I never bought Space Hulk. Now I have the itch. What is different between the 4 editions? Which would you recommend and why?

TIA, Al

The minis are far better looking in 3 and 4, though the plastic is not quite as robust.

The tiles are more colorful in 3/4, but that may not translate to easier to use. The same tiles are used in both 3 and 4, while the tiles in 1 and 2 are different and not quite compatible IIRC. Different puzzle fit. I think someone actually made an adaptor segment.

For a company in this business for as long as GW, they remain a bit inept at rules presentation and (sometimes) clarity. That applies to all editions.

The entirety of 1st edition and add-ons can be printed out from the internet and assembled, just add your own miniatures to taste (Colonial marines and xenomorphs seem popular) I did this about 2 months prior to 3rd edition being announced.

Robert

The rules remain remarkably unchanged across all four editions. There have been a couple tweaks, but honestly its still the same (excellent) game. In terms of game pieces 3/4 is best (they are the same, fourth just adds a few more components).

I did pretty much as Toaster did. However, I made my own rooms, corridors, & doors and also use Star Wars stormtroopers against Aliens critters. I did get a copy of 3rd edition, also, when it came out.

Craig

3rd/4th is definetely the best in boards and models. Absolutetely fantastic.

The 1 ed. rules are IMO the best. 2nd edition has no extra weapons and with its special dice is a problem. 3rd/4th edition has new good psych rules, but some changes, that are questionable (sustained fire in Overwatch, reaction even without seeing the genestealers). In the end 3rd/4th is absolutely playable.

Since I already have some Space Marines and genestealers a download to see if I like the game would be great. Where do you find it?

Can you buy parts for the game anywhere? Sounds like the tiles from the later editions have better graphics. After looking at some images of the latest edition I must say that I am not too interested in the SM miniatures in the 4th edition. Much prefer the older ones I have.

There is also an old White Dwarf that has rules for using basic Space Marines in SHv1. Even had rules for the missile launcher, crack grenades, etc.
I have it, probably #122 or around there, might be able to look for it tonight.

As beautiful as they are, I found the 3rd edition models too big to fit in the 1' squares.

You can use anything for your Terminators or genestealers but I use normal terminators and the generic genestealers.

You can still find tiles and older metal termies on ebay and there are other companies out there that make suitable replacements in both card and mdf.

Here is a battlebible for 1st edition rules which seems to have everything… including using standard space marines.

2nd edition had some weird dice, but the mechanics were basically the same. Flamers were different in that you had 12 flame tokens that only affected a 1' square instead of a 'room'.

3rd edition had the 'Guarding' rule which I do like. Basically an overwatch version for melee combat.

WD just released rules for having 3rd Edition Hybrids in the February Issue.

Overall I prefer the 1st ed rules with some things pulled from 3rd. Although I kinda like the flamer rules in 2nd edition, I don't think they give you enough fuel.

If I'm not mistaken, 4th ed. has several new missions that were not in the previous versions as well as a number of new tiles, so if you can afford it that's the version to get. My guess is that with the recent change in management/philosophy, you will see a 5th ed. someday.

I have 2nd and have played 1st. The two major differences are additional weapons in 1st (grenade launcher, IIRC), the weakening of the flamethrower in 2nd (which actually makes sense and is more challenging for the Space Marines), and that 1st Edition uses a 30-second timer to limit the Space Marines player's movement turn. If you haven't moved a trooper or assigned it an action in that 30 second window, it's stuck where it is, facing what it's facing. Makes for a harrowing turn for whoever runs the marines! I kind of like that rule, and it's easy to restore with a cheap sand timer or just the timer function of any cellphone, etc.. I suspect it was removed to accommodate the more deliberate player.
1st also includes rules for movement between levels, which 2nd doesn't have.
I still like 2nd edition just fine, though. It's a great game.
Can't comment on 3rd or 4th, as I've played neither, but honestly I thought the miniatures in the later editions were a bit overblown. But that's just my personal taste.

You could often find 3rd/4th without models at ebay for a reasonable prize, because the models were used for 40k.

1st Edition uses a 30-second timer to limit the Space Marines player's movement turn.

I never knew that! That's pretty neat.

You have 30 seconds for all your marines, or for each marine?

andy

Its actually a 3 minute timer in 1st edition.

The Space Marine Player has 3 minutes to perform all moves for all of his marines… or more technically 2 minutes plus 30 seconds for each Sergeant or Captain still in play at the beginning of his turn.

The genestealer player either has a sand timer or a stopwatch. If using a stop watch he is supposed to declare each minute that has passed and then countdown every 15 seconds and then the last 10 seconds.

And yes, I have run out of time before.

1st edition is definitely the best. It had way more support with three full expansions, tons of balanced missions, and lots of optional rules. At one time I had a .pdf of the Spacehulk Bible that had all the first edition rules in one place. Now my brother has all the first edition box sets that we use.
The minis and art in the later editions are more detailed and over the top, but the simplicity of the original design is pretty good at creating the right atmosphere for the game.

As beautiful as they are, I found the 3rd edition models too big to fit in the 1' squares.

Space Hulk 3e (I think) got me back into GW games after nearly a decade out…

I also found the 3rd/4th edition models too large for the provided spaces: they are NOT designed to be placed next to each other, but rather for looser 40K formations… Also the glossy colorful tiles of 3rd/4th are rather distracting. 2nd edition rules made a mess of flamers and storm-bolters.
I think the best bet is to manufacture your own tiles to taste and use colonial marines and xenomorphs as miniatures, with first edition rules…feels right (especially in close combat).