Question about the overall 9th codex quality

[hunter]

Hello all,

I'm a long time lurker here, and I'm back to 40k after a few years break (I basically stopped a few years back, a bit before the end of 8th edition).

So naturally, I recently bought the last nids codex. While having a look at it, I couldn't help but notice that the "global" quality of the book has dropped for a few years.
I'm not talking about the rules themselves, they are actually great, but more about illustrations, and content.
I had my 7th ed. codex nearby, and when I opened it, I really felt the overall quality dropped. In 7th we had so much illustrations, and a description of each organism, what its purpose is, etc...
Now, we have a very small picture of the model, and a (very) short paragraph about what it's supposed to do in the hive. I know the codex is larger then its 7th counterpart, but yet while reading it, I feel it's "less entertaining" to read.

Am I alone feeling this way ?

[omnivore]

I agree. The fluff was very uninspired and short and the story didn’t advance at all. I was hoping to hear more about the Tiamat structure but there was no new news. I especially missed the old timeline fluff about Tyranid encounters.

[piersonsmuppet]

I agree, I’m not a fan of the pictures instead of new artwork. I think the wordiness of text content is fine though, maybe a few sections could have used more. However, I’m overall happy with what I’ve read.

[bigbadbalou]

I guess it's to be expected. GW trying to push the modeling lobby instead of the artwork.

But like you said, one thing that I remembered but forget until you mentioned it, is that in previous codex, you had pages juste to descript the fluff around each unit. The descritpion, role and looks, thing like that. Now we have the usual fleets fluff (which sadly didn't advanced at all), but nothing about the units themselves other than their datasheet.

[beastoftanagra]

I agree entirely.

I long ago I picked up a 4th edition (I think) codex at a used bookstore. It was the overall concept and description of the Tyranids from a high level that got me fascinated, and eventually into the hobby.

I’m enjoying myself playing, but if my intro had been the 9th edition codex I doubt it would have captured my imagination.

[hivefleetkerrigan]

I might be the oddball out here, but I don't buy the codex for the fluff. I buy it for the rules so I can play my army. The only times I've referenced the fluff is when I'm trying to make a list for a narrative campaign.

I do really enjoy the model showcases however and have used it for painting inspiration.

[infornography]

I kinda wish GW would make two books for each faction. One for fluff, the other for rules, then charge like 2/3s the cost for each. Maybe even make the rules books paperback again and make them cheaper.
They then could update the fluff book for changes in lore but not necessarily every edition. The rules book would be updated every edition but could be laser focused on readability and flow. I will concede that those concepts seem foreign to GW's codex team but I really REALLY want my codex to condense as many unit specific rules on the dataslate as possible. Every weapon they can carry should have its statline listed on the dataslate. All points and powerlevel costs should be on the dataslate. Any special rules should be on the dataslate. I suppose strats could be in the strat section, but maybe have a list of relevant strats on the dataslate so you can easily reference them.

I am so tired of flipping across 10 different sections of the same book to understand a given unit. It is such poor reference design...

[garg]

It is an interesting idea to split the fluff and the rules. It could pave the way for digital rules with good referencing ala wahapedia.
I did like the old codex with the detailed fluff on units and weapons, I have a soft spot for the barbed strangler from the description in the third edition codex. That said nowadays is the rules only for me. I've leafed through the book a couple of times but mostly it's a reference when playing for me.

[killercroc]

Well, quality wise as far as production idk how everyone else is, but it seems just after opening and using my codex a few times the bindings are already starting to get loose. I swear I never had this issue with other hardback codexes before, but both my Nid and GSC codex have the same issue. Idk, just blame (please do not swear) Chinese manufacturing?

Content wise, for as many pages are in the book it seems most of it doesn't matter. Hardly any pictures, fluff is the same as it's always been if it's even there. Y'all notice the only units that really get prominent close ups are the newest and usually expensive kits? Purely coincidental I'm sure. I use to love going through my old codexes, reading fluff, checking out all the pictures, the army setup shots and in case of the older codexes: conversion and paint guides. These new books though... really seems like the only thing I use it for is the last 20 pages of rules and the rest is bunk. I read the new codex cover-to-cover and cannot think of anything new or interesting off the top of my head that actually made me interested in reading it.

Lets face it, GW could/should just sell books of just the actual rules for the army and cut out 100% of the other stuff. I like infornography point, sell two books, one rules the other lore.

[hivefleetkerrigan]

Yeah. The rules vs lore split apart would be awesome. It would be nice if it was digital so you would buy a "pass" to different aspects. Ex: rules, lore, paint guides, conversion tips

[bigbadbalou]

Another thing I saw when going through the codex... I found it weird that they are promoting the Combat patrol boxed set in the codex (p50). Like... wtf? Next step you will put adds in there about the other armies that you "might" want to play because you like tyranid? Why would you mention something as useless as "Hey, combat patrol is the smallest size game and look here, we sell a box that get all the models belows!" and go on the talk fluff about why the models are good in the combat patrol... I don't get it...

[hivefleetkerrigan]

They've done that in all of the other codexes and even did it in the GSC 8e codex. I don't have an issue with them showing off the combat patrols or any of the other models for that matter.

[mattblowers]

Apr 27, 2022 16:09:23 GMT infornography said:

All points and powerlevel costs should be on the dataslate. Any special rules should be on the dataslate.

I get the idea, but I think it would make codexes feel outdated even quicker with the rapid codex point shifts. Points update every couple of months. I like that I can just insert 2 pages of updated points and the rest is fine.

I am so tired of flipping across 10 different sections of the same book to understand a given unit. It is such poor reference design...

It is annoying. The Eldar codex is far worse. For the life of me I can't figure out why they don't pick a format and stick with it.

[omnivore]

Apr 28, 2022 14:19:14 GMT mattblowers said:

Apr 27, 2022 16:09:23 GMT infornography said:

All points and powerlevel costs should be on the dataslate. Any special rules should be on the dataslate.

I get the idea, but I think it would make codexes feel outdated even quicker with the rapid codex point shifts. Points update every couple of months. I like that I can just insert 2 pages of updated points and the rest is fine.

I am so tired of flipping across 10 different sections of the same book to understand a given unit. It is such poor reference design...

It is annoying. The Eldar codex is far worse. For the life of me I can't figure out why they don't pick a format and stick with it.

Or go digital and solve everything.

[mattblowers]

Apr 28, 2022 14:54:07 GMT omnivore said:

Apr 28, 2022 14:19:14 GMT mattblowers said:

I get the idea, but I think it would make codexes feel outdated even quicker with the rapid codex point shifts. Points update every couple of months. I like that I can just insert 2 pages of updated points and the rest is fine.

It is annoying. The Eldar codex is far worse. For the life of me I can't figure out why they don't pick a format and stick with it.

Or go digital and solve everything.

Well, GW for some reason decided to go the opposite direction. The iPad codexes were awesome. Still don't know why they canned that. Probably to sell supplements.