The future of the 41st millennium is well underway, with Games Workshop dropping a hot link to download a PDF copy of the core rules for its latest edition.
Warhammer 40,000: 10th Edition represents a drastic shake-up to the formula, and a massive departure from the structure of the 9th edition of the game that has reigned for the last 3 years. Criticisms of system bloat, power creep and a general dissatisfaction of viability for forces across the universe of Warhammer prompted the studio at Games Workshop to essentially take everything to the workshop bench – nothing was considered sacred.
Even from the briefest of glimpses at what has changed, you can see a leaner gameplay experience – one that fosters tactical complexity from the actions you choose to do and when you do them, rather than smothering you with systems that feel like a precarious house of cards.
Key concepts remain and work in a way that is familiar to returning or existing players – things like your models forming a unit, moving together and attacking targets within their range. Where the meat and potatoes start to get a unique flavour is once you jump into the concept of “what takes place during a Battle Round”, and how your turn is divided into specific actions that take place in order.
It’s a 60-page document, chock full of gorgeous art and diagrams that help illustrate how to play – with a huge focus on getting the core gameplay experience familiar to players right from the start.
Get ready for #New40K with a free download of the core rules! https://t.co/cwEkfSKNzQ #WarhammerCommunity pic.twitter.com/lN7uFkoBxB
— Warhammer Official (@warhammer) June 2, 2023
This is all supported by a massive change to how unique faction-specific rules are communicated, alongside the actual rules for each unit that hits the table. Datasheets exist with a quick run-down on what you can do with your dudes, which serves as a primer for your opponent – one promise made early on is that you will be able to hand an A4 sheet of information to your opponent to get them up to speed on what wicked tricks might be up the sleeve of your force.
This transparency of communication is a great step towards tackling the ‘burden of knowledge’ that can start to weigh down the more creative forces within Warhammer 40k. Long-term players have a litany of play and counter-play solutions up their sleeve, while newer or more casual players can feel the sting of learning the hard way.
“Oh, your guys don’t die when I kill them? Wish I knew that 10 minutes ago.”
All this has me extremely excited to once again step on to the battlefields of the 41st millennium – I haven’t played a game of Warhammer 40k since the release of 8th edition, opting instead to play the far more accessible Warhammer: Age of Sigmar – a game system that cleared serves as a framework for how the new 40k is eventuating.
With June upon us, and many people already serving up their experience with advance copies of the new box set – the wait for 10th edition is almost over.
Care for a game?
Are you a tabletop terror, ready to ride again? How do you feel about the new ruleset? Let us know in the comments or on social media.
Known throughout the interwebs simply as M0D3Rn, Ash is bad at video games. An old guard gamer who suffers from being generally opinionated, it comes as no surprise that he is both brutally loyal and yet, fiercely whimsical about all things electronic. On occasion will make a youtube video that actually gets views. Follow him on YouTube @Bad at Video Games
