Great vid. I think you are correct that most of the biggest changes to this edition are driven by cost cutting. This confirma for me that WU sales are not great and GW doesn’t feel confident that sales would improve. But this is a problem GW created for itself. The real problem underlying why Underworlds (“WU”) has such a small player base is because of GW's marketing strategy (i.e. its target audience). This game, no matter how simple GW makes it, will continue to “fail” when GW targets it to GW miniature players. Miniature gamers are turned off by the card play aspect of WU to a great degree and the boardgame aspect to a lesser degree. GW should be marketing WU to boardgamers & CCG’ers. This would mean that GW would have to go outside its comfort zone (and likely its distribution network), so this is unlikely to happen. I am sad to say that I do not see this new edition having anymore success that the last two years of WU unless GW expands its market reach. WU is hands down the best tactical-arena combat boardgame I have played over the last 7 years. And I have played a lot of them. This is a niche with a slew of boardgames in it (easily 40-50 in this timeframe, such as Unmatched, Wildlands, Aristeia!, D&D Onslaught, Godtear, etc..). Yet very few boardgamers I encounter (or even engage with online) are even aware of WU. It’s a shame. And it is GW's fault.
100% agree. It’s brilliant game but targeting the wrong player base. They should licence to board game company and allow them to re-theme and promote as a new board game.
That would be a great alternative, though unlikely after GW killed the FFG license. Note that game rules that are not patented do not require a license. So I recommend checking out other games that have released over the last year or so that derive from the Underworlds ruleset, including Star Trek: Away Missions and Harry Potter: Wizarding Duels
Someone on reddit posted a comparison between new and old hexes, and it looks like the new hexes are way smaller. Still large enough for a 40mm base, but not much more. That would make the gaming board on par with the old one if not a tiny bit smaller.
Another solid vid Baz, thanks for the shout😊 knowing now that not all warbands will be legal in comp play, I wonder if the actual warbands they showed might be the only ones in the current rotation. That would be hexbanes, gorechosen, kainans reapers, Brethren of the bolt, and gnarlspirit pack. The other ones on the list I made were just pics from cards. But who knows 🙃
Not surprising GWS is cutting costs for Underworlds. Despite being a great game, the player base is tiny and sales are minimal. Where I live all the Underworlds players have moved to Kill Team or Warcry. Hopefully the changes lead to more Underworlds players.
In the current edition you start with your favourite warband and then look for the best neutral rivals deck. I get the feeling, that in the new edition you will start with the rivals deck you want to play and then check which of the 56 warbands ist the best fit.
- 16 returning ones are on launch, more might come later - they already sell some random warbands on the webstore without cards - they moved all warbands to legends in Age of Sigmar but brought two back - Stormcoven and Plaguepack were just released without cards for AoS - they haven't brought back warbands from big boxes in few years - now they are likely to return for new edition, just like Killteam saved single releases for a new edition - they don't need any cards so easier to rerelease - hopefully every warband returns, at least for a run - rules could be in building instructions or just online -underdog does sound bad, AoS has a bad underdog mechanic problem - two unannounced warbands on release day too - I am really exited!
God Damnit GW. They've just announced pre-order is this Saturday. That's the first time I'm aware they've surprised us. www.warhammer-community.com/en-us/articles/5hdacrdo/warhammer-underworlds-heres-how-to-get-started-in-the-new-edition/
XD and now it's rolled back " The Warhammer Underworlds: Embergard core set will be available to pre-order shortly, and we’ll have more news from the new edition next week." So we're pretty sure preorder will be Saturday 2nd Nov and the article went up a week early (and was then updated).
Great insights. I immediately thought about how these changes might make the game better for players while helping the company be more efficient/profitable, etc. Glad to hear someone taking a nuanced stance on this limited info.
The agents of sigmar did actually spot that the hexes are a bit smaller. Not sure what the end size will be though. I suspect this new board would be great fir bladeborn.
Underwolrds is fun but GW makes it a bit like Magic without the options. Not to mention GW can not write rules or use wording consitently. Ever. Once they changed the cardbacks I laughed and forgot about the game. icons has been changed to guarantee it was never backwards compatible. A collectable cardgame with different cardbacks and removing most cards every year? Many of the warbands are great models though so I get some if they are nice looking. I have no doubt the maps/cardboard will cnage too just to f*ck loyal fans over and over. I mean buying cards for old warbands knowing they will eb relced again soon. ha ha ha
Great vid. I think you are correct that most of the biggest changes to this edition are driven by cost cutting. This confirma for me that WU sales are not great and GW doesn’t feel confident that sales would improve. But this is a problem GW created for itself.
The real problem underlying why Underworlds (“WU”) has such a small player base is because of GW's marketing strategy (i.e. its target audience). This game, no matter how simple GW makes it, will continue to “fail” when GW targets it to GW miniature players. Miniature gamers are turned off by the card play aspect of WU to a great degree and the boardgame aspect to a lesser degree.
GW should be marketing WU to boardgamers & CCG’ers. This would mean that GW would have to go outside its comfort zone (and likely its distribution network), so this is unlikely to happen. I am sad to say that I do not see this new edition having anymore success that the last two years of WU unless GW expands its market reach.
WU is hands down the best tactical-arena combat boardgame I have played over the last 7 years. And I have played a lot of them. This is a niche with a slew of boardgames in it (easily 40-50 in this timeframe, such as Unmatched, Wildlands, Aristeia!, D&D Onslaught, Godtear, etc..). Yet very few boardgamers I encounter (or even engage with online) are even aware of WU. It’s a shame. And it is GW's fault.
100% agree. It’s brilliant game but targeting the wrong player base. They should licence to board game company and allow them to re-theme and promote as a new board game.
That would be a great alternative, though unlikely after GW killed the FFG license. Note that game rules that are not patented do not require a license. So I recommend checking out other games that have released over the last year or so that derive from the Underworlds ruleset, including Star Trek: Away Missions and Harry Potter: Wizarding Duels
Someone on reddit posted a comparison between new and old hexes, and it looks like the new hexes are way smaller. Still large enough for a 40mm base, but not much more. That would make the gaming board on par with the old one if not a tiny bit smaller.
Another solid vid Baz, thanks for the shout😊 knowing now that not all warbands will be legal in comp play, I wonder if the actual warbands they showed might be the only ones in the current rotation. That would be hexbanes, gorechosen, kainans reapers, Brethren of the bolt, and gnarlspirit pack. The other ones on the list I made were just pics from cards. But who knows 🙃
Not surprising GWS is cutting costs for Underworlds. Despite being a great game, the player base is tiny and sales are minimal.
Where I live all the Underworlds players have moved to Kill Team or Warcry.
Hopefully the changes lead to more Underworlds players.
In the current edition you start with your favourite warband and then look for the best neutral rivals deck.
I get the feeling, that in the new edition you will start with the rivals deck you want to play and then check which of the 56 warbands ist the best fit.
- 16 returning ones are on launch, more might come later
- they already sell some random warbands on the webstore without cards
- they moved all warbands to legends in Age of Sigmar but brought two back
- Stormcoven and Plaguepack were just released without cards for AoS
- they haven't brought back warbands from big boxes in few years
- now they are likely to return for new edition, just like Killteam saved single releases for a new edition
- they don't need any cards so easier to rerelease
- hopefully every warband returns, at least for a run
- rules could be in building instructions or just online
-underdog does sound bad, AoS has a bad underdog mechanic problem
- two unannounced warbands on release day too
- I am really exited!
I would like to start my adventure with WH Uderworlds. when is the release date of the new version?
Currently unknown, keep an eye on warhammer-community.com on Sunday evening to find out what will be on preorder the Saturday after.
God Damnit GW. They've just announced pre-order is this Saturday. That's the first time I'm aware they've surprised us. www.warhammer-community.com/en-us/articles/5hdacrdo/warhammer-underworlds-heres-how-to-get-started-in-the-new-edition/
XD and now it's rolled back " The Warhammer Underworlds: Embergard core set will be available to pre-order shortly, and we’ll have more news from the new edition next week." So we're pretty sure preorder will be Saturday 2nd Nov and the article went up a week early (and was then updated).
@@optimalgamestate thank you sir for feedback. Btw great vid. GL for you 💪
Great insights. I immediately thought about how these changes might make the game better for players while helping the company be more efficient/profitable, etc. Glad to hear someone taking a nuanced stance on this limited info.
One thing that hadn't occured to me until you mentioned the possible change in board size, How would these new boards fair for Bladeborn?
The agents of sigmar did actually spot that the hexes are a bit smaller. Not sure what the end size will be though. I suspect this new board would be great fir bladeborn.
I am not betting that any of the giant cost cutting will be passed onto the consumer.
con esta edicion el juego murió, partiendo por el diseño de las cartas
Underwolrds is fun but GW makes it a bit like Magic without the options. Not to mention GW can not write rules or use wording consitently. Ever. Once they changed the cardbacks I laughed and forgot about the game. icons has been changed to guarantee it was never backwards compatible. A collectable cardgame with different cardbacks and removing most cards every year? Many of the warbands are great models though so I get some if they are nice looking. I have no doubt the maps/cardboard will cnage too just to f*ck loyal fans over and over. I mean buying cards for old warbands knowing they will eb relced again soon. ha ha ha