Games workshop goes digital, You can download it all to your ipad.

Ola,

I'm curious what are your thoughts of having the warhammer 40k and or warhammer fantasy codex or army book downloaded to your ipad?

Is it better for us or not as a gamer?

Cheers,

Oberon

gw

Should be good esp since you can do search functions. You don't have to bring a lot of books. Just the iPad and you can have both the main rulebook and codex of your army in one location.

I agree with Wolf on his points - lesser tangible and bulky stuff to be carried around, and the search function (better if it allows you to search through all your books and display relevant results) would make rules disputes easier to resolve, and information more readily available.

Without the publication cost, getting digital copies of the books should be cheaper (it's not free, but less hurtful on the wallet).

The extra features are also a nice touch - how to paint, new scenarios, etc.

There are several down sides to this though.

The most glaring issue about it is cost. Not for the product, but for the iPad. Not everyone has an iPad, and not everyone can easily purchase one. I am sure people will say it's the wave of the future and everyone will probably have one sooner or later. But at the moment, an iPad is expensive. I, myself, do not have an iPad. I have a Samsung smartphone and I am very happy with it already. If GW will release something limited to Apple users only and exclude Android users, that would mean I won't have it.

An iPad is also a hot item. By that, I mean bringing it out in the public makes you a target for snatchers and thieves. It's one thing to have it swiped without you noticing it. It's another thing for you to be dragged to a dark corner and threatened at gunpoint (or knife-point) for it. It's another thing for you to be dragged to a dark corner surrounded by hooligans and still be threatened with a deadly weapon. Sad reality in this country of ours.

Privateer Press also has looked into digital products which they have been developing for several months already. Not only is it a source of information like what this GW product already is, but it has features which allow linked information between a match - you can see what he has in his list, how much damage his models have, hot links to abilities listed on the virtual cards, etc. I am sure GW (and all other upcoming companies) will come up with something similar to this.

Despite the cost and security issues, I am all for it. I may not have it ASAP, but I know I can always save up for it if need be. I just won't bring it out when playing in a mall though LOL

same thoughts.

pros:
* easy to carry (iPad)
* makes searching for indexed topics a breeze
* less damage on actual Codex (can leave it at home for casual perusal)
* should be cheaper to acquire
* army builder in iPad is a possible future venture
* convenience of having every book on one gadget (no need to browse through nor carry multiple books around)

cons:
* iPad is expensive
* product is limited to iPad (i'm not too keen on Apple products so it'L be cool to be available on android platforms as well)
* prone to software/hardware problems that may lead to file corruption/deletion (if user is careless enough not to have multiple back-ups)
* security issues as per kim (mainit sa mata ang iPad.. it has this huge neon sign pointing to it that says, "STEAL ME")

Well armybook/rulebook on ipad is already common in our warhammer fantasy group. Though it was scanned pdfs and actual books were left at home. The reason being it's a lot easier to carry and faster to search for rules. Even in other forums I see people preferring to bring scanned pdfs on a laptop for rules reference as opposed to carrying all the books. I think that's why GW decided to make official digital ones.

We don't play in public so don't really have a problem with security. I actually found it funny where, in other groups, people have a problem finding stuff they left at their gaming place, but with us we have a problem finding the owner when someone ends up leaving something.

If this would be allowed for use on tourneys and such, people who have pdfs on their laptops will be offended. It's the same thing. There's also now way to prevent the books from being shared iPad to iPad. There always is a way to break codes

Why would the people with PDFs in their laptops be offended?

TO's call...if he says bring your books then comply. A real book or show your OR for your digital purchased one. It's a Tourny and such official ritual authentication is a valid request of the TO.

Pirated versions of the ones sold by GW (compatible with the iPad) would as soon as ever be shared at the Pirate Bay by Reloaded, Skidrow, and other pirate teams. This would defeat the purpose altogether and be unfair for those who favor laptops.

??? I still don't get why the laptop folks would be offended just because the iPad folks can have access to pirated versions which are neater. I'm pretty sure there are lots of pirated PDFs floating around already for the laptop users. Personally if the price is low enough and I have an iPad, I would just purchase it. If you can afford an iPad, you should be able to afford the software. If the iPad was gifted to you all the more you can buy said software.

Now while they are not as good and fully functional as the ones for the iPad, the pirated PDFs are still copies of the orig and piracy is piracy and I don't think the laptop folks will be offended at all. They still have their pirated PDFs for free. It's just a different medium. I can understand if you said envious but offended?

Not that I am advocating pirating stuff off the net esp for official tourneys. As Tiny noted, the TO can even ask proof that you indeed purchased said software. Lastly a tournament organizer, esp a GW sanctioned event, should be the one offended if there are players using pirated stuff on their iPads and/or laptops.

If it is a question of piracy, any hacker/programmer/developer who wants can easily make a program for Android or PC users that will allow them to use the iPad-only GW product. They can then as easily copy off the iPad-only GW digital books onto their Android smartphones and/or PC laptops.

IMHO the only ones who would be offended by any of these would be the retailers (i.e. NG, Fortress) and those who legitimately shell out money to get the legit products. Everyone else who use PDFs and/or whatever non-official stuff should keep it to themselves, as respect na rin.

If your gaming group allows it, all well and good. If your venue, be it NG or Fortress or wherever tolerates it, then all good, too.

I am not self-justifying anything as I, too, use and read PDFs at home, to learn about the opposing armies, new painting techniques, etc. But as per example given forth by veteran players and shop owners, I do not bring them out publicly. If I am going to join a tournament, I will bring a legit rulebook and a legit army book/codex/force book/cards.

It's not about "having that much money to throw around." It's about "being proper as required by said event."

Mr. Wolf is right. Maybe "envy" would better describe my stand on this. To me as player and painter, I can see a window opening for iPad owners who will be able to use their iPads as codices, for free. This of course, is in line with the possibility that the pirate teams I mentioned (Reloaded, Black Box, Skidrow, and others) will indeed take the pdf (or other medium) that GW distributes and crack them for free distribution throughout the web on file sharing sites such as Pirate Bay and Picktorrent.

The possibility for iPad owners to "own" codices (which they did not pay for and downloaded c/o Pirate Bay and other places) will be recognized as authentic while the soft copy equivalents on other gadgets will not be recognized is just too much to take in. Indeed envy is the word. Envy of this possible exploitation of piracy.

As for what was said earlier about "proof of purchase", I think that it will be very difficult for the iPad owners to bring their receipts with them every time they go to battle. It will defeat the purpose of convenience altogether.

I don't want to sound like a whiner, but I can see a lot of trouble coming from this "Digital launch", especially since it is discriminating in favor of iPads only. Call me pessimistic, but I would rather look at a worst case scenario than have surprise take me.

A review of the digital SM codex up on Dakka taking a look at the product itself and trying to avoid the hype or rage.

the real codex is still cheaper and more convenient.

also, I find it amusing and silly when someone says he can't afford a codex but then brings out an iPad or a laptop in a gaming session to view a pirated pdf. Codex = 1.4K... laptop or iPad = over 20K... hmmm

@emcee

I usually automatically translate "cant afford" to "not willing to spend" when I'm talking to gamers

I have copies of some pdf codices (tama ba ang plural term ko??) sa android device ko, Pero I still find it easier to look for something in the book. Especially if its your armies book which you should have read completely cover to cover. I had the pdf copy but still bought the original book.

When you have a dozen or so armies of miniatures, you won't consider it a "should" to have read your army books cover to cover.

umm this is GW the cost is actually the same as the print book but rounded up in price

but beyond that i love it when companies enter the digital age

i could justify the price if the book came with free edition/rule upgrades
(but being GW i highly doubt it)

This is pretty good for GW since it helps them earn more since people from around the world don't need to wait thus allowing people to spend faster. I just hope that GW doesn't cut off the making of the books.

well its only available in the US/euro itunes so far so still have to wait if you live in asia

or you make a US itunes account

Call me old school, but the feel of a tangible book at hand is more favorable to read compared to a digital gadget. Kinda like the feel of reading a monthly comic book issue.

I have a number of codices in my Android phone which is indeed convenient. During casual games, I just bring out my phone if reference is needed. Pero still, I bring the real books during competitions. Army books/ Codices is part of our army.

With the emergence of ebooks, audio books, and so on, it's undeniable that we will all have to use this stuff sooner or later (my readings in college were given in pdf form). Still, nothing beats a good book that you can leaf through with your fingers as well as that new book smell and the feel of sharp newly printed books that you could get papercuts from

I'd rather have a hard-bound book like the ones currently used by WHFB.

Besides, if the Zombie Apocalypse happens and power runs out, at least I'd have something to read.

Uh, just so everyone knows: i checked already. the codexes and army books are only available on the iPad iBook app. Customers from the Philippines (among other Asian countries) cannot purchase these books online, because of Apple's regional licensing.

So unless you have a US Apple Store account, you won't be able to buy it anyway. I wouldn't have minded getting digital copies. I prefer physical books, but those get really beat up when you constantly lug em around to wherever you play.