<![CDATA[Latest posts for the thread "I think I have a lot to learn..."]]>

Deadshane1 wrote:If you quit in 2005, there HAS been quite a change.

With the advent of 5e and the codexes that have come with it, it seems that the state of 40k has changed significantly

40k is starting to be dominated by what used to be classified as "Special" characters. These are basically just units now, much of the time they determine what sort of army you will take as they frequently have an effect on units and what slots they fill in the force organisation chart. Even if they dont feature THAT sort of effect within your army selections, they may present a certain "synergy" with a particular sort of troops/units/whatever within their codex. This is of course considering those armies that have current codexes that have been written with the current ruleset in mind. (seemingly starting with codex eldar, GW might claim that these plans go back to TAU EMPIRE or possibly even BLACK TEMPLARS) Other codexes have to simply make due with what they've used over the past several years. (dark eldar...*cough cough*)

40k in my opinion, and other players will likely disagree, is evolving sort of along the lines of other competitors. It borrows heavily in deployment and "Big Bad Characters" from Warmachine/Hordes and what it borrows seems to be some of the things that cause those games to be rather successful.

There are particular personalities in those games that drive players to play a certain way according to fluff and pride in the chosen "leader" of an army. This seems to be what GW is trying to institute in the 40k games currently with the "BIG BAD CHARACTERS" that are so prevalent in many of the armies that you'll see out on the table nowadays. It's not really a bad thing. The game is changing, thats all, at least that's how I see it. It's still 40k, and its still fun.

Any similarities between 40k and Warmachine/Hordes are of course my own simple opinion and in no way FACT. Its simply something I've observed and rather agree with.

Cheesy combo's? They've always been around. If you were playing back in '05 then you're no doubt familiar with the 4 heavy support choice Iron Warriors. I'm willing to bet that you've experienced Starcannon Spam....there are simply new powerbuilds now that seem to take advantage of the current ruleset and their own new codexes. Nothing has really changed in this respect. The good news is that if you're playing with Codex: Orks you're still spoilt for choice in how you want to do battle. Hordes have won tournements in the past year, as have elite ork armies such as the Nob Biker list that seems to be the flavor of the week/month/year for now until something better comes along. Lots of battlewagons seems like a good idea sometimes made all the more sweet with a new model coming out for that selection....long overdue. Nob units seem especially powerful, mounted OR on bikes, and lootaz are golden. I even hear rumours of a nameless fear some vets may call dread-bash (9 Killer Kanz with a couple of dreads?)

The imperium have a new battleplan with the Marine codex. Doctrines are going away and now Special Characters (as indicated above) offer up the only real switch-ups within the list if you dont want to play typical ultramarine marine/type armies. Rumour has it that the Imperial Guard codex (due up very soon) is getting ride of ALL of the doctrine rules and going with a standard army list too. I find it likely that you'll be able to pick and trade selections again though thanks to special characters again. I doubt that anyone would disagree with me on that point.

BOTTOM LINE?

Its still really the same game. You have power builds that seem to be unbeatable. Nob bikers=Speed Freaks of olde, Lash spame=Iron Warriors, Tyranid MC armies=Tyranid MC armies

The big difference is the games move faster, fast deployment, HtH is more brutal and decisive....of course this is tempered if you go up agaisnt an army of orks that takes full advantage of their new cheap boyz!

Shooting tends to gravitate more toward MASS firepower than low AP. MEQ are beginning to give up ground as the main threat out there as orks gain ground threatening to take more and more tournements home to place on their mantle. Mass firepower seems to kill MEQ the same as it ever has....marines are rather hurting.

Marines hurt (due to noone figuring them out yet?)
Chaos is awesome (with lash)
Orks are the new "brokenness"
Tau have fallen from grace
Dark Angels are still GW "kicking boyz"
Eldar are not to be underestimated, but have been reigned in
'hunters, are still 'hunters with new advantages and new problems
Dark Eldar...still scarce

Missions require a different approach to winning altogether. With a basic 3 types of games your tactics can change dramatically from game to game. A particular style build (such as say, an MSU build) might have GREAT advantages in a "take and hold" type of mission, but find itself totally hamstrung in a kill points mission. Now, army building is more important than ever requiring a sort of "balance" if you dont plan on tabling every opponent you come across. Basically, you need to roll your missions out in the book to get a feel of the way games are going now. While boring, the mission setup included in the basic rulebook is the most easily adopted scenario system yet. There really isnt any reason NOT to go with rolling mission and setup, especially if you're planning on tournement as currently the tournement battle borrow DIRECTLY from the main rulebook for their missions. Slight adjustments are madein the scenarios for tiebreakers and a large range of point spread for players, but as of now, you can safely figure that if you have a handle on the scenarios in the book, you wont get thrown for a loop during tournement play....essentially no lava tables and no deepstriking units every turn...weird scenarios are basically out...at least this year they were.

You could go on and on with little differences, but these little tidbits are what I find to be different. Again, its just my opinion here and likely people will disagree with me. Take from my post what you will.

It's still 40k though, its still fun, the emperor is STILL the light, and Orks are still crude filthy creatures that stink and smell like burnt bacon when covered in burning promethium.

and whatever happens....you will not be missed.