Another big update is here from GW for 9th edition Warhammer 40k, as they are changing up table sizes and the number of detachments we can take.
Warhammer Community revealed even more on 9th Edition giving us an idea of how games will be structured. Depending on your game size, you’ll be allowed to take a certain number of Detachments. On top of that, your table size will scale with the points being used. Warhammer TV also went live on Twitch and we’ve taken a few notes to supplement these previews!
GW Changes 40k Table Sizes & Detachments For 9th Edition.
There’s going to be a new game size lingo going on in 9th Edition with Strike Force being the classic 2k points. If you look at the different points brackets for your games, you’ll be given a maximum number of Detachments you can take. Essentially, nothing has changed for 2,000 pt games so don’t worry.
Giving us a better picture of how long new games will take, we can see that a 2k game will require about three hours. Don’t get all caught up in points going up across the board! Your tournament-standard games are still going to take a hot minute to unfold.
While we’re on the topic of game size, Stu Black on Twitch mentioned that his 2,000 pt Space Marine army essentially lost out on a single Squad. That should give you a rough idea on how the points will be going up. It’s nothing astronomical.
Table Size Will Scale Depending on the Game
Of course, these are only the minimum size requirements for your battlefields, so whether you’re using a 6′x4′ table with a Realm of Battle board, linking two, four or six 22″x30″ Killzone boards together according to the battle size you’re playing, or just using a dining room table, you’re good to go. In fact, most dining room tables should be able to accommodate a Strike Force game!
One hugely important note to make is that it’s now confirmed that table sizes will be scaled for points. You might have noticed that the Strike Force (2,000 pt) game calls for a 3.6667 X 5 ft table which is technically smaller than a 4 X 6 table. Don’t worry, as this is the MINIMUM battlefield size. You can still totally use a 4 X 6.
Another Mission Revealed
To further reinforce the distinction between each size of game, there are also different mission sets designed for each to replicate the kind of military operations that would likely be performed by forces of that size, ranging from covert raids to massed assaults. In matched play alone, there are 18 Eternal War missions to choose from (or randomly generate). Here’s a sneak preview of a Combat Patrol mission pack and one of the missions in full…
So not only will missions vary depending on point size, but we’re getting 18 total missions to choose from. It’s neat that GW took into consideration the size of the force being played and how it would make sense for them to operate in the fluff. For example, you’d see a 500 pt force maybe clearing buildings in a sector for the larger force. Meanwhile, the larger force would be tasked with taking key vantage points, etc.
Taking on a vibe of the same way objectives work in AoS, Incisive Attack is going to be themed around clearing sectors and moving on. Once you hold an objective, you don’t have to keep bodies on the point to keep holding it. That’s a huge help to elite armies like Custodes, Knights, and even some Space Marine lists. From a fluff standpoint, it also makes sense. What’s the point of sitting on a point if you know it’s already been cleared and you’re looking for something in particular?
Definitely neat to see 40k evolve and take on some elements of Age of Sigmar, which is an outstanding game.
Combat Patrols Are Lunch Break-Worthy
Combat Patrol is aimed specifically at small-scale skirmishes and vanguard operations. As such, it’s the perfect size for lunchtime games, as you should easily be able to finish in under an hour, and you don’t even need an especially large surface to play on!
Finally, Combat Patrols are geared toward quick games that you can play in a very short amount of time (assuming both players know the rules). While 2,000 pts is still probably going to reign supreme in 9th Edition, we’re excited to see if there is any tournament/narrative mission series that rises in the form of small 500 pt games with the new rules.
What are you most excited about in 9th Edition, are you looking forward to the changes for table sizes and detachments?
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About the Author: Wesley Floyd
Wesley Floyd
Job Title: Staff Writer
Joined: 2018
Socials: @RealmbrushPainting
About Wesley Floyd: Wes has been in the Warhammer hobby since 2015 and joined the Spikey Bits writing team in 2018. He is known for his satirist takes on trending topics and imaginative yet amazingly affordable hobby solutions to painting Warhammer miniatures.
Imperial fanboy, tabletop fanatic, and the self-proclaimed King of Sprues. He knows for a fact that Mephiston red is the best-tasting paint and is the commission painting equivalent of a Wendy’s 4 for $4. If you like what he writes and want to contact him or have your tabletop minatures painted (to a mostly okayish standard), message him on Instagram.
