9th Edition: What is Really Going On.

We have had some dramatic changes revealed about the new edition of Warhammer Fantasy coming this summer, and the reactions extremely varied as well. 

When the Endtimes first came out, it was one of those books that caused a lot of discord until we finally started delving into it. From all accounts, its generally loved by a large percentage of players. I think 9th Edition Fantasy will be the same. It seems that a lot of design and effort were put into this coming edition and the books that lead to it.

Call me an optimist if you want, but lets look at what was said by our source here on this site. Btw, he only comes here to help the community out and clarify rumors before they get out of hand and go in far out directions. So I trust what he has to say over any of the rumored bits of information from elsewhere. Here are a few of his comments

People aren't reading that their 8th edition books aren't going away.
Nothing is being taken away.  Certain races just aren't getting more added.
In fact, no faction is really getting anything added since everything will be new .
You can play 8th, using the 8th core book.
You can play 9th, using your 8th army book (though you will need to change your bases if you want to completely adopt the new format, even using your 8th army book).

I cant remember ever hearing this before that your books will be compatible into the next edition before. It seems the goal of 9th edition is to inject it with the same excitement the Endtimes has brought forth. However, if you still want to play with the background and armies that you did before, you can, and its supported in not only the background of what is going on in the timeline, but in the way armies are released and handled. Nothing is getting removed.

So for the purposes of compatibility, you can use your 8th edition hardback book, representing a section of the culture that hasn't been horrifically changed by the End Times (Recognizing it will have the same drawbacks of using a dated book that are experienced elsewhere).
You can use End Times rules/concepts, representing a section that is still being torn apart.
You can use the new, post-end times rules to represent what is "current." 

All the books  are designed to be compatible.

The third set of rumors that came from the Bols compilation, with earlybird discussing factions for 9th edition, is most likely his speculation. A lot of people have assumed that this means that Lizardmen are going away. Only according to earlybird. No army is getting squatted in 9th edition. In fact no faction is really getting a big update at all. According to rumors there is still one Endtimes book ahead of us, and that will give us a lot of information as to what is going on with Lizardmen.

Instead from what we were told the game will get new models and expansions to armies through supplements. These will be short-mid term releases only, in order to keep the model lines fresh, and growing. I see this as a good thing, as it allows for Warhammer Fantasy to grow beyond just the armybooks limitations. We have seen a trend towards these kinds of releases in 40k, with campaigns and mini-dexes.

These will then be expanded on with supplements, not intended as money-grabs, but more as guided hands to acknowledge deficiencies in books, or even "global meta" changes.  The first time that Games Workshop will be openly acknowledging things that need changes.
These units will typically get white dwarf rules treatments heralding the release in hardback of all of the new units from the previous month(s), for a new setting expansion, which will pit several of the races together (representing a collision).
As these expansions are not permanent in the world, so too will these models not be.  They are intended to only get one template injection mold life-run, the same as the books will be printed only once in hardback, then delayed paperback.

Overall I have only touched on what was said, and I am often the first to panic when I hear of changes coming, often even before the articles go live. Its sometimes why you don't see a lot of my initial comments to new rumors. I tend to do some breathing, a little kata, settle down, and then finally come back to it. twice in the history of the site I have walked away and had to take a full day to settle.

I do think though, that this particular set of changes, with the explanation that we were given here on this site, not only works, but seems to take into account that many players dont want to change their armies around (and wont have to). This is the most assurance we have had with big changes looming in the near future. It takes into account players that have been in the hobby a long time and the new ones that are just coming in.

Even though it seems that there is a lot of change here, (and there is in concept), we have been told that the rules changes will be minor, and that changes to the armybooks will also not be big overhauls. I think in the end this will effect a majority of players much less than how it first appears.

It is just a very fresh look at a game that hasn't changed dramatically in how it's played since the dawn of the game and company.  It will give everyone the opportunity and hopefully inspiration to do something new, but without invalidating everything from the past.  It is opening room for creativity, not closing doors.

My goal with this editorial is not to invalidate anyone's comments, or start heated arguments, after all I understand the fear people are having. I wanted to focus readers more on what we were told here on this site more than what the others are saying, simply because I know the value of the source that chimed in to help us get a grasp on what is coming.

I dont normally post this kind of "non rumor" parts of conversations behind the scenes. This was what was said leading into the article yesterday in response to the rumors from Darnok on Warseer.

As you know I read your site, at least once a week and for the past several months nothing you have posted has been so off base that it was believed to be worth correcting to avoid problems.
Your post on 9th edition is however an outlier.  You have some information correct and some not so much.

Personally I look forward to seeing what lies ahead for Warhammer Fantasy in the new edition.


Here are some links to previous articles about the changes that are coming.
Jan.6th (first article on the changes coming to 9th edition)
Major Changes to Warhammer Fantasy in 9th Edition

Jan.7th   (Our sources information and response to the leaked information on 9th)
Important Information About the Changes to 9th Edition Fantasy

Jan.7th (mostly Harry from Warseer's comments)
9th Edition Talks Continue: The Floodgates are Open