A New Way to Play – Warhammer 40k Hero Mode | The Tabletop Tactics Podcast

Avatar Jinx November 4, 202439  56 39 Likes

 

YouTube video

This week on the podcast we have something super special for you!

We have been working hard behind the scenes to bring you a new way to play 40k. Inspired by Poorhammer’s excellent horde mode we are introducing Hero Mode, a cinematic, wave based Co-op mode where you can test the mettle of your favourite character units in the Crucible of Heroes. Join Spider, Bard and Beard as they explore this new mode, how to play and when you can expect to see the very first hero mode battle report!

For the rules PDF and further information check out the link below: Hero Mode V2 PDF

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Spider
Crew Member
21 days ago

Hi folks! Just so you know, a full patch note post will go out tomorrow with a link to Version 2 of my Hero Mode rules. For now, you can see the rules here: https://tabletoptactics.tv/2024/11/14/warhammer-40000-hero-mode-dlc-rules-pdf-v2/

Last edited 21 days ago by Spider
Dylan Keller
Lodge Member
22 days ago

Like the way this sounds as one of the best ways to do beers and pretzels 40k. I question/thought about the Battleline. If I remember correctly from the video. You have to take 5 Battleline units and they must be a max size. Did you consider changeing that to something along the lines of you must have 5 battleine units and it must make up 500 points of your army. That just kinda ensures all hordes are a bit more similar and someone does not accidentally make a stronger or weaker horde allowing the games to all be on a… Read more »

Joseph Hawkins
Joseph Hawkins
25 days ago

Very cool Lawrence, thank you for doing this. Personally looking forward to having all of the harlequins characters plus the farseer on foot (exactly 400pts!).

Sobek
Lodge Member
Sobek
28 days ago

This is so cool. I think the way that “Battleline” is currently defined (not including things like Poxwalkers for example) begs a few questions but easily fixed by having a Game Master who makes these decisions. Other than that, awesome ruleset.

James Wiggins
Lodge Member
James Wiggins
29 days ago

Love it and looking forward to running it!

Greg Burban
1 month ago

wrong place

Last edited 29 days ago by Greg Burban
MephistonRed
MephistonRed
1 month ago

Just wondering, would the “when this model is leading” abilities come into play even if the character is running solo?

Also, I don’t really own many battleline necrons so it would be really hard to meet the mandatory 6 minimum. Could I still use the random generation as done through poorhammers rules?

Sam Bone
Sam Bone
1 month ago

4 wolf lords on thunder wolves each with a different load out against a horde of orks sounds good

TheOverbob
1 month ago

I can definitely see Vulkan He’stan standing on one objective with his 4+ FNP and OC 10 and just saying to the horde, “Bring it!”

Sounds awesome, can’t wait for the video on Saturday!

Anders Mårdell
1 month ago

Love this idea and want to try it. The maximum size battleline units will make my own options as horde a bit tricky to do, but I do like the idea behind it. My only solid option is chaos as I have 40 Berzerkes, which sounds horrible to face for the heroes. 🙂
Proxying will help other hoard battleline options.

Thank you doing this plugin!

Lennon Simpson
Lennon Simpson
1 month ago

Quick question, is there a reason mounted characters are left out of the lone operative/heroic recovery? thinking of my wolf lord on thunderwolf. And poor bard! what about his chaplain on bike!
Anywho, this looks like a blast. There are some pretty obvious heroes that would be nigh immortal with Plot Armor (coughemperorschampioncough)but thats going to be part of the fun. Really excited to put together good fluffy lists full of named characters but also min/maxing out ideal lists just for giggles.

Robert Pickin
Lodge Member
1 month ago

Forgive me if I’ve missed this. I take it the horde doesn’t generate CP or use stratagems.

Phil Scott
1 month ago

I’m sure you guys have tonnes ideas for potential hero squads – but I would be over the moon excited if you guys remade first claw from the night lords omnibus!
I’m definitely going to try it at some point – but would love to see you guys or Kreiger do them justice!

Timothy Staten
Timothy Staten
1 month ago

This looks an amazing game mode, very thematic.
Thanks to Lawrence for clearly spending a heck of a lot of time working on this.
I can’t wait to play test this new mode. 👍🏻

Do Aeldari still get their Fate Dice?

Rich T Biscuit
Lodge Member
1 month ago

Each year the club does a special night for Christmas, I think Hero Mode will be a great addition to the Slay Bells Spectacular!

Thanks for the rules and the Podcast!

Chris-Searle ‘93
Chris-Searle ‘93
1 month ago

I’m buzzing to try this game mode out! Thanks 🕷️!!!

Glejberg
1 month ago

Imagine what fun Eddie “The Hero” Evesor could have in Hero Mode. SCREEEEEEEEE!!!!

Hero-Mode
GrimDave
GrimDave
1 month ago

This is a great addition to the existing 40K play modes, I’m already thinking about what heroic lists I can build. As a Necron player, I’m weighing up whether it’s worth putting all my robot eggs in one huge C’tan shaped basket…

Shawn Chenoweth
Lifetime Member
1 month ago

God bless you for considering the Deathwatch🙏. It been a bit demoralizing having your Core Army since 7th edition deleted.

Bhilleach
Bhilleach
1 month ago

Thanks for this it looks so fun. This is going to produce some amazing games. My old metal, derpy but I love ‘em, phoenix lords fighting a horde of Slaaneshi at Rhana Dandra!
Would love to see Spider run Gabriel Seth as a BA Captain with rage fuelled warrior (if this doesnt prohibit destruction incarnate), pop finest hour and red rampage, roll a trademark obscene amount of 6’s and watch Seth turn 10 chaos terminators into (rather messy) confetti!😃

Kyle Roach-Smith
1 month ago

I can’t wait to try this out! It would be cool if you could run an event for stuff like this, as well as things like boarding actions. I’d also like to see what other missions you can come up with!

For the record, I think my characters would be asurman, fuegan, a farseer, and an autarch for this gamemode. I might come up with a combo for harlequins now!

Brandon Tolputt
Brandon Tolputt
1 month ago

This looks so much fun! Characters are my favourite models so I’m excited to run my characters as the beat sticks they should be!

Lance Gulick
Lance Gulick
1 month ago

Love the concept.. I feel like the heroic army should also get Fights First, would go well with the theme 😉

Nathan Marechaux
Nathan Marechaux
1 month ago

I went straight to list building ! Here are my hero :
– grand master Voldus,
– Castellan Crowe
– Kaldor Draigo
– Brother Captain Stern

All the named Grey Knights characters ! I can’t wait to see these guys vs 2500 points of daemon ! And seeing Kaldor Draigo fight a Greater demon turn 4/5 !

Corruption
Lifetime Member
1 month ago

One thing you don’t address in the video is terrain – do you set up a standard 40K battlefield or should there be some restrictions/guidance on what to place and where? I guess with the Heroes having the Lone Operative rule it’s less of a concern?
Would love to see some tasty horde lists cooked up by Spider and Chef!

Robert Timms
Robert Timms
1 month ago

I don’t know how many boards you have, but has there been any idea of putting 4 or so Boarding Action boards back to back and having a hero-esque mode where say 3-4 hero’s have to fight there way through

Adam Duncton
Adam Duncton
1 month ago

I cannot wait to play this mode! I miss something about stratagems though forthe hero’s? Do they have specific “new ones” or do they only use the core strategies? I don’t think they can use detachment stratagem/rules can they? Or was that just the horde?

Last edited 1 month ago by Adam Duncton
Shas'O Myenshi
Shas'O Myenshi
1 month ago

So this looks interesting. Im viewing this from a Tau perspective cause….well i play tau. First off looks like fun. I think my only wish for a dlc to this dlc is something to help with custom weapons. The reason for that may become obvious when i list the 2 lists i would want to take: First one is Puretides Students: Shas O’Shaserra (Commader Shadowsun), Shas O’Shovah (Commander Farsight) and Shas O’Kais (In an Enforcer of Coldstar because can’t take a Ghostkeel even though thats the last battlesuit hes been in and GW refuses to make an actual model). With… Read more »

Philip Henderson
1 month ago

Lots of the genestealer cult characters (cowboy Kell and friends) versus the guard (PDF) could be fun, you could have other GSC acolyte etc. units as scatter terrain at the edges of the table so it still feels like a mass uprising visually but only play with the characters.

UndeadBen79
Lodge Member
1 month ago

Lone Chaos Knight Rampager on a kill frenzy mission!!!

Ross Cassells
1 month ago

I really love the idea of this! I have a little question around Datasheet abilities, Most characters have rules like “If this character is leading a unit…” Which I assume would not be used as there would be no unit to lead but also some abilities don’t have the character to be leading a unit so would these still be viable to use? E.g. Grimadus has a retinue of 3 servitors built into his data sheet that if one is alive he can choose from 1 of 3 abilities. (come to think of it Grimaldus is a character consisting of… Read more »

Garry Hewitt
Garry Hewitt
1 month ago

Made this comment on the YouTube vid.

How do you think GSC will work as horde given the faction rule.

On the one hand blips are cool but will returning units be an issue?

Grimwold
Grimwold
1 month ago

Thx for making and sharing this. Super exited. I will be playing Uriel Ventris and his Swords of Calth against a demon hoard.

George Ramplin
George Ramplin
1 month ago

Sounds amazing! My hopes are:

Tau vs horde tyranid monsters (Basically a Pacific Rim battle)

Biker space marines (chaplain on bike, captain on bike etc) against death guard horde to make it like a zombie video game!

WAAAGHMACHINE
Lodge Member
1 month ago

Seems great! My dreams of running Commissar Ciaiphus Cain and his 597th Valhallan are coming closer.

Question on “character unit” – if a character attached to a unit can I take them for hero mode? So a commissar attached to some guardsmen would count as a character unit? No worries if not I could just take a command squad or similar

Anthony J/ScrollSmyth
1 month ago

I am hyped for the Gaunts Ghosts batrep!!