Carnival of Chaos

*The Carnival of Chaos is the sick joke of the Great Lord of Decay, the Chaos god known as Nurgle. The players int he Carnival are his corrupt followers and worshippers who have sold their souls for a twisted form of immortality though embracing death, destruction and decay - learning to love Nurgle's many and varied gifts.*

The Carnival of Chaos is one of the many Factions you can play in Mordheim: Warband Skirmish, to constitute your Warband. It was released on 28th November 2021 and has a cost of 25 fate tokens.

## Carnival of Chaos Traits

Compared to Reikland Mercenaries,

* Brethren get...
	+ Similar initial Stats, slightly lower WS and Leadership.
	+ Access to Speed Skills, but no access to special Shooting Skills nor Strength Skills unless the Brute Nurgle's Gift is chosen.
	+ Access to Nurgle's Gifts, that can considerably increase their Defence and number of Wounds.
	+ Same price to hire them.
	+ Direct access to Nurglin as pets.

## Leader: Canival Master

*The Master is a power-crazed individual that leads his coven of Daemonic entertainers throughout the backwaters of the Empire, tainting villages and settlements with disease. To the backwater peasantry of the Empire's rural settlements, the Master comes across as an exotic and charismatic showman bringing outlandish entertainment that help to keep his minions one step ahead of the patrols of the many Witch Hunter bands that rove the land.*

\*The Carnival Master is equiped with a Carnival Master Mask (Leadership +5 and Spell Bonus: 5%) and Master Robes (Spell Bonus +5%).

Leader: Leadership Range 6

Carnival Masters has access to Plague Bearers as pets, one of the best pets in the game.

## Henchmen: Brethren

*The crazed and devoted followers of Nurgle the Lord of Decay. They have totally embraced the philosophy of the Great Lord of Decay and the path of damnation is the road that they have chosen.*

 Known skills

## Carnival of Chaos Weapons & Armours

Carnival Masters have access to most common hand to hand and ranged weapons Brethren and Beastman have access to most common hand to hand weapons but no access to ranged weapons. Additionally, they have access to especial weapons (Beastmen Axe and Beastmen Sword), especial armour (Combat Robes (Def: +35 Ld: +5), Decaying Robes (Def: +25), Armoured Master Robes (Def +20, Ld: +10 Spell Bonus: 5%), Tunic and Trousers (Def: +16), Master Robes (Spell Bonus: 5%) and especial helmets (Moon Mask (Def: +12 I:-3), Fortune Teller's Mask (Def: +10; I:-3), Incense Mask (Def: +8, I:-2), Horned Mask (Def: +6, I:-1, Ld:+2), Jester Hood (Def: +3, Ld: +5,) Carnival Master Mask (Ld: +5, Spell Bonus: 5%)

Beastmen have only access to Right Hand weapons and Shields.

## Carnival of Chaos Nurgle Rituals

Carnival Masters have access to Nurgle Rituals. Sadly they are not as usefull as the skill Stream of Corruption and requires a higher investmen than it. So I tend to ignore all of them with the exception of Pestilence, that has a higher range than Stream of Corruption, and thus can be convined with it.

* Stench of Nurgle it is an area ranged attack that can make enemies and Friends loose their next turn. His range is fairly limited and after casting it has a 30 to 50% chance of affecting a model.
* Nurgle's Rot affects all enemy models in contact with the Carnival Master. They may contract Nurgle's Rot (they loose 1 wound each turn). Is less reliable than the Nurgle's Rot skill (the casting can fail) and a worst option than the rest of the spells or Stream of Corruption.
* Scabrous Hide grants Defence 80 until the beginning of his next turn. It is a situational spell, but due to its low chance to be casted is better to ignore it.
* Pestilence it is an area ranged attack that causes 1-3 wounds to all enemy models within 12 of the Carnival Master. Is in my opinion the only interesting spell.
* Daemonic Vigour Daemon followers (Nurglins and Plague Bearers) within 8 of the Carnival Master increase their defence by 15. It is not very usefull. Deamos tend to be scatered and Nurglins are not that usefull.
* Buboes may cause 4 wounds on a single enemy model. The chances of causing wounds after a successfull cast are generally between 30 and 50%, so it they are worst than Pestilence, that has a higher range and affects several targets.

## Hired Swords

For now, the Carnival of Chaos can only hire Beastman as Hired Swords:

* Beastman this is the only hiredsword option for now. However, henchmen are cheaper and more versatile than they are. Therefore, you should just aim to hire one or two of these just to fill your wardband.

## Levelling a Carnival of Chaos Warband:

All members of the Carnival of Chaos are best developed as close combat warriors, following either the Brute path or the Nurgle's Gifts path. Additionally the Carnival Master can be developed as a mixed close combat ranged warrior (like a pistolier).

### Master

They initial Stats of the master are average, so it can be a good idea to sack him if you get a Brethrem with good Stats (W:5, WS:35, BS:>30, S:35, I:35 and L:63).

The Master is the only member of the Warband that can equip a Plague Bearer, this Daemon can be obtained for free, from a rotten corpse and really helps to level up your master. Thus, you should equip him with it as soon as you get one or you can afford one. Plague Bearers are the best creature in the game.

The Master is also the only warrior in the warband that can cast Nurgle spells. However, these spells are not worth it unless you are a solo warband. Thus, you can decided to also cast aside their Master Robes for Armoured Master Robes (hopefully they will fix the Warrior Wizard skill) or Combat Robes (only if Brute is chose), and his Carnival Master Mask for a Moon Mask.

Additionally the Master is the only one in the warband with access to shooting skills, so it can be levelled as a pistolier.

### Brethren

#### Recommended initial Stats:

* 5 Wounds (since there are Nurgle's Gifts that highly increase the total number of Wounds 4 Wounds can also be an option)
* Weapon Skill greater than 30 and as high as possible
* Ballistic Skill does not matter (they cannot shoot)
* Strength greater than 30 and as high as possible (35 if you want to follow the brute Path)
* Initiative greater than 30 and as high as possible
* Leadership is not that important

### Brute Path

The Brute path follows the basics of the common melee damage dealer, such as those of Middenheim Mercenaries, Undead Dregs or Sisters of Sigmar warbands.

Recommended equipment: Moon Mask, Combat Robes and Comet Maul.

Possible skill development: Strength Increase 1, Wounds Increase 1, Initiative Increase up to 40+, Sprint, Advanced Weapons Training, Advanced Weapon Master, Brute, Hidden in the Shadows (protects them from missile weapons, and allows them to hide and do an Alpha Strike strategy), Armour Training, Strength Increase 2, Wounds Increase 2, Weapon Skill Increase up to 40+, Attack Increase 1, Strength Increase 3, Wounds Increase 3, Weapon Skill Increase up to 50+, Attack Increase 2, Strike to Injure, Combat Master, Resilient, Weapon Skill Increase up to maximum, Initiative Increase up to maximum, Quick Reactions, Lightning Reflexes, Quick Recovery, Dodge, Step Aside, Web of Steel.

### Nurgle's Gifts Path

The Nurgle's Gift path turns your warband members in a short of tank. Which is usually more effective than other tanks and makes more damage.

* They have 9 additional Wounds (+4 Mark of Nurgle, +5 Bloated Foulness) than other warbands for a total of +18 Wounds.
* They reduce reduces enemy accuracy in close combat (-10 to hit Cloud of Flies).
* They are immune to poison.
* Their lack of Strength Skills makes them more suited to carry a one-hand weapon and a buckler. So you can focus on defence and equip them with a sword and buckler to boost their parry up to 50% (Ithilmar Sword (30%), Buckler (10%) and Web of Steel (10%)).
* Not being able to access Strength Skills, reduces their maximum defence value to 27 (Moon Mask (+12), Bloated Foulness (+15)) or 37 (+10 in combat (Step Aside)) if you want to be able to move. This is not entirely a downside since the best Bludgeoning weapons reduced armour to 20.
* Their damaged is increased with Stream of Corruption and Nurgle's Rot, both of which negates armour. So it is not that important to equip a Bludgeoning Weapon.

Recommended equipment: Moon Mask, No armour, One-handed Bludgeoning Weapon (offensive) or One-handed Sword (defensive with parry) and Buckler

Possible skill development: Stream of Corruption (initially you can have your warband members unequipped and depend on these skill for damage, without increasing your rating), Mark of Nurgle, Hideous (great to have it. Fear has defensive and offensive capabilities), Nurgle's Rot, Cloud of Flies, Initiative increase up to 40+ (helps you have the initiative and make dual turns), Sprint (being able to move faster is a great help, but you would be leaving your Daemons behind, especially Nurglins), Strength Increase 1, Wounds Increase 1, Hidden in the Shadows (since they have little armour it helps them avoid ranged attacks), Advance Weapons Training, Advance Weapons Master, Weapon Skill Increase up to 40+, Attack Increase 1, Web of Steel, Strength Increase 2, Wounds Increase 2, Strength Increase 3, Wounds Increase 3, Quick Reactions, Lightning Reflexes, Quick Recovery, Dodge, Weapon Skill Increase up to 50+, Attack Increase 2, Bloated Foulness (this will reduce your movement by 1) Step Aside, Expert Swordsman (only if you want to carry a Sword, if not change it for Weapons Master), Weapon Skill Increase up to max, Initiative Increase up to max, Strike to Injure, Combat Master.

## Why choose Carnival of Chaos?

* They offer an unique an different path to hand to hand combat
* They have access to Plague Bearers and Nurglins

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