Goatboy’s Warhammer 40K: What Is the Best Army Box Format
GW has two types of new Warhammer 40K army boxes sets – but which one is the best?
What would you want for your army if they decided to come out with a new boxed set? It seems GW has two avenues when we have a new army release and while both are pretty neat and fun for players of the army – the question I have is which one would you rather have? A whole new part of your army or just more goodies to add to your battle ready group of lunatics.
The next three releases seem to range from the big pile of new stuff to just shoving a bunch of units into a box and hoping you need some of them. It is a weird option of releases and while both have their benefits – they seem to always leave some fans wanting. I know I personally kind of like them both, but for completely different reasons. It all seems to revolve around the thought of am I adding or making a new army.
The T’au Kroot Army Box Set – All New Stuff & Codex Option
The first type of release to talk about is seen in the upcoming T’au release. This is a fully new army type of release. It is updating a whole slew of new units on top of other units coming down the pipeline. This is a pretty robust release, and again, it is a pretty neat one if you want to really do an overhaul of your army or just want to try something new. The reason why I like these releases is usually they are part of an army faction that is already pretty filled out with units.
We know there is a ton of other T’au plastic already, so all of this stuff is basically new to add to your existing blue techies. Now, there isn’t a ton of new stuff for the T;au themselves – but it still gives you more stuff. On top of that, these types of release boxes usually stuff in a fancy new codex and, lately, your own armies game cards. It’s a pretty neat release, and if you are all in on getting Kroot stuff then it is perfect for you. If you don’t want any Kroot – well it just means you got to wait longer for your Codex to actually release.
This is the issue with this – while you get the codex, early a lot of events don’t let you use it, including the official GW events. I understand this because they believe the normal player won’t have access to the rules yet. Thus these boxed sets divide the player base into two camps with and without rules for a few months. It is frustrating, but thankfully, it seems GW is pushing out the standalone codex releases sooner than later and making these types of releases something to get people excited to purchase a basic combat patrol-like box with more goodies in it.
I like getting the rules early in these types of box sets. I like all the extra stuff that could come in like cards or dice. I also just like getting a chance to buy something from my local FLGS. It is just a fun splash release that feeds the plastic crack addiction a bit. It still can be frustrating as it normally doesn’t give you enough to play with all the toys and just gives a small taste of the faction.
The Dark Angels Army Box Set – New Character & A Starter Army Option
The other method is a bit interesting in the weird little bigger than combat patrol boxes, usually with a new single model and a ton of stuff that might be good for your army. If the cost is good then you usually get a unit or two free and a new character that might be good. They usually have something shoved in that isn’t really good or has shown up previously – such as the plain Terminators in the Dark Angels box above. Many times no codex is included in these types of sets.
The bonus of this is normally as a player you don’t really need it like the splash release with codex box. The codex normally comes separately, but launches at the same time. So for those players that just need the rules – you have the option of just getting the rules without a ton of models you might not need. It really depends on if this boxed set is actually good versus something that feels oddly out of place.
I like both options at times but it sometimes feels like the more important codex and new stuff feels special while the other one helps feeds the normal basic “competitive” player community.
What About Future Army Box Sets – CSMs?
All of these talks led me to discuss what I hope we will see with the CSM release that will come out in the future. Which one would I want?
Really, it depends on what they want to do with CSM. They have so many kits right now that adding something new feels like an issue. This means that instead of new I would rather see updated older kits that keep their rules and add a fancy new kit to the landscape of Chaos Space Marines. Things like a new Biker unit, a new Huron, or even just a combo Chaos Lord of some kind. This leads me to hope we have a hybrid-style setup box that is just a bunch of new updated models with an actual Codex release that isn’t shoved into a boxed set with fancy art.
Look I like fancy art but I also have a ton of Chaos Marine models right now sitting on sprue, halfway built, or just kinda painted. I really just want an updated Codex with cool rules and detachments that let me play the army in a new way. Or, at the very least, don’t leave me feeling sad as all my stuff is nerfed too hard into the ground.
What kind of boxed set would you want? What makes you excited to throw down your hard earned money onto new plastic crack?
