Hey Dakka!

I was running this through my head, and I thought I'd pitch it to you lot:

What would you do if you could become Head of GW?

By this, I don't just mean swim in pools of little plastic men, but more what would you change, i.e. Annual Price increases etc.

I would probably milk it as much as I can and then escape in a golden parachute.

Sounds like a plan to me

orkybenji wrote:
I would probably milk it as much as I can and then escape in a golden parachute.

Just about sums it up.

Marketing, I'd have some
Not only traditional ads, but big tables at conventions to promote the product, hand out fliers and leaflets (a 5-10 page white dwarf thing, a proper catalog)
games day's would be 2 or 3 days, like a normal con, and the stores would have special bonus' and savings and other deals (buy this much and get this free)
obvious price cuts, resurrecting specialist games, actual stores, an internet presence
customer Q&A, that sort of stuff
e-books would be more expensive but would be a guaranteed update for the next version/replaced when errata'd (obviously would be for more then an ipad)
fire matt ward, sweeping changes, how the product is sold and marketed
just some things that come to mind

 Rainbow Dash wrote:
Marketing, I'd have some
Not only traditional ads, but big tables at conventions to promote the product, hand out fliers and leaflets (a 5-10 page white dwarf thing, a proper catalog)
games day's would be 2 or 3 days, like a normal con, and the stores would have special bonus' and savings and other deals (buy this much and get this free)
obvious price cuts, resurrecting specialist games, actual stores, an internet presence
customer Q&A, that sort of stuff
e-books would be more expensive but would be a guaranteed update for the next version/replaced when errata'd (obviously would be for more then an ipad)
fire matt ward, sweeping changes, how the product is sold and marketed
just some things that come to mind

QFT. Couldn't agree more.

I would look into the research that they used to determine if new gamers are actually more profitable than long standing gamers.

I would also try to market a professional circut, like M:TG. It would be difficult with the current rules, but I would make the turn in that direction, and it wouldn't have that large of an impact on the "recruit and sell" mind set anyways. New players in the GW stores don't really have a grasp of what is what anyways, so tuning the rules to be balanced for competitive play and rules updates to bring the codex's in line are pretty irrelevant to new gamers. They will still see dudesmarines and tanks in awesome looking boxes.

 Rainbow Dash wrote:
Marketing, I'd have some
Not only traditional ads, but big tables at conventions to promote the product, hand out fliers and leaflets (a 5-10 page white dwarf thing, a proper catalog)
games day's would be 2 or 3 days, like a normal con, and the stores would have special bonus' and savings and other deals (buy this much and get this free)
obvious price cuts, resurrecting specialist games, actual stores, an internet presence
customer Q&A, that sort of stuff
e-books would be more expensive but would be a guaranteed update for the next version/replaced when errata'd (obviously would be for more then an ipad)
fire matt ward, sweeping changes, how the product is sold and marketed
just some things that come to mind

Bankrupt in 1 month, good job.

I'd do the very same thing they do now, just a few price adjustments and lowering the yearly price increase to ~25-30%. Most people seem to be ok with the high prices, so I'd be pretty slowed to lower them.

 Sigvatr wrote:

 Rainbow Dash wrote:
Marketing, I'd have some
Not only traditional ads, but big tables at conventions to promote the product, hand out fliers and leaflets (a 5-10 page white dwarf thing, a proper catalog)
games day's would be 2 or 3 days, like a normal con, and the stores would have special bonus' and savings and other deals (buy this much and get this free)
obvious price cuts, resurrecting specialist games, actual stores, an internet presence
customer Q&A, that sort of stuff
e-books would be more expensive but would be a guaranteed update for the next version/replaced when errata'd (obviously would be for more then an ipad)
fire matt ward, sweeping changes, how the product is sold and marketed
just some things that come to mind

Bankrupt in 1 month, good job.

I'd do the very same thing they do now, just a few price adjustments and lowering the yearly price increase to ~25-30%. Most people seem to be ok with the high prices, so I'd be pretty slowed to lower them.

its a slow process, you don't just drop it all down like that
that and I do believe the thread asked what I would do, eg in my own fantasy world, not what you think of my ideas

if I were in charge of GW I'd start advertising in Children's TV. target group getting younger and that. Also, having access to little girls as a target group with that ad campaign, I'd recognice that there is quite an intersection to beardneck MLP fans. Thus I would make the Pretty Marines official SM chapter, instead of Bikers I would introduce Marines riding My Little Pony figurines. Then I would charge HASBRO for copyright infringement.

I'd find a way to get rid of the current directors and anyone in a senior management position.
I would turn WD back into a viable HOBBY product, as opposed to what it is now, you remember when you could LEARN something from a WD, instead of just what miniatures you are going to find on the shelf when you next go to the store..
I would rekindle lost game systems.
I would invest in things like space hulk back onto the mass market so it is available in every kind of store, to get people attracted to the "more advanced" version again.. The greater hobby.
I would re-do the paint pots for the paint range
I would make the prices of products with competition more price competitive
I would do away with the stores that have one man in the middle of nowhere and no hobby area, IE - I would focus back on the hobby as a whole, not just newbies with no clue, and if that meant fewer stores, but bigger key stores, fine with me, even if it meant only one store in each capital city like a warhammer world, so be it, make going to a GW store an experience again, no a chore..
I would ensure that each army was brought updated lines and supplements in a TIMELY fashion PER EDITION, none of this crap with armies that have a codex from an edition or two ago..
I'd ensure hobby related articles and PDF's where available, and I would go back to the idea of enhancing the HOBBY and the EXPERIENCE of my customers, as opposed to charging money for every single piece of idea, IP or hobby related matter..
I'd invest in The Lord inquisitor to make it a decent movie that supports and buffs the hobby..
I would give myself a pay rise

Many things! Hobby related? Release a dedicated crimson fist codex and some sort if proper anti air or sky fire ground tank, like the hydra flak but for marines.

I'd request more cowbell.

Chop up White Dwarf into 4 separate magazines each with a different focus... one for 40k, one for WHFB, one for Specialist games, and one for hobby and studio work. They'd each be the quarter size of the usual White Dwarf but cost half as much as one...and the pages should be plasticard.

Open up GW events to be a little more lenient about allowing non-GW models into official tournaments but put some kind of surcharge on the percentage of non-GW models/materials used ("What's that you say? You say you used Galeforce 9 glue to put your models together? Sorry but there's a charge for that.")

Give everything power armor.... EVERYTHING (ex: Matt Ward in power armor, Phil Kelly in power armor, power armor in power armor while power armoring your power armor)

I'd sit in the design studio with all the writers and sculptors and make an Ork codex that had pages of wargear just for the warboss and included rules for making all the main clans - like mini marine spin off codices.

Then I'd make a Space Marine codex that invalidated all the spin off armies and centralised them. Best selling book evar.

I'd bring back a bits service, even if it meant really expensive bits, just so long as it's there.

I'd publish guidelines on writing homebrew codices and army books. They must have points vs. ability formulas or whatever, no reason for them to be a secret

A lot of things that Rick Priestley is said to have wanted to introduce but was denied in response to "raise prices."

Introduce an 'army collectors' card like what they did when I started back in 97.

If I remember right, for Brettonians, this was.

Commanders: General, Wizard, Special Character, Hero.
- Once you buy all 4 of them, you get a free metal Knight Champion on Horseback.

Troops: 20 Archers, 16 Knights. Archer Command Group.
- Once you get all of them, you get a free metal Knight Standard Bearer.

Others: 12 assorted Knights Errant/Grail
- Once you get all of them, you get a free metal Knight Musician

Then, once you get all 3, you got a ribbon and an exclusive badge.

It appealed to the 12 year old me at least. Plus, the models from the starter set counted.


Another thing would be buying a loyalty card for £5, that gave you points on it for money off.

Of course, stopping price rises unless ultra necessary would be obvious. Explain away some of the more recent crazy examples as "internet monkey screwed up."

I do actually agree that sales would hurt them more than help them. However, having the Web Exclusive Launch Bundles actually having people SAVE money would be a good idea. Anything to help the 'new shiny' impulse buy. Perhaps allow store managers to run their own rotating bundle deals with some oversight.

Encourage a balanced ruleset. It is possible for every army to be flavourful and still have balanced rules. Also get rid of this whole Rock Paper Scissors Thing. Dark Angels beat Chaos beat normal Marines.

Find competent lawyers who know what the concept of 'proportionate response' is.

Bring back the old "Welcome to GW" booklet that got me started. Basically it was an introduction to the game, including a 1v1 model example and was chock filled with pretty pictures. I first went into GW, thinking it was a computer game shop, they sent me away with this booklet. I delved into this thing for 6 months until I came across another GW. An intro game later, I was walking out with Warhammer Fantasy 5th edition.

I'd probably keep the 1 man stores, to be honest. I can imagine they do their job, however resurrecting the 'Battle Bunker' idea in the UK may be an idea. Perhaps open up micro 'warhammer worlds' in Bristol, Birmingham and somewhere oop north.

Return them to operating as they were when they were most profitable - the late 1990s.

Same practices - just scale as needed.

Long list of stuff I would do, but here are some of the starting points:
Immediate 10% price cut across the board.
Embrace Android as a platform, instead of just humping Apple's leg, and cut the prices on the e-products.
Resurrect Specialist Games.
Expand stores to carry the Specialist Games range and products from Fantasy Flight Games as well as other companies that aren't direct competition.
Updates, Updates, Updates. Suck it up and don't release any new army books/codices for a year (but continue to release cool models). Use that time to rework, rebalance, and rewrite every single army and release all their new books in one big wave. Have the community help playtest this.

My ideal self: Rectify all the terrible shti they do. Its all been said a million times before, is seen by everyone but diehard whte knighters, and there's not much point listing it now.

My actual self: milk and golden parachute.

orkybenji wrote:
I would probably milk it as much as I can and then escape in a golden parachute.

Mr Kirby, at long last, welcome to Dakka Dakka and the internet!

Sell it to Hasbro. PROFIT!!! Y'all!!!!

Seriously though, fix what is broken about the company.

Naaahhh, sell it to Hasbro, let them deal with it.

Invite the guys from Privateer Press, Whoever makes infinity, Whoever makes Dust Tactics, and reaper over for a lunch.
Poison all their food, and in the insuing chaos buy all their companies.

1. Axe White Dwarf. I don't think anybody plays that.

2. Axe every specialist game that isn't selling along with all associated minis.

3. Stop gambling on gak like Dreadfleet. Let me get this straight: you're going to roll the dice on a game that nobody played the first time around (i.e., Man O War), yet you make Space Hulk a limited edition and now people are selling their first born to buy sets on FeeBay!? How does that make any sense?

4. Produce ONLY specialist games that include minis usable in 40k and Fantasy. This way, even if people don't have a real reason to want the game, they may want the minis (e.g.,Space Hulk).

5. Plastic sprues. GW is a miniatures company first, and a game company second. Nevertheless, people want to play the game and the rules are WYSIWYG. That's why GW will now produce a "special weapons pack" containing a ton of flamers, meltaguns, etc. and a "heavy weapons pack" containing the common heavy weapons. We'll charge an arm and a leg for it and it'll still be cheaper than using bitz sites. But hey: at least now you don't have to meet a 40 year old fat man in a dark alley to pay for your Failcast resin weapons.

6. Expand E-books to include Android. Can't believe they haven't done this yet.

7. Stop giving people a hard time about using the IP. If some little geek wants to make a 40k movie then more power to him, AND TO GW. You can't pay for that kind of free advertising, so stop making it so damn hard to produce a warhammer movie / game / etc.

Everyone seems to be interested in relatively small changes, rather than structural/vision adjustments.

I would:
Create a firewall between creative & marketing;
Loss leaders for major game systems;
Expand GW retail;
Continue to license IP to third parties and begin selling third party products using GW IP at GW stores;
Push GW product into big box retailers.

It would probably fail completely.

As long as we are wishlisting...

- Move the 40k and WHFB core rule-sets to a more balanced play-style, suitable for competitive play - probably in a 3rd edition style "all at once" reboot. Compress the codexes/army books into 2-3 large books for each system containing many armies each (similar to bestiaries for pen and paper rpgs). Future expansions would be done as a campaign books ala FW's IA series (although not as big and encompassing, so they would be at a lower price and would allow for more releases per year). These would introduce rules and scenarios for more "cinematic" game play, as well as introduce the latest models - all themed to the campaign depicted in the book.

- Drop the one man strip mall stores and move to a strong FLGS/con support model with a multitude of planned events with prize support (some competitive-minded, some cinematic-minded). Produce clear and strict rules and s&p for these events.

- Drop the Chinese government style lock-down of upcoming release info. Use previews months ahead of time to build excitement and gauge reaction to new releases, giving time to make changes if needed.

- Drop White Dwarf altogether and use those resources to publish quality online content, rather than trying to get players to pay money to read the company's advertisements.

- Add Android support to the current ebook system.

- Expand current methods of using other media to promote the IP.
- With THQ in the tank, make the push required get the Dawn of War series up and running again. Keep the GW ip cycling through various game systems as much as reasonably possible.
- Push more on the board games through FFG. Get games like Space Hulk, HeroQuest, Blood Bowl, etc out as continuous releases with expansion support.
- Independents have done some impressive things utilizing GW ip in animated film. Push to get a major picture release done.

I would work out a system to sell off all the stores to the store managers or other interested parties, with a deal to facilitate that certain levels of stock are still GW's own product but obviously once they become private stores, they can carry what they like. So you put back FLGSs into every town, these stores will invest in and promote clubs and the games will be boosted by them in a way that humble employees earning minimum wage would not.

Get into advertising the product. Online, magazines, in IP related products, at conventions.

Get into the tournaments in a big way. Funding, podcasts of the tournaments, give it prestige and encourage the young players to look to these tournaments as something to want to work towards being in instead of playing for a few months then giving up a box of badly painted minis to ebay and buying an Xbox. Put cash prizes up, create solid and balanced Tourney rulesets (oh look, another book you can sell!) so that you can keep on making the full and narrative ruleset, but that there exists a more rapid play rules for pick up players to agree to play by as well as tourneys to use.

Go on a major PR offensive, get the design team to do Q&A sessions with the forums or on podcasts, oh and get some of the amazing talent they've kicked to the curb back inhouse before they actually get their gak together and create the Warhammer/40k-Killer, because it's likely only a matter of time before the perfect combination is created and GW finds it's self in the gak.

Price aggressively, price competitively. I strongly believe the numbers returning to the games, the numbers picking up the more reasonable price buy in and the huge numbers of current hobbyists who'll start 'that second/third/fifth army they otherwise wouldn't, will offset any drop in profit from being priced higher than platinum.

Preview greens and minis, open the company to feedback, avoid any more lame duck minis by creating what people want.

Bring back specialist games in a big way, keep them cycling in and out, major focusing on one each year and keeping the others ticking over with lesser mini releases, perhaps turn the rules over to ruling councils of disclaimer signed volunteers.


Stop acting like the product exists in a vacuum, listen to feedback within reason, be as open and honest as possible and try, after years and years of the opposite, to embrace the fanbase, the player base, the customers back again. It's time to come back in from the cold.

Oh and roll White Dwarf back to around the early 90s, late 80s, with book reviews, film reviews, other system reviews. Give pride of place to our own range but make the magazine about wargaming and make it the best magazine there is for what it does.

Squat SoB and swim in the tears?

Other than that, lots of hookers and blow.

Although Milk It + Golden Parachute is good too.

Make starter kits for all armies with snap on minis, mini codex/army book, mini rule book, and sell them for 50 bucks.

Cut price of all rule books in half.

Make more video games.

Make all board games (blood bowl, space hulk etc) continuously forever in perpetuity. None of this limited time BS.

Have a standing rule for a new codex/army book for all armies within 18 mos. of release of latest edition rules.

Be a real Games Workshop.

I would do nothing that anonymous people on the Internet suggest, unless I actually have empirical evidence to support their suggestions.

I would keep up with the current pricing plans, as people are obviously buying products, however I would have sales and discounts every once in a while. For example, have certain stock that isn't moving so well be 10% off for a month.

Only other thing I can think of ATM is revamping White Dwarf to be more creative and hobby focused again, and see about distributing it to major sellers like Barnes and Noble as a way to get more people interested.

Make 3rd parties my friends instead of sueing them.

Bring back bitz services.

Bring back the little troll magazines.

Make White Dwarf cover the whole table top hobby.

Have HBO make a graphic cartoon series.

Internal expansion of merchandise. Not just books, but FULL clothing lines, lunchboxes, Space Marine and Sister of Battle halloween outfits, etc. If it exists, slap a 40k label on it.

Allow kitbashing from other sources, and let those models be used in GW stores.

Let people use LOTR bitz and models for 40K and Warhammer conversions, as currently GW does not let you use LOTR bitz on your models in thier stores.

And yeah price drop, but that's a shock tactic, and also try and be nice to the fanbase again. You know by bringing back a forums and suggestion boards and the like.

1. Drop annual price increases, and slash prices by 20-40% across the board. They'll still make an absolute wedge, and people will be able to buy more stuff, build armies easier, and it will show that the company cares about the players rather than profit.

2. Support Specialist Games, particularly Necromunda, Mordheim and Blood Bowl.

3. Start selling individual bitz a la Bitz Box/Battlewagon Bitz etc etc. This will generate yet more revenue for the company, which would otherwise be spent at bitz sites.

4. When a codex/army is released, make sure every model is available before the next codex/army book is released. This will also stop the problems with 3rd party minis, such as the Chapter House drama.

5. Bring back GW ran tournaments.

6. Train all hobby center staff to be helpful rather than pushy. This has always been something that' puts me off with GW hobby centers.

7. Stop all this nonsense where they keep their release schedule supersecret. There's no reason for this at all. Announcing something early means hype will build and people will save money up to buy it when it drops.

8. Scrap finecast. Can not support this enough.

9. Actual army deals online, where the purchaser saves money. None of this "bundle everything up and sell it at rrp" crap. Real discount for big buys.

That should do it...


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oh, and
10. Bring back Skullz Rewards!

Stop making toys and start making miniatures again.

Apologise to the entire loyal fanbase

Put Metal CDs back on the front of WD

 Sean_OBrien wrote:
Return them to operating as they were when they were most profitable - the late 1990s.

Same practices - just scale as needed.

Yeah, I'd be happy with that.

Also, less skulls. Seriously, I count 9 skulls on the recently released Belial model. Also a return to slightly less cartoonish look to future models.

I'd exploit the Lord of the Rings licence and push it as a main game.

Of course I'd also rewrite the 40k rules to be more like 2nd edition and the Fantasy rules to be more like every edition of Fantasy before the current one (not that it would help the company, but it's my own pet hate).

I would increase prices twice a year, put out poorly edited codexes that are more expensive and I would also put out expensive compendiums of rulesets that are not necessary but are limited edition so I can make even more money. I would paint the rhino at Warhammer World red and drive it around London all day without paying the entry tax and park it in disabled spaces. I would bring back the dwarves to 40k, give sisters a new codex and make sure that eldar never get a new codex. I would make FAQs even more ambiguous and open to interpretation while also making sure they are ripe with spelling mistakes. All tau models would be discontinued, anime has no place in 40k.

I would raise prices as much as the market could bear.
Get rid of any high paid talented staff and bring in kids to write codexes for cheap.
Write half assed rulesets because people will play them anyway.
Add more skulls.
Release more poorly written Black Library novels.
Raise the price of White Dwarf. Cut the size in half.
Make ridiculous claims about Trademake and IP law then sue any companies that ripped off the IP that my company ripped off.
Redo all the miniatures in cheaper resin - and then raise prices.
Add more grimdark.
Raise prices a little more.
Get on Dakka and Warseer forums and read everyone moan and complain about prices and then talk about how much they buy.
Laugh.
Milk it, milk it for all its worth. Milk those ***ies dry! They don't call me the milkman for nothing!
Get lots of hookers and blow.

We wrote:
I would raise prices as much as the market could bear.
Get rid of any high paid talented staff and bring in kids to write codexes for cheap.
Write half assed rulesets because people will play them anyway.
Add more skulls.
Release more poorly written Black Library novels.
Raise the price of White Dwarf. Cut the size in half.
Make ridiculous claims about Trademake and IP law then sue any companies that ripped off the IP that my company ripped off.
Redo all the miniatures in cheaper resin - and then raise prices.
Add more grimdark.
Raise prices a little more.
Get on Dakka and Warseer forums and read everyone moan and complain about prices and then talk about how much they buy.
Laugh.
Milk it, milk it for all its worth. Milk those ***ies dry! They don't call me the milkman for nothing!
Get lots of hookers and blow.

So basically you'd just use their current business practices, but slightly toned down?

I would bring back the more popular Specialist Games, update them, and market them properly (that is, actually market them rather than pretend they don't exist).

I would hire a technical writer to help tighten up the rules.

I would stop increasing prices so much so often and go for more market saturation, and start doing some reasonable promotions in order to move more stock.

I'd start shopping around for a film deal and other licensing opportunities to see what interest might be out there.

Bring back Squats.

Increase dividend payouts......oh wait....

Take all the bitz. Invite all the GW game players to a bonfire. And burn the bitz in front of them. Cause why not, its basically what they are doing now with the price increase.

1. Reforge connections to online retailers and brick & mortar stores. Allow them to show images of the products.

2. Mordheim , Necromunda, Space Hulk - new editions, plastics ranges. Use them as introductions to the hobby.

3. Broaden sales, lower prices - currently it appears that the company is making up lost volume with increased prices.

4. Simplify and balance the damned rules! (There is a reason that I prefer Kings of War.)

5. Drop Failcast. Back to metals, or at least better resin and QA.

6. Drop all but the best GW stores OR start supporting them as game hubs again.

7. Shoot the Fanboyz what gives the gamez a bad rep.

The Auld Grump

I'd officially revile the 40k army everyone has been waiting for: The Pan Fo!

1) Have each 40k army made in 15mm scale and market the smaller minis as an economical way to get into the game.

2)Rules always available for all models in codex, models for all rules in codex and rules for models released after the codex.

3)Hire extra shifts of workers to handle extra demand for models.

4)Rely on volume sales to make profit

5)Get out of the Ipad only deal. This is an outdated way of doing business. Maybe offer all rules except the BRB as free pdf's.

6)Instead of hiring some interns to flood the forums as white knights for the company, I'd work on establishing a real and honest internet presence.

1. I'd start up some official tournaments again, including an entire or additional day at games day, so that people can actually play games. I'd also be sponsoring club tournaments.

2. I'd get some advertising runs done in console gaming channels (magazines, TV, web).

3. I'd run some promo's like the army building card, with free figures, but I'd also allow FLGS's to get involved.

4. I'd actually overhaul White Dwarf, cut the new release pages down to 4/5, add some scenarios and real content, and hire people who actually play the game.

5. I'd bring out an updated mini-codex for each army to bring them up to speed with the base rules release, and sell them in the stores for maybe £4. They'd eventually be replaced by real codex releases, which would be in paperback.


Of course, this wouldn't all happen overnight.

 focusedfire wrote:
6)Instead of hiring some interns to flood the forums as white knights for the company, I'd work on establishing a real and honest internet presence.

I guess you're probably joking but is there ANY evidence that GW has ever done this?

 Scrub wrote:

 focusedfire wrote:
6)Instead of hiring some interns to flood the forums as white knights for the company, I'd work on establishing a real and honest internet presence.

I guess you're probably joking but is there ANY evidence that GW has ever done this?

We're not allowed to call out specific users and they certainly won't Testify that themselves

I'd tell FW to not be as expensive. I'd make it so people gcould play horus heresy without spending $500.

1.) Rerelease Space Hulk and Warhammer Quest and distribute them in general toy stores incl ToysRUs, accompanied by free introduction brochures to 40k and Warhammer Fantasy respectively. Do professional TV commercials iin children TV programmes. Worked in the past to massively recruit new customers, will work again.
2.) Reforge the cooperation with De Agostini and make a magazine plus sprue for the Hobbit. De Agostini will do the marketing. Worked in the past to massively recruit new customers, will work again. Don't forget to add a cinema commercial shown with the next Hobbit movies.
3.) Lower prices, esp. on introductory products like starters and rulebooks incl. Codices. Offer more introductory products, consider using Necromunda and Mordheim as such. Low price introductory products are standard for all product lines. Work there, will work here.
4.) Make at least standard marketing and drop treating customers as spies. Dropping information is your friend, not your foe. Create interest.
5.) Drop Finecast, return to metal.
6.) Let the studio do their job without interference of bean counters. Let creativity be the motor again, not a misinformed idea of easy profit.
7.) Stop sueing fan websites and second market. Both further your sales, not decrease it. Fire your incompetent lawyers, they further ruin your reputation.
8.) Introduce a corporate atmosphere, where critisism and honest feedback is encouraged. The current yes-company style is killing progress.

These are just a few no-brainer ideas to cut the most evident restrains to a growing business. It will bring more customers and sales almost instantly, balancing less profit per box. After this initial changes, you can work on the GW store issue.

1) More frequent but less sharp price hikes. This way we will be able to keep milking the customers without them realizing it as much.

2) More Space Marines, because they are what sell the best. Introduce more codexes for other Space Marine chapters. Give Chaos Marines codexes for their Legions. Make the core of the game Space Marines vs Chaos Space Marines, and have all other armies as either Allies or a general Xeno/Raider faction to be used as NPCs.

3) Drop Forge World completely as the products they sell compete too much with the main company's lines.

4) Drop Gamesday. Waste of money.

5) Drop Finecrap and go resin, but raise prices on the claim that "increased R&D costs for switching to resin have unfortunately led to necessary price increases".

6) Fire Jervis Johnson.

7) Forget about Australia.

I'd change the official company name to G-dubz to appeal to teenagers and then release all of the figures pre assembled with the legs as the arms and the arms as the legs. Then I'd write a catchy rap for the commercial such as "G-Dubz G-dubz figures so leet (yeeaahh boooyyyy) feet for hands and hands for feet"

I would make a thread on a popular community website asking the same thing then laugh at the replies as I rolled in piles of tear-soaked money.

1. For Codex releases, have a dedicated rules writing team and let a separate person handle fluff. No longer would one author have to carry the whole burden.

2. Promote licenced products like Fantasy Flight's RPGs in WD and shops (not just htrough adverts - let's have stuff like experimental rules and previews of new books).

3. Look into getting more licenced products out there, especially video games - raising money and reaching a wider audience

4. Marketing - actually have some. Get rid of the excessive secrecy and release previews of new releases a long time in advance. For example, let's say this year a Tau Codex comes out - don't just spring it on us in WD, start the year off by telling us 2013's the year of the Tau, show us a piece of concept art or greens every week, and so forth.

5. Get more detailed painting and modelling articles in WD including articles on scratchbuilding terrain, kitbashing etc. Make battle reports a lot more detailed, cut down space dedicated to new releases, and have regular articles on advanced painting techniques.

6. Ensure every army and Codex is supported and updated on a regular basis, and obviously ensure that every time a new edition comes out each army is prepared for it. Aim for every unit in every Codex having a model.

7. Acknowledge Specialist Games. They don't even have to support them, just mention them and promote them on the website - perhaps this could be used as a way to get veterans who've left back into the hobby. When a new boxed game comes out, don't make it super-special limited edition only.

8. Get a more established online presence (after making some improvements in other areas, in order to avoid flaming)

9. Bits orders - already mentioned many times, I don't think I need to add anything here.

10. PRICE CUTS!

Looks like a lot of "reduce profits and make cool people like me" wish listing. Which is not a business model.

Over half the ideas seem like people intent on bankrupting the company through proven failed or unprofitable ventures.

1. Stabilise prices, reduce the price of 'entry products'

2. Relaunch/create standalone boxed games (Space Hulk, Blood Bowl, etc) and push these out into as many distribution channels as possible. These should be alongside other boxed games in toy and book stores, etc.

3. Release expansion packs for the above

4. Rework and expand Necromunda/40k Skirmish Game, and push out into mainstream channels. Put real effort into expanding Kill Team and release the rules for free. Then release 'kill team' box sets, 1-3 for each army. These can be used in Necromunda or Kill Team.

5. Develop similar for WFB.

6. Advertise LotR stuff alongside hobbit film release, e.g. In cinemas

7. Change PR strategy completely. Treat customers with respect (e.g. None of the nonsense lines we've got from Black Library re Hardbacks).

8. Use FW as a prototype / Skunk Works, with more iterative design of rules and pull-through and consolidation into the main GW output where appropriate

9. Do the graphic novel and comic strips thing again, but try to licence / work with established players. Push for crossovers with popular comics.

10. Invest in getting a decent animated film that can be sold to mainstream audiences

11. Support decent computer games. Make sure Dawn of War gets another sequel.

12. Get a 'buy your customised marine' type feature into these computer games.

13. Launch a decent army builder. Have a one click buy (or a 'buy everything I don't have') option to order your army direct from GW. Include discounts and 'free' swag for larger armies/purchases.

14. Whenever a popular character is created in another media make a model and rules for it. Read the book, love the character, buy the model. Extend this to insignia. Make us swim in Space Marine shoulder pads, banners, storm shields, craft world runes, custom wraith lord canopies etc. Why the hell didn't they bring out Blood Raven stuff years ago?

15. Quality control. Don't release duff miniatures.

16. Themed release waves. 40k 6th edition should have been followed by every side getting at least one flyer within 3 months. 3 months later everyone should get a non flyer AA release. Flyers were the big new thing. Bring them out. Shift the meta. Follow up with a response (the AA). 3-6 months later bring out army specific Fortifications. Bringing out Daemons? 2 months later have a "fighting against Daemons" release highlighting existing units in other armies that are useful against Daemons and sell them with a promotional offer or discount.

17. Clone Jes Goodwin.

18. Bigger build up to releases, e.g. Show new concept art 6 weeks before a release.

19. Use more electronic distribution platforms. Charge a reasonable price. Include free updates. Make book versions more lavish (e.g. The "characters from books compendium" is a v.good price electronically, and gets free updates but is basically just the rules and some extras like background text. The physical books are released as hardback annuals, which has additional material for each character like new art, new material from the relevant author, biography info/interviews/whatever).

I'd remind myself that I was now head of a publicly listed company which stocks can be traded in. I'd then remind myself my loyalty is to my shareholders, and then my customers (not the otherway round).
Take actions to build shareholder confidence, sustain profits and show sales growth in the medium-long term.

I would get rid of micky mouse armies such as Black Templars, Sisters, Beastmen and Daemons, and plough the saved resources into other armies.

I would have one big mega codex for space marines which would allow all chapter variants (except black templars ) and one big mega realm of chaos book (as it should be).

Finally, for his years of criticising GW, I would kidnap Meangreenstompa, and force him to count every slotta base in the GW factory!

 mattyrm wrote:
I'd change the official company name to G-dubz to appeal to teenagers and then release all of the figures pre assembled with the legs as the arms and the arms as the legs. Then I'd write a catchy rap for the commercial such as "G-Dubz G-dubz figures so leet (yeeaahh boooyyyy) feet for hands and hands for feet"

As the new owner of Gw LTd you will have a place at my side marketing this shizz.




Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
I would get rid of micky mouse armies such as Black Templars, Sisters, Beastmen and Daemons, and plough the saved resources into other armies.

I would have one big mega codex for space marines which would allow all chapter variants (except black templars ) and one big mega realm of chaos book (as it should be).

Finally, for his years of criticising GW, I would kidnap Meangreenstompa, and force him to count every slotta base in the GW factory!

You shall have your place as head of all design.

I would also hire gak hot legal eagles, make sure my IP is as tight as a mouses arse and stop third parties getting a slice of my retirement pie.

Mian changes i would look at are in the advertising\news, stop the release day WD pre order nonsense where i find out that week i could have got something i wanted etc.

Let folks now a good month in advance about whats coming so can plan a purchase.

If a bits service was to be done, dont do the 'every item available' as it costs a fortune to store stuff and no one actually needs that many bits, but a set of big sprues with heads, guns, swords etc etc for each faction would be great for mods or weapon sets, or do weapon specific sets, head sets etc etc. or get FW to do this, i know the reasons bits were stopped and a lot of it was simply to do with wasted storage space apparently.

offer electronic books on android, i have an ipad but feel its a missed opportunity, especially as samsung and windows have pulled the finger out on tablets.

Price is the biggy, but without knowing what the financial bods know in GW towers, for all we know this could be exactly what they want, raking in pennies and have no need to reduce. Speaking with my mate, GW could make everything £5 people would still moan, it has always been so, hence it always will. Everyone has aprice point, the market will control it eventually, its how capetitalism works.

Companies dont pluck prices from the sky, so GW will be pricing as they feel they can.

Sort out a structure for what the company wants, new starts, vets, or a mixture, tournament support or not etc.

other thoughts, but nowt major.

I'd either remove GW stores, or, if I kept them, have them allow specialist games and Fantasy Flight Warhammer-based games as well (Invasion, Warhammer RPG, Talisman, Relic, etc) that promote the Warhammer/GW universe. Secondly, I'd adjust pricing to be more competitively priced and keep price increases at the level of inflation only. I'd also promote upcoming armies in White Dwarf, with about a 2 month 'heads-up' and and make September "specialist game month" and release limited editions of one specialist game each year. However, despite being a "limited" release, I'd make the games available by mail order only after the limited supply runs out-so you can order it, but it'll only be at full price from the GW website. I would also build a poll on the GW site that allowed for which armies receive a 'megabox' at Christmas time, and the poll would last all through October. On November 1st, polls would be tallied, the boxes created, and on December 1st the boxes would be put together at a 25% discount (keeping in mind that prices would have already gone down due to 'competitive' pricing). These would only be available direct order, as a 25% is pretty healthy already, given that prices would no longer be as outrageous. The other 10 months (outside of September and December releases) would be 40k, Fantasy and Hobbit: 4 40k months, 4 Fantasy, 2 Hobbit. Editions would not be changed until each army is updated and has had at least 4 months under current rules. Hobbit would meet different criteria, as it's a different game and currently I'm not familiar with its nuances. Sound good?

1) restructure the 1-man stores to 2 employees. that work in a system where their job is to spend 1-2 years marketing on the ground in communites building up a fan base through connecting with the LGS's, helping the LGS get their gaming community intergrated with products, events, and knowledge. And then the team moves on to another community and does the same thing, unless their high visability shop does a lot of business.

2) lower prices, sell volume.

3) Accept advertising from other companies, movies, ect in WD and use that money to lower prices, reduce GW ads in the mag as well.

4) embrace the bitz makers. allow chapterhouse to do offically liscensed shoulder pad and expansion kits, and allow selling of producrs through GW website.

5) Redo bloodbowl, and aim for a 50-60ish price point. get people on Tabletop to play it, sell at Target. Do the same for Warhammer Quest, and Space Hulk.

6) most importantly, take the company private.

1) Fire all the current game designers and hire people to create a balanced tournament worthy game for both Fantasy and 40K.

2) Close down all the GW stores while increasing support for FLGS. In higher population areas, partner with large FLGS to create a unique experience and a place to sell forgeworld and bits.

3) Change the packaging and model system to be a bit more component based. Basically create less wasted plastic for both the player and the company by not casting stuff no one uses. Base level box stays the same, add-ons (weapons, special shoulder pads, etc) are purchased in bulk sprues or by the piece as bits.

4) Create an in-store bits service where items can be purchased to support item 3.

5) Support tournaments, modeling competitions and other regional events.

6) Flip army per quarter model to the PP model of mass releases with expansions along the way.

7) Release a campaign every year to push the story along. Stagnation will not happen and the player base will help morph the story.

8) Release new games which use the current model lines that take from a few models to a lot of models.

9) Increase marketing via licensing of the GW IP into video games, movies, etc.

10) Get out of LotR as cheaply as possible.

11) Adjust prices as needed to move volume and keep the game accessible.

1: Change the way the stores work. Move them to a franchise like model where support and branding is available (for a price) but decisions (and risk) are borne by the shop owner.

2: Spin off specialist games ala Forge World, (own design team, low volume "boutique" level models, rules very cheap/pdf but available in extra lovely posh flufftastic books, like the IA and Heresy books. They should, by and large pay for themselves and break even. Don't expect to make much or any real money with them. If they do, then consider them joining the main product line and get access to mass production lines.

3: Either include the paid for hobby content in white dwarf and discontinue it as separate paid for content or kill the dwarf and have a web only "super lovely pics" section on the website and the paid for hobby content.

4: Become more aggressive/visible at conventions. Support tournament scene, possibly with some form of subscription model.

5: Either reach out to 3rd party bits creators (not breakers) and licence IP to them OR (with point 3 in mind) spend a bucket of cash on the best IP lawyers on both sides of the Atlantic and determine the legal position of the current and historical IP, and then unleash the IP hounds on a solid footing. [Note, if point 3 is to work they'll not need the competition, they could however take the "Wanna work for us" route first.]

6: Shift the paradigm in the rules creation for the big two (WHFB, 40K) from a combined rule and narrative approach to one of two people, one creates narrative, the other realises that in game mechanics.

7: Bring in software testing techniques to the dev process

8: Make the company private again.

9: Reach out to the bits breakers (not creators). They provide a valuable service that is not economical at GW's size. Allow them a trade discount (although not as high as B&M stores).

 djphranq wrote:
I'd request more cowbell.

Chop up White Dwarf into 4 separate magazines each with a different focus... one for 40k, one for WHFB, one for Specialist games, and one for hobby and studio work. They'd each be the quarter size of the usual White Dwarf but cost half as much as one...and the pages should be plasticard.

Hey, us LOTR players exist as well!


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 KingmanHighborn wrote:


Let people use LOTR bitz and models for 40K and Warhammer conversions, as currently GW does not let you use LOTR bitz on your models in thier stores.

It's a Copyright thing, not a GW thing.

With my realistic hat on I'd try advertising one of the forthcoming codex releases like the Tau and see exactly how different the sales figures (and profits) change compared to the Dark Angels

Then release the actual % numbers (not actual numbers) to show whether advertising did or didn't work (my guess is GW is right and advertising does not make financial sense, but the might be wrong)

And I'd bring in some sort of pay to play scheme for stores with tables (eg $10 or whatever per game per table, but that would also translate into $10 off product), It would give stores a good reason to have more tables, and would get veterans who want to game in store spending in store.

Reduce price increases (unless called for by material/labour costs) on older stuff... New stuff should cost more as it still hasn't paid off the significant investment in time/money it required

Look into licensing a 'Tournament Edition' version of 40K &/or Fantasy. As GW I'm not producing a tight tournament game, but a fun home game, but if a consortium of tournament organisers want to do so based on my rules and are prepared to pay to do so. They'd be allowed to sell a 'Tournament Suppliment' modifying rules/units

nkelsch wrote:
Looks like a lot of "reduce profits and make cool people like me" wish listing. Which is not a business model.

Over half the ideas seem like people intent on bankrupting the company through proven failed or unprofitable ventures.

Woosh went right past ya. The point was a fun exercise. Why ya gotta be such a kill joy all the time.

I would decide exactly what the companies core buisness is supposed to be.
And implement a buisness structure to maximise this process , in the most intuitive and synergistic way.

Eg IF we were going to use rules to add value to the minatures, we write well defined intuitive rules sets that hook new players and retain existing gamers.

Rather than over complicated rule sets that are used as short term marketing pamphlets...

Offering value for money is the way to grow a buisness.

Either offer minatures at a better price per minature than the competition.(Take quality into account.)

OR add more value to the minatures by offering a great rule set !

Charging the highest price for average minatures, boosting sales by short term marketing focused rules , is not a long term growth plan.

Within minutes I'd fire everyone, sell off my shares and golden parachute away.

1) Replace Everybody in the organization who does not participate in the hobby. I know it's hard to believe, but do you know that Sandra Casey, the head of american sales...has never played a GW game and has no interest in the hobby? This change would be everybody from the CEO down to the guy loading the truck in Memphis. In order to have a passionate business, you have to employ people who are passionate about it.

2) Close every retail GW store. I have a suspicion that they are all money losers (ok, like 75%+ percent). Yes, they are meant to recruit, but hell..if you don't advertise then the only people who are coming in either already play or know someone who does. Just having a store there isn't going to make a difference if they get into the hobby.

3) Attend conventions and cons constantly. To me, GW has gotten away from "Having Fun". I can't really play in the store, there are no events that a vet would be interested in, you just want me to buy things. Hell, I can buy things online...where is the fun? I would attend every single convention possible with tables and intro sets and product and show people how FUN the hobby is instead of being uptight business people.

4) Kill White Dwarf Immediately. It's a catalouge. No gaming advice, limited painting advice....just stop. Make the online content more how to actually do things vs. selling stuff to me.

5) Make a public statement apologizing to our long time hobbyists for the lack of respect they have been shown and vowing that moving forward we are going to get back to being a hobby vs. a corporate machine who's trying to squeeze money out of a dwindling customer base.



Those are the first five things. I'd probably also not lower any prices, but part of my apology is stating that the existing prices on existing products would not change for 5 years.

Do a bunch of GOOD movies, video games, cartoon series, and maybe comics. They should really do a WHFB game like diablo.
After all that, if they are cool enough everything will sell itself. Almost everyone I know who started the hobby in the last 5 years heard of it via Dawn of War or some other game.

They should also package the books/video games with one snap-fit space marine sprue, like how WD does once in a while. This will get minis into the hands of non-TT players and create exposure to that market.

Move everything to plastic and do different starter boxes like battle forces. So instead of AoBR / DV, you would have something like:
Space marines vs Orks
Eldar vs Chaos
IG vs Nids
Necrons vs Tau
SoB vs Dark eldar... etc.
This way people can choose their starter armies. Each box would have around 500 points each and marketing material specific to the contained races, but the rule book, dice, etc all remain the same for ease of production.

I'm curious as to why you would kill WD. yea it sucks but presumably people still buy it and it is profitable so why would you stop a revenue source? Why not improve it instead of killing it?

We wrote:
I'm curious as to why you would kill WD. yea it sucks but presumably people still buy it and it is profitable so why would you stop a revenue source? Why not improve it instead of killing it?

Actually the recent revamps and attempts at releasing updates in it I'd have to assume that either A) sales are low enough or dropping fast enough to worry the people upstairs or B) it has become unprofitable already.

Having said that I wouldn't drop it entirely, it has been a part of the hobby for too long. I'd start adding real content again, the kind that isn't essential (like updates, flyer rules or codexes) but rather things like the army specific missions that they are now trying to sell to the ipad crowd. Also bring in some good painters (I don't know if they cut half the heavy metal team recently or are rushing them or telling them to paint in a way Timmy can actually copy) and have them do full tutorials again. Showing people how to kitbash would be nice, the 'lets only show out premade terrain' attitude sucks but I can see where it comes from, they could at least show us how to put together the cool things the make out of the bastions and cities of death kits though.
Oh, and FLUFF. Black library are putting out tons and tons of short ebooks (some are like 6 whole pages too), why not throw a one of those in WD every month? Or every other month and when they are not in there throw in something more like worldbuilding, introduce a new marine chapter or guard regiment and go into detail about what makes them different.

I won't pay $12 to buy an catalog but throw in a 4 page short story (they are big pages), a cool scenario mission (not that hard, you could ride out the next 3 years of hobbit stuff by just rehashing the entire lord of the rings story but with bilbo and friends or sending the fellowship to the lonely mountain), and then a few pages of actual 'how to' hobby stuff, rather than 'look what we did'.

KirbyFan wrote:
4) Drop Gamesday. Waste of money.

Going by how busy Games Day UK was (and the ticket price), and the volume of Forge World stock shifted, I can't imagine they could have lost any money on it. They probably hit a 6-figure income from the ticket price alone.

Right about now...I'd have lunch.

I'd inflate the share price and numbers, then sell it off and retire on the fat profits.

Everyone's said all mine except....

Start a new major campaign in the fluff that doesn't center on the Imperium of Man, launch it concurrent with some fresh hot xenos codex, a couple black library books and a formal GW global campaign.

The heart of the conflict would be the Necron Tomb Worlds under Imhotek invading the Tau worlds to gain access to a massive network of awoken tomb worlds. At the same time a radical ordo xenos inquisitor has been contacted by one of Imhotek's nobles, and is using the opportunity to restart the crusades in the Damocles Gulf region of space. So the Tau have it coming at them from two sides. The Eldar are running around being crafty and trying to stop the Necrons AND the Tau who want to utilize Necron technology like foolish younger species are wont to do. The rest of the factions get some fluffy fun as well, with Altaioc being distracted from it's mission of anime fan/kill droid stomping by a large Slaaneshi warband splitting off from the 13th Black Crusade specifically for Eldar hunting, because She Who Thirsts can taste all the space elf in one place, and so forth.

Oh and freaking advertise it!

AllSeeingSkink wrote:

We wrote:
I would raise prices as much as the market could bear.
Get rid of any high paid talented staff and bring in kids to write codexes for cheap.
Write half assed rulesets because people will play them anyway.
Add more skulls.
Release more poorly written Black Library novels.
Raise the price of White Dwarf. Cut the size in half.
Make ridiculous claims about Trademake and IP law then sue any companies that ripped off the IP that my company ripped off.
Redo all the miniatures in cheaper resin - and then raise prices.
Add more grimdark.
Raise prices a little more.
Get on Dakka and Warseer forums and read everyone moan and complain about prices and then talk about how much they buy.
Laugh.
Milk it, milk it for all its worth. Milk those ***ies dry! They don't call me the milkman for nothing!
Get lots of hookers and blow.

So basically you'd just use their current business practices, but slightly toned down?

Nonsense! He said he would actually go on the Internet.

This is a USA centric view, but here is my take.
1. Switch stores to a franchise format where a person pays to open a GW store. Success and failure will fall more on these individuals rather than people back at the corporate headquarters who don't realize they are setting up shop in the ghetto. Plus, keeps up goodwill where good stores don't get closed just because their "usefulness" has ended. I don't know how or if franchises exist outside the US.
2. Widen the information window on figures and releases. We don't need to know the contents of army books, but that people know that a new army/release is coming would help. The six week format seemed to be the sweet spot given input for some of my local stores. Enough of a heads up they know what is coming, but short enough that hype doesn't start to dwindle. The current format may not impact sales, but it does impact goodwill and excitement for the game.
3. Start back up the Outrider program. The game is dying because areas are losing their advocates. Create an incentive for people who like the game and make it worth their effort to push it.
4. Restart/expand the Grand Tournament system. Yes there are fan run tournaments, but having an official tournament helps keep direct tabs on how the game systems are doing and what the player base is up to.
5. Extract yourself from the Tolkien licenses. One of the reasons Fantasy has withered is because you cannibalized it with the LotR. Two similar fantasy games splits resources and player base. Plus, don't trust the Tolkien estate to keep the license with you. Ask Iron Crown Enterprise how things went with them and the Tolkien estate.
6. Switch from iBook to a generic eBook system that exists cross platforms. Yes it will likely result in piracy of the material, but people were pirating army books and material before this and before books went up in price.
7. Make the rulebook a lost leader. You want people to play the game, you don't make them gag at the price of the book right off the back.
8. Compile the armies into one single volume and update it annually. Make it cheap so that by the end of the year, people need to replace it. Think the old bit catalogs that use to come out last decade. Do new major army updates with releases in WD and have cheap pamphlets available for sale. Then at the end of the year incorporate those into the next volume. Each update can include changes due to FAQs and allow minor tweaks to armies within a year as opposed to a decade some times.
9. End price normalization. That SM fig from 15 years ago should not costs the same as the latest shiny fig.
10. Start back up the "third game" system. Mordheim, Necromunda and GorkaMorka were all great entry level games and also served as test beds for new ideas. Their low entry costs brought in new blood. Though don't support the games in perpetuity. Have the classic 6 month hype, 6 month support, 6 month dump model. They are meant to bring in new blood and new ideas, but not supplant the main games. Also make sure the figs are always compatible with WHFB/40k.

1. Work with the Studio to improve customer support/FAQs.
2. Consider putting the current 40k system on 'life support' with some updates while developing and supporting a '40k advanced' ruleset that is developed from the ground up (no assumptions other than the setting... make Space Marines ridiculously powerful in comparison to Guardsmen. Use d10s. make vehicles work better.
3. Review idea for a single online 'platform' that allows cheap purchase of rules supplements and such. Long term plan, this might be the end-game for some material (although core rulebooks will probably stay print for a long time).

 Balance wrote:

2. Consider putting the current 40k system on 'life support' with some updates while developing and supporting a '40k advanced' ruleset that is developed from the ground up (no assumptions other than the setting... make Space Marines ridiculously powerful in comparison to Guardsmen. Use d10s. make vehicles work better.

=I=nquisitor says hi. And making space marines ridiculous overpowered is what singlehandely destroyed inquisitor.




Automatically Appended Next Post:
Man, page 3 read like:

1. Lose money
2. Lose more money
3. Lose even more money
4. .???.
5. Profit

nkelsch wrote:

 Balance wrote:

2. Consider putting the current 40k system on 'life support' with some updates while developing and supporting a '40k advanced' ruleset that is developed from the ground up (no assumptions other than the setting... make Space Marines ridiculously powerful in comparison to Guardsmen. Use d10s. make vehicles work better.

=I=nquisitor says hi. And making space marines ridiculous overpowered is what singlehandely destroyed inquisitor.

From what i saw, the major failings of Inquisitor were:
1. Unwilling to settle on being an RPG vs. being a wargame.
2. Scale meant no re-use of existing assets.
3. Scale meant weapon ranges were even wonkier than 40k.
4. System relied on a moderator more than many people like.

But that's just what I heard. My anecdotes and your anecdotes can fight it out in the Thunderdome, I guess.

Step 1. Look at sales figure for Specialist games. Then ship Epic over to Forgeworld completely. Cut five armies. Cut inquistor, Cut mordheim Cut necromunda. deecide whether or not to cut warmaster.

2. Redo Bloodbowl and BFG

3.While all that is going on Figure out a way to sue New line into going away. Then Sorry LOTR fans but its out.

4. Set New in stone release schedule. New editions of 40k and fantasy every 4 years in 2 year rotating cycles.

5.Release schedules will now include 8 codicies or armybooks a year this way every edition every book is updated.

6. In a money making move when the new edition comes out revised Codicies come out.

7. Sell Forgeworld in shop at all GW stores. Customer service issues will be handled by leaving model at store there will be a weekly collection by a district manager who will ship and reorder any issues.

8. Figure out how to cut prices by streamlining efficency.

9. establish a small core of GW employees (3-5) who specifically deal with rules issues

10. Burn Marneus Calgar models in front of Mat Ward to see his reaction.

11. Profit.

If I were the boss of GW I would:

1. Clean up the ruleset. IMHO, a few sweeping measures need to be undertaken. First of all, whenever development on a new edition begins, there needs to be an overall balance chart (and style bible) developed. Each army needs to have its current army-wide special abilities distilled down to two or three main abilities. The defining traits for each army needs to be based on combinations of key-worded abilities such as "eternal warrior". Each units abilities also need to be based on key-worded abilities. For abilities that have no key word - for example "assault after disembarking", if multiple units are to have this ability, create new key words. The goal here is to clearly communicate abilities across different armies by use of keywords. The total number of keywords also needs to be reduced down to about 20. Unit types also need to be drastically reduced. To maintain legacy support, units that form part of a legacy "series" of units should be compressed and simplified:

Shooting Aspect Warrior Statline (Lance of Khaine)
Dire Avengers +X points for Y abilities, Z wargear
Fire Dragons +X points for Y abilities, Z wargear
Dark Reapers +X points for Y abilities, Z wargear

HTH Aspect Warrior Statline (Sword of Khaine etc).

also stuff like Cut Marines etc...

2. Playtesting should actually occur. Playtesting with customer support is free labor. To take a page from the video game world, there should be a closed beta, and an open beta. There should be a baseline ruleset for all armies in the main rulebook like in 3rd Edition. Armybooks is OK, but to maintain the balance, IMHO, GW should go the way of "Campaign Books" like the FW updates.

3. Bitz service was great, but it will never come back due to logistics issues. GW should have packages for all the base kits, and then have "upgrade packs" for everything else... These could be packaged in baggies as opposed to boxes, to save shelf space. They could also be combined: i.e. Rhino Artillery Upgrade (Whirlwind and Vindicator sprue for say... $30). The theory behind this is that users who need the upgrade will buy the upgrade pack, and then have an extra sprue. If they want to use it they need to buy another base kit. = more sales. If the buyer just needs parts from the upgrade sprue, they can buy it straight from GW without going to a reseller, and for cheaper than the combined kit = more sales. If a user has too many of the base kit and want to repurpose them into upgraded kits = also more sales. This would also reduce the quantity of boxes cluttering the shelves as all Rhino, Chimera, Russ, Land Raider, Falcon, Devilfish kits would collapse down to a box and an upgrade baggie or two.

4. White Dwarf should be allowed to die. GW's web presence needs to be expanded. The studio should be allowed to interact with the public.

5. If GW doesn't reinstate the GD circuit in NA, they should consider attending independent events.

My 2 cents.

How about :

1.Turn WD back into a hobby magazine rather than a shiny catalogue.

2.Lower prices over a period of time.

3.Have a regular codex release schedule ( starting with the oldest and work forward ).

4.Playtest rules and have BRB's \ codex proof read.

5.Bring all specialist games back into the mainstream.

Its not much,but it is what i would attempt to do if i were in charge.

 mattyrm wrote:
I'd change the official company name to G-dubz to appeal to teenagers and then release all of the figures pre assembled with the legs as the arms and the arms as the legs. Then I'd write a catchy rap for the commercial such as "G-Dubz G-dubz figures so leet (yeeaahh boooyyyy) feet for hands and hands for feet"

Best idea in this thread.

First 5 things that come to mind and that I think that are killing the growth are:

1: Review target. I mean what is the problem of having a wider demographic? Why not care to all, wargaming is not limited to 10 year old kids. ( this would imply a stronger commitment to deliver quality all across the board). Why antagonize a big part of your clientele? I would try to pump the idea of "games for all the family."

2: New philosophy: being self critical towards your products and procedures, be aware of trends and exterior influences, in the age of communication... communicate (internet, expos, road shows etc)... lay off all yes mans.

3: New releases organization... most armies would have regular small updates instead of news only each 3 - 4 years... For example instead of 5 new boxes for chaos warriors you would have 1 box for 5 factions.

4: Review Stores chain and flood market with product. ( this is also about the trends, at this point the market is going skirmish so mordheim, necromunda etc would go live and strong) ( flags would have support and in that process stop with the secrecy approach to things that is killing informed investment).

5: Head hunt some key people for key spots and keep them satisfied ( it's amazing the amount of A grade artist that left and don't express a good opinion about GW).

orkybenji wrote:
I would probably milk it as much as I can and then escape in a golden parachute.

This. I wouldn't change a single thing, given how many people complain about high prices or stupid looking models and then come back the next day having bought a new stormraven and justifying it because they also bought the Chapterhouse kit. (Yes this is real life)

I think Duke Phillips from the Critic put it best.

"I'm Duke Phillips, and from now on I'm speaking my own mind. First, I'm going to tell you what I'm really going to do as president. I'll run this country like I run my company. I'm going raid the pension fund, dump chemicals in the oceans, and sell our best assets to the Japanese."

1) Reorganise the retail operation. Close the pokey one man stores and centralise the operation into larger multi staff destination stores open 7 days a week and well into the evening. Incorporate staff bonus schemes to include community growth as well as sales growth, linked to tournament entries, game night attendances etc. The staff would be responsible for organising these. Move to stock Forge World and FFG materials in store.

2) Produce a genuine one per faction starter that included a small but balanced force and codex for an appreciable discount.

3) Instruct the studio to produce a small, squad based skirmish game, using the core rules from the main games as their inspiration, with a two step structure allowing for a very basic intro game but with a more advanced level, a la Infinity. Box it with absolutely everything needed to play, get it into non specialist retailers and advertise it in mainstream media. Use this system as both a bridging game and a means to stimulate sales on some under performing lines. Imagine how good a DE Mandrake could be at skirmish level with rules allowing it to redeploy all over the table, make sneak attacks etc, as opposed to their decidedly mediocre 40k showing.

4) Accept the internet exists

5) Acknowledge that indys, employed correctly, are a valuable asset and not an irritation

6) Give the studio more control, only intervening if their ideas were genuinely too costly.

7) Realise that the demographic I was alienating (vets) had more money and were more likely to continue to stick around and adjust the company output to at least reflect the older players interests.

I'd shut the Australian and North American divisions - supply them through mail order via the website.

And that is about all that needs changing.

 keezus wrote:
If I were the boss of GW I would:

2. Playtesting should actually occur. Playtesting with customer support is free labor. To take a page from the video game world, there should be a closed beta, and an open beta. There should be a baseline ruleset for all armies in the main rulebook like in 3rd Edition. Armybooks is OK, but to maintain the balance, IMHO, GW should go the way of "Campaign Books" like the FW updates.

Your ideas are great, except for this one, mainly the last part. I don't want to buy 5 different 30 buck campaign books just so I can play a World Eaters army. An army book system is, imho, good, but have different editions: mini ones for playing and it only has rules and larger ones for home use.

 azreal13 wrote:
1) Reorganise the retail operation. Close the pokey one man stores and centralise the operation into larger multi staff destination stores open 7 days a week and well into the evening. Incorporate staff bonus schemes to include community growth as well as sales growth, linked to tournament entries, game night attendances etc. The staff would be responsible for organising these. Move to stock Forge World and FFG materials in store.

2) Produce a genuine one per faction starter that included a small but balanced force and codex for an appreciable discount.

3) Instruct the studio to produce a small, squad based skirmish game, using the core rules from the main games as their inspiration, with a two step structure allowing for a very basic intro game but with a more advanced level, a la Infinity. Box it with absolutely everything needed to play, get it into non specialist retailers and advertise it in mainstream media. Use this system as both a bridging game and a means to stimulate sales on some under performing lines. Imagine how good a DE Mandrake could be at skirmish level with rules allowing it to redeploy all over the table, make sneak attacks etc, as opposed to their decidedly mediocre 40k showing.

One of the few decent posts in this thread. I agree completely with these suggestions.

 azreal13 wrote:

4) Accept the internet exists

GW do have a regularly updated Facebook page. They also post fan paintings frequently, which is a lot more than most companys' face book pages do. I'd like to see White Dwarf suppliments posted online after a certain period of time, though I think that the free content that a lot of fans are asking for is a bit much. You can't expect GW to pay to produce creative content without charging for it.

 azreal13 wrote:

6) Give the studio more control, only intervening if their ideas were genuinely too costly.

Pretty sure that Yakface said this is how it happens anyway. The "suits" have no real impact on game rules/points value. They might release something new (flyers/buildings) and tell the design team to come up with new rules for them, but the notion that specific units are undercosted becuase GW want to sell kits is by and large a myth.

 azreal13 wrote:

7) Realise that the demographic I was alienating (vets) had more money and were more likely to continue to stick around and adjust the company output to at least reflect the older players interests.

What specifically are you talking about? I'm interested to know what you think GW could do to help out vets.

Hike prices up even further. Forge World and Australia being profitable shows there is more room there. I bet we can get prices up to Australia levels all around the world. It can be the new normal.

Issue myself stock options right before a cost cutting plan is announced in the financial reports. Then I'd exercise the options and borrow money to pay a dividend to myself.

There might be long term issues with such massive price hikes, but I'll have left with my pockets lined with money and they can be someone else's problem.

So basically what Kirby is doing now. There's really no reason to do anything differently. Well, unless you like care about the hobby or something.

 KingmanHighborn wrote:
Make 3rd parties my friends instead of sueing them.

Bring back bitz services.

Bring back the little troll magazines.

Make White Dwarf cover the whole table top hobby.

Have HBO make a graphic cartoon series.

Internal expansion of merchandise. Not just books, but FULL clothing lines, lunchboxes, Space Marine and Sister of Battle halloween outfits, etc. If it exists, slap a 40k label on it.

Allow kitbashing from other sources, and let those models be used in GW stores.

Let people use LOTR bitz and models for 40K and Warhammer conversions, as currently GW does not let you use LOTR bitz on your models in thier stores.

And yeah price drop, but that's a shock tactic, and also try and be nice to the fanbase again. You know by bringing back a forums and suggestion boards and the like.

What do you mean I can only exalt this post once?!

I would also reinstate Tournaments. I know it was a scared cow but, tournaments promote tournaments. New players may spend $1000 dollars in the first year but, veterans are more willing to buy competitive additions to their armies.

 Kanluwen wrote:
I would do nothing that anonymous people on the Internet suggest, unless I actually have empirical evidence to support their suggestions.

Don't be daft Kan. Some (certainly not all) of the people posting in this thread have their heads on straight. Simply dismissing them because they are "anonymous people on the Internet" is disingenuous and arrogant.

 Rainbow Dash wrote:
Marketing, I'd have some
Not only traditional ads, but big tables at conventions to promote the product, hand out fliers and leaflets (a 5-10 page white dwarf thing, a proper catalog)
games day's would be 2 or 3 days, like a normal con, and the stores would have special bonus' and savings and other deals (buy this much and get this free)
obvious price cuts, resurrecting specialist games, actual stores, an internet presence
customer Q&A, that sort of stuff
e-books would be more expensive but would be a guaranteed update for the next version/replaced when errata'd (obviously would be for more then an ipad)
fire matt ward, sweeping changes, how the product is sold and marketed
just some things that come to mind

You read my mind!

 BryllCream wrote:

 azreal13 wrote:

7) Realise that the demographic I was alienating (vets) had more money and were more likely to continue to stick around and adjust the company output to at least reflect the older players interests.

What specifically are you talking about? I'm interested to know what you think GW could do to help out vets.

I don't have any specific ideas, I guess I meant engage more with the community and react accordingly. One thing I would definitely do is pull back from this GI Joe aesthetic that seems to be infiltrating the more recent releases.

Perhaps a 'black label' miniatures range? A selection of alternative sculpts that embraced the grimdark idea rather than seemed to shy away from it. Make these good enough and direct only and you may win back business from those who have walked away.

Also, nostalgia is a powerful thing, especially with wargamers it seems. Revisiting the chapter approved type articles, but perhaps as an occasional book release rather than a hard to find magazine article. Nothing says the game rules have to stop at rulebook+codex, so why not revisit the Realm Of Chaos or Ere We Go books? Not as an essential to play, but to add deeper levels of fluff and more complex rules to factions. Players may buy them just for interest, plus it will allow those who want greater depth from the game to get it.

Make the public company into a private one. In that way you are not beholden to the investors.

I'd raise prices and issue more lawsuits.

I'd withdraw specialist games from sale, and destroy the moulds.

I'd make Matt Ward head of the design team, and have all background determined by him.

I'd ban sales of the product to FLGS that stock non-GW wargaming products.

I'd make the company more child-friendly and introduce more clip-together models.

A new 40k skirmish game targetted at younger audiences with blind-bagged PVC prepaints would be introduced.

 scarletsquig wrote:
I'd raise prices and issue more lawsuits.

I'd withdraw specialist games from sale, and destroy the moulds.

I'd make Matt Ward head of the design team, and have all background determined by him.

I'd ban sales of the product to FLGS that stock non-GW wargaming products.

I'd make the company more child-friendly and introduce more clip-together models.

A new 40k skirmish game targetted at younger audiences with blind-bagged PVC prepaints would be introduced.

The fact you used up some of your life to write this makes me sad.

I would LMFAO.

 azreal13 wrote:

 scarletsquig wrote:
I'd raise prices and issue more lawsuits.

I'd withdraw specialist games from sale, and destroy the moulds.

I'd make Matt Ward head of the design team, and have all background determined by him.

I'd ban sales of the product to FLGS that stock non-GW wargaming products.

I'd make the company more child-friendly and introduce more clip-together models.

A new 40k skirmish game targetted at younger audiences with blind-bagged PVC prepaints would be introduced.

The fact you used up some of your life to write this makes me sad.

Only way his favorite company Mantic will succeed

 scarletsquig wrote:
I'd make the company more child-friendly and introduce more clip-together models.

FYI, this is a change I'd actually support, I like the simple monopose clip together models for my rank and files.

 TheFatElf wrote:
Hey Dakka!

I was running this through my head, and I thought I'd pitch it to you lot:

What would you do if you could become Head of GW?

By this, I don't just mean swim in pools of little plastic men, but more what would you change, i.e. Annual Price increases etc.

I would make a balanced game.. I would change it so that it the entry level to play and have fun would be much lower then it is today. Then I would also suport Fluff rules, that are unbalanced and Whacky, for fun games, more inline with the old Rouge trader rules. You can throw Vortex bombs, do crazy stunts with bikes.. Have to break your vehicles or risk rolling off the battle field or into terrain hehe. Get gas back into the game, the fun table you rolled on after you got Gased in Rouge Trader was fun hehe.. so

1. Balanced competetive game, I would stop Releasing codexes in print form. Just put them up on the Webbsite in PDF format for free download. This would make it easy to change rules and fix Unbalanced things.
2. Would integrate the Forge World rules and models and also make them Balanced,,
3. Make fluff rules for people who just want Crazy things to happen on the battlefield, that function well with the lore, and are mad to be played for FUN..
4. Change up the armies.. there are way to many I think at this point. With an Online Codex you could, Integrate all spacemarines into one Faction for example.. and still keep all the Fluff rules for each...
5. Make an offical forum to get feedback from the comunity..
6. Start suporting older players that actually can afford to buy BIG armies.. But also make the entry level for the little kidds alot cheaper....


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 scarletsquig wrote:
I'd raise prices and issue more lawsuits.

I'd withdraw specialist games from sale, and destroy the moulds.

I'd make Matt Ward head of the design team, and have all background determined by him.

I'd ban sales of the product to FLGS that stock non-GW wargaming products.

I'd make the company more child-friendly and introduce more clip-together models.

A new 40k skirmish game targetted at younger audiences with blind-bagged PVC prepaints would be introduced.

HAHAH this made my day man well put... I love the Blind bagg Idée.. This is just Exellent.. and that you get hate frome some people just shows you hit a nerv...Because this is the GW of the Present and Future if they keep the gak they have been doing and not change up thier company policy...

Fire Matt Ward. Problem solved.

apart from that I think GW is going alright. would like to see a drop in prices, and I would lay off everyone at forge world who believes they can charge THAT MUCH for a piece of bendy resin.

There are too many changes to mention and the specifics would rely heavily on metrics that are only available internally right now. I doubt you could get away with price drops, but repackaging for an increase in value to the customer might be manageable for a few products that sell enough units.

The one big thing I would do would be to split citadel games and games workshop hobby centers into two businesses both owned by the games workshop parent company. Likewise, I would set higher standards of quality and service in most aspects of the business.

I would instantly retire on a large paycheck, and then roll about in my barrels of money.

Then I would probably spend it all on GW models.

instead of full size flier campaigns i'd reintrodune Aeronautica Imperialis and Battlefleet Gothic. Use them for campaign battles and do another mass campaign week like Medusa V. Id release a plastic model of the old lightning and give decent flyers to ALL armies, 1 fighter/bomber and 1 assault transport. Rehash the stormraven and stormtalon kits so they look theyll actually move and then release more varieties of infantry (different IG regiments, DE kabals and such)

Make some bloody fantastic Gaunts Ghosts films.

If i was the head of GW for a little while this is what I would do. Sorry to those that will get angry about this but it's business.

1) Open up internet businesses to sell models online. Make all models available.
2) Drop finecast, too much bad publicity even if they have resolved the problems.
3) Look for a way to lower prices while still maintaining profits, this may mean staff cuts and putting some projects on hold. Possibly even having to bring back metal for a little while.
4) Find out who supplies models for Privateer Press and see if GW still has enough resources to make an exclusive contract with GW to make models. Possibly look into this as a forgeworld replacement.

NickF509 wrote:

4) Find out who supplies models for Privateer Press and see if GW still has enough resources to make an exclusive contract with GW to make models. Possibly look into this as a forgeworld replacement.

PP make their own models in the US, contract the plastics to China, and have the metal models for Europe contracted to Cerberus I believe.

I think the main one is get a decent PR person sorted out and drop the lofty attitude. If GW does stumble, they'll have enough rabids to be able to pick them up, but the company image reeks at the moment.

Don't PR people already have the reputation of being:

"The most expensively hired people a company never listens to."

GW might actually take that to new heights!

wait wait.. I totally know what i would do i has the head of GW. ADVANCE THE PLOT AND STORY OF THE 40k UNIVERSE.

Convert everything to plastic.
Seek a alternative to plastic that can be used in plastic molds.
More combo boxes of minatures with built in discounts.
More campaign style books, and missions for players to buy
More back ground 40k games to play - again mission styles
Expand terrain models to include something for all races - come on guys you would buy this.
Sell/make bits for all the models in the shop, wanted just one of that special sword? Dere ya go! - spend more money..
the greed machine needs ya money, and i am gunna sell you things so you just throw your wallet at me.
Price lock models at 80$ maximium for normal play. Ie the most expensive a model could get is 80$.

Release codex dependent fortification, and objectives. Yup you an buy objectives now.

Make stores do every friday, as a warhammer trial day. invite friends, play on the stores armies.

Include a starting army promotional - spend 150$ get a box of warhammer free that 60 or less when you are starting a army.

Have a email line for people to email in brilliant ideas, and if it is good enough, get free set of what they suggested.

make more gt's and campaigns and things for people to come play.

make my stores host painting tusedays, where people paint at the store on store paints - people will be present to teach you.

Yeah, and continue the power creep. the primarchs must make table top eventually.

thats about it really.. as far as everything else it all seems good.

Well, while we're on this gay summer dream galavanting through poppy fields, in my magical fantasy world:

I'd adopt Steam's tactic of extreme sales based on community requested merchendise a few times a year

I'd put up the codecies and rulebooks online, meaning that the loss of sales there would be made up for by not having to produce them in the first place.

I'd stop charging for units based on their in game rarity/point cost (space marines come with fewer options that a guard squad yet cost 15 dollars more?) And instead set flat rates

Depending on the cost/benefit analysis I'd stop production of paints and brushes and contract through an outside source to bring superior quality at lower prices

I'd include legitimate starter kits for each race, or else alter the balance and price so existing battleforces are universally an ideal beginner's choice.

I'd make the tau both more viable, and play up the fact that the ethereals are the only thing stopping them from literally murdering each other to extinction

At the same time I'd treat the lore like a religion, introducing newbies to the noah's ark of the game (humanity is great! Look at them face these aliens!) Before letting them read up further on the real grimdark nature of things on their own.

I'd offer discount reward systems, wherein long time buyers from gw sources (rather than online secondhand sales) would be given heavy discounts and good incentives, to encourage a return in profits rather than the insanely big secondhand sales market that exists now.

I would also offer a buyback system in each store, where people can sell their models through us to others, and we'll display the for sale stuff in the store, for a cut of the profit. (Yet another attempt to cut into the secondhand sales market competatively)

I'd lower the limitations for stores carrying our goods (probably to "you must carry 1 model/box option for each race minimum") to encourage non gw stores to stock products, and hopefully grow that into having gw models in every hobby store in the uk, australia, and US/canada

I would encourage customer feedback, and respond efficiently to customer suggestions (provided they are in significant numbers, one hillbilly in otowa isn't going to neccessitate a policy change) and as such would get rid of finecast, and switch from using metal/plastic to whichever would be cheaper and still durable.

Hopefully, with lowered prices and faster updated codecies and rulebooks, people would also be more inclined to delve into various forces, and I would emphasize official tournaments before (provided it would prove beneficial) orginizing a tournie circuit in the three main provinces.

Also, instead of altering rules to encourage multiple purchases, I would emphasize the different playstyles of the various games, and return bloodbowl, battlefleet gothic, and space hulk to the center stage.

I'm sure i'll come up with more later

1) get rid of all models
2) sell shaped cooking pans and cookie cutters to bake units
3) change the game name to Smorehammer and Smorehammer 40k
4) profit

Actually read Dakka Dakka bolter & chain sword and listen to the fans to some degree.