40k CODEXES ARE POINTLESS... But don't have to be...

[@saarlann]

100 % spot on analysis. We need free digital rules, and Lore Codexes for the new hobbyists and collectors. And all Codex rules should be released at the same time.

[@hobbywitholi]

With you on everything except the rules release thing, I think staggering the release of rules (maybe bundling faction rules to coincide with a narrative event) would be more realistic for GW. Having said that, I think they also need editions to run a bit longer, World Eaters and Guard barely existed for 9th Edition.

[@Dante_Inferno]

Don't expect them to change. Only a negative change to their bottom line will cause any change in Games Workshop's behavior.

[@S.A.S.H.]

Seems, after observing GW for 31 years, that you are correct.

[@freeRadioArmageddon]

I've said encouraging a flash mob like sales of Warhammer munchkin would send a message. 😅

[@timunderbakke8756]

Not just a change, but a massive one

[@timkline162]

I like having codexes and army books because they're fun to collect, but personally I would rather armies had their own lore books, but the rules are all available online so that as the game changes all you do is update the rules online and everything is up to date

[@blissfulbadger]

I love collecting and playing. Lore, art, and 'shopping list' are all useful in a codex. When I think about all of the armies I collect, and figure $60USD for each book (for a code I also need a subscription to use), and only for them to last 2-3 years (IF I'M LUCKY), I realize I'd rather another box of models, or paints, or a pizza every 4 days! I do enjoy picking up previous editions of codices, though! When I'm playing and need to reference Wahapedia to double-check my opponent doesn't actually get a 12" move with their Genestealers, that breaks the gaming experience.

[@hobbywitholi]

You had me at pizza Badger... 😉

[@ScreamingTc]

I sat here for a second trying to work out what type of insane lifeform a pizza badger was. 😂

[@blissfulbadger]

@@ScreamingTc A 🦡that really loves 🍕

[@DominatorLegend]

Good thing Wahapedia exists, but yeah, the codexes have gone the way of the gutter. I recently unearthed some of the 3rd Ed codexes, including the Armageddon one, and oh my god they were so much fun to read, so fresh.

[@StuArtGo2]

I’m m shocked they don’t just sale us the book in app. They have to do almost literally nothing, just collect. If I could buy my rules in app (no book) I’d pay $5 to $10 for that!

[@Premier2925]

Good video. I agree, as i have 5 armys right now, a codex for them all, not even specal edition is 175, and thats not including sublements for BA. I am at the point id rather pick one or two and spend the other codex money on some new models.

[@MH-kv1ty]

bruv spot on. Got all codexes from 8th n 9th plus all narrative- with the prices soaring i decided to complete the collection n opt out on 10th... then they use thesame bloody covers lol and put up the price... age of books is over unfortunately. The books are now are as u put it "an inspirational overload"... love the lore too!

[@UntiltedName]

The majority of these reasons are why I bowed out of 10th ed. They even doubled down on print media with the index cards that were obsolete upon release. When the new app went behind a paywall, I just went back to Heresy.

[@timunderbakke8756]

The fact that this is a good idea is the proof that GW will never do it. After experiencing the alternative in the form of the indexes on the app, I flatly refuse to purchase any codex and will source my rules how I need to.

[@skrumpf6793]

Everything was so nice for the short index time

[@mischa3726]

turn codexes into lore books as you said turn app into subscription model (makes more than selling 1 codex after 8 months of subscription anyway) with all rules for free, instead of dropping each army at once, release 1 detachment for each army every 6 months. keeping rules online makes it easy to balance and update them still sell datacards for max profits as you can issue new ones if rules do change pretty sure they'd save on overproduction of codexes, lore books would be relevant even 20 years from now so retain value and they make more money cause the whole player base would be subscribing and paying per month + they'd have mass amount of data on where there player base is and what rules/armies they are looking up / when etc. etc.

[@Tharosthegreat]

Yes.. Agree... What they should do is to have all the digital codexes free with Warhammer+ Or digital only... I have 12 armies, Its a HUGE investment on, like u say..., books i just put on a shelf. I want the code, i am not a "fluff" person at all.

[@ScreamingTc]

It's facepalm worthy that GW positions itself as a bespoke miniatures company but promptly cuts corners wherever it can. Whilst the digital art probably saves time, it is too...safe? Too clean. It doesn't do enough to inspire. Here's how GW rescues the codexes: 1) Tear the unit stats out and put them up, online for free. As much as codexes earn money, needing to pay £35 every three years is a speed bump that isn't needed. Allow people to print out up to date unit cards out for themselves, and this constant problem of codex invalidation is removed. 2) Turn the codexes into bespoke, collectors items the flesh out the lore of the chapters/factions. The recent(ish) 'First Founding', the older 'The Sabbat Worlds Crusade' lore books, and the original Horus Heresy 'Black Books' show that GW is more than capable of this if they take their time. Do deep dives into founding chapters. Flesh out Necron society. Collect together all the snippets of Ork biology released over the years. Give us hand drawn black and white art work, alongside beautiful double-page set pieces. Make them into works of art that make people want to pay top dollar for them. Give successor chapters their due by giving them more than quatre of a page to explain to us why we should love them. 3) Treat the 40K Universe as a living thing. Release new Codexes when the plot moves along enough to justify it. When there's specific in-lore settings that deserves exploring (There's a reason why the Badab War is still highly discussed to this day). Could you imagine a whole in-universe treatise of the Devastation of Baal? A reflection upon the major engagements, complete with maps, the units involved, and out-comes. Gah, GW! Stop chasing short term quaterlies and grow the fandom for long term sustainability. Anyhow, I'm going to get down off of my soap box and pass he mic over to Bob, now...

[@KokNoker]

Sadly, they're an antiquated material meant for antiquated people such as myself. I don't even know how you could make a codex more relevant when the app, data cards, and wikis exist. The only thing I would mention that is relevant to the discussion is that I kept the Raven Guard supplement from 8th because it gave me details on company structure and markings that just aren't easily found in wikis.

[@rosscarson5788]

If it was me and I still wanted to "make money", I would put all the rules on the App behind Warhammer + (together with the rest of the conetent it becomes more palatable). In addition I would still release the codex with the code so without a Warhammer + model you still unlock your army in the app. I appreciate there are still some who don't want everything on a mobile device and want the book, but more and more the Codex should move towards being the story continuation for each factor and less the out of date rules. I would continue to buy the Aeldari Codex if the story progressed, even IF the rules moved into WH+

[@bww33]

i have never bought a GW 40k codex. have always gone to battlescribe or waha. I really like the GW app for army building - so much so that i havent gone back to battlescribe, BUT im stuck building armies with index rules because i refuse to buy a codex just for the code. I'd be happy to purchase the digital codex for the app if i could.

[@KolossusB]

Wait you get to spend money in stores on models? In Canada we just can't get any of the meta played units, as they just stay out of stock with stores saying they can't order it from the supplier. Same with our online retailers.

[@totallylegit4092]

I enjoy the artwork and having something to read without having to remember plotlines etc. As odd as it sounds, I actually enioy my codexes.

[@foreverfornever1124]

I like the concept of codexes but the app should have a yearly or monthly small fee to have access to the entire game for ease of play and tournaments and use that money to pay your development staff and update the app consistently. Outside of that, I much enjoy collecting the various WH literature for lore, art, and the sheer collectability books amass over the years, especially the old ones. The fans clearly have no problem purchasing any form of literature GW puts out as their books go out of stock constantly and make GW loads of money every year, which is why they continue to produce them in mass. Its just another branch of the hobby that is enjoyed by those who dont mind paying a pretty penny for literature like myself. Love or hate us we all have something about this hobby/company we enjoy and will continue to

[@Tomoyuki_Tanaka]

The 9th edition codex cover artworks, which the 10th edition copies, are new. I expected them to recycle from 8th edition (since the 8th edition recycled the 6th and 7th edition codexes), and while I think you have a point, I wonder if it'll occur to anyone that they should get new artwork for every edition. I suppose they want the cover art to be iconic of the faction (sorry, I dunno what the hell I'm talking about), so they reuse it for a couple of editions before eventually changing it.

[@Smitty19966]

I definitely do admit that if we see another edition in less than 4-5 years. I'm not going to be very happy. They need supplements and slight mini book reworks on their current edition. Much like 5e. If not, 10th edition might be my first and last buy in 40K. I'm not throwing away core books and codexes because GW are being a bunch of greedy goblins. We shouldn't have to.

[@MrRipper707]

I feel like we will definitely see 11th edition within 3 years.

[@timunderbakke8756]

Based on how 9th edition came and went, I am placing the odds of 11th edition being 2026 at 99.99% The only thing I see disrupting it would be a massive world event that disrupts global supply chain and logistics on a scale even worse than Covid

[@hobbywitholi]

The obsolescence of codices and datacards is so sad, I feel like they need to give editions a little more time so people can actually get their value out of them, how long were the Tyranid Index cards relevant for?

[@MrRipper707]

@hobbywitholi made me curious. 1st edition came out in 1987, so over the past 36 years there have been 10 editions so averaging it out we're looking at about 3.6 years per edition. I bought aos codex for my faction, went on a deployment and now that I'm back they're already talking about aos 4th ed. GW must be financially incentivezed to do this at this point. What else makes sense.

[@niccolo6865]

Don't expect them to change, i don't, and i will just wait for the pdf of the codex to arrive un the web just like any other codex before. They don't deserve more money for a product that doesn't reflect the money they ask for it

[@BOTG_Adventures]

I only paint the figure for fun, no interest in gaming with them, would the codex give me info on the chapters and factions? AKA im a slamander Boy.

[@hobbywitholi]

it definitely should! the older codexes might even be better. There was a dedicated codex supplement for Salamanders in 8th edition which you might still be able to grab on ebay!

[@BOTG_Adventures]

@@hobbywitholi ty

[@leehodges1484]

I agree that a free app would be the best option for general viewing, but it still suffers from the same problem as codexes on the tabletop, flicking through/scrolling to find what you want. It slows the game down. The new index cards/datasheet cards are so much better, having the card next to your unit is great. The only downside is that GW decided not to add the detachment rules to the cards to force you to buy the codex as well, and also you don't get the fluff and art (but since so much is recycled it doesn't bother me). Datacards all the way.

[@hobbywitholi]

I love datacards! Was disappointed to see that there isnt a faction rules card though, i suppose that was meant to incentivise people to buy the codex as well? Still dpes have the problem of becoming obsolete with balance updates and new editions... the App could make this bulletproof!

[@leehodges1484]

That is the strength of an app, proper updates can be made that aren't post it notes stuck on your datacards or in your codex......@@hobbywitholi

[@Lightning9060]

As someone who is just getting into 40k after Space Marine 2 it just seems like such a mess trying to get into the hobby, I'm tempted just to wait and see what 11th edition looks like to see if it's more "user friendly"

[@Sir_PinkPirate]

I think the main issue is a matter of convenience. I have to buy a physical codex for a code and then sub to an app to use the code. Its just convoluted and annoying. GW making me jump through hoops to get digital rules is just dumb. That app should not have a sub attached to it, or if it does it should just come with all the rules for every army with the option to one time buy the rules you actually want if you don't want to sub. The reason why I sub to Netflix and stopped downloading movies is its just a lot more convenient, and currently using 3rd party apps for 40k is just way more convenient than the official app.

[@TheFurrLord]

Always makes me think of Gabe Newell's quote for piracy: "The easiest way to stop piracy is not by putting antipiracy technology to work. It's by giving those people a service that's better than what they're receiving from the pirates."

[@thornthallid950]

I don't think digital at is a choice by GW. The vast majority of art these days for games with large quantitiesof art (e.g. Magic) is digital at least to a degree. Asking for them to specifically move to hand drawn art makes no sense (and digital art isn't cheaper, it still takes insane time and skill to do).

[@S.A.S.H.]

"Codices" ... FINALLY!

[@manda60]

If the codex wasn't obsolete by the time I bought it with errata, etc., why buy it for rules? GW needs to make these art/lore/modelling guides and just make the rules digital and free already.

[@vineheart01]

i got called "cheapskate" when i said i was buying the cards and just outsourcing the like 1 page of rules not on the cards. Im like....why is the blame pointed at me and not the company trying to charge me twice for the same thing? Same goes for their damn app, i will either pay for rules or i will pay for a subscription, NOT BOTH. I prefer the cards, because im not a big fluff nut. I also never play Crusade, as every time someone in my group tries everyone drops out at some point. So theres literally just the Detachment rules im missing after i buy the cards. F that, not paying 60USD for 1-2 pages of extra rules. I would gladly pay ~15 a month for the app if it came with all rules included. Im not even joking, it would be worth it.

[@dkipu266]

I am a paid subscriber that plays Space Wolves and Necron, and as each codex is released the app is worth less and less to me. The app is not worth the subscription if I own the codex for those armies. It’s likely that I’ll cancel after the Necron data is removed from the application as I already paid for the data cards on both armies- and I’ve been paying monthly for the app. Requiring a player to also buy a codex is BS.

[@artusyeddou5792]

the indexes were the best decision they made, going BACK to codexes is just a shame

[@totallylegit4092]

The GW app is probably one of the greatest sales tools ever wasted.

[@stuartlittledrowning4965]

The new Admech codex also reused the cover art. So 3/4 of the codexes so far have reused art

[@jasonpurcellau]

They are just gotting to errata models and change their points, so keep it digital. all i want in codex is lore, pictures, art, how to paint. etc

[@rubricmarine6857]

Until the codexes come out in a better timeframe, I'll forever look at them displeasingly. As a Thousand sons player, My shit gets released later than the money factions.

[@hobbywitholi]

Such a shame as Thousand Sons are probably my favourite looking Chaos faction!

[@rubricmarine6857]

I've been playing them since they were only a special troop choice for chaos armies to take. 4th edition. I'm happy that we're our own faction now, but there seems to be less love given to them. But basically, any chaos or xenos faction could say the same. 😂😂

[@timunderbakke8756]

Our 9th codex wasn’t terrible. But yeah, I’m dreading we will have not much time with ours and I really don’t want to see “oh you get a new character”

[@rubricmarine6857]

@@timunderbakke8756 agreed.

[@aredruss]

Wahapedia, battlescribe and other resources...

[@murphybegood]

1000000% agree

[@qw11235]

I decided not buy any book apart from core rules this edition. Imo unless we all stop buying these useless books nothing is going to change.

[@paulreg3122]

Every other game is free rules free fluff and free apps. Why do people give this company money, the game is archaic and clunky and there are so many better games that will cost so much less money.