Is Buying a Codex Pointless?
Added 2022-11-01 02:25:52 +0000 UTCDiscussing codexes vs digital updates and what people expect from their expensive army books...
Comments
I like having the physical product in my hands. No matter how convenient waha is, i always open the book when playing the game. The only real issue is that books dont support "ctrl+f" :(
pepi dimi
2023-02-01 11:19:45 +0000 UTCThe 40k app should just give you access to every rule and up to date data slate. Throw in a list builder that rivals Battlescribe and I'd subscribe tomorrow.
Samantha
2023-01-13 02:48:29 +0000 UTCFor me personally no, though I use wahapedia and battlescribe when I'm actually playing the game, I find that when I'm trying to understand how a faction plays (faction specific rules etc), I prefer to actually read a book. That being said it is ludicrous how bad the official 40k app is. I got it when I got my space marine codex and the layout of it left a lot to be desired especially as a new player. TLDR keep selling physical codices but introduce a subscription for digital codices and make the 40k app actually decent.
Ammar Suhail
2022-12-12 21:43:29 +0000 UTCEven if they still made me pay for it, I would enjoy a game data only digital version. I see why the codex is valued high. It has effort and fluff and picture but all i want most the time is the rules. They should include it in the app if i'm paying for membership. I don't see the point if i still need to own the book to make it useful.
Ken Geerts
2022-11-23 14:08:50 +0000 UTCYes for competitive play but it's still nice to read the lore and see painting ideas.
James Clark
2022-11-22 14:19:24 +0000 UTCyes
Cold Ramen
2022-11-15 01:15:45 +0000 UTCI personally love collecting the books and displaying them on a shelf, or just go through them for inspiration, when painting my minis.
za6637 _
2022-11-12 22:07:12 +0000 UTCI buy the Codexes but mostly for the Artworks, Lore etc. Like you said i value a physikal Book. But yes on the Rules Side its really anoying that Rulebook with that Price are out of date at release sometimes.
Chris K
2022-11-12 12:53:10 +0000 UTCFor me... I don't like to read digital Codex because it will cause me headache and I like the physical for me to touch and I like the sound when flipping the book.
GOH WEI HAI
2022-11-09 19:31:05 +0000 UTCDepends what you're looking for. For casual players it's nice to get new lore and ideas for your army. But competitively it's useless as most points are invalid in a few weeks. It's like the white dwarf point book thay came out last month. In a week it was already outdated
James Clark
2022-11-08 09:54:40 +0000 UTCI would love this and happily pay for it. There are services like that out there already - feels like GW is missing out not providing an official source.
Derek McElfresh
2022-11-07 02:31:33 +0000 UTCI am 100% on board with digital and constant updates. Gw doing better to balance the game is a good thing. I haven't looked at a physical codex in a while.
Kahldris
2022-11-05 22:34:25 +0000 UTCMy wishlist is to get all the codex (with their rules updated) via a warhammer+ type subscription service. Get all the codex for, say £5pcm. Not only does it mean the balance changes are instantly reflected, it also means that you can see the opponents codex to validate or check rules. The other bonus is it allows me to read up and persuade myself to buy into a New army without the outlay to read the fluff and style before taking the plunge.
Emanuele C
2022-11-04 14:39:18 +0000 UTCI agree with Richard. It looks nice on the wall, having so many codices. But after the second balanced dataslate or FAQ it is to cumbersome to take all with you and stay focused
Dominik Mayer
2022-11-04 10:03:08 +0000 UTCThere is no good reason why they don't have digital versions of everything in 40K. I like them having books as an option for those who want a physical option to enjoy the artwork and such.
RICHARD
2022-11-03 00:40:33 +0000 UTCi think once people learn how to go through battlescribe (which takes a while before u become more efficient) it is better. And although having a physical copy is very nice it is not required which i really like
dom stage
2022-11-02 19:14:55 +0000 UTCEven this would be a good start
Open_Borders
2022-11-01 19:50:23 +0000 UTCThanks. Will do. Do you have a link you could share? I’ve not heard of infinity before?!
Open_Borders
2022-11-01 19:49:53 +0000 UTCI just played my first game about a month ago and thought I’d be totally fine without bringing my book. The internet ended up being really bad and it caused some major delays. I brought my book for the next few games I played and found that my ability to look up data sheets in the book is quicker and more convenient.
Beeblebrox
2022-11-01 18:59:45 +0000 UTCCodices are not worth it. None of GW's publications are. If I didn't want to support my local game shop, I wouldn't buy them at all and would just wait a week after release to pirate, buy used later on, or just not play at all.
Dom
2022-11-01 17:59:28 +0000 UTCI completely agree.
Derek McElfresh
2022-11-01 17:34:41 +0000 UTCAlthough it is good that each codex includes a unique passcode that enables access to its rules and data sheets in the WH40K app, it seems plausible at this point that they are modeling their book production concepts on software, especially computer games, instead of on TTRPG games like D&D. There are pros and cons but one of the main things situations this has created that while TTRPG books are copy edited and play tested pretty much to death, video games are not always. With TTRPG books, there might be a typo or two, but otherwise the book is done, doesn't change, and doesn't really lose value. You can pick up the book and use it with other books from that edition at any point later and not be missing anything. In computer games, there is an alpha - beta - gold publishing concept of refinement, and "gold" is when development stops and materials production begins. But what reigns over that usually is the deadline. So, if they hit the deadline for gold, but the game isn't really finished, they will sometimes just release it the game anyway, and use downloadable content patches to fix it later. If they ever do. There are some pretty famous examples of this. If it isn't too bad, and the gameplay and other quality variables are good enough, players will usually be willing to wait for the patch to fix straggler issues. But sometimes the game is busted enough that it should really not have hit production, and because something about it is unfinished, it can negatively affect earnings and the company's reputation. So for me the frustration is at this intersection. Pro column for codexes: engaging art and lore; passcode to unlock the codex's data sheets and rules in the app, so you have access to current points and rules when (not if, at this point) GW changes things after the book is released. Con column against codexes: overpriced by almost any measure, especially when compared to D&D game books, especially when you factor in the 0-3 months window at which the publication is valid as-is and can be trusted at tableside; useless within a few months of publishing, if not before; basically ZERO shelf value as far as gameplay is concerned.
AskMeNoQuestions
2022-11-01 13:15:07 +0000 UTCJust have a look at Infinity, they have an app since first edition, all rules are online
Tal
2022-11-01 12:38:50 +0000 UTCThe illustrations and biographies for each unit are cool. The stats are extremely useless. The hardcovers are super nice and illustrated well. The price is not good for the product even if you get it at discount. Probably wouldn’t pay more than $20 for a normal hardcover book in your local bookstore so I wouldn’t pay more than $20 for a codex.
Tim S
2022-11-01 10:57:24 +0000 UTCI still like the codices due to illustrations and lore dumps, but as rule set? Wahapedia all the way! It has a way better layout and is more functional than anything GW can come up with.
Marko Vinu
2022-11-01 08:32:09 +0000 UTCSomething very simple they could do would be if you redeem the code at the back of the book it gives you access to a PDF version via your account and that is always kept up to date with the latest version of the rules. It's not ideal, but at least everything would be in one place in a reasonable format. I know the app already kind of does this, but it's a bit annoying to use and limiting that it's only on mobile
Kingsley Houston
2022-11-01 08:27:30 +0000 UTCI am gratefull for the existence of wahapedia, in comparison to it the codex seems only a chaotic set of rules that are easier to forget... (I still have buyed the codex of the AD Mechanicus and the AD Sororitas for the artworks tbh)
BossasDesign
2022-11-01 07:56:22 +0000 UTCThe Death Guard codex is shockingly bad. They don't even have an image for a lot of the datasheet entries.
Puppaz
2022-11-01 07:50:35 +0000 UTCUtterly pointless yes. And tbh, not good enough anymore. They should roll it all up into a subs model that you access via a fully rebuilt and functioning app across phone and desktop. Just segment the pricing by faction, race or access to all data sheets. Points updates, rules and FAQs update automatically. Retain good options to print everything physically if so desired. Lore, art and painting sections can all go into warhammer+ and vault. It’s easy as to do. They have enough money from the last few years to do it. My work could do the whole project from UX to Design and Build for probably £1.5-2m to do it properly over 18-24 months with staggered roll outs of features. The subs would make more than the books over time and hook more people into the ecosystem, plus provide data they can further monetise so the business case stacks up. Easier option would be to buy up battlescribe, wahapedia and ITC scoring apps etc and leverage what exists.
Open_Borders
2022-11-01 06:57:21 +0000 UTCThis problem of yours is sadly not an issue of codexes being necessary. Since new rulebook exists, 8ed rules are no longer valid and if he plays them just because he refuses to buy a new book, he probable benefits from the old rules and is just being a jerk about it.
Radek Pazdera
2022-11-01 06:06:17 +0000 UTCThe whole concept of physical books is completely outdated. The have Warhammer+. Make it a rules subscription and employ the Wahapedia guy for an actual running website. Have limited runs of books just for lore and hobby sections with not a single rule inside for people interested in that.
Sören the German (Trembich Moving Moments)
2022-11-01 04:36:54 +0000 UTCThe codexes, currently, are a pretty bad deal, but I still buy them. Though I'm reducing the number of armies I collect/play because of it.
Joseph Shumate
2022-11-01 02:58:41 +0000 UTCAbsolutely necessary I think. Having played a guy who keeps using 8th edition rules because he refuses to buy a blood angels supplement is really annoying. It at least gives a baseline to know what's changed since the last codex/edition to later learn what the erratas and faqs change. Things like weapons switching from rapid fire to assault or changes to super doctrines and strategems.
Thomas Boni
2022-11-01 02:34:52 +0000 UTCPersonally if they released the codex’s with a free digital key to access an online up to date version of the codex from a free website I think it would be better than what they have now. Im extremely hesitant to get any more codex’s than what I’ve got after only being in the hobby for about 9ish months especially with the rumors I’ve heard about tenth edition being not so far off
Luke Madison
2022-11-01 02:34:12 +0000 UTCIt sure feels that way. The Votann codex was essentially out of date before you could purchase it on its own.
Jake P
2022-11-01 02:30:01 +0000 UTC
