Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So, this is something I just wanted to share... but I recently contacted GW Customer Support (via their website), and praised them for the Space Marine "Strike Force" which helped me get started with 40k. I specifically asked, at the time, what the fate was of armies who already had 6th Ed. Codex in light of the fact that rumor suggests all Codex releases from here out would see an accompanying "Strike Force" for actually discounted bundles...

I just, to my surprise, got an answer. I am not sure how much GW Customer Service tends to know, but I was told, with a "wink" emote, that GW loves to offer "Mega Bundles" of armies around November, and that maybe this year they would happen to be Tau and Eldar releases in the vein of the Space Marine Strike-Force.

If you're thinking of making a first purchase of either army, it might be worth waiting, and seeing what that amounts to. :-)

Mega bundles are typical around Christmas. Priced about the same as the "strikeforce". Typically the release has been two 40k and two for WFB. Last year saw SM and Necrons, Empire and Vampire Counts. Previous year was SM and Dark Eldar, High Elves and Skaven.

Yeah, this is an annual thing. No big news here.

So there is a precedent, and presumably this would be a good time to catch-up on the existing 6th Ed. armies, if they really do phase out the $100 Battle-Box sets, and give every army a $220-ish, 1200pt or so starter army....

I'm ok with that. I wanted to get Tau at some point anyway... :-p

Hope the boxes are actually useful this time and not just "one of every new unit". Those boxes are always junk for any decent army building unless you buy two.

The biggest news about this is that SM will not be one this year?
lol

If its good then I might start nids

 Lockark wrote:
The biggest news about this is that SM will not be one this year?
lol

No, I hope not.
We will always have a Space Marine-box and it should be like that.

Kangodo wrote:

 Lockark wrote:
The biggest news about this is that SM will not be one this year?
lol

No, I hope not.
We will always have a Space Marine-box and it should be like that.

Not that I have a problem with your opinion, but out of interest, why?

A Tau one? Interesting.

I think it was obvious that there would be no SM one this year, as the Strike Force seems permanent. Hopefully, this trend will continue, and whatever we do get at Christmas (and following releases) will stick around, as they are really much better value for money than the battleforces. You pay more, but through discounters the savings you get are pretty amazing. They might not be the best competitively, but for someone starting/expanding an army, and just playing casually, they are great.

You get good variety and usually at least enough to make a legal army (especailly as plastic HQs are becoming more common. If they are Tau and Eldar, I imagine they will include a Fireblade/Farseer respectively).

I expect...

Fireblade.
Crisis Team.
Stealth Team.
Firewarriors.
Kroot.
Pathfinders plus Devilfish.
Broadside.
One large kit... a tank or Riptide.

I doubt the Riptide though.

blood lance wrote:

Kangodo wrote:

 Lockark wrote:
The biggest news about this is that SM will not be one this year?
lol

No, I hope not.
We will always have a Space Marine-box and it should be like that.

Not that I have a problem with your opinion, but out of interest, why?

Here's why we shouldn't have a Space Marine "megaforce" this year. Because we've already got one available for sale. Here is what was contained in the 2012 Megaforce.

1 Land Raider Crusader
1 Land Speeder Storm
1 Drop Pod
20 Tactical Marines (old, 35.00 price and models)
SM Commander kit
5 Scouts
Venerable Dreadnought
5 Man Command Squad
35 Miniatures

The Current Space Marine Strike Force
1 Razorback
1 Drop Pod
1 Venerable Dreadnought
20 Tactical Marines (new, 40.00 price and models)
SM Commander kit
5 Assault Marines
5 Scout snipers
5 man Command Squad

Similar in price, similar in kits, just no land raider and more actual bodies in the current offering.

The Tau and Eldar Megaforces should definitely include their new MCs, those are the most striking models in their entire lines. If they don't include them it'd be a waste. Plus, it'd be a great way to encourage more spending if they put them in the Megaforce and made sure you save SOME money on the thing ( 1 click collections )

I'd actually consider buying a Strike Force if I could get a Death Company version.

Some sort of build your own strike force widget would be neat. Create some sort of list building option where you have to select an option from each category

The point of big boxes like these aren't to move the really big, cool kits that already sell themselves, like Riptides, Valkyries, or Wraithknights. The model spread isn't too dissimilar from battleforces, which usually focus on a couple core units everyone needs (Tactical Marines, Rhinos) then puts in some other stuff that might not sell as well (like Scouts and Assault Marines). The Strike Force has a Venerable Dreadnought, Scouts, Command Squad, old Space Marine captain and Assault Marines in it, which are all kits that probably aren't flying off the shelves.

Discount Games Store will be launching some Space Marine "Army Deals" in the next week or so according to their facebook. Their christmas ones were superior to the GW megaforces due to both price and units offered, which were customizeable anyway. I expect they'll do the same for the new megaforces this christmas, so keep them in mind if you're keen on the strike/mega forces.

I welcome the return of Megaforces wholeheartedly. I bought most of the 40k ones released so far.

Might be fun to start a strikeforce whishlist thread.

~$300 in models
Must be a playable force (HQ + 2 Troops)
Plays to the main theme of the army's fluff
Contains at least 1/3 "sub-par" or low sales units.
All plastic.

News and Rumors is not the place though...

 Jabeedo wrote:
The Tau and Eldar Megaforces should definitely include their new MCs, those are the most striking models in their entire lines. If they don't include them it'd be a waste. Plus, it'd be a great way to encourage more spending if they put them in the Megaforce and made sure you save SOME money on the thing ( 1 click collections )

I'd settle for an Eldar one with 1 Spiritseer, 10 Wraithguard, 2 Wraithknights, and 1 Hemlock.

 Nevelon wrote:
Might be fun to start a strikeforce whishlist thread.

~$300 in models
Must be a playable force (HQ + 2 Troops)
Plays to the main theme of the army's fluff
Contains at least 1/3 "sub-par" or low sales units.
All plastic.

News and Rumors is not the place though...

As we're a bit short on the finer details of what'll be in each and every strike force this thread is suitable enough for a wishlist & discussion, so I'll move it to 40k general.

Many thanks to the Op though for the hat tip

blood lance wrote:
Not that I have a problem with your opinion, but out of interest, why?

Because half the Codices are Space Marines.
And most of the armies are Space Marines
It'd be lame to bring out two products that surely half the armies cannot use.

Maybe Tyranids this Nidvember!

Would it make financial sense for GW to release Tau and Eldar as the strike forces this year as mentioned in the OP? They're currently the in thing, so you can look at it two ways:

1. It will reduce profits by giving people who were going to buy it anyway the same models for a cheaper price; or
2. It will increase profits by reducing the barrier to entry, allowing more people to pick up the FOTM armies which will hopefully encourage them to keep buying said FOTM armies.

Both have merit, however I'd lean towards #2. Chances are it will include some basics, some non optimal stuff, plus maybe 1 or 2 of the better units to whet the punters appetite for the good stuff. When coupled with the permanent SM strike force, it makes it fairly likely imo.

So far, Christmas Megaforces came out the year after an army's release. But GW is breaking a lot of precedents lately.

This seems more like the typical Christmas boxes. If it is for all current 6th edition forces then chaos and dark angels would have been mentioned surely if each 6th edition army is getting a strike force box as the op mentioned

I hate to admit it, but if there are multiple megaforces on offer, I will definitely be considering: Necron, IG, Tau, Eldar, CSM, Daemons, Flavoured SM. Feth... basically everything. The megaforces (well, the similar discounted deals from discounters like DGS) are actually reasonably priced.

I'd even consioder WHFB megaforces for bits and conversions. I play 40k, but have Wood Elf, WoC, Beastmen, Ogres and Skaven battalions for chaos and IG conversions.

You know what'd be a nice surprise? : D

An Adepta Sororitas Strikeforce. ^_^

The Reclusiam Command Squad kinda makes me wonder if bundle boxes could become exclusive sources for some kits. Imagine how many Eldar Megaforces they would sell if it was the only way to get plastic Warp Spiders or something.