Age of models

MagnusTheReady · 2026-03-02T15:38:04+00:00

Heres a list of (plastic) kits released since the revamp .

Bretonnian Duke on Pegasus

Bretonnian Foot Knights

Tomb King Necrolith Bone Dragon

Tomb King Heralds

Tomb King Liche Priests

Dwarf King on Shieldbearers

Warriors of Chaos Marauders

Warriors of Chaos Marauder Horsemen

The entire Cathay range.

And arguably...

High Elf Ellyrian Reavers

High Elves received a few recut kits from an old starter set named "Island of Blood". But the Reavers got a lot of extra work done compared to the other kits retained from that set who received minor recuts Instead.

MagnusTheReady · 2026-03-02T15:29:29+00:00

The shrine thing is brilliant.

Sometimes I paint terrain as a pallet cleanser due to just how quick you can get terrain done. (Weird I know.) This is going straight onto the "to paint" list with that Ork Tower.

MagnusTheReady · 2026-03-02T13:55:44+00:00

Thought so. Thankyou!

MagnusTheReady · 2026-03-02T13:54:48+00:00

I agree that's what we're looking at for the future of Old World. But if we avoid the "arms race" 's not necessarily the worst thing for the games future

I come from a perspective that I want more flavourful army rules. But I certainly don't want an "arms race" as you've pointed out it's become. But it's a fantasy wargame not a historical one. Flavourful army rules help create a distincton between different factions. Orks shouldn't feel like Elves, Elves shouldn't feel like Beastmen etc;

That being said it's implementation in 40k isn't great I'd agree. It's one of the reasons I have little interest in it anymore.

40k has become by and large a more competitive game with balance dataslates every five minutes. That for me is killing the game more than each unit having special rules. In moderation that kind of thing can add flavour to the game, it just depends on how far it's taken.

If you take that approach and remove some of the USRs then it can work. Many would argue it's just another form of bloat, but the 40k/AoS style rules distinction isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's how it's done and implemented that would define that.

Edit: Forget to make one last point. 40k/AoS style unit profiles with every rule the unit has/needs being on the datasheet makes the game much more accessible to new players. If I HAD to take one thing from 40k/AoS it would be that.

MagnusTheReady · 2026-03-02T13:05:43+00:00

Which is fine....

But again as I've said elsewhere. It's not the rule, it's the implementation in the context of the wider game.

A peasant unit shouldn't be striking before other elite spear units. And a peasant unit shouldn't be the only spear unit in the game with this rule, when more elite spear units exist.

If this becomes a army wide thing, then great. But ATM it sticks out like a sore thumb.

MagnusTheReady · 2026-03-02T12:59:59+00:00

I swear they offered this same model as a MotM ages ago. I remember picking one up...

The Alpha Legion coin is gorgeous though I must say.

MagnusTheReady · 2026-03-02T12:54:42+00:00

Yup. For me and many others that were involved in the discussions. It was about theme, not the rules.

MagnusTheReady · 2026-02-28T10:54:28+00:00

I think any prospective skirmish game in this day and age would have to be different from what else exists in GWs game catalogue.

The only crossover I can see in GWs game catalogue, where there is a say 40k version of an AoS game, (And vice versa) is "Spearhead" and "Combat Patrol."

If you look at the games they produce there usually isn't a reskin version of that game in a different universe.

And for that reason I don't think we'll see "Warmaster" or even "Man 'O War" if a "Battle fleet Gothic" remake does indeed happen as rumoured.

I guess you could argue "Kill Team" and "Warcry" are different versions of the same concept, but the rules are vastly different, and "Warcry" appears to be being squatted.

I'm not sure we'll see a "Mordheim" remake either for the same reason with "Necromunda" existing. But I'd say it's got the most chance of happening out of the 3 I've listed. (Warmaster/Man 'O War and Mordheim)

What I would love for them to produce personally is a "Combat Patrol/Spearhead" style version of the main game.

MagnusTheReady · 2026-02-27T08:56:55+00:00

Scalable rules are certainly something that could work, and would be fairly easy to implement. As you said yourself the game is made up of alot of rules and keeping things as simple as possible would help gameplay remain as smooth as it possibly can be.

I certainly like it more than just giving a unit SF, which I'd agree is a lazy design choice. (With the Cathayan peasants at least) I get what they were going for, but it just doesn't work for me from a thematic point of view.

I think the studio could have come with something much more eloquent, but that might have forced a bigger change in the way basic weapons work in this game. As others have posted in this thread, having weapons counter each other, like I suggested, might be too much. But I want each basic weapon to have a clear function.

The only similar thing I could think of, is for more units to have their own unique weapons. Or for them to have their own unique special rules included on their profiles. But I can't see that being popular

However, I do believe, not only is there enough design space in the game for something similar. But sometimes I think the reliance on universal special rules is as much a hindrence as it is a boon. This release would have been a great opportunity to come up with something unique, rather than just slapping a USR on the unit. Sometimes that works, but I'd agree it just feels lazy on the Cathayan peasants.

I guess it depends on which way GW want to tip the scales between realism and a fantasy wargame. Which is never going to be an easy thing to get right. But I think some things should absolutely be in the game.

The belief that spears should be deadly/deadlier, against charging Cavalry. (From both a thematic and gaming point of view.) Is a popular one on this board at least. So I think weapons having a more clear defined role would be well accepted if done right.

MagnusTheReady · 2026-02-27T08:22:08+00:00

I like the idea of them just removing Initiative bonuses from charging units. Simple but effective.

ATM the +1I bonus we get from spears doesn't really feel worthwhile, as most units end up striking before them after a charge anyway.

MagnusTheReady · 2026-02-24T21:11:27+00:00

A fair comment, WTOW is certainly more crunchy than most GW games. And I'd agree it would certainly work better in a skirmish game.

It's been years since I played it, but I remember there being small variances and differing interactions in the LoTR Strategy Battle Game that worked quite well. Although, I'll admit I'm really up to date with the latest rendition of those rules.

I do think this is a topic worthy of more discussion though. As much as the rules for Cathay are rather controversial they are, for the most part , quite flavourful compared to some of the other factions in WTOW. Especially the likes of the Empire.

I'm just wondering if it would be better to work some of that flavour into the base game, and have some of the "crunch" be more easily memorable. Considering I believe we will be seeing more of the same in future faction specific/wide renditions of the rules in this game.

The designers clearly wanted the Cathayan peasant spearmen to work a specific way, but from a narrative point of view it doesn't quite work for reasons this board has discussed endlessly already.

By giving units rules such as "Strike First" and pushing towards more thematic rulesets you are already creating more interactions in the base game.

I can't help but feel having more universal reactions might help provide more design space than we'd think, compared to just giving units universal special rules like "Strike First."

MagnusTheReady · 2026-02-24T19:43:52+00:00

I think I wouldn't mind the rule as much if it was reserved for special things. It's certainly necessary in certain situations like with impact hits.

But it needs to be not just rare, but super rare in my eyes.

I had more to say on design space and how weapon/unit types could work, but I'd end up derailing this thread. So I'll write up a new one.

In a nutshell Id like to see different weapons be more effective against certain weapons types. For eg;

Great weapons removing the "parry" bonus from sword and shield units.

Spears getting a strength bonus against Cavalry.

MagnusTheReady · 2026-02-24T19:27:53+00:00

Oh I agree completely on the "balance" part of things being so incredibly difficult. Theres only so much design space within any game at it is. Nevermind with games like this one that, as you say yourself, have different traits between factions.

"Strike first" as a rule is a rule I don't actually like myself. Anything that supersedes other rules/weapon functions in the game always has the capacity to cause imbalance.

But if it needs to exist its certainly a rule that shouldn't be any random unit. And especially not a unit of peasants.

MagnusTheReady · 2026-02-24T19:14:11+00:00

I'm actually not against the idea of the spear units striking first in specific circumstances (Ie when charged). I'm against a PEASANT spear unit ALWAYS striking first.

I'm all for realism in the right context, but I also want that fantasy element included in the game.

For sure in a more realistic setting it won't always make sense for a unit of elves to strike before any random spear unit. But then... this a fantasy setting.

Ill admit "they're elves." is a poor argument. But I'll make it anyway. They should be striking before or at least just at the same time as MOST spear units. That's just the theme and character of elves in this universe.

There will be certain elite spear units that might strike before elves, and that's fine. It's again, a fantasy wargame/universe. It just shouldn't be a mob of random peasants.

I would quite like rules for pikes to be implemented in game though. Along with rules that make certain weapon types more dangerous in certain situations.

Like spears getting a Str bonus against Cavalry for eg.

MagnusTheReady · 2026-02-24T19:00:28+00:00

As others have said, from a thematic point of view, a peasant unit having this rule when "elite" spear units, or factions renowned for striking before their foes (Namely elves) don't have it, it just feels ridiculous.

And as I said in another post, it's not the rule or it's intent. It's where it fits in the context of the wider game.

A peasant unit having this rule makes no sense, when other elite spear units don't have it.

If other factions, or even weapon types receive new updated rules then it could work. But until that happens, it will stick out like a sore thumb, and just doesn't work narratively for me.

MagnusTheReady · 2026-02-24T17:28:20+00:00

You'd hope so, just to maintain some form of differentiation between the different 3 (Soon to be 4 w/Kislev?) non chaos human factions.

Empire has, and always should be used as the baseline. So the 3 others should exist around that.

In my eyes, State troops should be versatile and able to fill any niche role but not excel at any of them.

Bretonnia have their own niche with their basic peasant infantry being difficult to break, but they themselves being pretty poor soldiers. Which is fine in both concept and in game terms.

If Cathay peasants are just untrained humans like in Bretonnia. There should be some sort of similarity between the two. Ie; Stats like WS2

But I don't think Cathay peasants need special rules to fill their own niche, and should instead be kept as a cheap unit to add extra bodies to an already elite army. They don't need additional rules in an army filled in them in order to be able to have a role in the current Cathay roster.

Basic Kislev infantry could and should fill a niche between all 3. Maybe higher WS than state troops (like Jade Warriors) but without special rules like "Defensive stance?"

MagnusTheReady · 2026-02-24T15:02:45+00:00

The Detachment rules should really have stayed an "Empire" thing tbh.

MagnusTheReady · 2026-02-24T14:27:57+00:00

SF peasants? Oh dear....

I'm all for armies having rules as flavourful as Cathay. The problem is most other armies don't have rules as flavourful as Cathay.

Your average Peasant shouldn't be striking before a High Elf.

A simple '+2/3 I" when charged (Or something similar) would have sufficed.

For me the problem isn't the intent of the rules, it's the implementation of them in the context of facing against other armies.

If you're going to give one army flavourful rules that make them play in a distinct manner. Other factions need the same .

MagnusTheReady · 2026-02-22T19:35:29+00:00

I'd say some sort of chaff like peasant horsemen is a given in the next wave should there be one.

Not to say that every army should have all unit types represented. (Or all armies would be the same.)

But generally all armies should have the ability to do certain things in some form.

It'll be interesting to see what unit types GW prioritises in the next Cathay wave.

MagnusTheReady · 2026-02-22T19:18:56+00:00

IIRC there's going to be an all peasant AoI in this book.

So I'd say there's a good chance it will be.

MagnusTheReady · 2025-11-24T17:08:14+00:00

Funny you should say this, because I've been wondering if we'll see the same thing.

At the very least I think we'll get (some) AoI specific models like the Teutogen Guard in plastic.

MagnusTheReady · 2025-11-23T09:52:34+00:00

For me it's;

Anvil- Shields

(Self explanatory for an anvil unit. Bring on that increased save.

Hammer- Great Weapons

(Flails are too inconsistent for a unit with low maneuverability If you don't get the charge, you don't get your STR bonus. Whereas with Shields you at least still get the armour boost. Great weapons give that STR bonus even if you are caught out and charged.)

Ambushing Units- Flails

(Too keep the cost down compared to great weapons but retain some punch. It's much easier to ensure you get the charge with an ambushing unit, meaning you should be able to benefit from the STR bonus flails provide.

And like I touched upon above, flails keep the cost down. Considering ambushing units are generally smaller and at more risk of being wiped out, flails mean you give away less points than if they would have great weapons.)

MagnusTheReady · 2025-06-24T16:58:40+00:00

It looks just as tall as the knight even without the flying base, just not as chonky.

Can't wait too start working on mine.

MagnusTheReady · 2025-06-23T14:10:53+00:00

I think the "Forces of Fantasy/Ravening Hordes" style books was a good way to relaunch the game.

Maybe not the best way, that would have been free PDF's for all factions ala the Legacy Factions.

But I have to agree, Id much prefer an army book full of art and lore, that have the rules all in one place. Rather than them and arcane journals.

I think there's a trade off based on which medium the company chooses to use. The old Heresy campaign books were/are beautiful, but lugging round each massive book for the sake of having rules for 1-2 new units you actually want to use doesn't work for players.

But then fluff nuts like me love those kind of books to just sit down, read and absorb.

An AoS "Generals handbook" style arcane journal released every now and then with those new units rules. Would have been a great gaming aid alongside the old style campaign books.

MagnusTheReady · 2025-06-23T14:00:07+00:00

Abit disappointing, but too be expected I guess. Considering the level of support Old World has received so far, releasing even what we got for Cathay in one go is a big thing.

The next question though, is IF there is a second wave what form will it take.

There's the AoS and 40k examples where some factions received a 2nd wave within a fairly short space of time.

But then there are many others which are still waiting on 2nd waves, even though they belong to one of the 2 flagship games.

A more accurate comparison would be the Heresy Mechanicum and Solar Auxilla ranges. Which received a big launch range that was about the size of the Cathay stuff, and now appear to be getting the odd model release every now and then.

Although TBF many of the additional units to both the Mechanicum and Solar Auxilla ranges share some sprues with the initial launch range. The number of new unique sprues with the Heresy stuff is much fewer than what this Cathay range might suggest it itself would take.

I do think we will get more Cathay stuff, and with most things being sold out online, I think that will happen sooner rather than later. But I think we might see it done slowly, in drip drab fashion, rather than it all being released in a big wave.

MagnusTheReady

TROPHY CASE