Space Hulk (Third Edition)
Space Hulk (Third Edition) Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
- How to Play
- Box Contents
- The Models
- Other Playing Pieces
- Space Hulk Rules
- Command Phase
- Action Phase
- Reinforcement Phase
- Mission Status Phase
- Ladders & Objects
- Space Marine Wargear
- Librarians
- The Broodlord
- Design Notes
- Reference Sheet
How to Play
A Space Hulk game starts by picking one of the missions from the Mission Book. Each mission is based on a deadly battle that took place between the Space Marines and the Genestealers. The Mission Book explains what each side must do to win, how the board is set up, where the starting models will be deployed, and if any special rules apply to the mission.
The game progresses with each player taking turns to move and fight with the forces under their control. The Space Marine player has a limited amount of time to complete his turn and must make his moves as quickly as possible to avoid running out of time. The lightning fast reactions of the Genestealers mean that the Genestealer player may take as long to complete his turn as he wants.
The Space Marine forces are represented by the red plastic Space Marine models, while the Genestealer player uses the blue plastic Genestealer models and the card blip counters. The blip counters represent 'contacts' on the Space Marine scanners that indicate hostile Genestealers are in the area. Exactly how many Genestealers will not be known until the blip is revealed.
The blip counters appear first on the areas of the board indicated as being Genestealer entry areas. These areas are the only places where the Genestealer player can bring blips on to the board. The Space Marine player doesn't have to worry about reinforcements as he doesn't get any!
The Genestealer player moves the blips swiftly towards the Space Marines, keeping them face down to conceal their true strength from the Space Marines until the very last minute! A blip is only revealed when a Terminator can see it, at which point the counter is replaced with the appropriate number of Genestealer models.
The Space Marines play a tactical game of moving and shooting, trying to avoid close combat where possible – even their mighty Terminator suits are no match for the razor-sharp claws and fangs of a Genestealer. At long range, on the other hand, the Genestealers are vulnerable to the hail of fire laid down by the Space Marines' powerful storm bolters. Meanwhile the Genestealer player will be using his superior numbers and speed to reach the Space Marines and tear them apart with fang and claw.
The game finishes when one side or the other achieves their mission objective. Space Hulk plays very quickly, so you may then want to swap sides to see if you can do better than your opponent when the tables are turned.
Box Contents
Models
12 Space Marine Terminators:
- Sergeant with power sword
- Sergeant with thunder hammer
- 6 Space Marines with storm bolters
- Space Marine with heavy flamer
- Space Marine with assault cannon
- Space Marine with lightning claws
- Librarian with force axe
22 Genestealers 1 Broodlord 1 Dead Space Marine 1 Artefact 1 C.A.T.
Books
The Space Hulk Rulebook The Space Hulk Mission Book
Counters
22 Blips:
- 9 x 'one Genestealer'
- 4 x 'two Genestealers'
- 9 x 'three Genestealers'
21 x Genestealer Entry Area 10 x Overwatch/Jam 10 x Guard 6 x Command Point 12 x Ladder Up/Down 6 x Flamer Marker 5 x Powerfield Generator 10 x Space Marine Controlled Area 1 x Force Barrier 1 x Assault Cannon Ammunition 1 x Psi Points
Board Sections
24 Corridors 10 Rooms 8 Crossroads 8 T-Junctions 6 Corner Sections 4 Dead Ends 4 End Pieces 1 Offset Crossroad 2 Disposal Chutes
Doors
20 Doors 20 Plastic Stands
Other
5 Dice 1 Mission Status Display 1 Timer
The Models
All the models consist of several different components that clip together. Select a model you want to assemble and carefully remove all of the components from the frame. The models will better survive the wear and tear of battle if you glue them together using plastic glue, and they will look considerably more attractive if you paint them using acrylic paints from the Citadel range.
Each model clips together ready for play.
You can glue the parts in place if you wish.
Refer to the pictures on the side of the box or the back page of the Missions Book when assembling your models.
Facing
During the game the models are placed on the squares on the board to show their location. Each model must face one side of the square it is occupying – it cannot face diagonally.
The facing of a model is determined by the head of the model – the direction that the model is looking is the direction it is facing. If the facing of a model is unclear, simply tell your opponent which way the model is facing.
Correct Facing: The head of the model is pointing towards the side of a square. It is facing in this direction.
Incorrect Facing: The head of the model is pointing towards the corner of the square. Models may not face diagonally.
Other Playing Pieces
Mission Book
Space Hulk is played by fighting missions. Before starting, the players must choose a mission from those included in the separate Mission Book. Each mission shows how to set up the game board and which models will be used, and has a set of victory conditions that each side is trying to achieve in order to win the game.
The Game Board
The corridors, junctions and rooms of the Space Hulk are represented by the board sections included with the game. They are designed to 'jig' together to create a map on which the mission is played. Each mission has a specific map that shows how the board sections are set up.
To regulate movement, the board is divided into squares, sometimes referred to as spaces. Each square can hold one Genestealer or Space Marine model or blip counter. Note that although some squares look badly battle damaged this has no effect on play and does not stop a model moving into the square.
Doors
Space Hulk includes a number of cardboard doors. These are designed to be placed in the special stands included with the game, so that they can stand up. The location of any doors needed for a mission will be shown on the mission map.
The Timer
To represent the tense environment and split-second decision-making of combat aboard a space hulk, the Space Marine player has only a limited amount of time to perform his turn. The amount of time is determined by the sand-filled timer included with the game.
The Dice
The dice (or D6 for short) included with the game are used to resolve the results of shooting and hand-to-hand combat.
Blips
The Genestealers' exact numbers are initially unknown to the Space Marines, and this is represented by the use of face-down blip markers (or simply blips). Each face-down blip could be 1, 2 or 3 Genestealers. The Space Marine player may not look at the value of blips, allowing the Genestealer player to gather and move his forces with a degree of secrecy until the exact dispositions of the Genestealers are revealed during the course of the game.
Markers & Counters
There are a wide number of different counters included in the game. These are used to show how much ammunition a Space Marine has remaining or if their gun has jammed, and so on.
Mission Status Display
Space Hulk includes a mission status display board that is used to keep track of various pieces of information during the game. For example, it is important to keep track of the number of command points the Space Marines use, and you will need to keep track of the ammunition used by an assault cannon or the psi points used by the Space Marine Librarian. The mission status display has tracks and counters that are used to record all this information during the game.
The playing pieces are: 1. Mission Status Display. 2. Command Points Track. 3. Assault Cannon Ammunition Track. 4. Psi Points Track. 5. Genestealer Entry Area. 6. Assault Cannon Ammunition Counter. 7. Assault Cannon Ammunition Reloaded Counter. 8. Psi Points counter. 9. Command Points Counter. 10. Jam Counter. 11. Overwatch Counter. 12. Guard Counter. 13. Space Marine Controlled Area. 14. Power Field Generator – Damaged. 15. Power Field Generator – Undamaged. 16. Force Barrier Counter. 17. Ladder Down. 18. Ladder Up. 19. Flamer Marker. 20. Blip – Face Down. 21. Blips – Revealed.
Space Hulk Rules
Once you have the board set up and the models deployed, as described in the Missions book, you are ready to play. Every game of Space Hulk is played through in a series of turns – first the Space Marine player, and then the Genestealer player. Each turn is broken down into a number of phases, for simplicity and ease of play.
When it is your turn you may move and fight with all of the models under your command. The turn sequence below summarises what each player does in his turn, and the order that these activities are carried out in.
At the start of their turn each player gains extra help – the Space Marine player gains command points, which allow his Space Marines to carry out extra actions during the turn, while the Genestealer player can bring extra blips and models into play.
The next thing the players do is to move and fight with their models. The Genestealer player may take as long as he likes over his turn, but the Space Marine player only has a limited time in which to complete his turn, representing the difficulty of fighting against creatures with the lightning-fast reactions of the Genestealers.
After the players have completed their turns there is a Mission Status phase which is used to tidy up the board and remove any counters or markers that are no longer needed.
Turn Sequence
Space Marine Turn
Space Marine Command Phase First the Space Marine player must see how many command points he has for the turn, as explained later. Then the Genestealer player starts the timer.
Space Marine Action Phase Next the Space Marine player may move, shoot and complete any other actions with each of the Space Marines under his command. When the timer runs out the Space Marine Action phase ends immediately.
Genestealer Turn
Reinforcements Phase At the start of his turn the Genestealer player sees how many reinforcement blips he gets this turn and places them beside the entry areas on the board, as explained later.
Genestealer Action Phase The Genestealer player carries out actions with the Genestealers and/or blips under his control.
Mission Status Phase
Once the Genestealers player has completed his Action phase, the turn ends with any necessary record keeping in the Mission Status phase.
Command Phase
At the start of the game take the six command point counters and place them in a mug or similar opaque container. Then, in the Command phase the Space Marine player draws a command point counter at random from the container, to see how many command points he will have for the turn. After examining the counter he places it face down on the '0' space on the command track of the mission status display board, without showing it to the Genestealer player.
Space Marine Sergeants
Space Marine Sergeants are veterans of a hundred battles, trained to issue commands that will be followed without question. To represent this, as long as there is at least one Space Marine Sergeant on the board, then the Space Marine player may choose to return the command counter he has drawn to the container, shake the counters up, and draw a replacement counter. He must use the replacement counter, even if it has a lower value than the counter that was first drawn.
Using Command Points
Command points can be used by the Space Marine player in both the Space Marine turn and the Genestealer turn in order to allow Space Marine models to carry out extra actions. How this works is explained in the relevant rules sections below.
Keeping Track of Command Points
The command points counter is placed face down on the '0' space on the command point track of the mission status display. It is the Genestealer player's responsibility to move the marker along the track whenever the Space Marine player spends command points.
The command points counter is revealed in the status phase at the end of the turn. The Space Marine player is not allowed to use more command points than the number shown on the counter, and if he has used more command points than he had available then he immediately loses the game.
The Timer
The Space Marine player only has a limited amount of time to complete his Action phase, which is kept track of with the timer included in the game.
It is the Genestealer player's responsibility to start the timer. He does this after the Space Marine player has placed the command points marker on the '0' space of the mission status display. When the timer runs out the Space Marine turn ends immediately! Complete any action that the Space Marine player was in the process of carrying out, and then start the Genestealer turn.
Action Phase
The bulk of the Space Hulk rules deal with how models and blips move and fight on the board. This is conducted in each player's Action phase. In the Action phase each model under a player's command receives a number of action points that the player can use to have the model carry out actions.
Action Points
During the Action phase each model or blip has a certain number of action points (AP) to spend on actions, as shown in the chart below.
Action Point Allowance
| Model | AP |
|---|---|
| Space Marine | 4 |
| Genestealer | 6 |
| Blip | 6 |
Actions
Action points are used to carry out actions. Each action costs a certain number of AP to perform. The actions and their AP costs are collected together on the summary sheet below and explained in detail later on in this rules section. Possible actions include moving, opening and closing doors, shooting and attacking the enemy in close assault.
In his Action phase the player activates the models and blips under his command one at a time. When a piece is activated it expends action points to carry out actions until the player wishes to stop or the piece has run out of action points to use. Actions are performed one at a time, and each action must be completed before moving on to the next one.
Action Point Table
Space Marines: 4 Action Points Genestealers & Blips: 6 Action Points
| Action | Space Marine | Genestealer | Blip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move forwards 1 square | 1* | 1** | 1 |
| Move backwards 1 square | 2* | 2** | 1 |
| Move sideways 1 square | – | 1** | 1 |
| Turn 90 degrees | 1* | 1 | – |
| Turn 180 degrees | – | 1 | – |
| Fire storm bolter or assault cannon | 1 | – | – |
| Set overwatch/guard | 2 | – | – |
| Clear jammed storm bolter | 1 | – | – |
| Fire heavy flamer | 2 | – | – |
| Close assault | 1 | 1 | – |
| Open/close door | 1 | 1 | 1 |
* The Space Marine may fire a storm bolter or assault cannon as part of the same action, at no additional cost in APs
** The Genestealer may turn 90 degrees as part of the same action, at no additional cost in APs
Once all models and blips have performed their actions the player's turn is over. A player may only activate one model or blip at a time and once that piece has completed its actions it may not be activated again except to use command points – the players must plan their turns so that they do not have to swap back and forth between pieces.
Command Points
Each turn the Space Marine player gets a number of command points. These allow the Space Marines to take extra actions in addition to their normal allowance of 4 action points, and can even be used in certain situations during the Genestealers' turn.
When used in the Space Marine turn, command points are treated exactly like additional action points that can be spent performing actions. They may be spent on the same Space Marine, or spread out over several as the player sees fit. Command points can be used on a Space Marine model at any time during the Action phase, even if it has already finished his move.
The Space Marine player can also use command points in the Genestealers turn to react to the actions of his opponent. They can be spent to perform actions out of sequence – so command points could be used to fire a weapon, close a door and so on during the Genestealer player's turn.
Command points can only be spent in the Genestealer turn if a Space Marine model has line of sight to a Genestealer that has just completed an action (line of sight is explained under Shoot Actions on the next page).
Each action witnessed allows a Space Marine to perform one action (this may be an action that costs 2 action/command points). The Space Marine's action happens immediately, and before the Genestealer carries out its next action.
It is the Genestealer Action phase. The Genestealer uses an action point to move forward a square. In response the Space Marine player declares he will spend a command point to take a shoot action. The shooting attack happens before the Genestealer takes its next action.
Move & Turn Actions
A Genestealer, Space Marine or blip is allowed to take 'move' or 'turn' actions. Move actions allow the model or blip to move one square, and turn actions allow them to change their facing. The number of APs it costs to carry out the action varies depending on how difficult it is to carry out, as described below.
Move: It costs 1 AP to move one space forwards, or diagonally forwards, and 2 AP to move backwards one space or diagonally backwards one space. Blips are an exception to these rules, and can move in any direction for 1 AP (see the rules for blips later on). Space Marines may not move sideways – they must turn to face before moving into the square. Genestealers can move sideways at a cost of 1 AP.
A model or blip cannot move through another model, blip, or a closed door. A model also cannot move diagonally if this means it would pass between two squares containing a wall or a model – see the example below.
The Genestealer may not move into the squares marked X, as it would have to move between the Space Marine and the wall.
Turn: Genestealers may turn 90° to the left or right as part of a move action. The turn is made before or after the move (but not both), and does not cost any action points or count as a separate action. All other turns are taken as a separate action. Space Marines may turn 90° to the left or right for 1 AP. Genestealers may turn 90° or 180° for 1 AP.
This diagram shows how many action points it costs the Genestealer to move into an adjacent square.
This diagram shows how many action points it costs the Space Marine to move into an adjacent square. Note that the Space Marine cannot move sideways.
Exiting the Map
In several missions models need to exit the board through an exit point shown on the deployment map. In order to exit the map the model must 'move' into an imaginary square off the board at the exit point. A model that leaves the map is out of play and may not return.
Doors
Armoured doors often divide the corridors and rooms of a space hulk. These block lines of sight and movement when closed, but when open have no effect on the game. Doors start the game closed. To open or close a door a model must be in a square adjacent to the door and with the door in one of its three forward squares. It costs 1 AP to open or close a door.
Shoot Actions
Space Marines are armed with storm bolters and powerful heavy weapons. They may fire these at Genestealer models and closed doors by taking a shoot action. The cost of the action varies depending on the weapon being used: it costs 1 AP to fire a storm bolter or assault cannon, and 2 APs to fire a heavy flamer. Genestealers have no ranged weaponry at all and must rely on close assault to kill their enemies.
Line of Sight
In order to be able to shoot at something, the Space Marine must be able to see it. A Space Marine can see squares in its forward arc, as shown in the diagram below. A model can see an unlimited distance as long as there is nothing in the way. If there is a model, wall, or door in any square between the Space Marine and his target then he cannot see it.
This diagram shows which squares are considered to be in the model's forward arc. As you can see, the forward arc widens from three squares, to five, then seven and so on.
Corners
A Space Marine standing in a corridor can only see round a corner if he is standing next to it.
The Space Marine standing at the corner can see the Genestealer. The Space Marine further down the corridor cannot.
Rooms
When approaching a room, a Space Marine can always see a target in a direct line, as shown in the diagram below. However, squares in the corner and the sides cannot be seen until the Space Marine is in the doorway.
The Space Marine at the entrance of the room can see both Genestealers. The Space Marine in the corridor cannot see either of them, as he can only see the squares directly in front of him.
Range
Sometimes shooting has a limited range. To see if the target is within range, count the number of squares between the Space Marine and the target, including the target's square but not the Space Marine's.
Destroying The Target
When a Space Marine carries out a shoot action, one or more dice will be rolled, and if they roll high enough the target will be destroyed. For example, a Space Marine firing a storm bolter rolls two dice and will destroy the target if either dice rolls a 6.
Space Marines can carry a variety of ranged weapons, including storm bolters, assault cannons and heavy flamers. The rules for these weapons and the rolls they require to destroy the target can be found in the Wargear section of the rulebook (see pages 19-21).
Overwatch Actions
A Space Marine armed with a storm bolter or assault cannon can spend 2 APs to set himself in overwatch, which will last until the end of the turn. A Space Marine with a heavy flamer may not be placed in overwatch.
When in overwatch the Space Marine is standing ready to fire and this allows him to shoot during the Genestealers' turn. Place an overwatch marker next to the Space Marine to show that he is in overwatch.
The Space Marine player spends 2 action points to put the Space Marine into overwatch. He places an overwatch counter beside the model to show that it is in overwatch.
If a Space Marine is attacked in close assault or performs any action (other than clearing a jam) he immediately loses his overwatch status. Overwatch markers are removed during the Mission Status phase if they were not lost earlier. Note that a Space Marine armed with a storm bolter may jam it if he rolls a 'double' on the dice (see the storm bolter entry in the Wargear section later on).
Shooting in Overwatch
When in overwatch, a Space Marine armed with a storm bolter or assault cannon can perform shoot actions in the Genestealer turn without expending any action points. He must take one shoot action each time a Genestealer performs an action within his line of sight and within a range of 12 squares. The overwatch fire is resolved after the Genestealer has performed its action, so if this action takes the Genestealer out of the Space Marine's range or line of sight then there is no shooting.
Overlapping Overwatch
It can happen that a Genestealer performs an action in the fire arc of more than one Space Marine on overwatch. If this happens all of the Space Marines must take their shot at the Genestealer, and you must roll for them all, even if the Genestealer has been killed by an overwatch shot from another Space Marine!
The Genestealer moves forward one square, turning 90 degrees to the left as part of the same action. This triggers overwatch fire from both of the Space Marines, who must now shoot.
In the Genestealer Action phase the first Genestealer takes an action to move one square towards the Space Marine (1). The Space Marine fires and misses. The Genestealer spends another action point to move a second square (2), and the Space Marine fires again. This time he kills the Genestealer. The second Genestealer moves diagonally forward into the side corridor (3). The Space Marine cannot see into this square and may not therefore take an overwatch shot.
Close Assault Actions
Carrying no ranged weapons, the Genestealers must rely on their claws to destroy the Space Marines, and a desperate Space Marine may try to batter a Genestealer with his power fist. They do this by taking a close assault action.
Taking a Close Assault Action
A model can take a close assault action to attack a target in the square directly in front of them. It costs 1 AP to take a close assault action once the model is in position.
A model can only attack the square directly in front of it. In this example, the Genestealer could only attack a model in the square marked with a tick. It could not attack a target in the squares marked X.
Resolving Close Assaults
In a close assault both players roll a number of dice, and then compare their scores. Genestealers roll three dice in a close assault, and Space Marines roll just one. Compare the single highest dice roll for each side, and whoever has rolled higher has won the close assault. If the scores are tied then neither side has won, and no damage is done to either participant.
Space Marine Sergeant Bonus
Space Marine Sergeants are highly experienced combat veterans. To represent this, add +1 to their dice score in a close assault against an enemy to the front.
Effects of Close Assault
If the attacker wins the close assault, the defender is killed and removed. If the defender wins and is facing the attacker then the attacker is killed and removed. If the defender wins or ties and is not facing the attacker (often the case against those tricky Genestealers), the defender may be turned in place to face the attacker.
The Genestealer spends an action point to close assault the Space Marine. The Genestealer player rolls three dice for the Genestealer, and uses the single dice with the highest roll. He scores 2, 4 and 5, so his score is 5.
The Space Marine rolls a single dice and scores 4. The Genestealer wins the combat, and the Space Marine is killed.
The Genestealer moves forward one square for 1 AP, and then attacks the Space Marine from the side for a second AP. If the Space Marine wins he will not kill the Genestealer, but may turn to face it.
Close Assaulting a Door
A model may close assault a door just like attacking a model. For obvious reasons the door does not roll any dice! The attacker must score a 6 on at least one of their dice to destroy the door.
Guard Actions
A Space Marine can spend 2 APs to set himself on guard. When on guard, the Space Marine is standing ready to fight in close combat, which can give him a vital advantage if he is assaulted by a Genestealer. Place a guard counter next to the Space Marine to show that he is on guard. If he carries out any other action he loses the guard counter. A Space Marine can either be on guard or on overwatch, not both at the same time.
A Space Marine that is on guard may roll his dice again in a close assault. The Space Marine may choose to re-roll his own dice after he has seen the Genestealer's dice roll.
Only one dice may be re-rolled, and the result of the second roll must be used even if worse than the first.
A Space Marine remains on guard until the end of the turn, even if he is attacked by a Genestealer. The counter is removed at the end of the turn during the Mission Status phase.
The Genestealer spends an action point to close assault the Space Marine. He scores 2, 4 and 5, so his score is 5.
The Space Marine rolls a 4, but as he is on guard he can re-roll the dice. He does so, scoring a 6 and winning the combat. The Genestealer is killed and the Space Marine remains on guard.
Reinforcement Phase
Each mission states how many blips the Genestealer player starts the game with, and how many he receives each turn as reinforcements. Until they are revealed only the Genestealer player will know how many Genestealers they represent.
At the start of the game, shuffle the blip counters and place them all face down in a stack. The Genestealer player may not examine the blips in the stack, but is free to look at the values of any blips picked up or on the board at any time. The Space Marine player may not look at the value of blips until they are revealed.
Starting and reinforcement blips are taken from the stack at the appropriate time (starting blips when setting up, and reinforcement blips in the Reinforcement phase). After the requisite number have been taken they are examined by the Genestealer player, and then placed by him at any of the Genestealer entry areas shown on the map for the mission. When no blips are left in the stack, take the used ones, shuffle them, and make a new stack of face-down blip counters. Blips are drawn from the top of the new stack as normal.
Placing Blips
Blips must first be placed face down off the board outside an entry point (the Genestealer player may look at the value of the blip before placing it). While there, they are not considered to be on the board and so take no part in the game. To enter play, the blip simply moves onto the first square of the board next to the entry point, expending the normal 1 AP cost for moving one square. From this point on they are part of play and move and fight as described below.
The Genestealer player takes two reinforcement blips and places them beside two of his entry areas. The blip by the bottom entry area will be forced to lurk for a turn, as there is a Space Marine within six spaces of the entry square.
Lurking
Blips do not have to immediately enter play. They can instead lurk at an entry area, usually to wait for more numbers to arrive. Simply leave the blip off the board next to the entry area. Up to three blips can lurk at each entry area.
If a Space Marine is six or fewer squares away from an entry point square at the start of the Genestealer phase, then any reinforcement blips placed there must lurk for the rest of the turn. They are free to enter the board on the following turn if the Genestealer player chooses.
Blip Movement
Blips receive 6 APs per turn. Blips have no facing and therefore can move one square in any direction for 1 AP. Opening/closing doors (for the usual 1 AP) and moving are the only actions blips can perform – they cannot attack or perform any other action.
Blips cannot move into a Space Marine's line of sight. If this happens accidentally then the blip is returned to the last square in which it was out of line of sight and it may not do anything for the remainder of the current turn. Blips cannot move next to a Space Marine, even if the Space Marine is facing another direction and has no line of sight to the blip.
Converting Blips
Blips can be converted in two ways: voluntarily and involuntarily. In either case the blip is flipped over to show how many Genestealer models need to be placed, and is then placed face up beside the board.
Voluntary Conversion
The Genestealer player can convert a blip counter into Genestealers by revealing it during his Action phase. He reveals the blip instead of activating it; if the blip has done anything that Action phase then it may not be revealed. The Genestealer player may choose to reveal a blip that is off the board by an entry area.
Neither Space Marine can see the blips, and so the Genestealer player may voluntarily convert them in his Action phase.
Involuntary Conversion
If at any time during the turn a Space Marine can draw a line of sight to a blip (see Shoot Actions) then it is automatically and immediately revealed. Should this happen during the Genestealer's turn, then the revealed Genestealers may be activated so long as the blip has not taken an action so far this turn.
Remember that a blip cannot move into a Space Marine's line of sight; however, the Genestealer player can move a model or open a door that was blocking a Space Marine's line of sight, allowing the Space Marine to see a blip. This would be involuntary conversion.
The Space Marine opens the door so he can see the blip. The blip undergoes immediate involuntarily conversion, before the Space Marine takes his next action.
Placing Revealed Genestealers
When a blip is revealed, one Genestealer is placed on the space the blip was occupying. Any additional Genestealers must be placed in an empty square adjacent to the first. If the blip was by an entry area, then the models are placed by the entry area and may enter play in the same manner as a blip counter.
In the case of voluntary reveals, the Genestealer player places the models, while the Space Marine player gets to place the models if the blip was involuntarily revealed. Regardless of who placed them the Genestealer player can choose the facing of any Genestealers when they are revealed.
In the case of voluntary reveals, the Genestealers may not be placed in line of sight of a Space Marine. With involuntary reveals they may be and, in this case, placing the Genestealer counts as performing an action and so the Space Marine can fire on overwatch or spend command points to perform an action.
If there are not enough empty adjacent spaces any Genestealers that can't be placed are forfeited – these lost Genestealers are not counted as casualties for the purposes of mission victory conditions. The same is true if there are not enough Genestealer models to place – the number of models in the box is a limit to the number of Genestealers that can be in play at any time.
If the blip has not yet been activated on the turn it is revealed, any Genestealers placed are free to be activated as normal. If the blip was activated before it was revealed, any Genestealers placed may not be activated later in the turn.
The blip is revealed to show that it represents two Genestealers. The first is placed in the square that the blip has occupied (1). As this is an involuntary conversion the second Genestealer is placed by the Space Marine player further away down the corridor (2). The Genestealer player chooses the facing of both models.
Mission Status Phase
The Mission Status phase is used to check if either player has won, and to get things ready for the next turn. Counters that have served their purpose are removed, and the board is generally cleared up for the start of a new turn.
The players should first check the victory conditions of the mission to see if either of them has won. The game ends as noted in the mission rules, usually when a specific event has happened or objective has been achieved.
Note that as there are variable victory conditions, it is possible that a victory condition has been achieved but the game does not end – the level of victory may be increased or reduced.
After the victory conditions have been checked, the Space Marine player reveals the command point counter to show that he has not expended more than he had for the turn and then returns it to the container with the other command point counters. Any command points not spent are wasted. Finally players should remove any markers for overwatch, jams, flames, etc.
You are now ready to start a new turn.
Ladders & Objects
Some missions will include ladders that lead down to a new level of the space hulk or objects that can be picked up and carried. The missions that use these rules will say so in the special rules section.
Ladders
Some missions are fought on two maps, one above the other, that are connected by ladders. Place ladder up and ladder down counters on the appropriate squares on each board, as shown on the mission map.
The two ladder squares are assumed to be adjacent to each other, and a model standing on one is allowed to shoot or close assault a model on the other just as if they were standing in adjacent squares to each other's front. It costs a Genestealer 1 AP and a Space Marine 2 APs to move from a ladder square on one board to the corresponding ladder square on the other.
Roll a dice when a Space Marine enters a square that contains a ladder going down (including when he climbs up from the level below). On a roll of 1 the Space Marine falls down to the space below. The Space Marine maintains his facing, but loses any action points he may have had remaining at the time that he fell (command points may be used to perform extra actions as normal). Any model in the square below is destroyed.
Objects
A mission may require that one side must carry an object into position, or retrieve it for themselves. This is specified in the Mission Book. Objects are placed in a square in the same manner as a model.
Objects may not be attacked, though a model carrying one may be. An object on its own in a square does not block a line of sight – a Space Marine can shoot through the square as if the object was not there. If a door is closed upon an object then move it into a randomly selected adjacent square.
A model that moves onto a square with an object automatically picks it up and may move with it from then on. A model carrying an object can carry out any action and is not hindered in any way. It may choose to drop the object in a square as it moves, leaving the object behind as it moves on. A model will automatically drop an object if the model is destroyed. Blips may not move into a square that contains an object.
A model may pass an object to another that is in the square to his front. This is an action and costs the model handing the object 1 AP; the model receiving the object does not have to use an action or any action points in order to to receive it.
Space Marine Wargear
Space Marines can be armed with a wide variety of weapons, each of which is described in this section of the rulebook. Don't feel you need to learn the rules for all of the weapons in the game – just look them up as and when they are required.
The wargear pictured is: 1. Power fist. 2. Storm bolter (with laser sight). 3. Storm bolter. 4. Chainfist. 5. Assault cannon. 6. Force axe. 7. Heavy flamer. 8. Power sword. 9. Lightning claws. 10. Storm shield. 11. Thunder hammer.
Storm Bolter and Power Fist
Note: Page 19 of the printed rulebook — covering the Storm Bolter (including Moving and Firing, Sustained Fire, Shooting at Doors and Jams) and the Power Fist — was missing from the only third-edition scan available, so those entries are not transcribed here. Related storm bolter and jam rules do appear elsewhere in this rulebook, in the Shooting and Overwatch sections above.
Assault Cannon
Assault cannons are heavy weapons that can be used by Space Marine Terminators. Their rapidly rotating, multiple barrels are capable of unleashing a hail of shells, each capable of tearing a Genestealer apart. It costs 1 AP for a Space Marine to fire an assault cannon. When firing in this way, there is no maximum range. To resolve the effects of the shooting roll 3 dice. If any dice score a 5 or 6 the target is destroyed and removed from play.
A Space Marine can combine a move or turn action with firing an assault cannon, paying the normal 1 or 2 APs for the move or turn, and firing the assault cannon 'for free'. In addition it can receive a sustained fire bonus in the same manner as a storm bolter. In the case of the assault cannon the bonus means that it will score hits on a roll of 4, 5 or 6.
Assault Cannon Ammunition
An assault cannon is loaded with enough ammunition to fire ten times. Assault cannon ammunition is kept track of on the mission status display. At the start of the game place the assault cannon ammunition counter on the 10 space on the track. Each time the assault cannon is fired, including when it is fired on overwatch, the Genestealer player must move the counter one space down the track. Once all ten shots have been used the assault cannon may no longer shoot.
Assault Cannons and Overwatch
An assault cannon can be put into overwatch for the same AP cost as a storm bolter, entitling the assault cannon to fire at any eligible target as long as it has ammunition remaining. An assault cannon will not jam (they are built for rapid fire).
Reloading the Assault Cannon
Assault cannon ammunition is held in slide-in magazines mounted on the rear of the weapon. The Space Marine armed with the assault cannon carries a spare box of ammunition, and can reload it at a cost of 4 AP. Return the ammunition marker to the 10 space on the track, but flip it to the 'reloaded' side. Once these additional ten shots have been used, the assault cannon may not be reloaded again.
Assault Cannon Malfunction
Although made of a special alloy, an assault cannon's weapon barrels can reach incredibly high temperatures if used continuously, and in such circumstances there is a chance it will malfunction. If an assault cannon has been reloaded and all three dice come up with the same number then the assault cannon explodes (the target can still be destroyed if the dice rolls are high enough). The Space Marine firing the assault cannon is killed. In addition the Space Marine player must roll a dice for each model or door on the same board section as the assault cannon; any model or door is destroyed on a roll of 4 or more.
Chainfist
Chainfists are used to slice through bulkheads and closed doorways. A Space Marine armed with a chainfist automatically destroys a door if they close assault it. No dice roll is necessary. Though they do more damage in battle than a power fist, they are somewhat unwieldy, and therefore are treated as a power fist in a close assault with a Genestealer.
Heavy Flamer
A heavy flamer projects a gout of burning promethium that can incinerate a swathe of enemies, and coats the room or corridor with fuel that continues to burn for a short period after firing. It costs 2 APs to take a shoot action with a heavy flamer. This cannot be combined with any other action. A heavy flamer can target a model or square up to 12 spaces away. This may be an empty square.
The Space Marine can see one or more squares in the room and fires his heavy flamer into it. The flamer marker is placed in the room to show that it has been set on fire. Each of the Genestealers in the section will be attacked, even though the Space Marine cannot actually see them, and will be killed on a roll of 2 or more.
Area Effect
Heavy flamers affect entire map sections (except parts blocked by closed doors; see below). When a flamer shoots at a square or model, place a flamer marker in the middle of the section the target occupies. Then roll a dice for each model or blip in the section including the target model; the piece is destroyed on a roll of 2 or higher. You can fire more than once at a section if desired.
Persistent Effect
Once placed, the flamer marker remains where it is until it is removed in the Mission Status phase at the end of the turn. All squares in a map section that contains a flamer marker are considered blocked for line of sight and movement. Surviving pieces within the section can move, but must roll to see if they are destroyed each time they enter a new square in the section with the flamer marker. Note that it is possible to trace a line of sight to a target on the edge of a burning section, as long as there are no burning squares in between. Also note that the Space Marine player may fire a heavy flamer at an empty section, to block it during the Genestealer turn.
Limited ammunition
A heavy flamer only carries sufficient fuel for six shots. This is the number of flamer counters provided, so set each counter aside when it has been used to keep track of ammunition expenditure.
Flamers and Doors
Flamers cannot destroy or shoot through closed doors. If a section which takes a flamer hit has any closed doors, then the squares beyond the door are unaffected, but the door cannot be opened until the flamer counter is removed.
Lightning Claws
Lightning claws are bladed gloves surging with lethal energy. They are usually worn in pairs, and therefore preclude the Space Marine from using a storm bolter. A Space Marine with lightning claws fighting a close assault to his front rolls two dice in close assault, and adds a +1 modifier to the result of the highest dice. When on guard the model may re-roll one of the two dice, not both.
Power Sword
Power swords are rare and extremely effective weapons, awarded to Space Marines that have proven themselves in battle. When fighting a close assault to his front a Space Marine armed with a power sword can parry an attack, forcing the opposing player to re-roll his highest-scoring dice. If the Space Marine is on guard then he may do this before deciding if he will re-roll his own dice.
Storm Shield
The storm shield is a defensive energy shield worn on the Space Marine's left arm. A Space Marine carrying a storm shield may block one close assault dice roll made by an opponent to their front, with the result that the opponent rolls one less dice than normal to resolve the assault.
Thunder Hammer
When a thunder hammer strikes a foe it unleashes a blast of energy that can stun even the most powerful opponent. To represent this, a Space Marine armed with a thunder hammer receives a +1 modifier to his close assault dice roll against models to his front. Note that this means that a Space Marine Sergeant armed with a thunder hammer receives a +2 modifier against models to his front (+1 for being a Sergeant, and +1 for having a thunder hammer).
Librarians
The Librarians of a Space Marine Chapter have powerful psychic abilities that they use to bolster their own fighting skills and influence the battle around them. The instructions for a mission will tell you if a Librarian is part of the Space Marine force.
Combat Veteran
Librarians are highly experienced combat veterans. To represent this they add +1 to the dice in a close assault in the same manner as a Space Marine Sergeant.
Psi Points
The Librarian starts each mission with 20 psi points. Psi points can be spent to do two things:
- They may be spent to increase the Librarian's dice roll in an assault (see the force axe entry below).
- They may be spent to use a psychic power (see psychic powers below).
The psi point counter provided with the game is used to record the number of psi points the Librarian has remaining. At the start of the game place the counter on the '20' space on the psi-point track on the mission status display. The Genestealer player must move the counter down the track as the Librarian uses psi-points. Once all 20 psi points have been used, the Librarian may not use any of his psychic abilities for the remainder of the mission.
Force Axe
The Librarian's force axe allows him to channel his psychic energy into a deadly close combat attack. To represent this, psi points can be used to add a bonus to the Librarian's dice roll in a close assault to the Librarian's front. Each point spent adds +1 to the dice roll. The points are spent after the dice are rolled and any re-rolls have been made.
Psychic Powers
A Librarian can use one psychic power per Space Marine turn. This costs the Librarian a number of psi points depending on the power being used. Note that using a psychic power is not an action as such: it does not cost the Librarian any action points, and it may be used at any point during the Space Marine turn, including when another Space Marine is taking an action. Only one psychic power may be used per Space Marine turn.
Prescience
Using his powers of foresight, the Librarian allows the Space Marines to act with greater coordination and efficiency. Using prescience allows the Space Marine player to move the command point marker one space back along the track. The counter cannot be moved back past the '0' space. This power costs the Librarian 1 psi point.
Force Barrier
The Librarian creates a psychic barrier. Place the force barrier counter in an empty square within 12 spaces of the Librarian (no line of sight is required). The force barrier remains in play for the rest of the turn, and is then removed in the Mission Status phase. While it is in play no model may enter or shoot through the square. This power costs the Librarian 2 psi points.
Psychic Storm
The Librarian unleashes a psychic attack upon the enemy. The Librarian can target a single Genestealer or blip within 6 squares of the Librarian, or a board section that has at least one square within range. No line of sight is required. If the power is targeted on a single Genestealer or blip then it is destroyed on a roll of 2+. If a board section is targeted then any Genestealers or blips on the board section are destroyed on a roll of 4+. Doors and Space Marines are not affected by a psychic storm. This power costs the Librarian 3 psi points.
The Broodlord
The oldest and most powerful Genestealers are known as Broodlords. Even more vicious and intelligent than their offspring, Broodlords are dangerous foes. The instructions for a mission will tell you if a Broodlord is part of the Genestealer force.
Revealing the Broodlord
If a mission specifies that a Broodlord is present, then once during the mission the Genestealer player can choose to say that any '3' blip he reveals is in fact the Broodlord. Instead of setting up three Genestealers, place the Broodlord model in the space occupied by the blip counter. When revealed, the Broodlord is treated as a Genestealer with the following additional rules.
Hard to Kill
It takes a lot more to kill a Broodlord than an ordinary Genestealer. To represent this, shooting attacks will only kill the Broodlord if two or more of the dice roll high enough to kill the target – one hit has no effect. Note this means that heavy flamers cannot harm a Broodlord. This rule does not apply to close assault rolls.
Mighty Blow
The Broodlord can deliver a crushing blow in close combat. To represent this, in a close assault against an enemy to its front, the Broodlord adds together its best roll and its lowest roll to find his score. For example, the Broodlord rolls a 6, 6, 3. The Broodlord adds together the 6 and 3, giving a total of 9. If the Broodlord is ever forced to roll less than three dice, then it simply uses the combined total rolled on the dice.
Immune to Psychic Storm
The Broodlord has the psychic strength to resist a psychic storm and is not affected by the power.
Design Notes
Space Hulk was first published in 1989. Designed by the eccentric but highly talented games designer Richard Halliwell (Hal to his friends), it quickly established a reputation as a classic game with a legion of loyal fans who still play the game to this day. A number of supplements for the first edition followed, adding rules for Librarians and weapons such as the assault cannon.
For the new edition we concentrated our creative energies on providing the best playing pieces we possibly could. The rules are mostly unchanged, with the exception that almost all of the additional rules from the supplements are included in the main rulebook. We've also taken the opportunity to make a couple of new additions like the new Broodlord and the rules for going 'on guard', both of which will give players of earlier versions of the game something new to try.
What has changed most is the quality of the gaming pieces, especially the miniatures, which have benefited from the decades of experience our miniatures designers have built up since the first edition of the game was published. We feel that the result is the finest version of Space Hulk ever published and a fitting tribute to Hal's original design.
Reference Sheet
Turn Sequence
Space Marine Turn Command Phase Action Phase
Genestealer Turn Reinforcements Phase Action Phase
Mission Status Phase
Psychic Powers Table
| Power | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Prescience | 1 | Move command point marker back 1 space. |
| Force Barrier | 2 | Range 12. Barrier blocks square. |
| Psychic Storm | 3 | Range 6. Single target destroyed on 2+. Area target(s) destroyed on 4+. |
| Force Axe | – | +1 to close assault score per psi point. |
Action Point Table
Space Marines: 4 Action Points Genestealers & Blips: 6 Action Points
| Action | Space Marine | Genestealer | Blip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move forwards 1 square | 1* | 1** | 1 |
| Move backwards 1 square | 2* | 2** | 1 |
| Move sideways 1 square | – | 1** | 1 |
| Turn 90 degrees | 1* | 1 | – |
| Turn 180 degrees | – | 1 | – |
| Fire Storm Bolter or Assault Cannon | 1 | – | – |
| Set overwatch/guard | 2 | – | – |
| Clear jammed Storm Bolter | 1 | – | – |
| Fire Heavy Flamer | 2 | – | – |
| Close assault | 1 | 1 | – |
| Open/close door | 1 | 1 | 1 |
* The Space Marine may fire a storm bolter or assault cannon as part of the same action, at no additional cost in APs.
** The Genestealer may turn 90 degrees as part of the same action, at no additional cost in APs.
Shooting Table
| Weapon | Range | Dice | Kill | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Storm Bolter | Unlimited* | 2D6 | 6+ | Overwatch, sustained fire, jam |
| Heavy Flamer | 12 | 1D6 | 2+ | Area effect, persistent, 6 shots |
| Assault Cannon | Unlimited* | 3D6 | 5+ | Overwatch, 10 shots, reload, sustained fire |
* Range is 12 squares when on overwatch
Close Assault
| Model | Assault Dice | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Genestealer | 3D6 | – |
| Broodlord | 3D6 | Mighty Blow |
| Space Marine with power fist | 1D6 | – |
| Space Marine with lightning claws | 2D6+1 | – |
| Sergeant with power sword | 1D6+1 | Parry |
| Sergeant with thunder hammer & storm shield | 1D6+2 | Block |
| Librarian with force axe | 1D6+1+? | Psi Points |