Let's face it, 40k is a bloated mess. I love it, but it's time for a change. With the recent rumors of a new 'slimmed' down edition, there may be hope for its future. Love or hate Age of Sigmar, there are some things it did right. Lets discuss what would be a good slimming down for 40k. Let's not discuss the possibility of a setting tonal shift or end times 40k, this is strictly from the rules. I seriously doubt they will change the setting up.
Things to change: >upon release of the new edition, all unit entries are put on single page dataslates, for free, released in data slate compendiums >removal of all the USRs from the rulebook and all rules needed for that unit are on the dataslates >armies have a dataslate that covers the special rules unique to the army, as well as wargear and relic tables >change BS and WS values to static ones, WS would be listed simply as 3+, 4+, or 5+, and BS would be listed as 2+ to 6+, and units that normally have a BS higher than 5 would get special rules in their dataslate describing rerolls. Likely this will just be simplified to just getting rerolls in shooting. >overall slimming down of all the rules. There are many that are rarely used but in the book for completion. tank shock, for example, could use a simplification. >unit type benefits are listed as part of their special rules on their dataslates >movement values listed on the dataslate, so you don't need to reference unit types or vehicle special rules to see how much a unit can move
Things to conserve: >points >detachments and formations >strength vs toughness table >turn order and reserves >vehicles from regular units. vehicles should not be treated as big infantry with lots of wounds. Armour values and hull points should remain intact. The vehicle damage chart could be simplified. >flying rules remain >AP remains as is
There's much more, im sure. What would be ideal is a simplification that is somewhere between 40k and AoS. GW knows 40k sales are dropping, and I am betting they would want to make the game easier to get into for new players. To provide a simpler rule system that can always be added to with optional supplements, like Death from the Skies, Apocalypse, etc.
Cooper Cooper
bump for 8th edition discussion/hopes/rage
Michael Gutierrez
>there are some things it did right. Prices?
Blake Bailey
What are you talking about?
Connor Harris
AoS models prices.
Gabriel Hall
I don't see how that's something AoS did right. The model prices are about the same with new 40k model prices. I don't see how it's relevant when discussing 40k 8th edition
Jason Walker
Maybe this and have pre painted/assembled models at current pricings. If not for every model, they should do it for at least the most bought ones (I.e. Tactical Marines, Hormagaunts)
Daniel Wright
prepainted and preassembled would be a fucking terrible idea for gw to implement. They could confidently throw away the 'quality wargames miniatures' mantra out the window. I can think of no way to damage that reputation more. I do not see it happening.
Angel Thompson
40k needs a coherent set of rules. The basic game engine as devised for 3rd is completely functional. The issue is that since liquidating their playtesting groups they have categorically failed to understand why 2nd was thrown out, and are repeating the same mistakes. They are tweaking the engine without any knowledge of why it was built that way, or testing to see if it still runs.
The crazy thing about 40k is that you could explain the core in about 15 pages without reducing complexity at all. The issue is and always has been special rules. Special rules and exceptions are a cancer that needs to be carefully handled to avoid killing the game engine. Special rules need to follow a universal logic to ensure that they all mesh together. GW has NO standardized procedure for making special rules or explaining how they interact. For every page of core rules you'd need 5 trying to state how the exceptions all work.
40k is an extremly streamlined core game with the most byzantine army rules in existence. Don't kill the core. Kill the codex writers.