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Leggy wrote:
I don't think female models naturally equate to female hobbyists, and I hope that GW doesn't limit their strategy to that.
Certainly the target market would be different. You're going to be aiming for a slightly older introduction age. Having a female face to the company will help too. I've seen this coming through a little in their publications and on the Warhammer community site, but not so much in the stores. Other than that, they might need to be proactive in their recruitment. Other than the occasional WAG, or the even more rare sister, when are women going to be compelled to engage in the game?

Going solely on the FB group I'm part of, there seems a decent showing of the wimmins in that system.

Much like the blokes, some game, some paint, some convert, some do the whole shebang.

GW just needs to show it's welcoming. And they're definitely getting there.

I am expecting the new IG kits to have female heads.

Pseudomonas wrote:
I am expecting the new IG kits to have female heads.

As nice as that would be, I don't think there are any new IG kits this year.

I do think that being a bit more inclusive in their modeling (representing both genders in certain armies/factions) could help with attracting a wider audience, not just women.

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:

they want to bring more women into the hobby, but don't want to alienate the existing playerbase while doing so, it is something they're aware of (but no details as yet)

My Little Pony cooperative mini game confirmed!

Yeah. It's going to be the next expansion for the RPG, according to the designer, Alessio Cavatore

they want to bring more women into the hobby, but don't want to alienate the existing playerbase while doing so, it is something they're aware of (but no details as yet)

Xun'bakyr model confirmed confirmed

Wishlisting aside I'd be plenty happy with more female models in the game. Unfortunately that's most likely to come in factions that I don't play (Eldar, Guard and Sisters) but for real if they shoehorned in a human psyker as a new Thousand Sons character I'd be the first in line to pre-order her.

Interesting, and also true IMHO

A lot of people who were grumbling at 6th/7th went into other games - me included. However, I'm slowly building up my new 8th army while playing SW:A and some Frostgrave ready for when Necromunda hits.
The company seems MUCH more... friendly? Open? Difficult to say what it is, but the injection of humorous Vids, Duncan two coats Rhodes giving straightforward tutorials/tips and some pretty badass previews (seriously, the Necromunda vid was like a film!) Means I'm actually interested in what's coming next!

A new age of Warhammer? I hope so.

If they want to increase their female market, GW need to crack idolisation vs objectification. I saw this explained very neatly the other day; objectification is based around the desire to have/own a thing, whereas idolisation is based around the desire to be the person. This was the big deal with the Wonder Woman film; here was a female character girls could want to be.

SoB sit in a bit of a midway point; they have the purity and strength aspects, which are good, but it's all focused around sacrificing their lives in service to the Emperor, which is mixed (service for the greater good, good, being totally subservient to a man, bad). And then there's the "if you've been a bad girl you need to strip naked, whip yourself and run around with a giant weapon" bits. Ahem.

They might be able to refocus on the positive aspects of SoB, but there is also the trap others have pointed out that expecting women to "just play the girl army" is probably not a good idea. Introducing female or, even better, mixed guard regiments is probably a better way to go, if they can get enough "shiny new" impact.

Representing women and people of colour in the model range and attracting them to the hobby aren't necessarily linked, but both are important. One can only hope they involve these people in the planning, rather than a bunch of white mostly males trying to come up with all the answers!

 Carnikang wrote:

Pseudomonas wrote:
I am expecting the new IG kits to have female heads.

As nice as that would be, I don't think there are any new IG kits this year.

There is a new codex in a few months and the Cadians are about a decade old at this point. If not now, when?

The new codex is coming out in two weeks.

Imperial Guard =/= power armour, so never.

 Albertorius wrote:

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:

they want to bring more women into the hobby, but don't want to alienate the existing playerbase while doing so, it is something they're aware of (but no details as yet)

My Little Pony cooperative mini game confirmed!

Yeah. It's going to be the next expansion for the RPG, according to the designer, Alessio Cavatore

You guys do know the only thing that will attract is Bronies?

Female guard have been long overdue. Only needs a plastic head sprue like the genestealers. Consider victoria miniatures to see what can be done.

 Imateria wrote:

 Albertorius wrote:

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:

they want to bring more women into the hobby, but don't want to alienate the existing playerbase while doing so, it is something they're aware of (but no details as yet)

My Little Pony cooperative mini game confirmed!

Yeah. It's going to be the next expansion for the RPG, according to the designer, Alessio Cavatore

You guys do know the only thing that will attract is Bronies?

Well, I've actually bought the RPG, along with a number of other kids-friendly RPGs, with plans of corrup- I mean, of teaching my nephew how to play.

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:

 Tyr13 wrote:
Re: more women: I think we might actually be seeing some of that already... specifically, the female stormcast models. I wouldnt be surprised if we get some new characters in the next couple of months/years, with a decent female representation. Possibly something like the Veridyan SoB release, with the rules included in the box?

They have female Stormcast models already?

I wonder why they haven't expanded the Sisters of Silence yet if they wanted more female representation. Eldar have always had a good mix, but not when it came to HQ.

Because the Sisters of Battle fanbase would finally (and rightfully) snap and hunt down then crucify the design team.

 Samsonov wrote:
Female guard have been long overdue. Only needs a plastic head sprue like the genestealers. Consider victoria miniatures to see what can be done.

Female Special Character, or at least a standalone Elite model seems more likely to me.

Yeah, Sisters have been made toxic. There's no way to do them justice as far as the devotees would be concerned, and it's most likely much better business sense to avoid a few thousand sales in order to avoid the barrage of brain-curdling complaints that would occur if they "got it wrong".

Which is a huge shame as I'd like to see Sisters return in a nicely packaged redesign for the sake of variety. But their own fans have made that unlikely.

 ekwatts wrote:
Yeah, Sisters have been made toxic. There's no way to do them justice as far as the devotees would be concerned, and it's most likely much better business sense to avoid a few thousand sales in order to avoid the barrage of brain-curdling complaints that would occur if they "got it wrong".

I must have missed all the wailing and gnashing of teeth when the saint and their bodyguards got released, then.

 Samsonov wrote:
Female guard have been long overdue. Only needs a plastic head sprue like the genestealers.

Ewwww, no. Slapping a female head on a male body doesn't work at that scale. You might as well pretend you already have a bunch of female soldiers with really square jaws.

Indeed. Completely unrealistic.

Well, I raised the mismatch between background and model range regarding the Stormcast with GW over their FB group.

Their response?

GW wrote:Hey Ross - it's feedback we have taken on and are looking to do more with. Watch this space!

Promising, if not actually a promise.

It really depends on the base model and the type of head used.

 BrookM wrote:
It really depends on the base model and the type of head used.

Spoiler:

Yeah, I was actually thinking about those.

 Albertorius wrote:

 ekwatts wrote:
Yeah, Sisters have been made toxic. There's no way to do them justice as far as the devotees would be concerned, and it's most likely much better business sense to avoid a few thousand sales in order to avoid the barrage of brain-curdling complaints that would occur if they "got it wrong".

I must have missed all the wailing and gnashing of teeth when the saint and their bodyguards got released, then.

Really? I didn't. In fact, I remember a few pages of in-depth analysis concerning whether or not the new Saint Celestine was "fat", including comparison photographs and in-depth explanations of the effect armoured corsets would have on a waistline.

 Albertorius wrote:
Indeed. Completely unrealistic.

Snark works better when it's coupled with reading comprehension.

AT THAT SCALE

 ekwatts wrote:
In fact, I remember a few pages of in-depth analysis concerning whether or not the new Saint Celestine was "fat", including comparison photographs and in-depth explanations of the effect armoured corsets would have on a waistline.

Oh man, I forgot about that image. Still can't decide if it's funny or sad.

 Jadenim wrote:
If they want to increase their female market, GW need to crack idolisation vs objectification. I saw this explained very neatly the other day; objectification is based around the desire to have/own a thing, whereas idolisation is based around the desire to be the person. This was the big deal with the Wonder Woman film; here was a female character girls could want to be.

SoB sit in a bit of a midway point; they have the purity and strength aspects, which are good, but it's all focused around sacrificing their lives in service to the Emperor, which is mixed (service for the greater good, good, being totally subservient to a man, bad). And then there's the "if you've been a bad girl you need to strip naked, whip yourself and run around with a giant weapon" bits. Ahem.

They might be able to refocus on the positive aspects of SoB, but there is also the trap others have pointed out that expecting women to "just play the girl army" is probably not a good idea. Introducing female or, even better, mixed guard regiments is probably a better way to go, if they can get enough "shiny new" impact.

Thank you!!!!

I've got to think very few people play an army because they want to be the people in that army. Or most 40k players are insane.

I don't think many would seriously argue that women expect to be able to play with woman shaped miniatures as a prerequisite to participation in the hobby

It's mostly about positive representation as far as the product is concerned, something GW has been relatively good about, if only because pretty much every single female that shows up in their settings is a grade A badass.

Sisters of silence? I think custodes are better at getting women into the game.



I mean same tactic works on men should work here

 Galas wrote:
6 of the 10 female gamers I know have their primary army as Tyranids. I don't know why but it has been the most popular army in female gamers that I have seen

My wife is like that. She says she has no interest in army men with guns and tanks, but loves the Tyranids. I have a feeling that if Sisters of Battle relaunched, it'd be all guys playing them.

 His Master's Voice wrote:

 Samsonov wrote:
Female guard have been long overdue. Only needs a plastic head sprue like the genestealers.

Ewwww, no. Slapping a female head on a male body doesn't work at that scale. You might as well pretend you already have a bunch of female soldiers with really square jaws.

This may be true, but plastic cadians already have silly proportions. Female guard only need heads but a proper treatment would be everything else, as one can find at Victoria Minatures.

 His Master's Voice wrote:

 Albertorius wrote:
Indeed. Completely unrealistic.

Snark works better when it's coupled with reading comprehension.

AT THAT SCALE

Indeed. I see you didn't keep reading for the demonstration:

 BrookM wrote:
It really depends on the base model and the type of head used.

Spoiler:

Yeah, I was actually thinking about those.

AT THAT SCALE

But hey, what the hell, have some more:



You might not like how it looks (I think they look amazing) but that right there? That's everything a lot of people needs.