Struggling to indentify the use for the Big Rule Book

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**Elbows**

The main rulebook is essentially: fluff and "advanced" rules. And yes, neither are technically necessary to play 40K. It has some expanded rules, but if you don't make use of them - then yes, the book is of little value.

I have the PDF of the main rulebook, and have basically taken the entire rules (basic and advanced) and distilled them into two double-sided reference sheets which I update with Chapter Approved and FAQ changes. Simple.

**HoundsofDemos**

Trickstick wrote:
That 5th Edition mini rule book was so nice. I guess people just have digital versions these days, which have the benefit of being updated.

Still have mine lol.

**slave.entity**

Overread wrote:
Oh I can certainly be critical of GW's choices! I just see the justification for the BRB, esp today when the PDF with the rules is FREE online and has the same rules information in it. So established people can use a home printer.

I do agree that a shorter version of the rules can be made and could be made, but I can see why GW doesn't do it. If they sold the rules only on its own there's a risk that the BRB might not sell well. Furthermore new people would be encouraged to spend on the cheap smaller copy just for the rules and they'd miss out the hobby and lore aspects. That might not seem important at first, but it could easily set the way for a breed of wargamer who has no interest in the lore of the game. That means all those Black Library novels, all those works of art, etc... All that side would dwindle in importance and sales.

Bad for GW and bad for gamers as the aesthetic certainly is one part of the draw to the hobby.

For me, the aesthetic/lore are the MAIN draws of the hobby. Which is why I got so much out of my old 3E BRB. The art in that book was phenomenal. The game is good but not THAT good. The complete package of hobby + art/lore + game is what makes 40k amazing.

For 8E though I've basically only ever opened up the BRB once when I bought it, and it's been sitting on my shelf ever since. Lorewise I've been too busy devouring the HH audiobooks to bother revisting the 8E take on old lore.

Really the BRB delivers the best value to a younger kid who's brand new to all aspects of the hobby and has the time and incentive to get mileage out of every single page in the book.