We know Codex Space Marines is just around the corner, on the heels of Orks. Gw would never let the mighty Astartes wait long after an edition launch. Here’s the biggest changes the Marines need to stay on top of their game.
While we know the next book is the Space Orks we for sure can expect the new Space Marine book to be coming out soon after. There is no way they will leave their poor little poster boys out in the cold without some new fancy rules. They got so many options that need fixing and tweaking plus how can the game be healthy if the Space Marines are not on top? Let’s talk about the 3 things I want to see with the new Space Marine book.
Oath Gets Replaced … by Something ONLY Codex Space Marine Can Use
It is time the other supplemental Codex Chapters (BA,DA,SW,etc…) got cut off and reworked into theor own standalone Codexes just like the Chaos Space Marine Cult Legions. This means the first thing they need to do is get rid of Oath and give it something that matches the idea of the Codex following Marines. The new Combat Patrol for the Space Marines shows them utilizing the old Gladius Rules for their army rule and I think that is a pretty good start. You can take that rule and expand upon it by making units that care about being in one doctrine and getting super charged. They could also be units that never leave their Doctrine throughout the game. You can utilize some of these choice options to create interesting interactions in the turn that is just more than reroll your hits and get +1 to wound.
Time to Say Goodbye to Ancient Units
Look, I own a bunch of them… but things like the Predator needs to go away for the Space Marines. There is a replacement unit, the Gladiator, and there shouldn’t be two “options” that fit that unit-role in the codex. This most likely means the Vindicator & Whirlwind needs to get an update or at least go a way for a while. Leave those old Rhino chassis units to the Chaos Legions and just completely let the army be refreshed with Primaris goodness and Cawl built anti-grav nonsense. This lets you balance army a bit better and not worry about one 30-year old kit all of a sudden getting two good with a cascade of keywords and abilities that come out of no where due to a “point drop”.
First Founding Chapters (BA/DA/SW/etc) Need Separate Standalone Codexes
I talked about it before but with the MFM having separate points for each of the Chapters options it is time we got them fully into their own codex. This means we can limit what choices they have, build new units that match their army style, and create unique things for their armies. I think it would really help the game out and let these armies be separate things for things like Team games and balancing Detachments. This way you don’t have to worry about a Space Marine option that suddenly is super broken in the Dark Angels book because of a unit or two. It lets you break open the field a bit more and see how all armies work instead of just an army under the Space Marine umbrella. GW did it for the CSM Cult Legions, and they can do it for the loyalists.
I hope these 3 things are at least answered well enough when the new Space Marine codex comes out. I think the Space Marines are the most important faction for 40K and seeing how they line up will showcase what the new edition will bring for all the other books coming down the pipe. Thankfully the game works pretty well and we have a ton of levers to balance things out with Points, Dispositions, and just GW’s willingness to update a unit or army rule quickly.
Do you thin it’s time for standalone Marine Chapter codexes?
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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
