Those sticky complexities have now been smoothed out, and without losing any of the game’s depth. These much-needed simplifications are substantial enough that, from a rules perspective at least, every ninth edition codex has been rendered obsolete. That’s not to say they’re useless – they’re still bursting with the lore, history, and short stories that define each faction, and until new codexes emerge over the course of the new edition, these books will still be the main repository of the knowledge you need.

The associated packs of datacards are also obsolete. One of the main vectors for streamlining armies has been to heavily reduce the numbers of Stratagems available to each faction. Gone are the days of shuffling through 50 cards to find the right ability – each army now has a lean list of them included on the double-page spread that defines them.

You will nevertheless be able to play your chosen army as soon as the new edition lands. We are releasing revamped, restatted, and reconsidered datasheets for every single unit in the game – all free to download at launch and ready to go. You’ll also be able to buy inexpensive packs of these cards at launch.

Boarding Actions, on the other hand, are still going strong. The core rules in Arks of Omen: Abaddon were specifically written to work with the new edition, and the book will remain available for the foreseeable future. All you need to play this tight and tense format of Warhammer 40,000, is this book, the book that contains your own faction rules, and a set of terrain.

Billicus wrote:
Boarding Actions have their own strategems and enhancements that replace warlord traits etc which is probably why they stay compatible and a good indication of the forward direction of travel.

 Platuan4th wrote:

The past several years have been them more rotating mechanics rather than adding new ones. As the cycle goes, you see a certain mechanic become less frequent until the full cycle goes and there's a different set of meta mechanics. It helps that instead of having several similar but different rules, they codified the vast majority of rules(Hexproof, Cycle, Champion, etc. instead of 12 cards having slightly different wordings to do the same thing), almost like USRs.

 Overread wrote:
The problem with totally unbound is that people spam broken stuff.

You can also end up with a situation where armies are built "wrong". Eg all leaders and no troops and such. Which whilst mechanically fine; can start to erode the mental picture of armies doing battle and such.

Tsagualsa wrote:
Key takeaways from today's puff piece https://www.warhammer-community.com/2023/03/28/warhammer-40000-what-does-the-new-game-mean-for-your-codexes

 oni wrote:
The latest article offers zero new information. Annoying.

 oni wrote:
The latest article offers zero new information. Annoying.

Tsagualsa wrote:

 oni wrote:
The latest article offers zero new information. Annoying.

They pretty much have to spread the information over four weeks until Warhammerfest, and then again eight additional weeks to the pre-order week. They'll take their time with it for sure, although i'd guess the last 4-6 weeks before pre-order will be used to hype the upcoming SM and Tyranid stuff already.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Also also also alsö???

Digital. Codexes.

THANKYOUPLEASE.

 Daedalus81 wrote:

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Also also also alsö???

Digital. Codexes.

THANKYOUPLEASE.

Is this an announcement? Or a wish? I didn't see them mention it.

 Asmodai wrote:

From the announcement article (https://www.warhammer-community.com/2023/03/23/a-mindblowing-new-edition-of-warhammer-40000-is-coming/):

"Effectively, you will only ever need your unit datasheets, the two pages of rules that govern your chosen army (available in your codex, on cards, or digitally), plus the core rules and whatever mission you’re playing."

 xttz wrote:

tneva82 wrote:

Smaug wrote:

Did Nick and Stu just say the quiet part out load in the last interview? That they gave up on 9th a year after it was released and have been working on 10th for the last two years?

Surprised? Lead times. They have fixed edition/3 years which means they have to start work early. 9e work started about year into 8th and 11th will start next year.

You need to read what lead times are they are now working on last 10th codexes most likely.

Most likely around 2 years ago is when they sat down and said "what are we going to do for 10E rules?" then started discussing the pros and cons of continuing with 9th or throwing it all in the bin. Note that we got the big survey late 2021, which will have helped to steer between the different options that were being considered.

However work on the models for this edition almost certainly began much earlier than that. I bet they had concepts and model prototypes for new Tyranids while most people were still unboxing their copy of Indomitus.

 Daedalus81 wrote:
That feels pedantic and we're sort of getting to the point where we're trying to divine the minds of the people designing rules. Neither of us know if they learned a lesson. What we can see is that they agreed with the feedback and made a change. The difference between the two is totally negligible if the outcome is true and they can stick to it.

 Matrindur wrote:

 Asmodai wrote:

From the announcement article (https://www.warhammer-community.com/2023/03/23/a-mindblowing-new-edition-of-warhammer-40000-is-coming/):

"Effectively, you will only ever need your unit datasheets, the two pages of rules that govern your chosen army (available in your codex, on cards, or digitally), plus the core rules and whatever mission you’re playing."

They could theoretically just be talking about the app but I hope not even GW is that dumb

Wayniac wrote:

 Matrindur wrote:

 Asmodai wrote:

From the announcement article (https://www.warhammer-community.com/2023/03/23/a-mindblowing-new-edition-of-warhammer-40000-is-coming/):

"Effectively, you will only ever need your unit datasheets, the two pages of rules that govern your chosen army (available in your codex, on cards, or digitally), plus the core rules and whatever mission you’re playing."

They could theoretically just be talking about the app but I hope not even GW is that dumb

You know that's exactly what they mean

Dudeface wrote:

Wayniac wrote:

 Matrindur wrote:

 Asmodai wrote:

From the announcement article (https://www.warhammer-community.com/2023/03/23/a-mindblowing-new-edition-of-warhammer-40000-is-coming/):

"Effectively, you will only ever need your unit datasheets, the two pages of rules that govern your chosen army (available in your codex, on cards, or digitally), plus the core rules and whatever mission you’re playing."

They could theoretically just be talking about the app but I hope not even GW is that dumb

You know that's exactly what they mean

Wasn't there also mention of a new app for people to start gaking on before release?

there is a new digital ecosystem coming
digital strategy is baked in and hinges on the redesigned web site, including builder and a new app version

You now have a digital collection. These are small pages with content for every army you have bought and an enhanced shop page for every unit you have collected. There are codes in the boxes and publications to unlock a collected item. The content is usually a codex or vault excerpt, artwork, painting tutorials, but sometimes downloadable wallpapers additional gaming profiles for the unit or a paint scheme showcase

All these profiles are predefined. The weapon choices are made for you. These are only for starter missions

For customizable units, designed for campaign and pick up play, you need the codex. This unlocks all the options in the new app or the army builder in the shop. These builders construct an army roster for you with profiles for each unit. on these generated profiles all the relevant choices you have made, are baked in

If you have collected a codex, you automatically get digital access to additional options released in other publications for the army, for the duration of the edition.

You need a subscription for access to the army builder for anything above starter missions

The core rules are free and the starter mission pack is free. You can play a starter game without a codex or rulebook, just with the profiles in the boxes you have bought

Both a printed version of the profile and a digital code come in the box

Codex publications come with a code, but you can also buy the codes digitally. But this doesn't give you a digital version of the codex, just the unlocks collection page of the army and the units and makes the content available in army builder

When you buy the rulebook or a seasonal rulebook, you get access to further mission packs suited for campaign and more detailed pick up play.

In these formats you can customize your units and the app generates the in-game profiles for you. These profiles are compatible with the starter profiles, but you can make all the decisions

You can theoretically do this by hand if you have the codex, but it is tedious to copy all the rules by hand. Printing your generated profiles from the app is easier

The app has no in-game functionality besides looking at your profiles and the rules

The codex has all the customizable options and build-a-unit datasheets. It unlocks these options in the army builder

You need both the codex and the publication with the mission pack to built an army for the respective kind of mission. at the beginning of the edition the purchase of the warhosts tome gives you access to all the armies at once

Erratas, revised construction datasheets, point adjustments are free for subscribers and released digitally only

The plan is to leave the predefined profiles unchanged for the duration of the edition, but i don't know how this will break cross-compatibility eventually

The army builder can be used for free for the core rules and starter mission pack

A W+ subscription gives you access to all the predefined profiles from all armies without needing to buy all the boxes. But you still need the box to add a unit to your collection for the immersive content

The edition starts with the Vigil of Blood box for hooked players and a series of mini starter boxes for beginners. these can be bought at a time or as a discounted subscription or all at once once they are released. These boxes have the same plastic terrain and units as the veteran box, but also contain tools and paints and step-by-step manuals. buying all boxes gives exactly all the starter box models + hobby items. First box is building two characters. After three boxes you can play the first game with a simple color scheme. The last three boxes are not as dense as the first ones

Grand Tournament packs are released once a year. They are exclusively released as a bundle of booklet and terrain. GT is its separate ecosystem now, with its own rules, profiles and point costs. This pack gives you digitally access to the Grand Tournament unit profiles. It is supposed to be a really tight ruleset. The launch box has a mountain of terrain and will be the most expensive bundle in Gw history. GT is separated in the app from the matched play mission and has its own builder - a reskinned version of the old app. The builder is sleeker because you cannot customize units. It has a clock, a scoresheet and a QR interface to share the scoresheet. The GT section is only available with a code in the pack. Further down the road, annual packs will have only half the terrain

Codex Space Marines, Tyranids, Demons and Orks are with the playtesters, as well as Blood Angels, Space Wolves and White Scars supplements

The launch box has fewer models than in the past, but plastic terrain included. I am paraphrasing: 1 winged jump primaris captain, 1 apothecari toxinmaster, 5 sword jump primaris, 5 veteran intercessors, 5 primaris scouts with grenade launchers, heavy offroad atv, 1 shrike prime, 3 shrikes, 8 termagants with fleshborer, 8 termagants with harpoon, 6 melee gargoyles, dreadnought sized trygon, Mosque style low tech buildings, reinforced with scifi tech and walls, improvised and rugged look, some destroyed old columns and centerpiece angel statue, plastic token set

Tsagualsa wrote:
Key takeaways from today's puff piece https://www.warhammer-community.com/2023/03/28/warhammer-40000-what-does-the-new-game-mean-for-your-codexes

You will nevertheless be able to play your chosen army as soon as the new edition lands. We are releasing revamped, restatted, and reconsidered datasheets for every single unit in the game – all free to download at launch and ready to go. You’ll also be able to buy inexpensive packs of these cards at launch.

- Datasheets for everything for free at the start
- Cards for sale, called 'inexpensive'.

Smaug wrote:

Tsagualsa wrote:
Key takeaways from today's puff piece https://www.warhammer-community.com/2023/03/28/warhammer-40000-what-does-the-new-game-mean-for-your-codexes

You will nevertheless be able to play your chosen army as soon as the new edition lands. We are releasing revamped, restatted, and reconsidered datasheets for every single unit in the game – all free to download at launch and ready to go. You’ll also be able to buy inexpensive packs of these cards at launch.

- Datasheets for everything for free at the start
- Cards for sale, called 'inexpensive'.

I wonder if after the new codices come out will they continue the datasheets to be splash releases like AoS warsrolls. If they are one and done prints it could be a barrier to people starting new armies.

Smaug wrote:

Tsagualsa wrote:
Key takeaways from today's puff piece https://www.warhammer-community.com/2023/03/28/warhammer-40000-what-does-the-new-game-mean-for-your-codexes

You will nevertheless be able to play your chosen army as soon as the new edition lands. We are releasing revamped, restatted, and reconsidered datasheets for every single unit in the game – all free to download at launch and ready to go. You’ll also be able to buy inexpensive packs of these cards at launch.

- Datasheets for everything for free at the start
- Cards for sale, called 'inexpensive'.

I wonder if after the new codices come out will they continue the datasheets to be splash releases like AoS warsrolls. If they are one and done prints it could be a barrier to people starting new armies.

Smaug wrote:

Tsagualsa wrote:
Key takeaways from today's puff piece https://www.warhammer-community.com/2023/03/28/warhammer-40000-what-does-the-new-game-mean-for-your-codexes

You will nevertheless be able to play your chosen army as soon as the new edition lands. We are releasing revamped, restatted, and reconsidered datasheets for every single unit in the game – all free to download at launch and ready to go. You’ll also be able to buy inexpensive packs of these cards at launch.

- Datasheets for everything for free at the start
- Cards for sale, called 'inexpensive'.

I wonder if after the new codices come out will they continue the datasheets to be splash releases like AoS warsrolls. If they are one and done prints it could be a barrier to people starting new armies.

Wayniac wrote:

 Matrindur wrote:

 Asmodai wrote:

From the announcement article (https://www.warhammer-community.com/2023/03/23/a-mindblowing-new-edition-of-warhammer-40000-is-coming/):

"Effectively, you will only ever need your unit datasheets, the two pages of rules that govern your chosen army (available in your codex, on cards, or digitally), plus the core rules and whatever mission you’re playing."

They could theoretically just be talking about the app but I hope not even GW is that dumb

You know that's exactly what they mean

Siegfriedfr wrote:
I don't know much about AoS business models, do they make money out of models, like 40k does with Codex/Campaign books ?

 kodos wrote:

 Daedalus81 wrote:
That feels pedantic and we're sort of getting to the point where we're trying to divine the minds of the people designing rules. Neither of us know if they learned a lesson. What we can see is that they agreed with the feedback and made a change. The difference between the two is totally negligible if the outcome is true and they can stick to it.

we don't know, we just see the results
but already had the "we listen to the feedback and made the changes" with 8th Edition, the end result is another reset an edition later because changes made, made the game end almost like 7th but in a shorter time
so what happened from 3rd to 7th now happend from 8th to 9th, there is just nothing that makes me believe that something was learned but that the best we to make profit is another reset with the same promises in 3 years

LostTemplar wrote:
Someone got the lionguard box by accident...

Tsagualsa wrote:

LostTemplar wrote:
Someone got the lionguard box by accident...

Link, pretty please?