40k 7th Edition - first game

Instead of a full review of the new rules, which I'm still reading, here is a quick summary of our first game we played on release day afternoon.

We only had one copy of the books between us, as the digital versions did not go up until later in the day, which was a bit frustrating. I can see that the physical release was the priority for GW, but pressing Download on the Black Library site and then repeatedly seeing Preorder was disappointing, especially with no indication as to exactly when the electronic version would be available. At least I have the epub now.

For our game my marines were teamed with Aaron's Eldar against Matt's SM and Pete's guard. At 600pts per player the game took about twice as long as usual, as we wanted to check each rule as we played.

We were keen to try the Maelstrom of War missions with the tactical objectives. With the 6 numbered objectives in play and relatively small game, my initial thought was that the game would be static with everyone camping objectives. However, with the 3 objectives you draw being scored per turn and cards changing as they are scored or useless ones discarded, there are no automatic points just for holding any objectives, even at the end of the game. As 18 of the 36 cards require you to take a particular numbered objective, you can end of only being able to score by controlling your opponent's objectives.  Matt had 4 drop pods in his list and 2 of them came down in scoring distance of 2 of our objectives. As even dedicated transports for troops count as super-scoring units, these proved to be a real pain.  Mobile troops therefore also are really useful when you need a different objective. My bike squad helped us get back in the game late on, but not enough to beat Pete and Matt.

There is certainly a bit of accounting involved keeping track of the points, which can rack up quickly, especially if you are able to score multiple cards simultaneously, some of which are D3 or even D3+3.

With 4 psykers on the board, we were hoping for exciting psychic phases, but poor rolls, useless powers and psykers being killed for objectives meant that we will have to wait and see on this.

My obligatory Stormtalon killed a couple of units before dying to Pete's Hydra. The changes to Jink are interesting. It is now a 4+ cover save, but must be declared before rolls to hit are made. Other vehicles have also gained jink, but everything can now only snap shot the turn after jinking. The Stormtalon has also lost Pinning from the Strafing Run rule, as have snipers. I will have to re-think my 600 pt shooty list, which had used the talon with snipers.

The new challenges with tactical objectives made for an interesting game, in which units were forced to move around across the board. I recommend giving the Maelstrom of War missions a try and I certainly want to work out some new lists for these games.

We wanted to try the unbound army rules too, but again we ran out of time, so we are looking forward to seeing how they work in a future game.

My background story for GW Newbury's Tale of Gamers

WAAGH ZOGSMASHA

REPORT FROM INQUISITOR BALKHAUSEN, ORDO XENOS

Date : 972.M41.157

Location : Alendry IV

I continue to investigate the activities of Warboss Zogsmasha.  Until now his motives were unclear, even to myself.  There seemed to be little pattern to his vicious attacks on various agricultural facilities and jungle worlds across fourteen systems.   However, our glorious Emperor has proved beneficent in enabling me to capture and interrogate a so-called ‘Painboy’ of Zogsmasha’s Blood Axe tribe during the successful defence of the main grey-algae production vat complex on Dreah.  This action was undertaken by the heroic Mitorian XIII supported by elements of the Howling Griffons’ 9^th Company Ancorae Mancorae, under the overall command of Captain Leomar Adler.

My interrogation of this creature, which refered to itself as ‘Skabrippa’, quickly revealed that Zogsmasha is deliberately attacking worlds in the path of  hive fleet Thanatos.  After my initial scepticism at this seemingly suicidal strategy, Skabrippa was then persuaded to reveal that Zogsmasha has heard tell of a mythical greenskin called ‘Grom the Flabby’.  (I initially believed this name to be in the correct form, although I have always been wary of xeno-linguistic servitors).  According to Skabrippa, this Grom creature is said to have gained remarkable healing powers by consuming parts of other beasts with regenerative abilities.

(After exhaustive research I was able to uncover a reference to a similarly named ‘Grom the Paunch’ in the heretical tome [CENSORED BY ORDER OF THE IMPERIUM])

It appears that Zogsmasha is attempting to gain similar powers by capturing and dissecting one of the larger Tyranid organisms with the capacity to self-heal.  His quest represents a significant threat to the Imperium in a number of ways.  Were Zogsmasha to be successful, an unkillable warboss could see the rise of a large Waagh.  If this ability could be passed on to the entire Waagh, they would require significantly increased firepower to resist.   Even if Zogsmasha  is unable to locate a suitable organism or his painboys cannot perform the required procedures, the prospect of Thanatos absorbing the biomass from a sizeable Waagh is even more dangerous.

I request the assignment of a Deathwatch squad to eradicate Zogsmasha and his currently small group of followers believed to be en route to my location in the Alendry system, before his Waagh regains momentum.  Only his toughest warriors survived Dreah, but they will surely grow in number again, if left unchecked.  I know that Brother Elias, formerly of the Salamanders chapter would welcome the opportunity to bring his weapon known as the Wyvern’s Breath to bear against these foul xenos.

Thought for the day: Power resides in the will of the Righteous

by M.Hewitt

Warboss and Nobz - work in progress

40K 7th Edition - rulebook decisions

So the rules update for 40K is now officially 7th edition, rather than a version 6.5.  With many of the rules already rumoured online, we will soon know for real what rules have changed, as we re-learn the game for the second time in as many years.  I think I may need to finish all the Librarians I have started for my Howling Griffons.

Of course, with my new army, I was looking forward to a new Orks vs BA starter box.  However, with today's White Dwarf stating that Dark Vengeance will be re-released with a new rulebook, an entirely new box seems unlikely in the very near future.  I wonder if it might be worth putting on my birthday list in August?

When 6th Edition arrived I ended up getting both the hardback rulebook and the mini version in DV, which always seemed a bit of a waste.  This time around, I was hoping just to get the starter set.  However, I will definitely not get DV again, as I still have all the sprues unmade in my first box, but will need the new rules to compete in the Tale of Gamers at GW Newbury with my new boyz.

A digital version seems the best compromise, although even the cheapest £40 for the epub version still seems excessive, when I really want the A5 softback.  I already have a couple of dataslates on my Samsung phone, but I just hope the full rulebook is easy to navigate quickly on my phone.

I am looking forward to the newest version of the game, but I wish GW would release the starter box at the same time, rather than hoping the staggered dates mean many gamers will end up buying both.

PS- A background story on my fledgling Orks will appear soon!