40K FAQ: New Beta Rules for Tactical Reserves Analysis

So in the middle of releasing the Complete Beginners Guide for Blood Angels, a Deep Strike heavy faction, this is released:

Let's just summarise the rule:

• Half the total number of units of your army must be set up on the battle field.
• Half the combined Power Ratings must be on the battlefield.
• Any unit arriving in Turn 1 must be deployed in your Deployment Zone.
• Any unit that has not arrived by Turn 3 is destroyed.

The two changes are about the Power Ratings and where units can go in Turn 1. 

The implications are that 1st Turn charges just became harder for Deep Strike units, and that anchor units cannot just be cheap and cheerful Guarsdmen cover campers. 

The Good

I have to admit, when the option of a first turn decimation became available it was pretty much all I built armies around. One of the reasons my Astra Militarum Armageddon Female Regiment was so depressing to students was the ability to put some many plasma guns directly in rapid fire range of big scary units.

The ruling that Tactical Reserve units can only do that in Turn 2 (or simply have a delayed deployment to your own deployment zone) makes that harder, but I can't think of any faction that will be massively wounded by the loss.

In fact, there's only a few armies which do try to First Turn charge out of Deep Strike, and it will really just be Deep Striking special weapons squads that will be hurt by this. First turn Deep Strikers tend to rely on re-rolling charges to achieve it, which work about 50% of the time. Even Warptime psyker charges aren't as reliable as it appears (about 66-70% success rate depending on the unit).

The most reliable use of Deep Striking a unit within 10-inches of a unit is a special weapon squad unit, backed up with a re-roll To-Hit aura buff unit. A classic example is Combi-plasma Chaos Terminators and either a Sorcerer or Lord giving re-rolls. A very strong option.

Those are pretty much the purview of Alpha Legion, Raven Guard and Genestealer Cults... and they're specifically said to still be able to use their infiltration stratagems. What's nice about that is that these sub-factions and faction now have a greater claim to that style of play. Since my Space Marine Field Police are using Raven Guard Chapter Tactics, I'm fairly pleased.

Overall, I think this is a good change (although the power gamer in me is crying out in pain). 

The Bad

What I'm not so sure about is the power level balance. 

Whilst I can see the point, I'm not sure the power level restriction is necessary with the change to how units arrive on Turn 1. Alpha strike units only being allowed to drop where you want them to in Turn 2 already limits the effectiveness of piling all your points into a few devastating units. 

I think I only don't like it since it adds an extra layer of admin to army creation. Half and half units was nice and simple, and now there will need to be more adding up. There's a reason Games Workshop moved from the old 2nd Edition style Army percentages (25% of your points must be on Troops 50% max on HQ etc.), and on to slots. It's just a reduced layer of hassle.

However, just looking over my current army lists, there's nothing I need to change. There must be some tournament lists out there which do a better job of abusing these rules.

 Who's feeling Ugly

Poor Crisis suits. 

They can't shoot very well for their points. They are terrible in combat. They don't have their jump-shoot-jump mobility any more. And now, they can't even act as a defensive speed bump, dropping in front of the enemy on Turn 1 any more. Stealth Suits do everything they can do, but better and cheaper. They will need a drastic points reduction before anyone will take them.

To be honest, they're the only unit really hurt by this. You can make a case for Deep Striking units with Charge Re-rolls (Death Company and Lemartes, Black Templar Assault squads, Khorne marked Raptors), but often those strategies were very heavy to build into, or simply have alternative routes to it. Raptors can use Warptime if you're so inclined to get the First Turn Charge, or you you just Alpha Legion in a bunch of Bserkers. Black Templar players may be smarting from this, but foot slogging across the battlefield taking casualties for the Emprah is pretty much what Black Templaring is all about.

In short, already fast-moving units that can Deep Strike shouldn't really be that bothered. 

Terminators on the other hand... well they should be quite annoyed. They can no longer alpha strike, and will have the joys of a slow walking speed to go with it. Grey Knights in particular will feel this squeeze, not being able to Teleport a 2+ save, 2-wound/model unit onto an objective in Turn 1 now. But they get Gate and Shunting Interceptors, so I don't think we need to cry too much about that.

Conclusion

Overall, whilst I'm a little miffed over the loss of Turn 1 plasma strikes for most of my armies, these are good changes, and will make for better games. 

Good job Games Workshop. Now fix Crisis Suits.

Until next time!

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