The new Plastic Drop Pod kit fixes two big issues in Warhammer 40k. But will the new version be worth taking?
Games Workshop revealed that a new plastic Drop Pod kit is coming. It’s a nice refresh of the miniature and the kit comes with two in the box. It also addresses one big pain point that’s been going on for years: Are the doors supposed to be open or closed when deployed? Well, the new kit has them in a fixed, open position — so we can all stop arguing over that one.
Another issue that Games Workshop seems to be going after is the whole “where do you measure distances from” for the Drop Pod. We’re supposed to be getting a new datasheet when the miniature lands that will clarify where everything gets measured from. Personally, I’m very grateful for that.
Over the years, I’ve seen lots of players try to pull some questionable deployment and measuring tricks because of the doors. Everything from measuring storm bolter shots from the edge of an open door to deploying the squad from them. Heck, I’ve even seen games where players have kept a couple doors shut just to keep the model from going “off the tabletop” due to some funky scatter or deployment trick.
Keep in mind many of these “tricks” got nixed in later editions or FAQs but that’s how long the old Drop Pods have been in use. If you can think of (or remember) a dirty trick with them due to vague modeling or “creative” rules interpretations, I’ve seen players trying to pull them all.
New Drop Pod, Old Problems
Again, I’m glad GW is deciding to take some firm stances on those issues — the doors being open and where you actually measure from. I’m also a little curious to see what’s going to happen now that the miniature doesn’t have the Storm Bolter or Deathwind launcher inside. Are those options just gone now? Is the Drop Pod even more of a terrain piece now than before?
I always felt like the Drop Pod was a mixed bag. On the one hand you had a (relatively) safe way of putting a unit where you needed it. This was a great way to deploy (and in some editions with pin-point accuracy) a unit’s firepower exactly where you needed it. I too have Drop Podded in a Sternguard Veteran Unit loaded with melta weapons to take out many Titan-level threats in Apocalypse-sized games.
However, you’re paying a points premium for a “vehicle” that’s effectively a faction specific terrain piece once it lands. Only now, without a weapon, it looks like it won’t even be able to shoot and be annoying. It’s literally going to land on the tabletop and just be in the way. I think a lot of armies are going to ignore them even more than before. Or worse, they’ll charge them to gain some extra movement…I’ve seen and done that trick myself.
As of right now, the Drop Pod is 70 points for a safe way to deploy a squad. It provides a very small amount of cover fire (and slightly more if you opt for the Deathwind Launcher). But when it lands, it’s immobile and it’s just in the way. If you remove the weapon system, will it be worth taking? I hope we at least see a points drop for the Drop Pods if that’s the case. I don’t even care if they make the thing paper thin toughness and armor. In fact, if the enemy wants to shoot it just to get it out of the way, I’m okay with that, too.
Deploying a unit safely and where you need them is the point. If it takes some fire away from other targets that’s just a side benefit. Hopefully this iteration will cause less arguments (and I think it will). But, after those things, I’m also not expecting Drop Pods to be anything other than in the way.
What do you think of the Drop Pods? Do you think we’ll get a points drop or not?
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Writer, Editor, Texas Native, and now Tex-Pat, Adam covers all things Tabletop Gaming. Which includes Warhammer 40,000, Age of Sigmar, D&D, Board Games and everything else that involves dice, boards, cards and a table.
A hobbyist, player, and collector of miniatures and games, Adam’s current obsession are his Death and Chaos Armies for Age of Sigmar, his Blood Angels and Tyranids for 40k, an expanding collection of Marvel: Crisis Protocol minis, and his ever growing Arkham Horror: The Card Game Collection.
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