Retailers ban Death from the Skies

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**robpace**

My latest blog post details the tensions between independent retailers and Games Workshop, specifically in relation to the new Death from the Skies supplement.

Fwoosh!

Some of the new flyer rules must be for flamers, because that's the sound of the new Death from the Skies supplement (which is available as of today exclusively through the Games Workshop website) burning bridges at several independent retail stores.

Here's an open letter from Pat Fuge, CEO of the Gnome Games retail chain in Wisconsin:

"Dear Games Workshop. You have made it less than desirable to sell your games and allow our place space to be used for your exclusive sales to the customers we take care of. For that reason all content in your new Aerial Combat Book is banned for all of our events. The book will not be allowed in our stores and is considered contraband.

GW players if you want to trade in your armies for store credit for Warmachine we have an opportunity for you. Please email ihategw@gnomegames.com for details."

Gary Ray of Black Diamond Games posted a similar sentiment on his blog:

"Trade in your current edition Warhammer 40K or Warhammer Fantasy rulebook and you take 40% off a starter box or rulebook for Warmachine or Hordes. We've done this with role-playing before, notably D&D and Pathfinder, so we know there are likely a bunch of rulebooks gathering dust and the need for excuses to start a new game. Let this be your excuse."

Additionally, as of this posting several other independent retailers have pledged to ban the use of Death from the Skies in their stores. The supplement represents a tipping point in the strained relationship between independent retailers and Games Workshop, which released several exclusive products through their official website recently, cutting out independent retailers and driving consumers directly to Games Workshop for their hobby fix.

**Grimtuff**

Take your ad elsewhere. Just put the meat of the news in the fething post!

**Compel**

Good on them.

GW won't notice of course but good for them to stick to their guns.

**timetowaste85**

Fwoosh!

Some of the new flyer rules must be for flamers, because that's the sound of the new Death from the Skies supplement (which is available as of today exclusively through the Games Workshop website) burning bridges at several independent retail stores.

Here's an open letter from Pat Fuge, CEO of the Gnome Games retail chain in Wisconsin:

"Dear Games Workshop. You have made it less than desirable to sell your games and allow our place space to be used for your exclusive sales to the customers we take care of. For that reason all content in your new Aerial Combat Book is banned for all of our events. The book will not be allowed in our stores and is considered contraband.

GW players if you want to trade in your armies for store credit for Warmachine we have an opportunity for you. Please email ihategw@gnomegames.com for details."

Gary Ray of Black Diamond Games posted a similar sentiment on his blog:

"Trade in your current edition Warhammer 40K or Warhammer Fantasy rulebook and you take 40% off a starter box or rulebook for Warmachine or Hordes. We've done this with role-playing before, notably D&D and Pathfinder, so we know there are likely a bunch of rulebooks gathering dust and the need for excuses to start a new game. Let this be your excuse."

Additionally, as of this posting several other independent retailers have pledged to ban the use of Death from the Skies in their stores. The supplement represents a tipping point in the strained relationship between independent retailers and Games Workshop, which released several exclusive products through their official website recently, cutting out independent retailers and driving consumers directly to Games Workshop for their hobby fix.

There ya go. I find this quite entertaining, really.

**Grot 6**

Can't say I didn't see something like this coming.

Tick Tock, Tick Tock.....

For Whom The Bells Toll......

**wizardofgore**

I am for the boycott.

**Necros**

I haven't been following any of the drama lately.. why are they banning in the first place?

**nolzur**

GW has released a book that is an addendum to the core rules - and made it direct only.

**Grimtuff**

Necros wrote:
I haven't been following any of the drama lately.. why are they banning in the first place?

From what I gather after timetowaste85 so graciously posted something that should have been in the OP (thankyou

) said book is not able to be purchased by independents and can olny be bought from the GW website and/or stores.

**nolzur**

I actually popped on to link to that blog after having read it from a link on facebook.

**timetowaste85**

Grimtuff wrote:
Necros wrote:
I haven't been following any of the drama lately.. why are they banning in the first place?

From what I gather after timetowaste85 so graciously posted something that should have been in the OP (thankyou ) said book is not able to be purchased by independents and can olny be bought from the GW website and/or stores.

*bows* I live but to serve.

**Kingsley**

To be honest, if any store owner tells me not to play with official Games Workshop products at that store, I'm going to stop playing (and buying) at that store at all. This strategy might work in places where the store is "the only game in town," but I have many choices for stores to attend and if some of them decide not to support the game system I play, I'm out.

**nolzur**

http://blackdiamondgames.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-games-workshop-problem.html
Another guy blogging about doing the same thing.

**Grimtuff**

Kingsley wrote:
To be honest, if any store owner tells me not to play with official Games Workshop products at that store, I'm going to stop playing (and buying) at that store at all. This strategy might work in places where the store is "the only game in town," but I have many choices for stores to attend and if some of them decide not to support the game system I play, I'm out.

Um, no.

Say said store wishes to run a tournament with the latest 40k rules. All the rules are a requirements for every player. Lets say we have 32 players. This store, no matter what has lost £640 as GW has decided to stick 2 fingers up at them and say they cannot purchase this to sell in their stores.

It's not a fringe item like Forgeworld (another item which independents cannot purchase wholesale IIRC). This is an essential update for the core game and if the customers wish to support their FLGS, GW is saying a big, fat NO!

**OrlandotheTechnicoloured**

I don't play in stores,

but if I did I would not look kindly on any store that prevented me using rules (like this) or models (like GW).

So if your local store says you cant play with X, dump them and go elsewhere (if possible)

(as a side note I wonder if they would destroy the stuff handed in for 'trade in' or just stick it up on ebay or similar)

Edit: If a store owner REALLY has had it with GW just dump the line full stop

**TheMostSlyFox**

Kingsley wrote:
To be honest, if any store owner tells me not to play with official Games Workshop products at that store, I'm going to stop playing (and buying) at that store at all. This strategy might work in places where the store is "the only game in town," but I have many choices for stores to attend and if some of them decide not to support the game system I play, I'm out.

That's right, stick it to the little man!

In all honesty, I think the open letter is more of a statement than anything, and if some form of gaming tool / aide is banned from a store, doesn't that make them no less shady than a GW?

**SkaerKrow**

I take no offense to stores banning Death from the Skies in any events that they host. While I definitely respond poorly if, in casual play, a store owner was to come to me and tell me that my book was disallowed in their store (at which point, I would stop patronizing that store), they're well within their rights to ban its use during any event that they choose to run.

**Ronin_eX**

Definitely a dick move on GW's part... but I can't say that I think the store response and method of protest is a good one. What they are doing simply screws over customers, not GW. I can't see this ending well for them. GW were dicks to them, but being dicks to customers is only going to drive people away instead of rallying them against GW's draconian treatment of independent retailers.

If they really wanted to stick it to GW then they would drop their products (and doing so on a massive scale would hurt GW in areas like North America, where the low density of GW stores couldn't possibly pick up the slack). Telling customers they can't use their new book and that it is contraband while still carrying everything else GW sells just seems cowardly as a protest.

I can't see what they are hoping to accomplish.

**tvih**

Fact of the matter is, at the end of the day there's no "direct only." At least it seems so in Europe. Because our FLGS is able to order "direct only" products from GW just fine, at the regular dealer discount. It does require keeping a larger stock than usual perhaps (terms of the agreement and whatnot), but it most certainly can be done.

**Rainbow Dash**

Ronin_eX wrote:
Definitely a dick move on GW's part... but I can't say that I think the store response and method of protest is a good one. What they are doing simply screws over customers, not GW. I can't see this ending well for them. GW were dicks to them, but being dicks to customers is only going to drive people away instead of rallying them against GW's draconian treatment of independent retailers.

If they really wanted to stick it to GW then they would drop their products (and doing so on a massive scale would hurt GW in areas like North America, where the low density of GW stores couldn't possibly pick up the slack). Telling customers they can't use their new book and that it is contraband while still carrying everything else GW sells just seems cowardly as a protest.

I can't see what they are hoping to accomplish.

I do forsee the FLGS' dumping GW eventually, or GW only carrying warhammer in their own stores

**Kingsley**

Grimtuff wrote:
Kingsley wrote:
To be honest, if any store owner tells me not to play with official Games Workshop products at that store, I'm going to stop playing (and buying) at that store at all. This strategy might work in places where the store is "the only game in town," but I have many choices for stores to attend and if some of them decide not to support the game system I play, I'm out.

Um, no.

Say said store wishes to run a tournament with the latest 40k rules. All the rules are a requirements for every player. Lets say we have 32 players. This store, no matter what has lost £640 as GW has decided to stick 2 fingers up at them and say they cannot purchase this to sell in their stores.

It's not a fringe item like Forgeworld (another item which independents cannot purchase wholesale IIRC). This is an essential update for the core game and if the customers wish to support their FLGS, GW is saying a big, fat NO!

Not every player needs this book. And keep in mind that in the past there were updates that everyone needed to buy (Trial Assault Rules, Trial Vehicle Rules), which had limited availability once the White Dwarf issues originally showcasing them went out of rotation (and before the appropriate Chapter Approved books came out).

TheMostSlyFox wrote:
Kingsley wrote:
To be honest, if any store owner tells me not to play with official Games Workshop products at that store, I'm going to stop playing (and buying) at that store at all. This strategy might work in places where the store is "the only game in town," but I have many choices for stores to attend and if some of them decide not to support the game system I play, I'm out.

That's right, stick it to the little man!

In all honesty, I think the open letter is more of a statement than anything, and if some form of gaming tool / aide is banned from a store, doesn't that make them no less shady than a GW?

Let's be real. The reason I shop at stores is to show support for the place that I game. I am objectively losing money whenever I do this because of the ease of obtaining 20-30% discounts online, and potentially even greater discounts via eBay or the plethora of bitz sellers. However, I like showing support for the stores that support the local gaming community, so I purchase things there even when it loses me money so I can help keep the store in business. This is a two-way street, though. If the store stops supporting my gaming, I stop supporting the store.

**warboss**

tvih wrote:
Fact of the matter is, at the end of the day there's no "direct only." At least it seems so in Europe. Because our FLGS is able to order "direct only" products from GW just fine, at the regular dealer discount. It does require keeping a larger stock than usual perhaps (terms of the agreement and whatnot), but it most certainly can be done.

In the US, Mikhalia here on dakka owns two stores I believe and has posted that "direct" only items come with a much smaller discount from GW to retailers resulting in less profit for the same work and with an uglier generic box for the minis.

**robpace**

Article text added to the original post.

**hotsauceman1**

I agree, I was going to buy a Stormraven. But now im not because my store banned it for me now apprently.
Maybe as a protest i will get all the people from my store to buy it, then bring it in. I dont get how this is a "Screw You" to GW, its a screw you to customers who would otherwise be willing to spend there money there.

**Grimtuff**

Kingsley wrote:
Grimtuff wrote:
Kingsley wrote:
To be honest, if any store owner tells me not to play with official Games Workshop products at that store, I'm going to stop playing (and buying) at that store at all. This strategy might work in places where the store is "the only game in town," but I have many choices for stores to attend and if some of them decide not to support the game system I play, I'm out.

Um, no.

Say said store wishes to run a tournament with the latest 40k rules. All the rules are a requirements for every player. Lets say we have 32 players. This store, no matter what has lost £640 as GW has decided to stick 2 fingers up at them and say they cannot purchase this to sell in their stores.

It's not a fringe item like Forgeworld (another item which independents cannot purchase wholesale IIRC). This is an essential update for the core game and if the customers wish to support their FLGS, GW is saying a big, fat NO!

Not every player needs this book. And keep in mind that in the past there were updates that everyone needed to buy (Trial Assault Rules, Trial Vehicle Rules), which had limited availability once the White Dwarf issues originally showcasing them went out of rotation (and before the appropriate Chapter Approved books came out).

That's why I used an example of an instore tournament... You know, where having said book would be compulsory for participation, just like owning a rulebook.

The examples you gave were NOT examples of a compulsory rules update. They're trial rules. It says so right in the name. Also, GW had these on their site (IIRC) before the Chapter Approved annuals came out.

**MeanGreenStompa**

warboss wrote:
tvih wrote:
Fact of the matter is, at the end of the day there's no "direct only." At least it seems so in Europe. Because our FLGS is able to order "direct only" products from GW just fine, at the regular dealer discount. It does require keeping a larger stock than usual perhaps (terms of the agreement and whatnot), but it most certainly can be done.

In the US, Mikhalia here on dakka owns two stores I believe and has posted that "direct" only items come with a much smaller discount from GW to retailers resulting in less profit for the same work and with an uglier generic box for the minis.

That's minis I think. I'd be interested to know from Mike or another Indy store owner here if this ruleset is indeed not for sale to retailers.

As to commentary above about GW no longer being carried by indy stores, I think it's likely that's what GW thinks is best, so that the only place to buy their stuff will be directly from them, enabling their control of their product. Also reducing the GW hhhhobbyist's exposure to the horrors of 'other systems'.

**Buzzsaw**

I dunno if he is reading this, but Mikhail posted the following in the thread on the realse proper;

mikhaila wrote:
nkelsch wrote:
Kroothawk wrote:
nkelsch wrote:
It seems to be exactly what everyone has been asking for.

That's a bit of an exaggeration, isn't t?
With mail order only, English only, no new content except retconning the fluff for Storm Ravens etc.

Funny, I can get it locally in my GW store... and the thing people have been asking for is rules for the models released since they can't get the WD or the IOS digital download. So now that they give exactly what people asked for you guys sit there and say "well it should have been new rules for new models."

And initial release in the primary language of the 3 countries with thier majority base is something to complain about? I guess they really can never do right.

This is a cool release...

I find it less than thrilling. I had customers asking for the book this week. I spent a couple of hours on the phone with people at GW US, trying for anything. Don't care if I'm not getting it, just please tell me what to tell my customers. They all lied. Pretending they didn't know.

GW is pulling blisters out of US stores, taking away products we used to sell. Keeping us in the dark. Not giving us new releases. Our big information tool is going to always be late. I'm cutting my orders for White Dwarf again.

Sad days from what it used to. They don't care.

Emphasis mine.

**MeanGreenStompa**

Good grief.

**Sigvatr**

Let the .pdfs fly!

I like that action. GW does not care, of course, but it's a sign for FLGS actually caring for their customers.

**Kingsley**

Grimtuff wrote:
That's why I used an example of an instore tournament... You know, where having said book would be compulsory for participation, just like owning a rulebook.

The examples you gave were NOT examples of a compulsory rules update. They're trial rules. It says so right in the name. Also, GW had these on their site (IIRC) before the Chapter Approved annuals came out.

Try again. If I play Chaos Space Marines, Dark Angels, Eldar, Tau, Tyranids, or Sisters of Battle, I don't think I need to buy a new book in order to get access to rules updates that I don't have. By contrast, many (most?) tournaments mandated the Trial Assault Rules and Trial Vehicle Rules once those came out-- this is what's referred to as "3.5e".