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Made in de
Longtime Dakkanaut




Hecaton wrote:
Part of the problem is that GW insists on making players pay for rules - so unless someone engages in piracy it's an unreasonable assumption that they've read every faction they might encounter in a tournament's codex. In saner games - where the rules are free - I wouldn't be as upset about players playing "gotcha!" in the sense that OP meant it.



If that is true and free rules give more license for WAAC-players to gotcha-opponents, GW charging for rules would be a great thing.
   
Made in us
Humming Great Unclean One of Nurgle





In My Lab

Sunny Side Up wrote:
Hecaton wrote:
Part of the problem is that GW insists on making players pay for rules - so unless someone engages in piracy it's an unreasonable assumption that they've read every faction they might encounter in a tournament's codex. In saner games - where the rules are free - I wouldn't be as upset about players playing "gotcha!" in the sense that OP meant it.



If that is true and free rules give more license for WAAC-players to gotcha-opponents, GW charging for rules would be a great thing.
Not what their point was, I think.

If the rules cost $50 a codex, it’s entirely unreasonable to expect you to know different codecs well. That’d make you broke real fast.
If the rules are free, you can peruse them in your free time and learn other armies without dropping to a of dough.

Clocks for the clockmaker! Cogs for the cog throne! 
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut




Sunny Side Up wrote:
If that is true and free rules give more license for WAAC-players to gotcha-opponents, GW charging for rules would be a great thing.


It's not a "gotcha" if they've actually read the rules.
   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka





 Da Boss wrote:
This discussion is quite interesting, but really re-affirms that USRs are better game design than lots of faction specific but basically similar rules with different names. It just makes processing what a unit can do much more simple if you can look at a short list of USRs which are the same as yours, and maybe a couple of faction specific, army wide rules. The way GW games do it at the moment seems to be designed in some way to encourage "gotchas" or to require a lot more explanation, which seems like a strange design choice.


I don't love using the term USR, simply because it generally implies a whole bunch of rule names tacked on that I have to look up in a glossary somewhere. This has always been one of the more convoluted and confusing ways to understand how something works. Consistently written special rules on the other hand, I'm very much in favor of.

Even that has some challenges however. It's just really hard to express flavor without bespoke rule names. LIke in practice, tunneling and leaping are probably both best expressed with the same generic "Nimble, Mobile, etc" style rule that says you get to ignore terrain and models when you move. Players just don't latch on to the cinematics behind that however, to the point where if you initially put it on a bunch of monkeys or something, they're likely to wonder why your mole people jump so well. I don't think there's really a perfect answer, but I am rather in favor of unique names with consistent function and maybe some tags to help with categorizing interactions.
   
Made in gb
Longtime Dakkanaut




 LunarSol wrote:


I don't love using the term USR, simply because it generally implies a whole bunch of rule names tacked on that I have to look up in a glossary somewhere. This has always been one of the more convoluted and confusing ways to understand how something works. Consistently written special rules on the other hand, I'm very much in favor of.

Even that has some challenges however. It's just really hard to express flavor without bespoke rule names. LIke in practice, tunneling and leaping are probably both best expressed with the same generic "Nimble, Mobile, etc" style rule that says you get to ignore terrain and models when you move. Players just don't latch on to the cinematics behind that however, to the point where if you initially put it on a bunch of monkeys or something, they're likely to wonder why your mole people jump so well. I don't think there's really a perfect answer, but I am rather in favor of unique names with consistent function and maybe some tags to help with categorizing interactions.


There are ways around all of these problems. You can have fluff-based names attached to the rule after the USR, for example. You can also have reminder text of the rule itself if space allows on the unit's datasheet, which avoids the need to go look it up. In practice USRs should be common enough that most players would fairly quickly not need to look anything up anyway.

The fluff argument is always a weird one to me. I never heard anyone complain that Terminators, Tau Battlesuits and Flayed Ones weren't fluffy because they all had the same rule even though the background said they arrived on the battlefield in very different ways. The important thing was always that they operated in the game in a way that matched their fluff.
   
Made in us
Malicious Mutant Scum




Hecaton wrote:
a_typical_hero wrote:
GW is sending out review copies to a guy who records slowly flipping through all pages and then uploads it to Youtube. The bar for knowing the rules legally without paying money for it is set incredibly low already. Because of this, I'm morally not even a little bit concerned about using Battlescribe or Wahapedia to look up rules for armies I don't play and thus don't own the codex for.


I'm not either, but some TOs are, and in the same vein I generally think it's sportsmanlike to be generous with rules information towards your opponent. And refusing to answer direct questions about your models' rules repeatedly should get a player thrown out.


They both have numerous mistakes… there are plenty TOs that would insta DQ you and for good reason.
   
Made in ca
Poisonous Kroot Headhunter





I may be in the minority here, but for me, I actually like my games that way. When I play someone who has a new faction, I like that I know the broad strokes of what their deal is, but that I have to learn the specifics of their tactics and strategy from experience. You know, like an actual military commander would have to do.

17210 4965 3235 5350 2936 2273 1176 2675
1614 1342 1010 2000 960 1330 1040  
   
Made in ca
Pestilent Plague Marine with Blight Grenade





The Frozen North

 LunarSol wrote:
Even that has some challenges however. It's just really hard to express flavor without bespoke rule names. LIke in practice, tunneling and leaping are probably both best expressed with the same generic "Nimble, Mobile, etc" style rule that says you get to ignore terrain and models when you move. Players just don't latch on to the cinematics behind that however, to the point where if you initially put it on a bunch of monkeys or something, they're likely to wonder why your mole people jump so well. I don't think there's really a perfect answer, but I am rather in favor of unique names with consistent function and maybe some tags to help with categorizing interactions.


Here would be my presentation. Take for instance Necron Wraiths and Grey Knight Interceptors:

Personal Teleporters: Interceptors are equipped with personal backpack teleporters, allowing them to "shunt" themselves through Warpspace to another location on the battlefield. This unit has the Ethereal special rule.

Phase Shifters: Canoptek Wraiths possess a dimensional destabilisation matrix, allowing them to phase in and out of sync with the normal space-time continuum. This unit has the Ethereal special rule.

Triggerbaby wrote:In summary, here's your lunch and ask Miss Creaver if she has aloe lotion because I have taken you to school and you have been burned.

Abadabadoobaddon wrote:I too can prove pretty much any assertion I please if I don't count all the evidence that contradicts it.
 
   
Made in fi
Locked in the Tower of Amareo





 LunarSol wrote:

Even that has some challenges however. It's just really hard to express flavor without bespoke rule names. LIke in practice, tunneling and leaping are probably both best expressed with the same generic "Nimble, Mobile, etc" style rule that says you get to ignore terrain and models when you move. Players just don't latch on to the cinematics behind that however, to the point where if you initially put it on a bunch of monkeys or something, they're likely to wonder why your mole people jump so well. I don't think there's really a perfect answer, but I am rather in favor of unique names with consistent function and maybe some tags to help with categorizing interactions.


Thing is the special rules in warscroll already have fluff description and the rules.

It's just that the rules are copy&pasted and sometimes with tiny irritating tiny differences you need to be scrambling to double check it's not resulting in actually different result.

You could solve it by replacing the lengthy rule part with reference to common rule.

The fluff text which is actually the flavour wouldn't differ. Just the rules text. Even rule's name doesn't have to change.

Just example from random AOS warscroll I have open.

Shield of the storm:

<fluff text>

Add 1 to save rolls for attacks that target this unit if at least half of the models in this unit(rounding down) are armed with stormstrike glaives.

Okay that's bit trickier rule but how flavour change if cursive would be replaced with something like "parry(stormstrike glaive)"? Okay this is rule even I admit might work better without generalist rule but the point still is. How is that "add 1 to save rolls..." so important for flavour? Isn't the "Shield of the storm" and the fluff text more important for it?

The actual rule shouldn't have any flavour. If the rule is about appearing to reserve via teleport you can and should put that on the <fluff text> part. Not have rule itself "at the end of movement phase the unit appears from teleport in mighty flash. Put models more than 9" from enemy models as the life force interrupts teleport beam. Unit may not move further during movement phase" for example. That's just going to make rule text silly yes?

2024 painted/bought: 109/109 
   
Made in gb
Battleship Captain





Bristol (UK)

I would prefer units to have a proper fluff entry that describes them and what they do, then have the actual rules card be fairly devoid of any fluff.

Universal rules with reminder text is absolutely best.
"Ethereal: this unit ignores intervening terrain when moving"
In the rulebook there can be a more detailed description of Ethereal that attempts to address any edge cases or anything.
   
Made in us
Ultramarine Terminator with Assault Cannon






I understand both sides on this topic, but I think the sudden outcry against 'gotcha moments' is only a symptom of a deeper issue.

The deeper issue is one of rules bloat and over complexity. It is getting harder and harder for us to know all of the rules (Core, Army construction, Detachment, Faction, Sub-faction, Warlord traits, Relics, Stratagems, Unit bespoke rules, Weapons... on and on and on it goes). We try so hard to know as much as we can, but its just gotten to be too much. So when we're caught off guard it feels bad.

Food for thought...

If you're like a lot of other gamers, you play or have played a card game or even a board game that has a card-hand mechanic. Virtually every move / play in these games is a 'gotcha moment' or at least an attempt at one. I understand that W40K is not supposed to have any manner of secrecy like a card game, but at least for me, I am not bothered by the 'gotcha moment' in W40K because I've been conditioned by these other games. I assume this holds true for a lot of W40K players.
   
Made in us
Charing Cold One Knight





Sticksville, Texas

I really don't believe that "gotcha moments" are cheating, but can easily leave a bad taste in your mouth towards your win if taken out of context.

In a tournament setting, it is not your job to explain all the interactions of your army to your opponent. In a tournament setting it is honestly up to you to know what to look out for in a faction outside of what you play as part of tournament preparation. Truthfully answering questions you are asked though, that is part of playing your army and you should be disgusted with yourself if you go out of your way to leave info out to achieve a victory (my personal opinion, play to win in a tournament without telling lies, so no judgement will be passed if I failed to learn about my opponent).

In casual play or tournament prep though... not telling your opponent about how things work ahead of time just feels dirty. If your list can't win without resorting to relying on your opponent's ignorance of a rules interaction... your list isn't likely to make it far in the first place.

Telling your opponent in casual play/tournament prep about how your list operates is the best way to learn how to play into counters. And not playing an uphill game in practice matches is doing yourself a disservice.
   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka





Generally speaking gotcha wins have always been the sign of the "big deal in my local meta" mid table kind of players. The truth is, gotcha tricks don't really work against top players, and players that grow accustomed to them hit a ceiling pretty quick, but are also a big reason why lower tier players find tournaments miserable.

The worst part is those players tend to crush their local metas, which both creates players that feel the need to play the same way, and also limits everyone involved from actually improving. It's not strictly cheating, but it's not doing anyone any good.
   
Made in ca
Secretive Dark Angels Veteran



Canada

 NH Gunsmith wrote:
I really don't believe that "gotcha moments" are cheating, but can easily leave a bad taste in your mouth towards your win if taken out of context.

In a tournament setting, it is not your job to explain all the interactions of your army to your opponent. In a tournament setting it is honestly up to you to know what to look out for in a faction outside of what you play as part of tournament preparation. Truthfully answering questions you are asked though, that is part of playing your army and you should be disgusted with yourself if you go out of your way to leave info out to achieve a victory (my personal opinion, play to win in a tournament without telling lies, so no judgement will be passed if I failed to learn about my opponent).

In casual play or tournament prep though... not telling your opponent about how things work ahead of time just feels dirty. If your list can't win without resorting to relying on your opponent's ignorance of a rules interaction... your list isn't likely to make it far in the first place.

Telling your opponent in casual play/tournament prep about how your list operates is the best way to learn how to play into counters. And not playing an uphill game in practice matches is doing yourself a disservice.


I think this post nails it.

All you have to do is fire three rounds a minute, and stand 
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut





Denison, Iowa

I was remenissing with a friend and he called me out on a "gotcha" moment I pulled from our past. back in 3rd edition, about a year after the Chaos 3.5 codex came out White Dwarf released updated Cypher rules. I bought his mini and was anxious to use him.

Opportunity came when our FLGS held a mega battle. Rules were: 1. One Force Org chart and one superheavy per person. 2. No proxies, painted minis only. 3. Chaos on one side, Imperial on the other. 4. Only one of any special character for the entire game (so two guys can't both bring Dante for example).

I cleared Cypher with BOTH sides and the organizers to make sure no one else wanted to use him. The rest of my army was a Warhound titan, Imperial Guard tank line, and a unit of Fallen.

My Fallen unit is where I may have been in the "technically legal" department, which totally angered a Chaos opponent. A unit of Fallen counted as a unit of Chaos marines from the Chaos codex. Those marines could take the mark of Tzeench. One unit if Tzeench marines per army may upgrade to Rubric Terminators. I then deepstriked a blob of Fallen Tzeench Terminators onto an objective (which I announced). However, unknown to me, the other side forgot that these Chaos Terminators were technically on the Imperial side and ignored them.
   
Made in us
Fresh-Faced New User




Would agree with a lot of others, its not technically cheating, but depending on the setting (non tourney for sure) it would be good sportsmanship to warn people if they are about to do something that lets you use something you yourself think is a "gotcha"

However while your opponent is trying to decide what to do with moving or targeting and ask you a question like say... "Do you have any strats or abilities that would let you shoot a unit arriving from deepstrike or ability like that" And you answer no... then do it ya that would be cheating.

I tend to coach newer players to always be asking questions if you aren't sure or just aren't as familiar with your opponents army ask them if they can do this or that, or have a "transhuman" like ability etc. While in a casual game I would hope players are friendly, you can't always expect it, and its best to just maintain an open dialogue to learn. If your opponent point blank lies to you... well you probably don't want to play with them anyways.
   
Made in nl
Longtime Dakkanaut





GrinNfool wrote:
Would agree with a lot of others, its not technically cheating, but depending on the setting (non tourney for sure) it would be good sportsmanship to warn people if they are about to do something that lets you use something you yourself think is a "gotcha"

However while your opponent is trying to decide what to do with moving or targeting and ask you a question like say... "Do you have any strats or abilities that would let you shoot a unit arriving from deepstrike or ability like that" And you answer no... then do it ya that would be cheating.

I tend to coach newer players to always be asking questions if you aren't sure or just aren't as familiar with your opponents army ask them if they can do this or that, or have a "transhuman" like ability etc. While in a casual game I would hope players are friendly, you can't always expect it, and its best to just maintain an open dialogue to learn. If your opponent point blank lies to you... well you probably don't want to play with them anyways.
Its a good thing to do but the immediate issue is that you can't ask for something that you don't know exists.

I played a Custodes bike army for a while, if you don't know that Stooping Dive exists your going to get slapped when I charge you at the end of your own charge phase. No one else can do that, so why on earth would you expect that 1 unit in the game can do it? I would ask all my opponents if they know about that rule just to avoid the horrible gotcha moments that can happen. But the fact that I had to do that is a fault of the game.


   
Made in us
Decrepit Dakkanaut






New Orleans, LA

 Mulletdude wrote:

I would expect my opponent to be forthcoming at the start of the game as to which stratagems are available to his army in a general sense. Example: "I can use a stratagem to allow my Sanguinary Guard to Intervene 6", "I have a stratagem to shoot a Slannesh Infantry units weapons twice", etc. I wouldn't expect them to tell me at the beginning of the game that "This strat will be used on these terminators to shoot twice", but just the general text. Gotcha moments are terrible for all involved and should be avoided at all costs. Let the skill of the players on the tabletop determine results, not gotcha moments.


I have all of my available stratagem cards on hand at an event. I only pull out the cards I can use with my list. I have no intention of reading all 24 of them to my opponent before each game. However, if they want to take time off THEIR half of the chess clock to read them, be my guest.

On the other hand, "Hey, I'm going to charge those dudes. Do you have any army specific stratagems that would affect that fight?" is a fair question and should be answered directly and honestly, or you're a poor sport who likes watching Gilmore Girls.

Similarly, "Do you have any fight first or fight last units or tricks" at the start of the game is a good question.

Just my two cents.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/11/02 17:51:52


DA:70S+G+M+B++I++Pw40k08+D++A++/fWD-R+T(M)DM+
 
   
Made in fi
Locked in the Tower of Amareo





It takes me less than minute to explain any potential gotcha's to opponent if he's new to facing my faction. Easy enough to do while deploying.

Only reason not to warn the opponent of gotcha's is if you are so lousy player you desperately need gotcha's to even have a stand of winning. Aka you are just noob smasher. Can win noobs who don't know your gotchas, against any semi-decent player you suck and are dependant on random dice rolls to carry you to win.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/11/03 08:33:27


2024 painted/bought: 109/109 
   
 
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