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BlaxicanX wrote:They're not the "new posterboys".

GW is just marketing them more so that the new starter box sells more.

What is wrong with you people?

Which is by and large the definition of "posterboys" as I would see it: i.e. they are used (for a limited time perhaps) to sell not "only" Dark Angel stuff, or even "only" Marine stuff, but all sorts of "generic" 40K stuff such as introductory paint sets or the "Welcome, we introduce you to 40K box".

And since Dark Angels haven't been in that "role" so far, it would also make them "new" to this utilisation.

Not sure how they could not be "posterboys", if they get to front the "posters" of new generic 40K stuff now (assuming the "paint-set-trend" sticks for a bit):

When I think of "posterboy", I define it as "the thing that represents the franchise". Dark Angels don't do that. They're being marketed more aggressively to sell the starter kit, but Ultramarines are still shown to be the vanilla space marine that all other marines are essentially just derivatives of, still the chapter that has a movie made just for them, still has the title of being the only GW made chapter to have their own game, etc etc. Dark Angels may have this momentary time in the spotlight, but they do not "represent the franchise" that is WH40K.

BlaxicanX wrote:When I think of "posterboy", I define it as "the thing that represents the franchise". Dark Angels don't do that. They're being marketed more aggressively to sell the starter kit, but Ultramarines are still shown to be the vanilla space marine that all other marines are essentially just derivatives of, still the chapter that has a movie made just for them, still has the title of being the only GW made chapter to have their own game, etc etc. Dark Angels may have this momentary time in the spotlight, but they do not "represent the franchise" that is WH40K.

Well, that is the question, is it not? At the moment, you are evidently correct. All past material, the movie, the current starter-box, etc.. feature Ultramarines. But if the OP's hypothesis is correct, and Dark Angels start fronting the "Introductory paint-set", "Introduction to 40K box", headline the next Space Marine Codex, than all future GW products will use Dark Angels as new posterboys. Of course, Ultramarines will linger in the minds of those longer in the hobby as the old posterboys. But that is a given if you have both old and new posterboys.

I don't think anyone ever claimed that GW would go back and edit the Ultramarine movie to be Dark Angels or something.

Or more specifically they'll just be in for the paint-set, and just the starter, Blood Angels certainly didn't become the poster boys over Ultramarines in the second edition, and they certainly didn't represent C:SM, give it a break already.

Or maybe it's Black Templar! After all they were fighting Dark Eldar in Third Edition, maybe they are the hidden poster boys?

Well, I wouldn't have seen Ultramarines as "posterboys" in 2nd. Arguably no chapter really was. Crimson Fists were the first to claim that spot. Black Templars clearly had in 3rd Edition. So it be a fallacy to say it's "always" been Ultramarines, though they've always been a popular chapter no doubt.

Indeed, by any definition, Black Templars were used in 3rd to "represent" (or poster) 40K to the un-initiated. Not sure how they've not been the posterboys by any reasonable measure?

BA could have been seen as such being on the starter box I guess. None have managed to gain as much attention as a poster chapter than the Ultras in my opinion.

This'd likely be like that, the DA get a brief moment in the spotlight as the starter set; but I doubt it'd go past that.

Dark Angels will not be the new poster boys, I saw them n the site as well and I dont think anything was meant by it.

4oursword wrote:Why on earth should the smallest faction have the most books?

Because it's not "the smallest" at all? I imagine that there's a lot of SM players out there. Making them all play from one book would arguably diminish vareity.

Back on topic: being in the starter and on the paint set doesn't have to mean that the DA are going to be the focus of attention. While it remains a possibility, I doubt it.

Black Templars were on the starter set and rulebook cover in 3rd, the codex had Crimson Fists on the cover, and most boxes had other Marines on the cover. In other words: They put whoever they want on the cover of whatever and it means precious little.

4oursword wrote:Why on earth should the smallest faction have the most books? If SM has multiple dexes for very little difference, then why do IG have no alternatives? There are more guardsmen on one world than Marines in existence.
From a business standpoint, it makes sense.
From a logical view, not at all.

I know this is GW, but that is my opinion.

+1

4oursword wrote:Why on earth should the smallest faction have the most books? If SM has multiple dexes for very little difference, then why do IG have no alternatives? There are more guardsmen on one world than Marines in existence.
From a business standpoint, it makes sense.
From a logical view, not at all.

I know this is GW, but that is my opinion.

So you suggest people should play 40K to represent the "demographic spread" of the fictional 40K universe?

I guess then 60% to 70% of all 40K players should be forced to play some rag-tag Ork horde. Another 25% or so a highly basic version of IG to represent some random PDF. A few chosen players (GW staff in stores perhaps) would have the rare privilege to play a "proper" Imperial Guard force once in a while. And every leapyear, one player would be chosen through the internet worldwide for the rare privilege to field a single Space Marine Squad... once.. in some epic GW studio event. The rest of the available factions should likely be binned right away.

On second though. Scrap that. 99.99999999999999999% of all 40K players should actually be forced to just stare at empty tables. Even in the dark future of the 41st Millenium, 99.999999999% and more of the universe is still just that: Empty, empty space!

Zweischneid wrote:

4oursword wrote:Why on earth should the smallest faction have the most books? If SM has multiple dexes for very little difference, then why do IG have no alternatives? There are more guardsmen on one world than Marines in existence.
From a business standpoint, it makes sense.
From a logical view, not at all.

I know this is GW, but that is my opinion.

So you suggest people should play 40K to represent the "demographic spread" of the fictional 40K universe?

On second though. Scrap that. 99.99999999999999999% of all 40K players should actually be forced to just stare at empty tables. Even in the dark future of the 41st Millenium, 99.999999999% and more of the universe is still just that: Empty, empty space!

I missed the bit when empty space became alive!

Armies would also be seized and destroyed every now and then to represent becoming lost in the warp during transit.

Lord Rogukiel wrote:

Zweischneid wrote:

4oursword wrote:Why on earth should the smallest faction have the most books? If SM has multiple dexes for very little difference, then why do IG have no alternatives? There are more guardsmen on one world than Marines in existence.
From a business standpoint, it makes sense.
From a logical view, not at all.

I know this is GW, but that is my opinion.

So you suggest people should play 40K to represent the "demographic spread" of the fictional 40K universe?

On second though. Scrap that. 99.99999999999999999% of all 40K players should actually be forced to just stare at empty tables. Even in the dark future of the 41st Millenium, 99.999999999% and more of the universe is still just that: Empty, empty space!

I missed the bit when empty space became alive!

Ssssh, don't give GW any idea's, empty space has yet to become grim dark enough to require sentience to kill you. Thankfully that's why we have the warp, which is a close alternative.

Zweischneid wrote:

ZebioLizard2 wrote:So long as they are not made the vanilla codex, sure why not.

Why not? Ultramarines had to carry the burden for long enough. I'm all for some other chapter taking the Vanilla stick for a bit and Ultramarines getting their own book once more.

Yes please. They can even add the line "all other marines wish they were Dark Angels"