So I've had a read of the new Necron codex, and despite the fact that, as we know, Ward usually doesn't do very well, a lot of the backstory is actually quite balanced, with less of the ridiculous overwhelming victories we've come to know him for, and less constant ranting about how incredible the race is. Obviously it makes a point of how good they are, but so does every codex, and you wouldn't want to read a codex which just tells you how sucky your faction of choice is.
There are a couple of dodgy points, but they're things which most writers get wrong, like a farseer (it's in his name and the entire purpose of his profession) not seeing things coming and just rushing into things, as if he were some kind of super-arrogant Dark Eldar Dracon, rather than holding the extreme calm and patience of a farseer and proceeding with caution and consideration. As I said, this is something that quite a few writers seem to get wrong, because the situations they create to cause the Eldar to lose just wouldn't work if the Eldar actually saw it coming as they should. Many writers still need to realise that the Eldar should be beaten on the battlefield rather than with tricks and ambushes which just wouldn't work. I'd also like to have seen a bit more about the Orks, considering that they too were one of the main forces of the Old Ones.
These things aside, the fluff is good to read, and although I think they went a bit too far with the 'personality' thing (it was a good move but they've gone almost to the point of human emotion, the loss of soul not actually seeming to change them much), this is a colossal step forward. As you read it, you'll probably notice some similarities with certain evil webway dwellers both in rules and backstory, but if getting better at writing means taking a leaf out of some good writer's books to get on your way, then it can't be bad compared to previous... 'offerings'.
Here's to a bit of optimism.
Any other thoughts on the new backstory? Dark Eldar and Necrons shiny and new in 5th edition eh? Thought we'd never see the day.