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Hi all,

I've been away from the game for about 4 years, but have been playing since the 90's. I had a year playing with 8th edition rules before I moved to China. I kept in touch with the rules and updates until about 2018 (I just couldn't cope with Dakka going from interesting smaller threads to insane mega threads, and Dakka was my only link back to the game since I was in China. I think the mega threads pushed a lot away from the site).

I have decided to start a school 40K club and have found out that there are 5 Games Workshop shops in Shanghai.

So I have some following questions after noticing 9th edition had dropped and checking the basic ruleset that was released for free.

1) It seems they are exactly the same rules aside from the addition of blast and the fact that Vehicles and Monsters get old school relentless and can fire at units outside of combat when in combat. It seems very odd to make a whole edition change for these things that could have been covered in a single errata. Am I missing something?

2) Are the 'old' 8th ed codices still used for points calculations when making a force? If so do 2017 and 2018 Chapter Approved points changes still apply?

3) Any new units/weapons/rules worth mentioning?

4) Do boxed sets have less or more options than before? For example, the guard set on the website shows multiple different options for the heavy weapon team, is this the case? Same with special weapons, do boxes include most special weapon options or just the absolute basics like a grenade launcher or flamer (leaving anyone who wants a plasma/melta to have to ebay guns or accept single pose models since there are no weapon blister packs anymore).

Thanks in advance.

I probably have way more questions that I havent thought of yet tbh.

1) There are more changes than just that. Three examples:
- Terrain got much more detailed rules compared to before.
- How you score victory points during the game changed
- Look out Sir! changed.

The basic rules are free, but don't cover all of the changes so I suggest you pick up a core rulebook.

2) You use your latest Codex + Psychic Awakening + Chapter Approved 2020 to build your force. Point values are all in CA 2020.

3) Too many to mention them. Necrons and Marines will get a release of 40 kits combined in the very near future. New codizes for both will be released in October.

4) The description on GW's website states how many weapons of each kind are provided with the kit.

Poly Ranger wrote:


So I have some following questions after noticing 9th edition had dropped and checking the basic ruleset that was released for free.

Poly Ranger wrote:
1) It seems they are exactly the same rules aside from the addition of blast and the fact that Vehicles and Monsters get old school relentless and can fire at units outside of combat when in combat. It seems very odd to make a whole edition change for these things that could have been covered in a single errata. Am I missing something?

No, there's some more. How additional detachments now cost CP, terrain, the fact that you get +10 victory points if your armies painted, an entire system for upgrading your force through playing games (called Crusade, think Necromunda style perks etc). Oh, and the size of table you need to play on is dictated by the pts size of your battle.
Short answer, buy the book.

Poly Ranger wrote:
2) Are the 'old' 8th ed codices still used for points calculations when making a force? If so do 2017 and 2018 Chapter Approved points changes still apply?

They're currently used for stats & units/options. Pts were updated in the 2020 Chapter Approved book.


And of course every army is getting a brand new shiny 9e Codex. SM & Necrons first in Oct. More to follow.

Poly Ranger wrote:
3) Any new units/weapons/rules worth mentioning?

Tons of new Primaris & Necrons. Googling it will be faster than me typing....

Poly Ranger wrote:
4) Do boxed sets have less or more options than before? For example, the guard set on the website shows multiple different options for the heavy weapon team, is this the case? Same with special weapons, do boxes include most special weapon options or just the absolute basics like a grenade launcher or flamer (leaving anyone who wants a plasma/melta to have to ebay guns or accept single pose models since there are no weapon blister packs anymore).

Same as before. Unless they change something. Wich would involve producing entirely new sprues. You can take a look at the sprues right there on GWs site.

Thank you for the responses.

Another question - does the rule of 3 still exist?

ccs wrote:
Oh, and the size of table you need to play on is dictated by the pts size of your battle.

Nah. MINIMUM is dictated. Of course players being the lemmings they tend to be adopted GW's cash grab minimum as holy grail right away despite by definition of word minimum not being optimal but that's problem with players. Maybe OP wants to be smart one and actually use more optimal size.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Poly Ranger wrote:
Thank you for the responses.

Another question - does the rule of 3 still exist?

Yes. Though for tournaments there's also rule of 2 for 1k size. For tournament's there's now 2 sizes. 1k and 2k. For 1k it's rule of 2, for 2k it's rule of 3. For non-tournament games it's rule of 3 regardless of game size(so much for GW's claim of scaling to any size)

tneva82 wrote:

ccs wrote:
Oh, and the size of table you need to play on is dictated by the pts size of your battle.

Nah. MINIMUM is dictated. Of course players being the lemmings they tend to be adopted GW's cash grab minimum as holy grail right away despite by definition of word minimum not being optimal but that's problem with players. Maybe OP wants to be smart one and actually use more optimal size.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Poly Ranger wrote:
Thank you for the responses.

Another question - does the rule of 3 still exist?

Yes. Though for tournaments there's also rule of 2 for 1k size. For tournament's there's now 2 sizes. 1k and 2k. For 1k it's rule of 2, for 2k it's rule of 3. For non-tournament games it's rule of 3 regardless of game size(so much for GW's claim of scaling to any size)

Just to add a bit more clarity, the rule of 3 is now a “real rule” as opposed to a “suggestion” as it was in 8th, and as mentioned above it changes with army size in competitive play. For non-competitive it only applies to matched play, not open or narrative/crusade and the rule is in the section for matched play “eternal war mission pack” so might not apply in subsequent mission packs.

It should also be noted that it isn't based on models but units. So a unit with 1-3 models forming part of it could be taken three times. So you'd have a maximum of 9 models divided into 3 units.

Thanks again for the responses. Rules wise, whilst I completely agree with the rule of 3 for balance, it is a pity that my 6 Baal Preds from 5th/6th Ed days (I was a 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Ed player), means that 3 are useless, although they are in the UK and I'm in Shanghai so I doubt it'll ever make a difference. Also means that full Guard Companies can't be built since even in their codex they say even a platoon can have more than 3 heavy/special weapon squads.
Still, I doubt the rule of 3 will dramatically affect the school club I'm thinking of running. Rule of 2 for 1k armies is an interesting development.
Happy that the board size isn't completely dictated.
On a side note - also glad to be back in a forum that understands what the 2nd meaning of OP is.

Anyone able to point me towards a good campaign guide? Going to start off with Kill Teams as the students build their armies up, progressing to 500pts, 750pts and then 1kpts. Anymore will be too much for a school club.

Poly Ranger wrote:
Rule of 2 for 1k armies is an interesting development.

FWIW, 'rule of 3' in 8th was actually rule of 2 for 1K and rule of 4 for 3K+. Most people just called it 'rule of 3' because of the focus on 2,000pt games.

Poly Ranger wrote:
Anyone able to point me towards a good campaign guide? Going to start off with Kill Teams as the students build their armies up, progressing to 500pts, 750pts and then 1kpts. Anymore will be too much for a school club.

Crusade, which is in the rulebook, would probably be appropriate. The smallest battle size (Combat Patrol) is meant to be played at 500pts, so you should have no trouble doing a 500 -> 1000 progression.

Excellent I'll give Crusade a look. Planning on popping down to GW and getting the latest starter box tomorrow. Might get a few other things whilst I'm at it.
Told the students I'd start building a new army alongside them. I already have a gigantic BA army, a pretty large CSM/Renegade army, a ~3000pt Necron and ~2000pt Guard army but they are all in the UK so will be starting from scratch. Was thinking of getting more Guard to build up my existing force when I can join them up as I definitely don't need anymore Chaos or BA. Is Guard a fun and decent army to be collecting still (I plan on playing against proper players not the kids eventually)? I remember in the first year and a half of 8th that the sheer number of Guardsmen and plasma/lascannon/autocannon/mortar spam was just crazy. If not, what would you recommend?

Good luck with the club. Hope it goes well.