Is 40k coming unhinged? (Rant)

Well, it seems this is a terrible time to be on deployment. I am going to get back and not even know where to begin with 40k.

Whether digital or not, there is a massive flood of rules coming in and at a rate almost too fast to consume.

Starting back with 6th ed there was the introduction of allies and fortifications. I had reservations of allies, just because they seemed a little open and loose with the application of it, but with the 5th ed codices it wasn't terrible. Okay, maybe Matt Ward was stupid with things like Blood Angels and Necrons. So while nothing was overtly broken in the beggining, this was the start. As well, Fortification detachments were a necessity with the intro of flyers, but were never broken, and as 6th has evolved I think there are even less and less of them.

At first I approved of the idea of the digital supplements. They allowed for fluffier builds and captured parts of the fluff that were critical to lore but not enough to develop their own codex around. I will say some of the rules seem pushing it, and allying these supplements into forces to min/max bad/good rules is a little broken and unfair, but allies was already allowing that, so I let it slide in my mind.

One thing I WHOLLY APPROVE of is the release of Be'lakor. Finding models without rules, or classic characters, and giving them life in the game again is both fun, interesting, and great for hobbyists and veterans. If Cypher, Doomrider, Moriar the Chosen, Lord Solar Macharius, etc. etc. all got rules, that would be great. It is also hard to make a single character game breaking.

I also love the ideas of releasing scenarios and missions. Styles of play releases is a classic concept and it is just being sped up. What were city fight, planet strike and zone mortalis if not this. Things like this are just fun additions to the game, offer variety for players and typically don't fundamentally alter the meta or hobby, as most people typically dabble in it, but return to the standard format of play for ease and the sake of finding opponents and playing in tourneys.

Shifting gears, I want you to remember back to what changed the hobby forever? Apocalypse. The flood of purchases with the promise of massive formations and unrestricted force org the first time around caused everyone and their mom to go on a buying spree.

Now we have Codex: Inquisition, Escalation and the Tau Firebase Support Cadre, and I am sure there is more to come on this front. Allies already left the door open on power combos. These and future releases are just pulling the door off the hinges. The ability now for attachments in addition to the primary detachment is crazy. The idea of formations and super heavies in regular 40k is out there to me as well. I can foresee escalation going the road of Planet strike, but the formations and Codex supplements or mini digital codices are here to stay. What is the point of including these forces in your primary detachment anymore. Why not just take 1 HQ, 2 Troops and start taking formation detachments all around it? I can't wait to see the first list that has just a 25 point Inquisitor as the Primary Detachment and then nothing but allies and formations to max out power combos. That is a sarcastic I can't wait.

What is seems is that GW wants to recapture that sales success. Let everyone play with all their toys all the time. And with formations, you need larger collections of expensive models to make a  cohesive unit. So instead of having bought a 3 suit broadside team to ally, you now buy 9 broadsides AND a Riptide.Oh, additionally, don't forget to bring scoring Jetbikes in your ally detachment... and a 25pt, $25 inquisitor.

So what's the solution. Now I have seen a lot of things going around like "Ban lists" and "No allies". Now I hate putting limits on people's fun, but GW seems to be just pumping the game full of "cool ideas" and leaving it to players to sort out.

To me the most functional way is to no longer just agree on points before a game with your opponent, but the number of detachments as well. Cap it yourself.  Say you will do a 2k point game, but no more than 2 detachments + 1 Fortification, or some other such restriction as you see fit. I see this as a good approach for TOs as well. What if instead of allies I want a formation. Or instead of a fortification I want an Inquisitor. This allows for maximum player flexibility while inhibiting game breaking.

In a way it is sad to see the days of the mono-codex list fade away. I love Blood Angels, but if I step on to the competition scene I am really hurting myself without bring exterior forces in it seems. As well, unless you are able to live and breath 40k, the rate of release is definitely exceeding the average players ability to absorb the information.

In the quest for access and fun, I think the idea that it is a game, and as such requires balance, has been forgotten. Am I going to stop playing. No. I love the lore and the models. I will likely slowly become more of a collector and hobbyist rather than gamer. Heck, I am even getting into historical wargaming (already have my copy of War and Conquest). But that is a discussion for another day. For now I just hold on for dear life, because in the Grim Darkness of GW's gaming future there is only war.

What I'd Like to See- 6th Edition Codex Tyranids 2013/2014

There are a lot of rumbles and noise about the great devourer on the Internet, and lets just say I haven't read any of them. I am on a ship, Internet is slow and I am busy. But I am on liberty now, and can blog away. So I am going to post what I'd like to see in the upcoming release. Whether or not this goes hand in hand with any of the rumours is purely coincidental.

First off I have never played nids, but I have always been a fan and familiar with them, as they were one of my Brother's armies. I would love to play them, and they would be a fantastic hobby project (I would get old and new Carnifexes and Tyrants, as this is the army where some of the classic models still fit in beautifully, so much so I wish FW made new resins is the same style).

Anyway, on to the wish list

1- A mutation table. I loved this back in the 3rd ed codex. Squad mutations such as weapon beast and hive node. It was a great element to the genetic monsters, and could really add characterful models into squads of never ending chitin, breaking up what could otherwise be a monotonous paint job and hobby project, as well as being visually striking. Separate from the visual appeal, it added some tactical depth and options to squads. Think of it as the Nid version of special and heavy weapons.

2- Effective genestealers. Right now they are passe. These should be one of the most ferocious CC units in the game.

3- Speaking of Close Combat, this, of any army released in 6th thus far, should be the army that makes CC viable. While still effective, the game has definately shifted towards shooting. Nids should be the book that makes Tau players quake in thier boots. Furthermore, it shouldn't be just numbers alone that does this, as there is a limit as to the number of models a person can reasonably fit on the board. Come on, be clever now GW.

4- Speaking of Genestealers, Stealer Cult Allies would be GREAT. My guess is just allow nonvehicle/noncharacter allies from codex IG but require a Broodlord be taken as their detachments HQ and a minimum of 1 genestealer unit in the main detachment. And maybe give the IG some boost, like +1I or something to represent their foul xenos corruption.

5- A monster that can go Toe to Toe with the the Riptide and Wraithknight. If GW has to do a plastic Hierodule, then so be it. If any army was ready for a big plastic kit, it is this one. What would be cool is to see a Carnifex that is to scale with a Land Raider, but that is just me and I know that won't happen.

6- Versataile choices in every FOC slot. Even if nids get allies, they won't be for everyone. This is where having a really usefull unit in each spot on the force org chart would really be called for. The nids cna't supplement their forces to fill in their weak spots. They have to be self sufficient. What would take this concept to the next level is if the units all round are all well balanced and okay and then made GREAT though synergistic effects that focus the list around a core group of units, like a warrior-guant centric horde or a ravenor-trygon vanguard etc. etc. Themes within the army that allow it to build power off itself.

First Thoughts on SM + 2k WS/IH list

So I am still on deployment (in the Navy for those of you who don't follow me) and as such I have been out of touch largely with the 40k community and meta. BUT I did order and have delivered to my ship the new Space Marine Codex. First of all, I like the quality of the book and LOVE the fact that there is once more an Amoury section.

So I going to say "Called It". I have been a major proponent of bringing back some sort of doctrines and the having Characters buff these doctrines, rather than the doctrines be entirely character driven (like they were in the last codex). While my suggestion was to do this with Captains, I think the form they are being implemented now is OUTSTANDING. Just pick away.

I love that the Black Templars and other chapters are being rolled into it, it is great and will simplify the game. I do wish they focused on strengthening the supplements, but I am happy to see that supplements now exist. It is weird that I can have White Scars from one codex and WHITE SCARS from a supplement, but it is really up to a player to determine if they want what is extra in the supplement, and there isn't so much to make it game changing or breaking.

I have to say that while I like the Centurions, I really don't understand why they made them from a conceptual point. They aren't "vehicles" despite what the fluff says. They are just bulkier terminators and in terms of real world practicality and purpose, they make no sense. Thank goodness this is 40k though, where sense is not a prerequisite for existence.

Anyways, onto my list. This can be used as either a White Scars or Iron Hands list, though I think it is most effective as a White Scars list

HQ- Chapter Master- Bike, power weapon, auspex- 170
HQ- Master of the Forge- Bike, conversion beamer- 130
HQ- Techmarine- Bike, servo harness, grav pistol, auspex- 115
HQ- Techmarine- Bike, servo harness, plasma pistol, auspex- 115
Troops- Bike Squad (5)- 2xGrav Gun, Vet Sarge w/ Power Weapon- 155
Troops- Bike Squad (5)- 2xGrav Gun, Vet Sarge w/ Power Weapon- 155
Troops- Tactical Squad (10)- Multi-melta, Plasma Gun- 165
Elites- Terminator Assault Squad (6)- 6xTH/SS- 270
Dedicated Transport- Land Raider Redeemer- Multi-melta, Extra Armour- 260
Heavy Support- Land Raider- Multi-melta- 260
Heavy Support- Vindicator- Extra Armour- 135
Heavy Support- Hunter- 70

Pts: 2000 Scoring Units: 3 Kill Points: 12

Fist off, this is just a conceptual list that should be playable as Scars or Hands. If I dedicated it to White Scars, I'd drop the chapter master for Khan. Same effect PLUS scouts. PLUS is would buy back 20 points to spend elsewhere. I tried to keep this flexible though to give the most amount of readers some ideas or direction while list building.

The concept is to have a very fast moving heavy hitting force. It can't devastate across the board, but where is focuses it should destroy. The tactical squad is for objective delivery, and they ride in the Land Raider. With the onset of the age of the plasma, duel Raiders will be hard for anyone to deal with and should be a major pain the whole game. They also provide a good variety of shooting and should be able to engage any targets. All the characters are on bike and are to zoom around dropping auspex shots for the grav guns and TL bolters to tear apart units OR to fix vehicles. They also add some BIG hitting power in the bike squads with 2 x Power Fist attacks from the servo harnesses, +1A with them on the charge. Use bolster defenses throughout your deployment zone to weather fire fore the first turn and then zoom away, jink saving or FNP like crazy. Insert here obvious bike gravgun salvo shennanigans. Finally, there is the ever awesome TH/SS Terminators. I don't have to tell you how to use these guys. even in the shooting environ of 6th, these guys are a unit to be feared. Having a LR for delivery even more so.

10 Things I Like/Hate about You Space Marines - Discordian

So new codex, new stuff, and more marines.

Like:

1. Chapter tactics have really seen a change for the better. Pick a chapter get a bunch of neat abilities that filter through your whole list and now not character dependent. They covered a lot of the big ones and really left the door open for other ones later down the road.

2. Points reductions across the board on a lot of units that were just priced so far out of practical use (Whirlwinds, Devs, Sternguard, Vanguard). It was also nice they matched what was done with Dark Angels so that we don’t have the same units across different units have different costs.

3. Chapter specific Characters are chapter restricted to their actual chapters. I know people are going to moan about their “counts as choices” being axed, but you can always ally in other chapters because they built a smart book with multiple theme options that can ally with itself. This in my mind is what they should have done with all the 6^th edition books. But it really only makes sense with this one because they actually included the rules they have been kind of outsourcing to supplements so far.

4. Both the Chapter Master and Captain unlock bike troops. And I like that fact they made them have to be larger than minimum squad if you want to do it. The bikes might be a little cheaper than the dark angel versions but I’m glad the opportunity cost for scoring bikes work out to be relatively more. I still wish every Ravenwing biker didn't have to have their own personal teleporter homer which inflated their costs.

5. The land speeder storm becoming a dedicated transport for Scouts is a nice change. Their still dark eldar paper bag transports, but it’s great to see them changing a unit to make it actually usable.

6. Some of the first anti-air units that don’t have intercept that are actually worth taking. A lot of people are crying about not having interceptor on them so they don’t shoot at all units equally, but I don’t see that as too much a problem. Tau already do this and they have to pay a lot of points to have both on a unit, if they did the same with these space marine tanks I’m sure they’d be priced out of being used pretty easily. Right now they are great units with good stats and weapons priced in such a way that even if your opponent doesn't bring flyers you still won’t be too upset you brought them.

7. I really like the “Savant Lock” rule the Hunter has, makes me wonder if that was what was supposed to be on the Dark Angel Backsword missiles…..

8. Legion of the dammed not only got cheaper they also got new ignore cover ammo on all their guns, this combined with their already present Slow but Purposeful rule and accurate deep striking  makes them a scary disruption unit.

9. We can now officially ignore the fact “Death from the Skies” ever existed.

10. Black Templar got folded into this codex which something I sort of like. With the teases of a possible supplement to flush out the army more I’m kind of okay with this. Fingers crossed that the supplement actually happens and includes new units, not just special war-gear and force org swaps like they've done so far.

Hate:

1. I think they were too timid about FOC swaps. Some of the chapters could have really seen some better divergence by allowing some units some wiggle room. This could have also been cued to some of the special characters. Shrike could have made his infiltrating unit scoring or Calgars additional Honour Guard units could be taken as troop units, things that probably would have needed the caveat that they needed to be the warlord or the units where non-compulsory troop choices. Considering the trend of supplements this might be a non-issue, considering most of them so far have moved units into troops.

2. There is no dedicated Scout HQ unit; the closet you get is Shrike. This could have been a great change for Telion.

3. The Tonka terminators are just so weird. They look goofy and they just feel so forced trying to hog both the terminators and devastators spot lights. I get all the new codexs need to have this one new unit that you should buy, but why did it have to be these goofy power armor inside of terminator armor dudes, if they were inside of Dreadnoughts I could have not stopped myself from calling them Turduckins.

4. Grav Weapons. I don’t like how they scale, being ap 2 with what they do is just annoying. The more expensive your dudes the better these are against you. I like the to-wound mechanic and the inclusion of more salvo weapon. The real problem comes from two units that can spam the shit out of the grav guns don’t actual care about salvo rules. Everyone’s favorite Tonka Centurions and Bikes, the later really being obnoxious to me because they can be made troops, can be given scout, and have a back-up weapon that compensates for the only weakness grav weapons had left with bikes.

5. Captain Sicarius is just not really appealing and I really wanted him to be. He’s cheaper and his battle-forged unit can be picked during deployment, but he lost the re-roll to seize and just really doesn't do anything else. His special rules really don’t make up for the versatility you can bring with any other choice.

6. Grimaldus cenobytes don’t make any sense to me. They don’t have any gear or options, and the rule that lets him join other units with them seems to have disappeared. So they can wonder around giving people 6+ saves but it just really doesn't look like many people will take them.

7. The warlord traits are very boring; some of them are just worse versions of the BRB traits. I wouldn't mind one use abilities if they did something more then give out free basic USRs or re-rolls. How about “once in at the beginning of an opponent shooting phase you can declare only snap shots on your warlords unit” or “First blood can’t be scored off of you because your warlord just doesn't care”.

8. Is anyone ever going to get proper Mortis Dreadnoughts?

9. Probably not a lot of people are going to notice this but Scout Heavy Bolter Hellfire ammo got range reduced to 24”. It doesn't matter much but I've always liked the Heavy Bolter and am kind of annoyed when they keep taking away from it, in the hands of a space Marine I just wished it had become salvo or something.

10. I like that Black Templar got folded in, I don’t like that they were the only ones. I know a lot of people are going to nerd rage against what I’m about to say but I think we are at the point that GW just needs to get it over with and fold everyone into one book, and they chickened out this edition. Apart from Grey Knights all the current Space Marine books are about 80% the same book. You have a different chapter tactic type mechanic, 2-3 unique units out of 20+ units they all share, some special characters and, 2-3 unique squad war-gear.

It really isn't this hard to create a source book like they just did that could have incorporated all the basic units and individual chapter tactic set-ups, then release specific supplements to each of the big ones. I get that each space marine army is special but this was their big chance to simplify everything and really put into a place a system that could have been done and carried over to all armies. Instead we are still stuck with the same design issue we had from all the previous editions where we will have all these space marines that are going to have the exact same units but with different points costs and rules, not because any of them are the unique chapter units or gear but because they are the standard units built at different times and in different metas.

One White Dwarf Changed Me

Brief background. For those of you who don't know, I am Gothmog, and I am in the Navy. As such I am away from home for a LONG TIME right now. It makes it difficult to keep up with the changes in the realm of Wargaming. HOWEVER I do still get White Dwarf magazine sent to me on my ship, and I recently got the August Issue, with that beautiful Carnosaur on the cover.

Let me say content wise, this White Dwarf was overall a little weaker for me than the previous 2013 issues. BUT that did not matter, for it was the pretty pretty pictures that caught me hook, line and :"skink"er.

A LONG LONG time ago, I played my first game of Warhammer. My introduction to the world of Wargaming was a 1500 point battle of Lizardmen versus Orcs, in 6th grade back in 1999. I loved lizardmen and pretty much played them everytime I got a game in, but they weren't mine. My good friend owned several armies, or rather a group of 3 brothers did. For some reason, we all started to get into 40k, and that is when  I hoped into Blood Angels Space Marines and never looked back. Some years later, I started Brettonians when their last army book and model wave came out, but that was at a low point in my wargaming career and didn't really have enough fantasy players to keep me interested. I still have those Brettonians, but upon returning from living in Japan, I had resolved to sell them. But going to GW in Norfolk and briefly in Jacksonville kinda sparked my interest in fantasy once more. But the idea of Brettonians was too daunting of a paint job with how slow I am, and they are too inorganic. I paint plenty of Marines and Guardsmen, with sharp lines and uniform symbols and colours. I had been thinking I wanted something with skin and flesh, fur and scales. I had been leaning towards beastmen, but then it happened. The white dwarf. THE WHITE DWARF.

Memories of my first love came rushing back. Flipping through the pages, my eyes feasted upon the bright colours and beautiful sculpts and my heart fluttered. That initial love of the game was re-awoken. Desire and inspiration for great projects and armies. The Scaly Horde calls to me. And why I may be away, I can still begin planning. I ordered myself a rulebook, armybook and battlemagic (along with the new SM codex).

So what is the point of this article. Well other than I could knock it out in 10 minutes on liberty (don't worry, I will have something better on Fri or Sat), it is to really just speak to something inside all of us. That primal spark of interest. That initial allure to the game. Do you remember what grabbed you? If you can, are you as inspired now as you were then? If not, I recommend trying to find it again. And when you do, grab onto it and don't let go. I know I wont. Maybe that is just because a Carnosaur doesn't release its prey that easily.