Model Waves without a new codex release looks like it will become a trend for Games Workshop, and a welcome one at that. We are going into our third week of Tyranid releases that most of us, felt came out of the blue. Many models were lost during the last codex release for Tyranids, and one especially..... the mycetic spore, was sorely felt across the community.
Please remember that this is an editorial.
Losing Models with codex releases
Every codex release we have had for some time, has been losing models in a serious way. Character models have suffered the worst in this, but often models that large groups of the community had custom-made themselves........... like the Mycetic Spore, were gone. This led to a very serious depletion in models, in some cases, like the Grey Knights, a very small and thin codex release.
Now we all know the reason why this occurred. Third party companies started making the models that Games Workshop was not, and were making profits directly off these codex entries that had no models. Now you can blame GW or the 3rd party companies, as its a matter of highly contested opinions who was at fault here, but the case against Chapterhouse is now a mainstay of our hobby's history and conversation.
So Games Workshop removed codex entries as they were updating new codices for 6th and now 7th edition. Not only was it the models that were getting changed... but even the names of armies were being given names that offered Games Workshop more legal protection over their products. Imperial Guard to Astra Militarum being the greatest example.
The Campaign
It's been a long time coming, but with this latest Tyranid wave, we have felt a massive wave of relief, that these lost models, and hopefully characters, will not only be returned with a model of their own, but with unit improvements and upgrades.... like the Neurothrope, which also replaces the Doom of Malanti.
What is nice about this, is that Games Workshop is also tying these model releases with Campaigns, which can link codices together in a series of releases, and really dedicate some time to the background and new models.
This latest campaign, Shield of Baal: Leviathan, promises to be an exciting series. Already we know that it will feature a new detachment for Tyranids, rules for the new models, as well as updates to City of Death games, and more.
This latest campaign, Shield of Baal: Leviathan, promises to be an exciting series. Already we know that it will feature a new detachment for Tyranids, rules for the new models, as well as updates to City of Death games, and more.
We are still on a fast and furious pace of releases that has been continuing for some time now, and I think everyone is starting to get used to it. Before we had to wait for years to see a single model update, or even a mention of an army you collected. That often meant that if your army was on the "I havent seen an update for 4 years or more", it sits on the shelf while you work on your Space Marine army.
A Long Time Coming
These types of changes take a long time to implement, and these have been a work in progress for a long time (if you look way back on rumors you can see hints or parts of these changes). Games Workshop is either listening to us, or at least paying attention to what the community wants. This is a very vocal community in gaming, and its been a rocky relationship between Games Workshop and the hobbyist for years.
One reader here, even suggested that Games Workshop has been using us as a focus group here, but I am not that full of myself to think that this site gets that much attention. It does however show that even though the dialogue has been rough and often controversial, progress is being made with the company we all hate to love.
I think there has been a slow progression of steps in the right direction for Games Workshop, and the transition has been hard. For now though, there are many very happy Tyranid players around the world, and while its impossible to please everyone at any given moment, I believe these latest releases (and free rules for download) are a step in the right direction for our hobby.
One reader here, even suggested that Games Workshop has been using us as a focus group here, but I am not that full of myself to think that this site gets that much attention. It does however show that even though the dialogue has been rough and often controversial, progress is being made with the company we all hate to love.
I think there has been a slow progression of steps in the right direction for Games Workshop, and the transition has been hard. For now though, there are many very happy Tyranid players around the world, and while its impossible to please everyone at any given moment, I believe these latest releases (and free rules for download) are a step in the right direction for our hobby.
