Thoughts on Objectives

The discussion of objectives has come up a lot lately; on the Apocalypse40K forum, at the Battle Bunker during the post-mortem of our latest game, and in private discussions I have had with other gamers.  

I think this is a very relevant  topic as too often the discussion is focused on forces and models and units and not objectives.  We all love our toys and want more, but too many gamers talk about their kick ass units and not about building a force that can take objectives.

Taking objectives is something I find myself more focused on than almost anyone else I play against.  I keep my team focused on it too.  I remind them every turn, I plan with them who goes after what objective, we discuss who needs reinforcements to hold an objective.  And I am thinking ahead two or three turns to what needs to be accomplished.

But the old way of you only count objectives on the last turn, allows for last turn shenanigans, and makes it easy to be lazy all game. 

So here are some different ways we have come to play objectives.

1)  Modified Objective Scoring

This is the basic way we have been playing our games lately.  Both at the L.A. Battle Bunker and in San Diego with John Macomber's Apoc group.  Basically you choose a number of objectives, and place them in Team 1's deployment zone, team 2's deployment zone and the neutral zone.  Then, starting with the top of Turn 2, you count objectives every PLAYER turn.  So in a 4 turn game, you count the objectives 6x.

Also, we weight objectives, so an objective in any enemy deployment zone is worth 3 points, the neutral zone is 2 points and your deployment zone is 1 point.  It forces you to have a mobile force and be aggressive.

During the big game we do not weight objectives for ease of bookkeeping.


2)  What Can Hold an Objective?

This is a big mater of discussion and there have been two major schools of thought here.

1.  Anything with a WS can hold an objective.  - Exceptions GC and super-heavy walkers.

This is a good method, even approved by the Powers That Be.  It is easy, works well and has few downsides.

2.  Troops Only  -  This is what John Macomber and his San Diego group have started doing and I have to say it really is a great rule.  It forces you to take lots of troops and make them mobile.  Two things you should be doing anyway.  Only troops can hold or contest.  We played a game last weekend and the game came down to one point!

I really wish more people would do this.  It helps balance the game out too, forcing people to better plan their army.

We have found that Modified Objective Scoring, in any of the forms we have used, create VERY close and competitive games.  I highly recommend you try them.

Alec