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I was looking into forgeworld as I heard it was a good place to buy new figures. I saw, however, that forgeworld has sculptors and artists. Does that mean these figures arent real? Do other places do this?

masterm wrote:I was looking into forgeworld as I heard it was a good place to buy new figures. I saw, however, that forgeworld has sculptors and artists. Does that mean these figures arent real? Do other places do this?

All miniature companies have artists and sculptors , artist to draw a visual concept , sculptor to create such concept into a 3D model.

Eh? Do you know how models are made?

First, some bloke draws concept art for them, these people are called artists.

Next, another bloke looks at the concepts and sculpts them. These guys are called sculptors.

Finally, a mold is made by the mold people, they live underground and never see the light of credits.

Volia! A finished model ready for purchase.

I mean, if FW models weren't real what would they be?

Edit: argh, ninja'ed by a less cynical person.

wizard12 wrote:Eh? Do you know how models are made?

First, some bloke draws concept art for them, these people are called artists.

Next, another bloke looks at the concepts and sculpts them. These guys are called sculptors.

Finally, a mold is made by the mold people, they live underground and never see the light of credits.

Volia! A finished model ready for purchase.

I mean, if FW models weren't real what would they be?

Edit: argh, ninja'ed by a less cynical person.

I meant are they real valid warhammer 40k items, even though they are made by them and not gw

masterm wrote:I meant are they real valid warhammer 40k items, even though they are made by them and not gw

They have their own game rules to be used.

You can proxy them as GW warhammer units if you get opponent's permission.

masterm wrote:I was looking into forgeworld as I heard it was a good place to buy new figures. I saw, however, that forgeworld has sculptors and artists. Does that mean these figures arent real? Do other places do this?

The figures are real.

The artists work on the Imperial Armour books and/or the decal sheets.

The artists really have nothing to do with "drawing the figures", as the sculptors themselves usually do the design concepts.

Bear in mind they ARE GW, as they are owned entirely by them.

From the forgeworld.com FAQ section:

Q1. Is Forge World part of Games Workshop.
A1. Yes, but we operate as a small (but perfectly formed) separate division from the company that makes and sells the main Games Workshop range of products.


So yes they are official GW miniatures. However as most of them aren't in standard codexes, you do need your opponents permission to use them in a game.

masterm wrote:
I meant are they real valid warhammer 40k items, even though they are made by them and not gw

This is where things get fuzzy.

The vast majority of gaming clubs/tournaments won't let you use anything that requires an Imperial Armour book for its rules.

They will, in most cases, let you do substitutions like Destroyer Tank Hunters for Vanquishers, etc.

In games where it's you and someone else having fun or scheduled Apocalypse games, you can usually get people to let you use the bigger/nastier/cooler stuff so long as you have the rules on hand.

So rule of thumb?
1) Have the rules handy if you're getting something like a Vulture Gunship, Arvus Lighter, or that ilk.
2) If you're just wanting to get infantry models, you'll have no issues so long as the weapon options are modeled properly(Forge World gives you the parts to do this, to where everything is easily recognizable).
3) Vehicles are a good bet, provided they can be substituted for something within the Codex proper.

They're official models. I've always gone on the idea that:

If they're a replacement model (say, using a Forgeworld Hive Tyrant), then it's fine. it's just a different model, but still official.

If they're something from an Imperial Armour book, get your opponents permission, since they're likely going to be pretty specialized and/or powerful.