Goatboy here to talk about some things to think about as we all start our tabletop journey into the 40K’s 11th Edition.
Goatboy here with another bit of chatter about Warhammer 40K. The new edition is upon us with the App updated, boxed sets coming soon, and everyone ready to get mad at all the Marine armies we are going to see. This time around I want to talk about some of the things to think about as we start our competitive wargame journey into the Grimdark Universe of 40K. So throw out your Neoprene circles, complain about how your unit doesn’t work anymore, and pull up next to a tabletop as we talk about the 3 things to keep in mind with the new edition.
It Won’t Be Perfect At Launch
The first thing to remember in this new edition of 40K is that if something isn’t working or working too well it will probably get changed – quickly. The rules are mostly locked but GW is going to shift things. I am sure we have all heard the worries about Toe-In shooting with the terrain and that might be the first thing that shifts in the upcoming edition. It could be some of the methods on scoring or stacking things might have a massive change in a few months. This edition is not going to be like the last one where we get a broken release at the start and have to figure out if we are playing the mean stuff or just trying our best with the tools we have. This edition is just as digital as the last and I expect changes to happen if needed in a few months, after GW has enough time to get data on what needs tuning.
There Will Be Broken Combos – Resist Chasing Them
Speaking of changes the second thing is to remember if your unit feels broken or two cheap it probably won’t stay that way for long (looking at you Fulgrim!). GW has added a number of new levers and dials to change in this edition with staggered point costs and wargear having upgraded points and I expect this to show up and be tweaked as we go along. We are not going to have points in our codexes anymore and thus with everything living in the digital world a quick shift, a simple update, and your App doing a refresh will make your broken piece of tech cost a heck of a lot more. I wouldn’t go out of your way to buy the broken thing because it probably won’t live long in the game.
Missions and Personal Play-style Matter Now
The 3rd thing I feel we all need to really think about is how the mission structure is set up. You might have the most broken detachment but if its mission is too hard for you to win with – well you probably won’t keep taking that option. There is going to be a big shift as the game moves on to find the Detachment that fits your play style. I expect those game types to change too especially if they start to see everyone taking the same thing. You need to sit down, figure out your armies detachment rules, and decide if you can really play that method of game. There are some that reward very specific play styles and others that simply go for the throat.
I know GW’s hope is that as the game shifts on the one style that starts to dominate gets knocked down by the other type of detachment built to win the match up easily. I think it will also start to shift players away from the one big “awesome” original detachment and instead look for combos that allow them to use the same army list and still play a different game if needed.
The Only Constant in 40K – Is Change
It is going to be a wild time for these first 3-4 months as we wait on our first codexes (Marines and Orks of course) and initial views into what is coming for our favorite armies in the future. I like a lot of the structure we have built right now and really think this game will hum pretty well by the end of the year. The pillars it is built on are strong and there is a lot of room for players to figure out what works best for them. You need to find the perfect bit of zen to allow you to truly wreck things on the table top. Or you trap all the objectives and cackle as your opponent has to figure a way out of the pit you left them in.
Buckle up, and try to wash all those old 10th Edition rules out of your head. Welcome to the new 40K – again!
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Thomas Reidy, aka Goatboy, the ever-evil member of BoLS. I do arts, play 40k, and even paint a lot of stuff. I have been playing Warhammer 40K since the 1990s, and have won multiple national events including Adepticon and GW GTs. I’ve been writing for BoLS for 15 years. Look at my Instagram to see what I am working on – or working on for someone. I am always doing something hobby related.
Source: Bell of Lost Souls
