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 insaniak wrote:

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
Yeah, speaking of that, why do the BAs/DAs/SWs even need upgrade sprues? Their respective Chapter-specific kits (two, in the case of the BA's) cover pretty much all the iconography and fancy doo-dads that you could ever want.

Because this way they can drop the Chapter-specific boxes, and just range the generic boxes in store and the upgrade frames through Direct Only, would be my guess.

I wont try to second guess GW, but the BA tactical kit feel to recent to put down.
All in all, this is a really strange release IMO (supporting already existing chapter specific, and at the same time ignoring chaos).

 RedFox wrote:
upgrade kits confirmed, new re-direct

http://natfka.blogspot.ca/2015/05/re-directs-and-additional-information.html


old rumor about content of the upgrade kits:

http://natfka.blogspot.ca/2015/05/re-directs-and-additional-information.html

Years ago, back when I worked for GW, they talked about each chapter getting an upgrade kit, like the BT/DA ones.
A couple years after I left, they issued the BA and new GH boxed sets, which was a surprise...it was a turn around from what we were told they were doing. The idea was that a store could save shelf space by only stocking vanilla squads, and players could easily upgrade by getting the upgrade kits. Chapter specific boxed sets did the opposite...they took up shelf space...

I'm wondering if these are simply being made from old molds made years ago for the project, as a way to generate cash?

Found these whilst browsing, images courtesy of http://anythingbutones.blogspot.co.uk

How are the current Imperial/Crimson Fist upgrade packs from GW? Are the shoulder pads the correct size?

Mymearan wrote:
How are the current Imperial/Crimson Fist upgrade packs from GW? Are the shoulder pads the correct size?

Yes. They were resculpted in 5th and are the right size for modern models. I've used a bunch of them. I don't know why they're the only ones that got that treatment though.

That's awesome. Will buy lots and possible some vehicle icons as well since they're so much cheaper than the FW doors.

11$ for a small sprue? Hm.. GW really is following EA's version of DLCs but for miniature games.

Unsure why BA and SW need one as we have our own boxes. Iron Hands would sell a lot better! (But not like GW knows what their customers want)

And why did they put the Imperial Fists on the Assault Marines instead of, I dunno, chapters that are actually known for using them?

 Kirasu wrote:
11$ for a small sprue? Hm.. GW really is following EA's version of DLCs but for miniature games.

Unsure why BA and SW need one as we have our own boxes. Iron Hands would sell a lot better! (But not like GW knows what their customers want)

The BA ones exist because of the new ASM kit and they want to entice us into buying it. Too bad ASM are crap compared to many other FA units (Bikes especially). But, now we can buy a box of bikes or two and use the BA iconography on them.

As it stands, I am going to buy at least one of the BA upgrade kits, if not two or three. If they make an IF/CF kit, I will buy no less than four of them.

 casvalremdeikun wrote:

 Kirasu wrote:
11$ for a small sprue? Hm.. GW really is following EA's version of DLCs but for miniature games.

Unsure why BA and SW need one as we have our own boxes. Iron Hands would sell a lot better! (But not like GW knows what their customers want)

The BA ones exist because of the new ASM kit and they want to entice us into buying it. Too bad ASM are crap compared to many other FA units (Bikes especially). But, now we can buy a box of bikes or two and use the BA iconography on them.

Blood angels already have the tactical squad or DC box. I just put together a ton of BA models and never needed an "upgrade" sprue because those two boxes have more bits than you need for multiple units.

That DA hooded head looks like Sloth

 Kirasu wrote:

 casvalremdeikun wrote:

 Kirasu wrote:
11$ for a small sprue? Hm.. GW really is following EA's version of DLCs but for miniature games.

Unsure why BA and SW need one as we have our own boxes. Iron Hands would sell a lot better! (But not like GW knows what their customers want)

The BA ones exist because of the new ASM kit and they want to entice us into buying it. Too bad ASM are crap compared to many other FA units (Bikes especially). But, now we can buy a box of bikes or two and use the BA iconography on them.

Blood angels already have the tactical squad or DC box. I just put together a ton of BA models and never needed an "upgrade" sprue because those two boxes have more bits than you need for multiple units.

And now people have the option of making models without having those kits. I fail to see how having more ways of doing something is a bad thing. I really hope they make these kits for all of the First Founding Chapters. I get the feeling the Iron Hands, Raven Guard, White Scars, and Imperial Fists will not see them though. And that is the crappy part. The SW should not be getting them, that is for sure, since they have exclusive kits for EVERYTHING, unlike BA and DA.

This would have been the perfect opportunity to give Iron Hands some cybernetic parts, White Scars some ponytailed heads, etc. We will probably be getting an muscled chest armor piece for Blood Angels, some hooded heads for Dark Angels (I will admit, the pictured chest armor piece does look pretty awesome), Space Wolves will probably get some Mohawks and beards and wolf tails, and we have seen all of the UM one. I am all for more options on how to make stuff, but they could have done some of the other chapters too(much sadness about no IF yet). Hopefully the CSM will see similar upgrade kits at some point too.

 casvalremdeikun wrote:

 Kirasu wrote:

 casvalremdeikun wrote:

 Kirasu wrote:
11$ for a small sprue? Hm.. GW really is following EA's version of DLCs but for miniature games.

Unsure why BA and SW need one as we have our own boxes. Iron Hands would sell a lot better! (But not like GW knows what their customers want)

The BA ones exist because of the new ASM kit and they want to entice us into buying it. Too bad ASM are crap compared to many other FA units (Bikes especially). But, now we can buy a box of bikes or two and use the BA iconography on them.

Blood angels already have the tactical squad or DC box. I just put together a ton of BA models and never needed an "upgrade" sprue because those two boxes have more bits than you need for multiple units.

And now people have the option of making models without having those kits. I fail to see how having more ways of doing something is a bad thing. I really hope they make these kits for all of the First Founding Chapters. I get the feeling the Iron Hands, Raven Guard, White Scars, and Imperial Fists will not see them though. And that is the crappy part. The SW should not be getting them, that is for sure, since they have exclusive kits for EVERYTHING, unlike BA and DA.

This would have been the perfect opportunity to give Iron Hands some cybernetic parts, White Scars some ponytailed heads, etc. We will probably be getting an muscled chest armor piece for Blood Angels, some hooded heads for Dark Angels (I will admit, the pictured chest armor piece does look pretty awesome), Space Wolves will probably get some Mohawks and beards and wolf tails, and we have seen all of the UM one. I am all for more options on how to make stuff, but they could have done some of the other chapters too(much sadness about no IF yet). Hopefully the CSM will see similar upgrade kits at some point too.

You responded to my comment and also answered my next comment.. Yes, it's an option but as you state, the other chapters may NOT be getting them. It would have been a much better use of resources to NOT do DA/BA/SW if the amount of new sprues is limited.

Awesome, BA can get more options for stuff they already have options for yet other chapters still have 0 options.

 Kirasu wrote:
Awesome, BA can get more options for stuff they already have options for yet other chapters still have 0 options.

And this is where we are in total agreement. They should have done the other chapters first. Definitely the ones in the C:SM, at least the First Founding Chapters (and Black Templars). SW shouldn't even exist, since there is basically no place that people will be using them since SW have all of their own kits. BA and DA could have come later. DA already have/had an upgrade sprue.

It's also disappointing because it really is a very good idea, but (at least from what we've seen so far) rather poorly executed. Same as usual for GW, then.

I feel like the limited options are due to the sheer amount of space given entirely to pauldrons. Still, better some than none, and maybe they'll release more upgrade sprues for the same Chapters (e.g. Ultramarine Upgrade Sprue 2) if these do well.

What it does is put up the price of five men again, with the cost of the ASM and then the upgrade sprue.

As a BA player, I always bought one vanilla ASM box and one DC box when making a squad. 10 BA ASM result, and still have BA bits left over. I can't see the upgrade sprue changing that.

I would have thought Fists, White Scars or some of the other neglected chapters should have seen them first.

NoggintheNog wrote:
What it does is put up the price of five men again, with the cost of the ASM and then the upgrade sprue.

As a BA player, I always bought one vanilla ASM box and one DC box when making a squad. 10 BA ASM result, and still have BA bits left over. I can't see the upgrade sprue changing that.

I would have thought Fists, White Scars or some of the other neglected chapters should have seen them first.

For BA, you are actually better off buying DC and Tactical, and skipping ASM. The DC boxes come with way more than enough bits of jump pack stuff, heads, and shoulder pads, plus weapons that can be easily converted. Plus the BA boltguns are easier to deal with than the Tactical boltguns, so you can use them to finish up your tacs

The only thing you end up short on is special weapons, which you can fix by either kitbashing them (I wrote a little guide on making Meltaguns out of bolters and DC infernus pistols), or just buying the 5-packs.

I just love the BA tactical box... so much bits goodness in it.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Brother SRM wrote:

Mymearan wrote:
How are the current Imperial/Crimson Fist upgrade packs from GW? Are the shoulder pads the correct size?

Yes. They were resculpted in 5th and are the right size for modern models. I've used a bunch of them. I don't know why they're the only ones that got that treatment though.

I hate how all the old shoulders are too small :(

NoggintheNog wrote:
What it does is put up the price of five men again, with the cost of the ASM and then the upgrade sprue.

As a BA player, I always bought one vanilla ASM box and one DC box when making a squad. 10 BA ASM result, and still have BA bits left over. I can't see the upgrade sprue changing that.

I would have thought Fists, White Scars or some of the other neglected chapters should have seen them first.

Not sure why you even buy ASM for BA. They're the same price I think and ASM are exponentially worse as a kit.

 Kirasu wrote:

NoggintheNog wrote:
What it does is put up the price of five men again, with the cost of the ASM and then the upgrade sprue.

As a BA player, I always bought one vanilla ASM box and one DC box when making a squad. 10 BA ASM result, and still have BA bits left over. I can't see the upgrade sprue changing that.

I would have thought Fists, White Scars or some of the other neglected chapters should have seen them first.

Not sure why you even buy ASM for BA. They're the same price I think and ASM are exponentially worse as a kit.

...because I am an idiot :( I should have just bought bikes. Much more useful in game.

Forgive me for seeming stupid, but is this a new Assault Marine kit??

Think so. Can't imagine what else they'd be. Look great, in my opinion, be interesting to see where the price goes (and they only ever go up).

Upgrade sprues are great in principle but looking at that pic of the ultramarines one, there's not really enough there to get excited about IMO.

I guess this is a big part of why we're getting a new codex now - so they can cynically buff ASMs and sell loads of these kits, like how they removed ASM from the Blood Angels troops slot to try and get everyone to buy tacticals?

The assault kit looks pretty bland to me. Aren't those just regular marines with a jump pack and a rock to stand on..? Meh.

 Kosake wrote:
The assault kit looks pretty bland to me. Aren't those just regular marines with a jump pack and a rock to stand on..? Meh.

The differences are subtle but the walking/running legs are nice for doing squads where they aren't all doing the turkish lavatory position. And it might just be bad compression on the image but the two guys on the right look like they've got slightly different helms?

What would you change?

 Kosake wrote:
The assault kit looks pretty bland to me. Aren't those just regular marines with a jump pack and a rock to stand on..? Meh.

I mean, that is all assault marines are really when you boil it down...

 Talys wrote:
Hmm. I would like to know who plays their ultramarine command squad with:

1. A banner and a bolt gun
2. An apothecary
3. A dude with 2 swords!
4. A dude with 1 chainsword and... oh, that's it.
5. A dude with a bolter?

I mean... WIN!

A collector and not a gamer.

 ImAGeek wrote:

 Kosake wrote:
The assault kit looks pretty bland to me. Aren't those just regular marines with a jump pack and a rock to stand on..? Meh.

I mean, that is all assault marines are really when you boil it down...

Point taken.

 Kirasu wrote:

NoggintheNog wrote:
What it does is put up the price of five men again, with the cost of the ASM and then the upgrade sprue.

As a BA player, I always bought one vanilla ASM box and one DC box when making a squad. 10 BA ASM result, and still have BA bits left over. I can't see the upgrade sprue changing that.

I would have thought Fists, White Scars or some of the other neglected chapters should have seen them first.

Not sure why you even buy ASM for BA. They're the same price I think and ASM are exponentially worse as a kit.

Variety and a little more subtle look. I spend more time on hobby than I do playing these days, so I like to construct units that look as i want, I find a mix of the two gives 6 different leg poses and allows the squad overall to be noticably different.

I do agree, the DC box is vastly superior to the old ASM box though.

NoggintheNog wrote:

 Kirasu wrote:

NoggintheNog wrote:
What it does is put up the price of five men again, with the cost of the ASM and then the upgrade sprue.

As a BA player, I always bought one vanilla ASM box and one DC box when making a squad. 10 BA ASM result, and still have BA bits left over. I can't see the upgrade sprue changing that.

I would have thought Fists, White Scars or some of the other neglected chapters should have seen them first.

Not sure why you even buy ASM for BA. They're the same price I think and ASM are exponentially worse as a kit.

Variety and a little more subtle look. I spend more time on hobby than I do playing these days, so I like to construct units that look as i want, I find a mix of the two gives 6 different leg poses and allows the squad overall to be noticably different.

I do agree, the DC box is vastly superior to the old ASM box though.

I've always done this too - using pure death company for blood angels would look ridiculous, the intention was always to get a box or two and use all the spares to do up the rest of the army.

 Bull0 wrote:

 Kosake wrote:
The assault kit looks pretty bland to me. Aren't those just regular marines with a jump pack and a rock to stand on..? Meh.

The differences are subtle but the walking/running legs are nice for doing squads where they aren't all doing the turkish lavatory position. And it might just be bad compression on the image but the two guys on the right look like they've got slightly different helms?

What would you change?

I've just looked at the last Assault Marines and they allready have similar leg positioning. Maybe a bit less dynamic but not the typical latrine despoiler stance. It's not what I'd change, it's just that overall, I just don't see any reason for the new kit whatsoever. The old one looked decent enough, the new one looks almost the same. There are a lot of kits that need an update - badly. Just look at Ork buggies, most of what Demons have in the elites section, any CSM infantry except for the raptor-tallon dual kit and SOB in their entiriety.

 RedFox wrote:
upgrade kits confirmed, new re-direct

http://natfka.blogspot.ca/2015/05/re-directs-and-additional-information.html


old rumor about content of the upgrade kits:

http://natfka.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/chapter-specific-sprue-details.html

oops i had not given the correct link on that old rumor about the content of the upgrade sprue so fixed it

http://natfka.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/chapter-specific-sprue-details.html

seems like he was right about the gladius sword design for Ultramarines