Wargame Prototype

Wargame prototype because I just kinda really felt like it.   Lots of 40k influence, combined with the old 8e apocalypse rules and a fair bit of Epic/Legion Imperialis scale  

Intro

The game is a kind of relatively realistic military battle wargame, set in the SJ universe. The scale is decently large, as the individual units are kinda small, divided into squads. It's a two-player game at base, and probably takes a couple hours (maybe 4-5) to complete.  

Basic Shit

What you need

At the base, you need five main things; the board, models, dice, a measuring tool, and the rules.

The Board

You can find more information on the specifics from the Game section, but at a baseline you need a big table of some sorts, and terrain. This terrain can at simplest be represented by simple coloured or even just labelled bits of paper, and some random bits to represent big buildings or impassable terrain pieces. Some height variation is useful too, and can be done with layered bits of cardboard, for example.

Dice

D6s. You generally need nothing more to play the game, but some other dice like d8s or a scatter die can be good for specifically deep strikes. Outside them, six-sided dice will suffice. Bring a lot, though, 30 should be enough per player save for very specific examples.

Measuring

A measuring tape will do. An inch one, specifically, because that's what 40k uses.

Rules

You're reading them. Nothing more is needed.

Models

This is a tricky part, but not impassable. As long as have the base size correct and the model on top is roughly accurately sized relative (no pictures yet, but they will be there) or you treat it as such in-game, it'll be fine. I'll be making my own model sets some day, but don't put hope for that yet.

The Most Important Rule, of course.

If something feels weird, talk it out and figure out a solution that works for both. The classic. Or ask me. This is not getting big enough for me to be unapproachable, and even if it did, look at 40k; GW releases FAQs all the time anyway.

Army Composition and Special Rules

Allegiance Choices

There are six main Allegiance choices. These give a few special rules, enough to adjust strategy and army composition. They all also come with a unique unit or two, for some more variety, as well as unique wargear choices and a HQ trait. Realistically, mirror matches are feasible in fluff, as none of these factions are all that united or monolithic; infighting can and does occasionally happen.   Every unit in an army list gets the rule of the selected Allegiance. In addition, the army can include that army's Unique Units, and any unit may take Unique Wargear, within the specifications of that Wargear. The Commander of the army can also get one Commander Trait, for free.   Any special rules are already included in the profiles of the Unique units of those Allegiances. An Armour Choice can be taken for any Unit with either an Armour Choice in its profile or a Unit already equipped with Power Armour.  

ASTUN

The Technology of the Core: Infantry gain +1 FS when they are within 3" of another Infantry Unit. Plasma Cannons and Heavy Plasma Cannons may be taken for 15 points less than their normal price.   Core Engineering:
Unique Units:

Mobile Heavy Support Squad

Executioner AB-FSP

Unique Wargear:
Core Worlds technology has improved power armour designs enough to significantly increase a soldier's endurance. They also incorporate advanced methods of protection.

Enhanced Power Armour: - +15pts per squad, Armour Choice

Miniaturized plasma weapons are difficult and costly to make, though the Core Worlds has both industry and expertise enough.

Plasma Rifle (Weapon) - +10pts, Support Weapon Choice

This very high-tech, rapidly deployable array of low-atmosphere drones assist troops in targeting enemy forces, even through thick cover.

Subatmospheric Dispersion Targeting Arrays - +50pts, HQ only

Utilizing nanomachines to form adaptive plating for armour allows it to withstand almost anything for a moment, provided the shielding can form in time and in the right places.

Nano-Scale Composite Shielding- +60 pts, Three Units maximum

Commander Traits:
This commander has fought on behalf of the STUN for the better half of a thousand years, and has seen everything.

Veteran of the Long Centuries: Every Weapon this Unit is equipped with gains the Ignores Cover Keyword, and the Unit gains +1 Ld, WS and FS.

The history stored in the Core is immense, and provides its academies and schools with unparalled training efficiency.

Core-Born: Once per round, any time during any phase, this unit can change an Order issued to one of the Units in its Detachment.

 

Coalition Militia

Heavy Industry, Heavier Population: Coalition Troops are 5 points cheaper per Squad. A Coalition Force may take Truck Squadron units for Troops for no cost (unless that unit is upgraded into Walkers). When a Unit is on an Objective, they gain the Stubborn Ability.   Wargear of the Thousand Worlds:
Unique Units:

Jury-rig Heavy Tank Squadron

Destroyer Fighters

Mode Team

Unique Wargear:
Power armour technology, ubiqitous as it is, only helps so much. Soldiers need truly heavy gear to carry heavy weapons easily. To this end, some experimental projects within now-Coalition Space have made affordable, light, and powerful gear to do so.

Prototypical Exo-Armour: - +10pts per Squad, Armour Choice

The Fifth World War has been raging for decades now, and many among the fighting forces have particularly distinguished themselves as leaders.

Veteran Sergeant: - +20pts, Troops Only (Killbot Group excluded)

The Coalition bringing together varied cultures allows weapons like these volatile pistols to be found everywhere. Pocket tank-killers, they're often called.

Arc-Flash Pistol (Weapon): - +10pts, Coilpistol replacement option

Ramshackle rocket-boosted artillery with guidance systems and heavy payloads, these weapons are very cheap to manufacture and powerful, though rather unstable at times.

Skyshatter Cannon (Weapon): - +25pts, Vehicle Weapon and Artillery Cannon replacement Option

Commander Traits:
This leader has mastered the art of machine war, being capable of identifying good cover for vehicles where most would draw a blank.

Steel-Marshall: Every Vehicle Unit (Excluding Massive Units) within 8" of this Unit gains Cover Saves from Terrain as if they were Infantry.

Adaptive battle strategies make this leader particularly capable in changing combat situations.

Master of the Legions: After Deployment, but before the start of the battle, this Commander's may choose a friendly Detachment to be redeployed once.

Every death under their leadership weighs on this leader. Where many would lose hope or fail, they only allow the guilt to push them to fight harder.

Grim Responsibility: For every friendly Squad or Vehicle that is destroyed within 12" of this HQ, roll a d6. On a 6, this Unit gains either +1 Ld or +1 WS and FS.

 

Cellean Successors

Legacy of a Warrior Culture: Close Combat Squads gain Line, and all Transport Choices (except Dropship Squadrons) gain +3 Movement. In addition, all Infantry Units gain +1WS, and +2Ld when in Close Combat Range. HQ units can take Layered Chain Blade Weapons at no additional cost.   Cellean Relics:
Unique Units:

Experimental Close Combat Squadron

Old Cellean Elites

Unique Wargear:
Utilizing similar miniaturized plasma weapons found in the Core, these combination coil- and plasma-rifles are rare relics in this region.

Obliterax-Class Rifle (Weapon) - +10pts, HQ Only, Command Squad choice and Support Weapon Choice (Rules found in Wargear)

The roar and thunder of these cannons disturb enemy lines and prevent them from correctly reacting to the subsequent assault from up close.

Cluster Frag Cannons: - +30pts, Non-Aircraft Only

Hammers with explosives at the end is something only Celleans could invent. These weapons strike with the force of a railcannon, though they risk the user as well.

Thunderblast Hammer (Weapon): - +30pts, Pneumatic Cannon replacement option

Essentially a high-power flamethrower, this weapon incorporates an internal fusion reactor to drastically heat up the flames and increase the range.

Incineration Rifle (Weapon): - +25pts, Support Weapon Choice

Commander Traits:
The commanders of the old Cellean empire, once picked out by the Highest Lord themselves, are a class apart from any other leader, even centuries later.

Champion of Cellea: This Unit gains the Walking Terror Ability and +1 WS. In addition, Units within 6" can, once per Round, change the Order they were issued.

This leader has lead his people from the depths of civil war, and established a nation in the battered and ruined wastes of Old Cellean Space.

The Resurgent: Every friendly Unit within 12" of this Unit gains +1 Ld and automatically passes any Leadership Tests for Combat Resolution.

 

Rim-Bound Frontier

Of Resilient Worlds: Each detachment (excluding Superheavy) may take one extra Elites choice. When a Unit is in range of an Objective, for every point of damage they are to take, they may roll a d6. On a 6+, that damage is ignored.   Rimward Innovations:
Unique Units:

Scavenger Group

Eviscerators

Sniper Squad

Unique Wargear:
The barren wastes of unterraformed worlds grant soldiers little natural protection, forcing innovate armour designs.

Heavy Armour: - +10pts per Squad, Armour Choice

The forges of Vunnano in the Aleph Etriaris system, even now under the Coalition, still produce top-class materials for those who with the correct connections, national or personal.

Etriaris Pattern-Composites: - +50pts

These highly toxic and corrosive chemical weapons wreak havoc on infantry, permanently damaging their weapons and gear.

Revenant Chem-Hurler (Weapon): - +30pts, Heavy Weapon Choice

This complicated weapon beams heavy streams of targeted radiation compromise the integrity of enemy armour, leaving them vulnerable to further attack.

Rad-Caster: - +70pts, Maximum one Unit, HQ Only

The harsh environment of the endless wastes of a barren world is often bathed in solar radiation, forcing stronger and more resilient methods of communcation, which tend to emerge better in less dangerous environments.

Reinforced Communication Lines: - +40pts

Commander Traits:
The most prevalent environment in the unterraformed worlds of the outer rim region are frozen plains, covered in rock and dust and ice.

Lord of the Frost: This Unit and every friendly Unit within 12" gains +3" to Mv when they are not in any Terrain.

The rugged lands and difficult terrain of some worlds pose a unique enviroment, one this leader is adept in conquering.

Master of the Wastes: This Unit, and every friendly Unit within 6" do not suffer any Terrain penalties, and, if in Rough or Difficult Terrain, improve their Cover Save by 1.

 

Military Contractors

Charismatic Leadership: Units within 12" of a HQ unit may re-roll Leadership Tests. Units within Command Range gain +1 to Leadership. Units do not gain the Leadership penalty from being Half-Functional. Command Units may take any wargear at a 10 point discount.   Special Purchases:
Unique Units:

PMC Commander

Bodyguard Formation

Unique Wargear:
This piece of technology was acquired some time ago in an arms deal with contacts from the elusive Machine civilization. Much is not known of it, but it works.

Machine Signal-Casters: - 60pts, One Unit maximum.

A fiercely guarded commercial secret, the blueprints for these shields, based on hardened plasma technologies, have regardless leaked to many parties.

Amprhan-Lock Shield: - 20pts, Pistol Replacement and HAST suit option

Complicated and powerful sets of signal disruption systems make communication between units and forces difficult.

High-Density Disruption Arrays: - 60pts, HQ only.

Nanomancers are a rare but not uncommon sight, and, technically, anyone can use the weapons they use, especially someone with capital to use.

Nanomantic Discipline: - +40pts, HQ Unit Only, One Unit Maximum

Commander Traits: This leader is a collector of a sort, having found all sorts of special pieces of wargear from other militaries.

Merchant Lord: An Army with this HQ can select two pieces of Wargear from other Allegiances to be equipped onto any HQ Unit in the army.

Neurally connected nanomachines in soldier's minds enforce loyalty just as well as thorough training, it's just cheaper.

Mental-Linked Loyalty: Once per Phase, this Unit can select one friendly Unit within 18" that just failed a Leadership Test. That Unit does instead passes it.

 

The Machine Empire of Cine

Machine Command System: All units (save HQs and Independent Operators) gain the Drones keyword if they do not have it, and change their Leadership to 5. In every detachment, two units may have one of their models given the Control Node wargear for +20 points. In addition, Killbot Groups gain Line. For every point of damage a Squad in a Troop Unit is to take, it may roll a d6. On a 6+, that damage is ignored.   Esoteric Machine-Tech:
Unique Units:

Logimagi

Siege Automata

Unique Wargear:
The Machine may not be that much more technologically advanced than its neighbors, but it has the advantage of being able to channel far more power into reactive armour systems, otherwise restricted by meager flesh of the people inside the vehicles.

Nano-Alloy Construction - +50pts, Vehicle only

The nature of the Machine forces lets them be far more liberal with the use of biological and neurological weaponry.

Proteus Neurotoxin Emitter (Weapon) - +30pts, Vehicle Weapon Choice

Some particular units within the Machine Empire are given special autonomous functions and capabilities. Perhaps the strange intellegences that guide the machines have some sense of pride in their excellent forces.

Titan of Steel: - +80pts, Massive Unit Only, Maximum one Unit.

Improved central structures for infantry units the Machine deems special allow them to shrug off damage that would destroy their contemporaries.

Structure-Carbon Reinforcement: - +45pts, Infantry Unit Only

Commander Traits:
The great minds of the Machine have deemed this leader unit suited toward supporting armoured units with extensive maintenance and repair equipment.

Machinist-Prime: This Unit gains the Repair and SHD(2) Abilities. When it uses Repair, the Unit rolls 5d6, and the roll succeeds on a 5+. It may use Repair and shoot in the same round as well.

To the individuals of human space, the machine is most often inhuman and eerie, and the sub-minds that command this unit have deigned to lean into it, extensively.

Terrifying Presence: Every enemy Unit within 12" of this Unit suffers a penalty of -1 Ld, and, when shooting this Unit or others within 3" of it, reduce their FS by -1, and when Charging and in Close Combat Range, reduce WS by -1.

 

Unit Types and Classes

Infantry

Infantry is just that. People. Synthetics and Humans, maybe some less over-the-top Modes in there too. Footsoldiers, doing the grunt work in varied roles, from special forces veterans to superheavy armoured troopers, from heavy weapons teams to the grunts of any army.   Infantry have a Sv stat, representing their armour quality. They also always have a WS stat, meaning that they can always fight in Melee. Infantry are far less concerned with Terrain, and get plenty of cover saves.

Vehicles

Vehicles are vehicles, c'mon. Tanks, cars, APCs, gunships, mechs, walkers, and all that. They serve a great variety of roles, and come in all sorts of sizes and shapes.   Vehicles have a AV stat, which represents their armour. They also sometimes have hardened plasma shielding and point-defense. Vehicles may move and fire Heavy and Very Heavy weapons at full FS. Unless they have a listed WS stat, they are hit automatically in melee and may not make melee attacks. If they have a WS stat, they do close combat as normal. Vehicles do not normally gain Cover Saves from Terrain.

Superheavies

Superheavies are the really big shit. Ruin-Engines and weird wunderwaffe-type stuff. They follow the same rules as any vehicle, they just have really strong stats and such. They may only be taken in a Superheavy Detachment.

Sub-Types

Command

This unit leads a Detachment. They have a command range, stated in the unit's sheet. In addition, they get to choose a Strategic Approach from a list of effects, strategic plans, and philosophies, when deploying;
  One HQ must be selected as a Commander. This is the leader of your army, and must take a Commander Trait, chosen from the selected Allegiance's options, at no cost. Only one HQ can be the Commander, and they can only have one Trait.   This unit cannot be targeted by attacks from Units not within 12" as long as it is within 1" of a friendly unit.

Line

Line Units always control an Objective if there is no enemy Line units on it. If there is, then control is calculated as normal between the Line Units.

Aircraft

Aircraft move, deploy and fight differently than other units. See more on movement from the movement section, and deployment from that section. Aircraft are deployed off the board, and if not Hovering, are treated as always being in Command Range. When not Hovering (see movement section), Aircraft cannot be targeted by weapons without the Anti-Air Keyword. Aircraft ignore this restriction, and when targeting a Unit with the Flying Ability, reduce their FS by 1 instead of the normal rule. Aircraft have a Coherency requirement of 5". Aircraft may only fire at targets within 20º of their front on each side. Non-Hovering Aircraft are not affected by rules related to Leadership, do not fall back, and do not gain Injury Marks, and are always treated as having been issued the Move Out order. Hovering Aircraft are subject to all of these rules as normal. Aircraft cannot gain or use Cover Saves.

Ruin-Engine

Ruin-Engines are always treated as if having the Move Out Order, and do not suffer penalties from being outside Command Range. If a Ruin-Engine is Half-Functional, the Commander of the army that has it must make a Leadership Test In the Command Phase. If there is not Commander, the Ruin-Engine in question makes the Test, and the test is considered failed if it succeeds and vice versa. If failed, the Ruin-Engine breaks out of control, and begins attacking indiscriminately. If this happens, it will, from then on, move towards the closest unit, friendly or enemy, attack it, and charge toward and make melee attacks if possible. In addition, they can use their Logic Plague Caster and Incursion Data-Beam even if they have fired that turn, though they must choose one each time. Ruin-Engines cannot gain or use Cover Saves.

Force Organization

There are seven categories of units; HQs, Troops, Elites, Armour, Transports, Support Elements, and Superheavies.   An army is composed of HQ-lead Detachments of Units. These Units, then, are composed of Squads.

Detachment

Detachments come in three flavours; Line, Support, and Armoured. Superheavies have their own detachment as well, but works differently. Each must be headed by an HQ, and then a selection of mandatory units. From there, you can select the rest just fine. They have limits in a detachment, as well as their intrinsic limits in an army.   Transports have no limit, instead, they are specifically taken for Infantry and Small Vehicle Units (Some non-Transports can transport units; those are selected as normal.) When taken in this way, the respective infantry must be deployed inside the Transport, otherwise the transport cannot be deployed.   Line
Mandatory; 1-3 Troops
0-2 Elites, 0-1 Armour, 0-1 Support Elements
Support
Mandatory; 1-3 Support Elements
0-1 Troops, 0-1 Elites, 0 Armour
Armoured
Mandatory; 1-2 Armour
0-2 Troops, 0-2 Elites, 0-1 Support Elements
Superheavies Mandatory; 1 Superheavy  

Unit

A single unit is the thing you command and move. Composed of squads, each squad has statistics and weapons to them and technically work independently, but they are bound together as a unit. The squads in a unit must remain close, and they attack the same target and are issued commands the same.

Squad

A Squad is a single base in the game. Also includes Vehicles. Refer the similarly named section up above.

Points

The general size of game is about 4000 points. Smaller and bigger games can be done just fine (2000 seems to be also a fine point), but the default is that 4000. Units cost points to deploy, composed of the squads or vehicles within. Their wargear and weapons, too, can cost points. Some units are highly customizeable, and thus can vary in cost considerably.

Squads/Vehicles

A "Squad" or "Vehicle" is a single set of models on a base, most often a part of a larger unit. There represent either infantry squads or single vehicles. These have small models on them, which don't really matter, but the amount of weapons in a unit is a good guide. (Though this isn't absolute; for regular soldiers, it works, i.e an infantry squad with 3 coilrifles is three soldiers, but a HAST squad with 4 coilguns per squad is only two HASTs, as a single HAST suit can have two guns on it.)

Weapons, Wargear, Abilities, and Keywords

These change units. They improve their abilities, change their roles, give them new weapons, and so on. Abilities are innate to units, Keywords are innate to weapons, and Wargear and Weapons are equipped on a unit, whether by default or bought with points. Wargear does similar things to Abilities, where Weapons are the things you fight stuff with, be those regular-ass rifles, swords, and grenades, to heavy ordnance, powerful direct fire cannons, or straight-up warcrimes.

Terminology

There are certain bits of terminology that may be unfamiliar for those not versed in wargaming:    

Game

Setup

1. The first thing to do is to declare your army list. Show what you have, the Commander, HQs, Units, detachments, wargear, all that.

2. Build battlefield. Put cities, forests, rocky plains, whatever; stuff and things, however you feel. More in the next section.

3. Choose a mission, and put and prepare the stuff necessary for that mission.

4. Transports and Reserves, who goes where.

Board

 

Deployment

Deployment is done detachment by detachment, starting with a roll of the die. The players roll, and the one who gets a higher result gets to choose who starts deploying. Then, they are deployed, starting with the HQ. All units have to be deployed within Command Range of the HQ, and within [deployment zone]. Superheavies are deployed independently.

Reserves

A detachment may also be chosen to be held in reserve. They can be deployed later in the game. In every turn after the first one, the Command Phase, before the Orders phase, you can bring them in. When done this way, they are brought in at the edge of the board in your deployment zone. Then, all units must be within Command Range of the HQ and 12" of the edge, and within the zone. A Unit that can Deep Strike may be held in Reserve even if its Detachment is not, and vice versa: A unit with Deep Strike can deployed while leaving the rest of the Detachment in Reserve.

Units in Transports

Before deployment, a unit must be placed into the Transport unit that was taken for it within the same Detachment. If a Unit was not taken a Transport, it may be placed into any in its Detachment, if space allows. If so, it must be able to fit inside the Vehicles. When choosing to go into a transport, which Transport the individual Squads or Vehicles are in must be declared. While this doesn't matter for most regular units, specific Squads with special weapons or such do matter, and for stuff like HAST squads with their unique armaments, it matters. Any unit that is placed inside must be able to fit into the Transport Unit, but more than one Unit can be deployed inside the Transport Unit, as long as they fit.

Aircraft

Aircraft are deployed off the board in reserve, independent of the rest of the Detachment, and can be deployed from there in the same way as any other units. However, they do not need to be in range of their HQ. When deployed, each Aircraft Vehicle can be rotated freely.  

Round Sequence

A single round of the game is one where both players go through each of the game's phases and can utilize all of their units in each.

Turn Order

The game uses an alternating activation sort of deal. Units are used and activated a detachment at a time; one player activates one detachment, and then the opponent activates one of theirs.

Command

The Command Phase is the first phase of a round. You issue commands, and that's about it.

Initiative

First things first, roll initiative. This is a simple roll off of a d6 between the players. The winner has Initiative for this round, and so starts every phase.

Orders

Starting with the player with Initiative, the players decide, detachment at a time, what orders the units within get. There are a few:

Take Aim: May not Move, but improve FS by 1.

Dig In: +1 to Cover Saves, regardless of Terrain (if unit has no Cover Save, it gains a +6 Save instead). Units with this Order suffer -1 FS when Shooting, and may not Move.

Advance: Infantry moves an additional 6", and Vehicles 10", May not Shoot or Charge.

Assault: Moves 6" extra, may not Shoot, and must Charge. Gains +1" to Pile In Moves this Round.

Move Out: May Move, Charge and Shoot as normal.

A unit must be within its detachment's HQ unit's Command Range in order to be issued Orders (Abilities and Wargear notwithstanding). If it is not, it will only get the Move Out order.  

Movement

In the Movement Phase, the players move their Units. The player with Initiative for the round begins by choosing a detachment, then, one by one, moves (or opts not to move) each of their Units within. A Unit may move once in a Round. Then, the other Player does the same, and then the Initiative player again, until all Detachments have Moved (if they chose to).

Move

Each Squad or Vehicle in a unit may move up to the distance that reads on its Mv characteristic. This is measured using one point of a base, measuring distance from that point, and placing the same point the distance away it moves. A Squad or Vehicle cannot move within 1" of an enemy Unit's Squads or Vehicles when making a Normal Move. A Squad or Vehicle cannot normally move off the board.

Charge

A unit may decide to Charge instead of moving normally. In this case, it must end in Combat Range with an enemy unit.   When a Vehicle Unit Charges, the Controlling Player may choose to run over the enemy. If so, the Unit gains the Thunderous Charge (1) ability for that Charge, as if it had a WS of 3 (or whatever its existing WS is, if better). These are resolved immediately, in the Movement Phase. After these are resolved, the Unit that was Charged must make a Leadership Test, and if failed, must move d6 away from the Vehicle unit, and gains an Injury Mark, as well as 1 Injury Mark for each Unit that was destroyed in the move.

Aircraft

Aircraft have at least one mode of movement. Aircraft must remain in coherency of their Unit when moving, as any other unit. At the start of the Movement Phase, the controlling player must declare whether the aircraft is Hovering or not. A Vehicle can Hover if it has an asterisk next to its Mv Value.   Non-hover movement is as follows: An Aircraft may move any distance between their maximum move value and half of it. They must move forward (where the model itself points, determined when the Unit was deployed). At any point of that move, they may pivot a maximum of 45° from the direction they started the move. If the Unit can make a Move that would take them off the board, they can move into Reserve, deploying normally later.   When Hovering, the Aircraft moves normally as any other Unit does, though at half its normal Mv Value, and can have Units Disembark and Embark as normal.

Transports

Units in transports cannot move themselves; they are inside them, and the Transports move as normal. Units can embark onto a transport at the start of their move phase, and must be within 1" of any Transport in the Unit. Every Squad or Vehicle in the Unit then enters into the transports, as described in the Deployment phase.   At any time during a transport's move, the units inside can disembark. When doing so, every Squad or Vehicle that composes them must be placed base-to-base with the specific transport they were inside. If this cannot be done, the Squads must be placed within 1" of the Transport Vehicle. If this is not possible, those Squads are kept inside their Transport. A Unit cannot Embark from a Transport in the same Round it Disembarked from one, and vice versa.   Aircraft Transports that are not Hovering cannot be disembarked or embarked, as long as they are not placed into Close Combat Range of an enemy Unit. Units that disembark may Shoot normally, but may only Move if they disembark at the start of the Transport's Move. The Unit may Charge, but does not move the Mv value's worth, only the extra movement from any Abilities and the like.   Units inside Transports are not on the board itself, and are always only issued the Move Out Order. When Disembarking, they are placed on it, and when Embarking, they are taken off of it. Keep track of who is where.

Destroyed Transports

If a Transport is destroyed while Squads or Vehicles are inside it, the Squads and Vehicles within it must be placed on the board as if disembarked. However, roll a d6 for each Squad and Vehicle inside, and on a 4+, it suffers a single AP -/6 hit against which Cover Saves may not be taken. These Squads or Vehicles must make a Leadership Test as if against the Suppression Keyword.

Units with Squads inside and outside Transports

For situations where you have Squads or Vehicles of a Unit where some are inside Transports and some are outside, due to destroying some transports, the Unit still follows standard coherency rules, except the Transports do not. So: the parts of the unit outside the Transport Unit must attempt to get into Coherency with the Transports, and closer to them if not into Coherency, but the Transports do not, they can move as normal.

Deep Strike

If a unit can use this ability, it can use it whoa. A Deep Strike manouvre is made from Reserves, and is as follows; Place one squad/vehicle from the unit anywhere except Impassable Terrain, even on top of an enemy Unit. The Squad then moves 5d6, subtracting one d6 from the amount for every Round that has passed, to a minimum of one d6 into a random direction (determine with something i dunno probably a scatter die (not counting the direct hit) or a d8, each number corresponding to one of eight directions relative to the unit, I dunno, i'll decide later) and is then placed there. Then, place the rest of the unit, at most 2" from the first squad/vehicle.   If on a fail, the squad or vehicle is inside a solid terrain feature, you may scatter it again, rolling the dice and the random direction. And repeat, if it happens again. If the target model ends up on top of an enemy unit, the controlling player may choose to either scatter again as described, or land there. In this case, the unit landed on make an Overwatch Fire Reaction, treating the deep striking unit as if it had the Flying ability. If it survives, each Squad from the deep striking Unit is moved the minimum distance from the point they would have landed, so that they are not on top of enemy Squads and in Combat Range of them. It is considered to have Charged, and suffers a -1 WS penalty until the end of the round.   A unit coming from Deep Strike retains the orders it was given, but may not move that round, except for charges.

Cohesion

A unit must always remain in cohesion if possible. Each of its constituent squads or vehicles must be within 2" of at least two other squads in the case of infantry, and 4" for vehicles. If this is not the case, the Squad or Vehicles in that unit must move closer to or into Coherency with their following moves.

Terrain

There are seven different types of Terrain;

Plains: Units passing through Plains gain no benefits or negatives, nor does it prevent line of sight.

Rugged Terrain: Vehicles passing through this terrain move at half speed.

Forest: Units treat Forest as Rugged Terrain. In addition, units gain a 5+ Cover Save inside a forest. Line of Sight only extends to 3" when intersecting with a Forest. (i.e. you have units looking into a forest, so they only see 3" into it, and if a unit is 2" from the edge of a Forest, they can see out of it just fine.

Difficult Terrain: Vehicles treat this as Rugged Terrain, and Infantry move at half-speed through it. They also gain a 6+ Cover Save. If a Vehicle moves through or ends its move in Difficult Terrain , that Vehicle must roll a d6. On a 6, it loses one HP.

Dangerous Terrain: All Units treat this as Rugged Terrain. When a Unit moves through, ends its move, or stays still in this Terrain, the Squads of Vehicles that moved or are in the Terrain must roll a d6 at the end of their move. On a 6, they lose 1 HP. In addition, Infantry Squads within the Terrain reduce their Ld, WS, and FS by -1.

Buildings and City Blocks

Water: Infantry and Vehicles may not move through this Terrain unless they have the Massive, Walker or Flying Keywords. Walker (unless the unit is also Small, Small unit cannot move through) units may move through Water, but treat it as Difficult Terrain when doing so. Massive Walkers take no penalties and can pass through normally.

Impassable Terrain: This Terrain is just physical obstacles. They block line of sight, may not be moved through (except for Aircraft), and are just there in the map.

Shooting

The shooting phase is handled with the same initiative -> detachment system as the Command Phase. The player with initiative starts, selects a detachment, then a Unit within it one after another until either everyone has shot or the player decides to stop, then the other player does the same, and then the process repeats until all Detachments have been gone through. A Unit may shoot once per Round, excluding Reactions.   The first thing to do when selecting a unit to shoot is to select the target. A unit can only shoot at one target at a time (excepting special rules), and must shoot at something in range of a weapon, naturally. From there, the player selects what weapons the unit fires. Every Squad and Vehicle can fire any and all weapons it has, subject to the weapons' rules, but does not need to. Then, they shoot, using the rules for Making Attacks, hitting with the relevant Firing Skill.   After concluding shooting, if the target took any casualties (destroyed Squads or Vehicles), it gains an Injury Mark as long as it has lost more than one Squad or Vehicle this round. This will be relevant later, in the Morale Phase.

Line of Sight

Line of sight is measured Squad by Squad. If a given Squad has line of sight to an enemy Squad, that Squad sees it and the Unit it's part of. The way you measure that varies. Generally, for smaller models like infantry, it's measured from any point of the base to any other part of the target's base. For vehicles, you measure from the modelled center of the hull. For a tank or APC, that's the middle of the brick that is their body, and for something like heavy killbots of AB-FSPs, its the main body. The line of sight is measured in a 3d sense, so taller machines can shoot at other tall machines over a Forest, for example. Depends on the specific terrain representations you use. Terrain Features have their line of sight rules explained in their rules. Terrain blocking line of sight works in a 3d sense, as mentioned before.   Squads and Vehicles between the shooter and target block LOS to their own size of stuff and smaller; Infantry blocks Infantry, Vehicles block Infantry and Vehicles, and Massive Vehicles block everything. Massive Vehicles can also shoot anything, even if there is Units in the way, and can be shot the same regardless of intervening units.

Shooting in Melee

Infantry Units that are in Close Combat Range of an enemy Unit cannot make Shooting attacks with any Weapons. Vehicles may make them just fine, though cannot target any units outside of the ones they are in CCR of. For weapons like Pistols, a Unit must first pass a Leadership Test to fire them in the same Round that they were Charged.   Units in Close Combat Range can be the target of Shooting Attacks, though in this case any misses are rolled again, and on a 5+ (4+ if the friendly Unit is a Vehicle Unit), they hit the opposing side. Weapons with the Incineration (x) keyword cause that keyword's effect normally, and the Indirect Fire keyword function as it would normally.

Actions

Actions are generally relevant for Missions and their Objectives. Only Infantry Units can do Actions. A Unit can do an Action in place of either a Normal Move or a Shooting Attack. Naturally, restrictions like those from Orders also apply.

Melee

In melee, two or more units go against each other in melee combat. WS determines hitting. Unless they have a listed WS value, Vehicles are hit automatically, and cannot make Melee attacks. Here, the player with Initiative chooses a fight (any group of Units in Close Combat Range with each other), and once resolved, the other player chooses one, and repeat. A Unit can fight once in a Round, and must fight if it is within Close Combat Range (assuming it can).

Combat Range

Close Combat Range is a zone of 1" from every Unit's Squads.

Locked In Combat

When a Unit is within Close Combat Range of an Enemy Unit, it is Locked in Combat. When this is the case, the Unit cannot move or shoot normally. Vehicles can move out of Combat Range freely only after the first Round they are Locked in Combat.

Vehicles in Combat

Vehicles are not subject to any of the rules of Melee, unless they have a WS value. Infantry Units in Close Combat Range with a Vehicle with WS are Locked in Combat, but are not if that Vehicle does not have one.

Pile In

Before Initiative is rolled, each Squad in the Units that are Locked in Combat may move up to 1", as long as they end up base-to-base with an enemy Squad. This is called a Pile In Move.

Combat Initiative

First, the participating units roll for Combat Initiative. Each unit rolls a d6, and the result is the initiative order. Higher numbers go first.   Some rules and special rules change this. If a unit charged in the previous Move Phase, it adds +1 to its roll. Some Special Rules like Close Combat Specialists can change this as well.

Who Can Attack

Only Squads that are base-to-base with enemy Squads may attack in the Fight Phase.

Resolution

For combat resolution against Infantry, the winner is the side that caused the most amount of destroyed Squads. The loser, if alive, rolls a Leadership test, reducing the result by the amount of destroyed Squads. If they fail, they fall back 1" away from the unit they fought, and are marked as Injured and gain an Injury Mark for each squad destroyed. Vehicles do not fall back or need to roll leadership.   A unit that does not lose the combat can choose to fall back in this phase, assuming the opponent is still in Close Combat Range. If it does so, it falls back as if it lost the combat and failed the Leadership Test, but is not marked as Injured. In this case, a Combat Initiative Test is done, and if the unit wins, it can fall back.

Close Combat Weapons

Any Squad or Vehicle with a WS stat can make melee attacks. If there is no melee weapon listed for them, they use the following profiles, depending on their specific wargear, type, and/or abilities.

Specifics	Range	A	AP	Ev	Keywords
Combat Armour	-	2	-/-	-	Melee
Power Armour	-	2	5/-	-	Melee
HAST Suit	-	2	4/3	-	Melee
Killbot Group Equipment	-	2	4/-	-	Melee
Vehicles	-	2	3/4	-	Melee
Massive Vehicles	-	2	2/5	-	Melee, Suppression

Making Attacks

After targets have been selected, melee or ranged, the following sequence begins.

Attacks

The attacking player rolls one die per attack the Unit makes, listed on the weapon's profile. If attacking with more than one weapon, you want to roll the same weapons all at once, and resolve it considerably faster.

Hit Roll

The hit roll is simple. For shooting, the FS is used. To get the target, do 7-FS. This gets you a target number to equal or surpass with the rolls. For melee, you compare WS. If equal, you hit on a 4+. If above by 1 or 2, 3+ if 3, 2+. Similarly, if below by 1 or 2, hits on a 5+, if 3, 6+. A roll of 1 always fails.

Point-Defense

For ranged attacks, here is where point-defense comes in. The defender and any Squad or Vehicle within 2" of the defender rolls an amount of dice they choose, at most either as many as the unit has total PD value (for example, two PD(2) units have a total of 4) or as many as there are incoming attacks in total. Then, each of the dice that results in a value equal or greater than the Evasion value is intercepted. This does indeed mean that there may not be enough point-defense to intercept all the attacks. Sucks to suck, that's the point of making that many attacks. If an attack has a Ev value of -, it cannot be intercepted.

Wounding Infantry and Saves

When attacks have landed, infantry refers to their Save value. The defender rolls as many dice as attacks that landed. Any rolls above or equal to the Save value are successful, and inflict no damage. Failed saves are called Wounds.
AP The AP Value of a weapon changes the save. For infantry, it is the first value. If the AP is below the Sv, the save is not modified. If equal, the Save is reduced by 1. (4+ -> 5+). If above, the save is ignored and the defender does not get to use it. In a Shooting Attack, if a weapon's AP against Infantry is more than 3 above the Sv (i.e 2+ Save and AP 5/x), the Save is automatically successful.

Cover

Cover is determined by the type of Terrain the unit is in, and can be modified by various factors. Generally, Infantry will use Cover Saves far more often than Vehicles. When defending against attacks, Infantry can make cover saves in place of normal saves. Cover Saves cannot normally be modified or ignored, though keywords and wargear and whatnot can change this. Every Unit except Aircraft have a 7+ Cover Save, by default. Normally, this is impossible, and cannot be used. However, abilities like Scouts or the Dig In order can improve the Save. If it goes to a 6+ or better, it can be used normally.

Hardenened Plasma Shielding

Hardened Plasma Shielding uses the SHD Value]. If the wound is successful, a shield layer is destroyed. Shielding regenerates in each Command Phase.

Vehicles and Cover

If a Vehicle has a Cover Save, it can roll to save an attack. This is done before the actual wound roll. If successful, the dAtatack is ignored.

Wounding Vehicles

Vehicles use the second AP value when wounding. The attacker rolls the attacks' worth of d6s, and adds the AP to each result. (i.e AP 9 + d6 roll of 3 = 12). If the result is equal or above the vehicle's AV Value, it takes one damage.

Allocating Attacks

When all eligible attacks have been made, the wounds inflicted are then allocated to models. One at a time, technically. Wounds cannot be allocated onto Squads or Vehicles not visible to the attacking unit. For these purposes, Squads and Vehicles block line of sight from the attacker. This means that if the Unit is tightly packed, the Squads closest to the attacker are allocated to first, and then, since the ones in the back are now visible, they are chosen, and so on.
Wounds must be allocated to wounded Squads or Vehicles if present as well as Vehicles with reduced shielding.

Half-Functional

A unit is Half-Functional when half or less than half of its Squads or Vehicles remain. In this case, it reduces its Combat Initiative Test results, WS, and FS by 1.

Morale

The Morale Phase is the last phase of a round. Here, Leadership matters, and units fall back if they have to.

Leadership Test

A leadership test is just a roll of 2d6. If equal or under the unit's Ld, the test is passed.

Injury Mark

Injury Marks are best depicted as a d6, as a Unit is unlikely to gain more than 6 in total during a game. Every Unit's Injury Marks are reduced by 2 in each Command Phase, to a minimum of 0.

Retreat

If a unit is marked as Injured, it must take a Leadership Test in this phase. If failed, it Retreats. When retreating, a Unit moves one d6 per Injury Mark toward the closest board edge, stopping if it ends the move there.

Regroup

In the Command phase, a Unit regroups and can move normally again. The unit must make a Leadership Test again, rolling as many d6 as it has Injury Marks, and counting the two highest for the result. If it succeeds, it regroups and may act normally, as well as losing the Injured status and its Injury Marks. If it fails, the unit may only move half of what it normally could, and may not shoot or charge in the following phase, and remains Injured. In the next Morale Phase, it must do the same again. This continues until it succeeds the test.  

Reactions

Units can sometimes make additional actions when the opponent player is doing their turn. There is a limit of one per phase per detachment of these. Generally, when making a Reaction, a unit must pass a Leadership Test. Aircraft and Superheavy Units cannot make Reactions.

Movement

Repositioning: When an enemy Unit moves within 6" of a Unit, if that Unit is Infantry that unit can move its full Mv value in any direction. If it is a vehicle, it instead moves half of its Mv value.
Suppressive Fire: When an enemy Unit moves within 18" of a Unit, that Unit can make a normal Shooting attack at it, reducing their FS by 2.

Charge

Overwatch Fire: When this unit is Charged by an enemy Unit, it can shoot it normally, subtracting 2 from its FS. If this results in FS going below 1, the Unit cannot shoot.
Brace: When this unit is Charged by an enemy Unit, it can Brace. When doing this, the enemy loses any bonuses from Charging (i.e. Strategic Approaches, Abilities) and is treated as if it never Charged, yet still made it to Combat Range.

Shooting

Return Fire: When this Unit is shot at by an enemy Unit within 18", it can make a normal shooting attack, reducing FS by 1.

Fight

Tactical Withdrawal: When the Combat this Unit is in is chosen to be resolved, before the normal Combat Initiative Test, another normal Combat Initiative Test is made, gaining any normal bonuses or negatives. If the chosen Unit succeeds this test, it can Fall Back as if it had chosen to fall back after the Combat.  

Game Process

Mission Elements

Missions consist of several relevant elements, duh. They're all here.

Objectives

An Objective is a given point on the board. Usually, it is an objective marker, a base just like what models have, 32mm in diameter. It can also be a specific terrain feature, Unit, or whatever else you come up with, depends on the mission itself.   A Unit controls an objective if the amount of Infantry Squads within 3" of the objective outnumbers the amount the opponent has.  

Points

Deployment Zones

Reserves

Restrictions

Structure

Skirmish Missions (Symmetrical)

Assault Missions (Asymmetrical)

Grand Missions (The complicated ones)

Secondaries

Both players also get secondaries; side objectives to help score more points and so on.  

Troops

Stat Meanings

Squads

The stats and modifiers that affect Squads; their innate characteristics given by their physiques, engines, armour, numbers, and so on.

Mv

Movement. Basic movement of a Squad. Measured from edge of the base to the same point on the edge.

AV

Armour Value. The protection of a Vehicles's armour. Surpassing or equalling this number in an attack leads to damage.

Sv

Save. The armour of Infantry, provided by their personal armour, from the humble armoured vests of less advanced infantry, to the towering HAST suits. A Unit can never have a better save than 2+.

WS

Weapon Skill. The ability of a Squad to hit attacks in melee. Rarely used for any but specialized troops. WS cannot go below 1, unless the Unit has a WS of -.

FS

Firing Skill. The precision of a Squad when making ranged attacks. FS cannot go below 0, and a Unit cannot Shoot if it has a FS of 0.

HP

Health Points (or hitpoints I dunno) The health of a given Squad or Vehicle. When this reaches 0, the Squad or Vehicle is destroyed.

SHD

Hardened Plasma Shielding. Each Vehicle in a Unit has the amount of shields represented on the Ability. Protects the vehicle from damage by taking the hits instead. Expressed as "Shield Layers (x)", where x is the number. A single shield has the same AV as the vehicle it protects. Shields do not protect from Melee Attacks in the Fight Phase.

PD

Point-Defense; the ability of a vehicle to intercept incoming projectiles. Each Squad or Vehicle in a Unit has the amount of PD represented on the Ability. Point-Defense is not a factor in the Fight Phase.

Ld

Leadership; a Squad's ability to keep cohesion in combat and when suffering casualties. Courage, morale, structure, and so on.

Weapons

A

Attack. The amount of attacks a Weapon makes. Most tend to make one or two, but exceptions exist.

Ev

Evasion. How difficult it is for a given attack to be intercepted by point-defense. Fast solid projectiles tend to be more difficult to shoot down than big missiles. An Ev of - means an attack cannot be intercepted.

AP

Armour Penetration. The armour penetration of an attack. Used both against Sv and AV, with the first value against Sv and the second against AV. Against Sv, lower better, while higher better against AV. In a Shooting Attack, If a weapon's AP against Infantry is more than 3 above the Sv (i.e 2+ Save and AP 5/x), the Save is automatically successful.

Range

Range. If your target is further away than the distance, you cannot attack them. Melee weapons have none.  

Units and Statsheets

HQ

The HQs are your leaders in the field. Usually assembled in command squads or vehicles, these guys are the very top of an army, and absolutely necessary to issue commands and keep stuff working in the grand scheme.
HQs

Troops

The grunts. They hold ground, take damage, and are the backbone of your army. Don't underestimate though.
Troops

Elites

More specialized troops, for special roles. From heavy infantry to support squads and fast moving scouts, there's a lot of variety here.
Elites

Transports

Stuff to transport your infantry around. Varies from heavy to fast to cheap.
Transports

Armour

Tanks. Armoured, heavy machines of war to take out heavy stuff while soaking damage as well.
Armour

Support Elements

Various supporting tools, from artillery to aircraft and maybe exotic stuff.
Support Elements

Superheavies

The big stuff. Mostly ruin-engines, but potentially also other stuff like really big tanks or mobile structures.
Superheavies

Weapons

Weapons

Abilities

Abilities

Keywords

Keywords

Wargear

Wargear