Games Workshop - Warhammer 40,000 - BOARDING PATROL: Space Marines

Product Information

It remains to be seen how much of a breath of fresh air the game mode will actually be when all factions have had all their special rules released – will it become almost as complicated as playing regular 40K? But until them, Boarding Actions is a refreshingly streamlined, faster way of playing 40K that fits much better into the casual dinner table games that most of us actually have time for than the 2000 points way of playing 40K that’s dominating tournaments and matched play in general. The various factions of the 41st Millennium are now forced to undertake Boarding Actions against these twisted space hulks, with small, elite forces clashing in their claustrophobic confines. Dice and Tape Measure: Just like regular 40K, Boarding Actions uses 6-sided dice and a tape measure in inches to play the game. Two squads of three highly customisable Tyranid Warriors provide an adaptable, formidable core to claim the Ark. Meanwhile, eight fast-moving Genestealers – fielded as a squad of five – act as an insidious vanguard to a towering Broodlord.

Operate HatchwayOne or more units from your army can start to perform this action at the end of the Move Units step of your Movement phase if they are within 1" of a Hatchway. This action can be performed by any unit that is not within Engagement Range of any enemy models, even if that unit is being affected by a rule that would normally prevent it from performing actions. The action is completed at the end of your Movement phase if no enemy models are within 1" of that Hatchway. If there are any enemy models within 1" of that Hatchway, your opponent can attempt to prevent the action from being completed. If they do so, roll off with your opponent; each player adds the Strength characteristic of one of their models that is within 1" of that Hatchway to their respective scores. If you win, the action is completed; otherwise, the action fails. If completed, that Hatchway opens (if it was closed) or closes (if it was open).

In the Reinforcements step of a player’s Movement phase (starting from the first battle round onwards), that player can select one of their Strategic Reserves units for each of their Entry Zones that has no models within it and set those units up within those Entry Zones.

Naturally if you have the benefit of foresight,* you’ll want to maximise the weapons that perform best against your enemy. If the potential target is within 9", subtract 1 from the charge roll (to a maximum of -1, regardless of how many units are in Lighting Areas with the lights off). Abaddon and Vashtorr’s elaborate plan to conquer the galaxy is nearly impossible for mortal minds to comprehend, a thousand minor movements building to one grand reveal. The Tyranids, on the other hand, simply see the Arks of Omen as floating buffets full of tasty biomass. Now, this is an… interesting choice for a Boarding Patrol. It’s almost as if Games Workshop asked 40K players how many Rubric Marines they wanted, and all they heard was Yes. Global prices have been estimated from similar-priced products. Boarding Patrol: Adeptus Custodes – Price, Value & Savings BreakdownNow, what will draw eyes to this box is the inclusion of new model Boss Snikrot – available here for the first time. It’s a much needed update of the classic Boss Snikrot, who was retired some time ago. He retains his iconic goggles and Mork’s Teeth, except all a bit up-scaled and great new details such as a smoke bomb going off at his feet, no doubt about to demonstrate his Way of Ninja. They don’t call him Da Green Ghost for nothing! Boarding Patrol: Orks – Value The (tweaked) Agents of the Imperium ability allows Navy Breachers to join up with any IMPERIUM Boarding Patrol – appropriate, as it’s their job – and means they won’t even disrupt the Chapter playbook.

While many Warhammer 40,000 battles feature large armies clashing on the field of battle, Boarding Action missions allow you to play out those crucial assaults that can turn the tide of the greater conflict. Boarding Action armies will also look different to what you might be used to. Your forces will not have access to the Warlord Traits, Relics and Stratagems featured in your Codex, but can instead utilise a new range of bespoke options specifically tailored to this deadly form of combat. Over the coming books in the series this will be expanded upon with Faction-specific content and rules. As such, even veteran Warhammer 40,000 players will find an array of new options and challenges to truly sink their teeth into.Walls and corners and closed doors also provide cover, making chokepoints a key part of Boarding Actions. Games have an exhilarating ebb and flow, as armies carefully approach defended locations before violence erupts in a fierce struggle for control.** The game also has a number of unique Actions your units can perform, tailormade for figthing within Space Hulks: While most of what you need to know about playing Boarding Actions is to be found in the regular 40K ruleset, for which you can read our guide here, Mission Setup Rad Exposure: As the battle progresses the radiation fallout from the reactor will spread further across the battlefield and its intensity will grow as it does so. The battlefield is divided up into four Sectors, A through D. Starting with Sector A in battle round 1, the radiation will begin to contaminate the battlefield. When selecting the targets of a charge, if the charging unit or the potential target are wholly within a Lighting Area that has the lights off:

Walls and closed doors are more than just a visual obstacle in Boarding Actions. When judging distances between two models, you’ll have to measure all the way around them, no matter how close two miniatures are in a straight line. This may seem natural for movement, but it’s also the case when line of sight isn’t needed, such as aura abilities and psychic powers. Arks of Omen: Abaddon – Nine core missions themed around desperate battles within the hearts of Balefleets, space hulks, and beleaguered installations If a unit’s minimum size is less than 5, you can only include that unit in your Boarding Patrol if it is a minimum sized unit.Finally, the fact that Games Workshop has chosen to do all the gaming content for the Arks of Omen storyline rather than throw a wrench into competitive play with all sorts of weird new rules hidden in sold-out campaign books is an excellent move on their part. Chaos Space Marines are right at home on the claustrophobic corridors of a space hulk, and we’re not even convinced the Thousand Sons register much of the weirdness going on given the forces they tamper with. This Boarding Patrol pairs two Chaos Spawn with 20 Rubric Marines, bringing an impressive number of bodies and a pair of pskyers onto the board while the Spawn make a right mess of anything they encounter. There’s much profit to be found in the esoteric salvage secreted aboard these rotting void-barges – and you can acquire it for the glory of your own Hold with five cybernetically-enhanced Cthonian Beserks, five diamond-hard Einhyr Hearthguard, and 10 geared-up Hearthkyn Warriors, all led by a proud Einhyr Champion.