2012 releases

[DigitalDogParty]

Wait, what? Just like that?

So the new rule book will be arriving at the end of June? Huh.

[Orphic]

Start of July has been rumoured for a long time. Preorders would therefore be the end of June. This news isn't coming out of the blue, DDP

[DigitalDogParty]

Start of July has been rumoured for a long time. Preorders would therefore be the end of June. This news isn't coming out of the blue, DDP

True, true. It's just that with all these rumors and whatnot being tossed around, it's hard to pick out what's real or just hopeful wishing. With this definite statement though, I guess I'm all psyched. Heh.

[KarlPedder]

The whole inability for it seems a large amount of folks to accurately define a release month because of the whole WD release/pre orders for the following month being the last Sat of the previous months is kind of annoying IMO. If it's coming out in July then it comes out in July pre orders in June does not change this I know I'm being petty but FFS it's been this way for a long time is it that hard FFS.....

[Harry]

The whole inability for it seems a large amount of folks to accurately define a release month because of the whole WD release/pre orders for the following month being the last Sat of the previous months is kind of annoying IMO. If it's coming out in July then it comes out in July pre orders in June does not change this I know I'm being petty but FFS it's been this way for a long time is it that hard FFS.....

Easy tiger.

It's not tricky BUT my guess is some folks get there rumours by seeing WD at the printers (and say june) ... and some folks get there rumours based on the release schedule. (and say July)

Either way .... Flyers ... 6th Edition ... its all coming very soon ... BRING IT ON!

[NixonAsADaemonPrince]

Is that defined by magnetic or geographic east, that tiger, Harry?

Anyway, now I've done nitpicking, I agree with your sentiment, it matters nought if the release at the end of one month or the start of the next, as long as some 40k goodness is being gifted to us in the near future, it's all good

[RandomThoughts]

It matters nought if the release at the end of one month or the start of the next, as long as some 40k goodness is being gifted to us in the near future, it's all good

At this point, I can't help but think of the last line at the end of Fanboys: "But ... what if it sucks?"

[NixonAsADaemonPrince]

At this point, I can't help but think of the last line at the end fanboys: "But ... what if it sucks?"

A good point, but as "sucking" is purely subjective, we'll just have to take the rough with the smooth.

[Starchild]

At this point, I can't help but think of the last line at the end fanboys: "But ... what if it sucks?"

That's been on my mind too. It's kind of like the American presidential election. New editions of 40k are always marketed with high hopes and grandoise promises but all too often these fail to materialize.

If history is anything to go by, the new rulebook will just be change for the sake of change itself and not really improve the game much at all, despite all the glamour of the shiny White Dwarf and "What's New Today" articles.

I would like to be proven wrong though!

[althathir]

At this point, I can't help but think of the last line at the end fanboys: "But ... what if it sucks?"

Then when either make our own ruleset for it, or fix 5th, Use a different system (leakhammer maybe?).

At some point we have to take ownership of the game, if we're gonna judge it on the standards that we want too. Can anyone honestly think of a game system with 15+ fractions that is balanced?

That's been on my mind too. It's kind of like the American presidential election. New editions of 40k are always marketed with high hopes and grandoise promises but all too often these fail to materialize.

If history is anything to go by, the new rulebook will just be change for the sake of change itself and not really improve the game much at all, despite all the glamour of the shiny White Dwarf and "What's New Today" articles.

I would like to be proven wrong though!

5th really isn't that bad of a system, and it did fix some of the problems of 4th. Whats more important is that they keep a similiar design paradigm throughout the edition instead of flipping between super complex to basic as possible and hopefully keep things inline with 5ths.

[Gorbad Ironclaw]

Can anyone honestly think of a game system with 15+ fractions that is balanced?

Bloodbowl. It is designed with different tiers so every team isn't equal (by design), but it's very well done.

And depending on how you want to define factions, Flames of War might count. Not perfect, but better I thought. Anyway, if a large number of factions automatically is the cause of unbalanced gameplay then maybe there shouldn't be that many factions. But that's a completely different discussion.

[althathir]

Bloodbowl. It is designed with different tiers so every team isn't equal (by design), but it's very well done.

And depending on how you want to define factions, Flames of War might count. Not perfect, but better I thought. Anyway, if a large number of factions automatically is the cause of unbalanced gameplay then maybe there shouldn't be that many factions. But that's a completely different discussion.

But bloodbowl is much more streamlined, and like you said every team is created equal.

As far as flames and Warmachine, I've always wondered to an extent if they're perceived to be more balanced because they don't have as large of a community (who also seem less prone to sky is falling moments than ours)

My main point, is that we expect a lot from 40k, and if they make a bad ruleset we should put the effort in to try and fix it.

[Panther Al]

But bloodbowl is much more streamlined, and like you said every team is created equal.

As far as flames and Warmachine, I've always wondered to an extent if they're perceived to be more balanced because they don't have as large of a community (who also seem less prone to sky is falling moments than ours)

My main point, is that we expect a lot from 40k, and if they make a bad ruleset we should put the effort in to try and fix it.

*chuckles* You haven't spent a lot of time with the FOW crowd. There always is a degree of 'sky is falling' moaning and groaning whenever a new list comes out. And there is always a new list. In Blitzkrieg alone there is 27 of them. But, they do a overall decent job of balancing the various factions, and the lists within the factions as well.

The other good thing they do is when they update the ruleset from 1 to 2, and then 2 to 3, they gave out free - full colour - copies of the full rulebook....

Hint hint GW...

[PostinDirty]

As far as flames and Warmachine, I've always wondered to an extent if they're perceived to be more balanced because they don't have as large of a community (who also seem less prone to sky is falling moments than ours).

i recommend you just give it a shot. it may not even be a case that the game is objectively better, it just suits the players better. I know I started it up after finally giving it a shot and reveling in what a joy it is to play. its not even a case of balance, just that even in most of the bad match ups you'll likely have a chance if you know what the heck you're doing (that is, with warmahordes in any case)

if 40k makes a step in that direction, i'd be very happy

[cornonthecob]

*chuckles* You haven't spent a lot of time with the FOW crowd. There always is a degree of 'sky is falling' moaning and groaning whenever a new list comes out. And there is always a new list. In Blitzkrieg alone there is 27 of them. But, they do a overall decent job of balancing the various factions, and the lists within the factions as well.

The other good thing they do is when they update the ruleset from 1 to 2, and then 2 to 3, they gave out free - full colour - copies of the full rulebook....

Hint hint GW...

Isn't that more to do with historical accuracy then anything else ?

WM/H is the one I dont get , i know they dont have as many factions but they have as many units and yet everything remains reasonably balanced , I then think why can't gw.

[SunTzu]

I know they dont have as many factions but they have as many units and yet everything remains reasonably balanced , I then think why can't gw.

It's not a question of "can't" (or at least, it isn't just that). It's a question of "won't".

You think anyone at GW thinks that Grey Knights are balanced with Tau? Or that Newcrons are the same power level as Oldcrons? Of course not, either suggestion is utterly ridiculous (obligatory "but my Tau beat a GK army once" anecdotes notwithstanding). GW know perfectly well that the books aren't balanced, and they don't care. They make their money from selling new stuff - and they make most money when that new stuff is obviously really high-powered. There was a thread a few days back showing that 25% of the armies at a recent tournament were GKs, but there was only 1 Tau army (out of 128 or so). Almost all of those GK armies would have been new - that's money in GW's pocket, and lots of it. The one lonely Tau player may not have bought any new models for his army in years, or maybe the occasional Devilfish or something. Who's the better customer as far as GW are concerned?

For reasons of gameplay, we gamers want well-balanced, carefully crafted armies with plentiful options each with different strengths and weaknesses. For reasons of making money, GW want... well, Mat Ward, basically. Every new army is the latest and greatest (some remain great longer than others!) but it drives sales of new products which is where they make their cash.

[Satan]

It's not a question of "can't" (or at least, it isn't just that). It's a question of "won't".

You think anyone at GW thinks that Grey Knights are balanced with Tau? Or that Newcrons are the same power level as Oldcrons? Of course not, either suggestion is utterly ridiculous (obligatory "but my Tau beat a GK army once" anecdotes notwithstanding). GW know perfectly well that the books aren't balanced, and they don't care. They make their money from selling new stuff - and they make most money when that new stuff is obviously really high-powered. There was a thread a few days back showing that 25% of the armies at a recent tournament were GKs, but there was only 1 Tau army (out of 128 or so). Almost all of those GK armies would have been new - that's money in GW's pocket, and lots of it. The one lonely Tau player may not have bought any new models for his army in years, or maybe the occasional Devilfish or something. Who's the better customer as far as GW are concerned?

For reasons of gameplay, we gamers want well-balanced, carefully crafted armies with plentiful options each with different strengths and weaknesses. For reasons of making money, GW want... well, Mat Ward, basically. Every new army is the latest and greatest (some remain great longer than others!) but it drives sales of new products which is where they make their cash.

Which is funny, because the trend in major digital games products is to attain good balance and competitiveness.

[philbrad2]

It seems there are some 40K releases scheduled for June, including the new rulebook, templates, dice and either markers or cards for psychic powers. Cheers to the birdy!

This is beginning to sound like 2ns ed Dark Millennium ... no complaints here !

PhilB

[MarikLaw]

Could be, or it could just be a picture on the spine. There might be something meaningful about it, but we don't know there is, so any mystery is for the time being whatever someone chooses to read into it.

So that means its still a mystery image. We all know its a Dark Angel, what we don't know is what it's going to lead up to (if anything). Plus, "mystery image" is a lot shorter than "the Dark Angel on the spines of the recent and upcoming White Dwarf books that exists for reasons beyond our current knowledge."

[Yabyahoo]

So that means its still a mystery image. We all know its a Dark Angel, what we don't know is what it's going to lead up to (if anything). Plus, "mystery image" is a lot shorter than "the Dark Angel on the spines of the recent and upcoming White Dwarf books that exists for reasons beyond our current knowledge."

Perhaps it'll go over from the first half of a 'loyal' Dark Angel, to his other half, being a fallen angel?

-Yab