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In addition to Specialst Games the idea (or potential) of AOS. I thought the End Times idea was great and to move the timeline forward for the new edition. I like the combined stats line (hero plus dragon and so on, also the AOS bit about degrading stats with accumulated wounds). The idea of collapsing some army lists onto each other could work and create a faster release schedule for all armies. A WHFB that is streamlined and where the startup cost is much cheaper also sounds really nice.

AOS (from the name) also sounded like they went back in time for their new WHFB skirmish system part (like Mordheim is not set in the present day, or now ancient history, of the warhammer world). A skirmish game set in Sigmar's time about kicking chaos around for a bit and having a bigger variety of armies/warbands than Mordheim had, also better scaling for slightly larger games and a way into the WHFB army rules.

Yeah, that didn't happen but the idea (or my imagination of it) was really great (at least in my opinion).

I might actually say Khorne Daemonkin was a great idea. Wait, do not laugh! Khorne Daemons were probably the least-used units in the Daemons codex, and Mark of Khorne was probably the least-used Mark in the CSM codex. GW decided to make a book that combines the two and adds some flavorful mechanics (like the Blood Tithe table) to make Khorne relevant again (other than a few artifacts/wargear in CSM). The army may not be as OP as Necrons or Eldar or the new Tau, but to me it is a definite improvement over regular CSM. Of course, it helps that they had just released a model that makes a truly wonderful centerpiece for a Khorne Daemonkin army...

Revitalizing specialist games.

Sad, isn't it, that bringing back something old (Specialist Games) is considered by many to be the best "new" idea from GW in 2015?

Anyway, for something actually new, I'll got with plastic Horus Heresy.

Best new idea? Age of Sigmar. Taking a chainsaw to Fantasy and cleaning up the core ruleset was a great idea. Stripped out the unnecessary tables, non-standard dice, custom templates and all of that stuff. It's just models, measuring tape and d6s. Too bad GW only went halfway in cleaning things up, because the unit rules are still unnecessarily chromey for what should be a simple game. Monsters weren't standardized at 12 wounds. Silly horde bonuses still exist. But the core engine and simplification to one page of stats & rules per unit is a good half step forward.

All this talk of Specialist Games is premature until at least one classic Specialist Game revamp hits the ground. Unless we're talking about Betrayal at Calth 30k and/or Assassinorum Execution Force. IMO, assuming GW actually releases a new Necroumunda / Mordheim / Blood Bowl / Epic / BFG, that should easily answer the question for 2016.

Age of sigmar. Simple rules, no templates etc as above poster says. Default concept of play what ever models you have etc.

I also like the unit sheets, and monsters not all having 12 wounds.

I don't really think the total dropping of the old world was a good idea though. Something still recognizable as the old world I think would have been better. That said it doesn't bother me per se, it just seems odd to ditch all that background.

Betrayal of Calth.

 JohnHwangDD wrote:
Best new idea? Age of Sigmar. Taking a chainsaw to Fantasy and cleaning up the core ruleset was a great idea. Stripped out the unnecessary tables, non-standard dice, custom templates and all of that stuff. It's just models, measuring tape and d6s. Too bad GW only went halfway in cleaning things up, because the unit rules are still unnecessarily chromey for what should be a simple game. Monsters weren't standardized at 12 wounds. Silly horde bonuses still exist. But the core engine and simplification to one page of stats & rules per unit is a good half step forward.

All this talk of Specialist Games is premature until at least one classic Specialist Game revamp hits the ground. Unless we're talking about Betrayal at Calth 30k and/or Assassinorum Execution Force. IMO, assuming GW actually releases a new Necroumunda / Mordheim / Blood Bowl / Epic / BFG, that should easily answer the question for 2016.

Agreed.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

puree wrote:
Age of sigmar. Simple rules, no templates etc as above poster says. Default concept of play what ever models you have etc.

I also like the unit sheets, and monsters not all having 12 wounds.

I don't really think the total dropping of the old world was a good idea though. Something still recognizable as the old world I think would have been better. That said it doesn't bother me per se, it just seems odd to ditch all that background.

Also agreed.

Age of Sigmar-as above. Massively decluttering of rules and Warscrolls- all the info for weapons and the models right there at your fingertips. The monster mechanic is pretty nice I thought. Plus the AoS app- very useful!
HHBaC- really nice game as well as the models. A nice gateway into Horus Heresy too.

AoS for me as well. Got me inspired about the hobby again. I think GW is doing a lot of things right these days.

Funny thing. Asked my wife what she thought -- she is to only very tangentially interested in GW but listens to me and some friends yak about it all the time -- and she also says Age of Sigmar. Why? She probably would never have remotely considered a miniature wargame otherwise.

That people actually love or despise AoS is not a bad thing for GW. If 95% of potential customers rate it as 'not bad', say 7 / 10, few people will leave whatever their favorite game is to invest in AoS (likely, there's a game that ranks higher) to any significant degree. But if 70% of potential people rate it as 1/10 and 30% rate it as 10/10, AoS will actually win over some players (and collectors/hobbyists).

What remains to be seen is whether, over time, AoS fans will gobble up model kits Ata rate high enough to keep all stakeholders happy -- that includes everyone from sculptors to executives to shareholders, to players and hobbyists.

1. Battle for Calth Box
2. Bringing back Specialist games.I can't wait for the Battlefleet Gothic reboot. Finally may be able to afford the ships

A brand new "old" faction for 40K in the Adeptus Mechanicus codexes; certainly the most detailed plastic kits produced for 40K to date.

BfC and (hopefully) bringing back SG.

The Auld Grump

Bringing back Specialist games......


Just sayin'

 NAVARRO wrote:
... Painting tutorials...

Their first YouTube painting tutorial was the Imperial Knight, published in March 2013.

I'll believe the SG's when I see them.
I think BC was the best thing they've done. It's a good place for beginners to start a 40k army.
Also good for veterans that want to get into 30k.

Since the Warhammer World party had some concept art and models for a new Blood Bowl game I'm going to have to say bringing back a Specialist Games Studio!

Also going to have to say BaC, too. Certainly one of their best ideas in ages.

I'm going to pop in a new one. The 28 day countdown for best selling model kit!

Especially since I got basically no hobby time this holiday, it turned into something pretty fun. And enlightening!

I'd still love to know where Dark Vengeance, AoS, and Calth fit onto that list!!

Lots of good things happening, frankly, the change in CEO seems to have shaken things up and I'm finally optimistic again after several bleak years.

Ad Mech, Forge World continuing to knock it out of the park, Calth, actually discounted boxed starter sets and above all other things, the return of Specialist Games.

 MWHistorian wrote:
I'll believe the SG's when I see them.
I think BC was the best thing they've done. It's a good place for beginners to start a 40k army.
Also good for veterans that want to get into 30k.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/1800/660641.page#8354540

Not sure if bringing back SG is such a good idea. These games are nice little skirmish games but I doubt they will contribute enough to the whole.

 wuestenfux wrote:
Not sure if bringing back SG is such a good idea. These games are nice little skirmish games but I doubt they will contribute enough to the whole.

Contribute in what way?

They are cheap gateway games.

Or neat tie-ins for bigger campaign play sort of games.

 PsychoticStorm wrote:

 wuestenfux wrote:
Not sure if bringing back SG is such a good idea. These games are nice little skirmish games but I doubt they will contribute enough to the whole.

Contribute in what way?

They are cheap gateway games.

Any evidence of them being cheap when they come out?

I think they will cost £60 to £100, depending on the contents and how much GW think they can push the price. £75 is pretty average for a modern "Ameritrash" table/board game with lots of components and plastic figures, like Twilight Imperium III, or Super Dungeon Explore.

In my view, GW should try for a lower rather than a higher price, especially for titles like Blood Bowl (confirmed for 2016 release with Humand and Orcs in the starter box) because a lower buy in price encourages a good network effect and more players to buy add-on teams.

I hope GW will also release one-off boxed games that don't need expansions.

 PsychoticStorm wrote:

 wuestenfux wrote:
Not sure if bringing back SG is such a good idea. These games are nice little skirmish games but I doubt they will contribute enough to the whole.

Contribute in what way?

They are cheap gateway games.

Cheap and small. This is not what our gaming group is looking for. We are more into larger battles.

 Fenrir Kitsune wrote:

 PsychoticStorm wrote:

 wuestenfux wrote:
Not sure if bringing back SG is such a good idea. These games are nice little skirmish games but I doubt they will contribute enough to the whole.

Contribute in what way?

They are cheap gateway games.

Any evidence of them being cheap when they come out?

They will be cheaper than the average cost of entering any of GW games properly, so cheap in that regard, I am sure they will be more expensive than the competition will offer.

If one looks at Kickstarter, the market will pay $100+ for a nice minis boardgame. GW sat out at least 3 years of this, and is getting back in late with SG.

^^ What he said.

$100 is £75 in the UK once you've added VAT and that is what AoS retails for.

AoS has figures, rules, fluff, scenarios... GW ought to have included some cardboard terrain pieces to make it a complete "battle in a box" game, but that's exactly what they can do with new SGs, and reduce the cost of the included figures a bit.