Time for a second phase?

[The Yncarne]

Wouldn't mind seeing Mandrakes for purchase in 2024. Feels like scorpions got their individual box 90 days after the set?

[TrawlingCleaner]

I do think we're due for a reasonably sized expansion, although I wonder how much of it will come from Killteam. With the rumours that Ogryns are coming via Killteam, Grotesques seem like an easy equivilent and the Court of the Archon and the Beastmaster are both also quite similar to the Dark Commune, Inquistor warband, GSC Patriarch, Primus and Magus. But surely we wouldn't get 3 Killteams?

I could definitely see Dark Eldar being one of the last codexes in the cycle especially if our Eldar cousins are meant to be getting another wave too

[Zoatibix]

Oh, yes. I hadn’t thought of that but a Court of the Archon KT is a great call. 
 

Smallish elite KT - one sort of each type but with multiple cosmetic options would be great. 
 

Some really crazy dream would be to have a multipart Archon or Dracon in there. (Although that’s going beyond a KT I think.)

[Tyriks]

 

Oh, yes. I hadn’t thought of that but a Court of the Archon KT is a great call. 
 

Smallish elite KT - one sort of each type but with multiple cosmetic options would be great. 
 

Some really crazy dream would be to have a multipart Archon or Dracon in there. (Although that’s going beyond a KT I think.)

With KT and 40k having completely different rules now, that could work, but I don't think GW would see it that way. Just give the Archon different rules in KT.

[2PlusEasy]

It's a scary feeling that the "refreshed" Dark Eldar range is 14 years old and has been around longer then the range that it replaced. Excluding space marines, 15 - 25 years seems to be when minis start to get refreshed or replaced by something else (most of the time).

 

The second scary feeling is that any updates to the plastic range will impact the brilliant inter-compatibility of the current model range. Though we may get lucky and keep some flexibility, any updates will come with significant price hikes.

 

The third scary feeling is despite everyone hating it, that plastic archon isn't going anywhere. And if it does to much rejoicing, it'll be a $70AUD mini replacing it rather then a $30 mini.

 

My gut feeling is that Rakarth and Grotesques will eventually move to plastic, but the beasts and court will be phased out and go to legends status. Beasts and the court are funky units: Modern 40k is moving away from funky.

 

There is a very decent probability that my gut feeling is wrong though.

Edited August 16 by 2PlusEasy

[TrawlingCleaner]

If we use the most recent Craftworld updates and the Corsairs + Scorpion Killteams, the kits themselves have a whole bunch of customisation of heads, helmets, arms and extra gubbins with all having the same mounting points for arms as the old Eldar range and Dark Eldar range. I don't think they change that any time soon, except for the non-infantry stuff like beasts and probably Court of the Archon like the Dark Commune?

 

Weirdo squads are definitely "in" with GW in recent years. The Gobapolooza, Command Corp, Guard Command Squads, Inquisition teams, Space Marines Company Heroes, Dark Communes, Dark Apostles, Accursed Cultists etcetc. Funnily enough we probably have more now then we did years ago and I think they're leaning harder into it too 

 

Whatever they release will 100% be only equipable with what's in the box, that's just the direction they're moving in. We already have this for every squad in the DE index apart from Scourge and while they could update their rules to be fixed contents, they haven't for Havocs and Devastators

[Dr. Clock]

 

I think they're leaning harder into it too

This could be a result of the lack of movement on single characters, and possibly the success of their skirmish offerings. I haven't bought a clamshell single character since the GSC Sanctus was released. But as soon as there are like 3 minis in a pack, it definitely feels closer to reasonable, even if one or two of them is mostly a 'counter' like you're seeing with all the AoS 'pets' that come with characters.

 

Personally I love the 'command squad' situation as it invariably gives lots of neat conversion opportunities and/or ways to use more of your collection in different ways... Company Heroes for SM is a great example where I actually get use out of my Ancient and 2nd Lt.

 

Simply put, the Drukhari range as-is still looks and feels pretty good aside from the notable exceptions. I am ready for phase 2 drukhari and don't super care whether that looks like filling in the gaps in the current range or building 'out' with new units. Seeing as I've converted my own versions of Beastmaster and Court, and since I took a turn into Idoneth-and-other-fish as Covens, I'd almost prefer a few new units to add to the collection over fully retiring some of that stuff.

 

The easiest way for GW to get money from me for Eldar at this point is still Exodites of course...

 

Rumours do seem to suggest more Asuryani than Drukhari in the next little while, so I won't be holding my breath; we should have some codex roadmap info from NOVA next week as well but I have no idea what to expect for 2025 as things likely quiet down a bit on the AoS side. Whoever shows up first in Winter is likely to get a substantial release though I'd say... As well as whoever kicks off next summer where there'll be no new 'main edition' AoS or 40k release box to buoy the balance sheet. That tends to mean 'more marines' most likely to me, as of course Drukhari players are relatively thin on the ground in tournaments, even though the list is doing really well these days.

 

Cheers,

 

The Good Doctor.