GW is now a member of the GOP or The New Flier book.

[the_trooper]

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?catId=cat440161a&prodId=prod1950012a

Death From The Skies
Death from the Skies brings the white-knuckle intensity of aerial combat in the 41st Millennium to your tabletop, featuring selected material from White Dwarf magazine, the Crusade of Fire supplement and exclusive new content. Exclusively available from games-workshop.com, this 72-page, full colour softback compendium book is crammed with background information, gaming ideas and hobby inspiration to help you bring the battle for air superiority to life.

It includes: a detailed account of the Battle for Cardrim, featuring White Scars Space Marines, Necrons and Orks locked in a deadly battle for control of a vital airfield; four new Air War missions that showcase the lightning-fast nature of aerial warfare; optional rules for dogfighting and veteran fighter aces for your Warhammer 40,000 games; and a showcase of beautifully painted Flyers from the 'Eavy Metal collection.

There are rules for using the Stormraven Gunship with a Codex: Space Marines and Black Templars army; updated rules for the range of Warhammer 40,000 Flyer models, including new bestiary and army list entries for the following codexes: Black Templars, Blood Angels, Dark Eldar, Grey Knights, Imperial Guard, Necrons, Orks and Space Marines.

Please note: Death from the Skies is available in English language only.

lol

[Mannahnin]

Some folks are speculating that this is because copies of the back issue of WD are still available in other languages, whereas the English-language versions are sold out.   Of course, that would imply that the rules aren't changing for these flyers. 

Did everyone notice that new FAQs just hit?  The main changes I'm seeing are some flyer updates;  SM & Black Templars both get Stormravens and Storm Talons.  SRs, Valks, Vendettas, and Necron Flyers all lost Deep Strike.  Valks/Vends also completely lost Scout; so no more Outflanking for certain now.

[MM3791]

Funny how daemons and tau were left out, new codexes soon perhaps.. mwhaha

[Imp]

Funny how daemons and tau were left out, new codexes soon perhaps.. mwhaha

Daemons march
Tau april

[the_trooper]

So, since this is direct only and limits people's accessibility of this book, should this be banned from tournament play like FW?

[Grand Master Steve]

thats what im curious about. Im not going to buy a Storm Raven for my Ultra Marines if i cant use it

[Benjamin]

So, since this is direct only and limits people's accessibility of this book, should this be banned from tournament play like FW?

I have already heard this is the case for other stores, that they have banned the book.

[Chase]

No plans to ban this book.

[King of the Elves]

Fwoosh!

Some of the new flyer rules must be for flamers, because that's the sound of the new Death from the Skies supplement (which is available as of today exclusively through the Games Workshop website) burning bridges at several independent retail stores.

Here's an open letter from Pat Fuge, CEO of the Gnome Games retail chain in Wisconsin:

"Dear Games Workshop. You have made it less than desirable to sell your games and allow our place space to be used for your exclusive sales to the customers we take care of. For that reason all content in your new Aerial Combat Book is banned for all of our events. The book will not be allowed in our stores and is considered contraband.

GW players if you want to trade in your armies for store credit for Warmachine we have an opportunity for you. Please email ihategw@gnomegames.com for details."

Gary Ray of Black Diamond Games posted a similar sentiment on his blog:

"Trade in your current edition Warhammer 40K or Warhammer Fantasy rulebook and you take 40% off a starter box or rulebook for Warmachine or Hordes. We've done this with role-playing before, notably D&D and Pathfinder, so we know there are likely a bunch of rulebooks gathering dust and the need for excuses to start a new game. Let this be your excuse."

Additionally, as of this posting several other independent retailers have pledged to ban the use of Death from the Skies in their stores. The supplement represents a tipping point in the strained relationship between independent retailers and Games Workshop, which released several exclusive products through their official website recently, cutting out independent retailers and driving consumers directly to Games Workshop for their hobby fix.

 Saw this online, I think that GW is digging it's own grave at this point.

[Chase]

Pat Fuge runs what is probably the most successful pair of game stores in the country.  He definitely knows what he's doing as it pertains to his business.

I have a strong reason to believe his WHFB and 40k customer base is a bit different than ours, however.

He's very good at getting companies to listen to him and very good at getting results.  He's also got a fiercely loyal customer base that will support him and his choices.

I don't think he'll get much of anywhere with GW, but he's definitely got the loudest voice in our industry.

[MM3791]

I never understood why a company or store would ban anything that they sell.. it's like cutting off your own foot. It's like, "we sell this but you can't use it in tourneys". Makes no sense business wise or gameplay wise. I speak in general terms, like handfuls of stores and things like 6th ed banning allies, fliers, heroes etc. I think if everyone played the game as designed then there would be no need to hit the panic button after every release. Just my 2c

[Mannahnin]

I never understood why a company or store would ban anything that they sell.. it's like cutting off your own foot. It's like, "we sell this but you can't use it in tourneys".

But that's the point.  It's direct-only, so they CAN'T sell it.  The customers can only get it from GW.

[andalucien]

From the descriptions I've heard of the content of this book, I don't understand why anyone would buy it anyway.   The truly "new stuff" (pages for SM and Black Templar variations of the StormRaven, dogfighting rules, and the very minor rules tweaks that are already in the faq's) sounds like it would fit in a 4-5 page White Dwarf article, and then as a bonus, they throw in all of the rules from existing codexes for existing flyers, and charge $33 for it all together in one volume.  How is this useful to anyone?  What's next "Death with Hooves" where they print all the cavalry units from every codex together in one hard cover volume?

I was hoping it would contain significantly changed rules and/or points adjustments for existing flyers.  This would have made a lot of sense considering that flyers became a drastically different unit type in 6th edition, so it would be tough for costs for previously printed units to remain appropriate...

[andalucien]

Well, of course what I was REALLY hoping for was lots of actual new flyers.   But failing that, re-working the rules of old flyers would have at least made me "respect" this book.

[MM3791]

Also the_trooper can you maybe edit the Title of this thread? I don't think U.S. politics or racism belong in BG threads. Even in Massachusetts, statistics say about every 2 out of 5 of the people you know are conservative. I don't think its fair to label any group of people.