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Of the way, things were!

This thread goes out to all the old gits amongst us, who can remember the earlier days of gaming, and the things which have sadly fallen by the way side for no real reason I can think of...

First up, for me are the old Back Banners Sargeants etc used to have. Time was almost every Space Marine Squad had it's very own banner (with absolutely no in game rules!) mounted on the back pack of the Sarge. And to the same end, Orky glyph plates, again back mounted, which every single Boy used to have.

None of the above really served any function, but my word I miss them. Perhaps it's because I still consider 40k to be more Science Fantasy than Fiction. The idea of the various Warriors wearing their banner with pride, standing stoically amongst a sea of enemies, with their own tapestry proclaiming their might and victories appeals to me. I dunno. But I don't half miss them!

And the other thing, Tactical, Assault and Devastator markings on the top hatch of Rhinos. Why were they there? First of all to let the relevant players know what was in what with a reasonable accuracy, but also, fluff wise, so *Titan* crews could see what was coming in support, and one supposes, which transports would prove the biggest threat or benefit.

Just little things which I got all nostalgic over, and make me likely to commend a fellow player for their attention to detail!

When you would deploy your army and when your opponent had his turn, he revealed his virus bomb - that wiped out your entire army in one swell foop.

Yegods, I miss them days ...

I miss... Umm... Well I started in third, other than new models and rules its pretty much all there. I miss having white dwarf not be a model catalogue though.

I miss vehicle rules that didn't suck.

A miss a mission structure that didn't suck.

I miss a Chaos Codex that wasn't boring, dull and lifeless.

I miss White Dwarf being a test-bed for ideas.

I miss the Psychic Phase... ok not really.

BYE

I was just thinking about the loss of back banners on Marines myself the other day as I stripped my late 3rd/4th Blood Angels. I got into 40K right at the release of 4th, so I have the old 3rd BA codex, and everyone but everyone has banners in that.

I've always found back banners make models more difficult to store, so I avoid them nower days.

I'm suddenly reminded though - and I'm sure I saw this here - of someone who wanted to test the validity of back banners in combat. So he made a big Ultramarines banner and attached it to himself when he went paint-balling.

And it worked!

Most people were so stunned to what was essentially a giant blue sheet coming towards them, that they stopped shooting for a moment to work out what it was. Allowed the guy time to shoot them. A lot of people shot the banner as well, which is kinda silly.

BYE

I miss REAL orky kombi weapons, when you could have three different death spitting barrels on a gun.

I miss an AP system based on modifiers. (Okay, so the new system is interesting too.)

I miss bizarre sci-fi weapons like the gravity gun.

I miss REALLY orky boniks, like the mono wheel!

I miss being able to field 3-4 squads, and have that be a normal sized game, instead of a mini-game.

I miss following fire.

Most of all I miss the buds who got me into this game, and all the wonderful times we had hanging out, and swapping stories....

I miss rapid-fire dice, protection field saves that are in addition to armor saves and strategy cards. I don't miss the old comical Ork minis.

Man the Ork minis were ace. Who could dislike a unit that looked like guns n roses?

I guess this isn't really that old, but I miss actually guessing the range for guess range weapons. It was way more immersive and interesting to guesstimate based upon who's weapons could reach where in previous shooting phases (mmm.... pythagoras). Plus it was hilarious when you missed completely and squished a mess of your own guardsmen.

I miss the days of Realm of Chaos (yes, I'm old...) when the fluff was simple and direct.

Khorne and Slaanesh could not ally. EVER. Under any circumstance. Their hatred for each other was so deep that they would ignore any other enemies just to kill the other one.
Ditto Tzeentch/Nurgle.

This was the entire rationale given for why Chaos hadn't conquered the world/galaxy (delete as appropriate) - ie that they couldn't get their act together.

Plus all the cool stuff they had (war alters, 40k weapons for WFB chaos champs etc) AND proper daemon choices!


That would put an end to some of the bizarely improbable chaos armies you see...

H.B.M.C. wrote:I've always found back banners make models more difficult to store, so I avoid them nower days.

I'm suddenly reminded though - and I'm sure I saw this here - of someone who wanted to test the validity of back banners in combat. So he made a big Ultramarines banner and attached it to himself when he went paint-balling.

And it worked!

Most people were so stunned to what was essentially a giant blue sheet coming towards them, that they stopped shooting for a moment to work out what it was. Allowed the guy time to shoot them. A lot of people shot the banner as well, which is kinda silly.

BYE

I can actually see that work as well. At least in full scale frontal assaults.
Back in the days, I was always wondering how a rapid insertion force (like marines for example) would cope with those things.
"Quickly now, through the tunnel!!!". BUMP, BUMP, BUMP "Frak, someone snap the damn pole, I cant get in!!!"

Just weird.

Orks however, need them. They just do.

White Dwarf advertised other people's products

You would get two terminators in a blister and still have change out of a fiver to buy a pot of paint, and while I'm at it you could have 3 Rhinos for a tenner!!!

As for the game itself...

Squats - Hurrah!!

Ambulls

IG suicide bombers

Commissars would should shoot members of their own platoon to make them rally

Genestealers only lived in space hulks

Chaos space marines were generally called "Traitor marines"

D1000 tables for mutations

Actually, D1000 tables for everything!!!

Greater Daemons were called things like "Buzzwob Gubblesplat" or "Goreface Splattermark"

Space Marines with shuriken catapults

Vortex grenades, rad grenades (with a turn-by-turn variable sized blast template), graviton guns, jokero digital weapons etc

When any army could use a rhino or land raider, or they could have walkers and civilian cars, and armies could be made up of an odd mix of humans, dwarves and space slann...

H.B.M.C. wrote

A lot of people shot the banner as well, which is kinda silly.

Ooh, right in the Heraldry...

Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:And to the same end, Orky glyph plates, again back mounted, which every single Boy used to have.

I'm starting a new Ork army, and rest assured, each and every Boy will have a back plate.

I don't miss anything. If I like something old, I find a way to play with it, either by adapting it to the latest edition, or incorporating it into my skirmish system. Make the game your own, brothers!

My 4th ed marines were veteran-sergant based and had banner poles everywhere. Rhinos are no issue - hey can have the top hatch doors open because Space Marines wear POWER ARMOUR.

Assault marines had a huge plastic empire banner from the 6th ed. orc/empire release box.

I miss the odd style tyranids with their pink and blue paint jobs and obscene artwork lol buildings made out of thick paper, where tank tracks on rhino went over the tank with no guards lol

the good old days

genestealer cults, the old haywire grenades ect (goes off to get old wargear book)

What I miss;

Being able to throw grenades over a building.
Junior Commissar squads.
Photon grenaeds that blinded orks.
The prices that miniatures used to be...



I don't miss ;

Opponents being able to spend all their points on one Imperial Guard officer, a com-link & 24" diameter Vortex barrage missile launched from orbit into your deployment zone on turn one.

what I miss ragnar blackmane on combat drugs 18 genestealers in one turn rend that hehe
what I don't miss 2nd ed bug's jones is fealing strangely ewwww

Every Bike in your army having a seperate vehicle card, so that after a few turns combat, one is ok, one has a wonky wheel and has to test to skid each turn and another moves at half speed and the last marine has to keep up on foot.

On second thoughts, I don't miss that much. :p

lol howard, kind like choosing what part of a wraithlord you attack, head, leg, chest ect

JD21290 wrote:lol howard, kind like choosing what part of a wraithlord you attack, head, leg, chest ect

I preferred individual vehicle cards for big things, as the single table for most things now is too simplistic. Buty a seperate card for every bike? Madnesss, especially in a Ravenwing army!!!

Howard A Treesong wrote:Every Bike in your army having a seperate vehicle card, so that after a few turns combat, one is ok, one has a wonky wheel and has to test to skid each turn and another moves at half speed and the last marine has to keep up on foot.

Bike Squadrons were deathtraps. Usually, when fighting bikes, you only had to take out two out of every 5. The resulting crashers and out-of-control moves would eliminate the rest for you. Seen it happen a number of times.

BYE

It being law that every 'Eavy Metal-painted model had to have at least one item of each prime colour painted on it.

Red bolter guns.

Bright green bases.

The colour red/orange plastered all over the store.

Words and not just pictures in White Dwarf.

Well, seriously, no I don't miss any of that, apart from the last one.

Being able to ally armies easily.

Seeing scratchbuilt Land Raiders and Battlewagons because the models weren't available.

Terminators on Slim-Fast (Though I do like their new lunch-box style).

My Commissar on a bike that charged virtually EVERYTHING no matter it's size armed only with a chainsword and laspistol.

Laspistols and hand flamers (Did anyone use these, aside from my Commissar?)

Vortex Grenades!

When the Leman Russ was the best (and most detailed) tank in their range.

Marines from every chapter you could paint in a single army.

The "Black Codex"

::Cue Holy Light from the Heavens and an Angel's Choir singing here::

I didn't start until 3rd ed., but I do miss the custom-evolved Tyranids you used to be able to make. I've still got a couple tiny Gaunts with freakin' huge Venom Cannons. Man those were fun!

I miss 8 Terminators to a box - 2 of which were the Captain and the Librarian.

As mentioned, the 3 Rhinos to a box. Also miss 30 marines to a box.

I miss my ork kommados being able to take a Vortex grenade and infiltrate.

I miss the 3 awesome ork books that were released, like 'Waaaagh Da Orks and 'Ere We Go...

Do NOT miss the Virus grenade card. What the hell...

I miss random critters like Ambulls making appearances on the board and wreaking havoc.

I miss Imperial Robots, and having to make their programs for how they operate on the board, using the little squares and Go To commands...

I really miss Ork Tinboyz. Power fists and heavy bolters galore.

miss being able to buy the old OOP speeders outside of ebay.

being able to throw grenades,

the old razorback turret with the marine actually using it.