A new edition of everyone's favourite game is HERE! We've got a lot to look into!
Firstly, to get fully caught up, check out the full releases on the NEW Warhammer 40,000 website here. At first glance, it seems interesting that Games Workshop have decided to announce a new edition of the game amidst so many upcoming releases! With 3 more psychic awakening books already confirmed and teasers coming left right and centre, how can now be the right time to announce a new edition?!
Well, we're going to break it down for you and also take a few stabs in the dark at what we think this new edition is going to bring and what they mean for the game.
SO WHAT IS 9TH?
Now, before you go throwing that codex you just brought out of the window, don't worry!
All codexes will be fully compatible with 9th edition and all new psychic awakening books have been written with 9th in mind, so those new legion traits and stratagems are totally safe! What it does mean however is that we will likely see the steady return of the dreaded power creep…Where certain armies will have newer, flashier codexes and others get left behind a little. This was something we saw massively in the transition into 8th, so hopefully GW will have kept the creep under control this time.
In my personal opinion, this edition seems more like an 8.2 than a full jump to 9th (like how we saw 7th-8th with data sheets being completely reformatted). Instead it feels more like a revamping all of your units, it seems we're just having more of an overall polish wax and shine…which certain armies and rules definitely need! (I’m looking at you Ork Stompas!)
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT?
Now there have already been a tonne of changes announced, but we're just going to focus on the things which we're super excited for!
1) New Terrain Rules!
In 8th, terrain has always felt a little lacklustre...The +1 to your armour save is cool and certainly has its uses in a tight situation, but on the whole terrain never really 'felt' like terrain.
We've always been big fans of using LOTS of terrain, it makes the field more immersive and realistic. You wouldn't walk into a destroyed city with just one or two buildings! There would be barrels, gravel, fallen buildings, ruins, electrical hazards…and everything in between! 9th edition promises to reward this!
Giving more options in how terrain impacts your games will (hopefully) have some massive invocations, allowing close combat armies to sneak up on opponents and use the battlefield to their advantage instead of just footslogging. Likewise, castles will be affected as instead of just staying put and shooting, you’ll have to watch your back more than ever!
2) Tanks and Combat.
This is AMAZING and was SO NEEDED! It's never made sense that the mere grot can block a predator from unleashing hell...
Thankfully the gaming gods have smiled upon us and no longer does the mighty tank fall to the mere grot or guardsman! Tanks will now be able to shoot whilst in close combat, so imperial guard players, rejoice!
3) Crusade
THIS. IS. AWESOME.
Over on The Weekend Wars, we were just gearing up for a full escalation league before the COVID-19 lockdown hit. The studio was set, armies selected and tables ready to go…
But with the announcement of crusade, we’ve decided to hold off a while.
This an all new way to play involves your forces starting small and growing with every game. Earning traits, tactics and upgrades as you spread your banners across the galaxy! We think that with the right planning, care and presentation, this new ruleset will help us make the best gaming series around (not to toot our own horn! 😉 )
As soon as 9th drops, The Weekend Wars YT channel will be the first to run a full escalation league using crusade so be sure to drop us a follow and keep an eye on that!
Overall, we're super excited for this announcement and are welcoming 9th edition with open arms! This is sure to shake up the meta and make the game smoother, more entry friendly and opens the game up to some new ways to play that are more than welcome!
What did you think of the new releases? Let us know!
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