Would you buy more models if rules were free?

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**craggy**

It might make a minor difference. If I could have all the Codexes for free, I'd maybe be more inclined to pick up some allies for soup armies or start small forces for others. But I think it'd be great for getting new players into the hobby.

**John Prins**

Assuming you had a fixed gaming budget, yes, money spent on rules isn't money spent on models. That said, many gamers (myself included) buy more miniatures than they can paint already, so free rules doesn't really change that.

Free rules has other benefits - like making the game more accessible to new players, especially when rulebooks ring in the $70-100 range (CAD).

**SemperMortis**

The better question would be "If GW weren't greedy SOBs who sell 5 models worth 45pts total for $65 and instead drastically reduced their prices; Would you buy more models or an entire new army?" and the answer is YES. But I refuse to support a company that thinks a 42 point Mek Gun should sell for $45. It is literally worse then a dollar a point

**meleti**

For me, money I spend on 40k codexes is definitely hobby money. I budget things, so if I'm spending X amount on my hobby, I'll spend X - $40 because I had to buy a codex.

**Tylendal**

Greatest limiting factor for me is guilt over my unpainted models at home.

**NurglesR0T**

meleti wrote:
For me, money I spend on 40k codexes is definitely hobby money. I budget things, so if I'm spending X amount on my hobby, I'll spend X - $40 because I had to buy a codex.

Likewise.

It would be nice if they thought about a "gamer edition" for a codex release - half the price or something for just the rules/datasheets

**lolman1c**

NurglesR0T wrote:
meleti wrote:
For me, money I spend on 40k codexes is definitely hobby money. I budget things, so if I'm spending X amount on my hobby, I'll spend X - $40 because I had to buy a codex.

Likewise.

It would be nice if they thought about a "gamer edition" for a codex release - half the price or something for just the rules/datasheets

The index shows they can bring out a small pamphlet codex for only £15... that's a box of gretchins less than the codex.

**Inquisitor Lord Katherine**

Yes. I didn't care about the periodic price of the codex when I only played IG, or even when I played Sisters and IG because Sisters basically never had to worry about that.

But now I actually spend more on codecies and other books than models in recent years, but the total amount I spend hasn't gone up as much, so I have certainly slowed down my army growth because I have to buy codecies for factions.

**Vector Strike**

Yup. 32€ that could have been a box of miniatures...

**Silentz**

No difference.

AoS has free rules and it doesn't make me buy additional models.

The limiting factor on the number of models I buy is time to paint and play with them - I don't like having stuff in boxes or unpainted. I am fortunate in that I can spend money on my hobby as I see fit rather than ration it out.

I can appreciate that for young'uns, chucking £25 at a codex is a more significant investment. Realistically, younger or poorer players should play fewer armies though, right? If you can't afford to buy codexes, don't play a sprawling imperial soup list.

**roflmajog**

I would prefer if rules were free but it wouldn't affect the number of models I buy. If they made it so model rules were free online but a full codex could still be bought I would still buy the codex for my army though. Mainly because I prefer the physical format when playing and basic rules probably wouldn't come with the fluff. It would be good for looking up stuff for other armies though so I don't have to get rules via less legitimate ways.

**SickSix**

The only thing that would make me suddenly buy more models, is if they get cheaper or I suddenly become wealthy.

**posermcbogus**

I don't play often (Honestly like in the 3-ish years I've been into warhammer I think I've played all of 4 games), but I echo what a few other people have said here - I budget what I spend on the hobby. If I'm buying books, then I'm not buying toys and vice versa.

In 7th, I only had my Templars and my Sisters of battle. I bought the rulebook and both factions codexes (I bought two space marine codexes like a sucker), and then that one gathering storm book that had templars and sisters in.
Around 8th, I started buying a bunch of troops boxes to experiment with - whilst I do own all of the indexes, I've only bought the space marine codex.

What puts me off buying more is that they're so expensive for what you get - codexes are big, beautiful books, but I think practically everyone here will agree they spend most time looking at the same few pages of rules in the back.
The indexes were pared-down and really simple. A splash of fluff, but otherwise just a satisfying bundle of rules. They had a bunch of other armies' stuff too, which as someone who loves to fantasize about owning other armies, was fantastic, and felt like a good deal. They were just more economical.

Knowing that Codexes can suddenly become obsolete (I've bought a 'new' Marines codex for every year I've been in the hobby), especially with the volume at which GW have been producing FAQs (a good thing tho), and that so much of the book is kind of just chaff, really puts me off getting more, especially when by comparison the indexes were so nicely executed.

I'd love rules to be free, as for me it'd certainly free up a little more cash for little plastic men. But if GW did do a compilation of rules a la the indexes, after all the codexes were done, I'd probably be all over it.

**Elbows**

In the grand scheme of 40K between models, paints, spraycans, storage bins, foam, dice, etc...the rulebook and codices are about the cheapest thing in the game. The cost barely matters.

Now, that being said - I see no reason to have hardback codices. I'd much rather a cheaper simple soft-back version I can take to the office store and have them cut and bind as needed, etc. I also think GW is seeing how poorly a codex-based game fits with a living rule set.

But from a cost standpoint? It's the cheapest thing in the game.

**Just Tony**

Once again, a dakka poll that doesn't have my answer, so I must abstain from voting.

wuestenfux wrote:Its more the quality of the rules.
With the new rule set, 40k is more a board game than a tabletop it was before.
It irks me a bit that the game lost depth.

I only buy 3rd Ed. compatible models now, and until a new edition WOWs me (which I doubt) that trend will continue.

**CREEEEEEEEED**

Put it this way. I have my space marine codex and the forge world space marine index already. If they suddenly became free, I wouldn't rush out to spend more on space marines. I also have a few projects lined up. f the codexes for them suddenly became free, I'd pick up the codexes, but I'd still hold off buying he new army until I'd actually finished painting my already huge backlog of existing stuff.

**privateer4hire**

combatcotton wrote:
...

On top of that GW could come out of the 16th century and drop printed books for easy to keep up2date online digital media....

Interestingly, and to me annoyingly, GW have proven they can do this.
They've been whittling legacy units out of their free-to-download AoS army books.
As a model set becomes part of the AoS battletome system, GW removes them from the online army book download.

They've also done the same with Legacy Gangs PDF for the new Necromunda.
Orlocks were removed from the online PDF pretty much the instant that GW started selling the $30 Gang War supplement for Orlocks.
Anecdotal but while they had free rules for models it was easier for us to get people to buy gangs for our Necromunda group.
It also gave our group more veteran participation and thus a wider variety of opponents to keep campaign/organized play going.

Also found it ironic that they can find the time and manpower to keep these PDFs edited but have Necromunda rules holes that still aren't addressed.
I've liked 'new' GW's moves on a lot of things but this just seems petty on their part.
And yeah I know it's entitled for players to expect anything free but GW started this by trying to jump on the new industry approach of giving away stuff to encourage sales.
My point is if they're going to make something free, don't nickel and dime the documents by cutting them down to nothing (legacy skaven army book has 2-3 units left, for example).

Automatically Appended Next Post:

posermcbogus wrote:
...
The indexes were pared-down and really simple. A splash of fluff, but otherwise just a satisfying bundle of rules. They had a bunch of other armies' stuff too, which as someone who loves to fantasize about owning other armies, was fantastic, and felt like a good deal. They were just more economical....

Agreed. We play with the indexes and, for space marines, the mini-dex that came in Dark Imperium.
If Battlescribe updates we use whatever it says but otherwise no plan to buy codexes this edition.

**lolman1c**

CREEEEEEEEED wrote:
Put it this way. I have my space marine codex and the forge world space marine index already. If they suddenly became free, I wouldn't rush out to spend more on space marines. I also have a few projects lined up. f the codexes for them suddenly became free, I'd pick up the codexes, but I'd still hold off buying he new army until I'd actually finished painting my already huge backlog of existing stuff.

But if the imperial guard codex became free would you not be tempted to buy so additional extra troops, maybe some scions, or special characters? Or what if the assasin rules and inquisitor rules came out? Wouldn't it be tempting to add those single models to your army without having to buy an entire codex and index to legally use them in a gw store?

**Kcalehc**

I kinda wish they'd split the rules out from the fluff. The AM codex is 146 pages, of which 62 are actual rules (which could be condensed a bit due to images and other fluffy bits, possibly down to about 55 ish).

Give me a mini-Codex of just pure rules and datasheets (ok maybe like a 2 page fluff spread at the front then!), in a softback format, for a much lower price (10GBP, $15US would do it) and a Deluxe Edition with the fluffy stuff as a separate hard cover book, in a slip cover that holds both for the same price as now.

I don't expect to get it for free, someone worked hard to make it - but making the rules themselves cheaper only helps get newer players into the game. And allowing easier access to the rules of other armies, may nudge people into buying more miniatures for them.

I am also deeply disappointed that I have to pay for Chapter Approved, just to get errata for another book I also paid for, when some errata is available for free. They could definitely split off the errata part from that and make it free - just incorporate it into the errata documents they already publish!

**Marmatag**

I would.

Because then i could read the rules in their entirety and determine if the models suck before i buy them.

Obviously if you netlist you aren't affected by this, because the tourny crowd is busy writing your list for you.

**Stormonu**

If it had not been for the free rule PDF for 8E, I would have stopped collecting 40K entirely. I did eventually buy the BRB, but it’s a purchase I regret; it’s only value to me is referring to the detachment rules, which is about 3 pages or so.

However, with software like BattleScribe, I’m not buying much of GW’s rules anyways. I did buy all the indexes, and I have been buying the cards, but all my Codexes are 6E/7E copies (and at that, my Marines and Eldar books are 6E). The only codex I have bought for 8E are the Knights codex (previously, I had the early 6E one, with only two data sheets in it) and a copy of Custodes, which was a birthday gift.

Models are definitely where GW is getting money from me. And quite frankly, I don’t feel their rules are worth paying for.

**CREEEEEEEEED**

lolman1c wrote:
CREEEEEEEEED wrote:
Put it this way. I have my space marine codex and the forge world space marine index already. If they suddenly became free, I wouldn't rush out to spend more on space marines. I also have a few projects lined up. f the codexes for them suddenly became free, I'd pick up the codexes, but I'd still hold off buying he new army until I'd actually finished painting my already huge backlog of existing stuff.

But if the imperial guard codex became free would you not be tempted to buy so additional extra troops, maybe some scions, or special characters? Or what if the assasin rules and inquisitor rules came out? Wouldn't it be tempting to add those single models to your army without having to buy an entire codex and index to legally use them in a gw store?

I already have a bunch of inquisition models and the metal IG command squad. If the rules became free, great, that's another £25 I don't have to spend when I get round to the project, but I'm not going to suddenly lurch into buying the entire army now. Did the free renegade knights codex make me drop £300 on knight models? No.