40K Apocalypse Rules
Here’s the latest word on some of the rules, formations, and Strategic Assets for Apocalypse. Lets hit it:
Scoring
Scoring is done based on the number of strategic objectives controlled each break and at the end of the battle. There are six new scenarios to play and several dozen Strategic Assets, which allow you to outmaneuver your foes, place minefields in front of them or bombard them from orbit. Unnatural disasters erupt across the warzone or magma storms fall from the sky while seismic explosions rip apart the battlefield. Your Warlords can even perform heroic acts during the game, which could potentially turn the tide of battle. Just make sure they don’t get killed while doing it there’s nothing quite so tragic as having your commander blown to bits in their finest hour.Formations
Necton Tesseract Vault and the Obelisk: Both of the Vaults have the Seismic Assault Ascendant Power (you’ve got to give them two out of a list of six, and all of them are truly nasty), which unleashes a massive 6D6 S8 AP3 shots per turn (new apoc barage). The Obelisk: its Gravity Pulse ability automatically hits enemy flyers in both shooting phases.Space Marine Battle Company: Orbital Strike Strategic Asset and the Comrades-in-Arms rule, which enables all squads in the Battle Company to fire overwatch for nearby allies when they are assaulted.
Tau Riptide Wing: 3+ Riptides gains Coordinated Attacks and Networked Reactors
Eldar WraithKnight Dreamwalker Squad: 3-5 Wraithknights. Gains Dreamwalk (fluff mentions faster response times)
IG Baneblade: 525 pts (with no sponsons), can take 2 sets of sponsons for 50pts a pair (lost option for flamer sponsons and option for extra armor), commisar tank upgrade for 45pts, and command tank upgrade for 200pts. HK/Stubber/SB all as guard codex
Space Marine Librarius: five+ Librarians, will unleash a Force Vortex. Woe betide anyone who is caught in that!
Space Marine Predator Assassin Squadron: Three new Predator Annihilators should be a match for most armoured targets (their killshot rule makes their firepower even more dangerous than usual. making them fire as a D-weapon if all their lascannons hit). At the start of the game I have to nominate a chosen target and they do a lot better against that (all weapons are twin-linked), but as long as I choose the right formation for the right targets, they will be deadly.
AdvertisementCSM Legionnaire Warband: units have Hatred and be Fearless, so long as they’re within 12″ of a Space Marine. Warlord may call Finest Hour. So Death Guard with Typhus get Feel No Pain and Fearless.
CSM Heldrake Fear Squadron: pre-game Vector Strike, as well as its ‘always-on ‘ Daemonforge.
Strategic Assets
Crusade Banner: Pick a Marine standard bearer, all marine units with models within 24″ gain FNPCamouflage: any army. Pick a friendly HQ unit. Friendly units within 24″ of that model have shrouded the first turn of the game
Blind Barrage: The same
AdvertisementTrophy Kill: Strategic Asset rewards us with three extra victory points if we can kill the enemy Warmaster.
Entropic Plague: Strategic Asset, which, on the turn I use it, strips every model within 3D6″ of my Warlord of its armour save.
This seems to be a mix of some old classic rules and formations with the addition of a bunch of new ones. I think the coolest part of the new Apocalypse will be the Studio’s take on all the latest toys and codices like the Riptide, Wraithknight, and the Heldrake.
For you guys who haven’t ever played Apocalypse, it’s a LOT OF FUN and you really should try to get in at least one game with all your friends if you can. I can hardly wait. Have at it.
