It seems like a lot of things are stacked against 9th Edition 40k given the present situation we’re in and the way GW rolled out the edition.
9th Edition is out and don’t get us wrong, it’s always exciting to pick up a game with a new rules overhaul. However, from the current situation we’re all in as hobbyists, it seems like 40k (and any tabletop-related game) is in a bit of a rut right now.
This is Why 9th Edition 40k is an Uphill Battle Right Now
It seems like from talking with and reading hobbyist posts in the community, a large number of them seem to be in a rut these days. Why, well there seems to be quite a few things stacked up against 9th Edition already even with it being a brand new overhaul to a game we know and love.
Let’s rapid-fire through some of these things that are quenching some people’s flames for the hobby.
- Indomitus Box Set Release Emotional Roller-Coaster
- Impending rules updates via codex
- Multiple FAQs just weeks after the new Edition
- Lack of miniature supply (kits are skyrocketing in price on the secondary market)
- Social Distancing means we can’t play with our toys like we used to
- The 40k app is like watching a dumpster fire drift downstream in a flood.
Okay maybe that last one is a little heavy-handed but you get the idea.
Unpacking The Causes of the Rut
These are just a few of the things stacked against 9th. Going a bit deeper, look at the FAQs. The 2020 Chapter Approved was supposed to fix points discrepancies right as the new Edition booted up. However, just days after that released, we saw multiple FAQs surfacing adjusting points and wording here and there. Techincally even the main rulebook is not out of date with FAQ updates as well.
On the plus side, GW has been super fast to update and change things as of late so that hobbyists could use the new edition properly!
But with GW continually hyping up their app, from some perspectives it has more or less just turned into a game of how long they can keep people subscribed while promising a brighter future. From all the hobbyists we polled, most people were teased so long just to have a big let-down, and have moved right back to Battlescribe (even though they have had some challenging moments as of late too)…
As far as social distancing goes, most stores are closed to the idea of letting gamers stand in their stores for hours on end. That means that even though new rules and kits are coming out, you can’t really enjoy them like you want to.
Finally, the supply disruptions caused by the global crisis have left more of a demand for what’s in stock. Things are selling out faster than ever before and it’s taking even longer for kits to turn back up on GW’s webstore (which has historically already taken way longer than it should). We’re also seeing prices skyrocket on the secondary market with people selling those sought after kits for jacked-up price tags.
While all of this is, for the most part, temporary, we hope you’re making good progress on those armies and looking toward getting back to the tabletops soon! Keep reaching for those goals, and hobby your way until we can all hit the tabletops again!
What do you think about 9th Edition? Are you in a hobby rut as well? Have you picked up any new hobbies lately?
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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 Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 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 Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
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.
