Now the secrets out this has been asked a lot but heres the skinny, like it or not:1.The concept of the endless realms was intended to let players create their own narratives but players found the scale too big and made it feel like nothing mattered. This made narrative interest almost impossible.2.Sales have dropped. The game is not a failure but 4th edition commercially was. The game is not dying but its also not growing. So something had to change to make the game more appealing to a wider target audience as costs increase due to the overall economic climate.3.Sigmar and the Stormcast were an attempt to recreate the Emperor of Man and Adeptus Astartes that simply failed. People did not like them. From terms like "Age of Shitmar" to "Sigmarines" -which leadership have always been well aware of- there was a perception of them being a cheap knock off that couldn't be shook. So they are being massively reduced in scope with normal humans becoming the figureheads again.4.The Last World allows them to bring things closer in line to WHFB in the same way 40k and HH have changed to bring more unification to their brands. AoS brought in people who played 40k or never touched wargaming at all but as we saw with the infamous dark elf army burning back in the day WHFB players did not buy in and GW lost an entire audience they previously had on lockdown. TOW brought many back but they want to see if TLW can be a bridge between TOW and 40K and appeal to both5.Leadership has changed. Behind closed doors many of the creative leads of Age of Sigmar have retired from the company. The change in leadership was seen as a moment to pivot creatively to try and achieve the growth 4th edition never achieved.TL:DR Age of Sigmar sales have stagnated and leadership has left so 5th edition is a reboot moment to reinvigorate the brand for a wider audience. Its not End Times 2 and only Stormcast will be effected in terms of an entire range getting "squatted".
>>97778782>made it feel like nothing matteredIf that was an issue, they wouldn't have written it so Chaos inevitably wins.
The truth is they're merging the ranges.Dual kit Fyreslayers/Dwarf Slayers.Dual kit High Elves/Lumineth.Like it was for the old daemon prince (and 40k/fantasy).This cuts the costs of production, allows them to actually cycle all factions of all games in a reasonable time, and solves in one go all problems of Age of Sigmar (not grounded enough, no easy entry point) and of Old World (only old kits/no legacy faction updates).Specialist Games Studio?SQUATTED, all of them fired, even more costs get cut - the internal war is over, they get merged/killed.>but it's the opposite of what they've been doing!yep. It's a new beginning>sourceit's speculation I just made up, it's 100% true and accurate because I am a visionary and a prophet.>fans are happier>GW gets to fire a ton of people and halve their production costs and they are happier toowin-win.
>made it feel like nothing matteredThat's never been a problem with 40k, and if anything the supposedly "higher stakes" of warhammer fantasy never fucking mattered at all. Oh no, there's an undead invasion of a major city, I wonder if it will fall? Of course it doesn't. Oh noes, there are two named characters duking it out in this battle I wonder if someone dies. Lol and lmao. The stakes were so low in their endless quest for the status quo that even fucking praag was resettled after falling to the chaos invasion. Felt like a comic book crossover all the time.
>>97778782>as we saw with the infamous dark elf army burning back in the day WHFB players did not buy in>whfb players did not buy in>as we saw with the dark eld burning Yeah anon, uh, about that...
>>97778859Necromunda is often considered the third pillar of GW because of how popular it is despite the lack of fanfare.
>>97778782Point 3 could’ve been over written if they kept brittonians in and leaned into King Arthur, like at all. Middle management creative will be the downfall of GW
>>97778782>and only Stormcast will be effected in terms of an entire range getting "squatted".The leaker explicitely says to expect more stormcast "with a grimdark tone"
People are really blowing this out of proportion. All they're doing is getting rid of the realms, which they weren't doing anything with anyway.
where are you guys getting this shit?
>>97779927They will probably be new ones that fuction like terminators for cities of sigmar. They already squatted a whole edition before and didnt stop making new ones.
>>97780057Well known leaker with good track record crashed out a few days ago, picrel. Though it's worth noting that other leakers have corroborated it while also nuancing things a bit. It's not really an end times more of a soft lore reboot like roboute returning. Long story short the realms are getting stitched together into one world instead of being on different pseudo-planets.>>97780121I expect them to refresh the remaining first edition stormies and give them the more grimdark darksoulsslop aesthetic that the leaker mentioned yeah.
>>97778782The reason is GW is run by retards and its mostly kept afloat by massive uncharges and a captive audience.
>>97780193>grimdark darksoulsslop aestheticThat was never the aesthetic appeal for me, it was the "heightened history" aspect of it where things taked from actual reality are exaggerated to their logical extreme.The HRE stand in is a literal Bastion of civilization, French Knights are actual demigods presiding over actual filthy, groveling, subhuman peasants.Grimdark is certainly part of that caricature but not the whole picture.WhFB inspired my current obsession with the HRE and the Thirty Years War so maybe I just see the parallels better.
>>97780292I think they're more aiming for the 40k grimdark rather than the whfb regular dark with this tone shift.
>>97778887There's a world of difference between the extremely large galaxy of Warhammer 40k, where the numbers involved may be borderline inconceivable but it's all still comprehensible enough to put on a map where you can color in roughly who controls what, and the actual fully arbitrary infinity of the Age of Sigmar realms. Functionally infinite realms that you could never put on a map, places that two forces could fight over literally forever because the other side would always have more ground to retreat back to.
>>97780626Both settings are functionally infinite
>>97780888In the meta sense of 'We can always make up something new to fill up space or create temporary stakes'? Sure.But this is about how the settings feel and Age of Sigmar, within the actual in-universe logic of it's setting, was scaled arbitrarily, the 40k galaxy is not, we know how big the galaxy is from one end to another.
>>97780913I genuinely never understand how 40k players can delude themselves like this but okay man.
>>97780925That's putting it a little harsh but yes to me there's always been very little difference between aos and 40k in let's say "geographical" stakes.
>"The realms of Age of Sigmar are very large, almost indefinitely so"this phrase, or however it was written, was a single line of text that GW said only once in a Warhammer Community article and it became an immediate anathema to the setting.They tried to undo it one thousand times but for some reason people only remember that initial phrase.>"The realms are almost infinite">"The realms are so large that nothing matters">"There is basically no end to the realms"It doesn't matter how many times GW denies it and retcons it, they said so once 10 years ago, and the setting is now doomed.
>>97781181I've not heard a lot of people complain about it being "functionally infinite", rather I think most people think they're literally infinite, and probably on different dimensions/planes too.
>>97781235there is a lot of dishonest shitposting on Age of Sigmar, many of the whiners know full well the realms are not infinite at all so they say "functionally infinite" or "basically infinite" or "practically infinite".
>>97781181nigga have you never read the lore section of any AoS core rulebook. The realms are "functionally infinite" and "it would take a man decades to cross even a portion of a realm". Each one is the size of the distance between the sun and mars.
>>97781415I've only ever heard that statement from haters, and when I sought the source I found an old Warhammer Community article, I've never seen it in a book (or if I have I don't remember)
>>97778782>From terms like "Age of Shitmar" to "Sigmarines" -which leadership have always been well aware ofDo you ever think that you overestimate your personal importance in the lives of others? I think you don't.
>>97781461Nah, he's correct.
>>97781461GW retail staff have been specifically briefed not to let anyone in their stores refer to Stormcast as "Sigmarines." Leadership knows it's pejorative.
This is a completely moot point considering they have never shown an end point to the realms, so yes they are "functionally infinite" in every way that matters. Anyway Age of Sigmar is 10 years old, and the fact that peope are still confused about the realms is more than enough reason to remove them.
>>97781513>they have never shown an end point to the realmsthis is meaningless.So what, if they showed you a picture of the edge of a realm telling you a battle took place there or a city was there it would've been fixed?
>>97778815>If that was an issue, they wouldn't have written it so Chaos inevitably wins.or incompetence in writing.
>>97778782>Source: my literal ass
>>97781288I don't know about shitposters but I get the idea that the average normal who dislikes aos' setting definitely thinks they're actually infinite.>>97781513>This is a completely moot point considering they have never shown an end point to the realmsWhy try and speak with authority on things you know nothing about? What's the point?
>>97778782Furthermore, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms demonstrated that the public wants simpler and more honest worlds, not worlds oversaturated with magic.
>>97779927>The leaker explicitely says to expect more stormcast "with a grimdark tone"I hope they take away their immortality.
>>97781461Have you ever thought about stepping out of your bubble?
>>97781543>So what, if they showed you a picture of the edge of a realm telling you a battle took place there or a city was there it would've been fixed?Yes.>>97781842Has anything ever happened in those supposed borders of the map?Because it's as if they don't exist.
Still not playing Shitmar, sorry.
>>97781942You hold very strong opinions for someone who knows so little
>>97781966Who fucking designed this? This is hilarious. “Give him a sword”
>>97781966looks good>>97782494a good designer
>>97782808Cope
>>97782494I don't understand what is bad about it. Maybe I am just not warhammer-brained but it seems like half the time you guys just post pics of some pretty sick looking minis and then bitch and moan about how they are the worst pieces of shit to ever exist while the rest of us just look at you like you are a spoiled child having a meltdown in a walmart.
>>97778782This is how the TOWddlers cope with getting utterly blown out at Adepticon huh? Writing fanfic? How womanly.>>97781966Well yeah, it doesn't have a TWW expansion, we know your kind would never touch a mini.
>>97783093>This is how the TOWddlers cope with getting utterly blown out at Adepticon huh? Writing fanfic? How womanly.Bruh. Reread what you just typed and imagine yourself saying this to anyone. You don't have to be this way. Go take a shower.
>>97781841Actually we have 5 different sources
>>97783093Very strange cope when your setting is literally being squatted. Knowing that GW agrees with grogs and is killing your setting and replacing it with one that appeals more to their sensibilities
>>97783225Which you will now name, boy.
>>97780193>leading questions>em dashes up the wazooThis couldn't be more obviously chatgpt yet you faggots eat it up.
>>97781415>Each one is the size of the distance between the sun and mars.That's not true at all, Hysh is fully mapped and was at one point fully inhabited by elves, it's the size of Eurasia going by the distances between cities.
>>97778782>Sales have droppedPost the sales data. Go on, do it. Let's see some numbers.
>>97783351I don't have the sales data, though.
>>97781843Oh so WHFB didn't have Lizardmen, Chaos and Elves
>>97783509Then why are you making a claim based on sales data, faggotron?
>>97783521No. WFB was always a very grounded low fantasy game where the fantastical elements were always buried deep under a layer of precise historical accuracy and verisimilitude.
>>97783526I'm sorry anon. My points are so weak and yours are so strong, like a big, strong, throbbing dick. Can I call you daddy?
>>97783541>No. WFB was always a very grounded low fantasy game where the fantastical elements were always buried deep under a layer of precise historical accuracy and verisimilitude.
>>97780213GW is kept afloat by Space Marines alone pretty much.
>>97783541I think you might be a fucking idiot.
It's funny because Planescape was a hundred times better at illustrating cosmic scale concepts like infinite demons versus infinite devils with the Blood War and that was 30 years ago.
>>97783251Whitefang,WBMU,Boole,Krud and THW
>>97783261They run it through an ai to ensure there are no writing patterns that could be used to identify leakers. This king of leak is corporate sabotage, leakers face jail time.
>>97783093>...he wrote in his fanfic about TOWgods
>>97783687Good boy.
>>97783686Too bad it was tied to that dogshit alignment system!
>>97783762Tick tock one year left before Sigmar is slaughtered like a child along with your setting :^)
>>97778782Sure thing? Oh and your girlfriend that goes to another school is totally hot as well? AND your dad works at Nintendo too? Well damn, I guess you've gotten it all locked down
>>97783799What is Sigmar?
>>97781181It is why first impressions matter anon. 1st Edition AoS arrived in such a manner and was so poorly thought out that it rightly forever tainted the IP. Even a competent company would struggle to recover from the damage that was done, and GW is not a competent company.
I can't wait to see even more DEI quotas with the Last World when it releases. AoS was bad enough about it, to the point that I lost interest in the setting. I can only imagine it'll get worse, especially since they are infecting The Old World with it too.
>>97785142Likewise. Watching terminally 4chan-brained WarFaggots screech is basically the only thing this board still has going for it.
>>97783541Lol. Nice troll
>>97780888Objectively that is the case, but there is a different feel. I can't really explain it since it's purely subjective, but the 40k galaxy feels more comprehensible as a place. We know what a galaxy is, and you can draw it on a map and put the important locations like the Eye if Terror or Terra or Ultramar on there so you get an idea where everything is located in relation to other notable places. In practice the Imperium losing a random planet created for one novel doesn't really matter, but 40k does a better job than AoS in maintaining the suspension of disbelief that it does. Theoretically losing that one planet would shift the borders on the map slightly, being one more tiny step towards the collapse of the Imperium.The AoS realms on the other hand are more abstract and since they all exist in their own separate pocket-dimensions you can't really get a comprehensive map of the whole thing. Doesn't also help that a lot of the AoS maps just look like ass. It makes it harder to buy into the "reality" of the setting when it just feels kind of vague and haphazardly put together. That's just my opinion, but it does seem a lot of people feel in a broadly similar way. Combining all the realms into one place will likely help with the issue.
>>97778782>only Stormcast will be effected in terms of an entire range getting "squatted"I fucking wish, but this is also why I doubt your post is more than wishful thinking.
>>97786338>The AoS realms on the other hand are more abstract and since they all exist in their own separate pocket-dimensions>pocket-dimensionsYeah that's not what they are. The realms exist in the same 3d space, for all intents and purposes they're basically a solar system of 8 flat "planets". If you had a spaceship you could go from one to the other in a straight line. All the places that matter have normal ass maps, not the children's drawings of 1st edition.That being said, your view of the realms is actually a good example of why GW is looking to change things up I think. They're not infinite, they're not in separate planes of existence or pocket dimensions or alternate realities or whatever else people think. However it is clear that no matter what they do this is still what the average non-aos player thinks of the realms. I think this is GW throwing their hands up in the air and say fuck it let us make it as clear as possible.
>>97778906Addict tries to go cold turkey but fails miserably. Entire paychecks gone. Many such cases.
>>97778950Necromunda is the coolest part of 40k by far.
>>97786397>The realms exist in the same 3d space, for all intents and purposes they're basically a solar system of 8 flat "planets"Really? I know the realms haven't been infinite 1st edition, but I was under the assumption that that exist as basically "bubbles" surrounded by the Warp. I recall seeing a picture of one of the reams that's basically a flat disc inside a spherical volume, and assumed that's how they're supposed to work.I'm starting to think GW themselves doesn't really know how they want the realms to work, because it seems to me there's been multiple contradictory versions over the editions.
>>97786397>However it is clear that no matter what they do this is still what the average non-aos player thinks of the realms. I think this is GW throwing their hands up in the air and say fuck it let us make it as clear as possible.This is the whole thing summed up. It's itrelevant to argue if the realms are good or bad worldbuilding among lore enthusiasts, the simple reality is that most outsiders will only get the most surface impression and likely misunderstand it, and to a company that can only be called a failure. For 40k you just say "sci fi, planets", and they'll get it immediately.
>>97786603The correct framing for AOS would have been "fantasy stargate" but the ship sailed on that one a long time ago.
>>97786658Unironically this but they discontinued their realmgate terrain immediately. Could not commit to a bit.
>>97786574>I recall seeing a picture of one of the reams that's basically a flat disc inside a spherical volume, and assumed that's how they're supposed to work.That is actually true, but those spheres are not their own dimensions or anything. They exist placed within a void (essentially the vacuum of space, but like, kind of magicky). Again using the solar system comparison, the spheres are essentially the athmosphere of the different "planets" (flat planes) which separates them from outer space (the void).Again I think GW fucked up by putting out mega shitty art in 2015 which has stuck way more than amy normal map or explanation they can being out, especially to non aos players. First impressions are important and they fucked them up. Again, I think this whole reset thing is them essentially trying to force the issue and create a "second impression". Nobody that's not already into aos is going to be aware that they made maps for the realms (or at least the continents that matter), or any explanations of the cosmography tucked away in core rulebooks. But a big "reboot" like this? That's going to draw attention so they can be all "see it's not dimensions guys!!">>97786603Yeah pretty much
>>97786658>"fantasy stargate"The French did it first.
>>97781966>sir the enemy is slowly floating towards us what will we do?!
>>97787435>Deploy the big fan
So, where's the last world reveal? AoS was supposed to die, right? Where is it? I already destroyed all my old models on anticipation, where's my game?
>>97788047Anon we are in the middle of 4th edition and also this rumor isn't actually "aos is going to die" its antis deliberately catastrophizing about a stupid lore event. If this actually happens you'll be waiting until this time next year and the presumptive new edition reveal to hear about it.Which is fun because an entire narrative will develop about it in that time and GW will have no control over it.
>>97788047Leaker undeleted their account and claimed its a year+ away so I'm still totally right but I'm not gonna talk about it anymore because it makes me SAAAD
>>97788872Holy cope.
>>97791200Dude read the leaks. It’s planned for 5e. This is what the initial leaks said too, you just didn’t read them for whatever reason
Are they doing the End Times 2?
>>97791222Gathering Storm 2.0
>>97791222End Times 2: End Harder
>>97791222>>97791229This is a cope. It’s end times 2.0. The mortal realms no longer exist and sigmar dies
>>97791222Nothing ever happens
>>97791222If you're mad at AOS and want the setting to end despite there being no fiscal reason for it to happen then yes the rumours are true and it's all going away and getting merged with the old world (for no reason)
>>97780888Look you nob it's pretty simple- the Cadian gate is a known 'place' in space. Medrengard is a known place where Iron Warriors come from. The Tau empire is a singular stellar state. The 500 worlds are the former realm of the Ultramarines and their successors etc.This is in contrast to sigmar where the maps change every edition because 'infinity means constant change'.Sigmar would not even be difficult to make it have real stakes (you can keep the infinity, but have strategic Realm Fortresses built around the gateways between the realms that have to be captured to move from plane to plane) but GW is too stupid to even do that.
>>97791584>infinity means constant changeYou’ve got it the other way around
>>97780193>I expect them to refresh the remaining first edition stormies and give them the more grimdark darksoulsslop aesthetic that the leaker mentioned yeah.The problem is that Stormcast shouldn't be fucking Land Space Marines. Blanche's one-off artwork make them look like Valtenesque demigods. They should have been like chosen or the strongest winged ones like greater daemon equivalents, leading an army of shirtless barbarians armed with warhammers seeking to become ascended to the stormcast like sigmar.>But then they'dj ust be chaos warriors but goodYes and that would be cooler than an army of gold guys who are all somehow low level mooks. The aesthetic of Stormcast tells the brain they are demigods but the rules in game make them bitches.>but what about space marinesSpace marine paintjobs don't have the same look as stormcast. Stormcast would also work as a small army like the Custodians, who are the same demigod trope, but GW wanted to sell models so they made them a hordelite like space marines.
>>97791589It doesn't matter. My point is that there are obvious strategic points of interest on the Sigmar map that could have been built up naturally as relevant to the lore- GUYS WE HAVE TO STOP ARCHAON FROM CAPTURING THE REALMGATES OR HE'LL TAKE OVER AOS! but GW decided to not do that for whatever reason.
I don't give a fuck that Sigmar die and they merge whatever they like. I am not even bored anymore than Archon still is the Ultimate Chad, aided by Skaven and GW keep pushing his demonic c*ck inside our throats. I just want some flesh wood elves, not centaurs or treemen. I want a Kurnous sculpt just as good as it was back in the 4th Edition, and that my brother sold behind my back. Wood Elves are shit in every medium. TOW, TTW, AOS. They even nerfed them in Blood Bowl.Just give me that, I don't care about the system.
>>97785142How much worse can it get?
>>97791584>you can keep the infinity>another retard weighing in on things he doesn't understandThey're not infinite, that was the point of this entire conversation. It's the same as 40k. Both settings have fixed places where all the narrative revolves around surrounded by a technically finite but in practice infinite larger world.>have strategic realm fortresses built around the gatesAos has exactly that and moreYou're free to dislike aos and its setting but at least hate on what it actually is (which shouldn't be too hard) instead of this version you've built in your head
>>97778859I doubt that.TOW is still a rank&flank game - and AoS miniatures don't fit well in units because of their flamboyant poses.
>>97792638all the aos defenders come off as insufferable passive aggressive no models fedditors, which is probably what you are. Good riddance to your faggot setting.
>>97792660>make retarded statement>get btfo >ugh why so mean to me?Kwab
>>97781181>>97781842>>97781974It's not just the size. There's also the fact that the "realms" just don't feel like an organic world.They feel very clearly like an excuse for GW to do whatever the fuck they want story-wise and most importantly copyright-wise.
>>97792795Sure that's a very fair criticism, unlike "it's infinite".
Didn't basically none of tnis shit come to pass.The planes should be element based. Air, Water, Earth, Fire. Literally sundered from the Old World. Dwarfs on sky islands. Humans toiling below.
I can't take anything in AoS seriously because the whole setting is built for copyrightability, removal of anything potentially offensive, and an attempt to recreate the mass market appeal of 40k.>Stormcast™ Eternals™ that are just gold Space Marines>Cities of Sigmar™ which remove all the potentially culturally offensive different human cultures from WHFB, and replace them with a singular bland mediaeval HRE equivalent which has been changed just enough to make it copyrightable>Sylvaneth™: what if wood elves but we got rid of the flesh to make them copyrightable>Lumineth™: high elves but what if we gave them a retarded name to make them copyrightable>Fyreslayers™: dwarves but what if we added fire to make them copyrightable>Kharadron Overlords™: dwarves but what if we put retarded looking steampunk to make them copyrightable
>>97792837Sylvaneth are based because they're just wood elves without the worst part, the elves.
>>97792845If I wanted only wood, I would play Catan
>>97792848I dont get the joke.
>>97792848Kek
>>97792863Do you Catan?
>>97792848>>97792875I can't believe they removed the settlers part of the name because it was racist.
>>97778782>which leadership have always been well aware of>Games Workshop leadership>ever demonstrating awareness and critical thinking about anythingFAKE LEAK FAKE LEAK FAKE LEAK
>>97792547>fat black woman rides the pala drake
>>97792928true, slavers of catan would have been way better
>>97778782contrary to what people might assume, if this happens, it bodes very badly for TOW.
>>97792667Fag
>>97778887In 40k the scale is more easily understood. Just 1 galaxy with billions of stars and planets, which is extremely big to the point you can't really comprehend it. But 1 galaxy with a fuck load of stars, is hell of lot more understandable than a "here's bunch of realms that are retardedly massive but not infinite, but at the same there's technically an infinite amount of different realms everywhere, and everything is technically within space but not really"AoS's world building is just a mess.When you compare it to WHF worldbuilding it's like night and day.
>>97799928the worst part for me is the maps are just so extreme high-fantasy, and not in a "haha, funny gonzo setting" but more like "some 13yo kids just made lolsorandom shit"
>>97800354>trust me, totally awesome events happened here, here and there
>>97800354Yes, we know AoS launch was awful. Let's not pretend this image is relevant to AoS of any edition other than the 1st one (and even then I wouldn't call it relevant.)
>>97800779>>97800354Gw generally was just in a really fucking alwful spot. I can’t pinpoint the exact time, but around 7th edition fantasy had the worst fucking artists, same with 40k. Cg book covers, the worst fucking rules known to man for both 40k and fantasy, the fiction generally wasn’t really stand out either, but yeah I can see why gw felt the need to do something as drastic as they did with 40k, let alone fantasy/aos.
>>97800354>>97800779>>97800818The real trvth nvke is that gw is shit at coming up with maps and placenames (and arguably names in general) when they can't just ape from real life. In whfb that makes sense, in aos that doesn't. But even back in whfb you saw them utterly fail at this kind of stuff when they had to design and name regions that didn't just come from irl. See the chaos wastes for example, both the darklands are also full of meme names like these, though I grant they executed it better there.
>>97781288>>97781429
>>97781893personally speaking i find the existential horror of them being kept from eternal rest to be the most compelling thing about stormcast.
>>97800894>The real trvth nvke is that gw is shit at coming up with maps and placenames (and arguably names in general) when they can't just ape from real life.That is pretty much every company trying to create names that can get trademarks/copyrights under an executive mandate. Instead of going for "natural" names they end up creating these artificial compound word names. 4e D&D suffered from it heavily as well.
