[40k] 5th Ed soon to be released?

Hey,

This comes as something as a shock, but it seems to be true.
GW seems intent on trashing v4 ahead of schedule. (?)
The smart money's on a 40k 5th Edition roll-out at UKGD08.

The first factual-seeming thread, afaict, was started by"shebnar".
Here's a condensation of the latest scuttlebutt:

+++

- There's not much in the new edition that is going to be radically
changed, the things which will be modified for sure are:

1) rules about vehicles
2) damage chart for vehicles (MAYBE we'll have one only chart for
glancing and penetrating hits, with modifiers according to the weapon
which scored the hit - note that this is an uncertain rumour)
3) rules about psychic powers
4) small variations on HtH combat

the source denied any further explaination.

It has been speculated that the new Starter Box will include SM and
Orks (both in plastic).

And THEN?

- Codex: Imperial Guard.
New miniatures are ready, the Codex is still undergoing the
brainstorming phase
It is almost certain that the Combat Doctrines will remain in the
Codex.
New plastic soldiers with great coats and different heads: we'll have
Death Korps of Krieg and Valhallans!!!
Possible new Valkyrie in plastic.
New bits for the Sentinel in order to be able to field all of the four
patterns in plastic!
New bits for Rough Riders.

- Dark Eldar.
The entire range is going to be redone with new design.
At the moment they're going to made the first new models!
The rules (according to the source) are NOT going to be much changed,
except for some units (the source didn't specify which ones).

- Necrons
We won't see them before the end of 2009!!!
However, the Codex will be redone and will feature new models.
Pariah and Immortals are going to be redone.
Maybe new bipod/vehicle?

- Space Wolves
end 2008 - beginning 2009
The Codex has been planned, but nothing is certain.
MAYBE (uncertain rumour) the SW list will be integrated with the 13th
Company's units and rules.

+++

UPDATE (1): from brimstone [the nom de guerre of a sympathetic GW
employee - ed]

"Some of this is correct and some is a bit inaccurate.

Vehicle rules are undergoing a pretty big overhaul which some will be
quite unhappy about.
There will be one vehicle damage chart with modifiers for glancing/
penetrating hits.

Overall most sections are being amended to a degree up to and
including missions.

It's a new edition hence a new rulebook IIRC."

+++

UPDATE (2):

Rules wise I've heard that the vehicle damage chart will look
like the Apocalypse one but for standard vehicles.

I've heard nothing of a nerf for skimmers or any other major
changes to the vehicle system. But that just means my source hasn't
told me
anything or may not know himself.

Two big changes I've heard about are changes to movement and
(everyone wait for it...) changes to Rending! I posted these in a "rules
idea"
thread a few weeks back to see if anyone would notice...nobody did. I'm
not going
to go into detail now as I've been tourtured by the =I=nqusition
before and do
not wish to revist those dark places. But if you search for them, they
are out
there...posted as my own idea. (see how I do that? Like a f'n
ninja!)I've heard
that Combat Patrol and Kill Team are gone from the rule book. They
will make a
reappearance as their own supplement in 2009 with expanded rules for
"space
hulk" and "Necromunda" style games.They have been replaced with a much
expanded
mission system and campaign rules that are based off the Mighty
Empires system
for FB.

I've heard that there are a few 40K specific tiles in the works. One
being a hive-city tile.

+++

UPDATE (3):

Rending: A roll of a six to wound makes the shot AP1. A roll of a six
to penetrate a vehicle causes an automatic glancing hit unless the
total already exceeds the AV.

-I think this will tone down Rending a bit while still maintaining the
effectiveness of those weapons. This would also pave the way for all
Gauss
weapons to have Rending.On that note I would also change FNP so it is
negated by AP1 weapons.

Forced March: All infantry units may make a D6" move in the shooting
phase instead of shooting as long as there are no enemy models within
12". However they may not move in the assault phase unless they have
the Fleet of Foot special rule. Models with Fleet may make this move
even if enemy models are within 12" and may make a 6" assault move as
normal.

-I think this would open up the game a little more as it would allow
units to sprint for cover/objectives in lieu of shooting. It would
make the game
a bit more dynamic and allow for playing games on larger tables like
you might
see in Apocalypse. This would also greatly benefit reserves allowing
them to get
in the game much quicker than before.

Skimmers: Change the Skimmer rule so it counts as being obscured when
moving at least 12" instead of the current rule.
-This would mean they would only benefit from the Skimmer ability on a
4+ and only if they stay on the move.

+++

UPDATE (4): from dosadi -

There will be leadership modifiers for things like how many casualties
you take from a given weapon; if you snipe down three guys then the
pinning test would be made with a -3 modifier. Ordinance Barrage
weapons give an additional -1 on top of any casualties incurred. Close
Combat will have a resolution phase where you determine the winner by
comparing the difference in kills with added bonus for outnumbering
(go Orks and 'Nids) and charging (I think). The result is the modifier
to leadership checks by the looser. Fearless units just take the
difference in wounds. So it's not all that different than now, only
faster and deadlier. This is a great improvement IMO. [Quicker combat
resolutions would be an improvement imo too - ed]

It just feels like years of developing the game for strict tournament
play is no longer the focus of the game...now it's more about fun and
creativity as we've witnessed with Apocalypse...and will see
with...PLANETSTRIKE!

Yes, Planetstrike is the name of the next supplement (unless someone
at GW reads this, gets mad and changes it out of spite). It's about
taking the game into the 3rd dimension (Waa?). This is why you've been
hearing about a deepstrike book; but it's much more than that! It is
about adding flyers and drop pods into the game but also about
fighting missions with a clear attacker/defender. I'm sure this has
been said before elsewhere so consider this another "confirmation" if
you will. There will be a plastic SM drop pod that can also be a chaos
deathclaw (I think that's what it's called). There will be plastic
storm troopers (look like kasrkin) and a plastic valkyrie. The
Valkyrie may even be available as a transport in the next guard codex.
There are also several new terrain kits in the works. A landing pad, a
defence laser and a bunker. All of these can be combined to create a
fortification and it goes without saying that they are compatible with
the current CoD building sets. [Silly name, but sounds like it could
be fun - ed]

DE will come with an entirely new range of models (except for the
jetbikes; I've been told these will probably stay as is for
now...sorry). Don't expect significant changes to the DE theme. They
are still the light raider force and there will be only one new troop
type in the list (hint....this troop type already exists in another
list...duh). However they have re-tooled the less useful units to be
more appealing. Mandrakes will be in every list (think units of mini
lictors). Heavy weapons are gone (what?). All DE will carry Assault
weapons (I guess this means dark lances will now be assault, ouch!).
Splinter rifles will be 18" S3 Assault 2. Hit and Run will be a big
part of the list with many units having the ability. I've heard that
having a Raider will allow units to hit and run back onto it and fly
off. I have no idea how this will work in game...or even if it's true.
It sounds a little farfetched to me. I wasn't going to post any of
this DE stuff as it came from some early playtest ideas that were
spoken of in hushed tones at a Christmas party. It did NOT come from
my usual contact, so I'm distrustful of its truthiness.

+++

UPDATE (5): from brimstone -

There will be a new rulebook and new starter set which will be Orks vs
marines, it will include both troops and vehicles (a marine
dreadnought is likely and possibly others). The 3up grot seen at UKGD
'07 is also for the starter box.

Rumoured rules amendments

1. the addition of a 'run' option (similar to fleet but with a trade
off to keep fleet special).
2. Improvements to the cover save rules.
3. Rending toned down (auto wound if you roll a 6 to wound & reduction
in effectiveness against vehicles).
4. Template(Blast) weapons rules streamlined.
5. Sniper weapons rules amended (rending probable)
6. Close combat rules amended with a combat resolution phase similar
to fantasy
7. Single vehicle damage table.
8. Vehicles without a WS in CC always get hit in the rear armour.
9. Vehicles able to ram
10. Other vehicle amendments
11. Mission rules changed in a similar manner to Apocalypse (no more
Alpha, Gamma or Omega).
12. Only non vehicle non swarm troop choices are scoring units (Note I
did not say infantry)
13. Vehicles types are adjusted (the rumoured skimmer nerf)

Overall the ruleset hasn't changed dramatically but areas have been
clarified, streamlined and in some cases brought closer to 2nd
edition.

+++

I worry whenever GW proclaims its intent to "streamline" something.
Especially when I see the term in the same sentence as "2nd Ed".


Pla - RT Cultist - ya

JohnPaulPontiff.DeleteThis@gmail.com wrote:
<Much content snipped>
> I worry whenever GW proclaims its intent to "streamline" something.
> Especially when I see the term in the same sentence as "2nd Ed".

Nowhere did we see the much rumored Codex: Space Marines Redux listed.
So I suppose for yet another year the Lysander Wings and Librarians with
rerolling everything will be making the rounds while Chaos and everyone
else get nerfed... figures.

"Fair and balanced" means "The Space Marines win". /rolleyes