Squad-based 40K part 4: Playtest

Decisions:

* Power armor (4d armor or better) is sealed, and should get its armor dice vs. flamethrowers. Power armored units can ignore or travel through flames if they make a quality check.

* Grav tanks which can fire more than one weapon and move are OP for a skirmish game. Two Eldar Wave Serpents (with troops inside) need to be toned down somewhat.

* Monstrous creature rules need to be pondered -- should they use the same rules as vehicles?

Squad-based 40K part 3: Marine TO&E

Space Marine TO&E:

Tactical Squad:

Combat Squad 1:
Sergeant with Boltgun, Marines with Boltgun x3, Marine with special weapon

Combat Squad 2:
Corporal with Boltgun, Marines with Boltgun x3, Marine with special weapon

Scout Squad:
Scouts are Stealthy. They may begin the game Hidden if the Marine player is defending. Sniper rifles may be suppressed weapons. Bolt weapons cannot be suppressed.

Camo cloaks add +1 to the TQ test for avoiding detection while stealthy if the entire combat squad is wearing them.

Scout Sniper Recon:

Squad Based 40K part 2

Movement (30mm scale):

* Standard human or power-armored Marine: 12" cautious, 24" sprint
* Terminator Armor: 6" cautious, 12" sprint (relentless)
* Assault marines w/jet packs : on foot: 10" / 20"
- using jet pack: 30"

Jet pack jump: up to 30".
- Cannot use if the unit has a casualty penalty
- +2d to defense when interrupted in the air; -2d to shooting after using the jump pack
- Cannot use jump pack movement as interrupt movement

Squad-based 40K?

I was talking to a few people about using the 40K miniatures and lore with a different ruleset ... one that emphasized more realistic tactics, with a mixture of futuristic weapons and the Warhammer units.

Here's step one for converting 40K to Force on Force.

The Baseline
Imperial Guard
Troop Quality: Trained (D8)
Morale: Normal (D8), Confident, Normal Supply
Body Armor: 1d

Squad: 2x Fire Team (4 lasrifles each)
1x Weapons Team (1 Gunner, 1 A-Gunner)

Lasguns are a Class 0 weapon vs. vehicles.

Special Weapons:

Why Dakka and INAT FAQs stink

An example:

INAT FAQ 3.0:

+SM.71A.01 – Q: Can a Techmarine embarked on a
vehicle attempt to fix it without getting out?
A: No he cannot [clarification].
Ref: BA.06C.01, IG.34A.02

INAT FAQ 3.2:

+SM.71A.01 – Q: Can a Space Marine Techmarine who started the turn embarked on a vehicle attempt to repair it?
A: Yes he can [clarification].
Ref: BT.36C.02, BA.06C.01, IG.34A.02, DA.31A.02

None of the codices in question changed between these FAQs. It's just a rules change written less clearly.

40K Variant games

Two variants of campaign games, with simplified rules and scoring:

The previous tournament used the three missions for the book. Here's a simplified version of one we've been using in the campaign. This might promote a more active use of a take-all-comers list.

Acquisition (3x5)

Setup:

  • Place one objective marker in the middle of the board.

Old Time Religion: Lamenters Chaplain

A power-armored Chaplain for the Lamenters Space Marines.

I tried some new techniques for the gold -- a basecoat of Tin Bitz, black wash, Shining Gold highlights, sepia wash, and a a gloss coat on top.

Painting Quality Explained

My opinion of painting quality:

First, we have unprimed. That's the state of the miniature out of the box -- either bare metal or plastic. To construct it properly, it should be assembled without noticeable glue puddles or marks, superglue fingerprints, and have flash and mold lines removed. This may be time consuming for some of Games Workshop's cheaper and more available miniatures, like the Space Marines from the Assault on Black Reach starter set.

Most problems of an unprimed miniature can be fixed quickly.

A Red Marine!

I decided to try a test miniature of another Blood Angels successor chapter, the Blood Drinkers.

These guys are red with yellow trim.

First, the start: Army Painter Colour Primer on one of my AOBR Marines.

GK Tournament

Played my first tournament today with an 1850-point Imperial Guard army.

My opponents were Mech Eldar, Tyranids, and Speed Freek Orks.

I lost my last game to the Orks, the eventual winner, and placed fourth overall.

My list:

HQ
Company Command Squad:
4x Meltaguns
Officer of the Fleet
Chimera w/ML, HHF

Company Command Squad:
4x Meltaguns
Chimera w/ML, HHF

TROOPS
10 Veterans with 3x Meltagun
Chimera w/ML, HHF
10 Veterans with 3x Meltagun
Chimera w/ML, HHF
10 Veterans with 3x Plasma Gun
Chimera w/ML, HHF
10 Veterans with 3x Plasma Gun
Chimera w/ML, HHF

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