Warhammer 40K: Escalation

So the new Escalation book is out and everyone is already in an uproar about how bad it is, and that it has changed 40k forever, and the game is broken, and they are not going to play anymore because the game is play to win, and just fuck GW!!!

Isn't this just a little extreme? Anyone that has played even one game of Apocalypse with super heavies can tell you that super heavies are not all that! Super heavies can actually be quite a liability, and in games of escalation they are even more so.

So to start why the overreaction?

#1 is that D-weapons are too strong for regular 40k. I can see this sentiment. No one wants to see their SS/TH termies wiped out in one round of shooting, but this can be done without D weapons. I think the biggest actual problem with the D weapon is that models get no inv save. Well luckly there is not that many D weapons allowed with the current Lords of War units (currently).  Besides with example above a S10 AP1 shoot can be just as bad as this D weapon. D weapons are tough, but there are ways around this which I will explain later.

#2 I can take a Reaver Titan in a 2000 point army.  I actually read this is someones rant, and was surprised. There is no Reaver Titan in the book (actually the only titan is Revenant, unless you count Stompa's). The main point this guy brought up was is there is no limitation to amount of points you can spend on a LoW unit in a game. This makes the best gripe about this book is why did GW not use the same 25% limitation that FW did in the Horus Heresy books? Probably because 1 of 2 things. Either they are dumb or they felt it wasnt really necessary. I'm going with the later of the two.

#3 These rules make the game pay to win more than ever. This comment has been flying around a lot lately mostly due to the rapid releases we have no, and that everyone that has the newest and coolest toys are the only ones winning. Now I play Blood Angels and still take home a fair number of wins with them (maybe because it was written by Ward) and dont fill this is ever the case. For the price of a Baneblade I can by four Leman Russ, and I know most IG players already have four of them. I think that anyone that really wants to buy one of these super heavies will find a way to buy it. Save lunch money, not buy something else that they want or to start slinging crack on the side. What ever the case, I think you will buy it, if you really want it or think that you need it. Now, I will explain that you don't need to have one to still win at 40k.

As I was saying about these big boys being a liability.

#1 Heavy point investment. The points cost are so high for these Behemoth that can equally put out something superior to it with normal units for the same cost. For example I could take two units of 5 ea Sternguard equipped with a melta and 4 combi meltas in a drop pod for the same points as a Banehammer and blow the crap out of the thing before it fires at me, and probably do it with just one of the units. Now that super heavy is gone and I could of done it without the same points investment.

#2 Victory points. In Apocalypse the destruction of these bad boys give away a VP, but in Escalation they give a VP for every 3 hull points/wounds done do the vehicle/creature. This is a big factor to consider when deciding to deploy a LoW and should not be taken lightly. Between all the melta/tank hunter/ordanance/auto glance on a 6/poison  it is not hard to hurt these guys.

#3 Large blast markers suck. Having those mega super ginormour apocalyptic pizza pie blast markers of destruction can be a hindrance to yourself. The reason for this is that you will be playing on a 4X6 ft table instead of a an apocalypse sized table and since you cannot place the blast marker to be even partially touching any friendly models base or hull a smart player can move right up into your face and keep you from using the biggest advantage of having a super vehicle. Speed is the key and with all the scout / turbo boost moving allowed out there they can be in your face quick and SM drop pods are the best at this. Plus if they dont also have a LoW they will get a +1 to seize the initiative so there can be a good chance you will not get to even shoot that awesome warmachine.

I think this book provides something that a lot of players actually want, and that is to be able to use their big toys without having to do a huge apocalypse game. Lets face it, 40k takes a while to play and Apocalypse can make you want to take a nap and come back later to finish up.

Even with the points I made about super heavies not not being all that, some of you guys might still not want to play with this rules set because if issues 1 and 2. I would recommend trying it out first, because of the liabilities first, and then if it doesnt feel right to you, try making some house rules like inv. saves can still be made against D weapons or implementing the 25% of points cost rule. I think you will not need it though.