Here is a handy chart, which is probably what I should have done in the first place: Army Same story with Imperial Knights, Solar Auxilia or Imperial Militia and Cults which all share another Red Book. Its pretty much all in a single Red Book, the Taghmata army list.
Things are clearer if you want to play Mechanicum. I hope that is clear…Įventually they will release a new third edition Red Book version of the Astartes army list with all the missing Legions in it. The Black Book only contains the special rules, not the basic army list. You’ll still need the army list book too. If you want the Legion rules for Space Wolves and Thousand Sons (or Sisters/Custodes), they are in Black Book 7. It’s worth saying that if you want both the army list and legion rules, they are cheaper bought together as a bundle from Forge World.Įxceptions: because the Black Books come out fairly regularly, not all the latest rules are in the new edition of the Red Army List book. Points have changed and there are a lot of new units in the newer version. It’s now in its second edition, so don’t be fooled and buy the old one on Ebay. If you are playing a Legion, you will need the army list book.
Just photocopy the ten pages or so about your own particular legion, it’s all you will need. If you have a friend with the Legions book, you do not need your own copy. One contains the special rules for the Legions, the other is the army list. Then there are TWO Red Books concerned with the Space Marine Legions. Make a note of the descriptions of the changes and write them in the margins. Then read a few reviews of the new FW version of 7th. If you are on a tight budget, buy a 2nd hand copy of the 7th Ed rules (if you don’t already have them). It is essentially a reprint of the 7th Edition rules with a few changes. So, don’t go out and rush to Forge World to buy the Black Book with your Legion in it. The first Black Books were released during 6th and then the later ones under 7th for a start. Some of these books have been out a long time, and the rules have been superseded by rules in later books or confused by edition changes.
Varying from book to book, you’ll find the special rules and rites of war for the Legions or other forces covered, possible campaign rules or a new way to play (skirmish, Zone Mortalis, etc) or even a full army list, the main Astartes list being covered in book 1. It’s also very well written and conceived. Its fresh and new and shiny and adds a lot of depth to the background.
I have to say that unlike the codexes this is not the same endlessly repeated and rehashed fluff we find in the 40K setting. All this is illustrated with stunning colour plates and the distinctive Forge World style photo-real art we know and love. It details their creation, the story of their Primarch, notable battles and so on. Next, each book also has a section on two or three Legions. They are really well done and full of grimdark flavour. Complete with pretend documents, intercepted transmissions and fake dispatches.
The books contain firstly an account of part of the Heresy, with ‘historical’ battles and their causes, results and ramifications described in the journalistic style you’ll be familiar with from Imperial Armour books. They are the most delightful thing a Warhammer 30K player could imagine like beautiful arcane Space Hulks made from the crushed together bodies of kittens and candy. Oh you want more? OK well the Black Books, and there are now 7, soon to be 8, are marvelous agglutinations of rules, narratives and artwork. The Black Books are big and black, and the Red Books are not quite as big and red. Yeah, it’s about lots of things, but first come the books since you can’t play without them, and there are SO MANY!!! Red Books and Black BooksĬonveniently the books are divided into two types. So, if Warhammer 30k is about one thing it’s about books.