Sleboda

It takes up factory production time. How much more AoS or Cursed City or whatever else could be pressed if they were not spending effort and time on LotR? How much more profitable could the bottom line be (and thus more value to my stock) if this extra team of folks didn't take up salary budget? (Note: not wishing unemployment on anyone - just looking at the raw numbers of it). It eats up shelf space in stores. This could hold more stock for mainline product or perhaps allow for smaller stores with less expensive rent and utilities. This would also increase profits and shareholder value. Perhaps worst of all, it forces store staff to learn the system, teach it, and otherwise divert away from time and effort that could be put into teaching new folks AoS. I already know managers who are heavy 40K or heavy AoS and have to really psyche themselves up to be enthused teaching the other to customers or talking with them about it. Throw in LotR and you are looking at staff who aren't as good at recruiting as they could be. There is an impact. But again, more power to those who love it. I just don't. I have painted dozens of the models and played the game a bit. I really didn't like the rules at all. Just my opinion. I liked it more than the misery that was Warmaster, but not by much. "Oh look, it's Aragorn ... again. Ugh." It really wasn't fun at all for me. Also, FWIW, I can't recall ever seeing a pick up game of it being played at any store. Ever. Event participation is pretty tiny as well compared to 40K or even AoS/WFB. It really doesn't appear to be popular at all, comparatively. I really do think the only reason they keep it alive is just to keep the license away from other companies.

Not literally Stormcast, no. Resources are finite. People, time, money, and so on. I know that plenty of folks like the LotR stuff from GW. I don't hate it or anything, nor do I think those who love it are somehow wrong to do so. I just think that the resources of GW could make more stuff I like if they didn't get used on LotR. Purely a personal want, not a judgment of the views of others. So, for me, news that more LotR may be coming is a disappointment. I also want Gotrek to just go away already. Not a popular opinion, sure, but it is the one I hold.

Bummer. Every time a LotR sculpt gets made, a Stormcast doesn't get his wings.

I'll ask be taking decent sized units and "ranking" them up. 🤷‍♂️

I suspect we're finally, mercifully, nearing the end of GW's Lord of the Rings license. I get that they almost had to take it on to prevent another manufacturer from capitalizing on the excitement of the films all those years ago, but it makes no sense to me to have two fantasy skirmish games competing for the same dollars with the same company. And now we get Kruleboyz, which feel to me like "hey, some of you found this hobby through our LotR game, and with that going away, we think you'll stay with us by getting these models that reeeeally look like the models from our LotR range."

FWIW, I really like the coherency rule. It's going to make units look more like actual regiments instead of strung out collections of rabble. Anything that encourages AoS forces to look more like armies is a plus in my book. At this point, I'm assuming the recent 28mm bases will soon replace 25mm bases, forcing another rebasing wave and eliminating line formations for even the units that used to be on 25mm bases.

Sure they do, but that sort of speaks to my point of using tactics and the fun of figuring out the puzzle.

Couldn't we just use, man what's the name for it again, um, tactics - yes, tactics! - to handle it? In all seriousness, you can do it once per turn. So send in sacrificial units first, tie up the nasty shooters, turn engage with the good stuff. I know it's not a sure fire thing, and that not all armies have throw away troops, but many do, and those that don't can look for other answers. The game presents us with challenges and puzzles, and part of the fun is answering them and figuring out solutions.

Yeah, they also tend to lean toward negative commentary and use click bait to get traffic. Not as bad as the cringeworthy Bell of Lost Importance, but still not exactly a friendly site for fans.

Were the WQ ones ever actually in AoS?

Have the done this to anything from AoS, or just older Warhammer Fantasy armies?

FWIW, when I was a playtester way back in old Warhammer days, we worked hard as heck to abuse the rules and find cracks. Also, I know a few of the current testers, and these guys are not scrubs. They know how to break a system, and I'm willing to bet (true to their NDAs, they tell me nothing) they try like the dickens to do so.

This, combined with the blazing speed at which Battletomes are being replaced by newer versions over all in AoS, would be the reason for any hesitation I may have had. I mean, really, essentially junking books only a few years after selling them (digital or physical) is not great for consumer confidence. That said, I did opt to jump in and get the new stuff. I like AoS and this is the new version, so I'm in. I'll continue to watch for how quickly books get replaced (and likely will greatly reduce the number of warscroll cards and limited edition Battletomes I buy), but if the product stays high quality, I'll keep getting it. I happen to think that the reason the box hasn't sold out it's pretty simple - they made enough.

Agreed. I'm really looking forward to using this vital, key design element with my Bonereapers. Oh. Wait.

Orrrrr ... just someone who really, really gets off on attention.

Thank you for accurately calling them battletomes. Edit: To avoid confusion - I hate, hate, hate when people call the book a Codex. That's 40K. AoS has Battletomes. If folks want a generic, use "book." I was just commending you for your accuracy.

Ah. Got it. Thanks. I can deal with that. Guess it's been a while!

Assuming the hosts don't put me off with bad attitudes, rules mistakes, or assumptions that every viewer is a long-term player, I like having them on in the background when I hobby. I can pick up a new tactic or idea here and there, learn an application of a rule I didn't know, or just get inspired to paint more terrain. That's about it for me. If the GW versions lean into the teaching of rules more than the indies do, I'll pay much, much closer attention.

If they don't take a new Warclans book as an opportunity to release Foot of Gork as an endless spell, they're nuts. That spell surely seems like the original endless spell to me. I want a giant, glowing, disembodied foot floating around on my tables!

I'm already a 40K app subscriber, and new models are cool, so I'm pretty much in automatically at this price. If they increase much more, not so much. A few key factors for me: - The painting videos must end the "lies" (exaggerating/tongue in cheek) of the paint guides in books, in articles, and on boxes. I mean, really, listing a few colors and following the methods of the underpants gnomes just doesn't cut it. I want hyper-detailed, multiple camera, no-excuses-or-short-cuts videos. That red on that guy is no freakin' way just "mephiston, wash crimson, edge orange." It's 17 layers, several techniques, drying times, brush sizes, etc. Give me the real story. I'm an accomplished painter (losing my skills as I age, but won my share of awards and got published enough in my younger days), but I've always believed that there is more to learn. Teach me. - Battle reports must offer more than YouTubers in terms of not only production quality and listenability of on screen talent (for example, don't use slang and don't use abbreviations like "CP" without establishing what that means first, ala AP style - each viewer could be new to the hobby!), but also in terms of accurate application if rules. Further, they have got to use them to teach the rules. Each game could take a rule or two to highlight. As it's played, have breakouts with highly detailed explanations of why a choice was made based on the rules, and how that rule works. In other words, get the rules right and teach players to do so as well. - Lastly, "access" to old lore and magazines. If "access" means I can pay more on top of my subscription for these things, hard pass. I'm not buying the equivalent of a Personal Seat License for products that don't have scarcity.

******. I didn't notice that. Showing my long gap between games here, but does that mean I can't use them in Stalliarch armies at all?

I guess you don't read many of my posts (understandable! Lol.). Then again, you say I consistently shill for them, so I guess that implies you do read them? Anyway, no, I no longer work for them. I did for almost 12 years back in the 90's and early 2000's, but that ended somewhat bitterly. It took me a while to get over that. I also was a playtester back in 6th (7th?), even got my name in the book and several Army Books. That ended, too, much to my chagrin. If there's one thing I do consistently when talking about GW it's present a fair view (edit: I will acknowledge that some emotion - good and bad - creeps in now and then). Even beyond GW, I've always believed in listening to alternate views, seeing other perspectives, etc. Sure, I have some nigh-unshakable views (NMM has almost zero place in painting 3D objects, for example), but there's an idea I pretty much live by: "Have an opinion on everything. Be prepared to change it when persuaded by new info, but start with an opinion on everything." Often my views on GW are supportive. This is due in part to my time there, but it's more due to understanding marketing, believing in IP and other businesses rights, hating piracy in all its forms, and understanding that they sell a hobby as opposed to food, clothing, or shelter. I do have my (often voiced) criticisms of them, including a number of pricing and product decisions. In fact, I've had temp bans and warning points here, likely due in part to being aggressively critical of GW. And that brings me to the last point. The rules of this forum very heavily lean into presenting positive takes on the hobby, and since we choose to participate in a private forum knowing these rules going in, I try to operate within that spirit.

I definitely support offering both. I know that just for me, I'd likely be out of the hobby if I could not get physical books. Screens have far, far too many issues compared to books for me. But I get that some folks want digital options.

I just read the warscroll for Mir Kainan. I don't normally include Underworlds warbands in my AoS armies, but he really seems like a great addition. Is it just me? Has anyone tried him out?

I mean no offense to anyone in that situation with this take: While inclusion is always appreciated, and looking out for others is a laudable societal trait, it makes very little business sense to choose a path that tries to accommodate what is assuredly a miniscule segment of your potential customer base at the expense of a course that would generate what that business believes to be significant income from the vast majority of the customer base. We see this all the time in society, both in terms of business and just regular social interaction. Even in medicine. Not to make this too much of a downer, but my grandfather, a decorated part of the Greatest Generation, a conservation officer, business owner, and all around loving, intelligent, and kind man died from an extremely rare brain disease. There is almost no research done into combatting this disease because it is so rare and resources are limited - resources that go into curing ailments that aflict many, many more people. It tore me up that he died from this ... but the medical community was and is right to not work on the disease that killed him. To put it in more geek-centric terms, "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one." GW is right, and indeed has a legal responsibility to its shareholders, to focus on the majority with their plans rather than hamper those plans to accommodate just a few.