"Ask Me Anything" thread on Reddit by someone with 40K rules

[Primarch]

It does largely come down to the meta game. Allies will either be really fun, or about as funny as a prison gang rape.

Why did this make me laugh

Because you are a sick wierdo?

Just kidding.

@Danguinius - Ultimately, all games are opponents consent, it just depends on how consenting you want to be. If you dont have fun playing against Melta vet spam, then dont play against it. Take daemons, let him deploy first and take the first turn, take a look at his army and say "Well done, you win!" And walk away from the table having not even taken a model out of your case. When he complains say "I thought winning as easily as possible was the most important thing, why else would you bring an army like that if it wasn't?"
Douche bag move? Probably, but it should get the point across. Mind you, it all depends on whether it is just one guy or the entire group.
Option B, move to Nagoya and play here. You are more than welcome.

[Danguinius]

Thanks Prim, it`s always nice to know I`m welcome to play up there.

You`re right, it kind of comes down to how many people decide to "mix and max" in my local meta. I know one guy in particular is going to do without reservation (he has IG and Marines and Tau). Others, I don`t know yet. If everyone decides that`s how 6th edition was meant to be played, then I can`t really boycott (boycotting would then mean I couldn`t play!)...but if it`s just that one guy, I can still find opponents, I hope.

I don`t have the book, but I`ve heard a new rumor that allies can only be taken at 2000 points or above. There might be some stipulation about not being able to use a 2nd FOC at 1999 points or below. Can anyone confirm this? If this is true, then all of my fears are unfounded since I rarely play over 1750.

I`ve also heard a new "consiracy theory" about allies. Supposedly, one area where 8th edition WFB took a hit and hemmoraged players was the increase in standard game size (for those who don`t know, 7th Ed WFB standard was 2000 points, but it`s pretty hard to even play 8the edition at less than 2500 and most people play at 3000 points). I`ve heard a lot of vet players gave up on WFB due to this money-grabbing ploy; it was basically what killed WFB in my area (only ONE game since 8th edition came out) becuase people didn`t want to expand their armies and buy even more stuff (and probably didn`t want to paint 40 more Clan Rats, or 50 more Gnoblars, etc.). Anyway, I`ve heard a rumor that the designers of 6th Ed 40K wanted to increase the standard game size without it being obvious (and therefore pissing off vet gamers) and decided on this allies rule as a more subtle means to do so. Again, just heresay, but I wouldn`t put it passed GW.

Danguinius

[me_in_japan]

I think it's probably subtler than simply increasing game size. With an allied contingent, there's an ever present temptation to not only bring your existing army up to X points, but there's also the draw of either a variety of allied groups, or expanding an existing one into an army itself.

[Danguinius]

Well, if this rumor about a 2nd FOC chart only at 2000+ pts. is true, and people decide to use allies on a more-or-less permanent basis, then everyone might just switch to 2000 point games standard, with 2500 being used to "shake things up a bit". That`s a lot of minis! Even if you include terrain in your army cost (which is a great idea, BTW...this is a new rule I like).

I guess I should ask, does anyone have the rulebook yet? I quick check would answer a lot of my questions and end my speculations.

Danguinius

[Admiral-Badruck]

Go to a bigger forum and ask. I think the rules are out there now.

[AndrewGPaul]

Actually, you're allowed one allied detachment per primary detachment in your army. That's got nothing to do with the points value. At 2,000 points or more you're allowed a second primary detachment - which then allows you another allied detachment.

[kojibear]

Allies? Well, Space Marine brothers fighting together makes sense. That is about how far I can take my acceptance. Abuse? Any combination you choose will be abuse, will it not? You will take allied units that make up for the weaknesses in your own army thus eliminating the attempt at balancing your codex by the writers.

If you don't buy allied units to counter the allied units bought by your opponents, you will be at a disadvantage. In Warhammer Fantasy 8th it was bigger units and allies in storm of magic. Now it is allies in 40k. Well, except poor Tyranids They are friendless but who wants to be friends with someone who would eat you.

There are some interesting possibilities for team games I suppose.

Maybe I am not seeing it right? I hope I will change my mind.

[Spevna]

Allies? Well, Space Marine brothers fighting together makes sense. That is about how far I can take my acceptance. Abuse? Any combination you choose will be abuse, will it not? You will take allied units that make up for the weaknesses in your own army thus eliminating the attempt at balancing your codex by the writers.

If you don't buy allied units to counter the allied units bought by your opponents, you will be at a disadvantage. In Warhammer Fantasy 8th it was bigger units and allies in storm of magic. Now it is allies in 40k. Well, except poor Tyranids They are friendless but who wants to be friends with someone who would eat you.

There are some interesting possibilities for team games I suppose.

Maybe I am not seeing it right? I hope I will change my mind.

You do make a fair point about the potential for abuse but, on the other hand , there is now the option to make armies that we used to be able to make back in the glory days of Rogue Trader. But on the other hand (again), you would need a pretty big game to field the allies you wanted to.

I would love one squad if imperial guard for my orks (human mercs) and one squad of ogryn (mercs) too. They were part of the ork list back in the day. Doesn't look like the rules will allow for such limited use of allies. Still, as long as it is just a game between friends it should be no problem.

[me_in_japan]

I think it's largely going to hinge on how people choose to play, rather than anything inherent in the rules. There has always been potential for cheesemongering in 40k, and while the allies rules increase this potential, it still comes down to the individual whether or not he chooses to cheese.

As Spev says, I'm quite keen to go back to the old fluffy lists of RT days. Chaos marines, traitor guard and daemons is how it should be played (and how it appears in almost all the fluff.) likewise, as Spev says with the orks and mercs, and it'd be great to see factions appear like Kroot mercs, who will play in almost any army. That kind of thing. I'd say good ally choices would include:

Marines with other marines (depending on individual chapter fluff. Eg red scorpions would be a no-no.)
Marines with IG and/or inquisition (GK or SoB)
CSM with IG and/or daemons
Orks with IG
Eldar with dark eldar
Crons with nobody
Nids with nobody
Tau with IG (gue'la)

[Primarch]

@M_i_J - Why wouldnt Red Scorpions be allowed allies? They led the loyalist coalition of about 15 chapters during the Badab War. Necrons have fought side by side others before, e.g. Blood Angels. Similarly a Dark Eldar and Tau coalition would be fun
In the fluff, most armies have teamed with most other armies, willingly or not.

@All - I haven't read all the FAQs yet, but it seems that your allies cannot benefit from army wide rules from your main force, just as you main force cant benefit from army wide rules in your allies. E.g. Vulkan doesn't make allied meltas twin linked.