MarikLaw over on Warseer wrote:
Black Templars Rumours
No rules to report, just tidbits about the Codex itself and why it's so far down the pipeline. Please take this with a grain of salt, as I can't be sure of the accuracy of the information given. This is not exactly word for word as I'm going off of memory, as I spoke to this person in person. He was a rather talkative bloke from the UK who had an impressive collection of GW-related books and miniatures, including some rare pieces I've never seen in person before.

Q) Are Black Templars being rolled into the next Space Marines book?
A) Heavens no. For how old the book is, Templars still draw a presence at tournaments and there are many fans of the Boys in Black within Games-Workshop. Simply slamming them into Codex Space Marines was not an option as far as they were concerned as it would "tip the Space Marine codex from full to bloated" in terms of units and special characters.

Q) So are we getting a White Dwarf Codex to tide us over until release?
A) No need. Typically White Dwarf Codex releases are for armies which need an update but are still at least 2 years off. Black Templars will be out sometime 2014 after Orks and possibly after Tyranids, as the Nids are a high priority at GW right now.

Q) So why is it the last 4th Edition Codex to be released when it's now one of the oldest?
A) The reasoning behind this is actually quite simple. Where as the other 4th Edition armies just needed minor-to-moderate rules work, a few new models, and maybe a new unit or two, the Black Templars needed much, much more work. GW might as well be making a new army from scratch with the amount of work they have to put into this release. They need to create a large number of new units, a large number of new special characters, and models to go along with all of them. This is the most work an army has needed since the initial releases of the Necrons and Dark Eldar, so you can imagine that it is not something that can be done quickly.

Q) So Black Templar players don't have to worry about their army being phased out?
A) Exactly. Games-Workshop was adamant that they were avoiding "going the way of the Squats" with any of their current armies for 40k.

Q) Any rules tidbits you could throw my way?
A) Wouldn't be much of a point, really. The rules haven't even entered into major play testing yet and are still in an incredibly fluid state. Unlike during later stages of play testing, where rules might change from month to month, at this step in the design phase rules change on a weekly, if not a daily, basis. I really don't want to get people's hopes up with rules I've been told only for them to turn around and change it or completely get rid of it a day later.

Q) Who will be writing the book?
A) Phil Kelly.

Q) Who is writing the other upcoming books?
A) Robin is doing Tau Empire, Phil is doing Eldar, Matt is doing Orks, and then Phil is back on duty doing Black Templars. Can't remember who is doing Tyranids, it's either Phil or Matt. I think it's Matt but I'm not 100% on that one.

 d3m01iti0n wrote:
It makes sense if its true, however no reason we cant get FAQd up to speed with what we currently have. Incompentence methinks.

 pretre wrote:

 d3m01iti0n wrote:
It makes sense if its true, however no reason we cant get FAQd up to speed with what we currently have. Incompentence methinks.

FAQ'd up to speed? When's the last time that an army has had points costs and balance covered by FAQ? Yeah, it doesn't happen.

GW either updates you with a book or a WD update. The closest they came to FAQ updates was in 5th when they gave DA/BT good cyclones and storm shields.

 d3m01iti0n wrote:
Im sure it would be as simple as giving units grenades in unit cost, and a simple tweak here or there (like Skyfire on Cyclones or cost reduction for Bretheren making them actually useful). That would get us a couple more guys or wargear on the board. As far behind as we are, I highly doubt a couple sentences in a FAQ isnt going break the game, and most likely increase SM and BT bits/IC sales.

 pretre wrote:

 d3m01iti0n wrote:
Im sure it would be as simple as giving units grenades in unit cost, and a simple tweak here or there (like Skyfire on Cyclones or cost reduction for Bretheren making them actually useful). That would get us a couple more guys or wargear on the board. As far behind as we are, I highly doubt a couple sentences in a FAQ isnt going break the game, and most likely increase SM and BT bits/IC sales.

You are missing the point. They could have done that any of number of times for any number of armies in the last 20 years. They haven't. It is very unlikely that they would start now. BT aren't the only ones who could benefit from simple balance updates at the start of each edition but it has never happened.

TLDR: Could they do it? Sure. Will they do it? No.

 matphat wrote:
Matt Ward doing Orks doesn't bother me too much, as long as he doesn't gak with the fluff very much. I like it just the way it is.

 d3m01iti0n wrote:
Ork fluff is ridiculous and over the top anyways. He might actually be the perfect guy to write it.


Yes, I just said that.

 d3m01iti0n wrote:
Ork fluff is ridiculous and over the top anyways. He might actually be the perfect guy to write it.


Yes, I just said that.

Ugly Green Trog wrote:


I expect Ghazkull is building his empire in the hope that Marneus Calgar will be impressed and invite him to join the ultramarines because he considers Roboute Gulliman to be his spiritual father, he told Imhotek all about it on their last play-date.

 d3m01iti0n wrote:

Ugly Green Trog wrote:


I expect Ghazkull is building his empire in the hope that Marneus Calgar will be impressed and invite him to join the ultramarines because he considers Roboute Gulliman to be his spiritual father, he told Imhotek all about it on their last play-date.

HA! He will probably defect to Dethskulls and paint himself blue.

Ugly Green Trog wrote:
I expect Ghazkull is building his empire in the hope that Marneus Calgar will be impressed and invite him to join the ultramarines because he considers Roboute Gulliman to be his spiritual father, he told Imhotek all about it on their last play-date.

 blood reaper wrote:

Ugly Green Trog wrote:
I expect Ghazkull is building his empire in the hope that Marneus Calgar will be impressed and invite him to join the ultramarines because he considers Roboute Gulliman to be his spiritual father, he told Imhotek all about it on their last play-date.

Nothing like this has ever happened.

Experiment 626 wrote:

 d3m01iti0n wrote:
Ork fluff is ridiculous and over the top anyways. He might actually be the perfect guy to write it.


Yes, I just said that.

Except that Ward hates Greenskins and turned the 7th edition O&G army into one the most underpowered, piles of crap GW's ever released in Fantasy...

I'd rather see Mr.Vetock go 40k Orks if Phil is too busy with other projects.

 d3m01iti0n wrote:

 blood reaper wrote:

Ugly Green Trog wrote:
I expect Ghazkull is building his empire in the hope that Marneus Calgar will be impressed and invite him to join the ultramarines because he considers Roboute Gulliman to be his spiritual father, he told Imhotek all about it on their last play-date.

Nothing like this has ever happened.

Damn, and I thought he was quoting directly from fluff.

 matphat wrote:
Phil did a great job with them last time.
If Matt writes a lack luster codex, that is probably the end of
my 40k days, as I only play Orks and don't seem to be able to get excited about the other Xenos, much less SM.
That is not hyperbole, that is the gods to honest truth.
Good thing I still have a year or so to enjoy my 4th Ed. codex before I have to find out.

 Veteran Sergeant wrote:
Honestly, given how much people bitch and whine about Mat Ward fluff being too over the top, I can't think of anyone more qualified to write the Ork Codex.


After all, GW already ruined the Orks when they turned them into infinitely-replicating space spore fungus. What else could they do to them?

 Veteran Sergeant wrote:
Honestly, given how much people bitch and whine about Mat Ward fluff being too over the top, I can't think of anyone more qualified to write the Ork Codex.


After all, GW already ruined the Orks when they turned them into infinitely-replicating space spore fungus. What else could they do to them?