Looking at the new rules (Apologies if this is the wrong place for it) that just came out today, here are my thoughts:

---Bumping of Tough (n) to 3 for almost all units, (4) for big stuff like Corporation Pulverizers and Marauder Juggernauts. I like it (iirc this was a much called for fix), but I think some stuff like Corporation Snipers and Marauder Raptors might be better represented with Tough(2). However, I have no problems with them erring on the side of larger numbers for starters, and the low Ne for the Raptor somewhat makes up for it.

---Change of activation exactly as Matt said above. Love it, and love the way Suppression has been fit in. Also, imo Headstrong is waaaay more attractive now, which was nice because it was somewhat less useful in my experience before. Plus, making it a second roll instead of a roll penalty both makes it easier to remember, and seems to me to be a bit more appealing psychologically (3+ and then a 4+ separately sound way better than a 5+ chance, even though they're the same mathematically. Might just be me though...). Plus, iirc the new Final Activation roll with Suppressed units is a 1/3 chance to activate, instead of the 1/6 chance before, which is nice since before a Suppressed unit generally spun its wheels for the rest of the game if it was left to Final Activations.

---Changes to Ne tests, both the "Test only at 50% casualties or less" as well as the "Test after each unit shoots/each melee resolves." Normally I'd say the "Test after each" would be laughably overpowered in favor of MSU, even with the final activation penalty, but combining the maximum 3 units per activation phase, and the 50% or more casualties before testing rules, I actually think this might work well, especially now that there is no "Overkill" bonus to the Ne roll anymore (Or any bonus afaik now...).

---Bonus to Overrun moves if the target is Suppressed

---Removal of moving and shooting penalty. This is nice, since it was a big previous issue that meant most people formed gunlines with a bit of shuffling, and then lobbed fire until the other side bought the farm.

---Melee vs Ordnance now gets +1 to hit instead of 2x attacks. Nice change, so now Ordnance is in deep trouble but not 100%-guaranteed screwed if charged.

---Suppressed in Melee is Destroyed instead of Steady. Good change, and really helps melee-centric armies like Veermyn and Marauders who were hurting for more effective melee results before.

---Distinction between Heroes and Monsters, mainly for the Obvious Target bonus. Good change, as it removes the superfluous Individual rule (Especially since the removal of Instant Death for the playtest for Individuals hit by bigger weapons)

---Change to Open Top transports to only allow 3 weapons to shoot. Good change to prevent the ridiculous torrents of fire previously, but now it seems like transports will become attractive as basically heavy-weapon carriers (Thinking here like Melta/Plasma Vets for IG in 40K, ferried around in Chimeras). This is slightly offset by the Solid Unit restriction, but still seems like it might be a possible meta problem later.

---Changes to Inspiring, as per Matt's comment above: I like it, but I think a different name might be more appropriate, to avoid confusion between KoW and WP II. It's a good way to keep differentiating between the two games though.

---Renaming the Ruins rules. No changes to the actual rules afaik, but did you guys get an unpleasant look from GW about it? (Also, while on the subject of GW, I'd like to reiterate that you can condense your Building rules to 2 pages instead of 12...)

---Heavy Weapon Teams, Striders, and Stuntbots aren't Tough (2). Might be appropriate, especially now that Heroes and such are Tough (3), and so they don't become a "Duh" target with 4+ Def for the HWTs (The stunt-bots have plenty of def). That, and/or bump the HWT to at least 5+ if not 6+ Def to represent sandbagging (Or maybe as a purchasable upgrade? +10ish pts, 6+ Def and gain Immobile or Reload?)

---Clarification to Pistols granting Crushing Strength. Appreciated the fix, and I like how they're made sure not to interfere with power Gauntlets and the like.

---Might want to clarify if Heroes/Monsters can shoot more than 1 gun, b/c otherwise the Doomstorm pattern Iron Ancestor (2x autocannon) is unable to shoot both guns in the same turn since they're treated as Infantry (Who can only shoot 1 gun per model per turn)

---Veermyn tanks and their ability now causes hits like an Overrun/collision. I love it, and I hope a similar rule is added to the not-Drop-Pods (For a name, what about Rapid Insertion Deployment Engines? RIDEs ) that I'm pretty sure will be in the eventual Enforcer army list.

---Love the art for the Zz'or. They look waaay better imo without the odd curvey hand-add-ons they had in the Dreadball art.

---A final, more personal note: Veermyn Ravenous Hordes are Solid units. I can have an entire army of almost 400 rats, or I can have less than that and have 7 squads arrive in burrowing tanks with an 8th squad supporting them. Thank you. Thank you for this gift.

Lanrak wrote:
I may be in a minority of one. But does anyone else think 27 special rules is a few too many??Would using slightly different resolution methods allow similar of more variation with less complication?I think the core system is excellent.But perhaps more weapon and unit detail handeled by slightly different stats might yeild benifits?Just a thought....

scarletsquig wrote:KoW has always been mass-battle, right from the start, and this is the expectation for fantasy games. Whereas with sci-fi you have all sorts, from the 10-20 model skirmish games, the 50-100 model 40k games, and the 100+ model games that generally use a smaller scale..