New Ship (Eldar Nova)

Nova Class Light Cruiser (150 points)

The Nova class is a frightening new encounter among Eldar fleets. Originally mistaken for the Aurora class (indeed, it may simply be a modification of the same hull), the Nova is a fleet support ship which fights at an unusually long range for an Eldar vessel, one matched only by the Void Stalker battleship. Its fearsome lances outrange Imperial weapons short of a Battlecruiser, although its torpedo armament is good for little more than harassment.

Type/Hits	Speed		Turns	Shields	Armour		Turrets
Cruiser/4	15/20/30		Special	Holofields	4+		0
Armament		Range/Speed		Firepower/Str.		Fire Arc
Keel torpedoes		30cm		2		Front
Prow pulsar lance		45cm		2		Front

Famous Ships
Whelm, Lightfall

New Ship (Chaos Agony)

Agony Class Light Cruiser (130 points)

 

The Agony class is a variant of the newly popular Torment class, and account for a quarter to a third of all the newly built Chaos light cruisers. Agonies typically use their speed to intercept or pursue a convoy of transports, then release their deadly nest of attack craft. Only one Agony has ever been hulked by Imperial forces, the majority use their speed and manoeuvrability to escape and disengage if threatened by serious military force.

The Wrathbringer was hulked by the Dauntless class Exemplar of Perth after being hounded by the Inem Via squadron of escorts. Imperial fleets in sectors with increased sightings of Chaos Light Cruisers are bringing more and more escorts and light cruisers of their own in response to this threat.

A few Warmasters use light cruisers to bulk out their fleets of large cruisers, rather than to enact skirmishes and pursuits, particularly they are more easily constructed at poorly-resourced worlds. Such light cruisers are usually of the Agony pattern, increasing the attack craft capacity of the fleet at a reasonably low cost. The Fallen Pains squadron which ravaged the Decate system was comprised of one ancient Devastation-class cruiser and two newly built Agonies, a lethal combination of carriers.

 

Type/Hits	Speed		Turns	Shields	Armour		Turrets
Cruiser/6	30cm		90*	1	5+		1
Armament		Range/Speed		Firepower/Str.		Fire Arc
Prow weapons b.		30cm		2		Front/left/right
Dorsal launch bay		Swiftdeath: 30cm Doomfire: 20cm		2		-

 

Famous Ships

Wrathbringer, Scourge of Andrias

 

Notes

Agonies have advanced thrusters which provide +5d6 to movement when on All Ahead Full orders instead of +4d6. They also possess advanced sensor and communication arrays and adds +1 to its Leadership value after rolling.

The Wrathbringer can remove this sensor array, losing the Leadership bonus, to increase its prow weapons battery to Firepower 6 at no extra cost.

Any Agony class may take Dreadclaw Assault Boats for +10 points.


Comment
Well, there we have the third of the Chaos Light Cruisers. I've tried to differentiate them in construction and tactics from any existing vessel while making them interesting and useful in game. Let me know what you think!

New Ship (Chaos Flagellant)

Flagellant Light Cruiser (110 points)

The Flagellant class is a simplistic and fearsome vessel, designed solely for close combat. Weapon batteries are mounted dorsally, with the would-be-broadsides dedicated to extra teleports and point-blank assault craft, the prow reinforced and optimised for ramming, and the crew utterly murderous.

Flagellants pose their greatest threat when able to launch a surprise flanking attack on an already-damaged vessel, although some less cerebral Warmasters have been known to charge these ships in first to soften up Imperial forces before following with traditional cruisers. Flagellants are seldom seen working with the Agony class light carrier, and only occasionally with the Torment class. Flagellant captains tend to view tactical thinking as unnecessary and boring.
 

Type/Hits	Speed		Turns	Shields	Armour		Turrets
Cruiser/6	30cm		90*	1	6+ front/5+		1
Armament		Range/Speed		Firepower/Str.		Fire Arc
Dorsal weapons b.		30cm		6		Front/left/right

Famous Ships

Riptearer, Screamer, Red Annihilation

Notes

Flagellants have advanced thrusters which provide +5d6 to movement when on All Ahead Full orders instead of +4d6. Additionally, they possess a variety of close combat devices on the prow: claws, buzzsaws, drills, melta dischargers, and devices similar to Imperial power rams. A Flagellant which rams another vessel does 1 automatic HP of damage in addition to the normal ramming damage.

Flagallant crews are always fanatical and brutal, loaded with every possible close-combat device. They double their hitpoints for boarding purposes as well as gaining a +1 bonus to hit and run attacks.

New Ship (Chaos Torment)

Chaos Torment Light Cruiser (115 points)

 Emerging from developing port-worlds in the Eye of Terror, light cruisers are a new addition to the Chaos fleets. Of this frightening new development, the class known as Torment is by far the most common, representing over half of all the new patterns in use.

Lacking the long-range weaponry of the elder Heresy-era cruisers, Torments rely on speed and savagery at close range. Extremely lethal to convoys alone and a direct threat to capital ships when acting in wolfpacks. Additionally, they are far easier to construct and maintain than the full-sized heresy cruisers.

Lexati the Bloody, named for its sadistic captain, led a trio of Torments in lightning strikes against Imperial shipping, outmanoeuvring cruisers and outgunning escorts. A lucky shot smashed Lexati’s bridge, discoordinating the raiders. However, other competent Warmasters are increasing the construction of Torment and other light cruisers, in order to emulate Lexati’s earlier success.

Type/Hits	Speed		Turns	Shields	Armour		Turrets
Cruiser/6	30cm		90*	1	5+		1
Armament		Range/Speed		Firepower/Str.		Fire Arc
Prow weapons b.		30cm		4		Front/left/right
Port weapons b.		30cm		4		Left
Starb. weapons b.		30cm		4		Right
Dorsal weapons b.		30cm		4		Front/left/right

 

Famous Ships

Asurgent, Fanatica, Lexati the Bloody

Notes

Torments have advanced thrusters which provide +5d6 to movement when on All Ahead Full orders instead of +4d6.

The Torment class is packed with additional teleports, short-range boarding missiles, EMP launchers, and other short-range disruption techniques. Torment class ships gain a +1 bonus to Hit and Run attacks.

The Torment class cruiser is an entirely new hull design, and so a challenge to model. Wargames Romania have articles detailing how to kitbash, using one Imperial cruiser kit and one Chaos cruiser kit, each both an Imperial Grand Cruiser and a Chaos Light Cruiser, the design of the latter being perfect for a Torment class.