I admit I've been down on 6th edition. Why? Allies and fortifications. What a broken ass set of ideas. I really enjoy competitive 40k, though I'm far from the best player ever. Yet, the idea that I almost beat Alex Fennel's Deathwing is pulse pounding (he probably has no clue who I am). I over-extended Stormravens that game and he made me pay, like a good player would.
I learned not to overreach. 40k has never been the most balanced game but it was getting there. Allies and fortifications throw all that progress out and it's left me disgruntled. I don't want to play a game where the deeper pockets win - we have real life (and baseball) for that.
So far, our small group has decided that allies can suck it, but what happens to my RTT days? Are they done? Will I even bother hitting my first NOVA and instead go to Lock no Load? I am seriously dazed.
Confused
What has really just thrown me for a loop is the reception most blogs have expressed. Everyone seems cool with these new additions. No one is rallying against this absolutely tournament breaking notion that the only way to kill flyers is with some piece of terrain I added to my list.
I expected (I know, bad move) the purists to say, "Thanks, but no thanks!". The closest we've gotten is Goatboy's recent suggestion that games be played at 1,500 points to limit tomfoolery.
Will that be enough? Will anyone even bite? I really don't know. What I do know is I'm opting out of tournaments that allow allies and fortifications. I'm not trying to cause a stir here (I doubt very much that I could), simply making a choice based on my opinions. If when the dust settles, 40k is still a game I'm interested in on that level, then all is well. Something tells me, though, that despite silly non-sensical ideas about the game being unaffected by deeper pockets now, the game will descend into nothing more than an arms race. That makes me sad.
I'm also, obviously, running pure Grey Knights (deja vu/everything old is new again) until they're no longer viable or I get sick of facing the latest über rock deathstar combo of Wolfen Paladin Priestly Flickerfield Guards (hyperbole again).
Neal at the 11th Company had an article about finding healing in connection to this change. I think I'm finally getting there, it's just that while some might embrace these new ideas, I have chosen to walk away from them.
Healing
At the end of the day, people will play what they want to. More power to them. Far be it from me to poopoo people's gaming preferences. If you enjoy the idea of "competitive 40k" with Allies/Fortifications/Addition FOCs, enjoy!
I just don't think that's the sort of game that will satisfy my competitive desires.
40k isn't going anywhere for me, I'll still be playing and painting and reading. I'll just be picky when it comes to playing in a tournament.
Thanks for reading! Please feel free to share your thoughts. Just keep it civil. The BoLs comments section is getting hot and heavy as people are quite defensive/possessive about their beloved game and sometimes lose it, lol.