GAME MECHANICS:
** Vehicles can overwatch.
This makes the Baal pred super mean. Even meaner is the fact that you auto-hit with flamers- so its not d3 like in 7th -its d6 hits.
The only thing to be cautious of, is that range will be a huge factor. 8" within the enemy, or you dont get to fire - (again, unlike in 7th!)
** Vehicles are not the mobile firebases they were!!
The second you move any vehicle without POTMS or Assault weapons, you're firing at one less BS. Remember that when choosing units.
** Meltabombs are thrown.
This is a nice, 5 points upgrade for those that can get it. They're thrown now though, not placed in combat- range 4" - so very tough to use on non-mobile units - but for the price, the damage is really good. They also dont only affect vehicles, MCs now. Anything is a viable target.
** Matched play and psychic powers.
Correction...."power". In matched play, only one psychic power can be cast. Full stop. Not one per psyker. One.
** Close Combat.
Combat is more brutal than we think. Not only do units that charged first, fight first...AFTER that, the person who's turn it is gets to decide the next unit to fight before their enemy gets to select a unit.
Tactically this is huge. It means that if you layer and bait, and have a hardy combat unit that does not break in combat after it has been charged, you can counter charge, and then fight with the unit you counter charge with AND the unit that took the initial charge. Can be devastating.
** Charging
You no longer need to charge the unit you shot at!!
** Morale from shooting.
In case youve been under a rock. The AoS "battle shock" style morale is for combat and shooting. This means that just 1 casualty on a squad with average (7) ld, sees another unit potentially being lost on an average roll.
This is devastating for armies with units of multi-wound models if they lose even one model.
This morale system will really make or break things- and ATSKNF is going to be VERY important. But equally, getting weapons that pump out hits is great to force those checks.
UNITS:
The castellan armed whirlwind is AWESOME!! very well priced - and 2d3, S7, -1, 2Dam at 72" without needing los!!!! yumm!!
Edited by Morticon, 02 June 2017 - 06:28 AM.