Dogs of War

My local GW is running a contest for people to create a Regiment of Renown, both rules and converted models. I have chosen the Celestial Dragon Monks of Cathay which were briefly mentioned back in the last high elf army book as being an option for their Dogs of War choice despite rules never being written by GW for them.

10 Dragon Monks including Zhang Jiao, a standard bearer, and musician cost a total of 230, additional monks cost 12 points each

M WS BS S T W I A Ld
Monk 4 5 3 3 3 1 4 2 8
Zhang Jiao 4 6 5 4 4 2 5 3 9

Weapons & Armor:
Monks are armed with Hand weapon and Wah Khaik (halberd)
Zhang Jiao is armed with 2 Cathayan Broad Swords (+1 strength and +1 Attack)

Special Rules:
6+ Ward Save
Immune to Psychology
Zhang Jiao has killing blow

Martial Arts Styles: Choose one at the start of a combat, the chosen style remains until that combat is completely resolved
Snake: Always Strike First and Armor Piercing
Tiger: +1 Attack
Dragon: +1 Strength
Crane: +1 to Ward Save, giving the monks a 5+ Ward Save
Mantis: Reroll to hit in close combat

I've been play testing these against other units on a similar point level and lead by a character and so far the Monks seem to do about average against other normal special unit choices but get killed by something like a chaos warrior with two hand weapons and marked khorne. So tell me what you think.

Seems pretty good, i like the take on the fighting styles in that they last the entire combat. Points seem ok too.
Remove the Chinese broadswords or at least change them to Cathayan. I think the leader would be fine with the basic weapons though.

You might want to google some of the Cathayan armybooks that have been written, some have monks where Celestial Dragon isn't just a name.

Seems pretty nice, will make something similar with the monks in my Cathay list. I thought that Dragon Monks only fought with their hands though?

Special Rules:
+6 Ward Save

Crane: +1 to Ward Save, giving the monks a +4 Ward Save


that will be a +5 ward save if you add one save to a +6 ward save

(08-23-2009 01:50 PM)henerius Wrote: [ -> ]Special Rules:
+6 Ward Save

Crane: +1 to Ward Save, giving the monks a +4 Ward Save


that will be a +5 ward save if you add one save to a +6 ward save

oh I forgot to change that, originally I gave them a +5 ward save but changed it to a +6 and forgot about the Crane.

I got to thinking that these monks should reflect being Dragon Monks more than a general Martial Arts Monk. So I came up with some new rules

10 Dragon Monks including Zhang Jiao, a standard bearer, and musician cost a total of 280, additional monks cost 12 points each

M WS BS S T W I A Ld
Monk 4 5 3 3 3 1 4 1 8
Zhang Jiao 4 6 5 4 4 2 5 3 9
Dragon Form 6 6 0 5 4 4 4 4 9

Weapons & Armor:
Monks are armed with assorted monk weapons (counts as two hand weapons)

Special Rules:
+6 Ward Save
Immune to Psychology
Zhang Jiao has killing blow

Revere the Dragon: If in contact with an opposing Dragon the Monks will do nothing in that combat, they surrender themselves to the Dragon’s will, unless the Monks’ controlling player controls a Dragon anywhere on the board, Zhang Jiao once in Dragon Form is a dragon. The Monks will not even fight a non dragon enemy which is also in the combat.

Power of the Dragon: Choose one at the start of a combat; the monks’ state line is modified by the chosen Power, the chosen Power remains until that combat is completely resolved.
-Might of the Dragon: S6, magical, and flaming, cannot use their monk weapons (so only 1A each from the regular monks)
-Defense of the Dragon: T6
-Furry of the Dragon: A3, A5 for Zhang Jiao in Dragon form (plus two hand weapons for a total of 4 in combat for the regular monks)
-Scales of the Dragon: 3+ Scaly Skin Save

During the start of any round of combat Zhang Jiao may transform into his true form, that of a dragon. His profile is modified to the stat line above called Dragon Form. In dragon form he loses his monk weapon but his attacks count as magical and gains a 4+ Scaly Skin Save, Fly, causes fear, and a Strength 3 flaming breath weapon. Zhang Jiao still benefits from all the other special rules above and may leave the unit like any normal independent character although he can only join a unit of Dragon Monks. Zhang Jiao will stay in his dragon form for the remainder of the game.
-He should be based on a 40mm base so as to easily displace the monks around him and still fit inside the unit, the formation will not change but instead simply move monks to the back ranks.

While i like the idea it would be unprecedented (i think) for a character to change base size and for a RoR leader to be able to leave his regiment, apart from Bronzino but thats a special case.

The rules for revere the dragon need to be reordered, put that Zhang Jiao once in Dragon Form is a dragon last.

(08-23-2009 07:38 PM)Maeglin Wrote: [ -> ]While i like the idea it would be unprecedented (i think) for a character to change base size and for a RoR leader to be able to leave his regiment, apart from Bronzino but thats a special case.

The rules for revere the dragon need to be reordered, put that Zhang Jiao once in Dragon Form is a dragon last.

I agree, Regimental Leaders should stick with their Regiments. So I think perhaps the leader shouldn't shape-shift. I thought it was only the Cathayan Emporer who may apparently be a Dragon in human form anyway?
I'm not sure about the Dragon Powers either. I think they definately need some playtesting to confirm whether they're balanced or not (Toughness 6 is fairly hard to kill, Strengh 6 is pretty decent, Flurry I'm not sure of since they're only strength 3). I guess they don't have armour though unless they choose the Scalry Skin, but yeah, I'd enjoy hearing about how well they do in actual games before making judgement.