Mini-codexes. The way forward of small factions?

[slitth]

With the release of Elucidian Starstriders and Gellerpox Infected are GW opening the door for other small factions?

 

Factions like the Inquisition are in and of themselves no larger that a Kill Team on the table top.

In bigger battle they draw in support from other armies, but are little more than a squad.

 

Would it be better to have the Inquisitions war-band in a mini-codex or as a HQ option in a bigger codex?

 

Perhaps we could see other small faction.

 

Like Fabius Bile's Glandhounds would be a nice little mini faction.

 

The fallen Dark Angels could also deserve a mini-codex.

 

What do you think, are Mini-codexes the way forward for some small factions?

Should WG drop the idea for Mini-codexes and only focus on big releases?

What small factions could use a unique Kill Team / Mini-codexes?

[brother_b]

I think the Inquisition needs it's own full sized codex with sections for each ordo, and rules that allow requisition of other codex options. Look what the did with Deathwatch, Grey Knights, etc. There weren't a ton of options for those armies and they expanded them nicely.

 

Just my dos centavos being a huge fan of Inquisition.

 

I think they could make henchmen amazingly unique and customizable. 

 

Mini dexes, though, are very neat ways to explore other contingents.

[Jorin Helm-splitter]

There really aren't any guidelines for how a big of a retinue an Inquisitor has though. Most of the black library books portray them as having kill teams, but there isn't any reason that one wouldn't have something closer to a private army with a lot of crazy tech. So I don't know if a Mini-Codex is appropriate for them. That said a mini-codex for certain Inquisitor and his/her henchmen on the other hand would be cool.

 

I do think Mini-codex like the one in the Trader box should be included in box sets moving forward. They add a ton of value, introduce players to a different game, and show off cool parts of the lore that would be hard to represent in a codex.  

[Raven1]

I dont think mini-codexes will be a thing. At least with how things are being published/developed currently. I would imagine that the Gellerpox infected and Rogue Traders will be folded into a larger "fleshed codex." If Imperial knights and Harlequins are an army in thier own right with a full codex i just dont see them making mini-dexes.

[Panzer]

I doubt it's the way forward. It's the stopgap for some factions they don't consider main armies for regular 40k which may or may not evolve into a proper codex eventually but the factions they consider proper releases for 40k will get proper Codexes like any other.

[Doghouse]

I'd like a rules and points unit card in each miniatures box. Buying any codex feels out dated to me these days.

[MARK0SIAN]

I think having several mini codexes would just exacerbate the problems of soup armies we see. Imperium and Chaos players would be able to pick from whatever mini codex they need to fill every niche they need. I know they can do that to a certain extent already but this would make it even worse.

 

That said, I would be happy to see an exception for the inquisition. Though I would prefer the approach brother_b advocates for the inquisition, I think a stopgap measure of a mini codex would be fine.

[Jorin Helm-splitter]

I think having several mini codexes would just exacerbate the problems of soup armies we see. Imperium and Chaos players would be able to pick from whatever mini codex they need to fill every niche they need. I know they can do that to a certain extent already but this would make it even worse.

 

That said, I would be happy to see an exception for the inquisition. Though I would prefer the approach brother_b advocates for the inquisition, I think a stopgap measure of a mini codex would be fine.

 

I don't think it would really add to the soup meta at all. Chaos, and Imperium players have flat out better options then what a mini-dex would really provide for them. The most abusable allies consistent of either super cheap troops, spamming HQs, and eldar/knights. Running a box set as a detachment doesn't really check those boxes yet.

 

For armies like Orks, Tau, Necrons, and to lesser extent nids they actually could be used to fill gaps which to be blunt those armies need.

[MARK0SIAN]

 

 

I think having several mini codexes would just exacerbate the problems of soup armies we see. Imperium and Chaos players would be able to pick from whatever mini codex they need to fill every niche they need. I know they can do that to a certain extent already but this would make it even worse.

 

That said, I would be happy to see an exception for the inquisition. Though I would prefer the approach brother_b advocates for the inquisition, I think a stopgap measure of a mini codex would be fine.

I don't think it would really add to the soup meta at all. Chaos, and Imperium players have flat out better options then what a mini-dex would really provide for them. The most abusable allies consistent of either super cheap troops, spamming HQs, and eldar/knights. Running a box set as a detachment doesn't really check those boxes yet.

 

For armies like Orks, Tau, Necrons, and to lesser extent nids they actually could be used to fill gaps which to be blunt those armies need.

But the fact that a mini codex would be an already prepackaged small force would make it easy to slot into any Imperium or chaos army. The allies they use at the moment are taken from other full codexes and so don’t come neatly prepackaged.

 

Also it’s impossible for you to say the Imperium and chaos forces have flat out better options when the option we are talking about doesn’t even exist. They could produce a mini codex of sisters of silence which utterly shuts down an opponents psychic phase, they could produce the example earlier of Fabius Bile creations which are so tanky they make Death Guard look like conscripts and provide the perfect shock assault troops.

 

I think mini-codexes would just give soup players even more opportunity to pick the absolute best units to fill a particular role to the detriment of mono-codex armies and other factions without access to such allies.

[Cpt_Reaper]

I was under the impression Soup was hamstrung in that a single detachment has to be mono codex, forcing you to take multiple detachments rather that a single Soup detachment.

 

I would imagine that mini-dexes are but a stop-gap measure so you can use these nice models in your regular army. Eventually Rogue Traders will be under either Codex: Throne Agents or Codex: Rogue Trader with the Starstriders being but a sub-faction of them. 

[Wargamer]

Soup is nerfed within detachments, but it's so easy to bring multiple detachments that nobody ever suffers any penalties.

[Exilyth]

Minidexes with monopose models and no options? Hell no.

 

Minidexes with multipose kits and at least some options? Sure, that'd be great to explore some smaller (sub-)factions.

[Brother Tyler]

The mini-codex concept is nothing new. Conceptually, it's little different from how new units have been introduced since the 1st edition of the game, though the earliest versions were more akin to mini-army lists and Chapter Approved entries. Sometimes those were in other publications such as White Dwarf magazine, Realm of Chaos, Chapter Approved, etc. The assassins codex in 3rd edition was a mini-codex. The Armageddon campaign codex simply consolidated four modification mini-codices (used another stand-alone codex as the basis for slightly modified army lists). More recently we saw the Legion of the Damned and the Inquisition presented in very streamlined codices. Those were technically "full" codices, but they were very limited in scope in terms of units. The various dataslates, too, served a similar purpose.

 

So it's pretty clear that we'll see mini-codices continue; and those mini-codices will likely be focused on mono-pose models.

 

The flexibility/scope in a (mini-)codex will depend upon the range of models and options within. "New" factions that are just being introduced, especially via a boxed game or special event, are much more likely to be in a mini-codex format or something similarly limited (such as a Chapter Approved article). If GW takes the time to develop a full range of models ("full" being relative), we're more likely to see a "full" codex, even if it's something as limited as the Legion of the Damned or Adeptus Custodes. And a mini-codex might be developed into, or serve as an introduction to, a full codex that will be released later. So we might see the Elucidian Starstriders feed into a full Codex: Rogue Traders later on.

 

We should hope that boxed games continue to give us mini-codices, even if they are for mono-pose models. This is especially true in cases where a faction in a boxed game doesn't have an existing codex, but might also be applied to specific units/characters that might fit into an existing (or planned) codex. So if/when GW gives us a full Inquisition codex, they might still give us a mini-codex if a new special inquisitor is included in a boxed game (assuming that character can't be represented using the standard rules). In this, we might consider mini-codices to potentially serve as augmentations to codices, as well as introductions to new factions/units.

[Guest Triszin]

Yep

[Panzer]

Well said.

[Aqui]

Robin Cruddace told me Inquisition will get their due, as will all units that don't have a place in a current Codex. He didn't know how that would come about. Seems to me that a new updated book like the Indexes would be likely.

[Son of Carnelian]

"Please no more Supplements oh God you can't do this to me again please I'll do anything just don't take me back there--"

 

++ Subject screams for 2.5 minutes before losing conciousness, raving about the existence of something called Crimson Slaughter: A Chaos Space Marine Supplement. ++

[Panzer]

"Please no more Supplements oh God you can't do this to me again please I'll do anything just don't take me back there--"

 

++ Subject screams for 2.5 minutes before losing conciousness, raving about the existence of something called Crimson Slaughter: A Chaos Space Marine Supplement. ++

 

What's the problem with supplements? It's the best way to implement new things to the game. It's either that or having to buy a new Codex and Rulebook whenever GW releases something new lol

[Ishagu]

The more rules and variety the better. Not every element of 40k can have a full codex, eg: Assassins

 

Mini books with lore and thematic rules get two thumbs up from me.

[Chapter Master Valrak]

To be honest, I really buy the Codex these days for the lore in them.

[Doghouse]

I used to but the space marine codex is pretty much cut and paste from the last edition with the odd new successor thrown in. 

[Lord_Caerolion]

I thought GW have already shown that they're willing to do mini-dexes with the Harlequins, original Knights, Inquisition, Sisters of Silence, Skitarii, Cult Mechanicus, and so on.

I have no doubt that before too long we'll see an actual Rogue Trader book, along with an expanded "Lost and the Damned" Codex that includes the Gellerpox. What with the use of Keywords now, there's even less stopping them making mini-codices for the smaller factions out there.

[Guest Triszin]

I'll share what my thoughts are on this. a few others have heard this.

 

KillTEAM

 

- Kill team will be used to flush out niche factions, sub factions, and minor categories for all armies in 40k.

- We will see Necromunda style plastic boxes (around 10 models) updating the above.

 

what does this mean?

 

examples:

 

Tau auxillaries have been absent, as have kroot.

 

- Kroot Killteam: a plastic box of 10 models. This new plastic box retires all the kroot boxes and replaces them with this.

Contents: (2 Krootox, 2 Kroot Hounds, 6 Kroot ( with options to upgrade one to a shaper)

 

- Tau Auxillaries: a plastic box set of 10 models

contents: ( 2 nicarsar, 2 tallaran dog soldiers, 2 guevessa models, and so on)

 

marines:

-Templars: ( a plastic upgrade set of templar bits, greatswords, sheilds)

 

new factions (unallied or new allies (for inquisitors or tau))

Rakgol (plastic 10 box set)

 

and so on, Killteam, rogue trader, commander and inquisition, will be used to flush out troop and non character choices for armies.

 

Commanders will have a limited use of actual "commander" style units, but will carry over to blackstone.

- I think commanders will be sergeants and captain equivalents, I dont expect to see any characters.

- with specialized missions ( escort the commander through the warzone, or assinate the commander)

 

 

Blackstone Fortress will be "heroquest" every character in it is a special character.

Gw will use Blackstone fortress to make quad/tri packs of new plastic heros for factions.

- they will bundle them with characters of other factions to cover the cost of smaller factions, and also spread the appeal of that small faction/niche group.

 

ex.

Clampack 1

contents: Inquisitor janus, Helbretch, Sly Marbo

 

clampack 2

contents: grot warboss, traitor inquistior in crisis suit, sister of battle character

 

 

so

 

Killteam used to flush out infantry models for various factions and also to playtest their rules (they are 1 to 1 with 40k)

Balckstone will be used to then flush out the special characters for those factions.

[Irbis]

 

So it's pretty clear that we'll see mini-codices continue;

 

Dunno about that, in fact, I'd say something completely opposite. There will be no more mini-dexes, this just doesn't work. AoS tried to push that concept hard for 4 years, in the end they couldn't do it and last two big releases in AoS 2.0 (Stormcast and Beastmen) were merging mini-books back into proper big ones. At best we will see least-effort-spent pocket rules for 40K for minis from board games that will then be replaced by medium-sized books for new armies once the second wave of models hits. The best example is orks - I'd bet two years ago we would see mini-book for cult of speed. Now? They are part of main book, that concept had been IMHO abandoned.

[m_r_parker]

I honestly doubt we’ll see mini-codices sold separately, everything will follow the Rogue Trader supplemental rules as a “Hey, you bought this game and got some cool unique models - here’s some rules do you can use them in the main core game”. GW is in the business of selling models, rules for them are a mechanism for selling models. They did the same thing with Nightvault, sell a game with some cool unique models and provide you with the rules for the core AoS game alongside.

As long as they can provide enough model support for a full codex, then it’ll be a regular codex. If it’s only a couple of models then it won’t and will be sold as a parallel running product.

In all honesty I hope the preview of the new Fiend yields new Emperors Children miniatures, and a full codex with it (like the Death Guard and Thousand Sons before). What I don’t want to see re-emerge is the 3rd Edition trend of a 20 page “codex” that requires you to buy another full codex on top of that, or a neutered codex with little to no options in there.