Dwarf advice

[Will's on Fire]

Because everyone needs a scapegoat

And Mat Ward is the scapegoat for GW.

- Will

[The Man They Call Jayne]

Not 100% sure I agree. Quite a few of GWs problems now are not their fault, they're from Matt Ward being given what seems like free range to spread his fanboyism. Admittedly that is GWs fault for not keeping him on a leash and stopping him from going to far.

Its tricky to split the blame fairly. Ward is far from blameless, but GW are letting him doing it, despite the lashback from fans.

It's like Alien Hand Syndrome. You can be walking along and your hand suddenly slaps someone. It isn't your fault, but if you dont take steps to stop it from happening, you are to blame if it keeps happening.

[Will's on Fire]

If they didn't like it, they can get the writer to change it.

Whatever Mat Ward is doing, it is being approved by someone else, they can't just write a codex and have no one else putting in any ideas, and what to change.

The blame is not solely for Mat Ward, just everyone likes to blame him

- Will

[Durzod]

I cut way back on my 40k play about the time the BA codex came out. Not because of the codex (it's trash), but I got tired of seeing the same web-inspired armies again and again. So I concentrated on Fantasy, where good generalship could overcome cheese.

So what does GW do? They give Mat Ward the 8th edition project! ARGH! I will admit he had some good ideas: the magic system is better than in previous editions, the random charge distance idea is kinda refreshing. and there are a few others. Unfortunately Mat just can't seem to follow thru. It's as if he doesn't know when to stop messing with things.

For example, as I said the magic SYSTEM is pretty good. So what does our Mat do? He goes and throws in Mega-Death-I-Win spells. So instead of magic being a supporting element in an army, the army is now delegated to Wizard Escort/Target status.

Don't get me started on TLOS! I can ALMOST see it in 40k. After all naybe personal spybots are so common in the 41st Milleneum that they aren't even mentioned. But in Fantasy everyone uses the old Mark I eyeball. There's no getting around the general  (the player) sitting up in his dirigible (now equipped with laser range finders) being able to see all, but the troops on the ground don't have that luxury. As a player, you know there's a bunch of orcs lurking behind those woods. But since nobody models woods terrain pieces to properly represent their density (we want to be able to fit our models in there) EVERYBODY knows they're there.

GW shares the blame for this sad state of affairs. After all, somebody approved the publication of this stuff. But Mat Ward wrote it. The lion's share of the blame is his and his alone. His drivel has driven me to the point of putting most of my gaming effort into Flames of War...until Mat Ward somehow finagles his way into Battlefront.

Maybe 6th ed 40k will bring me back. After all, it's been the even numbered editions where the major changes come about. The odd numbers are all just tweaks of the previous edition. I hold out no hope for Fantasy. I'm 60 and I don't know if I'll still be gaming by the time 10th ed comes out. Depends on the nursing home, I guess.

I know this is a Tau-oriented forum, but the OP asked about Mat Ward. And he hasn't just infected 40k!

[Farseer Del]

Maybe 6th ed 40k will bring me back. After all, it's been the even numbered editions where the major changes come about. The odd numbers are all just tweaks of the previous edition.

Arguably, 4th edition 40k was a tweak to 3rd, which was pretty much a reboot of the entire rules system compared to 2nd, so that one is a little bit off

I know this is a Tau-oriented forum, but the OP asked about Mat Ward. And he hasn't just infected 40k!

Actually, we're a General 40k forum, and always have been - The name is merely historical, and arguably Tau Online wasn't  a tau-only site for very long.

As a little extra bit, I've not saw his name mentioned much with regards to Sisters on GW's site - It appears to be the work of Crudface, who is IIRC now 2/3 for Nerfing.

And that is his own army apparently.

So... Where does it say Ward is connected? Cruddace seems to be shouldering most of the blame on GW's website.

[Narric]

So... Where does it say Ward is connected? Cruddace seems to be shouldering most of the blame on GW's website.

Very first page of the WD article for SoB.

Chapter Approved
This official Code for the Sisters of Battle, written by Robin Cruddace and Mat Ward, will be presented........

Aren't there two Mat Wards in the GW staff, or is it just two Matts?

[Farseer Del]

I see. Not yet read the WD in question.

No, he just can't spell his own name consistently. Matthew, Matt, Mat... All are the same greasy little speck known as WAAAAAAAAAAAARD.

Still, Cruddace seems to be the lead writer.

[Renzokuken]

To be honest, I can't quite put my finger on why I hate matt ward. It's basicly a case of me looking at everything he's ever laid his hands on and finding at least 10 ways cheese-masters will find to break it, rather than use skill to win games.

I've never seen so many cheesey armies come out of a single author ever, I mean I'm a pretty competitive player, I enjoy winning as much as the next person, and I like to think tacticaly I'm a fairly skilled player with any army. But when a relative rookie can pick up an army someone posted online, and field it and beat veteran players using normal armies. Well it sucks the fun out of the game. He's clearly tried to heap on the cool factor too much.

[Ra´Meses]

Matt Ward do seem to be guided by his fanboism first and foremost. I do not fear for the Sisters yet. I simply refuse to since I love my beautiful lassies too much. But I admit the Wolf dex and BA dex killed any desire on my part for picking up a space marine army.

Meister, if an army have all it needs to cover their weaknesses, then those weaknesses themselves are pointless. When armies start to be able to do everything it is not long before name and race are only a thin paint over what is in practice same-same armies. I personally detest this increased cry for making the game more competitive oriented and throw out the fluff. If all you care for is being able to play hardball with your mates using toy soldiers, there is warmachine for that.

I wish GW turn back to their games once more becoming more of a Roleplay battlegame, were people really invest in their characters and the storyline.

Heck, I am even starting to MISS Gav Thorpe. Sure, he had a way of messing things up and overpower his darlings, BUT he at least cared about the background and fluff.

[cazboab]

Yeah, when Gav came up with some overpowered bovine effluence, at least his fan-wank fluff piece to support it was a fluff piece rather than a line in the book saying "it was always like that we just never told you"- that's as close to a direct quote as I can get from memory, have a look in storm of magic for the supporting background stories and tell me how close the text that's in their place is to that.

[The_Warmaster]

  I'd like to point out that it's RUMORED that Matt Ward is gone.

Matt Ward? Gone. Don't expect him to be writing any more Codices. His baby was 5th edition, and now that 5th edition is up, Ward is done. Board Members for GW? 3 of the old geezers gone. Company-wide changes. Everything since Tyranids? Made for 6th edition.

From here: http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2011/08/40k-rumors-6th-edition-and-beyond.html

I can only hope so.

[Narric]

I'd like to point out that it's RUMORED that Matt Ward is gone.

Matt Ward? Gone. Don't expect him to be writing any more Codices. His baby was 5th edition, and now that 5th edition is up, Ward is done. Board Members for GW? 3 of the old geezers gone. Company-wide changes. Everything since Tyranids? Made for 6th edition.

From here: http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2011/08/40k-rumors-6th-edition-and-beyond.html

I can only hope so.

I read that, and I assume the opposite.

Matt Ward will become the sole writer of everything GW produces from now on.

[Farseer Del]

Given the same rumours also claim that the ELDAR are the poster children of 6th and that it'll be Xenos-focused, plus claims of actual metaplot advancement, I call zombie bums.

It makes sense to do all the things rumoured in those... rumours, ergo, they're not happening as GW does not make sense. They make Warhammers.

[Chicop76]

I cut way back on my 40k play about the time the BA codex came out. Not because of the codex (it's trash), but I got tired of seeing the same web-inspired armies again and again. So I concentrated on Fantasy, where good generalship could overcome cheese.

So what does GW do? They give Mat Ward the 8th edition project! ARGH! I will admit he had some good ideas: the magic system is better than in previous editions, the random charge distance idea is kinda refreshing. and there are a few others. Unfortunately Mat just can't seem to follow thru. It's as if he doesn't know when to stop messing with things.

For example, as I said the magic SYSTEM is pretty good. So what does our Mat do? He goes and throws in Mega-Death-I-Win spells. So instead of magic being a supporting element in an army, the army is now delegated to Wizard Escort/Target status.

Don't get me started on TLOS! I can ALMOST see it in 40k. After all naybe personal spybots are so common in the 41st Milleneum that they aren't even mentioned. But in Fantasy everyone uses the old Mark I eyeball. There's no getting around the general  (the player) sitting up in his dirigible (now equipped with laser range finders) being able to see all, but the troops on the ground don't have that luxury. As a player, you know there's a bunch of orcs lurking behind those woods. But since nobody models woods terrain pieces to properly represent their density (we want to be able to fit our models in there) EVERYBODY knows they're there.

GW shares the blame for this sad state of affairs. After all, somebody approved the publication of this stuff. But Mat Ward wrote it. The lion's share of the blame is his and his alone. His drivel has driven me to the point of putting most of my gaming effort into Flames of War...until Mat Ward somehow finagles his way into Battlefront.

Maybe 6th ed 40k will bring me back. After all, it's been the even numbered editions where the major changes come about. The odd numbers are all just tweaks of the previous edition. I hold out no hope for Fantasy. I'm 60 and I don't know if I'll still be gaming by the time 10th ed comes out. Depends on the nursing home, I guess.

I know this is a Tau-oriented forum, but the OP asked about Mat Ward. And he hasn't just infected 40k!

You wouldn't happen to play Space Wolves in Louisiana. I can't imagine many 60 year olds playing this game.

I personally blame the company and the fan based. If people buy the product it looks like the product is good.

Space Marines and especally Blood Angels are very bad. The thing that amazes me is that the old Blood Angel codex made some really major adavancements.

The Grey Knights are not op, but people have problem withb playing against them. The more Grey Knights are played the weaker the army become unlike the other two on top. I still think all force weapons really don't make much sense since it's useless against Daemons or most Daemons.

The sisters I'll just wait and see the 2nd part before I complain about it. 

I believe in power gamers in role playing games, but really don't see it in 40k. If you loose it's more than likely your build was bad. The game should be balanced out so that good strategy and builds will carry the day.

The problem I see is that like models should really cost the same. Like terminators, ogryn, and nid warriors cost around the same, but more then likely the terms would win almost every time thanks to a +2 save and +3 invulnerable.

[Grand Master SeaZan]

If people buy the product it looks like the product is good.

Yeah, but when your drug dealer starts cutting your cocaine with flour it makes you buy more cocaine not less.   

My friend looks like he's having this same reaction to warhammer.  As it gets worse he switches armies more and more.

[Durzod]

Chicop: Sorry, but I'm the geezer that plays Vanilla Marines (as well as everything else but Necrons) up here in the Pacified Northwest. Wouldn't touch Rugrat Marines (SW) with a 10 foot pole (or a 6 foot Swede, either).

Maybe my decades of paint fumes and lead minis has warped my sensibilities. If Jay Ward could write a fantastic cartoon show, why can't Mat Ward write a decent set of rules? Don't names mean nothin' anymore?