9 points for a model with a 4+ save and the best small arm in the game isn't good value to you? It doesn't matter that Fire Warriors can't take special weapons, they have pulse rifles. Likewise, Dire Avengers aren't crap because they cann only have shuriken catapults. Why can't they contest? Because they can't fight in assault? If that's the case then Imperial Guard and Necrons also have crap troops.
Hammerheads bad? 145 ponts for a 13, 12, 10 tank wth BS4, a buffed cover save and a railgun is bad according to you? Or do you just subscribe to the idea that you should take no tanks or all tanks? Worried that they'll take all the heavy fire from the enemy, add a Riptide or two, that will probably distarct the enmey's big guns.
What the hell are you talking about? Conspiracy? When GW puts out a new Codex/Edition, their goal is to sell the most models possible. So they change the rules accordingly hoping that they meet that goal.
I'm talking about your assuption that rules changes are not made because it's a good design idea, or for game balance, but ONLY becuase they want to sell more, different models. Of course they do want to sell models, but every rules adjustment is unlikely to be entirely motivated by selling models, "fixing" the rules is a valid motivation too.
"The shift onto foot was only made, because they wanted to sell models - since they've sold metal boxes before, now they want you to field 100 foot soldiers. It had nothing to do with balance or game design."
On top of that they're just stupid, because they've yet to figure out that a good product would sell itself without those dick-moves.
Damn right about this.
If Mech is still stronger, how is there a "forced shift onto foot"? Also, which Xenos? The armies really play differently. If you footslog Dark Eldar, you're going to lose, but the Ork horde has lost little/none of its viability this edition. Then there's Nids, who never had the option. Not all Xenos are equivalent.
DEldar is a 4th ed codex and never worked.
Orks never had viabilty, got a little bit with 6th. Specially the removal of fearless wounds helped. And even nowadays "working" Orc lists tend to focus on putting down 150+ models and just outsustain you - what a fun game.
Nid's are dead since the end of 4th, with the only exception of playing 6 Tervigons to draw on every game.
Eldar are craptastic overpriced. Necrons are boring because except the Fliers the codex is the same crap as before.
Demons, lol.
And Tau as the bitches of the ally table and a mediocre army at best.
Firstly, DE are a 5th ed codex, and remain a highly effective one. They're just the glass hammer that they should be. Orks never had viability? Did you never hear about the hell of the the 5th ed Nob Biker list? While they are feeling thier age these days, to say they never were viable is patently false. Why are Nids dead for 2 editions now? Necrons crap? The old dex wasn't crap, just boring, which has been mixed up nicely this dex.
Also you didn't answer my question about you contradicting yourself abut mech vs "forced shift onto foot".