40K Rumor Roundup 8-24-2013 Bugs, Marines & Rules!
The Space Marines aren’t even here yet, and the Bugs are hot on their heels. Holy Echoes of Macragge!
Here is your weekly round up of everything we have seen the past seven days.
TYRANIDS
A whole bunch of rumors are leaking on the next codex after the Marines, the bugs! Here is one giant mash-up of all the rumors that hit BoLS.
Carnifex – significant cost reduction
Harpy – big overhaul. New model/dual-combo kit, Flying Monstrous, Sonic Screech combines with Vector striking. Additional Spore Mine Cysts may be purchased as upgrades. Default Stranglethorn has new upgrade options.
New Flyer – Fast Attack choice, the alternative build for the Harpy kit.
Ymgarl Genestealers – Special arrival rule is shared with the Lictor, may now purchase standard Genestealer biomorph upgrades.
Hiveguard: new weapon upgrade option (available to a handful of units) that grants skyfire with an “enhanced ability” to ground FMCs.
Tyranids will get a massive overhaul with Psychic powers. Look for many new non-overt force powers that represent the chilling, horrific, warp-stifling power of the Hive-mind.
Aside from a few old chesnuts, look for almost all new Tyranid enhancing abilities, and other new chilling and damping abilities to use on enemies of reflect the horror, hopelessness, and dread of fighting the swarms under the psychic interference of the hivemind.
Look for concepts such as dampened psychics for opponents mixed with bio-enhancement powers to bolster the swarms.
Shadow in the Warp will remain in the codex, but receive a controversial overhaul.
More existing units will have the option of manifesting Psychic powers.
Army-wide notes
– No FOC and ally table changes
– Devastation and Adaptation are new power tables with 3 powers each + primaris.
– Primaris for Devastation = Warp Blast, Adaptation = Onslaught (similar to battle-focus)
– All Tyranid powers can be used with either one or two charges to increase the effect.
– Ravenous Advance: Units with this rule can run & assault in the same turn.
– The Ground Trembles: All MC cause d3 Hammer of Wrath hits.
– Red Terror, Deathleaper and Old One Eye are unique upgrades to their respective broods.
– Harpy/Erinye, plastic dual kit.
– Harpy is designed to kill infantry hordes/provide support via its special vector strike.
– Vector striking it can either use Spore Mine Cyst to create blasts along the path or Sonic Screech to halve initiative and cause a pinning test.
– Erinye is an AA variant in Elite, very different front torso/head piece with gribbly tentacles.
– Increased Swoop speed and its gimmick is grappling other flyers.
Next up – the new 40K mini-Rulebook came out and is pretty cool. I especially love that there are THREE ribbons to mark various pages you need to flip between.
And last but not least this week’s haul on the Space Marines, due to be formally announced by GW this week.
SPACE MARINES
First, the Space Marine Q&A from 40K Radio, who happened to get a copy of the new codex early. So this is straight from the book.
Q: Is it true that what you guys have is an early playtest material, not the actual printed C:SM codex?
A: I have the final print copy.
Q: Are their any new Special Characters?
A: No.
Q: Is honour guard still 3-10 models, or only available as 5 models similar to command squads or BA honour guard?
A: 3-10
Q: Is relic blade still S+2 AP3 two-handed?
A: Yes
Q: Do Legion of the Damned get Soulblaze like in Apoc?
A: No
Q: Can the LotD still Deep Strike?
A: Yes
Q: Does the LotD still have Slow and Purposeful?
A: Yes
Q: Can the LotD be joined by characters?
A: No
Q: Does Cassius have the Zealot rule?
A: Yes
Q: Do the AA tanks have an alternate fire mode that lets them shoot at ground targets?
A: No, only one firing mode
Q: Can child chapters take the SCs of their parent chapters?
A: No (those are unique to their chapter)
Q: Can Pedro and Lysander be in the same army without using allies?
A: No (CF is one chapter, IF is another)
Q: Are Techmarines slotless HQs like the DA book?
A: Yes
Q: Can Captains still take Artificer Armor?
A: Yes
Q: Do Sternguard combi-weapons still cost 5 points?
A: No, they’re 10 points
Q: Does Helbrecht have any other special rules besides the once a game rule that gives fleet/hatred?
A: No
Q: What is the cost of a five man scout squad with a Vet Sergeant?
A: 65 Points
Q: Any changes on Kantor’s rules?
A: Basically the same
Q: Do bikes and centurions get combat squads rule?
A: Bikes yes, Centurions no.
Q: Is there is any vehicle able to get grav weapons?
A: No
Q: Are neophytes of crusade squad an independent squad that can join the main unit as it was rumoured, or crusade squads are a full unit option?
A: No, like last BT Dex.
Q: Is there option for crusade squads of getting two special weapons?
A: No.
Q: If one crusader squads takes a CLR as transport, it has any point cost reduction?
A: I don’t have the BT Dex to check.
Q: Have black templars access to biker scouts?
A: Yes. They have access to everything except Librarians.
Q: Marneus Calgar “God of War” rule is still in there? Has it been replaced by the 3 warlord traits rule?
A: It’s different and cool.
Q: How many points cost a grav-gun as special weapon on a tac squad?
A: 15 points.
Q: How many points are the lascannon and missle launcher upgrades on the Centurion Devastators?
A: Lascannon is 10, Missile is 10
Q: How much do Relic Blades Cost?
A: Chapter Master and Captain get it for 25 points.
Q: Does the codex include a Power Field Generator (DA Wargear that generates a 4++ for a unit)?
A: No
Q: Can Tactical Marines take a Special Weapon at 5 models?
A: A Squad of 5 can have a special weapon or heavy weapon.
Q: Can Calgar still take up to 3 units of Honor Guard?
A: Yes
Q: Additionally, does his still have the rule that lets him choose to pass or fail morale checks at will?
A: Yes
Q: Are Black Templar Characters required and/or accept challenges?
A: Not required, but they will be sick in challenges
Q: Bikes squads that can be made troops, a minimum of 5 models or 5 models max? there is some conflicting sounding information so people just want to confirm.
A: At least 5 (max 9 with Attack Bike) and if your Captain or Chapter Master is on a bike you make take them as troops.
Q: So Chapter Masters on bikes can unlock bike squads of at least 5 models as troops too?
A: Yes.
Q: Do LotD still have their 3++ save?
A: Yes
Q: Can the Bikers take the grav gun options?
A: Yes
Q: Can Scout Squads take locator beacons or teleport homes?
A: Teleport Homers.
Q: Does Shrike have any other rules?
A: No.
Q: Do Chapter Tactics cost anything?
A: No.
Q: The Stalker, does it have 4 shots total that it can split fire with or does each gun fire 4 shots each?
A: 4 shots each
Q: Do any of the SC’s have Stubborn or Fearless?
A: No
Q: Does the Emperor’s Champion take up an HQ slot?
A: Yes
Q: Does Sicarius still re-roll his Sieze Initiative attempts?
A: No
Q: Any change to Razorbacks?
A: I believe they went up 5 points
Q: Does the Ultramarines Tactical Chapter Tactic affect Sternguard special ammo?
A: I believe so.
Q: Also, are bike upgrades for Space Marine Captains cheaper?
A: I think the upgrade stayed the same.
Q: Are normal bikes cheaper?
A: Yes
Q: Are all these answers from an early rendition or playtest and subject to change? Or are these concrete answers from a full codex?
A: The book I have looks like the final. If this is a fake then a ton of effort has gone into this.
Q: Is there any way to assault from vehicles besides assault ramps on land raiders and stormravens?
A: The Land Speeder Storm.
Q: How do Camo Cloaks work?
A: +1 to cover, or 6+ cover if not in cover
Q: Can any of the HQs get Camo Cloaks?
A: No
Q: Is there a way to get Eternal Warrior?
A: Yes
Q: Can any of the HQs buy any special rules?
A: No
Q: Do the HQs still have access to Hellfire rounds?
A: No
Q: In 5th Edition you were encouraged to use SCs as “Count-As” special characters to give you some new/interesting combinations. Is there anything in the new book that allows you to do this?
A: You can no longer do that due to Chapter Tactics.
Q: BT High Marshal (Chapter Master equivalent?) Helbrecht has no Orbital Bombardment, but BT can take a “regular” Chapter Master and get the OB from him?
A: Correct, Helbrecht does not have it, but regular Chapter Masters do.
Q: Have Razorback weapon upgrades gotten cheaper, more expensive or stayed the same?
A: Some went down.
Q: How much do Relic Blades cost for Honor Guard?
A: 10 points.
Q: You mentioned that the Raven Guard Chapter Tactics have a caveat. Do all the Chapter Tactics have special caveats in how they can be used?
A: No, there are other rules for RG we didn’t mention.
Q: Do these caveats require certain minumum requirements of units or wargear?
A: No.
Q: Are the Drop Pods priced like the DA ones (to include upgrades)?
A: Similiar.
Q: When making an army, are you required to take a chapter trait?
A: Yes.
Q: Is the Exorcists Chapter covered in the list of different Marine chapters/successors in the book?
A: Yes, there is a small blurb, but the do not have a parent chapter.
Q: Are any of these caveats negative things (like the old 4th edition flaws)?
A: No. The caveat is we have not revealed all the abilities for some chapters.
Q: Is there any clue you can give us on the nature of these caveats?
A: There are many layers to the CTs (no negatives).
Q: Did the points cost change for Power Weapons?
A: Generally the same, per units choices.
Q: Did the points cost change for Power Fists?
A: PF same.
Q: How much do Crusader Squads pay for Power Weapons?
A: 15.
Q: Can the Initiate in a Crusader Squad take a Power Fist?
A: Yes at 25 points.
Q: How does the limit for the extra power weapon in the Crusader squad work. Is it just 1 Initiate or is it 1 per X number of models in the squad?
A: 1 Initiate and then upgrade one to Sword Brother and you can get another.
And make sure you stay tuned to Apocalypse40K for constantly updated news on 40K and nothing but 40K.
So what are you most excited about – Marines, Tyranids, or the Mini-rulebook?
Loken
