Starting to play Warhammer 40k is not easy. And we are not referring to the double fact of acquiring their glorious figures and then painting them with special care. Especially if you are color blind like me. But if, in addition to displaying them as they deserve, you consider playing with them (taking into account that it is one of the most popular board games on the planet, it is the same) you will have to take some rule books with you in a backpack. Perhaps that had its own charm, but GamesWorkshop has decided that it’s over, and there are reasons for it.
Just a few days ago, what will be the 10th edition of Warhammer 40,000 was presented. The beginning of a new stage, according to its creators, in which the story advances and the Terminators of the Space Marines return to the equation. And, for that matter, the Termagants have been reviewed. But the juiciest part of the matter is in the game itself and in how they want to make the experience easier for fans and more open For those who want to enter the world.
Games Workshop has rethought the game from top to bottom for the tenth edition of Warhammer 40K, which affects from the structure of the turns to how it affects morale, the role of the terrain or the scheme of the missions with the purpose of offering a less complicated experience. Of course, ensuring that they are simpler, but not simple.
You told us that while Warhammer 40,000 is a fun game, there are parts of it that are too complicated and that novice players have a hard time learning how to play.
In particular, many of you seemed to be of the opinion that there were too many stratagems and too much complexity when it came to choosing armies. We have listened to you and the new edition has been simplified, but that does not mean that it is simple.
Consequently, each unit has new rules and that has various consequences. The expected by Games Workshop is that each army of Warhammer 40K feel like a new one and from the first game. So does that mean you’ll have to buy yet another book? Here comes the best part.
Warhammer 40k: Rules free and for everyone!
In the tenth edition of Warhammer 40K, the presentation of the unit sheets has been changed with respect to its basic information in card format. Something that you can see right in the following example.
On the other hand, selecting the army could not be easier: the process is reduced to two parts.
- Choose the faction and a Warlord
- Choose up to three units of the same type and the amount you want without exceeding the maximum point limit
Everything is much simpler and more practical, but the best thing is the promise that accompanies this initiative: no more carrying around books, for the first time the rules of all units and armies will be free and will be available on the internet from the day of the launch
So when it’s time to play you’ll have everything you need in one or two pieces of paper… in case you want to print it.
On the day of the new edition’s release, the rules for each 40k unit sheet will be available both as a free download and in a handy card format, perfect for taking on the go. Even your faction and army rules have been reduced to only a couple of pages.
And what does all this imply in the face of what already exists? The quick answer is that Games Workshop will smack them down in the 10th edition of Warhammer 40k, since the current codex rules do not work with the new edition.
This idea is genius, since it enables all players to have the new rules, standardizes and simplifies the process of entering the universe of Warhammer 40k and it will be quite a claim for new players or those interested without too much interest in complications. Something that, of all, will promote the expansion and the obsession with this board game.
That said, Games Workshop already tells us that the codex will return in the future, but they also tell us that this will not raise any new barriers for new players.
The codex will return in due time to replace the rules for free, but their return will not increase the complexity of the game, thanks to the exclusionary mechanic (incorporating a new element forces the removal of another) for army and subfaction rules.
For practical purposes, you will only need your unit’s datasheets, your army’s two rule pages (either in your codex, on cards, or digitally), and the mission you’re playing.
We may be talking about the galaxy of the 41st millennium, but it seems that it has finally happened. a brave step in the 21st century.