I am in full agreement the slaanesh champions are lacking but when I read up on Devram I was like wow that is pretty wicked and awesome.
I've been listening to a lot of an audio drama "Chosen of Khorne" and the way it describes Kharn makes him sound like a true champion of Khorne. Not just a blood crazed killer like his counter parts in the World Eaters. He's well in control of his rage, plans his kills down to the dance between his opponents and is worthy of the title Chosen of Khorne.
I think the primary reason for this is that Slaanesh is the least popular god with the least amount of fluff support. Only a few BL novels deal with the Dark Prince and many times they paint a very unappealing picture. Just think about the Emperor's Child in the first Eisenhorn novel or Kyriss from Fear to Tread. Ugh, that was possibly the most pathetic greater daemon in existence. However, there are a few examples of legitimately cool slaaneshi CSM, like Teke the Smiling One (my avatar) from Pariah. I wish Dan Abnett would continue that series faster, the first novel was awesome. Also, I have been thinking about how to make Slaanesh more appealing. One problem with him is that while the other two gods allowing sorcerers have very unique "themes" in warpcraft (Necromancy for Nurgle, Prognostication for Tzeentch), Slaanesh lacks one. His spells are just a random mix of sound attacks and some mind-affecting glamours. I think we can provide him with one, based on Devram. Alchemy (as the creation of potions, elixirs and poisons with mystical effects) should be associated with the Prince of Excess. Think about it: Slaanesh is already associated with drugs and various chemical substances. Also, consider the thematic similarity between slaaneshi values (perfecting oneself) and the goals of alchemy (also perfecting oneself as well as metal). It is just a small leap of logic to associate alchemy with Slaanesh. Slaaneshi sorcerers would also get a unique flavour this way and could stand on equal footling with nurglite and tzeentchian sorcerers.
Consider the following: Lucius is "blessed" by Slaanesh in the way that anyone who kills him and even feels the tiniest amount of satisfaction from it, will turn into yet another face on reborn Lucius' armor. Lucius has been fighting since the Heresy, unable to die because Slaanesh won't let him. Without true threat, his sword skills would suffer, sloppier form and lazier effort and reflexes, since he knows he can't truly die. He's the Chosen Champion of Slaanesh. Ten thousand years later, Lucius may very well be the worst close combat fighter in the galaxy. Sure, he can wreck a Guardsman, take on some later founding Loyalist whelps. But against a real enemy, he'll just add their face to his armor. He is getting trolled by Slaanesh, always adding new faces, still thinking he is the strongest swordsman in the galaxy, his vainglory and pride what he feeds the Dark Prince. Tragically (and befitting the grimdark), he is the butt of a cosmic joke that he doesn't even understand.
And this is why we need more fleshed out Slaaneshi champions. Lucius is simply too limited and operates on a scale infinitely smaller than the likes of Typhus or Kharn. We need champions who drive entire sectors into hedonistic madness and corrupt the purest of the Imperium. Slaanesh is being unfairly shafted in this regard. We have a few great champs (like Devram Korda, alchemist extraordinaire), but they only get 2 lines of fluff at most. Compare this to the attention and focus given to the champions of other Gods and Undivided. Edit: I recognise that this is because Slaanesh is the least popular God of Chaos and the primary market GW targets isn't really interested in guys wearing pink and purple (since despite their historical associations with royalty, power and wealth, many ignorant cretins see them as girly colors). However, they are never going to change their opinion if the most known agents of Slaanesh (like Kyriss, the greater daemon of utter suck) are weak pansies. We need intimidating and profoundly disturbing champions, who frequently appear in fluff. I believe this can be achieved by vaguely describing the horrors these champions commit upon their foes as well as play up the super-reflexes of the slaaneshi champions in novels. I do believe Dan Abnett somewhat started this work by introducing Teke the Smiling One in Pariah, an Emperor's Children who is undoubtably a scary and highly effective badass with possible sorcerous powers. If we can make characters like this more prominent in fluff, we could surely change the negative stereotype shared by many about Slaaneshi being "weak, effeminate, gay, junkie losers".
Pre heresy - Its got to be Kharn for being a total bad ass in killing Erebus and calling out the Space Pups for being lap dogs Post heresy- Without a doubt it has to be Ahriman for refusing to fade into the void and instead harnessing it to his will and yes it does help that he not only mastered the void, but the dark arts of beno making as well
That's the thing though. For every 1 Champion of Slaanesh dedicated to perfection in the martial arts there are a hundred pleasure cultists. Slaanesh is powerful because he is insidious, not because of the strength of his arm. He is the god most commonly worshipped in secret in the Imperium. He is the Prince of Pleasure and the Lady of Excess, His lure is in every whiff of Obscura, every Lho stick between a man's lips and every man and woman who has spread their legs for the sheer pleasure of it. She Who Thirsts isn't weak, but She's also not particularly strong when compared to the sheer might of Her elder brothers.
Typhus the Traveller, Herald of Nurgle, carrier of the Destroyer plague and Captain of the Terminus Est. They don't get any cooler than Typhus.
