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Loken over at BOLS wrote:40K RUMORS: Apocalypse Second Edition
Posted by Loken at 12/16/2012

The rumors are flowing that Games Workshop will be releasing the second edition of Apocalypse later this year.

All of the Apocalypse formations have been pulled from the Games Workshop website (though available if you join the Apocalypse40K forum). And various GW employees have said they were removed as they are obsolete and about to be replaced. This is typical of GW upcoming releases: pull all the old merchandise from the shelves and get ready for the new wave.

Apocalypse is certainly the most successful GW expansion ever. It has created a whole sub category of gamers, like myself, who only play big games now, and ever the average gamer has the ability to play in bigger games on special occasions. More importantly to Games Workshop, is that Apocalypse is a huge driver of sales. Games beef up their forces to ridiculous levels (I have have 25,000 points each of Space Marines and Imperial Guard now) and that means buying lots of models. In fact Forge World has been singularly focused on creating models that were, up until recently, available to play with only in Apocalypse games. Forge World was basically the Apocalypse model maker.

This year Forge World released the second edition of Imperial Armour Apocalypse. It updated data sheets for lots of models and it also created a system that noted which models were acceptable in regular games of Warhammer 40,000 and which models were only available in games of Apocalypse. So now an average gamer can add specific models from Forge World to their regular 40K forces. Obviously this expands the game of 40K, but it also helps drive sales to gamers who previously only bought models they could use in regular 40K games.

Now remember, Apocalypse was released at the end of fourth edition. So it is now two editions old. Gamers have adapted, and as I previously noted here, House Rules are critical to a well run Apocalypse game. But the new rules in 6th edition, most notably the new vehicle damage rules, are not in the first edition of Apocalypse. Forge World has released an FAQ and updates on their downloads section to help update the game. Vehicles with structure points now get 3 hull points per structure point, which was the most important update.

So stay tuned for a new edition of Apocalypse. And I certainly hope we see some new warmachine models, like the Baneblade or Ork Stompa we saw with the original release, with Second Edition. Maybe the long rumored plastic Thunderhawk?

For more Apocalypse news and updates on The Big Game III, The World's Biggest Apocalypse Game, go to the Apocalypse40K blog: http://apocalypse40k.blogspot.de/ .

Alec

The "later this year" part sounds strange, but the Apocalypse data sheet links on the GW website have disappeared (pdf's still available if you find them). The BOLS release schedule rumour has a "40k supplement" window for June 2013.

Oh boy, I'm looking forward to this. I have a FW Super Heavy Stormblade, but I have never used it in a game. The last time I played Apocalypse was several years ago, and my force is much larger now, but it was still great fun back then.
My local gaming club have been putting off playing apocalypse for a long time, and I think it's mostly because the rules are so outdated.

I wonder what will be different about the second edition?

My guess is buyable terrain pieces, perhaps even in apocalypse formations, like huge trench networks for example. Updated rules, and perhaps a new vehicle or walker for some of the Xenos races.

Guess a relaunch of Apocalypse would be a good time for FW to release that rumoured Warlord Titan model...

This excites me so much because i am almost only a Apoc player myself. Thanks for the update Kroot!

All of the Apocalypse formations have been pulled from the Games Workshop website (though available if you join the Apocalypse40K forum). And various GW employees have said they were removed as they are obsolete and about to be replaced. This is typical of GW upcoming releases: pull all the old merchandise from the shelves and get ready for the new wave.

I'd like to believe this but at the same time that part stands out to me. It wasn't just the apoc formations that were taken down, it was all the articles except the new FAQs. This sounds a little too much like someone jumping on that and deciding it must mean a new version of Apoc.

That and GW employees know nothing.

It's coming later this year? does that mean in the next 2 weeks or so? Now I know what to spend my xmas bonus on!

Emporer be praised! Our group love apocalypse games(its practically the only format we play!). I can't wait to get some formations for Grey Knights and Space Wolves. Hopefully, they will tweek the current ones, but still keep them all.

And with Dreamforge flooding the market with affordable Titans (or Knights, pick and choose) Those games are about to become a bit more within the reach of the average gamer.

Only took them 2 editions to update a game they keep putting product out for

A new Apocalypse release wouldn't surprise. I think GW probably made loads of money off of all the bundle deals they did last time. And now with all of the terrain kits they can bundle together, in addition to models, that's just more money in their pocket.

 Theduke07 wrote:
Only took them 2 editions to update a game they keep putting product out for

They keep putting out Apoc products? Which ones?

Ooooh, I wonder what cool new models/box sets will be available when that releases?!?!?

Spear of Sicarius? LOL

Makes the release of those big Dreamforge walkers seem like perfect timing

I might have to save up for this one, seeing as I remember the 9 leman russes in one box. I don't think I could help myself if that happened again and they were the new kits.

Hmm,
I'll probably pick this up someday for the eye candy, but folks wanting to play an apocalypse style game (but don't have 12 hours to do it) might be better served with the Warpath 1.0 rules or Epic 40k.

I love the idea and look of a mass battle, but 40k isn't really a good ruleset for this kind of thing. If it's anything like the previous/current version of apocalypse it will do almost nothing to streamline the game and mostly give you ways to put bigger things on the table.

Definitely looking forward to see what becomes of this news.

6th edition's tweaks should have interesting results on a large scale, I can only imagine the initiative pile-ins!

Oooh, this sounds exciting. I have not really been a massive apocalypse player, but if this 2nd edition is true, then I may be buying some SuperHeavies.

After playing a 63,000 point Apoc game last night, I'd say the rules need an update.

Lots of things are wildly incompatible, and the formations could use some modifications, additions and so on.

It does need some form of streamlining however, especially when some of the assets really slow down the game.

Dont know if anyone has confirmed it for you yet but the imperial armor 1 vol 2 Will be mentioned and show by picture In jan. WD

Expect them to use something very similar to this:

http://snakeyesgaming.blogspot.com/2012/07/games-day-2011-and-2012-table-rules.html

Edit for the folks who don't want to follow the link:

Movement


All players move at the same time up to their maximum movement range. However, you must maintain a one inch separation from all other enemy models on the board as you would do in a normal game.

Shooting

All players shoot at the same time. When shooting, nominate the unit you will be shooting and let the controlling player know. As the controlling player will possibly be under fire from many people, make sure he is able to watch you roll the dice and see the results to avoid any arguments. Resolve wound allocation as outlined in the rulebook and proceed with determining casualties. Since shooting is occurring simultaneously, those casualties are not removed from the table immediately. Lay the casualties on their side or back and finish wound allocation. At the end of the wound allocation, if the player controlling the models has not shot, he can shoot or run the models under his control as well. All models, whether they are standing are have been killed get their shot. After shooting has been completed, then all models that have been placed on their side are removed from the table with morale checks being taken where appropriate.

Assault

Previously in 5th edition, assault ranges were set at six inches. You used to be able to determine that if you wanted to charge a unit and the opposing player agreed, as long as you were 12 inches apart, the charge could occur as you would meet in the middle. With the advent of 6th edition, charge ranges are now random so are a little more unpredictable. Therefore, you must let the person you want to charge know that you are charging his unit. The person being charged then has two options.

The first option is to charge into the same unit. If this option is selected, then both players roll their 2d6 charge range and as long as both of the results added together for each player total enough for the charge, then they are in hand to hand combat. Both units gain the bonus for charging of +1 Attack and meet halfway between both units.


The second option is to perform overwatch. If the assaulted player chooses this option, then the attacking player rolls for assault if he is 12 inches or less away. If they are 12 inches or more away, the assault fails automatically and no overwatch shots are fired as it was outside of normal charge range. However, if it is in side of 12 inches then the shots are fired as normal overwatch rules indicate even if the dice roll fails to bring the 2 units into an assault. In the case that overwatch is selected by the assaulted unit, they do not gain the +1 attack for charging into combat as well.

After the assault has been declared and moves have been completed, the assault phase continues as normal. Once this is completed, all morale checks are taken and the round restarts.

Slowing down the game? Sounds like Imotekh to me!

I play space marines and i still hope that we get some new titans for the Xenos. It would make more players take interest in the game format if they felt like they could actually field something of use. This news is exciting!!!

Thanks Kroot

I am excite!

I guess we couldn't have that allies chart that actually makes sense now could we?