Making the Necrons a major antagonist for the BC makes sense in a lot of ways.

Firstly each game after DH has introduced enemies in more detail (Orks and Kroot as playable PCs in RT; Tau, Tyranids and Chaos in DW) so with players clamoring for more what better place for them to appear.

Secondly considering the Necrons natural resistance to Warp energy they will make very effective foes to PCs that depend on Chaos powers.

And, as others have mentioned, with a new Necron codex and figures rumoured to be on the horizon (maybe even around this summer) what better time to add them to the games table.

DW

CaptainSabutai said:

I think that's rather the point. Chaos is anathema to the C'tan and Necons. I don't really see "you can't corrupt them" as restrictive either, you can't corrupt Orks either, but that doesn't make them less fun.

Necrons are a great choice.

One, they're downloaded intelligences in superscience robot bodies.  According to 5th edition 40K, some of them are totally around the bend insane and that's by the standards of a bunch of guys who regularly engage in genocidal activities.  They are powerful enough to threaten players of Chaos Marine level power and are villainous enough to be clear bad guys even by Chaos standards.  They also have hyper tech loot which puts them in the holy trinity of enemies:  powerful, clearly evil, and possessing loot worth grabbing.

Polaria said:

Not sure if you are disagreeing with me or not. 

Wilfred Owen said:

Neither really. You asked why Necrons? I suggested it might be because FFG and GW are cooperating and aiming to release Black Crusade and Codex Necrons near to each other and include common elements in both.

The Cadian Gate- the "still" area in the Eye Of Terror- is (unknown to the Imperium at large) caused by ancient Necron ruins on the planet Cadia. I wonder if there will be a similar Necron-generated "still" area inside The Screaming Vortex, unmapped by the Imperium, that figures into the setting...

Wilfred Owen said:

Because it's a cool picture? feels like a good enough reason for me. Most likely we'll see Necron rules from the beastiary for deathwatch.

Polaria said:

Thanks for clearing it up.  I was not sure, that's all.

Sister Callidia said:

Me too! 

I would hope that it's more than an artwork selection and an actual part of the game. Having some stats for Necrons would be a big plus for buying this book alone, let alone giving the setting a viable enemy to work with than PDF Guardsmen.

On that thought Genestealer cult's fighting against Chaos cults and subversives could be fun as well.

Cynical Cat said:

If they do put Necrons into Black Crusade I forsee melta weapons becoming very popular. Pity about turning all that high-tech loot into slag.

I like to think of the Necrons as the GrimDark lords of order.

They want to end Chaos (and lower-case chaos) and create order by killing everyone.  Simple no?

So they'd be great foes for Black Crusade.

I'm kinda undecided on this one. on the one hand if 'crons are the main focus it becomes a session of "all flesh must be eaten" using the 40k rpg system. and on the other I'd like more than the tomb guardian and harbinger from "The emperor protects".

 Just how Tyranids are not the sole opponents in Deathwatch, I have a sincere doubt that Necrons will be the sole opponents of the Black Crusade.

It's a frickin' Black Crusade, people... While Necrons might try to interfere with a Crusade to the point where they need to be "dealt with", if the main target is not the Imperium of man, I'm going to be very, very confused.

In a completely serious way, this is what I love about early speculation with games just announced.  Based on one and a half little pieces of art we're crying doom and gloom over a possible antagonist for it.

Dulahan said:

Dude, this is par for the course. Just wait until about a month before the game is due to ship. The RT and DW pre-release boards were nightmarish in flaming nerd rage, speculation, and argument. Once GenCon hits it'll be even worse as lots of people start whining about FFG not having enough copies at the show or selling out before they got there and why hasn't my copy shipped yet. This has happened before, it will happen again.