While reading the recent rumors (40k Rumors 6th Edition Allies and More)
going around about 6th Edition Warhammer 40k I noticed something
that is a bit of a head-scratcher for me.
One of the rumored changes gives us this:
Random Charge Lengths are in
This change removes a genuine skill or feel for the game
and replaces it with random chance.
Since (it is assumed) pre-measuring is allowed in 6th Edition,
you now know the distance to the charge target, you’re only decision is whether
or not to roll. But is that really a
decision? Why would you ever not choose
to try the assault and roll? There’s no
penalty for failing the roll. This
mechanic already exists for units charging across difficult terrain, and I don’t
recall an instance of someone not trying a charge to see if the roll goes their
way.
But there is the other problem, in a game that relies on
comically massive numbers of dice rolls to balance out luck; a single dice roll
is as random as the game gets. So
whether you have the most bloodthirsty Khorne Berzerkers or timid Tau Fire
Warriors, the chance of them bringing a charge home is identical and completely
random.
As the game stands now, there is a known quantity – the
six inch charge distance. When you look
at the table and see how far your unit is from the target you can gauge the
distance by eye. This takes a simple skill
you as a player have probably grown to use, judging distance by eye.
So what's different? Both cases players will make or not make a charge if they're in range, so no harm right? Wrong, because your move on the movement turn is based on the distance you have judged on the table. If I move my Assault Marines, will they end up in charge distance after that move? If the charge distance is a known quantity, the skill of judging distance comes in to play. If the charge distance is random, the skill is removed and the player is at the mercy of a dice roll.
The distinction is subtle, there are other parts of 40k governed by a single roll of the dice, but my contention is those need to be minimized. And they most certainly should not be used to replace a skill based decision.
