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I used to play 40k back in the days of 2nd and 3rd edition, but I haven't touched it in years and years. I found my old Imperial Guard Army when I was cleaning my basement, and it brought back some good memories, so I started to get interested again. I looked on the GW website, and apparently, 40k is now in 5th(!) edition, and portent.net is gone.

Now, part of the reason I left the hobby was because it got too expensive, but I have a decent sized army, and wouldn't really need to buy anything new, so that's not much of an issue. But there were other issues too. So my question is, what is the current state of 40k? Is everyone still playing just marines? Are some armies super-powered compared to others? Are the new rules any better/smoother/cleaner/fairer/more coherent? Will I have to interact with lots of socially inept, greasy-haired 13-year olds again? Basically, is it worth driving down to the local gaming spot (30+ minutes away) to grab a game sometimes? What is your personal opinion on 40k now?

Thanks for the responses. I had some great times with 40k years ago, and I was fonding recalling them. Should I get back into it?

I'm in my twenties and have just come back after 7 years of being away from it. and its great!! apocalypse is here. people love the orks again. the new rules play much quicker and simpler. and you can always buy models cheaper on ebay!! but they are still expensive.

If price drove you away before unless you're making a lot more money now, then things have only gotten worse. Prices have increased across the board with a handful of acceptions for some plastic boxed sets. The rules in my opinion are slightly better, but not really dramatically different. IG is supposed to get a new codex early next year.

1) Prices have gone up, so beware of that before coming back. You should research the prices to get a feel.

2) There will always be overpowered armies. This is a necessary evil as A) GW will never truly take the time and effort to make a tight tournament worthy set of rules and balance all the armies against each other and B) the game needs to evolve constantly or die. However...

3) Because of the current 5th Edition rules emphasis on Troops and objective taking (rather than 'kill them all' type missions), you will find that all competitive armies are already comp friendly.

4) Unfortunately for you, the same 5th Edition rules has handicapped Imperial Guard armies pretty badly, so know that until the new Codex comes out next year, you will be playing an uphill battle in your games.

5) The current top tournament army is Orks.

Well, fifth edition might just scare you away if you play guard. The newly implemented "Kill Points" (As opposed to Victory Points) in some scenarios have made some Horde players very angry.

The prices have gone up heftily from third edition, from what I can understand, but they are slightly cheaper now than they were at the end of fourth edition.

Armies are fairly balanced (even if power-lists are running rampant), and any army can beat any other army with the right strategy.

And yes, roughly half of the people who play Warhammer 40k have a Space Marine army. They are still GW's pride and joy, it seems, and get updated and cared for more than any other army.

Play some 500-1000 pt. mini-battles at your friendly local gaming store to "test the waters." I think you'll find the hobby is still fun!

With the new edition, I quit the game...Switched to Fantasy. Really don't like the new rules.

I dropped out of the hobby a decade or more ago, and don't remember the old rules. (Apart from Eldar Following-Fire - OUCH!)

Have rejoined for 5th Ed. and so far am enojying it - but then I play at home/friends, so we are all in it for the fun. I call in at our local GW store to chat with the staff and see what models new are out. Haven't played there yet, but kinda enjoy watching games.

Everyone said Orks were overpowered to begin with, but then the new Marine Codex came out ... when the next Codex appears, I'm sure there will be a lot of "New Codex is Overpowered" shouting, as always!

As Molotov said: play some small battles, see what you think.

Orks are currently the super-powerful army. The new rules are smoother and more coherent, but not too fair. People mostly play Marines these days. Yes, you'll probably have to deal with greasy 13 year olds with either unpainted Marines or unpainted Orks.

5th edition was basically a big "**** you" to Guard players imo, as many of the rules work against us rather than for us.

Luckily we're getting a new codex sometime next year around April.

5th Edition is by far the best written and best presented set of rules GW has made to date. Keep in mind though that that doesn't make them good rules; they're still the same illbalanced, pendulum swinging rules we've known for a decade, it just looks like they hired an actual editor this time.

BYE

crowldawg66 wrote:I used to play 40k back in the days of 2nd and 3rd edition, but I haven't touched it in years and years. I found my old Imperial Guard Army when I was cleaning my basement, and it brought back some good memories, so I started to get interested again.

40k has changed quite a bit since 2E, and is more of a return to 3E style.

5E plays smoother, faster, cleaner than any other version to date, with far less rules lookup than ever before.

Guard are getting redone early next year, but they're a 4E shooty army in a 5E Troops Objectives world.

I say, test the waters with your IG and see what you think. Plan to play Apocalypse, and have fun!

feth it. You have an army, you have the time (or you wouldn't be considering it). Play a few games. Only way to really get a feel for it. I've played off and on for 15 years or so. Find a venue, grab a codex and a rule book. Keep in mind your codex will be invalid in a few months, but hey. Give it a whirl. For the rule book, you may want ot get a Black Reach set, and sell off the models. Small, pocket size rule book that is complete. The Black Reach set with the models is only 10 bucks more than a full size hard back rule book.

Let us know what you decide, and how you fair. If you get frogstomped in your first few games, I'd look at a venue change possibly if you don'tt like that atmosphere. But do yourself a favor and make an analytical decision as to WHY you do or don't like the "new" 40k. I'd hate to see you throw those models back on the shelf over some dumb ruling that may change for your IG here in a few months (kill pointsbeing the obvious example).

Good luck!

and portent.net is gone

Kinda. It pretty much morphed into warseer.com, although it isn't quite the same. there's a story behind all that, I don't recall it though.

So my question is, what is the current state of 40k?

Compared to 3ed? For friendly play? It is better in my opinion but I played late in 3ed so I may be biased.

Is everyone still playing just marines?

I think it depends on your local players but yeah, marines and their equivilents (eg MEq) are more popular. However marines are not like they were in 3ed, having lost the ability to rhino rush, shoot one unit, charge another, sweep advance through units, etc.

Are some armies super-powered compared to others?

Orks have numerous advantages over other armies. There's some issues with older codexes not holding up well in the new rules (IG really being the poster child for this).

Are the new rules any better/smoother/cleaner/fairer/more coherent?

They are better, with most of the issues being with old 3ed and 4ed codexes being used in new rules. Lotsa oddities, point cost inflation/deflation, etc.

Will I have to interact with lots of socially inept, greasy-haired 13-year olds again?

Depends on your local environment. Can't really avoid this if picking up games with anyone or going to tournaments. I found a group of like-minded adults that are all round hobbyists, so the only greasy haired teenager with unpainted minis I have to deal with is my son

Basically, is it worth driving down to the local gaming spot (30+ minutes away) to grab a game sometimes?

I prefer to grab a game with a friend over a beer and occasionally play in a tournament at the FLGS or some larger event. Pickup games are hit and miss (and quite frankly when that was my main way of getting games I almost quit the hobby and sold my fledling army).

What is your personal opinion on 40k now?

I think the game is going in a better direction since 3ed for the most part. I'm only still really into it though because of the guys I play with and the fun times I've had at larger tournaments.
HTH

If you've got an army already, and have a crew at the FLGS who play friendly games (which, to me, means specifically scenario based games, campaigns, etc. vs. tournaments/tournament prep), I'd get in on that and try 5th edition out. Don't buy more figures--you already have an army, and just play with that. If 5th strikes your fancy, then when the new IG codex comes out, you might consider revising your list. If, however, it continues to be of little interest to you, consider many of the other games out there that allow you to use your 40k figures (see the thread on Skirmish Games started by Bigtoof for some ideas).

I took a 10 year hiatus and just got back in as 5th hit the store shelves. I love it more than ever. The new edition is kick-ass and GW is on a roll with releasing exciting new products.

As for the community... it is, always has been, and always will be what you make of it, but now with the internet and online forums it's much easier to find like minded people to game with.

So yes, you should start playing again.

I've been playing continously since 1999. I really enjoyed both 3rd and 4th edition, but 5th is definitely the best-written, cleanest-playing, and most fun version so far.

As noted, the IG codex is now badly out of date, with points costs and design concepts that don't match up to the current missions and systems. Kill Point games will be tough for you, and your vehicles (particularly Chimeras) are a bit overpriced compared to the transport pricing schemes in more recent books. On the flip side, more open LOS on the table, and the inablity of the enemy to Sweeping Advance OR Consolidate from one combat to the next means your IG are able to shoot people even after they've hit your lines.

I am just getting back into 40k (with my beloved IG) after a 2 year hiatus I like 5th Ed a lot, and although it is by no means perfect (kill points + IG = bad), it plays much better than 4th or 3rd imho.


As for the whole "IG is weak in 5th". We are guardsmen, we are used to being the underdogs

i'm going to echo the comments of my learned colleagues, and simply suggest that as long as you don't invest too much time (in buying new models) or money (in painting new models) you could try out some games at your FLGS and see how you like it. It's unlikely you won't want to eventually add some units to your IG, but if you have 1500pts you can get in some good games. Friendly gaming is better than ever in 5th, but as others have said the IG have a very steep curve in 5th edition.

The most important thing, which none of my compatriots here have mentioned, is that the Imperial Guard now have A STONKIN' HUGE TANK called the Baneblade!!! I've been tempted to start a Guard army just so I could use one of those puppies!

Ahem.

I've only played one game of 5th so far, but I found it to be quite nice, for the most part. I can't say that I've ever played against a greasy-haired 13 year old, but I suppose it depends on where you live.

Polonius wrote: as you don't invest too much time (in buying new models) or money (in painting new models)

Are you sure that's what you intended to write?!?

Usually, it's time painting and money buying...

You literally described the exact state of the game when I left last summer(no clubs at college). Apparently it has always been the way it is.

The correct answer to the above question is NO PLAY WHFB! I know I play 40K but I MUCH prefer Fantasy

I recently got back in to the hobby after a break of a good few years, and I've not looked back. Similarly, I had a large IG army already painted up. I reckon it's worth a shot.

I played a bunch in 3rd edition (Iron Warriors, Eldar, and Cadians) and enjoyed it but cost and 4E really turned me off for like 3-4 years. I got back in when the new Marines codex came out and, yes, played Marines. I would say this:

1. The game makes more "sense" now. I can understand mechanics better and the new cover system makes more sense than OMG TREES THAT BLOCK LoS AND STRETCH INTO INFINITY!!
2. Every army has a rigged setup depending on what is allowed and modified. My local Hobbytown sees a lot of Drop Guard and they tear through certain armies easily. BUT, for what rigged armies bring in firepower they usually pay for in objective-capturing capabilities. Since 2/3 of your games statistically are objective games...that can be a problem.
3. Your IG will hate, hate, HATE Thunderfire Cannons. Learn to deal if you have a lot of stuff on foot.
4. Greasy kids depends on the scene. My current locale has a lot of guys in their 20s. My old store was a kid central. So it just depends.

Asking if you should get back into it on a board devoted to the hobby will probably produce biased results

But I think you will definitely enjoy the game if you come back. I started in 2nd edition and IMO the game hasn't been as fun as 2nd edition was till now. If the money factor kept you away before, that may still be a problem for you because it is just an expensive hobby, thats all there is to it. I earn a very average income yet I manage to keep getting the new things I want and keep food on the table, it's all about balance.

Find yourself a good group and just start playing again. Pick up the new rulebook and the now old imperial guard book and start building your army again. In a few months IG will be getting a big update too so now is just the time to start playing again and get used to the rules, just in time for the new stuff for you to spend all your spare cash on

Also if you have a lot of guard specific questions as you go this is a great place to ask but a great board for imperial guard is Boot Camp

http://z4.invisionfree.com/Boot_Camp/

when the next Codex appears, I'm sure there will be a lot of "New Codex is Overpowered" shouting, as always!

Ha, no-one shouted that when the Dark Angel codex came out...

Cool. Alright guys, thanks for the advice. I already have an army painted up from way back when, so I wasn't planning on spending much money anymore, although looking at all the new Eldar models made me want to start them up. Ah, if only I were extremely wealthy...

But yeah, I'm planning on going down to the local store on saturday. Apparently they have open gaming going on that day. Hopefully someone will school me on the intricacies of the new rules.

1. It's the same game as 3rd edition, but with a few tweaks. The odd thing is that
it has skewed 40k's audience a bit. Some seem to like the key changes immensely, and
others hate it.

2. Of course there is that section that just shrugs its shoulders and carries on.

3. Same release schedule. So the latest army will either be the most broken thing imaginable,
or the most disappointing thing imaginable since it wasn't broken.

4. If you enjoyed the game before, you'll probably enjoy it now. 13 year olds are a
necessary evil. Hopefully your local GW has been training them in manners as well as
gaming....

The game got about the same pro's and con's, it will have shifted abit but overall you can find the same problems there was when you left. The biggest question is if you had fun before, then its probably worth checking back in.

IG seems to be getting a new codex soon tho, thats also a new spark for lots of pepole who left.

JohnHwangDD wrote:

Polonius wrote: as you don't invest too much time (in buying new models) or money (in painting new models)

Are you sure that's what you intended to write?!?

Usually, it's time painting and money buying...

unless he takes a very long time to decide what to buy... or if he spends alot of money for paints to paint those new models.