Grand Cathay is doing a little not good issues to Warhammer: the Previous World – right here’s what GW must do to maintain it from ruining the sport.
It’s been a number of months since Grand Cathay launched, and the faction is already altering the sport. Whereas a brand new faction is all the time an important factor for the sport, not all the pieces is rosy in Previous World land. Cathay, and it’s Military of Infamy the Jade Fleet have proved to be very highly effective listing. Largely that is pushed by the problematic Sky Lanterns. Because it stands that is beginning to have an actual detrimental impact on the sport, so lets have a look at what is occurring and the way it may be mounted.
Cathay Is Successful, A Lot
Grand Cathay is now, statically at the least, one of the best military within the recreation. They’ve a loopy profitable report at occasions. In keeping with oldworldrankings.com the Grand Military is hovering proper round a 60% win fee. In the meantime the Jade Fleet AoI is sitting at round a 70% win fee, which is, to place it bluntly, insane.
Now the Jade Fleet has solely proven up in 11 occasions so don’t have a complete ton of information there and this quantity might change. However the Grand Military outcomes come from virtually 200 occasions with over 700 video games performed. So these really feel much more grounded. These two lists symbolize absolutely the high of the rankings as properly. The one one which comes even shut it Wild Herd which sits round 56% win fee, nonetheless properly under Cathay. Previous boogiemen like Exiles and Mortuary Cult are round 49%, 11 share factors under Cathay and 21 under Jade Fleet.
These numbers are fairly clear. Cathay is a profitable listing. However greater than that, its far too good for a listing. And that is very dangerous for each the sport, and Grand Cathay.
Why Is This So Unhealthy?
The present state of affairs is simply not good. A military turning into so good and so dominant is dangerous for the sport and particularly occasions. Now look, Cathay being this good isn’t “ruining” the sport. You’ll be able to play with out Cathay, or restrict them, nevertheless it does have very dangerous results. For occasions, it will possibly flip individuals away. I’ve spoken to individuals who have gotten turned off from occasions that aren’t doing one thing concerning the lists, as a result of they don’t see a lot level in going to them as issues stand. It’s not a lot as concern of dropping, its that Cathay is so good, and a few of its items are so oppressive, that dropping to them isn’t any enjoyable, and you’ve got virtually no probability of profitable. Nobody desires to pay a whole bunch of {dollars}/kilos/euros/and many others. to go and have a foul time.
On high of that is the truth that Cathay lists in aggressive play don’t have a ton of variation. It’s principally the identical couple of vital items (cannons, lanterns, Shugengun, possibly Miao Ying) with minimal Jade Warriors/Lancer assist, in a number of mixtures. So taking part in this military a number of instances doesn’t actually provide quite a bit new. The one factor worse than having an unfun recreation and dropping to an OP military, is doing that to the identical military over, and over, and over.
It’s Unhealthy For Informal Play As Properly
This has a fairly detrimental impact for informal play as properly. There are people who find themselves genuinely enthusiastic about simply taking part in Cathay and aren’t aggressive gamers. Nonetheless a military being this good and having the popularity that Cathay is getting, is dangerous for them as properly. Cathay is getting numerous hate fee now, and it will possibly rebound on to individuals who simply need to play it for enjoyable. It’s the “attempt laborious” military, and if you’re an informal participant you could not need to play it due to that. Attempting to simply construct a enjoyable listing with Cathay will be laborious, you may accidently construct a extremely OP listing. I do know some gamers who purchased Sky Lanterns as a result of they’re a cool mannequin after which discovered with horror that utilizing them would get them labeled a sure manner. That sucks for everybody.
I actually began a Cathay military after they got here out, however I haven’t actually performed them a lot. I simply don’t really feel its appropriate for informal enjoyable play in its present state. With the intention to construct a model of the military that’s, I’d principally need to construct a purposefully dangerous and boring model of the military. I’ve bought different armies I can play as a substitute which might be much more enjoyable (just like the new Renegade Crowns!). All that is to say that a military being this good isn’t simply having an impact on the occasion scene, however does have an effect on informal gamers.
What Can Be Finished?
So how can we repair this example? Properly it’s a bit sticky. For occasions they will flip to military composition (comp) guidelines to attempt to restrict this. Many have, specifically they’ve made certain that cannon -1 to motion rule doesn’t stack and have restricted what number of Sky Lanterns you’ll be able to take. That has some impact, although it has returned us to the struggle over who has management of the sport. However this impact is a bit restricted. And it’s neither equally utilized, nor does it handle the foundation points or informal play.
Finally it is a repair that should come from GW, and the earlier the higher. Comp can patch issues up a bit, however the military has some actual points which might be bleeding over into the sport as a complete. The largest factor is clearly that Lanterns have to be modified, and I’ve talked about how that may be performed. However the military possible wants a number of extra fixes that that to actually convey it in line. And if we’re being trustworthy, it possible received’t actually get there till it will get one other wave to convey it extra items and assist steadiness it out. Even in case you nerf the robust stuff now, there simply aren’t sufficient different items to actually make it a brilliant balanced and various listing.
Is There Hope?
Now there may be one good signal on this entrance. GW has not but launched an FAQ for both of the Cathay books. Now certain these are comparatively new books, however the Warfare of the Settra’s Fury, which isn’t even out but, did get a fast errata rushed out. In the meantime Cathay has been out for round 3 months, which might be loads of time to place out a standard FAQ for that e book. It’s attainable that FAQ has been delayed to permit GW to see how the military is doing and make extra critical adjustments.
That is after all just a few hypothesis. There may very well be loads of causes they haven’t put out an FAQ for both Cathay e book but. Nonetheless it’s unusual that Cathay stays the one un-FAQ’d e book, particularly given the necessity to regulate spell casting values after the 1.5 replace. So possibly that is what taking place. Both manner this is a matter GW wants to deal with, and sooner moderately than later. All of us simply need to have a enjoyable honest recreation!
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Abe is that uncommon factor, an Austin native born and raised right here. Although he retains on shifting round, DC, Japan, ETC., he all the time appears to search out his manner again ultimately. Abe has a long time of expertise with a variety of tabletop and RPG video games, from historicals, to Star Wars to D&D and 40K. He has been contributing to BOLS since virtually the beginning, again when he labored at after which owned an area gaming retailer. He was once large into the aggressive Warhammer match scene however age has mellowed him and he now appreciates a superb informal match. He at the moment covers Warhammer: The Previous World, in addition to all issues Star Wars, with occasional dabbling in different matters. Abe mourned over lack of WFB for its complete hiatus, however has been reborn like a gaming phoenix with Warhammer: The Previous World.
