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For my imperial guard I so far have desert cadians which are way too expensive for my budget as a twelve year old and I was wondering if I could to save more money than imaginable (1$- 2$ compared to 3$ will save me so much for my blobs) so I was wondering if I could bring third party miniatures such as war games factory or warlord and I wont get any looks/ the manager might get mad, could I?

In a word?

No.

In much the same way as any other company selling any other product would have an issue with someone showing off something made by the competition on their own premises.

The odd weapon, head or other bit for a conversion might go under the radar, but not a whole army.

Ah I see isnt that a shame.

That is pretty iffy, especially at a GW store. A FLGS maybe if you have a good crowd willing to try and get you more into the game, but I would stray away, and just try your hardest to save up a bit.

In a GW store, I'd suspect a strong no.

In most other FLGS, I'd suspect a yes. That would depend on the store, so its always best to ask, but you'd definitely have a easier time using 3rd party anything at a non-GW store.

GW no way. All the other local game stores have been a yes for me. Esp if they look cool. Cool factor goes a long way. If the army looks really good I bet you can use it anywhere. I bet that all smurf army could be played at a GW store.

lilgammer123 wrote:
Ah I see isnt that a shame.

As a point in fact, no, it's not a shame. GW is a company that provides a product for a price and if you purchase it they provide you with a place to play with that product for free. To expect to be allowed to use what they provided for free with product that you purchased from another company is rude and selfish, and that's the shame.

Solis Luna Astrum wrote:

lilgammer123 wrote:
Ah I see isnt that a shame.

As a point in fact, no, it's not a shame. GW is a company that provides a product for a price and if you purchase it they provide you with a place to play with that product for free. To expect to be allowed to use what they provided for free with product that you purchased from another company is rude and selfish, and that's the shame.

It is a shame because the **** company produces some very bland models and when everyone has the same army all the time for a race it gets dull. Its a great shame.

http://theimperialpatrol.blogspot.co.nz/

Check out my army in the link, i love seeing armies like that and its a huge shame that nobody makes their armies unique and the huge reason is because of GW. In short its killing all the other great model makers and GW knows that there are alot of superior and cheaper models out there that would put them out of business if people could play them freely. Just goes to show their product is a rip off if they have to bring out rules like that to keep people buying their stuff.

Well Solis I never looked at it like that but I cannot blame them for wanting to make money its just the way they went about it.

In NZ you can eat Mcdonalds at a Burger king and Vice Versa. GW is the only store NZ that stops you using other products in their stores. That i can think of anyways

 Swastakowey wrote:
In NZ you can eat Mcdonalds at a Burger king and Vice Versa. GW is the only store NZ that stops you using other products in their stores. That i can think of anyways

Really? In NZ could you buy an airline ticket from one airline because it's cheaper and then use it to get on a flight with another airline because you liked the planes better? If in Auckland could I buy a meal at McDonalds and then walk into Antoine's and expect to be seated at a table to eat it?

And another thing, both McDonalds and Burger King provide you with a place to eat the meal you purchased from them. GW provides a free place to paint, play and socialize with others who buy their products. What was the name again of the other miniature company that does that? For less money? For more money? Anything...

Solis Luna Astrum wrote:

 Swastakowey wrote:
In NZ you can eat Mcdonalds at a Burger king and Vice Versa. GW is the only store NZ that stops you using other products in their stores. That i can think of anyways

Really? In NZ could you buy an airline ticket from one airline because it's cheaper and then use it to get on a flight with another airline because you liked the planes better? If in Auckland could I buy a meal at McDonalds and then walk into Antoine's and expect to be seated at a table to eat it?

And another thing, both McDonalds and Burger King provide you with a place to eat the meal you purchased from them. GW provides a free place to paint, play and socialize with others who buy their products. What was the name again of the other miniature company that does that? For less money? For more money? Anything...

Umm the ticket example doesnt work as its an admission fee, but i can by a quantis plane souvenir and fly on NZ airlines holding on to it, because i think the Quantis planes look nicer. And yes, people do it all the time, someone will buy BK and someone else will buy Mc D's and they'll eat at the one restaurant. I have heaps of GW minis and heaps of non GW ones, as with my friends. Similar concept. They dont mind, same with KFC. I have no idea what an antoines is but whatever.

Its a stupid rule and until its lifted ill never buy from GW because it dulls the hobby big time and im not sculpting my own models.

Flames of War allow 50% other companies models in their tournaments. If GW had this rule if be fine with going into their stores. Its far more reasonable (and funnily enough Flames of War is made in NZ too)

Until then I will stick to my club.

Local GW store manager = No. Surprised at result/hurt feelings= Yes. Bad plan from go.

Best plan is to find a flexible club. GW store not flexible in 10 out of 10 cases. Think about it...

Is it OK if I walk into Wendy's, sit down, pull out a bag of Taco Bell food, and eat it there?

How did we get into fast food metaphores?

 RatBot wrote:
Is it OK if I walk into Wendy's, sit down, pull out a bag of Taco Bell food, and eat it there?

Is this really a thing in america? Or do people just think its rude? Here they do nothing about it.

What if i went into GW purchased something then played a game with my models that arent GW? Because in NZ kicking someone out, ESPECIALLY if they have just purchased something, is a huge no no. We cant even defend our shops if its being robbed or the shop owner gets charged for assault. Maybe things a different here but its still a stupid rule. I have an old GW imperial Guard codex that features an imperial guard conversion where the turret of a chimera was changed to a turret (as stated in the codex) "from a modern day tank kit". So it must be a new thing if they used to feature these in old codices.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

lilgammer123 wrote:
How did we get into fast food metaphores?

Because Americans love fast food lol

 Swastakowey wrote:

 RatBot wrote:
Is it OK if I walk into Wendy's, sit down, pull out a bag of Taco Bell food, and eat it there?

Is this really a thing in america? Or do people just think its rude? Here they do nothing about it.

What if i went into GW purchased something then played a game with my models that arent GW? Because in NZ kicking someone out, ESPECIALLY if they have just purchased something, is a huge no no. We cant even defend our shops if its being robbed or the shop owner gets charged for assault. Maybe things a different here but its still a stupid rule. I have an old GW imperial Guard codex that features an imperial guard conversion where the turret of a chimera was changed to a turret (as stated in the codex) "from a modern day tank kit". So it must be a new thing if they used to feature these in old codices.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

lilgammer123 wrote:
How did we get into fast food metaphores?

Because Americans love fast food lol

No table space for non-GW in USA at GW stores... No really, go home.

I'm serious.

 Swastakowey wrote:


Check out my army in the link, i love seeing armies like that and its a huge shame that nobody makes their armies unique and the huge reason is because of GW. In short its killing all the other great model makers and GW knows that there are alot of superior and cheaper models out there that would put them out of business if people could play them freely. Just goes to show their product is a rip off if they have to bring out rules like that to keep people buying their stuff.

GW produces models for painting and playing a game. They have stores, staff and support for these products all over the world. GW pays the rent on these stores, the salaries of the staff, the insurance, the taxes and all of the other assorted costs out of the gross profit they make selling their models and supplies. If GW allowed people to buy cheaper models from other companies who offer none of this support, and play them in their store, of course they would go out of business. Their revenues would go down wile their costs remain the same.

GW is in business to make money, it is not their job to make it easier for other miniature companies to succeed. It is not in their interest to give you a place to play with products you didn't buy from them. If these other companies you speak of are truly superior then they should open stores all over the world, support their game, charge less and put GW out of business that way.

@OG poster,
If you can't afford the Gw models it's understandable to use third party stuff as long as your opponent is ok with it and they look good. You won't be able to use them in official tournaments but at your local gaming store if you use third party guard infantry to fill out your blob squads that shouldnt be a problem with anyone, if they do, it probably wouldn't have been a fun game anyway. It's a game and a game is for fun, so do what you need to have fun.
Just a word of warning, don't overdo it, filling out your infantry is cool, just don't go out buying tanks and artillery that will over power your opponent from a third party. That's just unfair to your opponent.
If you want to find cheap Gw models, save up look for army deals and big lots on dakka dakka swap and shop, and on eBay. they usually sell for the tanks but will have tons of infantry in them as well.
Well that's my two cents!
Tony A

Well fortunately GW prices and policies are the reason other miniature companies are getting so popular. So even though its not their job they killing their business and helping others grow.

I personally think its stupid and they should at least allow a 50/50 tolerance on other brands like FoW does with their game system but if you are willing to do it thats your decision.

I guess ill help "kill GW" by buying superior models and keeping my money saved going to my local club like everyone in my gaming community. Id leave the hobby if everyone had the same old GW army (like seeing everyone with a cadian army -.-) so I guess it all ends up in where you can play.

I see nothing wrong with a 50/50 tolerance as at the end of the day it would attract many players like me who love seeing nice models and the effort people put into them.

 RatBot wrote:
Is it OK if I walk into Wendy's, sit down, pull out a bag of Taco Bell food, and eat it there?

I highly doubt the Wendy's employees would care.

If they care that much about their job at a Wendy's, they have bigger problems.


As to OP, not a snowball's chance in hell. Which is fair, since that's what they sell, they don't want competitors getting shown off in their space. If I went to the Gibson guitar store in Nashville, they're not going to let me show off my cool new Fender Stratocaster. Same thing here.

Almost all of my two remaining 40k killteams are 3rd party minis. I have fully accepted that I will never be able to use them in a GW store. I also don't care because there are better stores nearby. If you live in the USA, odds are there's either a club or a FLGS nearby that isn't directly owned by GW. Try to find those and see if their communities are any good. If it's a FLGS, see if you can order the models you want from them, that way you save money and still support the store that's providing you tablespace.

yeah they way say no . funny thing they say no to GW models too. Yestarday I want to our local GW store to buy greenstuff , because no shop can order it , and a guy was there with his son and had a space dwarf army . The space dwarfs were realy nice painted , but ancient , all metal and nothing plastic . the GW employee that saw him told that he is not allowed to use non GW models , and then the old dude took out his phone and started showing him in an old catalog that in fact they were GW models too. People started looking at them and the store manager said , that it is ok that they are GW , but he is asking him to leave , because they want the table for a promo game. Which was funny because 5 min before they had that talk the old space dwarf player paid for renting of a table. They didn't even give the money back just told him that the next time he comes , he will get a table for free.

Makumba wrote:
yeah they way say no . funny thing they say no to GW models too. Yestarday I want to our local GW store to buy greenstuff , because no shop can order it , and a guy was there with his son and had a space dwarf army . The space dwarfs were realy nice painted , but ancient , all metal and nothing plastic . the GW employee that saw him told that he is not allowed to use non GW models , and then the old dude took out his phone and started showing him in an old catalog that in fact they were GW models too. People started looking at them and the store manager said , that it is ok that they are GW , but he is asking him to leave , because they want the table for a promo game. Which was funny because 5 min before they had that talk the old space dwarf player paid for renting of a table. They didn't even give the money back just told him that the next time he comes , he will get a table for free.

I've heard of this phenomenon too - people being refused table time at GW stores because of old minis unless they can prove they are GW ones. It's unfortunate, but I guess understandable given how people come into the hobby at different points. Many staff now simply won't be familiar with a lot of the older stuff. Definitely get the impression that the Space Dwarf guy was being shafted there tho. Paying for a table and then being bumped for a promo game without a refund or even a voucher to spend in store/come back? Eesh. Why do I get the feeling that if he'd been using a current army that they sell, he'd have been fine?

So like others have said, taking non-GW minis into one of their stores really is not advisable in any way, shape or form if you're wanting to game with them.

What about conversions? Are GW models converted using 3rd party bits (headswaps etc.) still allowed in GW stores?

But yeah, playing 40k as a kid is pretty hard. Save up as much as you can, do some jobs if possible and build your army very slowly. And don't forget to beg for more pocket money.
It is especially hard if you are trying to collect multiple 40k armies, WHFB and FoW all at the same time. And I also want to start Dropzone Commander. And Firestorm Armada. And more 40k armies. Can someone give me some money?

There is a different hobby shop near me... thing is their discontiuing gw because of the extreme prices.

I am immensely surprised you guys are upset that they wont allow 3rd party models in their stores. They are here to make a profit, and people playing in their stores, with their models is good for publicity. Anyone saying to the contrary knows nothing about business.



Automatically Appended Next Post:
Not to mention it is VERY insulting.

 Iron_Captain wrote:
What about conversions? Are GW models converted using 3rd party bits (headswaps etc.) still allowed in GW stores?

You might be ok with that, particularly if it's a well-executed & subtle conversion, but there won't be any guarantees.

lilgammer123 wrote:
There is a different hobby shop near me... thing is their discontiuing gw because of the extreme prices.

Do people still play 40k there on the tables? Discontinuing a product line doesn't mean you can't go and find players to play with.

Either way, might be a good experience to start going there anyways and seeing what other games are out there.

If you're playing GW games with GW rules, they should allow a bit of leeway.
You can always say you use the GW Greenstuff to model them, if you just have 3rd-party heads, etc.

If it gets people in to look at the game, and if they ask about the models the 'redshirt' talks to them about scratch-build and kitbash, no harm done.

But, don't expect a redshirt to play along.

 Iron_Captain wrote:


But yeah, playing 40k as a kid is pretty hard. Save up as much as you can, do some jobs if possible and build your army very slowly. And don't forget to beg for more pocket money.

And don't forget, e-bay is the best friend for the budget player. I play Grey Knights, a box of Terminators is $50 at GW. I can buy the same box on e-bay for $37.50, a savings of 25%. There are also plenty of auctions of people selling their models. There is one unit of terminators currently selling for $15.50, that would be a savings of about 70%.