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.

The last time they shook up the rules they had the "Black Codex" in the back of the 3rd edition rulebook that had updated rules for everyone to get you by until an update could be done.

There is one major issue with them doing that again: They operate slowly with updates. Instead of doing what PP does where everything had an update for MkII and then each new release for a game gave something to everyone, GW updates everything individually.

That's the first thing they'd need to stop. Stop making new models (updates to old kits are fine) and update everything to 8th edition (or whatever), then do supplements that add things for every army along with the models, instead of a bunch of models for Army X's new codex, then a bunch of models for Army Y, etc.

Such a thing goes against how GW wants to operate though, with models driving everything else, because god forbid that means there might be some time without new models being made! HORROR!

 Brennonjw wrote:
1 rule book, 1 codex per army, i don't see how that is a "miriad of books" (not a complaint at you, but that concept as a whole) and when GW refines the rules down, people will start whining about it being too simple. People love to complain, arguably, GW has been making 40k simpler since 5th, no more area terrain to name one.

The issue is that there are months between codex releases, which hurts balance overall. They should freeze the actual units at a certain part, update everything and provide straight updates for all current units, and then put out supplements that update everything with a couple of new things, instead of a codex a month where somebody has to wait a year for an update because there are a dozen or more factions.

For instance in the months leading up to a revamped edition, there should be no new models released, just redone old sculpts and cosmetic additions (e.g. shoulder pads/iconography). Then the new edition launches with a book that has basic army lists for everything that has been released up until now that make playable, balanced armies. Supplements then add to it, e.g. a book adds the SM Centurions, the Riptide, the Wraithknight, etc. (a unit or two for everybody) with models, but it doesn't invalidate the "black codex" that has the basic rules for everyone. The limited edition codexes then become your fluff/background bibles (there would be a little bit in the black codex for everyone) with lots of cool extras to justify a "collector's" price.

That doesn't mean it was or is a good idea, or the right idea.

They should streamline the rules because it will benefit everyone, despite the people who constantly cite lack of options as some boogeyman reason why balanced rules conducive to tournament play is somehow a bad thing for the casual hobbyists.

 MWHistorian wrote:
I gotta go with Phantomviper on this one. I've been playing for over 20 years and I remember when competitions were a big thing that influenced how people used their armies.
Anecdotal, yes.

Over on PP's forums, tournaments and the winners are discussed quite regularly and their army lists are discussed in detail....how I used to remember it being with 40k.

I recall quite a few highlights of the Grand Tournaments, it was never a list breakdown or battle reports, but I do recall them acknowledging how the tournament scene would be affected. Alessio IIRC was the Italian WHFB Grand Champion a few times, which is why he was hired. There was a few battlereports also where tournament winners were invited to the Studio to play a game; I cannot remember names but I recall one that had two tournament winners facing each other, and another time had someone playing the then-new Chaos (5th edition, large black book) against Jervis playing Dark Elves.