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Terribly analogy, I know.

Looks like GW is dropping the price (under $3 US) and actually adding some sorely needed features. The update isn't out yet though. Is $3 still too much for you or do you think it might have some value at that point?

https://www.warhammer-community.com/2021/02/06/warhammer-40000-the-apps-new-update-offers-more-features-than-ever-for-less/

Still less functional than Battlescribe, then?

 AnomanderRake wrote:
Still less functional than Battlescribe, then?

They might finally catch up, but I think the usability will still be behind in many respects. (but I like list building on a PC instead of a phone)

 Daedalus81 wrote:
Terribly analogy, I know.

Looks like GW is dropping the price (under $3 US) and actually adding some sorely needed features. The update isn't out yet though. Is $3 still too much for you or do you think it might have some value at that point?

So far, they haven't managed to convince me it has any value at a $0 price point.

I'm not sure what 'features' are added here, to be honest. I'm baffled by the idea that custom traits and upgrades weren't something baseline, as they've been part of army building since before this terrible app launched. Or what their idea of 'list building tools' are? You can either write a list or... not. What would be a 'full suite of tools' and what couldn't it do before?

A spreadsheet or piece of paper and a pencil seems objectively superior if that is what they're adding 5-6 months later.

That Russian site and a word document are a better value than this app.

Yea, one thing that confounded me is that I could never put Szeras in any detachment without throwing an error.

They missed a lot of stuff early on and it was definitely rushed. I haven't used Battlescribe on mobile so I don't have a good basis for comparison there on navigation so I'd love someone's perspective there if they have it.






Automatically Appended Next Post:
Nothing beats a glorious spreadsheet like this though (not mine):

Without some updates to the app itself, it’s still worthless. On iPad it’s still running in compatibility rather than native and the aspect ratio is still broken.

Pay now, get something ok in the future maybe lol. The GW way.

 Daedalus81 wrote:

 AnomanderRake wrote:
Still less functional than Battlescribe, then?

They might finally catch up, but I think the usability will still be behind in many respects. (but I like list building on a PC instead of a phone)

So...download Battlescribe on your PC, then?

 AnomanderRake wrote:

So...download Battlescribe on your PC, then?

I do - that was my point. I don't know how GW's thing stacks up against BS mobile though.

I use and pay for the app. I get value from it. But, YMMV. Lowering the cost is just extra peachy.

I'm still mystified that they spent all this time developing a subscription app with less functionality than the Age of Sigmar app they released for free 3 years ago. Talk about an inexplicably huge step backwards. I think GW is going to have trouble getting community buy-in into the app until they offer free access to unit datasheets like the AoS app does, and likewise allow people to buy digital-only copies of the rulebooks through the app instead of having to input a dumb code from a physical copy of the rulebook that is rendered functionally useless by FAQ and Errata within 2 weeks of its release.

During a pandemic when the club is shut and I cant have people visit / go see them - I wouldn’t even pay a penny for an app, never mind a broken, unfinished produce they will inevitable hike up the price up.

Still not cheaper than my pencil.
Still not more useful than 2-3 large coffees/month through Mc'Donalds....

chaos0xomega wrote:
I'm still mystified that they spent all this time developing a subscription app with less functionality than the Age of Sigmar app they released for free 3 years ago. Talk about an inexplicably huge step backwards. I think GW is going to have trouble getting community buy-in into the app until they offer free access to unit datasheets like the AoS app does, and likewise allow people to buy digital-only copies of the rulebooks through the app instead of having to input a dumb code from a physical copy of the rulebook that is rendered functionally useless by FAQ and Errata within 2 weeks of its release.

It isn't even just the AoS app. AoS units have their datasheets on the website on their store pages!
Being able to check on a whim if a unit actually is something I want is a huge selling point.

Especially right now, when it obviously isn't worth buying any 8th edition codex, because at the moment, any of them could be invalidated in the coming months.

chaos0xomega wrote:
...from a physical copy of the rulebook that is rendered functionally useless by FAQ and Errata within 2 weeks of its release.

Ah, the sweet, sweet smell of internet hyperbole - how I do miss thee when I am not browsing Dakka.

Once the Crusade tracking features actually go live, I'll give it a shot just to see how it compares to the tracking spreadsheets I've created.

I'm not saying creating an app or program for a game with the amount of datasheets and interactions 40K has is an easy task, and Battlescribe surely has its flaws,too, but man, GW really messed this up. And now they're desperately trying to make things work but still miss the mark. Too expensive, inferior to alternatives, no PC Version and still an unfinished product you're supposed to pay for. It's pretty clear GW really likes their books and doesn't actually want that online stuff.

Edit: Their PR speach that tries to sell you basic functions as great improvements appears especially ridiculous in this case.

I think the new price is much more reasonable, and like the new features that they have announced, especially the crusade support, but I won't be paying for the app unless it becomes available for PC.

I want to do my list building on my laptop, and then have the list and rules references in my pocket on my phone for easy reference when playing. I have no interest in list building on my phone.

The "improvements" largely appear to be things that one would have expected to be in there from the start.

As is, I just have zero interest in paying a monthly subscription for anything like that, particularly when more capable free alternatives that work on a wider array of platforms exist and GW still wants me to buy a $40 book or $35 epub file on top. I just don't see any value in that.

If it were more capable than free alternatives, worked on a PC, and eliminated the need to buy a codex and rulebook? We'll talk about paying a monthly sub then.

 Vaktathi wrote:
The "improvements" largely appear to be things that one would have expected to be in there from the start.

As is, I just have zero interest in paying a monthly subscription for anything like that, particularly when more capable free alternatives that work on a wider array of platforms exist and GW still wants me to buy a $40 book or $35 epub file on top. I just don't see any value in that.

If it were more capable than free alternatives, worked on a PC, and eliminated the need to buy a codex and rulebook? We'll talk about paying a monthly sub then.

I was thinking they where not doing ebook releases anymore? Do they still do them.

But it also means that the payed app gets worse as you go, needing the book anyway means they have to then make something that is better than alternatives.
Which is really hard as I also use there alternatives for other games, including GW games so to stop using them I would need like 5 new apps for just GW itself.

Apple fox wrote:

 Vaktathi wrote:
The "improvements" largely appear to be things that one would have expected to be in there from the start.

As is, I just have zero interest in paying a monthly subscription for anything like that, particularly when more capable free alternatives that work on a wider array of platforms exist and GW still wants me to buy a $40 book or $35 epub file on top. I just don't see any value in that.

If it were more capable than free alternatives, worked on a PC, and eliminated the need to buy a codex and rulebook? We'll talk about paying a monthly sub then.

I was thinking they where not doing ebook releases anymore? Do they still do them.

But it also means that the payed app gets worse as you go, needing the book anyway means they have to then make something that is better than alternatives.
Which is really hard as I also use there alternatives for other games, including GW games so to stop using them I would need like 5 new apps for just GW itself.

I believe the old-but-still-current eBooks are still for sale, it's just that new book releases are physical only with a code inside for the dgitial version in app

Apple fox wrote:

 Vaktathi wrote:
The "improvements" largely appear to be things that one would have expected to be in there from the start.

As is, I just have zero interest in paying a monthly subscription for anything like that, particularly when more capable free alternatives that work on a wider array of platforms exist and GW still wants me to buy a $40 book or $35 epub file on top. I just don't see any value in that.

If it were more capable than free alternatives, worked on a PC, and eliminated the need to buy a codex and rulebook? We'll talk about paying a monthly sub then.

I was thinking they where not doing ebook releases anymore? Do they still do them.

They don't, none of the 9th edition books have ebook equivalents.

Due to the whole Brexit mess my DG codex which I pre-ordered is still lost in customs and therefore I can't even use the app to build DG armies. I'd gladly buy a digital copy if there was one.

For 24€/year I expect a lot less than I would for 60€/year, among that:
- Immediate updates to rules and points as soon as they are released
- A functional army builder with good handling and quick access to well readable rules during games (BS is lacking in that department IMO)
- Crusade rooster management and list building in one tool
- Synchronization between devices
- An option to unlock armies/books without buying a physical book. Bonus points for allowing such unlocks as soon as books go up for pre-order.
- PC support (a web interface would be sufficient)

There are tons of nice-to-haves but if more than one thing from that list is missing, I don't think there is value in switching from the great tools available right now.

If they actually fix gak maybe. I did the free trial they had and plague marines are fethed on the app, can't configure it properly with legal loadouts.

Let's see if they legit improve it.

 AnomanderRake wrote:

 Daedalus81 wrote:

 AnomanderRake wrote:
Still less functional than Battlescribe, then?

They might finally catch up, but I think the usability will still be behind in many respects. (but I like list building on a PC instead of a phone)

So...download Battlescribe on your PC, then?

Exactly.
I'll stay away from this GW product/app. New coke seems to be diet.

Current subscribers, no need to thank me, you are very welcome!

I did my bit to get you a lower cost and better services by not buying that garbage.

If they get the crusade stuff up there, might be worth it at the new price. That’s value added.

And yes, I can just track it in a spread, but it’s nice to have it all in one place.

 Jidmah wrote:


They don't, none of the 9th edition books have ebook equivalents.

Due to the whole Brexit mess my DG codex which I pre-ordered is still lost in customs and therefore I can't even use the app to build DG armies. I'd gladly buy a digital copy if there was one.

You can use the army builder for armies you don't have a code for. You just can't see any rules beyond the basic datatsheets for thr units without the code.

Woah, GW lowering the price on something? This must have been doing *really* badly for that to have happened.

Tbh, this feels much more reasonable and I'd feel much less aggrieved about shelling out a couple of quid a month, assuming it starts working a bit better.

I'm not too sure what 2 euros translates to for Canadian dollars but if it's still more than BS I'll pass. Maybe when my friends DE book is out and we can play crusade I'll consider it. But if BS gets a crusade variant I'll just use that

That being said I do think that BS is sometimes difficult to read and I think that'd be the only thing the GW app has going for it

For GW to lower price, the app really had to be doing not alright at all. I wonder who those people that paid full since day one feel now.