IG/Astra Militarum Rumours for April (first post updated 12th April)

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**BlaxicanX**

I don't see them taking away blobs. One of the patterns of 6th edition has been GW tweaking each codex (with points drops and the like) so that you can (or have to) put MORE guys on the table. Why just pay for thirty guardsman (3 vet squads), when you could pay for NINETY?!

**Red__Thirst**

BlaxicanX wrote:
I don't see them taking away blobs. One of the patterns of 6th edition has been GW tweaking each codex (with points drops and the like) so that you can (or have to) put MORE guys on the table. Why just pay for thirty guardsman (3 vet squads), when you could pay for NINETY?!

*Considers the Prospect of painting 90 Vostroyan Infantry*

*Twitches repeatedly*

**MrMoustaffa**

They might take away the awesome "platoon" structure (aka, the "yo, I heard you like force orgs" thing) and revert it to regular "mob" units like what orks or nids have.

That would make me more upset than almost any other change. I love the way platoons work right now, even if most choices for it aren't that great

**MajorStoffer**

MrMoustaffa wrote:
They might take away the awesome "platoon" structure (aka, the "yo, I heard you like force orgs" thing) and revert it to regular "mob" units like what orks or nids have.

That would make me more upset than almost any other change. I love the way platoons work right now, even if most choices for it aren't that great

It's one of the few "realistic" things in 40k; an actual chain of command for the most conventional military force, consisting of, on average, 30-40 men with attached support units.

hell, my whole Death Korps list is supposed to be a standard company; 108 men with attached armour and support weapons. Looks more like a WW2 game's force, and honestly, the Guard would be much worse off without it thematically.

Now the Astra Militarum, who knows what rules they play by.

**krazynadechukr**

Is that a new chimera?
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QyGPncso1-E/UynGRU-wR4I/AAAAAAAAdVo/5U6dUBbisEA/s1600/quake-craters-01.jpg

**Chrysis**

Nope, it's a Hellhound variant.

**portugus**

I think the Devil Dog (Melta blast one)

**Ravajaxe**

tjnorwoo wrote:
krazynadechukr wrote:
I keep hearing about the possible basilisk dual kit, however, I see several obvious differences in the picture. First (not arrowed) is the lip on the AA gun, then the hatch (round vs square), then a double plate on the front vs no double on the basilisk (where front sloped meets top near hatch), the windows in front look different, etc... Unless they are throwing a new sprue with new top section into basilisk kit, that'd be the only way I think they are going to do it. NO revamped basilisk, just a new sprue tossed in to make it a dual kit.... IMHO.

Simple answer; could just be using an old and new kit. Have they ever done that before?

The current Basilisk is a new/old mixed kit, precisely. Current kit consisting of old gun & accessory bits + V5 chimera hull sprue. What has been said already, is that basilisk on the 1st page picture is even older (original chimera hull), non perfectly matching paint scheme etc... So we can't draw any conclusion from this photo alone, about basilisk presence or absence in the future dual kit.

**Red__Thirst**

That's correct, it's the Devil Dog variant of the Hellhound tank.

Quite a useful variant. It's the one I generally use as a fast flanker/harasser to hunt armor. Also the cheapest of the Hellhound variant chassis as well.

Take it easy.

-RT-

**Biophysical**

I would be super-sad to see the platoon structure go, as well, but I wish they'd figure out something to do with the Platoon Command Squad. I've been playing Guard through 4 editions, and the PCS has only ever had a few useful niches. If I could only have one change in the new codex, it would be to attack PCS squads to blobs.

**Mathieu Raymond**

Biophysical wrote:
I would be super-sad to see the platoon structure go, as well, but I wish they'd figure out something to do with the Platoon Command Squad. I've been playing Guard through 4 editions, and the PCS has only ever had a few useful niches. If I could only have one change in the new codex, it would be to attack PCS squads to blobs.

So charging a blob means facing 9 flamers? Good times.

I dunno... is the 4 flamers build for a PCS still the go-to? It still works well in my meta, but none of my friends even have flyers yet, just to tell you how behind the curve they are. They spent their Xmas money on ADLs to counter my Valks, Vendetta and Baleturkeys and that was it.

**AllSeeingSkink**

Mathieu Raymond wrote:
Biophysical wrote:
I would be super-sad to see the platoon structure go, as well, but I wish they'd figure out something to do with the Platoon Command Squad. I've been playing Guard through 4 editions, and the PCS has only ever had a few useful niches. If I could only have one change in the new codex, it would be to attack PCS squads to blobs.

So charging a blob means facing 9 flamers? Good times.

I dunno... is the 4 flamers build for a PCS still the go-to? It still works well in my meta, but none of my friends even have flyers yet, just to tell you how behind the curve they are. They spent their Xmas money on ADLs to counter my Valks, Vendetta and Baleturkeys and that was it.

Charging 9 flamers isn't fun, but the unit costs 325pts at minimum and is about as tough as tissue paper in CC, so it doesn't really bother me. On average, the flamers will only kill 3 Sphess Mareenz who are charging in anyway.

**General Hobbs**

Back when you could have army wide doctrines, I'd infiltrate all my normal platoons, and deepstrike the Platoon Command Squads with meltaguns to hit enemy armor. That army was a ton of fun to run....

**CommanderRyalis**

BlaxicanX wrote:
I could imagine a horrific (but lulzy) "random orders chart".

"When issuing orders, have the unit receiving the order take a leadership test. If the test is passed, the order is received, if the test is failed, roll a D6. On a 2+, the squad merely fails to receive the order. On a roll of 1, the unit mishears your order, and you must roll on the "Orders mishap" table:

1-2: "Can you repeat that, sir?" The unit merely fails to receive the order.

3-4: "Roger that sir, falling back." The unit moves 2d6'' toward the players' board edge at the start of its movement phase, and may take no further actions that turn.

5-6: "jfsdhfskfhsdkfhs" The unit believes that the Lord Commander has turned to Chaos and it's every man for himself. The unit inflicts 2d6 hits upon itself with a strength and AP profile of the majority weapon type within the unit."

Imagine all the rock-hard narrative forging you can do.

That mad me lol

**Biophysical**

I'd accept a reduction in Special Weapon slots if my Lt could actually lead the platoon instead of hiding behind a tree or riding in a vehicle to jump out and die gloriously somewhere completely apart from the main platoon body.

**tjnorwoo**

MrMoustaffa wrote:
They might take away the awesome "platoon" structure (aka, the "yo, I heard you like force orgs" thing) and revert it to regular "mob" units like what orks or nids have.

That would make me more upset than almost any other change. I love the way platoons work right now, even if most choices for it aren't that great

I've been playing IG for 4 years and the platoon is something I am just starting to get used to. Then again I'm pretty horrible at tactics. I love the platoon because it offers so many bodys and special weapons to through at the enemy in outflanking attacks using alraheim or creed. I hope they don't mess with the blob at all, but I really would like them to allow veteran sergents to issue orders.

**MrMoustaffa**

Only way you'll get that though is if you make them IC's and can attach them to units. A 5 man IG squad wwont last 5 seconds in the open no matter how good you make them

**AllSeeingSkink**

MrMoustaffa wrote:
Only way you'll get that though is if you make them IC's and can attach them to units. A 5 man IG squad wwont last 5 seconds in the open no matter how good you make them

Why can't you just leave them as squads who are allowed to join the blob of the same platoon?

**tjnorwoo**

CommanderRyalis wrote:
BlaxicanX wrote:
I could imagine a horrific (but lulzy) "random orders chart".

"When issuing orders, have the unit receiving the order take a leadership test. If the test is passed, the order is received, if the test is failed, roll a D6. On a 2+, the squad merely fails to receive the order. On a roll of 1, the unit mishears your order, and you must roll on the "Orders mishap" table:

1-2: "Can you repeat that, sir?" The unit merely fails to receive the order.

3-4: "Roger that sir, falling back." The unit moves 2d6'' toward the players' board edge at the start of its movement phase, and may take no further actions that turn.

5-6: "jfsdhfskfhsdkfhs" The unit believes that the Lord Commander has turned to Chaos and it's every man for himself. The unit inflicts 2d6 hits upon itself with a strength and AP profile of the majority weapon type within the unit."

Imagine all the rock-hard narrative forging you can do.

That mad me lol

dear god not a random orders chart! I would rage quit IG.

**Biophysical**

Right, that's why I'd love to see the PCs able to attach to a blob. There's just no point in a 5 man squad with the way 40k works right now.

**Tomb King**

Biophysical wrote:
I'd accept a reduction in Special Weapon slots if my Lt could actually lead the platoon instead of hiding behind a tree or riding in a vehicle to jump out and die gloriously somewhere completely apart from the main platoon body.

Sad to say is that is kind of realistic though. Hey LT just go sit in the vehicle we will take care of it. The "We got it sir!"; is the coin phrase that officers hear the most.

Plus the narrative, The LT got himself killed.

I thought we told him to stay in the vehicle?

**tjnorwoo**

Would it be over powered to have veterans intermix with regular infantry squads in a platoon? I mean in the same way Nids can customize their guys within their units. For instance, what if you could make a platoon with a variety of different squads: conscripts, infantry, veterans, all together in the same platoon. In the fluff theres always a mix in squads of veterans and newbies when regiments get replenished

**BrookM**

Putting platoon command squads in Salamanders, or using the old Salamander rules, replacing the squad with a command variant of the Salamander, would be an interesting choice.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

tjnorwoo wrote:
Would it be over powered to have veterans intermix with regular infantry squads in a platoon? I mean in the same way Nids can customize their guys within their units. For instance, what if you could make a platoon with a variety of different squads: conscripts, infantry, veterans, all together in the same platoon. In the fluff theres always a mix in squads of veterans and newbies when regiments get replenished

Ah, rolling for shooting and assaults is going to be so much fun with all those coloured dice.

**Captain Roderick**

BrookM wrote:
Putting platoon command squads in Salamanders, or using the old Salamander rules, replacing the squad with a command variant of the Salamander, would be an interesting choice.

Care to elaborate? I remember you can have command salamanders and scout salamanders, but not much else...

**BrookM**

Captain Roderick wrote:
BrookM wrote:
Putting platoon command squads in Salamanders, or using the old Salamander rules, replacing the squad with a command variant of the Salamander, would be an interesting choice.

Care to elaborate? I remember you can have command salamanders and scout salamanders, but not much else...

From what I remember, it was nothing to write home about, the bare bones command squad was simply replaced by a Salamander armed with either a top-mounted heavy bolter or heavy flamer plus the standard hull-mounted heavy bolter and I think it came with the old Improved Communications upgrade as a standard.

**Daston**

Red__Thirst wrote:
BlaxicanX wrote:
I don't see them taking away blobs. One of the patterns of 6th edition has been GW tweaking each codex (with points drops and the like) so that you can (or have to) put MORE guys on the table. Why just pay for thirty guardsman (3 vet squads), when you could pay for NINETY?!

*Considers the Prospect of painting 90 Vostroyan Infantry*

*Twitches repeatedly*

I can attest to that I am on my 9th squad.....finding it hard to keep motivated.

**aka_mythos**

MrMoustaffa wrote:
Only way you'll get that though is if you make them IC's and can attach them to units. A 5 man IG squad wwont last 5 seconds in the open no matter how good you make them

What if Lieutenants were IC... but rather than having platoons they way they have been they were just treated as one big squad that could be combat squaded into whatever configuration you need or is representative of your regiment. Things like Special and Heavy Weapon support squads just become a consequence of clustering all your heavy weapons together and a command squad is just whatever squad the Lieutenant is in.

**ultimentra**

Actually I end up detaching my PCS from my blobs to either score backfield objectives or ride in a Vendetta with 4 flamers. Works quite well IMO. After all unless you kit them out they are just more lasguns.

**Las**

ultimentra wrote:
Actually I end up detaching my PCS from my blobs to either score backfield objectives or ride in a Vendetta with 4 flamers. Works quite well IMO. After all unless you kit them out they are just more lasguns.

Yo I feel you. Five dudes with flamers breaking off the blob turn four/five to hit an objective in ruins can sometimes be a game changer. People always forget they're a different squad. Suddenly the guard blob camping the objective now has two.

**alarmingrick**

Not sure if this matters, but did anyone else notice that in the Imperial Knight Codex, they still called Imperial Guard, Imperial Guard?
Wouldn't that have been a slow, subtle way to introduce it? Or start to anyway?

Could AM be just a Storm troopers dex?