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I'm hoping to go back to the Bunker on Monday evening for the newly revived Monday hobby night. If someone is going there today, could you please post later on whether or not the air conditioning has been repaired? Thanks!

I may be able to stop by today, and if so I'll post up about the AC.

Also, two things I missed yesterday- Duane the manager (he has a ponytail, right? I did not see him anywhere) and... Cake and Ice Cream!? Dang, I must have left too soon

Although with how hot it was, I'm surprised about the ice cream!

We went to the O's game in the afternoon and I believe this was the hottest day we've had yet, so that had to have played a part in making yesterday such an oven inside, too.

RiTides wrote:Also, two things I missed yesterday- Duane the manager (he has a ponytail, right? I did not see him anywhere)

As long as I've known Duane, he's never had a pony tail. You may be thinking of someone else, or he may have grown a pony tail out, as I've only seen him intermittently the past few years. But pretty sure thats not his style.

No pony tail on Duane.. he's just a big, tall and mean looking mofo in a black shirt. Can't miss him.

DX3 wrote:No pony tail on Duane.. he's just a big, tall and mean looking mofo in a black shirt. Can't miss him.

Don't they all look that way

Tattoos? Other distinguishing features?

NELS1031 wrote:

RiTides wrote:Also, two things I missed yesterday- Duane the manager (he has a ponytail, right? I did not see him anywhere)

As long as I've known Duane, he's never had a pony tail. You may be thinking of someone else, or he may have grown a pony tail out, as I've only seen him intermittently the past few years. But pretty sure thats not his style.

I was just about to post the same thing when I saw this. I've known Duane for several years and he's never had a ponytail. He does have facial hair.

Duane posted on the Bunker's Facebook that the air conditioning was fixed early this morning.

Also, Monday night at the Bowie Battle Bunker is "Hobby Night" much as it was at the old HQ Bunker. Join Us!

I will definitely try and stop up tomorrow night Brass. I'll be in a tie in a brown jacket.

Pretty sure the infamous "Pony tail" descriptor belongs to none other than David McAlevey, who is the Hobby Center Operator of the St. Thomas Store and former Red Shirt of the Battle Bunker Under Scott. Just thought I would help clear that one up a bit.

Sadly I won't get down there until hopefully next weekend :(

I definitely had him confused with someone else- my mistake!

Hobby night on Mondays is pretty sweet... not sure if I can make it, but it's nice that they kept it consistent

And AC- woohoo!!

Hello, I'm new to the forums but have been lurking for a while.

I dropped into the Battle Bunker last night to check it out. I don't know if they got cleared out the day before, but I wasn't impressed with the merchandise they had in-stock. I was hoping to perhaps pick up a box set that the Columbia store was out of. It didn't seem like the retail selection was any different - that's fine though. I really like the huge gaming area. Oh, and the AC was working.

It was kind of odd, I asked "when do you think the new finecast minis are going to be released?"

Employee: "All I can say is keep your eyes open and check the website."

Me: "Well the poster with all the finecast minis says they are to be released on the 28th"

Employee: "Erm.. well, just keep checking online."

Does this mean that GW doesn't have its act together and may not release them on the 28th?

Also, they told me that next Saturday is a "Launch Party" and that some author is going to be there (I don't read the books, so don't ask me who). I would assume that the launch party means they are launching their new minis. I don't understand all of the GW secrecy. It's weird. Anyway, I am going to try and go to the "launch party" on Saturday and see what they actually release. I want to keep supporting my local GW (Columbia) though, so I am not sure if I will buy anything that day.

dirtycrabcakes wrote:Hello, I'm new to the forums but have been lurking for a while.

I dropped into the Battle Bunker last night to check it out. I don't know if they got cleared out the day before, but I wasn't impressed with the merchandise they had in-stock. I was hoping to perhaps pick up a box set that the Columbia store was out of. It didn't seem like the retail selection was any different - that's fine though. I really like the huge gaming area. Oh, and the AC was working.

It was kind of odd, I asked "when do you think the new finecast minis are going to be released?"

Employee: "All I can say is keep your eyes open and check the website."

Me: "Well the poster with all the finecast minis says they are to be released on the 28th"

Employee: "Erm.. well, just keep checking online."

Does this mean that GW doesn't have its act together and may not release them on the 28th?

Also, they told me that next Saturday is a "Launch Party" and that some author is going to be there (I don't read the books, so don't ask me who). I would assume that the launch party means they are launching their new minis. I don't understand all of the GW secrecy. It's weird. Anyway, I am going to try and go to the "launch party" on Saturday and see what they actually release. I want to keep supporting my local GW (Columbia) though, so I am not sure if I will buy anything that day.

I think the selection of models was due to the opening weekend craze. Since this bowie store is likely my closest now and has nice gaming space, I went out and spent ~100 on some things I needed, and I know I saw a whole heck of a lot of other people buying. I went in when it first opened in the morning on Sat., and it was very well stocked. I even managed to get a blister of the razorwing birdies for de which I haven't been able to find anywhere (for a conversion I'm doing, I'd never play those dang de!)

By the end of the day saturday...much less so.

I was hoping to get the Marneus + honor guard box set, but I had no luck. They aren't even selling it online, so they are probably done selling it in the metal format. I saw very few 40k blisters on the wall.

Hopefully they have it as finecast next weekend. We will see.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

RiTides wrote:I definitely had him confused with someone else- my mistake!

Hobby night on Mondays is pretty sweet... not sure if I can make it, but it's nice that they kept it consistent

And AC- woohoo!!

What is Hobby Night, btw?

Several items did sell out on opening day and long before the day was over. It was like a feeding frenzy of buying for some people. I even remarked about it to friends. It was like the merchandise on opening day was somehow not the exact same merchandise being sold in other GW stores just the day before. Seriously, the first few hours of the day you could barely get near the merchandise wall.

As for the Finecast minis being released on May 28, they definitely are because GW has formally announced it. I also asked the Jennifer Square store manager if he would have actual Finecast product to sell next Saturday and he said yes. But store staff in general, especially non-management staff, are being told very little ahead of time these days about anything and of course the Bunker had other priorities this past week like just being ready to be open for business.

When GW retail managers asked if the metal-to-resin rumors were true just a month ago at the factory in Memphis the guys in manufacturing denied there was any change being made at all. Either they lied about it or they were not informed about it yet either. And the lack of communication is going to get a lot worse. The rumors that GW will no longer be announcing anything about what is coming out ahead of time are true.

Now back on topic. "Hobby Night" was just a way of encouraging people to work on whatever projects they wanted to get done in a fun community atmosphere. There was usually a large number of people working on all kinds of crazy fun projects in the hobby area, encouraging each other and providing feedback when needed. In the summer of 2008 two of us scratch-converted turrets for Stormlords on top of the Baneblade kit because there was no Stormlord kit yet while someone else at the table was scratch building Titans. There were also a lot of Forge World projects going on and of course, lots of army building and painting too. It was just a fun atmosphere in which to be creative, with lots of fellow hobbyists from whom one could get good input on works in progress. Plenty of people were usually playing games those nights too back when the old Bunker's Monday Hobby Night was in full swing. It was very friendly and very fun for a couple years until the community changed. There is hope of reviving those "glory days" of hobby night at the new Bowie Bunker.

I found this list online regarding what minis are being released.

http://www.lounge.belloflostsouls.net/showpost.php?p=138341&postcount=1

Hopefully it's accurate.

Had a great time on saturday. I played a game against a GK player, and somehow managed to win! I was looking at the finecast poster they have up there, and completely disagree with whoever said that the models have more detail. They don't. Not in the least.

But whatever. Great store, and lots of familiar faces there. Plus! Right next to my favorite dollar store, the outback steakhouse, the MOMs and the TJ maxx

BTW, what time is the Monday Hobby Night start at?

spyfunk wrote:BTW, what time is the Monday Hobby Night start at?

The store is open normal business hours on Monday, 12-9, it's so great to have a 7-day/week GW store again in the area. Usually people start filtering in for hobby night when they can after daytime obligations are done, around 5 to 6:30 PM. I will be there today by around 4:30 PM.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Correct phone number for the new Bunker store is now posted on the GW website. The previously posted number was incorrect. The working number is 301-464-4651. I know it works, I just tried it. Have fun.

Also, here's a link to the Bowie Battle Bunker on the GW website's "Store Finder":
http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/storelocator/details.jsp?id=12400016a&searchMode=filter&showGamingClubs=null&showIndependantRetailers=on&street=null&city=null&postalCode=null&filter_country=US&origin=&radius=null&searchFilter=MD&return=null

So no-one showed up causing a ruckus over the price hike and retail embargo?

So no-one showed up causing a ruckus over the price hike and retail embargo?

Certainly not. And why would it be better to do that at the Bunker than at other stores? It's no longer attached to an HQ, it's just another store in the chain. The HQ for North America is in Memphis, for the whole company it's in Nottingham, UK. Again, concerns should be addressed there to get attention from upper management.

How was the AC today? All fixed, I hope

RiTides wrote:How was the AC today? All fixed, I hope

Oh yeah, the AC was fixed on Sunday morning before store opening. I was there this afternoon for the first time since Saturday and it was comfortable inside.

Also, two more people stopped to say hi today, both of them saying they had followed this thread on Dakka, one a forum user and the other a former GW employee who simply lurks who I hadn't seen in a long time. Great to see and hear from so many nice people.

It is supposed to be the author that wrote all the Night Lord books on this Saturday. I might have to take the long way home so I can stop to check out these price hike causing Finecast models without my wife finding out I went.

It would be interesting to finally meet you BrassScorpion, as you are a member of a couple of boards I troll through. WIP

BrassScorpion wrote:

So no-one showed up causing a ruckus over the price hike and retail embargo?

Certainly not. And why would it be better to do that at the Bunker than at other stores? It's no longer attached to an HQ, it's just another store in the chain. The HQ for North America is in Memphis, for the whole company it's in Nottingham, UK. Again, concerns should be addressed there to get attention from upper management.

And we wonder why GW treats us like crap? Because no matter what they do people will still show up in crowds and clean the shelves. We have no-one to blame but ourselves if we continue drinking the coolaid.

SickSix wrote:

BrassScorpion wrote:

So no-one showed up causing a ruckus over the price hike and retail embargo?

Certainly not. And why would it be better to do that at the Bunker than at other stores? It's no longer attached to an HQ, it's just another store in the chain. The HQ for North America is in Memphis, for the whole company it's in Nottingham, UK. Again, concerns should be addressed there to get attention from upper management.

And we wonder why GW treats us like crap? Because no matter what they do people will still show up in crowds and clean the shelves. We have no-one to blame but ourselves if we continue drinking the coolaid.

The reason GW is able to get away with poor management of their customer base is that...no one's actually that upset. The internet rages and storms, but in real life, people enjoy this hobby, and aren't as rankled as "the interwebs" would have you believe. The other reason is that gamers typically don't do anything but rage on the internet. If they channeled that into harassing store clerks, it wouldn't help. As brass said, there's no reason to go harass any of the GW retail locations, they don't have any say in the matter. If you're upset, start hollering at corporate (Memphis or the UK base) in a coherent, intelligent manner, and things might change (or of course, vote with your wallet). Mind you, you can't be upset if other people vote "yay" with their wallets and keep purchasing.

The bunker was great is all i've got to say, and I'm tickled to finally have a LGS close to me so I can get back to regular gaming/hobbying

vote with your wallet

Indeed, over the past couple years there is an ever increasing list of items that I would like to have bought but did not simply because I felt those particular items were too expensive. After May 28, that list will be significantly longer.

Now again, back on topic. Monday Hobby Night was a little slow last night, but it was only the first one at the new store. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that the broken air conditioning on Saturday day may have contributed to that on top of the newness of the store because I've been told that Sunday was a bit slow as well. The air conditioning problem definitely is resolved and the store is at a comfortable temperature. Now we just have to fill it up with some enthusiastic hobbyists. I got some painting done on my Grey Knights last night.

BrassScorpion wrote:

vote with your wallet

Indeed, over the past couple years there is an ever increasing list of items that I would like to have bought but did not simply because I felt those particular items were too expensive. After May 28, that list will be significantly longer.

Now again, back on topic. Monday Hobby Night was a little slow last night, but it was only the first one at the new store. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that the broken air conditioning on Saturday day may have contributed to that on top of the newness of the store because I've been told that Sunday was a bit slow as well. The air conditioning problem definitely is resolved and the store is at a comfortable temperature. Now we just have to fill it up with some enthusiastic hobbyists. I got some painting done on my Grey Knights last night.

So, I've never really heard of a hobby night, is it really just: bring in some models and your hobby supplies and paint/model as a group?

Doesn't sound half bad really, I'll just have to get over my routine of doing it at my desk in my apartment

So, I've never really heard of a hobby night, is it really just: bring in some models and your hobby supplies and paint/model as a group?

Doesn't sound half bad really, I'll just have to get over my routine of doing it at my desk in my apartment

That's pretty much it, but it can be surprisingly fun and enormously helpful too. When I started participating in the one at the old Bunker after "hobbying" at home alone for nearly 15 years I also found that it improved my hobby results enormously. Getting feedback and new ideas from other creative people can add surprising new perspectives and confidence to one's hobby. I really found it beneficial as well as fun working on projects around other people. Of course, having a good, friendly, pleasant crowd of people is important. Unfortunately, the crowd of people you get in any store at any given period of time tends to run a cycle like a sine wave with its ups and downs. When it's on the up cycle it is terrific.

I should also point out that we have a similar "Hobby Night" already going at the Jennifer Square store in Annapolis and that has finally started to really take off. It's been quite full of people building and painting models the past few weeks. Whenever possible I will continue to support Thursday Night Hobby night in Annapolis GW while going to the new Bowie Bunker on Monday nights.

It's great to see more people finally painting their models!

Jennifer Square Info:
http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/storelocator/details.jsp?id=24688&searchMode=filter&showGamingClubs=null&showIndependantRetailers=on&street=null&city=null&postalCode=null&filter_country=US&origin=&radius=null&searchFilter=MD&return=null

Games Workshop - Jennifer Square

167 Jennifer Road
Suite D
Annapolis
MD
21401
US

Store Manager
Kurt Pierson
Telephone
410-266-8923
Events
Armies on Parade - Display Board Weekend May 28th
Sat, 28 May 2011 - Sun, 29 May 2011

What's new at Games Day?
Sat, 30 Jul 2011

More Information

Opening Hours

Monday & Tuesday: Closed

Wednesday - Friday: 1pm - 8pm
- Store closes for lunch from 3:15 - 4pm

Saturday - 12pm - 8pm
- Store closes for lunch from 3 - 3:30pm

Sunday - 12pm - 6pm
- Store closes for lunch from 3 - 3:30pm

I think I am heading over there tonight for a game of 40k (Columbia is closed mon-tues). I probably won't get there until about 6:00.

Aaron Dembski-Bowden book signing at the Bowie Bunker on Saturday at 1:00pm, May 28. Aaron Dembski-Bowden wrote The First Heretic, Soul Hunter, Hellsreach, Blood Reaver & Throne of Lies.

Finecast is also released that day.