FAQs Incoming – Meta Beware!

May the Fourth be with you all! Today we received some goodies from Games Workshop in the form of a very comprehensive Rulebook FAQ, and I wanted to weigh in with my thoughts on the matter here.

First, I would be missing a big point if I failed to bring up the importance of this FAQ. This is a sign of another shift within the Games Workshop structure, and is encouraging in that it may mean more communication between the company and their customers in the future. It is nice to see them using social media, as in the past they have been far too silent when it comes to information releases. This could be a one-off thing, but I do believe we’re seeing another shift that will be incorporated into the new GW business model. Overall, I think this is incredibly good news for the hobby.

It would take hours and miles of text to cover the FAQ in detail, as it got into some very specific aspects of the game. Instead, I’m going to do a brief review that details some of the bigger elements in respect to the meta. I think several of the changes we’re seeing here (if they remain permanent) will shake up the existing game considerably.

As a Tau player, one of the first things I noticed was the effects of Jink on passengers. I’ve always been able to swing my Devilfish around like a bull in a rodeo, knowing that in the coming shooting phase my Fire Warriors can simply disembark and unleash hell on the enemy forces. Now, Jinking is much more of a calculated risk. With my troops firing Snap Shots in the coming turn, I will need to be much more discerning before making the decision to go defensive!

While I understand the Dark Eldar’s concerns with the rule, I do think it is an overall win for the game. I think this is an excellent change, as it takes some of the ludicrous survivability out of the Eldar and Tau books. It also allows more tactical options to the foe; while the enemy might not be damaged by a single Meltagun, that one shot can now take most of the fight out of transported troops as well, giving you options when it comes to suppressing a very survivable enemy. Anything that puts more options in the players’ hands is a good thing! In a perfect world, the Dark Eldar would receive a special rule that gives them immunity to the effects of Jinking on passengers.

The changes to grenades in assault are another huge change, and while I am more positive to this change than I am against it, I also think it will be quickly reversed. The points costs for grenades are always on a per model basis, so it doesn’t make sense that only one guy can use them at that point. Perhaps we will see a shift in the future to a flat cost to equip entire squads with grenades, or maybe this was simply an oversight by someone hurriedly throwing the FAQ together. Either way, I like the survivability it has brought back to Vehicles and, particularly, Monstrous Creatures. A Space Marine player should not have an automatic win answer every time he is charged by a Tyranid Carnifex.

It was also a big change to see Template and Blast weapons now able to target enemy Flyers if they have Skyfire. Stormsurges with Velocity Trackers are now some of the best AA options in the game, with their Ordnance 2 S10 weapons. This is also bad news for Crone/Harpy swarms, as the Instant Death coupled with Markerlights to remove Cover will make mincemeat of their support. It also means Flyers like the Doom Scythe are about to fully come into their own; an option that was already fairly popular will now be absolutely beastly against anything it may face.

Several other smaller changes came in that felt very common sense to me. Among them was denying Overwatch to units that are falling back. Overwatch is a tired and overused rule, and really needs some decisions behind its use. Anything that the player simply gets to do for free with no cost adds little to the tactical nuance of the game; hopefully we will see more restrictions on Overwatch as time goes by. It was also very interesting to see Witchfire Powers lose that “must always hit” nonsense. My Neurothrope now seems much, much more worth the points investment, and Psychic Shriekers the world around are calling out in appreciation!

There were, of course, some real stinkers mixed in along the way. I’m surprised that Games Workshop chose to answer the question regarding an Unbound army made of nothing but Fortifications. Still, the communications have opened and GW exists once more as something other than the haunted old castle on the hill. Whether you like what the FAQ brings or not, we can at least be certain that the attitudes of our favorite model-makers are shifting in terms of speaking with their customers. Hopefully, this trend will only continue to grow in the future.

What thinks the community? Let’s hear your thoughts on the new FAQ, Maelstromites!