The Dread Pageant

Welcome to our rundown of The Dread Pageant. Make sure you catch our podcast coverage of the release. For everything out with this release window, follow these links:

Thanks go to GW for providing a review copy to make this content possible.

Introduction

[D]AVY, [P]HIL, [B]RIAN, & [S]KYLER

B: I had a lot of experience with Dread Pageant back in Direchasm days, which I saw them as a Take&Hold warband due to their objective deck, with Control aspects in their power deck. Can't wait to see this warband back on my table!

WARSCROLl

B: Feels very similar to their previous inspire condition. With second edition having more health on fighters, and attacks generally landing more often, this could mean a easier time to get this warband inspired more often. I'll call it a win. And very Slaanesh.

P: Gotta take a little pain with your pleasure, am I right?

B: +1 move while charging, but they have to be inspired... and damaged. Nope, don't love that. Could be nice in a pinch, but I think it'll rarely come up as making the difference to make that move 5 charge. I see this a thematic, but largely inconsequential.

B: A 1:1 transfer of the previous faction Gambit card. Can be used on your own fighters to trigger some ability synergies.

P: The fact this ping wasn't changed to have any kind of restrictions about only hitting undamaged fighters or not hitting vulnerable fighters feels exactly like how I want a warscroll ability to have that little extra something.

B: Similar to the previous "Lure of Slaanesh" but now you cannot use all the pushes on one fighter. Could be fantastic if you can time it to use on 2-3 fighters. Always a fan of having push tech at your disposal.

P: Feels like we should have some kind of tag line for pushes at this point... Because this is gated behind being damaged it will be interesting if there is a world where it pays to use cards that damage your own fighters.

B: This is cool. Since Guard tokens cannot be flipped by Stagger tokens anymore, they're very powerful assets. Could be a great way to start round 2 on Treasure tokens.

P: The fact this can be multiple fighters is a really nice bonus!

B: "Try again" attack abilities are always a welcome tool. The fact that it had to contain no successes feels very appropriately Slaanesh as they guffaw at the possibility.

P: While I don't know how often this will trigger, I do love the flavor.

FIGHTERS

Uninspired
B: Feels very familiar in stat line here. Cool idea to have range two spears only dealing 2 damage if adjacent. Previously he was only worth 1 bounty, but now he's worth 3, oofdah. Thats rough but I love the narrative self-importance aspect, and likely going to lead to him leading from the rear as a leader.

Inspired
B: His spear becomes a single profile and gains a third dice on top of Grievous. First edition he had Range2, 2Hammer, Cleave, and 3 damage. Overall I think this is a better attack profile.

P: Yowza, range 2 with 3 damage isn't something we are seeing much of this edition. Definitely watch out for this guy starting to stab away.

Uninspired
B: Slakeslash has the exact same profile as he did in first edition. Although he and Vasillac now lack their fighter abilities to heal after a successful attack. Might have expected they each gain a health point to compensate, but oh well.

Inspired
B: Slakeslash gains an attack profile dice, and nothing else. Same as first edition, but a health boost up to 6 would've been nice to see and replace his heal ability.

P: While I agree it is kinda sad to see the heal go, I think the general drop in damage will keep these guys pretty tough.

Uninspired
B: Glisette in first edition was the uncrowned best fighter in the warband with two dodge and always on Guard. Sad to see that is no longer the case. I suppose she took too much glory away from Vasillac. Weapon profile is consistent with before, plus the new edition two profile spear paradigm. Three health is nice to see, but a far fall from two defense on guard, down to just one dodge. She has lost a lot of luster.

P: Yeesh, that's not a hit from the nerf bat, that's a solid smack with a nerf sledgehammer! But, as you say Brian, this is the Vasillac show so we can't have Glissete stealing the spotlight.

Inspired
B: Thankfully Glisette inspires to two defense, and gains an offence dice boost in her attack profiles. She's still a decent fighter, as I think she's been brought in line with Hadzu in their rank within the warband. I'll just mourn the Glisette I knew in first edition, although she was a source of Negative Player Experiences for many of my opponents.

Uninspired
B: Hadzu still looking fabulously expendable as ever. 3 health now instead of two health in first edition. The addition of Grapple to his attack profile accomplishes his previous fighter ability from First edition.

Inspired
B: Hadzu gains a second defense dice, and his bow attack goes to range 4. consistent with first edition iteration.

P: Did he really go to range 4? (D: Indeed he did) The more you know. Gotta say, the prospect of grapple at range 4 is pretty spicy. Plenty of control potential there.

Summary

B: Can't lie I'm sad to see no translation of "Shared Pain" in second edition (D: Meeeee toooooo), but boy that was a gotcha card. I feel they are still well equipped to do what they did before. Generally hold objectives and fight. Much less control aspects in their warband, but I think Countdown to Cataclysm and decks like it can provide that utility. Can't wait to give these old favorites a go once again!

The Mortal RealmsNovember 23, 2024Comment