Grotmas has already given us Spearhead Doubles for team games in Age of Sigmar. However, sometimes you want cooperation instead of friendly rivalry.
Therefore, today’s Grotmas Calendar entry pivots to Warhammer 40,000. It drops free rules for Space Marine Operations, a co-op game format that first appeared in White Dwarf. And if you know a Space Marine 2 fan who has never rolled tabletop dice, this is a perfect gateway drug.
From Doubles to Co-op: The Grotmas Shift
The article opens by nodding to the earlier Doubles rules from Da Red Gobbo. But it immediately asks a different question. What if you want to keep the festive vibe and play together against the game. That is where Space Marine Operations comes in, since it is built for you and a friend to team up. Additionally, the tone is clearly aimed at pulling new players in.
What Space Marine Operations Actually Gives You
Today’s download is the full rules set for Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine Operations. It is described as the same game previously published in White Dwarf. So this is not just a teaser or a single mission. Instead, it is framed as everything you need to run the format.
The article also pitches it as a bridge for video game players. If someone loves Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine 2, but has not tried tabletop, these co-op rules are bait. You hand them a squad, point them at the bugs, and suddenly they are buying miniatures.
The Missions: Inferno, Decapitation, and Ballistic Engine
With the download, you get rules to team up and fight Tyranids across three missions. Those missions are named Inferno, Decapitation, and Ballistic Engine. Additionally, the article stresses that the rest is simple. You add miniatures, terrain, and dice, and you are ready to play.
It also clearly frames the enemy. Your shared opponent is the Tyranid threat, which fits the Space Marine 2 vibe perfectly. So you get that cinematic feeling of a desperate purge, but on the tabletop.
Furthermore, it notes that because the core rules are free, you can look to future White Dwarf issues for more Operations missions. So this is meant to be an ongoing mini mode that can expand over time.
Summary
This Grotmas Calendar entry gives free rules for Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine Operations, a cooperative format previously published in White Dwarf. It is designed for you and a friend to team up and fight Tyranids, making it a great hook for fans of Space Marine 2 who have not tried tabletop yet. The download includes everything needed to run three missions called Inferno, Decapitation, and Ballistic Engine. All you need beyond the rules are miniatures, terrain, and dice.
So grab the download, build a small board, and start purging. Then, if your group likes the mode, keep an eye on future White Dwarf issues for more Operations missions. Next on the Grotmas Calendar, the article teases a noble admiral sailing the void, which sounds like incoming 40k story time.
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