See what happens when you don't play for years?

Warhammer 40k is far more popular than its fantasy counterpart (at least if their marketing is to be believed), so a card game based on the universe makes a lot of sense, financially.

As far as FFG doing an LCG based on the property? I also think that that makes a lot of sense. As others have mentioned, FFG and GW have an excellent working relationship right now, so securing the rights to make a product that works to the mutual advantage of both parties shouldn't be too difficult (from what little I know about rights acquisition). In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if FFG didn't already have the rights to produce a card game, but simply hasn't done so yet.

As far as 40k being an "appropriate" sci-fi setting... well, it doesn't really matter to FFG now, does it? I know people don't like hearing this, but they're a company. They're going to make games that they think will sell. Yes, they're also fans of genre fiction (clearly) and have a respect for the properties they work with and (so far as I can tell) for their fans. I'm sure they'd like to do a more "traditional" sci-fi setting at some point, but look at the rest of their LCG lineup:

Warhammer. Call of Cthulu. Game of Thrones. Lord of the Rings.

They are all pre-existing properties. Card games tend to live and die on their fanbase, which makes a pre-existing one a huge boon for manufacturers. Sure, there is that rare game that has been able to develop their own rabid fanbase (Magic, L5R, etc.) but it is SO MUCH EASIER to market a collectible game to people who are already interested in the material. Thus, a 40k, Star Wars, BSG, or Star Trek LCG is much more likely to see the light of day than a Cosmic Encounters or Twilight Imperium game (even though those have existing fanbases from the board game, it's nowhere near the kind of market that FFG would be tapping into with one of the above properties.)

It may not be fair, but it seems to be how the market works.

Also, I whole-heartedly agree that the 40k game will need to play completely differently from the Invasion game. Their aesthetics are just too wildly different for you to do it any other way. (Also, while the massive battles of 40k are fun, I was always really interested in the tactical elements brought on by squad-based combat. Maybe if certain factions played in a more swarm style, while others [space Marines] gained tactical advantages based on how few resources they were using. *shrug* Could be interesting.)

I think in order for it to sell nearly as well as other, more popular, LCGs it might have to be based on the Horus Heresy. Im not saying it Has to but all my friends in GW management say that the HH novels are selling better than most of their actual gaming products.

I think while its a long shot a card line based on an already popular book series Might just sell great.

Oh wait, Thrones...Lord of the Rings... xD

The original CCG was phenominal, until STG made their "announcement that would knock everyone's socks off"

That announcement was Horus Heresy and it killed the CCG stone cold.

The dynamics of the original, 2 turn assaults, shooting, redeploying were great. Things like Fleet Cards and Planet/Region cards REALLY lend themselves towards the LCG format. Will we ever see something like the original CCG? I dont think so but it is nice to dream.

The_Big_Show said:

I'm good with those eight.

The other factions: Sisters, all the marines etc. Can be thrown under Imperial. Put Chaos marines under Chaos, Kroot under Tau and off you go.

Time 2 Roll said:

Exactly. Everything fits fine under those 8 factions.

So, come on FFG, make 40K LCG happen!

I sure hope there are some plans towards that direction .

The stars seem to be aligning to make this LCG possible if not probable. I would be up for it just so I could reasonable play Eldar and have them supported.

Oh and another thing :

I think it would be a poor choice to have a co-op 40k LCG .

I think the 40k LCG should be all about the "only war" part of the catch-phrase .

Plus the setting and lore of the various races is way more interesting than its fantasy elder brother .

Would a "mass combat themed" LCG make any sense ?

This is what I would die to see .

Heroic units and heroic ... err ... Heroes ( and the Imperial Villains of course ) .

El Cid said:

I would agree mass combat would be cool. I could see a setup similar to L5R where you have a General in place of a stronghold and one deck has all of your resources "planets or secters you control and Units. The other Deck having all of the actions to help you win. My opinion is a bit simplistic and too cookiecutter but i think a mass combat system would be worth looking into.

I would be so so so in.. it would be amazing. and the whole point of 40K is not co-op, so I agree with that as well. But team play would be cool... like you can play with an imperial guard themed and a space marine themed deck against like 2 chaos forces serving different powers or something? I'd like that as an option, but definitely not the main focus of the game at all.

Just wanted to add my two cents. While the LCG format looks cool, I haven't been able to get into any of the existing properties. A Warhammer 40K LCG would be epic... make it happen, FFG!

I never understood card games, until I played the Lord of the Rings LCG for the first time last week - my first ever CG.

I didn't understand the point of playing a card game instead of something tangible and animated like a computer game, and I don't perticularily like competing with people - but my mind was completely changed by that experience. I loved playing Lord of the Rings because it was co-op and introduced me to how intricate, stimulating, tactical and challenging these games can be. One of the best experiences I've ever had with my friends - one that I plan to repeat.

So, the idea that FFG might make a LCG set in possibly the richest sci-fi setting ever made (above even Star Trek and Star Wars), is an absolutely thrilling idea.

My only request would be, to make something that can be played with 1+ players, and can be co-oped, like Lord of the Rings.

I don't think I would enjoy a 2-player game as much because I played Lord of the Rings 3-player, and 2-player games exclude that possibility.

And co-oping against the forces of Mordor, choosing heros and having fun for ages, was epic.

That is the only reason I havent bought Horus Heresy - I love that era of Warhammer 40K, but the format is too restrictive, as I will usually play either alone or in a group of three. Warhammer 40,000 already exists for people who want to play competetively head-to-head. Something more along the lines of LOTR with missions and heros would be different and awesome, and I would relish buying each new pack of cards.

Maybe this might limit the playable factions to imperial - but that still encompasses the Space Marines, Imperial Guard, Imperial Navy, Inquisition, Sisters of Battle, etc.

Planet_Killah said:

HOW DARE YOU SIR!

I'd like to see a Battlefleet Gothic LCG, done Summoner Wars style.

Doc9 said:

It is effortlessly better .

El Cid said:

It is, indeed.

Also now I am thinking about buying Warhammer Invasion. But should the 40k LCG come out, it would be a no-brainer for me.

Well, with SW LCG not even out and the next LCG (netrunner) already announced, WH 40.000 LCG seems no be a possibility in the near future. Frak that

Katsuyori said:

Meh, there's no hurry, I would think. Two great sci-fi games are out now to tide us over, what's a little longer for this to become reality?

just on thinking of a warhammer 40k lcg made by ffg makes me

Asmoridin said:

Allright, thanks for the boost of morale. Maybe you are right. Let´s see what SW LCG will be like.

As much as I like this idea - and I do - I think more attention to the current games is merited. Also, with two other new LCGs in the pipeline, they probably have their hands full.

That said, I have some great ideas for a how an WH40k could work - inspired mostly by CoC, which I think is a great system. As I'm not expecting FFG to produce a WH40k game any time soon, looks like I'll just have to get by with my own design.