Does the meta changes impact your purchases ?

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**godardc**

Hi Dakka,

everything is on the title: does the changes in the editions, the changes in the meta, made you buy things specifically to adress these shifts ?
Or do you buy following a theme (I bought a lot of leman russes, even if they aren't really good now because I'm making an armored battle group since last year, for example), do you buy just what please you, etc ?

For my Space Marine army, however, the meta influenced me, but I still made personnal choices (I don't want bikes, I think they are ugly), but I don't play tournaments.

Let us know how you make your purchases !

**War Kitten**

I frankly don't care what the meta dictates is "good". I'll buy the units that I want to buy, and if they so happen to be a "good" unit, all the better. This is probably why I don't get that many wins though.

**riburn3**

Although we see or read what a lot of "power gamers" do on the internet, I would venture a guess that most of us got into the hobby and chose a specific army based on how they look, and much less about how their individuals units play.

I know when I'm building an army, I like to at least collect one of every unit available for the sake of collecting, regardless of how good or bad they are. Plus it's fun trying new things out on the table top. I also seem to recall a Lictor-centric army winning a major tournament within the last year or two when the internet had decided Lictor's weren't worth it.

On top of all that, usually if you wait a cycle, chances are that unit that was crummy, will suddenly be the new flavor of the month.

**MechaEmperor7000**

It only dictates it as far as "GW raises price on newly buffed models and thus I don't want to spend the money". I frequently buy models for the looks or gimmicks (like a buncha land speeders because I want to try a speeder army for gaks and giggles) unless GW raises their price (Scions were one of them).

Whenever I game I usually game with friends. In the rare instance I face a cheesemonger, I do have a few cheesemonger lists handy but they're not my main army, and still made up of fairly interesting models.

**godardc**

Yes, I agree with you on that.
It is just that for being competitive, or good at tournament, people need advices etc...
When you don't need any if you play "fluff". This is why we only see this kind of threads.

**Nevelon**

I’m both a modeler and a gamer. There are minis I’ve picked up solely on their rules. When 6th came out with flyers, I needed some AA. So I picked up an ADL and a talon. Not very fond of either of them, aesthetically (although the talon has grown on me) but they filled a mechanical need in my lists.

But I’ve not picked up any centurions yet, even though they are powerful. Don’t fit well into my personal canon, look kinda ugly, and while they put out the dakka, I can get firepower elsewhere. Eventually I might grab some, but I’m in no rush. I’ve seen some mods that make them look decent, and I recognize that they are competitive.

**Frozocrone**

Yeah, it reinforces my decision not to buy direct.

**MechaEmperor7000**

Also I should mention that whenever the meta shifts, I usually see people selling off armies en-masse to buy the latest hotcake. This is awesome for me because I like collecting old models (especially old metal ones) so not only do they become available with every codex drop, but also at an insane discount.

So in a way, the meta does affect my spending, but not in the way GW wants.

**xlDuke**

For me 'the meta' is an esoteric thing I only know about from this website so it doesn't influence my lists or purchases at all. I don't play tournaments and the only games I've had are with close friends (or friends of friends) who haven't played competitively either. I enjoy reading tournament lists and competitive discussions more out of interest and curiosity than to apply what I learn to my games. Some of the most powerful units I've played against are Vaul's Batteries (I think that's the right name for Eldar strength D artillery), a Wraithknight without strength D and various CSM deathstars and they seem pretty tame compared to some other things I've read about like Grav Centurions, Skyhammer, Invisible deathstars etc. I feel pretty lucky in that respect!

**Nightlord1987**

Not so much purchases, but definitely conversions and tactics.

Due to some (most) armies ease at wiping out a unit in a single volley of shooting, I've steered away from expensive units, and build what I call anti-deathstars, disposable HQs with min. points investment, with a big MSU Obj secured troops selection.

So after a particularly crushing defeat, I take a look in the bitz box and convert up whatever point efficient unit I'm missing. Currently I made a stock Big Mek,and a few rokkit buggies for Obj grabbing and trukk escorts service

Still lose most of the games, but it takes people by surprise.

**riburn3**

MechaEmperor7000 wrote:
Also I should mention that whenever the meta shifts, I usually see people selling off armies en-masse to buy the latest hotcake. This is awesome for me because I like collecting old models (especially old metal ones) so not only do they become available with every codex drop, but also at an insane discount.

So in a way, the meta does affect my spending, but not in the way GW wants.

So much this.

Right before the newest Eldar codex dropped, I got a beautifully painted SW Drop Pod Dreadnaught themed army simply because the owner saw the leaks of the new codex rules and immediately decided to sell because his previously cheesed out list couldn't compete with the new cheese. It was pretty mindblowing on my end, but the couple of times a year when the new flavor drops and people start selling their models to make way for the new cheddar is the best time to make great deals.

**godardc**

I really don't understand this kind of people, for me, my mini are more than simple chess pawns/pieces/pions.
Didn't they paint their models ?
Dodn't they love their toy soldiers ?
It is sad.

**MechaEmperor7000**

godardc wrote:
I really don't understand this kind of people, for me, my mini are more than simple chess pawns/pieces/pions.
Didn't they paint their models ?
Dodn't they love their toy soldiers ?
It is sad.

Nope. I talked to one of the commission painters I know and more often than not, they don't even buy their own models. They pay the painter to buy them, assemble, convert and paint them, then when they're bored they sell it off for the next flavour of the month.

One guy apparently agreed to have 3000 dollars worth of forge world painted up, but got bored halfway (like, a mere 2 weeks in) and got half his money back, but let the painter keep all of the models. The painter then sold it off piecemeal and made quite the pretty penny.

EDIT: Some people apparently even won't bother buying the models themselves. To them winning tournaments/humiliating their friends is more important. And they apparently have the cash to do so.

**godardc**

^

I play this game mainly for fluff, backgound, etc...
I can understand it is not as important for others as it is for me, but this is so...strange ?
Why do not play to warmachine etc... ? I can also understand people who don't love every aspect of the Hobby, of course (like, people who love 40k but hate painting), however, this is just too much (and a lot of money !!!!).

**Wulfmar**

I look at what's effective in the meta and make a mental note. From this list, I then look at the models. If the models are gak, I don't buy them. There is no joy to be had in building and painting ugly models.

Occasionally if the models are gorgeous but have poor rules, I buy them anyway or I use them to kit bash something with rules I like more.

I don't power-game. 40K has very much become a pay-to-win game and I have no interest to waste loads of money just so I can curb-stomp some random people. There's no skill or pride in paying to come first.

**MechaEmperor7000**

Normally I'd be flipping off the wall about the total waste of money that kind of lifestyle would be (even moreso by 40k standards) but hey, it also means I get cheap fun crap so they can spend their money however they want. I once came hilariously close to buying a Warhound titan for 100 bucks, fully painted and assembled. But someone else snagged the deal before I did.

**HoundsofDemos**

For me the number one rule for me taking something is do I find it visually appealing. If it fails that test then It will never be in my army, hence why I will never use cents or thunderwolf cav. I think they look stupid and no amount of good rules will ever get me to buy either.

**MechaEmperor7000**

HoundsofDemos wrote:
For me the number one rule for me taking something is do I find it visually appealing. If it fails that test then It will never be in my army, hence why I will never use cents or thunderwolf cav. I think they look stupid and no amount of good rules will ever get me to buy either.

Use Skullcrushers like i do.

Those models are just screaming to be TWC and look badass doing so. In fact the only reason I even consider TWC is because they're the only models that represent Skullcrushers well. That and AoS is crap.

**Vankraken**

I will put it this way, if Killa Kanz and walker rules in general weren't a dumpster fire then I would own a lot more Killa Kanz. I tend to use Flash Gitz and Dakka Jets despite their lackluster rules. While the meta is really bad for it, I am an Ork player and will continue to play Orks until there aren't any more gitz left to stomp.

I also tend to not play my Tau as much because the current meta makes them evoke a lot of rage and I would rather play a fun game (for both parties). That heavy sigh I hear when they ask "what army are you playing today" and I say "Tau". Very much some feels bad man.

**Akiasura**

The meta dictates what I buy mostly. I'm not going to spend money on models that look nice but have crap rules, especially since (outside of a few select pieces) I keep my models in storage.

I'm not really a hobbyist. I hate building and painting, and pay to have it done for me. I've never sold anything of mine 40k wise, though I've been tempted.

I also play warmachine

**TheNewBlood**

The meta and what is generally effective influences my purchases, but I'm much more likely to try to make underused units with cool models work on the tabletop. I actually find it effective to play counter to the meta, and throw off people's expectations.

**Talizvar**

I was into models first BUT was a bit of a geek and liked chess, Risk and pretty much any strategy game.
So when you can combine both: WH40k it was a match made in heaven at around 2nd edition (RT'ish, 2nd just came out).
So, meta has some impact but I have seen rules come and go, so buying good looking models eventually pays off as useful ones.

**hanshotfirst**

I just buy whatever i think looks cool for my armies but i think a lot of really good units are really cool so i end up with decent armies. i sold my eldar when the new codex came out because i had almost all wraith contructs and no one would play me

**SharkoutofWata**

I buy what works. I won't ever buy a Pyrovore or a Deathleaper, but I have bought more Flyrants than I ever wanted to and a Venomthrope. A Malanthrope will soon follow. Or Mucoloids. It's important to have the options that fit into the Meta, even if I would prefer to use a proper middle of the road Swarm based on Kraken. That's just not good enough when I go up against about 70% of the other armies in the game. So I have to adapt to get in some wins.

Same goes for my other lists though. Everything is about 30% Meta choices and the rest for other reasons. Even as I start in Infinity I'm doing that. Taking some more meh looking models for a powerful combo instead of JUST the characters I like or that look the best. I do like to win as much as the next guy after all so that means I have to have an equally competent army list.

**Jancoran**

It's natural for a player to adjust to the players he's up against.

Just makes sense.

**kryczek**

The meta influence's my purchases, but doesn't dictate them to me. In so much as the meta is, for me, a representation of the terrible state of the game/rules itself.
I stopped buying model's to play this with and have inadvertently became a modeler/painter which GW believe's is there main customer. So swings and roundabout's in a way for them i suppose.
However, I haven't bought anything in a year and that would suggest to me that GW better get there act in gear as that was the first xmas in 20 year's I didn't get any 40k/GW with my monies and i know I wasn't alone in that.

**tag8833**

I am a player 1st, and a collector second. The meta is the single most dominant that dictates my purchases.

I want units that I can play and have fun with. It is no fun if I lose every game, so I don't buy really bad units. It is no fun if I win every game, so I don't buy broken units.

I am a bit of a collector though, so once I've populated my collection with "fun" units, I start filling in the missing pieces. For Instance, for my Orks, I've filled in my basic gaps, and then purchased the better units (Warbikers, Stompas). I still haven't filled in the less good units, though I'm starting. (30 Stormboyz unpainted, 5 Flash gitz unbuilt, 0 Gorkanauts).

**durecellrabbit**

I'm in it for the hobby first but if there are two units I like equally then I'll often use which ever is better ingame as a tie breaker.

**Terminal**

I voted for the last option.

I often buy what I think would be cool, but sometimes I will buy units that primarily are there to shore up a very weak point in my army - against LOCAL players I play often.

For example, all I had until recently to combat flyers was some Devastators with Flakk Missiles, so I got a Stormtalon. Before that, I was having trouble with Bikes, so I started experimenting with ways around it - Callidus Assassin, Thunderfire Cannon, and I might even try out a Redeemer soon.

I don't let the global/national metagame influence me, anyways, especially as I don't have the cash to fly to any tournaments. And I don't like to go for power builds.

**the_scotsman**

Recently I started buying a few units because I wanted what they do on the tabletop and I've noticed they don't tend to get painted as quickly as ones I buy because "wow those look cool."

So I've tried to get back to just using what I like and making it work. But that's getting harder and harder as "standard builds" worm their way in through the internet