I´ve been playing 40k since the 'good old' Rogue Trader (1st edition) days, so here´s my take on it. From 1st to 2nd editon there were a lot of rules changes, and again from 2nd to 3rd, but from 3rd edition to 4th, they´ve actually only tweaked the rules a bit, clarified some of the woolier aspects of movement, the height of terrain and how area terrain works, streamlining special abilities, with a section of universal special rules, and so on. The parts of the rules that have changed most, are the rules for close combat, and vehicles moving and shooting. All models in base to base contact, plus any models within 2 inches fight with their full attacks and any special abilities, eg powerweapons. Vehicles can shoot more weapons even when on the move, a rules change made to make tanks more dynamic than the on-the-spot-turners, immobile fire stations they often were in 3rd edition.
And the 4th edition codex books deserve a mention too! They are bigger and better than ever, with possibilities for customizing your armies with special tweaks. As an example, Space Marines can 'buy' chapter traits, allowing them to upgrade squads with special abilities or weapon options, buy bikes as troops and elites, instead of only as fast attack, and so on, at the price of also taking a drawback, wich could be not being allowed the full range of tanks or the option of taking allies from the Inquisition or whatever. 4th edition has also seen a new version of codex cityfights, the aptly named: 'Codex: Cities of Death', taking games of 40k into a new and better version of the streets and buildings of the 41st millenium. And the most important rule of 40k has finally been OFFICIALLY added to the rules, as the rulebook now clearly states that games are supposed to be FUN!!! Hope this helps! Does anyone know what the differences are between the 3rd edition and the 4th edition?
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Been looking to get back in, but I don't know if I want to buy a whole set of new rules. There are roughly five (5) major changes in the basic 40K rules from 3rd to 4th Edition. You can always rapid fire within 12 inches, even if you move. If you manage to inflict a wound on every member of a target squad you can nominate one of them that MUST attempt a save. Vehicle changes such as vehicle weapons are now split into two categories: 'Main' (Strength 7 or greater) and 'Defensive' (Strength 6 or less).
Vehicles can now move up to 6' and shoot with ALL of their Defensive Weapons and ONE of their Main Weapons. Vehicle damage is somewhat different as well. Close combat has been streamlined. Everyone participates 100% within 2 inches. Sweeping advances now rely on your initiative plus a d6 thus making them less random. There are other changes as well like no more 'Rhino Rush' (move vehicle, bail out and charge), magic has been toned down, better army books, etc. I've played off and on since the old Rogue Trader days and I find this set of rules to be the best, but I wish they'd get rid of the 'I go you go' mentality.
The Battle of Macragge boxed set is now the 'intro' set for 40K. The mini rulebook in that set is the exact same as the big $40+ hardback rulebook minus all the fluff. Look for one on eBay for a low cost intro option (assuming you already have miniatures).
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Podcasts:. Warhammer 40k Discord YOYMART. Check out or - you'll find more like-minded people there. Compared to the current edition, 1st ed requires a lot more imagination and effort to make it work.
It's closer to a RPG than a wargame in a lot of ways. You can certainly play it with whatever models you have or want - it's a lot more open-ended. The rulebook by itself is good for small skirmishes or semi-RPG kind of games. Later on there were various army lists and rule modifications published in other books but the style varied widely between publications.
I don't think you will get much fun from trying to play it as a competitive wargame. Managed to pick up a copy of the rulebook for 40k 1st Edition Rogue Trader for £3 (bargain?). Rogue Trader stuff is, well, a collector's market, so prices are 'whatever middle-aged melts with more money than sense and permanent nostalgia goggles are willing to pay'.
I've never delved into 40k properly in terms of playing the actual game, if I were to consider trying to get some models to play this edition of the game would it be possible to do so with newer models? Definitely possible, provided you can find someone else who wants to try it.
You might have some 'fun' around stuff like Eldar Wraith units and big fat Tyranids and other stuff that didn't exist until after 1992. Fortunately it's a very open game, lots of room for designing your own stuff. Caveat though. Some Oldhammer folks are chill about playing their preferred version of the game with whatever models they feel like using, as was the way in the old days. Other Oldhammer folks are militant melts who think the coming of plastic kits was the beginning of the end times and go into seething conniptions if anything reminds them it's not 1987 any more.
Some are full-time edition warriors. The Internet brings out the worst in all of us, including me. Are there any other books which I'd need to go along with the rulebook itself? If you're looking for 'army lists' in the sense that the modern game has them, you'll need between one and three other books per faction you want to play. Good luck finding some of them if you want hard copies - The Lost and the Damned, for instance, one of the Chaos books, had a very small print run and tends to go for silly money on eBay or wherever. Fortunately, all this stuff is years out of print, so I have no reason not to say that damn near everything's on Scribd.
Thanks for the reply. You've made some fair points actually and quite a lot of what you said is pretty true by the looks of it. I gathered that it would be expensive to get the models considering the age and by no means was I intending on going to a GW / competitive scene with a 1st edition rulebook from 1990 (for those mentioning it). Going to keep hold of the rulebook (dat artwork) and maybe wait till 8th edition is out and see if 40k gets a tad more refined (not on the levels of Sigmar), as it seems Sigmar is much more easier to get into in terms of up-front cost compared to 40k in terms of rulebooks, codex etc.