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I have a copy of the 6th Ed codex. Since a thread already exists on rules and what not I'll post early fluff. Overall I haven't seen anything particularly jarring except for major changes to the 13th Black Crusade

The Black Crusades are described as "13 rampages, each of which has sent the Imperium reeling and ravaging worlds close to the Eye". The 13th is described as dwarfing all others. It is explicitly said that the previous 12 were mere precursors/strategic raids to the current invasion. The 13th intends to march on Terra.

Abaddon's strategy for the 13th Black Crusade is given in full. He plans to summon so many Daemons on Cadia that the pylons on it will overload, enveloping it in the Eye of Terror and dooming the planet as a Daemon World for eternity and unusable to the Imperium. Abaddon doesn't care about how many casualties either side is taking, all he wants to do is spill enough blood to summon more Daemons. He will then repeat this on every Imperial world in his path to Terra. Apparently, doing this will extend the range of the Eye of Terror to envelop planet after planet that is transformed into a Daemon World. He intends to do this to world after world until he reaches Terra, which he intends to envelop into the Eye of Terror. The strategy is specifically called "The Crimson Path".

The Black Crusade is being done in conjunction with traitors in The Maelstrom, who are forcing Space Marine chapters to divert their attention from Segmentum Obscurus.

That's more or less the whole of it. Other fluff includes more detailed histories for lesser renegade chapters (Cleaved, Scourged, Red Corsairs, Purged, Company of Misery, Blood Disciples, Flawless Host) and Perturabo actually doing something. In 400.M32 he unleashed a machine plague on Imperial Forge Worlds.

Overall, the new fluff is great I think (which surprised me). Chaos Space Marines feels like the biggest threat and "Chaosy" again as opposed to renegade. Moreover not only CSM are talked about, but cultists. Daemons, and even Dark Mechanicus

The Crimson Pain tactic sounds neato.

I am more interested in picking this up, now.

 Harriticus wrote:
The 13th is described as dwarfing all others. It is explicitly said that the previous 12 were mere precursors/strategic raids to the current invasion.

This makes me so incredibly happy. Maybe we can finally rid ourselves of the failbaddon stupidity.

jareddm wrote:

 Harriticus wrote:
The 13th is described as dwarfing all others. It is explicitly said that the previous 12 were mere precursors/strategic raids to the current invasion.

This makes me so incredibly happy. Maybe we can finally rid ourselves of the failbaddon stupidity.

That's nothing new. It had already been established a while ago.

 DeffDred wrote:

jareddm wrote:

 Harriticus wrote:
The 13th is described as dwarfing all others. It is explicitly said that the previous 12 were mere precursors/strategic raids to the current invasion.

This makes me so incredibly happy. Maybe we can finally rid ourselves of the failbaddon stupidity.

That's nothing new. It had already been established a while ago.

Repetition is key to making it stick

You forgot to mention that it is rumored that the Daemon Primarchs themselves are taking the field in the 13th Black Crusade.

Anything in there about Sons of Malice? I'm quite drawn to their little role in the universe, what with a minor chaos god and all.

 Void__Dragon wrote:
You forgot to mention that it is rumored that the Daemon Primarchs themselves are taking the field in the 13th Black Crusade.

I didn't notice it, but you're right! The actual quote is "Rumors persist that the Daemon Primarchs ride at the realm to usher in the End Times."

and Flood I didn't see anything on the Sons of Malice unfortunately.

Sounds like a moronic strategy, but whatever. It's cool to hear about the Primarchs and stuff.

The BL needs to work some kind of "Battles of the 13th Crusade" compendium in which multiple authors write stories detailing fights of the crusade. I'm interested to see how the fight is progressing from boots on the ground perspective.

It's about time the Daemon Primarchs got off their arses and actually did something

One does not simply rush a daemon primarch

This sounds really impressive. If the fluff in the codex is that good I might even pick it up at some point.

What about the prophesy of Traitor King?
As i didn't read previous CSM 'dexes, i don't know is this someting old or new...but looks like that 13th BC is the last.

except that as long as Cadia stands, the entire plan is halted. And since we haven't had an official global campaign since Medusa V to push forward with the Black Crusade, this is just more bluster.

I'd be more concerned with the Tyranids and Tau expansion along the Eastern Fringe than with Failbaddon's endless crusade for one planet.

Kharn murdered an entire planet in one night. Abaddon has taken years and still hasn't been able to conquer Cadia.

Cadia is more badass than every other planet in the galaxy.

Put together.

 Arcsquad12 wrote:
except that as long as Cadia stands, the entire plan is halted. And since we haven't had an official global campaign since Medusa V to push forward with the Black Crusade, this is just more bluster.

I'd be more concerned with the Tyranids and Tau expansion along the Eastern Fringe than with Failbaddon's endless crusade for one planet.

Kharn murdered an entire planet in one night. Abaddon has taken years and still hasn't been able to conquer Cadia.

The 13th Black Crusade actually has gone on for at most under a year. 40K canon from GW publications ends at 9999999.M41, which is also roughly when the 13th Black Crusade began.

Yes it's bluster, this is meant to make the black crusades seem like less of a joke and Abaddon's plan is meant to look like it could succeed. Because while a Chaos fleet marching on terra seems unrealistic for the setting, not even the Imperium could withstand an encroaching Warp Storm that swallows everything up. It genuinely gives it a bigger feel of threat.

As for the crusades progress itself, it should be noted that GW repeatedly makes it clear in the codex that Cadia is on the verge of defeat, as opposed to the global campaign "stalemate" verdict.

Where has GW made this clear, out of curiosity? All the fluff I've seen on the matter have mostly just implied that Cadia is reeling, but the battle's still mostly a stalemate.

BlaxicanX wrote:
Where has GW made this clear, out of curiosity? All the fluff I've seen on the matter have mostly just implied that Cadia is reeling, but the battle's still mostly a stalemate.

The fluff on Abaddon says "his forces are poised to soon overrun Cadia"

 Harriticus wrote:
Other fluff includes more detailed histories for lesser renegade chapters

Oh nice. Anything you can share? What does it say about the purge, does it clarify if they're a renegade chapter of a death guard offshoot (there are sources for both as it stands)

Modern chaos fluff has always come off as daft to me. The best chaos related stuff is the night lords books. They paint a much better picture then the codex fluff.

I like the crimson path but everytime i start thinking more about it I imagine this exactly scene in my mind

*within the swirling nebulas of shimmering emotion a twisted hull of a once pure Imperial Battle Cruiser lays motionless like a shark waiting to strike. Within the hull the machinations of chaos clammer to continue to refine this powerful ship while the Warmaster Abaddon looks to his generals in a sneer before speaking.*

Abby: Brothers, at long last we shift the tide of the false-god's tyranny. Soon we shall corrupt a beating heart of the Imperium... Cadia the once ellusive fortress world able to narrowly hold out against our forces is now to fall in the name of the Dark gods!

Chaos Lord: Excellent Lord Abbaddon! How shall we proceed?!

Abby: .... We will kill all the people of this planet and as their blood spills soon demons shall erupt, their sanity stripped and their world shall lay upon OUR DOMAI-

Lord: ughhh... Abbaddon?

Abby: WUT YOU FOOL!?

Lord: Weren't we ...like ... already doing that?

Abby: BUT WE MEAN IT THIS TIME! MUAHAHAHAHAHAA (doctor evil finger laugh)

 A Kvlt Ghost wrote:

 Harriticus wrote:
Other fluff includes more detailed histories for lesser renegade chapters

Oh nice. Anything you can share? What does it say about the purge, does it clarify if they're a renegade chapter of a death guard offshoot (there are sources for both as it stands)

The Purge gets a little snippet. It does not describe their origin, just that they've been active since M36. It mainly goes into their hatred for all life and the belief that only the absolution of death is a solution to defeat the corruption of mankind.

Reading between the lines though it seems they were a Chapter that became disillusioned with the Imperium and went full Chaos in M36 as opposed to a Death Guard faction.

The whole Crimson Path thing doesn't seem very well thought out. If Abaddon were just out to destroy the Cadian pylons...he could have used the Planetkiller ship, which has been shown blowing up planets in the past.

For his plan to work, he needs to make Cadia a Daemonworld.

You can't make a Daemonworld without its most vital component: The world.

Alsoin the Campaign it was stated the Planet Killer wasn't used because it was unknown just what effect on the eye and the warp destroying the pylons and Cadia would have.

This finally gives my claims that the previous Black Crusades weren't necessarily failures and each had a different goal, other than a direct assault on Cadia or Terra. So yay for me.

I never had thought though that this was Abaddons goal, to pull the Imperium into the Great Eye. I guess it makes sense. My idea was that he needed Cadia as a foothold in the material realm to launch his attacks on Terra from.

I look forward to giving this a more thorough read.

Any additional information on the Violators or the Damned Company of Lord Caustos?

I like the fact that this Codex has the first direct and explicit textual reference to 'Genestealer Cults' that we've seen in years.

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
I like the fact that this Codex has the first direct and explicit textual reference to 'Genestealer Cults' that we've seen in years.

What reference? You can't just leave it at that!

Apologies.

New Chaos Codex, page 24:

746.M41 The Constantinus Iconoclasm

The Sons of Guilliman free Nova Terra from a Tyranid attack. Afterwards, Squad Constantinus hunts down remnants of the Hive Fleet, finding Genestealer cults within the noble families of the capital. The entire ruling class is executed...

And so on and so forth.

There are the words "Genestealer" and "cult" used right next to one another. Closest I've seen in recent years are vague references to 'xeno cults', so this is the first actual reference to something we really haven't seen since 2nd Ed.

I have no complaints about that, in fact, I want MOAR!!!