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I suppose this sound like a stupid question, but, why it's so difficult for GW to be consistent in every little thing they do?<?

As an example take the Space Marines Codex Summary. Assuming the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:country-region><st1:place>uk</st1:place></st1:country-region> one been the original we have all weapons ranges defined in inches. So, a Bolt Pistol may be fired up to 12".

Now, let?s translate into Spanish or Japanese. Inches are translated into cm and we get the following

Spanish codex.... 30 cm range for bolt pistol

Japanese codex...  24 cm range for bolt pistol

Taking the actual ratio of 1 inch = 2,54 cm the Spanish translation seems much more close to the original. For the Japanesse codex a ratio of 1 inch = 2 cm was used for all weapons

Don't know how it was translated in other languages (German, Italian, French...)

In a game were it is so important to be able to estimate distances at a glance this seems like an important drawback to any kind of international playing. A Japanese player may feel his Predator is safe from enemy fire because he is thinking in Japanese measures. Meanwhile his Spanish opponent is reading the dices he will use to shot that tank because he feels is in range. Using each other codex both players are right?.what to do?

PS This is not intended to become a new anti-GW rant? I just downloaded the Japanese codex and was very curious about the difference with de Spanish one

PS2 I have the 3 summaries jpgged but don´t know how to post images..

In a game were it is so important to be able to estimate distances at a glance this seems like an important drawback to any kind of international playing. A Japanese player may feel his Predator is safe from enemy fire because he is thinking in Japanese measures. Meanwhile his Spanish opponent is reading the dices he will use to shot that tank because he feels is in range.

Played against many Japanese players lately?


While it would seem to make more sense to have things consistent worldwide (easier for editors if nothing else) I can't see this being a huge problem.

Mind you, if they were going for consistency, they wouldn't have converted some countries' books into metric in the first place.


I'm wondering if they used the slightly smaller version for Japan so that boards take up that little bit less room...

I think it's because the Japanese Codexes still use the English range increments (no, I don't know why) and multiplying x2 can be done quickly, and accureatley right there in you head. I know that I sure as hell am not going to rely on my calculating decimals without having a calculator handy, whereas even I can just snap out, "Rapid fire 12", so 24 cm..."

I know I always clarify before a game whether we're playing in inches, or CM, although there was one game where lines got crossed and I didn't realuze he wasusing CM until turn 3, when I measured to fire, and realized that while he'd been out of rapidfire range on his turn, yet even without moving, my guys were in range...

Posted By insaniak on 07/06/2006 4:00 PM

I'm wondering if they used the slightly smaller version for Japan so that boards take up that little bit less room...

I think it is more because it is more and more difficult to find a measuring tape that use those weird measuring unit. I was surprise when I saw that GW was upgrading to the 4th edition and kept the english unit. I have a measuring tape that was used by my father. I am canadian and 35 years old and never used english measure at school. Everything was already in metric. So GW games are the only place in my life where I still use inches

I can't wait unitl the US finally switches to the metric system. I'm sick and tired of having no freakin' clue what my European friends are talking about whenever we have a conversation involving measurement.

You can have my standard English length tape measure, when you pry it from my cold dead hands

You all realize that it is possible to know and be familliar with more than one meausrement system at the same time, correct?

And that measuring tapes exist that have both English and Metric systems on them side by side?

Yes, inconsistency is a pain, but there is a simple solution.
Friendly international games: Choose one language version and stick to it for the duration of the game for all measuring purposes.
International Tournaments: The Organizer should determine which system will be in use (most likely determined by the host country) and enforce that system above all others.

Inches themselves have never been consistent throughout history. Yes I know it's strange, but not all barleycorns are the same length. Here is an international inch converter for your viewing pleasure...

I think it is more because it is more and more difficult to find a measuring tape that use those weird measuring unit. I was surprise when I saw that GW was upgrading to the 4th edition and kept the english unit. I have a measuring tape that was used by my father. I am canadian and 35 years old and never used english measure at school. Everything was already in metric. So GW games are the only place in my life where I still use inches

Where the heck in Canada do you live? 99% of small construction is done in Imperial and I don't know a Canadian born soul who knows their height in metric without looking at their drives license. And I am 28 so it isn't like I am an old fart. Go to the home depot or a fabric store and try to find a measuring tape that DOESN'T have inches on it.

i have the exact conversion from centimeters to inches cm x 0.3937 = in in x 2.54 = cm . that is from the FAA official aviation mechanic handbook i needed that alot i used to work on french helicopters.

sorry iforgot to mention the second equation is inches to cm my bad proof reading

I just realized that I was completly talking out of my *donkey*in the first post. I blame no coffee in the morning.  The distances in the Japanese codices are all expressed in CM, but the ranges are simply double the English numbers (i.e. the Railgun's range is 144CM [ 72" x 2] instead of 180 [ 72 x 2.5]). Aside from ease of calculation, this was also probably done for aesthetic reaons.  You won't end up with any odd numbers, or strary decimals points that need to be rounded up or down.