Chaos review #22- the big HQ

When you appease the Chaos powers sometimes they grant you a chance to become a big ole monster. This is the quick version of how to become a Demon Prince. These guys have been around for a bit and they are very similar to their previous incarnation.

The Demon Prince is a monstrous creature and has all the rules associated with that. They have a descent set of stats: WS 9, BS 5, strength 6, toughness 5, 4 wounds, 5 attacks, initiative of 8, leadership 9 and a 5++ save. They have the Demon and Fearless rules. They also come equipped with a close combat weapon and Veterans of the Long War. They don’t seem too pricey to start at just shy of 150 points for a big angry walkin’ dude. Well, they are actually 10-15 points more than that at the start. They must purchase a Mark of Chaos so their price is actually higher to start. Why not add this into the price to start? Just make him 160 points to start with a free Chaos mark of your choosing.    

At least almost all the Marks cost +15 points, except Slaanesh. That is only +10 points. Why not just make Slaanesh a free choice? Initiative 8 is pretty damn effective and is a bump to 9 really that much better? The other Marks are all the same and I don’t really need to cover them again do I? Pick one you like and move along.

There are also the options to pick gear from the Chaos reward and artifact lists. The Prince can also grab power armor +20 , wings +40 or become a level 3 psyker +25 points. 

Then there is the psyker option. I would never spend these points but if you do……you must choose one power from the same Chaos power you are marked with, and may have one additional power from the same list (I’ll get to the Chaos spells soon….). Then you can choose or roll from the psychic schools of Biomancy, Pyromancy and Telepathy. I really have no interest in exploring this part further. If you want brain powers pay the points and go there.

So is there a down side to the Demon Prince?

The big negative issue is the fact that these guys need wings if you want them to really impact the game. This makes them either flyers or jump infantry. They are just annoying to bring down while flying, but if you hit them there is a chance they will fall from the sky. Then you can light them up! A walking Demon Prince doesn’t pose much of a threat for a few turns. It can also be whittled down over those few turns.

The Demon Prince is a pretty meh unit for me. I can see a Demon Prince as a useful strong and tough unit; but it is mixed with a big point investment and an even bigger target. I like the idea of a Khorne Prince with the Axe of Blind Fury, wings and power armor, but I hate the cost. This is Landraider like pricing for an HQ. If I want to spend those points, I’ll take a much better and scarier Bloodthirster. I guess a Nurgle Prince or Tzeencth Prince wouldn’t be too god awful but, they just cost too much for me.

The only true good I see out of the changes to the Demon Prince is the fact that they won’t all be full of Lash o’ Submission, Breath of Chaos and/or Warp Time as the fly across the board.