The Big Game IV House Rules

Playing in The Big Game IV?  Well here are some house rules you can use if you want.

Farseer Report: Spring 2014

The end is nigh, for Armageddon approaches! But first, let's play some catch-up and see how my last predictions landed.

For those unfamiliar, I've made it a small theme of my writings to occasionally predict the near future of the hobby based on its current ebb and flow. Now mind you, I'm not being fed any specific rumors. These are simply my opinions of what will happen based on general rumor flow, current releases, and common sense.

Apocalypse and the Plastic Thunderhawk

Some interesting Apoc rumors from Bell of Lost Souls this week.

The Big Game III Spokane: A Big Writeup

Well, a couple months on and the dust has long since settled. The Big Game III was a major success and everyone involved had a blast. Being relatively new to Apocalypse despite a 5 year tenure in 40k, I made the decision to get some help running the game. Now, to say help run the game is a bit of an over statement of my duties. I helped to set up and organize the event, but with the little to no experience I had, I didn't want folks looking to me for answers in how to work the game.

Apocalypse Warzone: Pandorax Released

The second Warzone book for Apocalypse is now out.

Following up on Damnos, is Pandorax.

From Games Workshop:

Warhammer 40,000 Apocalypse: War Zone Pandorax is the third War Zone supplement to the Apocalypse rulebook. Each War Zone is based on a famous campaign from the history of the Warhammer 40,000 universe and describes the course of the war, the famous battles that were part of it, and the combatants that took part. It also includes all the special rules, missions and formations required to replay the campaign in games of Apocalypse.

This 68-page, hardback, full colour supplement to the Apocalypse rulebook contains:

- A detailed history of Abaddon's invasion of Pandorax that describes the course of the campaign, its battles, and the combatants.

- A magnificent battle report fought on an Imperial spaceship and in the depths of space, presenting a ferocious battle from the campaign,

- A miniatures showcase featuring the key troops and characters of War Zone Pandorax

- New Apocalypse rules, including Death World Jungle Terrain special rules; 9 new strategic assets; 3 new Apocalypse missions; and 3 new Finest Hours special rules.

- 19 new Apocalypse datasheets detailing the key formations of the Chaos Space Marines, Chaos Daemons, Imperial Guard, Dark Angels, and Grey Knights.

- An appendix section providing detail on Catachan regiments, fighting methods and weapons; battlefleets of the Imperium; and Chaos Space Marine battlefleets.

Please note, If you wish to use War Zone Pandorax to play games, you will also need a copy of Warhammer 40,000: Apocalypse and the Warhammer 40,000 rulebook.

You can order it from Games Workshop here or go to your Friendly Local Game Store!

Nykona

Warzone: Damnos - Ultramarines Review

So are the Ultramarines getting all the cool toys?   Eyjio, one of the Apocalypse40K regulars thinks so.  He certainly thinks the new Warzone: Damnos is skewed towards Ultramarines.  And what of the Necrons?  Do they get good new rules and formations?

Apocalypse War Zone: Damnos

Well, the first of the Apocalypse War Zone books is being released this weekend and it looks to be a nice addition to Apocalypse.

Imperial Armour Apocalypse Review

Apocalypse 40K Forum member IPeregrine reviews the new Imperial Armour book from Forge World.

Apocalypse Collector's Edition Unboxing

My good buddy Rob at Spikey Bits wrote up this article on the Apocalypse Collector's Edition, which is a great summary of what this amazing kit offers.  If you are a hard core Apoc nut like me, this set was a must have.  

Apocalypse Warzone: Pandorax

The Warzone: Pandorax booklet in the Apocalypse "Collector's Edition" lists new formations.

Apocalypse Rules and Formations - Part III

Here is the latest Apocalypse data dump from Engrimm.  He has provided most of the info for just about every blog on Apoc this week.

Apocalypse Formations - Updated and Revised

An updated list of Apocalypse Formations.

Apocalypse Rules - Part II - Formations

 
More insight into the new Apocalypse Rulebook.

Apocalypse Rules - Part I - Q & A

I got to ask someone with an Apocalypse Rulebook some questions.  Here is the first of them along with answers straight from the Rulebook.

Apocalypse Latest!

Apocalypse will be released next Saturday.  Here is the latest.

Via MajorWesJanson on Warseer

APOCALYPSE FORMATIONS (112 total)
 Contents (guesses are in bold, some pages are confirmed to exist but not a definite page number, those are listed with either best guess page number with a ? or just as page ??):
FIGHTING AN APOCALYPSE BATTLE
5 What is Apocalypse
23 Strategic Resources
Inside 23-24? Eldar vs Chaos double gatefold
30 Strategic Assets
31 Asset Cards
32 Asset Cards
33 Asset Cards
34 Asset Cards
35 Asset Cards
36 Asset Cards
37-69 New Rules and Weapon Types
51-55 Organizing the Apocalypse
APOCALYPSE FORMATIONS (112 total)
79 Baneblade
80 Banehammer
81 Banesword
82 Catachan Ambush Patrol
83 Doomhammer
84 Emperor's Fist Tank Company
85 Emperor's Talons Recon Company
86 Emperor's Wrath Artillery Company
87 Hellhammer
88 Imperial Shield Infantry Company
89 Imperial Sword Heavy Weapon Company
90 Lord Castellan's Supreme Command
91 Sanctioned Psyker Battle Elite
92 Shadowsword
93 Steel Fury Baneblade Company
94 Stormlord
95 Stormsword
96 Battle Company/ Reserve Company (Tactical/Assault/Devastator) 97 Fellblade?
98 First Company Veterans
99 Librarius
100 Masters of the Chapter
101 Prediator Assassin Squadron
102 Scout Company
103 Imperial Fists Titanhammer Squad 104 Thunderhawk?
105 The Black Rage
106 Lucifer Armoured Task Force
107 Wings of Sanguinius
108 Space Wolf Great Company
109 Space Wolf Librarius
110 Brethren of the Great Wolf
111 Wolfpack Flanking Force
112 Deathwing Redemption Force
113 Ravenwing Huntmasters
114 Brothers of the Flame
115 Dreadknight Brethren
116 Extermination Force 117 Reaver Titan? Marauder Bomber?
118? Warhound Titan
119 Cult of Destruction
120 Heldrake Fear Squadron
121 Lord of Skulls
122 Legionaire Warband
123 Lords of the Black Crusade
124 The Lost and Dammed
125 Thousand Sons War Coven
126 Tide of Spawn
127 Cohort of Blood
128 The Flaming Host of Tzeentch
129 The Great Promenade of Exquisite Excess
130 The Tallymen of Nurgle
131 Tetragon of Darkness 132?
133 Battlewagon Steamrolla Squad
134 Burna-Bommer Skwadron
135 Da Bully Boyz
136 Dread Mob 137 Big Mek Stompa?
138 Stompa 139 Gargantuan Squiggoth?
140 Green Tide 141 Battlefortress? 142 Cobra?
143 Cloudstrike Squadron
144 Farseer Council
145 The Phoenix Court of Khiane 146 Phantom Titan
147? Revenant Titan 148 Scorpion 149 Vampire?
150 Sunstorm Squadron
151 Wraithknight Dreamwalker Squad
152 Windrider Host
153 Carnival of Pain
154 Dark Olympiad
155 Kabalite Web Strike
156 Ravager Titan Hunters
157 Sickle Squadron 158 Void Dragon Phoenix? FW website blub says they frequently work with dark eldar. 159 Barbed Heirodule?
160 Carnifex Crusher Brood
161 Endless Swarm 162 Harridan? 163 Heirophant Bio Titan?
164 Living Fortress
165 Subterranean Swarm
166 Vanguard Infestation 167 Scythed Heirodule? 168 Spore Chimney?
169 Acquisition Phalanx
170 Baleful Necropolis
171 Infinite Phalanx
172? Obelisk 173 Pylon?
174? Tesseract Vault
175 The War Council of Mandragora
176? Trancendent C'tan
177 Air Superiority Wing
178 Counterstrike Cadre
179 Kroot Hunting Pack
180 Optimised Stealth Group
181 Rapid Insertion Force
182 Riptide Wing
183 Skysweep Missile Defence 184 Tigershark? 185 Tigershark AX-1-0 Mentioned in the Air Superiority Wing
?? Grand Redoubt (Apoc level Firestorm Redoubt?)
?? Macro-cannon Aquilla Strongpoint
?? Vortex Missile Aquilla Strongpoint
4 are missing still, with two possibly being the ?? Marauder Bomber (Pages 117 and 118 are tricky, as the Warhound is confirmed, the Reaver has a 2 page spread of the model, and Marauder was in the first Apoc book, but there are only 2 pages of space.) ?? Marauder Destroyer

MINIATURES SHOWCASE
196 Lords of the Black Crusade showcase
197 Masters of the Chapter showcase
?? Obelisk showcase
?? Necron army spread
?? Reaver Titan spread
?? Sacred Blade cutaway (spread?)
WAR ZONE: ARMAGEDDON
230 Ghazkulls First Invasion
231 Maps
[Armageddon Showcase]
[Armageddon Formations]
262 Heroes of Armageddon
263 Armageddon Stompa Hunters
264 Fortress of Arrogance
265 Imperial Vengeance Mechanized Company
266 Crusader Hailstorm Squadron
267 Sons of Grimaldus
268 The Legion Ascendant
269 Firestorm Nexus
270 Imperial Stronghold
271 Bikeboyz Kult of Speed
272 ?
273 ?
274 Karnage Skwadron
275 Ork Storma Elite
276 Overlord Von Strab
277 Red Skull Kommandoes
278 Stompa Mob
?? Reference pages
-------------------------------------
FORMATIONS
"With 11 distinct classes of formation, you can take your choice from the C'tan-powered Tesseract Vault to an entire Battle Company of Space Marines!"


I would guess two of the missing three are Super-heavy Fliers and Gargantuan Creatures. Not sure what the 11th could be.
There are distinct icons for various formations:
Skull inside a Cog- Superheavy Vehicle
Three Skulls over 3 Arrows- Battle Formation
Xenos Skull with Mandibles- Gargantuan Creature?

Force Organization DOES seem to exist in Apoc in some form, as the Command Tank upgrade for Baneblade and Stormsword specifies that they both become a high command formation (bonus Strategic asset?) and a HQ choice.
---------------------------------------------------------------
STRATEGIC ASSETS
Each side gets a number of Strategic Assets equal to the total number of players on the largest side. Each player then chooses one, and if one side is smaller than the other, that sides "Warmaster" gets to choose the leftover objectives. Additionally, some High Command Formations and rules give a player (not side) bonus assets (which would explain why the command tank upgrade on the Baneblade is so expensive) Assets may not be duplicated on a side.
Asset Listing. Guesses/partials in bold. (63 total) Additionally, Battlezone Armageddon includes some additional assets.
ANY ARMY
Blind Barrage
Camouflage
Flank March
Minefields
Orbital Bombardment
Precise Coordinates
Rearm
Replacements
Shield Generator
Supreme Headquarters
Trophy Kill
IMPERIAL GUARD
Bombardment
On My Coordinates
SPACE MARINES
Crusade Banner Fury of the Just
CHAOS SPACE MARINES
Corrupt and Despoil ?? Altar
CHAOS DAEMONS
Blood Thirst
Grand Pavane
Entropic Plague
ORKS
Rok 'em Boyz Stand To, Ladz!
TAU
Darkstar Warhead
Icefire Warhead
ELDAR
Waygate
DARK Eldar Murderous Pain Combat Stimms
TYRANIDS
NECRONS
UNKNOWN ?? Horror

----------------------------------------
Missing formations from Apoc 1, Reloaded, WD, and Web formations
I left out the various superheavies and formations that have been modified either into codex units (Plague of Zombies) or alternate but very similar formations (Seer council of Ulthwe, Thousand Sons Warcoven)
Missing from Apoc original:
IG Ogryn Auxila
SM Armored Spearhead
SM Suppression Force
SM Linebreaker Squadron
Eldar Aspect Assault Wave
Eldar Spirit Host
Tyranid Hive Mind Brood
Tyranid Mycetic Assault Storm
Tau Armored Interdiction Cadre
Missing from Apoc Reloaded:
IG Hellstorm Squadron
SM Ultramarines Honor Guard
SM Skyhammer Orbital Strike Force
SM Deathknell Orbital Strike Force
Orks Deffkopta Choppa Skwadron
Orks Loota Wreckin' Krew
Eldar Baharroth's Tempest
Eldar Shard of the Void Weaver
Eldar Great Court of the young King
Tyranid Genestealer Infestation
Tyranid Kraken Tendril Swarm
Tyranid Behemoth Crusher Brood
Tyranid Eye of the Hive
Tau Farstrike Battlesuit Force
Tau Firestream Piranha Wing
Necron Resurrection War Cell
Necrons Stormcaller War Cell
CSM Hounds of Huron
CSM Doombringer Annhilation Force
CSM Slaughterfiend Bloodpack
Daemons Host of the Daemonforge
Daemons Karanak's Hunt

Missing from Web/WD:
IG Bellapheron pattern Aerial Domination Force
IG Shadowsword Domination Force
IG 'Emperor's Deliverance' Rocket Battery
IG 'Mailed Fist' Tank Command
SM Hellstorm Assault Force
SM Thunderfire Defense Battery
SM Shrike's Talons
BA Deathstorm Strike Force
BA Thunderhawk Assault Force
BA Archangel Skyforce
BA Dante's Sanguine Host
BA Firestorm Strike Force
SW Sternhammers Wulfen Guard
GK Redeemer Force
GK Officio Assassinorum Execution Force
GK Extermination Strike Force
GK Crusade of Fire
Orks Trukk Konvoy
Orks Submersible
Orks Shokk Attack Battery
Orks Minelayer
Eldar Ulthwe Strike Force
Eldar Shadow Sect of Karandas
Eldar Shadow Walker Formation
Eldar Saim-Hann Serpent Squadron
Eldar Deathweaver Squadron
Tyranid Screamer Killer Brood
Tyranid Leviathan Gargoyle Swarm
Tyranid Bioshock Brood
Tyranid Tunnel Swarm
Tau Mirage Long Range Infiltration
Necrons Shroudweaver War Cell
Necrons Ghost Strider Phalanx
Necrons Triarch Lawbringer Phalanx
CSM Angron Daemon Primarch
CSM Defiler Assault Force
CSM Emperor's Children Warband
CSM Maelstrom of Gore
Daemons Bloodthirster Bloodbath
Daemons Outriders of the Brazen Host
Daemons The Brotherhood of Blood
Daemons The Changeling's Grand Dissimulation
Daemons The Fateweaver's Council of Despair
Imperium Defense Laser
SoB Purge Squadron
SoB Repenetant Host



That's it for now!

Loken

Apocalypse Video from Games Workshop

The requisite Apocalypse video is up.  And I have to say, these are getting better.



I ordered both the Limited and Gamers editions of the game.  Needless to say, I love Apocalypse.  First game is the day it is released, July 13th!

Loken

Apocalypse Rules Leaking!

From FodaBett on the Apocalypse40K Forums.
 

Scoring is done based on the number of strategic objectives controlled each break and at the end of the battle. There are six new scenarios to play and several dozen Strategic Assets, which allow you to outmanoeuvre your foes, place minefields in front of them or bombard them from orbit. Unnatural disasters erupt across the warzoneo magma storms fall from the sky while seismic explosions rip apart the battlefield. Your Warlords can even perform heroic acts during the game, which could potentially turn the tide of battle. lust make sure they don't get killed while doing itthere's nothing quite so tragic as having your commander blown to bits in their finest hour.

 
Formation:
 
Studio's Tesseract Vault and the Obelisk: both of the Vaults have the Seismic Assault Ascendant Power (you've got to give them two out of a list of six, and all of them are truly nasty), which unleashes a massive 6D6 S8 AP3 shots per turn (new apoc barage).
 
The Obelisk: its Gravity Pulse ability automatically hits enemy flyers in both shooting phases.

Having a whole Battle Company gives you some major advantages, such as a bonus Orbital Strike Strategic Asset and the Comrades-in-Arms rule, which enables all squads in the Battle Company to fire overwatch for nearby allies when they are assaulted.

Ripctide Wing: 3+ Riptides gains Coordinated Attacks and Networked Reactors
 
Transcendent C'Tan (no rules listed)
 
WraithKnight Dreamwalker Squad: 3-5 Wraithknights. Gains Dreamwalk (fluff mentions faster response times)
 
Baneblade: 525 pts (with no sponsons), can take 2 sets of sponsons for 50pts a pair (lost option for flamer sponsons and option for extra armor), commisar tank upgrade for 45pts, and command tank upgrade for 200pts.  HK/Stubber/SB all as guard codex. 
Command Tank is a High Command formation as well as a super heavy vehicle, and counts as an HQ choice.

Librarius: five+ Librarians, will unleash a Force Vortex. Woe betide anyone who is caught in that!

Predator Assassin Squadron: Three new Predator Annihilators should be a match for most armoured targets (their killshot rule makes their firepower even more dangerous than usual. making them fire as a D-weapon if all their lascannons hit). At the start of the game I have to nominate a chosen target and they do a lot better against that (all weapons are twin-linked), but as long as I choose the right formation for the right targets, they will be deadly.

Legionnaire Warband: units have Hatred and be Fearless, so long as they're within 12" of a Space Marine. Warlord may call Finest Hour. So Death Guard with Typhus get Feel No Pain and Fearless.

Heldrake Fear Squadron:  pre-game Vector Strike, as well as its 'always-on ' Daemonforge.
Assets:
 
Crusade Banner: Pick a Marine standard bearer, all marine units with models within 24" gain FNP
 
Camouflage: any army.  Pick a friendly HQ unit.  Friendly units within 24" of that model have shrouded the first turn of the game
 
Blind Barrage: The same
 
Trophy Kill Strategic Asset rewards us with three extra victory points if we can kill the enemy Warmaster.
 
Entropic Plague Strategic Asset, which, on the turn I use it, strips every model within 3D6" of my Warlord of its armour save. Very nice indeed.

Additional notes:

FlankMarch: Only allows one formation to flank march


That last one is a big one!  We have been playing this way for a couple years now.

Loken

Apocalypse Formations Revealed!

The new formations have all been posted as one-click bundles on the Games Workshop website.  79 Formations are listed.

Apocalypse Collectors Edition Unboxing Video

Jes Bickam from Games Workshop unboxes the amazing Apocalypse Collectors Edition.

Apocalypse on Pre-order!

Well, its finally here, and Games Workshop has some great Apocalypse items both, limited and regular stock.