Warhammer 40K Boarding Actions have an even higher barrier to entry

Abaddon: Arks of Omen, the latest game book for Warhammer 40,000, does an extraordinary job of moving the franchise’s ponderous storyline forward. This 88-page, hardcover book was released earlier in the month and is now on its way to all of Warhammer 40,000’s fans. Inside, you’ll also find rules for an all-new style of play, a game mode called Boarding Actions. Enjoy Warhammer 40,000 Kill TeamIt uses very small and affordable miniature sets to provide small unit skirmishes that are extremely enjoyable. But it’s absolutely not for newcomers. It is clear from the rules that this miniature wargame has a high barrier of entry.

There are pages upon pages of fluff. Abaddon’s Boarding Actions rules kick off on page 50, and run less than 20 pages in full. The balance of the book is filled with pre-generated maps and scenarios carefully tuned to a specific set of terrain — the $210 Warhammer 40k Boarding Actions Terrain set.

Games Workshop

Of course, if you’ve been keeping pace with the release of Kill Team — Both Warhammer 40,000 Kill Team Shadowvaults (185). Into the Dark ($210) — you already have the plastic components you need to get started. But you don’t have the game boards, unfortunately. Kill Team uses a single 30-inch-long-by-22-inch-wide board. Boarding Actions use two 704-millimeter-long-by-607-millimeter-wide (roughly 27.7-inches by 23.9-inches) boards instead. They’re not sold separately, so if you don’t want to buy the big box you’ll have to make your own — or wait for aftermarket accessories from third-party vendors to go up for sale. It’s possible to play on a non-board.

These are the Boarding Action Rules. Warhammer Core Book 40,000, stating both generally and specifically which rules from the latter you’re allowed to use. It’s inconvenient, to be honest, and will require a lot of page-turning and adjudication at the table. You can find the following: Core Book The price is $70.

Finally, you’ll You can also see it hereA Codex book is required for every army. These $55 supplements contain the rules for each specific unit of each faction in the universe — basically the character sheets needed to actually fire your weapons and use your special abilities in combat. And, if you’re playing a specific chapter of Space Marines — Dark Angels, Blood Angels, and anything other than bog-standard Ultramarines — you’ll also need the appropriate Codex Supplement, which will cost you another $33.

Games Workshop

That puts the total cost at retail for two players to enjoy the new Boarding Actions game mode at somewhere between $390 and $423 — plus the cost of Abaddon: Arks of OmenThe price is $60…plus paint and miniatures.

You have many options to get around the cost. MDF walls can be purchased cheaply, as well as neoprene mats for gaming. It is possible to 3D print miniatures yourself, or you can buy pre-made minis from other brands. But the rules are the rules, and the game’s simply not going to work without those books. So even if you want to hack your way into the hobby, you’ll still need at minimum $185 worth of books for a single player.

So now we’re talking about an investment on par with a Nintendo Switch, an almost six-year-old console that continues to get high-quality games. Also, we must consider how long the console will last. Warhammer40,000 is a platform. In 2020, the 9th edition officially launched with the Launch of Warhammer 40,000. Warhammer 40,000 Indomitus Boxed set. Judging from the pace at which the last three editions have been released, that means we’ll likely be bumping up against the first teasers for the launch of 10th edition late this year or early next. This means that your $185 investment for hardcover rule book will likely only last a few more years. Given how the company has been pushing cross-compatibility between 8th and 9th editions, at least initially, that’s probably not as bad as it sounds for most players. However, this should always be considered in big purchase like these.

Games Workshop

There’s an excellent way out of this money pit, though, and it’s one that is being modeled to great effect right now on the pages of White Dwarf magazine — the gaming club. White Dwarf’s staff have been participating in a story-telling game for five people since 2022. Kill TeamOne, common terrain. Although common in England gaming clubs are rare, they’re quite uncommon in the United States. A group of people who are like-minded can be found at your local gaming store.

This game shop is, of course, also selling products. This puts U.S.-based retail stores, which are already facing stiff competition from big-box sellers and online giants such as Amazon, in an awkward spot. While a thriving community of players will likely drive more traffic to a given store and sell lots of miniatures and books, it may also limit the sales of high-end items for play at home — things like the Abaddon: Arks of OmenBook and The Warhammer 40,000 Boarding Actions terrain set — if a single set is being shared by multiple players in-store.

It’s a situation further complicated by the fact that Games Workshop drives consumers to make pre-orders online at its own website.

Abaddon: Arks of OmenGames Workshop is currently shipping a first of five books and it should be in stock at local gaming stores soon.

Abaddon: Arks of Omen Available now. Games Workshop gave permission to the public to view a preview of the book in a PDF. Vox Media also has affiliate relationships. Although these partnerships do not impact editorial content, Vox Media could earn commissions from products sold via affiliate links. Here are some links to help you find. additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here.