Do you want transparent development of new releases and rules for Warhammer 40k? Games Workshop is doing it with Sisters of Battle, why not everything else?
Recently, we’ve seen GW be very communicative with their in-progress updates on the Sisters of Battle. It got us thinking that every faction and new 40k rules supplement would benefit from this treatment as well.
Video game companies, collectibles manufacturers, and other miniature makers already do it. So in 2019 why is GW not more transparent with thier rules and new faction development besides what they are doing for the Sisters? Tons of new rules and factions were rolled out for Warhammer 40k in between the announcement of new Sisters, so what gives?
Truth is we may already be seeing this idea spread partially to at least one 40k faction with the recent 80 days of Chaos hype, but will it last? Let’s start with the latest on the Sisters:
Battle Sisters Bulletin
After GW announced their comeback, to make sure they’re doing everything the community wants, they’ve been making routine announcements on the faction’s progress.
Warhammer Community rolled out the Battle Sister Bulletin to post continual progress on the rules and models even after they released their beta codex in Chapter Approved 2018.
Sisters Warlord Traits from Chapter Approved
It’s safe to say the Sisters are getting special treatment by the GW team. But, why does it have to be locked into one faction?
Is Transparency on Every Faction & Rules A Good Idea?
If GW decided to be as upfront and transparent with other factions as they were with the Sisters, the game could be a lot more balanced. It’s annoying right after a codex drops to see an FAQ changing key things in the book. You just paid good money for it and now some things are obsolete. These changes could be avoidable if they released a beta codex in advance and let players give feedback. Sure they have their playtesters, but is that a good enough sampling of their actual consumer base?
Look at the Plan Generations in the Making Stratagem for Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor. It’s a perfect example of a crucial Stratagem getting changed almost immediately after the GSC codex dropped.
On top of that, it’s just free hype generation! Everyone would be looking closely at the faction as progress happens. The way things are unfolding now, everyone just waits in the dark only to realize the codex wasn’t what they thought it would be. The players end up frustrated because they have to wait for the “new book cycle” again.
We can potentially look to the success (or failure) of the Shadowspear release to see if 80 days of Chaos hype will be enough to sell the box with what some are saying are full of over pointed models for the renegades.
Do you think GW should give all factions the same treatment as the Sisters are getting now? What changes would you like to see in your army now? Let us know in the comments of our Facebook Hobby Group.
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.
