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You have several 40k Army's. We love their models, they're what we want most of the time.

If someone was to cleverly come up with a way to make a new game, new rules, new mechanics.

Would you make the switch?

My idea is to be able to use GWs products against them but in a subtle way that you can't get caught in a legal battle.

I'm curious if people would play a similar game to 40k? You don't have to buy new models, you could use your current ones.

I'm surprised this hasn't happened yet. I can see a lot of ways to make a new game similar but still be very unique.

Of course the only way I can see it working is to be very descriptive. Rule books and "codexes" would rely on very detailed descriptions because obviously pictures would not work. GW would sue the $hit out of you.


Example I'm thinking. You have a space marine with bolter and powerfist. I couldn't depict that exactly in the new home made rules but change the name to Space Rangers, equipped with M690 carbine with (explosive munitions), and Energy gauntlet. And you have a basic idea of what I'm thinking about.

Would you consider this?

Well it would basically be a 40k fandex (which i think there are a few of out there).

Would I play it? Probably, assuming the rules were free or not majorly expensive.

Would it stop me playing 40k as my primary system? No, it's fine for what it is, and perfectly good fun.

Does it exist? Yes:
http://gallery.mailchimp.com/e62f0c35454fa3ba687404d69/files/Warpath_II_Rules.pdf

Johnnytorrance wrote:
You have several 40k Army's. We love their models, they're what we want most of the time.

If someone was to cleverly come up with a way to make a new game, new rules, new mechanics.

Would you make the switch?

My idea is to be able to use GWs products against them but in a subtle way that you can't get caught in a legal battle.

I'm curious if people would play a similar game to 40k? You don't have to buy new models, you could use your current ones.

I'm surprised this hasn't happened yet. I can see a lot of ways to make a new game similar but still be very unique.

Of course the only way I can see it working is to be very descriptive. Rule books and "codexes" would rely on very detailed descriptions because obviously pictures would not work. GW would sue the $hit out of you.


Example I'm thinking. You have a space marine with bolter and powerfist. I couldn't depict that exactly in the new home made rules but change the name to Space Rangers, equipped with M690 carbine with (explosive munitions), and Energy gauntlet. And you have a basic idea of what I'm thinking about.

Would you consider this?

The space Rangers models were pretty cool. I used them as my rubrics.

On topic, I would say it depends on the rules for the game. If it was better and I liked it better, sure.
There are systems out there where you can do this already I believe. I just havnt tried them.

I'm looking forward to 40k army lists for Beyond the Gates of Antares, should be fun!

I'd certainly give it a try.

If you manage what GW can't and create a balanced ruleset, then I may even switch permanently.

I'd love to, but there are two things stopping me.

1) There are never going to be exhaustive rules for all of my models, which represent their actual (background) role in the 40k universe. That kills it. I play 40k as much for the universe as for the combat.

2) It would be hard to find a group willing to make the switch.

I think a comprehensive kill-team style with a squad and an HQ would be the bomb diggety...

I've thought of going w/ d20s and a success style game. Double GW ability scores, double wounds+toughness value=hps
redo the to hit chart with more variety, SM BS of 8 hits on a 7
Bolter can shoot all out, 3 rd burst and single shot with different accuracy and crits...
Clip 10 dice, -3 to hit (10 up) 20s are crits
Burst 3 dice, 7 up to hit, 19s are crits
Single shot/aimed, +3 to hit, 18s are crits


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I would have crits avoid armor saves, and do crazy stuff based on S vs targets T.

I would really love a really good more advanced ruleset for 40k, honestly the terrible ruleset holds the game back soooooo much

Sure, why not? We play Space Hulk often, and we even have made house rules for using different models in SH.

Johnnytorrance wrote:
I'm surprised this hasn't happened yet. I can see a lot of ways to make a new game similar but still be very unique.

It has been done.

Not suprisingly, a game that doesn't sell it's own miniatures to support it is not profitable, and will eventually fail as the authors enthusiasm fades.

Also, any game that is sci fi and has build your own unit rules, someone has come up with 40K conversions for

Shockforce - Had entire 40K army lists converted over to it.
VOR - Had build your own model/faction rules in it, and a fluff that could have supported 40K stuff arriving from the Warp.
Warpath - has Coporation (Astra Militarum), Enforcers (Adeptus Astartes), Orcs (Orks), Forge Fathers (Squats), and will likely have something along the lines of Eldar (Asterians) in it's next itteration.

Yeah, not only are there games designed to more or less lightweight-emulate 40k in specific, but there are also games that you could play with 40k minis in a 40k setting that are otherwise generic. For example, Song of Blades and Heroes (or one of its expansions) could easily be done in 40k style, because the rules are simple enough to be used in pretty much any setting.

The problem, though, is that they're nowhere near as complex. If you want your marines with bolters that are different from other small arms, and power armor that is different than other armor, and their huge statline which gives them certain advantages, and something representing ATSKNF, and something representing krak and frag grenades, and has the rules for them differently, and has the same kind of weapon upgrade options that do the same thing and the same kind of transport options that do the same thing, and the same kind of sergeant with the same kind of wargear, and, and, and...

... well, eventually you'll just have 40k, except written by someone else. Don't see why I wouldn't most likely just continue with 40k at that point.

Without a doubt.

I play both games and they profit.