I have an idea for 9th edition combat:
Each unit gets their number of attacks value as normal, i.e. typical Space Marine = Attack 1 (lame), but also a Combat Grade, lets say between A-F, i.e. typical Space Marine = Grade C. The attack(s) and grade could be shown as '1C'.
For the sake of this example the enemy will be a Chaos Cultist and we will give the Cultist a Combat Grade of F, because an untrained, unhinged, 'only human' cultist is a lot worse in combat than even the worst superhuman Space Marine! (We've all seen the Astartes YouTube videos, right?) So, Cultist Attack stat could be shown as '1F'.
So what I suggest the Combat Grades do is that in combat you compare the Combat Grade of the units fighting based on where you want to allocate the attacks from your models stats number of attacks value, i.e. in this one on one example the Space Marine would put his 1 attack into the Cultist 'unit' (albeit one cultist). Then comparing the Grades C vs F (giving a table or equivalent numerical values of 3 vs 6 = difference of 3) this would give the Space Marine 3 additional attacks onto the Cultist 'unit', for now 4 attacks total, which all still need to roll to hit.
The Cultist (if survived (!), or had charged (more likely)), having a lower Combat Grade does not get any additional attacks bonus and would just roll his normal 1 attack.
Summary, if you have a higher Combat Grade you get bonus attacks, if you have a lower Combat Grade you don't get any bonus.
This will really highlight, hopefully, just how much better and skilled certain fighters are over another, as 8th Edition current combat rules and attack values (using a Space Marine as a key example) just don't follow the fluff! Now with this suggested rule, we can actually have a couple of Space Marines wade through mere Cultists much more efficiently which will be far more realistic, fluffy, and make sense game play wise...imo...!
A Combat Grade of 'A' would only be reserved for the very, very best fighters in combat - the acknowledged hand to hand experts - typically only skilled in combat HQs, Assassins, etc. depending on the 40k Army and the fluff! Combat Grade B being combat 'elite' units (Terminators, Veterans, Sanguinary Guard), I suggested Grade C for a normal Space Marine above (similarly for a Chaos Space Marine), therefore a typical Sister of Battle/Ork/Imperial Guard Veteran/Scion maybe Grade D, and Imperial Guard infantry Grade E, and Cultist/Conscript/Tau Fire Warrior/Gretchin etc. Grade F...From this, a Grade A model would get 5 additional attack dice per Attack (which all still need to roll to hit remember) over a Grade F model/unit in the most extreme case. A Grade A model would only get 1 additional attack dice (per attack value. And this is where it maybe needs balancing) over a Grade B model, and neither model would get a bonus if they were the same grade. But these are examples, with lots of Grade balancing to do between all the 40k armies and potentially some current basic attack values and weapon bonuses would have to be tweaked to avoid anything too crazy...!
So there you have it, what do you think? Play testers welcome! Comments welcome and feedback in GW!
Potentially to balance out the 'per attack' craziness, the Combat Grade bonus could just be flat additional attacks bonus at double the Combat Grade difference, i.e. Grade A vs B, the Grade A model would get +2 attack dice in the combat overall (Diff 1 x 2). A Grade A vs F fight would give the Grade A model +10 attack dice overall (Diff 5 x 2). This would limit it a bit before it would get too out of hand perhaps...but it will allow a heroic highly skilled warrior to take down a horde of chumps, as we have seen in all the 40k fluff/animations and avoid the un-fluffy embarrassment of only taking out one or two and getting tar-pitted.
Obviously it makes the typical Space Marine in the example above vs Cultists even better with (Diff 3 x 2 =) 6 extra attacks, over the previous 3 extra attacks (due to only having 1 Attack basic). But it stops situations with multi-attack models having potentially out of control bonus attacks if it remained 'per attack dice/stat value' extra attacks with the Combat Grade differences.
What do you think?
This may even balance the gun line vs assault army issue by making combat more frightening and swift...40k style!