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Yesterday I picked up index xenos 2 to get the rules for my Tau. While I very much appreciate that the core rulebook has been trimmed down, and made free, and that the index books are way cheaper than previous codexes, I noticed something... weird.

The codexes of 7th always had loads and loads of background information for each faction, whereas Index is extremely barebones. My Tau get maybe four pages (at most) of lore description, and I can't imagine anyone else is better off, what with four factions' worth of rules crammed into every index. So um... what gives?

The lore has always been a key part of getting a codex. Not everyone cares, but it was always there for those who did. It was a great way of getting invested in the game. I loved reading abouyt my optimistic space communists and their expansion into space, their detailed history...
Does anyone know if GW plans on releasing faction specific codexes later on in 8th, or at least separate books containing the full history? As is now, the lore is only detailed in the old books and on the internet.

These aren't replacements for codexes. This is to get you army up and running until they get their codex

This is exactly the same process as happened with Warhammer 3rd - 4th, 5th - 6th and 7th - AoS, or 40k 1st - 2nd and 2nd - 3rd. Yes, there will be new Codexes in the fullness of time. The core rules tell you that.

I haven't bought it, but I imagine there's also a load of background on all the factions in the big rulebook.

These are stop gap rulebooks. The codices will come out later, hopefully with mostly new and updated fluff rather than the mix of new and recycled.

OK, just wanted to be sure. I figured that would be the case. Haven't read all the rules yet.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 AndrewGPaul wrote:
This is exactly the same process as happened with Warhammer 3rd - 4th, 5th - 6th and 7th - AoS, or 40k 1st - 2nd and 2nd - 3rd. Yes, there will be new Codexes in the fullness of time. The core rules tell you that.

I haven't bought it, but I imagine there's also a load of background on all the factions in the big rulebook.

The "big rulebook" is 15 pages long lol

 AndrewGPaul wrote:
This is exactly the same process as happened with Warhammer 3rd - 4th, 5th - 6th and 7th - AoS, or 40k 1st - 2nd and 2nd - 3rd. Yes, there will be new Codexes in the fullness of time. The core rules tell you that.

I haven't bought it, but I imagine there's also a load of background on all the factions in the big rulebook.

Not really loads but some - the Indexes have a fluff page or two for every faction so its not like it does not exist - there is at least one pretty pic for each and enough background to tell you about who they are and what they do.

The Codexes had been getting leaner and leaner in terms of fluff - Hopefully now that the rules are much more condensed there is more room for such information in the Codexes.

Again hopefully they don't "power up" those with Codexes and leave those who don't without them - in particular if they suddenly give all Space Marines a free boost with Chapter tactics and no one else - that's bad. If they have to pay for a upgrade - all good.

Thanks for the warning!

I was thinking about picking up the Index Xenos II but if it is all just rules and no story I think I will hold off until the proper Ork codex comes out.

I hope they do provide some new story in the Ork codex, I'm excited to see what Ghazgull get's up to in the new galaxy.

 Kroem wrote:
Thanks for the warning!

I was thinking about picking up the Index Xenos II but if it is all just rules and no story I think I will hold off until the proper Ork codex comes out.

I hope they do provide some new story in the Ork codex, I'm excited to see what Ghazgull get's up to in the new galaxy.

I mean you get the bare bones of each faction's lore and the codex is pretty cheap, so if you want to just play the game I'd still recommend getting it.

 SevenSeasOfRhye wrote:
The "big rulebook" is 15 pages long lol

Thats the little rule book, or the "how to play by just plonking your models on the table and start rolling dice guide".

 SevenSeasOfRhye wrote:

OK, just wanted to be sure. I figured that would be the case. Haven't read all the rules yet.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 AndrewGPaul wrote:
This is exactly the same process as happened with Warhammer 3rd - 4th, 5th - 6th and 7th - AoS, or 40k 1st - 2nd and 2nd - 3rd. Yes, there will be new Codexes in the fullness of time. The core rules tell you that.

I haven't bought it, but I imagine there's also a load of background on all the factions in the big rulebook.

The "big rulebook" is 15 pages long lol

That's the Core Rules. The rulebook is 280 pages.

Yeah, I got the box set and the BRB is about 98% lore and only those few pages of the real rules. It looks like the lore only gets furthered for new models which is typically the case like with the new marines and Death Guard. There is a bunch of stuff written furthering the timeline with the fall of Cadia onward.

I mean you get the bare bones of each faction's lore and the codex is pretty cheap, so if you want to just play the game I'd still recommend getting it.

Yea I might do. Most the time my friends and I just play the rules as we remember them from 3rd edition if we don't know how something works, much better than spending hours researching the new rule books!
So I don't find very necessary to buy the books religiously.

I expect they will provide datasheets on paper in the model boxes like they do with the 7th edition rules anyway, so I will eventually accrue the vital ones!

 Kroem wrote:

I mean you get the bare bones of each faction's lore and the codex is pretty cheap, so if you want to just play the game I'd still recommend getting it.

Yea I might do. Most the time my friends and I just play the rules as we remember them from 3rd edition if we don't know how something works, much better than spending hours researching the new rule books!
So I don't find very necessary to buy the books religiously.
I expect they will provide datasheets on paper in the model boxes like they do with the 7th edition rules anyway, so I will eventually accrue the vital ones!

Well, a few fundamental stats have changed for a ton of things:
- No Armor
- Higher wounds
- Movement stat

A few things for weapons have changed a fair bit.
As far as I can tell, templates are a thing of the past, I figure they believe we have more fun rolling dice than sweating over deviation and staring through plastic.

I am tempted to get all the books, I have most of them and they seem well done.
It is early yet, but I am tempted to say that a bit more fairness has gone into the game and those insane over powered cheap units are at least rolled back a bit.

I would say that I think I will get all the books just as a good baseline in case GW goes insane again like in 6th and 7th (matter of opinion there...).

This took many steps toward how Bolt-Action runs, now if only I can get them to do unit rather than army activation.
I know, we are never happy!