What could the 10th editions starter set contents be?

[jimbo1701]

Hi all. I’ve been thinking about this lately with the Horus heresy box rumours and thought it would be fun to discuss. GW seem locked into a 3 year pattern now with 40K / aos / other (now heresy perhaps) and so following that it seems we may be less than 18 months from a new edition. Rules aside, it got me thinking about the starter set contents, which I will assume for the moment will follow the same pattern of big collectors edition then 3 sizes of general release, hopefully with preorder promise this time around. So what will the contents be? Speculations starts here….

Based on the indomitus and subsequent general release it may be something that can be broken down into 2 hqs, troops and an elite unit (but not necessarily slot) that can be divided amongst the 3 smaller starter sets, with a larger sprue containing other units for each faction available in the collectors set. This will be a mixture of both unique models only available on this frame and models ultimately released in multipart format later. Also, these will form the basis of the next collectible magazine also. Rule book and the usual contents included also. Now onto the factions:

Space marines:
They will be one of the two factions for certain. Recent gw trends have been for ultramarines to be the poster boys and I assume this will continue. Throughout the other editions blood angels have fronted one, black Templars another, dark angels two and ultramarines four. They are the logical choice for easy to paint generic marines and so I think this will continue.

While by no means guaranteed, it is likely the starter will feature new models and units to expand the range and also form the basis of the subsequent multipart equivalents. As the range is very full at this stage we may be limited on options (plus the rumoured 9.5 range will further expand the range before then) but I can imagine:

Bike character*
Jump pack character*
Jump troops
Heavy elites (terminator equivalents)
Neophyte equivalents
Heavy ranged weapon marines
*likely captain / lt and maybe librarian focus this time around.

Adversary:
This one has me most excited as the sky is the limit. We could have literally any (non imperial) faction to choose from, having over the past 9 editions (8 of which have has starter sets) had:
Orks x2
Chaos marines x2
Drukhari
Tyranids
Death guard
Necrons

It is likely this will form the basis of a range update for the chosen faction (like with necrons) but could also have a completely new faction like we did with death guard in 8th.

I think it unlikely we will have chaos marines as they have had a full range update staggered over the past few years and they had a Demi-starter set in the form of shadowspear. Death guard and thousand sons unlikely, and knights would be an unsuitable starter set choice. Daemons, however, are one possibility (although their range is pretty comprehensive now in plastic) but a stronger possibility I think could be a csm subfaction such as world eaters (if not here before then) or thousand sons. The fact we had a xenos adversary in 9th May or may not make chaos more likely.

Looking at xenos then I think the aeldari factions, necrons, tau and genecults are unlikely. The aeldari only really require elite option updates from finecast rather than a range refresh thesedays thanks to the near total refresh for drukhari a decade ago and the recent large but incomplete aeldari update. I personally also think we may see more aeldari released during the tail end of 9th campaign equivalent to psychic awakening. Having said this, a new or expanded faction such as corsairs or exodites would definitely fit the bill.

Genecults, tau and necrons now have such a comprehensive range I doubt they would be a candidate. Of the remaining factions we have orks and tyranids to choose from. Orks have a very comprehensive range now but there is an oddity in the form of the easy build options from the recent star collecting set (boys/warboss/koptas), all of which have the same format as the marine/Necron starter models and that no other models across the ranges have. A bizarre design choice that makes me wonder if they were originally intended for a different form of release at the design stage.

Lastly we come to tyranids, who I think are top of my list for likely starter set candidates. They haven’t had a proper range expansion for a long time now but do have a fairly comprehensive range of models. There are some gaps for updates (vores, shrikes and lictors) and always room for expanding the hives many bio forms. Termagants / rippers are prime candidates for a Necron warrior / scarab style expansion also.

Sorry for the length of the post. What are your thoughts on this as it’s likely less than a year now til we start getting leaks on the box content.

Edited April 6, 2022 by WarriorFish
More meaningful title added

[Slave to Darkness]

I know marines are a given, cant have a new edition without forcing more marines on people. I think any marines will be things we lack in the Primaris range now as they need to entice players with kits you cant get yet to justify the large price tag on the box. But I dont care for more marines so Ill skip over that half of the starter.

 

Nids you say?? You could be right there, the basic Warriors and Gaunt kits are ancient, I could see new versions happening and a starter set would be perfect to show off new/bigger stabbier kits. Would a Hive Tyrant be too large a kit for a starter? I think it may be, but we could get one of those HQ Warriors (Primes are they called?? Its been ages since I have even seen a Nid army in the flesh let alone read the codex). Increase the size so its larger than a Warrior but not as large as the Tyrant, like the boxnaught size maybe. 

Instead of updating all the old kits we may see some new stuff in there like how the Crons got the bad 'War of the Worlds' style walker thingys. Maybe new or the return of some of the older weapons used for Termagaunts would be nice, like the Spike Rifle or Strangleweb.

 

 

Sooner see Guard vs Eldar though. That would be a kick ass starter. 

[Dark Shepherd]

Nids could be it especially if they are becoming big in the narrative

 

Emperors Children are an option too

 

As are Dark Angels (generic marine units) if their primarch returns as rumoured

[Cleon]

I can't imagine the Emperors Children as a starter set option, both the background and the look is not something I'd want to use to draw people in.

 

Looking at the boxes so far on the Marine side

2nd - Blood Angels

3rd - Black Templar

4th - Ultramarine (Battle of Macragge)

5th - Ultramarine (Black Reach)

6th - Dark Angels (Dark Vengence)

7th - Dark Angels (Dark Vengence redux)

8th - Ultramarine (v Death guard)

9th - Ultramarine (v necron)

Upcoming HH bo - Imperil fists?

 

I think we're due something not Ultramarine branded, the Space Wolves are the big 'never been in the box' but their models are less re-useable as generic marines (seemingly not an issue for the Dark Angels box though?) If jump assault Primaris are coming, I'd love to see a Raven Guard or Blood Angels themed set. - If Raven Guard the natural foe would be some form of traitor/heretic/chaos force, If Blood Angels then Orks (the classic) or Nids (the current settig) would make sense and both those factions really need a source of discounted models to help new players.

[Redcomet]

Space marines. Jump pack assualt intercessors, scouts some kind terminator Primaris.

 

Versus

 

Exodite Eldar

[Antarius]

My wishlisty guess would be traitor guard/lost and the damned. Who knows? It might happen and it would be a thematically appropriate choice. Tyranids would be nice too, although I think most of their current kits have held up very well. That being said, the genestealer kit would be an obvious choice for more dynamic “starter set sculpts”, as the old sprue is pretty samey, as well as ancient.

[Brother Nathan]

ive heard whispers of nids but would love for imperial guard and chaos. 

[Dark Shepherd]

Itll defo be marines

Ultras are kind of the poster boys so they quite possibly will stay, thered want to be a big reason to diverge eg Primarch

 

Would Emperors Children be any grosser/worse than Deathguard?

[Halandaar]

Nids you say?? You could be right there, the basic Warriors and Gaunt kits are ancient, I could see new versions happening and a starter set would be perfect to show off new/bigger stabbier kits.

Gaunts and Gants are old for sure, but the Warrior kit was redone relatively recently (6th edition I think) and that one is fine.

 

Nids would make a really nice starter set army, I'd be happy with that. Might feel pretty obnoxious barely a year after their 9th Edition Codex though.

[Slave to Darkness]

 

. Might feel pretty obnoxious barely a year after their 9th Edition Codex though.

On par for GW then

 

GW could really ride the nostalgia train, Squats vs Space Slann. That would cripple me financially ngl. 

Edited April 3, 2022 by Slave to Darkness

[Evil Eye]

Marines I feel are basically mandatory, annoyingly enough. But if they did Emperor's Children as the opponents that would be pretty nice. Or as you say 'nids for maximum Battle for Macragge nostalgia. In fact, though it's highly unlikely, a sort of "remake" of Battle for Macragge with new models would be awesome.

[Slave to Darkness]

Marines I feel are basically mandatory, annoyingly enough. But if they did Emperor's Children as the opponents that would be pretty nice. Or as you say 'nids for maximum Battle for Macragge nostalgia. In fact, though it's highly unlikely, a sort of "remake" of Battle for Macragge with new models would be awesome.

Rynns World, Mk6 Crimson Fists vs Orks. If GW is riding the retro train atm they could do a new 'Battle at the Farm' set. 

 

I know Primaris is the future but a guy can dream lol. 

[Lexington]

I’m kiiiiiiinda thinking it might be Space Marines vs. a new faction. Not Squats, but something else.

[Slave to Darkness]

I’m kiiiiiiinda thinking it might be Space Marines vs. a new faction. Not Squats, but something else.

Id be happy for Eldar, maybe something for the new Eldar god faction (cant remember the name, didnt care enough). 

[WrathOfTheLion]

There's only so many troop choices SM can have, so I wonder if they'll elect to spec into SW/DA/BA?

 

Could do unique intercessor, etc. sculpts.

 

I'd think tyranids if a Xenos faction, but we could see something Chaos again, maybe further CSM stuff, EC, WE or something new, like Dark Mechanicum.

[Lexington]

Id be happy for Eldar, maybe something for the new Eldar god faction (cant remember the name, didnt care enough).

Pretty sure the Ynnari aren’t getting new models anytime soon. It’s seeming pretty clear that they were intended for an early version of 8th that featured a restructuring of the background that was much more ambitious and had even more similarities to AoS, including a single Elf/Eldar faction. The common theory is that AoS’ initial implosion on the launchpad caused GW to change course pretty late in development, which meant that the Ynnari models were already finished and were shoehorned into the Gathering Storm/Dark Imperium storyline.

[spessmarine]

 

Id be happy for Eldar, maybe something for the new Eldar god faction (cant remember the name, didnt care enough).

Pretty sure the Ynnari aren’t getting new models anytime soon. It’s seeming pretty clear that they were intended for an early version of 8th that featured a restructuring of the background that was much more ambitious and had even more similarities to AoS, including a single Elf/Eldar faction. The common theory is that AoS’ initial implosion on the launchpad caused GW to change course pretty late in development, which meant that the Ynnari models were already finished and were shoehorned into the Gathering Storm/Dark Imperium storyline.

I totally buy the theory that Slaanesh was going to get squatted (what do we replace this term with?) at some point. There are enough hooks strewn about that suggests GW did float the idea at one point but backed off. But not really the topic for it!

[Slave to Darkness]

 

 

Id be happy for Eldar, maybe something for the new Eldar god faction (cant remember the name, didnt care enough).

Pretty sure the Ynnari aren’t getting new models anytime soon. It’s seeming pretty clear that they were intended for an early version of 8th that featured a restructuring of the background that was much more ambitious and had even more similarities to AoS, including a single Elf/Eldar faction. The common theory is that AoS’ initial implosion on the launchpad caused GW to change course pretty late in development, which meant that the Ynnari models were already finished and were shoehorned into the Gathering Storm/Dark Imperium storyline.

I totally buy the theory that Slaanesh was going to get squatted (what do we replace this term with?) 

 

Slanned?

[Jorin Helm-splitter]

I would really like to see the new squats vs. World Eaters/Emperors Children in the next starter. I just don't think with how short editions last now that you can just keep shoving the same fraction in them. Dominion was pretty underwhelming sales wise judging from the fact that GW had it on a sale at one point and marines will hit that same wall at some point. People can only justify so many troops & characters that rarely see play so try something different.

 

 

Id be happy for Eldar, maybe something for the new Eldar god faction (cant remember the name, didnt care enough).

Pretty sure the Ynnari aren’t getting new models anytime soon. It’s seeming pretty clear that they were intended for an early version of 8th that featured a restructuring of the background that was much more ambitious and had even more similarities to AoS, including a single Elf/Eldar faction. The common theory is that AoS’ initial implosion on the launchpad caused GW to change course pretty late in development, which meant that the Ynnari models were already finished and were shoehorned into the Gathering Storm/Dark Imperium storyline.

 

 

I think Ynnari were really supposed to convince DE & Eldar players to start collecting the other force (if they hadn't already). Really from 6th through ninth I think the goal was for people to start allied forces, that then would grow into full armies. We just didn't like it, and I think it pushed new players out of the hobby cause your new force couldn't handle the combinations that were available.

 

[Slave to Darkness]

I would really like to see the new squats vs. World Eaters/Emperors Children in the next starter.

Would be nice. :wub:

Edited April 3, 2022 by Slave to Darkness

[Marshal Reinhard]

Space marines. Jump pack assualt intercessors, scouts some kind terminator Primaris.

 

Versus

 

Exodite Eldar

yes please?

[Toxichobbit]

 

 Space Slann. 

 

 

Yes. This would be amazing. I have a fantasy Slann army, but I don't have a 40k one. It would be nice to rectify that with new models.

[jimbo1701]

I do wonder if a marine faction being expanded may be one way they go. At first I thought no chance, they’ll stick with the poster boys that are ultramarines, but the more I think about it the more it may make sense (after all 6/7 Ed pulled it off). For example, starter set:

 

Blood angels specific jump pack primaris captain.

Blood angels specific jump pack primaris lieutenant

Blood angels primaris assault marines with jump packs x 10

Blood angels primaris terminator equivalent x3

(These units would make up the hq/elite/recruit edition contents)

Primaris Sanguinary priest

Primaris gravis librarian

Jump pack primaris chaplain

2 more 3-man specialised units.

(This would be equivalent to the indomitus sprue)

 

Then the wave release lands with the space marine codex / blood angels supplement released at the same time:

 

Blood angels named character updates for primaris (Dante, astorath, corbulo, lemartes)

Blood angels specific units of primaris death company and sanguinary guard, maybe a redemptor variant

Generic marine versions of the starter units in multipart / pose format plus some further expansion into unfilled roles such as scouts etc.

[spessmarine]

Would've thought 10th hops back to marines vs chaos, but if WE come out late this year then maybe not as I would've thought SM vs WE would be a 10th starter.

Speaking of, Squats and WE late this year? Bit crazy isn't it?

[Doctor Perils]

Opponents I could see:

- Tyranids as many have said

- emperor's children: they'll be the last of the cult troops left without a codex if WE are indeed for 2022

- craftworlds with some of the remaining aspects?

- Dark Mech ?

- Kroot/Tau auxiliaries?

 

Probably Tyranids since I'm not interested in them XD