6th Edition Warhammer 40K Rumours

Rumours for 40k 6th Edition have arrived. But unlike all the other 6th Edition 40k posts, I'm just going to get straight to the meat!

There's LOADS of stuff, so take it all with a pinch of salt (and a flaggon of ale) as usual. But we're potentially looking at a VERY strategic game of Warhammer 40K. And you know how I'm all about strategy with my Space Wolves.

Frankly, I was wondering how the hell anyone was supposed to beat these Grey Knights, but anyway...

first real 6th edition codex: Codex Chaos Legions, really big release in three waves, doesn’t invalidate Codex Chaos Space Marines which gets extensive White Dwarf update as Codex Renegade Space Marines

two starter sets, each with rules, dices, movement markers, mission booklet, one with Dark Angels and fitting scenery, the other with Black Legion and Chaos scenery. You can combine both to play the campaign or use one set alone to play a selection of dumbed down scenarios against every other force, first starter set that comes with a model for a well established special character

All codexes since Codex Tyranids were written with the new rules in mind, especially the new mission and reserve structure

The main design goals are: one book to rule them all, heroic characters, visceral combat, streamlined mechanism, cleaned up presentation and strategy before chance

similar ballistic to hit chart as wound chart: compare BS to target’s speed and unit type. BS 3 hits moving infantry on 4+, but lightning fast jetbikes on 6+ and stationary tank on 2+

victory points are back, but with another twist: you get two victory points if an unit holds an objective for an entire game turn, if a scoring unit holds one, you get three and one if you destroy a squad leader or vehicle

before the game there is a bidding contest for the opportunity of the first turn, if you bid more strategic points you can go first, but the enemy can spent these points on stratagems as in Cities of Death: 22 generic stratagems – for example for one point you can decide on night fighting or place an automatic gun, for four you can shift your reserves, most expensive stratagems are at 12 points and are really drastic, every unspent point can be used once a game for a reroll

Even two identical armies will play completely differently due to A) the bidding effecting what the first turn player has left to spend and B) the player who didn't bid so hard, now has cards up his sleeve to deal with the fact that he is going second

Players can customize their tactics to fit their playstyle vice using units they otherwise would not want in their list to meet a "meta" standard

The stratagems being drawn from the same book means that there will be no calls of shenanigans and all players will have access, so there is no basis for a claim that you were beaten by codex creep instead of a better or smarter player

new phase “consolidate” phase for random movements, jetpack movements, pursuits, morale checks/effects and resolving shooting reactions

new turn sequence: prepare-movement-assault-shooting-consolidate

One rulebook for all

flyer rules are incorporated in the main rules

narrative rule section that expands core rules: formations, super heavies, gaining experience

modular rules, core rules can easily be expanded by narratives rules or another expansion set

Heroic characters:

independent characters more powerful, armour save and invulnerable save at the same time

squad leaders more important, no more 50% rallying threshold, unit can rally as long as squad leader lives

independent characters can snipe

More visceral combat:

standard cover only 5+ now, Feel No Pain (1) only on 5+

slow slogging units very vulnerable

some weapon types are specialized in taking out specific unit types and are incredible good at doing this (sniper vs. infantry without armour), but on the other hand ordnance vs flyer isn’t going to do much

streamlined:

no more random movement at all

5 general types of psychic powers

wound allocation like 4th edition on unit basis, but attacker can chose every 5th wound to go to a single model (sniper weapon every second wound)

artillery is normal immobile vehicle squadron, crew has no other game purpose than to be a counter for rate of fire and attacks

clean up of combusted rules:

there are tiers for most of the special rules. Instant Death (2) circumvents Eternal Warrior (1) for example. Feel No Pain (1) is 5+, Feel No Pain (2) is 4+ and Feel No Pain (3) is 3+. If no value is given, the special rule is tier 1.

no more difference between leadership test and morale test - more streamlining

terrain rules on a single page, true line of sight, non-vehicles models are ignored altogether, rules for special terrain like bunkers, ruins or deathworld mangroves in narrative rule section

less randomness, more strategic options:

more elaborate reserve rules, can nominate turn of arrival and has only small change to arrive earlier or later, or can intervene behind enemy lines, arrives randomly but can hinder enemy reserves, must be distributed evenly between turn two and three, later arrivals only randomly

This is pretty cool and reflects what battlefield reserves are meant to do and once again, like the assets, makes the player more of a factor than his list)

no more random game length

When looking at the bidding system for turns, this really means that the player who bids to get the first turn gets what he pays for and vice versa

no roll for first turn

deep striking units more than 18” from enemy away don’t scatter, but landing in 6” is much more dangerous

movement impairing effects from pinning weapons even if morale check is passed (if roll is above halved Ld), Fearless not immune to this, but only effected if rolled over full Ld

more reactions to shooting than going to the ground depending on unit type and special rules. bikes can evade (3+ cover as same as before, but cannot assault or shoot next turn), jump troops can fly high, units with Stealth can attempt to vanish

40K 6th Edition Thoughts

It looks as though Warhammer 40K 6th edition is going to be a lot more strategic.

From what's being said, it will be more about the player than the army they are playing.

Now, I'm all for that, because I play with strategy to win my games, not just the latest army. However, there are some elements of this which concern me.

Bidding System
I can see some strategic bidding going on to manipulate opponents into bidding it all in a desperate attempt to get the first turn. Also, does this mean that the first turn is so important that you simply must get it at all costs? I suppose if the best cover your opponent can get is 5+, then it really must be important. But what are the Stratagems? We'll have to wait and see.

Move - Assault - Shoot
If units cannot shoot before the assault phase, then you have to question why Space Marines have bolt pistols and why Assault Weapons exist. It looks as though we'll be forced to choose between shooting or assaulting. It wouldn't surprise me to see the return of the plasma gun to favour as a result.

Speed and Size
The bigger and slower something is, the easier it is to shoot.
The smaller and faster something is, the harder it is to shoot.

Hmmm, I think the Eldar armies are going to have a field day with this one while Land Raiders get put back on the shelf because Imperial Guardsmen with lascannons can hit them on 2+. Bad times indeed.

It certainly removes the need for so many melta guns though. Perhaps the plasma gun will reign supreme once again? Perhaps this is why they included 2 in the Space Wolves boxed set?

CONCLUSION
So there you have it. Lots of little changes which collectively amount to some very big changes.

I think that the most interesting thing is how every book since the Tyranids Codex was apparently written for 6th edition Warhammer 40K.

That would lead us to assume that Warhammer 40K 6th edition will bring balance between all the armies.

But I doubt it...