Reading 6th Edition - Your army & Allies

Nick speaking,

Isn't it interesting how quickly you get used to something! I had a look at the old 5th Edition book just a minute ago, and boy does it look old, it looks like it was a 3rd Edition book or something? Just goes to show how great the layout and ease of reading 6th Edition is, as I come to the Choosing your Army section...

Choosing your army is very much like it used to be, but there are a few things of note. The Force organisation chart now has a 'Primary Detachment', exactly the same as we always had, plus an 'Allied Detachment', which we will come to in a bit. There is also an optional, single 'Fortification' choice. There are four Fortifications listed, and they are the current GW terrain pieces such as a Skyshield Landing Pad and Imperial Baston. All four pieces have there own points values and Special Rules listed, other Fortifications are going to be released in White Dwarf or on the GW website in the future.

In games over 1999 points, you are able to take two Primary Detachments, also unlocking another Allied Detachment, but not another Fortification. However, taking two Detachments still does not make it possible to take more than one 'Unique' Character.

The Warlord

One HQ from your army has to be chosen from your army to be your Warlord, and to gain an additional ability. The Warlord has to be your HQ choice with the highest Leadership, if you have more than one in your army, you are able the select which one it is. As you would expect, an Allied HQ choice is unable to be your Warlord! There are then three types of 'Trait' categories that you can give them, and each category has six different traits that are randomly selected. The 'Trait' categories are, 'Command', affecting an area around your Warlord, 'Personal', combat skills that influence them and their unit, and 'Strategic', which affect your entire army with tricks and gambits.

Allies

If you wish, you are able to choose Allies for your army. You are only able to choose Allies from one Allied Codex in any one list, even if you are using two Primary and Allied detachments. An allied detachment has a compulsory selection of one HQ and one Troops for each detachment taken. You are then able to take another Troops, one Fast and one Heavy choice. Obviously, there are some limitation to which armies can Alliance. Some cannot alliance at all, like Tyranids, whilst others can alliance, but at different levels of confidence. These different Alliances range from 'battle Brothers' to 'Desperate Allies', and have their own Special rules listed.

Personally, my four armies don't seem to form alliances very well. Nids can't do it at all, Necrons and Eldar can't do it, and Necron and Space Wolves are only Desperate Allies. The best my armies can do is Eldar and Space Space Wolves, and that is only as Desperate Alliance. Of course, I could buy a few models from an army I don't already own, hang on, now I am thinking about starting a new army? Well done GW, your plan to introduce me to a new army and spend more money is working!!

Previous Posts:
6th Edition Rule Book Unboxing
Reading 6th Edition - The first few pages
Reading 6th Edition - The movement phase
Reading 6th Edition - The shooting phase
Reading 6th Edition - The assault phase
Reading 6th Edition - Universal Special Rules
Reading 6th Edition - Independent Character
Reading 6th Edition - Unit types
Reading 6th Edition - Weapons 
Reading 6th Edition - Characters & Challenges
Reading 6th Edition - Psykers
Reading 6th Edition - Vehicle basics
Reading 6th Edition - Vehicle types
Reading 6th Edition - Terrain

Next up, missions...

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Reading 6th Edition - Terrain

Nick speaking,

The terrain section of the book is actually quite large, taking up twenty pages of the book. I am not going to go over everything here, but I do want have a look at some areas of note. The terrain section really does continue the theme of fun that the rest of the book has, giving you lost of options and fun things to try out. I am pretty sure most of it will never be used, but it is there if you want to spice up some of your old terrain you have been using for years...

First, there is a new type of terrain called 'Lethal', it sort of sits between 'Dangerous' and 'Impassable'. Things like lava, acid and the like count as Lethal. It basically follows the same rules as Impassible, but you can never end your move in it, if you do, the model is removed! I like this ideas, and I plan on making a small piece of Lethal terrain for my Necron terrain set.

Next is 'Area' terrain, which uses the Difficult terrain rules, and offers a 5+ cover save as standard. Models in Area terrain that 'Go to Ground' receive a +2 to their cover save instead of +1. They also receive a cover save in Area terrain whether they are 25% obscured or not. There is a small section that notes some terrain types will have random effects, called 'Mysterious' terrain, only finding out what type of terrain it is when a unit enters it.

There are three pages dedicated to buildings (intact), including a Building damage table. They cover rules like Building armour charts, Building sizes, leaping of roofs with 'impact tests' and fire points for buildings and Bunkers, which is great as my buddy has bunkers, but it's been a long time since we have used them. This section also covers Battlements for the terrain GW sells.

Next are ruins, and as I have Cities of Death terrain, is very interesting to me. The basic rules are again, pretty much the same, there is a new 'Jump down' rule so you can get down a building quickly, but you will have to take an 'Impact test', which is slightly worse than a Dangerous terrain test, depending on how far you jumped.

There is a whole page dedicated to Forests, jungles and woods as well as another page dedicated to rivers, lakes and pools. All of these pieces count as 'Mysterious' terrain and have some random terrain abilities listed. Looks like fun as my buddies and I have forests, rivers and lakes that we use already anyway.

'Battlefield Debris' is next and here we can find special rules for things like Defence Lines, Ammo Dumps, Gun Emplacements and all the other bits of terrain GW sell. The best thing here though, are barricades and Walls! Barricades offer a 4+ cover save to any models. So all terrain is not going to be 5+ as we first thought, we have ruin building and barricades in most of our terrain boxes which both grant a 4+ cover save.

There is a page for 'Archeotech Artifacts', Impassible pieces of Artifacts that have up to twelve random results such as, Booby traps, Holy relic and Alien Corpses. Lastly, there are the 'Unique' terrain rules, for 'Spiker'Plants' and 'Psionic Shield Generators'. It is also indicated that there is going to be some extra 'Data Sheets' for 'Unique' terrain, released in the White Dwarf magazines. It's woth noting that there are no specific rules for roads, so I assume they are just counted as open terrain.

So that's it for terrain, and there's a lot of fun stuff there if you want to add a bit more flavour to your 40k games.

Previous Posts:
6th Edition Rule Book Unboxing
Reading 6th Edition - The first few pages
Reading 6th Edition - The movement phase
Reading 6th Edition - The shooting phase
Reading 6th Edition - The assault phase
Reading 6th Edition - Universal Special Rules
Reading 6th Edition - Independent Character
Reading 6th Edition - Unit types
Reading 6th Edition - Weapons 
Reading 6th Edition - Characters & Challenges
Reading 6th Edition - Psykers
Reading 6th Edition - Vehicle basics
Reading 6th Edition - Vehicle types

Next up, your army and allies...

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Wave Serpent Painting Progress

Nick speaking,

Just a quick progress report on my three Forge World Wave Serpents. I have been working very hard lining in the under carriage with grey, and then getting a nice bright white finish. A massive thumbs up to the new GW Ceramite White, it is amazing, and made my job much easier! I have also done all the top purple areas in my usual paint scheme, Hormagaunt purple, Lich Purple and then a wash of leviathan Purple. Now I am ready to do all the details and start the purple highlights...

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Reading 6th Edition - Vehicle types

Nick speaking,

Following on from my Previous post Vehicle basics, where we looked at the rules that are common for all Vehicles. Let's now have a look at the Vehicle type rules...

Vehicle Squadrons
The first change is for when moving Flat out, is is possible for some vehicles to move flat out and not the others in a Squadron, but they still have to keep their 4" unit coherency. All hits are resolved one at a time on the closest model until it is 'Wrecked' or 'Destroyed', the same as when shooting at infantry units. If one of the models in the Squadron is immobilised, the other models are able to abandon it by moving out of coherency. The immobilised model is then treated as a separate unit from then on.

Transports
There is a lot of stuff here that is the same as it was, including for 'Dedicated Transport', but there are a few different things as well. It is noted that models embarked on a Vehicle are classed as 'Fearless' whilst they are embarked. The big change though, is disembarking! A unit is able to disembark when a Transport does not move more than 6". The models can then disembark within 6" of the access points keeping coherency. The transport cannot move if it has already moved, but can move normally if it was stationary. Either way though, you are unable to perform a 'Tank Shock' or 'Ram' that turn. OK, we then move onto the biggest change of all, disembarked units are only able to shoot (counting as having moved) or run, BUT they are not able to assault, even if the transport stayed stationary! Wow! I was really looking forward to painting my Howling Banshee's and getting them on the table, but what is the point now?

Assaulting Transports:
Passengers in a transport that is being assaulted, can use fire points to perform 'Overwatch'

Effects on Passengers are now as follows...

Crew Shaken:
Can only make 'Snap shots' in the following shooting phase.

Crew Stunned:
Cannot shoot in the following shooting phase.

Wrecked:
Disembark 3" and 'Pinning' test

Explodes:
Same as the rules were before, but it indicates the model owning player can allocate any wounds to any models he/she wishes.
 

Flyers

Ariel Support:
Flyers must begin the game in reserve

Measuring and other models:
Measure from the vehicles hull and guns as usual, ignoring the base. The base is only used for when it's being assaulted, along with the hull, or when you are embarking and disembarking. Other models are able to go underneath a Flyer, as long as they are 1" away from it's base (unless assaulting).

Zoom:
Flyers can usually only make a special kind of move, called Zoom, although some can 'Hover'. Zooming has a movement of Combat Speed 18" and a Cruising Speed of 36". A Flyer needs to keep its speed up to stay in the air, so it can never Zoom less than 18". If it is forced to, it will Wreck itself automatically! When Zooming you have to move in a straight line, only being able to pivot on the spot ninety degrees before you move. Zooming Flyers always ignore all terrain checks and are unable to embark and disembark when they are zooming. They also cannot, or cannot be 'Tank Shocked' and Ramed'. A Flyer can move at 'Combat' and 'Cruising' speeds and still fire up to four shots the same turn at their normal ballistic skill.

Zooming Flyers can only be hit with weapons that can shoot 'Snap shots' unless the model or firer has the 'Skyfire' Special Rule.

Skyfire:
Models with the 'Skyfire' Special rule or a weapon with the Special Rule, uses its normal ballistic skill when shooting at Flyers, Flying MC and Skimmers. Unless it also has the 'Interceptor' Special Rule, it can only fire at other targets using 'Snap Shot'.

Interceptor:
At the end of the enemy movement phase, a model with the Interceptor Special Rule may fire at any one unit that is in range and has line of sight after it has deep striked. The weapon that shot cannot be shot again in the next turn, but a different one can be. A weapon with the 'Skyfire' and 'Interceptor' Special Rules can fire at any unit at its normal ballistic skill, unless shooting 'Snap shots'. A Zooming Flyer that is hit may 'Evade' before the penetration roll is made. Evading grants you the 'Jinks' Special Rule, but you can only fire 'Snap shots' the following turn.

A Zooming model that moves 'Flat Out' must move forward in a staight line between 12"-24". They can never be assaulted. If a Zooming Flyer ends up going off the table edge it goes into ongoing reserve and must re-enter at zooming speed even if it can 'Hover'.

'Hover'
A Flyer that is of the 'Hover' type can choose to Hover instead of Zooming. Declare if you are Hovering or Zooming before you move, Hovering Flyers are treated as a fast skimmer which we will come to in a bit.

You use the following exceptions for immobilised, Wrecked and Explodes results, when applying the damage chart to a Flyer...

Locked Velocity:
If a Flyer is immobilised, its velocity is locked and it can only move at the same speed it was moving when it was immobilised. It also cannot 'Evade' or move 'Flat Out'
Now FAQ'd to say they can only move 36" when locked

Crash and Burn:
If a Flyer is 'Wrecked' or 'Explodes', centre a large blast marker over the Flyer and scatter it 2D6". Any model under the blast suffers a S6 AP- hit, and the Flyer is removed. If the Flyer is a transport Flyer, the hits are resolved at S10 with no armour saves allowed. Surviving models are placed within 3" of the final position of the large Blast marker.

Flyer Special Rules...

Skyfire:
A Flyer may choose all its weapon to have the 'Skyfire' Special rule at the start of each of its shooting phases.

Missiles:
A Flyer with missiles can shoot two of them each turn even though they are once use only. However, the missile shots count toward the number of shots fired.

Bombs and Bombing runs:
A Flyer with bombs can drop up to one bomb in the movement phase, this is called a bombing run. Dropping a bomb in the movement phase counts as firing one of your weapons in the shooting phase, but your other weapons can shoot at a different target. To drop a bomb you have to be moving at Zooming speed, centre the large blast over a single model that the Flyer moved over and Scatter it D6", any models under the blast are hit at the bombs specific profile. A Flyer that makes a bombing run is unable to move Flat out in the shooting phase

Chariots

Chariots are personal war machines for high ranked Characters, like an Overlord in a Command Barge.

Moving:
A chariot moves the same as their vehicle type, but if it is a skimmer, the rider can make a Sweep attack.

Sweep Attack:
Pick one unengaged enemy unit the Chariot moved over and roll a D6 equal to the number of attacks the rider has. The attacks hit on a 3+ if it moved a Combat Speed, and a 4+ if it moved at Cruising Speed. Each hit is resolved with the weapon and bonuses of the riders melee weapon. Vehicles are always hit on the side armour and any sixes rolled have the 'Precision Strikes' Special Rule. There are no cover saves allowed against sweep attacks even for vehicles.

Shots at a Chariot can never hit the rider itself and and are always resolved against the Chariot itself. If a Chariot did not move Flat Out, it may declare an assault using it's hull and base for ranges. The rider is classed as being in base contact with any model engaged and can strike and be stuck in the assault. The rider will get a +1 to his armour save when in close combat from a Chariot, but the Chariot and rider will not be locked in combat, and the rider can not perform or accept any challenges. The crew of a Chariot are always ignored.

Chariot Special Rules...

The Rider is fearless whilst embarked on a Chariot and the Chariot itself has the 'Hammer and Wrath' Special Rule, however, its Hammer and Wraith attacks are D6 attacks rather than one, resolved at S6 AP-, unless otherwise stated.

Open-Topped


The open-topped rules have not changed, you still add plus one to the vehicle damage charge and they have the new 'Assault Vehicle' Special rule, allowing them to assault after disembarking. 

Heavy Vehicles

Heavy vehicles can never move faster than combat speed and can never move Flat Out. They are always counted as remaining stationary when working out how they shoot.

Fast Vehicles

Fast Vehicles can move up to 12" when moving Flat Out. Fast Vehicles can shoot all their weapons at normal ballistic skill if they move at Combat Speed, and two weapons if they move at Cruising Speed with any other weapons shooting at 'Snap Shots'

Skimmers

If a Skimmer is also 'Fast' it may move up to 18" when moving 'Flat Out'. Skimmers have the 'Jinks' Special Rule.

Walkers

I don't actually own a dreadnought and rarely get my War Walkers out (although that may change now). So to be honest I am not amazingly familiar with Walker rules. As far as I can tell, they are pretty much the same as they were, except Walkers are now able to fire 'Overwatch' if they are assaulted.

Tanks

Tanks are still able to 'Tank Shock' and 'Ram', the rules again are pretty much as they were before for both, except in clarifies that a unit already falling back will automatically fail a tank shock test. and a Tank coming in from reserve is also able to perform a tank shock, as long as you declare it before it moves on. A Tank that has performed a Tank Shock is unable to move Flat Out the same turn, and units cannot embark or disembark the same turn either. This also means, if a tank embarked or disembarks a unit before it moves, it cannot perform a tank shock. Death or Glory looks to be the same as it was, as do Ramming rules. 'Jinks' Vehicles are able to get a cover save against hits caused by Ramming, and Ramming has the same restrictions as Tank Shocking.

Vehicle Upgrades

All the vehicle upgrades like Dozer Blades, Extra Armour, Searchlights, and Hunter-Killer Missiles are the same as they were. Smoke Launchers now offer a 5+ cover save with the same rules as it was before.

Previous Posts:
6th Edition Rule Book Unboxing
Reading 6th Edition - The first few pages
Reading 6th Edition - The movement phase
Reading 6th Edition - The shooting phase
Reading 6th Edition - The assault phase
Reading 6th Edition - Universal Special Rules
Reading 6th Edition - Independent Character
Reading 6th Edition - Unit types
Reading 6th Edition - Weapons 
Reading 6th Edition - Characters & Challenges
Reading 6th Edition - Psykers
Reading 6th Edition - Vehicle basics

Next up, Terrain...

Read more ...