GW released the new Necron codex and the first wave of models last Saturday. I picked up a copy of the codex and one of the new Command/Annihilation Barge kits. I have spent the last few days puttering with the model and ensconced with the book. (Well, as ensconced as you can be with three boys under ten, work, an oil change and a busted water line to my fridge to fix).
Despite all of that I did get a good read through the codex and have started a more detailed analysis. I have already formed some quick impressions:
Pro: All of my current models are still usable. Yeah! With a new codex release you always have to worry that something’s going to get the boot. It looks like the only unit that disappeared outright are the Pariahs, but I don’t own any. However the models themselves can come back in as the new Lichguard for anyone that does have them.
Pro: Just about every model I own now got cheaper (in terms of army points). They’ve gotten on average 25% cheaper. In the old codex, my model collection came in around a total of 2,800 points. Under the new codex they should be around 2,000 plus or minus.
Con: It looks like all of the models that stepped down in price also stepped down in terms of stats, warriors go from a 3+ to a 4+ save, the “Living Metal” rule for the Monolith is toned way down and destroyers lose their jetbike status, etc. Especially hard hit were the C’Tan. They’ve gone from star gods to mere shards (think the Eldar Avatar of Khaine), with a significant cost reduction and a great weakening of power. One silver lining is that now you can pick your C’Tan powers ala carte as war gear so you can create your own now.
Pro: Not all of the units with a cost reduction got hurt. In fact Immortals and scarabs now seem to be even better than before and at a lower cost.
Neutral: There are some shiny new plastic and resin kits out and it’s pretty clear that the codex was written to make those more attractive than the old models. This isn’t surprising as it’s standard practice for a GW codex. Essentially they figured out what legacy players had the most of (warriors, destroyers and Monolith) and then make sure that there was a new unit that could do what they do better (Immortals, Tomb Blades etc). Again, it’s not ideal, but it is what I expected to happen. At least the old models didn’t suffer the indignities that my Tyranid Carnifex did with their codex update.
Neutral: Something like half of the new units have kits available in the first wave of models with a rumored second wave in the first quarter next year. While that’s pretty good, I still have bad memories of the fabled Tyranid second wave that never came. Here’s to hoping that the next Necron wave happens.
Annoying: Overall the fluff quality is good. However the author, trying to move the Necrons farther into the Egyptian theme decided that it would be a good idea to stick faux Egyptian titles on everything. As an example scarab swarms are now Canoptek Scarab Swarms. I get the shtick, but being lover of PBS historical documentaries, it gets old quick.
On the modeling front I cleared off a space on my workbench and dug in to the new barge kit. This thing is a treat. It’s a cool looking kit, but good golly Molly this thing is complex. I haven’t bought a new kit since Tyranids and while they were nifty kits, they didn’t even come close to the level of complexity to this little wonder. I’ve been modeling for over 20 years so I’ve got the experience to take something like this on, but I shudder to think of some kid getting into the hobby and this being their first kit. Oh the horror.
For the actual build, I think I’m going to go the route of the Annihilation Barge. This doesn’t have anything to do with army building, but primarily due to the fact that you can take the plastic parts for the lord model of the Command Barge option and put him on foot. This is awesome. He even has a 25mm base included in the box. Nice.
I also finally dug out my old Necron models and they’re going to need to get cleaned up. The infantry were packed in one of the GW hard sided cases, which must have had some free space because the models moved around and there are plenty of loose green rods and paint chips here and there. My Monolith was stored in a hat box and will need one of the upper pylons glued back in place.
All in all I should be reading the codex for the rest of the week and maybe having an army list of the model’s I have ready for a possible game the week after next.
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