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Really it's just as the thread title suggests. I was wondering what the chances are that the replacement for the Forge World Indices might have provision for:

1) Tank aces for FW Guard (or other where applicable) vehicles, whether completely original to specific vehicles or sharing them with pre-existing vehicles (e.g. Malcadors having access to Russ Ace traits, Armageddon Medusa having Basilisk traits etc.) I'm fairly certain the superheavies already have generic superheavy Ace rules (so, for example, the Minotaur can already be an ace).

2) Similarly, orders for said vehicles, either from having a command variant like the Russ does with its own orders or being able to accept orders from something like a Russ commander.

I'm aware that the likelihood of this is rather low; my own expectations are that the new codex will be akin to the indices, simply raw data sheets and not much else, but I was hoping someone might unrealistically raise my expectations. I've heard that whoever is writing the books might do a more thorough job of it than with the older books, but I don't know whether that translates into something as extensive as this.

As much as it would be nice, particularly given that the main studio is doing all the FW model rules now, to have them allow things like Russ Annihilators to be tank commanders or allow Stratagems that apply to Basilisks to also work for Medusa's, if history is any guide, they will not do so. If it's not produced out of the main plastic production line and primary supply chain, it's gonna get left out of anything in the Codex and be an awkward afterthought option. Now, GW's changed that a bit with Space Marine Terminator armor marks, but I wouldn't hold my breath on it going any further.

That's a shame. I mean, I'm sure that numbers-wise a Malcador still would have trouble out-performing a two-shooting Leman Russ, but at least having access to some of the toys other vehicles get would've at least increased their viability.

 Vaktathi wrote:
As much as it would be nice, particularly given that the main studio is doing all the FW model rules now, to have them allow things like Russ Annihilators to be tank commanders or allow Stratagems that apply to Basilisks to also work for Medusa's, if history is any guide, they will not do so. If it's not produced out of the main plastic production line and primary supply chain, it's gonna get left out of anything in the Codex and be an awkward afterthought option. Now, GW's changed that a bit with Space Marine Terminator armor marks, but I wouldn't hold my breath on it going any further.

To be fair the only reason they made it into the codex with very limited options is because of the plastic kits produced by GW main production.

They have been responsible for the FW rules for 18 months or more and all they have done is increase points and the one or two factions actually to get updsted rules, knights and custodes got the models rules gutted and points not changed or increased again.

Steiner wrote:
That's a shame. I mean, I'm sure that numbers-wise a Malcador still would have trouble out-performing a two-shooting Leman Russ, but at least having access to some of the toys other vehicles get would've at least increased their viability.

I think the Macharius/Malcador were well-balanced against Index Russes, maybe all they need to do for them is give them Grinding Advance.

 AnomanderRake wrote:

Steiner wrote:
That's a shame. I mean, I'm sure that numbers-wise a Malcador still would have trouble out-performing a two-shooting Leman Russ, but at least having access to some of the toys other vehicles get would've at least increased their viability.

I think the Macharius/Malcador were well-balanced against Index Russes, maybe all they need to do for them is give them Grinding Advance.

No Grinding advance needs to be reinserted into the Muppet that designed such a rule and the actual weapons profiles fixed, other wise we will be stuck with you Russes getting twice the shots for the same point's or less than other armies with the same weapons.

I would not expect general rules and stratagems to do much on FW units. Experience has told us that GW does not take the FW units into account when writing the rules and this lead to various 'issues' that GW had to FAQ away. I can't imagine they would inflict that pain on themselves and the community again.

Instead, I expect them build Regimental Traits, Orders, Warlord, Traits, and Stratagems that will synch up with both normal units and FW units for the two FW Astra Militarum Regiments, Death Korp of Kreig and Elyisian Drop Troops. The speciality units of these Regiments will come with the Regiment Keyword hard-coded on them while generic units will have the Regiment Keyword.

You know that the new Adeptus Mechanicus transports(Dunerider and Transvector) actually allow for Forge World's Secutarii units to embark upon them from the getgo yeah?

I wouldn't rule out the possibility of them giving strategems to fw models. Some of them had some pretty good rules in 7th including abilities you could pay points for, like Legacies of Ruin for chaos vehicles. I hope they bring those back. I'd love to be able to give my fellblade preferred enemy space marines again.