The new marine codex is a revelation. It has many changed rules (most for the better), wargear galore, and best of all ten – ten! – new units (although some are just variations on other units). It’s been a while since I’ve seen a codex where most every listing caught my imagination. It is, in short, a great book.
But, that’s the problem. At a stroke it has rendered all the other current space marine books obsolete.
That is not to say that playing Dark Angels, Black Templars, and Blood Angels suddenly became a waste of time or plain old not fun (Space Wolves are a sort of exception I’ll talk about later). However, they’ve clearly been outclassed. The new codex is better is every general category.
One, the updated rules and wargear are overall superior. Sure, there are some old units that may have an advantage here or there, but vanilla marines obviously have it better. Take the new Land Raider rules – now they get to hold twelve, take a pintle-mounted multi-melta, and enjoy a machine spirit that is a better shot and can fire at different models. Or, how about the new storm shields that are now a 3+ invulnerable save against all attacks? Furthermore, new marines get more options overall to choose from.
Two, the units in the new book are overall cheaper. In fact, pick the right things and you can get an extra unit over and above what the old books give you. Take this sample list:
Captain with Power Sword, Storm Bolder, and Iron Halo
Chaplain with Rosarius and Crozius Arcanum
5 Man Command Squad with Apothecary and Standard Bearer in Drop Pod
5 Terminators with Assault Cannon
1 Dreadnought with Multi-melta in Drop Pod
10 Tactical Marines with Flamer and Missile Launcher in Drop Pod
10 Tactical Marines with Flamer and Missile Launcher in Drop Pod
10 Tactical Marines with Flamer and Missile Launcher in Drop Pod
If I buy this list using the Dark Angel codex it’s 1500 points. If I buy it with the new Space Marine book it is only 1353. Or, to put it another way, you get to add an extra Thunderfire Cannon in a drop pod for free (with points to spare). Admittedly, I made choices designed to get the best bang for the buck in comparison to Dark Angels, but it’s not hard at all to get a substantial cost savings.
Three is all those new units. They not only give you a lot more tactical possibilities, but are just simply cool. A good part of the hobby is collecting and painting units. With the new codex you get a bunch of extra models to work with.
All this leads me to the obvious question: For a Dark Angel player like me why shouldn’t I switch over to the new book? I can mimic a Ravenwing formation perfectly – perhaps more than perfect as I have more options for an all mounted army – and of course a mixed force is just as easy. Only thing I can’t do is a pure Deathwing, but given that the new book allows for 10 man terminator squads I can come pretty close. Just play two squads of scouts to lead the way and I have a 30 man force of terminators – which is about how many such models I have painted.
Similar arguments can be made for Black Templars and Blood Angels as well. Admittedly, you might want to continue to use the old rules out of loyalty or just stubbornness, but doing so can no longer be justified on the basis of rules effectiveness.
But, this is the start of the consequences for 40K thanks to the new book and associated Games Workshop policies…..