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Letter by letter, from Dosadi @ Warseer. He seems to be a reliable source, so here it goes...

"Take this with the usual dose of salt guys, but someone I trust told me that the new guard codex may have the following things in it.

Army wide special rule: I think it’s called Platoon Drill or something like that. Basically, units from the same platoon may ignore intervening squads when shooting. So enemy units targeted in this way do not receive the 4+ save. Apparently this only works if the Platoon command squad is alive and within 12” of the rest of the platoon. I’ve been told that this is just one of the abilities guard Platoons may get, but only as long as the chain of command is intact (whatever that means). So loosing your HQ Command Squad may be a really bad thing.

Doctrines are for sure gone (I think we all knew this), but have been replaced by more mutable platoons. Instead of Armoured fist squads you can buy Chimeras for a whole platoon. Or buy the whole platoon grav-chutes to give them deep strike, or drop the heavy weapons from squads and give the platoon Scout. Veteran squads become upgrades to platoons (i.e. they are not elites anymore).

Apparently infantry platoons let you attach certain types of support vehicles to them(kinda like back in second edition). Things like sentinels, hellhounds and demolishers can be attached to platoons. They still take up a FOC spot, but become part of the platoon and so will benefit from the Platoon Drill rule.

The Leman Russ can be bought as a squadron so you can get 3 for a single FOC. They can not be attached to platoons however.

Sniper Squads can now infiltrate, get stealth, range finders and all models in the squad have sniper rifles (and BS 4!).

Like the Land Raider, a new plastic sprue for the Leman Russ has been made that will allow plastic demolishers and a 3rd variant (my money is on the Exterminator).

The Baneblade in NOT in the new codex. It just doesn’t work (i.e. overpowered)in games that are not Apocalypse in size.

However Stormtrooper squads can now take Valkyries as transports. Both will be getting a plastic kit. Valkyries follow the rules for skimmers I’ve been told. Again, they want to keep flyers and super heavies out of “normal games” but give people the ability to use them with all the special rules in Apocalypse and Planet-strike (if the ever get around to that.)

This last one makes me wonder what’s they are doing, but apparently there is a new HQ in the book; Inquisitor and Retinue much like the elites from the current Daemon Hunters/Witch Hunters books.

More info if I get it."

It could be worse.

The platoon structure thing is something I've been trailing for our Guard Codex (yeah, I got rid of Doctrines in our rules as well...).

BYE

Looks plausible enough.
Does that mean one could have 9 Leman Russ? I'm willing to bet it'll be 0-1 squadron, leaving the other HS slots for other stuff.
like the looks of the platoon stuff.
Hope they give the command HQs some bettter defensive options. A command bunker would rock.

I'd be happy enough if I was a gaurd player and this was true.

1. I don't believe it. Too many things seem, well, good and it makes my GW paranoid spidey sense go off.

2. Not sure about the leman rumor. I'm seeing an armored company in the making and MEQ players hate armored company. If true, must be some sort of limiting factor.

3. I could be ok with these mutable platoons if done as presented.

Now we just have to wait to see how much everything costs.

9 Russes would mean Armored Company, MMM tanks

PapaSmurf

The Leman Russ can be bought as a squadron so you can get 3 for a single FOC. They can not be attached to platoons however.

*vomit @ 9 Leman Russes in 1 guard army, with vehicles getting more survivable in general*

Like the Land Raider, a new plastic sprue for the Leman Russ has been made that will allow plastic demolishers and a 3rd variant (my money is on the Exterminator).

Though that is cool, and I like the rumors of other new plastic too (ST, valk). In all, I like that they're focusing on the platoon idea and making chain of command be the thing that makes IG strong. That, and the ability to take an asston of troop infantry, considering that in 5th every single troop guardsmen needs to die to knock out their scoring units :S

The INQ bit is intriguing to be sure.

- Salvage

A new leman russ? Will it look as gay and WWI'ish as the others? Pass.

More effort into models people want.

Tank companies do not work in 4th, and in 5th...oh boy.

Oh well. Sounds like a bunch of hooey anyway.

I actually like all of those rumors. I don't know how I feel about Russ squadrons from a balance issue, but I do know that I love the idea of having a ton of tanks!

it'll be interesting to see if they finally fix stormtroopers, a unit that has been bad for almost 10 years now, despite multiple iterations.

Doesn't sound too bad. Leman Russ squadrons sound pretty good. Of course, now, Immoblized vehicles in a squadron are automatically destroyed, so...

Stelek wrote:A new leman russ? Will it look as gay and WWI'ish as the others? Pass.

More effort into models people want.

Tank companies do not work in 4th, and in 5th...oh boy.

Oh well. Sounds like a bunch of hooey anyway.

Well, respectfully thats your opponent and its not my fault your opinion is full of when it comes to the greatness of the Matilda II er Leman Russ

They will work if its a full on armored company. Armored company has done well in V3 and V4. They can take advantage of the ordnance only firing with joyous enfilade. but then again thats why I don't think it will happen-there has to be a limiter.

MinMax wrote:Doesn't sound too bad. Leman Russ squadrons sound pretty good. Of course, now, Immoblized vehicles in a squadron are automatically destroyed, so...

I've heard that they are considered destroyed if abandoned (i.e. out of coherence range) by the other parts of the squad.

In general, I think that the rumours are good, but then again I don't play Guard so I obviously can't see it's flaws.

Destrado wrote:Army wide special rule: I think it’s called Platoon Drill or something like that. Basically, units from the same platoon may ignore intervening squads when shooting. So enemy units targeted in this way do not receive the 4+ save. Apparently this only works if the Platoon command squad is alive and within 12” of the rest of the platoon. I’ve been told that this is just one of the abilities guard Platoons may get, but only as long as the chain of command is intact (whatever that means). So loosing your HQ Command Squad may be a really bad thing.

Welcome to 5th edition, where the Imperials finest get to ignore all the rules that matter.

Its merely line firing. If they can do it at Rorks Drift why not in the 41st Millennium? Its highly thematic for them.

A young Michael Cain in Mordian uniform:
"First Rank-FIRE!"
"Second Rank-FIRE!"
"First Rank-FIRE!"
"Second Rank-FIRE!"

Jealous?

I agree, it makes sense and I like how it's tied to the platoon leader as he's the one making the call. It means they are more than either a hidden LD bubble or a suicide squad.

Ozymandias, King of Kings

Ozymandias wrote:I agree, it makes sense and I like how it's tied to the platoon leader as he's the one making the call. It means they are more than either a hidden LD bubble or a suicide squad.

Ozymandias, King of Kings

This is very true, but given that he needs to be alive for this to work, and area terrain doesn't block LOS, then this means that they will be more than a hidden LD Bubble or a suicide squad; they'll also be target #1.

I also dont think that having IG ignore the intervening squad rule is that bad considering that it may only work if the chain of command is intact. Also, having to keep the command squad within a certain range of the platoon they are confereing the bonus to keeps people from keeping all of thier command squads at the back of the table and making the rule hard to counter.

I'm sad to see that doctrines are gone, it was confusing for opponents, who had to be familiar at least with most of them, but hopefully they come up with a simpler replacement that has a similar effect and doesnt just make vanilla cadians the standard for Guard.

*Edited for stupid mistakes*

Ozymandias wrote:I agree, it makes sense and I like how it's tied to the platoon leader as he's the one making the call. It means they are more than either a hidden LD bubble or a suicide squad.

Ozymandias, King of Kings

I agree, and in the hands of the Imperial Guard I hardly think it's broken.

People could argue, however, that Tau have IG-like discipline, Eldar have superior technology, Orks are taller than grots (and even if they weren't, who'd care about a weeny greenskin?).

There should be more to this rule than we know. Maybe it requires the shooters and blocking squad to stay still?

Good point Ozy. Its good to see Guard officers providing additional benefits-indeed its good to see IC's provide something besides an uber power fist for the list. Plus its nice and thematic with officers performing an officer like task-yelling "FIRE!"

Thematically it works for guard. Orks are too unruly, marines are busy waiving pointy sticks, eldar are not going to stand and shoot like that, and I'd posit the same for Tau. Standing in the English Line is not something I'd envision (nor does the fluff show) anyone but the lowly guard doing.

Gamewise its highly limited (as the LD must be intact not bloody likely for long) and we are talking flashlights and maybe some heavy weapons fire.

Destrado wrote:

Ozymandias wrote:I agree, it makes sense and I like how it's tied to the platoon leader as he's the one making the call. It means they are more than either a hidden LD bubble or a suicide squad.

Ozymandias, King of Kings

I agree, and in the hands of the Imperial Guard I hardly think it's broken.

People could argue, however, that Tau have IG-like discipline, Eldar have superior technology, Orks are taller than grots (and even if they weren't, who'd care about a weeny greenskin?).

There should be more to this rule than we know. Maybe it requires the shooters and blocking squad to stay still?

Actually, the rule relies on the one way IG are dramatically different from other armies in 40k: lots of small squads, rather then larger or more durable squads.

An IG platoon weighs in at 250-300pts for a minimum platoon, which is only a little more than most squads in the game. It makes a certain amount of sense that the platoon could work as well together as, say, 30 ork boys or 20 DE warriors. The other armies have disipline and such, which is why they get smaller squads entirely. The IG have to buy in bulk, so I'm glad that the bulk works together.

Any word on when this is planned to come out?

I would love to field stormtroopers on Valkyries... but I wonder if they would have a special rule to make them scoring? After all, isn't the whole point of a quick insertion force to take objectives?

Voodoo Boyz wrote:
This is very true, but given that he needs to be alive for this to work, and area terrain doesn't block LOS, then this means that they will be more than a hidden LD Bubble or a suicide squad; they'll also be target #1.

If the Chimera becomes more reasonable point-wise, you might see more fielded with command squads for fire support and to block LOS to the Command Squad.

I wonder if Voxes will become cheaper and/or more useful.

Removed for double-posting silliness.

I like the changes, if we get even half of em it'll be great.

But adding an inquisitor as a HQ choice? Will you still be required to take a Command HQ Platoon? If not then does that mean you can have an inquisitor based stormtrooper army or something like that?

Or does it mean there will be a WD Demonhunters get you by list that will say we're not allowed to use allies anymore?

For those of you saying the Command HQ will be target #1, Am I wrong in concluding that screening is essentially back? Also, bigger platoons seems very reasonable, so they may be very hard to get to.

These are cool ideas... which also makes me wonder if they will happen. Anyway...

These are cool because they really add to and define the character of the IG. As they are now they are overcost, and under performing in the big picture.

My IG army is on hold until they get a revamp, and 5th comes out. If some or all of these rumors are true, I will gladly take them off the shelf.

The question is: Who is writing it? JJ just finished SM, and is probably doing SW. Phil Kelley is doing DE. Gav is gone. Kinda just leaves Allessio.

My buddy with the armored company will love these rumors. It does sound pretty good. I'd love to see guard become a top tier army. Having to kill every single man ina platoon to take an objective is gonna be tough in 5th with all the cover.

A Command and two infantry platoons comes to about 500 to 600 points minimum w/ heavy weapons. That gives you room for about 6 Leman Russ tanks in 1500 or 9 in 2000. Or less w/ track guards etc.

What I am asking is if that is overpowered or not. I guess it is OK. Especially with only Troop being scoring etc.

Necros wrote:I like the changes, if we get even half of em it'll be great.

But adding an inquisitor as a HQ choice? Will you still be required to take a Command HQ Platoon? If not then does that mean you can have an inquisitor based stormtrooper army or something like that?

Or does it mean there will be a WD Demonhunters get you by list that will say we're not allowed to use allies anymore?

My interpretation was that there will be an HQ that is LIKE an Inquisitor (I.E. gets abilities from his retinue) as opposed to an actual Inquisitor. But I'm probably wrong, and they'll neuter the Inquisition lists as an unneeded interim measure like they did for WHFB Chaos.

Rbb wrote:The question is: Who is writing it? JJ just finished SM, and is probably doing SW. Phil Kelley is doing DE. Gav is gone. Kinda just leaves Allessio.

that would make my day if Allessio was writing the book. he is the only there that i trust at GW to write anything in fantasy. i cant wait for something like autocannons to automatically hit for 2D6 AP2 strength 6 hits...... yeah that sounds about right.

anyway on the rumors i hope i don't have to buy the entire army each special rule if i just want a few squads to be drop troops.

Well, it seems the Guard project will be on hold until the new 'dex comes out. Kinda like that =I= as an HQ choice, some cross-mojoination with the 'Xenos Hunters' Codex? Prolly have to take a regular HQ before you can have an =I= HQ, but then again I'll just not speculate and wait till I have the codex in my grubby, super glued, paint stained little paws.