Hello Nobles,

9th age approaching to its crital point. March/april release of armybooks. One of the best Bretonnian player Dębek prepared proposition for Rules team of 9th Age. Hope you enjoy


The Blessing
Model​ with this special rule has 6+ ward save or +1 to ward save from another sources. Model​'s total ward save​ can't be better than 4+. Model wih this special rule has also 5+ ward save, against attacks with strengh 5 or higher.​
The effect of The Blessing is permanently lost for any model that flees or it's leadership gets reduced to 0.

Lance Formation
When unit's ranks are 3 models wide, gain Monstrous Rank, Monstrous Support (R&F models only) and Fight in Extra Rank.
When unit charges, gain another instance of Fight in Extra Rank.

Beloved
When Model with this special rule joines unit which uses Lance Formation, it loses Front Rank rule and does not receive any penalties from refusing a challenge.

Vassal
Models with this Special Rule are insignificant and can use the Leadership of models with blessing within 6".

Siege Unit
When army is led by general on foot Vassal Infantry gain Fight in Extra Rank and Vassal Shooters have no penalties for shooting at long range.

Questing Oath
Models with this Oath are immune to Fear.

Grail Oath
Models with this Oath are Immune to Psychology.


ARMORY
Morning Star: Combat Weapon, +1 Strength. Close Combat Attacks allocated at a model with a Morning Star have a +1 bonus when rolling to hit. Model which uses lance during charge, can change it to morningstar in subsequent turns of combat.

Tower Shield: Count as Shield, aditionaly +1 to Armour Save against ranged attacks.


VIRTUES

Daring (25 pts)
The character’s unit adds D3 when determining charge distance.

Impetous (25 pts)
The character’s unit can rerol up to 2 dices when determining charge distance.

Agility (25 pts)
The character's unit get Hard Target special rule.

Duty (20 pts)
The character’s unit adds +1 to combat resolution.

Valour (30 pts)
The character automatically issues a Challenge and must accept any challenge issued by opponent. When in a Challenge, he may reroll all failed to-hit and to-wound rolls.

Audacity (40 pts)
When character is fighting with mundaine weapon, gains MW 2 special rule.

Might (40 pts)
When character is fighting with mundaine weapon, every unsaved wound caused by the character with normal attacks generates another attack at the same Initiative step. These do not generate further attacks.

Renown (50 pts)
The character gains Lethal Strike. On a roll of a natural 6 to wound in Close Combat that wound gains Multiple Wounds (Ordnance).


ITEMS

Dragon Lance (25 pts) Magic Weapon, Type: Lance. The wielder has a Breath Weapon (Strength 4, Flaming Attacks).

Lance of Tristan (25 pts) Magic Weapon, Type: Lance. The wielder has thunderous charge and devastating charge special rule.

Armour of Percival (20 pts) Magic Armour, Type: Heavy Armour. Any Divine Attacks made against the wielder lose Divine Attacks.

Crusader’s Helm (45 pts) Magic Armour Type: Helm (6+ Armour Save). The wearer rerolls all failed Armour Saves. Attacks made against the wearer can never gain any benefits from having Lethal Strike.

Talisman of Roland (20 pts) Talisman. If the model suffers a wound with the Multiple Wounds special rule, the number of wounds suffered is halved, rounding up.

Gaundlet of Duel: (10 pts) Enchanted Item. Challenge issued by the bearer must be accepted.

Storm Clarion (35 pts) Enchanted Item. One use only. This item may be activated at the start of any player turn. Enemy units cannot make Flying Movements during this player turn.

Wafers of Penitence Arcane Item. (25 pts) The bearer receives +1 casting modifier to dispelling rolls.

Banner of the Last Charge (20 pts) Magic Standard. Mounts in the bearer’s unit gain Impact Hits (1).

The Oriflamme (55 pts) Magic Standard. Enemy units in base contact with the bearer may not benefit from Hold Your Ground and Inspiring Presence.


LORDS


Duke 90 pts, single model, infantry, 20x20 mm base.
M WS BS S T W I A Ld
4 6 3 4 4 3 6 4 9
Special rules: Blessing
Magical Items up to 100
Single Virtue no limit
Heavy Armour 10
Shield 5
Warhorse 35, Royal Pegasus 55 or Hippogriff 120
Lance 15 or Great Weapon 10
Morning Star 10
Can take:
Questing Oath 5, and instead of taking virtue, can be upgraded to Crusade Commander 35
or Grail Oath 10, and instead of taking virtue, can be upgraded to Supreme Inquisitor 35
Crusade Commander - character and any r&f models in his unit gain hatred
Supreme Inquisitor - character and any r&f models in his unit gain magical and divine attacks

Grail Damsel 170 pts, single model, infantry, 20x20 mm base.
M WS BS S T W I A Ld
4 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 8
Special rules: Blessing, Insignificant
Level 3, Wizard Master, Light, Heavens, Wilderness, Nature
Level 4 35
Magical Items up to 100
Beloved 20
Horse 20, Royal Pegasus 40 or Unicorn 60


HEROES


Paladin 60 pts, single model, infantry, 20x20 mm base.
M WS BS S T W I A Ld
4 5 3 4 4 2 5 3 8
Special rules: Blessing
Battle Standard 25
Magical Items up to 50
Single Virtue no limit
Heavy Armour 6
Shield 3
Warhorse 25, Royal Pegasus 55
Lance 6 or Great Weapon 4
Morning Star 4
Can take:
Questing Oath 5, and instead of taking virtue, can be upgraded to Crusade First Knight 35
or Grail Oath 10, and instead of taking virtue, can be upgraded to Deamon Hunter 35
Crusade First Knight - character and any r&f models with questing oath in his unit gain hatred
Deamon Hunter - character and any r&f models with grail oath in his unit gain magical and divine attacks

Damsel 65 pts, single model, infantry, 20x20 mm base.
M WS BS S T W I A Ld
4 3 3 3 3 2 3 1 7
Special rules: Blessing, Insignificant
Level 1, Wizard Apprentice, Light, Heavens, Wilderness, Nature
Level 2 25
Magical Items up to 50
Beloved 10
Horse 10



CORE


Knights Aspirant 110 pts, 5 models, may add up to 10 models, 22 pts/model, cavalry, 25x50 mm base
M WS BS S T W I A Ld
4 3 3 3 3 1 3 1 7
Blessing, Lance Formation, Reckless
Warhorse
Heavy Armour, Shield, Lance
Morning Star +1 pts/model
Champion 10
Musician 10
Standard Bearer 10 - may become the Veteran Standard Bearer*
Reckless - When there is no characters inside, unit gain devastating charge (riders only). After all charges have been declared, each of
your reckless unit must take Leadership Test, if it did not declare a charge. If the test is failed, the unit must declare a charge against the closest viable enemy unit, if there is one. Reckless units must also always pursue whenever possible.

Knights of the Realm 120 pts, 5 models, may add up to 10 models, 24 pts/model, cavalry, 25x50 mm base
M WS BS S T W I A Ld
4 4 3 3 3 1 3 1 8
Blessing, Lance Formation, Thunderous Charge (riders only)
Warhorse
Heavy Armour, Shield, Lance
Morning Star +1 pts/model
Champion 10
Musician 10
Standard Bearer 10 - may become the Veteran Standard Bearer*


Vassal Infantry 100 pts, 20 models, may add up to 30 models 5 pts/model, infantry, 20x20 mm base
M Ws Bs S T W I A Ld
4 3 2 3 3 1 3 1 6
Vassal, Siege Unit
Light armour, Tower Shield
reliquae 80 pts/unit
must be (one choice only):
- men at arms (get spear free); may change spear to halberd 1 pts/model
- battle monks (get hatred 1 pts/model) may take flails 1 pts/model
Champion 10
Musician 10
Standard Bearer 10 = may become the Veteran Standard Bearer*
Reliquae - One of a Kind, War Platform, Stubborn. It has the same statline, equipment ans special rules as unit it joins accept wounds (6 ) and attacks (4). As long as there are 5 R&F models in this unit, Reliqae doesn't have First in Rank rule. Additionally, as long as Reliquae is alive, unithas blessing.


Vassal shooters 60 points, 10 models, may add up to 20 models, 6 pt/model, infantry, 20x20 mm base
M Ws Bs S T W I A Ld
4 2 3 3 3 1 3 1 6
Vassal, Siege Unit
must be (one choice only)
- longbowmen (get longbow and stakes); may take braziers 1 pts/model
- crossbowmen (get crossbow and light armour - 1 pts/model); may take Tower Shield 1 pts/model
Champion 10
Musician 10
Standard Bearer 10
Stakes - Unit gain Hard Target and Parry in first round of combat. All bonuses are lost after unit moves.
Braziers - Unit may use missile weapons to shoot normaly or with flaming attacks.

Foot Knights 90 pts, 10 models, may add up to 30 models, 9 pts/model, infantry, 20x20 mm base
M Ws Bs S T W I A Ld
4 4 3 3 3 1 3 1 8
Blessing, Riposte
Heavy Armour, Tower Shield
May take Halberds 1 pts/model
Champion 10
Musician 10
Standard Bearer 10 - may become the Veteran Standard Bearer*
Riposte - May attack at Initiative step 0. In that case, gain aditional +1 to Strengh and rerol to wound.

SPECIAL

Questing Knights. 125 pts, 5 models, may add up to 7 models, 25 pts/model, cavalry, 25x50 mm base
M WS BS S T W I A Ld
4 4 3 4 3 1 4 1 8
The Blessing, Questing oath, Lance formation
Barded Warhorse
Heavy Armour, Great-weapon, Barding
Can take (one option only):
- Reavers Brotherhood: lose lance formation but gain ambush 3 pts/model
- Slayers Brotherhood: may change GW to flails and also have MW2 (Large Targets) 3 pts/model
Champion 10
Musician 10
Standard Bearer 10 - magic standard up to 50 pts

Sylvan Brigands 40 pts, 5 models, may add up to 10 models, 8 pts/model, infantry, 20x20 mm base
M Ws Bs S T W I A Ld
4 3 3 3 3 1 3 1 7
Vassal, Skirmish
aditional hand weapon
must be (one choice only)
- hunters (+1 to Bs and longbow)
- villains (+ to Ws and throwing weapon)
may take vanguard 1 pts/model
may take scout 2 pts/model
Champion 10

Yeoman Outriders 60 pts, 5 models, may add up to 10 models, 12 pts/model, cavalry, 25x50 mm base
M Ws Bs S T W I A Ld
4 3 3 3 3 1 3 1 7
Vassal, Fast Cavalry
Horse
bow, light lance
may take shields 1 pts/model
may take light armour 1 pts/model
Champion 10
Musician 10
Standard Bearer 10

Pegasus Knights 150 pts, 3 models, may add up to 3 models, 50 pts/model, monstrous cavalry, 40x40 mm base
M Ws Bs S T W I A Ld
4 4 3 3 3 1 3 1 8
Blessing
Pegasus
Heavy Armour, Shield, Lance
May take Morning Stars +1 pts/model.
Must be (one choice only)
Skyward skauts (max 3 models, gain skirmish) - may take vanguard 5 pts/model
Skyward defenders (gain barding) - may take thunderous charge 5 pts/model
Champion 10
Musician 10
Skyward Defenders may take Standard Bearer 10 - magic standard up to 50 pts

RARE

Grail Knights. 100 pts, 3 models, may add up to 9 models, 33 pts/model, cavalry, 25x50 mm base
M WS BS S T W I A Ld
4 5 3 4 4 1 5 2 8
Blessing, Lance Formation, Grail Oath
Barded Warhorse
Heavy Armour, Shield, Lance
Champion 10
Musician 10
Standard Bearer 10 - magic standard up to 50 pts.

Spiritual Guardian. 200 pts, 1 model, cavalry, 25x50 mm base
M WS BS S T W I A Ld
4 6 3 6 4 3 6 4 8
Blessing, Grail Oath, Terror, Etheral, Unstable, Force from Killing, One of the Kind.
Barded Warhorse
Heavy Armour, Shield,
Force from Killing - have lethal strike, on any unmodified 6 roll to wound may recover 1 wound.

Siege War Machine single model, war machine 60 mm round base
..............M Ws Bs S T W I A Ld
machine - - - - 7 3 - - -
crew (3) 4 2 3 3 3 1 3 1 6
Vassal
may take aditional crew to increase by 1 number of wounds 10 pts
must be (one choice only)
- trebuchet 130 pts - A Catapult (3”) Artillery Weapon:Range 12-60”, Strength 4[10];[Multiple wounds (Ordnance)], Armor Piercing (1).
- catapult 90 pts - A Catapult (3”) Artillery Weapon:Range 12-60”, Strength 3[9];[Multiple wounds (Ordnance)].
- scorpion 70 pts - A Bolt Thrower Artillery Weapon:Range 60", Strength 7, Multiple Wounds (Ordnance),Armour Piercing (6).
- ballista 45 pts - A Bolt Thrower Artillery Weapon:Range 48", Strength 6, Multiple Wounds (D3), ArmourPiercing (6). If general is on foot, army may field aditional balista.

Thanks for the information.

In my personal opinion, it does not look good.

The rules as they are, probably have their pros and cons, and a skilled player will find a way to use them well; but what worries me more is the radical turn from the bretonnian fluff. I know that's the general idea of the project: to create its own fluff, but I feel, and I might be to conservative, that the army is loosing its character with every new edition of 9th age.

I am a stark supporter of 9th age, and am very grateful for their work in the time when we all thought Warhammer was lost to us, but this is not the army I collected and painted for 17 years.

@King Mislav
We don't know fluff yet, but what is not "bretonnish" in presented rules?

Reading those rules below, I don't like them. Making us weaker than we were previously. I'd go so far as to say they are bad.


I've been playing Brets (or KOE) as my primary army in 9th Age so far. I'll be honest - we're in worse shape than before. Specifics units are better (maybe even a majority of units are better), but as an army, we are worse off.

I've been fortunate and done very well with Brets over the years (Game 5 table 4 on last year's Adepticon with Brets facing End Times crud, beat super Malekith with combat resolution at Adepticon, etc.) but now I'm worried.


Positives (up to now):

+Grail Knights are boosted to be where they should be.
+Questing Knights have a purpose
+A bigger use for Grail Pilgrims
+more customization
+characters can be made to kill Rank and File, Monsters, or Characters, but not all at the same time (like in the last edition)
-Monstrous Cav big flying beast!

-No character wall - I don't think you all realize how big this will be. Our knights are squishy
-No making way to the sides or rear.
-Prices are too high on basic characters and some units
-our Peasant banners give up points
-Treb super nerfed (doesn't affect me much, as I didn't have much luck with it)
-Loss of HKB really affects things from a tactical perspective for our opponents


Looking at the proposed rules below -

Don't reduce the Grail and Questing vows from what we had before.
Don't reduce the basic strength of our core Knights. Is one S4 basic attack so bad?
Leave in the cool virtues - they were adequately priced before, if you want to gain +1 Ward Save to the unit, or anything else.
Don't downgrade the Virtue of Audacity.
Don't take away the 4+ Ward Save possibility for our Duke flying on his Monstrous Beast by nerfing the Armour of Percival.


I own 6 Armies, and three of them are Warriors, Dwarves, and even Beastmen can bring some true filth. If you haven't seen it, you won't enjoy it. I've faced about 8 armies right now, and KOE and High Elves really are taking it in the shorts. Don't make it worse.

9th Age Bretonnia - or Kingdom of Equitaine, as they're calling it, will field large armies of peasants, MAYBE with some knight support.

They've changed the premier cavalry army of the old world into a horde infantry army. We're no better than O&G to them.

So.... you are saying that this is bad, that you can setup your army in different ways and be able to win with your opponents?

It has no feel of Bretonnia - as well as 9th has no feel of Warhammer Universe. Sadly.

Yes, the army has lost its identity.

We are basicly a poor-man's empire now. Warhammer of old was designed that each army has certain strengths and weaknesses, the mixture of which defines a playing style. Some armies were versatile and that was their identity. 9th age is making all of the armies have the same benefits while at the same time having no fluff at all. I don't really see any real difference between playing Empire and Bretonnia now. We can basicly call armies now Faction 1,2,3 etc. and the units light, or heavy infantry... light or heavy cavalry.

This is in no way a critique to the 9th age staff, because I respect and applaud their effort to save a concept which was discontinued by the author, but I am doing noone a favor if I don't say what I think. Specially when its a community lead system now.

10th edition was good rule wise, and acceptable fluff wise. 11th edition was dismal rules wise, and acceptable fluffwise. 12th edition seems bad rules wise and bad fluff wise.

I have actually started to make changes to unit names and started writting my own fluff to make the army playable to myself. Because things like : Blessing: token of the king / token of the grail have no meaning at all. It is basicly: boon 1 with a bretonnishy sounding phrase.

Again, I am grateful for the work of the 9th age people and I don't want to impose my opinion... However I did not play this game for 17 years to beat all my opponents. I play sports when I want to win or loose through sheer effort. I played it because i liked the story, I liked the models and I liked the concept. Most of that is gone now.

Maybe for you. I'm happy that I can FINALLY setup my army in different ways. I don't know what is not "Bretonnish" in using one or two units of peasant which are not FINALLY a free frag. I'm spending a lot of time looking for new solutions and tactics. In Poland T9A brought renaissance of warhammer. Very good rulebook, all inaccuracies were solved and FAQ is working with lightspeed. Version 0.99 has also very good armylist. I FINALLY feel a spirit of a battle, not an inn fight with cannons and dragon.

I don't see any solid argument which is saying that Kingdom of Equitaine is not bretonnish, I think it's the most bretonnish army on the market now. Additionaly, we don't even know a fluff of KoE.

IMO the most interesting game is Warthrone which has a little bit completed but wonderful rules and lovely minis. Unfortunately this is one-man company and if this not change Warthrone never will be popular.

I understand and agree that the Ninth age Bretonnia is the most bretonnish army on the market. But that's because it's the only remotely bretonnish army on the market.

I am glad to hear that the 9th Age has brought new life to the warhammer scene in Poland. It has thrived for some time in Croatia also. I applaud this because I would like the Ninth Age system to live a long and happy life.

However, as I said, I don't like the rules, and much less the unit names or the inexistance of fluff. I see no solid argument to the thesis that this version of Bretonnia is improved.

Things like hedge knights or crusaders are quite out of place when you consider Bretonnia, more so because we had Hermits and Errantry war knights in our fluff.

What exactly would a token of the king mean, and how would it be connected with a token of the grail. Is there still a Lady of the Lake? Does she give the blessing or the Land itself? The king?

I wouldn't want go into a debate about what I don't like because I find that ill fated due to the fact that a lot of people put in a lot of work to make those rules. I have done nothing. However, I am reluctant to say that I like something, when I really don't.

To summarize: I recpect Ninth age and all it stands for. I liked GW 8th edition/2003 army book Bretonnia more.

King Mislav wrote:

Things like hedge knights or crusaders are quite out of place when you consider Bretonnia, more so because we had Hermits and Errantry war knights in our fluff.


I remember discussing Crusaders and Hedge Wizards on the old site. Good times.

I remember Errantry War Knights. But, I struggle to remember Bretonnian Hermits? What army book version were those from? (I only have 5th and 6th edition books.) Were they Hermit Knights?

Nope, not as such. Not as a unit. But I remember them being present in some stories. As a term, but not as a unit.

@King Mislav

We have The Ward Kingdom from Avatars of War and Kingdom of man in KoW.

As I said we don't know the fluff yet. For me this is advantage that I have many units that I can use. In 8th edition we had one option of setup lord and one good roster. For your argument that I can use everything for casual play, I will say that for me this is not fun when someone win with me before deploytment phase or you did wonderful maneuver, but he is doing makeway and combat reform after all. I had many situation on tournaments that my opponent knew my roster before he I gave him. Because all use the same.

What was your roster - I ve played 2 allcav armies - nobody knew them on tourneys. I von alot. Most rage was the roster with 6 units of 14 errants with 2 lorsa 4 paladiins and 2 units of 5 errants.

I used to play a lot in UK tourneys, and found that what was considered a strong build often differed from country to country, as did the local meta-game.

Not only that, but the few other Bret players I saw always had a very different army to mine.