More info on 9th from G-dubs!
In yesterday’s article, we discussed the number of Command points that players begin the game with according to the size of the battle being fought. Today, we thought we’d take a closer look at those recommended sizes to discuss what impact they will have on the game…
Getting the Scale Right
Arranging to play a game of Warhammer 40,000 is one thing, but settling on what size of battle to fight is another thing entirely. To help you decide, the new edition comes with four recommended sizes of battle – Combat Patrol, Incursion, Strike Force and Onslaught – designed to help add guidance and structure to your game. From army size, composition and the likely duration of the game, to the escalating size of the battlefield perimeters for larger games and even terrain density and positioning, everything is covered to help you get the most accessible and enjoyable experience from each game.
Of course, these are only the minimum size requirements for your battlefields, so whether you’re using a 6′x4′ table with a Realm of Battle board, linking two, four or six 22″x30″ Killzone boards together according to the battle size you’re playing, or just using a dining room table, you’re good to go. In fact, most dining room tables should be able to accommodate a Strike Force game!
Mission Statement
To further reinforce the distinction between each size of game, there are also different mission sets designed for each to replicate the kind of military operations that would likely be performed by forces of that size, ranging from covert raids to massed assaults. In matched play alone, there are 18 Eternal War missions to choose from (or randomly generate). Here’s a sneak preview of a Combat Patrol mission pack and one of the missions in full…
Going on Patrol
On the topic of Combat Patrol, though many of you will be familiar with fighting battles that roughly equate to the size of Incursion (approx. 50 Power/1000 points), Strike Force (approx. 100 Power/2000 points) and even Onslaught (approx. 150 Power/3000 points), Combat Patrol is aimed specifically at small-scale skirmishes and vanguard operations. As such, it’s the perfect size for lunchtime games, as you should easily be able to finish in under an hour, and you don’t even need an especially large surface to play on!
Combat Patrol is a great way to get started with the game if you’re taking your first steps into the grim darkness of the far future, or are already a fan of Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team and are looking to make the jump over to a larger scale game,* as it’s a really accessible collection milestone to aim for. If you’re already an experienced Warhammer 40,000 player, it’s a great scale to play while you’re learning the new edition (and perfect for kicking off your Crusade campaign). Combat Patrols are compact, easy to set up and break down, as well as quick and thoroughly rewarding to play.
Looking to get yourself a new Combat Patrol army for the new edition? Grab yourself a Start Collecting! set and you’re pretty much there. Which scale of games are you most looking forward to playing? Let us know on the Warhammer 40,000 Facebook page.
* In fact, if you have two Killzone boards from Kill Team, you can join them together to match the minimum battlefield size you need for a Combat Patrol game!
Here’s a picture Reggie S. made of an FLG Mat cut down to size using an exacto blade and straight edge for those that want to go this route (obviously there are other solutions as well such as using tape, etc.)
And remember, Frontline Gaming sells gaming products at a discount, every day in their webcart!
good news for casual players who don’t always have access to a 6’x4′ table
Yeah, it’s 4 Kill Team boards put together which makes it very easy to get a table together.
You can still use a 4×6′ of course but this smaller table is very conveinet for many, it also fits on common Ikea tables.
I believe the question we all have is obvious. What tables will FLG tournaments use.
The change is a big deal balance wise – definitely a (much needed) footslogging melee/short range army buff.
5.5×3.75 is the obvious answer. Neither melee or shooting has an advantage.
We will be using the smaller size, yes. It’s a shock for sure, much like the change in base sizes was, but it is actually much better in the long term for tournament logistics. You can fit more players in the same size space, you need less terrain, etc.
And less bending over too right Reece?
Hopefully!
this is so far the only thing shown for 9th edition that I am not too psyched about (to put it mildly). my table at home is more in line with the new measurements and I have only recently got to play more games on 6×4 and the diffrence is massive. games are more tactical and less of a everything is dead on turn2 because everything is in range instantly or able to charge. smaller tables also reduce the benefit of mobile armies and reduce the risk of mispositioning… I know that GW is aiming for faster games and pushing everthing closer together is definitely a way speed things up, I just would have preferred if this was achieved through cleaner rules than by suddenly forcing smaller tables
no hard feelings to FLG though, I get how important a good relationship to GW is for you guys
I appreciate the sentiment. But yeah man, we were told what was hapenning, not asked. We had 0 input in or control over it, so we had to roll with the punches just like everyone else.
The game plays fine though on the smaller size, FWIW. Once you do it a few timesyou don’t even notice.
Seems pretty clear that they intend to use the new minimum size as it appears the game was designed with this board size in mind. I’m fine chopping the mats I have down to size but I hope that Reece and co have some sweet new designs on 44×60!
We sure do and hope to have it available here soon!
But as you noted for those of you with 4×6′ mats, we’ve cut them plenty of times and while it’s not a perfect solution, if you’re careful it totally works. Or you cane tape them off or just play on a bigger mat, that works, too.
Funny how ya’ll have been putting a new 4×6 mat on sale every few weeks it seems like. Seems like you were trying to get all the designs you had in the pipeline sold before this change was announced.
Yeah, I mean, we didn’t know when this was coming. So for us it was business as usual, you know? There’s still a market for 4×6’s it will just probably die down a lot now, but they will still sell.
What will Frontline use for its tables size going forward for events? The new minimum or the old standard 6×4.
We will, yes. While you certainly can play on 4×6′ if that is what you have and want to do, the new size is what the edition and missions were designed for. Plus, as stated above, we can fit more people in the same size space and for events that sell out and are short on space, that is really nice as we don’t have to turn as many people away.
I’m really looking forward to this. Combat Patrol games seem really fun and fitting for a low-stakes game on short notice.
Yeah, low points games may become quite popular I think.
I wonder if the slightly smaller sizes, particularly the 44″ x 60″, are there to create a strip of space for dice, dead/unused models, books and our other paraphernalia to sit, instead of needing additional table space, chair space, floor, etc.
Or taking up battle space, to be constantly moved aside.
It’s a good idea.
Now for jokey fun:
– – – – – – – – – –
Further evidence of Reecio hating tau; smaller boards mean Tau are closer to be assaulted! Ha! Well played, Reecio! Take that Greater Good!!
😉
-Casey
BeerHammer
Haha, no, there is nbo big secret at all, it’s that size because it is 4 Kill Team boards put together.
Well, it was a fun hobby while it lasted.
I strongly believe all the changes hapenning will result in a lot more people getting involved in organized play because it will be so much more accessible. It’s a bit of a jaring change for us old grognards but long term I think i is for the better.
I don’t doubt you’re right. Just not what I’m interested in though, I lived through the switch away from 8’x4′ and once is enough for me. 😛
“Table getting smaller”. TIME TO QUIT HOBBY!
I’m sure you can come back in a few years when the dust has settled.
lol
See… all good in general.
What do you guys do for your F.A.T. mats? They were all designed for the larger size games?
We don’t make FAT Mats =)
We have a lot of 6×4’s yeah, which is a bummer but there is still a market for them, they will just sell slower. We will have the new size mats available in not too long from now.
Can the 6×4 Mats be cut down without any issues to the Mat?
There’s always a chance the mat gets messed up but we’ve done it plenty of times and the only real downside we’ve noticed is over time the edges where you cut it can fray a little bit. If you use a nice sharp blade and a straightedge it should come out fine.
Pro tip from Orcspit: Put a little fray check on the edge you cut and that should stop that from happening. You can get it in the sewing section of Joanne fabrics
Awesome! New sizes it is!
Ill just use tape for my mats, so i can still use them for Horus heresy
I really hope with these changes help my custodes and knights so i can feidl them.
Reece, can you confrim that, with the changese, terrain density willl be better?
Yeah, tape works fine, too. And yes, one of the upsides is terrain coverage gets way better as you have a bit over 6 sqft less table to cover.
@all,
The smaller size game *is* actually good for the reason I cited earlier, as an unintended by-product, we will get room for accessories on the side, since the 6×4′ mats are already so pervasive, at least in the So Cal meta/area/
Another good point: There’s less reach, so lower backs are going to feel better.
I bought my FLGaming mats years ago, and I’ll buy another at some point. Being 6 inches longer, either way, I don’t see as an issue. And as Reece wrote, FLG will adjust the sizes.
Well it would make sense that points are going up if the table is going to be smaller. It would get rather crowded rather quick.
In is pretty interesting that the deployment gaps seem to be the same as 8th in this case 24″. So you will hit someone sitting on the edge of their deployment zone in about the same time. But there is less of a pocket for a shooting army to hide back in. That in and of itself will help out melee armies force combat. It will be interesting.
Put a little fray check on the edge you cut and that should stop that from happening. You can get it in the sewing section of Joanne fabrics
Good tip!
That’s interesting that you weren’t as stoked about it. I assumed TOs and store owners would have found the smaller map size very appealing. As you said you can fit in a lot more people into the same space. I kind of assumed that was quite a compelling side bonus from a business perspective.
I came to that conclusion eventually. Initially though I had the same reaction many of the community members are having now and was not into the idea at all. However, things like this are simply not something testers have any input on at all, it was purely a business decision from GW so we had to learn to adapt. As I calmed down and thought about it more I started seeing all the benefits long term. It makes it easier to get into the game, become a community organizer and to grow events.
The more I hear about this edition the more worried I get.
You guys will get to sell more tickets at LVO and some battlemats while we all play the fantastic dumbed down new edition which is basically a big mosh pit in a small space, devoid of tactics and things like outflanking being a thing of the past.
No wonder you said hordes are dead. My current Ork army wouldn’t even fit in the deployment zone on a 5×3
Why did we really need to change the game board size, it was one of the few things which was absolutely fine? What is going on? half these changes just sound terrible
I didn’t say hordes are dead, just that they have the most adjusting to do to adapt to the new edition. You can still play that style it will just be different. The game isn’t dumbed down either it’s just different.
Maneuver is actually more relevant this edition IMO, while individual model placement is less so. Like, the fiddly bits of it got dialed back, IMO.
We were not stoked about the board size change, FWIW, but it was 100% not our choice to make. I have come around on it though and feel long term it is better for the game for reasons listed.
How do you feel about the risk of point costs going down during the lifespan of 9th as they have during 8th? (I think it’s quite a smart move by GW to rather overprice early on and then mostly lower point costs in CAs, creates less feel bad moments). like if we see a similar development as in 8th, will the new format still be ok in 3 years time or will people who cut down their mats now be really, really pissed if this needs to get reverted?
Well, table size didn’t increase during 8th despite all those massive point drops.
I really like the change of game table, think it will bring a bit more balance and maybe what DG need (among other things, they really need help!!!)
but i usually just put a terrain barrier in the last 2feet of the board if we play 4×4 so we make a natural looking boardet, works great otherwise tape and or if you are going to cut it, i recommend a long steel ruler and a shape knife! also use textile glue on the ends to try to minimise the fraying
I am not opposed to the board size change in a vacuum, but I am worried about doing it in an edition that explicitly is not reevaluating all the threat ranges for existing models. On the smaller board, there will be plethora of units with combat ranges that allow them to literally hit any point on the board T1.
The basic problem I am seeing is that 8th edition was so spectacularly deadly when it came to shooting that they handed out all sorts of extreme movement abilities to combat units that were balanced around a 6×4 board, that effectively gave units the ability to hit *almost* but *not quite* anywhere on the board from anywhere else. I do not think it’s a coincidence the way this was done. It means many combat units can effectively hit anywhere once the game has started, but it also left the possibility of deploying outside those threat ranges.
On the new board size, this simply won’t be possible. We’ll be playing a game with numbers made for a 24 square foot board on an 18 square foot board. The terrain changes may help this a bit, but as long as the basic numbers are all still all the 8th edition numbers, it’s hard to see how this is going to work out well.
If it alleviates your concerns: 9th was tested on smaller boards and works fine. It’s quite fun, actually. The terrain changes make a significant difference and so does reserves.
I for one am excited about the new sizes, I think it will help speed games up.
Yeah, as I have been saying, one of the guiding principals for 9th was to speed the game up. There are a lot of choices the devs made to achieve that end.
I’m pretty confident they’ll come up with something unexpected that will make it all work – I’ve seen a few ideas on various threads of proposed rules or wishlists, which were likely a single person spending 5 minutes musing.
What’s happened with 9th (tbf, 100% assumption!) is a team of very experienced clever folk spending thousands of hours theory crafting, designing and play testing. That’s what it felt like with 8th, with some really welcome optimisations and novel (but obvious-once-you-try-it). Like the array of standardised force org charts!
Changing board size, making it smaller by 25%. That it could have big impacts and huge risks means by definition they’ll be cool design elements, novel interactions and general 9th edition goodness.
…Fingers crossed!
I hope it exceeds your expectations =)
these table sizes are a fucking joke right ? what a spit in the face to the invested community