Rank and flank is the superior style of game, change my mind....AKA make me play AoS

Well... where to start...

You already mentioned one important thing about AoS: more players available, growing numbers.

Less complex gameplay, fast games. You can play without planning a lot. Just use warscroll builder to build a viable army in 5 minutes.
Attacks work quickly, in most cases it is really only roll hit, roll wound, apply rend, enemy saves or not, if not make damage.

The game can still get quite tactical, and even though there are no flanking bonuses or so, placement can be very important. The battles look much more organic than in rank and file.

All your models are playable in friendly games. In matched play a few aren't but with friends it would be relatively easy to make up points for them.

You can keep your square bases.

The rules are relatively short and most are available for free.

As we speak there is a new edition in the works that will add awesome new magic spells, and summoning mechanic for many armies.

Overall I think the game is relatively balanced. There are hardly any armies that don't stand a chance at all. Of course there are a few very strong lists of very strong armies that will beat almost everything, but that's probably ten lists or so and if people play those against you, you can just walk away and play against someone else because they are being rude to a newcomer.

 

You don't need round bases. Every 8th edition army works.

 

Oh. Yeah group bases would be a problem.

 

Play both, borrow an armie before you take the plunge on bases.

 

And one afterthought (sorry for triple post, I have some problems with my phone right now so editing posts is hard):

Even if you think 8th edition or KOW play style is "better" (meaning you prefer it) if you give the game a chance you might really have fun with it. Probably not more fun than with your favourite games, but I think you will be able to see AoS as an enjoyable pastime activity.

So basically it isn't one or the other. AoS allows you to choose both.

Hmpf. Sniped by Crowsfoot.

 

What I like about AoS:

1. The game is easy to get into (great for the hobby in general and for gaining new players)
2. The getting started kits. Cheap (for GW standards) and friendly for beginners
3. games are fast
4. making lists with points for matched plays is incredibly fast. 5 minutes and i can do 2 or 3 competitive lists.
5. units move fast, even the slowest ones are much more manoveurable than the ones in oldhammer
6. it's not just a skirmish game, at 2000-2500 pts you field a whole big army. It's just that the kind of approach to battle is more similar to modern armies, rather than napoleonic ones.
7. Monster's getting less effective as they are wounded - neat idea.
8. Mixed armies, cause finally i can field that allegiance of Dwarfs and Empire.
9. Synergies rule the games, and thanks to that, everything can be more or less effective

What I dislike about AoS:

1. destruction of the old world.
2. discontinued armies. I hate that.
3. Sigmarines and Seraphon can't die, and if "slain" in battle they just reform. What is at stake?
4. the rules are spread out all over the place rather than neatly organized in the BRB + army book. You need the battletome of your army, the general's hanbook, the allegiance books...
5. some of the new names (Khorne grinder of bloodied skullgore and similar)
6. no more ranks/flanks, with associated bonuses/penalties. Napoleonic war is fun.
7. despite the customization with artefacts and Allegiance abilities, heroes and wizards feel much more generic.
8. Mixed armies. I like to play the strenghts and weaknesses of my beloved army, not to play an empowered mix.
9. movement is sometime excessive. Certain armies can enter in melee with you in the first turn and devastate your line before you begin to play!

 

Seraphon can die. Well, some at least. The lore isn't quite clear on who is summoned and who is not.
For Sigmarines every reforging costs a bit of their soul and personality.
So there is something at stake.

 

mmm...
yes, you have a point.