WFB4 Rat Golem Rules

[ManicMan]

Okay.. I'll just recap and then get to it:
White Dwarf 195 features a new Warhammer Quest mission which was maybe meant for an add-on but given up on.
In this, it features a 'boss' monster of the Rat Golem. Two Kit-bashes are shown for ideas for the Rat Golem's appearance. Decided I wanted one for my Skaven Army. more on that side in my WIP Skaven Army thread.

I've never played Warhammer Quest. I had HeroQuest ^_^. While it's meant to be pretty easy to convert from WQ to Advanced HeroQuest, that doesn't help me much. So I've been deciding to see if I can work out a nice 4ed Rule set for it. This is my Initial Test. As it starts as a Modified Rat Ogre, I've used that to help as a base. Lets go through the basic starts and I'll explain my reasons as we go

0 - 1 Rat Golem .... 70pts

* It's meant to be a Prototype creature.. can't have too many prototypes so it made sense to give a limit of 1. the 70pts is looking at the points for Rat Ogres and Trolls to work out a balance.. it might be a bit low but seams not too bad

Troop Type	M	WS	BS	S	T	W	I	A	Ld
Rat Golem	2D6	2	0	6	6	6	5	3	5

* based again, on a Rat Orge, mixed with the WQ stats. the Movement I'll explain a bit later when I get to the Special Rule for movement.

Special Rules:
FEAR

* Normal rules for Fear which Rat Ogre's give, but I'm debating if Terror is better as it's a bit more monstrous then just a Rat Ogre

Stupidity

* Mostly the same as normal, but the Rat Golem isn't affected by Stupidity if in Close combat (cause it's focusing on the combat), else it's always affected by the Stupidity rules

Move:
Due to the erratic nature of the warpstone power and its prototype nature, declare a direction it will be moving and roll 2D6 and the Scatter die. If the scatter dice is a HIT, Move the Rat Golem the number of inches on the 2D6 in the direction stated. If the Scatter die is an arrow, adjust the direction as shown from the intended direction, and move the number of inches shown on the 2D6.

* Right.. it's meant to move a bit erratically, the WQ rules basically have it pick a random hero and a random number of points which it can use to move towards the hero and attack it. I decided to make it a bit more erratic and based it on a mixture of Goblin Fanatics and Catapults. This way you get to pick a target (which isn't random like the original) but with the Scatter die, it gives a bit of randomness to it's real direction. the 2D6 also gives a bit of a random value of how far it gets. the full description for the troop (Which I took from the WD article) does say about how erratic the warpstone power is and how it has problems with braking down, so I think giving a semi-random direction and distance works for that. Also balances out the high-ish stats. It should do some nice damage IT if can get into combat, and it'll be tricky to take down

Regenerate

* via the WQ rules for it, it can regenerate wounds, so I thought the best way to convert that over is to use troll regeneration rules. Basically, after wounds have been taken, roll a D6 for each wound the Golem suffered in that round and if it's a 4+, it has healed that wound.

Magic Resistance

* it's meant to be resistance to Magic on a die roll.. So are Stone Trolls.. So I used there rules. On a 4+, a spell doesn't affect it.

I think that basically explains my reasoning for the values. As I'm not even sure if I'll ever get a game in with him or anything so until I work out one of the 'solo' play Warhammer Fancy battle games, I'm not gonna be able to do much direct testing.

To make easy reading, I'm attaching a PDF of these initial rules.

Main things I'm not too sure on are the points cost (should be a bit higher? no.. I think it's high enough with the one model limit) and the Fear.. cause like I said, Terror might be better. Welcome any thoughts and tips ^_^

 

[Eric]

Very cool. The semi random movement certainly sounds like it could be entertaining in a game. Out of curiosity I wondered what on earth the cheesy AI tools might make of a "Rat Golem" ...



Well that's creepy!

 

[ManicMan]

by 'Ai' mean copy and past bits of other peoples work together ^_^; I'll be happy when people figure out that a simple bit if code isn't artificial intelligence and you aren't allow to just rip-off others. but oh well..

 

[sewers.of.estark]

Looking forward to seeing your kitbash for the figure!
Love the idea of including one in a Skaven army and I think the rule set you have drafted up here seems balanced to me. The statline along with regeneration might say that you should increase the point cost a little bit but I think the drawbacks presented by movement and stupidity equal that out.