At this point, should GW just give up printing rulebooks?

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**BrianDavion**

Gulgog TufToof wrote:
I think the OP and some others are onto what could be a very good model. Given that this is a digital age, GW should just release the rules and all of the indexes or codexes digitally first with a version control. As faq's, errata, whatever comes out, they roll the revision and everyone can update their digital copies to the latest version. Then, when an edition has been out long enough to be thoroughly playtested, then they should release the physical books once no more changes are needed (or only minimal changes remain) for anyone who wants a hard copy. Basically, beta test as completely as possible, then go to print well after the bugs get worked out.
Personally, I can't justify shelling out as much cash as GW charges for books if I have to scratch out and rewrite half the text.

you know what would happen with GW did this? They'd be, justly, criticized for forcing anyone who likes physical copies to buy the rule books twice, or creating a second class of customer whose not able to get the books for prolonged periods of time.

**Gulgog TufToof**

That's why the digital versions should be free like the core rules are now. Then anyone who doesn't have a data capable device could go to their local library, download what they need to play and print it for 10 cents a page and use a binder until the hardcopy comes out.

**Crimson Devil**

10 cents a page! That's outrageous! I demand the library supply those copies free as well!

**Ouze**

Prometheum5 wrote:
Peregrine wrote:
pismakron wrote:
A good rulebook is worn, full of notes and glued in errata.

No, a good rulebook is one that has been thoroughly playtested before release and doesn't require errata.

I want to live in your magical fantasy land.

It doesn't seem to me to be a unreasonable contention that a company which has been writing rules for a game for 25 years has a basic grasp of the game and playtesting it such that they don't need to release major revisions and corrections almost immediately after printing. After all, it's not like the rulebooks are free: it's a book we pay money for.

My contention is the same as it has been since 5th edition: Games Workshop sucks at writing rules, they will not improve, and should exit the rules business. Give FFG a license to write the rules, and every single party involved will be better off.

**benlac**

I really feel they should release all the data sheets, points costs and rules online for free as well as in a book. That way they can change them monthly with no expense to anyone and it wouldn't invalidate your expensive codex purchase a couple months later when a new FAQ drops and everything changes.
They can still release a codex, but it should be a fluff book / painting guide / artwork showcase first and foremost while everything that's subject to change is online for free.
But this is probably too forward thinking for a company that started in the 80's.

**bludbowler**

Yes.

**ZebioLizard2**

Ouze wrote:
Prometheum5 wrote:
Peregrine wrote:
pismakron wrote:
A good rulebook is worn, full of notes and glued in errata.

No, a good rulebook is one that has been thoroughly playtested before release and doesn't require errata.

I want to live in your magical fantasy land.

It doesn't seem to me to be a unreasonable contention that a company which has been writing rules for a game for 25 years has a basic grasp of the game and playtesting it such that they don't need to release major revisions and corrections almost immediately after printing. After all, it's not like the rulebooks are free: it's a book we pay money for.

My contention is the same as it has been since 5th edition: Games Workshop sucks at writing rules, they will not improve, and should exit the rules business. Give FFG a license to write the rules, and every single party involved will be better off.

..You've never played FFG's roleplaying books have you? Because I can tell you right now I can tell you have never seen some of their awful issues going on in the books at times.

Their miniatures have some major issues with balance as well if you believe that they'll fix things on that front either. X-Wing tends to have some massive disparities.

**Arkaine**

FFG tends to go for power creep to keep selling things. They ramped up Game of Thrones so quickly that it was unplayable after a mere five years. Sooner really but that's how long it took to sink that final nail in its coffin. LCG my arse.

Second edition will meet the same fate eventually.

As far as their X-wing lineup, they drop ships that are effectively useless just to get you to buy them for a single upgrade card. The worst offender being the extremely good and virtually mandatory upgrade for TIE Advanced hidden in the Imperial Raider expansion, a massive capital ship that wasn't usable in normal games and cost over $100. People were buying the Raider just to get the upgrade cards to use with their regular tournament builds.

**Alcibiades**

Peregrine wrote:
And there's the problem. Not only are people willing to buy the defective product, they jump to GW's defense and insist that getting a finished product is "fantasy land". Stop making excuses for GW's failures.

Dude, I work in publishing. You're expecting the impossible. What you are demanding does not exist anywhere.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
FFG on the other hand has produced by far one of the worst cases of defective published product that I have ever seen. (Their whole 40K line after DH1)

**BrianDavion**

Alcibiades wrote:
Peregrine wrote:
And there's the problem. Not only are people willing to buy the defective product, they jump to GW's defense and insist that getting a finished product is "fantasy land". Stop making excuses for GW's failures.

Dude, I work in publishing. You're expecting the impossible. What you are demanding does not exist anywhere.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
FFG on the other hand has produced by far one of the worst cases of defective published product that I have ever seen. (Their whole 40K line after DH1)

I dunno about going that far, but the weapons Errata for Death watch was pretty... impressive. I can just imagine what Peregrine would say if GW ever errata'd the stats for every weapon in warhammer 40k.

**Mesokhornee**

Have you ever actually read some of the questions in the faqs for any gw game? IIRC the first 8th ed faq had to actually answer someone trying to give both a homebrew imperial guard regiment and homebrew sm legion the same bonuses simply by calling both groups the same name..with a fanbase as dumb as 40ks is sometimes it would be impossible for anyone to make a rulebook that wouldnt immediately have to be "fixed" on launch.

Just look at the forums here, posts crying about it taking too long for codex/rulebook releases or updates and now this thread with some crying about them doing it too quickly