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Hello all,

I was just skimming through some of the Scibor miniatures, and thinking how awesome they'd look in an army-to-be of mine. I was just wondering on what reception I'd get if I turned up to my FLGS and pulled out a miniature from another range?

I've collected for about 5 years now, and I'm only just getting in to actually playing (no tournaments yet ), and would us it as a "counts-as" model, which I know more serious players don't tend to appreciate. I just wondered wether I'd be branded a heretic and thrown out by either staff or hobbyists, or would the friendly, more relaxed gamers let me use my non-GW model?

And, to top it off, what are your thoughts/opinions on other range models, and peoples attitudes towards them?

Many thanks

Is your FLGS a GW store? They are unfriendly towards other models. A regular store probably won't mind, tournaments vary depending on rules but usually if GW sponsored they are GW pure.

But if you're not in a shop or official event, your army is yours, put what you like in it.

Ah, it's a GW store, my area sucks for normal gaming stores
I understand why it's frowned upon by GW, but it still dissapoints me...

It can also depend strongly on who is in the store, as you might imagine. The 'rule of cool' can also play a part. Also it's not like your average redshirt has an encyclopaedic knowledge of every miniature GW and other manufactures have ever made. It is pretty difficult to distinguish between competitor models, and scratch builds/conversions/old obscure GW originals etc... If they even notice or care in the first place.

Just go talk to the store manager. He can give you a yes or no, the collective dakkakind can only speculate. That said, it would be foolish for him to turn you away over 1 or 2 models, especially given that you will probably make additional purchases if he lets you stay and play...

GW store policy is to not allow non-GW models. Usually they don't even allow GW specialist games. Asking the manager won't help: GW fires them regularly.

Many independent LGS's sell wargames factory, scibor or other ranges and really don't care if you're army is GW or not, especially if they're used to seeing you spend money in the store.

Kroothawk wrote:GW store policy is to not allow non-GW models. Usually they don't even allow GW specialist games. Asking the manager won't help: GW fires them regularly.

Why's that?

DoctorZombie wrote:

Kroothawk wrote:GW store policy is to not allow non-GW models. Usually they don't even allow GW specialist games. Asking the manager won't help: GW fires them regularly.

Why's that?

What the firing of managers or Specialist Games?

The latter is because they're not sold in stores so they won't let you use them. That's the company line that's towed anyway, even though I've happily played many a game of Epic Armageddon at Warhammer World (hell, they even provided 6mm scenery for us) and at my local as recently as 3 years ago...

As for the former, GW seems to go through managers like pairs of socks. If they don't stick rigidly to the Imperial Creed laid out by the God-MarkWellsEmperor then they're removed as heretics. Seriously GW is way more like the Imperium than many people like to admit.

I have had some success of using significant amounts of non-GW stuff in a GW store, but I think it all comes down to attitude as well as the manager in question.

The people who have a problem are the ones who sound off "yeah this isn't GW and I'm going to use it, it's my God-given right" to all and sundry in the shop.
You just have to be a bit conscientious. I have an IG army which is made up of probably at least 25% non-GW per guardsmen, as well as entire counts-as conscripts platoon as robots using the Copplestone casting terminator droids. A kid came over and picked up one asking what it was, I just said they were OOP Necrons, winking at the manager at the same time. He just grinned and I was able to carry on playing.

Knowing how much money I spent in the shop he turned a blind eye. That being said, he was replaced by a complete jobsworth who I know I could not try the same thing with, despite the money I spent in store, and sadly that army now doesn't get fielded in a GW store while waiting for the 6 monthly turn around for a new manager to come in.

So I think it helps to use a bit of tact, but you also have to not have a manager who is a mind-controlled drone of the company (and sadly that type are more and more common these days).

I've been allowed to use the one-off non-GW model in a GW store on the simple basis that the manager thought is was cool and fit with my army looks wise. Don't bank on being able to do it though. Odds are you won't be allowed to use it in store.

Well, the store manager's a pretty decent guy, but the model in question is a Dwarf General On War Bear, which may be a bit obvious Maybe it could be a huge conversion from the Empire regimental mascot and a dwarf lord

Today I saw some Hordes models that I've love to encorperate into my army. If someone knows what i'm talking about and had a pic of them that would be just lovely.

Instead of minotaurs, Gors the size of dreadnoughts.

TheFatElf wrote:Well, the store manager's a pretty decent guy, but the model in question is a Dwarf General On War Bear, which may be a bit obvious Maybe it could be a huge conversion from the Empire regimental mascot and a dwarf lord

Ah that's a coincidence, I may be faced with the exact same thing shortly! (Off topic, can I ask how you were going to represent it in the rules? I was thinking Lord with shieldbearers but I'm not sure yet!)
Although I am going a step further, and going to have an army populated almost entirely by non-GW dwarves, using the Gamezone miniatures instead. The way I am going to try and get round it is to buy some OOP dwarves from ebay, which look kind of similar, and slip those in amongst the Gamezone dwarves. I will have 1 or 2 removed from their base, and will be able to show the manager the makers mark on the base if asked.

This is one of the reasons why it is much better to play in a club or FLGS though, you don't have to go through this kind of BS just to play a bloody game

Kroothawk wrote:GW store policy is to not allow non-GW models. Usually they don't even allow GW specialist games. Asking the manager won't help: GW fires them regularly.

This. +1


Also, if you have a few one-offs you can usually get away with them in a GW store. Just don't walk around to everyone showing them your 'not-GW' model while telling the staff it's your 'right' to use what ever damn model you want to for your toy solders and you should be alright.

Another solution would be to find a FLGS or club to play at. All the positives and you don't have to worry about 'what companys models you use to play toy solders with'. =o]