Arthfael
11-03-2011, 07:33 PM
So wait guys, let's think it over... why actually do we care so much about the recent Necron retcon? Sure, those who like me loved the whole lovecraftian- terminator-Giger feel of the metallic, trans-dimensional zombie abominations from outer space feel the loss resulting from their transformation into "Tomb Kings in space". Sure, the Necron lord in the DoW cinematic was that scary only because he wasn't chatting like Trazyn does with Sicarius in this month's WD! But ... all things considered, we can still play the old Necrons! Better than that, we now have new units to integrate in the army, regardless of the fluff we abide by.
Consider: all the old units are here, except the Pariahs, which you can play with Lychguard rules. A C'tan (shard) isn't a HQ choice, so what?! If you decide he is in charge of your force no one can say he isn't! Sure, maybe official fluff has the Nightbringer and Deceiver as slaves of the Tomb K... Phaerons, but maybe this is just some shards. Who says they were really defeated? Some crazy Stormlord dude?
What is the fluff anyway?
The only way to justify the retcon is to see it as the evolving vision of the Imperium. In general, most of the fluff in 40k is from the POV of humans anyway, which is good as it saves a bit of mystery. So, as the Necrons started awakening and C'tan (shards) were first encountered, the latter were assumed to be to be in charge. Possibly they claimed they were, and possibly they were. Who says that crazy original high king could not have missed some of the shards? It is highly possible that these early wakers were actually anomalies.
Now, as the threat unfolds, the Imperium realises that many Necron lords can actually communicate with people and that the C'tan are shards of greater beings and serve at least in a majority of encounters their Necron lords. Thus, even from a fluff perspective the focus of the new book doesn't invalidate the old fluff, because both are actually compatible. It is up to the player to decide whether the old or the new story is the one he wants to dominate his own version of the fluff.
Obviously this is assuming the fluff in the codex won't completely close all the doors.
Consider: all the old units are here, except the Pariahs, which you can play with Lychguard rules. A C'tan (shard) isn't a HQ choice, so what?! If you decide he is in charge of your force no one can say he isn't! Sure, maybe official fluff has the Nightbringer and Deceiver as slaves of the Tomb K... Phaerons, but maybe this is just some shards. Who says they were really defeated? Some crazy Stormlord dude?
What is the fluff anyway?
The only way to justify the retcon is to see it as the evolving vision of the Imperium. In general, most of the fluff in 40k is from the POV of humans anyway, which is good as it saves a bit of mystery. So, as the Necrons started awakening and C'tan (shards) were first encountered, the latter were assumed to be to be in charge. Possibly they claimed they were, and possibly they were. Who says that crazy original high king could not have missed some of the shards? It is highly possible that these early wakers were actually anomalies.
Now, as the threat unfolds, the Imperium realises that many Necron lords can actually communicate with people and that the C'tan are shards of greater beings and serve at least in a majority of encounters their Necron lords. Thus, even from a fluff perspective the focus of the new book doesn't invalidate the old fluff, because both are actually compatible. It is up to the player to decide whether the old or the new story is the one he wants to dominate his own version of the fluff.
Obviously this is assuming the fluff in the codex won't completely close all the doors.