OG Space Marines and 11th Edition

[Relic]

With 11th Edition soon upon us, I think it likely that the remaining 1st born marines will move to legends, forever to live on in John Blanche's 3rd Edition Rulebook cover. 

 

I understand the rationale of the move by GW to refresh the line and I think most people would reasonably allow any remaining OG marines to be played as their modern equivalent, once base sizes match and it is clear for everyone involved. 

 

That all said, the thought struck me that if GW did a Codex Imperial Agents, why not do a Codex Supplement for Firstborn Marines (pick a more inventive name..)? I personally would not go very expansive with it, the current units, generic characters and perhaps what was put into legends (e.g. assault marines/bikes and land speeders). The business case would be that nostalgia is in vogue and it likely would have a bigger player base then some of the existing books like Agents and Daemons. 

 

I think the concerns from a business perspective would be:

 

(1) Would GW have to stock old modals? 

(2) Could it create confusion for new players?

 

Regarding point (1), i'd suggest GW could use the Horus Heresy kits as a dual use and discontinue the existing 1st born molds. 

 

On point (2), I think this is a limited risk, the Primaris Marines are the poster boys and the one's marketed. 

 

I would further think it could be interesting, if GW did such a Codex supplement to include Renegade chapters and fold in some limited CSM equipment options.

 

Perhaps thought, you might disagree and think it best just to accept the refreshed line and that the days of a slightly squat marines running about with an oversized heavy weapon is a thing of the past? 

Edited 21 hours ago by Relic

[Indy Techwisp]

The issue with a Codex: Firstborn Marines is that most of those Firstborn Marine models are already gone.

With new Vanguard Vets being shown off now, we're down to just Tacticals and Devastators left, and both of those could easily be snapped away in an instant.

 

There simply wouldn't be a market for a Codex: Firstborn Marines faction if it didn't specifically use the old Firstborn minis, most of which have ceased production for one reason or another.

 

Having the Heresy kits be dual use for this faction also doesn't really work because "iconic" Firstborn Marines wear MK VII Armour which HH doesn't use.

[DemonGSides]

I can foresee there being eventual The Old World for 40k era but pre Primaris. Once HH succumbs to its own weight, that'll be the pivot to give those kits some sort of ongoing life. 

Edited 19 hours ago by DemonGSides

[Indy Techwisp]

Being honest a kit that's modern CSM scale of Loyalist MkVII which replaces both the old Tactical and Devastator kits is what I expect GW to do with those units, possibly also merging them into one datasheet (10 man squad, half built as 5 man Tactical, half as 5 man Devastator and split on deployment).