Mercs and Nefsokar faction abilities

[jdripley]

Take a 1000 point Nefsokar default list. Your faction abilities are Sokar is Near, Crossing Death's River, and Paying the Boatman. Let's say I use 250 points of mercs in that list... For Sokar is Near, would the casting penalty only apply if the target is a Nefsokar model? Fluffwise I'd say no, it's not the target that makes Sokar is Near happen, it's the presence of the deity. For Death's River/boatman, my assumption is that only Nef models could Cross, and only a Nef model may Pay the Boatman.

 

Now, a Desert Wind list, 1100 with 200 points in Mercs. Seems obvious that Mobile and Cavalry Heavy would only apply to your Nef models. But what about Delayment? Would it be based on the point value of your Nefsokar troops and not merc troops? If it's just Nef models, then I delay one troop. If it's total fighting company point total, I delay two troops.

 

So the big wonderments are Sokar is Near and Delayment.

[Voladilk]

IIRC then the wording of Sokar is Near does not specify which models are being cast AT. Even beneficial spells on the opposing side are at the penalty. So, in this case I would presume that any spell cast at either the Nef models or the Merc models would be at the penalty and you are right for the rest in the first instance.

 

Second situation, I think the delayment is based on the army sizes and if you use the 25% Merc rule then the total army size would count I think. Let me go read it and I will make sure on that one.

 

Yes, According to the Text in the rules for delayment "Troops for Delayment based on the size of the GAME being played" so hence it would be on the total army size, not just the Desert Wind models.

 

Hope that helps.

Edited January 7, 2007 by Voladilk

[jdripley]

Yeah but the idea is that mercs don't benefit from the faction SA's if they're included in a faction list. So, an elf player doesn't get to use feathered sky with his merc help, and dwarves don't teach mercs Bane, and the Reven can't Warcry with their mercs. So how come Nefsokar armies aid their mercs with Sokar is Near and Delayment?

[Voladilk]

I think I see what you mean. It does seem kinda weird. I guess we might need something official. The faction abilities in question are effective for the whole army and affect things outside the models acting whereas the others you mentioned are specifically used by individual models.

 

Interesting point and very valid. I dunno.

[ecs05norway]

Well, Crossing Death's River cannot be done to the corpses of, or by, Mercenaries in a Nefsokar force, that's pretty clear.

 

Sokar Brings Beer is described as more of a general effect of Sokar's divine presence on the battlefield - he just doesn't like other people doing magic fu. As a balance, I could suggest that it would also affect Mercenary casters in the Nefsokar player's army.

[dewen]

Well, Crossing Death's River cannot be done to the corpses of, or by, Mercenaries in a Nefsokar force, that's pretty clear.

 

Sokar Brings Beer is described as more of a general effect of Sokar's divine presence on the battlefield - he just doesn't like other people doing magic fu. As a balance, I could suggest that it would also affect Mercenary casters in the Nefsokar player's army.

I agree and in multiplayer games, everyone is affected. I also felt the Fear of Death (I think that's what it is called, -2 Dis) when playing multiplayer with Necroplis.

[rcrosby]

I agree and in multiplayer games, everyone is affected. I also felt the Fear of Death (I think that's what it is called, -2 Dis) when playing multiplayer with Necroplis.

Sokar is Near - "Nefsokar (and allied) Spell Casters are immune to this Army Special Ability."

 

Fear of Undeath - "Enemy Models without the Fearless Special Ability suffer a -2 penalty modifier to their Discipline Checks. Models with the Undead Special Ability are immune to this Special Ability."

 

Friendly Mercs don't suffer from either of these Special Abilities. Also, allied armies in a multiplayer game are immune.

 

Rich

[jdripley]

so do we conclude that Nefsokar and Necropolis are lucky to have some of their faction SA's apply 100% even if up to 25% of the army is merc?

 

I don't think it's a really critical "omg br0ken" issue... I don't think I've ever played a game where faction SA's were the deciding factor. Weight in the scales to be sure, but not an insurmountable weight.

[Sergei]

I think that warcry can be used on the merc models, as the spell works on anyone in the spell radius, friend and foe. However it cannot be used BY merc leaders or purchesed by merc casters.

[wrightjd]

so do we conclude that Nefsokar and Necropolis are lucky to have some of their faction SA's apply 100% even if up to 25% of the army is merc?

 

I don't think it's a really critical "omg br0ken" issue... I don't think I've ever played a game where faction SA's were the deciding factor. Weight in the scales to be sure, but not an insurmountable weight.

 

I assume you've never played the darkspawn then

[ecs05norway]

so do we conclude that Nefsokar and Necropolis are lucky to have some of their faction SA's apply 100% even if up to 25% of the army is merc?

 

I don't think it's a really critical "omg br0ken" issue... I don't think I've ever played a game where faction SA's were the deciding factor. Weight in the scales to be sure, but not an insurmountable weight.

 

I assume you've never played the darkspawn then

 

Or Crusaders, or Elves, or Dwarves, or Reven....

 

I think that warcry can be used on the merc models, as the spell works on anyone in the spell radius, friend and foe. However it cannot be used BY merc leaders or purchesed by merc casters.

 

I would agree with this interpretation.