The new Age of Sigmar rules are here and all these shiny new models look great, but Houston we may have a problem….
Before the free rules release though, one super hobbyist put together a list of great questions about the new rules that may need addressing.
via Avian from Warseer
So I’ve had a night to chew over the rules and even tried out the rules a little. They are somewhat puzzling at times, and I thought I’d do this in a structured way:
The Armies
– Army selection restrictions are literally ‘however many models you want’ or ‘however many models will physically fit in your deployment zone’, whichever is lowest
– You are not told to agree with your opponent what size battle you want to play (unlike 8th edition)Warscrolls & Units
– Unit sizes are either 1 or 1+. Taking a lot of 1-model units typically gives you a pile of free champion upgrades.
– Models in the same unit must be no more than 1″ apart. This is measured model-to-model and not base-to-base, so it might be closer than you think.
— I put down some Night Goblins and it turns out they have to be within 0.5″ of the guy in front to be in formation.
– It says that unit that end up out of formation must reform the next turn they move, but doesn’t actually explain what that means, or what happens if they can’t get back in formation.Tools of War
– You measure to and from the model, not the base. For extra reach, model your troopers with arms and weapons outstretched.
— An extra inch from spearmen seems doable.
– Apparently, this game doesn’t use templates at all.The Battle Begins
Set-up
– The player who finishes deployment first goes first, but this has very little effect since who goes first in later rounds is randomly determined.Glorious Victory
– Last man standing wins
– All attempts at balancing are based around model count, not abilities or power
— So if your 10 Chaos Warriors are fighting 15 Goblins, they get a bonusTriumphs
– If you won your last battle (as a major victory) you get a bonus in this one. It doesn’t matter who you won against.
— Trust amongst players would seem to be required.Battle Rounds
– Half the time, you’ll have two turns in a row.Moving
– You can stand on top of another model’s base, as this isn’t considered part of the model.
– Because no part of the model can move further than it’s Move value, pivoting on the spot costs movement.
— Turning my Wyvern 180 degrees on the spot costs 7″ of movement, and doesn’t give me any advantage.Shooting Phase
– Models in close combat can still shoot with no penalty, either at the unit they are engaged with, or some other unit.
– You can shoot into close combat with no penalty.Charge Phase
– To successfully charge, you must end up within half an inch of an enemy model. Remember that this is measured model-to-model and NOT base-to-base.
— If you don’t want your models to be charged, have them modeled with their hands behind their backs.
– Yes, you CAN move, shoot with no penalty, charge and fight in melee, all in the same turn.
— Thus, the most powerful non-character models in the AoS box seem to be the angel guys.
– You can charge models you can’t see (ex: around a corner)
– Unless you have a special rule, the charge bonus is extra movement.Combat Phase
– If you fielded your guys in neat ranks and files, they will probably break formation at this point in order to make their pile-in moves.
– Pile-in moves can leave models who haven’t fought yet stranded and unable to fight as they are suddenly more than 3″ from their enemies.Battleshock Phase
– Units of 1 (including characters, who are always alone) are essentially unbreakable.
— If you bring a pile of single-model units, you never have to worry about Bravery.
– For each ten models you have in the unit, one less guy will die from battleshock.Attacking
Picking targets
– Melee weapons now have a range, typically 1″.
— If you make sure your models are on bases less than 1″ in diameter, you can always attack in two ranks. Does anyone make 24 mm round bases?Making attacks
– Previously, WS, T and armour made you more difficult to kill. Now it’s only armour.Cover
– You can shoot through woods or other terrain with no penalty.
– A model standing behind a low wall doesn’t benefit from cover. A model standing on top of that wall does.
— For a unit to benefit, they all need to be standing on top of the wall.
Well…. that’s a spicy rules meatball or two. Thanks again to Avian for compiling those questions.
If you’d like to chime in …
Click here for Thread on Warseer
What say ye?
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
