I’m looking into starting WarHammer 40k, and I combed through advice related from other posts over the years. Found a faction that I vibe with and their aesthetic (Necrons). Additionally, I started to read through the Core Rules and their codex found in the sidebar as well. I just have a few questions related to the 9th -> 10th edition change.
Will figures that I buy right now (and could potentially be 9th) be legal in 10th edition play? Does the rules/codex changes merely change the ‘stats’ of the figures? Are there any Necrons I purchase that won’t exists/be legal in the rules in 10th? (Idk, say an older figure isn’t ‘supported’ or w.e.)
Pardon these questions, I come from a Magic Background and there’s a concept of rotation from that game and I didn’t know edition changes were the equivalent.
I notice that a ‘10th ed’ Combat Patrol is slated for winter of this year for my skeleton robots, would I be better served waiting for that or acquiring figures right now?
Cheers for any responses.
Games Workshop very very rarely will invalidate models. Every once in awhile (usually years) they will update some of the old sculpts for new shiny ones, but all the old models are still legal to play in all setting from casual to tournaments. A few models (usually older characters) will be put into “legends” which means they won’t be getting new rules and are usually illegal in tournaments.
But honestly if you play a game with someone and they say you can’t use some model, those people are not worth playing with.
As for what to buy. There is a motto of “buy what you think is cool, not what is good right now”. This hobby takes a lot of time to build and paint so if your not interested in the things your painting it’s most likely not going to turn out well. If you are willing to wait for the combat patrol box, they are usually a pretty good deal $ wise. If you don’t want to wait and can get your hands on the 9th edition starter boxes, they have necrons vs space Marines and are some of the best deals for price. Never buy directly from Games Workshop unless you absolutely have to since you can find everything about 10-15% off elsewhere.
Hopefully that helps, and welcome!
Wow thanks! So to help me, conceptually, take the Necron Warriors units. Say if I were to pick up ten or so — would they pretty much exist between editions over time right?
I stopped by two local games shops in my area and neither had any Necron units. (Man, if I were interested in the Space Marines would I be set) There is a local GamesWorkshop store in my area and both stores recommended me visit there to answer questions. One shop owner looked at the Introductory Box in my hands after I couldn’t find my Necrons and told me to put it back on the shelf. “This game is a pretty big investment I don’t want you to get off on the wrong foot.”
Not trying to ruffle feathers, but why were there so many unpurchased Space Marines boxes? Do players not like them in lore or in playstyle?
@itsJoelle @Pepperoni_Nipps
Space Marines are by far the best seller for GW so they make many more boxes of them. As the “poster child” faction it’s used in nearly all promotional materials. So the expectation from corporate is that anyone can see an ad, go down to GW and pick-up a Space Marine.Understood. Also in my research everyone who commented on the Space Marines noted them being “very diverse” in builds. Does that diversity aid the army builder’s expressiveness or is the faction similar to Mario in Smash, or the London Open in chess, where it’s well rounded but expected?
Pardon my questions, I’m just learning 🙂
@itsJoelle
No need to apologize, this is a vast hobby and the only way to learn is to ask (even if it is heresy).
Space Marines are the “my dudes” faction - they’re vast and diverse because they A) get a lot of releases and B) are often the first army for most people. That means they have a lot of tools to do things with but also are a blank slate when it comes to “what they look like”. A person can do basically anything with them and are encouraged to by the lore as well.Cheers, thank you :)
I’m trying to soak up as much as I can. I just want to avoid buidling an army and discover it’s not a match for my playstyle after many games learning the ins-and-outs of it while seeing other factions perform. Then again, study can only do so much.
@itsJoelle @thatdamnelf @warhammer40k
Rules change super often and whatever you think you are building up to, probably won’t work out in the end.Buy the minis that you enjoy painting, as that will take up most of the time anyway. For a long time you will be playing with “everything you got”, and sometime later you will accumulate enough minis to select the best according to some strategy. But till then just do what is the most fun!
As far as longevity of models go, I built a necron army when they came out in 3rd ed. Two sets of models would be suspect now, wraiths and the tomb Spyder. One set of models no longer exists in the game, pariahs.
That was about 20 years ago. You’ll be fine.
Paint what you buy and don’t buy if you had models to paint. Also know that your models look great.
Thanks for putting that into context! I’m getting my Necrons tonight!!
I could write a while about getting started but I will also invite you to discuss with your fellow overlords on the Necrontyr discord https://discord.gg/pjc3K9gC
So I’m not an expert but I believe the models that GW sells are available to play.
If you don’t see an index card for a unit you want to play then maybe hold off on spending.
When it comes to rotation like in Magic, you can argue that GW does do this, but it is on a much much longer time scale and much smaller of an amount of units. They won’t release a model and rules for it and then sunset in 3-4 years. It usually stays in the game for a long time, and the rules for it will be adjusted over time.
The combat patrol boxes like the necrons may have brand new units to build and paint but that would be it. It would recommend buying models with rules or painting challenges that interest you first rather than on what may be viable or competitive. Enjoy the whole experience of the hobby!
It would recommend buying models with rules or painting challenges that interest you first
Interesting! I never came across a ‘painting challenge’ yet. Is that a product or a concept shared through the community?
When it comes to rotation like in Magic, you can argue that GW does do this, but it is on a much much longer time scale and much smaller of an amount of units. They won’t release a model and rules for it and then sunset in 3-4 years. It usually stays in the game for a long time, and the rules for it will be adjusted over time.
That’s a relief! Might pick up some 9th edition Patrol boxes then!!
what may be viable or competitive.
If necrons are good that’s news to me! From what I understood between the rules and videos I’ve been consuming the theme of their playstyle and lore is perfect for me. I always play Necromancer classes in every game if there is a option of doing it. Heck, my first big D&D set-piece was a city built around Necromancers doing menial labor through their undead for the city (for the slight cost of consuming the inhabitant after they were dead.)
Also, thank you for your response!
Painting challenges are absolutely a thing. Some models are harder to paint because of their complexity or size. For example, some necron models are very difficult to paint because of all the small pieces. Knights are a fun painting project because of the size.
Also regarding rotation, I know some folks who have metal models from the 90s that they still use.
