Warhammer 40,000 9th Edition is just around the corner and boy are we excited! Games Workshop has been dropping sneak peeks over the last few weeks and one of those was the free edition of the core rules they provide. The core rules are not a full rule book, but instead, describe the essential mechanics that take place in a game of Warhammer 40K. The release of the new rules came at somewhat of a surprise to many, but it has given us a chance to take a look at how the 9th edition changes will affect our game.
Warhammer 40,000 was originally released back in 1987 and was designed by Rick Priestly as a sci-fi equivalent to their Warhammer Fantasy series. It was an instant hit, and it became so popular that GWs main focus allegedly switched from Fantasy to 40K. Since then the game has undergone 8 iterations bringing us to the 9th Edition, which is set for release on July 25th, 2020. GW has said that this is not a total rule rewrite and that all existing codex and supplements will still be valid. This hasn’t always been handled well and GW has seen push back from players who were angry over such drastic steps. The release of the core rules and additional sneak peeks from GW gives us an insight into some of the changes. Join us now as we explore these and what it means for you and your games.
Streamlined and Clarified
Each edition of Warhammer 40,000 builds upon the previous. We often see clunky rules thrown out or changed to become easier to play and sometimes they can be extended to bring a more immersive and realistic fight. The one thing we do know is that whatever changes are made, are made to improve the flow of the game and make it easier to play. This can only happen by people playing and the more people who play the more hiccups that can be found.
Styles of Play
One of the big selling points this time around has been additional styles of play. This is a topic that is fiercely debated and there already been some rumblings over the new narrative play known as the Crusade System. Players start with a smaller force than they might do ordinarily and earn XP as the fight. This XP can then be used to extend the army essentially simulating the requisition of additional troops and resources as the campaign progresses. We’ll cover the Crusade system in the future, but for now, this is a game-changing feature, assuming players adopt it over previous attempts.
Tanks, Tanks Tanks!
Finally, tanks can fire in combat, defeating the annoying and reality breaking rule where is a tank is charged they couldn’t fire. About time GW, about time!
Explosions
Another reality breaking quirk to be fixed is explosions. Previous rules did not allow the true explosive force to be realized for larger groups such as Tyranid swarms. Now the entire swarm will receive max hits to simulate the explosive waves and shrapnel that would is unleashed.
Dakka, Dakka, Swoooorrrrrnnn, Dakka Dakka!
Okay, this might be just me but ever since Aeronautica Imperialis was released, I’ve wanted to fly aircraft over enemies like I was a five year old. Rules for aircraft, aerial combat, and bombardment will be included in 9th edition which brings my inner five-year-old much glee!
Unit Coherency
The way units are managed by a player has changed. The new rules state that groups of 6 or more must have each model within 2” of 2 models. This forces a tighter formation for larger groups but could cause problems when a unit is removed from play. If you are not careful, your group’s coherency may fail, resulting in the forced removal of additional units until a single group is created.
Vehicle Hitbox
In 8th Edition, the ‘hitbox’ of a vehicle was classified as the hull and excluded protrusions or weapon turrets. This meant in order to hit the main section of a vehicle had to be in range in order to hit, effectively making weapons immune to attack. This switch makes weapons a viable target to opponents again with successful hits causing internal damage from exploding weapons and shrapnel being unleashed.
Destroyed Units Classification
Another welcome change is clarifying what constitutes a destroyed unit by the opposition. This will hopefully clear up any confusion on whether secondary objectives have been completed or score based victories. The short of it is, if the last model in an enemy unit is removed from the battlefield through an action caused by the enemy player it is classed as an enemy kill. This could be because of a direct kill, fleeing the battleground, or any rule that states the enemy is mortally wounded or outright destroyed.
The Command Phase
Another new feature to 9th Edition is The Command Phase. From what we are seeing this appears to provide a massive advantage to who goes first. We are still exploring the impact this will have on the game, so watch this space for an update.
Ankle Biters
The rules have not only clarified the combat range of ”within 1 inch of the enemy”, but they have also introduced a vertical range of 5 inches. This means that the enemy can now be targeted if they fall within 5 vertical inches if their equivalent footprint on the ground is within 1 inch of the attacker.
Battlefield Size
Games will now take place on minimum size Battlefields, determined by the mission and/or points size of an army. Owners of 6 x 4 game tables need not worry as most games will still be playable, with the exception of Onslaught (3000pt) which needs a minimum 7.5 ft x 3.7ft. Strike Force (2000pt) only requires 5ft x 3.7ft and should fit most dining tables.
These are just some of the rules changes that are being introduced with 9th Edition. The one thing we have noticed is that a lot of the changes are clarifications on the 8th edition rules, or they are existing rules but a greater emphasis is being applied. The new rules provide several new strategies and only time will tell if they work or not. This edition is certainly shaping up to be the best yet, and we are already itching to play more games We’ll continue to explore the changes and bring you fresh 40K news as it happens.
NEXT: New Warhammer 40K Models Revealed In Time For Indomitus Launch
Source: Warhammer 40,000 8th Edition and 9th Edition Rules
