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So, I had this thought. What if 40k completely discontinued printing codexes? (Am I spelling this right?) Then they could print unit stats/ wargear/ warlord traits and basically everything onto cards. Maybe they could be bigger than other trading cards. I don't know about anyone else, but a $20 pack of cards with everything I need to get my army going is preferable to a $50 book. Thoughts?

I like books.

I dont like cards.

I would be annoyed if Wargames got rid of the option for books.

The idea of losing interest in the game for a time, coming back to it years later, and finding I can't play an army (all be it under rules 2-3 editions out of date) because an all important unit card has disappeared just doesn't sit well with me. Maybe as an accessory to a core book (like the current objective cards), but as the 'sole source' of unit stats? Nah.

I think the way forward would be eBooks and PDFs (not Planetary Defense Forces obvs... those never work). They're cheaper to produce, won't get damaged after repeated use, and people rarely misplace their computers. Plus, with tablets and eReaders becoming widely available, they'll be easily portable and accessible for use during a game.

mr. peasant wrote:
people rarely misplace their computers.

Rare as in... it doesn't happen often, but you have witnessed someone misplace a desktop PC?

On a serious note, I didn't realize the unbelievable horror it would be to misplace a single card. But if codices( i looked it up, it bothered me so much) and the cards were produced in tandem, I feel lke the appeal of cards would go away for me. And I am reluctant to think of a world where sourcebooks were totally digital. Sure, more and more people are gettign ereaders and the like, but it would be fallacy for a war gaming company to just assume all of their customers had e readers or something similar.

...Back to the drawing board....

40k has too many options in the army building stage to fit on cards.

What GW should do is post living army lists online, preferably together with an army builder (Lone Wolf lawsuit pending) and make hardcover fluff/artbooks for collectors.

First since you asked, GW spells it wrong. It is spelt codices. Second, why would GW sell stuff for $20 when it can sell for $50?

I am thinking of what you are thinking. Instead of codices, become more like X-Wing and Star Trek Attack Wing. Have the units on cards and then have the upgrades on cards as well.

Problem is, this can even cost more than codices if GW planned on doing something like this.

Let's look at how this would benefit GW. After all they are here to make money. So they are suppose to be a miniature company correct? So why do they keep on selling books? (I have a theory but it's not for here.)

Each box of minis would have appropriate cards and tokens for what the minis can do. The abilities would be on the cards of what the minis can do. Then we would be able to have upgrade cards.

Problem with this is it will be more expensive if GW did it. Instead of a say a $50 box, it can be a $70 box. (we all know GW doesn't just do a little increase they do a lot.)

Another problem with this is good for GW bad for us. If you want a select card, then you may have to purchase a box you don't really want, so this could be more mini sales for GW (which after all that is what they claim to do.) Yes GW will loose sales on books, but they should be gaining more on sales from minis.

So while we save money on books, we will be paying more for minis. So not sure if this is such a good idea or not.

Sounds like an easy way for GW to make more money.

Why not just print out your own cards?