Warhammer Fantasy 9th Coming Sooner Than Expected?
September 4, 2014 by brennon
Rumours are circling in greater numbers than crows on a battlefield that Warhammer Fantasy Battles 9th Edition might not be coming next year at all but indeed may be coming this year and indeed next week of all things starting September 13th 2014 for pre-orders...
Here's the breakdown...
- New posters and promotional material are apparently appearing at Games Workshop stores
- Island of Blood is reportedly being phased out (similar to the Assault on Black Reach phase out)
- Bretonnians are going to be in the main boxed set alongside Undead
- October sees the launch of said boxed game with Bretonnians getting a new rulebook and models
- A smattering of other special character kits will come out around the same time
...and that all sounds very cool indeed but it does seem very out of the blue. In saying that Games Workshop have been doing a lot of blindsiding this year with the way White Dwarf went, the arrival of a new edition of Warhammer 40,000, a mass of updates for their rulebooks and surprise army announcements (and Nagash of course).
Could this be another arrow to notch for Games Workshop as they look to make Christmas their biggest one in the last few years? Don't forget The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies is still to be released around December time and that would leave the schedule chock-a-block full of new toys to pick up for the festive season.
While I want to believe this rumour I am somewhat skeptical as the previous rumours had hinted at a much more drawn out schedule with Warhammer Fantasy Battles not hitting until next Summer in 2015. It seemed to fit in alongside other releases from the company for Warhammer 40,000.
I'm sure we'll know by next week as leaks from White Dwarf are springing all over the place nowadays.
What do you think?
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I can see that. It’s been mentioned elsewhere on BoW that Nagash looks like a clearout of the IP to allow 9th ed to do a bit of reboot. It would make sense then that 9th ed would follow closely on Nagash’s heels.
I have been chatting about this elsewhere and only just thought this up – so rather than add it above will say it here. Even if it isn’t Warhammer 9th this September could it just be a ‘Sanctus Reach’ style ‘boxed game’ that they’re coming out with to boost forward the sale of new Bretonnians and Undead with a special Crusading character?
BoW Ben
I have read elsewhere a few months back that 9th was planned for September 2014. Then the rumor was dropped and 40k started to dominate.
Either way that’s good news Brets need an updated book and some new models! Or at least re-release all the old models in platic/metal with some new kits/hero’s.
Indeed. I have been also looking with envy on all the army updates with Skavens being omitted.
Many people suggested that 40k 7th edition was released as an attempt to boost sales after a bad year. Could it be that WFB 9th is a similar attempt at boosting sales near Christmas? Not suggesting it wasn’t planned already but moving it to a pre Christmas release will surely generate some additional sales? Just a thought. Obviously as it’s just a rumour I won’t necessarily believe it till I see it. As a Bretonnian player (or rather collecter, I don’t get much time to play) this just seema doubly suspicious. We’ve gone from no real indication of when the… Read more »
I heard 7th edition was always an easy production that was already written – it was a failsafe piece of work to release if sales were bad. However sales were good (Woodelves) but they released it anyway. Implying Fantasy was always planned.
If this rumour is true then it will be interesting. Does Nagash book read as if there is ample space for the 9th edition ruleset to be a REBOOT, not simply (9th) a improved set of rules.
Fantasy needs a reboot, otherwise it will die. A reboot of the ruleset. It will be interesting.
I wonder if they will simplify the game at all? Right now I’d love to play WFB but with KoW so much simpler to just pick up and play I’d rather spend my time with that for big block army on army action. I love the depth and world of Fantasy but since I can just use the same minis for KoW or cheaper ones I’m just as prone to going that route.
Mirarii, I am an old WHF player who now plays Kings of War, too. Fantasy rules and numbers of models to field an army make it both expensive and taxing on the mind. So many rules and wholes in those rules. So many FAQs, errata and non-sense. So many armies not cared for. I was a Wood Elves player since 5th edition. Yes, I waited a long time! Now, it seems each army is getting a reboot and if they are like Wood Elves, it’ll be a good reboot (models were great). If the rules workout to be KoW like… Read more »
I’m interested in hearing what changes 9th edition brings, as I still have a soft spot for WFB. Unless they drastically reduce the model count though, I don’t think I’ll play. I just can’t justify spending that much of my hobby budget on one game. I will buy the Bretonnian army book though, and maybe some of the new models if they look good. The Bretonnians have always been my favorite army, and the 5th edition box with them and the Lizardmen is what convinced my to give WFB a try.
I cannot bloody wait for this, it sounds really intriguing! I’ve enjoyed all of the new models released so far and I’m anxious (yes, very sad!) to hear more about the Brettonians.
WFB is the only mass battle 28mm game I play and pips Infinity and Xwing to being my favourite game overall so 9th edition and all of the model paraphernalia can’t come soon enough.
Here comes the cavalry! >:D
A less clunky rule set will do the trick … and some mantic proxies
Never being one to miss the opportunity, if a tip top game of mass fantasy battles with a low model count, streamlined ruleset, and a playing time under two hours is your thing, then Jake Thornton’s God of Battles will be right up your proverbial street.
No id like to play warhammer, but with a less clunky ruleset and models that dont cost more than twice what they are worth.
Or is it that it have dawned on GW that they should not bed the farm on the Hobbit ?
While that reboot will give some it is no LotR – and as IP it is going to be hard to keep the game running with a long tail … unless we start seeing the GW ideas come in as the did in the LotR as it faded away.
So a new big box of Toys even should it be a ‘Sanctus Reach’ kind of release …. might be what is needed for them
Will be interesting to see, I had figured/hoped finish the current run of books and End of Time series first – then launch new. If it is undead/Brets would fit right in as 12th battle of Le Masiontaal. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a campaign box either.
Personally more time to save would be welcome – particularly if they are going to do ltd ed figure thing.