A bit of a long post, written on warseer and copied/pasted (when I say ‘here’ I mean on warseer)
I thought you may all appreciate this summary. I went to the Scale Model World event today and spoke to Mark Bedford and Ead (the IT/newsletter guy). As they will undoubtedly read this at some point (see later for how I know), I�?Td like to thank you guys for taking the time to answer my many questions.
As nothing was said that I feel should be kept private, I�?Tll just note it all down.
I asked him first about the Steam Train, what the idea was behind it all. As many people know their idea is that the CD will be travelling to war in armoured convoys. So that�?Ts the idea behind it. From a rules point of view the idea is that the front part of the steam train is the CD equivalent of an empire steam tank (presumably with �?~open top�?T rules) and is supposed to be detached from the back part before the battle. The wagon that we�?Tve seen, the siege bombard, and any others they make will have their own steam engine on them, so they are capable of some locomotion.
The second hero type CD model is an engineer, over on CDO there has been some discussion if it is a combat hero or an engineer (as it didn�?Tt have a label right next to it).
As it is relevant to most of what follows I�?Tll put this bit here. I asked him about future plans for the Chaos Dwarfs and it seems that they are in discussions right now (well, a meeting next week) about how best to go forwards with them.
From what I gather they have lots and lots of plans for things they can do, but any future support will be directly determined by how popular the other CD models are. The people higher up want to make a decision based on sales data. So the more people buy the higher the chances of them making a stand alone list. Mark basically said that. If the sales figures of the things we�?Tve seen are good they will green light the whole project so that the Chaos Dwarfs become the Warhammer Forge equivalent of the Death Korps of Krieg.
I asked him about the bull concept art, and it seems there is an intention to rework the idea to make it more metal than burning flesh with lava. Mark was saying it looked too much like a Balrog, which I don�?Tt think is a bad thing at all! :D They would want to make it ridden. I wasn�?Tt too sure if there was a definite plan to actually make this into a model or not, presumably it�?Ts to do with the CD project being given the ok.
Same with hobgoblins, something Mark Bedford is very keen to do.
Bull Centaurs from what I gather are going to happen anyway, they are going to be ogre sized models.
I asked him about them doing basic troops, he said that their remit does not currently allow them to make stand alone infantry, like chaos dwarf warriors. He did however (with a cheeky grin and a twinkle in his eye) say that IF they were to have the warriors mounted on a war machine, and people could buy the warriors separately in order to go on it, that it would be a possible way forwards. He mentioned again the Blunderbussers wagon, so imo that one is going to happen.
Something we chatted about for a little bit was the daemonic stuff. How the last thing we�?Tve seen from GW for them is the Hellcannon, which is obviously nothing to do with steam power. It seems they have thought about this as well, infact he may bring it up at the meeting next week�?�
The way Mark described this I think they are definitely moving towards a combined range of models that has both steam and daemon powered models (i.e. some steam, some daemonic). We discussed how this would be done in the fluff, and he said they may look at a daemonic energy cult (not his exact words) as a way of working it in. I am fairly certain we will see some exclusively daemon powered models at some point.
I asked him about when the WF book was to be set, whether it is before or after what we consider to be the present (i.e. after SoC or not). What I took from his answer is that it is set in the present, as in the nurgle hordes are right now marching in at the start of the book. He said that the fans would always pick apart where certain characters are in the timeline, whether it�?Ts before or after SoC etc. So from what I gather they have gone with the easier option of starting it today, as in a direct follow on after the 8th ed rulebook. The interesting thing is that from their point of view this is the official continuation of the timeline, it is not an alternate future. Mark was very clear about that. Presumably they are leaving it up to the fans to take it or leave it, which is exactly how it should be I think.
He said that where they go after the first book (or 2 books, he wasn�?Tt clear) is up to them, it may change now that Rick has gone. So I wouldn�?Tt consider anything written in stone yet.
I asked him about their plans for Dwarfs (as someone on warseer asked me to) and it seems they have no immediate plans, other than that they are planning to provide the most support to the highest selling warhammer armies, of which Dwarfs are 5th apparently. I guess that says a lot about their plans, he did say that Skaven are seeing a bit of a blip in sales at the moment, but I take it from what he said that they are not a high seller possibly(?)
I asked about how they are looking to do the nurgle models, what they are currently looking at is keeping the back half of the warrior cloaks and replacing the rest with an upgrade set. A tentacle arm was mentioned. For the knights I think it could be everything but the shield arm gets replaced. I didn�?Tt actually ask about the horse for some reason. Maybe the horse head?
The empire upgrade sets are being improved, as has previously been said.
I asked Mark about when they plan to start rolling this stuff out. They are
What a great bunch of information - thank you for sharing!
I love the idea of interviewing some personnel from ForgeWorld - if it were recorded, it would certainly make for some great content for Chaos Dwarf Radio, and if it was a series of questions which are answered via email or something, that would be great in an upcoming Word of Hashut!
Wow, so what you’re saying is we should all buy a Chaos Dwarf Steam Train and associated parts in order to keep them coming huh… wicked cool pieces, but the price tag might be a bit dangerous for me!
I’m not saying we personally have to all go out and get second jobs ;), but I think we as a forum could do a lot to make people aware these models exist by posting about them on other forums (or showcase our painted models etc).
Not only would it make people aware of how cool CD are, but it would be good advertising for CDO as a forum and potentially help us get a full range of models in the end.
We’ve had our google project for instance, this could be another forum aim.
Also, Ead seems like quite a reasonable guy and Mark was saying the WF books would follow the same format of having experimental rules (and presumably pdf rules updates in future years), so we could try and gather playtesting information for them collectively.
Great update… all the things I’ve been wondering about!!
Wallet on hold until these things are available then… I keep checking Forge World hoping there will be some mention or a link to a Warhammer Forge site, but na-da…
What do people think btw of the BC being ogre sized? I think Loki may have already got this in his games day summary.
Talking to Mark about this it didn’t really strike me as that strange considering how they are taking a fresh look at everything. They may be more like bull ogres … as opposed to ogre bulls…
I’m already planning a conversion out of juggernauts and minotaurs actually… Have to see if I can get the parts I need cheap enough. (considering I’d put a WF BC around £15-£18)
Bull Centaurs as monstrous infantry/beasts/cavalry doesn’t seem a particularly controversial idea - I think they’ve appeared as such in a few fanlists already, and I know it was raised briefly when discussing the CDO Ravening Hordes FAQ (albeit not seriously entertained).
What do people think btw of the BC being ogre sized? I think Loki may have already got this in his games day summary.
Talking to Mark about this it didn't really strike me as that strange considering how they are taking a fresh look at everything. They may be more like bull ogres ... as opposed to ogre bulls..
Grimstonefire
I don't think that's a problem. In fact they've always looked a bit weedy to me. I was going to make mine BULLcentaurs anyway, and I did one already for a GH as proof on concept. So way ahead of the curve there. :hat off
(though I'm going to loose it on being too lazy and not getting the rest done methinks)
BCs do seem difficult to make work as cavalry, the only problem I have with it is how big do they make the torsos? They are still meant to be CDs, right?
The taxman just gave me money back, that’s my steam train paid for. Huzzah!
BCs do seem difficult to make work as cavalry, the only problem I have with it is how big do they make the torsos? They are still meant to be CDs, right?
Baggronor
Not regular CDs I think. Like the Taurus and Lammasu they may have once been but are now really something else.
The taxman just gave me money back, that's my steam train paid for. Huzzah!
Baggronor
I got smacked with over 800 euros more. Bleedin' fascist oppressors. No FW stuff for me, this year I gave at the tax office it seems.:mad
Great news. I just hope we as a community can drive the sales enough to get a full list.
I’m not saying we personally have to all go out and get second jobs ;), but I think we as a forum could do a lot to make people aware these models exist by posting about them on other forums (or showcase our painted models etc).
Grimstonefire
I think one thing we should consider is this… if anyone here is planning to buy the new CD stuff, buy it sooner rather than later. Its going to tend to be the first few months worth of sales that will make the real difference and steer their decision making. The next thing we can do is more general… you don’t have to buy everything but I think it reasonable to say anyone who wants to see more CD should buy at least one WF unit. There’s enough stuff bridging the price range that I think its reasonable everyone can find at least one thing they can order.
