DISQUS

Gyar · 8 months ago

Really? A plastic thunderhawk? To me, that just seems a little too ambitious. It would sell if it was a decent price, but I just can't see them producing one.

Otherwise, I like the sound of the addition. I really support the idea of more terrain, I like their city scape stuff and would like to see what else they can shove out to the masses.

BoosterX · 8 months ago

First.

I doubt it for the Thunderhawk.

Gyar · 8 months ago

You mean second right ;P

At least someone agrees about the T-hawk. I know this thread will develop more and I can just hear people getting all warm and fuzzy over the thought of it.

OXRS · 8 months ago

It's always nice when the people who feel the need to put in "first" get it wrong and make themselves look like a bit of a fool.

I don't doubt the Thunderhawk is coming. In fact I would be surprised if it didn't show up sometime in the next year. Think about all that's happened recently and will happen soon; they expanded the Baneblade family line considerably and put out the Stompa. They're set to release the plastic Valkyries soon and a lot of people thought that would never happen. They're streamlining their processes, putting more plastic in the box for less money (I'm looking at you, Sentinel with every option for the cost of the cheapest current Sentinel). They know for a fact that a plastic Thunderhawk would sell like hot cakes and it wouldn't cost them that much to make it. It's mostly flat surfaces and could easily be hollow with some supports inside like long, locking pegs. Is it really that absurd to think that GW might make a smart move, just because it seems too large right now? That seems like the perfect choice for a niche company to make, especially with Privateer Press really dogging at their heels for the last few years. They need to bite back with something big now that they're moving to high quality plastics.

random guy · 8 months ago

I belive that there really is no plastic thunderhawk, mainly because a mate of mine who works as a staff member has a mate in the design studia and according to him the whole plastic thunderhawk thing is hilarious to them. also it apparently started when somebody saw a picture of the design studio with a thunderhawk in it. this was just one of the guy's thunderhawk but people thought htat they were working on a plastic one.

RealGenius · 8 months ago

While the design studio might think a plastic T-Hawk is hilarious, I am sure there are 50 bean counters in GW Corp that think it is an extremely profitable idea. I wouldn't be surprised to see them at $199 or $249 and still have them fly off the shelves because they'd be half the FW cost.

Mike · 8 months ago

But for everyone who has a friend who knows someone in the studio there's another like me who has a friend who talked to a guy in the design studio who was working on the thunderhawk, GW let stuff like this out to hear what poeple think. So the more poeple who say "yeah i'd buy one" the more likely it is that the protype they have atm will be developed into a full production kit like the stompa was a year ago

david · 8 months ago

"putting more plastic in the box for less money"

Look at the new guard infantry boxes - one of GW's largest cons of recent times. That's hardly more for less.

ducki3x · 8 months ago

Yeah, but IIRC, those are just the current sprues, repackaged (assuming we're not talking about the new command company sets). Had they re-cut the sprue for the average guardsman, I would expect that it would have about 20% more options (at least) and have cost the same amount...

Mantel · 8 months ago

Indeed, I have to agree. I don't think they'll ever come out with super heavies or fliers for many of the armies. Excect for the stompa,.. and the baneblade,... oh and the bandblade varients.... and the Valkyrie will be the last for sure. We can be firstly sure of that!

clkeagle · 8 months ago

I certainly won't complain about more Imperial terrain (since it accounts for the lion's share of games played), but how about one single, modular sprue each for Ork and Eldar terrain? The Ork buildings in CoD and Apocalypse are great examples of what could be built, and that sprue would be exceptionally useful if the Armageddon campaign is ever revisted.

Gyar · 8 months ago

Very good point! I would love to see some xeno terrain. I must admit it does get kind of dull playing in ruined cities ( the imperium can never have nice places to live..) but to see some eldar, ork, tau, even some chaos modular terrain or even some large or decent accessory sprues would be super.

Also, it would be nice to see some things like trenches. I know FW and armorcast have theirs, but some cheaper modular plastic ones would be cool

Faolain · 8 months ago

This is a great idea. Using Ork terrain would give the idea that someone is taking the fight to the Greenskins instead of the other way around.

Bluesfart · 8 months ago

Isn't what is best about Ork Terrain that you can just make it yourself with some cut up plasticard? The more chaotic it is put together the more convincing it would be.

Eldar and Tau would be more sensible but I think there's 2 things going against them... In the fluff humanity is the most vast and numerous of all the races, and the imperial races together are the most played. I'd love to fight a boarding mission on a craftworld though.

Chaosgerbil · 8 months ago

Actually the Orks (and probably the Tyranids) are more numerous than the Imperium.

I agree though that making Ork terrain isn't too hard, but I would love to see some official xenos terrain sets other than a few cool but expensive barricades.

Diamondrock · 8 months ago

No word on plastic Stormtroopers? :-(

Denzark · 8 months ago

No, nothing on those, or a Dark Eldar codex, or titanium encrusted Space Wolves, or realistic biting action tyranids. Probably due to this beinga post on planetstrike not random releases...

Sathos · 8 months ago

aye and Dark Eldar have been put through the wringer on several other topics lol

Diamondrock · 8 months ago

Hey, you don't have to be a jerk about it. It was my initial understanding that plastic Stormtroopers were to be released as a part of the whole Planetstrike wave. As such, I thought it would make sense for them to be at least mentioned in a lot of Planetstrike news if they were forthcoming.

Big J · 8 months ago

Right, just Vulkan, Ironclads and Craters. What make those more Planet Strike than storm troopers?

chris · 8 months ago

It's interesting that they can do ambitious stuff like this, but they can't do a better job of writing a codex...

Bluesfart · 8 months ago

I thought everyone unanimously praised the ork and space marine codicies. There have been bad ones in the not so distant past, but I thought they had done great things lately.

Bob · 8 months ago

Agreed. They've really impressed me of late.

chris · 8 months ago

Chaos Space Marines seem more hosed with each new release.

Honsou · 8 months ago

Agreed. While Orks, Space Marines and Imperial Guard have page after page of useful/heinous options, Chaos has a few functional core-choices amidst a wide assortment of dead-weight, with all the strategic cunning of TV henchmen.

Space Machines · 8 months ago

And yet they still managed to win the UK Grand Tournament...

BeastOfShadow · 8 months ago

Eldar won the UK Gt, chaos were second.

Jabba · 8 months ago

Is this the same rumors from that "mysetery guy" at warseer?

Faolain · 8 months ago

I'd really like to see the Eldar Air Force get some plastic representation. I could easily see them using the new Valk flying stands.

Kriegfreak · 8 months ago

I'd love to see a Thunderhawk, but I'd put more money on a Lightning Fighter or a Thunderbolt being used for Imperial forces. Who knows though. It would be hard to make a Thunderhawk affordable I think, but I'm wishing nevertheless.

Loki · 8 months ago

Better not be a plastic Thunderhawk... not until we see some plastic Barbed Heirodules or Tyranid Anti Air...

No the meotic spore doesn't count.

captain Ferris · 8 months ago

to me the new rules don't make sense, you could easily play an attacker/defender assault scenario with just a small addition to the current rules (an article in white dwarf or on the web). I don't see how it needs a whole new expansion like apocalypse .

Lagduf · 8 months ago

Obviously there will be a tad bit more to Planet Strike then just attack/defense.

I bet there will be a number of highly thematic mission types with highly non-standard FOCs in order to mix things up and best make use of any of the plastic kits released for Planetstrike.

I'm excited about the new terrain.

Any ideas on how much a plastic Thunderhawk would cost?

Mantel · 8 months ago

Web rules don't cost money! and then they can't make lots of senary... and new units.. nice shiney new units.... must... buy.... shiney.

Engelus · 8 months ago

really? they don't cost money? so I guess you expect them to not pay the designers working on the web release stuff then. hmm, sucks for their families.

everything has a cost, weather you have to pay for it, or weather GW pays for it for you.

Big J · 8 months ago

Pretty sure he meant "Don't make a profit."

Pretty sure you knew that too.

Epps · 8 months ago

New terrain is nice, but the prices are not. Unless they can give out a better deal, I foresee the same situation developing. So far, no one I know even thinks about using GW's cityfight kits. Sad really. Nice stuff, just way overpriced.

bndn · 8 months ago

Sceptical about the bastion (pg118+243), but TOTALY convinced by the baricasedes and A-A mount (pg230)

AshHammer · 8 months ago

I thought the same thing, but look at the cover of the new Sentinel box. It looks like four of the same Bastion walls set side by side. That is too big of a coincidence for me.

Bigred · 8 months ago

Wow, sharp eyes AshHammer!

Extra points for you.

AshHammer · 8 months ago

Thank you sir. =)

Dajanitor · 8 months ago

Hmmm. I love the idea of a plastic thunderhawk. I would love to own one :D

That Dread and vulkan will be pre-ordered definitely, perhaps even the planetstrike, perhaps its time for me to save =)

EH. I would also love to see some Xeno Terrain.
And it would be nice for them to continue with the codexes, hopefully, 2 a year, with new models released, and keeping them at the great quality they are doing so far.

Sethe · 8 months ago

Personally I think the TH is a given... It would make too much money to not be made. Even if Priced at what, 150-200$, it would probably sell enough. Bring it down to the price of other superheavies, 90$, and I don't know a Marine player that wouldn't eventually get one... Epescially if they came out with a Planetstrike Suppliment... That also worked in conjunction with Apoc.

I forsee all of these rumors coming true, personal opinion, and look forward to when they do. They game gets much more dynamic all the time, 5h ed outflanking, dawn of war deployment, etc., and for me it makes it a much more enjoyabe game.

Xas · 8 months ago

it wouldnt cost 90$ nor 200$.

if you take GW's price scheme for the other FW-> palstic sets (baneblades, valkyrie) it will cost 300$.

Cergorach · 8 months ago

The Valkeyrie went from £85 => £35
If something similar happens to the Thunderhawk it would cost ~£150, don't know how many dollars GW would ask for that

Brad3492 · 8 months ago

I can see the TH as a possibly, plus it could be use as the GK one or even in the service chaos

darrrrren · 8 months ago

im actually really excited for this!

im all for expansions to the standard 3 missions in the 5th book, because frankly guys that shit is starting to get a tad boring. i mean, i love my 5th ed games, but they needed this product i think to add some fluff and spice to the whole deal.

between this, apocalypse (which i play quite a good amount of), and standard 5th, they have struck a nice balance of options.

oh and personally cant wait to see how vulkan looks ;)

thunderthawk.. we shall see. im not holding my breath over it because it has come up as a rumor and got squashed so many times. if it comes along though, i will be pleasently suprised!

i would suspect an eldar super heavy or flyer plastic release in the somewhat near future.

ciao

Rupert · 8 months ago

I was speaking with a gamesworkshop person who gave Planetstrike as an example of things that ISN'T HAPPENING, I didn't mention it in the conversation either.
And Plastic Thunderhawk is 97837823% not going to happen,

Shaefer · 8 months ago

always take what gw staff say with a pinch of salt. according to some of the bods at gw hq in lenton the plastic stompa was never going to happen...and look how that turned out.

phoenix01 · 8 months ago

Agreed. The GW shop personnel (red shirts and black shirts alike) usually have no idea of what is coming out and it's the customers that have a better idea of future releases.

Molochi · 8 months ago

Actually, from what I understand, they're required to pretend they don't know anything about "rumours" and pretty much flat out deny them.

Not too surprising. But Yeah, I agree they generally have no idea what's going on in the GW world as far as releases and rumours go.

Apocalypse, Stompas, Plastic Valkyries, New Space Marine Codex, New Ork Codex are all "rumours" that they vehemently denied when I asked about them originally. Pretty much, so far, every "rumour" I've come across has been more or less accurate and the Red Shirts didn't know the first thing about them.

I stopped listening to them.

TyraelVladinhurst · 8 months ago

just like apcolypse WASN'T going to happen if you asked about it before it's release

smurfhater · 8 months ago

yes but according to my GW staff when i asked them about the plastic valk he said it wasn't on the realease sheet.

TyraelVladinhurst · 8 months ago

when it's very VERY clearly posted on there main site? that's just horrible

Near&Far · 8 months ago

No, that's typical. Idiots!

MarcusZ · 8 months ago

After flipping through the rulebook I have to say, that I don't like that rumored bastion at all. If they really release some defensive structures, then I hope they will look better than this bastion (which looks like a scratchbuild to me btw not like a prototype).

The barricades do look good imho, but I doubt the release of an AA turret for 40K.

Cergorach · 8 months ago

I have to agree with you on the rulebook bastions, they do look scratchbuild. An AA turret might figure into the whole Planetstrike idea, it would also make a kickass addition to a Chimera and make a plastic hydra...

Jaradakar · 8 months ago

I'm all for new missions and having set attacker/defender roles sounds interesting.

Having different FOCs makes little sense to me and I hope it's not true. Other wise you change the game from its *pick me up* nature, to being forced into premeditate army lists; on Tuesdays night game I'm going to be an attacker/defender. Which I'm not crazy about.

Though, I suppose rather than having everyone build *take all comers* lists, you could have everyone make 1 attacker list and 1 defender list that way you can have everyone roll off on matching up and still keep flexibility (our play group is large and we never know how many or who will be showing up for game night).

JohnOSpencer · 8 months ago

Actually it means you'd play pick up games of 'normal' 40K and you'd schedule the game of Planetstrike in advance, kinda like you'd do with Apoc.

Bob · 8 months ago

I'm not so sure about this new supplemental codex. It sounds too much like any other special mission and doesn't really involve anything that merits its own book. A chapter approved article yes, but not a book.

And a plastic warhound would make more sense than a thunderhawk. Pretty much every imperial player wants at least one, although there would probably be some fight over it with forge world due to it being such a big seller.

Honsou · 8 months ago

Plastic Titans will depend on how successful the Stompa is. If the Stompa sells well, work will start on Titans.

squighound · 8 months ago

While I really like this idea, 40k supplements have turned into ways of making stuff to sell. I got into 40k at 2nd ed, when you had your army (and 2000pts was massive for average gamers) and you made scenery at home out of cardboard and matchsticks.

Then GW started making their cardboard buildings, and they sold really well, so someone thought "Hey! we could sell shit!". It's no secret that cities of death came about to sell people GW terrain, and make people modify their existing forces to something more "suitable" for city fighting.

And as for Apocalypse, what a brainwave! If we tell people that fighting massive battles with tonnes of huge models is fun, then we'll sell more models. Sure, it's nice to have rules that make big, big battles fun, but don't think that's the point of Apocalypse. The point is that people used to be happy with their 2000pt armies, and you were seeing a lot of gamers who had "finished" their armies years ago, and maybe bought 1 new squad every 6 months if that. Now you can carry on expanding your army forever, because you can field half a dozen land raiders, so why not buy them and paint them?

And now planetstrike! everyone go and buy defense structures and fast attack vehicles!

Don't get me wrong, all of these expansions are great fun, and excellently produced, but you know, I'm just as happy playing a quick 750pt game of standard 40k.

The one thing that does piss me off though, is they seem to have forgotten skirmish games (and 40k was originally a skirmish game!) because for those games you only need to spend 20quid and you've got yourself a warband.

albertsevil · 8 months ago

Hmmm though i'd like to see Planetstrike, i'm sceptical about how much it will be played. Cities of Death was very popular here when it first came out but died off quite quickly. Have to say that Planetstrike sounds fun though.

Anyone know if other armies will get an update or new figures with this release?

soylent robot · 8 months ago

Fraid that bastion's a conversion, it they were to make it in plastic it'd be much more detailed. But those barricades on p.230 are a possibility, they could go with the exisiting imperial ruin and ork barricade sets

grimbeard · 8 months ago

the exact same thing was said about the first pic's of the Valkyries, except then it was "they're the FW version, not the plastic". I have no trouble accepting that this is the real deal. I also have no trouble accepting the T-Hawk as reality. It will sell like mad.

jquest · 8 months ago

I'm all about a plastic Thunderhawk. Fluff wise there should be one in every SM game. With the size of the Baneblades and Stompas, they should be able to produce one at a simliar cost.

fattdex · 8 months ago

What, no video of the thunderhawk this time around?

CaptainInsano · 8 months ago

The return of destructible terrain? Please?

TSINI · 8 months ago

Giggedy!

Jipin · 8 months ago

space marines need some super heavy love that's for sure, but I don't see how they can do the model justice at a reasonable price. It would need to be pretty big, it'll probably be about £100 Always up for new terrain though, but I don't feel a need for a new book.

BTB · 8 months ago

Naturally I would take a Thunderhawk in a second but I would also save up pennies if the Imperial Palace that was used in a WD photo shoot a while back was mass produced :)

Grekyll · 8 months ago

My Moti (Man on the inside) of GW, told me "After this comes out we have to get together for a game.". He has seen it, wouldn't tell me everything but confirmed the attacker/defender set up, the force org changes, and new terrian kits will release with it.

Plastic Thunderhawk - His word on this after talking with others in GW, is that they will be making this right after the new release of Squats. But I think that when they figure out they can make good money on making it they will.

Denzark · 8 months ago

Squats!

Cergorach · 8 months ago

You do know that was meant sarcastically, I think it was as a 40K version of "When hell freezes over!", in other words: never.

*shrugs* If you asked anyone at GW (headquaters or store) the same question about a plastic Baneblade, they would laugh themselves silly. It is just that technology outruns the imagination of quite a few people. Production costs for designs (virtual 3D models) and the molds (direct from virtual 3D model to automated mold production) have gone down significantly in the last couple of years. It really wouldn't suprise me at the least when/if a Thunderhawk shows up, if only as a means of testing new technology, they did something similar with the Baneblade.

Molochi · 8 months ago

Lol. Yes. As in they'll make "Chaos Legions and Lost and the Damned right after they're done with Squats."

I'm surprised you couldn't hear themselves snorting in their imitation of the human laugh.

Grekyll · 8 months ago

He got his information from the head of production.

Shades · 8 months ago

I'd love to see a plastic Thunderhawk, and as they aren't any larger than baneblade I dont imagine it would be too difficult to make one. The other thing is the new "Flyer Stand" that comes with the valkyrie. As an engineer, I kept thinking that is was over sized for the valkyrie, but a Thunderhawk sized model... might just fit the job. I also cannot wait for the Ironclad Dreadnaught. Not so sure Ill bother with the Land Speeder Storm personnally. Scouts just dont have enough punch any more to make it worth moving them around that much.

I also love the idea of attack/defend missions with different FOCs. I remember playing them in the 3rd Ed. of 40k. Ok yes, they require a little fore-thought and cant really be just "pick-up" games like the missions in the main rulebook, but then again the same can be said of Apocolypse, and Cities of Death. In my experience, it's not that much effort to play these kind of games so I can't imagine Planetstrike being any more effort.

klemanius · 8 months ago

I remember those 3rd ed spec FOC missions, man they were great!

Xas · 8 months ago

ugh... a THawk is 2 baneblades long for its body and another 2 (one each side) for its wings -.-

the valkyrie is allmost as big as a baneblade!

klemanius · 8 months ago

Planet strike sounds interesting, especially with the emphasis on deepstriking or aerial units in the latest armies (demons, spacemarine pods, guard valks,etc). really holding out for the new terrain, though its currently sitting below buying a bunch of valks so will see. As cool as it is, I think it would be much cooler if there was an expansion for ship to ship combat, that would be sweet and really deserves a book.

Jipin · 8 months ago

Isn't that Aeronautica Imperialis from Forge World or did I understand that completley wrong?

eddtheman · 8 months ago

"I think it would be much cooler if there was an expansion for ship to ship combat"
like bfg or aeronautica imperialis?

klemanius · 8 months ago

no I meant as in boarding actions and such

whoopwhoop · 8 months ago

I must admit I'm psyched about this, striking planets is one of the things tyranids do best.

However, what concerns me is that this might put the unupdated codices further away from the new one's. If the rumours is true about the changed FO charts for attacker and defender my guess is that the attacker would have more fast and limited heavy, while the defender has the exact opposite (this seems logical to me, though I might be dead wrong). This would mean that these slots would play a larger role, thus putting armies that are lacking in those areas at a disadvantage.

Most armies have reliable heavy support, but some have very limited fast attack sections; tau has mostly support units that, though good, doesn't have the oomph! needed to be useful in large quantities.

Being a tyranid player myself, I of course want to point out our disadvantage (from reading here its quite obvious that people have a tendency to enlarge the problems their own army has, and Im no different :P). Tyranids suffer from, simply put, shitty fast attack. Raveners are fragile both in shooting and lose combat, Winged Warriors are overpriced and fragile and spore mines are a free kill point.

I dont know how flying ripper swarms would work out, but they might work, but the problem is also that, apart from forgeworld, there are no models. Gargoyles are actually a decent choice, but are expensive as hell in terms of actual money.

With that said, new terrain is always nice, anything to make the battlefield look more battlefield-y. The other models don't do anything for me though, I think there are enough space marines out there as it is and have always thought of the thunderhawk as a very ugly model with its blocky design and misplaced battle cannon.

I would love to hear what other people think about this :)

(Note that this is only the thoughts and opinions of a single individual (me) and if you prove me wrong I'll be the first to admit it)

xNickBaranx · 8 months ago

I don't get the people who rail against these Expansions. My gaming group still play CoD games from time to time. We haven't played much Apocalypse because our armies are rather small, but anything that makes the game more varied and interesting, and that offers us both new modeling challenges and new gaming challenges is a good thing.

I've personally been chomping at the bit over this expansion for a while.

And anyone who doesn't think a Thunderhawk would be a worthwhile endeavor is insane. SM's outsell all the other armies. I'd probably own several to transport my whole expanding company.

And someone was complaining about the terrain they sell and how no one owns it in their area. I don't get that either.

And demands for Xenos terrain - that on the other hand. I'm the only person I know who owns the Ork Barricades. Will the sales justify more Xenos terrain? That's on you the consumer.

BrassScorpion · 8 months ago

Love Cities of Death with its stratagems and the terrain sets for it and own quite a bit of Imperial City. Love Apocalypse. Really looking forward to Planetstrike. I've always liked the idea of expansions for 40K, unfortunately they were not well supported in the past much past a year after their release. I'm really glad to see that GW is keeping their current range of expansions supported and growing. Two releases for Planetstrike appear to be "splash" releases, so get them when you can.

As soon as the Bastion and Landing Pad appeared in pictures last year there were comments from GW staff that those items might be released for sale and now that appears to be coming true. From what I hear, look to August for even more 40K stuff.

anon · 8 months ago

Thunderhawk!
Awesome!
I don't care if this isn't true, the thought of a plastic thunderhawk... bliss.

Farsight · 8 months ago

Now, correct me if I'm wrong but when they released Cities of Death they followed it up with a world campaign and when they released Apoc they started the Lucky 13 campaign. So is it fair to say the arrival of Planetstrike might herald yet another big scale campaign?

Near&Far · 8 months ago

Nope, there are no more campaigns. The "Lucky 13" campaign was I believe the baby of Dave Taylor, pretty much independent of the rest of GW, and only in the US.

GW is shrinking in terms of hobby involvement, has all but cancelled sponsored events, and I seriously doubt if they even have the resources for the "studio" to organize and run such an event.

GW is going pure sales oriented. Must meet the Shareholders' expectations. Sad, isn't it?

The David · 8 months ago

The lucky 13 campaign II is not a rumor that his official. Try looking it up and you'll see it's all there

Near&Far · 8 months ago

Wow, that was incredibly helpful.

Happen to have a link? Anything? Anything?

Farsight · 8 months ago

That's a shame. I just started the hobby when they were halfway through the Medusa campaign so I never got to participate and out here in Phoenix it's almost a tradition for hobby stores that sell Games-workshop close 6 months after I find them. Cruse this economy!!!

UltramarineFan · 8 months ago

With the plastic Thunderhawk I'll believe it when I see it, at the moment I'm still sceptical but we'll see. Looking forward to new terrain, it'll make a change from always palying in ruined cities.

Herald of Nurgle · 8 months ago

Anyone wish that GW would release a Hell Blade or Hell Talon(s) in plastic?
=P

Stiill, it's all good!

The David · 8 months ago

Games workshop has in the past sold building kits. I know this because I own all of them. What they are is a card stock with plastic pieces. So I'm thinking they may just rereleased the same kits. To have them all plastic it would be nice but it would be pricey. The old buildings costs about $24 at the time.
As for a plastic thunder Hawk this rumor has been floating around for about 15 years now. Ever since the first build your own thunder Hawk instructions appeared in Citadel Journal. after the success of the pewter kit. They decided to make any resin kit. for those of you who own the resin kit I don't need to tell you this for those of you who don't it comes down to this. The 250 pound kit is a top seller. I own two myself each one comes with a certificate of authenticity and their are a number. My own kit numbers are 252 and 559. So why would they sell it cheaper? I don't think in the plastic business but I know a few things about model making him. Plastic mold and cost around $5,000 and can only be used so many times. On top of that it would cost about $20,000 just in the development of the model. Resin is incredibly cheaper.

Near&Far · 8 months ago

No they won't re-release the old junk.

They have the means and desire to make the plastic kits, the success of the Fantasy and 40k terrain kits has determined that.

Plastic molds are worth more like $250,000, and go forever. Pewter molds burn out.

I have no idea if the Thunderhawk is true or not, but I do know the Baneblade and Stompa were disbelieved for forever, much as the Valkyrie was recently.

Bluesfart · 8 months ago

don't forget drop pods! That was a rumor going around for years that many refused to believe.

OXRS · 8 months ago

Yeah, you obviously don't know as much about the model making business as you think you do. You're way off base with that "information" about plastic moulds. Pewter moulds are dirt cheap, around $5000, and break down over time. Plastic moulds are really expensive, much easier to design finer detail for using computers, and last, for all intents and purposes, forever. Near&Far is a little off on the price, too. In the last year they've come down in price drastically and manufacturing a mould for something like the Thunderhawk would cost them around $100,000 to $150,000. After that, though, the manufacturing cost of the actual product would be almost negligible. They would sell a LOT more than Forge World does. Forge World is a niche section of the Niche market that GW occupies. What makes more profit than high margins? Higher volume.

The bottom line is that resin is expensive for them to continue with. It warps a lot more than plastic and they lose money with every replacement they make (which happens more often than most people think) and once they invest in the plastic kits, all they're doing is raking in the money. Replacements from damaged parts wouldn't even scratch their bottom line. Why do you think they're so ready to send out entire replacement Baneblade kits if even one part is damaged? Plastic is cheap. Each kit costs them a few dollars in materials.

You seem to be thinking in "guy in a basement" manufacturing terms, in which $5000 is prohibitively expensive. GW's budget for creating new lines is more than most of their customers make in 10 years, on the low end.

Rimael · 8 months ago

This sounds like a great release! I am looking forward to this one most definately! Biggest problem here will be cost factor. I know our hobby is expensive, but we all know that we will be shelling out hundreds just for the ability to play the way this game is intended. I do not believe that they will be selling this new terrain on the cheap, rather, they will up the price of it, and in all likelyhood the only way to get a "deal" will be to buy a boxset with all aspects of the terrain inside for btwn 250-300, if not more. We are talking about defending a full-size structure here. Also, tables will have to be remodled, possibly, to have better width and depth to the game. Just a few possible thoughts.

Rimael

Engelus · 8 months ago

i believe the plastic thunderhawk. it makes fiscal sense that they would be producing at least 1 "big" kit per army,

imp guard got the baneblade, then the orks got the stompa, why wouldn't they make a thunderhawk. , and after that I suspect an Eldar titan would be next, followed by a large tau flyer, and so on and so fourth.

why would they only make 2 superheavies and then call it done. if they were going to make a big vehicle for each race, what would they make for spacemarines, there is nothing else all they have is the thunderhawk.

Herald of Nurgle · 8 months ago

Could always confirm the Fellblade as real =P
Well, i'll be praying for plastic Chaos Flyers...

Kraggi · 8 months ago

This sounds good, even if a plastic TH doesnt come out with. I really like the Cities of Death Kits and while they may be a bit on the pricey side the quality and options are very nice so I am hopeful for any plastics they release with this.

Brother_Marius · 8 months ago

All the Thunderhawk doubters should remember the Drop pod thing... now with three of them in my collection, all of which costed less than a single FW ones, I can simply sit and wait for the Thunderhawk. Baneblades, Shadowswords, Stompas and Valkyries.... seriously why WOULDN'T they do a Thunderhawk?
I love the 'my cousin's room-mate's uncle's boyfriend works in the janitorial department at GW and they laugh...". I mean seriously, if I had a dollar for every one of these assinine statements I'd have a third company of marines in my collection.

I'm betting that the thunderhawk will be the first 100+ dollar single model kit and it will sell like mad. I mean how many other people laid out the 240ish for the marine spear head (which was actually a deal when compared to the actual retail on the items individually)?

Bradley Wiggins · 8 months ago

Agreed. There have been thunderhawk kits in the past, and now that they have improved their plastic technology and already made the baneblades, I think a thunderhawk is just a duh-obvious move. I believe the stompa is a much more complicated model... A Thunderhawk has so many more flat surfaces than even the shadowsword.

I have no doubt they can make them now, and imagine how well it would sell. Baneblades sold like crazy and that's just guard, not marines...

Dajanitor · 8 months ago

I dont see it as why wouldnt they,

I see it as, our technology has gotten so much better, we should push it further to test the abilities of what we have, ya know?

Soundwave · 8 months ago

I only have the Black Reach rulebook. Does anyone have a picture of what this Bastion looks like?
If it's the one on p.81 that's rumoured to come out then I hate to disappoint you all but.... well, take a look at the Black Templar codex and you'll see.

zealot · 8 months ago

vulkan ? huh ?

Mrrshann618 · 8 months ago

Oh well, another Plastic TH rumor flying.
Now if it were the Tau Orca, that would be Something!!!
Though I have to agree that a plastic TH kit would sell like mad. Heck I'd probilly buy two. Teachnically acording to the Heresy fluff CSM would get TH's in limited numbers also.

Asymmetrical Xeno · 8 months ago

Personally id like to see some generic alien world terrain. I mean I often see that people focus on the war/battle elements of the terrain, but not the actual planets themselves - id like to see strange alien tree's, crystal formations and other otherworldly things, surely not every planet in the galaxy is going to have earth-like type terrain ? this is the kind of terrain that could be used for anyone, or even converted to be race-specific (crystal formations painted green = necron ect).

TSINI · 8 months ago

i'd suggest checking out other miniature companies for non race specific scenery.

www.armorcast.com are still going and they make crystal formations etc and some interesting scenery.

also check out these guys at http://www.oldcrowmodels.co.uk/ in particular the links to Ainsty Products. although its normally hi-tech sci-fi stuff that you find, with a bit of modification/burying into the ground / filling with caved in areas etc you can make some interesting areas of the 41st millenium that arent a common sight

i'm personally quite lazy with terrain and any company that gives me a head start is a god-send :D

Matt · 8 months ago

I know one of the guys that is working on the prototype for a plastic Thunderhawk, and his opinion of the people in the design studio is that they are clowns, and not particularly funny one either.

rider · 8 months ago

just checked the pics in the rule book, looks to me like that terrain is scracthbuilt

markbkansas · 8 months ago

Compare the bastion in the rule book with the bastion in Apocalypse Reload battle report. You will see that the bastion is a plastic kit with removable levels.

billy hsu · 8 months ago

A plastic Thunderhawk, it would be awesome, but the cost? if a baneblad is 100 wahts the thunderhawk gonna be? And forgeworld, with all these plastic models coming out, whats forgeworld gonna do, lose business? i know they're part of GW, but still whats the point of forgeworld then?

Billy Hsu · 8 months ago

but of course, the plastic thunderhawk is cool and all.

Pim · 8 months ago

Hi.

Just read this post about planetstrike. I also checked the examples of supposed new buildings. (Bastion, AA Turret, Barricades). When looking through the book i also noticed a landingpad (pg. 239, research station). This might be scratchbuild, but seems very much of an incident, if you consider the mentioned kit-release.

Grt. Pim

Paul · 7 months ago

Interesting concept although I wait to see it working before I lavish it with love and praise.

SinSynn · 8 months ago

I'm all for a plastic thunderhawk, but I dunno about any new expansions. Apacolypse isn't widely popular round my way, and NO ONE plays cityfight that I know. As for myself, the standard BRB ruleset suits me fine, and since that's what everyone knows, even when we play scenarios-and I've seen some wierd ones, even at tourneys- they're based on that very same ruleset. The good ol' standard 40k rules work well enough.
If GW is going to release an 'Expansion' every once in a while, they SHOULD make an update, re-balancing and refresher of the existing ruleset and codexes all in one package. If they'd like to ADD new advanced rules for attacker/defender games, urban scenario games or what have you, throw it in this release as well. Put one out every 12 to 18 months or so, with a new BRB every 5 years or so-cuz you know they're gonna do it anyway- and we're good.
5th Ed. is a hot mess early in it's release cycle. There is such a huge difference between the top tier armies and the rest of the pack, and such an overwhelming emphasis on close combat that it would benifit from a 'patch', as it were. But, true to GW style, they'll just keep piling on the new products, instead.
Wait and see how many White Dwarf issues are filled with 'the new Orks vs. the new Guard Planetstrike' articles, after it releases.

AhrimanLord · 8 months ago

Sir, I think I love you. That is the exact same opinion I have been espousing these past months, yet no-one seems to listen.

(Rant)

Ofcourse its all very good for that cosy little trio of Orks, Space Marines and Guard. Think about it, when was the last time you read a WD battle report NOT featuring one of those armies. And i'm not just going on about the Dark Eldar and Space Wolves either. So many codexes (Witch Hunters, Daemon Hunters, Necrons, Tyranids for example) have been rendered outmoded and totally outclassed by the onset of new codices and 5th edition.

Heaping on new expansions and releases isn't going to help. Why is it that the Imperium and Orks, who get enough pandering to already, are getting shiney new toys like Stompas and Baneblade variants, when Xenos (sans Orks) , the Inquisition and Chaos are left out in the cold.

The only light at the end of tunnel is that when GW have got this sillyness out of the way they can move on to the kind of fair and balanced work we need done.

(/Rant)

Paul · 8 months ago

It's because the "Cosy little trio" accounts for the lion's share of sales, and GW is about making money. They could have put out a Necron Super Monolith, a Tyranid Norn Queen riding a Hierodule, or some unspeakable Dark Eldar atrocity. Since fewer people play those armies, fewer models would sell, and the venture would be unprofitable.

You're quite right about the codices of other armies being outmoded by the new edition and new codices, but this is a situation that's been going on since 2nd edition. When you have the number of codices and army books GW pumps out to update, it's simply not feasible to do them all (even in a "patch" format) at one time. And it's back to sales again. After sales on the new SM and IG lines simmer down, we're likely to see the remainder of the flock get updates, not before.

AhrimanLord · 8 months ago

You are ofcourse entirely correct, I know GW is a buissiness and must run itself as such, but it still smarts that we, the loyal consumer base, have the bear the brunt of it.

whoopwhoop · 8 months ago

I agree with what you say, but I also think its funny that, for example, the dark eldar weere pushed back due to the current dark eldar not selling enough...

Thats pretty much like saying "Were selling a car without wheels. Adding wheels to it would increase sales greatly. We wont add wheels until it starts selling better."

Honsou · 8 months ago

That's a bit of an overstatement. Having followed the game since before the Dark Eldar were an established concept (at least as separate from 'pirate' Eldar), they were never something that really caught on. They did cut their own niche, but never so much as Marines, Guard, Orks, Chaos or even Eldar.

The army itself does have problems, but I don't think the same ones people talk about. The list, even at 15-odd years old, still works - they're very good at what they do, and in the hands of a skilled player are nigh-unbeatable. However, their style of play is very narrow which makes them less interesting to collect. Also, their style makes it difficult to really do anything with Dark Eldar as a concept. There's very little scope for heavy or super-heavy units in what is supposed to be a light raider-type list, and all other avenues are more-or-less covered in the current Codex. If you want heavier units, you may as well be playing Eldar or even Tau.

The way I understand it is that any future Dark Eldar re-release is going to be a much bigger re-vamp than we've seen for Orks, Marines or Guard. It will involve an almost complete overhaul of the current list to give players more options for creating armies while still maintaining their unique style. I daresay, their units may even be completely different to what the Dark Eldar have now.

SinSynn · 8 months ago

Think about this-
How many Ork players did you know BEFORE the new Ork Codex released? I'll tell you how many I knew- One.
After the release of the new 'dex they're everywhere. Why?
Because GW took a Xenos army that, like ALL the Xenos armies prior to 'the new Orks', were pretty much just designed to be something for Space Marines to shoot at.
None of the 3rd and 4th edition Xenos codexes were overpowered in the way the new Ork 'dex is. Clever players could win with Necrons. or Tau, or Dark Eldar or the old Ork codex, but were not practically guaranteed a win like the Orks are now. Playing against Orks in 5th ed. is friggin' ridiculous!
And then the bandwagon started rolling, and now Ork armies are everywhere. Me, I believe GW boosted the Orks because a player has to purchase so many to build an army. 100 to 150 figures, plus vehicles and extras. That's a lot of kits. Open any White Dwarf from the past few months and you'll see that the Ork release has greatly overshadowed the Space Marine release- the Orks have been getting the lion's share of attention for like a year now- because GW will make more money off an Ork player than, say, a Tau player. Which I WAS until a month or so ago. I've gotten sick of getting stomped out since the 'run rule' and new focus on CC has made it impossible to compete for the Tau, and I'm sick of my army not even showing up in a background of a picture in any GW publications. I imagine it's the same for many of the 'forgotten army' players out there. I'm also sick of seeing Nob Biker lists, and Double Demon Price with Lash of Submission lists- but the Chaos Codex has ALWAYS been overpowered. It's like tradition.
I don't know why GW hasn't even commented on the current disparity, but I'm getting pissed off. Here's my plan, as horrible as it may be-
The Tau are going in the foam. Goodbye, underpowered losers with NO CC ability (toughness 3, Ld. 7 Kroot are NOT CC capability, people).
When the new Imperial Guard Codex releases, I will illegally download it and review it. That's right, you heard me. GW ain't gettin' no mo' of my money right now.
Following my review of the Guard, I will compare it's ability to create the cheesiest, most beardy army imaginable. In fact, that's my plan. Whatever army has the power to dominate-EXCEPT Orks or Chaos, as I hate them, is what I'll build- just to piss people off. So I hope the Guard 'dex rocks. And when my 'impossible to beat' army stomps out all opponents, I'll smile and say "My army isn't overpowered, it can be beaten by a clever player. Just the other day I lost a game. No one saw it, but it happened. OK, it didn't happen-but my army is perfectly legal! GW designed and playtested it!"
Looking foward to it.

BeastOfShadow · 8 months ago

Tau, Eldar and Nids were probably the chessiest armies in 4th. The ork range needed a whole revamp and got it. The marines didn't because they get a codex per edition. There are also alot of ork player who did what your doing with your tau are now coming out of the woodwork again.

Kroot Shaper · 8 months ago

I guess the guy who won the UK GT with Tau got lucky then eh?

BeastOfShadow · 8 months ago

as an intresting fact he played six hoard armies with 2 hammerheads and a skyray. He is a good player though and is finals list was nasty.

SinSynn · 8 months ago

yes. yes he did. very lucky.
I know the list (6 d-fish, hammerheads list), and the story. Let's not lose sight of the fact he won based on Painting and comp. score. Also, scenarios are played at tournaments, not your basic missions that are rolled up, like a pickup game played at your local GW store. That army list he ran gives up 3 KP a transport, so that's 18 KP just with his troop choices! 2 gundrones- 1 KP, Transport- 1 KP, 6 firewarriors- 1 KP.
I know everyone wants to justify the current unbalanced state of 40k, or act like the game is fine, but I stand by my original claim that 5th Ed. is a mess. Are myself and AhrimanLord the only ones that see it. Ork players are naturally defensive, claiming left and right that they're codex is fair and balanced, but really now, look at the top 25 armies at ANY GT in the last year and try again. It usually reads Orks, Orks Orks, Chaos(the double lash list), Orks, Orks, Chaos, etc. You know it does, so why try to act differently? I'm not mad at people who are suddenly Ork players, trying to justify their switch with annoying logic (yeah, 1 Tau player in like forever has the luckiest day of his life- that's proof that the Tau are competetive), I'm mad at GW for 1st creating this mess, then denying it exists, then not only not doing anything to change it, but piling on the expansions without a nod to the 'lower tier' armies.
what about Inquisition players-both flavors, what about the Necrons, who got nerfed in 5th? Where's the love for the Eldar players, dark and regular? How about fixing the Biovore rules for the rare 'Nid player who loves them?
Nah, let's release a new expansion that no one will play. All those Cities of Death books look lonely on the shelves.

Kroot Shaper · 8 months ago

So you go about saying how he has a horrible KP list, and how he only won because he had good comp and paint scores?

Lucky (in your eyes) or not, he still won. I'm sure it has nothing to do with your lack of talent using Tau:

SinSynn

"a Tau player. Which I WAS until a month or so ago. I've gotten sick of getting stomped out since the 'run rule' and new focus on CC has made it impossible to compete for the Tau"

Ahh the internet. Where the lost and lonely whine for attention.

Sorry you're not as good as someone else. Maybe try a new game?

Skorsson · 7 months ago

I entirely agree with you, especially being the rare Nid player that loves Biovores (or at least used to love them in 3rd)

Big J · 8 months ago

While I agree that 5th could use some fixes and especially codex specific clarifications, Apoc is EXTREMELY popular where I play, and it's pretty much the only way we play now. We've got a 15,000 point game coming up in May. I'd rather see whole new expansions than an occasional 5 page PDF on new scenarios on their site.