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With the end of the codex releases in sight, the question becomes: what is next? Rumors from the launch of 8th said this will be a living edition, and so far the rule tweaks and adjustments make it feel true. So the question is, are we just going to see an 8.5 update or something more?

With the box set for Wolves vs GSC, along with mentionings of Orks, Skitarri and the potential for Chaos to get involved it looks like we may be seeing a campaign set on Vigilus next (perhaps to become the new Armageddon of the setting, only with more factions), but that might not be enough to get the ball rolling on rebalancing the armies that are currently lagging behind in the game, nor would it fix shooting mechanics that have many players feeling a bit frustrated even now.

So what do you think GW is going to bring us at the end of these codex updates? What do you want to see in the next update to this edition?

To get the ball rolling: I expect more restrictive allies to be a thing to reduce how much spamming is being done for mechanical advantage rather than cool theme. I could see a new CP mechanic being brought in as well to rebalance the game and discourage CP Farms in the game.

As for wishlisting I want to see shooting to have more depth (+1 for units without the heavy rule to shoot if they don't move that round, +1 if they're in half range OR -1 if they're outside of half range, ect. Basically we need both bonuses and penalties for this system to work and to give weapon types more variety). Making movement and positioning matter more to the game by adjusting bonuses based on location and if you moved or not.

Alternate unit activation would be nice to see too, though I can understand if they go KT style to make movement feel less like chess and let each player get all their moves done and then the other player reacts.

New versions of codexes, campaign books, new factions, sooner or later 9th edition.

AoS/Killteam like CP system. Based on the detachments you have, you get x CPs per turn instead of having them all at the start. Unspent CPs are available in the following turns.

Removes emphasis from first turns.

Full re write of the unit rules and point costs for GK, the sooner the better. And when they make GK the last and best codex, no more new books, no more new editions. Just fixs to other armies every year through Indexs etc

Mercenaries would be nice.

Spoletta wrote:
AoS/Killteam like CP system. Based on the detachments you have, you get x CPs per turn instead of having them all at the start. Unspent CPs are available in the following turns.

Removes emphasis from first turns.

If it were to be AoS-like, you'd get a onetime boost for those detachments.

In the 7th ed, GW has released several supplementary books with formations. The game became more and more confusing. Actually, I lost grip.

An improvement of the rule set named 8.5 would be welcome.

Complete and utter Re design of psy phase to match magic from 8th (not spells, just the mechanics of the phase)

Alternating unit activation for movement AND shooting phase, same with assault phase.

conplete re work of terrain rules, possibly to match 3rd city fight or 4th area terrain rules.

My wishlisting for 8.5/9 is that there isn't one for a long damn time. I'm sick of rebuying books and rules. 8th was promised to have a long life and it still can. I want GW to stop making other things and finish all the codices first before starting in with more stuff. If in a couple years they need to spice things up they can start releasing codex supplements more akin to Chapter Approved than their 7th Ed supplements. I'm talking rules only, no artwork, paperback bound. Cheap little books that take all the rules updates for their factions and bring them all into one spot and in a typeset bind them. Har Har. I don't really bother with CA right now because it just seems like an added expense and you have to keep buying them to stay current and they don't really do anything for me. I'm fine playing codices how they were originally printed because the imbalances in them are really quite marginal unless playing in a tournament setting. However, if I could get CA for just the factions I play, with just the crunch, I'd be on board. Also, this way GW could add new units to existing codices without having to print an entirely new book. GW could write such a thing and make it dependant on the parent codex to work and that way they wouldn't lose codex sales.

My biggest fear in 40k is always being stuck with outdated books. And for a model company they sure seem to be good at selling books! I tried to get into Orks in 7th when they got their new codex and it was... terrible. Easily the worst codex ever written. I actually lose sleep over what a waste Orks were in 7th. I really don't want to do the edition shuffle anymore.


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I think we would all appreciate it if GW stopped trying to sell us $90 and $50 books every couple years and focussed on the model range instead.

Introduce an official army builder app like BattleScribe.

I doubt you are going to see a 9th for a long time. Im guessing that after all the book releases we are going to get an 8.5 with all the FAQs, beta rules and some minor tweaks along with a new SM codex. Just look at what the 2nd edition of AOS brought and your going to see much of the same

Asmodios wrote:
I doubt you are going to see a 9th for a long time. Im guessing that after all the book releases we are going to get an 8.5 with all the FAQs, beta rules and some minor tweaks along with a new SM codex. Just look at what the 2nd edition of AOS brought and your going to see much of the same

I'm of the same idea.

Asmodios wrote:
I doubt you are going to see a 9th for a long time. Im guessing that after all the book releases we are going to get an 8.5 with all the FAQs, beta rules and some minor tweaks along with a new SM codex. Just look at what the 2nd edition of AOS brought and your going to see much of the same

Ummm aos 2nd ed was new edition. In 40k terms that would be 9th ed. What makes you think edition changes are huge sweeping changes? Those are rare ones.

If anything aos shows gw hasn't gone living rulebook style(and won't. Books are print me money buttons) and edition change cycles can stlll be fast

 Formosa wrote:
Complete and utter Re design of psy phase to match magic from 8th (not spells, just the mechanics of the phase)

Oh goodness no for that. I don't want to be required to bring a 4th level psyker or else either be A: Completely Gak at casting, or B: Shutdown by my opponents much better caster. Not to mention how they treated weaker caster factions...

Though I suppose they could've learned by now what has worked and hopefully applied things to be better for it.

Can see a re-release of the core rules, likely no earlier than the middle of next year - basically a tidy up with the FAQ and Chapter Approved changes rolled in, but likely not a vast amount more.

Beyond that I can see expansions with revised terrain rules and datacards for the terrain stuff to replace that from the index - plus cards for things like woodlands, and likely for the new ruins kits.

Then campaign books with new cards for a few new units released as they go forwards and mini-codex for the various smaller factions, again replacing the index lists. If done right as campaign books with scenarios included.

Not seeing "V9.0" for some time

tneva82 wrote:

Asmodios wrote:
I doubt you are going to see a 9th for a long time. Im guessing that after all the book releases we are going to get an 8.5 with all the FAQs, beta rules and some minor tweaks along with a new SM codex. Just look at what the 2nd edition of AOS brought and your going to see much of the same

Ummm aos 2nd ed was new edition. In 40k terms that would be 9th ed. What makes you think edition changes are huge sweeping changes? Those are rare ones.

If anything aos shows gw hasn't gone living rulebook style(and won't. Books are print me money buttons) and edition change cycles can stlll be fast

What I mean is you are not going to see changes like 7th to 8th or WHFB to AOS. It's going to be a minor rules adjustment with all the Beta rules and FAQs rolled into one book. It's going to resemble more of an "update" then what I would consider a new edition. Obviously, we will see a new rulebook as GW is a company that wants to make money. They are also a company that is making way too much money on the success of 8th to make any major changes anytime in the foreseeable future.

It will still be enough changes to require new rulebook. Aka what 40k has been most editions.

 ZebioLizard2 wrote:

 Formosa wrote:
Complete and utter Re design of psy phase to match magic from 8th (not spells, just the mechanics of the phase)

Oh goodness no for that. I don't want to be required to bring a 4th level psyker or else either be A: Completely Gak at casting, or B: Shutdown by my opponents much better caster. Not to mention how they treated weaker caster factions...

Though I suppose they could've learned by now what has worked and hopefully applied things to be better for it.

Just the mechanics of the phase really, the psyker levels I agree would be a bit fiddly, as a primarily dwarf player though I can see the necrons and tau having similar tropes, with the necrons being the 40k dwarf anti magic faction.

Try to imagine a chaos sorcerer trying to fire a doombolt at a necron unit just for a cryptech (runepreist) slapping the spelleater rune (call it soul scour or something) and destroying that power, long story short I loved how interactive the magic phase was, this new pay phase is pure dog poo

Morgasm the Powerfull wrote:
Mercenaries would be nice.

That would be pretty entertaining. The ability to "hire" Freebootaz, Kroot, Eldar Crosairs, or even gang members from Necromunda (gotta encourage those cross sales after all) would be entertaining.

Also a big nope to smartphone apps. X-Wing 2.0 is going that route and it will be the death of that game. Mind you FFG has proven their inability to secure licensing so 2.0 is probably the last kick at the can before Disney moves to a different licensee for their board and card games.

There is something inherently wrong about needing a smartphone with data coverage to play a board game. If GW went this way I would pack it in for good.

Apps are a nice tool, but shouldn't be the crux of how to get the rules for the game. I opted out of having a smart phone years ago due to the monthly bill and am much happier with the dumb phone I currently have since it only runs me about $100USD a year to maintain versus that every month under some contract.

So yeah, apps should be a thing, but shouldn't be the ONLY thing.

ClockworkZion wrote:Apps are a nice tool, but shouldn't be the crux of how to get the rules for the game. I opted out of having a smart phone years ago due to the monthly bill and am much happier with the dumb phone I currently have since it only runs me about $100USD a year to maintain versus that every month under some contract.

So yeah, apps should be a thing, but shouldn't be the ONLY thing.

I tried going the feature phones way for similar reasons, and i'm not looking back.

Asmodios wrote:

tneva82 wrote:

Asmodios wrote:
I doubt you are going to see a 9th for a long time. Im guessing that after all the book releases we are going to get an 8.5 with all the FAQs, beta rules and some minor tweaks along with a new SM codex. Just look at what the 2nd edition of AOS brought and your going to see much of the same

Ummm aos 2nd ed was new edition. In 40k terms that would be 9th ed. What makes you think edition changes are huge sweeping changes? Those are rare ones.

If anything aos shows gw hasn't gone living rulebook style(and won't. Books are print me money buttons) and edition change cycles can stlll be fast

What I mean is you are not going to see changes like 7th to 8th or WHFB to AOS. It's going to be a minor rules adjustment with all the Beta rules and FAQs rolled into one book. It's going to resemble more of an "update" then what I would consider a new edition. Obviously, we will see a new rulebook as GW is a company that wants to make money. They are also a company that is making way too much money on the success of 8th to make any major changes anytime in the foreseeable future.

And that's the reason why any big changes to the game are out of question. Expect tweaks, yes, but changing how a phase works? Not before 3 years at least.

I'm only suggesting an app to provide an official alternative to BattleScribe (I still want a hard copy codex). TBH I couldn't care less if GW do one or not as I already use BattleScribe, but of course by not doing one GW aren't getting my money.

Well an officially supported army builder app would be nice, I was spoiled with X-Wings Squadron Builder so my standards are high! But even that was a free to use thing and X-Wing honestly needed it. The move to an integral app is a mistake and GW should keenly avoid doing it for any of their games. On the other hand, a well made list builder could save people a lot of hassle when it comes to planning purchases.

I can agree that the game needs an officially supported army builder (something I've seen people asking GW for since 5th edition at least), but at the same time I can understand GW's reluctance to delve into maintaining such a thing. They'd basically need a programming team just to deal with the app alone, not to mention patching it, not just for updates, but to ensure the updates don't break the app.

Feels more like something that could be an "officially licensed product" instead of an in-house deal.

I can agree that I don't want to see a new edition yet, but I definitely want to see more updates to the edition we have. In the future we'll need a new edition to consolidate all the changes (and maybe roll out some new ones) but for now we don't need to see a change to transfer into a full 9th edition.

 Brother Castor wrote:
I'm only suggesting an app to replace CA and provide an official alternative to BattleScribe (I still want a hard copy codex). TBH I couldn't care less if GW do one or not as I already use BattleScribe, but of course by not doing one GW aren't getting my money. CA is a great way to balance the game by updating points values each year, but I neither want an extra book or to pay for it (I don't mind paying a BattleScribe-level app subscription though).

CA isn't just points costs.

Still find 8th to be just boring and generally unfun to play. Don't think anything will improve my feelings towards stratagems, the extremely limited amount of core mechanics, and the usage to hit modifiers. At the very least GW could attempt to improve the lackluster terrain/cover mechanics in 8th.

 Vankraken wrote:
Still find 8th to be just boring and generally unfun to play. Don't think anything will improve my feelings towards stratagems, the extremely limited amount of core mechanics, and the usage to hit modifiers. At the very least GW could attempt to improve the lackluster terrain/cover mechanics in 8th.

Terrain does need a rework. It doesn't currently reward positioning enough to make it worth much outside of blocking TLOS and negating the first -1 of an AP for Infantry.

As long as we don't go back to 7th edition cover i'm fine.

That one used to advantage light infantry and make power armor useless.

This one does a lot to help elite infantry (and the game has a desperate need for it), while helping light infantry much less.

I was listening to a guy from the rules team/game designer at the warhammer fest, and he said GW is going to tighten up the rules, once all codexes have been released. Examples given were no more daisy chaining, a unit has to be wholly within a given range to get aura buffs, no more plasma blow up after modifiers, its probably gonna be on a natural roll of 1. And natural 6s will still have an effect, even with negative modifiers.