We’ve discussed how the modular rules in the upcoming edition of Warhammer Age of Sigmar allow for easier learning and more customisation as the game expands – but this is far from the only positive change in the new system. Today, it’s time to tackle one of the signature aspects of Warhammer Age of Sigmar, the priority roll.
The player who finishes setting their army up first gets to choose who takes the first turn. This feeds into a strategic element of list building – another part of the game which has undergone changes for the new edition – because it may affect the composition of your army.*
At the start of every battle round after the first, players make a priority roll and the winner decides who takes the first turn. If it’s a tie, the player who took the first turn in the previous battle round decides who goes first in the current battle round. Sometimes, this means a canny player can take two turns in a row – often referred to as a “double turn” – which offers a substantial tactical advantage.
Those of you who have played other Warhammer tabletop games may find this a little odd initially, but it is crucial to understanding the ebb and flow of Warhammer Age of Sigmar. The decision is rich with tactical depth, and opens up a wide range of options for both forward planning and counterplay – the latter of which have been considerably expanded in the upcoming edition.
What’s more, it’s here to stay in the new edition – but the balance between risk and reward has become much more finely tuned. Now, in matched play battlepacks, when you choose to take a double turn, you give up your opportunity to pick a battle tactic for the turn.* It’s still an incredibly powerful option – but the decision is now far from a foregone conclusion.
“I think the priority roll and the potential for a double turn can create really cool and dynamic outcomes where you can’t predict the flow of a game”, explains Matt, the Lead Games Developer for Warhammer Age of Sigmar. “You can’t count out each players’ moves as simply as a straightforward you-go-then-I-go. It’s a wonderful possibility space.”
“Initially, the double turn might seem like an obvious advantage – but it’s important to consider that many defensive abilities last until your next turn. This means the player who goes second will often still have their buffs and defensive spells up and running.
“The primary skill expression in Warhammer Age of Sigmar is making the best tactical choice in the face of uncertainty,” Matt continues. “This is not chess. You have to react to things you can’t be certain of. The double turn is a very powerful expression of this. You have situations in a turn where you just don’t know if your opponent will be able to go twice – maybe they have the positioning to take advantage of that double turn, so you need to position yourself correctly in response… but then, what if they don’t win the priority roll?”
According to Ben – the Product Developer on Warhammer Age of Sigmar – top-level players will spend a lot of time considering when to give the double turn away, and when to capitalise on it.
“A player can pass on the opportunity to take a double turn, knowing that they’re set up in such a way that it won’t really impact them. This gives them the chance to take a double turn later on, and really capitalise on it – that’s the mark of a great player.”
When new players first learn about the double turn, it often raises a few eyebrows, but it’s well-loved by the community at large.
“I often ask competitive players, playtesters, and influencers the same questions,” says Matt. “What they’d add to the game, what they’d change about it, and what they’d remove from it. By far, the number one answer to the last question is this: ‘not the double turn!’ Our players are fiercely loyal to this concept, to the point it’s become a bit of a rallying call!”
We’ll soon be able to share more details on other changes that will inform your tactics and strategies, from command points and scoring to the new Underdog mechanic. But the headline news is that the priority roll is here to stay – get practising your forward planning!
* On which we’ll have more to say… later!