Solid rumors for IG codex

[ssgtdude (M.I.A)]

OK, I been snooping around and found some solid information on what we can expect from GW on our new codex.

The following is taken from another board as posted by a guy named Dosadi. My remarks are in Italics.


Army wide special rule: I think it’s called Platoon Drill or something like that. Basically, units from the same platoon may ignore intervening squads when shooting. So enemy units targeted in this way do not receive the 4+ save. Apparently this only works if the Platoon command squad is alive and within 12” of the rest of the platoon. I’ve been told that this is just one of the abilities guard Platoons may get, but only as long as the chain of command is intact (whatever that means). So loosing your HQ Command Squad may be a really bad thing.
This is going to be a wonderful addition, and a good reason to keep your HQ away from a board edge considering Snik Rot's ability to HQ snipe when he "Appears" in the game. Expect that there will be others out there who are going to HQ snipe with the reserves coming in from the short board edge as well. We can only hope that this will also be transfered to units using the Master Vox system as well.

Doctrines are for sure gone (I think we all knew this), but have been replaced by more mutable platoons. Instead of Armoured fist squads you can buy Chimeras for a whole platoon. Or buy the whole platoon grav-chutes to give them deep strike, or drop the heavy weapons from squads and give the platoon Scout. Veteran squads become upgrades to platoons (i.e. they are not elites anymore).
With the rumor of troops only being able to hold objectives, GW seems to have taken this into consideration and have not left the beloved guard flapping in the wind with out something to wipe their backsides with. Take this with the fact that transports can carry other units instead of just the unit they were bought for and this is going to mean that the guard WILL be the army to play.

Apparently infantry platoons let you attach certain types of support vehicles to them(kinda like back in second edition). Things like sentinels, hellhounds and demolishers can be attached to platoons. They still take up a FOC spot, but become part of the platoon and so will benefit from the Platoon Drill rule.
This is looking nice, but I am not sure if I would bother to attach a vehicle such as this to a unit. With the new deployment rules I do not see the benifit of doing this, with the exception of reserve rolls.

The Leman Russ can be bought as a squadron so you can get 3 for a single FOC. They can not be attached to platoons however.
I am not happy with this. Reason for my unhappiness is the fact that 1. all vehicles will have to fire at the same target.
2. immobilized vehicles in a squadron are abandoned by the squad and removed as if they were destroyed (it seems the crew just blows it up).
3. Opens up for huge abuse (9 Leman Russ on the field)

I would be more happy with this if they have a special rule which allows for us to shoot at seperate targets. Hate the vehicle squads in Apoc for the same reason that after destroying the target with the first shot two other tanks sit on their thumbs.


Sniper Squads can now infiltrate, get stealth, range finders and all models in the squad have sniper rifles (and BS 4!).
BS4? Why? This is so freaking weak. I like the old sniper weapon. Hit on two's wound on 4. Now we are going to have to hit on 3 and wound based off the weapon strength. Snipers took a huge Nerfing here.

Like the Land Raider, a new plastic sprue for the Leman Russ has been made that will allow plastic demolishers and a 3rd variant (my money is on the Exterminator).

about time. Nuff said

The Baneblade in NOT in the new codex. It just doesn’t work (i.e. overpowered)in games that are not Apocalypse in size.
expected. Nothing to add here

However Stormtrooper squads can now take Valkyries as transports. Both will be getting a plastic kit. Valkyries follow the rules for skimmers I’ve been told. Again, they want to keep flyers and super heavies out of “normal games” but give people the ability to use them with all the special rules in Apocalypse and Planet-strike (if the ever get around to that.)

Woot! More models for us to add to our arsenal. I am going to love having a few Valkyries. Drop troop love across the board.

This last one makes me wonder what’s they are doing, but apparently there is a new HQ in the book; Inquisitor and Retinue much like the elites from the current Daemon Hunters/Witch Hunters books.
About freaking time we got another HQ. Just not happy that we have to go with an =I= HQ choice instead of one of our own, but it does open up the assassins to us much easier.


Well that is it. Anyone else have anything to add please bring what you got to the discussion.

[The Refined Gentleman (M.I.A)]

my comments
-i like the idea of more leeman russes, that allows for more tanks that cements the IG reputation of being a tank heavy army. a plastic demolisher and another varient are also tickling my fancy.
-like the idea of having plastic stormies and valkries, the IG need more customisable stormies and we DESPERATELY need a fast, skimmer unit!
-i also, like the thought of the new platoon rules, gives the feel of a co-opperating, organised unit.
-more docs! yesss!!!!
-the only thing i'm liking about sniper squads is that we have a propor scout squad, other than that, i am absolutely outraged for the same reasons as ssgtdude mentioned.

[rarves]

I'm excited by the new models, but the sniper change really sucks. Damn, that sniper change is nagging at me, that was always basically a free shot for me.

[Rolling Thunder]

Doctrines are gone!? There better be a BLOODY good compensation for this insult to the guard, or GW are going to suffer. Personally.

[chromepip]

the platoon drill rule sounds great, no more sniping the small command squads because they are only 5 models. I don't really mind the loss of the doctrines if they are replaced with the customization of the platoons. this means that the field of battle will be an integrated front rather than a ramshackle collection of units, each with a different purpose. The sniper rifle loss sucks but i think we can get over it by getting a skimmer in the trade.

With the 3 leman russ option, i think that the units will probably spend a lot of time standing still, as you can't move and fire ordinance in 5th ed. so having one become imobalized isn't so bad. not to mention with 14 armour, the leman russ is going to be one heck of a tank again, -2 on the chart for a glancing, means a las cannon can only destroy it on a 6!

[Rolling Thunder]

The codex is not a 'trade'- it is supposed to be an all-around improvement. The valkyries are, indeed, a brilliant addition to the rules, but the doctrine choices need expanding, not removing.

[Commissar]

Valkyries are possibly going to be the only reason I will stick to this hobby, I was just about to drop out of it thanks to lack of interest thanks to lack of money thanks to lack of initiative thanks to whatever, anyways.
This will be big, and I cant wait for kasrkin and valkyries.

[The Refined Gentleman (M.I.A)]

the important thing about valkries is that the IG now have a fast skimmer unit which the current IG don't have.

[lordcastellenjon]

thats good and I bet they bring a lot of fire power goodness to the table as well as for the squadrons I am looking at them exterminators if they come out ^^ 3 of them focusing there fire on a termie squad one or two will HAVE to go down ^^

[Deleted]

Has anyone else noted the following:

o Veterans as a platoon upgrade choice - yippee!
o Hellhounds/Sentinels as an addition to troop choices - will this mean that they are objective capturing units?
o Shoot through rule - this will be a serious balancer for mass infantry IG and allow us to create superb gunlines AKA zulu style! Additionally it will inhibit the enemy from targeting your juicy bits at the back (command squad etc) because the command squad will automatically get an inpenetrable 4+ save for shooting through...
o Sniper rifles ... my understanding is that they arent being nerfed, just changed. The current sniper rifle is non sensical - it hits on a 2+ regardless of starting balistic skill (that makes no sense!), it wounds on a 4+ (50/50 ok) and it has no armour penetration whatsoever...?

My understanding in rumours, was that we'll get a 3+ to hit, 4+ to wound and sniper rifles are rending... Isn't that better and more realistic?

And before you spout out with the "W40k's not real, doh!!", I'm aware of that but a futuristic sniper rifle with no armour pentration is so pants, it's only really effective against crap troops anyhow... With the removal of vets as an elites option, the addtion of all sniper rifle squad become an option - I'd rather have whole squad of snipers with high AP and 3+ to hit (or ratlings at 2+ due to BS4) instead of 2+ than a whole bunch of nothing.

Current chance of wounding a Wraithlord with 10 ratlings: 1.38 wounds per turn.
Potential future (pinch of salt included) assuming 1 rending 6: 2.38 wounds per turn.

It also makes vehicles a target for snipers.

[Warmaster Stabwhiskers]

Plastic stormtroopers and Valkyrie box sets are going to be confirmed in the near future, and im genuinely looking forward to the plastic stormies.

[ssgtdude (M.I.A)]

suneokun I don't know what rule set you been using for sniper rifles, but the current is 2+ to hit, 4+ to wound, Pinning, with Armour Pen 2d6. Which means that side armour and rear armour of most vehicles are effected. Not the best, but you still have the chance to do something. Personally I have taken down a few tanks this way.

The new rifles while they have rending make no mention of an armour pen value at all.

It still comes down to the math. The new rifle is supposed to still wound on a 4+, but with the 3+ to hit you are looking at less hits. The game is still about numbers. The less dice that hit the less wounds your going to roll. Add this into how the wound allocation is done and you are going to have a bunch of bolter guys take all the wounds and none of the special weapon troops that you want to remove first go down.

Hitting on a 3+ you are only going to have about 5-6 single shots hit, then only 2-3 wounds which get a save. Nerfing at it's best.

[thelonelywolf]

Unlucky on anyone who uses snipers as a backbone to their army . . .

[Ymmot (M.I.A)]

mmm, plastic stormtroopers...
delicious.

the metal ones always hurt my teeth.

[lordcastellenjon]

SOAFB my sniping corps are runind GOD DAM IT 30 snipers that coud pin even termies *crys* oh well at least I will be throwing more sniper shots at the target now so what if I cant spred out the PAIN they still seem worth it in my book

[Warmaster Stabwhiskers]

Relax bud, even if your sniper corps cant take it. We can still hope to reassign them to the attachments we can now place alongside Imperial Guard infantry squads and platoons, attachments include sentinels, hellhounds and roughriders.

Supposed upgrades to the regular infantry squads will get you stormtroopers and specialized weapon squads.

[lordcastellenjon]

true but all my conversion work for a good base of fire is gone sry guys this has just relly dented my battle plan Iam gona have to go back to phase one all over agine .

...hmmm exsterminators and vetren squads now as a platoon or sqwudren option... *insert slow sadistic smirk*

[ssgtdude (M.I.A)]

Well I been given some editional information on the sniper rifle.

Armor pen will be Str 3 +d6 with Rending +d3

Rending is still on a 6 to wound.

[Rolling Thunder]

Right, the sniper options are of no consequence to me (they could hardly be worse). What I'm interested in is this 'platoon upgrade' system- is that upgrades by platoon, or something like attatching special weapons and heavy weapons squads and sniper squads and hardened veterans to infantry platoons instead of acting in conjunction with a specific command platoon?

[ssgtdude (M.I.A)]

Rt???

I'll try to answer this. Although your english is muddled on what you are trying to say.

If I understand your question you are asking if the platoon upgrades are platoon specific or if it is similar to the current system of adding the Command Special weapon teams.

As I understand it. The rule will work like this.

When you buy your platoon you have the option to upgrade that platoon from a base platoon into one or more of the options. For example: If you wanted a drop platoon you would purchase the grav chutes when you purchase the platoon and any other unit upgrades along with it (ie special weapons, veteran status, etc...).

From what I also understand that you will not be able to buy these options per squad, but will have to pay per squad. In other words the upgrade must be given to the whole platoon and paid for with each squad. This will include the JSO command squad for the platoon.

This will allow for a much more flexible list as opposed to the use of doctrines. Especially, now that you will not have restricted troops as we had with the doctrine lists. Something I for one am looking forward to.

Hope this helps. In the meantime I am going to be working on some designs for grav chutes of some sort, or else I will be forced to buy a few Valk's

[Rolling Thunder]

Thank you.

[Deleted]

Does anyone know if the cost of guardsmen will be coming down? Also will command squad guardsmen be getting better stats?

[Deleted]

My understanding from Rumours is that the basic guardsmen will drop from 6 points to 4. This is in line with the now improved Ork @ 6 pts each.

The basic guard is unlikely to improve (but will now be as cheap as conscripts (chips). Guard Plattoons will be able to select platoon drills (doctrines), the following are suspected:

o Veteran platoons (I doubt they'll have 3 special and a heavy each, but BS4 for a whole platoon? Yummy.)
o Camoflage Platoon
o Heavy Weapon Platoon (prolly)
o Conscript Platoon (prolly)
o Sniper Rifles Platoon
o Grenadiers (I'm praying!)
o Mechanised Platoon (all with Chimmies)
o Other equipement like scopes, targeters etc available.

The final options are still unclear, but with that sort of format we can build much more flexible guard formats outta "clumps" of specialists. In addition Hellhounds and Sentinels will be "attachments" to squads. Whether this is purely a pricing thing I don't know, but as only troops will be able to score objectives in Ed.5 (although other types can contest) this format will make the guard an awesome force.

As for command squad guardsmen - I assume if you make a whole platoon "Hardened Vet" the platoon command goes too - don't know about command squad vets, I imagine they'll drop the price (currently 12 pts, which is already overpriced) or significantly up the spec.

[mardaddy]

re: only troops can score objectives per v.5

We still do not know if te IG codex will have an entry (or not) that states, "attached vehicles count as infantry for scoring purposes," so it is still premature to jump there.... so we can still hope.

It is not as if GW has never published a codex that has exceptions to the official rules before....

[Warmaster Stabwhiskers]

Warhammer 40K is epic in its own right, GW just so happened to license the game under their trademark. Therefore, its just a company with bad ethics, but great games. Lets live with the pain, we ARE the imperial guard after all.