Back when the Arks of Omen saga began its twisting tale of daemonic schemes and apocalyptic invasions, it introduced a game mode called Boarding Actions. These tense, fast-paced games pitted small armies against each other in brutal room-to-room assaults with highly modular terrain. It was the time for infantry to shine, freed from the presence of war machines and monsters too big to squeeze inside.
Back then, we promised that Boarding Actions would be supported all the way through the launch of the new edition. It’s time to make good on that promise.
Today’s downloads provide updated rules for playing Boarding Actions games, as well as a comprehensive list of mustering options for your factions of choice.
The new Boarding Actions Core Rules replace the original ones found in Arks of Omen: Abaddon, adapting the new core rules of Warhammer 40,000 to frantic shipboard battles. However, they’re designed to work with the missions – and mission sequences – presented in all five Arks of Omen books,* giving you dozens of missions and a variety of game modes to play through right from the start.
Several rules referenced by these missions don’t apply to the new edition, but that’s not a problem – the Boarding Actions Core Rules clarify how to handle these situations. For example, Actions no longer exist in Warhammer 40,000, so the new rules explain how to perform and complete any Actions required by your Boarding Action missions.
In other cases, new rules have been adapted to suit the claustrophobic battlefield. Units can stand on top of objective markers, for instance, just as they did in the previous edition. Some of those corridors would get mighty cramped if they couldn’t!
Another major change comes to Leaders and Bodyguards. The new rules for joining units would make it very easy to hide a powerful champion from harm, so in Boarding Actions, your Leaders don’t join a Bodyguard at all. Instead, they fight solo and confer their powerful Leader abilities to individual units with the new Battlefield Command Stratagem.
Key changes have also been made to the Boarding Actions Mustering Rules, as the Battlefield Roles that previously determined which units you could recruit no longer exist. Instead, each faction now has a simple list that details exactly which units they can select from their free Index, and how many, together with any rules adaptations that apply.
Several factions even gain access to previously-locked options – have you ever wanted to stalk the shadowy corridors with Kayvaan Shrike, or lay down blistering pistol fire with a Seraphim Squad?
These free Boarding Actions Mustering Rules replace those found in the Arks of Omen books – but just like their missions, the faction-specific Enhancements and Stratagems from those supplements remain valid for use. Updates for these books will soon be on their way to ensure that your tricks and tactics work as smoothly as ever.
Need one final equipment check before the breaching shuttle launches?
Here are all the rules you need to play Boarding Actions:
Warhammer 40,000 Core Rules – How to play games of Warhammer 40,000
Faction Index Cards – Download all the datasheets and army rules for your faction
Boarding Actions Core Rules – Adapt your games to shipboard battles
Boarding Actions Mustering Rules – Learn how to build your faction's Boarding Patrols
Any Arks of Omen book – Play a variety of missions and find out how to set up games, including judging the Underdog and forming Boarding Squads
Plus, here’s what’s in each Arks of Omen book:
Arks of Omen: Abaddon – Nine core missions themed around desperate battles within the hearts of Balefleets, space hulks, and beleaguered installations
Arks of Omen: Angron – Six missions themed around aggressive attack and stalwart defence, plus additional rules for Astra Militarum, Chaos Space Marines, Grey Knights, Orks, Space Marines, and World Eaters
Arks of Omen: Vashtorr – Nine missions themed around The Rock Besieged campaign, plus additional rules for Adeptus Mechanicus, Chaos Daemons, Death Guard, Genestealer Cults, Necrons, and Tyranids
Arks of Omen: Farsight – Rules for generating Dark Depths missions with variable maps, nine multiplayer missions, and additional rules for Adepta Sororitas, Aeldari, Drukhari, Harlequins, and the T'au Empire
Arks of Omen: The Lion – Six Dread Encounter missions for dramatic scenarios, 12 Breaching Operation missions for use with destructible walls, and additional rules for Adeptus Custodes, Agents of the Imperium, Leagues of Votann, and Thousand Sons
* Not to mention the Herald of Misery missions published in White Dwarf.