FW Horus Heresy

[Manus]

So what is all this about? I know it's set in 30K instead of 40K - but what about the game/rules - is it still the same rules as 40K, can the units from the books be used in regular games (if your opponent saya go of cause) or is the games completely balanced another way. This is partly because of general interest, but I'm of cause also thinking Mechanicus.Will the units in those books eventually make up an army you could use in normel 40K games?

[Max_Dammit]

All i know it that it is about 3X the normal price

[paladin7221]

Well, from what little I know, although it uses the 40k Mechanics, the skewing is so off that essentially it is Marine v Marine only as the Legion Astartes are a load more powerful than today's chapters. No other army is going to be able to match them, let alone counter them effectively.

For example, Legion tactical squads are bolter-carriers only, but there are 30 of them per unit. Yep. 30. That's a lot of firepower in one unit.

You could use the models in 40k games of course, which is what I'll be doing with my WE, but rules, points and -organisation wise, no way.

30K is balanced for 30K, 40K for 40K and never the twain shall meet, as far as I can tell.

Mechanicus might indeed be an exception since most of their more esoteric stuff can be described as heresy-era archeotech I suppose, but that's for the future.

[Lord Draconiroth]

Yeah sounds about right. I would expect that "eventually" once the legions are all done that they will visit the Imperial Army, Mechanicus and Titan legions. With also a Xenos selection including Eldar.

Mostly I want to get the books as they're gorgeous, the Primarchs models for an awesome display case and when more legion models are done I'll get bits and pieces to go into my 40k armies. Mainly my Ultramarines. Like the Heresy bikes for a bike command squad or hopefully Ultramarine special units to be veterans or Honour Guard.

[paladin7221]

A FW bloke at Gamesday, according to some reports, said look out for a Warlord Titan within the next 2 years.....

[haegrsmyhero]

Seems like I read somewhere that the Mechanicus will be getting more love in the future. I think the plan was to slowly build up the models until a mechanicum army list was viable. I figure you might be able to use converted IG to make skitarii. And the biggest difference between HH and 40K? One word. Primarchs!

[Manus]

Thanks guys, guess we'll just have to see how it all ends up

[Lord Draconiroth]

On the last Foregeworld newsletter they actually outlined what is in the 2nd book. It includes the Legio Cybernetica!

[sw1]

Iron Hands and Admec in the 2nd book looks so tasty, just wish I had enough pennies to start off the 30k army in full swing right NOW!!!

A friend has got the 1st book and it looks so good I'd say it's actually worth the price tag, I'd love to have the full set but that'll be £100's just for all of them. I might be wrong but I think there's going to be 9 books at £70 each in total. Which if I'm correct would be £630 for the full set which I'm never going to justify unless I win the lottery.

Then there's the Primarchs £55 a pop with 19 of them (if they do the twins) plus any alternative sculpts. I'm not really interested in most of the Primarchs but I can see the Wolf at some point being acquired.

You can see how GWS is cashing in on the more mature collectors who've been getting fed up of the 40k getting much less grim and dark of late. I can see 30k being the attempt to appease the fluff nuts while 40k gets more silly/kid friendly.

[Lord Draconiroth]

Been listening to audio books of the Horus Heresy while driving into the work and there are a few units I hope they do. For the Thousand Sons the Scarab Occult Sekhmet (read terminator veterans), and for the Ultramarines the Tetrarch (4 Legion Champions).

[sw1]

Just read 'Betrayer", it's filled in a few big questions I've had about Russ and the Wolves. If you've not read it then you need to!!!

Part of me now wants to do 30k Wolves rather the Iron Hands.

[Lord Draconiroth]

I'm a few chapters into Betrayer right now, I hated the Wolves after A Thousand Sons and even more so in Prospero Burns.

[haywiregrenade]

For a bit of clarity, Legion Tactical squads can be taken as 20 man units, not 30.

The basics
Models are in the most part 40k approved and compatible. I currently use a Heresy Era IF force made of the FW models but I ensure that mine are equipped with 40k weapons so can be used, or are 40k approved from IA books.
Heresy is really a new take on the 40k game, and uses the 40k mechanics throughout.
The force org chart used is the same as 40k with the addition of a Lord of War optional slot. A Lord of War can only be taken in games of 2k or larger and cannot be more than 25% of the total points of the army and must be paid for from the points of the game. This includes Primarchs, and super heavies and has limitations on structure points, and numbers. It also includes things like Navy Flyer squadrons of 1-3 aircraft for example.
The other differences are some of the special rules, and war gear that was available in the 30k universe and not 40k. Things like Rotary Cannons on infantry, volkite weapons, heavy chainswords and so on.
However there are other subtle differences, such as Terminators not having an invulnerable save, and storm shields not really being in existence at this time.
Other than this, there are also different infantry unit types which are like specialist options. So other than your traditional tactical squads, and assault squads, and scouts, you now have destroyer squads, breacher squads, seeker and outrider squads. They still cost a balanced amount of points, but have specialised weapon options and can either be scoring/non scoring/compulsory options depending on your legion.

The reality is I think they could be used against a standard 40k army with the exception of the Lord of War option (which as most games are under 2k is not allowed anyway).

As an example here
Legion Seeker Squad - Fast Attack choice
4 Seeker Marines + Strike Leader is 175 points.
They come with bolter, bolt pistol, frag/krak and special issue ammo - similar to that of Sternguard in 40k.
All their guns can be changed to combi weapons for +10 points
You can take an additional 5 marines for 15 points each
The leader can take a power weapon/power fist/meltabombs/artificer armour/plasma pistol for the usual 40k costs approx
They have a Marked for Death special rule. They pick an enemy unit after deployment, and they get preferred enemy against it.
Can take a Rhino

Now to me thats not a unit that seems over powered really. Its just like a Sternguard unit imo.

I am sure that some will find a way to break it somehow, or certainly other units, just as in normal 40k with funky combinations.