therisnosaurus  15/09/2006 - 05:28   

I've actually been running a fan project based around creating cathay for a long time now and through that I have corresponded for a while with some of the dev team on the list, essentially to see if they want to keep wraps on it in case any of the ideas contained within are used in an official variant. Apparently not, and it seems likely that we will not see cathay in the current known release period of 3-5 years.

However, as GW do not wish to use the list we spent four years creating, they have given me the go-ahead for online publication, so if you want to play cathay, I'll have a fully playtested, themed, formatted, backgrounded army book up with all the bells and whistles Barring art the quality of GW's stuff and a full colour section with new miniatures. It even has BoB lists for the steppes, Nippon and the provinces, each allowing you to make those more historical lists you wanted...

UPDATE:
Okay, so I've finally finished talking with the devs and I have the go-ahead. Behold, warhammer armies: cathay. This isn't just a list. This is a book.

Warhammer-Armies: Cathay.pdf

(You are free to download, copy, send, duplicate and generaly propagate this thing as much as you like. Just one thing: Please don't edit the file without the authors permission and/or try to sell it.)

I'd like to thank everyone who helped out on this project, which has taken almost five years from first idea to completion. Especial thanks to the members of this forum who helped out- rabid bunny, malika, juddski, bubble ghost, balloon dog, anachristica, Taven and others who I no doubt forget but were just as helpful. ESPECIAL ESPECIAL thanks to juddski for his amazing work in illustrating most of the book.

I'd like to now point out that yes, this is a fantastical representation of the ENTIRE EAST. Not just cathay, this list was designed to create both nippon and steppe lists with minor variations, which forced the inclusion of some entries. I was also careful to include the ability to create more 'historical' lists. You can do it easily enough if you want, but for those who want the crazy ass stuff, it's there in force. Also remember that this is a representation of CATHAY, not china or japan. Cathay, culturally and thematically, is a melange of cultures as far apart as the middle east and korea, not just china, just like every other human army. The aim was to create a list that could satisfy both the history buffs and the anime fans at opposite ends of the spectrum, and in that end we have more or less succeeded, remember, if you don't like it, you don't have to take it...

I'd also like to point out that this list has undergone over a hundred playtest games against many armies over the years and is pretty darn balanced, fairer than many of the official lists IMHO. The advantage of online publication is we can get your feedback and update the list constantly, so please, tell me what you think on here, via PM, or via email at thereisnosaurus@gmail.com, hatemail included. I'd also be deeply greatful if you could inform me if you spot any inconsistencies caused by the new rules, as this will save me a year or so of re-proofreading.

I will be endeavouring to get this list a published spot on warseer (It seems he managed to reach this goal. ;-) ~Sylass) where it is permanently available and continue to improve upon it as people play games. I have, as I said, been talking with the devs a bit on this, and I'm fairly sure there will be no official cathay for a while. However, given how impressed they were with this, I'd say it's a safe bet to say you won't find a better list for cathay for a long, long time.

-therisnosaurus

Articles

• Warhammer Fantasy Rules

Carousel  15/09/2006 - 15:01   
Just skimmed through but, mate, this looks awesome. Love the three house thing, very characterful. The idea of wizard/fighter heroes is also really good, makes them quite different to most other races. Whole thing looks like a very well thought-through army book, full of good stuff.

Especially well done th the artist, whoever you are. The living shadow pic is well cool, and the whole style is very nice.

Congratulations, I'm very impressed.

Warmaster Poxus  15/09/2006 - 20:15   
I agree, it does look awesome. Any ideas on what miniatures too use?





QUOTE=Carousel;945076]Just skimmed through but, mate, this looks awesome. Love the three house thing, very characterful. The idea of wizard/fighter heroes is also really good, makes them quite different to most other races. Whole thing looks like a very well thought-through army book, full of good stuff.

Especially well done th the artist, whoever you are. The living shadow pic is well cool, and the whole style is very nice.

Congratulations, I'm very impressed.[/quote]

Ironhand  15/09/2006 - 22:44   
This is a topnotch piece of work. Highly recommended.

High Loremaster  16/09/2006 - 19:01   
Very, very well done! I absolutely love the lore behind it.

The list itself looks quite balanced, if not a bit confusing. In my humble opinion there are a few too many special rules, though they do add to the "mysterious East" feel of the army.

Ecilaeus  16/09/2006 - 21:15   
Utterly fascinating. Kudos to a well developed project, it's viable! I wouldn't disallow an opponent who wished to use the list!


Thought for the day: There is only the Emperor, and He is our shield and protector.

swiftblade  18/09/2006 - 17:50   
this book is amazing!!!!!!! utter genious!!!!!! i'm currently converting every empire militia model i can get my hands on, into warclad. I'm also making moulds so i can make my own models in mass. Thank you so much for writing this book,the artwork is great and i look forward to play testing it!

Storm Hunters  20/09/2006 - 15:41   
You have suppased your self. If and when GW ever make a Cathay book, (i have always wanted one) i doubt it would be a patch on this, and a thus a dissapointment. I especialy love the ying yang thing, though i could see it being quite overpowering. just in case i ever use the rules, can you confurm that the balence rules affect both players magic phases, and dice pools and so could be used by the opponent to help them by picking on paticuler units.

therisnosaurus  23/09/2006 - 20:38   
The balance is always in effect, if that's what you mean- your units affect the balance in both your magic phase and your opponent's, so enemy can pick on units to force fluctuations in the balance. However, the balance has no effect on your opponent's dice pools, if that's what you meant, they are generated normally. (one of the more interesting tactics I used in playtesting was targetting yan units, as living shadow spells are difficult to use offensively, so by draining their dispel pool and maximising their power pool you get more of your magic missiles- ideal for taking out T3 skirmishers- off and they have a lot of spare dice for casting spells that aren't particularly lethal anyway...)

Darkspear  30/09/2006 - 13:44   
I am sorry, I know you spend years on research but i feel that its badly done. There is negligible chinese stuff. look here...all your characters are japanese characters and why are all the characters mages. As for the mystic feel...I guess you wanna create a "mystiic" feel as its the west general perception of the east? to be honest, being an oriental I am not really impressed.

I am also rather unimpressed by the troops choices. simply because chinese armies are large doesn't mean you should give peasant soldiers WS2. Chinese armies do bother to train the soldierrs and i think a WS of 3 is justified with elites WS4. also, you have no native chinese cavalry.

I also have issue on the dragons.a dragon is akin to the emperor of all creatures. I seriously doubt dragons will answer to the call of mere magicians. but this is a minor point as its fantasy after all. I also suggest the kirin as a mount for ur characters.

I do appreciate your artwork.

I feel that your book is seriously influence by your western bias views of the east.I understand that you are short of time but to b honest...if you can't do it right, then don't do it.

10th clancannac...  30/09/2006 - 21:24   
Darkspear, as has been said many times before, warhammer fluff is not entirely the same as in the real world. There may be several similarities between the worlds but there are many differences too, therefore warhammer armies do not have to be exactly the same as similar real life ones it is a fantasy game after all. I think that the cathay book which has been made is brilliant and must have taken alot of hard work. To say that it has been badly done because it does not directly correspond to real chinese armies is rude.