40K: Apoc Rules Taking Shape
Games Workshop is slowly revealing how the rules and sequences of Apocalypse work. Let’s see what we can decipher!
The Chaos Space Marine Preview had a lot of really valuable information. Combining that info with the hints dropped about Space Marines, the Apoc overview from the Devs, and other hints, we are getting a solid picture of things to come.
New Details Emerge
Blast Markers
Apparently, there are at least two types of Blast Markers – thanks to Abaddon’s Dark Destiny Rule we now know that Blast Markers come in different sizes. How many sizes? And what do they each mean? No idea. But I have a feeling the size will indicate the type of armor save you’ll need to make. Perhaps the Blast Markers are like Apoc’s AP system.
Damage Markers
This is another new item that has been hinted at with the previews from Chaos Marines. It sounds like units get hit and accumulate Blast Markers. Then, at the end of the turn when you resolve damage, those Blast Markers are either saved via Armor saves or they are converted into damage. Maybe the Damage Markers are what you use to track that? It is in the name after-all.
Advancing
We know that when you activate a detachment, those units in the detachment can Move, Shoot, and fight. But Advancing might be something you get issued in the Orders Phase – and if that’s the case it’s probably allows you to double move. Now, based on the Black Crusader’s rule – it’s pretty safe to assume that if you Advance, you don’t also get to Shoot and/or Fight in the phase.
Armor Saves
We still don’t know if a Intercessor’s Save is a 6+ on a D6 or D12 – from Abaddon’s Dark Destiny, we know that D12 armor saves are a thing – just not all the time (except for Abaddon, obviously). Again, Blast Markers will be different types and that could influence the type of die you need to roll to save vs those markers.
We do know that there are at least 3 different types of weapons : Small Arms, Heavy and Melee. Maybe Small Arms Blast Markers cause units to save on a D12 and Heavy weapons cause you to save on a D6? Which means if your save is a 7+ then heavy weapons just punch through your armor. That seems fitting as it would mean that Intercessors would get a D12 save vs Small Arms (giving them a 58.3% chance to pass) while it would drop down to a 1/6th when hit by a heavy weapon.
Now, that is all speculation and GW said they will reveal how damage works tomorrow – so I guess we’ll have to wait until then to find out!
Objectives
Games Workshop keeps bringing up Troop options as well. Both the Space Marine and Chaos Space Marine articles mentioned needing to use “Objective Grabbers” to win. While it might be tempting to run all the big toys, you might want to think about those Objective scoring units still – Infantry is going to be a key part of the game.
Custom Command Deck
The Command Assets so far have been intriguing. Apparently, they will be in a deck that you’ll be able to access during the game. You’ll have to build your deck based on what you have in your army. Furthermore, it sounds like you can only “generate” the Command Assets during the Orders Phase – and there is a limit to how many you can get. Guilliman, for example, lets your generate one additional Command Asset.
Now, does “generate” mean to draw a card from the deck or will players get to choose based on what they have available (think less random card draw and more like stratagems). Furthermore, are these Command Assets One-shot abilities or can you use them over and over again? Both ways have their merits and it’s going to be interesting to see how that works out.
Squad Coherence
Those movement trays aren’t just for easy of movement – they are also going to help folks stick within the new squad coherency limits of 1/2″ – that’s a BIG change from the 2″ we normally get in 40k!
Alternating Activations
This is HUGE. Players activate a Detachment, do all their moving, shooting, fighting, etc – and then the other player goes and does the same. Now, we’re unclear if that constitutes a single game round or if that is just one part. However, if we had to guess, players are going to get to alternate activating their detachments until both players are out of detachments.
19 Apoc Armies
There are 19 factions listed on the Apocalypse Index page. We’ve only gotten two faction focuses so far – and one of those will be highlighting TITANS in Apoc.
More To Come
There is a LOT more to learn about this new game. We didn’t even hit all the details in this post as I’m sure there are other things folks have picked-up from all the info that is being dropped. So don’t be shy – share with the class!
If you picked-up on any other rules hits or teasers drop them in the comments!
