How do GW decide points costs?

[angkor what?]

Me and upsidedowntortoise on kompletely kroot are just finalising our 7 th edition kroot codex and I wanted some input on how to cost various things. Is there any trends that we can see? Is there been any sort of study in this before?

Weapons and units are fairly easy but what about special rules and abilities? We've created lots of new stuff and rules and would like to know how to appropriately cost them, any info would be appreciated.

[Charon]

They had a point system back then where upgrades and special rules were priced according to their use to a certain unit.
Nowadays I guess they are just rolling random numbers for point costs.

[40kGamer]

My bet is that they are also quite drunk when they roll those dice. There is absolutely no systematic model behind what they do these days. As for special rules you can always make them formation specific... that way they are free. Sorry to be a bit cheeky but if you actually set the 7th edition codex releases side by side there is absolutely no discernible pattern.... It's truly madness with no method.

[angkor what?]

I thought we might get some of these responses lol.

So an example
If an item gave a unit of 10 fleet how much would it cost?

[Ben_S]

It usually depends whether they want to sell loads of a new model.

Are you releasing new Kroot models? If so, make them cheap (in points). If not, up their (points) cost to nerf.

[40kGamer]

I thought we might get some of these responses lol.

So an example
If an item gave a unit of 10 fleet how much would it cost?

Fleet is limited use on a S,T,I 3 model. Maybe 10 points?

[Fueldrop]

2d6 points, +1 per attribute above 3(or above 7 for leadership), +1 per point of armour save.

[daboarder]

It usually depends whether they want to sell loads of a new model.

Are you releasing new Kroot models? If so, make them cheap (in points). If not, up their (points) cost to nerf.

Caveat:

Is it a Dual Kit? If so one variant must suck and the other be a must take to facilitate the swicheroo next codex edition (so a year or less time)

[Mike X]

They had a point system back then where upgrades and special rules were priced according to their use to a certain unit.
Nowadays I guess they are just rolling random numbers for point costs.

I remember an interview with Jervis Johnson a few years ago where he says they tried to make a system for points costs but could never get it to work properly and so it was never actually used.

Edit: Come to think of it, it may've been Andy Chambers that said this. I can't remember which it was. But one of them said it, nonetheless.

[daboarder]

I remember an interview with Jervis a few years ago where he says they tried to make a system for points costs but could never get it to work properly and so it was never actually used.

shows how stupid and **** they are are games design then, most competitive online games NEED a similar system due to coding and many other table top games (infinity) use such a system. The fact taht GW thinks they couldnt do it is just a cop out