We know a new edition of Warhammer 40K is coning, here’s some rules changes GW can do to fix up terrain.
We know a new edition is coming at some point. If you follow the normal path for GW a new edition will most likely come next year in 2026. I think that is a good thing as usually after an often-changing edition (like 10th) we have a new edition that tweaks and fixes things instead of blowing it all up. I think 40k is in a pretty good place right now, but a few things could easily make things better in the game right now. I think a big factor could be if GW just puts some hard work into terrain and how their rules work within the game.
Terrain Needs Variety, But Respect Existing Collections
Right now, we live in a world of Ruins on any given tabletop. While I think that works from a balance standpoint it does get a bit annoying when trying to justify why every battle is over a pile of ruins. I love the aspects of cover and the push to “balance” each side of the table, but we could juice it up a bit. The one factor though is making sure whatever is done we don’t blow up people’s terrain collections and instead try to add neat things to it. Trying to get a ton of Terrain for any event can be a pain in the butt especially if we suddenly need something new on the tabletop that isn’t a building wall shaped like an “L” and looking like a ruin.
New Terrain Keyword – “Dense”
I think a fun thing would be to add something like a “Dense” keyword to some areas of terrain. These would be things like Forests or other pieces that if you are close to it, you could see through but if you are far away it would be harder to draw a line of site thru. This would just either subtract the range of weapons that are shooting through it or force an almost Lone Operative style feel that would match up and give some unique things on the tabletop. I don’t think we need the middle of the table full of this type of terrain, but some side pieces could do with this and allow for TO’s and players to throw some trees on there or other type of terrain to better represent what battle might be like in the future.
New Terrain Keywords – “Breachable” and “Fortified” End Assault Silliness
Next, I think an interesting option would be labeling some buildings/walls as “Breachable”. We all know the whole stay an inch away from the wall trick, so someone can’t just touch you and assault is super annoying. If we label buildings as breachable it would allow for a rule of “if your assault made it” you can assault. This way we can set up some parts of the table that have “Breachable” while other parts are classified as “Fortified” that basically state you can’t assault unless you can get base to base with the model. This one might be too much, but I wonder if it would be helpful.
New Terrain Keywords – “Unstable Ground” and “Stable Ground” to Make Shooting Interesting
The final thought I wonder if we utilize something like “Unstable Ground” and “Stable Ground” as keywords. “Stable Ground” could be buildings that allow you to post up and steady your aim as you are about to let loose a grimdark super duper laser cannon. alternatively “Unstable Ground” would also be terrain that is kind of rickety, and really hamper every other type of weapon’s shooting (except assault weapons that love to just lay on the trigger and go rushing in). The idea of Plunging Fire was neat but when every building doesn’t have a second floor it can be annoying. Or you find the table with the tall buildings that give a powerful ability to just doesn’t feel that fun to get hammered by it. Having something that could grant an occupant a +1 to hit could be neat as well as others that might shift you to a -1 to hit based on being within it.
Let’s Make Terrain Cool Again!
Are these too much? Is it just adding more nonsense to things that are not needed? Do we just want trees on the tabletop again? How about actual rolling hills and other fun things to do battle on? Do you remember the old Adepticon days of fighting on the cactus planets or the weird pink tubes of doom from ATC? Do we just want to keep fighting in the Cardboard factories?
What do you think of these terrain ideas?
Thomas Reidy, aka Goatboy, the ever-evil member of BoLS. I do arts, play 40k, and even paint a lot of stuff. I have been playing Warhammer 40K since the 1990s, and have won multiple national events including Adepticon and GW GTs. I’ve been writing for BoLS for 15 years. Look at my Instagram to see what I am working on – or working on for someone. I am always doing something hobby related.