u/Coming_Second

I've wrapped up a Bhashiva campaign now, which overall I thought was fine to average. There were things I liked about it - the aesthetic flair, Bhashiva herself is a lot of fun to use - and things I didn't, namely CA's continuing inability to balance special resources so they are in any way meaningful. It was particularly bad here, because having basically infinite Iron Favour at all times meant you had zero reason to go to half the caravan destinations offered.

My main problem with it though is a narrative one. It's clear, to the point of being painful, that Bhashiva's campaign should have been set in Ind.

The macguffins are ancient relics of the Tigermens' past, which they wish to piece together to further their understanding of Kamau. Why would these things be in the Mountains of Mourn and the Darklands? Bhashiva should be shouldering the responsibility of striking back into the realm that was once theirs to find these things. As she uncovers them, she sees more of the Tigermens' past for herself, and better understanding dawns. It's the journey, idiot!

This also fits perfectly into the narrative's switcheroo (which is so obvious that the game barely pretends isn't going to happen). Apparently, Tzeentch controls this whole region. Of course he's invested himself into these relics. Of course he wants the tigers to come back, find them, and know his power! It's a story about how ambition and thirst for knowledge can always be corrupted by Tzeentch, no matter how noble the intention was.

Putting them wherever - with the Ogres, why not - dilutes and confuses this story about a people trying to maintain the home they've made for themselves while honouring their own past. It makes me wonder why CA decided to release Bhashiva now, when they don't have what seems to me an important element of her own story. Unfortunately my diagnosis there is bleak - they know GW are never going to properly expand on Ind, so they decided to just fire this character off now knowing a better opportunity would never arise. It's a real shame.