Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I had an enlightening moment today. I realised that I don't give a monkeys anymore about GW! I've been collecting since 1983( I did take breaks now and again) and now I've had it. I'm beyond being dismayed and annoyed with them; I just don't care anymore. All we seem to be rewarded with for all the support we give is being asked to pay more and more. Well no more! I plan on buying from all the other manufacturers I've found since getting linked to the internet just last year. I've found out that some manufacturers that were around in the eighties are still going and are stil producing the figures that I liked but couldn't afford at the time(0.90p!UK) so I'm going to enjoy myself.
Next plan of action is to cancel my White Dwarf at the newsagents and order Classic Rock instead, as well as Miniature Wargames who have a great sci/fi fantasy section.
The reason for this post? Not sure. I just don't give a damn anymore.
Viva the revolution!!!

Me too but in a different way.

I really don't care that prices have gone up (I can afford it still)..... or they don't allow shipping to southern hemisphere from Euro distros (I purchase local and in the USA).... or if the fluff evolves in say a period of 20 years to a position which allows it to survice another 20 (will I be playing at 60?).... or if they moved from metal to finecast and charged more. (I like the product and find it superior in most ways to metal).

At the end... I enjoy playing the game and enjoy painting the miniatures. Why would I care about the rest of the stuff... I've got a wife to please, 3 kids to raise and a career to manage.

I leave the GW soap opera to you all whose lives are driven by the managerial choices of hobby company.

@Slipstream

I understand where you're coming from. It's almost like opening your eyes and realising you actually have a choice.

I think people (myself included) have over the years slowly painted themselves into a corner, and we as a community have gotten lazy. GW has in some ways offered to sheppard us through the "wild lands" of our chosen hobby, and we have accepted their offered hand....they have given us hobby centres, a game that is understood and accessible world-wide, and generally made things very comfortable (from a wargames point of view).

However, in allowing one company so much "authority" what we actually did, was give up our (collective) control over how we want our hobby to develop.

It's far easier to go to a GW where they have nice tables, players on tap, a huge range of miniatures specific to their games, blah blah blah, it's far harder to set up our own clubs, generate interest from local players, build our own tables, search for miniatures from alternative companies that approximate our needs in the game, blah blah blah...

Although I've already (before the GW calamity ) taken my steps into games like Infinity and MERCS, by really turning away from GW, I've noticed SO MUCH MORE is out there, miniatures, gaming rules, table top scenary...you name it.

In reality, theres no reason to moan about GW prices or their business ideals, life's to short.....when I look around at what is out there, I realise that GW has never really fulfilled my ideas of Sci Fi gaming, I was never really that taken by the Grim Dark...sure, it has it's moments, but it doesn't embody my fantasy of the future....so why have I been so involved in it?, why have I spent so much money on it?, and why have I lamented like a small child when GW has taken advantage of the authority I have GIVEN them over my hobby?.....simple answer, I've been lazy....and solution, I'm not being lazy anymore

Its a huge gaming industry out there with lots of choices and genera so leaving GW is no big loss. Go out and see what you've been missing and try something different or new.

Brian

Slipstream wrote:I had an enlightening moment today. I realised that I don't give a monkeys anymore about GW!

Me neither.

I will buy from the shops of my choosing. I really don't care that GW have just put their prices up or about their business practices. I've far too much to worry about, plastic soldiers are low on the worry list. I will keep buying from Games Workshop just as I will keep buying from my FLGS, Sainsbury's & local chip shop. I'll buy something if I want it and can afford it, not interested in the company.

It's liberating, isn't it?

I completely agree, although I love a lot of the models of GW I just don't care anymore, I get great models from all over the place and probably least of all GW nowadays

This is the best thread on the topic of the recent industry activity thus far. Everyone is saying very valuable and important things: there are choices, it's a large industry with a lot of creativity out there. Nobody is being forced against their will to do anything. Folks who are complaining simply don't realize this yet.

OP: Thanks for sharing your thoughts, it's totally true and we can do as we please as the consumers.

I just realised that there are many manufacturers who are producing great minis at fair prices and I fully intend to explore them. I don't really care(never have) if they don't have oodles of detail to them, if I like the look of a model I'll buy it. I have many models that I've got for less than a £1.00 and I value them just as much as a certain company's overpriced offerings.

You were still taking White Dwarf?!

I think GW has a wonderful product, but they are a big ugly company that is poisoning the hobby because of their colossal dominance but also because of their business practices. I wouldn't be too sad to see them gone, it doesn't matter how cool their fluff is. It was a great ride through the 80s and 90s but they have long outstayed their welcome.

My main concern is that if GW collapse then it will hit the rest of the industy. A lot of gaming shops stock GW as standard just to get the punters in and that means that without GW they will suffer, I can't see all the slack suddenly being taken up by other companies even though it would be a feeding frenzy if GW were to get into financial difficulties. On the other hand, a lot of places can only really support a single gaming shop in and area and GW have driven them out of a lot of places, so GW disappearing it may see a new growth in independent shops where you can get more than a single company's product and aren't bombarded by their propaganda to buy their stuff.

H.A.T touches on part of something I am concerned with. GW's interested theory on pricing affects more then them. It affects the FLGS great. That being said, independent shops that are well run offer many great things to gamers: options.

So your unhappy with GW prices you have plenty of other games out there. You can goto your FLGS if you live local to one, and see what other guys play. Its an awesome inspiring time. You can take up Warmahordes, which is growing fast, is a wonderful game, and minatures are getting better. You spend less as overall you need less. However, is it that much cheaper? Not so much. I think they have made great strides and are closing the gap, GW just had a 20+ year head start.

Mostly, ask your shop own what they play! They may point you to Mantic which has a growing range. They may suggest Malifaux which is an inbetween card/minature game. OR might even have you over to play poker, which may not really be cheaper then wargaming, but is an interesting option. Point, you have options. Play GW, play 7th edition if you dont like 8th. Borrow a buddies army, even RENT a buddies army if you like it. Keep gaming, keep playing, keep motivated. Maybe you go back to GW, maybe you don't. Having the "i'm taking my ball home" mentality proves nothing.