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General => News and Rumors => Topic started by: Ruckdog on November 16, 2015, 12:15:32 pm

Title: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: Ruckdog on November 16, 2015, 12:15:32 pm
It's official! Games Workshop is re-constituting the Specialist Games studio, and will be putting out new relases for games like...drumroll please...Battlefleet Gothic!

I'm super excited about this news; BFG remains one of my favorite games, and the 40k setting is just awesome. However, I'm tempering that enthusiasm with the fact that no concrete releases or dates have been announced. My own guess is that it will be another year or so before we see anything actually materialize on store shelves.
Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: Landlubber on November 16, 2015, 07:47:39 pm
Ruckdog, you're looking at it all wrong:

If it really is a year (or more) until we see boxes on the shelves, that's all the more time to flesh out your Halo, Firestorm, and (possibly?) Dropfleet forces! :)

I never played BFG, but I've always liked the miniatures. If they re-release the game, I might pick up a box or two myself.

That is, if I can beat the other MBS-Colorado folks to the game store...   ???
Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: Quickdraw on November 16, 2015, 07:57:42 pm
This is obviously a great business move for GW. The fact that BFG fleets are going for 4 or 5 times their original value on eBay says it all.
However! I'm wondering how many folks out there will fall in the "too little, too late" camp. There are already some great space fleet games that have come to fill the BFG void, that plus the bad taste GW gave a lot of gamers might contribute to less success.

***if they revitalize Mordheim though...that's another story...
Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: captainrockman on November 16, 2015, 08:07:45 pm
Mordheim was pretty fun, and very different from GW's other games.

BFG always looked interesting to me. This will be something to watch.
Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: Andrewchristlieb on November 17, 2015, 12:18:52 am
I'm all like "SQUEEEEEE"!!!!! Like a little school girl. Seriously BFG was my first love in miniature wargaming and I'm super pumped to continue to blow even more money on the game! Can't come soon enough.
Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: Dakkar on November 17, 2015, 06:26:46 pm
I get excited when I see new stuff that doesn't suck. Like Blood Bowl figs NOT sculpted by Gary Morley. ;-)

Though note, almost no WFB products mentioned... Alas Man O War...
Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: markymark1970 on November 18, 2015, 08:14:31 pm
Makes me wonder if I should try to unload most of my current hoard of BFG stuff (at the prices they're going for on eBay) and then replace it with the new stuff.  Or more Spartan resin.  And Dropzone plastic.
Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: Last Rites on November 19, 2015, 06:42:29 am
I know a couple guys that would love to see Blood Bowl again. Personally, I would like to try Mordehiem again. Started building a Beastman squad ages ago, and never really got to play them.
Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: Ruckdog on November 24, 2015, 01:07:57 pm
In the meantime, Osprey's Frostblade seems like a worthy Mordehiem successor, based on the D6G's review. Also, a new Mordehiem video game was just released!
Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: Quickdraw on November 24, 2015, 01:22:23 pm
I was just looking at that game the other day actually.
Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: Dakkar on November 24, 2015, 03:49:04 pm
In the meantime, Osprey's Frostblade seems like a worthy Mordehiem successor...

This.
I don't imagine we'll see a Mordheim reboot ever, since it doesn't exist anymore (the place) and AoS is scalable to warbands anyways. Best I'd imagine is an AoS City Campaign setting with campaign warband rules. Probably a $75 book if we're lucky.

I'm optimistic on the rest, looking forward to Blood Bowl and Necromunda the most (or even DARK FUTURE). But then I see that the new AoS Tape Measure costs $33, and I'm breaking my desk with my forehead again...
Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: Ulric the Grey on January 14, 2016, 05:36:40 pm
Dale why do you need a 33 dollar tape measure. Is it better or more accurate then the one you used in the last game that you got from home depot?
Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: Dakkar on January 14, 2016, 09:27:03 pm
Dale why do you need a 33 dollar tape measure. Is it better or more accurate then the one you used in the last game that you got from home depot?

I would never buy one, I'm just illustrating how GW's prize policies are still as boneheaded as ever.
Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: Fracas on January 15, 2016, 03:10:01 pm
I love bfg and warmaster . . . But I am unlikely to buy models from GW again
Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: Ruckdog on January 16, 2016, 10:05:14 pm
Eh, I might, if it was BFG and the models were a nice enough upgrade over the existing stuff. Time will tell, though. When they re-release BFG, I'll be really curious to see what they do with the rules. Also, if you look at what Spartan has done with their starter box sets, GW will have to up the model count substantially over what was in the old box sets if they want to compete!
Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: Landlubber on January 16, 2016, 11:05:27 pm
I guess I don't have the...history...with GW games that a lot of other people do. For me, it will come down to the models and the rules. Mostly the models.  ;)
Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: Ulric the Grey on March 02, 2016, 09:34:30 am
I loved BFG. Now I believe that GW will frack it up. I believe that they will not increase the model count or make it comparable to FA, reason is that GW is so full of themselves they believe that people will fork out 200 dollars for a BFG box set with 8 models, 4 cruisers each side, again.
Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: Ruckdog on March 02, 2016, 10:29:45 am
I loved BFG. Now I believe that GW will frack it up. I believe that they will not increase the model count or make it comparable to FA, reason is that GW is so full of themselves they believe that people will fork out 200 dollars for a BFG box set with 8 models, 4 cruisers each side, again.

To be honest, I'm not overly optimistic either. IF they every actually do another 40k space minis game (we don't know that they will for sure; remember that all we have is a vague announcement about re-doing Specialist Games), I suspect it will be something along the lines of the "board games" they have been doing recently, like Deathwatch Overkill. It could very well be Dreadfleet...In Spaaaaaace!
Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: Dakkar on March 02, 2016, 11:29:17 am
Dreadfleet...In Spaaaaaace!

If this whole Specialist revival goes that way, nothing but one-and-done box sets, I think that'll critically whittle away the last of the old guard GW support. Those of us who have patiently tried to keep games alive, whether Blood Bowl, BFG, Epic, etc ... we'll just know for sure its a dead cause... the final stake and holy-wafer in the vampire's ashes.

My HOPE is that the smell of more easy money, and the fact they don't need to support LOTR/Hobbit, draws GW resources to maximize each Specialist game with full resources and force variety. I can just imagine the retail explosion if folks start seeing Tyranid, Ork, and Eldar/Dark Eldar fleet box sets hitting shelves, let alone the expected Imperial Chaos redesigns.
And imagine seeing Epic 40K boxes for Chaos, with all those Chaos Engines of War realized in 10mm.
It would all torment me, as I'd be unable to resist massive buy-in. :-)

GW: Realizing our worst Hopes and Fears for 25 Years
Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: Dakkar on May 16, 2016, 05:21:38 pm
Blood-Bowl rumors just hit big here:

http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2016/05/blood-bowl-pics-release-plans-more.html

Biggest news there is its a FULL RELEASE. No "one and done" which bodes well for Battlefleet Gothic, Epic, etc - GW could come back into the market with a nostalgia-fueled vengeance!

Bad news is, they sounds like they've changed little on the rules front. If none of these relaunches acknowledges or fixes game imbalance in prior versions (Hello Necrons!), that's a dealbreaker ...

Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: Ruckdog on May 17, 2016, 08:31:34 am
This is great news indeed! Makes me a little more optimistic about an eventual BFG release. However, the timeline associated with Blood Bowl does suggest that it will be late 2017 at the earliest before we could reasonably expect to see anything released for BFG. I'd actually be OK with the rules being re-released almost as-is (assuming that means the 2007 rulebook printing with the 2010 FAQ). They are reasonably well balanced near as I can tell, and they are at least somewhat polished after years of community feedback.

Dale, regarding the Necrons, which version do you have experience with? My understanding is that the initial "beta" rules for Necrons that were released in the BFG Magazine were awful, but that the revised rules that made it into the Armada book were much better. I've never played with or against them, but the discussions I've had with people who have always point to them being balanced, but playing very, very differently than any other faction. Honestly, I've heard more balance complaints about the Corsair Eldar over the years than I have about the Necrons.

This might be worth a new thread in Space Gaming to discuss...
Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: Dakkar on May 17, 2016, 12:33:26 pm
Dale, regarding the Necrons, which version do you have experience with?

Armada Book version still utterly dominated the last campaign we had, long long ago. Other abuses that come to mind:

-- Space Marine Thunderhawk Spam and Tyranid Spore Spam (Though I'm told house rules easily handle this, GW might not get that memo)

-- Ork Ramship Spam (I forget the little thing's name, but like a dozen of those ruin a game)

-- Eldar were nasty for all, but many counters were available.

-- Tau came late to our party, but seemed to outdo a lot. Except Necrons again...

Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: Ruckdog on May 17, 2016, 10:31:27 pm
Thunderhawk spam? Not sure how that works. A 1500 pt SM fleet can have at most what, about 12 or so on table at once.
Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: Dakkar on May 18, 2016, 10:48:00 am
Thunderhawk spam? Not sure how that works. A 1500 pt SM fleet can have at most what, about 12 or so on table at once.

It may have been a pre-FAQ thing that was fixed later, but when we played (IIRC) the Marines would launch clouds of Thunderhawks, swarm the enemy heavy hitters, and render them combat ineffective through crits.
Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: Ruckdog on May 18, 2016, 12:04:15 pm
Ahhh...yeah, the ordnance rules have been overhauled. Now, the number of fighter/bomber/assaultboat markers on the table are limited to the total number of launch bays you have in your fleet. So, if I have an Emperor BB (8 launchbays) and a Mars BC (4 launch bays), I can only ever have 12 total attack craft markers on the table. ON the plus side, rolling doubles on a Reload Ordnance check no longer causes you to run out.
Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: Dakkar on May 18, 2016, 12:43:08 pm
Ahhh...yeah, the ordnance rules have been overhauled.

Was that an official GW fix, or the de facto Living Rulebook kinda thing?

Let's hope they use it either way. :-)

One other thing I heard: new EPIC 40K will be 8mm (up from 5mm). That might mean just big enough for better models, just small enough for better affordability. And either way, it gives Planetfall and DZC a run for their money.
Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: Ruckdog on May 18, 2016, 01:30:26 pm
Ahhh...yeah, the ordnance rules have been overhauled.

Was that an official GW fix, or the de facto Living Rulebook kinda thing?

Let's hope they use it either way. :-)

One other thing I heard: new EPIC 40K will be 8mm (up from 5mm). That might mean just big enough for better models, just small enough for better affordability. And either way, it gives Planetfall and DZC a run for their money.

The revised ordnance rules, along with the shift of the Nova Cannon from a Guess Range to a Scatter mechanic, were all part of official GW sanctioned FAQs. Not too shocked on the scale change for Epic; it allows for greater detail to be put into the models, while also obsoleting all the old official and 3rd-party models that have been made for the game.
Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: Pendrake on July 11, 2016, 05:59:04 pm
I have most of an Orc Fleet for BFG.
Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: Dakkar on March 14, 2017, 04:39:47 pm
The new NECROMUNDA is upon us!

Can BFG be all that far away? ;-)

http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2017/03/gw-breaking-updated-necromunda-returns.html

Title: Re: GW Revitalizing Specialist Games
Post by: McKInstry on March 14, 2017, 06:57:56 pm
They keep releasing teams for Blood Bowl (slowly but..). i am hopeful if not out by year end at least a 2018 date certain.