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Well, due to some strange events, I seem to have been pulled from the very warp itself... so pray, tell me:
Is this game worth getting back into if I have to rebuild from scratch, or should I simply 'wall-hang' for a bit?

Those who enjoy the game will say yes

Those who do not enjoy the game will say no

Those who have a fetish for hating GW will give you a pitchfork and a burning torch and ask you to join the riot



In the end only you can really make the choice and in a way the only way to make it is to dip your toes back in and find out.


I will note that there is a LOT more armchair commenting going on at present in the game because so many people are unable to play or play much because of Corona and lockdowns and social distancing and all that. So despite the market being the biggest that its ever been, its also perhaps one of the least played times

When wasn't that the vibe from You Make Da Call, we beat the arms off our chairs in that thread?
Also - I quite enjoyed throwing a few burning torches at Game Workshop, so those people are only pushing me back to Yes....

You might want to focus on the economics of getting back in.

5-man squads sells for $60, some individual character models are going for $30+.

Seems like it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of how.

One word: eBay. If you have a change of heart you can flip your models and get your money back (even making a profit at times if you are savvy in your purchasing).

Also +1 to this:

 Overread wrote:
Those who enjoy the game will say yes

Those who do not enjoy the game will say no

Those who have a fetish for hating GW will give you a pitchfork and a burning torch and ask you to join the riot



In the end only you can really make the choice and in a way the only way to make it is to dip your toes back in and find out.


I will note that there is a LOT more armchair commenting going on at present in the game because so many people are unable to play or play much because of Corona and lockdowns and social distancing and all that. So despite the market being the biggest that its ever been, its also perhaps one of the least played times

Honestly?

It depends on your community and your gaming support system (also colloquially known as your friends).

From my perspective, the system is more of the same, but even more bloated and bizantine. However (and surprisingly) the basic rules are simplicistic up to the point of being shallow, and strategy is about making obvious decisions between hundred of false choices.

But the news release is pretty good, models are ok, and everyone got their codexes in an almost sensible timeframe. Also there is a lot of choice in terms of models and play stiles.

This edition it's essentially a magnifier of the pros and cons that are within your gaming circle... even more than older editions.

Sure, if played casually amongst friends.
Focus on building/playing an army you like that'll fit in where you'll actually be playing.

Leave most of/all the theorizing, philosophizing, & angst/anger (real & faked) to those who have nothing better to do.

 JinxDragon wrote:
When wasn't that the vibe from You Make Da Call, we beat the arms off our chairs in that thread?
Also - I quite enjoyed throwing a few burning torches at Game Workshop, so those people are only pushing me back to Yes....

Getting back into a hobby just to be angry and throw torches around isn't the best use of your time, or the best thing for your emotional well being.

Getting back in depends almost entirely on what/how you intend to play and who you intent to play with.

Marines got a boost in the last two editions.
They are dominating the sales numbers more than ever.
More than 100 data sheets of Marines and more than 30 bolter gun types.
If you enjoy Marines, no question asked.
Leave the other (dark) side open.

If you're unsure then maybe the best thing is to do some research. I think the best thing to do would be to go to a gaming club and ask if you can watch a game or two, they may even let you join in.

Not that easy to do the way things currently are of course. Maybe watching some 9th Edition games on Youtube will give you a flavour of what things are like now in the game.

I think that's a wiser thing to do than to go to all the time and expense of building a 2,000 point army and then realising you don't actually like the game.

El Torro wrote:
If you're unsure then maybe the best thing is to do some research. I think the best thing to do would be to go to a gaming club and ask if you can watch a game or two, they may even let you join in.

Not that easy to do the way things currently are of course. Maybe watching some 9th Edition games on Youtube will give you a flavour of what things are like now in the game.

I think that's a wiser thing to do than to go to all the time and expense of building a 2,000 point army and then realising you don't actually like the game.

Depends whether club gaming is possible these days.
Here no chance.

 wuestenfux wrote:
Depends whether club gaming is possible these days.
Here no chance.

Which is why I suggested Youtube. Not a great alternative, but better than nothing I think.

Having like-minded people to play with is the most important part for any tabletop game in my experience, especially if you're not in it for the competitive aspect.
If you want to restart with tournament play in mind then I think it's the best edition 40K ever had, because for the first time the game actually cares about the matched, tournament playstyle. Also balance is a much bigger concern than in pre 8th Edition and gets updated regularly. This goes a bit on the cost of narrative play, but when that's your main appeal you're used to write your own missions anyway and nobody is stopping you from doing that. You also get the handy crusade system to connect your missions and develop your dudes, which is nice.

Other than that, prices are still high, GW pumps out 40K books like DLCs and if you think, GW should update model X soon they'll do Y, Z and three Marine units first

Tabletop Simulator. Learn to play again and see if you like it. There are tools now that make everything incredibly simple like exporting your Battlescribe list in with little fuss. No models to commit to until you're ready.

https://www.reddit.com/r/TTSWarhammer40k/

Older editions had more depth so if that is your bag then current 40k isn't really in a good place. If you like easier barrier to entry regarding rules then 40k is in a better place than before. Personally I find the current rule sets to be dreadfully boring and the lack of complex game mechanics to sap all the fun out of the game. Plus the stratagem system feels like a mix of MtG's "I'm gonna tap my forest and play wild growth" and something like Company of Heroes's munition abilities to magically make a unit pull a panzerfaust out of nowhere as a 1 use thing. This gives the game a "gotcha" feel to it where as past editions of 40k generally played the game with all of the cards on the table and no real hidden information (needing to memorize the stratagems for your opponents army to not be caught off guard is worse than trying to memorize all the niche BRB game mechanics). Still many people seem to like it so good for them but it's really not my cup of tea.

New 40k lore is imo weaker and GW did a lot to hamstring the themes of the setting (40k is a setting first and foremost) for marketing purposes. I just like to pretend the new fluff doesn't exist but it's not always easy to do so.

I’d recommend getting back in, but start small, the new combat patrol boxes are amazing. They are a perfect way too start. And a second point covid will give you all sorts of time too paint and build your models. But I agree with deadnight, don’t get back into this hobby if you just want too throw shame at GW, no point in spending your money then.

 Vankraken wrote:
Older editions had more depth so if that is your bag then current 40k isn't really in a good place. If you like easier barrier to entry regarding rules then 40k is in a better place than before. Personally I find the current rule sets to be dreadfully boring and the lack of complex game mechanics to sap all the fun out of the game. Plus the stratagem system feels like a mix of MtG's "I'm gonna tap my forest and play wild growth" and something like Company of Heroes's munition abilities to magically make a unit pull a panzerfaust out of nowhere as a 1 use thing. This gives the game a "gotcha" feel to it where as past editions of 40k generally played the game with all of the cards on the table and no real hidden information (needing to memorize the stratagems for your opponents army to not be caught off guard is worse than trying to memorize all the niche BRB game mechanics). Still many people seem to like it so good for them but it's really not my cup of tea.

I've played from 2nd forward. Strongly disagree.

I wrote a pseudo battle report about some of my thought processes while playing:

https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/797813.page

Hello Darkness my old friend. It's good to see you once again.

Start online play and you'll be fine. Just paint some mini's, so Divine.

Tournies back here in USA. Want some mini's, boy you'll pay.

Memories from far far past. Those memories they might just last.

The dragon wakens from the deep. Roll some dice on cam, we'll peep.




Well, im certainly no song writer but that'll do.

 Eihnlazer wrote:
Hello Darkness my old friend. It's good to see you once again.

Start online play and you'll be fine. Just paint some mini's, so Divine.

Tournies back here in USA. Want some mini's, boy you'll pay.

Memories from far far past. Those memories they might just last.

The dragon wakens from the deep. Roll some dice on cam, we'll peep.




Well, im certainly no song writer but that'll do.

Second parody of Darkness in like 2 days i have seen or taken part of on DakkaDakka. I believe this is the 2nd sign of the ApOrkalypse.

Definitely things to think on, thank you for the answers here.

Finding out some sort of online play sounds like the best way to go during these diseased times. Once more I am wondering why Game Workshop hasn't tapped into that market. Oh I know the old reasoning, but things have clearly changed and they could make a mint with online-collectors. More if they hybrid and allowed physical model purchased via their many outlets to tap into this closed online market.

Now the biggest question for me, as a moral and upstanding dragon of the void:
Which Faction should I get a rule book for first....

As long as it ain't tau, gsc or knights it does not matter as much. Non of the 9th ed books were really bad or just bad.

Ah and ad mecha are being updated "soon", so it is probably not worth buying their book right now.

It makes me think that would I do the same if I lost everything I have currently.
It would be a daunting prospect, but I would say yes. Thinking about which of my armies I'd want to start again is a different story. I would probably say marines, purely due to ease of access in starter sets. Not sure I would go Dark Angels again due to a large portion of that being Ravenwing and Deathwing. Id probably take my time and go with a custom chapter.

Edit: although I have done this once before, coming back in 7th after getting rid of all my 40k in 4th edition. It was the Iyanden ghost army box that started this current path, and id be tempted to do that again through start collecting boxes and a different colour scheme.

 JinxDragon wrote:
Definitely things to think on, thank you for the answers here.

Finding out some sort of online play sounds like the best way to go during these diseased times. Once more I am wondering why Game Workshop hasn't tapped into that market. Oh I know the old reasoning, but things have clearly changed and they could make a mint with online-collectors. More if they hybrid and allowed physical model purchased via their many outlets to tap into this closed online market.

Now the biggest question for me, as a moral and upstanding dragon of the void:
Which Faction should I get a rule book for first....

That's easy. You should sit down & list all the models you like the look of in each faction that strikes your initial fancy.
Once that's done? Count 'em up & wichever force has the most is the one you should look into first.

It depends, I'd wall hang and do some real research. If it was early 8th I'd say give it a try. At this point most of their promises have been proven false and we just keep seeing the same issues over and over while hearing the same promises of not doing it all over again.

In the end its a mixed bag. Why did you quit before ? It's possible all those same reasons are still present and it would be foolish to re start. If you always loved the game but just wandered off maybe try it anew.

I will say it will cost you, starting from scratch, it'll be pricey so get a good idea on what you want. If you love the background, over all mechanics and realize its not a super deep game but more smash um up with army men, jump in.

I've loved the game, its good and its bad for a long time. I won't just gloss over the bad and I won't ignore it's good, it's a game and it's popular and quantity of people to play against has a quality all its own.

 JinxDragon wrote:
Well, due to some strange events, I seem to have been pulled from the very warp itself... so pray, tell me:
Is this game worth getting back into if I have to rebuild from scratch, or should I simply 'wall-hang' for a bit?

Dead simple - what are you looking for? The experience you had a decade ago? Yeah its still there. Something not being there which made you quit? No idea. A tight tactical miniature wargame? Barking up wrong tree. Some background would be good.

One of the things I really appreciate about 9th is that it's designed to be played at four different sizes. There is real mission support for 500 point games now.

If you are ultra competitive and you play with people in the same mindset, those 500 point games can be really swingy and easy to skew, because you don't have the points to include tools to deal with everything you might find yourself up against.

I highly recommend checking out the Crusade system- it's the only way I play these days, because I'm kind of a sucker for atmosphere and story and I don't care so much about winning and losing.

It's the most in-depth progression system GW has ever had for 40k- if you used to like escalation style play, I think you'll love Crusade.

As mentioned above, the Combat Patrol boxes are kinda made specifically for this purpose- they are meant to build a 25PL starting Crusade Force right out of the box. Some have better value than others, and keep in mind that they aren't all out yet either. As each dex for this edition is released, the CP box is released with it. Next up should be Admech.

I agree on the Crusade part, its the best way to play bar none in my oppinion. I would run it in points (1PL=20pts)

If I were coming back to buy in new, I would probably buy the first two necromunda boxes if I could get them.

But 9th Ed? Not so much.