Special Operations Killzone
Special Operations Killzone is a set of fan
created rules for running skirmish games
within the Warhammer 40,000 universe.
(These rules will be similar in nature to the
original Kill Team rules from fourth edition.)
Basic rules additions and changes for Killzone games
The Turn
Priority: Each player rolls a D6 at the
beginning of each turn to see who has Priority
for that turn. The winner of the die roll may
choose to go first or second in the current
game turn. If the die roll is a tie Priority goes
to the person who went second in the
previous turn.
Movement Phase
Moving in terrain: To simplify things and help
keep the game flowing disregard the 5
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edition rules for moving through difficult terrain
and replace them with the following; any
model that wishes to move in difficult terrain
moves at a reduced rate of 4 inches.
th
Running: Disregard the 5 edition rules for
running and replace them with the following.
Any model may choose to make a run move
in its movement phase; the model doubles its
movement rate for a run move. A model that
runs may not shoot, in addition it may not
assault unless it has the Fleet USR.
Shooting Phase
Killzone: Any time a weapon fires more than
one shot, the shooting player picks a primary
target and may choose to have the hits
allocated to other enemy models within its
Killzone. All models within 2 inches of the
primary target model are in the Killzone and
are eligible as secondary targets. The
shooting player must announce if he is going
to implement a Killzone before any dice are
rolled. The first hit is always against the
primary target, any subsequent hits are
allocated by the owning player to the
secondary targets within the Killzone.
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Players will pit their Special Operations
Groups (SOG) against one another as they
attempt to complete missions vital to the
overall war effort that you would see in a
normal game of 40K. The members of these
groups are the unsung heroes of every war.
Overwatch: Any model that is armed with a
weapon that is listed in its type as ‘Heavy’
may choose to go into overwatch in its
movement phase; this will be the only action
the model may do in its turn. You should mark
the model to remind you that it is in
“overwatch”. Any enemy model that moves
and is visible to a model on overwatch may be
shot at. The model on overwatch may make a
normal shooting attack. Once the model on
overwatch has shot remove the marker it my
take no further actions this turn.
Grenades: Any model armed with grenades
may throw them with a range in inches that is
double their strength statistic.
Frag grenades are S4 AP6 have a small blast
template and may be thrown at anything.
Krak grenades are S8 AP3 may be thrown at
vehicles and fortifications, they have no blast.
Grenades that are classified as defensive
operate similar to frag grenades; they have a
small blast but do not do physical damage,
instead any model hit by a thrown defensive
grenade may not shoot unless it rolls a 4+ on
a D6. This effect last until the defensive
grenade players next turn.
In addition to these new rules, all grenades
function in assault the exact same way as
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they do in the normal 5 edition rules.
Assault Phase
Reactive Assault: When a model is
assaulted any friendly models within 3 inches
may choose to counter assault to aid their
comrade. To do this they must pass a
leadership test, if they succeed they charge
into combat, they do not gain the +1 attack for
assaulting unless they have the Counter
Attack USR.
Break Away: Any model locked in combat
from a previous turn may attempt to break
away from combat at the beginning of its
movement phase; if the model passes a
leadership test it immediately makes a full
move or run away from the combat it was just
in. The model may shoot as normal but may
not assault this turn. If the test is failed the
model loses one of its attacks in this round of
combat, if the models attack statistic is
reduced to zero it may not strike back in
combat.
General Game Changes
Army of Heroes: Each model in Killzone acts
on its own; they are for all intents a unit of
one.
3 Wound Models: No model may have more
than 3 wounds in Killzone.
Playing a Killzone Battle
There are two ways to play a Killzone game.
The first is a well thought out narrative
campaign, with predetermined missions and
objectives driving the games along the course
of the story.
The second is through the use of random
missions and objectives, which will create a
story of its own as you play the game.
Here are the basics for playing all
Killzone games.
The actual playing a game section is vague as
the real meat of game play comes from the
scenario being used.
Pick a game size:
You should prearrange the size and scope of
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Unique Models: Models listed as Unique in
their unit composition may not be used.
Team Leader: Pick one model from your
team to be the team leader, preferably the
model with the highest leadership. All models
within 6 inches may test on his leadership.
This model gains +1 wound if he only has one
in his base stats; if the model has more than
one wound already it gains +1 attack instead.
Area Effect: There are many items in 40k that
are carried by one model and effect the whole
unit that they are part of or attached to. These
items don't work properly in Killzone without
some tweaking. These items will have an area
effect in games of Killzone. Any friendly model
within 6 inches of a model carrying one of
these items gains the benefits from the item.
No Reserves: All of the models in your team
must be deployed on the table at the start of
the game. This means no model may teleport,
deepstrike or be left off the tabletop, unless
the scenario specifically allows it.
the game being played. How many Teams are
you going to use in your Special Operations
Group and what is the point limit?
Random Mission or Campaign game:
Determine which Mission is being played and
whether it is going to be a one off game or
part of a larger campaign storyline.
Missions can be determined by random dice
rolls, using the 'special' mission cards from
the final PDF, or by mutual agreement.
Secondary Objectives:
You must decide if you are going to use the
secondary objectives in your game.
The secret objective card is drawn to
determine what the bonus mission is for each
team in your Spec Ops Group. These cards
are kept secret and are only revealed at the
end of the game.
Strategy/Wargear cards:
You must decide if you are going to use the
Strategy/Wargear bonus cards in your game.
Shuffle the deck then draw a card; the card is
kept secret until it is used.
Play the game:
After all the above is worked out play your
mission to it's conclusion.
Ending the Game:
Although there will be other things that can
trigger a game to end in some of the
Scenarios being played. The following will
always end the game.
Once a team is reduced to 25% (rounding up)
of its starting model count it must take a
leadership test at the beginning of each of its
turns, if it passes it continues to function as
normal. The test is taken on the team leaders
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LD stat, if he is dead it is on the highest LD
left in the team. If the team fails its leadership
test the team routes and the game
ends.(Even teams comprised completely of
Fearless models will route, so must take the
break tests when reduced to 25%)
Note: If you are using two teams in the group,
then each group tests for leadership
independently. In order for the game to end,
both teams in the group must fail their
leadership test.
Determining a Winner:
Killzone uses what are called Mission Points
to determine which side wins. Just forcing
your opponent to break and rout off the
battlefield does not mean that you won. These
can be gained by completing objectives, and
killing your opponents models.
Typically a model is worth half its value
rounding up in Mission Points. Some
scenarios change these parameters and any
changes will be outlined in the mission
briefing.
 Building a list
Both players build a special operations group
using the codex for his/her army of choice.
A special operation group contains between
one to two special operations teams. The
exact number of teams will be determined by
the players prior to the game.
Each team has a 175-250 point limit and can
contain anywhere between 6 to 18 models in
total. Teams purchase individual models from
the Elite, Troops, Fast Attack and Heavy
Support unit selections in their codex. A little
basic math skill will be required to figure out
some individual points costs
. with 3+ invulnerable saves.
For example a Marine Tactical squad
sergeants cost is determined by subtracting
the cost of the 4 standard marines from the
squads base cost. So the cost for the Marine
sergeant is 26 points. (90-64=26)
You may only take one squad leader upgrade
for each unit choice taken and only after you
take one member from the squad entry. You
may not take a second squad leader choice
for a unit type more than once.
So for example you take one tactical and one
assault marine, you could then take an
assault sgt and a tactical sgt; once these are
chosen you may take no further tactical or
assault sgt’s in your team
A team may contain no more than 4 special
ranged weapons upgrades; only two may be a
heavy weapon upgrade. (Special Ranged
weapons upgrades are the ones that can only
be taken in a limited number. Ranged
weapons upgrades that all models in a squad
may take do not count toward this limit. For
example Marine Scouts can upgrade every
model to carry a sniper rifle or shotgun; these
upgrades are not limited by this rule. Pistol
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upgrades do not fall under these restrictions.)
No vehicles are allowed with the exception of
a single Walker per team and only if they have
an armor rating of 33 or less. Armor rating is
determined by adding the 3 armor values
(FA/SA/RA) for your vehicle together.
A team member may not have more than 3
wounds.
A team may contain no more than two models
with 2+ armor saves.
A team may contain no more than two models
A team may contain no more than two models
with Jump Packs.
A team may contain no more than two bike,
jetbike or cavalry models.
A team member may not have a toughness
statistic greater than five.
A few of the proceeding restrictions can be
lifted by purchasing the appropriate ‘Theme’
upgrade listed below.
Armored Might: This theme allows you to
take as many models with 2+ Armor saves in
your team as you desire. You may select this
theme for 25 points.
Death From Above: This theme allows you to
take as many models with Jump Packs in your
team as you desire. You may select this
theme for 25 points.
Swift As The Wind: This theme allows you to
take as many models that are Bikes, Jetbikes
or Cavalry/Beasts in your team as you desire.
You may select this theme for 25 points.
 Optional Upgrades
The following upgrades are optional, but I
would suggest using them as they add tons of
flavor and add greatly to the uniqueness of
the teams. Also note none of these are set in
stone yet as there have not been many
playtests with them; there may end up being
less or more of them when the project is done.
Some upgrades are listed with two points
Special Issue Wargear Upgrades
One of each of the following options may be
taken by each team.
Refractor Field 15 points
A team leader may take a refractor field and
gain a 5+ invulnerable save.
Suspensors 15 points
A team member with a Heavy Weapon fitted
with suspensors gains the Relentless USR,
but may only fire up to half the weapons
maximum range if they move. Missile
Launchers may not use suspensors.
Medipack 8/10 points
A team member with a medipack gains the
feel no pain USR; in addition my attempt to
revive a model that was killed in the previous
turn by moving into base contact with him, on
the roll of a 4+ the killed model is placed
upright with one wound.
Auspex 10 points
A team member with an Auspex ignores cover
saves when shooting or may forfeit it’s own
shooting to guide the shots of another team
member within 2 inches, in this case the
guided model ignores cover saves. The team
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values, the points are determined according to
the base statistic being enhanced. The first
value is for any stat that is 3 or less, the
second is for stats of 4 or greater. For
example lets look at the Targeter it has a 3/5
points value, so a Guardsman with a BS 3 will
pay 3 points for the upgrade and a Space
Marine will pay 5 points..
member may not be carrying a special ranged
weapon and have an Auspex.
Any team member may take any of the
following upgrades:
Targeter 3/5 points
A team member with a targeter adds +1 to all
of it’s shooting to hit rolls if the team member
doesn’t move.
Assault Grenades 1 point
Team members armed with assault grenades
count as being armed with Frag grenades.
These can take many forms depending on
your chosen force. We call them Biomass
spike projectiles for Tyranids. Models in
Terminator armor may not purchase assault
grenades.
Close combat accessories 1/4 points
These can take the form of bayonets, knives,
short swords and sometimes even sharpened
entrenching tools. A team member armed with
close combat accessories gains a second
attack in the assault phase. They may not be
taken by models that already possess 2 close
combat weapons.
 Specialized Team Member

Up to four members of a team my purchase a Brawler 3/5 points

single upgrade from the following list. Each
upgrade is purchased out of the teams 175-
225 point limit and may only be purchased
once per team.
Crack Shot 5 points
A team member with this ability may re-roll
any failed to hit or to wound rolls. The player
must choose which will be re-rolled at the
beginning of the shooting phase.
Penetrator Rounds 10 points
A team member armed with Penetrators
forces his opponent to re-roll all successful
armor saves from shooting attacks made by
the model. May not be taken by a team
member with a special ranged or heavy
weapon
Lightning Reflexes 25 points
A team member with this ability gains a 4+
dodge save from all shooting and close
combat attacks. The dodge save is taken
before his normal save; the model may use
both saves to avoid damage from any attack.
A team member with this ability gains +1 to all
his to wound rolls in close combat.
Blade Master 8/10 points
A team member with this ability gains +1
attack and all the models attacks become
rending. The model may not be armed with a
special close combat weapon.
Commando 10 points
Any infantry classed team member may take
the Commando upgrade. The model gains the
stealth, scout and move through cover USR’s.
The model may not have a Jump Pack, Bike,
Jetbike, or a 2+ armor save.
Hard to kill 4/6 points
The team member gains the Feel No Pain
USR.
Resilient 3/5 points
The team member gains +1 to its toughness.

Optional Game Rules that need playtesting.

Rock and Roll: Any Infantry model that does not move may double their weapons rate of fire this
turn, however they suffer a -1 to all their to hit rolls. For example a Marine armed with a bolter
could fire twice at 24 inches or fire 4 times under 12 inches.

Defensive Fire: Any model that did not run, shoot or participate in an assault in it's player turn
and is within 3 inches of an objective may use Defensive fire in its opponents player turn. If an
enemy model moves within 6 inches of a model that can use defensive fire; the model may shoot
at its enemy with a -1 to all its to hit rolls. You may only defensive fire one time, so if you are
being overrun life stinks!

Plasma Pistols: The plasma pistols used by these elite forces are well maintained and do not
suffer from the “gets hot” rule.

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