Eib.Almera

There's another aspect to "this mess" for me. For years I've played GW games (mainly 40k) as a way to stay in touch with old friends and acquaintances. Increasing bloat made the game less and less enjoyable for me but I enjoyed the company of the people I played with. No gaming during Covid lockdowns made me evaluate this trade-off. So instead of waiting for GW to fix this mess I'd rather show some agency myself and try some alternatives to 40k. A crappy game system can't get in the way of human relations. A broader piece of advice then would be for people to ask if there is a problem with 40k in their gaming group and if so, what that problem is. If you're not tied to a greater community you can fix it with a houserule, by going back to a previous edition, or by playing a different game.

Planned obsolescence is what it is. Unless GW ditches that practice, I won't bother playing 40k. Current GW games are all very expensive beta versions. You're never buying a finished product. You could keep playing an old edition after a new one has launched, but as new editions are normally* branded as an improved version of the last one, the old edition still wasn't a finished product. In a sense community-supported games like BFG and Warmaster are in a better place than they have ever been. Their rulesets have been thoroughly playtested and have ripened. Model availability is better than ever. As to OP's question, GW should first decide: 1. If 40k is a casual (beer & pretzels) or competitive (tournaments) game. Having one ruleset for wildy differing player types does neither consumer group justice. Current system of open/narrative/matched is insufficient. 2. Where 40k sits on a scale from Combat Patrol to Apocalypse. Different game sizes ask for different levels of abstraction. Constant point reductions pulls 40k towards Apocalypse size without appropriate rule changes. Then it would be nice if they settled on a design philosophy, a number of game mechanics and layers of rules and stuck with that throughout the complete design process. Finally, if they'd release rules for all factions at the same time or in a short time span and the only expansions to the game would be scenarios and campaigns, I might consider playing 40k again. *) The exception IMO being going from 2nd to 3rd. The concepts behind those two editions were completely different from one another. The leap from 7th to 8th was big but not that big.

Life... I didn't even get around to pledging anything in March. But here's my April pledge: a set of Necromunda Underhive terrain. Hidden Content

Vow complete: Hidden Content

Vow completed! Hidden Content Vow for February: 5 Crimson Fists Intercessors Hidden Content

I, Eib.Almera, embark on the 12 Months of Hobby Challenge, and for the month of January pledge to complete a Crimson Fists Lieutenant by month's end. Hidden Content

No, Intercessors can't be Heavy specialists.

From a Primaris marines perspective: My kill team has learned to fear the rock drill and rock saw. Luckily my usual opponent hasn't figured out to leverage that fear, and keeps relying on his genestealers. Genestealers are easily dealt with in close combat by my Reiver (leader) and Intercessor (combat) sergeants. As long as I have enough CP's for Death Denied, I use those guys to bait my opponent. So keep an eye on your opponent's CP's; try to make him/her spend them on less valuable tactics. Back to the drill and saw: Whatever you do, make sure you get the charge. Your acolytes don't last in combat. Charge multiple models with them and divide their attacks to utilise their damage potential. Use the drill and saw in tandem for almost guaranteed overkill. The seismic cannon and mining laser are not worth using in my opinion. Because of their limited range you're always suffering to hit penalties. Maybe use a comms specialist to counter this. In any case, don't let Intercessors stay at 15". That's their ideal range, not yours. Regardless of your weapon choices my general advice is to stay out of sight until you can be within 12", and play to the objectives.

Maybe Ravenwing will get teleport homers that allow Deathwing to deep strike closer than 9" from the enemy.

I, EIB.ALMERA, OF THE DARK ANGELS CHAPTER, IN THE NAME OF THE LION, MAKE THIS OATH OF MOMENT TO FINISH A DEATHWING SQUAD.