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Is there a globally accept way of classifying what edition a certain codex belongs to?
A friend of mine got into an argument about what edition the most recently released Ork codex belongs to.

Neither of us are too familiar with the codex. One reason he thinks it should be considered 4th ed is because its barrage weapons are still listed as guess range (G).

I argued that because it was released (Jan. 2008) within a few months of the actual 5th ed rulebook (July 2008), it should be considered 5th ed. My train of thought lies in the fact that GW probably had the general framework and structure of the rules already laid out by the time of the Ork codex release.

He then brought forth the fact that the War40k lexicanum says the Ork codex is still 4th ed,

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Codex#4th_edition_codexes

since it was release before the 5th ed rulebook. I then brought up the dakka dakka page, which says it is considered 5th ed,

http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Warhammer_40,000_Current_Rulebooks

I'm not looking for a "who's right?" kinda thing, as I realize there probably is no right answer. I'm just wondering if there is a globally accepted viewpoint.

Thanks

I usually decide by which edition was present when the codex came out, unless the codex came out right before the edition.

Dakka is Wrong this time. Orks is most CERTAINLY a 4th edition codex, it was however written to be fully compatible with 5th, with the irony being it isn't.

The only 5th Edition Codex's out are Chaos Daemons, Space Marines, Imperial Guard and the (Soon to be Released) Space Wolves. Blood Angels got a "Mini Update" as well for 5th.

-Goes to edit Article-

Gwar! wrote:
The only 5th Edition Codex's out are Chaos Daemons...

LOL WUT

I was under the impression that the only codicies for 5th edition were Codex: Lash of Submission, Codex: Vulkan, and Codex: Meltavets.

Cheese Elemental wrote:I was under the impression that the only codicies for 5th edition were Codex: Lash of Submission, Codex: Vulkan, and Codex: Meltavets.

i lol'd

There is no completely accepted way. Some people go based on the Codex being released after the edition, which would mean that only Codex: Space Marines and Codex: Imperial Guard are fifth edition. Others go based on the less certain `written with the edition in mind', in which case Codex: Orks and Codex: Daemons are also included. Things get real heated when it comes to Codex: Chaos Space Marines, Codex: Dark Angels and Codex: Eldar, which do not seem to have been written with any edition in mind

Elric of Grans wrote:There is no completely accepted way. Some people go based on the Codex being released after the edition, which would mean that only Codex: Vulkan and Codex: Meltavets are fifth edition. Others go based on the less certain `written with the edition in mind', in which case Codex: Nob Bikers and Codex: Fatecrusher are also included. Things get real heated when it comes to Codex: Obliterators, Codex: Ravenwing and Codex: Eldrad, which do not seem to have been written with any edition in mind

Fixed that for you.

Canonness Rory wrote:

Gwar! wrote:
The only 5th Edition Codex's out are Chaos Daemons...

LOL WUT

Errm, yes, You know Chaos Daemons is a 5th edition codex, being released a month before the 5th ed Rulebook Came out and having been writtewn at the same time as the 5th edition rulebook. If you actually read it, the codex does not work in 4th as it uses terms like "Offensive Grenades" that were not found in 4th.

Easiest way is to go by "By Publishing Year" regardless of "Intention" just to keep things clear.

malfred wrote:Easiest way is to go by "By Publishing Year" regardless of "Intention" just to keep things clear.

Which is why Orks is a 4th edition codex. But Chaos Daemons is Clearly a 5th edition codex, as it was released at the same time and contains 5th edition terminology.

By Malfred's system, Codex: Daemons would also be fourth edition, as it came out some time before fifth edition was released. Your argument on Codex: Daemons, while logical, is still on the side of `intention', so if Codex: Daemons is fifth, so is Codex: Orks.

Codex: Orks still talks about "Fleet Move" for the WAAAGH which is most definitely 4th ed.

Nurgleboy77 wrote:Codex: Orks still talks about "Fleet Move" for the WAAAGH which is most definitely 4th ed.

QFT. Orks is no way intended to be a 5th edition Codex. Chaos Daemons on the other hand CANNOT work in 4th.

To be fair, there is mention of "Offensive and Defensive Grenades" but everything else seems to work fine.

The best way is to look at the cover. The style of the text and border always matches the rulebook it's designed for.

Gwar! wrote:

Canonness Rory wrote:

Gwar! wrote:
The only 5th Edition Codex's out are Chaos Daemons...

LOL WUT

Errm, yes, You know Chaos Daemons is a 5th edition codex, being released a month before the 5th ed Rulebook Came out and having been writtewn at the same time as the 5th edition rulebook. If you actually read it, the codex does not work in 4th as it uses terms like "Offensive Grenades" that were not found in 4th.

So does codex: orks, and the CD codex was released before 5th edition, if only slightly. It works with 5th edition very, well, and does not need an update, but then again, so do many 4th ediction codices. So, by the date it is a 4th edition, but by the gameplay it is 5th, just like codex: orks, which you claim are a 4th edition codex...


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Gwar! wrote:

malfred wrote:Easiest way is to go by "By Publishing Year" regardless of "Intention" just to keep things clear.

Which is why Orks is a 4th edition codex. But Chaos Daemons is Clearly a 5th edition codex, as it was released at the same time and contains 5th edition terminology.

A month before != same time.

There is no such thing as a codex edition unless you are simply counting how many times it has been redone. As far as the rules go its irrelevant to anything. What it says in the codex overides rules. The only time when there is a problem is when there is an ability that no longer exists. Even then there is no "official" edition of a codex.

The developers explicitly stated that Codex: Orks and Codex: Chaos Daemons were designed for fifth edition. Intent is blatantly obvious. I would not hold bad rules writing as proof of anything, as Games Workshop are nothing if not experts at poorly written rules. If intent is the deciding factor, Orks are clearly fifth edition. If we work on the edition the book was released in, Daemons are fourth edition. It is really quite simple.

smart_alex wrote:There is no such thing as a codex edition unless you are simply counting how many times it has been redone. As far as the rules go its irrelevant to anything.

You must be a new player. Certain codices are completely unplayable outside of the edition they were written for; others are just completely broken. There are quite clearly `editions for codices'.

JohnHwangDD wrote:The best way is to look at the cover. The style of the text and border always matches the rulebook it's designed for.

yup thats the method i use, 5th ed SM codex has same text and border as latest orks codex and a different one to the latest 'cron codex.

Thus 5th ed ork dex.