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So as a xenos player I'm a tad worried about the release schedule for codexes. My thought is that we'll have a two month lag between the release date and the first codexes. If they release one codex a month we could be well into 2019 before the last codexes for existing factions are published. With the focus of 8th ed fluff being on chaos vs. imperium I don't think it's unreasonable to expect that those will be some of the first codexes released. The Eldar will of course get their GW's pet xenos faction early release, but Orks, Tau, Necrons and Tyranids will probably be towards the end of the release schedule. That means we are going to have to make the indexes work for a long time while we wait for codexes and get to see our opponents using their shiny new kit with new wargear, units, and rules.

I know somebody has to be last, and that We will get yearly (maybe more frequent) points updates to try and keep the balance, but for most xenos players it's going to be a long time using a 12 page summary. I'm not worried about this year since chapter approved comes out in december, and that will rebalance the points cost for any overachieving or underachieving units. 2018 will see 11 codexes before a rebalance at the end of the year, so the potential for xenos to get shafted for most of a year is pretty good. With 12+ imperial factions and 8+ chaos factions. I don't think we'll see more than one or two xenos books during all of 2018, and those will probably be Eldar related.

So yeah a little concerned.

I'd like a game in which you buy the rules just once per edition. With these new books I'd like to play for 4-5 years, even if they have 12 pages. There's no need for other codexes.

They already said they are releasing codexes, so the one book per edition thing is not going to happen.

I could see some of the factions and sub-factions getting lumped together into Codexes (Codices?). For example, we could see Sisters, Grey Knights, Inquisition, and Assassins all put into one book, and all the flavors of Eldar (Dark, Craftworld, Harlequin, and Ynnari) put into a single Codex.

It it likely? No telling. Age of Sigmar is not a really good comparison for this, since the latest releases were the Kharadron Overlords (new army consisting of 11 kits across 12 Warscrolls) and Blades of Khrone (lots of kits and Warscrolls, but nothing new aside from rules and some consolidated fluff). Plus, the Stormcast got their own book that consolidated their sub-factions into one book, as well as Disciples of Tzeentch doing the same thing as Blades of Khorne.

With any luck, we will get at least one Codex a month.

Space Marines and Death Guard are likely to be the first two out the gate. It's normal for the starter set armies to get their rules first.

We really don't know much beyond that.

I'd guess that Blood Angels will be the first of the special Chapters done since they're very active in the fluff currently and have already been mostly wiped out and replaced by Primaris according to the fluff leaks.

Dark Angels and Space Wolves will probably wait the longest since they need new kits for the Primaris versions of their special characters and units, and GW is still working on replacing the main Space Marine line.

Grey Knights and Death Watch might also be waiting a long time for their resized kits.

So things actually look positive for Xenos in comparison.

I'm hoping they will use the white dwarf to dribble us some rules to help us get thru the drought, which will get lumped into chapter approved at the end of the year.

I share your concerns and fear for further neglect of my faction, don't have much else to add other than I hope my worries are unfounded!

I've accepted that this is my codex now. I've heard rumors that 15 books are in production right now and there is no way that SoB are in any of those even if it's true.

ERJAK wrote:
I've accepted that this is my codex now. I've heard rumors that 15 books are in production right now and there is no way that SoB are in any of those even if it's true.

And it's gonna be a long wait for any of those books. I wonder when GW will give the Sisters the attention that the fan base has been calling for over the years.

I think some armies shouldn't count on getting a new codex anytime soon. if the rumors of Lemen Russ coming towards the end of the year are true, Space Wolves may get an update in the late part of the year,

that said we also need to consider the possiability of NEW armies, with the death guard it's a safe bet that the other cult legions will eventually get their own codex. but I'd not hold my breath for a vanilla chaos codex.

Do we know codices invalidate indices?

 Lobukia wrote:
Do we know codices invalidate indices?

I'm willing to bet they will only rearrange the points values and add new units.

 Lobukia wrote:
Do we know codices invalidate indices?

I would say yes, new rules release invalidate the old ones. That's kind of the point of putting out new rules, to clear up mistakes and issues with the old ones.

that said, I suspect it'll be VERY rare to see them completely re-do any rules. any updates will be more options ("ohh hey we put out a new khorne bezerker kit. it has chain maces. here's a new sheet for Khrone Bezerkers that allows them to use them") or clearing up confusing langauge/folding in errata

My main concern with codeci coming out for each faction is that well see a return of the power creep. As it stands right now, everyone seems to be on a more formless even playing field with a complete reset across the board. Superfluous special rules and imbalance because of it is what lead to a lot of trouble in 7th. I'm really liking 8th and I don't want to see it spoiled with free transports and other junk like that again.

As said, primaris and dearhguard will be getting their codex first for obvious reasons. Eldar will get theirs of course but I wouldn't be surprised if xenos get some attention next year. This year I think I recall somewhere geedub saying those be a big chaos and imperium focus, wouldn't be surprised in next year is year of the xenos.
I'm of the mind that things will be rolled into one. Mechanics and skitarii rolled together and as much as it breaks my heart- sisters rolled together with another bloody imperial agents book. With those two books alone we're seeing about about 8 different imperial factions rolled into 2 books so thatll cut down on release schedule. Space marines will of course get a book for each and every breed of them under the sun :(

I seem to recall hearing somewhere that 2018 the focus will be Xenos and Admech.

 Aetare wrote:

 Lobukia wrote:
Do we know codices invalidate indices?

I'm willing to bet they will only rearrange the points values and add new units.

There are buckets of wargear that are missing and will be added back in with the codexes, not to mention faction specific uses of command points. There will be enough crunch that even if the codex didn't supercede the index you'll want to get the codex anyway or be at a disadvantage.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

BrianDavion wrote:
I seem to recall hearing somewhere that 2018 the focus will be Xenos and Admech.

I think there is supposed to be a Tau vs ad mech campaign from forge world, but I haven't heard much beyond that.

 Grimgold wrote:

 Aetare wrote:

 Lobukia wrote:
Do we know codices invalidate indices?

I'm willing to bet they will only rearrange the points values and add new units.

There are buckets of wargear that are missing and will be added back in with the codexes, not to mention faction specific uses of command points. There will be enough crunch that even if the codex didn't supercede the index you'll want to get the codex anyway or be at a disadvantage.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

BrianDavion wrote:
I seem to recall hearing somewhere that 2018 the focus will be Xenos and Admech.

I think there is supposed to be a Tau vs ad mech campaign from forge world, but I haven't heard much beyond that.

I agree that the Codex will still be a valuable resource with plenty of new additions! The Tau campaign against the Adeptus Mechanicus will likely fill the narrative space left by the re-ignition of war in the Damocles Gulf that GW has alluded to.

I hope the other regional power in that area gets involved. The Sautekh dynasty of the Necrons are probably a much larger threat to the IoM than the Tau, and if the Ad mech are starting the war to get ahold of the Taus technology then going after the necrons fro the same reason also makes sense.

 Grimgold wrote:
I hope the other regional power in that area gets involved. The Sautekh dynasty of the Necrons are probably a much larger threat to the IoM than the Tau, and if the Ad mech are starting the war to get ahold of the Taus technology then going after the necrons fro the same reason also makes sense.

Agreed. I've always loved the Necrons and they deserve some more loving from GW.

I don't know, but i'd like to see some older kits get refined even if codexes aren't involved. The necron warriors and eldar guardians come to mind. Both of them don't need a total redesign, but recut sprues, crisper detail, they need an update akin to what the basic SM tactical squad received. The necron destroyers should be boxed into a more detailed 3 pack like mechanicus kataphrons, with plastic options for lord and heavy gauss. I'm just thinking about ways to weed out the metal or resin bits from the necron line.

I will likely stick with the two starter box armies and keep em small around 1k points until Necrons get an update and some new models. I have limited time and money so I can't go crazy and commit to too many things.

If AOS is any indication, I would expect to see a mix "new model release" codexes along with "no new model" codexes. I would also expect they will aim more for broad faction codexes like AOS's most recent battletomes (Blades of Khorne, Disciples of Tzeetch, Stormcast Eternals) with a few exceptions for smaller factions (Khardon Overlords) tossed in for seasoning. Factions that are getting new models over the '15 books' in production will have to wait for a model release window while those not will be mixed in the same months as a model release codex.

For example, they might release a Deathguard Codex with the new multi-part models OR they may release a Servants of Decay Codex that covers Deathguard, Nurgle Heretic Astartes, and Nurgle Daemons. Such a 40K release could be followed up with Nurgle Daemons as an AOS release.

In the same month, they could release a Tzeentch Codex covering Thousands Sons, Tzeentch Heretic Astartes, and Tzeentch Daemons with no additional models (unless they add some AOS Tzangors to the list.

Or the could just surprise us. This is GW we are talking about here.

And we [the Sisters of Battle] won't get ours until 2027.

TBH, I wouldn't be as offended if we shared a book with the Grey Knights and Deathwatch and Inquisitors. We used to be the Witch Hunters, and we can be the Witch Hunters again if the Grey Knights become the Daemonhunters and the Deathwatch become the Xenos Hunters. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I don't see why the all two-and-a-half-units of the Stormtroopers were deserving of their own hardback book while our line up was apparently too small to warrant our own independent book,


Though I'm a fan of the indecies over codecies. It makes me feel inclined to buy models that aren't of my primary factions as it were, because I don't feel like I'm starting another army and have to buy a new $40 book, and a $200 starting force.

 Inquisitor Lord Katherine wrote:
And we [the Sisters of Battle] won't get ours until 2027.

TBH, I wouldn't be as offended if we shared a book with the Grey Knights and Deathwatch and Inquisitors. We used to be the Witch Hunters, and we can be the Witch Hunters again if the Grey Knights become the Daemonhunters and the Deathwatch become the Xenos Hunters. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I don't see why the all two-and-a-half-units of the Stormtroopers were deserving of their own hardback book while our line up was apparently too small to warrant our own independent book,


Though I'm a fan of the indecies over codecies. It makes me feel inclined to buy models that aren't of my primary factions as it were, because I don't feel like I'm starting another army and have to buy a new $40 book, and a $200 starting force.

I still have my old WitchHunter book laying around somewhere... That should honestly be the way to go with all forces even remoteley relate to the Inquisition or Ecclesiarchy.

 Aetare wrote:

 Inquisitor Lord Katherine wrote:
And we [the Sisters of Battle] won't get ours until 2027.

TBH, I wouldn't be as offended if we shared a book with the Grey Knights and Deathwatch and Inquisitors. We used to be the Witch Hunters, and we can be the Witch Hunters again if the Grey Knights become the Daemonhunters and the Deathwatch become the Xenos Hunters. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I don't see why the all two-and-a-half-units of the Stormtroopers were deserving of their own hardback book while our line up was apparently too small to warrant our own independent book,


Though I'm a fan of the indecies over codecies. It makes me feel inclined to buy models that aren't of my primary factions as it were, because I don't feel like I'm starting another army and have to buy a new $40 book, and a $200 starting force.

I still have my old WitchHunter book laying around somewhere... That should honestly be the way to go with all forces even remoteley relate to the Inquisition or Ecclesiarchy.

I mean, as much as I dislike the Imperial Agents book, it works. I'm always tempted to get things to have token representation in my collection of all the miltant forces of the Imperium.

 Lobukia wrote:
Do we know codices invalidate indices?

I guess they will.
The indices are just some kind of ''emergency'' to get the rules for models/units going in the new edition.
I guess also that the new codices will be prized as the ones in the old edition.

Hopefully we see more consolidated, quality codices. I would be over-joyed to see the release of a Tyranid/GSC hardcover that had a thick slab of good fluff and imagery and be very *meh* if they get separate slim paperbacks. Consolidated codices would really cut down on the time span in which they could be released.

Only a few factions would need their own singular codex.

 Inquisitor Lord Katherine wrote:
And we [the Sisters of Battle] won't get ours until 2027.

TBH, I wouldn't be as offended if we shared a book with the Grey Knights and Deathwatch and Inquisitors. We used to be the Witch Hunters, and we can be the Witch Hunters again if the Grey Knights become the Daemonhunters and the Deathwatch become the Xenos Hunters. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I don't see why the all two-and-a-half-units of the Stormtroopers were deserving of their own hardback book while our line up was apparently too small to warrant our own independent book,


Though I'm a fan of the indecies over codecies. It makes me feel inclined to buy models that aren't of my primary factions as it were, because I don't feel like I'm starting another army and have to buy a new $40 book, and a $200 starting force.

fold sisters, death watch grey knights and inqusition into "agents of the Imperium"?

one thing about key words is that they can include several smaller armies that have a loose unifying theme together.

 Grimgold wrote:
but for most xenos players it's going to be a long time using a 12 page summary.

I don't get this. Even if you do get a new codex tomorrow, it will still be a 12 page summary. So what is the difference? I don't get it.

I think chapter approved might be coming back partially to mitigate this. I wouldn't be shocked if it was used to add additional stop gap rules to keep index armies up to snuff. Maybe come out with expanded psychic powers for factions, or a few additional generic warlord traits, or even some basic relics.