The Imperial Guard In 6th Edition: Good And Bad

by SandWyrm

As I read through the 6th Edition 'Leak' that came out yesterday, I've noticed quite a few things that will both enthuse and discourage Imperial Guard Players.

(Note: For the purposes of this discussion, I'm going to assume that the 'Leak' document is real. Though it could be anything from a fan-made fake to an outdated test document. Be that as it may, let's not get caught up whether it's real or not. I'm more interested in the changes it would bring to the game if it is real.)

So, what will 6th Edition bring to the Guard?

Positives:

1. Standard Cover is now only a 5+.
2. Rapid Fire Weapons will always be able to shoot once out to 24", even if the unit moves.
3. Blast Weapons will be far more accurate. You hit at normal BS and only scatter 2x the roll you miss with. 
4. Weapons firing multiple blasts only hit/scatter the first blast fired. The second blast can be laid anywhere that touches the first. The third can be laid anywhere that touches the 2nd, etc. Hello Manticores and Leman Russ Executioners!
5. Russes can fire 3 weapons on the move or 6 if they remain still, though each weapon may still only be fired once. Executioners with Sponsons should be quite popular!
6. Units and Tanks can split their fire at the expense of shooting one weapon. So a Russ that stays still could fire it's Sponsons and Main Gun at one target, while shooting it's Hull Heavy Bolter and Stubber at another.
7. Russes may be immune to difficult terrain, but this isn't completely clear.
8. Techpriests are finally useful! They repair on a 5+ (better if servitors are handy) and can increase the rate of fire of a tank by 1 if there's nothing to repair! They also repair entire squadrons at once!
9. All tanks get a -1 on the vehicle damage chart.
10. All weapon distances are now measured from the vehicle's hull. 
11. Ranges for passenger weapons are also measured from the vehicle's hull, not the fire point.
12. When a vehicle in a squadron gets shaken, stunned, or immobilized, they get a 4+ save. If this save is failed, the entire squadron is shaken, stunned, or immobilized together.
13. Assault weapons can be used in combat to give that model an extra CC attack.
14. Grenade Launchers can be used in combat against walkers. They allow the model to use Grenades while hitting at their normal weapon skill instead of a 6+.
15. You can shoot at enemy units that assault you. :)
16. Snipers get to pick their targets in a unit!
17. Pin check is at -1 for each wound suffered from a sniper unit!
18. Flamers get a 3" range bonus (fires like a Hellhound).
19. Changes to Wound Allocation make it more likely that Storm Shield models will die as you put wounds on them. Though they'll also be blocking far more of the incoming wounds.
20. Valkyries and Vendettas now have a base move of 8".
21. If your squad leader gets within 3" of a transport's access point, the entire squad may embark.
22. If a unit's transport is destroyed, each model dies on a D6 roll of 6. Nice!
23. Troops in a transport get the Relentless special rule.
24. A vehicle that moves any distance has a WS of 10! So most attackers will need a 6 to hit it in Close Combat.
25. The incoming order got better. The unit that receives it may choose whether to go to ground that turn. If it does, it gets the +2 save.
26. Move! Move! Move! now gives the target unit a 3" consolidation. Hmmnnn...
27. Enclosed Crew Compartments add +1 to the vehicle's side armor. Huh?
28. Primaris Psykers can now stop enemy Psychic powers on a 5+.  But not if he's in a transport.
29. (added) Walkers can now Go To Ground!

Negatives:

1. Standard Cover is now only a 5+.
2. When a vehicle in a squadron gets shaken, stunned, or immobilized, they get a 4+ save. If this save is failed, the entire squadron is shaken, stunned, or immobilized together.
3. Russes will only move up to 6". The die roll for extra movement is gone.
4. Tanks will be much easier to hit. Tanks that don't move will be hit automatically!
5. The breached hull rules and conversion of multiple stuns to weapon destroyed and immobilized results will mean that penetrated vehicles will die much more reliably.
6. Fleeing troops within 12" of an enemy at the start of their turn are automatically destroyed. Doesn't apply to Marines of course.
7. If you lose a combat and break, you only get away on a single 5+ roll. Fail that roll and every unit you had in the combat is destroyed. Doesn't apply to Marines of course.
8. Valkyries and Vendettas can only fire 2 weapons on the move. Ouch! (Edit: Not True)
   
9. Troops in a transport can only see 18"!
10. UH-OH!!! A unit in a transport may only fire one weapon out if it moves! Bye bye Mech Guard!
11. Flamers that hit a firing point will do D3 hits to units inside a transport!
12. Move! Move! Move! now gives the target unit a 3" consolidation. 
13. No more free cover if a Vehicle Explodes.Vehicles are simply removed without leaving a crater.
14. BEWARE!!! Unless you buy your Commissars power weapons, they're going to be picked out with directed attacks from enemy squad leaders and Characters in close combat.

Well, if these rules turn out to be genuine, it will certainly change up the strengths of the Guard. Russes will be king again. Manticores will be even more stupid-good, and Hellhounds will be even nicer as they'll be firing more weapons on the move and will worry much less about assaults.

Big nerfs though to Vendettas and Chimera Vets. That would not make me happy if I was still running that army. But that's exactly what GW wants to push new sales.

Thoughts?