Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I think Kroot would follow the pattern of spun off codices most closely. They would be for the Tau, what the Harlequin are for Eldar. It would allow GW to push revamped plastic models for Krootox and Kroothounds.

What else is even left?

Exodites? A fleshing out of a Tau-related alien race, like Kroot or Demiurge?

This makes me think that Sisters of Battle are going to be next.

As far as actual mini-armies go, only Eldar Exodites get past the gate. Exodites actually had a list back in the in Rogue Trader days, so they'll definitely be back. Probably the next big thing.

Sisters of Silence are the other obvious choice, being heavily GrimDark (tm) and 30k. As a novelty force that nobody owns, and everybody would have to buy new models for, it's the second best option.

Sisters of Battle are a perennial call, but it's also clear that GW isn't interested in relaunching them in plastic. Not gonna happen, especially with SoS on the bubble.

Squats are well and truly dead and will never get a Codex. Nobody at GW likes them, and the Woofs got a lot of the Fantasy Dwarf theme/style. At most, FW might make Imperial Abhumans that also include Beastmen.

Beastmen are probably a stronger choice than Squats, being the sort of thing that can go both Imperial and Chaos. FW kinda needs to lead the way here.

Kroot as a Codex? Maybe a mini-Dex. And that would be cool, as they did have WD list back in 3E/4E. I could totally see this happening.

What about seeing the squats return sorta as Demiurg? Which are a Tau alliance race that are space miners that are basically space dwarves done right. Their ships look cool and they sound badass in the trailer for the BFG pc game.

 Gamgee wrote:
What about seeing the squats return sorta as Demiurg? Which are a Tau alliance race that are space miners that are basically space dwarves done right. Their ships look cool and they sound badass in the trailer for the BFG pc game.

Having just saw the BFG tau trailer I'm inclined to agree with you. The Demiurg definitely deserve a look in.

What about just updating the current armies, like Sisters and every finecast kit to plastic. And update all the mediocre codexes to be decent for once.

We do not need another army. 40K is bloated as it is. Even more minor factions is just what we don't need!

Maybe an Adeptus Arbites allied army, also perfect for KT games?

Old Kroot codex from back in the day:
https://www.google.se/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://eastern-empire.com/downloads/kroot_mercs.pdf&ved=0ahUKEwjlwaWn_77PAhUD2ywKHT21CT8QFghUMA0&usg=AFQjCNEKRwMGAqmzHESYc2haxx9VGGn9tg&sig2=U1GrSZCMKWwWJt8_rfksAA

Hope they bring back orks, they used to be a fun army to play......

Kroot
Sisters
Arbites

Update:
Nids
Chaos
Orks (Kult of Speed? Feral Orks?)

Here's what I see rules-wise:
I see that GW is making rules that they already have more available (and maybe adding more). The Tau Codex update and Angels of Death brought elements from the Damocles Gulf campaign books. Angels Blade brought a few elements from the Shield of Baal books back (albeit, very few and highly modified).
My hope is that Tyranids, Orks, Guard get similar updates/expansions to the Tau and Angels of Death books. Sisters were in the Shield of Baal Story... one can dream.
GW has shown that they aren't interested in doing Codex updates until after 8th edition. (My understanding of the rumors is that the Tau update slipped through because the print run had already been scheduled, paid for, and would have been lost had nothing been produced.)

As pointed out above, the board games are the entry point for new models.They can certainly build an Inquisition vs Chaos game now that Execution Force has sort of run its course. For that you'd need a Clamshell Inquisitor and Inquisition Retinue Box (2 Crusaders, 2 Arco Flagellant, Daemonhost, Jakaero Weaponsmith, 4 more acolytes/priests/psychers). Perhaps do a slannesh/pink horrors as opponents.

To reboot sisters, you'd need: (Drop the Fleur De Lis... go straight with the Inquisitorial I)
Clamshell Celestine and Jacobus
Cannoness and Celestians/Seraphim box (Veterans)
Battle Sisters/Repressors/Dominion Box (Basics)
Repentia/Deathcult Assasins Box (naked)
White Dwarf rules for the Penitent Engine, throw a Sister's Upgrade Sprue in with a reboxed Dread Knight and call it good.
Rebox with a Sisters Sprue the Rhino/Razorback/Whirlwind to give you Rhinos, Immolators, and Exorcists
Rebox with a Sisters Sprue the Vendetta/Valkyrie

I'd love to see a lot of the factions fleshed out .

Kroot & Demigurg getting Demidexs (like Harlequins) - Battle brothers with Tau, Possible a Human Auxiliary list too (Leman Russ with Ion Cannons?)

Exodites and Corsair Eldar (if they can be different enough from Craftworld and Dark Eldar)

Daemonkin for all 4 powers but given them their own kit rather then just copies of the other codexes (Berzerkers on Juggernauts?)

Sisters of Battle (just to round out the main battle forces of the Imperium)

Snake Bitters and Mech Boyz min dex and Clan rules for the others in the main Ork Dex

Make Genestealer Cults Battle Brothers with nids and if it can be different enough, Ork/Eldar/Tau Cult lists, maybe with new Tyranid scout units instead of Genstealers

Some kind of Thrall race(s) for Necrons like how the Romans used "Barbarian" Auxiliary units in the past.

Then finally another non Humanoid race would be a great, maybe a non Chaos Warp/Real space over lap.

My heart wants to vote for Demiurg to be the Space Dwarves (especially after seeing that BFG Tau trailer!) But I'm not so sure...

An old quote from Jervis Johnson about how they decided to drop the Squats:

"Anyway, the Squats made it into 2nd edition, and since we were doing army books for each of the races, we started to try and figure out what to do with them. Unfortunately we just couldn't figure out a way to update them and get them to work that we felt was good enough. The 'art' of working on an army as a designer is to find the thing that you think is cool and exciting about an army, and work it up into a strong theme. This 'muse' didn't strike any of us, and so, rather than bring out a second-rate product simply re-hashing the old background, we kept doing other army books instead, with stuff we did feel inspired by."

I feel like that quote gives some insight on their decision making process even now.

If something fits with the current grim and serious feel, then an artist might run with it, and in turn some cool artwork or ideas might inspire the game designers.

I think that's where the Genestealer limousines were cut. Personally, I don't think the limo felt like it fit. Maybe it was too light hearted... or the art didnt work with the rest of the current WH40K universe. Instead we got some cool armored cars that do seem to fit.

The game designers will have other priorities too... does the idea fill a niche for the army? Does it feel like another armies unit? This is where they probably weigh game balance (or where they dont?), etc.

After the artists and game designers, then probably the business side of things gets a shot at the idea (This is where most new Space Marine stuff makes it through easy ) Beyond just sales... They would probably evaluate how well it works with other priorities... Can we get current players to buy it as an ally? Will players buy it for KillTeam? What future ideas can we sell for it?


So, maybe Demiurg fit? Maybe there is some cool artwork for them? Maybe the designers have a unique play-style for them? But, maybe the business side says "Nah, we would have to make too many new models to risk a brand new idea like that"... or something along those lines.

Other ideas, like Sisters or Kroot, would have to face that same gauntlet.

That is why Kroot are a relatively easy thing, as the core models are already plastic. And they are good models. Adding Kroothounds and Krootox and such to augment the force is relatively easy.

Using Kroot as the fighty antagonists in a boxed game works really well against any shooty or heavy flavor of Imperials. Kroot v Catachans would have been great, but too bad GW re-used Genestealers.

Dwarves mine. There's mineing weapons in the levi-thieve cult boxes.
Squats are dwarfs in space.
My money's on them being next.

Honestly I feel the Kroot have the best chance of all the Xenos of being added in right now.

They have been considering doing Kroot for some time but sales have kind of stopped them. I also suspect their creative vision wasn't up to the task of the Kroot which is why I hope they get someone really passionate to make the faction super cool.

The Kroot just need that little nudge design wise like the new GSC is totally above and beyond any of the old GSC stuff.

Sisters of Battle I also feel is a faction that is just one proper creative nudge in the correct direction to really become popular like the rest of the factions.

I would, of course, LOVE to see Adeptus Arbites fleshed out into a full army like the Genestealer Cults. Really, it is the only thing that would excite me more than the Four-Armed-Emperor's recent return.

I think a boxed game with some Arbites facing off against some Hive Gangers would be freaking brilliant - and if done right you could even incorporate the Hive Gangers right into the Arbites Codex as a citizen levy / press gang that sees use as a desperation move when the crap hits the fan and the aliens are pouring from the skies.

Beyond that, I would love to see Eldar Exodites get some love, perhaps as a Harlequin-sized release with a few units and monsters. See my home-brew Codex for my thoughts on how to make them cool - basically a cavalry-heavy force with better than normal cavalry supported by big monsters and a few skirmishers.

If Sisters are redone, I would like to see it alongside some additional Ecclesiarchy stuff - priests and missionaries and more arco-flagellant types, things like that.

Squats/Demiurg/Space Dwarfs would be interesting if done right - but they would have to have some cool gimmicks like the Genestealer Cult got to be different enough.

Enslavers could be interesting - but frustrating if done properly fluff-wise. Just imagine controlling large portions of your opponent's army with your few models, hiding among them and trying not to die....

Mercenaries in the vein of the old WHFB "Dogs of War" could be cool - with possibilities ranging from Rogue Traders to Privateers to Pirates and everything in between. Maybe a few of the smaller, more obscure alien races like the Tarellians or Viskeons.

Everything except SoBs and Squats. Even Arbites, Custodes and that old Fishmen from back then....
Only the Omnissiah knows.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Rogue Traders. I'd love to see some kind of RT Boxed game now that the fantasy flight license has lapsed GW might give us some kind of Necromunda scale pirate themed mercenrary boxed game come RPG.

Now that would be cool.

I guess I'd like Demiurg honestly.

Sisters probably will never happen. Nobody at the studio is backing them so they are effectively dead.

S.Y.

Sisters of battle and feral orks. But first can they fix the actual game?

 aka_mythos wrote:
I think Kroot would follow the pattern of spun off codices most closely. They would be for the Tau, what the Harlequin are for Eldar. It would allow GW to push revamped plastic models for Krootox and Kroothounds.

So amusingly the current Kroot range, including Forge World content (Knarlocs and Great Knarlocs), is almost exactly the same size as the Harlequin range (one infantry kit, two character blisters (Harlies)/a character and two unit attachment blisters (Kroot), a cavalry/jetbike kit, and a vehicle/monster kit).

That said with the Kroot Mercs list as precedent they could make an army that could actually use the CAD with three kits and two blisters (Carnivore kindred with Krootox/hounds on the same sprues, Knarloc kit, Great Knarloc kit, Mastershaper blister, Shaman blister). Add a few gun options and stick a few variant bits in to designate Tracker/Headhunter Kindreds and you're in business (Vulture Kindreds are a maybe, they'd probably have to be a different kit entirely).

 AnomanderRake wrote:

 aka_mythos wrote:
I think Kroot would follow the pattern of spun off codices most closely. They would be for the Tau, what the Harlequin are for Eldar. It would allow GW to push revamped plastic models for Krootox and Kroothounds.

So amusingly the current Kroot range, including Forge World content (Knarlocs and Great Knarlocs), is almost exactly the same size as the Harlequin range (one infantry kit, two character blisters (Harlies)/a character and two unit attachment blisters (Kroot), a cavalry/jetbike kit, and a vehicle/monster kit).

That said with the Kroot Mercs list as precedent they could make an army that could actually use the CAD with three kits and two blisters (Carnivore kindred with Krootox/hounds on the same sprues, Knarloc kit, Great Knarloc kit, Mastershaper blister, Shaman blister). Add a few gun options and stick a few variant bits in to designate Tracker/Headhunter Kindreds and you're in business (Vulture Kindreds are a maybe, they'd probably have to be a different kit entirely).

It'd be nice. Also forgeworld no longer makes the Knarlocs

There's a lot of really good ideas here. I especially liked that one about a Kroot/Catachan face off. That would be awesome, and a great chance to introduce both a Kroot codex and a new Catachan infantry kit, maybe even with a Catachan supplement.

Arbiters too could get a look in. I've got some ideas for them I might explore more in the near future.

Demiurg would need to be built from the ground up but I'm sure they could figure something out. And on a personal level, the sisters are too good to be abandoned. I'm sure they'll do something eventually. The dark elder had to wait a very long time before they got a look in too.

We could probably start a dozen threads on why or why not one idea might be better than another.

That being said, doesn't it seem like the trend is to release a smaller set of models that either work well on their own and could be expanded in the future, or enhance/complement more than one other faction as an appeal to existing armies. I'm thinking about harlequins and cultists.

With that thought then, Kroot and Demiurg might involve more effort and risk?

But then again, Sisters would fit this trend well. I just think there is something intrinsically wrong with Sisters that is blocking them going forward. Maybe its the whole black leather, sexy, high-heels, corsets, etc. vibe? Not serious enough? Too gothic for he current feel of the game? No unique play style elements? Maybe the marketing department has just kyboshed Sisters since their not up to the task of marketing with Sisters and the appeal with younger players (and their parents (and their wallets)).

One personal issue I've got with the sisters is the power armour they wear. It was ok in the past but now, I feel like it should only be used by marines and maybe the odd inquisitor. Also, the style of this power armour has me scratching my head. It's is the high heel and corset thing. It's a bit of a joke now in a way. And it also weirdly makes their suits look more advanced and practical than the big tank like suits the marines have, which again is throwing me off a bit. But it's a grandmother clause now...they've had it so long they probably can't get rid of it.

I don't mind the boltguns. They are holy weapons in the imperium and these are nuns after all. But I've went off the power armour. I guess a compromise could be that regular rank and file sisters get carapace armour and the elites move up to power armour. So in a way, power armour is to them what terminator armour is to the marines...exotic specialised gear only to be used sparingly by the elites.

Their rhino based vehicles bug me too, for sorta the same reasons.

gravitywell wrote:

But then again, Sisters would fit this trend well. I just think there is something intrinsically wrong with Sisters that is blocking them going forward. Maybe its the whole black leather, sexy, high-heels, corsets, etc. vibe? Not serious enough? Too gothic for he current feel of the game? No unique play style elements? Maybe the marketing department has just kyboshed Sisters since their not up to the task of marketing with Sisters and the appeal with younger players (and their parents (and their wallets)).

GW can copyright Adeptis Sororitus... but it can't copyright the Fleur De Lis. I have a feeling that that's what is holding things up. Similarly, the Inquisitional I needs a revamp as well.
To be honest, the repentia/death cult assassins aren't that bad... at least compared to demonettes and wytches.

 Anpu-adom wrote:
GW can copyright Adeptis Sororitus... but it can't copyright the Fleur De Lis. I have a feeling that that's what is holding things up.

Similarly, the Inquisitional I needs a revamp as well.

To be honest, the repentia/death cult assassins aren't that bad... at least compared to demonettes and wytches.

Well, if they were boys, and extra grim and extra dark, then the lack of copyright on the Maltese Cross wouldn't be an issue, because the Black Templars did just fine. Unless those boys and their uncopyrightable heraldry were tied to a slow-selling, money-losing line with generic historical model designs, like, I dunno, say, Brettonians... And we all know how well that turned out for the Brets.

Me, I think it's those stupid fething haircuts that's holding up the Sisters. Shave their heads, or give them wimples, and they'd be fine.

The Inquistorial =I= is fine. It's a Rune at this point, and that makes it copyrightable.

Which Daemonettes are you comparing to? Because they're not as good as the Diaz Daemonettes.

Since it seems sisters fans and Kroot fans are both putting in such great arguments they should release a sisters vs Kroot box set and just get it over with hahaha.

 Anpu-adom wrote:

gravitywell wrote:

But then again, Sisters would fit this trend well. I just think there is something intrinsically wrong with Sisters that is blocking them going forward. Maybe its the whole black leather, sexy, high-heels, corsets, etc. vibe? Not serious enough? Too gothic for he current feel of the game? No unique play style elements? Maybe the marketing department has just kyboshed Sisters since their not up to the task of marketing with Sisters and the appeal with younger players (and their parents (and their wallets)).

GW can copyright Adeptis Sororitus... but it can't copyright the Fleur De Lis. I have a feeling that that's what is holding things up. Similarly, the Inquisitional I needs a revamp as well.
To be honest, the repentia/death cult assassins aren't that bad... at least compared to demonettes and wytches.

I don't know, that's like claiming GW won't make models for a certain line because it can't copyright skulls.

But I wouldn't count on sisters, they had a dex update a year or two ago. It's more likely they'll tackle old prpoerties on the verge of IP expiring because the designs haven't been touched so long.

Squats, I doubt. It was a poor excuse they gave long ago for dropping them, and they've been dead to the game so long, I think GW design team even thinks their existance was a myth.