Try this if you’re struggling with games of 10th ed Warhammer 40,000

Quick & Deadly - Fast-Paced 40k Gaming!
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In this video, we’re stripping Warhammer 40k down to its essentials and jumping straight into the action. No hours of setup, no endless rules debates-just streamlined, rapid-fire gameplay that lets you roll dice, make bold moves, and see results within a fraction of the time. If you’ve ever wanted to squeeze in a match on a busy evening or just want a more dynamic tabletop experience, you’re in the right place.
🖌️ What You’ll See in This Video:
• Tips for lightning-fast army setups-so you can start playing ASAP.
• Strategies that prioritize quick decision-making over drawn-out planning.
• How to keep the pace high without losing the tactical depth 40k is known for.
• A closer look at scaling down model counts, using simpler mission parameters, and focusing on core mechanics.
💬 Why Watch?
If you love Warhammer 40k but find it hard to fit in a full game, this approach is a game-changer. I’m all about experimenting with formats, trimming the fat, and embracing a learn-as-you-go mindset. Let’s break down the barriers that keep us from playing more often-without losing that grimdark excitement.
📌 What’s Next?
With these quick-play tips in hand, you can get more matches in less time. Let me know what worked for you, or drop your own suggestions in the comments. Check out my Trello board to see what’s on the horizon, and help shape future content.
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• Subscribe for more Warhammer content-tactics, hobby tips, and beyond!
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Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you on the battlefield-fast!
#Warhammer40k #QuickPlay #TabletopGaming #Wargaming #HobbyCommunity #PluckeePaints

[@peters.9463]

Hi, that is a really nice idea! I totally understand your point. I came back to the hobby since about a year or so and I only played two games in WH40K so far. First because I had to completely reorganize my army from the 90s. Then I have got really confused about the way 40K works today. All those stuff you have to add on the fly and remind yourself to. So many exceptions and trigger you have to be aware of. I have to admit, my last games before that were in 2nd and 3rd edition rule sets. Yes, there was also a lot to keep in mind, but it felt different. It was somewhat more clear what to expect from a unit and from enemies. Fortunately I found a gaming club near my place. Unfortunately they only play WTC rules. So any narrative plays do not happen and they are relatively strict regarding the terrain placement. Maybe I can convince someone to use the system you have introduced in the video? I will at least try :) Thanks for the idea! Have a merry Christmas and a happy new year!

[@PluckeesChannel]

WTC rules can get a bit complicated. If you’re just starting out/returning to the game, I don’t think think 2k games of tournament play are the one. You need to go for basics before you’re going for skill mastery.

[@nanoid314]

Another way to freshen things up: Play with alternating activations. My son and I have been doing this for about four months and have never been tempted to go back to the official way to do it. We just superimpose the two turns in each battle round, so first we determine who has the initiative (the winner of the turn one roll off). Then it's the command phase where we alternate doing orders (Guard), Oath of Moment, Waagh and so on. Then in the movement phase we alternate moving our units. We start by counting how many units we each have that could do something, then is one side has at least double the number of the other, that side will be activating two units a time. We then decided to change the order of the phases a little to give melee armies a chance, so after movement (and reinforcements) comes charges then fighting and then shooting. We mark activated units with little tokens and you are allowed to activate a unit to do nothing. This way of playing obviously alters the balance of the game, but it is still recognizably 40K, and we like it a lot.

[@PluckeesChannel]

I LOVE alternating activations - I play Legions Imperialis & Adeptus Titanicus which both use it. I really rate AA but I think it’s probably outside of the scope of this. I personally think AA is the way forward for 40K, but I can’t see it changing for a while unfortunately!

[@MrZauberelefant]

​@@PluckeesChannelquick to pick up, and free, and playtested, is one page rules

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

As a historical gamer I don’t understand 40K’s obsession with Objective Points. I would bin them entirely and replace them with a Mission, which is the sole reason for your Space Marines, Slanesh or whatever to be on the battlefield. Two example missions: 1) Recover a data crystal lost in a crash. 2) Slaughter all the mutants in an infected colony.

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

Obviously, your opponent has the reverse missions, e.g. to protect the mutants which are an experiment conducted by your top scientists. As I understand it, 40K doesn’t use morale or shock: I would introduce these as a #1 priority.

[@zarlus8]

​@@sirrathersplendid482540k has the mechanic of battleshock which uses a leadership profile to pass/fail.

[@empeming]

I think the last few years GW has really leaned into competitive/matched play which is why everything revolves around them. It's alot easier to sell models when you're cycling around their viability in the highly competitive game.

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

@@empeming - I guess there are plenty of competitive players out there. I enjoy winning too. But I prefer to just have fun :-) But I also want something that’s immersive and real. In a real life you’re not playing for points but rather to achieve a set goal. To have a scenario where all you’re after are abstracted circular Objective Markers worth abstracted nominal points seems like a total cop out.

[@lordmalal]

@sirrathersplendid4825 Narrative missions are by their nature asymmetrical which works against game balance. Both the game designers and the player base want a balanced game. That's the way it is.

[@lordmalal]

Does OPR send bots to comment on videos like this? There are multiple different accounts giving nearly identical comments promoting it.

[@PluckeesChannel]

It’s a bit odd! It’s a bit like they’ve not considered the point I’m making. If I wanted to play OPR I’d go play OPR. But I don’t. And considering I don’t get any responses either…. Either way, boosts my comment section engagement 😂😂

[@Duppyman695]

I like this quick play idea! I don't like Detachments, it seems they are (in game marketing) to get people buying more models to fit a Detachment. We just use Faction Stratagems as a list and pick 4,5,6 Faction Stratagems each and it turns out more skill involved in choosing what Faction Stratagems will work with your list!

[@PluckeesChannel]

I see that from a few people - unfortunately for me I have too many models for my armies because I’m a sucker for it 😅😅 I like that idea a lot! So you just pick like “a deck” from the codice’s stratagems? What about the detachment rules?

[@Duppyman695]

@@PluckeesChannel we don't play the Detachment rules, just too much to remember. Choosing Faction Stratagems enables you to build what ever lists you want, not restricted to fit a Detachment and for example: pick 2 that work well with vehicles and 2 from another Detachment that work well with Infantry. I have never liked marketing bleeding into the rules!

[@Miniscape-wh40k]

Some great ideas here. Thank you for sharing.

[@PluckeesChannel]

Thank you!

[@thisiswatwedo1212]

I just tried learning 10th Ed recently on Table Top Simulator. Which Leaning TTS is exhausting in its self, but while also learning 40k it made my head like it was gonna explode with all the info i had to take in. I think if i wanted to learn 40k, id do it in chucks of first just learning how unites and models move, shoot and fight with no special abilities or tricks, and only having to do basic Primary missions with no Secondary's. then build up to have secondary's, and slowly using more of my army faction rules. Although it might a be a bit boring at first at least ill get the basics down and be able to have fun rolling more dice a bit later. im still new so idk if this would be reasonable but i think it would of helped me more to learn this way thank to info dump me with everything.

[@PluckeesChannel]

I deffo think chunking and learning smaller bits at a time is the way forward when you’re just starting out. Learning how to use TTS is also a right pain in the craw. I think deffo learning smaller bits scale (less than 1k points) is the best way forward; if you go straight to 2k you’re gonna have a bad time

[@Haplo699g]

The rulebook in the Ultimate Starter Set (Combat Patrol) does this. I haven't played the tutorial missions in a while, but I remember the first one. You put your Warlords in base to base contact and melee, first one to die loses.

[@PluckeesChannel]

@@Haplo699g That’s cool! I’ve not had need to look at any of the starter set stuff, I’ll see if I can take a look - would be good to see what they’re suggesting.

[@noocnik]

Just play OPR it's quicker than this video 😜

[@PluckeesChannel]

Go! I’ll time you 😝

[@empeming]

I think this is the weirdest thing about 40k, despite its insane success as a franchise there is such little support for making smaller games accessible. Like the idea!

[@PluckeesChannel]

Thank you very much!

[@Jeff-ne1lh]

Or you could just play One Page Rules...

[@PluckeesChannel]

They could! However, this is for people who don’t want to learn a new game system.

[@noacier6666]

​@@PluckeesChannel opr really isn't that hard to learn as a new system

[@grahamcrackergaming630]

Great ideas - definitely a pain point for 40k

[@PluckeesChannel]

Thanks! Have a go and let me know how you get on!

[@Ironfrenzy217]

I like 40k just the secondary objective switching messes with me.

[@PluckeesChannel]

That’s cool! I agree with the secondary switching, it gets a bit much.

[@RedemptiveChief]

graaaaant

[@PluckeesChannel]

Not doxxxxxxing youuuuuuuuuuuu

[@PluckeesChannel]

Thanks for watching all! and have a very merry Christmas! I'll be back in the new year with Tanks and Gas Masks, and Shovels... Trenching Shovels!

[@Sa3vis]

I want to try this I think

[@PluckeesChannel]

It’s good fun!

[@leftistadvocate9718]

nah just play an older edition

[@PluckeesChannel]

For some that may be sound advice! Not all will be familiar with older editions though.

[@leftistadvocate9718]

@@PluckeesChannel than familiarise yourself with it. 8th is basically 10th but simpler

[@micahdouglas2982]

This sounds fun. Until you have to play in a tournament and you haven’t practiced secondaries.

[@PluckeesChannel]

Aha, well if you were doing a WTC tournament, I would suggest getting some practice with that format! If you were a tournament player and were learning a new army, I would suggest this to get to grips with the army rules, then move on to Tournie practice.

[@jakepeat690]

Not everyone plays 40k so they can go to a tournament. I'd even suggest most players don't

[@mrtacoeater47]

I just play poorhammer’s horde mode with my friends or one page rules

[@PluckeesChannel]

Need to give it a look in. I know about tabletop tactics horde mode

[@mrtacoeater47]

@ it’s pretty fun it’s nice to just play cooperatively and have fun with your friends instead of fighting your friends

[@kippbeard5624]

Or u could try opr

[@PluckeesChannel]

I’m happy to! Other people with little time may just stick to one system.

[@ThroatSore]

So people are telling yoy that the game lacks flavour. You don't agree. Fair enough. Why are they saying this?

[@PluckeesChannel]

Largely depends on who you ask - you can find a number of YT channels with their own treatise on the subject, so I’ll not attempt to represent their opinions as I’ll end up butchering or misrepresenting them. I think from my perspective, it’s because the game has been overly formalised, to the point where things have become a bit too predictable and reliable - some of the RNG-iness is being removed by min/maxing units and armies to be super reliable, or playing the same missions and terrain set ups feels repetitive and dull after a number of games. This is an attempt to address the latter, which theoretically affects the former. I’m in a car (being driven!) and getting a bit motion sick so will pause there 😅😅

[@Russellmeine]

I’d rather just play one page rules.

[@PluckeesChannel]

Fair - I've played GrimDark Future Firefight and had a good time. I think there are a number of folk though that won't want to move out of the 40k space to learn new army rules and such. This is aimed at them!

[@Russellmeine]

@@PluckeesChannelbut youve articulated the issue I’ve had for along time. 40k and even AOS just are so exhausting. Just trying to keep all the units special rules and abilities in my head is even too much at times. Then add all the additional layers of rules and it’s just too much to be enjoyable.

[@PluckeesChannel]

Appreciate that! I’m in a gaming community that doesn’t necessarily want to move to a different ruleset because you have to bring a lot of people with you in order to do that. For Most people I know, gaming isn’t the biggest thing in their life (most of my friends have Kids and such now!) so getting people to move game systems or pick up a new system is a huge task. This is why I think tweak what is available, and I think people are far more amenable to the table set up than changing armies or systems!