Episode 117: New 40K: Army Construction

In this episode, we start with how to build your army and how that impacts command points. We also talk about unit size considerations and some ideas for taking detachments for our own armies. 

Introduction

How armies were built in 8th edition:

You took up to 3 detachments and each one gave you a fixed amount of command points. You started with 3 for being Battle Forged and you earned more from there.

This had the effect of incentivizing Battalions especially, a double battalion was pretty common but you needed 3-6 decent troop options to make it work.

Armies with cheap and/or good troop options had an easier time getting command points.

Army Building

Depending on the point level of the game, everyone starts with the same amount of CP; for 2000 point games, its called Strike Force, and it’s 12 CP.

You also get a maximum number of detachments depending on the point level; 3 for a strike force game at 2000 points.

Every detachment COSTS you CP, but the core detachments (Patrol, battalion, brigade) that includes your Warlord is free.

No more Air Wing Detachment, so no more 9 fliers lists. Fliers are 0-2 in other detachments.

Supreme Command has changed; its not 3 or more HQs, its ONE HQ that must be your warlord and must be a Primarch, Daemon Primarch, or Supreme Commander Unit.

Aux support, Super-Heavy Aux support, and Fortification detachments never gain detachment abilities.

Battle Forged Army Roster

A printable page for your army that you are supposed to fill out before the game starts for your army to be battleforged.

Unit Sizes

Whether to MSU or to max out unit sizes, there are a few things with this edition to consider.

Coherency

If a unit has 6 or more models, each model must be in coherency with 2 other models in the unit. Units with more models will be clumped more closely together.

Blast Weapons

Units between 6 and 10 models, the minimum is 3 attacks. So D6, roll a 2, it’s still 3.

Units with 11 or more; maximum attacks, you don’t roll.

Close Combat Attacks

Models in Engagement range, or models within ½” of another model in their unit that is within ½” of an enemy unit. So you fight in 2 ranks now and you can’t get to 3.

What does this mean?

To get the maximum amount of CP, you will try to build your army in ONE detachment rather than try for 3.

You are actually limiting the units you take rather than getting units you don’t want. You have to make choices on what you absolutely need for your army.

If you want to take more than 3 of the Elite, Fast Attack, or Heavy Support choices, you will need to consider one of those detachments.

A Patrol is the cheapest way to include another detachment,  its limited and you need troops, but it does not lose its abilities.

For some armies that have a nice balance around the unit choices with good troops, a Battalion will still serve them well. You only need one now.

You don’t NEED to take troops, but they are still typically the Ob sec units in armies so they still serve a purpose.

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