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I think it's fair to say that most analysis on the new book so far has been rules-focused, but I wanted to call out a different side that I feel has been a bit overlooked.

I have to say that after what can be considered a lengthy period of heavy copy-pasting from one edition to the next - the new Marine book actually has quite a few new and expanded things in it. For one, the various headquarters (Armoury, Librarius, Reclusiam etc) all have new details, and there's a focus on providing examples that serve to flesh out the difference in Chapters (calling out, for example, that Black Templars shun psykers while the Silver Skulls and Blood Ravens embrace them).
There's also more detail on the various available Successor Chapters - where previously we got just a colour scheme and their progenitor Legion, now each one has a bit of fluff text to go with. Coupled with a wider-reaching set of markings in the colour section than just Codex standard, it no longer feels like "Codex Ultramarines and friends".

Anyone else noticed this? Is the new Necron book similar, dare we hope that the fluff is getting back on track...?

I like the fluff in the new necron codex, but what feels like its missing is unit pages. In several codex recently in my Tyranids there's been at least a page per model or per species of models which gives fluff and descriptions about them and expands on them.

The Necron codex only does this for the leaders; the actual units don't get this treatment. They get a little paragraph on their unit page. This almost felt like they went back a step in fluff terms to much older Codex. It's a bit of a shame and perhaps the only downside I can see thus far.

The actual layout and organisation and the way they've structured the point and stats is FAR FAR FAR superior to the old codex. Just the way its laid out and how its presented - with earlier ones it felt overly complex and burdensome and a lot of useless flipping around the book. This new one feel sleek and as if the person designing it has really thought about what information plays need together and how to make it easily readable.

I adef agree, unit fluff is SORELY lacking. also some of the other fluff such as the "life cycle" of a primaris marine wasn't there anymore and that was a shame.

 Overread wrote:
The actual layout and organisation and the way they've structured the point and stats is FAR FAR FAR superior to the old codex. Just the way its laid out and how its presented - with earlier ones it felt overly complex and burdensome and a lot of useless flipping around the book. This new one feel sleek and as if the person designing it has really thought about what information plays need together and how to make it easily readable.

Ha. The "far superior" thing is still but a half-hearted attempt of imitating glory days of 5th edition - if only because stupid armoury system is still present, if in lessened form. They really should go the whole way and tailor gear choices and points to individual units (I loved how first company sergeants had access to more stuff than your fresh fifth company dude, or how power fists were bargain on A1 dude and full price on A5 combat monster)...

Of course, that would need asking someone competent to write primaris first, or give them some actual (if only melee) options to begin with