Dark elf vs High elf : Professional vs Citizen Levy

[yabbadabba]

Would it be so hard to have the new ideas proof-read by somebody at the studio in charge of background quality control?
I don't mind new angles and different ideas, but they would be even better when they fit with the exisiting background.

The full rewrite on the background of Nagash and Khemri between the Liber Necris and the Time of Legends novels is a good example of this.
It could have been handled so much better...

Still doesn't address my point though. GW is almost psychopathic in its IP control and protection. Why not BL?

[Druchii Monkey]

Would it be so hard to have the new ideas proof-read by somebody at the studio in charge of background quality control?
I don't mind new angles and different ideas, but they would be even better when they fit with the exisiting background.

The full rewrite on the background of Nagash and Khemri between the Liber Necris and the Time of Legends novels is a good example of this.
It could have been handled so much better...

Wizards of the Coast is reasonably good with consistency in the Forgotten Realms setting. I think i've read over 50 books in this setting and most things hang together. GW and BL have a bit of catching up to do that's all but leaving a slightly more open world i think suits the wargaming side of things where people can make their own stories up and not feel this jars too much.

With ASF i always figured the High Elves were simply blessed by the Speed of Asuryan (their deity), a blessing that other elves lost when they separated themselves from the High Elves.

[The bearded one]

Still doesn't address my point though. GW is almost psychopathic in its IP control and protection. Why not BL?

Its not like GWs stuff isnt often full of mistakes too.

Mat ward's daemon armybook mixed up the founding of dwarf holds and the daemonic incursions in a spectacular fashion. Karaz-a-Karak wasn't even founded untill several thousand years after the daemon incursion, and even then was founded as the last of the major holds in the world's edge mountains, after the likes of Karak eight peaks and Karak azul, so the daemon fluff of destroying all holds except Karaz-a-Karak is clearly quite impossible

[Craze_b0i]

Its not like GWs stuff isnt often full of mistakes too.

Mat ward's daemon armybook mixed up the founding of dwarf holds and the daemonic incursions in a spectacular fashion. Karaz-a-Karak wasn't even founded untill several thousand years after the daemon incursion, and even then was founded as the last of the major holds in the world's edge mountains, after the likes of Karak eight peaks and Karak azul, so the daemon fluff of destroying all holds except Karaz-a-Karak is clearly quite impossible

I think its so sad they erased the encounter between Grimnir and Caledor. That was one of my favourite fluff moments. Though I think it was the High Elf book that first decided to remove it so for once Matt Ward not to blame. The new storyline whereby the dwarfs play no part at all (apart from getting killed) is just such a disappointment.

[ExquisiteMonkey]

The 6th edition Dark Elf book outright states that sorceresses aren't allowed to sire children yet the Malus novels go against this. It can't be that hard keeping things consistent...

I don't recall this particular nugget of information from the 6th Ed book. Mind providing a page reference?

Malus does little to hide his parentage IIRC.
The reason sorceresses aren't allowed to sire children is because there's a profecy that Malekith will die at the hands of a male spellcaster.
As such I doubt he would live very long with the high profile life he leads and the many political enemies he has...

Again, not sure you've understood the law regarding spellcasters correctly. How you inferred that this means Sorceresses can't have children... I'm not entirely sure.
The prohecy does indeed state that the killer will be a magic wielding son (firstborn IRRC), however, as with most prophecies, is ambiguous in who it actually refers to. Malekith believes it is him, thus he outlawed male magic users. There is another part in the book (6th or 7th, can't recall) that says that all Sorceresses are wedded to the Witch King - are you inferring monogamy from the Sorceresses as a result?
Stopping Sorceresses from having offspring isn't going to prevent male magic users.

Malekiths mom came from a city that was at an unsteady truce with the Witchking and the city itself had no love or loyalty to the WK. her deal with her husband was that she would serve as his sorceress if he would provide her with a son.

You're actually talking about Malus' mother right? Not Malekith's?

[Arnizipal]

I don't recall this particular nugget of information from the 6th Ed book. Mind providing a page reference?

I'm at work so I don't have the 6th edition book here, but it's either in the description of the Sorceresses or near the spell list.
It's in the same piece of text that they have to walk the depths of the ocean and the hearts of volcanoes, and that many fail, have their mind shattered and serve the Witch King in more menial ways.

EDIT: page 16
"She must be wedded fist and foremost to the great Witch King, and so may never take a husband nor sire children."

Again, not sure you've understood the law regarding spellcasters correctly. How you inferred that this means Sorceresses can't have children... I'm not entirely sure. µ

I'm 100% sure it says they aren't allowed to sire children (much like Witch Elves really - with so many non-productive females you wonder where the Dark Elves get their numbers from).

The prohecy does indeed state that the killer will be a magic wielding son (firstborn IRRC), however, as with most prophecies, is ambiguous in who it actually refers to. Malekith believes it is him, thus he outlawed male magic users. There is another part in the book (6th or 7th, can't recall) that says that all Sorceresses are wedded to the Witch King - are you inferring monogamy from the Sorceresses as a result?
Stopping Sorceresses from having offspring isn't going to prevent male magic users.

Malekith believes it will have impact enough. Maybe children of Elven spellcasters are more likely to be talented in that way?
Either way, I doubt you can prevent Dark Elves Sorceresses from sleeping around (even though they live in convents).
They are Dark Elves after all, and Morathi (semi-Slaaneshi cultist as she is) is pretty much their leader.

That said, I highly doubt the Witch King would approve of a high profile Dread Lord getting it on with one of his wives, resulting in pregnancy. It's not like Malus or his family try to cover up his lineage either...

[The bearded one]

Isn't elven pregancy also longer than human pregnancy? That'd make it even harder to cover up for a sorceress that she's having a child.. unless they stay eternally thin throughout pregnancy..

[sulla]

Isn't elven pregancy also longer than human pregnancy? That'd make it even harder to cover up for a sorceress that she's having a child.. unless they stay eternally thin throughout pregnancy..

Depends if she's the social sort or not. If she's locked away in her tower doing whatever evil sorceresses do who would know what she's up to...

[Dnd_dad]

I think due to the fact that dark elves tend to kill each other more quickly and are out for themselves is more to the point. The high elves live and work together, therefore they live longer, centuries in some cases, and are able to have more weapons masters train everyone else over a long period of time. Where the dark elves train for profit so they are worth more to the band that is trying to hire them. Dark elves instinctively beguile and mistrust each other to levy profits and positions. They also have a lot of dealing with daemons and that usually never turns out good. Unless your chaos.

[Sir_Turalyon]

Back on topic - that's the difference between soldiers and warriors. Warriors train to get superior individual combat skills, soldiers train to fight as part of the unit. Dark elf warriors, as the name suggests, do not put as much emphasis on teamwork - they are fierce, competent, hateful, but aren't drilled enough and don't trust each other with their lives enough to fight in three ranks.

[sulla]

Skeletons fight in perfect unison if their controller wishes them to. Saurus are bred for war and have extended lifespans too. Neither of these units fight with 3 ranks when equipped with spears.

The only real reason HE fight in 3 ranks is to give them enough damage output to justify their cost and keep them as elite infantry. DE spears don't, so they are costed as cheap masses. Who knows what abilities or cost each unit will get when they get their next armybook.

[theunwantedbeing]

Back on topic - that's the difference between soldiers and warriors. Warriors train to get superior individual combat skills, soldiers train to fight as part of the unit. Dark elf warriors, as the name suggests, do not put as much emphasis on teamwork - they are fierce, competent, hateful, but aren't drilled enough and don't trust each other with their lives enough to fight in three ranks.

Which is why all high elves fight in 3 ranks

[Craze_b0i]

I wonder if they will keep the 3-rank rule in the next book. Obviously it was only intended to be 2 ranks when the rule was written.

[Arnizipal]

I wonder if they will keep the 3-rank rule in the next book. Obviously it was only intended to be 2 ranks when the rule was written.

High Elves have had the +1 rank rules for spears for quite some time.
Used to be able to fire bows in an extra rank as well.

I doubt they'll be losing it in a new book.

[Solonor]

Which is why all high elves fight in 3 ranks

Off course they do, but only when they use spears, if swordmasters, White Lions, etc had the option for spears they would fight in an extra rank

[theunwantedbeing]

Off course they do, but only when they use spears, if swordmasters, White Lions, etc had the option for spears they would fight in an extra rank

They need an option for spears in the new book then.

[Solonor]

They need an option for spears in the new book then.

Yes the option for two handed spears

[Craze_b0i]

High Elves have had the +1 rank rules for spears for quite some time.
Used to be able to fire bows in an extra rank as well.

I doubt they'll be losing it in a new book.

I'm not so sure. With the everyone fight in 2-ranks and horde rule high elves can now effectively fight in 5 ranks. This was not originally intended.

[Arnizipal]

When all spearmen where fighting in two ranks, they were fighting in three.
When all spearmen can fight with a max of four ranks, they'll fight in five.

I don't see the issue

[Solonor]

I'm not so sure. With the everyone fight in 2-ranks and horde rule high elves can now effectively fight in 5 ranks. This was not originally intended.

Dont worry, for that to happen an HE player would have to invest in a 50-60 t3 5+ unit that still has only st 3 for about 600 points or more. im sure many have tried that for fun but its not that effective for the points they cost.