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We got the following things speaking for the fact that in the future, GW will be more erratic with its codex cycle:

- with the necrons released, Gw will have completed its first hardback cycle and first full-colour cycle as well. Of course, what it has not completed is its first replace-artwork-in-bestiarum-with-studio-miniature-photos codex cycle.

- we're living in the age of digital files, giving GW more freedom to make publications drain our wallets than actual miniature releases (which, at the end of the day cost GW far more investments than keeping the IP alive via new publications)

- GW's profits have almost halved since not too long ago, from 21 million pounds to a mere 12 million. This reinforces point 2 that they will focus on publications more than new models, flooding BL rather than the battlefield with new content

- 7th edition being the most flexible, agree-with-your-opponent-beforehand beer&pretzels oriented core ruleset to date, lifting most restrictions like rigid FoCs and making space for LoWs, fortifications, supplements and such, whose combined rules are obviously spread out all over the place rather than contained in army codexes. Most importantly, 7th edition allowing different kinds of detachments and also formations.

- GW introducing the concept of campaigns, campaign books, and unique formations contained in these campaign books

- GW releasing new miniatures for armies without this coninciding with a codex update... see tyranid maleceptors, toxicrenes, spore pods, neurothropes etc.

- GW releasing rules for said post-codex content for free on their website

- White Dwarf also being a place for new dataslates

All these developments point out to 40k being a complete mess in the future. The player you will be fighting against in the future, will obviously have his army codex, a codex for his allied detachment, a white dwarf or other supplement from which he might have also included a formation etc.

My guess is GW will continue to update their game "as they go", i.e. through WD, new campaign books, new supplements, Black Library digital releases etc. etc. rather than focusing on updating one army after another via a condensed codex release. This means, in future the rules will be all over the place instead of something simplistic like "oh the rules for that faction? yeah they're collected in that book called its codex".

As a veteran I'm already confused as hell and have lost track, I wonder how confused newcomers will be when they face an opponent and they have no. fricking. clue. how that guy put his army together.

I realy hope they are not, there is allready confusion about the game from players. Some have been playing years and still strugle to keep up with evrything.
GW needs to smooth it all out I think, stick with a single edition long enough, release the DLC in collected valumes with stuff for every army+ little extra.
But right now it's doing so much harm in most of the community's I am playing with.

I take issue with you calling the game "beer&pretzels oriented".

I think gw have finally caught on to the fact that the writers are usually the cheapest part of a business, and combined with this new internet fad...... you get the day1 dlc proliferation that has been damaging the computer game industry. They really need to get someone in who stays current on this sort of thing.

I see the new rules-and-unit release that Tyranids got, and actually hope that becomes the norm. Since my primary army got the shaft in the last codex rodeo, I'd like to see us get something new, or at least the return of one of the things they stripped from us.

It is the norm, from my understanding. Not being bound by a fairly rigid release cycle (at least for "core" armies) and instead bound by when they have new models to release. The current set of codexes is in main meant to be a refresher to bring everyone up to more or less the same level, so next year can be a little quieter (which my friend says will be a welcome relief, given the release pace theyve been working to!)

Whether these individual rleeases will get rolled into a reprinting of the physical book I'm unsure - and frankly it sounds like that isnt clear in the studio, either.

It recent years one had a chance to have a full overview of the game, the models, and the rules.
But these days this became impossible.

Not sure what will happen to 40k after the new Necron codex was released.

My guess is this is indeed the new Norm. and it represents a move towards a more organic updating of the game. moving away from "big updates in codexes" and more "small chunks of things for more people" with eventual codexes taking all the new toys and complieing them every so often. time will tell if this is a positive development of a negitive one. done right it could actually be very positive. giving everyone a little bit of new stuff more frequently. It may seem confusing to keep up with at first. (and I suppose a tourny player is definatly gonna need to keep up with everything to avoid unpleasent suprises) but I think it won't be that bad. I played 3rd edition D&D for it's entire product lifecycle and WOTC kept up a pace of a book every 2 months. I managed to keep familer with just about everything. that said obviously some stuff was more important to know then others. that'll apply for 40k as well. if no one locally plays Tyranids, you don't need to know the new stuff they have. if someone does, just print off the new units, shove em in your 'nid codex. and you;'re good to go, formations and detachments are the only thing that might stop you. and I've found it's not too hard to get a "cliffs notes" of the general details of those units on the net.

It costs GW more to produce the hard copies.

With the threat from other companies sucking the blood from GW by making re-casts and selling for less due to lower production costs in places like China, GW will need to save what it can and adapt by minimising costs (which can be seen in changes to marketing and so on).

I see a change in Codex format being a potential money-saving attempt.

If codex came with ready to play and good builds. getting extra material would be awesome. More units and more rules would mean more builds. Only that is not what GW is doing. They are taking a codex and spreading it over 2 books, still offten ally obligatory if someone wants a good list. That does technicly brings them more money because everyone who once bought maybe 1 codex and a rule book, now has to buy 2-3 rulebooks and 2-3 codex and supplement or two. Technicly, because what it does in reality is that new people don't start the game, because the cost of the books alone is higher then armies for other systems.

While it costs more, I hope they realize the demand for hardcopy is still really high. It is extremely frustrating to attempt to pre-order a book and watch it sell out in an hour...or 2 and 1/2 minutes. ( you Khaine) . And the ebook format is pretty lousy if you don't have a ipad. Sticking a large format book (such as the 3 book rules) into one big file to page through is a pain in the but compared to a super duper always updating ibook version.


And, I don't know about you...but right now I'm currently running around with photocopies of my stuff to run my tyranids. Now I own all the white dwarfs and the leviathan book. However, if I want to go play games, I need to lug around Shield of Baal: Leviathan, (or 3 white dwaves) a Nid Codex, a rulebook, dice, cards, tape measures, models., something that has the ebook dataslates on it if i want to run any of those formations (or printouts of those, because GW refuses to sell a papercopy). I don't feel like beating the crap out of my leviathan book or the white dwarfs by carrying them around all the time.


I'd really rather not get to the point where I'm going to be lugging around 5 lbs of books to run a game because I want to run this formation or model and it's in five different places...

You are contradicting yourself when you're saying GW focusses hard on publications in one line and talking about how they're releasing new models while providing the rules for free 3 lines down.
Also contradictory is how you portray the hobby as "beer&Pretzel hobby" while at the same time talking about how hard it is too understand all the ways of making an army when you're new.

I agree that GW could make its rules more centralized but I think the fact that the new Tyranid models were not in the new codex are a sign that they didn't want to half-ass the job.

I am a newcomer in the hobby and I have no problem with finding my way in the rules.

I don't know what they're doing besides making a mess.

Between Codices, Codex Supplements, Campaign Supplements, Expansions, WD bits, Dataslates, Formations, and rules in the boxes with some kits how many rules sources to we have in 40k? Is it more than a hundred? I know Hulk has a thread trying to keep up with all this stuff.

I like the new verity of the game but I miss my pretty art work and fluff in me books.

I think the major issue is that they are releasing a plethora of things that are trivial but can change things. All the supplements, for example. It's seemingly at random and not part of a plan, that's what is worrisome.

The supplements can stand on their own, they don't need a lot of hype or new things like a full Codex does, and they can come out frequently. The issue is that there is just way too many options for the game that are varying power levels and varying degrees of working, so that someone easily gets overwhelmed.

They've clearly gone for the kitchen sink approach where everything that comes out is ready for use in a game immediately, the problem is that it's a monumental effort to balance those options (which we've basically established they have no interest in doing) and for the community to keep tabs on all of it (which is a larger problem).

It almost feels like they're deliberately trying to put out so many options that everyone trying to corral it in to something resembling organization throws up their hands and finally says "Feth it, if you have it use it".

It's sheer chaos (and not the Khorney, Nurgley, Slaaneshy or Tzeentchy type) because it's too many things to keep track of.

I like dynamic releases and rules changes vs waiting years for something new with my armies.

 Dalymiddleboro wrote:
I like dynamic releases and rules changes vs waiting years for something new with my armies.

Whilst I agree with this idea, I think that there were better ways to do that than just releasing things as frequently as they do. They could easily have gone the Privateer Press route where a new book has a couple of new units/characters (or for 40k even formations/detachments) for every faction.

I think that they shouldn't treat supplements as a full codex either, like for example Blood Angels just came out. They should have had the main codex and then mini dexes that have the differences only for each successor chapter. Instead, it seems like they have the main codex for $50 and then I think a Flesh Tearer supplement for another $50, and that's probably it beyond maybe a dataslate. It should have been something like:

Codex: Blood Angels - $50 (still too much IMHO but that's not what we're talking about)
Lexicanum: Blood Angels - $50 (fluff book basically with things about the BA and their successors)
Flesh Tearers Supplement - $15 (has only detachments/special character/maybe a piece or two of wargear)
Angels Encarmine Supplement - $15 (same as above)
Lamenters Supplement - $15 (same as above)

etc for each one, so the idea would be that you can have a successor of a successor and get that supplement. Each supplement would also have a thing in the beginning saying that you can feel free to change names of items/characters if your own chapter operates in a similar fashion.

I really wish they'd come out with an App like the War-room. Let me buy the unit rules (but not the fluff and such), make army lists, include formations and everything, in one nice little app.

Sure, it would make house rules somewhat hard to deal with, but my god would it save me so much running around and carrying things, plus double checking everything my opponent has...

Imagine if I could mark off wounds and HP? Or when troopers die?

Akiasura wrote:
I really wish they'd come out with an App like the War-room. Let me buy the unit rules (but not the fluff and such), make army lists, include formations and everything, in one nice little app.

Sure, it would make house rules somewhat hard to deal with, but my god would it save me so much running around and carrying things, plus double checking everything my opponent has...

Imagine if I could mark off wounds and HP? Or when troopers die?

Yeah but GW would consider that letting you buy things without paying for overpriced hardcover full color books with pretty pictures of jewel-like Citadel miniatures.

Or it would cost like $50 per codex to unlock it.

They could all turn it on it's head:
1) Publish a "fluff book for the army with basic rules for their play.
2) Release the companion rule "cards" for each unit as well as have them released in the new model boxes so they can be played immediately. (Already kinda doing this part).
2a) Pay-as-you-go update cards for units as they get rules changes or new releases (buy the new model or pay for the new card for your unit).
2B) A wonderful excuse for regular updates while monetizing! You asked for change! You got it!
3) Happily point back to the good old days of epic or 40k where unit cards were common.

I think they can manage to squeeze more money out of a codex and rule cards for units, collectable card game AND models... GENIUS!

I'm not sure what's "traditional" about codexes.

The degree and proportion may have changed over the years, but GW has a long history -extending from before Rogue Trader all the way to the present- of releasing the rules for new units in many forms. Full codicies, add-on codicies, Campaign books, WD articles, Collections of WD articles, online PDF's etc.

This is just more of the same.

Im a "veteran" who can't really keep up but i don't really mind not knowing my opponents army in and out, i never really did when it was just the codex they had to choose from.

More options is a good thing in my opinion but i can understand the nightmare if your the type who needs to know and have one of everything, i have just never been much of a serious collector.

I don't find it confusing at all, this is exactly the same 3rd did it, for example you had codex marines, then you had the dark Angel codex (today it would be a supplement) then white dwarf erratas and chapter approved then you had the compendiums of said rules thhhhhheeeenn you the index astartes aaaannnddd theeeeeenn all the experimental rules...
it's just gone full circle to me

Yes, absolutely GW is moving away from traditional paper bound codex books.

Look at a paper codex.
1. Paper Codex is linear. That is, it starts at page 1 and ends at page whatever. GW has to decide not only what has to go on each page, but in what order.
2. Print resolution. You can only get so fine with the print and artwork/pictures in a paper book.
3. Physical size limitations. Paper codex has a page of about 8"x11", with a border around the page that limits the amount of print artwork you can put on the page.
4. Usability. A paper codex has a very poor usability rating. Have a question about a rule or a reference in the book? You have to thumb through the rest of the book to find the answer.

Now, let's compare those points to an e-book.
1. Non-linear. As in, you could read it from "cover to cover", but the sections of the book are presented in a non-linear fashion. You don't have to "thumb through" fluff, artwork, and unit entries to get to the reference page.
2. Resolution- because graphic resolution is set by the individual on their device, you can place as fine of resolution as you want as long as it scales up to lower resolutions. This becomes critical as GW replaces unit artwork with actual photos of models. You want those models to look crisp, like they are about to pop out of the book. See below
3. Physical size- you can scroll all over the place on a "page" in a digital medium. You are not restricted to an actual size at all. GW could cram all the fluff, some artwork, an actual photo of the model, and have all the stats all on one page. Virtual memory size becomes an issue, but there are all kinds of ways around this- GW just seems to be very lazy about compressing files for opening on a user device. You run into some compatibility issues, so that could explain why they just don't bother with it. It also means the e-codex file is HUGE- like hundreds of MB's. Again, not such an issue on a modern device, but could become an issue if you wanted a full library of e-codexes on a device.
4. Usability- this would be the largest advantage of an e-codex. Search feature- can't remember where a rule is? Search for it. Have no idea what Rapid Fire means? Click on it, and a new page opens up with a rules reference.
5. Something that a paper book just can't have- dynamic photos. As in, click on a picture of a model, and a new page opens up with a 3d picture, and you can rotate the image, zoom in, and zoom out. This is critical for a business like GW that is in it for the models, not the rules. They want to show off their models in all their virtual full glory. They can use editing software to "correct" any painting or assembly mistakes the modelers make. Indeed, I'd be surprised if GW hasn't moved over to digital renderings of the models altogether. As in, they don't "paint" an actual, physical studio model. They just load up the digital files from the CAD they use, then import them into Photoshop or it's equivalent, then "pose" and "paint". Heck of a lot cheaper and faster then hiring a "modeler/painter" and having to wait for them to finish the models and build a diorama. It allows them to show a "perfect Games Workshop Model" and what you could "potentially" paint to.
6. Printing and shipping costs- so, so much cheaper with an e-book then a paper book. Paper books have to be laid out a certain way- which takes time and a specialist to do. Once the layout is complete, the files are transferred to a printer, who then makes a small run to check print quality- and this book goes back to GW for any changes and final approval- which sometimes requires a layout change. After all the changes and final approval, the publisher prints the book. Paper, ink, storage, and transportation to the GW warehouse all occurs. Also, the printing company has to make a profit, so the cost goes up. At GW, they have to have workers receive the shipment, inventory it, and place it into storage/prepare it for shipment to distributors. You need someone else monitoring stock levels and where everything in the warehouse is. You also need someone that takes orders and divides the books into smaller blocks to send out to distributors, and... ya know what? There is a TON of crap involved here with multiple departments and people. That all costs time, money, and resources.

An e-book? Yes, GW has to pay a specialist to "digitize" the codex, but with the new software out there, it's easier then it sounds. Still requires training (not to belittle or take away from a specialist!). Then, it's just a matter of paying the licensing fees to iTunes or Google or Android, then upload your file to the WWW. There are other issues here, like digital piracy, and software compatibility issues, but all those you can basically pass off onto the consumer, something GW is pretty good at. "It's not our fault your digital device can't read the e-codex. Maybe you should upgrade?". Of course, that has issues as well, but when there are basically three big digital standards, and it's fairly easy to code for each one, it's not that big of an issue to GW. Piracy? Everything GW makes is protected by copy right, and there are ways for them to pursue legal action against those that digitally distribute their copyrighted material without their permission.GW has a very large, and robust legal department for just such a thing. No printing company, no transportation/shipment costs, no warehouse cost, no distribution networks... and all GW needs is a half decent server system to store a "master file" on. An Information Technology department is way, way cheaper, smaller, and has a smaller "footprint" within the company then all the departments listed above.

Upgrades- Want to FAQ or errata something? Couple mouse clicks, save, and upload. Boom. You just changed the rules/content of the e-book. Anyone that buys the e-book now has the most current and updated content. Anyone that already has the book can "synch" their e-book and get the most recent updates.

Future Content- there is so much more GW could do with this stuff. An army builder. How about a digital "coloring book" that would allow you to upload a Space Marine (for example), and apply "virtual paint" so you can test out a paint scheme before even purchasing a model? How about being able to wirelessly sending your army list to your opponent instead of printing it out? We're already seeing data slates of new content- that will only increase as GW figures out that it can charge $50 for an e-codex, and another $10 for special characters, new formations, painting guides, etc. etc.

The downside? The consumer has to have some kind of device to download and use the e-book. This may have been an issue a few years ago, but with the price of a computer tablet falling down to the price of one of GW's larger box sets, it's really not. And again, this is not GW's issue, it's the consumer's issue. GW is providing a virtual product. You want it? You'll have to have the device to download/use it.

My prediction? Within 5 years, everything will be digital from GW, with very, very few paper codexes produced- and they will probably be a "Limited Edition, Special Edition" type thing that GW will make you pay an astonishing amount for.

Is GW moving to more digital content then paper? They already have. That train has already left the station.

My opinion is that GW will have a lot of things on digital content, with lower volume stuff digital only. However, I do not believe printed codices aren't going anywhere, any time soon.

The reason is pretty simple: printed books are good money. Generally, people don't impulse buy or gift eBooks. They don't look good under a Christmas tree. You can't see them in a store and go, Oooo... I want that.

Plus, there are people that just prefer printed materials over electronic ones to read, and prefer to own something they can put on a shelf as a collection.

In addition, it's not either/or. GW has sold me a hardcover copy of every codex, plus an electronic copy of about 5 of the same titles, because for the factions I play, I want the ePub versions too.

Finally, while printing books are expensive (compared to electronic publication), let's be honest: these books are ridiculously expensive. The printing and logistics cost of the book is nowhere remotely close to the retail price. If anything, I think that moving forward, you'll continue to see 3 printed versions and 2 electronic versions:

- Limited Edition Hardcover
- Large Format Hardcover
- Small Format Hardcover
- iBook
- ePub/Mobi

I'd like it if they kept their limited edition hardcover book and then had the digital version actually cheaper or broke it up into a fluff and rules book or something (or both), that way the "collectors" can get a pretty book and those who play the game aren't paying $50 for something just because.

WayneTheGame wrote:
I'd like it if they kept their limited edition hardcover book and then had the digital version actually cheaper or broke it up into a fluff and rules book or something (or both), that way the "collectors" can get a pretty book and those who play the game aren't paying $50 for something just because.

True, but the entire GW business model revolves around forcing their customers to buy things "just because".

Oh, one other thing: the electronic versions are highly vulnerable to piracy. The pirated ePub and mobi versions are indistinguishable from the purchased ones (because they just have DRM removed).

Half the people I know don't buy any of the codices except their own faction(s), and pirate a full set of the electronic versions :(

If they removed the paper versions, these people would never buy another rulebook.

I Have heard they are switching back to paperbacks as the new ceo is on a cost savings drive and looking to strip as many costs back as possible.

Im not to fussed if they get lots of little updates often if they then keep these in a controlled repository online so you can download the updates straight into your existing digital codex.

for those not using digital yes it will be a pain to keep up, however it will push people to using digital more and thus help with their cost drive

cammy wrote:
I Have heard they are switching back to paperbacks as the new ceo is on a cost savings drive and looking to strip as many costs back as possible.

Im not to fussed if they get lots of little updates often if they then keep these in a controlled repository online so you can download the updates straight into your existing digital codex.

for those not using digital yes it will be a pain to keep up, however it will push people to using digital more and thus help with their cost drive

I'm all for that. I think hardcovers are beautiful on the shelf, but they have no other advantages. They weigh more, are more bulky, the corners get bashed in over time making them unattractive, and so on.

The digital ones are updated now and then, and the difference between the two is expressed in the Errata FAQ that you can get for free at the bottom of the GW site.

How about this as a radical idea? Maybe there should be a digital version where you simply "subscribe" to a race/faction. I am "subscribed" to Orks for $50 a year and get EVERYTHING Ork related for the year. Maybe a digital subscription could allow you to "galnce" at other codexes you are not subscribed to as well. You have X hours a month to browse other codexes beyond that to which you are "subscribed". A subscription would of course also grant access to the always update e-rules. Any subsequent races/factions you subscribe to would be a bit less money since the first one gets you the rules.

Having a subscripton type base of users/players would make revenue much more predictable and easier for them to develop new and relevant material.

I think that kind of delivery could be kind of compelling. Totally new way of engaging the community of players.