UK Games Day Combined GW news (40k, Fantasy, but not FW)

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**Kroothawk**

Today was Games Day UK , the biggest annual GW event.
On this event, GW confirmed that the Dark Elf miniatures on preorder since Saturday are indeed by GW (see pics in DE thread or better pics on the GW webstore).
And that the digital Sororitas Codex is indeed the old WD Codex with minor faith point tweeks and an added warlord traits list.
That's all. Or did I miss any news?

**Compel**

GW have also gone event exclusive book heavy, apparently.

A mate says there wasn't even the tiniest hint of a trace of Inquisitor/Innocence/Blood Bowl.

Games Workshop 'Fulchester' wrote:Amazing. Outstanding. Kudos to the hard work of the staff, and it's always nice to see a massive venue filled with the smiling faces of satisfied customers who got the play all the games they wanted.

Yes, Eurogamer Expo was really good. Also, Games Day happened. We're very sorry.

**RandyMcStab**

Wow, glad I didn't go.

**KillerSkivil**

I was there, I wish I didn't waste the time and money. to say that it was a shadow of the previous year would be to give it too much credit.

**Yodhrin**

KillerSkivil wrote:
I was there, I wish I didn't waste the time and money. to say that it was a shadow of the previous year would be to give it too much credit.

Well, according to some chap on Warseer, Games Day isn't for us ungrateful internet whiners, it's about offering their most devoted cultists the opportunity to pay money in order to fellate their favourite GW staff...sorry, I mean "a day for hobbyists to enjoy the hobby"

Only GW could run a "convention" dedicated to their product while actively working NOT to use it as marketing, and have people nod their heads sagely as if this is the wisest plan ever conceived by humanity.

**RandyMcStab**

White knights gonna white knight.

**Kroothawk**

Captain Marius over at Warseer wrote:I enjoyed the day, but there were a couple of noticeable absences, namely the Dark Elf armybook (last year the Chaos Marine one was available to look through) and the total lack of participation games.

**Azreal13**

Yodhrin wrote:
KillerSkivil wrote:
I was there, I wish I didn't waste the time and money. to say that it was a shadow of the previous year would be to give it too much credit.

Well, according to some chap on Warseer, Games Day isn't for us ungrateful internet whiners, it's about offering their most devoted cultists the opportunity to pay money in order to fellate their favourite GW staff...sorry, I mean "a day for hobbyists to enjoy the hobby"

Only GW could run a "convention" dedicated to their product while actively working NOT to use it as marketing, and have people nod their heads sagely as if this is the wisest plan ever conceived by humanity.

Well, remember it is a matter of public record, under oath, that the GW hobby consists of buying things from GW, so on that basis I declare Games Day a resounding success!

**Kid_Kyoto**

Kroothawk wrote:
Captain Marius over at Warseer wrote:I enjoyed the day, but there were a couple of noticeable absences, namely the Dark Elf armybook (last year the Chaos Marine one was available to look through) and the total lack of participation games.

Uh what?

So you go to a game convention and uh... look at stuff you might use to play a game somewhere sometime but not here?

Wow.

That's like US Congress levels of stupid.

**MajorStoffer**

What's really amusing is this is basically a FW convention; there's a ton o stuff on display and plenty of tidbits from them, but nothing from GW or BL.

Really shows how bizarre the company is.

**catharsix**

MajorStoffer wrote:
What's really amusing is this is basically a FW convention; there's a ton o stuff on display and plenty of tidbits from them, but nothing from GW or BL.

Really shows how bizarre the company is.

More to the point, it shows how FW is really on a roll these days, while GW is ham-fistedly bumbling around in the dark.

As GW prices creep closer to FW prices, it looks like I'm going to start making their superior stuff the only thing I get for 40K...

-C6

**Ehsteve**

So the WHFB news from GD-UK is that there is no WHFB news...

At least FW managed to pull out a couple of models for the day, even if they are WIP. They really need to rethink their strategy when a *new release* which could have had sitting there brand spanking new and ready to go on the day *a while week early to enthusiastic and impulsive buyers* was just sitting in some warehouse gathering precisely a week's worth of dust. Was that pesky "internet" going to take pictures of the sprues they already had up on the website?

**warboss**

This thread is a bit bare compared with the FW one on the same event. I think I've seen more meat to sink my teeth into at a vegan convention than the GW previews at the premiere GW event...

**insaniak**

Kroothawk wrote:
Today was Games Day UK , the biggest annual GW event.
On this event, GW confirmed that the Dark Elf miniatures on preorder since Saturday are indeed by GW (see pics in DE thread or better pics on the GW webstore).
And that the digital Sororitas Codex is indeed the old WD Codex with minor faith point tweeks and an added warlord traits list.

It's going to take a while to process all of these exciting developments.

OK, so, now that's over... I really have to wonder just what purpose GW sees Games Day as serving these days. For that matter, I really have to wonder what purpose the people who go to Games Day think it serves. Is it really worth buying a ticket and travelling to an event just for the privelige of joining larger than normal queues to buy regular stuff at regular prices?

**Breotan**

The only reason to go to Games Day is for the "limited" edition figure. But, once you factor in price, travel, lodging, etc., then it's probably cheaper to buy on eBay.

**warboss**

Is the figure still the not-Marco Polo fig for WHFB?

**badgermeister**

its sad to hear that GD caused much disappointment. It makes me feel that they are trying to max profits for one more year before selling to the highest bidder.

Having seen the emerging pattern reported online about the last few years events it seems to be a growing retail event above all else. I chose wisely this year and went to the HH weekender. Limited tickets, great venue (missus lived in the spa whilst i 'hobbied') and the event was interesting and well thought out.

I can only hope that GW monitor sites like this to see how they can improve things :(

**Kilkrazy**

insaniak wrote:
Kroothawk wrote:
Today was Games Day UK , the biggest annual GW event.
On this event, GW confirmed that the Dark Elf miniatures on preorder since Saturday are indeed by GW (see pics in DE thread or better pics on the GW webstore).
And that the digital Sororitas Codex is indeed the old WD Codex with minor faith point tweeks and an added warlord traits list.

It's going to take a while to process all of these exciting developments.

OK, so, now that's over... I really have to wonder just what purpose GW sees Games Day as serving these days. For that matter, I really have to wonder what purpose the people who go to Games Day think it serves. Is it really worth buying a ticket and travelling to an event just for the privelige of joining larger than normal queues to buy regular stuff at regular prices?

I can only think that most people going are somewhat naive and don't realise there are much better, much cheaper events every month in the UK.

Though apparently the past couple of years were OK so maybe people went expecting something similar, and won't go again.

**Looky Likey**

Ehsteve wrote:
At least FW managed to pull out a couple of models for the day, even if they are WIP. They really need to rethink their strategy when a *new release* which could have had sitting there brand spanking new and ready to go on the day *a while week early to enthusiastic and impulsive buyers* was just sitting in some warehouse gathering precisely a week's worth of dust. Was that pesky "internet" going to take pictures of the sprues they already had up on the website?

I remember the games day that the previous Space Marine codex launched and if I remember correctly that was the first time to buy all that new stuff, now that was how it should be.

**PredaKhaine**

The Imperial Truth is an event exclusive book which was available - and you could buy heresy things like Massacre which will probably be out in a week.
They should just go back to calling it golden demon. And let people know they can buy things.
So for £35, I had the chance to buy marco polo (which I didn't) and I bought a book I wouldn't have otherwise bought. Everything else I bought will be out at some point.

I saw someone call it 'Salesday'. Made me laugh, but then I realised there was no 'sale' on so it should just be 'Things that are available for you to buy day'
I had a good day, but that was due to the guys I went with.

**Breotan**

warboss wrote:
Is the figure still the not-Marco Polo fig for WHFB?

Yep.

**Grimtuff**

Looky Likey wrote:
Ehsteve wrote:
At least FW managed to pull out a couple of models for the day, even if they are WIP. They really need to rethink their strategy when a *new release* which could have had sitting there brand spanking new and ready to go on the day *a while week early to enthusiastic and impulsive buyers* was just sitting in some warehouse gathering precisely a week's worth of dust. Was that pesky "internet" going to take pictures of the sprues they already had up on the website?
I remember the games day that the previous Space Marine codex launched and if I remember correctly that was the first time to buy all that new stuff, now that was how it should be.

That was also the last year they did it IIRC. I think they stopped it as people were buying multiple copies to sell on eBay. Bit of a stupid reason to stop it, as you can easily police it by saying one per transaction, but that would be too simple.

Cut to 2009 (2008 was the last one I went to). I gave a friend of mine some cash to get me the Space Wolves codex, which was out 1 week after GD. It wasn't on sale. No SW stuff was.

Typical GW, cutting off the nose to spite the face as usual. Those Dark Elves would have been a license to print money and they could have raked it in. Nope.

**Zweischneid**

Kroothawk wrote:

That's all. Or did I miss any news?

Sentinels of Terra Supplement for Codex Space Marines?

**Morathi's Darkest Sin**

insaniak wrote:

OK, so, now that's over... I really have to wonder just what purpose GW sees Games Day as serving these days. For that matter, I really have to wonder what purpose the people who go to Games Day think it serves. Is it really worth buying a ticket and travelling to an event just for the privelige of joining larger than normal queues to buy regular stuff at regular prices?

Golden Daemon seems the only reason to me, and it'll be the only reason we go in the future, Aura entering mind, not me, I've no where near the skills.

**Grimtuff**

Zweischneid wrote:
Kroothawk wrote:

That's all. Or did I miss any news?

Sentinels of Terra Supplement for Codex Space Marines?

Umm.....

**redbristles**

I went, it was basically "salesday" (without the sale) as previously noted, my review on Reddit is copied below:

Here's my review of things other than the new FW sneak peaks that are covered in other threads...

Just for those of you who didn't get to go in the UK, I just wanted to let you know that you really didn't miss out on anything. The move this year back to the NIA was an absolute disaster in my eyes.

The venue was easily two thirds smaller than when it was at the NEC. Over half the floor space was taken up by the retail area, more on that in a minute.

There were no participation games, no "make and take", no conversion competitions, etc. The design studio, White Dwarf team and friends were all there, but kind of just showing what was already up on the site, there seemed very little energy to the place overall, almost like the teams couldn't be bothered to be there. It was nice to see the new Dark Elves in person, but again, nothing new than the pics in WD. I had one walk around this area and felt like I'd done it all.

I got there just before 10, there were no queues to get in to the venue at all, a first for me. I made my way to the retail area in time, hoping to get some FW, the queue was obviously huge so I just went into the regular GW store part, got the exclusive model and joined the queue in order to join another queue to pay. I then noticed people were waiting to pay for FW as well, and was told I'd have to leave the store, rejoin the FW queue, then come back into the regular GW bit and get my items again... Confusing. Trying to leave the regular GW store part was hard as I was stopped and questioned 3 times about why I was leaving without any items, there was no exit other than through the checkouts, so I had to be let out through a barrier. Strange.

The FW line was closed at various points of the day to let them deal with the backlog, much to people's annoyance. I eventually managed to time it perfectly (purely luck) and got in shortly after it had re-opened, and got some nice items, Dread Maw, Massacre etc, lovely. Then I had to join the queue to pay in the regular GW store. This took an hour and a half. To be fair they were handing out free water as it was very warm, but it was all due to their inadequate checkout system constantly breaking, which happens EVERY YEAR. Why they don't change their systems or test them first is beyond me.

After paying, I had a look downstairs at GD and Armies on Parade, it was in a really tight room that was overcrowded so I could barely see anything, but from what I could see there were some good entries and some nice dioramas especially.

I left after 2.5 hours as I had seen everything, pretty much the message I got from the day was "give us your money", extremely disappointed overall. I, and several others I overheard, felt like it was pretty much the minimum effort that could have been made by GW, other than setting up a big shop in a convention centre. Next year I think I'll just go to the FW Open Day as you get to see all their new releases there as well, and it's generally a much more interesting day.

Anyone else go and feel similar/different?

**Sirius42**

Morathi's Darkest Sin wrote:
insaniak wrote:

OK, so, now that's over... I really have to wonder just what purpose GW sees Games Day as serving these days. For that matter, I really have to wonder what purpose the people who go to Games Day think it serves. Is it really worth buying a ticket and travelling to an event just for the privelige of joining larger than normal queues to buy regular stuff at regular prices?

Golden Daemon seems the only reason to me, and it'll be the only reason we go in the future, Aura entering mind, not me, I've no where near the skills.

This is the case for me as well. I had a great time talking to FW developers etc but it was not worth the £55 that the ticket and the coach cost, also the fact that there was no gaming was very badly publicised, saw several parents with very bored young uns. The day was made by FW and the company but I will not be going again unless I am entering golden demon.

**PredaKhaine**

The forgeworld open day sounds like all the good bits of gamesday without the downsides.

I completely agree with redbristles.

**Zweischneid**

Grimtuff wrote:
Zweischneid wrote:
Kroothawk wrote:

That's all. Or did I miss any news?

Sentinels of Terra Supplement for Codex Space Marines?

Umm.....

Guess you better rename this forum from "News & Rumours" to "Jaded & Sarcastic"

**redbristles**

PredaKhaine wrote:
The forgeworld open day sounds like all the good bits of gamesday without the downsides.

I completely agree with redbristles.

That's exactly what the FW open day is like, it's a really good day, full of enthusiasm and atmosphere.