Incorporating "Better Than the Rest" into Black Vasken’s Development

When crafting Black Vasken, the Tattered Prince, I drew inspiration from Gav Thorpe's "Better Than the Rest" hero creation article to deepen his abilities and narrative. Thorpe’s approach to hero creation emphasizes not only power and stats but also the integration of a character's history, motivations, and evolving path to greatness. For Black Vasken, this philosophy helped elevate his transformation from a mere statline to a symbol of Khorne's bloody might, illustrating how a hero's trials and growth shape their narrative within the Chaos pantheon.

Gav’s focus on unique abilities that reflect a character’s personal journey was especially valuable. For Vasken, this meant moving beyond basic mechanics to create abilities that reflect both his internal turmoil and his unyielding resolve. Likewise, I drew upon Gav’s idea of giving the hero a possible weakness or flaw, allowing Vasken’s brutal combat prowess to come with moments of recklessness, illustrating that even a Tattered Prince is not invincible. This balanced approach, inspired by Gav’s article, allows Black Vasken to feel like a dynamic, complex character—one who is both feared and flawed, ultimately embodying the chaos that Khorne demands.

Black Vasken is an imposing and visually striking character, drawing on the powerful influences. His black armor, stands out as a blend of heavy, menacing plate, emphasizing both strength and resilience. The giant black steed he rides matches his dark persona. The horned skull helmet further emphasizes his Khorne allegiance, giving him a terrifying appearance, with the large red frill jutting from the center as a symbol of aggression, signaling that he is not just a warrior, but a harbinger of destruction.

 His lance, with its vibrant yellow and black cheetah spots, stands in stark contrast to the rest of his dark aesthetic, a nod to the chaotic, unpredictable nature of Chaos’s favor. His sword, held aloft in battle, is symbolic of his relentless ascent to champion. The frenzied, blood-soaked energy of his chaotic nature is captured in every element of his design.

Black Vasken embodies a fusion of brute strength and refined brutality, a character built to invoke fear, dominance, and a twisted sense of majesty—all wrapped in the iconic chaotic aesthetics of Khorne and the influences drawn from iconic, dark fantasy figures.

Let's get a little help from Kissy Snake... 

Slithering through the chaos of Black Vasken's backstory, we can coil together Heroic and Magic Item Cards that perfectly capture his brutal curse, deadly skill, and that delightful dark edge of his. Of course, we’ll keep it all within the 50-point mark—because what's a curse if it can't be played fairly?

Mark of Chaos: Chaos Armor 

Mark of Chaos: "KIZZEY SZNAYKE! I NEVAH PRAY, I SLAY!"

"Don’t worry, I’ll handle this, Vasken... HAHAHA!" "What are you doing? No, no! Attack there, no—wait, I’LL decide!"

Effect: The Champion may retake any failed armour save. Each time he does so roll a D6: on a roll of 1 the card must be discarded.

Narrative Tie: No death is final for the damned, and the Champion of Khorne is proof of this cursed truth. Even when pierced by spear or blade, Black Vasken refuses to fall. The last warlord of Grayskull, he stalks the blasted ruins of time — a horned revenant clad in shattered armor. But Vasken doesn’t ride alone. Strapped to his gauntlet is Kissy Snake — a warp-puppet stitched from chaos magic and childhood dread, part daemon, part Saturday morning mistake. When death comes for him, it’s Kissy Snake who screeches defiance — “NOT TODAY, BONEBRAIN!”  But chaos grants no favor freely. Each time she helps, the strain grows, and on a roll of 1, the link snaps — poof — she’s gone, banished back to the Realm of Forgotten Sidekicks. No reruns.

"You’ll never be rid of me, Vasken. And why would you want to? Look at the fun we have!"

This version:

• Retains a strong narrative of internal chaos while being grounded mechanically.
• Adds a thematic tie to eternal champion.
• Keeps the high-risk, high-reward feel without swinging too far

"Khorne does not care from whence the blood flows."

Magic Slot One: Custom Chaos Weapon – “Bloodsword” (50 pts)

The serpent coils tighter around my arm, her scales shimmering darkly. “You feel it too, don’t you? The pull of the blade, like a heartbeat in your hand, pulsing with power,” she whispers in my ear.

"The blade thirsts for blood and grants its wielder strength through slaughter."

A sword forged from a smoldering meteorite, reforged a thousand times, its blade thrumming with untamed energy. When brandished aloft by a brave warrior, the sword’s power surges through his veins, swelling him with strength that hardens to unmatched might.

 Simple, iconic, with a direct punch in keeping with a chaotic, blood-soaked vibe.

• Base Effect: +1 Strength and on last wound, after failing armor and Praise of Khorne saves, the bearer may roll a 4+ to regain a wound once per game.

Kissy Snake tilts her head, her yellow eyes gleaming. “They say the blade was never made for mortal hands, and yet here you are, daring to wield its fury,” she chuckles.

Final Thoughts:

Kissy Snake flicks her tongue in thought. “Hisss... 50 points feels just right for the Bloodsword. It strikes a fair balance — sharp enough to be deadly but not so overpowered it skews the game. It’s perfect for strategic play and fits seamlessly with the costs and balance of Warhammer 5th edition magic swords. What do you think?”

I'm glad we could refine it together! Does this feel like the right balance for Bloodsword?

Kissy Snake circles my neck, resting her head just under my chin. “Chaos thrives in the hands of the bold, and few have been bold enough to claim this weapon as their own—how much of yourself are you willing to give to tame this blade? she rears her head back, her fangs glinting.