And what about expansions? Aside from expansions adding additional chaos or imperial Space Marine chapters, what more can an expansion add to a game that pretty much consists assaulting a palace? And how re-playable will this be?

Don't get me wrong, I am very much looking forward to this. I am a huge WH40k fan, and I love the Horus Heresy novels, and I will definitely be purchasing this, but I am having trouble envisioning the expandability and re-playability of this type of game. Maybe my creative juices just aren't flowing right now...
 

Good question. FFG said something about scenarios. This might help. Besides, how replayable are chess and go? :). One board, no environment, no palace, no Titans! Geez, how people can play it? No offence, I'm just kidding. Seriously, I was asking the same question myself. Well, I hope that there will be a size effect. The game is too big to repeat itself.

Well part of the original marketing scheme behind Horus Heresy (the first edition) was that it was one of the great historical battles of the 40K universe, along with Battle for Armageddon and Doom of the Eldar.  One of the best things about the 40K universe in my opinion is the rich, textured fluff it provides alongside all its products.  My fear is that there isn't very much you could do in the way of an expansion without elaborating or changing the "historical" details of this famous battle.  Elaborating on it is dangerous to continuity and changing the details would be heresy (no pun intended. =P)

In the case of Armageddon, GW has been able to revise the idea by having several battles waged on that planet throughout the ages, but I don't see how you could make a second Horus Heresy.  Instead of an expansion to HH, I think I'd rather see new implementations of DotE and (maybe) Armageddon, if GW isn't holding onto that one for their own uses.

I'm sure they could add some new units and some optional rules and what not, but I don't know that there's enough material to justify a whole expansion without shattering the established continuity of the 40K universe.

Edit: AND A NEW EDITION OF TYRANID ATTACK!  ZOMGWTFLOLWIN.  =P  =D  =P

Steve-O, you forgot the Battle for Macragge, the Ultramarines desperate defence against Hive Fleet Behemoth.  Good battle, that.

Knuckles Eki said:

True that.  I guess that one was touched on in the 3rd ed starter for 40k, but was there an older chit game of it?  I don't remember one if there was, but my memories of those long ago days are hazy at best =)

FFG says there are six scenarios with this one, which is more than you get with most board war games. That and the unknown number of Traitor Guard units each set-up should ensure plenty of replays for HH, I expect.

Honestly, I am just starting to get into the whole 40K background.    But I will gladly trade "historical" accuracy from the franchise for a kick a** gameplay!

I hope it gives alot of tactical options and that it is not one-sided in its gameplay.

As an expansion they could focus on other fields of battler and just inorporate the minis from the base game. Maybe the battles fought at Istvaan or Calth.

Mars, I smell Mars!

Veldrin said:

Istvaan would be gooooood

 huge expantion oportunities in the form of maps and minis for major 40k battles. Armageddon anyone? 

As long as there are multiple ways to approach the games strategic appeal it has lots of replayability.  So far it looks to be shaping up as a solid game that i hope will lead to FFG getting the license to reprint more of these fantastic old GW boardgames.

Thanks guys. This helps.