We all know that there are some things GW has done that haven't been deemed very popular and while they are serious issues this isn't really a "list your grudges" thread. It's simply to discuss how the changes GW have made has changed the hobby for you, for instance I used to play nothing but WFB but after 8th edition came out I decided to switch to 40k.

But with GW doing another price hike I've decided I won't really play much at all (so won't be doing a 40k army at this point) and for me the hobby is now going to center on conversions made using parts ordered from bits sites as it keeps me in the modeling aspect that I enjoy, allows me to create various characters and creations which I then get to make fluff for and it all costs quiet a bit less then having to buy more expensive boxes that come with less guys.

So how has the changes implimented by GW changed the hobby for you? Do you play less, do you find shortcuts around having to spend huge fortunes on smaller amounts of models? Have you started looking at other companies to fill your armies in? Have you dropped certain aspects of the hobby in favor of others etc.

Around the beginning of this year I was thinking of making showcase armies for different factions/armies. I'm not sure I want to do that now with the change to Finecast plus the price hike. In fact modeling GW stuff in general I'll probably be doing less of. I think it sucks too since I like working on some of their plastic kits like the Razorbacks and Tactical Squads.

I was running 6 armies at one point.

Sisters
Daemonhunters
Necrons
Tau
Orks
Nids

The New Nid codex and FAQ hit. I tried the 'new' nids and decided that I didn't like them much, and sold them

I sold my sisters and Daemonhunters to a friend due to the lack of changes from GW (ironic)

When 5th Ed hit my Tau got sidelined, and eventually sold. The rules changes didn't do them favors.

When the new Dark Eldar codex and minis dropped I was inspired as I haven't been in years. Unfortunately i wanted to collect a coven army, which had jack come out for it until just recently. I will probably collect a small force, but with wracks and grotesques being Fethcast and costing the earth it will be a slow collect.

The changes have encouraged me to explore new systems and invest more in current non GW systems....right now I'm enjoying the hobby more than ever, here's a list of what I'm looking at:

Andrea Miniatures (painting and display)
Enigma Miniatures (painting and display)
Anima Tactics (Gaming, painting and collecting)
Warmachine (Gaming, painting and collecting)
MERCS (Gaming, painting and collecting)
Infinity (Gaming, painting and collecting)
Studio McVey (painting and display)

I still have an IG army, which is as complete as it's ever going to be (now) and I'll still play the odd game with friends, but it's nolonger my focus, and certainly won't be invested in further.

It has made me seriously look at Infinity and others.

This was the furthest thing from my mind in the preceeding six months.
Back then all I thought about was when the rest of my DE would be out, and how much I looked forward to painting some of the awesome Grey Knights that was sure to be just that..awesome.

Back then I pretty much bought without thinking...."Is it new? I want 2, maybe 3!" is the mindset I am getting at here.

Now I am thinking that the models are too expensive, and the "style" of GW is too annoying.

Odins Beard wrote:

So how has the changes implimented by GW changed the hobby for you? Do you play less, do you find shortcuts around having to spend huge fortunes on smaller amounts of models? Have you started looking at other companies to fill your armies in? Have you dropped certain aspects of the hobby in favor of others etc.

Finecast was the final straw. Forget the possiblility of quality control problems and miscasts. They could be perfect, complete with rainbows and puppies, and I still wouldnt buy it. The switch from metal to resin/plastic hybrid or whatever it is was the final straw. I LIKE metal models. From GW to PP to Reaper and others, metal is my preferred medium. Now that GW is moving away from it, I'm done, even second hand.

I just dropped a bunch of money on PP warmachine faction.

Honestly, I don't think anything changes for me. I still love the models they make, and I really like the improvement in detail Finecast gives you (holding a Finecast Painboy right now). For me, the price is not my first priority.

It hasn't changed anything for me.

I like 40k, and it's the only tabletop wargame that I'm interested in.

Simply buying less and spending more time and care with the models I have now, trying to get as much out of them as possible. I'm not stopping the hobby, the background and aesthetics of GW models appeal to me more than other systems. It's also made me play with my armies more, rather than just use them as an expensive ornament.

Dropped out of Fantasy, was heading that way anyways as I could see where things are heading after the first two 8th books, but the price rises has strengthened my resolve not to return.

Spending less on myself regarding 40K, although I do have a lot to paint anyways.

Biggest one, was getting me to give Infinity a go, as now my Gaming budget is split with another company, one that for the time being will recieve most if not all of my cash for the rest of the year.

Well depending on what the September release is, and not counting the Necrons I'll buy for my eldest Son's Christmas prezzies this year.

I've got lots to paint. I was going to cave and get some dark eldar instead but went for some blood angels to tide me over since the stupid pricing is going to make it almost impossible to do anything.

I do want to do SoB when they come out and will need to upgrade necrons (codex + 10 immortals) when they're out too but if they gimp them requiring a re-structure (transports etc) I will probably have to sell them.

Odins Beard wrote:We all know that there are some things GW has done that haven't been deemed very popular and while they are serious issues this isn't really a "list your grudges" thread. It's simply to discuss how the changes GW have made has changed the hobby for you, for instance I used to play nothing but WFB but after 8th edition came out I decided to switch to 40k.

But with GW doing another price hike I've decided I won't really play much at all (so won't be doing a 40k army at this point) and for me the hobby is now going to center on conversions made using parts ordered from bits sites as it keeps me in the modeling aspect that I enjoy, allows me to create various characters and creations which I then get to make fluff for and it all costs quiet a bit less then having to buy more expensive boxes that come with less guys.

So how has the changes implimented by GW changed the hobby for you? Do you play less, do you find shortcuts around having to spend huge fortunes on smaller amounts of models? Have you started looking at other companies to fill your armies in? Have you dropped certain aspects of the hobby in favor of others etc.

The GW "Hobby" is dead to me. I'm moving on to other, more varied lines.

I've picked up Cutlass, looking into Pulp gaming with some rat trap stuff, and boxing up the stuff and getting ready to move. I'll be dropping a few sales here in the next couple of weeks.

With the choice that is out there? Why keep punishing myself.

Tired of !@#$ing, tired of crying about GW's bull!@#$, and tired of the raindeer games that these tools continue to pull. It's like sitting around waiting for the other shoe to drop with these people, why should I have to dread thier next decision? It's a friggin table top miniatures game for !@#$s sake!

Thanks for the memories GW, RIP.

Games Workshops ridiculous changes and Price Hikes pretty much killed the Hobby for me, I'm tired of buying miniatures off Internet Retailers and some in the shop saying "What!?" cause I didn't buy anything in the shop. I'm stating to look into new miniatures such as Mantic and Warmachine.

Stopped buying GW stuff totally, can't see it changing until they become affordable again. Still have my armies if I want to play and looking at other suppliers if I want anything new.

GW's changes, gradually over the years, but culminating in the past three weeks, has shown me the amount of contempt GW has for us.

While many of us continue to keep our heads in the sands and/or have no concept of awareness that you are being treated like dirt by GW, I decided to do something about it.

I have stopped patronizing GW with my money, and I will no longer continue to be their free advertisement by playing their game through second hand outlets. I am selling off my GW models and moving onto Infinity and back into Hordes.

I have plans to pick up a great deal of GW miniatures I wouldn't have worked with when they were metal.

I'll finally be able to mess with some of those models I've dreaded.

Haven't bought any models for any systems in over a year, and I started looking at Infinity before the most recent storm broke, so nothing has changed, practically speaking. If I suddenly had fat stacks of cash dropped in my lap on the condition that I spend them on wargaming, though, the current climate would guarantee that all of that money went to CB, not GW.

Before, I had vague plans of saving up a bit, tallying up my current collection, finding the most suitable standard point level, then buying the handful of models needed to round off a playable list. The plan hasn't changed, it's just been pushed so far back, I'm not sure if it'll ever happen.

Monster Rain wrote:It hasn't changed anything for me.

I like 40k, and it's the only tabletop wargame that I'm interested in.

I agree. I have already paid out the arse for Forgeworld stuff, so the pricing is not necessarily a hurdle. I think GW could definitely change their business model to not be so exclusive, but the fact is I love 40K and I won't go elsewhere. I have recently purchased models secondhand and they have been just fine. That is another reason I love DakkaDakka, it gives all alternatives by providing a community we can draw from.

Sarpedon_702 wrote:

Monster Rain wrote:It hasn't changed anything for me.

I like 40k, and it's the only tabletop wargame that I'm interested in.

I agree. I have already paid out the arse for Forgeworld stuff, so the pricing is not necessarily a hurdle. I think GW could definitely change their business model to not be so exclusive, but the fact is I love 40K and I won't go elsewhere. I have recently purchased models secondhand and they have been just fine. That is another reason I love DakkaDakka, it gives all alternatives by providing a community we can draw from.

+1 to this.

I dont play a heap, and I already have all the models I will ever need.
The price hikes will make me consider new purchases twice, but wont stop me if I actually want a particular model. Im also happy to pick up and restore ebay 'horrors' that go cheap.
Finecast doesnt stress me - metal, plastic whatever, its just a material. If the finecast I buy has inexcusable flaws - it goes back to the store - but the clear plastic blister packs should go a way to avoiding the major dramas.

HOWEVER - I am an established existing player.

My concern is that the pricing etc will be a barrier to new players... and without new players, the game dies.

.

I'm also considering taking up Waramachine/Hordes

I run four 40k armies.
SM - they are at approx 12,000 pts and essentially finished.*
Eldar - around the same points and likewise essentially finished.*
IG - 3500pts with some units of infantry to finish.
GK - 4500pts and finished.

The changes in pricing and bans on O/S deals mean I will not be adding to any army using GW product for the next several years at least (when I can afford to again - the house payments come first.) - fortunately, since I don't play tournaments and don't have to keep up with the 'meta', this doesn't mean that much.

I took up playing Infinity - but this was not a reaction to GWs current changes - I've always had another game running at the same time as I've played 40k (whether it was RT and Battletech, or 2nd and Warzone, or 3rd ed and VOID, 4th ed and Full Thrust). I can't just be mono-game-ous and exclusive to one company.

Locking yourself into one company and their way of doing the hobby straitjackets your hobbying.

Then again, I started gaming before 40k existed, so I've always been aware that there are other companies out there.

* As finished as I can be bothered going. I'm not a completist by any means. There are no more models I wish to add to them at this point in time that I cannot scratchbuild.

I’ve been following 40k for 11 years now and have 2000-3000 points worth of CSM. I used to just put up with the nonsense from GW (Matt Ward, lack of CSM updates) although the recent Australia embargo had changed that for me. I decided to look into other companies that better fulfilled my needs. I did my research, liked what Privateer Press had to offer and purchased a 25 point starter Cryx force.

I won’t be selling off my existing GW miniatures and I’ll still keep track of 40k on a purely casual basis but I won’t be buying any further GW products unless dramatic changes happen within the company.

I finally decided to pick up 2 battleforces, 3 valks, and some other minor boxes to avoid paying an extra... 100 bucks later tops.

I have gotten more models together in the last week then I have in a year.

And I will probably actually start painting things to a higher quality than I have and learning new techniques.

I have been expanding into warmachine, but I don't think I will be switching strictly to that. And so far, other games haven't totally done it for me.

Pricing to me isn't an issue. I rarely buy more than one box at a time. The biggest purchase I've ever done was last week, where I bought the bulk of a Vampire Counts army from Wayland to get in before the shut down, mainly because I want a Fantasy army quickly to play against my friends.

In the other ~20 years I've played, I've bought single boxes at a time. So to me, paying an extra $5au for a box of models doesn't really worry me at all.

I have 6 armies by GW (2 of them for 40k, which I don´t even really play). Those 6 armies are on an infinite hiatus. Finishing painting them is on a low priority.

I´ll continue playing Fantasy and keep my armies, but I guess I will play it even more rarely than I did anyway.

I shifted priority towards WarmaHordes (which I started before this whole mess happened, though), and I ordered the Infinity books at my FLGS (this happened in reaction to the whole GW deal, though).

Since I have changed my hobby long before these changes I can say that these last changes at GW only delivered a severe blow on the metal miniatures I intended to buy for my armies. So I will not buy the finecast since they fail to deliver what I consider the minimum quality on a miniature. Im reduced to their plastic kits now.

For the same reasons that I avoid FW today I have to avoid GW, overpriced and inferior casting quality comparing with the mainstream of minis outhere.
This will make the completion of my armies considerably harder.

The lack of quality in the casting and its ratio of miscasts also complicates online shopping since I cant check the blisters in person and replacing is much more complicated online.

So yes the finecasts kind of totally skipped my radar of future hobby purchases.

Odins Beard wrote:So how has the changes implimented by GW changed the hobby for you?.

its forced me to spend all my money on historicals and play better rules and make more room in my house by selling almost every last GW products I have, which I desperately need since every £20 I spend is gaining me 40-60 plastic models every time.

Wont buy anything from them for a long time.

I had planned on picking up two more armies this year, but with the recentchanges, it's becoming more and more unfeasable. I'm waiting for the Cron dex to come out, then I'll make a decision on a single army to build/maintain, and everything else is getting sold off to fund armies for other gaming systems. I love 40k, but I just can't see myself supporting the company anymore, at least not nearly to the degree that I have in the past.

I'm done. Game over.

I cannot justify paying their prices anymore, I just can't. I looked at their new pricing the other day, and had enough. No more.

There are many other games out there that I'm interested in (Infinity, PP, Malifaux, Battletech to name a few) that interest me much more.

GW, thanks for the memories, but that's a wrap.

Steelmage99 wrote:It has made me seriously look at Infinity and others.

This was the furthest thing from my mind in the preceeding six months.
Back then all I thought about was when the rest of my DE would be out, and how much I looked forward to painting some of the awesome Grey Knights that was sure to be just that..awesome.

Back then I pretty much bought without thinking...."Is it new? I want 2, maybe 3!" is the mindset I am getting at here.

Now I am thinking that the models are too expensive, and the "style" of GW is too annoying.

I have been through exactly the same thing, and I share the same sentiments.

I had a WFB O&G army lined up. WFB 8th edition gave me a quick kick to the shins (the thought of painting up blocks of 50 infantry, and the price of such a unit, like being stood at the base of a mountain - isn't this meant to be about enjoyment?), followed by a punch to the stomach that knocked the wind out of me (the increase in price/reduction in number of models per box). The final chuck-norris roundhouse kick that KO'd me was the trade embargo, meaning that such a new army would be practically impossible for me to buy even if I really wanted it.

I would say the finecast debacle, cutting of release news, new WD policies are the equivalent of kicking me when I am already down, KO'd. The camels back had already been broken by this point.

So, I wrote to GW letting them know my discontent and how sad I was that a company I previously loved was behaving like a sun-crazed and drunken baboon, and put my money where my mouth is. Ordered some Infinity, and no doubt my revisit some FoW in the future again also.

So,

Honestly? The only effect it has had on me is to get me to order the Lord Commissar I've had my eye on for a while from Maelstrom, to take advantage of the 18% off GW voucher they'd issued.

I'd shifted the majority of my gaming spend away from GW 5-6 years ago. I'll still pick up the odd figure that I like to paint, and still pick over eBay from time to time for metal IG bargains.

GW is not the whole hobby, merely a small part of it - they lost me, really, when they canned Specialist Games new releases during the Epic: Armageddon release.....

It basically means I'll be waiting until the Finecast QA stuff is sorted out before buying anything, and I'll be picking up the odd metals for models that I really want.

It also means I'll be spending less, because prices are higher.

I've also branched out into: Trafalgar, 15mm Napoleonics, 10mm Seven Year's War, FOW, 28mm Cowboys, 28mm Pirates, Historicals (28mm Romans, Normans/Crusaders), and so on.

I've already got 5 40k armies, 2 WHFB armies, and all the specialist games, so there's enough backlog in assembly, painting, and terrain making (not GW terrain) to keep me busy the rest of my life.

For me, it's just meant that I've hoovered most of what I want for my Necrons from eBay over the past few weeks (Only a few bits to get). I've grabbed a few more lords ready for the rumoured characters.

Unless the new Necron models are worthy of Chuck Norris, I wont be grabbing those, at least not new.

I've not properly gotten in to 40k, having only played a dozen or so games, so I'm not dumping it. I'll just buy the old stuff and get creative with green stuff.

drastically increased the number of people pretending to be into hoards and warmachines at my flgs.

As long as my models stay under the cost of a night at the bar, I'll be fine.

For me...very little.

The price increase...I dont buy enough to be greatly effected.

The Finecast deal...thats more of an issue. Theres a handful of minis I was thinking of getting that are now Finecast. However, with the quality issues they seem to be having Im either going to hunt down leftover metals or source equivalents from other manufacturers.

Mind you Im not huge fan of metal, but Ill deal with it since the quality is far better than the Finecast at this point. I do hope they get it sorted out, as the Finecast does seem to be really sharp when it comes out right.

Really hasn't changed anything for me for I already had most of what i need for my Orkz.
I have yet to check out any of the Finecast models up close though.

I got into the hobby because it seemed like they'd be willing to hold your hand through it. My first Hobbycenter had a painting station with free paints, auctions on old stock, and clerks who'd be much more willing to play a few games than try to move stock on you, and gave you actual advice on how to save money by buying alternative models. GW's own website had conversion articles and bitz order, making sure i didnt have to pay out the ass with them to get the bitz I wanted. The codexes were filled with wonderful colored pages of converted models and gave some good conversion projects to compensate for what's not there. And back then, GW only had metal for when it wasn't practical to make into plastic.

Now I just see ads everywhere saying "buy this". The Clerks are only interested in me if I open my wallet. The paint stations say I have to bring everything, even my own water. There is no help on alternative models. And GW makes models that should be in plastic metal (or now Resin Failcast) and charge me out the ass for them.

I know that most of the stuff from before is more or less them giving me stuff, but since I'm paying a premium for their base products, it's a pretty fair tradeoff. In fact it actually made it easier opening my wallet, knowing that I am not making a wrong decision by committing this money. Now it feels like they're just taking the cash and tossing you out to the curb, if you mess up they'll just say "buy another one then" rather than extend a hand.

The changes have put a hault on all further GW purchases. It has me bummed out that they make these terrible decisions. People say it's to benefit the shareholders, but I don't see how angering the client base will accomplish that. The friends that I'd set up games with have quit as well. They're trying to get me to start up a Warmchine or Hordes army, but I'm reluctant at this point to buy any sort of table top model game. Either way I'm done with GW. I'll probably sell my marines when I have a better idea of where I'll spend my disposable income and invest the money there.

saxx wrote:drastically increased the number of people pretending to be into hoards and warmachines at my flgs.

As long as my models stay under the cost of a night at the bar, I'll be fine.

Haha, you know I think this is a threshold that a lot of people use to justify their purchases (at least I used to!), does GW realise that line that they have crossed?

I used to go to GW's website for all sorts of conversion and hobby insight and inspiration. Back then, the website and the online store were two separate sites. When they changed to one big store, always reminding me of what it thinks I need, and the hobby content was relegated to a token presence at best, I quit going there. When White Dwarf battle reports became a scripted means to drive sales and the magazine as a whole became redundant I quit reading it.
On the other hand, I still enjoy the hobby and I'm thankful that I have a Dakka community that keeps me motivated and with members that showcase their work. I've been studying and working in the Middle East for the past 4 years and when I returned to the US, I discovered all of the third-party parts and companies that make similar scale models, alternative heads, bases, etc. Since I don't game at a GW store I've begun using and/or incorporating other companies products in my armies and it's really reinvigorated my interest in the hobby. I've tried but never been able to get into Warmachine, Hordes or any other system, whereas I really love the 40K background and fluff (Matt Ward stuff aside). I'll continue to model, paint, support my FLGS and to some extent play, but I'll never exclusively purchase GW parts and models again.

darkkt wrote:My concern is that the pricing etc will be a barrier to new players... and without new players, the game dies.

+1

I remember when you could go into a store and forget it was a shop. I admit now you can still go in and paint and game, but you know the staff wont be happy if you don't buy andthing. I know it is their job so i'm not complaining. I am just saying how the ability to go in and talk about what you are thinking of doing rather than just buying is starting to fade. My local store is still great and you can go in and play a game and get some gaming paining advice so i'm not complaining at them but other stores I have visited seem to really want to push you to open your wallets the second you enter,

I actually fully quit 40k before all these pricing issues came out. Got sick of so many things. For some reason the lawsuit against chapterhouse was like the final straw. I was under no illusions that me quitting would do anything at the time to GW, but I just felt its time to move on.

Been playing since 2nd edition and before I quit I had plans to start a DE and Necron army. I already have Daemons, Salamanders and IG.

I shelved them all. Now I play warmachine Cryx and am thinking of making a Circle of Orboros army.

Also learning that warmahordes is actually quite a good game when I previously thought that 40k was the only game worth playing has led me to start considering other games like malifaux and infinity.

I hope to one day come back to 40k and I hope GW is a different company then.

I'm still going to buy any GW stuff I think is good value, but the stuff that is good value is now rarer so I'm taking the plunge into historicals, Kings of War and writing my own squad based sci fi game that I can use nice third party miniatures in. I'll still play 40K with my Orks, and Fantasy with my WoC, Dwarves and Orcs, but new pastures beckon.

Very simply put....never buying anything directly from GW again. The price increases are insane! When i look back to when i started playing prices have gone up by like 60-70% which is just extortion.
For me, there is no need to buy from them anymore when online sites like maelstrom, darksphere and ebay give discounts of anything up to around 20% which makes them affordable.
I'm just pleased i have a lot of stuff to paint before buying anything new!
Its also made me consider switching to another game, Battlefield Evolution is looking pretty good atm, can get tanks, planes for around £10 which is nothing compared to GW prices

The only thing it has changed, is that forums are a lot less enjoyable to read, due to all the whine threads.

It's a simple price rise, all companies do it.l

These changes really aren't going to effect me at all. I have enough models waiting to get done that I could not buy anything for a year or more and still have new projects to work on. But, I budget my money and spend around $50 a month on my hobby, unless there's something new my nerdiness tells me I need, like when the baneblade first came out. And I rarely play anyway, I mostly just buy to paint.

yeah I don't like higher prices, but after almost 20 years of GW's business practices, I guess I'm just kinda used to it now. They're gonna raise them next year.. and the year after that and the year after that. I'll continue to buy what I want, and even happily pay full price at my FLGS, as long as they continue to put out a product that I feel is worth my time and money.

Shadowbreed wrote:The only thing it has changed, is that forums are a lot less enjoyable to read, due to all the whine threads.

It's a simple price rise, all companies do it.l

That's no change.

Like NeoMaul, I'm under no illusions that my decision will directly affect GW.
Perhaps, as part of the greater picture, I will have some effect on them. I don't fool myself into believing that they care, at this point, what I'm going to do.
That said...

I have 2 game groups. One meets monthly for RPGing. The other meets weekly for 40K. WH40K is my only miniature game, because (and ONLY because) nobody in my 40K group has any interest in any other games. These guys are my friends, and socializing with them is more important to me than what game I'm playing. So, I'll stick with 40K.
That's what I WILL do.
What I will NOT do, though, is buy anything I find to be non-essential.

When the 6ed rules come out, I will buy them. If any of my armies get a new codex, I will buy it.
If I see models that I absolutely CAN NOT find a replacement for from a different manufacturer... I MIGHT buy them.
I used to buy models just because I liked them. I used to buy EVERY codex that came out ("Know your enemy" and all that). I'm done with it.

EVERYTHING I buy from GW will be bought via Bartertown first, Dakka second and online discount retailers third. There will be NO GW direct purchases. I won't buy Finecost, if I can avoid it. If I have to buy it, I'll call and demand a replacement over even the tiniest imperfection.

There are no GW stores local to me, so using alternative models won't matter for my weekly gaming. Most tournaments I do or would go to are held at Miniature Market, and I doubt they'll have any issues with alternative models. If I go to any larger tourneys, they will (a) not be militant about "GW Models Only!" or I just won't go, if I can't meet that requrement.

That's how it's affected me.


Eric

MagickalMemories, I think your situation will be echoed by many, many other gamers all over the world. Of course a lot of them will be in Australia/New Zealand, but each price increase takes the game out of reach of players, and more importantly those coming into the hobby.

Although you could look at it from the opposite angle - GW's treatment of it's customers will mean that many gamers might get to try something new. I think experiencing a new game, no matter what it is, can actually revitalise the hobby for people. People are often quite staid with their habits (and I think really this is why so many people stick with GW) and don't like change - when it's forced upon them, and they have to reluctantly give it up, they might find that 6 months down the line (having got into a new games system) they are better off for the new experience.

I took a step back from 40k the other day and realised that I had been playing the same set of rules, with minor alterations to individual components of the game, since 3rd edition came out. Not to say it's a boring experience, and often the game is far from it, but you know when you come to the table exactly what sort of experience you can expect - there are no surprises, or if there are, they are within the tight confines of the game. Now, games such as Infinity and Maliflux are something of a new generation - they have built on the groundwork of rules mechanics designed for games such as WFB and 40k, and made something exciting and new. The smaller number of models is something that so many players will be unfamiliar with, and I hate to say it considering the man-hours I have put into GW's core range, but they make some of GW's efforts look quite antiquated by comparison in terms of the sheer dynamism on the tabletop.

By displaying the level of regard for it's customers akin to a drunken hobo with his fly-unzipped, and in mid action of releasing a bladder full of the convenience store's finest on anyone that comes close to him, GW may well have done a service to the 'hobby'. They will push people onto some of the fantastic new games that have come out over the last couple of years, games which might otherwise have slipped under the radar and faded into oblivion.

I can't emphasise enough to people who are thinking of quitting altogether - try something new. Although you may be initially apprehensive, there are other games out there which knock the stuffing out of GW's efforts in terms of how much fun you can have on the tabletop.

Even more of a shift to eBay.

Possible sale of my Nid army -- I'm still hemming and hawing over it, but it seems likely to offer OK resale value (lots of metal, much of it unpainted), which could let me buy DE or Infinity.

DE army on hiatus; I have the codex and 3 or so boxes of unassembled minis, but may just sell them too.

No more purchases for Dark Angels. I have enough, anyway.

Grey Knights army will remain a predominantly henchmen one; I have some metal GKs but will not be picking up enough plastics to make a full GK army. I will be buying non-GW vehicles to be counts-as Chimeras (not sure whether to go with Antenociti, or Old Crow, or Ramshackle, or Bitspudlo, yet), and scratchbuilding some counts-as Stormraven ornithopters.

Definitely buying in to Infinity.

Not buying more codexes -- I was trying to get all of them, but... nah, not any more. Too expensive.

More sharing/borrowing of armies and codexes. My games club has most armies available, one way or another. We'll proxy, and convert, and if one of us goes to a tourney, they'll borrow minis as necessary for the force they want to take.

Just as a reminder this thread is about how the changes made by GW have affected the hobby for you. While most responses have been in line with this there have been a few that are mainly just talking about how GW used to be and grudging about how GW is now. That isn't the point of the thread as there are plenty of others out there where you can do that, so while I appreciate the responses please no GW grudging. At least not here

Shadowbreed wrote:The only thing it has changed, is that forums are a lot less enjoyable to read, due to all the whine threads.

It's a simple price rise, all companies do it.l

when I see a company price rise so much 10 toys cost £23 I'll agree with you, until then you have no idea why people are complaining so you shouldn't have a say, its allot more than "a simple price rise".

I gotta say, I wish I'd got into game design years ago, because it's lots of fun.

Stella Cadente wrote:

Shadowbreed wrote:The only thing it has changed, is that forums are a lot less enjoyable to read, due to all the whine threads.

It's a simple price rise, all companies do it.l

when I see a company price rise so much 10 toys cost £23 I'll agree with you, until then you have no idea why people are complaining so you shouldn't have a say, its allot more than "a simple price rise".

While I do agree that it is much more then a simple price rise and that the tone of his statement (or indeed the statement itself) was uncalled for as it will just make waves if it is the only thing that has changed in the hobby for him then it's the only change. Of course no one makes him go on to forums or click on those threads that are "complaining" against what GW has done so his issue is of his own cause.

I used to have a gamming group and we played a mix of Heavy Gear roleplay and tabletop. I have ordered the new rules along with some minis and hope to find some players here in my area. I like the backstory/plot of the game. Plus Giant Robot fighting! (well sortof)

Im not sure yet if I will drop GW permantly. I think I will pick up 2 or 3 more boxes to round out a small GK force but I think thats it. When the new Chaos Codex drops (when ever that will be), I may start agin, depends on the rules and new models. I have kept getting WD's, but I think I will stop doing that also, just not to much intresting in them these days.

Not a bit because I quit playing 40k two years ago and WFB last year.

Well, It doesn't affect me at all I buy stuff from fellow dakka members, and used stuff, and cheap ebay stuff.

But If I actually payed full price, it would be expensive.

Wow, I guess I'm the exception to the negativity then!

The latest changes to GW:
1) More Codexes released per year than ever before
2) Introduction of FAQs
3) Consistant release of some of the best models seen yet
4) More engagement with the community, now with things like Facebook
5) Replacement of Metal for Resin
6) Explosion of community groups - podcasts, professional blogs, etc.

I'm now focusing more on the hobby more than ever, and haven't played a game of Malifaux in months... (though its still an awesome game)

Samus_aran115 wrote:Well, It doesn't affect me at all I buy stuff from fellow dakka members, and used stuff, and cheap ebay stuff.

But If I actually payed full price, it would be expensive.

Samus, you don't seem to understand. It will *still* affect you.

"Free" Shrike models aside ( ), all your models will still cost you more.

Someone who pays $40 for a model and sells it for half off is going to charge you less than the guy who bought it for $50 and resells it at half off.

Will it still be far less expensive than retail? Sure. If you think it won't affect you at all, though, you're only fooling yourself.


Eric

I've stopped playing and buying GW stuff. More into Battletech now and I've started a D&D group and been buying old books for that, and I've been playing lots of Guild Wars

Well.... I was reading Dakka Dakka as I do daily instead of being productive. I was so mad at the embargo actually shut my browser down and started to work. My boss saw me typing away and producing quality material. He pulled me into the office and promoted me right there and gave me the afternoon off.

So... I thought I can afford more GW. I walk into a GW and notice the price has gone up again now I'm super upset and the stuff is made of holey resin. Now I really can't afford the hobby. I was sooo mad I decided to keep my money in my pocket and instead went to the local Walmart. I bought deodorant, shampoo, Ax body spray and a shirt that wasn't a black T with the imperial aquila. (crazy.. I know).

Next thing I find myself in the shower and caring about my personal hygiene. I head out the door and notice this thing w/ two legs and bumpy things on the chest piece. Now I've seen Sisters of Battle before and decide...whoa.... that is a girl. I walk by her and make sure she gets a big wiff of my body spray..... well... I'm sure you've seen the commercials.

So... Thanks GW... I got a promotion, got clean and got the girl. Woot... never coulda done it without you.

MIKEtheMERCILESS wrote:Wow, I guess I'm the exception to the negativity then!

The latest changes to GW:
1) More Codexes released per year than ever before
2) Introduction of FAQs
3) Consistant release of some of the best models seen yet
4) More engagement with the community, now with things like Facebook
5) Replacement of Metal for Resin
6) Explosion of community groups - podcasts, professional blogs, etc.

I'm now focusing more on the hobby more than ever, and haven't played a game of Malifaux in months... (though its still an awesome game)

My takes on your thoughts:

1) More codices -some FAR too overpowered- at higher prices.
2) FAQ's have been around a long time. They just all recently got a LONG OVERDUE 5e update, finally.
3) Arguable at best.
4) ...but they're not really saying anything of value to us
5) The new resin minis are full of crappy results.
6) GW should not get the credit for this. It is not their doing.

Eric

Not only that but GW used to communicate far more with their customers back when WD actually had a purpose; to inform and captivate readers. Also, I would suggest the days of Chapter Approved and the like were much better than the half-assed approach to FAQs we get nowadays.

Jgemrich that was an awesome post. +1 Internets to you, sir.

The latest GW clusterfail hasn't affected me that much. I was already getting frustrated with GW before this all went down. Malifaux pulled me in a while ago. If anything, some good came of this. The nerd rage on dakka led me to Infinity, which I'll be spending my money on instead of 40k. If I want to play fantasy, I'll buy from Mantic.

On a semi-related note, for those of us who want to sell off some of our GW models to reinvest in the hobby, where are some good choices? EBay is obviously a choice, but what else is out there?

The changes at GW have been a net plus for me.

They have caused me to look at Malifaux, Dust Tactics, Firestorm Armada, Dystopian Wars and even have me mulling over Flames of War.

They have also benefited me greatly monetarily. Since the price hikes my second hand stuff sells for more than ever on Ebay.

What I have chosen to not sell of my GW stuff has mainly been around Apocalypse games. Now that's some fun right there, and my centerpiece is usually a 2500 point Great Gargant that is scratch built from foam and sheet plastic. It's also an excuse to bust out that expensive Forgeworld stuff some of the local crew accumulate. So I'm having more fun with the GW stuff I do have.

Of course, my gain will not be GW's. I'll not be buying much in the way of models or rules sets from them any more.

Recently? Nothing, because I wrote them off as a company I wouldn't support a decade ago.

The prices don't really concern me, I just don't like their business practices and mentality that they are the only miniature game in the universe.

I buy second-hand only for precisely those reasons.

jgemrich wrote:Well.... I was reading Dakka Dakka as I do daily instead of being productive. I was so mad at the embargo actually shut my browser down and started to work. My boss saw me typing away and producing quality material. He pulled me into the office and promoted me right there and gave me the afternoon off.

So... I thought I can afford more GW. I walk into a GW and notice the price has gone up again now I'm super upset and the stuff is made of holey resin. Now I really can't afford the hobby. I was sooo mad I decided to keep my money in my pocket and instead went to the local Walmart. I bought deodorant, shampoo, Ax body spray and a shirt that wasn't a black T with the imperial aquila. (crazy.. I know).

Next thing I find myself in the shower and caring about my personal hygiene. I head out the door and notice this thing w/ two legs and bumpy things on the chest piece. Now I've seen Sisters of Battle before and decide...whoa.... that is a girl. I walk by her and make sure she gets a big wiff of my body spray..... well... I'm sure you've seen the commercials.

So... Thanks GW... I got a promotion, got clean and got the girl. Woot... never coulda done it without you.

Thanks for that, genuinely made me laugh

Guildsman wrote:On a semi-related note, for those of us who want to sell off some of our GW models to reinvest in the hobby, where are some good choices? EBay is obviously a choice, but what else is out there?

Dakka swap shop forum or Bartertown.

Eric

I'll be buying all my models from Ebay, scrounging enough spare bitz to make entire kits (have already made 20 Guardsmen for under $10, and a Valkyrie for under $40).

The only way GW has affected the hobby for me is by actually making it BETTER.

It's sort of forced me to play FoW at Maelstrom and by doing so have met some great guys and made new friends and enjoying a new rule set and game.

I still play 40k with two close friends and we're still enjoying it loads.

I'll end up buying MORE!

Oh, GW is only partly to blame, DAKKA DAKKA members are mainly to blame for me spending more!

Why? Oh I won't be buying a great deal off GW, at least not until the Necrons get released. But with all the price rise talk people have been putting up links to other companies. So now I've seen a load of other minis that I want to buy. Thanks for spending my money Dakka

Guildsman wrote:On a semi-related note, for those of us who want to sell off some of our GW models to reinvest in the hobby, where are some good choices? EBay is obviously a choice, but what else is out there?

car boots, made £100 in 30 minutes on the last one I did

MIKEtheMERCILESS wrote:1) More Codexes released per year than ever before

how is that a good thing when most are written by matt ward?

MIKEtheMERCILESS wrote:2) Introduction of FAQs

yeah, each as long as the codex they are released for answering questions nobody asked and answering nothing nobody needs

MIKEtheMERCILESS wrote:3) Consistant release of some of the best models seen yet

where?

MIKEtheMERCILESS wrote:4) More engagement with the community, now with things like Facebook

yeah, more plugging about how awesome they are

MIKEtheMERCILESS wrote:5) Replacement of Metal for Resin

and thats good how?

and blogs done by the average joe have nothing to do with GW, even if it is there products

Not really any major change for me. I don't regularly purchase or game GW, most of my hobby time is either single models or dioramas / scenery. I'm more of a historical gamer since I left school 20ish years ago, and even that is a irregular event now.

My last GW direct purchase was the re-issue of Space Hulk and before that was AoBR. I tend to scour eBay and other sources for cheaper minis and bitz, which I will continue to do to build a custom marine force that I've been working on. I have also recently bought from other smaller manufacturers (Black Scorpion, Heresy, Hasslefree, etc.) when I go to games shows or via the internet, as I don't have a flgs.

Having said all that, I'm not in GWs demographic target audience anyway so they probably don't care what I do...

Demographics: Games Workshop targets a highly desirable demographic; educated, affluent, and well-behaved 14- to 24-year-old males and their families.

http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m1230058_realestatebooklet.pdf

From the document Ruglud linked to:

There is no other retailer that competes directly with Games Workshop. However, as a
distributor, we are mindful of not encroaching upon our third party retailers.

Emphasis mine. Hyuk hyuk hyuk.



Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also, how do you not fit Ruglud? I'm poor, too old, and not particularly well-behaved myself. I'd best stop playing GW games I guess. Oh well.

htj wrote:From the document Ruglud linked to:

There is no other retailer that competes directly with Games Workshop. However, as a
distributor, we are mindful of not encroaching upon our third party retailers.

Emphasis mine. Hyuk hyuk hyuk.



Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also, how do you not fit Ruglud? I'm poor, too old, and not particularly well-behaved myself. I'd best stop playing GW games I guess. Oh well.

Well, I'm (well) over 24 and have no other male relatives in my direct family within that range (my son is 7...). I don't have a university degree or equivalent, I only just got relatively average grades in GCSE and A level. I'm reasonably well off, but no where near the super rich level required for regular GW purchases, hopefully I'm well behaved though, so one tick in the box?

I've read a lot of the GW retail documents as I was considering becoming an independant retailer, but it's all give with one hand and take with the other so, I backed away, glad I did given the policy changes recently...

I wouldn't worry about the degree aspect. Most 14 year old boys don't have degrees either.

It's quite interesting that GW have put 24 as their age demographic cap. I wonder what kind of market research went into that? Certainly, they never asked me.

Blood Angels army that I was going to buy+build went out the window. Tomb-king preorders cancelled. Last two paint orders have been Vallejo. I'm still going to flush out my ork army but the only thing I'd even consider in finecast is the Mek+SAG and I wouldn't order that within the next 6-8months seeing the slip shod QA recently.

I'm sure the people at Crocodile Games and Avatars of War are happy though. I also just saw some stuff from Gorgon Studios that I must have.

jgemrich wrote:Well.... I was reading Dakka Dakka as I do daily instead of being productive. I was so mad at the embargo actually shut my browser down and started to work. My boss saw me typing away and producing quality material. He pulled me into the office and promoted me right there and gave me the afternoon off.

So... I thought I can afford more GW. I walk into a GW and notice the price has gone up again now I'm super upset and the stuff is made of holey resin. Now I really can't afford the hobby. I was sooo mad I decided to keep my money in my pocket and instead went to the local Walmart. I bought deodorant, shampoo, Ax body spray and a shirt that wasn't a black T with the imperial aquila. (crazy.. I know).

Next thing I find myself in the shower and caring about my personal hygiene. I head out the door and notice this thing w/ two legs and bumpy things on the chest piece. Now I've seen Sisters of Battle before and decide...whoa.... that is a girl. I walk by her and make sure she gets a big wiff of my body spray..... well... I'm sure you've seen the commercials.

So... Thanks GW... I got a promotion, got clean and got the girl. Woot... never coulda done it without you.

Did you ever find out what the bumpy things were for?

Grot 6 wrote:

jgemrich wrote:Well.... I was reading Dakka Dakka as I do daily instead of being productive. I was so mad at the embargo actually shut my browser down and started to work. My boss saw me typing away and producing quality material. He pulled me into the office and promoted me right there and gave me the afternoon off.

So... I thought I can afford more GW. I walk into a GW and notice the price has gone up again now I'm super upset and the stuff is made of holey resin. Now I really can't afford the hobby. I was sooo mad I decided to keep my money in my pocket and instead went to the local Walmart. I bought deodorant, shampoo, Ax body spray and a shirt that wasn't a black T with the imperial aquila. (crazy.. I know).

Next thing I find myself in the shower and caring about my personal hygiene. I head out the door and notice this thing w/ two legs and bumpy things on the chest piece. Now I've seen Sisters of Battle before and decide...whoa.... that is a girl. I walk by her and make sure she gets a big wiff of my body spray..... well... I'm sure you've seen the commercials.

So... Thanks GW... I got a promotion, got clean and got the girl. Woot... never coulda done it without you.

Did you ever find out what the bumpy things were for?

Hopefully not, for his sake. Babies are expensive and they smell. Let's hope he found other uses for them.

Well, i just finished building 1,500 points worth of SM. My wife was in the process of putting together a list of 1,500 points of DE to purchase. With the price increases, that stopped both of us in our tracks. I no longer wish to build up my army anymore. She gave up as she saw the price for everything she wanted to put together. With both of us quite a bit disappointed, she researched some other games and asked for us to try out Privateer Press and the Hordes campaign. For a minimal investment we got some nifty models(Battleboxes) and tried out a completely different game we both enjoyed.

So, I let the wallet speak for my disappointment with GW and spent $300 on building two 25pt Hordes armies. No regrets.

And not to sound like a GW hater, I still love reading their books and fluff.

Ruglud wrote:

Demographics: Games Workshop targets a highly desirable demographic; educated, affluent, and well-behaved 14- to 24-year-old males and their families.

http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m1230058_realestatebooklet.pdf

Hmm, well, I have a doctorate-level degree and I suppose am affluent enough (if I ignore all the student loans LALALALALA), but I'm beyond the age range and am filled with seething hatred towards all living things. So half for, and half against. Do I qualify?

Well I haven't bought anything from GW in about 5 years.

I loved the DE and played them very effectively, but since 3rd Ed, I'd been eagerly awaiting an update which never came. After watching all other armies advance so ridiculously far beyond mine, I vowed not to give GW anymore of my money, or even support the hobby, until DE get an update... After not playing for years, the new DE FINALLY hit. But as amazing as they are, I'm just not into the hobby anymore. My interest had eventually expired.

After seeing the Talos and such, I was briefly inspired to begin collecting and painting again, ready to drop thousands of dollars on a large new DE army, until the prices went up. I interpret that as GW telling me they don't want me buying their stuff or playing their game. So I shrug and proceed as I have been...

I've been buying from discounters for the longest time and that won't change. It may in the future should GW figure out a way to drive the discounters away.

Straws that this camel still carries:

Price increases happen all the time. Since I purchase from eBay/discounters the damage is somewhat mitigated. I also don't purchase the crazy-expensive stuff like the Vampire Counts models. I'm also consolidating which armies I actually build and play and dumping the rest. This is more of a need to clean up my apartment than anything else.

I don't buy GW's hobby tools, glue, greenstuff, etc. when there are so many other outlets that sell the exact same stuff for pennies on GW's dollar. The paints I buy though but I've got a lot of Testors, too.

Finecast. I have always loathed metal models. They're difficult to convert and heavy, especially in bulk, to carry around. The switch to resin is actually a plus for me since I've worked with Forge World stuff for the longest time, too. I just don't have the hate for this that others do. Then again, I returned a bit of unopened metal that I wound up not wanting for a gift card balance which I then used to acquire my Finecast so I've kitted out my Skaven and Dark Eldar and even got a Hive Tyrant while spending only $40.00. Selling off my old stuff to get new is likely the way I'll be going now so the impact on my bank account won't be as great.

Regional sales restrictions. These have me concerned. I'm not affected by the current furor but do sympathise and see this as a possible concern for the future. GW's marketing decisions have always perplexed me.

So, unless and until the discounters are driven away, I'll probably still play 40k and Fantasy. I'll investigate another company's stuff should they produce plastic/resin models that are really cool looking but there'd need to be a local comunity of players, too, or it's "no deal".

As a hobby, GW provides large (Apocalypse) and small (FOC) scale options to play... you can collect an army or indulge in many different armies... and you can pick and choose your depth of involvement in the 'game'

As a cost, it is not a luxury item, yet... it is still cheaper than drinking in pubs every other night or cheaper than smoking a pack a day... or worse, both.

I do not balk at the price increases, i'm fethin miffed of course, but it or the next few will not curb my appitite for the game. I am not 'lucky' enough to be able to afford to keep playing, I can afford to play because I prioritise my disposable income.

I am very miffed though at the idiotic business plans and decisions that GW have subjected the veterans and loyal followers of the game. I have been involved since 1985 and have spent over AU25,000 in puchases and I do not intend to stop yet.

However, I will never, never pay GW Australian prices again. I have relatives in England and I will utilise their advantages and still save 50% off GWAU prices.

I hope GWAU goes bankrupt as a division, I hope they pull their stores out of Australia... this is what Wells and co must be aiming for after all.

The issue with GW is not the prices... it's their treatment of their resellers, their loyal veterans, and the hobby in general.

Prices always move up and down... but loyalty is earned

I started playing the GW game as an adult and I spent thousands of dollars because I supported GW as an entity that supported me... the decline started for me when they took my beloved 'Epic' out of their stores... and I am still loyal... for now

Mik

How its affected the hobby for me?


hmmm the positive of it is it prompted me to look at other game systems.
Like many others I decided to give warmachine a go and Ive found it really enjoyable.

Negative wise well...I promised myself last year if the prices went up one more time by a silly level I would stop buying new GW products, viola as expected it happened so I have done this.
I just dislike how the company behaves. like the models, Love the universe, hate the company.

soo long story short its just prompted me to branch into other game systems, while I will still play 40k/fantasy with what I have!

NeoMaul wrote:
I previously thought that 40k was the only game worth playing

I wish more people would realize the same thing. Its funny how when you play other games you begin to realize how bad the current 40k rules really are. There are many good games out there. Quite a few of the very low budget "generic" games are great. The companies that make/made them simply never had the funds to go big time like GW.

GW still makes great minis, but so do several other companies. The Infinity minis are really good, as are the Malifaux, though I must admit I dont care for the gothic horror genre or aesthetic, still well done minis.

40k is an incredibly fun and involved game that has a great worldwide community of people. I think that is what most people enjoy the most about gaming and 40k...the aspect of community that comes with the game and the fact that almost everywhere you go you can find at least 3 or 4 people (if not MORE) who play the game or at least have an army in their closet.

What is awful is seeing the company do things that make the community question why they are involved in the game at all. They aren't going to refund the $1000s of dollars many people have spent of their product yet they are willing to make continuation of that spending unbearable. But hey, I guess people still buy Nike products regardless of the conditions of production of their products. As far as we know, GW still has some morals on how their product is produced, they just don't care about how the decisions they make effect the end consumer.

We'll see what happens in the next few months...

I just started the hobby last year...i played the dawn of war series, read a few of the books, and fell in love with the sci-fi universe. In it, I can command fleets and battleships, maintain it for action and adventure. Go undercover into hive worlds and seek out heresy. Barter with rogue traders and pirates, and command my squad of Angels of Death to blazing victories. As a student, the price of the hobby has been a problem right from the start. So I only buy what I want, which isn't much anyway, maybe a box a month, and I scour all the websites there is for the cheapest prices and I buy. So price-wise, it has only affected me a bit. From what I hear about the finecast though, it made me flinch, as part of what got me into the hobby is the fine details of models, which to me said huge potential for good art. I probably won't be buying any resin models until I hear they fix the detail issue. As for all the actions they made with retailers, it has displaced some of my respect for them and has lifted my loyalty to private retailers. Other than that, I am still loyal to the 40k universe, every time i play or do anything related to Warhammer 40,000, I have oodles of fun

I'll be selling off alot of projects that I'd started buying for with the plan to pick up at a later date.

Am seriously considering selling all my BFG

Want to sell all my WDs (issue 39 - current)

Sell all the codii and army books from previous editions.

Buy mantic for future WHFB armies and the odd GW character monster to fill gaps.

Start Flames Of War with US Armoured Rifle Company and late war Germans.

I was looking at buying a 40k Chaos Space marine Army after finishing off painting my Dark Angel Successor army.
And also was going to buying new guard units and daemon hunters/sister to build up an army of them.
And was looking at a WFB Chaos Army.
Was going to build up an UM SM army for my son.
Due to price increase and the ripoff prices we are charged in New Zealand from the retailers ( some whom charge more than buying from GW) and the Southern Sales embargo going on now
Im now simply finishing up painting up my Dark Angels - and painting what I have playing with them mostly then ill buy 2nd hand or not all all fo the rest of bits.
Wont be making any new armies.
My sons getting an xbox instead and he can use my marines.
Price wise its cheaper to make an army out of forge world figures.
My black library book purchases have dropped 50% to essential books only.
Not buying codexs anymore.

If I buy any products I note - esppecially resin ones from the new GW resin line which i doubt i will but even still - If i get any stuffed models they are going right back with a request for a swap or refund.
Im not paying for poor quality products at the high prices we are charged.

Using tamiya and vajello paints not - limiting my GW paints and hobby stuff which is a ripoff anyways and can be substandard and overpriced.
Terrain wise plenty of good terrain makers out there now and Im not using GW.
GW do not have my support anymore and they will lose prob 2-3K NZ$ around 1500 pounds from me this year and it drop down to prob in the future to the odd Black Library book purchase only.
The currency excuse is rubbish.
Other similar retailers like Tamiya etc are not doing this and limiting sales etc like GW - why cause they will lose customers.
Sometimes i buy local and sometimes overseas.

Sucks when you really enjoying ya hobby and the company turns around and rips you off.

Bizzanga

For me, it's driven me away from their product use. I've always been one of those people who loves the fluff and feel of the game, and enjoys planning out elaborate projects to make characterful armies. It has been increasingly growing out of my price range as I go from a high school kid with a job and no bills, to an adult with bills to pay and actual responsibilities. When they speed that process along with price hikes, and then blockading international trade so I can no longer order the bulk of my projects from Wayland, it's finally gotten to where I have to call it quits.

Luckily a handful of my group are in the same boat, and we're finishing the last bit of our current armies off (About 4-5 boxes of GW stuff between the lot of us) and that's the end. We're switching to Warmahordes and giving privateer press our business.

It bothers me a bit, since I can't get as into the fun customization and theming of my armies as I could for Warhammer, but the game's more reasonable and, honestly, turning out more fun.

I've long since made the switch to Vallejo for paints, so once my wife's last carnifex is purchased in the next week or two, they won't get another penny from the two of us. Pains me a little, I've long been a loyal customer and turned many people to the hobby. I'll just be turning those same people, and any future ones, to Privateer Press and away from GW at all costs. Word of mouth is how this hobby spreads, poor customer treatment is not a good way to accomplish thatt.

I like the fluff, well most of it. But a lot of it was created 20 years ago and has been moved on a bit since, but some of the recent additions, like parts of the latest Grey Knight codex is utter garbage. Overall their background is good. That's what there is to like about Warhammer.

But the prices are too high. There's not enough in the box/packet for me to feel satisfied. I only buy single figures at their prices not whole armies, there's loads of cool stuff from other manufacturers who have prices much lower than GW even on their character figures.

I've bought hardly any GW in years, just the odd item now and again, so 'my hobby' isn't affected by their latest boneheaded behaviour. All this means is that I'm even less likely to get that odd blister and I'll just have more reason to give their shop a skip when passing near by.

It's the independent stores I feel sorry for as they have to struggle with maintaining GW products or dropping them.

GW's wider actions have made them quite unpleasant in this hobby, the hobby they pretend doesn't exist on one hand while attacking with legal bullying on the other. As a company they are aggressive, controlling and paranoid. I feel their time has come, either they sort their gak out or I won't be shedding a tear if they go under.

Omegus wrote:

Ruglud wrote:

Demographics: Games Workshop targets a highly desirable demographic; educated, affluent, and well-behaved 14- to 24-year-old males and their families.

http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m1230058_realestatebooklet.pdf

Well well well, I don't have a degree, am well over 24 (31), have been known to be well behaved at times and am fairly well off.
By rights this should mean I shouldn't even be able to walk into a GW. How long before they start stopping you at the door?
"ID and doctorate please sir, oh and your CRB check if you please, no riff raff in here".

On topic, I have bought nothing from a GW store in well over 2 years. Save a pot or two of Badab Black , so nothing has changed for me with recent events.
I will keep buying RT mini's on eBay thou, but my disposable now gets spent on Mantic and Infinity. Better run companies IMO, and much better value too......