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I was looking at my old Iron Hand Straken model today and wondering, "what do most players do with old models that have been retired from the game (ie Commissar Yarrick and Colonel Schaeffer's Last Chancers)?

Some models have legends rules for friendly games and others are just gone into the mists of time...

So, what do you do with your old models? Sell them? Box them up? Turn them into terrain? Give them away?

Usually I still use them as generic HQ units or whatever is closest to what they would be in the game if there's an equivalent.

For example, a lot of Ork characters that didn't have plastic models got squatted rules-wise like Kaptin Badrukk or Boss Zagstruk. For the former, I still use him when I use the Mek Kaptin enhancement to be a counts as SAG Big Mek in the Taktikal Brigade detachment since he basically has the same rules as the OG Badrukk before he got removed from the codex. As long as the base size is the same/adjusted and the body of the model is roughly proportionate to what I'm using it ruleswise and I let my opponent know ahead of time, it's usually not a problem. Same for the old metal Ghazzy model I have, I still occasionally use him as one of the Meganob bosses instead of being Ghazzy himself.

Drop out of the edition cycle and play whatever I want with the 4 other people I game with.

Two of us attempted 9th back when it launched, didn't work out and haven't played 40k since.
We've also not moved to HH3 so currently we're fully kitted out for anything we want to do, in fact our issue is that we don't have rules for new things that are coming out (Saturnine for example). In that vein, we just use whatever seems closest to the WYSIWYG for the models.

Counts as if I can. Moved down to a secondary display shelf if not.

I keep using them.

As long as its got current edition rules - Codex or Legends, it gets used as what it is.
As I'm not in a tournament I don't need my opponents permission to use the rules of the game.

Straken for ex? Still has Legends rules. So Straken he is.
If someday he doesn't have unique rules? Then he'll get used as a generic HQ guy. Or a generic trooper. Whichever i decide best fits a bionic arned dude waving a shotgun.

Same with other stuff. It it doesn't have current edition rules, I'll find something for it to represent.

Carry on playing with them. Discuss with opponent and either use the last existing rules or tweak them. Rule of cool and don't be stupid about it

Depends on the model.

Honestly a lot of models that cycle out can be used as a counts-as something else with very little effort.


Eg old greater demon models are perfect for unique looking demon princes. A lot of named character models can just be a generic leader model.

Larger unique models from places like Forgeworld honestly just keep the old rules to hand; modify them a bit to work in the current edition and many times people are happy to play against them in friendly matches (ergo non competitive) because they look freaking cool/awesome.



That said its one reason I always say "buy what you like but ideally what you'd like to have on the shelf as much as the game table" because there's always going to be a cycle of release and loss in gaming.
Be it models being retired; factions being retired or whole games or even companies closing doors.

Of course if you've friends who happily play custom rules/old editions etc... then nothing stops you just continuing on. As said above, many people play old editions or dead games and such. You don't have to only play the latest most shiny edition of any game.




Heck if there's a smaller time firm or game you REALLY enjoy but its a bit spotty on if its going to stick around - buy two or more factions so that IF it vanishes you can at least have the chance to setup a game VS someone else using all your models. Also works great for demo games to tempt people in whilst the game is still on sale - so its a win-win tactic.

Use 'em in other games. Stargrave & Frostgrave are a great home, as example, for using mini collections, and there are a ton of other options out there too.

It's pretty rare that a model becomes completely unusable, IME. In the case of characters there's often an equivalent they can be used as. For units it's often the same. I'll usually try to reuse models as suitable proxies but if that isn't possible they usually go into storage until they inevitably become usable again.

1. Legends
2. counts as
3. write my own Profile
4. play OPR

It usually happened in that order, but now we've stuck to 4.

I've got some old kitbashed Sslyths (made from Melusai) from back when you could pick and choose which Court of the Archon models to take, and I'm not sure what to do with them. I might use them as decoration for a vehicle, an elaborate flying base or something like that.

It depends on why its unusable and how much I like it. Pretty much everything is usable in some form. Old characters make great Sergeants or can just stand in as new characters just fine. If I really love the model, I'll find a new home for it.

By the same token though there's always stuff that's on the shelf simply by the nature of my collection being larger than 2000 points. Unless its something I really care about, its fine being mostly dispaly with other things that don't currently see the table much.

Much like the others, depends on the model. I started playing in 3rd edition.

My Lord Solar Marcharius spent a few years using the rules for General Creed.

My Commisar on a horse now is a rough rider sergeant.

Dark Eldar Fighter jet from FW is now the plastic one.

Other models? Some I'm waiting to see if they'll come back. The Griffin mortar tank was here, gone, returned, and now left to be FW only model on it's way to Legends

I just play other games where I can use them. The models are much more important and permanent than the rules.

I use them in other games and that goes far beyond armies in 40k.

Most anything GW (I expect this will eventually encompass all my firstborn Marines) can find a home in Grimdark Future or Age of Fantasy but I've also got alot of minis from alot of defunct games (Void, Runewars, Sedition Wars, Future Wars, etc) and armies and many of them see action im Grimdark, AoF , Song of Blades and Heroes, Kings of War, Mech Attack, Dragon Rampant, etc...

To say nothing of minis I own that were released without an accompanying ruleset.

 Da Boss wrote:
The models are much more important and permanent than the rules.

100% Agree.

 Eilif wrote:

 Da Boss wrote:
The models are much more important and permanent than the rules.

100% Agree.

Gonna buck the trend and say I personally value the game more than the models.
Obviously the models are cool as heck and well worth keeping, but I would basically never buy a mini that had no game purpose.

I’ve regretted minis purchased for their rules. When you buy and paint a mini just because it’s awesome, if it’s good on the table that’s a bonus.

Obviously, the hobby budget is not infinite. Or time. So you need to find a balance between spending time and money on game pieces and stuff that mostly looks cool.

If you never stop playing the edition that the model was released for, they will always "have rules"

 JNAProductions wrote:

 Eilif wrote:

 Da Boss wrote:
The models are much more important and permanent than the rules.

100% Agree.

Gonna buck the trend and say I personally value the game more than the models.
Obviously the models are cool as heck and well worth keeping, but I would basically never buy a mini that had no game purpose.

That's totally reasonable. I'm actually not that different in practice. Though I've got more latitude in terms of having a variety of flexible rules, I still never buy anything I don't have the intention to get on the table. Seeing the minis on the table in battle is always the goal.

 Eilif wrote:

 JNAProductions wrote:

 Eilif wrote:

 Da Boss wrote:
The models are much more important and permanent than the rules.

100% Agree.

Gonna buck the trend and say I personally value the game more than the models.
Obviously the models are cool as heck and well worth keeping, but I would basically never buy a mini that had no game purpose.

That's totally reasonable. I'm actually not that different in practice. Though I've got more latitude in terms of having a variety of flexible rules, I still never buy anything I don't have the intention to get on the table. Seeing the minis on the table in battle is always the goal.

This is why I'm always afraid of KS funded/totally new games.

You see some beautiful models and you are never quite sure if the game is going to be any good.

That's why I hate to say it, but I have a wait and see approach now to buying new games.

I've drooled over every bit of news for the Gundam tabletop game, but I'm waiting to see what the rules look like, as cool models be damned. I like playing with my toys, not leaving them on the shelf.

One of the advantages of GW moving to more abstract gamification of units and their equipment is that it's becoming less important that a model is modelled with weapons that represent its profile, because they are just making up all sorts of random things for the same weapon to make each unit unique.

Therefore, counts as is even stronger now, because you're just using a single unit profile and as they have no wargear options, there is no confusion over what they are equipped with.

 Lathe Biosas wrote:

 Eilif wrote:

Spoiler:

 JNAProductions wrote:

 Eilif wrote:

 Da Boss wrote:
The models are much more important and permanent than the rules.

100% Agree.

Gonna buck the trend and say I personally value the game more than the models.
Obviously the models are cool as heck and well worth keeping, but I would basically never buy a mini that had no game purpose.

That's totally reasonable. I'm actually not that different in practice. Though I've got more latitude in terms of having a variety of flexible rules, I still never buy anything I don't have the intention to get on the table. Seeing the minis on the table in battle is always the goal

.

This is why I'm always afraid of KS funded/totally new games.

You see some beautiful models and you are never quite sure if the game is going to be any good.

That's why I hate to say it, but I have a wait and see approach now to buying new games.

I've drooled over every bit of news for the Gundam tabletop game, but I'm waiting to see what the rules look like, as cool models be damned. I like playing with my toys, not leaving them on the shelf.

I agree for the most part. If the game has minis that I'm likely to use in other games I may take the plunge, but I generally don't dive into a new game via Kickstarter. I backed Deadzone and the non-epic Warpath. Neither of those nor the miniatures within have seen the table or a paintbrush.

Though, truth be told, I rarely dive into a new game anymore. I'm pretty satisfied with what I've got.

BanjoJohn wrote:
If you never stop playing the edition that the model was released for, they will always "have rules"

I was gonna say give them to me

because i do play the editions where everything is legal to use and GW no longer cares to with it.

Pack them up as the disposable crap GW views them as. TBH my area only plays in a league so nothing is usable once it gets pushed to legends or worse.

 Gibblets wrote:
Pack them up as the disposable crap GW views them as. TBH my area only plays in a league so nothing is usable once it gets pushed to legends or worse.

What's wrong with the people you play with?

Every model that was released from GW since 3rd edition is supported by the system that we play and there will never be one without rules.

(-> signature)

 Gibblets wrote:
Pack them up as the disposable crap GW views them as. TBH my area only plays in a league so nothing is usable once it gets pushed to legends or worse.

If you need a place to store them, I volunteer to keep all your old 40k models... and take them walks.

 Hellebore wrote:
One of the advantages of GW moving to more abstract gamification of units and their equipment is that it's becoming less important that a model is modelled with weapons that represent its profile, because they are just making up all sorts of random things for the same weapon to make each unit unique.

Therefore, counts as is even stronger now, because you're just using a single unit profile and as they have no wargear options, there is no confusion over what they are equipped with.

This. With no options, there is no need for WYSIWYG. A model without rules isn't any different from the scratch-builds and custom models I use.

All my runtherds have been replaced with red gobbos, Badrukk is a Mek Kaptin MA Big Mek and I have the goff rokker supported by Artel's Rock band serve as beastbosses and wurrboyz. Mad Doc Grotznik is a pain boss and big gunz are mek guns.

The old buggy and warboss on warbike are wartrikes, and all the nob bikers are just regular warbikers.

In a way, I turned the tables on GW - why should I buy a ton of new models if I already have a bunch of painted ones that fit?

 Jidmah wrote:
In a way, I turned the tables on GW - why should I buy a ton of new models if I already have a bunch of painted ones that fit?

You don't have to? You never did and honestly I think GW is way more supportive of this attitude than the internet likes to wring their hands over.

As long as I've seen games discussed online the majority of this idea that models have to be used in a specific rigid way has come from "the internet". This caveat emptor "to be safe" strict reading of the rules and assumption that everyone enforces them to the letter.

I've never actually really seen this. In over a decade in the hobby people LOVE proxies and conversions including the people from the company. They see an old classic sculpt and get super excited to see an old fan with old stuff. "Whoa is that?" , "That's super cool.", "I love what you did with" are what you actually hear when you interact with real people on these matters. "I don't know if that is okay" is a phase you almost exclusively encounter online.

Stuff gets discontinued because you can't make the same product forever. It loses rules because its really crummy for a company to demand you have something they don't sell to play their game. If you've got something that doesn't have rules, play it as something that does. I assure you, nobody cares as much as the internet seems to think they do. Not TOs, not other players and not even GW.

I'm not sure what you are trying to tell me here.

People will absolutely, and rightfully, complain about non-reasonable proxies. Kaptin Barukk can easily proxy as a warboss or mek, but not as a psyker or doc. Mad Doc grotznik can run as warboss, pain boss or pain boy, but doesn't really fit the aestetics of a beastboss - beastsnagga boyz are bigger than him.

If you run GK tech marines or EC warpsmiths as techpriests for your guard army, no one will mind. If you run a bunch of old aspect warriors with no resemblance of an imperial technician, you will be asked to get more fitting models if you want that sweet buff for your tanks.

There is no love for lazy proxies.

The point of playing the game to begin with is is to play a battle in the 40k universe. If your army does not resemble the lore in any way, you might as well bring your LotR, AoS, Star Wars or Warmahordes army and asign 40k datasheets to them.

Therefore you need to either get a bit creative and/or put in some effort in order to continue playing old models.