- The discontinuation of WHFB rumor is likely because Forge World is dropping fantasy. This is most likely a result or the drop in popularity after 8th, as 8th is reportedly much more complex and harder to start (unless you're coming from the uber-complexity of 40k, like me)
With worldwide tournaments and millions invested over 3 decades, its very unlikely that they will discontinue it. WHFB is nearly a household name (in England at least). The WHFB MMO was one of the most successful, and there is reportedly another major game in development with Sega.
At the best club here in NYC, I see lots of fantasy players, like 4:1 40K at the moment, even after the new rulebook. Personally i've fallen in love with fantasy. 40k has lots of gorgeous models, but its all "okay let me roll 60 dice for shooting you now". WHFB has more tactics, and is a much more fun game to play IMO. I don't want to waste any more time trying to "hold an objective".
Forge World is just in a love affair with "30K" right now. Aside from a lot of sexy monsters and greater demons, they haven't ever done much with fantasy, other than chaos dwarfs.
-I played a game last weekend with a guy from England who say his friends in UK say September is the release.
- As for two rulebooks at once, 40k is the odd man out here. They release a book every 4 years, been 4 for WHFB but only 2 for 40k. So 40K got a book ahead of schedule, for business purposes IMO. Aside from some slight re-balancing, and making a WHFB-esque magic phase, the main reason for the new rule book is to break the alliance restrictions and to say "play with whatever as long as your opponent agrees". This does two primary things fro buisness: it makes it much easier to buy models as gifts for people, and releases the restrictions on what models you can buy. Sure I play Necrons, but now i can buy 5 boxes of Tyranids, Dark Eldar, etc. to create "detachments" as supplements to my Necrons.
I think the reason for 2 books in a year is that both (WHFB, 40k) will include these new rules in order to boost sales.
WHFB, on the other hand, is 4 years old and needs more than a slight re-balancing. This leads to rumors of "throwing all old books out", combined armybooks, complete rule overhauls, etc.
- I think they designed the last 2-5 books for 9th, and these races will see no armybook changes. The special rules, the way phases work, the way magic works etc. might get a big upheaval, but I doubt it. I think the rules will get simplified, the armybooks combined and a lot of in-depth rebalancing for any army that hasn't had a rule book in over 2 years:
Bretonnia (rumored 2014), Beastmen, Skaven, Orcs & gobs (rumored w/ box set), TK, VC, Empire (rumored w/ box set), WoC.
I wouldn't be surprised if all or most of these gut released in a big new shiny combined army book.
- For the elf/dwarf attacks thing, sounds like they are simplifying attacks. no need to count models. instead of "fighting in two ranks" you roll 2D6 to determine how many attacks you get in that round. Dwarves get 1D6 for some reason, and elves which often fight in 3 ranks get 3D6. hordes probably get 6D6.
- There's also rumors that 40k/WHFB will share special rules and work more similar now. maybe that's why they rearranged a magic phase for 40k. not sure but i hope this is not true. Also they are making WHFB weapons have tables now like 4ok, but that sounds like a step towards more confusion rather than simplicity.
- Units are apparently not getting movement. I think what they will do is say that infantry moves 4", Monstrous & swarms move 6", mounts & war beasts move 8".
just sounds like they are trying to remove individual rules and try to group units up into similar categories in order to simplify.