Future Black Book speculation

[Sparika]

Horus Heresy Book 2: Massacre in hardcover is now unavailable as is the Book 5, so maybe the new books could be those in softcover + a talons of the emperor red book.

 

The Weekender was obviously the big meeting of the community and I guess it was cool to have some chat between the community and the design team. But as a French living on the continent, having regular updates on the Heresy is far more exciting to me.

Edited November 20, 2019 by Sparika

[Marshal Rohr]

I’m naively hoping for Aeronautica and Titanicus tie in rules for the rumored sector wide campaign system. Not full on rules expansions, mind you. That would suck up time and resources. Just a ‘play a game of Aeronautica here to try and regain the initiative’ kind of thing. Edited November 20, 2019 by Marshal Rohr

[Astartes Consul]

Horus Heresy Book 2: Massacre in hardcover is now unavailable as is the Book 5, so maybe the new books could be those in softcover + a talons of the emperor red book.

 

The Weekender was obviously the big meeting of the community and I guess it was cool to have some chat between the community and the design team. But as a French living on the continent, having regular updates on the Heresy is far more exciting to me.

 

Even just getting the updated army list Red Book or the Talons one in the same year as a Black Book would be a pretty big improvement on previously!

[Taliesin]

Lots of bad news in that post.

 

Weekender cancelled is just a blow. The excuse they give is just a complete embarrassment and they must know it.

We already knew it was called Crusade..so thanks for that. When does it release? They won't say...what a surprise.

A series of articles that only gets 1 post a month suggests that they might hold the book longer than when it was expect to be released at the latest, namely the Weekender.

 

NIce that they will give some info about it I suppose, but a release date would be nice too, because they will know what that date is by now.

[Bung]

They will have an estimated release date. But i will doubt they will say anything about this now as no one knows how and when GBs political problems are solved.

Most british companies are in the same boat and dont promise anything mote than one or 2 months away.

Same goes for the weekender. No one knows how easy it will be to travel after Brexit. Actual date is end of January.

So until anything is nailed down i wouldnt expect Forgeworld to make any promisses they may not being able to hold.

[StrangerOrders]

The Massacre takedown is troubling in the wake of Tempest still being missing.

 

Last I checked, you do not need a mold got books so that excuse does not fly there.

 

I did check by the way and the book is indeed absent everywhere but North America (which I am sure is an oversight and they will soon be gone as well).

Edited November 21, 2019 by StrangerOrders

[Marshal Rohr]

They haven't printed anymore hardback copies of the black books that sell out because you have to order them in such a quantity that they might fill the demand for a few hundred and sit on a few thousand for years. Andy talks about it in regards to cards for necromunda. Because they aren't made in house the logistics are more difficult. 

[m0nolith]

They haven't printed anymore hardback copies of the black books that sell out because you have to order them in such a quantity that they might fill the demand for a few hundred and sit on a few thousand for years. Andy talks about it in regards to cards for necromunda. Because they aren't made in house the logistics are more difficult. 

Man, what I wouldn't give for another printing of those Necromunda cards.

[Gederas]

They haven't printed anymore hardback copies of the black books that sell out because you have to order them in such a quantity that they might fill the demand for a few hundred and sit on a few thousand for years. Andy talks about it in regards to cards for necromunda. Because they aren't made in house the logistics are more difficult. 

Man, what I wouldn't give for another printing of those Necromunda cards.

Same.

 

So, when should we expect the softback versions of the stuff that's gone? Couple weeks/months?

[Charlo]

I think overall it's an overwhelmingly positive result for the Heresy. Getting the coverage on WHC akin to the level of the Sisters of Battle is only going to induce a lot of hype and hopefully draw more people into the 30k setting!

 

No weekender to me feels right, to be honest. The past couple have had thier fair share of contravercy or let downs and it's got to be a massive expense for GW. Let's face it, with the Community site having all the images mere hours after the seminars it's usually not that special regardless. The lack of opportunity to talk to the designers is bad, but hopefully the ongoing blog will alleviate this.

 

However, my biggest gripe is the imagery for the Horus Heresy now. Its just the store models in full colour on a photoshopped background. Prior it was actual terrain with added effects. It just looks a little too much and the new painting style isn't gritty enough for the image composition

[Beren]

as this is the most recent thread on these types of subjects...

 

From the Age of Darkness's podcast's facebook page:

 

I won’t list everything as Warhammer Community have a great write- up about the 40k releases and upcoming products. However, I did have a great chat with the Forge World team about future plans and current developments for Age of Darkness.

As usual I’ll break these down into smaller sections.

Book 9
This is based around the Thramas Crusade - nothing new there.

Up-to-date news: Book 9 is going to the reprographics department this week and then onto the printers. This means a release is most likely in the second or third quarter after printing, shipping and world wide distribution.

The Sabre kit
This was designed by the same guy that designed the plastic titans. It is his first resin kit and was created during his lunchtimes as practice on how to sculpt resin. The FW team have been really pleased to see the community response to the unexpected release of the kit and it’s rules.

Book 10
Book 10 is currently deep into production. Due to size restraints, the Dark Mechanicum army list that was originally planned for Book 9 is now going to be in Book 10. Alongside this will be rules for additional allies for both the loyalists and traitors - this will be along the lines of the Agents of the Emperor / Warmaster concepts from a few years ago. No further details as yet.

Current developments
The GW offices at Warhammer World are currently having a massive extension added. As well as new production facilities and warehouse space there is also more room for the various design studios. The plan is once this is constructed, each of the design studios (main GW, Specialist Games, Age of Darkness and Old World) will have more space for the various teams.

This also means that each team will be expanding considerably over the next two years. This will include new rules writers (2 more for Age of Darkness for example) and miniature designers. As part of the re-structuring, Andy Hoare (ex-Heresy rules writer and head of Specialist Games) is now manager of the Specialist Games Studio and the Age of Darkness studio. This role is extremely new so Andy has lots of ideas but nothing has been put into action yet. From personal experience, Andy is a great bloke who has a lot of experience within the hobby; a clear vision of where the company and the game systems can go and also communicates clearly about what is happening (within the usual limits of GW policy).

Future hopes and plans
After a long chat with the Forge World team it’s clear that the new re-structuring is still in early days and we aren’t likely to see much change as customers for the foreseeable future.

However, the team is aware of the main community concerns and hopes. The two key ones they mentioned are:
* A cheap introduction for new players into the 30k games set
* More plastic kits

Neither of these are confirmed as in production or development but the fact that the team are having conversations about these is positive. The team also discussed that by expanding the number of writers, it would be hoped that they could release more than one Heresy-related book a year. Once again, this is future developments so only Book 10 is in current development due to the current size of the team.

One final point that we discussed in a jokey manner was the ‘Heresy is dead’ mindset. It was mentioned that currently Heresy is still producing very healthy sales figures alongside other Specialist Games and the successes of all the games is allowing the company to invest heavily into new facilities and staff. One member of the team stated that there are so many long-plans for the Heresy that they expect that within two years, “everyone will be playing Heresy”.

Edited November 30, 2019 by Beren

[Marshal Rohr]

Andy as manager of Age of Darkness and Specialist games is probably the most ideal scenario I could possibly think of. I’m exceptionally happy about this.

[m0nolith]

Wow Marshal, literally two weeks after you talked about how great it would be for Andy to take the reins, and it happens.

Lol, either you’re lucky, know something, or have powers.

Ummm, can you also send please make plastic MkIV assault marines and MkII Tacticals also a happen :D

[Beren]

I'll admit that I'm bitterly disappointing at the Dark Mechanicum being pushed back. On the other hand, it opens up some interesting possibilities for the next book now that the last legion has been done.

[Marshal Loss]

Andy Hoare being in charge gives me renewed faith in Forge World for the first time since the great man passed. Big, big news. He's a legend and will definitely hit it out of the park.

 

When they release new plastic kits & things really begin to kick off again, I'll be ready with my wallet in hand.

[bluntblade]

Hopefully the DA's emergence will, its own merits aside, free up the AoD to move beyond the table-setting which has defined a lot of its campaigns in fluff. I feel that Malevolence cleaving to early events has hampered the Heresy a little (especially with the adventurousness of Conquest and Retribution). Edited December 1, 2019 by bluntblade

[Marshal Rohr]

Wow Marshal, literally two weeks after you talked about how great it would be for Andy to take the reins, and it happens.

Lol, either you’re lucky, know something, or have powers.

Ummm, can you also send please make plastic MkIV assault marines and MkII Tacticals also a happen :D

I’ve probably just used up all my predictive ability for the rest of my life on this one. :D

 

It’s pretty interesting Book 10 is ‘deep into production’ because if they’re about to ship Book 9 to print and release by Quarter 2 or 3 Thant makes me feel like Book 10 will be heading to print by the time Book 9 is released or shortly after.

 

As an aside, the guy that made the titans is super-talented and works about 1-2 years out from what he said on Warhammer tv. That means they’ve had this for a while and only just now dropped it, and given the surprise Contemptor for the Ultramarines, I’m wondering if we won’t be treated to more FW releases coming up we totally weren’t expecting?

Edited December 1, 2019 by Marshal Rohr

[No Foes Remain]

Oh   yes.

 

Going off the Voxcast with Andy, I feel safe and cosy with him in charge. More plastics is good, hoping they'll have the core unit choices in plastic and resin extras.

 

 

 

THE HERESY TRAIN HAS NO BREAKS!!!!

[Taliesin]

I'll admit that I'm bitterly disappointing at the Dark Mechanicum being pushed back. On the other hand, it opens up some interesting possibilities for the next book now that the last legion has been done.

 

Same here. I am glad that Pendraigg got us some news because we've not heard anything since May.

But basically it's only now going off to printers, whch going on previous releases, means book 9 is at least 4 months or so away, which is late.

And they cut Dark Mechanicum, one of the best parts.

 

 

 

It’s pretty interesting Book 10 is ‘deep into production’ because if they’re about to ship Book 9 to print and release by Quarter 2 or 3 Thant makes me feel like Book 10 will be heading to print by the time Book 9 is released or shortly after.

 

 

 That's rather optimistic I'm afraid. When Malevolence came out they were more than halfway done with book 9 already, and look where we are now.

[Silent Observant]

Initially had a negative reaction to Dark Mechanicum being cut as I wanted to see DA vs Dark Mechanicum but the fact that like in Malevolence there was too much content seems to be a good thing imo. More content and interesting possibilities being in there own separate more concentrated book may be overall better. Sucks but if anything FW seems to be getting a lot better deal in the end for faster production within the next few years.

[Marshal Rohr]

I doubt book 10 will be just Dark Mech vs Good Mech because as cool as the mechanicum is most Heresy players have marine armies. I’m personally hoping for an expansion to the generic Taghmata list, a specific Expansion purely for Dark Mech structured like the Daemons of the Ruinstorm, and the always included Legion units for the new releases.this would be a page count similar to Malevolence or Tempests additions. My money is on a book about the Martian Civil War AND the Cataclysm of Iron, because this way they can incorporate legion unit expansions and maintain a consistent narrative that isn’t localized. I’m also hoping beyond hope for a box of Thallax in plastic. Edited December 1, 2019 by Marshal Rohr

[Beren]

Well, we've already been details as to how the Dark Mech will be laid out (though of course that may be subject to change), which seems like a Runistorm/Taghmata Hybrid. The Agents of the Emperor/Warmaster could also fit into a Forge conflict, with representatives being sent from either  side to accomplish specific missions or gain the allegiance of feuding Mech factions.

 

Another thing is that the Dark Mech were said to not necessarily be traitor mech, so that could throw interesting stuff in as well.

Edited December 1, 2019 by Beren

[StrangerOrders]

Very, very happy to hear this. 

 

I am really craving MKII and hopeful that we will see it in this streak, along with some cool DA.

 

Now fingers crossed for Tempest to be rereleased (my missing Black Book). 

[Charlo]

Dark mech pushed back?!

 

God damnit.

 

Maybe I just build my stockpile and be done with it...

[Silent Observant]

Not necessarily related but a general question. Which day of the week do y'all think the Road to Thramas updates will occur? One of the warhammer media guys on twitter said we should be expecting something the first week of Dec. and the announcement was on a Wednesday, so should we expect Wednesday? 

 

This will help me from checking the site every 30min ;p