Games Workshop is poised to release Warhammer 40,000:  Apocalypse, a new rules set designed for playing very large tabletop battles, which will be supported by a new line of accessories and "Battalion" model kits.  Apocalypse will be available for pre-order starting on June 29.

Warhammer 40,000:  Apocalypse, announced in March (see “More ‘Warcry’ Details, More ‘Age of Sigmar,’ Bigger ‘40,000’ Battles”), is designed for hobbyists who want to play larger, more epic battles using their entire collection of Warhammer 40,000 miniatures.  The game system is based on the Warhammer 40,000 rules set, with modifications for larger games that involve more models.  It has been re-designed for faster-paced play, with a greater level of interaction to reduce downtime between turns and a major change to the way damage is applied to prevent units from being removed from play before they are able to act. 

A new mechanic, “Command Asset” cards—representing such things as psychic powers and weapons of mass destruction—allow players to manipulate the battle in a variety of ways.  Players build their own deck of Command Asset cards before each game, and can play them each round.  Apocalypse also introduces movement trays to Warhammer 40,000, simplifying the movement of entire units of models and speeding up gameplay.  Movement trays will be available for models with 25mm, 32mm, and 40mm bases.

The core of the new system is the Warhammer 40,000:  Apocalypse boxed set, which includes the rules, both 6-sided and 12-sided dice, cardboard tokens, and a deck of 300 Command Asset cards.  Games Workshop will offer Apocalypse datasheets for every currently available Warhammer 40,000 unit as free downloads when the game releases.

Players who want more Command Asset options can add the Apocalypse Command Assets deck, which introduces an additional 100 Command Asset cards for players to choose from.  An Apocalypse Dice Set will also be on offer, with 25 6-sided dice and 25 12-sided dice in black and yellow.

Ten different Battalion model kits will release alongside the Apocalypse launch.  These larger-sized kits include entire detachments of models, each focused on one of the main factions of the Warhammer 40,000 universe.  Each kit includes from three large models, such as Imperial Knights, to as many as 37 individual warrior models. 

The company also announced the release of three new super-heavy tanks that can be used in both Warhammer 40,000 and Apocalypse games:  the Astra Militarum Baneblade, the Primaris Repulsor Executioner, and the combination Skorpius Disintegrator / Skorpius Dunerider kit.

Click on the gallery below for images of the first wave of Apocalypse models and accessories.