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Hello all,

I always wished that GW would come out with a NPC codex. What is that? It would be a codex with non-player units, like monsters, mercenaries etc... that are not aligned with any of the major 40K races.

For example, the ambul is a monster mentioned in the 40K fluff, why not have rules like the tyranid "instinctive behavior" rules such that you randomly place the model on the table (according to dice roll) and the ambul has instinctive behavior like "attack all within 6 inches".

I always hated the fact that the codexes always only mentionned the major races. This makes it feel like there are no other races in the universe. With the new codexes there has been reference to so much more, like space wolves they refer to space whales and dragons, grey knights have jokeros, and dark eldar have special mecenaries.

So why not have a special codex all for NPC units that can be played according to preset parameters or that can be incorporated into the game, such as kill this special monster and recover its body before the other side does.

This would add cool new minis, mission objectives, and background and depth to the 40K world!

Obviously these units could only be used with the consent of both players, but you could also have units of xenos mercenaries fighting for other races (except tyranids).

Thoughts?

Cheers,

Whilst it is a nice idea, part of the problem I assume rests with the rate at which GW can actually make and produce a new codex and models. Take for example the latest Tyranid codex, most players are still waiting on official models for unit entries within said codex. Space Wolves still waiting on things like Thunderwolf cavalry. The list goes on for just about every codex currently available (with a couple of notable exceptions)

If they were to introduce a NPC codex then it would further slow down the rate at which other codexes would be renewed and receive the models that they have unit entries for.

That to one side, there is also the question of how many people would want to buy a codex which would require consent from both players to use. While I imagine people might buy the models for the units if they were particularly nice sculpts, the possibility of them being rarely used might deter people from doing so.

It is however a nice idea. But one that gamers could easily come up with by themselves within their gaming groups. Granted they might not have the modelling abilities to design creatures or mecenaries from scratch, but they could use proxies or buy models from non-GW companies.

Having said all this, I think GW fleshing out some of the minor races would be a good idea. Maybe another book in the same style as Xenology (might have the title wrong, but the one where disected aliens featured is the one I'm refering too) that covers the lesser races, albeit in a non-playable way. After all, the moment you add new races directly into the game is the moment threads will spring up calling for the race to get it's own individual codex.

It could however be an interesting resouce if a dakkite was to put together some lesser races (cannon or not) and build some optional rules for them, or scenarios for monster hunting.

Thats my rambling opinion anyway

If they had a downloadable codex or a WD codex it might make sense...
Otherwise there really isn't any point.

purplefood wrote:If they had a downloadable codex or a WD codex it might make sense...
Otherwise there really isn't any point.

I would like read it mostly because I'm a nerd, but I have to agree with this quote it would most likely just be a consolidation of current rules and lore.

They've had similar in White Dwarfs along the years. Lots of "creature features" to make your own monsters or use existing ones. It's been a while though.

The idea would be to have forge world do the minis so that GW would not be bottlenecking the process!