Interesting rumor from GodlessM on Warseer:

"was talking to Aleesio Cavatore at an event today and he confirmed that 8th edition WHFB will be out in August of this year and that there will likely be no new 7th ed books after Beasts.

On note of the rules themselves, all he would say is that the dynamics would change a lot as far as characters are involved, as models would now get only one save just ikin 40k, i.e. they pick the highest save they have between armour, ward, and whatever and take that. "

That would be a good change and dynamically change I think how some of the big three play. Of course, it would really change a lot on how or what you take as far as items. Would actually make some sense that you wait for any further books until the new rule set is released.

I'm not sure it would drastically change the big three. Maybe change VC running armor/ward/regen lord bunker, which I'm fine with. (Infinite hatred, S6, red fury, 1+AS,4+WS,regen is just kind of silly.) [dreadknight, infinite hatred, red fury, enchanted shield, crown of damned, sword of might, with black periapt/book of arkhan for good measure].

DE I'm not sure have anything over the top other than the inverse ward (defense wise). Since everything and it's brother in big three is hatred S6/S7, I think it hurts the lower tiers more, who won't have the 5+ ward backing up their 1+ AS. Makes rerollable AS, and KB, that much better. So boosts Bretts (gromril great helm), Empire (holy relic)... maybe helps high S OK a little as well.

Not a huge swing, but a little nerf to Nurgle blocks with heralds. No more relying on 5+ward, 4+regen (out of 100 wounds, 33 go through, up to 50 wounds go through, 66 vs flaming).

-Rick

I like the change to saves (assuming it is true).

Not surprised about there not being another army book before 8th edition. There is still the rumored campaign/cavalry release for early summer to hold us over until 8th edition.

At the WAAAGH-PACA, I got a good opportunity to talk to Marty Gaska. As you may or may not know, he has some insight into what 8th will bring. This is NOT for sure going to happen, but it's what he thinks may come to truition............

Skirmishers, for the most part will not exist anymore, and instead will become ranked units. I'm personally excited about the thought of ranked wardancers and dryads. Yes, there will still be a few skirmishing units [ like skinks perhaps and the like], but few and far between.

Not any real thought on the magic phase from him, other than it's obviously going to be redone.

Overall................I'm pretty stoked about the new edition. From what I've been able to gleem, although you'll still have bad ass super characters, they're going to be a bit easier to kill. I beleive that the rumor that you're only going to be able to take the best save possible, is going to happen. So yeah, the inverse ward you can still take, for example, but you'll only be able to choose yourt best option, and make only a single roll. It's going to nick some of the big 3 a bit, I think.

-Dave-

my 2 cents (probably not worth 2 cents) for 8th is for a down play on special rules/power gaming. To give an example, the three newest books have numerous "special" rules that are not really "special" and are just confusing at 1st and add tremendously to the learning curve of the game. For instance read the section on the stegadon or terradons where instead of adding a flying cav rule you could just give their US in the description. Or take Chaos for instance does one really need to add more rules to challenges which seldom actually affects the outcome? Just two examples, but I think the number of "special rules" makes things tough to learn/remember and as an opponent I hate hearing oh yeah my guy has the XX rule.

As for weaker/ easier to kill characters - that would be nice. Remembering back to when 7th came out, weakening the magic phase was a goal which has not really come through.

-Joe

I heard the Undead rules are too complicated so to make the game faster they're making tomb kings and vampires unbreakable.

The Unkillable Dark Elf lord will be a thing of the past, 1+AS, Inverse Ward, 4+ Regen, that will make me sad, wait, no, I never use them anyhow, and shy away from many multiple saves, as I find it annoying on both fronts (playing and playing against), at least with my Druchii, Empire, damn all armies but Brets (who get it automatically), and High Elves.

Poor Poor Tyrion