Humboldt War Hammers

Greetings,

I've noticed since 8th edition came out that most game shops have reported fewer players playing warhammer fantasy.  While my sampling group is too small to be sure, it is my guess that 8th edition is turning away players.

Does anyone else agree?

There are some things I like about 8th edition, and quite a few things I don't.  What I'm really interested in is continuing the Warhammer hobby that I've loved for so many years.  Is anyone interested in discussing house rules to make 8th edition more fun, and in many ways, more fair?

Ecaep

I don't really think 8th edition is turning away players. For the short time I was in the bay last year the GW stores had a higher ratio of fantasy to 40k players than the year before. As you said yourself this doesn't really consitiute a sample though. Personally I did prefer 7th but they;re just different games (like 3.5 and 4th ed D&D). Both are perfectly playable.

 As far as fairness I think that if anything it's more ballanced than 7th was. In particular while still incredible access to greater demons has limited the demon lists and lists like ogres saw some improvement.

The only major issue with 8th is that magic can be complelty devistating (admitbly to either party). The house rule that lv 6 spells can only be used once per game can help with that but I don't think it's nessessary.

While I prefer the old LoS and marchblocking rules I don't think changing them back would work all that well in the current context.

Were there more specific rules complains you had?

other than what they did to great weapons, I don't have any problems w/ the current edition. 

I agree that it's difficult to compare 7th and 8th. They are two different games that just happen to share the same title. As someone who plays a fair number of the lower-tiered armies (especially under 7th), I was pretty excited for the changes when they came out. After having had the opportunity to play the new edition for a while now, I've cooled a bit but still enjoy the game.

My major complaint is that magic is over the top. The level 6 spells can be devistating, and getting irresistable can be too easy with the right combo of items or army-specific tricks. The cost of getting an irresistable is generally not as bad as the miscast table makes it look.

That said, 7th had its shortcomings as well. As I recall, many of the large monsters, especially the flyers, were devistating and could be nearly impossible to deal with. That said, I miss the old LoS rules which made it possible to use the large monsters in the first place.

But there's a number of changes I do like as well. After feeling dirty for premeasuring everything for the first several months, I've come to like that aspect of the game. Athough I was fairly adept at guessing distances, not having to do so both speeds the game and puts new and veteran players on more equal footing. I've also found I don't mind the random charge distances as much as I thought I might.

In short, I think that 8th is just a different game, with its own plusses and minuses.

Thanks for the input!

After posting I appeared to drop off the face of the earth, but I've managed to claw my way back.

The new magic rules seem fairly universally disliked.  I don't like how more than one wizard is rarely worth taking.

As far as the other rules, my Empire army has gained a lot.  The only thing I dislike is how useless Heavy Cavalry is now, at least for the price.  Empire knights are cheap compared to some armies, but I still need at least 500 points for a unit that can last more than one round in combat.  I also think steadfast should be defeated by rear and flank charges.  What good is it to skillfully manuveor your opponant's massive unit into your trap if there is no real benefit for surrounding them?  One might thing 100 goblins would never break, as long as they have leadership.

I like your insight into how 8th and 7th are entirely different games.  I hadn't thought about it that way.

It does sound like the Eureka shop has had better results with 8th edition.  The Medford shop has lost over 15 regular players to the new edition., or at least that is how it seems.

Ecaep