40K Deep Thought: GW Discovers “Next Step” Past Codexes
The fans have been clamoring for years for the game to open up with rules for thier favorite army. GW just discovered the answer:
The People Cry Out for Change
For years now 40K fans and player have been begging GW to give them rules for their favorite armies. Does any of this sound familiar?
I need Chaos Legion Rules?
Where are the rules for Iyanden Craftworld?
I want Cult of Speed back!
Next note that we may now be living in a “post codex world” for 40K for the time being. Remember last year when the old rumormongers were saying that GW was envisioning not updating codexes any time soon? The last “official” codex update was Tau Empire in November. Yes you heard that right it’s been 5 months for the gamesystem that literally keeps GW afloat since any codex was updated.
But then we got this most interesting gem:
A Portent of Things to Come?
I want you to put aside what this book seems to be. On the surface it is a tome about the mighty Space Marines that pulled from the previous Sentinels of Terra, Clan Raukann, Kau’Yon and Mont,ka. I want you look deeper and see what this book represents:
Simply put Angels of Death is a viable blueprint for a post-codex product line for GW.
Envision taking Angels of Death and pulling it back into the Adobe inDesign master project file and pull out everything that is related to Space Marines. So you keep the page numbers, templates for background “decurions” wargear, warlord traits, 2-3 new units in the middle, and a section of new rules at the very back (psychic cards or something else).
Ok, got that?
Now go through every big race out there and drop them into this blank format and look at what you get:
Chaos Space Marines
You end up with a book covering 5 major sub sects. I would do the Cult Legions, but there are many viable candidates. Argue amongst yourselves…
Craftworld Eldar
You cover 5 major craftworlds in a modern version of the old 1991 “Craftworld Eldar” book (I’ll pass on the Alaitoc Ranger table please)
Orks
You get a book covering all the major Ork Clans, something that has been ignored for decades.
Dark Eldar
Cover 5 major Kabals and their differing ways of war.
Necrons
I’ll take 5 dynasties please…
Tyranids
I bet there are 5 deserving Hive Fleets out there who could use specialized rules.
On and on it goes, but I think you get the point. At 128pp and $33 for a softcover any of these would instantly become a must-own and be bought by the ENTIRE 40K playerbase.
Such a product line could be stretched out for over a year, with no core codex updates at all. Think about what the game could look like on the other side. There would be some army out there for everyone no matter what they played – and everyone would feel like they got thier very own “decurion” and set of special rules – written just for them.
I’d sign up for that series of products in a heartbeat. The real question is what armies should get their books first?
~We can only hope the GW understands the diamond in the rough they just kicked out the door and how much it could revitalize the game.
