2015 was flush with new armies and rules, but where should Games Workshop go from here? What Codex books should they release in 2016?
Obviously Squats are probably never coming back, BUT there is a ton of other great candidates for a new codex book in 2016. Let’s take a look:
Sisters of Battle Adepta Sororitas
Literally the red-headed stepchildren rules wise of 40k, GW doesn’t seem to know what the heck to do with a whole line of models that for the most part are nearly 20 years old. They haven’t had a dedicated place in the product mix since 2003, and until they get some new models they may never see a store shelf again.
However GW has been stepping up their supplement game as well in 2015, so it’s possible that even if they got another digital rules release they could have an impact on the 40k scene once again.
Chaos Space Marines
Supposedly the boogie men of the 40k universe, this book has been reduced to cultists and Dinobots since their last rules release. Very sad for every Veteran of the Long War out there. We can only hope that Games Workshop plans to put them on par with all the “good-guy” Space Marine rules out there when they return, hopefully in 2016.
PS Please give us Legion traits again, we’ve been very good for the last 13 years Games Workshop. We’d really like them back, please?
Imperial Guard Astra Militarum
Probably the “newest” of the armies on this list, the Guard probably could still use an update to 7th Edition as well.
Sure they got some love in the Mont’ka Supplement but overall they probably need a bit more to keep from being “just an ally” to the rest of Codex Imperials.
Blood Angels
The current red headed step children of the Space Marines, these guys got a really sub par set of rules that really rubbed a lot of fans the wrong way. A new rules set that would let everyone use all the models with Jump Packs that they know we have, along with something to set them apart from the other books, competitively would go a long war to fixing their current codex.
Here’s roughly the order in which the non Space Marine codex books have come out since the early 2000’s. Is this a pre-cursor to what we’ll see in 2016?
3rd Edition Rulebook – DE – BA -CSM – DA – Orks – Eldar – Guard – SW – Nids – Tau – Cron -CSM( 3.5 Edition) – Nids – Tau – Eldar – DA -CSM(4) – Orks – Guard – SW – Nids – BA – DE – Cron – CSM(6th) – DA – Tau – Eldar – Nids – Guard – Orks – SW – BA – Cron – Mech – Harlequins – Mech – Eldar – DA – Tau – 2016?
What do you think Games Workshop should update or re-release in 2016? Will we see a new army faction again this year, or just sequels to the existing lineup?
Do you want to believe?
The Real Truth About 40k’s Pre-Game: Long War Episode 31
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at the Las Vegas Open, each of which attracts thousands of players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the 2011 Adepticon 40k Team Tournament. He was even featured for his painting in issue #304 of Games Workshop’s White Dwarf Magazine.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
