Adeptus Titanicus: Titans or No Titans
Lots of people are getting excited about Adeptus Titanicus, but it sounds like GW is considering an unconventional starter box.
GW pulled the curtain back on the new Adeptus Titanicus at the recent Weekender in Nottingham. Attendees got to see gameplay mechanics, some mockup command cards, and get in a game with full sized 40K titans.
One of the big mysteries that came out of the event was differing reports of exactly what GW will be putting in the starter set.
Players came away with multiple stories.
- Some talk of a boxed set with rules, terrain and everything you need to play – minus the titans.
- Others said that GW is still undecided on exactly what should go into the boxed set.
- Forge World in any case will be selling the new Adeptus Titanicus titans themselves.
The TITAN SIZED Question
So my question to you is:
As players what would you want to see?
OPTION A: A cheaper boxed set that comes with everything you need to play except titans. Then you buy them separately.
OPTION B: A more expensive boxed set that comes with everything you need to play and titans.
Pros & Cons
We’ve seen GW use both models in the past. The entire Forge World Horus Heresy Line is purchased a la carte. There is no “starter set” for 30K gaming. On the other hand, all of GW’s recent boardgame franchises like Blood Bowl are boxed with everything you need to play, with extra expansions waiting in the wings. Way back in 1988, the original Adeptus Titanicus game came with 6 plastic Warlords and a bunch of buildings.
Personally I think that separate titans outside of a starter box is a grave mistake. One that will severely limit the growth of any game. The ability to walk into a store, buy a single box, go home, and get hobbying/playing is a potent force. The more separate steps you require of a gamer, in turn limits the adoption rate of game. Now of course the flipside of this is how “mainstream” of a game GW wants Adeptus Titanicus to be. If they think the game is super niche with no plans to ever make titans in plastic – then a la carte purchases will probably do the trick for it’s limited audience. Of course this would be a self-fulfilling prophesy.
If GW really wants to push Adeptus Titanicus into a big mainstream product, the core titans (Warlords, Reavers, Warhounds, Knights) MUST be plastic. Resin for all it’s quality will never ever go mainstream; it’s too fiddly and beyond the hobby skills of newcomers.
I do think the game has the legs to be a winner – it’s a game of giant robots fighting each other – with the universal appeal for sci-fi gamers. It’s also a game that would be a great gateway drug into 40K/30K – and everyone loves that.
So here we all wait. I for one want to see Adeptus Titanicus grow and become the next Blood Bowl, not the next Aeronautica Imperialis.
~What would you do if it was your decision? Place your bets folks.
