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This is gonna be a rant, but I just have to let off some steam, so please bear with me.

I HATE IT

I hate the fact that they are doing e-releases. I really, really do. Because if e-release was merely an alternate method of acquiring the rules without having to lug about 5 pounds of books especially if you have a tablet at home, then I can understand.

But the fact that paper rulebooks only arrive months after the e-release on shelves means GW is selling rules (yes rules, not artwork, not novels, but rules) that people without tablets have no way of access to.

It's like playing a game where you know 100% of the rules but your opponent knows 130% of the rules and you're like WTF and he's like "step up to the digital age, bitch."

Nevermind the fact that they are releasing so many rules now that it is impossible to keep up unless you spend all day in your mom's basement browsing Warhammer forums.

Most of us have real lives and social responsibilities. It sucks to meet an opponent who is fielding an army you have zero clue about, so you'll never know whether he is cheating or not, and even if he isnt, which of his guys to focus on.

Gone are the old days where you had a rough idea of every army.

You know what makes me really sick? I get the feel GW is following the policy of video game companies where they sell you the game for 59.99, and then release DLC packs for a handful of bucks each afterward. Similarly GW sells the main codex, and then a shedload of dataslates.

But it gets even better: now game developers are getting the boldness to no longer sell a couple of individual DLC packs with every game they release, but already advertise a SEASON PASS, i.e. a subscription to auto-buy all the DLCs they release over the next entire year. You save maybe 10 bucks you're told, but buying something blindly without even knowing what quality the DLCs will be means you might invariably end up with stuff you would have otherwise never bought. Do they care? No, of course they don't, because this is called being milked dry. It's the same with GW's dataslates - you don't really know whether you'll really need them or not. Point is, all this is stuff that should have been in the codex!!!!!! I remember the time when chapter approved rules used to be published in White Dwarf. Now, GW will merely chuckle at you suggesting that.

Hey, like man, remember, this game is for fun. You sound like you want to win at all costs. You only need to buy what you need to play your army. Just, like, chill, man.

/Sarcasm.

I also dislike E book releases. I was gonna buy the Scions rules when they come out but now its E reader only im put off. Other than that I like all the new rules. So much customization etc if you want it. None if you dont want it.

This exact same thing happened back in 3rd/4th with Chapter Approved rules. It's just that for the digital age. All this has happened before, and all this will happen again. Honestly, if the other guy has rules you've never seen before, just ask to see them. Look them over, think about them, and boom, now you're the 130% or whatever. It's not that hard. I will admit there's a lot to keep track of these days, but with online forums, ereader programs for home computers, and the ability to look at your opponent's rules before a game, there's nothing that can't be handled.

You know there are heaps of free programs that read the ebook format GW uses right?

If you seriously do not have access to a printer in this day and age, I do not know what to say.

 Brother SRM wrote:
This exact same thing happened back in 3rd/4th with Chapter Approved rules. It's just that for the digital age. All this has happened before, and all this will happen again. Honestly, if the other guy has rules you've never seen before, just ask to see them. Look them over, think about them, and boom, now you're the 130% or whatever. It's not that hard. I will admit there's a lot to keep track of these days, but with online forums, ereader programs for home computers, and the ability to look at your opponent's rules before a game, there's nothing that can't be handled.

This all the way. With the internet it's easier to keep up on these things than ever before. You even have people like me covering what's in the releases so you don't even have to spend money to get an idea of what's going on with them!

Of course that's no excuse for GW keeping us so in the dark about what's in their books (some basic idea of what's in these digital only products beyond two pages of fluff would be nice GW. Just saying.), but it helps mitigate the issue at least.

You don't need a tablet or whatever. Seeing as how you're on an internet forum I have to assume that you have a computer. Download an E-reader type program, there's a bunch of them for free, and download the E-book. It's that simple.
If you still want paper, print it out.

Done.

I remember when half the game was published in White Dwarf during Rogue Trader through to Third Ed assault rules. Then it became a case of bringing a stack of White Dwarfs to games and a lot of my friends who did not have subscriptions got very peeved about how fast the rules and background were changing.

Nowadays at least the majority of the rules are in the rulebook and codexes, and you do not need anything else to play. If you do want to add extra stuff to it you are more than able to now, but the extras are increasingly becoming a toolbox to allow people to customise the game the way they like it.

Print is dead, e-books are the future. Sucks doesn't it.

 Drefan wrote:
a toolbox to allow people to customise the game the way they like it.

Taking that out of context a bit because that's exactly how you can describe the 6th Edition ruleset in general. If one were to read the Spirit of the Game one quickly finds that they encourage you to invent your own anything and everything as long as it's done with the intent of everyone having fun. This means new missions, new rules for units, adjusting points costs, FOCs, creating new units/codexes, the sky is the limit and the rules of the game are just a framework to help you get there.

Sadly people tend to ignore that whole sentiment because it doesn't have crunch, or worse yet it means anyone can bring anything to the table, even if it doesn't have a codex! The MADNESS!

Seriously though, I really feel people neglect a lot of the game when the neglect that little section because it gives us a lot of permission to write our own stories, not just the ones that GW has written for us. It's a big galaxy, so why not explore it?

 Gitsmasher wrote:
Print is dead, e-books are the future. Sucks doesn't it.

hahahaha no. I seriously doubt it. In 10 years though you might have a point.

 Sir Arun wrote:

 Gitsmasher wrote:
Print is dead, e-books are the future. Sucks doesn't it.

hahahaha no. I seriously doubt it. In 10 years though you might have a point.

Hahaha yes print actually is dead...... Hence why alot of major book retailers are going bankrupt.

I wouldn't say print it "dead" as there are still places in the world it's doing fine (such as Japan), just in a serious recession in the US.

 Gitsmasher wrote:

 Sir Arun wrote:

 Gitsmasher wrote:
Print is dead, e-books are the future. Sucks doesn't it.

hahahaha no. I seriously doubt it. In 10 years though you might have a point.

Hahaha yes print actually is dead...... Hence why alot of major book retailers are going bankrupt.

Yeah, totally, print is dead....

...oh wait, no it's not...

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeremygreenfield/2013/11/19/hardcover-sales-growth-outpacing-ebooks-in-2013/

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/retailing/article/59194-signs-of-stability.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/08/08/e-book-sales-are-leveling-off-heres-why/

Print isn't dying any time soon. Many people still don't own a tablet or ereader and many people don't want an ereader or tablet.

ebooks are a nice alternative to physical books for people who prefer them, but at this point they compliment print books, they don't replace them. Of course no one has told GW that yet.

Print is dead? Tell that to the Imperium when discussing STC hard copies. Ironic isn't it....

Seriously tho, e-releases, much like DLC are most annoying when they appear either straight after or as near as, the major release. That comes across as greedy rather than putting it in the main book. However something coming out down the line, which maybe keeps things fresh and interesting, stirring things up... to me that just feels better all round, even if it's done for ultimately the same reason - selling more models.

e-releases come out first because GW ahs the book in hand then, once the book it done they format it, which can be done fairly fast, and then put it up online, meanwhile the hardcopy has been sent to the printers, then the warehouses and moved onto the stores. which takes some time

 Swastakowey wrote:
I also dislike E book releases. I was gonna buy the Scions rules when they come out but now its E reader only im put off. Other than that I like all the new rules. So much customization etc if you want it. None if you dont want it.

The Scions rules is eReader and print, coming out on the same day. The Crimson Slaughter book was done the same way.

Says E reader only in the white dwarf photo

 Swastakowey wrote:
Says E reader only in the white dwarf photo

No, it does not. It says "Online Only" and "Hardback, 72 pages".



When it says "Online Only", it means that the item is only available online from Games Workshop's webstore.

Oh see, thats great then (I dont follow any releases so all this is new to me) well thats ok then.

How computer illiterate do you have to be to be unable to access the new rules? Seriously, GW rules have never been more accessible than in any other time period.

 Asmodai Asmodean wrote:
How computer illiterate do you have to be to be unable to access the new rules? Seriously, GW rules have never been more accessible than in any other time period.

I have no problem accessing them. I have problem paying money for such crappily formatted pieces of junk that clearly no effort has gone in to making decent. Did it once with the Tyranid codex, not doing it again.

I can easily get one. But it is very inconvenient to pay full price for a file, that I had to buy something else to use, only to print it and file it/bind it then use it.

Waste of my time and money. Convenience is more than just having access. Being able to make efficient and good use of it requires more effort, resources and time than just buying the official product and moving on.

I have many devices that can use it, and many printers to print it. But I just want a book. If I cant get the book I version i wont buy it. My fiance loves E readers etc, I do not. I also like to share my books with my friends and new comers. I will not give an I pad, I phone or anything like that to some kid to learn the rules. My club doesnt want to buy a device so we can have communal rules for new players and so on. Books are best for a group.

If you just play pick up games with limited social activity (play and leave) then yea maybe they are better. But I dont think they promote group playing and so on.

So computer wiz or not, they dont suit the needs of many in my area. And im sure there are many areas out there, groups and clubs that are the same. Heck my school library was nice enough to have Codices and rules purchased for us at my first club. If it goes digital then thats all gone. Digital sucks when its digital exclusive.

Of course thats my opinion.

You are only a victim if you cry OP.

As with any retail transaction, the most voting power you have is with your money. If you don't like the practice, don't support it financially. It may suck, but if you buy a product you don't believe in, you're telling the retailer the complete opposite.

I've been purchasing dead-tree only products since, while I don't hate e-reader formats, I prefer having a physical book to use during games. Do I think I'll make a difference? No. Am I telling GW what I want to buy? Yes. Am I personally missing out? I don't think so.

Every sale of one of their books should include a hard copy AND a digital copy.

jasper76 wrote:
Every sale of one of their books should include a hard copy AND a digital copy.

As cool as that would be, the cost of producing of both materials and then giving one away for free would be counter intuitive. Now offering a bundle with a discount on the other hand would be an attractive option. It would seem unreasonable to expect someone to purchase both copies at full price, but if for an extra 15 USD I could get the digital version with my hard copy, I may be persuaded.

I wouldn't be as annoyed with e-releases if they weren't so terribly formatted. It's way more difficult than it should be to find things in the digital editions.

Yeah...I mean when I buy a season of GOT, I get it in Blu Ray, DVD, and Digital for about 5 bucks more than buying it all on DVD.

I think the digital copy would be worth maybe a 2-5 buck markup to me. Otherwise, I could just scan the pages I need (perfectly legal for personal use, I think).

 Kanluwen wrote:

 Swastakowey wrote:
Says E reader only in the white dwarf photo

No, it does not. It says "Online Only" and "Hardback, 72 pages".



When it says "Online Only", it means that the item is only available online from Games Workshop's webstore.

Ironic. Showing a print medium, on an electric medium.