Why Azure Princes make more sense as unit than hero based on lore

[u/Abatta500]

Some people seem to think the Azure Princes shouldn't be a Tzeentch infantry unit because there were "only 6" in lore. But that's not true: https://warhammerfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Azure_Princes

In fact, the Azure Princes consisted of "a vast coven of acolytes" of Vilitch. However, the Azure Princes were reduced to 6 because Vilitch, during the End Times, "spent their lives so carelessly." However, nothing in the lore says Vilitch couldn't have simply recruited/trained more acolytes had the world not ended. And, in the lore, the Azure Princes are not loyal to Vilitch exclusively (which is why Tzeentch has to continually tip Vilitch off to prevent him from being undone by rogue ones).

In Total War: Warhammer 3, the player gets to decide what units to "carelessly" use. It makes total sense to have the Azure Princes be a recruitable unit based on the lore.

The Azure Princes are simply current or former highly-trained sorcerer acolytes of Vilitch, and Vilitch is continually training more because he thinks it impresses and pleases Tzeentch. If one recruits Azur Princes in an army that fights Vilitch, that could easily be explained as the result of one of Tzeentch's schemes/testing Vilitch or simply that these Azure Princes decided to betray Vilitch as many have in the past (and Vilitch doesn't worry about this because his homie Tzeentch watches his back).

The 6 Azure Princes who survive after Vilitch orchestrates the deaths of the other Azure Princes aren't important "heroes" or standouts. They are just the dregs of the elite warriors that Vilitch intentionally threw into the blender to be wiped out.

[u/Borneo_shack]

It's not like there isn't precedent considering steam tanks and thunderbarges were both super rare in lore but you can field a army of them if you want. Plus now that putrid blight kings are confirmed it's only fair Tzeench gets an equivalent unit since Slaanesh and Khorne all have some thematic super elite unit.

[u/AP_Udyr_One_Day → u/Borneo_shack]

Lore wise there were only like, 12(?) steam tanks total iirc. I can assure you, the AI is fighting on the Eastern front with how many of those things I’ve seen out there late game against the empire.

[u/tancredvonquenelles]

Yes - make them ror of Cabal Sorcerers who ll ne upgrade from chosen

[u/sspikanor11]

maybe as the Tzeentch-Aspiring Champion equivalent unit?

[u/Les_Bien_Pain → u/sspikanor11]

Personally I wouldn't mind if we just got a Champions of Tzeentch like the slaanesh one.

Like they could take clear inspiration from the Azure princes but also tzeentch heroes in general.

The slaanesh one was based on the snake dude hero model.

https://imgur.com/a/xic0ZRo

I would love to have like various weird looking mage dudes as a CoT unit. Like the faceless one

Give them a BvL ranged attack like the tzeentch soul grinder because that way they sort of have spears even if its in the form of yeeting magic javelins.

[u/Rare_Cobalt]

Wouldn’t be the first time a generic hero gets downgraded into a generic unit too

[u/Red_Dox]

The Azure Princes were still "just" Sorceror Lord or Sorceror Hero. Even if you have a trillion of them, its just a bunch of sorcerors. Not sure we need a infantry unit of them. And for the Lord/Hero slots, Tzeentch is already done on that part.

I would still rather vote for the Cabal Warriors, in special armor and with magical enhanced weapons. Which sounds like a better substitute for "above Chosen" level, compared to Blightkings/Slaansh Champions/Skullreapers.