If Christmas was in July, all I would want, would be Sixth Edition.
As a player, I think I was rather successful (competitively speaking), during the reign of 5th Edition. So to that end I’ve come up with a a few possible tweeks that would definitely make tournaments more engaging and hopefully less stressful on players.
First off is cover saves. WTF happened there. I guarantee EVERY tournament game I played had a cover save dispute. Not only that but the ability to get a 3+ cover save in cover put some armies over the top, and leaves others scratching their power armored heads.
Take for instance Kenny from Next Level Painting’s example: An Ork boy which costs one third less than a Space Marine, becomes essentially the same (save wise) when going to ground in cover… oh and they out number marines in games sometimes 4 to 1. Well that doesn’t seem right…
Plus don’t even get me started about vehicle saves. No one sees line of sight the same at all, and on top of that even seem to realize that tank turrets do indeed see over the same size chassis in front of them.
How about we just make cover saves 5+ regardless? Less arguing, more time playing, and armies go back to being semi balanced, IMHO. (not to mention the concept of True LOS is upheld).
Independent Characters- There is a way, in the current rules, to keep your IC’s completely out of becoming engaged in combat, when attached to a sqaud. While from a competitive standpoint it can be advantageous to do, to say keep your leader from getting power fisted, the Grey Knights have broke the concept all together.
Being able to protect a Grenade caddys, just makes GK lists nigh invincible and really breaks the game for me. Will I do it, in a tournament, sure. But it’s not friendly, not even a little bit….
So lets lock down these so call “Heroes” into some fisticuffs for sixth please.
Those are my two biggest pet peeves (besides moving rectangular tanks sideways to get “free” movement), and the lack of universal Psychic defense, and Night sighting.
Want more musings on Sixth Edition? Check out my previous posts!
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.
