@Oni:
1) Hire a playtesting team. Yes, it's a risk, I know! Our armies might be Balanced?! NOOOOOO!
- No need. Many players would playtest for free, tournament players. Would hardly need to pay them.
2) Change some of the default characteristics. WS is a big bone with me, as it's only a difference of one point between an Elf who has trained for centuries, and a human/Orc who picked up the weapon ten years ago. I'm a fan of a 12 point stat system at the very least.
- WH "reality" should come in way behind game balance. Game balance first, then explain it. One RPG I remember basically said "elves live forever, so don't practice. Why bother when there's always next year?". It was good, and showed why humans with thier tiny life spans would work damn hard to get good at something and elves would goof off for years at a time.
3) Some of the 8'th edition rumors I've found intriguing. So, I'm going to say GW should take a risk with 8'th. Let's see if it works out. Just a general thought, do something we're not expecting. Because we're all expecting the worst.
- Agreed. I'd like to also say that we have something called "the internet" now. Rules can be flexible and easily updated. Don't be afraid to do something, and then change it. Have the items in the books and the rules online. I realize this may affect their pricing strategy (or may help, having free rulebooks so people can proxy and play with little investment). I'd also recommend they put out templates people can print and glue to cardboard and play. How many outsiders can they draw in with this kind of crazy pricing scheme? "Try this board game! Only costs 50hrs of time + and 300 dollars! then decide if you like it!"
GW is using a 15 year old business model to operate today. Not too smart.
4) Update the remaining army books. C'mon. I want my TK's and Ogres to be updated. Sometime soon.
- Again, living documents, free rulebooks. Get enough people playing your game and buying models, it'll be all good.