Andy: When I originally wrote the Codex: Orks army list I tried to angle it so players could make up clan-themed warbands. The right paint schemes and a few choice units (I reasoned) would create a Goff warband or a Bad Moons warband by cunningly utilising the codex list. Ever since writing the codex I've intended to do a follow-up article about specific variant lists for Orks clanz and I've read a number of interesting ones on the Net (kudos to Cannibal Bob for his unstinting efforts). What follows is a simple set of roolz for theming different clanz based on the Codex: Orks list.

'OW IT WERKS

Each clan has a list of what's different about their army, broken down as follows:

CORE MOBS

The core mobs are the kind of Orks that most typify the clan. Mobs of this type may be chosen as Troops, regardless of which Force Organisation slot they would normally occupy. In addition, they may also be taken from the slot they normally occupy. For example, a Goff clan army may take Skarboyz as both Troops and Elites, meaning the army could take up to nine of these mobs in a Cleanse mission. They also have any restrictions on number removed (ie, 0-1, 0-2). A clan army must fulfil its compulsory Troops choices with core mobs.

COMMON UNITS

These are units that are common and/or popular with the clan and so have no limit on the number that can be chosen (subject to the normal Force Organisation chart limits, of course). They are still taken from the Force Organisation slot as normal.

RARE MOBS

These units are less likely to be seen in a clan warband and so become 0-1 choices. If the unit is already 0-1 then the clan may not use it at all.

Clan Warboss upgrades: A Warboss exemplifies the traits of his clan and may have compulsory wargear choices or extra options to reflect this.

Clan Boss upgrades: Many clanz have a preponderance of 'Oddboyz' – Mekaniaks or Bad Doks for example. Where appropriate they can include these as leaders for their Boyz mobz in place of Nobz. Other clanz may be distinguished more by the wargear the Nobz carry, and so this category may also contain details of wargear the character must take, or gets a points break on.

THE BAD MOONS

The symbol of the Bad Moons clan is a grimacing, yellow moon-face wrapped in a halo of black flames. Bad Moons are the richest of all the Ork clanz. Orks use their teeth for currency, and as the Bad Moons' teeth grow faster than everybody else's they are very wealthy. This is not regarded as an unfair advantage, as any Ork who is tough enough can always bash a Bad Moon on the head and steal his teeth! The Bad Moons are what passes for a merchant class in Ork society, continually buying, selling, swapping and conning to get even more teeth.

Bad Moons like to display their wealth with expensive and highly decorated wargear. They usually have the best wargear, and wear the most gaudy clothes preferring a yellow and black pattern derived from the clan symbol. They also love to spend their teeth on food, which means that many Bad Moons are a bit stout around the belt.

USING A BAD MOONS ARMY IN WARHAMMER 40,000

Core mobs: Flash Gitz.

Common units: Battlewagon.

Rare units: Stormboyz; Slugga Boyz; Skarboyz.

Clan Warboss upgrades: The Warboss receives a kustom mega blasta for free, and must purchase at least 40 points of additional wargear.

Clan Boss upgrades: Any Troops choice other than Gretchin mobz can choose to purchase a Mad Dok or Mekboy for +10 pts, instead of upgrading a model to a Nob. The Mad Dok must take three Grot Orderlies, and the Mekboy must take three Grot Oilers. Each may take any other wargear they would normally be allowed to take from the armoury.

A NOTE ABOUT NAZDREG UG URDGRUB

The mighty Ork Warlord Nazdreg Ug Urdgrub has special rules in Codex: Orks that affect the composition of his army by theming them around the Bad Moon clan. These rules should be seen as the type of army the Warlord prefers to field, and they don't exactly match the rules presented in this article. If you're using the rules for this Special Character, his own army composition rules override those presented here.

Download the Ork Clan Rules in PDF format [Download PDF - 232 Kb].

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Related Links:
Goffs Army List | Evil Sun Army List | Death Skull Army List
Snakebites Army List | Blood Axe Army List