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I know it seems a dumb question but the webstore doesn't make it clear that it's the 9th edition. My DkoK army is coming along and from what I've been able to glean the new Imperial Armor Compendium has new rules for DKoK in it but that probably won't come out until at least after January, but DKok is still Astra Militarum so I will still need the general AM 9th edition book and I wanted to make sure that was already out and that the one on the GW webstore was actually 9th edition before I bought it.

It's the 8th edition codex.

nekooni wrote:
It's the 8th edition codex.

Thank you.

just to be totally clear:

the codex on sale for the Imperial Guard is their current, most up to date codex, and to field a DKOK force, you will need this book, in addition to any extra rules added by the incoming forge world index book.

however, that codex is still the 8th edition codex, as the only two 9th ed codices actually written and on sale at this exact moment are the Space Marines and the Necrons. everyone else is still on their 8th ed codex (and anything added in the Psychic Awakening books). it is expected that the PA stuff will be incorporated into the 9th ed codices as they drop, but I'm not 100% thats happening.

either way, if you want to play with your DKOK, your going to have to buy the 8th ed guard codex, as we dont have a due date for the 9th ed codex yet (and likely wont until a maybe ~3 months before release), and it could be anything up to 18 months out ( if it even comes in 9th. many factions have had to go whole editions without a new codex. the Guard never had a codex in 4th ed, or in 7th ed, for example).

We've been given a short timeline going forward - the next few Codexes are covered up to the end of the year, and the next one into the new year was hinted as a "Xenos" one. The Guard aren't Xenos of course, so smart money is on their Codex coming no sooner than spring at the very earliest.

 Super Ready wrote:
We've been given a short timeline going forward - the next few Codexes are covered up to the end of the year, and the next one into the new year was hinted as a "Xenos" one. The Guard aren't Xenos of course, so smart money is on their Codex coming no sooner than spring at the very earliest.

Then where are all these websites like Goonhammer and others getting all their information about point cost raises and other rules changes when there isn't even a book out yet? I'm starting to discover that the rules of the game are rather like a labyrinth that has to be followed around with a lot of speculation and BS thrown in as well. I'm just trying to figure out all the books I need to buy so that if nothing else I can create paper or cardboard markers to represent units and start playing solitarie so I can teach myself the game, since the GW stores are pretty much dead right now cause Covid.

I learned D&D by buying sourcebooks when I was a kid but D&D at least has a Player's Guide and a DM guide to buy and read. W40k seems to have no such thing that I can discern. Just a bunch of different books depending on the army you are interested in playing with.

siliconmagician wrote:

 Super Ready wrote:
We've been given a short timeline going forward - the next few Codexes are covered up to the end of the year, and the next one into the new year was hinted as a "Xenos" one. The Guard aren't Xenos of course, so smart money is on their Codex coming no sooner than spring at the very earliest.

Then where are all these websites like Goonhammer and others getting all their information about point cost raises and other rules changes when there isn't even a book out yet?

chapter approved was released with 9th editioin. GW now published a annual book that updates points costs for all armies

New points values for pretty much every unit in all of the 8th ed Codexes were revised as part of the new edition dropping. They were all included in a points manual:
https://www.games-workshop.com/en-GB/Chapter-Approved-Mission-Pack-and-Points-Values-EN-2020

As far as the nature of consumer friendliness goes... it's a good thing it's all in one place, if you ask me. Having to pay extra for it, particularly given it's bundled with a mission book and there's no other way to get it? Not so much.
There have historically also been... "questionable" approaches to points value updates being in paid books before. Honestly, it's the source of much debate here but the general consensus is that GW's business practices can be best described as "bloody cheeky" when compared to the rest of the industry.

For Guard specifically, you'll want the following:
- the Core rulebook (you can download a free version of the rules, but it doesn't quite cover everything - the big book has missions and a few nuances for things like matched play)
- the 8th ed Astra Militarum Codex
- that Points Manual linked above
- the FAQ for the Codex, which can be found here (thankfully this one is free!) - https://www.warhammer-community.com/faqs/#warhammer-40000

One could add to that the PA manual "the greater good" as well.
DKOK is a special case. Special rules apply, and are foudn in the index (for forgeworld) with a name like "imperial armoury, index forces of the astra militarum" about 15 bucks.

In any even, if you want to run dkok, you should look for that book as well. The rules for dkok are in there, and it is then modified by the codex and the later pa stuff, but they are a bit unique compared to other regiments.

Thank you all!

I just hate I decided to get into the hobby(totally by accident) right during the middle of a revision. I'd hate to spend $200 on books, then in 6 months have to drop another $200 on more books and learn a bunch of new stuff because I was learning the wrong edition.

Dukeofstuff wrote:
One could add to that the PA manual "the greater good" as well.
DKOK is a special case. Special rules apply, and are foudn in the index (for forgeworld) with a name like "imperial armoury, index forces of the astra militarum" about 15 bucks.

In any even, if you want to run dkok, you should look for that book as well. The rules for dkok are in there, and it is then modified by the codex and the later pa stuff, but they are a bit unique compared to other regiments.

The Forge World Imperial Armour Indexes are out of print and have been for most of 2020 (LINK).

If you want, you could probably run your DKOK as Valhallans, in a standard Codex. Wouldn’t have everything (rough riders in particular) but they have a mostly similar background. The DKOK are like Valhallans, with the assery cranked to 11.

Both loosely based on the poor Russian bastards of WWII fighting and *expected* to probably die in combat.

If you have a local buy and sell (try Facebook) you could see if someone is selling a Codex. Buying rules at retail is a sucka’s game, if you ask me. The 9th Ed rulebook, for example, came in each Indomitus box. Someone probably bought two boxes and only needs one rulebook sort of thing.

 greatbigtree wrote:
If you want, you could probably run your DKOK as Valhallans, in a standard Codex. Wouldn’t have everything (rough riders in particular) but they have a mostly similar background. The DKOK are like Valhallans, with the assery cranked to 11.

Both loosely based on the poor Russian bastards of WWII fighting and *expected* to probably die in combat.

If you have a local buy and sell (try Facebook) you could see if someone is selling a Codex. Buying rules at retail is a sucka’s game, if you ask me. The 9th Ed rulebook, for example, came in each Indomitus box. Someone probably bought two boxes and only needs one rulebook sort of thing.

LOL I'm starting to notice as I get deeper down the rabbit hole that there is a general consensus that GW is fleecing its loyal fanbase for every penny it can get and only changes course when the fanbase makes its displeasure known by not spending money on a product, and sometimes not even then.

The biggest problem I'm seeing though is that they have datasheets and rules for hundreds of different kinds of units, but a very small fraction of those units are actually available for purchase OEM meaning players are forced to either buy it secondhand or source it in ways that considered unethical.

For instance I see all these units listed in Wahapedia for Tyranids, but you can actually only buy maybe a half dozen of the units on that list. It seems to me that they are intentionally trying to maintain scarcity to trigger appreciating collection value and the game really is just a gimmick.

You could get the minimum set (shop around local community used, or online, or such) of...
index forces of the astra militarum (dkok special rules)
index force of the imperium (the precursor book to the astra militarum codex, with all the astra units not in the first book listed. It does not have ALL the strategies, but you are playing dkok anyway. Also, you can build an army out of cardboard and call it admechanicum, with 3 knights (I would say, a trio of pepsi, coke, and a beer can) to support them. Would give you an enemy force with different capabilities and movement speeds to learn against.
3. an indomintus ninth edition rulebook and price list (someone near you has 3 and only needs 1)
4. d4chan.com (lists a lot of the newer strategems that you otherwise have to buy entire books to get, but for purposes of the kitchen table, just search "tactics" "ninth" "40k" "d4chan" and "gaurd" and you will see a multiple page list of gaurd stuff relevant to ninth edition including overview of the various armies.

This brings your price down a lot -- and the 2 indexes, while already obselete, are enough to get started. The various tanks, for example, are in them, the various artillery guns, the units other than your dkok infantry.

Perhaps you end up deciding you like the way an army plays with 3 knights supporting a horde of dkok troops. That's actually quite valid. Or you want some engenseers (repair guys) from admech to babysit your artillery lines. (Although the synergies currently available may change in future). Or you want flyer valkyries or ground tank leman russ tanks or artillery basilisks or a great big horde of bullygrn with invulnerability shields charging down the center. Whatever, man, you are (right now) in a spot where you can watch different online army games and go "that one, I want to try that one" and just use cardboard proxies on the kitchen counter.

Rather than overinvest in books only to see them all turn obselete (for dkok) in a month.

Dukeofstuff wrote:
One could add to that the PA manual "the greater good" as well.

Yeah, I purposely left Psychic Awakening out because it's the absolute worst example of rules being quickly superceded, and I get the feeling that'd only peeve silicon further. That, plus it isn't strictly required.

If you haven't bought models yet i would take real close look　at marines(includik# blood angels, deathwatch and space wolves), necrons and death guard and see　if you　can't find something that appeals you enough. Makes　lot easier to start with 9e codex.

Pretty much any other and you　have　to admit role and power of army can change radically leading wasted money.

siliconmagician wrote:

LOL I'm starting to notice as I get deeper down the rabbit hole that there is a general consensus that GW is fleecing its loyal fanbase for every penny it can get and only changes course when the fanbase makes its displeasure known by not spending money on a product, and sometimes not even then.

Woah woah, slow down. You're too new to have developed the Dakka cynicism. This should be a fun experience, and take all the salt you find here with a grain of pepper.

The biggest problem I'm seeing though is that they have datasheets and rules for hundreds of different kinds of units, but a very small fraction of those units are actually available for purchase OEM meaning players are forced to either buy it secondhand or source it in ways that considered unethical.

Some don't exist, and with some it's a head scratcher as to why, but I wouldn't say only a small fraction have units available. I'd flip that, most units are available and a small fraction don't. Many indeed are outdated and need to be refreshed. Nothing unethical about third party minis if you like the look better, only recasts are frowned on.

For instance I see all these units listed in Wahapedia for Tyranids, but you can actually only buy maybe a half dozen of the units on that list. It seems to me that they are intentionally trying to maintain scarcity to trigger appreciating collection value and the game really is just a gimmick.

I don't follow Tyranids closely, but that would be surprising. Are they genuinely gone, or just facing stock issues due to Covid? Many game systems I play are struggling to maintain stock across their whole product range. Also, a possibility is the mysterious xenos codex for early next year is Tyranids and they're working on repackaging and/or remodeling part of the line.

Finally, I can almost guarantee GW cares nothing about trying to appreciate value in their products. No incentive to. Their shtick is impulse buying and FOMO, hence the "limited edition, buy now for twice the price or you'll miss out!"

as much as many people malign it, one option that should be at least mentioned is the 40K app with subscription, which would give you access to basically every 8th ed datasheet, relic, stratagem, warlord trait, and it also now includes the updated weapon stats that got changed in Codex: Space Marines (ie, 12" flamers, d6+2 damage meltas, 1+ str power swords, etc). it also includes the index: DKOK data needed to play a 8th ed death korps force (which is still the current rules for them). its not a 100% replacement for the actual codices, but for for a much lower price (albeit monthly sub) you get enough to stat out a list and play a few basic games to get a "feel" for the rules and the army.


a lot of people are rather unhappy with the app, but i feel they are mainly unhappy because they want a 100% replacement for codices, and hate the app for what it isnt, not for what it is.

Eh the app isn't good replacement. for example pretty much every time　i leave app or screen turns off going　back to app gets me to loading screen that never goes off. Only way to get past is clear app data and login again. And again. And again.