WEll I looked over the new 8th edition rulebook. I do have to say YAY!!!! The changes will have to get some getting used to as with any new system but in general I like the changes. I tried to absord as much as I could so I can bring some tidbits to you guys that didnt get out yet.

Part I The Changes:
-Big one here before declaring any action you may measure distance (even for shooting and Charging, there is a reason its ok now see below)
-All templates hit regardless of full or partial covering
-Charge is 2D6+M (movement)
-Failed Charge is a number of inches = to the highest Die Rolled
-If you charge a unit and they Flee you may elect to charge a different unit! Can only be done once I think.
-Fleeing units that move thru enemy Units or impassable terrain or an 1" must take a dangerous terrain check.
-Magic 2D6 power dice Max of 12 dice no matter what
-Each wizard rolls a D6 ea 6 adds 1 dice to the pool, Still Max 12
-Dispel Dice amount equals Highest Roll of the power dice roll Max 12
-same as power ea wizard rolls a D6 on a 6 add 1 power dice
-Ea wizard can use the max of 6 power Dice
-Fail on dice roll of 3 or less or equal can't remember for casting
-2 or more 6's irresistably cast, spell goes off but!!!! Miscast!!!!
-Miscast will kick someones butt!
-Magic is now divided up into 3or 4 Categories: Magic missle, Vortex, hex and something else?
-Shooting allowed from 2 ranks, 3 ranks if you volley but canyt have moved
-Close Combat 2nd rank attacks with 1 Attack, Hordes can attack from 3rd rank (Horde = 10 or wider rank)
-TO WOUND CHART CANGED S 1 can wound S10 on roll of 6+!!!
-Must take armor save if able even if it is worse than ward save due to strength penalty, you fail youtakethe wound!!! Only 1 Save, dont know about regen haven't got that far. You only take Ward save if the Armor save is removed because of S or other means.


Next Time I'll look at the rest of the book and Report!!!
So what ya think so far!
I want to play tomorrow now!

What about army comp percentage thing....did you see any of that?

Yes but I can only remember so much so that will be in the next posting.
But everyone can take allies!!! is one thing I left off!

Yeah playing this on Saturday is going to be glorious!

All the rules will be known to me by then!

Same here. It's my birthday, so I have to spend some of the time with my wife/fam. But I'd love to throw down.

So what is the best way to equip empire state troops now that the rules have changed? Halberds, spears, or sword and shield?

Depends on how you like to play really,

Sword and shield now give you a 6+ Ward save,
Spears allow you an additional row of attacks so 3 ranks deep, 4 if your horde!
Halberds +1 Str.

When I take empire I take 4 blocks 2 Spearmen Defensive, and 2 Halbediers offensive. They all get supported with detachments the same 1 with Sword and shield and 1 with hand guns...

I haven't played that yet with new rules to see if that changes but I can't imagine it changing too much for me just makes them more effective now that spuds can kill a dragon!

I plan on playing a defensive shooty army for the most part, outriders and handgunners with my infantry men and a unit or 2 of knights

So spears are the way to go eh? I'm thinking spears and halberds maybe two 20 man blocks of each with detachments of hand gunners, a volley gun, great cannon, and two squads of 20 hand gunners two squads of 5 man outriders and a general on a horse with two squads of 5 knights.

I looked at the rules today at Yottaquest, spearmen have a good advantage, consider taking 25, if you have more ranks than your opponent at the end of the combat, you are stubborn. That goes for all infantry. Something else I noticed, volley is half the models after the first 2 ranks and only units/models with the volley special rule can use it. Longbows is an example I can remember from earlier today.

Fear is simplified, you no longer run from fear causers, but if you fail a fear test in close combat, you are reduced to weapon skill 1. I like what they did with the magic lores, each lore has something special about it, like getting power dice back from casting death spells stands out. With Beast, you get bonus' for casting them on beasts, but they can be cast on any unit/model within range/line of sight. There is both goodness and evil coming out of the new book, balances it out I think. I feel sorry for magic heavy armies though. Only miscasts are irresistible force, but when you miscast....ouch.

Thats why you make use of hills and stuff and if you are playing on a board without hills DOH!!!

Shouldnt be anissue really. My best advice is play a couple of games and test different things out. especially play against other empire players and see how they do things and learn from that.

with how war machines are working now, empire wants their cannons. No more measuring. It saddens me really, but it does make things easier for those of us without much of a sense for distances. I did not read through all the rules, just glanced. With the exception of 2nd and 3rd ranks for horde, is the rule still in place that you have to be in contact to fight? If so, horde units may not have as much of an advantage as more ranks can give you. I also don't remember if cannons can fire indirectly. I know stone throwers can now. some things to consider when talking about horde units. 2 point gobos...yeah, they are a horde waiting to happen . Skaven..., I can easily see hordes of slaves running around. I am waiting to see if the tourney standard goes up to 2500 or 3k points under the new system. The new rules were definately designed to help sell more models. I don't mind, I like big battles .

events are going to be 2500 min. Too many armies get screwed with only allowing 500 points worth of hero/lords.

Ahem...I'm looking at you Chaos Warriors....