New editions, army books and faqs?

[lolplates]

Hey guys,

I was wondering how GW decide on changes between the editions and armybooks and FAQs. Do they gather data and feedback from various sources such as official tournies and direct feedback? Or is more of a seat of the pants jobby?
I wonder as sometimes there are direct nerfs and buffs between editions and iterations of codexs, armybooks and FAQs.

[Bunnahabhain]

We're not sure, but a dartboard, some dice, an infinite number of monkeys and much beer are involved....

[Deadnight]

Hey guys,

I was wondering how GW decide on changes between the editions and armybooks and FAQs. Do they gather data and feedback from various sources such as official tournies and direct feedback? Or is more of a seat of the pants jobby?
I wonder as sometimes there are direct nerfs and buffs between editions and iterations of codexs, armybooks and FAQs.

GWs attitude is partly based on feedback from their customers, typically by word of mouth. Also, they build their game based on a design philosophy from the studio (which isnt constant, as it can change from codex to codex) as well as from input from the sales division - where do they want to "push" the game next. In terms of "the game", a meta settles, and GW "break" that meta, usually by making what worked work less well, and making previously unviable builds workable. One can be cynical and argue that they're trying to sell stuff that didnt sell previously. :P

third ed. rhino rush. all armies were either based on rhino spam/ charging forward, or shoot the rhino rush. 4th "solved" rhino rush by preventing you from shooting after rapid firing, and by nerfing non-skimmer transport. this put the emphasis of the game on skimmer spam, and 6man las/plas. skimmer spam was broken, and transports were brought back in all their (unholy) glory for fifth as GW changed the emphasis again, and 40k became tankhammer. in game terms, GW dont necessarily "improve" their games, they "change" them.

[Vedar]

For example here is my prediction for CSM.

Daemon Princes\Obliterators because these units are good and people have them they will get nerferd, cost more points or both. The other sneaky trick is make them better and then cost them to the moon. People with lots of Daemon Princes or Oblits will cry (ref Tyranid Carnifex).

Troops. You will need lots of troops and since they cost like $50 a box now for 10, they will still want to make them pretty good to sell them. They will probably get better and\or cheaper in points.

Spawn\Possesed These units are the laughing stock of the CSM. Expect the rules for them to get better as few people own them and if they make the unit good everyone will want to buy them.

New units. This is where they make the $$$. If it looks cool, has cool rules and they make it points effective = GW gets phat $$$. Everyone will want one to own face. (Ref - Trygon).

[Kevlar]

For example here is my prediction for CSM.

Daemon Princes\Obliterators because these units are good and people have them they will get nerferd, cost more points or both. The other sneaky trick is make them better and then cost them to the moon. People with lots of Daemon Princes or Oblits will cry (ref Tyranid Carnifex).

Troops. You will need lots of troops and since they cost like $50 a box now for 10, they will still want to make them pretty good to sell them. They will probably get better and\or cheaper in points.

Spawn\Possesed These units are the laughing stock of the CSM. Expect the rules for them to get better as few people own them and if they make the unit good everyone will want to buy them.

New units. This is where they make the $$$. If it looks cool, has cool rules and they make it points effective = GW gets phat $$$. Everyone will want one to own face. (Ref - Trygon).

I agree with you on most points, but possessed I'm not so sure about. Even though everyone hates them and they are rubbish, sales are probably pretty good considering they are in the starter set.

[Konovalev]

I agree with you on most points, but possessed I'm not so sure about. Even though everyone hates them and they are rubbish, sales are probably pretty good considering they are in the starter set.

They also make good for converions. The unit is trash, but the kit is pretty good.

[Grocklock]

For example here is my prediction for CSM.

Daemon Princes\Obliterators because these units are good and people have them they will get nerferd, cost more points or both. The other sneaky trick is make them better and then cost them to the moon. People with lots of Daemon Princes or Oblits will cry (ref Tyranid Carnifex).

Troops. You will need lots of troops and since they cost like $50 a box now for 10, they will still want to make them pretty good to sell them. They will probably get better and\or cheaper in points.

Spawn\Possesed These units are the laughing stock of the CSM. Expect the rules for them to get better as few people own them and if they make the unit good everyone will want to buy them.

New units. This is where they make the $$$. If it looks cool, has cool rules and they make it points effective = GW gets phat $$$. Everyone will want one to own face. (Ref - Trygon).

The thing is there is nothing wrong with this model, if you want to play the game you have to buy the models other wise GW don't make product. They don't even chage you to play in there stores. so really to change the way an army works so that you buy different models makes sense.

As to the way Gw writes its rules or decides on a codexs faq. I think the problem lyes with assumptions, If people don't know then they will make it up. Then again if you look at 8th edition and the work tehy have done there, it is alot better, then the work they have done on 40k. I would say lets wait for 6th edition, I think we will could well be happily supprosed.

[Konovalev]

They don't even charge you to play in their stores.

That's an important point that I think some of us who prefer to play not in GW stores might forget. GW is providing a free service with that. There's no admission fee, no buy to play, they're banking on impulse, and ease of access buys since we're surrounded by product. If 40k was just a game, they could get away with concurrent updates, but they're trying to peddle models to and there's logistics as well as consumer buying patterns they have to take into account.