Small (sub)faction

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

In terms of datasheets I mean.

looking back the last 3-4 editions.

 

Supplement or full codex.

[Jolemai]

Sorry, are you after examples? Like the other First Founding Chapters during 8th edition, for example?

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

49 minutes ago, Jolemai said:

Sorry, are you after examples? Like the other First Founding Chapters during 8th edition, for example?

Yeah, I’m trying to figure out what GW may consider to be the minimum number of datasheets to justify its own book.

 

based on replies from ChatGPT it seems like minimum of 14 datasheets.

[Dr. Clock]

Depends on whether you mean 'data-sheets' or 'unique data-sheets with unique models not literally just painted different'. At launch, World Eaters ended up with 8 'new/unique' things, and a 3 of those were 0-1 characters. Then they just added CSM units to bulk it out and give the preexisting fans of the faction a path to updating their collections without total invalidation (I essentially started using a Disco Lord as a Maulerfiend, and lost raptors).

 

Votann launch is the most 'pure' benchmark for a 'totally new faction', and they had 11 data-sheet total at release. 

 

Codex Supplements vary widely, I think Black Templars would be more or less the minimum since they're basically a selection of characters, 2 actual unique units, and one (LR Crusader) that used to be unique and just became mainline Marines over time. They don't get to claim the tanks just due to the extra MMelta if you ask me.

 

All that's to say that ChatGPT is being charitable with 14. Minimum for codex I'd suggest is 11, and for a supplement... 3?

 

Cheers.

 

The Good Doctor.

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

3 hours ago, Dr. Clock said:

Depends on whether you mean 'data-sheets' or 'unique data-sheets with unique models not literally just painted different'. At launch, World Eaters ended up with 8 'new/unique' things, and a 3 of those were 0-1 characters. Then they just added CSM units to bulk it out and give the preexisting fans of the faction a path to updating their collections without total invalidation (I essentially started using a Disco Lord as a Maulerfiend, and lost raptors).

 

Votann launch is the most 'pure' benchmark for a 'totally new faction', and they had 11 data-sheet total at release. 

 

Codex Supplements vary widely, I think Black Templars would be more or less the minimum since they're basically a selection of characters, 2 actual unique units, and one (LR Crusader) that used to be unique and just became mainline Marines over time. They don't get to claim the tanks just due to the extra MMelta if you ask me.

 

All that's to say that ChatGPT is being charitable with 14. Minimum for codex I'd suggest is 11, and for a supplement... 3?

 

Cheers.

 

The Good Doctor.

I mean datasheets found in that codex or supplement.

none of the supplements I’ve seen had any non-unique datasheets in them .

 

i forgot about votann, would have been a smart one to ask about specifically.

 

what modern supplement has had only 3 datasheets in it?

Edited January 24 by Inquisitor_Lensoven

[TheMawr]

Harlequins where a full normal codex in 7th and 8th with only 8 datasheets.

 

In 8th the smallest nondivergent spacemarine supplement had only 1 datasheet ( ravenguard ) the others where not much bigger.

 

Then there are also small ( boxset related ) weird codexes every now and then, the smallest ones are probably custodes and sisters of silence at the end of 7th ( before all the custodes releases ) each based on their single kit + dreadnought&landraider for custodes and rhino for SoS

I dont think SoS even had the HQ datasheet yet, so I guess that was only 4 datasheets.

Edited January 25 by TheMawr

[Trokair]

The original Skitarii Codex release (2015, 7^th edition) had 4 kits making 7 units.  

• Skitarii Ranger/Vanguard
• Sicarian Rustalkers/Infiltrators
• Sydonian Dragoons/Ironstrider Ballistarii
• Onager Dunecrawler

 

The Cult Mechanics Codex release (also 2015 but a little while later) likewise had 4 kits and 6 units  

• Techpriset Dominus
• Kataphron Breacher/Destroyer
• Fulgurite/Corpuscarii Electro Priests
• Kastelan Robot (with Cyberntic Datasmith, one kit one unit entry)

 

While these would later combine into one codex they were separate initially. There were ways to field them together but it was clunky (I remember going back and forth between both codex for games, list building wise I think I had a skitarri army with a cult mechanicus allied force)  

 

 

Also in 2015 (truly the year of mini factions) the Harlequin got a standalone codex (they had previously had a few unit entries in Eldar and Dark Eldar codexes and a standalone Army list back in 3^rd) but this codex came alongside new plastic kits for existing units and all new units.  6 kits and 7 units (three of which were characters).

• Harlequin Troupe (new kit, existing unit)
• Starwaver/Voidweaver (new unit)
• Skyweaver (new unit)
• Solitaire (new kit, existing unit)
• Shadowseer (new kit, existing unit)
• Death Jester (new kit, existing unit)

 

Also the first 40k rules for the plastic Custodes (2017) was Custodian Guard squad, Contemptor dreadnaught and Landraider and that was it. It was soft back Codex inside a army box. The box also contained a soft back codex for Sisters of Silence with 4 units out of 2 kits (three different versions of the sisters squad all based on the same kit, and a rhino).

 

So GW have had some very small release in the past, but I think the Votann release in 9^th is a better template going forward for small scale releases as already mentioned.  

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

Yeah seems like they’re not down with printing books with too few datasheets any more