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"Bring in an Ork vehicle," I was told by the manager. "We are going to race them around a track with slightly modified rules to the actual game manual".

All well and fun... I leave Games Workshop with high hopes about what sort of contraption I could create... A buggy attached to a rocket as big as the frame itself if not bigger... a train with drag racing wheels and roll cage and furnace that has a little Gretchen fumbling with a hundred dozen levers and switches... I made 2 models for the occasion. I believe the models look pretty cool, so does everyone Ive showed them to except for a particular staff member in a certain GW store somewhere in Australia.

When I pulled them out he told me I couldn't race. This made me feel pretty down... I asked what was wrong with them and he said they weren't GW products and thus couldn't be used. I had a couple arguments, each more futile the the last.
> He hadn't said nothing about scratch built models not being able to be used (I even asked on the first day I wen in if they would be legal)
> "Well, spurs are made at GW are they not?" with a stupid "Not really" in response
> In the Apocalypse Expansion Rule Book (towards the center) there is info on scratch built models which I made reference of - this however is not "Done by Games Workshop" which made me both laugh and get angry, not that I expressed myself.

While playing a game later that day a hobbyist took a look at the miniatures I had made and commended them before asking if they would take field... When I explained what had happened earlier that morning he raised the same arguments I had and extra only to be greeted with "If your going to bring the nasty then I have a simple solution; I will make you leave..."

I'd love to hear what people think of this. Don't get me wrong, Ive been in and out of multiple GW stores over the years and only this one aggravates me. Any new people wouldn't fear these stores, usually great to be in. But when a new member of the hobby is told that their constant questions are stupid and annoying (in those words) I think it's a little ridiculous. After spending money to give this guy a job, hes made me think twice about returning to that store. The other two members of staff are great blokes.

I dont want to make any GW enemies, thus no names are mentioned in the ARTICLE.
Attached you will find the vehicles pics, sorry about the resolution, couldn't find a decent camera, anyway enjoy.

Hm, Great tactic!

Not mentioning names would certainly make you look like less of a jerk and more subjective.

I can totally see why you posted this here!

Thank you sir!

... so how are you expected to field a looted wagon? Also i feel he is braking the first rule of 40k ... have fun. That said his house his rules.

Were these models actual scratch builds, or built from some other toy/model? Usually GW will tolerate straight scratch builds (made with plasticard and other raw materials) but won't allow a Tonka truck with bits glued to it.

If you truly feel like you were slighted, you should contact the store manager or regional manager about your situation.

archite666 wrote:Hm, Great tactic!

Not mentioning names would certainly make you look like less of a jerk and more subjective.

I can totally see why you posted this here!

Thank you sir!

archite666 is a TROLL!!! (I'm not afraid to name names.) The fake politeness at the end was especially over the top...

I. Demand. Pics!!!!!

Theres two sides to every story. Last time someone complained like this, it turns out that it was the person's own fault, and it took 2 or 3 other people who were actually there to post and clarify the situation.

In the 5th edition rulebook, towards the middle in the hobby section (I'll get a page number when I can), it has a picture of a"Ork Deffkopta, made of spare GW bits and plasticard." The Deffkopta doesn't even have blades, but, according to the book, is still a Deffkopta. This is utter BS if that's the exact way it happened.

Id have to agree.... so far. If this is how it went down, the staffer sounds like an ass. Usually the only time I catch flak from people with a scratch build, its people that either A. hate Orks with a passion or B. think its wrong to make scratch builds. Even tho GW states you CAN infact use them......
I too want pictures of said Orkyness

It's my understanding that GW staffers are basically poorly paid retail clerks. While it sucks that you encoutnered what is at worst poor service, it happens. Give the average young person power and they're going to use it, and not always well.

Its really very simple....

The dude works retail....in retail "the customer is always right".....its one thing to tell you, you can't play you miniatures, but if he's being rude, or unreasonable...then he's not providing you a service of a high quality!!

I would explain to him that you don't like his tone of voice or attitude, if he persists, then tell him you will make an official complaint to his senior manager, detailing what he said, and how it offended you.

You do realise, that under certain conditions, certain types of rudness can be illegal in a public sense! So remind him of this, and see if that changes his tune.

He only has power if you give it to him!

Oh please, Lets see this contraption you built first. If its made from GW sprues and plasticard it would be fine and I will understand why you are annoyed. If its a tinka trucjk you have stuck bits of crap to then its understandable.

However I have seen stupid situation where my brother was not allowed to use his FW baneblade in a GW store a few years ago (before apoc and the plastic baneblade) as it was not a GW mini but a FW one.

Also some of the staff can be idiots who are just pwoer hungry and can get away with bullying kids, especially the annoying little scrotes who ask to amny question.

Further more if you are looking for sympathy this is the wrong place.

It's a good thing yours is an isolated case, or GW would be hurting more than they already are. My personal experiences with GW's miniatures policy have been quite the opposite. When I was younger, we would go to GW West-Edmonton twice a year when we went to visit family. Their policy was "Had to be at least 50% GW bitz" to be store-legal. One of the staff even used AT-43 units with his Necrons (Forget what the Necron looking ones are called) as "Counts As" units. Because the majority of his army were actual Necrons and not AT-43, they considered it table legal.

GW Victoria, which I visited when I went on a sailing trip, seemed even more leniant. One Guard player was using all non-GW tanks as "Counts As" Leman Russes and Chimeras.

What I would do in your case is call GW Customer Service, get the name and contact number of the District Manager for that store, and explain this all to him, being sure to quote the Store Manager's verbal abuse.

When I were a lad, when 2nd Editon was out. Our local store in Southampton had a bizzar policy.
1. You could only use miniture if the base was painted. The model didn't have to be painetd just the base. (I guess they were trying to shift an exess of goblin green).

2. You could only use GW models if they were in general production. You couldn't even use models that were old but still avalable via mail order.

3. You couldn't use exessively converted models either.

Ican see why some of the rules were n place. It just seem far more relaxed these days. Apart for the uniform I even rember before staff had to wear the Red Shirts! Leather was the order of the day seem to remember.

It's a GW store, so if you aren't helping them pimp their models, even as the basis for conversion, then it's well within their rights not to let you play.

OTOH, if you had bought a GW whatnot, and used that as the basis for the conversion, I don't see why they'd have said "no".

i think you should have just "brought the nasty". i'm not sure what that means but i like the sound of it. as for the actual thread, they should have posted rules for their little race if they were going to be picky about it. while i EXPECT not to be allowed to generally use non-gw models in a gw store, i EXPECT to be able to use scratch built models for orks.

The default rule for any GW event is that models are majority GW. Full-scratch = 0%, so is at GW's discretion.

JohnHwangDD wrote:It's a GW store, so if you aren't helping them pimp their models, even as the basis for conversion, then it's well within their rights not to let you play.

OTOH, if you had bought a GW whatnot, and used that as the basis for the conversion, I don't see why they'd have said "no".

QTF ,

The better your none GW model looks , the more they'll say no to it.

They basically dont want to help other company advertise ( or have GW models look inferior )

I dont have a GW store any where near me, but at my FLGS, common sense rules the day. If it's obviously a mr potato head, then yeah no one's gonna let you field it. If it's lovingly scratch built out of platicard, greenstuff and gundam models. It'll fly.

I would really like to see pictures of your creations for two reasons.
A. it would help us know who was in the worng here.
B. Your description made me want to see what you made.

BRING ON THE SCRATCH BUILD!
If yours is simply an electric train with an iron gob on the front, Ill be mad at you!

I Will respond in turn to everyone (thanks for replying).

Tri - House rules in this case, as much as I believe in respecting them, seemed a little strange. He said that I couldn't field it due to it not being GW enough.

Nurgleboy77 - Completely scratch built. I don't follow Orks, but I think was pretty well constructed. The base I used was far from a Tonka truck or some related item... it was the base of a smashed calculator.

White Dragon - I think he was manager...

Doombot001 - Amusing name (have no clue why) but pics will be posted when I find my camera.

Night Lords - I'm being honest and as hard as it is at times when writing blogs I try to stay away from being totally bias.

KingCracker - I doubt said person hates Orks, he entered (and raced) his own racer (more of a convert though, thus he got around his own rules).

Polonius - This guy looked well past his 20's... we can all make connections as to how he finds some sort messed up entertainment.

Delephont - Thanks for the info, I hadn't even considered using those points.

JohnHwangDD - Really, I had no clue. It wasn't a pay to enter event or anything, just a bring a racer and race it. After I was disqualified there were 3 racers left (including the manager).

LunaHound - The only other model they could have had a problem with that was used to construct to Ork truck (thing O) is part of a Christmas train locomotive which was that heavily converted it was only like placing down a card tube with a hole cut in it, but plastic. However the train piece was as old as I am the the company who made them is closed (so Ive been told).

KingCracker - No electric trains here (I only like plasma *wink*), I didnt think the thing would look 'Orky' enough if it were just the original train with krak glued on to it. Thats the reason I was cutting at plastic and metal for legnthy period of time trying to carefully get the metal out of the frame without cracking it.

To everyone else (archite666, warpcrafter, Cannerus_The_Unbearable, beef, metallifan, Obsidian, warboss & Norwulf), I thank you for your input!

The 'Big an' Nasty Train' and the 'Nitrous Orkside Buggy' can be found below the original post.

Heretic DeAvelo wrote:The 'Big an' Nasty Train' and the 'Nitrous Orkside Buggy' can be found below the original post.

I quite like them. Good for just a knock around peice for a bit of fun. Bang a few Glyphs on them and they wouldn't look out of place in a Deff Skulls army. Totally Heath Robinson, totally Ork!

The guy should have really stated the terms and conditions for this event before letting people get too far making their own Orky vehicles then the problem would have been solved.

They're good.

I think it's easier to just take offical GW stuff to GW shops, saves for confusion, and situations like this from occuring...

which shop kicked ya nearly out?by the way nice models

I was once not allowed to use my GW minatures at a GW store around the start of 3rd ed, the red shirts reasoning that the models were painted poorly. I think I was around 10 or 11 at the time and this was well before painting lessons and hobby help from staffers. i didnt got back to the store untill all the gaming stores in my area closed or stoped stocking GW stuff.

The guy at my local GW is actually pretty nice and friendly to all his customers. Though I have a few models I'm not allowed to use there.
I guess Ork players are the ones who have the biggest problems. I build my Battlwagon over 2 years before we even saw the current plastic model. Not allowing me to field my snipers is just nitpicking.

Anung Un Rama - Cool wagon, the snipers would be interesting to take on...
I like the feedback, Obsidian, I think I shall be adding some glyphs; maybe a number plate with something Orky written on it.

Should post the store so people can stop going there..

@OP & Anung, thanks for the pics. I can see why GW won't allow any of the vehicles in question, as none of them are remotely GW products. If these had been GW-based, I'm sure there would be no problem.

The Snipers are extremely petty - they're clearly GW with new guns. They should be allowed at GW stores.

Of course, if you don't play at GW stores, then all of the stuff should be allowed.