What can be difficult for GW when developing a TT skirmish game? Necromunda, anyone? I think they have the basics down, so if the rumors of an Inquisitor-esque skirmish-level game have any veracity, what's taking so long? Saving it for the Christmas quarter sales? Or could it be that some elements of DH2e are transferable to a skirmish-level TT game, but we first just need to iron out the kinks in this beta? Will/could a new skirmish game cast aside the d6 crutch? They did exactly that with Inquisitor...

Could DH2e and this rumored Inquisitor TT skirmish game be linked? Could one compliment the other, both in play and sales?

Discuss.

I doubt it, GW aren't exactly in the business of wanting to rely on another company more than it has to (note that GW doesn't stock any of the RP books or even advertise them in the store). Secondly, the wounding system is a bit...off for tabletop. While you COULD (and some DID) modify the old line of rules to work as an adhoc skirmish game, I doubt it'd be overly practical or even worth it. Besides which, don't forget how GW works on these yearly games. They'll ship a copy or two per store, and within a week the only place you'l find it is on ebay as they go back to pretending they didn't make it/saying you should buy their full priced kits to make your own set or something. Can't see FFG making a whole RP system to tie in with one of GW's quick buck yearly releases.

Perhaps the term "gateway" is too restrictive.

Still, I can't help but strongly feel there is potential for crossover. A potential that both companies might exploit.

And I don't mean "exploit" in a derisive manner. If there were enough players of DH2e that picked up an Inquisitor-esque TT skirmish game because its mechanics closely resembled the RPG, certainly some might contract "plastic cancer" and try out the 40K TT game itself?

Again, I can see where you're coming from (and trying very hard to not make this sound like a general "zomg geedubs is evil gais" post) but while FFG certainly may be up for it, I doubt GW would be. As a company, they barely seem to tolerate forgeworld's input (as in if they did, forums wouldn't be full of "is forgeworld legal" debates). Second point, again trying to keep this even handed but blunt, but it'd be too much of a risk for GW. Not that FFG would somehow drop the ball, but it'd be too far out of GW's "core game only" mindset. Same reason their "limited" games really are limited to a single run, I can't see them branching out like that. Dreadfleet was a flop, so they tightened in. The worse, the Hobbit flopped. You can probably get the usual rundown from any "GW's quarterly info" thread and gossip, but they'll likely play the safe card and focus on what they have rather than make a monetary risk branching out. Current 40k sells, the potential crossover game may well be another hobbit for them.

Yeah, I agree with Drfunk. If this was any other company, I could see it, but GW are very anal about their IP, they patently ignore Forgeworld, who are actually a subdivision of GW, so I can't imagine them letting FFG have any impact.

Also, I believe the Inquisitor boxed game is increasingly being debunked as a rumour. I would certainly like to see a game like that, but it is looking increasingly unlikely.