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I'm actually wondering if we're about to see the back of Codex updates.

Think about their layout. Points costs all separate from unit entries, stuck in the back of the book. Intention there is apparently so they can update points without needing to redo the whole book.

So far, the only Codex to get rejigged is Deathwatch - and that's to introduce Primaris. Should've happen at the outset if you ask me, but at least it's a significant update to the Codex. Compare Dark Eldar and Necrons during the switch from paperback to hardback. We just lost options and equipment, and gained nothing.

Some form of game reshaping will happen at some time in the future, that is bound to happen.

I would really be surprised though to see that reshaping come before at least 4 more CA.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
We just lost options and equipment, and gained nothing.

Except for chapter tactics and stratagems, bringing you in line with all the other codexes.

Something to note: I don't think that Games Workshop has released any marketing material or otherwise that refers to this Edition as Warhammer 40k 8th edition. I distinctly remember them numbering the other editions since I started in 3rd.

Can someone prove me wrong? Anything on the games-workshop.com site, warhammer40000.com, or warhammer-community.com that specifically says "8th" Edition?

Leads me to believe that this Edition is around to stay for a while, with minor tweaks via Chapter Approved and frequent FAQ/Errata.

 Eonfuzz wrote:

 Xenomancers wrote:
Ehh - more than likely we will get redone codexes in this eddition - space marines will probably get the first one. We will call it 8.5 though - not 9th edition.

I don't want SM to get the first codex again, do you think you can handle watching the codex power creep that comes afterwards, xeno?

In a more - serious - note, I really hope they ditch the incremental release of codexes and instead focus on a super agile approach; perhaps even leverage the modern age?
For example, buying models gives you their rules on the 40k list builder. And there they update as needed without having to grind out books.

Same old thing man. History repeats it'self. I can handle it because I am addicted to plastic crack toy soliders.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Galas wrote:
Seriously people is arguing GW makes a good part of their profit from books? Not only is the difference in the profit margin from miniatures to book inmense, this "People just buy some models and they don't buy more" is nonsense.

Who does that? Most of the people doesnt stop buying models as long as they are an active player, maybe they are starting new armies, expanding their existing forces, even branching to other GW games.

This "He keeps playing with his 20-years old models and only buy books" players are just a minority, that makes most of their purchases from 2 hand markets, ebay, etc... (Nothing wrong with this people of course, but they aren't a significant part of the community, at least not one that affects GW sales)

Whatever the amount of profit they are making from book sales is. It is enough for them not to go with what the community would prefer, that would be easier to update, and ultimately will make them more money in the end. It is the only reasonable answer as to why they haven't gone to a digital medium for their rules and do these incremental releases. Me for example - I have bought 6 codex this edition - I have spent maybe twice that much on kits - that is even more than most the people I play with. I suppose their are people out there who are buying new armies but I feel those are probably less than what you think they are.

 Eonfuzz wrote:

 Xenomancers wrote:
Ehh - more than likely we will get redone codexes in this eddition - space marines will probably get the first one. We will call it 8.5 though - not 9th edition.

I don't want SM to get the first codex again, do you think you can handle watching the codex power creep that comes afterwards, xeno?

In a more - serious - note, I really hope they ditch the incremental release of codexes and instead focus on a super agile approach; perhaps even leverage the modern age?
For example, buying models gives you their rules on the 40k list builder. And there they update as needed without having to grind out books.

GW will never be able to be “super agile” until they ditch paper codexes. I’m not sure I want them to go this direction though, I like some stability in my games and GW’s rule revisions thend to be overly reactive and punative.

About selling books: selling a new Chapter approved every year makes more money than a new rulebook every 2-4 years.
I also think 8th ed. is here to stay, for as long as it works for them (it currently does, so I don't think they have plans to change edition at the moment).

I actually kind of Hope 8th is here to stay.

I enjoy 8th much more than I enjoyed 7th. I think it behooves people to get in early though, as I will bet anything that rules creep will become a problem as we get into the second and third CA.

GW wouldn't have announced the new yearly schedule for errata, FAQs and CA if they weren't going to run with that for a while:

https://www.warhammer-community.com/2017/12/15/the-future-of-faqs-and-chapter-approved-dec-15gw-homepage-post-2/

 deathwinguk wrote:
GW wouldn't have announced the new yearly schedule for errata, FAQs and CA if they weren't going to run with that for a while:

https://www.warhammer-community.com/2017/12/15/the-future-of-faqs-and-chapter-approved-dec-15gw-homepage-post-2/

Indeed.. people who argue that codex's drive sales are probably right, but there are plenty of players who have their 1-2 armies and don't chase what is current. To them, releases such Codex Approved drive sales as well as a new Codex.
I don't see a new edition until well after 2020.

Oh, and GW stopped numbering the editions after 6th... the community has kept track

I believe we are done with "edition x 40k" and are moving to a system that more closely resembles patches in video game ie. V1.2, V1.21, V1.3 ect ect.

We will get all the main codexes and then begin cycles of twice a year updates to the general rules/balance issues. But we will never fully jump to an entirely new edition we will simply get updated books/codexes that include all the changes up to that point.

Datasheets, Tanks wounds/toughness and Movement will be aroound for a good 6yrs+ at this point.

It has made the game so much easier for them and new players, less rules bloat, etc.. etc...

We will most likely get a 8.1 at the start of 2020

Asmodios wrote:
I believe we are done with "edition x 40k" and are moving to a system that more closely resembles patches in video game ie. V1.2, V1.21, V1.3 ect ect.

We will get all the main codexes and then begin cycles of twice a year updates to the general rules/balance issues. But we will never fully jump to an entirely new edition we will simply get updated books/codexes that include all the changes up to that point.

I don't think GW has the ability to stick with things that long. Things will go like this for a while then 9th will drop.

pm713 wrote:

Asmodios wrote:
I believe we are done with "edition x 40k" and are moving to a system that more closely resembles patches in video game ie. V1.2, V1.21, V1.3 ect ect.

We will get all the main codexes and then begin cycles of twice a year updates to the general rules/balance issues. But we will never fully jump to an entirely new edition we will simply get updated books/codexes that include all the changes up to that point.

I don't think GW has the ability to stick with things that long. Things will go like this for a while then 9th will drop.

It's possible at some point down the road they will reboot, but I doubt it will be any time soon. They are selling through stuff way too quickly right now and instead of selling everyone a rulebook every 2-5 years they can sell everyone rules update 1-2 times per year and free up tons of development time and focus into small elite armies like custodes. I've been playing Warhammer for like 20 years now and I've never seen empty shelves everywhere I go like there has been in 8th. They are going to stick to this model until sales slow significantly

I see them republishing a new rulebook after a few years that will have all the FAQ's and fixes from Chapter Approved rolled into one so that people don't have to carry around 6 books to stay current. People will be salty about that, but they'll be salty about having to carry so many books around anyway.

I'm still curious as to which army actually requires 6 different books, unless we're now counting FAQs as "books". Worst case scenario, you would need index, codex, brb, and maybe CA. Apply sticky notes as needed.

I think they'll release 9th edition later this month, making 8th the first edition to not last a single year. :p

Op: Depends, they seem to like the 2-3 year cycle, it really does depend if they get all the Codex armies out.
The date tends to extend a bit when they try to put out a couple "all-new" armies near the tail end of the releases.
The real question is if plastic SOB is to be seen or whatever version of "Squats" they are thinking about.

Fun stuff, I think this is the most work I have done trying to finish the pile of miniatures I have collected over the decades.

I suspect this will be very similar to when 3rd edition came out, where yes re-release of the BRB with all the FAQ tweaks would be viable choice.
It was exciting times then, I do not see them needing to change much in the strategy from back then to now.

I hope this edition lasts for a while, at least.

I kinda wish they'd go to 9th and scrap the turns for alternating activations. As long as each army moves in entirety before the other army 40k will always boil down to mass fire alpha strikes. It's nearly impossible to balance or have deep tactics when turns are so lopsided.

 Eonfuzz wrote:
GW will never be able to be “super agile” until they ditch paper codexes. I’m not sure I want them to go this direction though, I like some stability in my games and GW’s rule revisions thend to be overly reactive and punative.

There's also something to be said for having a hard copy - I use computers all day at work and for me WH40K is a chance to escape the digital world (apart from Dakka of course ).

 deathwinguk wrote:

 Eonfuzz wrote:
GW will never be able to be “super agile” until they ditch paper codexes. I’m not sure I want them to go this direction though, I like some stability in my games and GW’s rule revisions thend to be overly reactive and punative.

There's also something to be said for having a hard copy - I use computers all day at work and for me WH40K is a chance to escape the digital world (apart from Dakka of course ). I'm not totally against digital content though:

deathwinguk wrote:I'd rather they maintained a single shiny PDF to go with each book instead of separate scrappy errata / FAQs and then CA each year. I'd even pay a small yearly subscription for that.

But I want my core rules and codex in hard copy

I'm afraid those days died when the Internet came into being. With all this hyper-communication and super quick pitchfork mobs, no ruleset will ever last more than 6 weeks before the audience demands a re-write.

You know what will happen, right? New Sisters models & codex in May 2019 - then new edition that July, in which the Sisters are squatted.

 Stormonu wrote:
You know what will happen, right? New Sisters models & codex in May 2019 - then new edition that July, in which the Sisters are squatted.

That would be mega levels of f@q off. I'm not even sure GW is that evil.

Racerguy180 wrote:

 Stormonu wrote:
You know what will happen, right? New Sisters models & codex in May 2019 - then new edition that July, in which the Sisters are squatted.

That would be mega levels of f@q off. I'm not even sure GW is that evil.

Yeah they've never done that *cough* AoS *cough*

9th isn’t happening anytime soon, but the “9TH IS NIGH WOE WOE” threads keep a-comin’

Heck, GW don’t even call it 8th.

hobojebus wrote:

Racerguy180 wrote:

 Stormonu wrote:
You know what will happen, right? New Sisters models & codex in May 2019 - then new edition that July, in which the Sisters are squatted.

That would be mega levels of f@q off. I'm not even sure GW is that evil.

Yeah they've never done that *cough* AoS *cough*

Now I'm just having a series of flashbacks. Poor Dwarfs. Why does GW hate you so?

Flying Hive Tyrants hit adepticon so hard that they broke 8th edition and GW delayed the spring FAQ so they could write 9th. We're doomed, and stuff!

Danny slag wrote:
I kinda wish they'd go to 9th and scrap the turns for alternating activations. As long as each army moves in entirety before the other army 40k will always boil down to mass fire alpha strikes. It's nearly impossible to balance or have deep tactics when turns are so lopsided.

I agree completely with this statement.
8th edition was such a close re-write like Bolt Action as a ruleset I am surprised they did not go that extra step.
Many game systems use some approximation of alternating activation, it seems a bit stubborn to keep to the I-go/you-go method with all the alpha-strike complaints.

GW will do a new edition for 40K, that much is very certain, however what we don't know is how long the shelf life of 8th edition is. 3rd edition had the longest, at 6 years, and 6th edition had the shortest at 2 years.

GW don't publicise the editions by numbers, or at least very rarely do so, there may be the odd reference to previous editions when they release a new edition.

Personally, I long for an edition that scraps the player turn system and goes for an alternative activation system, I'd really like to see the dice system from Betrayal at Calth used, or just use that entire system modified for table top.