If you like Warhammer, I suggest you better take a seat.
Over the last few months I got a few glimpses on what WHF could change to in the very near future. I have collected messages, asked questions, and tried to form a somewhat coherent picture. The one thing I believe by now is: Warhammer in its current form will no longer be supported by GW. It will be transformed into something else, with everything built up in background and most of the model range being kicked out of the door.
To give you an insight into some of the messages I got, have a look at the following. Please note that I am paraphrasing at times, and have cut out (hopefully) everything that could lead to the original identities of my friendly birdies.
Originally Posted by Birdy
- 9th Edition to pick up where the ET leaves off in fluff, plus a couple of hundred years or so (to reboot the setting).
- The Warhammer World gets shattered on a dimensional level during the climax of the ET. No more "map of the Old World" - it's now little bubbles of reality, where pockets of civilisation try desperately to eke a living before the next collision with another bubble, which may be full of Chaos. (To address the problem of "how come my Tomb Kings of Khemri are fighting against Wood Elves from Athel Loren?", not that I get the impression that either of those will still exist, but you get the idea)
- New faction... heavily armoured, religious, "good" human warriors fighting with the power of the gods. (Warhammer Space Marines, basically). Karl Franz Ascended seems to be the prototype or precursor for this concept, AFAICT.
Originally Posted by Another Birdy
9th edition will have 6 factions. Model diversity cut in half shelf space. New world and new age so current factions and lore aren't recognizable at all. Each new faction has like 3 core units that will always be on the shelf. Much faster releases of stuff, mainly characters and special units of 2-5 fancy models (like Morghasts) that have their own rules right in the box, so not dependent on a static army book. Many of the these non-core models are only available for a limited time (say 6 months to a year), so they don't take up shelf space forever and ever. Many existing models are not usable in 9th.
Originally Posted by Birdy #3
We can expect the next edition of Fantasy to throw everything up in the air. The whole End Times move has been to wean people onto a whole new take on the Warhammer world and it's going to start with every army being "chaosified". We can expect army play styles and appearance to change quite dramatically and there will be a whole load of new models being released early on to tie everything together. This has caused quite a stir back at GW HQ as there are a lot of people behind the scenes (some of which are very well known to us) who don't like the changes that have been made. I have also been told that the models due to be released are some of the best to date!
Add to that (and by "Birdy Prime" I mean my best source so far):
Originally Posted by Birdy Prime
'9th' [or] whatever is next for fantasy [...] coming 2015 in the summer. The new faction [plus] future releases after this point for five 'existing' factions (which plus this would make six) […] but I think there will be [...] more.
As you can see, it will be drastic. It seems like those „Spanish rumours“ might have had some more flesh on them than I thought: I am by now sorry for my sometimes nasty words about them. And despite my remorse about ever mentioning it, I think my statement about a „ragestorm of epic proportions“ could have been correct after all.
This whole thing will turn out to be either correct or not in less than six months. Hopefully we can get over our worst emotions until then.
P.S.: I have sat on most of this since right before Christmas, but decided I didn't want to ruin anybodies holidays. I also had high hopes for somebody relieving me from this stuff... but that hope was lost.
Beyond the End Times - What is next.....
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Beyond the End Times - What is next.....
So this is a direct lift from a post one of the respected Mods and rumour mongers at Warseer (Darnok) posted today. Big, big changes if true. These are remember just rumours.
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Re: Beyond the End Times - What is next.....
I've coincidentally being having a perusal of that thread.
Not going to throw my toys out of the pram until 9th arrives and we know for sure.
There is no point. It is only hearsay.
Also: LOL at Karl Franz space marines![LoL !lol!](./images/smilies/icon_lol1.gif)
Not going to throw my toys out of the pram until 9th arrives and we know for sure.
There is no point. It is only hearsay.
Also: LOL at Karl Franz space marines
![LoL !lol!](./images/smilies/icon_lol1.gif)
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Re: Beyond the End Times - What is next.....
Some of this is actually pretty damn good news. Though it pains me to read that not all models will be considered reusable. I suppose "count as" will be upheld for some time at least. The islands in the warp concept doesn't strike me as sensible at the moment, to be honest though. I had no issues attacking any army at all ![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Edit: the good news being a new format with more dynamic rules and model ranges. I think that works better.
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Edit: the good news being a new format with more dynamic rules and model ranges. I think that works better.
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- The stiff breeze
Furnace of Arcana, a warhammer blog with delusional grandeur.
"I move unseen. I hide in light and shadow. I move faster than a bird. No plate of armour ever stopped me. I strike recruits and veterans with equal ease. And all shiver at my coldest of whispers."
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Re: Beyond the End Times - What is next.....
Daeron wrote:Some of this is actually pretty damn good news. Though it pains me to read that not all models will be considered reusable. I suppose "count as" will be upheld for some time at least. The islands in the warp concept doesn't strike me as sensible at the moment, to be honest though. I had no issues attacking any army at all
Edit: the good news being a new format with more dynamic rules and model ranges. I think that works better.
Good news?! NOT! I won't buy another model until 9th is released. How will I know if that $80 Glotkin can even be played with in six months?
![It burns! :burns:](./images/smilies/icon_burning.gif)
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Re: Beyond the End Times - What is next.....
This is very much a wait and see situation for me. Not going to panic but might tail off any further model purchases.
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Re: Beyond the End Times - What is next.....
Gidean wrote:How will I know if that $80 Glotkin can even be played with in six months?
You could always use it as an obese Great Unclean One?
![Razz :P](./images/smilies/icon_razz.gif)
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Re: Beyond the End Times - What is next.....
T.D. wrote:Gidean wrote:How will I know if that $80 Glotkin can even be played with in six months?
You could always use it as an obese Great Unclean One?
But I don't play demons. Also how will I know if there is going to be a great unclean one in six months?
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Re: Beyond the End Times - What is next.....
These rumours don't impact the reusability of Glotkin anymore than any rumour of 9th would. Imagine they said 9th reset the whole world before ET. Imagine they said 9th continues a few centuries after ET with the current world intact. How would any of these rumours provide more or less guarantees over the reusability of the model?
I think a lot of those rumours is good news, in which case I'm mostly referring to the game mechanic of a smaller core set and richer, more dynamic expansions. Look at the buzz that ET created. Every book was, at least in some way, a story that involved the whole world of Warhammer. That is what is needed I think: a campaign or story that involves everyone. Not just "oh look, new Dwarfs. Now 10% of my player club has something new and 90% of my games remain the same with no change for 3 years".
The model range is what troubles me the most too, but even then I'm not too worried about my dark elves. As long as I can use them as a themed army within an Elven faction, I'm good. Even with the lifespan of my Elves, it's possible fluff-wise to keep it the same regiment as the one that set out of Naggarond.
Special models and characters may need a fix in rules every once in a while... Just like they did now from 7th to 8th and will need it from 8th to 9th whatever 9th is rumoured to bring.
I think a lot of those rumours is good news, in which case I'm mostly referring to the game mechanic of a smaller core set and richer, more dynamic expansions. Look at the buzz that ET created. Every book was, at least in some way, a story that involved the whole world of Warhammer. That is what is needed I think: a campaign or story that involves everyone. Not just "oh look, new Dwarfs. Now 10% of my player club has something new and 90% of my games remain the same with no change for 3 years".
The model range is what troubles me the most too, but even then I'm not too worried about my dark elves. As long as I can use them as a themed army within an Elven faction, I'm good. Even with the lifespan of my Elves, it's possible fluff-wise to keep it the same regiment as the one that set out of Naggarond.
Special models and characters may need a fix in rules every once in a while... Just like they did now from 7th to 8th and will need it from 8th to 9th whatever 9th is rumoured to bring.
I love me a bowl of numbers to crunch for breakfast. If you need anything theoryhammered, I gladly take requests.
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"I move unseen. I hide in light and shadow. I move faster than a bird. No plate of armour ever stopped me. I strike recruits and veterans with equal ease. And all shiver at my coldest of whispers."
- The stiff breeze
Furnace of Arcana, a warhammer blog with delusional grandeur.
"I move unseen. I hide in light and shadow. I move faster than a bird. No plate of armour ever stopped me. I strike recruits and veterans with equal ease. And all shiver at my coldest of whispers."
- The stiff breeze
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Re: Beyond the End Times - What is next.....
Gidean wrote:But I don't play demons. Also how will I know if there is going to be a great unclean one in six months?
Just trying to find a bit of humour in the rumoured situation.
But being serious, I agree with you that it would suck if they canned existing models and/or whole armies.
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Re: Beyond the End Times - What is next.....
Daeron wrote:These rumours don't impact the reusability of Glotkin anymore than any rumour of 9th would. Imagine they said 9th reset the whole world before ET. Imagine they said 9th continues a few centuries after ET with the current world intact. How would any of these rumours provide more or less guarantees over the reusability of the model?
I just threw Glotty out as an example. What I am saying is that this rumor makes the purchase of ANY model now chancy.
Last edited by Gidean on Tue Jan 06, 2015 10:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Beyond the End Times - What is next.....
If this is true, then one could imagine that a website would provide a new rulebook to download, either the original WH8th, or a new alt-WH8th with similar mechanisms and some modifications.
The model range could be sustained by present competitors.
The customer base is there. Question is how long will it last?
The model range could be sustained by present competitors.
The customer base is there. Question is how long will it last?
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Re: Beyond the End Times - What is next.....
Denial - to date. Clearly something major is a foot, after all.
Anger - Reading the rumours was a kind of maddening experience at first - if only because I'd view it as a massive betrayal. Betrayal seems a fair word *if* there are major changes - the same way as if you bought a car, and a couple of days later were told it would only function as a boat. However, it's kind of hinted at in the GW annual report where they say they don't need to do consumer research because they operate in a niche... which seems even more grimace worthy in light of ET.
Bargaining - That said, thinking about it logically, I rarely pay much attention to the GW fluff. When I see special characters I just see stats, rules and points cost. If someone turned up to play me with Night Goblins painted white using a Dwarf army list calling them Stardust Goblins, I'd be fine with it so long as the base sizes matched the army list. So does any of this matter too much? I'll paint up my Autarii army, some of the new armies will have an appropriate play style and those will be the rules I use. And the fluff will be mine, and I'll ignore all the bubble nonsense altogether.
Depression - However... I have always set my individual fluff in the GW universe. Maybe I enjoy a riff off the established fluff rather than a complete departure. There are limits to the suspension of disbelief one can bring to bear. Telling people your Night Goblins are "Stardust Goblins" is one thing... claiming they are the 5th Panzer division is quite another. Do I trust GW enough not to break the play style and feel of the armies and game to the extent I couldn't convince myself that what was on the table matched what was in my head? I mean, these are people who seem incapable of turning a profit on a fantasy product in an era where LOTR and Hobbit movies are taking the mass market by storm, where white van men and hairdressers are glued to Game of the Thrones... Surely there's never been a better time to be in the vanilla fantasy market?
Acceptance - Not yet! Fingers crossed it's not needed. It's a well known trick to announce crazy, crazy rumours so people aren't too excited with the smaller changes you intend to make. Let's hope it's something like that (fluff wise - model range wise I agree with some of the others above - more releases, etc. all sound good and the ET models have been generally lovely).
Anger - Reading the rumours was a kind of maddening experience at first - if only because I'd view it as a massive betrayal. Betrayal seems a fair word *if* there are major changes - the same way as if you bought a car, and a couple of days later were told it would only function as a boat. However, it's kind of hinted at in the GW annual report where they say they don't need to do consumer research because they operate in a niche... which seems even more grimace worthy in light of ET.
Bargaining - That said, thinking about it logically, I rarely pay much attention to the GW fluff. When I see special characters I just see stats, rules and points cost. If someone turned up to play me with Night Goblins painted white using a Dwarf army list calling them Stardust Goblins, I'd be fine with it so long as the base sizes matched the army list. So does any of this matter too much? I'll paint up my Autarii army, some of the new armies will have an appropriate play style and those will be the rules I use. And the fluff will be mine, and I'll ignore all the bubble nonsense altogether.
Depression - However... I have always set my individual fluff in the GW universe. Maybe I enjoy a riff off the established fluff rather than a complete departure. There are limits to the suspension of disbelief one can bring to bear. Telling people your Night Goblins are "Stardust Goblins" is one thing... claiming they are the 5th Panzer division is quite another. Do I trust GW enough not to break the play style and feel of the armies and game to the extent I couldn't convince myself that what was on the table matched what was in my head? I mean, these are people who seem incapable of turning a profit on a fantasy product in an era where LOTR and Hobbit movies are taking the mass market by storm, where white van men and hairdressers are glued to Game of the Thrones... Surely there's never been a better time to be in the vanilla fantasy market?
Acceptance - Not yet! Fingers crossed it's not needed. It's a well known trick to announce crazy, crazy rumours so people aren't too excited with the smaller changes you intend to make. Let's hope it's something like that (fluff wise - model range wise I agree with some of the others above - more releases, etc. all sound good and the ET models have been generally lovely).
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Re: Beyond the End Times - What is next.....
Calisson wrote:If this is true, then one could imagine that a website would provide a new rulebook to download, either the original WH8th, or a new alt-WH8th with similar mechanisms and some modifications.
The model range could be sustained by present competitors.
The customer base is there. Question is how long will it last?
100% agree - and a super opportunity for sites like D.net, surely. So long as the customer base lasts, as you say.
I do always wonder to what extent GW's marketing data is a self fulfilling prophecy. Lots of 30-40 chaps with tonnes of disposable income looking to keep doing the same kind of thing as before represent a dream come true to lots of companies!
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Re: Beyond the End Times - What is next.....
Calisson wrote:If this is true, then one could imagine that a website would provide a new rulebook to download, either the original WH8th, or a new alt-WH8th with similar mechanisms and some modifications.
The model range could be sustained by present competitors.
The customer base is there. Question is how long will it last?
I don't think anyone could try to continue to produce the old rules without hearing from GW's legal team. One of the many rumors out there for this drastic re-write is they don't want Rick Priestly to continue to receive any royalties for their product. Meh...who knows? The bottom line is that if they stop producing the existing armies the hobby is dead.
![Killed :killed:](./images/smilies/icon_killed.gif)
This explains why they are pooping over all the existing lore.
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Re: Beyond the End Times - What is next.....
flatworldsedge wrote: I mean, these are people who seem incapable of turning a profit on a fantasy product in an era where LOTR and Hobbit movies are taking the mass market by storm, where white van men and hairdressers are glued to Game of the Thrones... Surely there's never been a better time to be in the vanilla fantasy market?
Qft
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Re: Beyond the End Times - What is next.....
I have another idea for the old timer collectors:
There will be non-GW army supplements to play X in the new WE environment,
where X is one of the 15 armies we have.
Very similar to present Chaos Dwarves, Dog of War, Kislev...
I would assume that D.net could create such supplement, in the same way that we created the present FAQ that GW did not give us.
There will be non-GW army supplements to play X in the new WE environment,
where X is one of the 15 armies we have.
Very similar to present Chaos Dwarves, Dog of War, Kislev...
I would assume that D.net could create such supplement, in the same way that we created the present FAQ that GW did not give us.
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Re: Beyond the End Times - What is next.....
Some more rooooomers:
EarlyBird wrote:from the horse mouth
factions :
1) Chaos : Demons + Beasts + Mortals
2) Elves
3) Empire
4) Undead
5) Orcs and Goblins
6) Skavens
Lizards are gone in space.
Dwarves survivors join the empire with the ogres.
1) Chaos core : Warriors of chaos/chariot/Hounds
Demons figs will be kept as they are usable in 40k
Bye bye marauders, ungors, centigors, razorgor etc
2) Elves core : spearmen/archers/cavalry on horse
No more xbows
the 3 elves will blend in one faction
dark elves monsters are gone : cold ones, hydra
3) Empire core: Hallberds/Handgun/Canon
Some dwarves survivors and ogres are included
Imperial and bretonnian knights are merged
4) Undead core : Skeletons/Ghouls/Spirit host
bye bye bone giant, scorpion sphinx, chariots and everything too much egyptian
5) Orcs and goblins core : Goblins/Orcs/Black orcs
no real change for them
6) Skaven core : Clanrats/Plague rats/Rat ogres
no real change for them too
cheers
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Re: Beyond the End Times - What is next.....
Not convinced on the above. Others have also debunked that one to an extent too. Plus it doesn't leave room for the Space marine faction.
Economically some of those don't make sense either as the moulds cost a lot of money and in some cases are very new.
Economically some of those don't make sense either as the moulds cost a lot of money and in some cases are very new.
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Re: Beyond the End Times - What is next.....
Amboadine wrote:Economically some of those don't make sense either as the moulds cost a lot of money and in some cases are very new.
That's one of the angles I'm trying to get my head around economically. Once you've got the IP/design, the moulds and have marketed the setting, a massive percentage of your costs are accounted for. Once you've spent lots of money over decades making sure the world knows what Witch Elves* are, and once you've designed the concept/models and made the moulds, you have an asset that can be exploited very profitably.
*That zero discount "buy a tonne of Witch Elves" promo did feel kind of like a stock clearance a couple of weeks back, right?!
Only choosing to exploit that asset through bricks and mortar stores becomes expensive again.
Lots of the rumours seem to focus on business decisions driving creative decisions; i.e. the new lore/future fluff shaped so they can optimise utilisation of shelf space and profit maximisation through control of IP.
Sure, that irks me significantly(!), but I get the commercial aspect. Even with that future direction, it seems odd that the old assets would be scrapped (instead of moving them to online sale only at a premium) - unless the view was taken that losing 'future incremental sales to 80% of old players' was a fair trade for '20% of old players re-buying from scratch, plus the new generation buying more profitably'. A proper heavy handed approach would be to change the scale to enforce this, though then you'd undermine cross selling "new fantasy" to 40k, and the ability to produce one line serving both games, leveraging economies of scale, etc.
There's a soft cost, though, that I feel people always overlook, but which we refer to a lot above - being trust. I felt safe buying models I liked in October. I bought lots of them! I've bought practically nothing since ET:K due to future uncertainty. What is the cost in the long run of that uncertainty? You look at the "show us your horde" thread with tens of thousands of unpainted points of models... would that situation come about when no one is sure that next year the game wouldn't change materially again?
If there is a drastic change, hopefully we'll see an exodus of old timer staff at GW fueling the growth of the other players, or buying out IP for their own start up, or some similar injection of "conservative dynamism" - an update shaped by a world/setting/lore/fluff that is viewed as engaging, worth playing and true to the spirit of the game we've invested in over years/decades, rather than an update shaped by what some random MBA's* narrowly weighted calculation says is most profitable within a niche where customers' views are "otiose" (to quote GW).
*I have one too, so I'm allowed to hate the way they are taught to think without being called negative.
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Re: Beyond the End Times - What is next.....
Dramatic changes as the ones above mentioned, will surely disrupt the customers base.
And I can't believe Dwarves being gone. They have always been an army of choice.....
No more white Dwarf then....
White Elf maybe??!!
Ok. Let's see what happens.
I'm not too worried, as I have always played with my old friends, and will go on doing so with the rules I prefer.
I used 7th ed. rules over 2 years after 8th ed was out.
I can go back to 7th, or keep 8th running as long as I like.
I understand this can't work for those who play tournements, or play at LGS or clubs.
And I can't believe Dwarves being gone. They have always been an army of choice.....
No more white Dwarf then....
White Elf maybe??!!
Ok. Let's see what happens.
I'm not too worried, as I have always played with my old friends, and will go on doing so with the rules I prefer.
I used 7th ed. rules over 2 years after 8th ed was out.
I can go back to 7th, or keep 8th running as long as I like.
I understand this can't work for those who play tournements, or play at LGS or clubs.
... and Justice for all!!!
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Re: Beyond the End Times - What is next.....
flatworldsedge wrote:These are people who seem incapable of turning a profit on a fantasy product in an era where LOTR and Hobbit movies are taking the mass market by storm, where white van men and hairdressers are glued to Game of the Thrones... Surely there's never been a better time to be in the vanilla fantasy market?
I don't buy that argument.
- LOTR is over a decade ago. You are either underestimating your age, or the age of the fantasy buzz. Don't take it like it's a new and hype thing of the year. Think back a moment on the release of the first LOTR movies:
- Everybody had a nokia 3310. Smartphones didn't exist. Snakes was the #1 cellphone game.
- The Druchii.net forum didn't exist as it does now. It's earliest activity date from 2002, around The Two Towers was released (2003 for ROTK)
- World of Warcraft, you know, that old-timer, was released AFTER the LOTR trilogy.
- GW more than doubled its fantasy products since (increased focus on Warhammer + LOTR + Hobbit).
- Hobbit and GoT are popular. But not because of figurines. Not even because of the books. Nope. 100% digital entertainment. Nowadays I see families spend time at a table at the restaurant, staring at their cellphones, not saying a word but sharing and liking eachother's facebook posts. Only a few weeks back, my country made it a public topic/debate on whether it made sense to still teach kids how to write with a pen. Because, apparently, some schools already stopped doing that. We live in a different world now. Fantasy may still be hot, but plastic figurines are a niche.
As for the value of existing plastics, think on it. Some models of the DE range aren't new. Plastic COKs and Corsairs are no longer "new" models. They are at least half a decade old. If they kept track of their sales, they probably know that some models sell well for a short period after their release, then slowly dwindle. That COK kit still costs money to keep alive logistically. If the profit margin on future sales of the model it is too small, then it can be cut regardless of what expenses have been covered. It's future income that matters.
G.W. is a plastic figurine company who used Warhammer to promote the model sales. "Whow, their new models have really powerful rules". And sometimes models are just made to look so awesome that people want to include them.
The concept of reducing their model range to improve the game, is actually an indication that they are taking the game seriously. Or that they learned that the benefits of keeping an unchanged for 6 years is outweighed by having a larger army changed every 2 years.
Warhammer is old and sluggish in its current form. I still love it. But I started with Warhammer before the first LOTR movie. Since, we've had 2 editions of Warhammer and 2 new books of DE's with model ranges. How is that ever going to compete with continuously changing, dynamic games?
My old Warriors are only 1 edition (of models) behind.
The regular drop of a new Army Book has kept the community somewhat buzzing, but usually the amazement dies after everyone saw the leaked pictures and read the rulebook because the impact is too limited. It doesn't keep an entire club buzzing when only 10% of the players see a change. Imagine they play against 2-3 players each, then the impact is felt over 30%-40% of the club. GW tried to fix that in two ways:
1. Get people hyped to start a second army, to double the impact of changes. With 20% of the players changing, 60%-100% of the club feels the impact.
2. Make overarching changes, like the ET does. This changes enough of the game for everyone, so everyone gets a treat.
Maybe we'll see a reduction in factions. I can use my DE Spearmen as Elven Spearmen. I can use my COKs as Elven Heavy Cavalry.
Some predict they'll drop GW if their models don't have a 1-1 relation to the rules, but they'll also promote going to other companies for alternative spearmen or witch elves
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
I doubt the credibility of many of those rumours, but even then I can see it being a part of a lot of positive changes as well. I have enjoyed the new games brought by GW. I think they are improving their products continuously. If anything, that is a proof that they aren't the airheads Doomsayers love to claim.
To put it bluntly, when someone claims they know better than GW, I'm tempted to ask them the name of their million dollar company.
I love me a bowl of numbers to crunch for breakfast. If you need anything theoryhammered, I gladly take requests.
Furnace of Arcana, a warhammer blog with delusional grandeur.
"I move unseen. I hide in light and shadow. I move faster than a bird. No plate of armour ever stopped me. I strike recruits and veterans with equal ease. And all shiver at my coldest of whispers."
- The stiff breeze
Furnace of Arcana, a warhammer blog with delusional grandeur.
"I move unseen. I hide in light and shadow. I move faster than a bird. No plate of armour ever stopped me. I strike recruits and veterans with equal ease. And all shiver at my coldest of whispers."
- The stiff breeze
- T.D.
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Re: Beyond the End Times - What is next.....
^^A very good counter argument ![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
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Re: Beyond the End Times - What is next.....
Lol, yes - though not all of it "counter"! I agree with a lot of Daeron's well structured point.
That's fair by way of ensuring perspective is brought to bear on the discussion, and sure we don't have the numbers they have either. I still think it's right we call them out where we see what feel like odd decisions, even if they've got a million dollar business. The same as we can identify a second-rate pop song, even if we couldn't sing it ourselves.
My point regarding fantasy entertainment being a great mainstream opportunity is more general. (The plastic figure side seems like the best part of the changes - they're better than ever right now, and quicker turns, etc. all sounds great.)
World of Warcraft and the rise of PC gaming is a great addition to the LOTR, Hobbit, GoT notes I made. I'd even throw in "Big Bang Theory" as an indicator that "fantasy" is happily mainstream, tenuous as that is!
I happen to think GW could have made more money from figures in this environment, but not enough to argue it too fiercely either way! More than that though, I personally would have thought their was more value to the IP of their setting, to be leveraged in other media. Sure, money has been made there, they have books and computer games, etc. - but in each category there are others making wild amounts more from a less well known start. And of course, if "Warhammer World Online" (or whatever) had beaten WOW to insane tipping point success, well, you'd imagine they'd have sold more figures too, on way or another.
Leveraging their fantasy setting and casual (no longer collecting) fan base through books. movies, games, etc. just feels like a missed opportunity - and that feels especially topical now, as they're destroying the setting IP and thereby ruling out the chance of exploiting its established goodwill in future. If it weren't for the current unraveling of that asset, thus opportunity, it wouldn't be relevant to the changes, yet that's why I think it is.
Who knows, maybe the new setting will be more appealing to the mass market, or maybe even if less appealing the IP/royalties side of bringing it 100% into their cash flow make it more profitable regardless. I appreciate there's way more complexity and detail than any single point can capture.
Daeron wrote:...when someone claims they know better than GW, I'm tempted to ask them the name of their million dollar company.
That's fair by way of ensuring perspective is brought to bear on the discussion, and sure we don't have the numbers they have either. I still think it's right we call them out where we see what feel like odd decisions, even if they've got a million dollar business. The same as we can identify a second-rate pop song, even if we couldn't sing it ourselves.
My point regarding fantasy entertainment being a great mainstream opportunity is more general. (The plastic figure side seems like the best part of the changes - they're better than ever right now, and quicker turns, etc. all sounds great.)
World of Warcraft and the rise of PC gaming is a great addition to the LOTR, Hobbit, GoT notes I made. I'd even throw in "Big Bang Theory" as an indicator that "fantasy" is happily mainstream, tenuous as that is!
I happen to think GW could have made more money from figures in this environment, but not enough to argue it too fiercely either way! More than that though, I personally would have thought their was more value to the IP of their setting, to be leveraged in other media. Sure, money has been made there, they have books and computer games, etc. - but in each category there are others making wild amounts more from a less well known start. And of course, if "Warhammer World Online" (or whatever) had beaten WOW to insane tipping point success, well, you'd imagine they'd have sold more figures too, on way or another.
Leveraging their fantasy setting and casual (no longer collecting) fan base through books. movies, games, etc. just feels like a missed opportunity - and that feels especially topical now, as they're destroying the setting IP and thereby ruling out the chance of exploiting its established goodwill in future. If it weren't for the current unraveling of that asset, thus opportunity, it wouldn't be relevant to the changes, yet that's why I think it is.
Who knows, maybe the new setting will be more appealing to the mass market, or maybe even if less appealing the IP/royalties side of bringing it 100% into their cash flow make it more profitable regardless. I appreciate there's way more complexity and detail than any single point can capture.
Veysha Everkiss
Plog: Veysha Everkiss and the Clan of the Shadow Fox
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Re: Beyond the End Times - What is next.....
I am just going to post a summary of what has been posted on Faeit 212. Not one of the most reliable sources, but does bulk out some of the rumours.
via a very solid source on Faeit 212
Let me give you some confirmation:
The setting is being completely overhauled - true.
The concept of a huge chunks of the world in a sea similar to the warp from 40k - true.
Faction reduction to 6 - true
As for how it interacts with the current rules.
9th edition takes place after the sundering that brought about from the End Times.
So for the purposes of compatibility, you can use your 8th edition hardback book, representing a section of the culture that hasn't been horrifically changed by the End Times (Recognizing it will have the same drawbacks of using a dated book that are experienced elsewhere).
You can use End Times rules/concepts, representing a section that is still being torn apart.
You can use the new, post-end times rules to represent what is "current."
All the books (again, with the caveat that older books may not be optimal for the new core rules [but truthfully the core rules aren't changing wildly, like 5th to 6th edition 40k, really more of a tidied up 8th edition with a brand new setting]) are designed to be compatible.
Support will be towards the new book, new setting, however, with End Times being in the past. Viable, but not current.
Expect armies to have fewer units in their core books, which will be heavily focused on the fluff for where they are now, what they've been doing in the centuries immediately following the sundering. This will create a more "balanced" pool as they will be rapidly produced and released (consider a scale even somewhat faster than what we've had for 40k these past few years).
These will then be expanded on with supplements, not intended as money-grabs (as I am sure they will be received by the majority of your readers), but more as guided hands to acknowledge deficiencies in books, or even "global meta" changes. The first time that Games Workshop will be openly acknowledging things that need changes.
These units will typically get white dwarf rules treatments heralding the release in hardback of all of the new units from the previous month(s), for a new setting expansion, which will pit several of the races together (representing a collision).
As these expansions are not permanent in the world, so too will these models not be. They are intended to only get one template injection mold life-run, the same as the books will be printed only once in hardback, then delayed paperback.
They will of course remain legal throughout all of 9th, they will just be more limited eventually, the same as the end time models will not be available forever, the same as XYZ model is no longer available (just with a shorter life span than previous experienced). I mean... you can't get albion models anymore either, but that campaign was before people whined on the internet, so I guess that's why no one's complaining.
This will allow for more new models, as contrary to common belief, the storage and rejuvenation of these templates takes a lot of resources which can be instead dedicated to new ones.
On the topic of round bases. The latest version I saw used round bases, but units had the option of ranking up to receive the typical bonuses. To rank up using round bases, it is intended to use new movement trays which have circular cuts to hold the bases of the appropriate size.
Nothing stops you from (and in many ways you are encouraged to) maintain unit formation the entire game. But you don't have to. Note that throughout all of Warhammer Fantasy, changing width/depth was an option, it's just rarely seen.
So to summarize - you can skirmish, but it's in your interests to rank up for different reasons, like shield walling before a charge for instance. You can alternatively always hold a formation and move the way we're all used to.
----
This will be a very big change. It is not because GW doesn't care about its old players and just wants to attract new ones. It is not to fill a void that will come from the fading of Lord of the Rings (which will remain in stores and be supported for a long time due to the agreement with New Line Cinemas).
It is just a very fresh look at a game that hasn't changed dramatically in how it's played since the dawn of the game and company. It will give everyone the opportunity and hopefully inspiration to do something new, but without invalidating everything from the past. It is opening room for creativity, not closing doors.
Yes, army books will eventually feel too out of date to play, but that's the same with any new edition. And new Army Books will typically allow people to recreate what they're "used to" it just might not be the most effective thing they could do with their new book.
The new faction are basically the opposite of warriors of chaos, but good the way chaos marines are the opposite of space marines but evil (in terms of broad tropes, I really hope this doesn't spawn some kind of debate about the morality of space marines).
Lastly, nothing stops you from just playing 8th, and ignoring 9th the same way some people ignore End Times. Just understand that unlike Storm of Chaos which was post-production looked at as an "alternate timeline" where the clock was turned back to right before it took place for the purposes of the setting, the End Times are real, and 9th will begin where it left off.
Re: Beyond the End Times - What is next.....
T.D. wrote:Some more rooooomers:EarlyBird wrote:from the horse mouth
factions :
1) Chaos : Demons + Beasts + Mortals
2) Elves
3) Empire
4) Undead
5) Orcs and Goblins
6) Skavens
Lizards are gone in space.
Dwarves survivors join the empire with the ogres.
1) Chaos core : Warriors of chaos/chariot/Hounds
Demons figs will be kept as they are usable in 40k
Bye bye marauders, ungors, centigors, razorgor etc
2) Elves core : spearmen/archers/cavalry on horse
No more xbows
the 3 elves will blend in one faction
dark elves monsters are gone : cold ones, hydra
3) Empire core: Hallberds/Handgun/Canon
Some dwarves survivors and ogres are included
Imperial and bretonnian knights are merged
4) Undead core : Skeletons/Ghouls/Spirit host
bye bye bone giant, scorpion sphinx, chariots and everything too much egyptian
5) Orcs and goblins core : Goblins/Orcs/Black orcs
no real change for them
6) Skaven core : Clanrats/Plague rats/Rat ogres
no real change for them too
cheers
Ever heard the term "counts as"? This means my crossbowmen just became archers. My Marauders got promoted to full fledge Warriors who just show a bit more skin.
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