[X] Moderate Deviations from the Codex
I feel like this option just balances risks and rewards the best.
Comparing with Significant Deviations, the second best option in my opinion:
ADVANTAGES
I. Flexibility
(Moderate) Enhanced Flexibility: Provides significant flexibility to adapt to various combat scenarios unique to the Great Crusade.
Vs
(Significant) Maximum Flexibility: Allows the Legion to fully adapt its tactics, strategies, and organization to the unique needs of the Great Crusade.
Both options provide flexibility, and having absolute maximum of it does not seem that valuable
II. Specialization
(Moderate) Specialization: Allows the Legion to develop unique tactics and strategies tailored to their specific strengths and the current conflict.
Vs
(Significant) Unique Identity: Establishes a distinct identity and combat doctrine, potentially increasing effectiveness in specific theaters of war.
Again, Moderate gives the boost in this area. While not maximized, the advantages in Significant are also "potential" and not guaranteed.
The increase in advantage just does not seem That good
III. Positive impact on Space Marines' personalities
(Moderate) Morale Boost: Fosters a sense of innovation and autonomy, potentially boosting morale.
Vs
(Significant) Innovation Encouraged: Strong emphasis on innovation and creative problem-solving.
Innovation is encouraged in both options. Moderate seems good enough
IV. Final thoughts on advantages
While Significant Deviation, of course, provides better advantages, and I would choose it in absence of information on disadvantages, the benefit just does not seem to be that big.
Let's now look at the disadvantages
DISADVANTAGES
I. Inconsistency
(Moderate) Greater Inconsistency: Increased deviations may lead to significant inconsistencies in training and operations.
Vs
(Significant) High Inconsistency: Significant deviations can lead to substantial inconsistencies and potential operational chaos.
Both disadvantages are potential and not guaranteed, which leads me to believe they may be counteracted with future actions. While Significant's option does seem more severe, the difference is comparable to the Advantages difference between the options, which is not That big. If all options were like this I'd choose Significant
II. Conflict with other Legions
(Moderate) Higher Risk of Conflict: More untested and unique tactics can result in more serious conflicts with other Legions.
Vs
(Significant) Isolation: May result in the Legion being viewed with suspicion or hostility by other Legions.
One of the tie-breakers for me. The names of the options suggests that Isolation is practically guaranteed with Significant option.
While Lorgar, being a social primarch, has a good chance at mitigation social conflict, I still view this as a big problem. If we want to change the Imperium or the course of history, we would probably do that through social actions and building ties, and crippling one of such opportunities at the beginning just doesn't seem worth it to me, based on all other advantages/disadvantages. Significant Deviation just doesn't have anything that would be uniquely good and not offered in slightly lesser amount in Moderate Deviation option to push the scales here.
III. Other Challenges
(Moderate) Resource Management: Balancing resources and logistics becomes more complex with less standardized procedures.
Vs
(Significant) Discipline Challenges: Maintaining discipline and cohesion becomes more challenging without the structure provided by the Codex.
Resource problems vs Social problems. I would rather have resource problems, as I believe Significant option includes resource problems in addition to the social problems it adds. Not as great a difference between disadvantages as the previous option, but still noticeable one. Second tie-breaker for me (though to a much smaller degree than Conflict with Other Legions option)
IV. Final thought on disadvantages
Significant Deviation offers much stronger disadvantages, and the difference is much bigger then the difference it brings in advantages. While a lot of it is social in nature, and therefore far more tolerable with Lorgar's social focus, I still don't feel like Significant Deviations option brings enough to the table to justify it.