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Just to preface this post, I'd like to elaborate on my buying habits. I tend to buy a purchase of WH40K after my birthday/christmas money is totaled up.
I am excited about the new "gamer's rulebook" GW is selling for 58 USD. I heard from the rumors forum that GW is rolling out the 7th edition faction codices in waves, and due to the popularity of space marines, their codex will probably come out first. I don't want to waste my money on a codex and have a new codex come out a month later. Should I wait for the 7th ed codex or buy now?

Buy it now. In all likelyhood after necrons GW will give 40k a break in favor of fantasy.

The current space marine codex is going to be around for a long time. Buy it now.

I would put money on them not releasing a SM codex for 7th edition, the 6th edition codex is still new and very powerful - easily better than any of the new 7th ed. Codices.

Not gonna happen. Space Marines are still a brand spanking new codex. Released September 2013.

Okay, 1 year old, but the army sure as hell doesnt feel like it, despite having undergone an edition change.

Besides....what is there to fix anyway except scout bikers nobody takes and perhaps meh assault marines?

I officialy declare GW an insane highway robber if they update the Space Marine codex before Fall 2015

The Space Marine codex is only a year and two months old. The shortest turnaround they have ever had on the SM codex was the three years between the 4th and 5th ed codexes.

Buy it now, it's going to be around for awhile. The quick main rulebook turnaround is anomalous - there is every indication that GW is just trying to get the last two 5th edition codexes updated to the new hardback style, and then they're going to focus on Warhammer Fantasy for awhile.

I don't beleive we will see another Space Marine Codex until 8th edition, and that is at least another 18 months away.

It's a great book. Tons of viable options and any chapter tactics can be fielded reliably. While some may be more "competetive" than others, they are all viable. Every unit can be used in it's role well also.

Except terminators, they fethed that up royal.

Wait? You are worried about the Space Marine codex being replaced and not the rules? I am kidding there.

You do know that there is a high chance that the rules will be updated next year right? The main rules will be updated before the SM codex gets updated. The 6th edition rules only lasted 20 months or so, not even a full 2 years.

Unless CSM and DA get a new codex in 2015, you shouldn't have to worry about the SM getting a new codex.

Thing is with GW, we don't know what is going on. Anything can happen. New rules in 2015 or 2016. We don't have a clue what will happen. Only thing we can strongly speculate is that Necrons and Blood Angles will be in the beginning of 2015 unless they get released sometime in November.

My guess 1st quarter of 2015 will be the final codices being updated with BA and Necrons and after that, Fantasy could be the focus, but I can't see 40K being neglected so maybe we will be getting lots of supplements or maybe box sets like Sactus Reach for a few armies.

We will see if the BA/Tyranid boxset is true or not. If true expect more for Elder, Tau, Necrons (if not included with BA/Nids) CSM and who ever I haven't listed.

If anything, you want to do SM, get the Dark Vegence box set, have the rules in there and then use those minis as your Space Marines.

I think it all depends on how fast you plan on getting into the game. If you're slow at getting models together and plan on doing a lot of list-theory and painting that may last up to a year, I'd consider waiting.

Space Marines are the major cash cow of GW-their codex is an extra $10 because it can be. I'd just give it some thought, $60 is a lot for a book, especially if you're not putting it to heavy use.

The current Space Marine codex is probably the best GW's produced since, well, ever?

It's got excellent internal balance, the only mediocre units are Terminators (GW decided to make a new model to fill their niche; centurions, so intentionally didn't improve long-suffering termies) and one or two others which are up for debate. Marine lists also fair reasonably well against most armies if given even passing thought to their construction; Eldar will wreck them like they wreck everything, but you're almost guaranteed a fighting chance with almost any Marine list. It's also very fluff-friendly with plenty of Force-Organization Chart modifications based on your HQs, chapter tactics special rules for every 1st founding chapter save for those with their own books, and Forgeworld has another exhaustive selection of unique later foundings to choose from.

In short, it's a fun, easy to use book where your imagination and creativity is the only limit. With the current spate of 7th edition codexes, I don't expect the next marine to be half of what this one is, so take advantage of an excellent product while it exists. That being said, I don't expect a 7th edition Marine book at all; so little changes I can't see a full new cycle of codexes for it save for a few struggling books like Chaos Space Marines getting a re-do, but whether that bodes well or ill, I can't say.

 MajorStoffer wrote:
The current Space Marine codex is probably the best GW's produced since, well, ever?

It's got excellent internal balance, the only mediocre units are Terminators (GW decided to make a new model to fill their niche; centurions, so intentionally didn't improve long-suffering termies) and one or two others which are up for debate. Marine lists also fair reasonably well against most armies if given even passing thought to their construction; Eldar will wreck them like they wreck everything, but you're almost guaranteed a fighting chance with almost any Marine list. It's also very fluff-friendly with plenty of Force-Organization Chart modifications based on your HQs, chapter tactics special rules for every 1st founding chapter save for those with their own books, and Forgeworld has another exhaustive selection of unique later foundings to choose from.

In short, it's a fun, easy to use book where your imagination and creativity is the only limit. With the current spate of 7th edition codexes, I don't expect the next marine to be half of what this one is, so take advantage of an excellent product while it exists. That being said, I don't expect a 7th edition Marine book at all; so little changes I can't see a full new cycle of codexes for it save for a few struggling books like Chaos Space Marines getting a re-do, but whether that bodes well or ill, I can't say.

I actually expect there to be a new SM codex for the exact reasons you feel there won't be. It still has the old Forge Organization chart modifications, HQ army-wide rules, and a couple of other concepts that GW seems to be moving away from.

I mean, really, there isn't truly that much that changes between any of the many (generic) SM codex releases. Additional chapters getting rules and background, chapter tactics coming and going in different forms, and a new unit or two (i.e. Centurions) are all hallmarks of the previous releases. There are enough *small* reasons that GW feels the book is worth an update in the future, and there has been a new SM codex for every edition since 40k started. Do I think it's reasonable? Not really, but the extra $10 price tag on this codex goes to show that GW doesn't really care, customers will buy Space Marines (and their rules) no matter what.

 Las wrote:
It's a great book. Tons of viable options and any chapter tactics can be fielded reliably. While some may be more "competetive" than others, they are all viable. Every unit can be used in it's role well also.

Except terminators, they fethed that up royal.

hmm because tactical terminators were so much better in 5th, and assault terminators so much better in 4th, right?