Bolt Action 3rd edition by Warlord Games announced (competitive play update)

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**vadersson**

New article up on changes to the shooting phase. This is the first change for 3rd Ed that I really dislike. I do not want to have to roll more dice to shoot thing. And keep watching my hits get negated. Hmm. :(

**leopard**

they really are going for 40k players

would have done better to use the same system with the D10 from GoA and kept the modifiers

**creeping-deth87**

Did anyone else notice one of the modifiers was 'firer is pinned -1'? This would seem to indicate that it's no longer -1 PER pin. I hope that isn't the case.

I hate that they're doing cover saves. I don't care how much they tested this in studio, other groups will absolutely take more time to resolve rolls with this new system. Was anyone even asking for this? Talk about fixing what isn't broke.

**Midnightdeathblade**

So lemme get this straight, MMGs are bad so lets give them one more shot....then make the basic hit roll more difficult. Hmm.

I like all the army building changes a lot, but these are not great.

**leopard**

these changes are a solution looking for a problem and have the feel more of the "problem" being "how do we sell more rulebooks and faction lists? and how to sell more infantry sets at the same time?"

I suspect the change that seems to make bringing multiple tanks easier is a pure coincidence

**vadersson**

There is a lot of discussion on Reddit about this. This is probably the most controversial change so far. But a few things to realize.
1. There are a lot fewer modifiers to fire. A lot of math heads have worked it out, and the new numbers seem to be about the same as the old numbers. Remember just about everything had -1 “long range” on most shots.
2. It does appear pins give a flat -1 to hit. But I suspect they will still cumulatively impact the order check. Just now if you pass the order check, you will be at least somewhat effective.
3. I too dislike saves and adding a third roll. But there were already a lot of 3rd or 4th rolls in v2. 7+ to hit (which seems to be going away), and exceptional damage which was confirmed to go away. Both of those required rerolling dice. So in the end, I think it will be a wash. Still not a fan.

**Midnightdeathblade**

Looks like AT guns get a +1 to hit tanks when given a Fire order. Not bad, Im glad I have four Pak 40s painted up!

https://warlord-community.warlordgames.com/bolt-action-third-edition-special-rules/?__s=xxxxxxx&utm_source=drip&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=3rd+Edition+Special+Rules+Detailed,+an+Epic+Battles+Painting+Guide+%26+Game+Report,+%26+More

**JDD2112**

The more I research about the 3rd edition rules, the more I like them! IT will be very easy to get new players into the fold of playing the game without fiddling will tons of modifiers that can bog down a turn.

**CthuluIsSpy**

Should I start BA now and get a starter set and wait for the book later, or should I wait until 3rd ed is actually released?

I'm thinking of going IJA and branch off to K47 later.

**Maréchal des Logis Walter**

I reckon that if you haven't started yet, you might want to wait until 3rd drops, but nothing stops you from buying minis as after all us soldiers or a german contingent or whatever are unlikely to recieve any significant change anyhow.

**Midnightdeathblade**

Buy in for sure, but wait till the rules come out to play. That way you avoid the potential "what once was" issue. Just get some stuff painted up while you wait. Only a month or two left.

**vadersson**

I agree with the above. If you want to go IJA, look around and start finding miniatures. The Warlord Games minis for IJA are not the best either. If you can do 3D printing, maybe look at Studio Historia and their IJA and SNLF STL files. I have the IJA Sons of Yamato and it is likely all the files I will need to field and IJA force.
Remember there are no copyrights on history.

The 3rd Ed rules come out in Sept. and I would just start playing with the new rules. It does seem like there are quite a few changes.

**vadersson**

New article up on some changes to morale. Not too much changing I think, though vehicles may need to be more careful. Rally is a more effective order now however.

**BrookM**

It’s Wednesday, and that means it’s time for another Intelligence Briefing on the upcoming Bolt Action: Third Edition! Today, we’re talking about troop quality, morale, and a few different things that spin off from those concepts. While there are some pretty big changes, one of the guiding principles of Third Edition is that if something worked and we couldn’t think of a way to make it straight-up better – leave it well alone!

Veterans of Bolt Action: Second Edition will be delighted to know that nothing major has changed when it comes to troop quality and morale – Inexperienced are wounded on a 3+ and have a morale of 8, Regulars 4+ and 9, and Veterans 5+ and 10 – so why are we writing this article? Rolling to wound happens just the same as it did in the last edition, as do morale and order checks. It’s a part of the game that works really well, and so we didn’t make any fundamental changes.

What we did do, however, is change quite a few bits around that core, and that’s what today’s article is about (as well as giving you a little bit of insight into the design process!). There’s a notable change to one of Bolt Action’s six Orders, an update on new-look Officer teams, and a reason for vehicles to be careful near the edge of the table – a little bit of everything for you!

Full article here: https://warlord-community.warlordgames.com/bolt-action-third-edition-troop-quality-morale/

**leopard**

vadersson wrote:
New article up on some changes to morale. Not too much changing I think, though vehicles may need to be more careful. Rally is a more effective order now however.

Rally was rubbish, removing the leadership modifiers on the order has been needed from day one, you lose a turn to rally to then modify that as well basically meant stick a couple of pins on a unit then ignore it - now seems being pinned is less of a problem, but still a negative and its easy to get rid of.

do think it should still have been "removes 1d6" pins, not "removes all pins", still at least there is still a check so not automatic.

overall this is a positive change

**vadersson**

Interesting, looks like if a weapon team loses the “Leader” they can keep firing at a -1 to hit. So a Sniper can take out the MMG gunner (leader I assume) and the other guys can still shoot at -1. So no more instant kill for weapons teams which is nice, but they lose some effectiveness, which makes sense.

**vadersson**

New article on close combat. Very small but significant change. Not sure the impact in the end, but hopefully will help with some of the over zealous charges in the game.

**vadersson**

New update on how V3 tournaments will be supported and talk of what kinds of games.

**privateer4hire**

Only 1.99 gbp per month for the app with army builder.

**leopard**

privateer4hire wrote:
Only 1.99 gbp per month for the app with army builder.

at least there is no sign this "app" is required, and its just optional

**vadersson**

Yeah, the app cost was a disappointment. Apparently they are trying to follow GW and the Warhammer app and Warhammer+. The hope is that Easy Army will update to V3 and remain the best choice like it currently is.

**privateer4hire**

I’m wondering if easy army will still be free for basic forces

**vadersson**

Yeah, the concern is if they get C&Ded from Warlord. That would be very disappointing. I must say I am not sure how much I blame them thought. You can’t copyright WW2, so they don’t have a chokehold on minis for their games like GW or other custom IP. I am sure that limits their profits some.