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I know this is an ID10T kind of question, but I'm honestly confused. I own Index: Imperium 2 and used it to create myself a little Tempestus Scion army list.

But the new Astra Militarum codex was released recently. Do I actually need this? Did point values/rules change from Index: Imperium 2? Or is this codex more geared for collectors as it's no doubt chock-full of fluff/painted models/conversions.

I basically just would like to know if I need this codex or if I'm good with Index: Imperium 2.

The new codex has many buffs. It would be a good idea to have it.

You could just stick with just the index and be ok. Or you could buy the AM Codex and watch your IG forces really come to life! It has Regimental Doctrines, Psyker Power, Stratagems, Relics, and more orders, than what the index has. Not to mention, the points cost have changed to the cheaper side of things, for the most part. I fully recommend getting the Codex 100%!

Yes you want the codex, and it's myriad of buffs.

Prepare to be loathed, the codex is the owner of great salt mines these days. In fact i personally am taking measures to avoid the army until we see what chapter approved changes if anything.

Personally i am not completely convinced the codex is deserving of all the salt. I have seven games into the codex, it was an unpleasant experience. The issue is more the index/codex meta, IG was an interesting to difficult game before the codex. Now it is more an exercise in angry cat vs mouse.

Isn't it mandatory to use the newest datasheets released for your army?

Unless you want to play IG I'll tell you everything that changed for your small scion army.
1) you will pay nearly double for a plasma gun
2) you gain an army wide buff (doctrine) if every ubjt in your army is scion. That allows you another shot with a weapon if you roll a 6.
3) you gain several more warlord traits not in the index. Most melee related.
4) you gain access to relics(items) that are free. Again most melee but a few decent ones like a chance to double up orders
5) you gain exclusive strategems that are fairly useful and varied

 Cream Tea wrote:
Isn't it mandatory to use the newest datasheets released for your army?

It's a game of toy soldiers. Nothing is mandatory. If you're attending a tournament perhaps. If you want play Indexhammer...that's fine, and more power to you (arguably a better matched version of the game as codexes are being released).

 Elbows wrote:

 Cream Tea wrote:
Isn't it mandatory to use the newest datasheets released for your army?

It's a game of toy soldiers. Nothing is mandatory. If you're attending a tournament perhaps. If you want play Indexhammer...that's fine, and more power to you (arguably a better matched version of the game as codexes are being released).

Of course players can agree to what they like.

I just seemed to recall that GW had said you were supposed to use the latest datasheets, which would require the codex in this case.

I personally am going to play with my Codex (Craftworlds, as soon as it's released) against Codex armies and with the Index against Index armies. I will do so with the knowledge that it's not how GW would say it's supposed to be done.

If you mean there were stat changes, yes. Lots actually. A bunch of units gained rules or were changed around. Point costs weren't the only things that changed in the codex (and not to mention Regimental rules, relics, stratagems and so forth).

Most Organized events and such would be expecting you to use the codex rather than the index, unless they specifically say otherwise.

But Indexhammer is a completely valid way to play, considering the Indexes themselves have pretty good internal balance.

Thanks guys, yeah I was basically just wondering if it really was a new entire codex release with updated rules. I was confused because the Index books came out so recently I couldn't believe new codecies were already coming out lol

The indices were suppose to be a stopgap only, as 8th editions rules were so different from 7th edition that a bunch of units simply cannot function without an update (such as all vehicles). I know a few space marine players that specifically avoided Index: Imperium 1 because they knew that the vanilla marine dex was gonna come out basically the next morning (although, as it turns out, there were good reasons to get the indexes. Namely legacy units).

I still think they should have been free though. But then again I think all rules should be free.

 Cream Tea wrote:
Isn't it mandatory to use the newest datasheets released for your army?

That depends on your players. Players are the ones enforcing all these "use latest stuff only". Not GW.

Real question - I have the indexes, but I bought only the cards and use Battlescribe to calculate/print out my armies. Will that cover me for the points/rule changes or am I missing anything from the codex doing things this way?

It's just that I look at my stack of codexes back to about 3rd-4th edition and find it harder and harder to convince myself keeping up is worth it.

 Stormonu wrote:
Real question - I have the indexes, but I bought only the cards and use Battlescribe to calculate/print out my armies. Will that cover me for the points/rule changes or am I missing anything from the codex doing things this way?

It's just that I look at my stack of codexes back to about 3rd-4th edition and find it harder and harder to convince myself keeping up is worth it.

Depends, do you have access to the internet, a piece of paper, and a pen? If so, you have the ingredients to perform a complex sequence of actions required to learn and record your regiment trait.

 Stormonu wrote:
Real question - I have the indexes, but I bought only the cards and use Battlescribe to calculate/print out my armies. Will that cover me for the points/rule changes or am I missing anything from the codex doing things this way?

It's just that I look at my stack of codexes back to about 3rd-4th edition and find it harder and harder to convince myself keeping up is worth it.

Never trust Battlescribe for rules and sometimes even accurate points values.