40k Design Studio Open Day

[eeknight]

Article from a gaming blog about the 40k Design Studio Open Day
natfka.blogspot.com/2012/07/faeit-212-exclusive-40k-design-studio.html
Highlights (from a Nid point-of-view)

From the main design discussion:

· The reason that charges are not allowed on Deep Strike is to prevent the utter predictability of mega-hard units appearing anywhere and destroying whatever they want every game. There was a possible hint about Genestealers being able to do this at some point in the future!

Matt Ward:

He spoke about Tyranids being a tad difficult to work with as they have (in the past) been a little one dimensional (i.e charge everyone into CC). He made a point about there being no vehicle rules in the Tyranid army and that its monsterous creatures need to be able to kill Daemon Princes so how do you balance it out? We shall see!

Phil Kelly:

Phil said that there are currently 6 ‘projects’ on the go for 40k. I think he was referring to Codex’s. I asked him about Tyranids too and he said (rather excitedly) that he has ‘some really great ideas up his sleeve’ for the Nids. Sounds encouraging! It's worth noting that everyone I spoke to in the design team understands the need for Nids to get a boost.

Make of it what you will. I would have liked to hear "new codex, soon" but even reading between the lines that doesn't sound like a probability.

[dooksdizzo]

I don't get a lot of confidence from Ward syaing they are difficult to work with. His idea of easy to work with is Grey Knights point and click style design.

Also the 'charge everyone into close combat' 1 dimensional comment shows a pretty serious lack of understanding for the tactics of the army.

Phil writing the book would be fantastic however.

[Space is pretty big]

We're boned.

[coredump]

I suggest people read the actual article, there is a lot of info there.

[jocke01]

Still reading but just want to comment on this: the reason they added hull points was to let vehicles be more of use later in the game even after taking a few hits and not having them gone before they had a chance to do something.
Every non-flyer vehicle in my first games was dead turn one (okay not the monlith), XD thx to new hull points.

Hmm so the random charge lenght is to help unit getting into CC despite being shot by overwatch and wound allocation from the front, if you have 2+ save IC in the squad then yes to bad not every unit have it then.

despite from that hilarious bit I'm looking forward to more expansions and new tricks for nids

[jonesactingstrange]

Also, potentially, new FAQs by the end of summer..

Is it possible for an FAQ to contain a new rule for a unit, such as "Genestealers can assault after outflanking"? Since that is not clarifying a specific rule but adding something totally new, I would imagine we would have to wait for a new codex..

[coredump]

Its possible, particularly with a new BRB. For example, I expect some FAQs to allow access to Flakk missiles.
OTOH, they hinted several times that codices may be happening at a faster pace....

[N.I.B.]

Aiming for 'monthly releases' means pretty much any GW product - 2nd waves, Black Library books, expansions, codices, terrain, fancy markers etc. I don't think there's any hint of a new Tyranid codex any time soon, in the info.

The summer FAQ sounds promising though.

[The Hive Mind]

I don't think Phil will be head of Nid project, the Studio now run a rule that the author shouldn't collect the army, (idea to make it fair). So I think it's be a Matt Ward job, so T5 gaunts everyone? But seriously as long as MC drop in pts I can't see it being any worse than is currently, (250pts for a Flyrant with same save as a Marine?)...

[warischoy]

i hope he doesn't ruin the fluff though. I wouldn't mind tyranids being competitive but really if he starts making stupid stuff up like how the swarmlord got lost in the warp or something like that i am not going to be happy.

[Obsidorox]

It would be nice if they pumped out new codecies faster to help prevent a old codex getting completely bull dozed by a newer codex with new tricks and toys. Or, at the very least, dedicate a section of White Dwarf to tweaking/balancing existing contents and adding new bits to the older codecies to help keep them fresh and current until they get a massive revamp in their next codex.

I imagine it would be rather difficult to produce new codecies for every army with new unit contents and everything else at once but that seems to be one of the weaker parts of the 40K system.

[fragile]

""I asked him about Tyranids too and he said (rather excitedly) that he has ‘some really great ideas up his sleeve’ for the Nids."""

Which I interpret as meaning they havent touched a Nid codex yet.

[N.I.B.]

I think I read that the 'monthly releases' Cruddace talked about was refering to all three main games - WFB, 40K and LotR. Expect a big chunk of GW production capability going to LotR come december (Bilbo).

I'm glad they are doing well, I want my plastic crack dealer in good shape

[Rakuall]

I don't think Phil will be head of Nid project, the Studio now run a rule that the author shouldn't collect the army

They should separate the rules and fluff writers, but have the collaborate. Have an enthusiastic collector lead the fluff, and a non-collector head rules.

"Hey Matt, I'm working on a new Mid size unit, probably fast attack, here's the rough draft for you to start rules on."
"Will do Phil. Also, the Trygon needs a bit of flavor text to reflect rule X"

The fluff/rules interaction might not be quite as synchronous, but both would likely be of a higher/more balanced quality.

[Davor]

I am sort of dreading the FAQ coming for the Summer. I have a feeling it will not turn out well for us Nids.

Also I don't think they will change rules like "genestealers can assault after outflanking" or something like that. That will come to a new codex if it happens.

Then again, it's only 2 years and we will MOST likely have a new codex. Yes I know there is others that deserve it more, but I think Tyranids are on a 4 year cycle. So much sales will happen with a new Nids dex.