I've been reading a lot of different sites lately picking up bits and pieces here and there, from places like Warseer and Chamber of the Everchosen. I tend to think that most of what I'm posting in this rumor list is pretty reliable, however as is always the case with these types of rumors I suggest you take it with the requisite grain of salt. I've spent the past couple of weeks rounding up what I considered to be the most reasonable of the rumors, and have sorted through, editing it to make it a bit more palatable. If anything, I hope it will make for interesting reading while we wait for the new Empire book and for more solid details on the Chaos changes. Enjoy!
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LORDS & HEROES
Chaos Lord
Price reduced by 15%, same state line. 100 points of war gear, 50 points of Gifts. Same mount options. MoT makes him a Sorcerer up to level 2. Has a couple of new as yet un named abilities. Stat wise remains the same. Other Marks are suggested to be different for Lords as well, Slaanesh giving ASF instead of +1 Init for example.
Also, the Lord comes with two as yet unnamed Specials.
First: Re-roll all Panic, Fear, Terror tests for any friendly in LOS.
Second: Must declare and accept challenges if able, may never flee as a charge reaction.
Daemon Princes
Still no equipment, and 100 points of Chaos Gifts to choose from. There have been some stat changes however, most notably they have a 4+ Armor Save and a 5+ Ward base.
Rumors suggest a properly configured Khorne DP is curb checking Vampire Lords without breaking a sweat, they also suggest you're not likely to see a DP in sub 2K games as the cost is prohibitive.
Sorcerer Lord
Still the only option for a level 4 Sorcerer. Also, TZ mark is cheaper on Sorc Lord with a different effect.
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CORE
Chaos Warriors
Expect a 3 point price drop per model but be prepared for a drop in a stat (supposedly lower initiative). Have to purchase Chaos Armor again at 2 points per model.
Chaos Marauders
Price per model has gone up, and not able to receive Marks. I expect to see less Marauders and more Warriors in the future.
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SPECIAL
Chosen
Price dropped to that of Warriors +1 ppm and have the same statline, but of course with special abilities.
Forsaken
Same points cost, d3+2 attacks, base Str 5, Ld 5. Now they follow Skirmisher and Scout rules.
Chaos Chariot
Remain Markable and have a rerollable Impact Hit upgrade.
Ogres
Points have been reduced. Otherwise, they remain unchanged.
Dragon Ogres
Toughness increased to 5.
Chaos Knights
Slight nerf to stats, but go down in points by 5 each. Unfortunately Ensorcelled Blades now cost 5 points per model.
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RARE
Chaos Warshrine
Now grant a passive aura to friendly units within 6" of the Shrine. The Aura gives different bonuses depending on what mark the shrine has.
■ KHORNE - Frenzy / +1 Attack.
■ NURGLE - Poisonous Attacks 6+.
■ SLAANESH - +1 Initiative / Always Strikes First.
■ TZEENTCH - Regeneration 6+.
Rumor has it these bonuses are cumulative, so if you have a unit of Nurgle marked Warriors with two Shrines in range they'll have PA 4+, etc.
Hellcannon
Stats have been changed and it now follows same rules as Ogre Kingdoms Beast/Cannon, also now follows Beast with Handlers rules. Uses small blast template, magical damage. It's cheaper, and has a 5+ Ward save base. And the misfire is apparently horrendous.
Dragon Ogre Shaggoth
Still sucks, have options to upgrade to Heavy Armor and Ranged Lightning attack similar to Kholek with 12 inch range (Str 4, d6+ hits magical).
Giant
Stats unchanged, but cheaper.
NEW UNITS
Brazen Knights
A unit of Chosen on Juggernauts, similar to the Blood Dragon Knights for VC. Details are pretty vague atm, but there's some speculation that other gods will have an equivalent: Disk Riders and Pleasure Seekers possibly, not sure what Nurgle would get (Toads perhaps?). The assumption is these will be rare units.
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RULES AND UPGRADES
GIFTS OF THE GODS
Expect marks to be applied as points per model however, Marks may only be available for Chosen and Knights. There is no Undivided cost for unmarked units. Gifts are being totally reworked, evidence suggests these will be evenly distributed between the different gods along with a few standards that anyone can take.
The current information suggests 2 gifts for each God, and 2 generic gifts that anyone can take. There will be a cheap and expensive gift for each.
■ GENERIC: Extended Leadership Range, Eternal Hatred, +d3 Additional attacks at base Str and Init 1.
■ KHORNE: Devastating Charge, Killing Blow
■ NURGLE: +1 Toughness but -1 Initiative. -1 to be Hit.
■ SLAANESH: -1 LD for models in contact, Pass LD test to attack. On doubles hits own side.
■ TZEENTCH +1 Channeling attempts, +d3 Casting and Dispel.
MARKS OF THE GODS
■ KHORNE: The unit gains a Strength bonus (+1).
■ NURGLE: The unit’s attacks gain the Poisoned special rule (Upgradable via Warshrine aura).
■ SLAANESH: The unit gains an Initiative bonus (+1).
■ TZEENTCH: The unit’s Regeneration increases to (4+).
ITEMS
Our arsenal is being limited severely, though right now we have only a few confirmed items remaining: Chaos Daemon Sword, Chaos Runesword, Unknown Cheap Sword, Chaos Runeshield, Armor of Damnation, Crown of Everlasting Conquest, Helm of Many Eyes.
MAGIC LORES
Lores got updated significantly, Slaanesh is almost a total rewrite except for the frenzy spell. And Shadow is available on heroes as well as Lords. The Eye of the Gods chart as we know it is completely gone.
FINAL THOUGHTS
What's missing? No information about Exalted Heroes, Chaos Sorcerers, Chaos Spawn, Warhounds, or Marauder Horsemen. There's very little about special characters too, though one rumor says that Egrimm Van Horstman is back!
If the rumors are true, there's just as many questions raised as those answered. In some ways, it looks like the design philosophy is reverting to older edition Chaos rules. In certain cases, such as the Warshrine for example - we end up with a much more balanced and ultimately more useful unit. The armor and mark per model changes are a little disconcerting, but not overly surprising either. It appears that in some meaningful ways GW is trying to push the numbers of models down further while breaking some of the cheese (Chosen+Shrine Deathstars). Which ultimately could be very good for the game, especially if they take a similar approach in breaking up the cheese in other lists as well.
In short, I hope the changes will encourage more varied lists in future Chaos armies.
Subject: Chaos Rumors 
25th March 2012, 5:48 pm
