Warhammer 40k: Chapter Approved Missions Deck For 11th Edition Revealed
Find out what’s in the cards with this deep dive into the new mission system for 11th edition 40k, and how it’ll affect events.
We’ve been spoiled for previews of the new edition. Over the past few weeks, we’ve had a look at the Armageddon box set, Faction Focus articles for every army in the game. Plus the Dominatus campaign system, among others. Today, though, we finally get a look at the Chapter Approved mission deck, the heart of how games of 11th edition 40k will actually be played. Some of it is familiar to current players. But they’ve added some interesting twists on how scenarios work with an emphasis on narrative play.
Army Orders
The new Force Dispositions system is the powerful engine of the new missions system. When you choose your detachments, you’ll notice that each is associated with one of the five dispositions. Which Disposition you choose (or are allotted in some format) will determine your army’s mission card. As a guess, a detachment like the Space Marines Subversion Assets detachment might be associated with the Disruption or Reconnaissance dispositions. That said, we’ll have to wait and see just what’s what.
A Wealth of Choices
Since army building now features the opportunity for multiple detachments, your forces will have a choice of dispositions and, therefore, missions. You’ll have the flexibility to choose a mission based on who you’re facing or just on a whim to keep things fresh. Presumably, you could play multiple games with the same army and experience a wide variety of missions without changing a single model in your list.
The Chapter Approved deck includes 15 individual mission matchups springing from the five Force Dispositions. Since you can choose your own Force Dispositions in casual games, you’re ensured to be able to avoid feeling that your army has grown stale.
Further, a set of new Twists offer environmental rules for the battlefield or secondary changes to both player’s army rules. Night Fighting, a perrenial war gaming favorite, returns. But we also see newer ideas like Martial Pride in which both army’s battleline units become faster. What I really like here is the inclusion of Designer Notes. These are quick suggestions on how to best use Twists in various formats of play. This kind of advice should really help new players use the deck as a toolbox and not just a list of required ways to play.
Secondary Mission cards have also seen a major update. Old secondaries have been refreshed and accompanied by a number of all-new cards. Interestingly, you now draw new Secondary Missions each turn even if your hand is full. This should dramatically increase your tactical flexibility. As well, you can only score up to 15 points per turn from Secondaries. This change should take some of the pressure off a bad draw early in the game. Finally, you are no longer required to score a Secondary but can do so when you choose. Deciding whether to hold onto a card to play on the right turn will add a compelling pressure to your play each round.
Event Companion
Finally, a supporting Event Companion is going to be released as a PDF for event organizers. Intended to integrate and augment the Chapter Approved deck, this document will provide ways to support singles, doubles, and team events at all scales.
In games using the Event Companion players will be locked into a single Force Disposition choice for the whole event. While this sacrifices some of the flexibility of casual play it should help smooth expectations and planning for event organizers.
The Event Companion will further offer a set of three terrain layouts for each of the 15 missions. The designers assure us that these have been rigorously play tested. However, review will be ongoing and changes made when required.
This is a robust .mission system and I’m definitely excited to see it in practice. I suspect most of my own games will be casual matches but I’m also really interested to see how the deck integrates with the Dominatus Campaign system as well.
I’m really excited about the Force Dispositon stuff. Do you think you’ll play more thematic lists this edition?
