Here are all the reasons why you need (or don’t need) the new Warhammer 40k Forge World Compendium for your games of 9th Edition 40k.
Everyone was super excited when GW announced they were going to have the actual rules team write all the rules for Forge World. But now it looks like there are multiple reasons why you need or don’t need the giant book.
Let’s see how they affect your hobby.
This is Why You Need The Forge World 40k Compendium
Pro: Better Organization In the Book
With recent books making this change as well, the points cost of each model is at the end of each section. While everything being in one book can be good or bad depending on the lens you use, everything you need for a faction being in one place is nice. The compact nature of the compendium takes a no-BS approach keeping just what you need.
This means much less flipping through pages, which leads to faster games, and less time looking things up. VERY NICE!
Pro: Updated FW Chapters and Units
The new Compendium also brought new support like new marine chapter tactics for FW chapters such as Minotaurs, Red Scorpions, Carcharodons. Space Sharks and Minotaurs are pretty cool, so hopefully, them being updated might mean they will be getting a little support through Forgeworld going forward too.
With the units that did get updated, it suggests that they might get some extra support through FW, whether it’s Tau or Space Marines. The culling of extra units means the selection is more focused on FW and their goals of a lineup. Now there’s more room for models to help round it all out.
Pro: Digital Integration
As is common with the 9th edition books, we are getting Digital Integration with the 40k app included with this one. This is great because it takes down on the sheer weight of books you have to take, however, the app is still kinda rocky and could use some stability improvements before it’s widely accepted by customers.
Con: Physically a Large Book
The book is 224 pages long, making it even longer than the Space Marine Codex which was 208 pages (side con- the price will also be quite different between the two if we had to guess). This is a little minor, but when you are lugging in all your supplies to play a game of 40k, that pile is starting to get heavier and heavier. You’re already looking at a couple of lbs for your pile of books and the edition just started! The pile will only grow from here. That is unless you use the app…
On the bright side, you’ll get a free workout courtesy of GW whenever it’s time to play a couple of games at your LGS.
Con: It’s Impossible to Meet Expectations
This graphic was spotted on Twitter, and it hilarious.
First off, yes, a couple hundred models are no longer supported. But, what did we expect?
There isn’t really a realistic scenario where there is never a unit that stops being supported. Especially when our game is over 20 years old, with models at least that old still in circulation. Sure not every model is that old, but at the end of the day, things get cycled out. The time will come when your favorite model becomes an art piece instead of a game piece, at least as far as support is concerned.
But that doesn’t have to even be the end of it! There’s a whole world of possibilities with “counts as” models. Not to mention even bigger ways to use your favorite characters in your narrative campaigns like the newer Crusade mode and the like.
Con: Can’t Pick and Choose
Similarly to the size of the book, one book means one purchase no exceptions.
If you only have one Forge World model, it doesn’t matter you have to pick up the whole book. If you only play Xenos, you’ll still have to get the giant book with all the Imperium and Chaos units included too. There are no cutting corners to save some cash if you want a physical copy at an event.
Are you happy with the updated compendium? Are you upset about a model no longer being supported, if so which one?
Let us know in the comments of our Facebook Hobby Group, and make sure you enter the latest monthly giveaway for FREE today!
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.
