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An idea struck me;

What if Games Workshop released a piece of Android + iOS software that is updated with every release and includes all rules for all GW games.
It could cost £5 a month or, say £50 a year, similar to an Xbox live subscription.
Cancelling your subscription would, of course, remove access to the rules.

I, personally, think it would be fair and useful.
Of course, it's far cheaper than buying 3-4 GW books a year, so very unlikely, but a guy can dream.

I don't think they release rules frequently enough to outweigh the cost, so I wouldn't do it

If they released good content monthly, then I might consider it

 washout77 wrote:
I don't think they release rules frequently enough to outweigh the cost, so I wouldn't do it

If they released good content monthly, then I might consider it

Well, as much as I like having the books, it could be a massive saving for a poorer person, such as myself.

Rustgob wrote:

 washout77 wrote:
I don't think they release rules frequently enough to outweigh the cost, so I wouldn't do it

If they released good content monthly, then I might consider it

Well, as much as I like having the books, it could be a massive saving for a poorer person, such as myself.

This is true. Then it comes down into how much of that content you will actually use. I know they I have my BRB, and my IG codex (which is the only one I really use anymore, I had others), and that's all I will ever really use. So this service is a bit of a waste for me, but if you are someone who uses a lot more of it and you are shorter on money, then I could see this being useful

I think they'll do something like this eventually but it'll probably be years down the line and only for iphone.

There is a cheaper way to get the rules though.

little bobby oppenheimer wrote:
I think they'll do something like this eventually but it'll probably be years down the line and only for iphone.

There is a cheaper way to get the rules though.

Of course, but If I like something I do my best to pay the company who makes the stuff I like. Given how poor I am, the la-la-land prices of GW have me doing a lot of... downloading, lately. ;_;

Rustgob wrote:

little bobby oppenheimer wrote:
I think they'll do something like this eventually but it'll probably be years down the line and only for iphone.

There is a cheaper way to get the rules though.

Of course, but If I like something I do my best to pay the company who makes the stuff I like. Given how poor I am, the la-la-land prices of GW have me doing a lot of... downloading, lately. ;_;

So how is this supporting the company then?

No I wouldn't support this at all. I shouldn't have to pay for "patches" or FAQs because GW can't write properly.

Davor wrote:

Rustgob wrote:

little bobby oppenheimer wrote:
I think they'll do something like this eventually but it'll probably be years down the line and only for iphone.

There is a cheaper way to get the rules though.

Of course, but If I like something I do my best to pay the company who makes the stuff I like. Given how poor I am, the la-la-land prices of GW have me doing a lot of... downloading, lately. ;_;

So how is this supporting the company then?

No I wouldn't support this at all. I shouldn't have to pay for "patches" or FAQs because GW can't write properly.

I buy everything I download eventually. Even if it's a bit naughty to download in the first place.

The point is that you wouldn't pay for patches. Patches and updates are Included within the subscription.

Davor wrote:

Rustgob wrote:

little bobby oppenheimer wrote:
I think they'll do something like this eventually but it'll probably be years down the line and only for iphone.

There is a cheaper way to get the rules though.

Of course, but If I like something I do my best to pay the company who makes the stuff I like. Given how poor I am, the la-la-land prices of GW have me doing a lot of... downloading, lately. ;_;

So how is this supporting the company then?

No I wouldn't support this at all. I shouldn't have to pay for "patches" or FAQs because GW can't write properly.

I think you missed the point. The point being you aren't paying for every single new book they put out, because you automatically get it for $5 a month which is much cheaper depending on

1) How much they put out
2) How much you will actually use

If it was a model they had that would say, give you a digital copy of the codex as it came out, even like a mini version with just the rules/points cost/options and such. On top of that it also updated the FAQs automatically, and BRB. It might be something worth having. That way you have a reference to the armies as they come out so you know their rules and tricks ect.

The app would also have to be useful. Some search functions built into it, bookmarking ect. Helping make my gaming experience smoother, and not requiring me to know all the codex of the top of my head. For the monthly subscription, you would have to get these things free and the day they came out. If they were releasing say 4 codex a year, and the price worked out to be the same as 2 or 3 of them, I would consider it. Also, I should still be able to access the rules I have if the subscription ends.

If they also included white dwarf issues with the subscription, or maybe had a "for $2 more" option, that would also help. Also things like death from the skies.

In short, if it were executed properly, I would probably get it. I would still use my paper codex, but I'd like having a quick reference of all the material in one place.

 pwntallica wrote:
If it was a model they had that would say, give you a digital copy of the codex as it came out, even like a mini version with just the rules/points cost/options and such. On top of that it also updated the FAQs automatically, and BRB. It might be something worth having. That way you have a reference to the armies as they come out so you know their rules and tricks ect.

The app would also have to be useful. Some search functions built into it, bookmarking ect. Helping make my gaming experience smoother, and not requiring me to know all the codex of the top of my head. For the monthly subscription, you would have to get these things free and the day they came out. If they were releasing say 4 codex a year, and the price worked out to be the same as 2 or 3 of them, I would consider it. Also, I should still be able to access the rules I have if the subscription ends.

If they also included white dwarf issues with the subscription, or maybe had a "for $2 more" option, that would also help. Also things like death from the skies.

In short, if it were executed properly, I would probably get it. I would still use my paper codex, but I'd like having a quick reference of all the material in one place.

For a service like that, they'd have to take the rules away if you cancelled, otherwise it's exploited, You just subscribe for a month when the new codex hits and bam; new codex for £5. ;3

Rustgob wrote:

 pwntallica wrote:
If it was a model they had that would say, give you a digital copy of the codex as it came out, even like a mini version with just the rules/points cost/options and such. On top of that it also updated the FAQs automatically, and BRB. It might be something worth having. That way you have a reference to the armies as they come out so you know their rules and tricks ect.

The app would also have to be useful. Some search functions built into it, bookmarking ect. Helping make my gaming experience smoother, and not requiring me to know all the codex of the top of my head. For the monthly subscription, you would have to get these things free and the day they came out. If they were releasing say 4 codex a year, and the price worked out to be the same as 2 or 3 of them, I would consider it. Also, I should still be able to access the rules I have if the subscription ends.

If they also included white dwarf issues with the subscription, or maybe had a "for $2 more" option, that would also help. Also things like death from the skies.

In short, if it were executed properly, I would probably get it. I would still use my paper codex, but I'd like having a quick reference of all the material in one place.

For a service like that, they'd have to take the rules away if you cancelled, otherwise it's exploited, You just subscribe for a month when the new codex hits and bam; new codex for £5. ;3

you're right, or subscribe once every 6 months and get everything for the year. It would depend on how they released content.
Say, for example, they released a codex every 3 months, they could have a 3 month, 6 month, and 1 year subscription model. They could have it so to get content from previous months you would have to back pay it. Say if I just got the program, and I wanted the stuff from the last 6 months, I could buy it for the same price as a 6 month subscription, and have some kind of discount for buying a whole backdated year.

As long as the 3 month subscription was a decent amount cheaper than a codex, which it should be since you are getting a digital mini dex, it would still be worth it as long as the other features (white dwarf, faq auto update, ect.) where included.

A new hard back codex is $60 (Canadian), and a white dwarf is $11. If they released a new codex every three months, that would cost $93 plus tax. (1 codex plus 3 white dwarf issues). If the 3 month subscription was say $30-$40, it would be worth it. They would still make money as I would not be likely to buy every codex otherwise, and it's just a digital mini dex, so many people would still buy the paper copy of the codex they use (I know people who swear by their tablets and still buy and use their paper codex instead of the full digital version of their codex).

Then the system could work something like: I subscribe for the Jan-Feb-Mar 3 month period, and I get the mini dex and those white dwarf issues and FAQ updates. Then I don't have the money so I don't renew for the Apr-May-June period. I keep my digital parts I already got, as I already paid that subscription. If at any time during the Apr-May-June period, I buy a subscription, I get all the already released content for that period, and get newly released content as it comes. If I don't buy a subscription during that time, and instead buy one in the Jul-Aug-Sep period, I don't get the Apr-May-June stuff, but get the stuff for Jul-Aug-Sep and keep my old stuff as well. If at some point I decide I want the stuff from Apr-May-June, I could pay the cost of the 3 month subscription and get it.

Getting the stuff as soon as it comes out would be the intensive to keep you subscription renewed. Buying the 6 and 12 months, as well as buying stuff from a year or more ago, could offer a small discount.

This system I proposed is of course not perfect, but it is doable.

 pwntallica wrote:

Rustgob wrote:

 pwntallica wrote:
If it was a model they had that would say, give you a digital copy of the codex as it came out, even like a mini version with just the rules/points cost/options and such. On top of that it also updated the FAQs automatically, and BRB. It might be something worth having. That way you have a reference to the armies as they come out so you know their rules and tricks ect.

The app would also have to be useful. Some search functions built into it, bookmarking ect. Helping make my gaming experience smoother, and not requiring me to know all the codex of the top of my head. For the monthly subscription, you would have to get these things free and the day they came out. If they were releasing say 4 codex a year, and the price worked out to be the same as 2 or 3 of them, I would consider it. Also, I should still be able to access the rules I have if the subscription ends.

If they also included white dwarf issues with the subscription, or maybe had a "for $2 more" option, that would also help. Also things like death from the skies.

In short, if it were executed properly, I would probably get it. I would still use my paper codex, but I'd like having a quick reference of all the material in one place.

For a service like that, they'd have to take the rules away if you cancelled, otherwise it's exploited, You just subscribe for a month when the new codex hits and bam; new codex for £5. ;3

you're right, or subscribe once every 6 months and get everything for the year. It would depend on how they released content.
Say, for example, they released a codex every 3 months, they could have a 3 month, 6 month, and 1 year subscription model. They could have it so to get content from previous months you would have to back pay it. Say if I just got the program, and I wanted the stuff from the last 6 months, I could buy it for the same price as a 6 month subscription, and have some kind of discount for buying a whole backdated year.

As long as the 3 month subscription was a decent amount cheaper than a codex, which it should be since you are getting a digital mini dex, it would still be worth it as long as the other features (white dwarf, faq auto update, ect.) where included.

A new hard back codex is $60 (Canadian), and a white dwarf is $11. If they released a new codex every three months, that would cost $93 plus tax. (1 codex plus 3 white dwarf issues). If the 3 month subscription was say $30-$40, it would be worth it. They would still make money as I would not be likely to buy every codex otherwise, and it's just a digital mini dex, so many people would still buy the paper copy of the codex they use (I know people who swear by their tablets and still buy and use their paper codex instead of the full digital version of their codex).

Then the system could work something like: I subscribe for the Jan-Feb-Mar 3 month period, and I get the mini dex and those white dwarf issues and FAQ updates. Then I don't have the money so I don't renew for the Apr-May-June period. I keep my digital parts I already got, as I already paid that subscription. If at any time during the Apr-May-June period, I buy a subscription, I get all the already released content for that period, and get newly released content as it comes. If I don't buy a subscription during that time, and instead buy one in the Jul-Aug-Sep period, I don't get the Apr-May-June stuff, but get the stuff for Jul-Aug-Sep and keep my old stuff as well. If at some point I decide I want the stuff from Apr-May-June, I could pay the cost of the 3 month subscription and get it.

Getting the stuff as soon as it comes out would be the intensive to keep you subscription renewed. Buying the 6 and 12 months, as well as buying stuff from a year or more ago, could offer a small discount.

This system I proposed is of course not perfect, but it is doable.

Workable yes, but probably suboptimal from a business angle.
Regardless, I'd like a way to save a little bit of money on all these books. I like to read every codex and even doing that is expensive!

Rustgob wrote:
Workable yes, but probably suboptimal from a business angle.
Regardless, I'd like a way to save a little bit of money on all these books. I like to read every codex and even doing that is expensive!

The model could be adjusted to be profitable. Like I said most people wouldn't go and buy every codex. This would increase sales with very little risk of long term loss. Most digital subscription models tend to be profitable. It would just be another source of to generate revenue. Not everyone has a tablet, and not everyone who has one will use this option. Even if a smaller portion of the GW community used the service, it could still run profitably. It would have a decent size initial investment (all software projects do), but the costs to the business for creating, hosting and selling the digital products would be pennies to the dollar. After the first year, the product would probably generate a solid revenue stream.

Regardless of the fine details, I could see something along these lines working, and I would probably pay for it myself

Wouldn't even consider paying for it. All I need is the BRB, Tyranid codex and any expansion book I feel I might want.

If someone plays me with an army I haven't seen before, I'll simply ask to peruse their codex for a few minutes and ask if there's anything out of the ordinary I should look at (such as Reactivation protocols for Necrons). If they don't let me do this, I simply don't play them.

they wouldnt do that, in the long run that would earn them less money than the money-grabbing crap theyre pulling now. Also that forces people to even have these andoids and ipads n such, and i know most people dont have a tablet (i dont, i see them pointless and a waste of money right now) and reading on a phone is annoying.

The only good prop i'll give to GW when it comes to things reducing their income even by a hair is theyre quick to give you bases if you claim your box had none. I had a boyz box come with 1 base for some reason, they sent me 20 instead of the 9 i was missing lol.

 Vineheart01 wrote:
they wouldnt do that, in the long run that would earn them less money than the money-grabbing crap theyre pulling now. Also that forces people to even have these andoids and ipads n such, and i know most people dont have a tablet (i dont, i see them pointless and a waste of money right now) and reading on a phone is annoying.

The only good prop i'll give to GW when it comes to things reducing their income even by a hair is theyre quick to give you bases if you claim your box had none. I had a boyz box come with 1 base for some reason, they sent me 20 instead of the 9 i was missing lol.

Well, I just see it as a great alternative. It shouldn't replace books, because many people don't have tablets or just enjoy having a physical copy; But for someone who does have an iPad or Android Device, they could be excellent.

Of course, I recognise that it's way unlikely for the moneygrabbing GW overlords


While I am very poor, my partner does have an Android Nexus 7 Tab, and I'd love to have all my rules on it handily.

Here's what I don't understand:

(Sorry to keep yammering on about Paizo, but I love their business model).

GW keeps insisting that they are a miniature company, who also sells rules 'just to allow you to play a game with their collectible miniatures". They constantly insist that their main focus and business is on the models that they sell.

Paizo publishes Pathfinder. They are, by and large, a book company. They do make prepainted miniatures and sell them, but only recently. Reaper has a license to make miniatures for them, but it is a separate miniatures company. They do sell some accessories for their books, but most of those are paper products as well.

GW, the miniatures company, sells expensive hardback rulebooks, and equivalently priced digital rulebooks for a single device.

Pathfinder, the book company, sells similarly priced hardback rulebooks ($50+ dollars, but much thicker) and substantially discounted digital rulebooks that work with any PDF reader adn contain no DRM. Their core rulebooks (the ones that they use in organized play and assume as the baseline for your own campaigns) are all priced at $10 in digital format.


The miniatures company, whose business model revolves around selling you collectible models, can't find a way to sell affordable, easily read digital books and has to sell you only expensive (often limited availability) hardcover editions. If the rules are sold to encourage you to buy more models, shouldn't GW want to maximize the sales of the rules, as to drive sales of their actual focus, the miniatures?

The company who basically sells books can see a way to sell you low cost, digital editions, and sees a benefit in doing so. Not only are those digital editions updated, for free, regularly, but even 'print products' which have gone out of print are still available in digital format. Their business model doesn't emphasize collectible model sales, but depends on the sales of the publications themselves for profitability, but they can sell their main product in a cheaper, less restricted format.

TL;DR: I wouldn't recommend buying a subscription model from GW, as they can't find their own a$$ with both hands. Until GW starts pricing and promoting the rules as an adjunct to their main business of miniatures (or reverses course and de-emphasizes selling miniatures to focus on producing quality rule sets ), they don't know what they are doing.

Still wouldn't get it.

I don't care if it is a HARDBACK ibook.

Dead tree or go home.

I reckon that GW should handle the miniatures and FW/BL handle the rules department. both bring in enough capital to make the above a doable buisiness model. something like a "thankyou to all our many consumer investors and fans, here have something back"