Warhammer 40K 6th Edition Rules

So 40K 6th edition is right around the corner and the question is this- what is 40K going to look like and will it make you quit the game or reenergize you 40K gameplay? From what I have seen here are some things to consider and possible look forward to seeing in the new rules...

GW sure has some ambitious changes in the works- BIG changes, truly one rulebook that will rule them all so to speak. From what I have seen with my own eyes it is really a different game. For those of you who play and know Dungeons & Dragons I offer this comparison- going from 3.5 D&D to 4.0 D&D.

In some ways 6th edition is 40K in name only…

Models are now going to have an evasion characteristic which dictates how hard it is to “hit” the model- ranging from infantry and tanks.

Rigid saves are now added over armor, cover, and invulnerable saves- but you will still only get to make one save, taking the best.

Certain weapons and profiles now shoot with a “critical hit” which means no rolling to hit- just roll for wounds or armor pen.

Preferred Enemy now means you hit on a 3+ or a 2+ if your shooting normally hits on a 3+- and you can’t use any combat actions to prevent it. (Necron destroyers now make sense! )

Three levels eternal warrior so different psychic force levels can kill different ET values.

New rules for fearless, cold blooded, and three levels of morale failing- shaken, broken, and tactical withdrawn.

Turn phase: Move, Assault, Shoot, Consolidate. Assault armies are kind of back- if you can assault, and then survive a round of shooting, you can then consolidate into another nearby unit.

In the assault units in certain positions can make an “alpha-strike” and attack first at I 10.

Shooting is more complex and more powerful than ever- modifiers are added to your models evasion skill making them harder or easier to hit.

You also determine the type of fire you are using- covering fire, dividing fire, draw back, defensive fire.

Flyers are in, super heavies are in, anti-aircraft are in all for standard 40K games.

Vehicles are not fixed and just as stupid to kill. (FAIL)

Vehicles with AV 14 front are behemoths and can multi-target.

Missions?

Annihilation & Seize Ground are in- objectives and kill points based on point size of the game EX 1000 point = 3 objectives, 3000 points = 7 objectives.

Stratagems are IN- urban warfare, frontal assault, gravity traps, propaganda, night raid, rich supplies, battlefield analysis…

My thoughts?

WOW!

Just what we need to shake up the WAAC players out there, and I can see much in the rules balancing out armies and bringing tactics into the fold over just spamming things out. Games set at different ”official” point levels are also great.

I’m not sure how all this will work on the tournament scene or in really big games- maybe 1K will be the new “tournament” point level. So much you can do, change, and negate with each phase of the game, it might bog down trying to play 2000-2500 points in 2-3 hours.

Who know, we will just have to wait and see what happens when 6th comes out.