Warhammer 40K: The New Points Have Problems – Here’s Why
The internet got mad that the Warhammer 40,000 points got simplified. I’m here to tell you why they have real problems.
10th Edition is here (mostly). With recently gotten a big drop with most of the points for game in it. This is the new Munitorum Field Manual. The biggest overall change is the removal of paying points for upgrades. 40K now follows the Age of Sigmar system, with units costing a flat price no matter what options you take. The only exception is when taking large sized squads, and these tend to simply cost twice as many points for twice as many models. This change has confused and angered some players. Recently Adam argued that this new system is just fine. I’m here to give a counter point to that and talk about why the new points are bad.
The Granularity of Points
One of the big arguments for paying points for upgrades is that the granularity of points added depth and complexity to the game. Being forced to make conscious choices between different weapon options was fun and a big part of the game. Trying to squeeze in an extra heavy weapon, or dropping weapons to take another unit was both a choice and a skill. It could also be used to help balance the game.
Now, this probably didn’t have quite as much of an effect as some people will make it seem like it did. A weapon costing 5 vs 6 points would not balance much out in the big picture. Players were generally willing to pay what they needed to to get the best things. However in aggregate it did make a big difference. If one weapon cost 5 pts and another 15 pts, thats not big. But when you are choosing to get 10 of them, that adds up. I do think the granularity added to the game. This also ties into the next point.
The Game Is Now Full of Traps
One of the big arguments for the new system is that its easier and more accessible for new players. And yeah, the math is easier. A unit is now just one simple number, without having to add anything up for upgrades. You can just take whatever you want. Except… you can’t. You now have to take the most and the best stuff. The game is suddenly full of traps. These pitfalls actively punish bad choices you can make in listbuilding that will just… screw you over. Let’s take the humble Leman Russ as an example. Did you not like how the sponsion looked? Did you leave them off because of that? You fool. You utter and complete fool. In 10th edition, that is a horrible choice that actively makes your army worse… for no good reason.
The game is now just full of these things. Did you not give every Sergeant a plasma pistol instead of a las pistol? Well that was stupid. Did your Vanguard Veterans (OK I know no one is using these) not replace ALL their bolt pistols with something better? Mistake! Didn’t give your T’au Commander the most of the best guns they can have? Dumb. Maybe in a game built from the ground up with all the choices had a real opportunity cost (say a point system that quantified that cost) this could work. However 40K ‘s new Edition has a ton of units like the Necron Canoptek Spyder.
These baby has three different upgrades, including guns. They are not mutually exclusive, so you can take all three. And you should every time, or that was just a mistake. Now if you don’t put, hunter killer missiles/havoks/heavy stubbers/ect. on everything you are just taking a worse army. A veteran player will now know that and take advantage of it. A new player who just built some cool looking models and didn’t worry about using up every single option they could – suddenly has walked into a trap on the tabletop.
The Unevenness of Points
Now, I know what you’re saying, “I don’t have to take all the upgrades if I’m not playing hyper competitive”. And this is true to some degree. If you’re just in it for a casual game you don’t always have to take the best list or the best of everything. However in past Editions, not doing that at least meant you got more of something else for your points. You might take bad choices, but at least you’d get MORE bad choices. Now…. now your just playing at a massive disadvantage for no reason. Even casual players generally want to have an equal chance to win.
Let’s go back to the Leman Russ here. Lets say I’ve taken an army with 7 Leman Russes of various types. For whatever reason, because I thought they looked better, or I had an old army, or I didn’t realize I should take the upgrades, none of mine have sponsons, or heavy stubbers and all of mine have Heavy Bolters in their hull. Now the gal I’m playing against, she’s taken the exact same army, the same Leman Russes. She’s paid the same points. But all of hers have Multi-metla sponsons, and lascannons in the their hulls, and heavy stubbers. Despite being the exact same units and the exact same points her army is unquestionably better than mine. I likely stand a notably lesser of winning against her. This is the new normal, take the best on every model – or fall behind.
But It Worked In AoS!
A lot of people I see defending the new system are Age of Sigmar players. It uses a similar system and works pretty well. And I can totally see why players who like and are familiar with that system are having an easy time seeing it adapted for 40K. However the issue is that the two games are not alike.
AoS was designed around this system from it’s inception and even its legacy Warhammer Fantasy units came from a game with relatively few upgrades. Even now at most your average AoS unit has the option between two types of weapons – exemplified by the meat and potatoes Stormcast Eternals Liberators shown above. With only needing to balance two options its easy to make them both at least moderately attractive and give some opportunity cost.
On the other hand here are the options for a relatively common 40K unit. This unit has a ton of options. One model can pick between 12 different weapon options. There is no possible way to actually balance out many options and make them all equal. Some, such as not taking an upgraded weapon are just objectively worse. In a single unit this might not make a huge difference. But for many armies this story is the same for every unit in the army. This verity of choice is why the system doesn’t work for 40K like it does for AoS.
Let us know what you think of the new points system, down in the comments.
