[GW] A Connecticut Yankee in Kirby's Court
Playa
Hey,
Anonymous GW insider answers questions from fa/tg/uys.
KIDDIE NOTE: STRONG LANGUAGE AHEAD!
RGMW NOTE: Salt to taste -
+++
Why do you hate Epic?
The higher-ups hate Epic because it doesn't sell as well as the main
game. Yes, they're the money-grubbing bastards you've been led to
believe they are, but on the flipside, the company's had to do a few
minor layoffs for some of it's lesser-known writers and employees
lately. Even with the money of the 13-year-olds the staff here are
constantly told to cater to, we're hemorrhaging money like no
tomorrow. If the company goes belly-up in the next fiscal year, or
otherwise needs to have some intellectual property sold, I won't be
surprised.
What is the codex lineup? Do you know what is going to be released and
when?
Not associated with the codex lineup myself, but a coworker tells me
the new Inquisition codex is slated for sometime after the Necron
codex, which is set for release in 2011. So, y'know, fingers crossed.
What happend to Squats?
Squats 'canonically' got eaten by the 'nids. They don't like to talk
about Squats around here.
When are squats coming back?
Well, right around the time 40k stopped being 'tongue-in-cheek' and
started getting GRIMDARK, they saw fit to remove the Squats. They
wanted people to start taking the fluff a bit more seriously, and
possibly a little in-depth. The removal of Squats is one thing I never
really got, but it's office-policy to not discuss them.
Is there something about Demiurgs?
There's actually going to be a bit about Demiurgs in the next Tau
codex. You know how the Tau couldn't travel so fast through space
because of their lack of Warp navigation? Yeah, guess what?
What do you think about the smurf marines ?
All of my hate.
Plastic sisters y/n?
y
What can you tell us about Grey Knights?
Gray Knights will be getting their own codex, from what my coworker
tells me. No word on a release date, so that's all up in the air.
Why do you insist on using ... the phase system?
Well, considering I do fluff most of the time, I can safely say the
continued use of the phase system is NOT my brainchild. A couple of
employees who actually play 40k have complained about it around here.
Is there any plan to further the 40k fluff?
Believe it or not, there ARE a few plans to further 40k fluff. We're
finally getting the picture that some of the fans would like to see
something of interest happen, and we don't want a clusterfuck like the
Eye of Terror campaign.
What do the working-level staffers think of Jervis?
A lot of the bottom-level folks here aren't fans. That's putting it
lightly.
What's the big money eater?
It's not so much a big money-eater as it is a bunch of little ones,
and not enough income to really cover everything that they're trying
to do. It's not that there's some big costly project (except MAYBE the
Ultramarines movie), so much as 'we don't have enough customers
because they keep walking away from the hobby before even starting.'
Who the hell let C.S. Goto write for you?
Yeah, that was my boss's bad. He regrets it every day.
Will there ever be expansion on the Adeptus Mechanicus and all their
neat toys?
RT/DH is all done by FFG, so we actually don't have a big hand in
that. Guys like me occasionally need to tell them 'hey, this needs a
bit of tweak, here's what REALLY happens when THIS happens.' That kind
of thing. They usually get it right.
Which Primarchs are considered alive, and what can you tell us of the
two missing primarchs?
The 'missing Primarchs' have been the subject of a lot of debate among
the writers. A few want to flesh 'em out, others want to say 'let's
leave it ambiguous for the fans to fill in the blanks and speculate.
That's always fun for them.' Personally, I'm in the 'let the fans fill
in the blanks' camp. A few ideas were a Primarch who wanted to go out
of his way to annihilate the Necron threat after discovering a Tomb
World back during the Horus Heresy, but he could never get the word
out to the Big E before Horus fucked everything up.
Will there be any new Races or armies coming out?
With the recent intent to advance 40k's 'plot', there has been some
discussion of a new race or two, but nothing solid yet.
Fra'al, Xenarch, Cythor Fiends, Barghesi etc?
Actually, no. Sorry, bro.
SoB their own codex? Or as Inquisition?
SoB and Inquisition are confirmed to be in the same Codex, but Sisters
will be fieldable as a competitive army, capable of functioning on
their own. Inquisition will be the same way; They're basically getting
rules to allow them to function as allies, and be efficient at it.
Both options will be totally viable.
Could we get an AdMech Codex?
Oh, the AdMech will be getting A LOT of attention, sometime in the
next couple of years. Again, I [don't] want to spoil it for you, but
they'll come up more than once, and that's all I can say.
Is there anything you can tell me about AdMech that isn't in
titanicus/ mechanicum/ DH?
Revamped Spess Mehreen and IG vehicles for use by Tech-Guard.
So, is the "Warp Portal behind the Throne" fluff still in effect?
Warp Portal behind the throne NOT in effect, actually. Custodes will
be getting no attention whatsoever as playable units, I'm afraid.
Vostroyans... dead in the water or are they ever going to officially
flesh them out?
The Vostroyan writers have no plans in motion. Sorry,
Vostroyanfriend.
What exactly is the state of the Emperor, according to contemporary
fluff?
Dying, and going to die. Star Child theory is NOT in effect, here.
We're gonna throw the fanbase a curve ball for that one.
Was there ever a time when Sigmar was thought to be a Primarch, and
Warhammer Fantasy just a warp-storm'd world?
That was something a lot of the writers around here wanted to do
behind closed doors, but the higher-ups vetoed it for the purposes of
avoiding the alienation of the Fantasy fanbase. A lot of writers on
both sides liked the idea, but they had to be party-poopers.
Is there any chance of them actually listening to players regarding
gameplay?
Probably not. They're working with what they've got. Personally, as a
Guard player, I wish they hadn't released this latest edition and
taken out the Doctrines.
Is the intention in codex design to keep the Imperial armies always
slightly superior?
The Codex staff keeps fucking that up. The Imperials are consistently
ending up superior, despite them claiming this isn't their intent.
They just keep screwing up, not deliberately fucking you guys over.
What's the feeling in the company about the shift to more "serious"
grimdark?
Some regret it, others don't. It was something that seemed like a good
idea at the time, and very few of the guys in charge want to go back.
Just remember, GW is not some monolithic HURHURHURMONEY entity.
Will we ever see the gods take a more hands on approach?
The Chaos Gods will get a bit of attention, we've confirmed that.
We're still bickering over WHAT to have them do.
Is there a timeline on releasing a new Ork codex? Are there any ideas
being floated on how to make Orks stop sucking?
Ork codex isn't for a good long while, anon. Sorry. But, we've got a
few ideas, namely a return of the biggest Ork warboss ever. Yep. He's
back in action, and Yarrick's coming after him.
Wait a minute.... rowboat girlyman dies, and the emperor dies?
The Emperor just dies because the Throne craps out on him. Guilliman
dies because of a certain event that Matt wanted to avoid. Badly. He's
not exactly happy with being over-ruled by our Council of Rowboat's
Demise.
Matt Ward. Higher-ups love him?
The higher-ups like him, but not as a fluff-writer. I've spoken to one
of the guys in charge, and he's admitted that transferring Ward from
rules to fluff, and from Fantasy to 40k, was an XBAWKZHUEG mistake,
and that Ward will be going back to Fantasy rules as soon as their
little contract ends. Goto's just going to get the boot.
Is there eventually going to be a showdown between the necrons and the
tyranids?
Necrons and Tyranids are going to go at it more than once. But, they
won't devour the galaxy. That's still in the formative stages, but we
have an idea to keep the war going without avoiding the advancement of
the plot.
Why doesn't GW concern themselves with finding a way to offer their
hobby at more reasonable prices?
Well, it's got to do with a combo of a serious profit-decline in
recent years, and bad judgement calls on the part of the senior staff.
In other words LOLIDUNNO, but it's got to do with those two things,
guaranteed.
What about Alpharius/ Omegon?
Alpharius and Omegon are seriously fucking things up in the background
for just about everybody. It's going to be part of why Guilliman dies,
and the sudden surge in Tau expansion. Rest assured, Xanatos from
Gargoyles would be proud.
Are Alpharius and Omegon loyal to the Emperor or not? And is Fulgrim
still "alive"?
Loyal to the Emprah, confirming it now. It's part of why the Imperium
of Man doesn't collapse under the sudden fucktons of Tau Fire Warriors
striking deeper into the Imperium, and the sudden surge in Dark Eldar
raids, and the Emperor dying. Fulgrim is 'dead.' Sorry to disappoint.
Will there be any love for the IH in the future?
Iron Hands will be getting a whole lot of love. They need some
attention after the clusterfuck Ward made of the Space Marine codex.
Is Gorgutz going to get a mention in ork fluff?
Yeah, he'll come up in the Ork Codex and will have a few special rules
for him. We're still sorting that out.
Chaos begins corrupting Tau society through glorious demonic invasions
on space ships?
Nah, no daemonic rebellions on Tau ships, but they'll start rampaging
through the Eastern Fringe like never before. The Farsight Enclaves
will have a few things to say about that. Ever want to see a Tau
bandit? You're about to. Commander Farsight's successor (also named
Commander Farsight) is about to throw a shitfit all over the
Ethereals' faces.
Speaking of Tau, are they connected to the Necrons, or is this just
fan rumour?
Fan rumor. Same as the Forces of Chaos corrupting Farsight, or the
Eldar having a hand in engineering the Ethereals. Just no, guys. Oh,
and for the record: The Tau will be getting the shit kicked out of
them. The Imperium's learned it's lesson about the Tau and isn't about
to let them drive forward with Demiurg-navigated ships. This is part
of what's up with the AdMech. Expect Skitarii Tech-Guard and AdMech-
specific vehicles to be part of the war on the Eastern Fringe. That's
getting a lot of attention.
So Farsight is the Tau version of Dread Pirate Roberts?
He's going to be. That's something we've had in mind for Farsight and
the Enclaves for a while.
Farsight Enclaves Subcodex?
There's going to be a lot of 'Ork-style' improvised gear for Enclave
Fire Warriors. Expect to see Earth Caste Combat Engineers, and Heavy
Weapon Teams ala the Imperial Guard for the Farsight Enclave Infantry.
Why does Matt Ward love the Ultramarines so much?
It's fucking Matt. I have no idea how his brain works.
Oh, so Cypher is a baddie then? Damn.
Cypher will be a bad guy. NOT my idea. I don't like it. A and O will
be personally responsible for killing Guilliman. The Tau surge will
result in Ultramarines being called in from Ultramar to go deal with
it. This is because A and O speak with Tau Ethereals behind closed
doors, and convince them to let the Demiurg do their thing. This will
be followed by the Alpha Legion heading RIGHT FOR FUCKING ULTRAMAR and
taking Guilliman out.
What happened to Phil Kelly after he made the Wolves book? Seriously.
Phil's not proud of what he did, and the higher-ups aren't happy with
the fan reaction. I expect he'll be canned for it eventually. No way
he's living this down.
Chaos Codex?
2011, sometime in the third quarter.
What are the plans for Ahriman, and Thousand Sons in general?
Ahriman will take another shot at the Black Library. Thousand Sons are
still kicking, but they won't get tons of attention.
Advancing the fluff?
We're advancing it, but not a whole lot. 41k isn't what we're going
for, here.
Will Calgar be allowed to continue as the super Sue that Ward made of
him?
We're still discussing what to do with Calgar. We're thinking of
having him offed along with Rowboat, and making the Ultramarines some
kind of desperate, dirty-fighting Space Marine chapter. Ward is NOT
happy with this, but the Ultramarines will end up either irrelevant,
or a bit better for it all as far as fan-reactions go.
What happens to the astronicom once the Emp goes down?
Well, for one, the outer worlds of the Imperium will fracture into
smaller kingdoms, with the worlds closer to Cadia, Terra, and the like
all remaining under Imperial control. The Astronomicon is something
we're still discussing, but we have a few ideas for how it could
remain active.
Why is the Emperor dying a good thing for the Imperium? I thought the
Emperor was stopping demons?
The Emperor isn't why the Warp Gods haven't spilled over into reality
yet. He's nothing more than a psychic lighthouse on life support, and
that life support's breaking down.
Grey Knights. When? How? Who are the fodder?
Grey Knights will not be changing a whole lot. Fodder soldiers will
include units from the Ordo Hereticus who can be added as allies, so
for the most part, they'll be a small army of 'Holy Shit What Just
Happened' all over your enemy's face.
How the fuck does stuff like [Ward/ Kelly's writing] even get
published? Does nobody at GW read over that shit before it goes to
press?
No. Most of the time, it doesn't get read first. They've learned their
lesson. Expect improvements overall in what actually gets sent out. Up
till now, we haven't had a problem like this that's gotten so bad.
OP said the Imperium gets better, how does getting smaller help?
The Imperium will make a comeback later, and re-absorb all those lost
worlds. We MIGHT fall back on the Star Child theory after all, but for
right now, we've written that off. We've confirmed the Emperor will
die, and something will happen to keep the core worlds of the Imperium
together. Either way, the Imperium will make a comeback. We're still
discussing how. In fact, give me some ideas, I'll pitch them to the
others.
+++
Myr had to mention /tg/ in another post.
So, like a tool, I investigated, and now must share the hate.
Oh, wait. "Jump the Shark"? It's a ref to my "Hey" salutation.
Ahaaa ... I get it, now!
Pla - better late - ya
--
“I am absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to
look back and tell our children that [November 2, 2008] was the moment
when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the
jobless; this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow
and our planet began to heal; this was the moment when we ended a war
and secured our nation and restored our image as the last, best hope
on Earth.”
- Barry Hussein Soetoro, Illinois Senator aka Barrack Obama, US
President
Blackheart
> Myr had to mention /tg/ in another post.
> So, like a tool, I investigated, and now must share the hate.
> Oh, wait. "Jump the Shark"? It's a ref to my "Hey" salutation.
>
Some of that I can see as happening. Most I can't. Like getting rid of
Phil Kelly, not going to happen. From Games Day Baltimore at the FW
Seminar in response to the chorus of boos in regard to Space Wolves
being featured in the next IA after Badab War. "Sorry, The guy in
charge of the Company plays Space Wolves."
Staff I know confirmed that "The guy in charge of the company" refers
to Kirby.
I can see Matt Ward and C.S Goto getting punted though.
Nothing new and out of range on the codex front. There's nothing left
to do really. I've heard for awhile that CSM would get redone -again-
within 2 years, the new Codex was considered an absolute failure and a
big part of why Gav is gone.
Matt C
>
> Who the hell let C.S. Goto write for you?
>
> Yeah, that was my boss's bad. He regrets it every day.
So that's not just me then?
Good.
>snip<
> what can you tell us of the
> two missing primarchs?
If they were going to deal witht the missing primarchs, they'd have done it
in the Horus Heresy books. Instead they have... Dorn? Guilliman?... walk
down a corridor lined with statues of the Primarchs, and there are 2 empty
plinths. He thinks something like "they were a warning we should have
heeded" i.e. they turned out so bad, possibly chaotic, that they were
destroyed as soon as the Emperor located them.
>snip<
>
> What exactly is the state of the Emperor, according to contemporary
> fluff?
>
> Dying, and going to die. Star Child theory is NOT in effect, here.
> We're gonna throw the fanbase a curve ball for that one.
Oh, balls. You can't have The Imperium without The Emperor.
So... what happens if he dies?
Psychic shockwave throughout the Imperium?
Every ship in the warp suddenly loses its way?
Lion El'Johnson wakes up, takes over (as the last loyal Primarch not in
stasis / The Eye) and the 41st Millenium stops being dark and starts being
simply fabulous?
>big snip<
Other stuff: if it turns out the Alpha Legion's the reason why the Tau got
their two sudden upgrades, my mate owes me a pint.
Doctor Rock
"Playa" <johnpau...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:a899f79d-8e57-479f...@a30g2000vbt.googlegroups.com...
<snip>
so basically, in the grim darkness of the near future there is only a TSR
buyout.
Blackheart
> "Playa" <johnpaulpont...@gmail.com> wrote in message
I really wouldn't go that far. I can see them shedding the retail
chain in the US... *again*. If anything "drastic" happens, it'll be
along the lines of what went down when Activision "bought" Blizzard.
(read: "Paid Blizzard to take them.") with Fantasy Flight in the
"Blizzard" role.
5th Edition 40K is almost done. I can see 6th Edition balancing
everything in the way that 8th Ed Fantasy has and then they start over.
Playa
Hey,
On Oct 10, 4:31 am, Blackheart <blackheart666_2...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> 5th Edition 40K is almost done
Part 2
+++
The way I see it the writers just want to turn the Imperium into a
Rome.
Imperium = Rome is actually something we've been shooting for. For a
good long time. You're forgetting, it's been fighting a constant,
ongoing war on multiple fronts for 10,000 years, with a dying ruler/
figurehead.
Smurfs need to be brought down a peg.
Oh, they'll still be the 'face' of the setting. But damned if they
won't suffer a change in playstyle. Yes, we intend to release a PROPER
Space Marines codex, with the Ultramarines getting their own later
with some special rules that show 'hey, we just got our asses kicked.
Here's what we can do NOW.'
Who will come first Tau or Necrons?
Necrons first, both models and codex. Tau will follow. After the Chaos
Codex, we'll send out the Farsight Enclaves minicodex.
Night Lords. Anything regarding them?
Huge fan, they'll get a bit of attention. Nothing seriously big, since
we have other ideas.
What about the mecha and the jetbikes?
Mechas and Jetbikes will be getting some aesthetic revamps. Not my
department, again, but expect the Eldar designs to change ever so
slightly.
I can see [Ultramarines] doing small, elite unit type stuff to
represent that they had their shit ruined and so only the hardest of
them are left, but not so much turning into power armored savlar chem
dogs.
We're trying to make it a fall-from-grace. They end up needing to
break all the rules their leader made so that the chapter can survive.
When the emprah dies is he gone for good? Or are there plans for him
to return?
We're bouncing around plans to somehow allow the Imperium to reunify
and keep the Astronomicon running and everything. Not too sure on the
Emperor himself.
I've been hearing plenty of rumor about changing the daemonhunters/
witchhunters.
The Inquisition will be covered in three seperate codices.
Any idea where the Adeptus Sororitas fluff is heading?
Sisters of Silence are a hot-button topic around here. We're not
completely sure where to go with them. Sisters of Battle won't be
getting a lot in the way of changes.
Was figuring on some inquisition line getting made since they're
apparently featuring in dawn of war 2.
Speaking of which ... Eliphas. Guess who's taking Failbaddon's place?
There's a reason he's called Eliphas the INHERITOR. Between this, the
spectacular failure of the thirteen Black Crusades, and Failbaddon's
track record, the Chaos Gods are taking a bit of an offense to their
champion having no arms.
Abaddon. Age old character with tons of fluff, imprinted within the
minds of all chaos fans. Replaced by some random guy from a video
game?
How would you feel if I said he had control of the one weapon that
could kill C'tan? Remember? Blackstone Fortresses? There's still one
left.
Is Eliphas and Abaddons relationship going to be become a parallel to
Eberrus and Horus?
We've actually considered this. Nice little cycle we've got going.
Everything old is new again and whatnot.
How does Abbaddon die?
We're still deciding how he dies. Probably epic backstab from Eliphas
himself. Makes sense, Chaos is practically built on that kind of
Klingon-promotion mechanic.
Anything about Blood Ravens being an offical chapter with rules and
models?
Yeah, they'll be getting some stuff. They won't be center-stage,
though, like in the DoW games.
Anything about The Outsider and The Void Dragon?
Outsider is Outside. The Void Dragon? Yeeeah, remember when I
mentioned the AdMech, and them getting into the game with their own
army-lists? Yeah, see, the Void Dragon's going to start kicking, but
he won't exactly be on his feet yet.
Any new races added to the tau?
The Demiurg really come into their own in terms of fluff, but in terms
of actual tabletop gameplay, no dice bro. Sorry. The Farsight Enclaves
will make up for this, with them making a lot of new innovations with
older tech, and having advanced down another technological development
path from the Tau in the mainstream Empire. This will be shown through
the Earth Caste Combat Engineers and Fire Warrior Heavy Weapon Teams I
mentioned.
Are Tau Gonna have a huge aesthetic change? Battlesuits become more or
less Japanese?
Mainstream Tau will maintain their usual aesthetic. The Farsight
Enclaves will be noticeably more 'piratical' and their aesthetic will
appear a bit more brutal, and possibly even Orkish compared to the
main Empire's Tau. That red paintjob with bone-white stripes will
appear a little sinister on certain models. Also, expect Farsight
Shas'la to start packing IG-style bayonets.
Since Tau are getting Farsight Enclave book, any chance Orks or Chaos
Marines might get their Clans and armies returned to them?
We intend to bring that back. That's bugged the crap out of a lot of
us lately, and we want to try and bring it back to the tabletop.
So are mainstream Tau gonna have heavy weapon teams? Will etherals be
useful for once?
Ethereals, sadly, will still be useless. Only the Farsight armies will
be getting heavy weapon teams. That's strictly a Farsight Enclaves
innovation. Burst Cannons and some Fusion Blasters wielded by Fire
Warriors will be something the Enclaves will be packing frequently.
Will farsight enclaves use kroot?
No. The Farsight Enclaves will be fielding other Castes in place of
alien auxiliaries. They're strictly Tau, and the fluff will explain
their 'racism.' But, basically, constantly fighting Orks and some
other alien races out in that region kind of desensitized them to
playing nice with the other races in their vicinity.
Will Flayed ones be troops? Whats this about everyone deep striking
ive heard?
Not 100-percent certain about the deep-striking, but Flayed Ones WILL
be Troops.
+++
Playa
Blackheart
> Hey,
>
> On Oct 10, 4:31 am, Blackheart <blackheart666_2...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > 5th Edition 40K is almost done
>
> Part 2
>
> +++
I thought this would technically be 6th edition 40K?
Once again. some of it I can see happening, some not so much. I'd say
that locally the new WFB has been a huge success and if that's been a
wider phenomenon they'll do something similar with 40K. ie: more about
the story and the models than "hard lists and win buttons".
Moramarth
> Hey,
>
> Wait a minute.... rowboat girlyman dies, and the emperor dies?
>
> The Emperor just dies because the Throne craps out on him.
the Administratum disbands the Adeptus Hyginae and outsources cleaning
the Imperial Palace to the lowest bidder, who it turns out employs via-
less aliens at starvation wages. One dark night, a linguistically-
challenged Xenomorph unplugs the Golden Throne so they can use the
socket to power their floor-polisher...
Cheers,
Moramarth