more likely Bile/Custodes/Harlequins.
Drukhari have had their entry, so are unlikely to get another unless the others start getting another entry too.

What's raising my eyebrow is the teasing they've been doing for a Warp Spider Phoenix Lord - it'd be weird to drop that and then have a book titled "War of the Spider" which doesn't connect to it.

But at the same time I can't see Eldar getting a second update through Psychic Awakening.

Really hope they dont mess with the Coven units. My gut tells me that all the awesome Grot conversions we have all done would get outlawed by GW (maybe with an additional caveat that they also get to pee in our cheerios).

fisheyes wrote:

Really hope they dont mess with the Coven units. My gut tells me that all the awesome Grot conversions we have all done would get outlawed by GW (maybe with an additional caveat that they also get to pee in our cheerios).

They won't be able to invalidate grotseque conversions unless it's been done using 3rd party minis. Conversions with GW models has always been fine and they can't target a singular unit to say "no conversions".
If they release new plastic grots they'll be relying on a shiny new (hopefully drop dead gorgeous) kit to sell itself and gradually replace the conversions.

"Hey, kids, are you ready for this EPIC crossover event with Chaos and Dark Eldar Covens?"

"Don't worry, Chaos players, you can expect some fantastic new minis, warptastic Warlord Traits, amazing artefacts, and spectacular artefacts that will leave the galaxy trembling at your nightmarish genetic abominations!"

"And don't think we've forgotten you, Coven Players. I know some of you weren't entirely happy with the content of Phoenix Rising, but don't worry! In this codex we've addressed every one of the one complaint we bothered reading. That's right, Coven players, War of the Spider will feature a name generator just for Haemonculi! Names so horrifying, your opponents will be paralysed with fear just from reading your army list!"



You know, I'm sure there was a time long ago when I wasn't this cynical.

@yellabelly, assuming that GW will take a reasonable approach to a financially driven dilemma has historically not been the best bet. I am sure Tau players will mention the 1 commander/detatchment rule (started building a Tau army for a buddy, really glad they upped that to 2 commanders/detatchment in Farsight Enclave lists)

It would be rare for them to give something drukhari. But it would be fair. The customization rules in drukhari, do not compensate for its lack of stratagems, compared to all the armies that were updated.

velaresh wrote:

It would be rare for them to give something drukhari. But it would be fair. The customization rules in drukhari, do not compensate for its lack of stratagems, compared to all the armies that were updated.

Something like a :

"Raid Master Throne" Stratagem:

Great idea Darklord. However, if I were to use my magic wish, it would be for more relics/warlord traits. TBH, we have some good relics and traits already, I am just greedy (like the covetous, scheming Archon that I am).

Is anyone aware of other factions that got as little as we did? I know the Craftworlders got some decent build-a-chapter components (like the salamander style re-rolls), but have not heard anything regarding warlord traits/relics.

Would really like a blast pistol relic, maybe some sort of aura that affects all <drukhari> units. Something along the lines of the Seal of Oath (re-rolls against a specific target chosen at the beginning of the game) would be fun/useful

Fisheyes the Exarch powers are decent. They can give a 2++ rerollable to a shining spear Exarch (which doesn't break) for example.

Viewing updates from other armies.
some stratagems ideas.


Spirit blas:
Chronos 2cps: shoots the maximum profile for your weapons.

Corrosive Spray 2cps: Grots with Liquifers adds +3 "to the range of its weapons and fires the maximum number of shots. (very nice with DT)

Scourges 2cps: when they enter the battlefield by deep strike, they shoot.

Hellions 2 cp: a unit other than vehicle or titanic, engaged in combat with this unit cannot be retired.

Helions 1cps: This unit consolidates 8 "in any direction.

Mandrakes 1cp: If they destroy one or more models other than vehicles in the combat phase, they return 1d3 models to the unit.