Tuesday, May 27, 2014

7th edition FAQ Notable Changes That Matter to Me.



So today Games Workshop released the first FAQ/Erratas for the 7th edition Warhammer 40k codices.  Unsurprisingly, the older codices got the most new love (or hate) and though I was hoping for a 7th edition rulebook Errata it WAS just released so we'll have to wait awhile for the unclear rules to be explained to us.  I'm sure there are a lot of new FAQs and Erratas that I am leaving off of this list but these were the ones that stood out to me as the biggest changes in this round or releases.  Changes in bold and my thoughts on them in italics.

Deathwing Terminator Sergeants can replace their weaponry for a Storm Shield/Thunderhammer or a pair of Lightning Claws.

This is something that has changed a couple times now.  Why Dark Angel players were not able to do this from the beginning was always a bit baffling.  Taking Terminators is still a big mistake in a competitive setting but its nice to see Deathwing thrown a bone.

Helldrakes treat their Baleflamer as a hull mounted weapon and thus gain a 45 degree firing arc.

WOOOOOOAAAAHHHHH NEEEELLYYYY!  This is a big one.  It should have always been this way, in my opinion, and though they get slightly worse with this nerf they are still incredibly effective for their point cost.

Blood Angels lose all of their Codex powers.  Instead are base level 1 Psykers with access to Biomancy, Divination, Daemonology, Telekinesis, and Telepathy.  Librarian Dreadnaughts are level 2 with same access.

This one hits me close to home.  I am a long time Blood Angels player and I really liked the powers that they had in their Codex.  They gain access to Daemonology though, and I really like the idea of spamming Daemons from Psychic Dreadnaughts.  BECAUSE GW.

Grey Knights with the Aegis rule now re-roll 1’s when making a Deny the Witch role.

This had to change due to psychic powers no longer being a leadership test.  It does give Grey Knights a really good chance at Denying that Witch, so I'm fairly happy with it.  Still does not help with trying to deny buffing powers.  Sad face.

Grey Knights lose their codex psychic powers and instead must take powers from the Daemonology (Sanctic), Divination, Pyromancy, Telekinesis, and Telepathy disciplines.  Psychic vehicles lose Fortitude but gain Sanctuary and Banishment psychic powers from Daemonology (Sanctic). 

 I don't think I've ever taken the book powers and I like the idea of Grey Knight Razorbacks reducing Daemon invulnerable saves as well as buffing nearby unit's invulnerable saves. Remember that Banishment is cumulative (wink).

Brotherhood Banner no longer automatically lets you pass your psychic check for activating Force Weapons.

Meh, but it does make you drain at least 2 power dice to get it off.

Space Wolves lost their Codex psychic powers.  Instead they generate their psychic powers from the Biomancy, Daemonology, Divination, and Telekinesis psychic disciplines. 

Tyranids give me a YEEEEEAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!  Sorry pups I do feel your pain at losing that over powered psychic power.  Let me play the world's smallest violin.


Runic weapons now only add a +1 to Deny the Witch roles. 

Well that answers that question.  It was too good in it's original form so I don't mind the change too much.  

So I think a lot of good changes have been made and cleans the game up while we wait for the older codices to be updated.  I was hoping for some answers regarding wargear items that cause the reroll of failed psychic powers and the Tyranid Shadows of the Warp, but alas it was not to be.  So what do you think of the changes?

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

To: Games Workshop Re: 7th edition

Dear Games Workshop,

My name is Rawdogger and I'm writing to you today to let you know that I'm sick of your shit.  All we wanted was updated 6th edition rule set.  A tightening up of the rules and perhaps a couple changes to the ally matrix to stop some of the more abuse-able unit combinations.  Was that too much to ask for? Would it have been so hard to take a few minutes, read some 40k forums (you know, the places on the internet where thousands of fans talk about what's working and not working) and make the minor adjustments needed to create a more balanced and concise rule set?  I guess it was, because according to the leaks of the upcoming White Dwarf you've completely LOST YOUR SHIT.  Not only are we NOT getting a minor tweak of the rules to bring everything together after a 6 month long orgy of hastily released Codex supplements and army releases but what we are getting is a new edition that, for all intents and purposes, is being created for the SOLE purpose of padding your bottom line.  *GOLF CLAP*  Thanks for nothing, assholes.  I love 40k.  It's been my favorite table top war game since I was 14 years old.  I've put up with a lot since you've become a publicly traded company. From the ever present 'Codex Creep' wherein the newest releases brought imbalance to the game, forcing players to either adopt the new army to stay competitive to the unnecessary and exorbitant yearly price increases.  But I've kept playing, and buying,Warhammer 40K through the good times and the bad.



The rumors, if they can be called that at this time, have left me completely deflated.  Your blatant 'Fuck Balance, buy Models' (tm) approach to the upcoming 7th edition is disgusting.  At this point you might as well change your logo to Game$ Work$hop.  It's really disgusting.  I'm actually amazed you didn't figure out earlier that the only reason you weren't selling enough Broadsides or Leman Russ Tanks was because of your own pesky Force Organization rules.  You know, the rule that the original game writers put in the game to avoid people taking too many units that were meant to be powerful, yet rare?  Yeah, those rules.  The only limit is my collection?  FUCK YOU.  Oh you are unveiling a new psychic discipline where psychers can summon Daemons?  THANKS!  I guess those models weren't selling very well, were they boys? The poor sales couldn't be due to an unbalanced game written by an apathetic model company, could it?



 I know I'll get a lot of flack for 'reacting' before the new edition has even been released.  You know what?  The writings on the fucking wall.  And if you can look me in the eye and tell me that this release isn't anything other than a money grab to make their abysmal year look better to the shareholders you are delusional.  Yes there are people who are rejoicing over the fact that they can now have their Grey Knights summon Daemons, but I'm not one of them.  And I can tell you now that there are a LOT of people like me who are seriously looking at other games.  Something a year ago I wouldn't have even thought about. I REALLY don't want to stop playing 40k.  But I REALLY want Games Workshop to at least PRETEND to give a shit about the players who want a tight, balanced rule set.  You get that, right?  Am I rambling?  I feel like I'm rambling.  I love you Games Workshop.  Please don't make me leave you.

Your biggest fan,

Rawdogger