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Hey there, I've been seriously thinking about getting into 40k. I've been looking at all the armies, and the sisters of battle (and especially that penitent engine!) caught my eye in the main rulebook. I've since found out they're in the Witch Hunters codex. Problem is, it seems Witch Hunters hasn't been updated since 3rd edition!

Does this mean I can't play them? If I still can, how? How would those old 3rd ed. rules work with the 5th edition rules? It seems like it would be a mess, but if so that's a shame: what do people do when new editions come out, just not use the new rules or play their armies until their codex is released?

Oh, also: does anyone know if there're plans to release WH in 5th? Apparently not every army gets an update every edition? That's...weird.

Anyway, if you can't tell, I'm a little flummoxed still at how this all works. Please be patient with me! Thanks.

There is ment to be new inquisitor forces codex in the pipeline.

The witch hunters codex is still usable (just not as great as it could be) and is available on the GW website.


and welcome to dakkadakka

Thanks! I'm also thinking (obviously) Space Marines, but I don't want to just be one among a vast horde of the blue guys.

Codex: Witch Hunters is still a very serviceable codex that can be played in a number of different ways, one of which includes Space Marines (using the printed editon, not the download.)

Not all Space Marines are blue. Regardless of which Space Marine codex you use, the models can be painted any way you wish. Don't let your creativity be squashed by the pretty pictures in the book!

The is NO 'inquisition' codex coming.

The combined faction codex that so many are wanting is a pipe dream, it will never happen (because codex: Deathwatch is fluffwise a non-event. Ordo:Xenos Deathwatch operates in small unit "kill teams" not armies.).
More CIA than USMC.

There WILL be a new GREY KNIGHT codex next year and it is rumoured that SoB will be getting a WD update (like the BA got so long ago) in late 1st qtr 2011 to tide them over until their codex is ready.

gazelle wrote:
Not all Space Marines are blue.

Yeah, my concern is just that a lot of people play with SM, and I don't want to be boring or something.

Anyway, I've been looking closer at the WH, and it appears you can field their models with any Imperial Army? Which is just SM and IG, yes? This makes things much more interesting.

By the way, what are the rules about fielding units? Is there a hard-and-fast rule about mixing, say, Ork & SM armies, or is it just frowned upon (or stupid, tactically)?

Thanks!

Hans Chung-Otterson wrote:

Yeah, my concern is just that a lot of people play with SM, and I don't want to be boring or something.

Anyway, I've been looking closer at the WH, and it appears you can field their models with any Imperial Army? Which is just SM and IG, yes? This makes things much more interesting.

By the way, what are the rules about fielding units? Is there a hard-and-fast rule about mixing, say, Ork & SM armies, or is it just frowned upon (or stupid, tactically)?

Thanks!

Technically you can have any model represent anything, but if you try to table an Ork and say its a Marine people will give you funny looks. Marines are an excellent first army choice for 2 reasons.

1. High point value mini's. This means you spend less $$$ on an army if you are a smart shopper.
2. Faces are intimidating for new painters, helms aren't.

Don't be fooled by the whole "lots of folks play SM so its boring" thing, the models are extremely versitile. They also take paint/washes extremely easily for a table top finish. Search google images for "Space Wolves, Pretty Marines, Angry Marines, Blood Angels, Salamanders" or even just Space Marines. You'll be amazed at the diversity of model colors, poses, and theme's that come up.

Not that I'm trying to steer you in a particular direction (IF YOU WANT TO BE COOL PLAY CHAOS) because I don't really have a preference (ALL HAIL THE RUINOUS POWERS), and its always great to meet a new (LET THE LOYALIST SCUM BURN) player.




Automatically Appended Next Post:

Hans Chung-Otterson wrote:
By the way, what are the rules about fielding units? Is there a hard-and-fast rule about mixing, say, Ork & SM armies, or is it just frowned upon (or stupid, tactically)?

Your army has to be using a rule set from one of the Codex's. You could play Ork rules, or Marine rules, but never both.

Haha, thanks! I think I get the fielding stuff now.

Hrm, now I'm just twisting and turning, trying to decide what army to play.

My advice would be to decide on what models you like, then paint em. "Counts As" is your friend, and will keep you from getting stuck in the "MUST BE BLOOD ANGELS OR SPACE WOLVES" camp.

chromedog wrote:...it is rumoured that SoB will be getting a WD update (like the BA got so long ago) in late 1st qtr 2011 to tide them over until their codex is ready.

I haven't heard anything about this. I don't suppose you have a link?

One clarification: so if I field Space Marines, can the Witch Hunters legally be a part of my army? What about, like, Blood Angels and Space Wolves? I know those have their own codexes, but I'm confused--are they their own army, or can you play them in a Space Marines army as well?

Thanks.

Hans Chung-Otterson wrote:One clarification: so if I field Space Marines, can the Witch Hunters legally be a part of my army? What about, like, Blood Angels and Space Wolves? I know those have their own codexes, but I'm confused--are they their own army, or can you play them in a Space Marines army as well?

Thanks.

In a table top game of 40k, you use one Codex as a set of rules from your army. You cannot take units from one codex and stick them in an army. IE you could not use the stats and rules for a Mega-Nob with Cybork body in the same army that you used stats for a Space Marine Veteran Sargent.

This rule is separate from the MODEL you use to represent said unit. Does that make sense?

Imperial Gaurd, Tyranids, Space Marines, Space Wolves, Chaos Space Marines, Blood Angels, Orks, Necrons, etc are all seperate codex's. Thou shalt not mix and match stats from different codex's.



IF you like the witch hunter models, use em. They can "count as" anything you like...although if you try to say a Blood Angel painted Space Marine counts as a Dreadnaught it won't fly.

Uh, no, there are rules for Allies and Inductions.

You may do the following:

With any Space Marines army (SM/BA/BT/DA/SW) you may include 1 HQ, 1 Elite, 2 Troops, and/or 1 Fast Attack from WH or DH. These choices do not count for mandatory 1 HQ / 2 Troops choices from your base codex. You may have both WH and DH allies in the same army, and each has a separate limitation (IE, 1 HQ, 1 Elite, 2 Troops, 1 Fast Attack from each).

With a WH or DH army, you may induct a selection of units as listed in those codices, so long as you fulfill the 1 HQ / 2 Troops choices from the WH or DH codex. You may not induct from more than one army at any given time, and certain units (Leman Russ Battle Tank) have other limitations as stated in the codex. The codices being outdated, you will likely have to use some other list of units, such as the 'Ard Boyz FAQ, or GW's own Imperial Guard FAQ.

As per the current rules, if you use the printed WH codex, you can either "ally in" certain Space Marine or Imperial Guard units, or "ally in" a limited number of WH units in any Imperial (Space Marine, Imperial Guard or Daemonhunters) army. The same is true for Daemonhunters. These rules, however, are relics of 3rd edition and will most likely be going down the drain when/if the rumored Codex: Grey Knights and the WH update is released.

agroszkiewicz wrote:

Hans Chung-Otterson wrote:One clarification: so if I field Space Marines, can the Witch Hunters legally be a part of my army? What about, like, Blood Angels and Space Wolves? I know those have their own codexes, but I'm confused--are they their own army, or can you play them in a Space Marines army as well?

Thanks.

In a table top game of 40k, you use one Codex as a set of rules from your army. You cannot take units from one codex and stick them in an army. IE you could not use the stats and rules for a Mega-Nob with Cybork body in the same army that you used stats for a Space Marine Veteran Sargent.

This rule is separate from the MODEL you use to represent said unit. Does that make sense?

Imperial Gaurd, Tyranids, Space Marines, Space Wolves, Chaos Space Marines, Blood Angels, Orks, Necrons, etc are all seperate codex's. Thou shalt not mix and match stats from different codex's.



IF you like the witch hunter models, use em. They can "count as" anything you like...although if you try to say a Blood Angel painted Space Marine counts as a Dreadnaught it won't fly.

You have told a complete load of rubbish to a newbie not cool. Hans Chung-Otterson everything Melissia has said is acurrate and near quoted from the codexs. You just have to decide whether you want the witch hunters to be the main force or be the allies.

To use the ally rules you have to have both codexs though, using space marines or imperial guard will allow you to overcome some of the limitiations using an old codex presents.

Where are these rules for allies and inductions found? I don't recall seeing them in the codices.

p 21 of the printed daemonhunter codex, don't know which page in the witchhunter but is exactly the same rules.


It was also one of the main selling points of the codexes when GW released them, in store and in WD there where loads of articles on the subjuct of inquisitor allies in IoM armies.

Maurin wrote:Where are these rules for allies and inductions found? I don't recall seeing them in the codices.

Page 25 and 26 of C:WH. The entirety of page 25 (entitled "By the Authority of the Immortal Emperor of Mankind...") is dedicated to it, but the specific rules are in the section "Using Witch Hunters as Allies" on page 25, bottom right corner, and on the bottom left corner the section entitled "By the Authority of the Immortal Emperor of Mankind..."

Ahh, only the printed ones? I only have the digital version off the games workshop site. Thanks for the info

My bad, just going on what I see in my rulebook...don't have the WH Codex. Sorry for givin bad info...guess I didn't have the needed information to answer.

Maurin wrote:Ahh, only the printed ones? I only have the digital version off the games workshop site. Thanks for the info

You can use the GW Imperial Guard FAQ for inducting forces into your WH force, and the 1 HQ, 1 Elite, 2 Troops, 1 Fast Attack limit for allying WH forces into your Imperial armies.

I doubt anyone who's worth a damn will object to it in a friendly game.

Awesome, thanks for the clarification. I think now I'll definitely be fielding Space Marines, hopefully with some WH thrown in. I was thinking of buying AOBR, but I think it's kind of a waste of money since I don't want the Orks. I'll just get some Tactical SM or something instead.

Hans Chung-Otterson wrote:I was thinking of buying AOBR, but I think it's kind of a waste of money since I don't want the Orks.

Folks will always buy em if you wanna sell. Just a thought.

Yeah, that's a good point. My wallet needs to take it slowly, though, so I think I'm going to start with the SM codex, then some models (probably Tactical SM), then the full rulebook, and I'll go from there. I don't have this burning NEED to play at the moment; mostly I just really want to get some models and start painting them; I have a cool idea for a SM color scheme.

just the codex and a tactical squad is a good start if you wind up going halves with an ork player for AoBR it comes with the mini rulebook, all the rules no fluff.

If you're gonna buy a Rhino, go ahead and buy the razorback it's like 2 more bucks and has options for both just don't glue down the top hatch.

I want the full book, though! I want the fluff. I've thought long & hard about buying AOBR and have realized it's not a good deal for me. I can get the dice & templates cheap, I want the full rulebook, and I don't want the Orks.

Thanks for the suggestion, though!