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So I've been researching Warhammer Fantasy in that I wanted to pick up a box set, and didnt mind picking up an older set if peeps recommended it, but it seems 8th edition is pretty popular as far as Fantasy goes, however, I understand that it doesnt have a great Intro Scenario book like I guess Battle for Skull Pass had. I dont know this game, but I imagine it must have included soem scenarios like 40k Dark Vengeance has, where there is a story and the scenarios lead up to a big battle, teaching a bit of the rules at a time.

I notice that GW seems to skip when they do this with their editions. For 40k 2nd, there was a seperate scenario booklet with about 5 mission. 3rd had a lame get startered pamplet. 4th I think had a great one with the Tyranids, and even better yet, released an additional The Battle Rages On with more scenerios introducing new units like Tyranid Warriors and Space Marine jump troops. I didnt get Black reach, but I understand there wasnt really anything in it like before, and then, as we all know in DV, we have the 5 missions.

As far as I can tell, Warhammer 5th came with extra carded units so it looks like there was some kind of scenario pack. I know in 6th there wasnt anything except a army list which was really lame. I guess 7th had a cool getting started scenario pack, and 8th isnt impressive. If I am wrong on any of this, let me know.

So I am wondering as GW seems to skip doing this over each edition, are you guys fans of those scenario books? Or do you care less? I think they are awesome, and really help not just me learn the new changes but they must be for new players. I dont understand why GW doesnt do it everytime. I was really disappointed looking at Warhammer Fantasy 6th and not seeing gak. But I dont know if others think this is a waste of time. I think the starter sets should revolve around some kind of narative that can be played out, not just, well here's your armies have a go. Since I dont have WFB 8th yet, it seems like I will be disappointed because I play very casual games and being able to play scenarios with friends and family is a big reason why I buy games.

The Island of Blood is indeed an awful starter set.
It doesn't tell you how to play at all and has no scenarios, just some pictures with text somewhat akin to a flimsy WDV battrep and general hobby info.
When the first print came out there wasn't even a sheet or page of the book with the stats of the units provided.
GW quickly put one up on the website and included it in later runs.
It just feels like a real rush job.
The cynic in me feels this could have been done on purpose to encourage a return visit to a GW store in order to ask, "How do you actually play?" and a chance to sell more toys/paints etc after an intro.

For me the best ones were Macragge/Black Reach and Skull Pass, really good narrative and explained the rules in a clear concise way.

TOP TIP: In most cases it's worth trying to dredge up a couple of back issues of White Dwarf from the month or three around the release date that accompanied the sets.
I ended up ordering a load of extras for my store to give away free to new recruits with purchase of the sets as they greatly improve the experience and sell people on the HHHobby.

Wow that sucks about Island of Blood. I dont understand how they miss that. I really hope the DV was well received and they follow that find of format in the future.

Its really holding me up from buying Island of Blood.

Isle of Blood seems like the outlier here, since every starter set around it had some built in scenarios. Dark Vengeance had I think 6 of them, ranging from just the three bikes versus the cultists to everything in the box.

I wasn't aware Isle of Blood didn't have any sort of scenario/quickplay material. I guess I was blinded by how nice the models were!