by Ok to go along with the price list some info regarding Apocalypse. Actually starts to make sense of some of the stuff in the release schedule. Full kudos goes to "The Dude' over at Warseer forums for compiling it.
Apocalypse Rules:
TheOTHERmaninblack confirms Apocalypse is on the order form for an October release costing US$50 (further confirmed by the leaked release schedule)
It is rumoured there will be a pre-release on GD UK
The basic premise is Rules for games of 3000+ points where the focus is on creating a narrative. Dosadi calls it "the polar opposite of tournament play"
Games will reportedly not use the FOC and possibly not Points limits (although the concept of 3000+ points games seems to contradict this rumour). Some insist points are still used and that a player with fewer points than their opponent can restore balance through using extra Strategic Assets (see below)
Early reports showed some contention over the size of the book, with some saying it’s huge (almost if not as big as the Rulebook), others saying it’s as big as Cities of Death, whilst some mentioned the possibility of multiple editions.
The US$50 price tag as well as some emerging reports of sighted copies indicates a single large book.
Dosadi had this to say on Apocalypse’s compatibility with the Imperial Armour books:
Originally Posted by Dosadi
FW's IA books will still be useful and they will carry on producing them. Not every super heavy is in Apocalypse and all those IG varients are also not in the Apocalypse book. It's perfetly reasonable to use IA with Apocalypse. It says so right in the preface. Where a super heavy appears in both volumes; Apocalypse 's rules will supersede those in IA. So the baneblade and warhound in Apocalypse are considered "official" when playing Apocalypse games. In some cases (like the Squigoth) they have been powered up over the IA version. Also the rules presented for Super Heavies, Gargantuin creatures and Flyers (yes they are there...) in the Apocalypse book are considered "official" when playing with IA stuff in Apocalypse
It is rumoured that there may be updates made available in White Dwarf and on the Games Workshop website
Big Red says the new Apocalypse Templates will be released Oct 07 for US$22 (confirmed by TheOTHERmaninblack)
-10" circular blast template. Used by the Deathstrike Missile, Baneblade cannon and others.
-18" flamer template. N1AK says the big flamer template has all the smaller templates etched inside it
-linked ordinance or ”Cluster Bomb” template (like the old 2nd edition thudd gun template, but way bigger)
-large "petal" or "Orbital Bombardment" template (this may be the same as 10" circular blast template). N1AK claims the "Orbital Bombardment" template is a central blast surrounded by 4, slightly overlapping blasts. When you fire something that uses it you roll a D6, on a 1-4 it lands in a designated one of the 4 'outer' circles, one a 5-6 it lands in the centre circle.
-Vortex grenade marker. Apparently a 3d "globe" type affair with swirly vortex effects on it
Also released Oct 07 will be the mysterious (and exciting) Apocalypse Big Gun Dice for US$12(confirmed by TheOTHERmaninblack)
Strength “D” weapons
Some weapons will have the option of saying D (for death). Baleanoon tells us the description for Strength D reads something like:
"These weapons are so powerful that they require no dice rolling to wound, any model hit automatically dies, that’s right no armour saves, invulnerable saves, this weapon doesn't care about your dodge save or demonic powers."
Smokedog also says they auto-penetrate vehicles and get +1 on the damage table
Baleanoon also claims that one each of Warhound's and Stompa's weapons have Strength D.
The Vortex Grenade, Eldar Pulsars, and Necron Pylon are also reportedly Strength D.
Some rules simplifications have been hinted at, such as any weapon of S7+ ignores armour saves entirely
There have been rumours of ally lists; ie SM & guard, Chaos & orks etc.
Some have suggested an Eye Of Terror style Order and Disorder division.
Super-heavy rules
They will supposedly work almost exactly the same way as in the Forge World books, but:
-They “tend to explode in a more spectacular fashion”
-Super heavies (and maybe all vehicles) will only have 1 damage chart. Rolls will be -2 for galncing hits and +1 for Strength "D" weapons. Penetrating hits have no modifier. Hits that take you below 1 have no effect. Ie glancing hits on a 1 or a 2 do no damage at all
-Structure Points may get a boost to make them "almost impervious to non-titan killer weapons"
Super Heavies with rules included
-Baneblade: Dosadi tells us it is in, and costs 500 points. It is around 600 pts with the extra lascannon and TL heavy bolter sponsons, or you can leave them off for side AV14.
-Chaos Brass Scorpion: rumoured to have 12" assault and a 10 shot weapon in its tail (also rumoured to use the Big Flamer Template rather than 10 shots)
- Nurgle Plague Reaper: Apparently a corrupted Baneblade with a somewhat phallic shaped cannon that discharges pus/poison
-Ork Skullburna: Can hold 30 infantry and is apparently a fast vehicle
-Ork Squiggoth: supposedly more powerful rules than FW
Titans
Titan class weapons also supposedly getting a big boost in lethality.
Shields: Iracundus says that Void shields now have an AV of their own and it's lower than 14, so lighter weaponry can at least strip shields. Smokedog says there are 3 types of titan shields: Power, Void and Hold field.
-Power fields and void shields are AV12 and are destroyed if glanced or penetrated.
-Void sheilds can be re-generated, power fields cannot.
-Holofields seem quite nasty, as long as the vehicle has moved, it will ignore all hits on a 4+.
Titans with rules included
Warlord - Dosadi tells us the Warlord titan in and costs 2500 points and if you get within 12" of it, it can't shoot you, although it can step on you.
Warhound – Nothing yet known other than it is included.
Revenant – Smokedog tells us it gets 2 Pulsars - Strength D, Heavy 2, 5" Blast.
Ork Stompa: Not much known other than it is included and one of it’s weapons will be Strength D
Dosadi says there is no Reaver Titan in the book.
It has been suggested that plastic Titan models may be forthcoming, but not until plastic technology catches up with requirements (ie a LONG way off)
Flyers
Some initial uncertainty of their inclusion has given way to fairly solid confirmation. The recent White Dwarf article seems to indicate that Flyers are indeed included. Dosadi tells us that they are in, and “have seen the biggest change to their rules”.
Apparently fliers now do not leave the table.
Flyers with rules included
-Thunderhawk Gunship – Reportedly around 900 points
-Thunderbolt – About 180 points
-Lightning - Nothing else known
-Ork Fighta-Bomma - Nothing else known
The Valkyrie may also be included.
AA options like the Hydra Flack Tanks and possibly others are supposedly in the book
Maxis Lithium informs us that Tau Skyrays will regain their AA abilities.
There have been rumours of a new Land Raider variant called the Terminus which has four sets of twin-linked lascannons
Apocalypse is to be ongoing, with new additional rules and models released through the stores, WD and the website. The website apparently is getting a £5 million facelift
Apocalypse Background:
Necrons reportedly get some nice background with Apocalypse, particularly stuff regarding silver, gold and platinum level lords and the way they fight. Basically they can download to new bodies at will. No in game effects, but nice background.
Strategic Assets:
Dosadi has this to say on Strategic Assets:
Originally Posted by Dosadi
Strategic Assets are the Strategems of Apocalypse, but they are so much more than just that. In fact, it's probably the most significant mechanic in the Apocalypse game. Some are played before deployment or at the begining of a turn or somewhere else during the game; like something you spring on your opponent at the right time. Some are like the old strategy cards from 2nd edition or the Random Events, Magic Items, & Dirty Tricks from Blood Bowl.
That's the first major difference between them and Strategems. The cool thing is you can still use Strategems as you could play CoD-Apocalypse game with parts of the table being urban CoD while other parts are typical 40k.
An Orbital Bombardment has been mentioned as a possible Strategic Asset and would use one of the new templates (although early rumours mentioned 6 linked Ordinance templates)
There are obviously some wargear-like Strategic Assets, as the Vortex Grenade is all but confirmed with the template being included in release lists.
Formations:
Taking “Formations” of units could reportedly provide in-game bonuses (some free, some paid for). For example:
Imperial Guard
- Ogryn Auxiliary: 3 squads of 5 Ogryns, giving the player a free command squad, and Commissars may be attached directly to the units.
-Emperor’s Fist Tank Company: 10 Leman Russ tanks earns you a command tank that helps to ignore crew shaken/stunned effects
-Emperor’s Wrath Artillery Company: Basilisks may have a spotter unit in a similar way to Marine Whirlwinds (see below). Which unit will be the spotter is unclear.
Necrons
-Necron Phalanx: 2 or more Necron monoliths generate a "Shadow Field" giving whatever is on the other side the line +1 to we'll be back rolls (Dosadi says it reduces the strength of shots through the field). Also no psychic powers can pass through the field.
(The Dude has hereby named this the “Stonehenge” formation)
Space Marines
-Suppression Force: SM Land Speeders can act as “spotters” for Whirlwinds, giving them unlimited range. It was originally rumoured that these Speeders would be unarmed, but this has been refuted, and they are supposedly regular Speeders with HB or MM.
-Space Marine Masters of the Chapter: Individual members supplying bonuses such as flanking manoeuvres etc.
-Space Marine Linebreaker: 3 vindicators in a unit allowing them to target the same point, using the 10 inch template.
Chaos
-Abbaddon may be able to take a very large Terminator retinue
-Tide of Spawn: 10 marines and 10 spawn. At a “dramatic moment” all 10 CSM become spawn.
Tau
-Tau may get a formation of one command unit, and body guard. 3 Crisis Suit units, and a number of Stealth Suits.
-Special Markerlight options for squadrons of 3 + hammerheads
Eldar
-Windrider Host: Autarch on Jetbike and 2 squads of Jetbikes and some Vypers. Can redeply once per game (not just at the start of the game) but can´t end up within 12" of ANY enemy
-Spirit Host: 1 spirit seer , 2-3 squads of wriathguard (not sure on size) and wraithlord. All units with 12" (of the Spirit Seer?) become fearless
-Cloudstrike Squadron: 3 Wave Serpents may combine their energy fields to reduce incoming fire to a maximum of S:7. Whilst some thought this was a similar field to the Necron “Stonehenge” ability, The Dude thinks the ability will apply only to shots aimed at the Serpents themselves.
-Aspect Warrior Assault Wave: Autarch, 3 wave serpents and 3 aspect warrior squads (one of which may be a Dire Avenger squad). Bonus unknown?
-Bonesinger may get rules
Dark Eldar
Ravager Titan Killer: 3 ravagers which and have access to a "shadow beam/wave/summat" weapon that if it hits negates void shields and holofields for subsequent weapon fire.
Orks
-Ork "Kult of Speed" similar to Eldar Windrider Host in that once during the game the entire formation (possibly 30 bikes) can redeploy to ANYWHERE on the board.
Tyranids
-Homaguants could possibly have a “Without number” rule with a "run out of ammo” rule to use against the other player.
Some info is available in White Dwarf here along with full shots of the Baneblade
The article mentions formations and super-heavies by the name "datasheets"
Models & Other Releases:
Bregalad has pulled the Apocalypse releases out of selfkonstrukt’s release schedule scan. All Prices are in US$.
Originally Posted by Bregalad
8th October
OGRYN BONE 'EAD $ 17.00
QGRYN $17.00
HOBBY APOCALYPSE BIG GUN DICE $72.00 (dealer pack?)
APOCALYSE TEMPLATES $22.00
APOCALYPSE VORTEX GRENADE TEMPLATE $10.00
URBAN ROADS $25.00
NECRON PHALANX (APOCALYPSE) $90.00
SPACE MARINE BATTLE COMPANY (APOCALYPSE) $ 450.00
APOCALYPSE (ENGLISH) $50.00
IMPERIAL GUARD OGRYN AUXILIARY $90.00 (?) (direct only)
GAMER'S EDITION IMPERIAL GUARD BACKPACK 85.00 or 95.00
ELDAR SPIRIT HOST $125.00 (direct only)
APOCALYPSE DICE $12.00
15th October
COMMISAR $10.00
SPACE MARINE MASTERS OFTHE CHAPTER $35.00
IMPERIAL GUARD BANEBLADE $95.00
EMPEROR'S FIST TANK COMPAN (APOCALYPSE) $275.00
SPACE MARINE LAND RAIDER TERMINUS PATTERN $5O.OO
SPACE MARINE SUPPRESSION FORCE (APOCALYPSE) $90,00
22nd October
NECRON LORD (WITH RESSURECTION ORB) $15.00
TAU ARMOURE INTERDICTION FORCE $90.00
CHAOS TIDE OF SPAWN (APOCALYPSE) $?
IMPERIAL GUARD LEMAN RUSS SOUADRON (APOCALYPSE) $90.00
ELDAR WINDRIDER HOST $125.00
ELDAR ASPECT WARRIOR ASAULT WAVE $ 125.00? (direct only)
TAU HUNTER CADRE $350.00? (direct only)
TYRANID MYCETIC ASSAULT SWARM $125.00 (direct only)
EMPEROR'S TALON RECON GROUP $125.00? (direct only)
29th October
ORK BIG MEK WITH SUPERSHOOTA $17.00
WARHAMMER 40K BASING KIT $20,00
IMPERIAL CITY $175.00
SPACE MARINE VETERANS MKII $30.00
ELDAR CLOUDSTRIKE SQUADRON $90.00
SPACE MARINE LINEBREAKER SQUADRON (APOCALYPSE) $?
TAU RAPID INSERTION FORCE (APOCALYPSE) $125.00
IMPERIAL GUARD BASILISK BATTERY (APOCALYPSE) $90.00
SPACE MARINE ARMOURED SPEARHEAD $175.00 (direct only)
ORK DRED MOB $175.00 (direct only)
TYRANID ENDLESS SWARM $175.00 (direct only)
DARK ELDAR RAVAGER TITAN HUNTERS $125.00 (direct only)
EMPERORS WRATH ARTILLERY COMPANY $300 00 (direct only)
31st December
APOCALYPSE WARGEAR $22.00
Dosadi confirms the IG Rucksack Gamers’ Edition has the special dice and templates all included.
Baneblade
Sneak peak shown with full pics in White Dwarf
Some say it is 1 inch larger than the FW one all round. Some say 1 inch smaller.
Most reliable sizing put it at 9" long, and 6" wide
Reports tell of 3 additional variants:
- Different turret option (some say Yarrick’s personal Baneblade)
- Chaos (some say Nurgle specific)
- Ork
The hull has supposedly been designed with empty sections to make it easier to convert
Ork Stompa
A large kit by Aly Morrison. Reportedly 8 Sprues
Supposedly put on hold until they can work out how to get it onto fewer sprues.
Drop Pods
The usual “problems in production” excuse. Expect to see as a later release maybe with the Blood Angels or Space Wolves Codex whenever they come.
Brimstone seems to think they will come with the next Cities of Death/Apocalypse style expansion.
Trygon
Not much known. A possible future release.
Brimstone has said it is more of a wish of GW's than an actual plan.
Valkyrie
A model was seen, but never intended for release. It was made to test the large model production systems.
It’s a possible future release if sales of other large models are good, as they already have it scanned into the computer.
Other Releases:
-Merceus brings us pics of the Command Tank Upgrade Sprue:
-Imperial Guard commissars (3 different poses) for an October release
-Imperial Guard Ogryn Although the model shown in the link is obviously a Bone ‘Ead, there are supposedly more than this coming in October.
-New Necron Lord with ressurrection orb. Listed as US$15
-New Space Marine Veterans. Listed as US$30 for an October release
-Ork Mek with Super Shoota. Better pic here
Space Marine Battle Company
Includes parts for the following:
- 6 Tactical squads
- 2 Assault Squads
- 2 Devastator Squads
- Command Squad
- Dreadnought
- Land Raider
- Predator
- "Extra stuff" like decals
comes in a big wooden crate
Possibility of a bigger, direct-only box containing the sprues for 400+ marines but with just the sprues.
If even half of this is true...
