GW Apologist: Just what the Dataslate Ordered

Sure, it was a money grab, tying the Holiday box sets with new rules, but really, folks complained about something they basically always wanted in the first place. You know all those battleforce boxes having worthless units in them? Well, now these formations actually throw folks a bone, so all your models actually have something unique they can do.

It is important to mention, GW did drop the ball on the formation rules, because why on God's green earth should you be able to spam the same formation, over and over with no discernible restrictions? Now, if you overlook the money and execution issues, you will find Dataslates are one of the best additions to the 40k universe.

These mini-supplements (minus the Tau one) are really fun and hardly game breaking. The price point might be a bit much, but only diehards for the particular units will be buying. The turning point for me was the Cypher Dataslate, this release is jammed packed with fluff, missions, rules, and was certainly well thought out.  It demonstrated the bounty of possibilities Dataslates can have.

As I mentioned in a previous article there is still a lot of possible Dataslate pitfalls; with the impending release of three Tyranid Dataslates, tournament organizers are going to become increasingly hard pressed not to allow these Dataslates, especially if perceived mediocre units or armies get better. Dataslates are an easy way for GW to fill in gaps in their miniature lines, plus telling small narratives for specific players. They are not for everyone and you shouldn't feel heartbroken if you don't buy them all. The days are long gone when you need to own every rule anyway, besides in the end your wallet will thank you.

This gets me to the three-part Tyranid Dataslate, it is becoming clear these Dataslates will tell the story involving the Leviathan Hive Fleet invasion. The idea is very exciting, it takes what the Cypher Dataslate did and grows it. By the end you will be able to run a Tyranid campaign, along with the Tyrannic War Veterans and expect these Dataslates bundled at some point to.

These mini-narratives are more attempts by GW to change the way we approach 40k from pick-up to planned out games. If players can complete a narrative in a day or two it will go along way to achieving GW goals. With their stock price crashing, GW is involved in some risky business, but as for Dataslates like Cypher and the Tyranid trilogy, the course to easy money and happy gamers is achievable, with a little patience.  

Patience though is something people (gamers especially) don't normally hold in bounty, worse still gamers get fixated on small things, clouding them to a greater story.  You can bet one of the Formations hidden in these Dataslates will get way more attention than the narrative GW is trying to tell. If followed by retcon units brought back, all hell will break loose. The complainers won't look at the context in which these Dataslates were written, instead fire and brimstone will scorch servers around the world, as the rage monsters ultimately drive the discourse.