I must say that I've lost almost all enthusiasm for 9th. ...<reasons>
Thanks for your testimony.
I will copy/paste that in the relevant T9A thread, unless you object.
If I may enlight you with the following information:
- T9A aimed to be initially like a 9th edition of WH, just more balanced and better written.
Then a specialized lawyer told us that the appearance was too close to WH8th, so GW could stop the project at any time with a cease and desist.
The alternative: either T9A was successful and it would be killed, or it was not successful and it would die.
We had no other choice than to change a lot of stuff, and quickly. This left many players bitter, and many team members as well.
We understand them, but T9A cannot be WH9th, so if this is what they want, they will not find it with T9A.
- As you rightfully mention, current beta rules are written in a legalese wording which is perfect for tournament play, but repelling for casual play.
We have a team reviewing that, based on community's feedback, to help reaching a healthier compromise, to be published in the Gold version, end of 2018.
- Contrary to what you object, keeping up with the changes is not an impossible task, that's the opposite.
People may play 1.3, it has not changed a single comma in 18 months. For those who play the beta, there have been big changes from 1.3 to beta .201, but since, changes from beta .201 to beta .205 are really few and easy to keep up with. When gold will be released, the new changes will be for the great majority cosmetic changes, i.e. wording. That is not hard to adapt to, except for those looking for a reason to reject change.
But if you are allergic to changes, just wait for the Gold 2nd edition, to be relased at the end of 2018: the base rules won't change anymore for the next 5 years or more. And basically besides a yearly update of points, only the army books will change, one at a time, like GW did for WH.
- Tournament focused.
WH rules were allegedly not made for tournament. It did not prevent GW to sponsor tournaments in the early editions, nor to sponsor tournament currently with AoS, despite being badly adapted.
T9A rules were to be adapted to tournament since the very first days. No surprise there.
What people don't realize, for good reasons, is that T9A is NOT intended for tournament players only (otherwise I would not participate).
Unfortunately, the most urgent was tournaments, and that was the initial focus.
For those who are not interested in tournaments, the good news is that we're reaching a state when we can afford to shift focus, and while preserving the tournament quality (balance), we are going to create army books which will cater better the needs of casual players (who like the very crazy rules that tournament players hate), and storytellers, who call for more fluff release.
- Fluff:
to me, it will be the most appealling part of T9A. We're not yet there, having released little. But I have access to the preparatory work, and that is just stunning.
But the most interesting part, is that the community may influence it.
In no other game may anyone discuss with background team, and get replies, and sometimes influence them.
That is also the guarantee that no "End Times" will ever happen to T9A setting.
- Reaction to "doom blogs".
See post by Konrad who express very neatly the dominent sentiment at T9A.
Where I don't agree is about AoS bashing.
This was common two or three years ago.
Fortunately, most people have moved on, and nowadays you can praise AoS withouth getting angry replies.
-=-=-
tl;dr:
Part or your resentment is fact of life.
Part is old story, no longer valid.
Part is still valid, but soon to get dealt with.
Thanks for reading, and keep discussing!