Thursday, March 20, 2014

40k Current Events & I just Can't Wait for the Imperial Guard



Alright, lots of interesting releases have come out, most notably Imperial Knights.  I have talked a little bit about them already so really no need to go into much detail there.  I will do some Tactica on them, as I get games under my belt with them and theory becomes confirmed, though some theories will have to wait till I get more knights.  Chaos had its recent release and another on its way, the helbrute formations.  Also we finally see the void shield generator.

I'll start with the void shield as there is the usual controversy over GW decisions.  The short of it is that it is to be a limited release of 1000 and priced at $100, and will be made in resin.  Now to many this sound baffling.  Why such a limited release?  This actually makes a lot of sense if you think about the changes in IP protection they are required to make now.  In Escalation there is no pic of the generator, for good reason since that does not count as IP anymore, and would only give knock off makers ideas for their own copying.  So they are releasing this 'collectors' item.  Pic here:


The first thing this does is give them IP protection.  The second is that it allows them to get the model out on the market fast.  Resin is easier to go through the molding and casting process and cost effective for small batch runs.  So can they can cost effectively get a model out on short timetable that also protects their IP while expanding their line and game.  This then leaves then some room to go into full production later in plastic.  The tooling costs and time it takes to get up in running for mass production is much longer and higher to start up.  So they can then release the 'same' model later for half the cost (note that most of their 'collecters' items tend to be in this range of cost over standard product) which makes people have access to the model and is not over expensive.  This would end up putting the eventual plastic model in the $50 range, similar to bastion in both size and price.  This is what I see happening.  It would be great to have a plastic model now, but with their focus on redoing armies, I can understand a terrain piece not being the top of their list to get out in mass production.  Plus you now have an example for kit bashing and I have some ideas already using valkyrie engines.


Crimson Slaughter was released over the weekend, and despite initial complaints, it is looking to be actually pretty good.  Adds a decent boost to CSM with some free, if situational rules, to the whole army similar to SM.  Fear is army wide, granted there are more than a few things that ignore it, but eldar and Tau don't, IG don't, DE don't.  Orks do and don't, get them under the fearless mob number and fear then starts to matter.  Point is its not as useless as some like to claim, its free and its better at least than the 'free' I'll challenge you to kill me rule that Chaos champions have.  Plus it makes possessed playable (note not the same as competitive).  Their stats are decent and the new table is very useful, with none being bad really.  Also being troops allows them more freedom, plus since most CSM take cultists anyways to take other more expensive units, its not like that's really an issue.  Added to a solid warlord table and relic section, I personally think this is going to turn into the book CSM needed, if not the one everyone was looking for.

The hellbrute's are looking interesting.  Currently I don't think they are bad, they just occupy that area in that they are not really points efficient for what they do, and have trouble getting where they need to be.  There are three formations being released in ONE dataslate, so at least GW is not trying to nickel and dime for each one, that's something at least.  One is basically a formation of a hellbrute leading cultists around, with some mention of the brute not caring about hurting is retarded little followers,  interesting.  The most interesting one is the hellpack, which is rumored to be 3-5 brutes, with one being a leader and they being a squad(ron), the leader has a 5+ invul and lets be honest will prob have the I want to die chaos rule.  At least on a hellbrute it can challenge most infantry leaders and win, minus a few.   There is also a possibility of deep striking, which is very interesting if true.  Now that may be part of the third formation, which there really is little info on.  It wouldn't surprise me though if it was some sort of daemon forged formation, allowing you to take hellbrutes and maulerfiends/forgefiends in a group.   Don't quote me on that, thats just my personal theory, really no evidence on what exactly the third one will be. 

I have always wanted to do a khorne themed army (not straight khorne bezerkers though) and this could be the one to do it at least decently well.  Plus if the rules for the brute dataslate turn out as rumored or close, they may become more common to see, especially the pack one if it can deepstrike.
3 hellbrute with multi meltas and heavy flamers would be a nasty little unit deep striking in the rear, and tough enough to require major attention to deal with.

In other news, I just can't fucking wait for IG!  I find myself constantly on the lookout for any new rumors, going back to rumor sites for any new word on what is coming out.  I'm a little obsessed right now.  Everything I have seen and heard so far looks pretty good.  The models (for the most part) look very good and is a hopeful sign that the units are getting a needed update.

I would also not be  surprised if the hydra was s dual kit, though what the other would be is up for debate.  I could see salamander or griffon being the other part of the kit.  Would fit in the back area where the quad gun is and GW is doing a lot of dual kits these days.  But it could be a single kit as well.  There is supposed to be an artillery kit, which would most likely be basilisk and a couple of the other artillery kits. 

The Taurox is granted not looking too pretty at the moment, but its also one of those models that may not look to bad once in hand, and does look easy to modify, so really not too much of an issue there.  The big thing is what will its stat line be.  I think it will be similar to a leman russ for armor, with a large transport capacity or will ignore Ogryns bulky rule, and maybe an assault vehicle though this last one is more wish listing than likely. 

I do not see an new valkyrie kit.  The current one is fine and the vendetta upgrade on FW is easy enough to get.  Plus lascannons are easy to find and kit bash if you don't want the FW one.  I don't see a new one coming out, given the other kits that are coming and the amount of infantry that the IG have, its more likely to see new infantry kits than a valkyrie.

Now what do I see in the codex?  I see a balance of power shifting.  Veteran squads are going to get nerfed a little most likely, they have been an awesome to more than solid unit since the codex dropped.  So most likely they will go down to two special weapons instead of three, and doctrines will change slightly.  I don't see a massive change, but its clear GW wants to sell storm troopers, so I expect them to cheaper and have more options available to them.  The special operations rule is actually pretty good, so its unlikely that will change too much, more than likely will be a points drop with a lot more options added for weapons and gear. 

They also want to sell ogyrns, so I expect a similar points drop to storm troopers.  With two different ogryn choices, what will most likely happen is one will be really good and the other pretty blah.  Will be interesting to see, my money is on regular ogryn actually, as I see them dropping in points, but then the riot shield ones being to many points and not good enough to warrant the increase over the normal meat heads.  To be clear, Ogryns are not bad from a stat and rule perspective, they are great in CC and can hold down a lot of squads in combat and others they can straight rofl stomp through.  They have a weakness to fire and any unit with 2+ save and power weapons, though thankfully being T5 makes them harder to double out in most cases.  If they drop around 15pts, then they would be about right, putting them in tyranid warrior price range, which is really about right if you compare the two.  Warriors have one less T but are also better at shooting and have a better save and ld, plus options to be much nastier in CC, so they are a similar and comparable unit and I see this being about right.  40pts per model is insane currently, terminator they do not equal.

Infantry, well they really haven't changed a whole lot in a long while.  The last edition change really just brought the armored fist and conscripts under one unit selection, other than that no big changes to rules.  So expect minor points tweaks here and there, and as much as I would love to see conscripts go back to their old rules, they will most likely stay the same. 

Orders though are an interesting topic.  Two things could really happen.  One is that the core orders remain exactly the same.  Sgts maybe get access to one order or two for his squad, but I'm not holding out on that actually happening.  Then to supplement you get special orders that you can either buy, or lets be honest, roll randomly for (hey I hear you like randomness, here's some more) or get from special characters.  This is what I see most likely to happen, the core orders will remain unchanged, but with a sort of additional top layer added (call them regimental orders).  The second thing is a complete restructuring of the order system and actual orders.  This would be really interesting and could involve orders based on regiment type, chosen by your commander, that trickle on down.  While this would be cool, I really don't see it.  I see them doing more of an add on to orders than a complete redo of them.

Other special wargear will be nice and I am expecting some standard that gives special bonus eg banner of destruction ala IG.  There is lot of cool things that GW can do with standards and are something I hope is a big focus on in the book, as they really are an integral part of the IG fluff.

Other than that I can't think of anything else, I really can't wait!  The codex can not come out fast enough.  What else do you think is going to change or be added to the IG codex/army?

GG


18 comments:

  1. I just freaking want it now!!! I think that currently the guard has a ton of stuff to offer and doesn't really need anything new model wise.

    Updating rules, points for modes etc, yeah that needs to happen. I am already having sweaty paws just from looking at those scion (storm trooper) models and supplement.

    Updated kits would be nice, fielding a plastic griffon (even though I got the old ones) would be nice. I always wanted to upgrade my Chimeras with TLHB or Autocannons ala forgeworld. But, I highly doubt that that will ever make it into a standard dex.

    Overall though I would love to get doctrins back. Equipping my guard with stuff I want, ex. carapace for the entire platoon would be super sweet, maybe not point-wise but fluff-wise. I would just love more of a customization choice similar to the SM book.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Y'know, it would really depend though how they did doctrine though, because it could go really well or be done horribly. I like the current dex and its flexibility so you can run different IG formations, in many ways similarly to before, just with less pick and choosing of special rules. I really think they are going to focus on orders instead though and go for the special orders to represent different regimetn types.

      Delete
  2. Can't say I'm a fan of the new ogryn models. I think its mostly the faces. Since the heads are bigger I would expect a bit more detail on them given the scale, but smaller space marine faces seem to have much more defined sculpts despite being smaller. I agree the taurox model isnt very solid, it could partly be the color scheme, but it doesn't seem to fit with the style of other IG vehicles released by GW or forgeworld. The tracks are dumb looking as well. They either should have done bulky monster truck tires or a full track. A half track with wheels in the front might have been ok as well. I can see alot of IG players modding these things to do just that. I know from you podcast that you might disagree, but I think Vendettas need a pts increase for the sake of balance. Sure the IG might be have the ability to field more of them than SMs can field storm ravens (this is accounted for by the fact they can be taken in squadrons IMO), but I think pts value should reflect relative effectiveness on the battlefield. I think you have to look at the effectiveness per point of say the Dark Angels nephelim as base (probably the weakest flyer in the game) and work up from there.

    Servicious

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Actually I completely agree that vendettas need a points increase. They are dirt cheap right now no doubt about it. We recorded our second pod cast and I went more into that on vendettas. I see the two becoming one unit, with a big upgrade on valkyries to turn them into vedettas. Valkyries are about right, a 100 they only have a multi laser and two one shot ordnance(yay! snap shots) krak missiles. That is about right and to get the extra weapons are appropriate. But the vendetta is dirt cheap and needs another 20-30 pts tacked on. The nephilim is overcosted and needs about the same points drop that the vendetta needs increased, it should be storm rave price range and why its so expensive confuddles me.

      The taurox I can work with, I actually like the body, the rear of it reminds me of the leman russ hull, but I am not sold on the track. But that is a minor issue for me as I like kit bashing to begin with so i'll have fun making it look beter with wheels or just different tracks. The ogryns have grown on me, I like them more and more, but part of is I really don't like the old models that much so its not hard for me to like them. We will see on detail, it is a plastic kit so there could be more to it once the box gets opened. And to be fair Space marines sell a lot more than ogryns, naturally going to get more time on them unfortunately.

      Delete
  3. I think you on the right lines with the orders, but maybe there might be one to influence overwatch, along the lines of foregoing your shooting for full bs at overwatch.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I can empathize with the cant wait feeling. I cant wait for Wood Elves to be released.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think vox casters need additional or unlimited range. Then the points would justify using them. Maybe only certain orders past a specified distance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This would also be more credible fluff-wise. Why else would someone be carrying around a heavy communications backback with long range antennae? If it would only be 6" / 12" range then the officer would be better off just shouting his orders a bit louder so the other guys 30 feet away could just hear him. No need for the vox officer to pick up the horn...

      Delete
  6. I'm also really excited about the upcoming new IG codex. For a while now, I've been debating on an Allied army to supplement my Blood Angels (Needed someone to handle the long-range fire support while we charge forward into the enemy ranks). I was flip-flopping between Tau and Eldar for awhile, but ultimately I decided to go Imperial Guard, because I do value my fluff, and I do fight for the Imperium, as grim as it is.

    Also, I wanted to thank you as a blogger. Since I've found your blog I've found your tactica articles enlightening, though not sure how much will remain true after the new codex arrives. But what I appreciate the most from your blog is your attitude toward 40k. As a player who's transitioning somewhere between novice and veteran, your reminders to focus on being a good general rather than adding the most uber units to your army are lessons that I'm trying to assimilate. For that, I thank you, and adding a refreshing counter to all the naysayers I hear from the other 40k sites.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. you are welcome and I am glad to have been of help. Being able to win with the worst units is what makes you a good commander. I have rarely in my experience found units to be truly unplayable, most of the time it is varying degrees of good an it very much comes down to how you use it. I have seen great players stomp with "crappy" armies. People get too wound up with each individual unit, and often forget to step back and ask themselves "what is this going to do when I play with it, and how does each unit make that happen?" The army must be whole, not a collection of individual units, which is often the approach many take. Tactics always change, so fear not you can always count on that.

      though rewriting those articles will be a pain :(

      Delete
    2. On the plus side, as you've been noting in the glances you take at the other codices, they probably won't completely overhaul the codex and leave you a solid base to work off your past articles. And, if I remember correctly, you've managed to go through the old codex, so you can think of this tactica season 2.

      Delete
    3. True, though all the little things, even minor changes, can have a very large effect on the overall codex. Not a bad thing at all, just means I have a lot more writing to do. As you said though, I have a good base to go from.

      Delete
  7. Great articule, personally, I'd like to see the following things:
    - Cadian style rough riders on new horses (You know like the original rogue trader rough riders, far better than the Huns on horses they have now)
    - Salamanders & griffons in the hydra kit
    - 10man special and heavy squads
    - Updated basilisk kit based of the Armageddon one, with options for the medusa. Tough I suspect it will be closer too the Vanaheim pattern one listening to the rumours.

    Those storm troopers look great though, I can just see them painted to fit as men-at-arms for my knight army.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There was indeed a rumour a while ago that said there would be an updated, more armoured looking Basilisk kit out. But I was thinking, could it be that people just mistook the FW Legion Basilisk for a new IG one? If I recall correctly the Legion Basilisk wasn't out yet when the first rumours about the Basilisk showed up.

      Delete
    2. The basilisk is currently the oldest vehicle kit, so I would expect that to get an update, all the other IG vehicles got a 5th ed update except for the artillery.

      10 man heavy and special, I really doubt that. Though hopefully new rough riders as well. I won't use them but that more because I think riding horses into war against lazers is stupid, but hey the imperium is weird like that.

      Delete
    3. I really really really want RR's, bring on the horsey's!! I also hope they change the hunting lance rules so you get to use it every time you charge rether than just the first time, i can't think that it would be that hard to strap a new granade on the end of it.

      Delete
    4. They really need something, honestly if they had rules similar to death riders, they would not be half bad, with a way to get different lance tips (melta etc) and reload them, then there would be a solid unit

      Delete