So...6th Edition 40k, huh? Like next week, apparently, or sumpthin.'
Or if not next week, soon, cuz the rumors were that they were pulling 5th Edition off the shelves, and they have. I'm unsure of the exact scheduling, but I'm sure I'll hear rumors soon.
So...rumors, huh?
Rumors, speculation, hopes and wishes. The 500 pound gorilla of the mini gaming scene is returning, but what shape will the beloved, venerable beast be in when it arrives?
Yes, I said beloved, because I'd be lying if I said I didn't love the Grimdark.
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| *The one pointing is like, 'I hope that's not a Grey Knight!'* |
I figure it's good time to discuss Games Workshop, and share some of my thoughts regarding 40k, and the impending Edition change. The mini gaming scene has had a lil' shift since GW released 5th Edition, that's for sure, and 6th Edition will get dropped into a pretty crowded marketplace. It will also be scrutinized, and compared against not only the prior Edition, but against it's competitors.
5th Edition 40k hit shelves in 2008, and had a pretty successful run, without a doubt.
Privateer Press released the MkII version of their flagship games in 2010, and Warmachine and Hordes have grown to the point where it's safe to say 40k is no longer the only game in town. In fact, at this point there are so many mini games out there to choose from, it's bewildering.
Another new game hit town recently, in fact, and this particular game came out swinging.
It's called Dust Warfare.
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| *The new hotness?* |
What makes this game a seemingly instant competitor is it's pedigree. First off, it's produced by Fantasy Flight, a respected name in the hobby biz. Secondly, as it says right on the cover of the core rulebook, Dust Warfare is 'a miniatures game by Andy Chambers.'
Prominently featuring the name of a well-known former member of the Games Workshop staff on your new product, which happens to be in direct competition with theirs, is what I would define as 'coming out swinging.'
The models are lovely, come pre-primed, and they're inexpensive to boot. The Medium Panzer Walker kit, which makes three variants and is larger than a 40k Dreadnaught costs about 25 US dollars, for example.
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| *It's also pretty sexy* |
When you price your kits like this, and launch your product just prior to Games Workshop's (not so beloved) yearly price increase, I would also consider that 'coming out swinging.'
Fantasy Flight dropped a very large, impressive hat into the ring with Dust Warfare, I think.
Games Workshop faced no credible threats when 40k 5th Edition released, but clearly that's not the case now.
Besides Dust Warfare and the Privateer Press games, there's Malifaux, Flames of War, Infinity, Heavy Gear, Battletech, Dystopian Wars and Firestorm Armada from Spartan Games, newcomers like Freebooter's Fate and Bushido, and even possible 'future contenders' to consider, like Sedition Wars from Studio McVey, and Maelstrom's Banelegions.
I'll add Mantic to that list of names, because with the release of the new Veer-myn for Warpath, it seems like Alessio and company are ready to stop making just GW proxy models, and they might get serious about this whole thing.
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| *Ok, so maybe they're Space Skaven, but hey, it's sorta different...for Mantic* |
So, yeah- the current mini-gaming scene is slightly more crowded than in 2008. Back then, Rackham games was...well, you know what happened with Rackham around that time. Games Workshop stood head and shoulders above the rest.
I don't think GW has to worry about 40k ever going away, even if this particular Edition is disliked. Popular game franchises, especially ones as long-lived as GW's, may fade away for a bit, but the names themselves carry value, and can be marketed in a variety of ways.
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| *Like video games, for instance* |
As far as their actual mini games are concerned, it's hard not to take GW's recent track record into consideration, quite honestly. This goes beyond the usual gripes regarding Finecast, the (not so beloved) yearly price increases, and whatnot.
No, I'm referring to their last two actual game releases- Dread Fleet, and Fantasy 8th Edition. I don't believe that we need to discuss Dread Fleet at all, but Fantasy is another matter altogether.
I've talked with many long time Fantasy players, and the most positive thing I've heard is that 8th Edition 'fixed the Daemon problem,' and that the new Army books are going about the process of 'restoring balance,' one army at a time.
Oh, except Beastmen. They're unfixable, apparently.
It's clear to anyone with eyes that 8th is an unpopular Edition of the game, however. Whether or not this bodes ill for 6th Edition 40k depends on whether or not GW learned anything from the semi-debacle that happened with Fantasy, I suppose.
I thought it would be important for this series to reflect upon where GW has been, before we discuss where they may or may not be going, and whatever crazy conspiracy theory nonsense that may or may not involve.
;)
I also thought I should maybe get someone who A) knows what they're talking about (that excludes me. Sigh), and B) has an longstanding history with Warhammer Fantasy and GW in general (you can check his street creds here).
So without further ado, here's Frontline Gamer, who fills us in on GW's history, including all of the Edition changes.
GW founded in 1975 - Initially made regular boards for games like chess, backgammon etc.
GW got rights to distribute D&D in 1976 - This became their strategy for the business, acquire exclusive distribution rights for other people's products. They were a mail order company.
GW first published White Dwarf in 1977 - This was a name change from the Owl and Weasel newsletter they used to distribute.
GW opened first retail store in 1978 - The store was based in Hammersmith, London.
GW provided the capital to found Citadel Miniatures 1979 - Bryan Ansell was to produce Ral Partha miniatures under license, as well as their own product. They weren't (at this point) tied to GW only stuff.
GW published 1st Edition of Warhammer Fantasy Battle in 1983 - The game came in a box set and contained 3 books for playing battles with fantasy miniatures. The mechanics borrowed heavily from certain RPGs of the time and had little to no background. It was, however, very successful and received a lot of critical acclaim.
GW published the 2nd Edition of WFB only a year later in 1984 - These rules were primarily an update to the original rules and tidied some things up a bit. It is however where the Warhammer world made it's first appearance. It was even more popular than the first edition.
GW ceased distribution of product in USA through Hobby Games Distributors in 1984 - They opened Games Workshop USA.
GW released the first edition of Blood Bowl in 1986 - It has been through many iterations but is arguably their most successful specialist game.
GW released 3rd edition WFB in 1987 - Perhaps the most complex and in-depth version of WFB ever. It included far more detailed movement rules, amongst many other things.
GW release Rogue Trader (40k 1st Edition) in 1987 - It was more of a RPG than a strict wargame. It did prove highly popular, although many thought it was the setting rather than the jumbled mess of a game itself. The rulebook wasn't easy to navigate, making games very difficult to play.
GW purchased by management buyout in 1991 - The rise of Tom Kirby. Although many bemoan the man, most wouldn't be in 'the hobby' now if it wasn't for the change in direction he brought to the company, focusing more on teenagers and kids.
GW released 4th Edition WFB 1992 - Although it shared it's name with 3rd Edition, it was a much more streamlined product and was a far simpler game. Games Workshops also began their trend for 'starter kits' for all their wargames. It also saw the introduction of Army Books.
GW brought out Marauder Miniatures in 1993 - Only one company now left to produce official Games Workshop products.
GW released 2nd Edition 40k, dropping the Rogue Trader monicker, in 1993 - Following on from 4th Edition WFB's lead, 2nd Ed 40k came with a boxed set. The game is often fondly remembered, but like Rogue Trader before it, the game was too complex in many respects and took too long to play. Games often ended with no real conclusion. The system wasn't designed to handle massed combat, although it was a significant step up on Rogue Trader. This is the edition that introduced Codices.
GW were floated on London Stock Exchange in 1994 - Unsurprisingly this raised a substantial amount of capital at the time, but also started what many see as a slippery slope towards looking after shareholders interests at the expense of producing products customers wanted.
GW release 5th Edition WFB in 1996 - Contining the trend set by 4th Edition for simplification of the rules. Is often referred to as 'Herohammer,' and is the first edition to feature what we now know as 'Codex Creep.'
GW moved their headquarters to Lenton Lane in 1997, cementing their place as the biggest wargames company in the world.
GW released 3rd Edition 40k shortly after their move to Lenton Lane - 3rd Edition was the first version of 40k significantly streamlined to allow a larger scale game to be completed in a reasonable time frame. The Dark Eldar, Tau and Necrons were introduced, and it was this edition that is commonly attributed with breaking the game in the USA.
GW launched the LotR game in 2000 to coincide with the theatrical releases - Could be seen as a golden time for GW, or a potential future problem. The sales boost from LotR was artificial and unsustainable. It also led to them sidelining WFB for a number of years, the damage is still yet to be repaired today.
GW released 6th Edition WFB in 2000 - Given the mess that had been created by Herohammer, early 6th Edition set about trying to redress the balance with Ravening Hordes effectively zeroing all the armies. It's one of the most fondly remembered versions of WFB for this reason, although there was some Codex Creep.
GW release 4th Edition 40k in 2004 - 4th Edition 40k actually featured hardly any notable changes over 3rd edition. Like the transition from 4th to 5th edition fantasy this was the beginning of the iterative type of development in GW's core games.
GW release 7th edition WFB in 2006 - It's actually the second most popular version of the game, right behind 4th Edition, in terms of sales. Mechanically, as a core set of rules, it is arguably the best version of the game they've created... sadly, Codex Creep reared it's ugly head again, in the form of Chaos Daemons and Dark Elves.
GW release 5th Edition 40k in 2008 - Still GW's most popular release. 5th edition 40k further streamlined some areas of the rules such as tanks, but also brought back some of the more tactical and in-depth rules that were lost in the transition from 2nd to 3rd edition.
GW release 8th Edition WFB 2010 - Angels cry, wargamers get angry and morons buy buckets for their dice. The bastard thalidomide child of Fantasy is born.
So there ya go, folks. That's where GW has been. We know what the mini gaming scene looks like now, but where do we think 6th Edition 40k is going?
Stay tuned, that's what we'll be discussing in part two, which will feature the House of Paincakes very own Loquacious.
Until next time, folks- Exit with catchphrase!
-SinSynn
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