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My friend and I were talking about this the other day and we were wondering if anyone knows why GW released codices that contain units for which there are no models? It seems odd that they control the release window of when codices come out, but yet they release them with option which they don't supply. Furthermore GW seems to be notoriously touchy about other companies emulating elements of their IPs. Even the Dark Eldar codex, that just came out, contains quite a few units that do not have any models. So why does GW not release models for every unit in a codex? Is there some business strategy to this?

P.S. I'm not trying to flame GW. I love the game and this is an honest question that I could not think of an answer to, so could we please try to keep this mature and flame-free. Thanks!

Because GW hates some factions...
I don't know the actual reason...

They don't have enough money/resources to make molds and models for every unit in the codex. Maybe.

Because they want other companies to make the models they are lacking so they can sue said companies and shut them down.

*takes a bow for hitting the nail on the head*

That is a deviously clever plan

Because they make more money by having people buy existing kits to convert into the non existant model.

Odins Beard wrote:Because they make more money by having people buy existing kits to convert into the non existant model.

This

coolyo294 wrote:They don't have enough money/resources to make molds and models for every unit in the codex. Maybe.

It seems to me that if time or money were the limiting factor they would could just space their releases in such a way that the models were ready when the codex was ready or shortly thereafter.

Odins Beard wrote:Because they make more money by having people buy existing kits to convert into the non existant model.

I would guess that most people who care enough to make custom conversions know of third party online bit stores, so GW is actually surrendering business they could have had just by carrying the model to the online third party retailers they seem so keen on stamping out.

candy.man wrote:

Odins Beard wrote:Because they make more money by having people buy existing kits to convert into the non existant model.

This

You guys forgot the key part - when they release the official model, people go out and replace the conversion they did. Profit!

Seriously though, each codex is a project, which gets resources and money given to it. The codex writer might think of some cool new units that they simply don't have the time or the budget to produce. For example, the Tyranid codex. Three new units in it do not ave models - all bit monstrous creatures, two of thich are seen as must have units (Tervigon and Tyrannofex).

It's quite likely they wanted to give the Tyranid codex a smaller budget because it had all of its units minus a few upgrades, like Warrior and Hive Tyrant wings. However, the codex designer (Cruddace) put in some cool new monsters. One was given priority to get a model (the Trygon) while the other three were left without a model because they could be made out of exising models. Models would be made when resources (ie artists) were available to make them.

I think a better question is why they don't release the models all at once. I think that if they spread the model releases out, they can hype up each wave a little more and generate more excitement about each model. If they release everything at once, you buy one or two models and when you are done with them everything else is old and boring, but if they release things in waves you buy one or two models from first wave then you have a new and exciting wave 2, buy one or two models from second wave, then you have another new and exciting wave 3, etc etc.

also if they release the basic troops and transports in wave 1 and few people buy them, they can cut back on the production of models in wave 2 since it looks like the army isn't going to be that popular. if they release EVERYTHING all at once they could have a whole lot of inventory on their hands if the army proves unpopular.

BTW, Dark Eldar now has models for virtually all the units in their codex. The only units without models are a few of the HQ characters ie lady malys (just use a generic HQ or squad leader model or whatever and name it, or have fun modifying your own), void raven bomber (can use the razorwing model, in fact i am surprised they don't just have a razorwing/voidraven box like they are doing with the cronos/talos box), and the slightly better versions of basic troops units ie hekatrix bloodbrides and kabalite trueborn (just use the basic troops models), and the court of archon (i think the court unit is meant to encourage people to make their own conversion models, unless of course the grey knight monkey model is a sign of more weird alien models on the horizon).

I think a few models like court of archon and some of the HQs should be left to the imagination so players can have fun making their own.

Releasing them in waves is purely business. They like to have a wave release, either coinciding with a book or just there as filler, every month. That gives them one big release per month they can be sure a portion of their playerbase is interested in.

They also save some releases for months when there's not a whole lot to release. Take this secret September release, which rumour says is a lot of different things including a re-release of a specilist game (Blood Bowl is a big contender in the rumours) or a Warhound Titan.

Both of these would sell a lot. Both are perfect for saving for a 'rainy day', or weak month, where they can just say 'surprise! here's a cool toy!' and get a lot of impulse buys.

ian1920 wrote:
I think a few models like court of archon and some of the HQs should be left to the imagination so players can have fun making their own.

I think that units like 'Wolf Lord' in the Space Wolves codex or a plain old 'Warboss' in the Ork codex are great examples of units that people can build their own great characters via conversions because they have so many options and can look like whatever you want them to. Named characters, on the other hand, seem like they should have a model provided for them. When there is a character with a pre-established look, history and attitude then there is a right and wrong way to build the model (fluff wise, that is).

And I totally get releasing them in waves to build hype. That absolutely makes sense. But it seems that some of the codices are out of the bracket for any new releases outside of their next codex update, which brings us back to having the problem of new possible unitless models being added.

Generic heroes should really get a plastic kit like the Space Marine captain, with an easily poseable model and a sprue that contains a lot of the options available to the hero. When it's meant to be the personalized head of your army, it shouldn't be a single pose metal (resin now) model.

That, however, is expensive due to the price of setting up plastic molds. So it won't happen.

As for codices missing their 'second wave' releases, GW seems to be doing that a bit late this edition. The only codex release that has gotten it's second wave in a timely manner was the Dark Eldar, and that's due to the entire range being updated.

mazik765 wrote:I would guess that most people who care enough to make custom conversions know of third party online bit stores, so GW is actually surrendering business they could have had just by carrying the model to the online third party retailers they seem so keen on stamping out.

Not really. Think about it from this perspective:

1. Release Codex with 30 units.
2. Make models for 20 of them.
3. Look at what people are buying to make the remaining 10.
4. Ascertain which ones are popular.
5. Make models for the popular ones.
6. Some people keep their scratch built ones. Most go and buy the new 'official' ones.
7. Change the units no one really liked and make them better in the next book.
8. Rinse, repeat.

H.B.M.C. wrote:

mazik765 wrote:I would guess that most people who care enough to make custom conversions know of third party online bit stores, so GW is actually surrendering business they could have had just by carrying the model to the online third party retailers they seem so keen on stamping out.

Not really. Think about it from this perspective:

1. Release Codex with 30 units.
2. Make models for 20 of them.
3. Look at what people are buying to make the remaining 10.
4. Ascertain which ones are popular.
5. Make models for the popular ones.
6. Some people keep their scratch built ones. Most go and buy the new 'official' ones.
7. Change the units no one really liked and make them better in the next book.
8. Rinse, repeat.

While this seems very accurate - judging from GWs actions - I rather prefer making my own from the plastic kits, rather than using the official model.

Examples of my scratchbuilds and conversions include:

Arjacc Rockfist

Logan Grimnar (before there was an official model)

Ragnar Blackmane - there is an official model, but the plastics allow you to make one in a more dynamic pose now.

Actually, this was discussed in a WD article last year.

In the beginning....

GW released some models and a codex (or Chapter Approved) at separate times. In most cases, you would need to wait years for a model to be produced that represented a unit in the codex. Sometimes, the model was never released.

Then people complained that they wanted models with the rules. So GW complied and dropped the codex with the models. The problem was that the codex projects are different than the model creation projects. It's two different development timelines. In many cases, the codex was completed months before the models. This slowed the entire release schedule down. And, of course, it made gamers complain.

About two years ago they separated the process again, allowing for the quicker release of the codexes and whatever models are completed, then release the rest of the models in waves. And, of course, this makes gamers complain.

Becauses nessessity is the mother of invention.

WAAAGHAKI wrote:Actually, this was discussed in a WD article last year.

In the beginning....

GW released some models and a codex (or Chapter Approved) at separate times. In most cases, you would need to wait years for a model to be produced that represented a unit in the codex. Sometimes, the model was never released.

Then people complained that they wanted models with the rules. So GW complied and dropped the codex with the models. The problem was that the codex projects are different than the model creation projects. It's two different development timelines. In many cases, the codex was completed months before the models. This slowed the entire release schedule down. And, of course, it made gamers complain.

About two years ago they separated the process again, allowing for the quicker release of the codexes and whatever models are completed, then release the rest of the models in waves. And, of course, this makes gamers complain.

Well put. You could release a box set of £500 worth of miniatures for £250 and some gamers would complain that it had the wrong units in it. Oh, but we're an contentious bunch!

The positive spin to this is that it can often result in some really cool conversions. As a bit of a conversion hound myself, I love to see this kind of thing. Love new miniatures as well, though, so it's swings and roundabouts.