Jubal I do see what you are getting at with the pikes, but I honestly don't see how that can really be factored in appropriately. Everything you say is of course correct, just, a little, well, impratical for a slightly abstract game.
With regards to the shooting, I honestly feel that shooting is probably a little too inaccurate but we'll see what other have to say about that. As far as Initiative goes, I was working off the assumption that Initiative would be a stand in for just natural speed. It does seem to be the way GW looks at it. In that case, the hand speed of an Elf would be such that he would nock, draw and loose faster than a human. Hence working into the multiple shots. But we'd still have to see how that would translate into game terms.
And thanks mate for setting up the board, I'll start shifting stuff over soon.
@ SilverWolf: I think I should really post the changes for weapon types that we are looking at:
Hand Weapon: Acts just as it does now.
Heavy Weapon: (Choppas, Morning Stars, Saurus Macahuitls) +1 Strength on first round of combat. (Same as now, but its an actual category now. Can't be used in conjunction with shield for Parry bonus.)
Great Weapon: +2 Strength, -1 Initiative.
Spear: Fight with additional rank, +1 Initiative.
Pike: Fight with 2 additional ranks, +2 Initiative.
Halberd: Fight with additional rank, +1 Strength for front rank.
Additional Hand Weapon: +1 Attack.
Buckler: +1 Armour Save in Close Combat. (This is the Parry Save.)
Shield: +1 Armour Save, +1 to Parry Save.
Heavy Shield: +1 Armour Save, +2 to Parry Save. (This is experimental for Chaos Warriors. The issue being that this will tip them over to a 1+ Armour Save in Close Combat.)
Tower Shield/Pavise: +2 Armour Save at Range.
Lance: +2 Strength on Charge, +1 Initiative on Charge.
Cavalry Spear: +1 Strength on Charge.
Note: Parry save only works on foot. On the other hand, unlike 7th, both Great Weapons and Additional Hand Weapons will work the same, mounted or not. Impractical in real life, sure. Cool as hell, and sort of wanted for game balance (Questing Knights, looking at you) I think so as well.
@ Night Angel: Mate that's good, I also want the Incantations back. As far as the new book goes, myself I'd push for dropping the Necrosphinx. I personally don't like it for several reasons, not the least of which being that it looks sorta weird. On the other hand the Warsphinx should probably stay cause that's pretty cool.
I think that's everything, please keep this up guys, this is very helpful.
Cheers,