The Paper Trail

Changelog & Errata

Thrackdown is a living ruleset. Every version, every change, and every correction lands here first, so your table is never arguing about which PDF is telling the truth. All downloads on the site are always the current version, and always free.

Current: Alpha v1.4 Every rule in it has a playtester's fingerprints on it
BuffSomething got stronger NerfSomething got reined in TweakCosts, wording, quality of life FixTypos and document repairs
Version History

What changed, and when

The current version is expanded below. Older versions are collapsed but never deleted; the Iron Pact would not allow it.

A wording pass across the faction documents: five unit rules rewritten for clarity, and the faction rules now ship bundled with the Game One starter rosters.
Documents
  • TweakFaction Rules: the faction rules download is now a single combined Faction Rules and Starter Rosters PDF, and each faction's Starter Rules and Roster PDF is refreshed to match.
Factions & Rosters
  • FixIron Pact · Greenbrace: Untested rewritten for clarity: the Nerve Test triggers when the Greenbrace begins its activation more than 5" from any friendly fighter that is not Downed, and applies even with no Nerve Tokens. Normal Nerve Tests still apply.
  • FixIron Pact · Line Marshal: Designate Killzone clarified: the reroll is once per activation per fighter, the Killzone extends 3" from its marker, and placing a new marker removes the previous one.
  • FixThe Splice · Rendfather: Frenzy Aura now specifies friendly Splice models.
  • FixAshen Covenant · Prophet of the Regent: Sermon of Firecall reworded: for the purposes of Nerve Tests, friendly Ashen Covenant models within 5" count as having 1 fewer Nerve Token.
  • FixAshen Covenant · Prophet of the Regent: Fanatical Presence now specifies friendly Ashen Covenant models.
The doors open: Thrackdown enters Open Alpha with revised Nerve Tests, balance changes across all six rosters, and the learn-to-play ladder. Read the full announcement on the dev blog.
Core Rules
  • TweakInitiative: now decided by a roll off with each player adding their current Momentum. Ties pass the Initiative to the player who did not hold it last round; a tied first-round roll is rerolled.
  • TweakNerve Tokens: the ally-down trigger radius is reduced from 6" to 5".
  • TweakFinish Off: renamed to Eliminate; the action itself is unchanged (remove a Downed enemy within 1"). The Quick Start Rules booklet and the Play page now use the new name.
Factions & Rosters
  • NerfIron Pact · Lock Formation: Nerve Test reroll removed. The Order now grants +1 DEF to Iron Pact models within 5" of a Leader that have not moved this round.
Scenarios
  • TweakHostage Grab: Abandonment: an abandoned hostage now bolts D6+3" in a random direction instead of a flat 3".
  • TweakHostage Grab: Abandonment: the hostage now bolts at the end of any round in which no fighter is within 2" of them, and Downed fighters don't count. Previously they only panicked after a full round alone.
  • TweakReactor Meltdown: the Meltdown table is now rolled from the second round onwards.
Read the v1.4 announcement → Download v1.4 rules →
Before the doors opened: the game itself, core mechanics, equipment, scenarios, and all six factions, built and battle-tested in the closed alpha.
Standing Corrections

Errata

Known issues in the current documents, with official rulings to use at the table until the next version lands. These are drafted from currently known issues; confirm each ruling before publishing.

Found something broken? Or think we fixed it the wrong way?

Every entry on this page started as a message from a player. If a rule contradicts itself, a total doesn't add up, or a shoelace turns out to be load-bearing, we want to hear about it. And if you think a change missed the mark, say so: every version of Thrackdown is argued into shape on the Discord.

Join the rules discussion