Gamesworkshop horror stories

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**curran12**

I was very glad when my GW moved out of a mall store into a new strip style building with its own door and everything. Back in the mall, we were constantly shooing off children who'd scarper off with the demo models.

That said, even in the new store people have tried some wild things. I was working on an army list when I see an older gentleman walk in and start browsing the BL books, and I think it was a new IA book. He picks up a few and moves to the counter. The employee was in the back doing something, and this geezer just starts to pick up his stuff and walk out until I ask him if he needs help and I could get the employee to ring him up. Dude was gone, leaving a pile of books behind.

My general horror stories of GW, like a few others here, aren't so much from the employees,but from the customers. There used to be a whole unit of TFGs at the store I played at, and back then I was so impatient for games I'd put up with them. But one Fantasy game, I finally snapped. After having every single move being double-checked by his tape and being called on for every rule (like Vanguard, basic stuff) on my turn, and then him racing through his turn and not letting me check his rules, I just packed up and left.

The guy was the worst kind of TFG too. He still comes every now and then, but he usually has his son, who is old enough to play (I think he's 14/15ish) and is actually pretty cool. But the dad will regularly challenge his own son to a game, and TFG-stomp him. It's real upsetting.

**Frazzled**

Beware the Cougar, for no good can come from those fiendish claws.

**kronk**

Frazzled wrote:Beware the Cougar, for no good can come from those fiendish claws.

I respectfully disagree.

**Frazzled**

kronk wrote:
Frazzled wrote:Beware the Cougar, for no good can come from those fiendish claws.

I respectfully disagree.

In a GW, I'm gonna disagree right back.

1. High chance are married. Das ist nicht gut!
2. If not married, definitely has at least one demon spawnling. Being the evil step dad is not for the faint of heart.

**captain collius**

I know i'm going to sound like a fanboy.

My local store is small and because a lot of the people who come in don't have a ton of extra money (read: kids) but the manager of our store/only employee is awesome hes understanding works well with the kids and is as knowledgable as can be.

I know he is one of the good ones and we are lucky to have him. A lesser man could easily be frustrated.

oh and my only gamesworkshop horror story is the fact that the only way to get cyclone missle launchers is to buy regular terminators when i wan t assault terminators.

**Frazzled**

Buy your reg terminators and scratch build missile launchers. Use magnets as needed.

**Philld77**

Yeah where is this Cougar Town I hear spoken of, it sounds grrreat

**Experiment 626**

Rimmy wrote:
you get the random acts of strangeness too. after closing we had some chicks think it was funny to press they nekkid boobies on the window at us. wasn't funny. it was totally delightful and made my month, but certainly not funny

OMG the cougars that go into the stores though. seriously, if I could count the number of times moms would hit on us for entertaining them and their kids! CRAZY!!!

We got accussed of keeping our front windows way too clean. At least twice a week we'd have people walking by and then stop to look at the models in the display cases - they'd lean in too close and we'd hear a resounding 'bang' of their head smacking the glass

One time, towards closing, there was this kid running about outside our store in the mall, for no reason runs upto our window and slams his head into the glass. Then puts his head down, and charges the glass again. His mum comes in and askes the two of us on shift why we're letting her moronic little gakker try to kill himself?!

But seriously, it's so true about mothers hitting on the other male staffers! At one point our store's staff was myself and two french Canadians. The guys got alot of attention from some of the mothers!

I remember my manager telling me the disastrous Games Day after-party for the staff after the last Toronto GD; They were having the party at a local college, all the french guys were outside so a couple guys could smoke, beers in hand.
All of a sudden a bunch of limos and a pair of school buses pull up - a fething high school prom just happens to be using another part of the campus for their shindig.

So over-tired french guys + older teens...

Too bad I got left in charge of the store because I was the responsible 'monkey'

**Rimmy**

my fav was I did a demo game for this kid, maybe 8 or 9. any RS knows demo games the rules are irrelevant, its just to show the premise of the game not the try and teach it to anyone in 2 mins or less.

so I used to apply VERY basic rules to it, and I was REALLY amped on this day, just in a REALLY good mood. so I had arms flailing and explosion noises and pew pew noises and full long names and titles (this was the BFM starter set days so nids and Ultramarines)

this kid was REALLY into it. having a ball. (now having children of my own, I REALLY am glad I made that kid smile, my oldest was 6 months old at the time, she is now 6)

when we were done i'm sweating, the kids got a grin from ear to ear, I looked up and said, SO.... Did you enjoy the game?" kids smiling saying yes, looks at mom, mom looks at me and says he certainly did! "Good! can I interest you in viewing our starter set and maybe brining this excitement home?"

without missing a BEAT his mom looks at me and says "only if you come with it. I haven't seen that much energey in my house since before he was born."

I have never turned so red, IN my life. heat was just eminating off of my face.

I sold them a great starter package, got a big kudos from my manager, and as she's walking out she says, "so you'll be here to play with me when we come back right?.... the game too?"

By the Emporer's hand that actually happenned.

**Laughing Man**

You know, now I'm rather sad that the LGS I work at doesn't grab 'em young like GW does...

**captain collius**

Frazzled wrote:Buy your reg terminators and scratch build missile launchers. Use magnets as needed.

my point kinda got lost. if thats all there is to complain about we got it pretty good.

**Howard A Treesong**

Rimmy wrote:
I sold them a great starter package, got a big kudos from my manager, and as she's walking out she says, "so you'll be here to play with me when we come back right?.... the game too?"

By the Emporer's hand that actually happenned.

You scored!

**Lt. Coldfire**

Grimtuff wrote:
Howard A Treesong wrote:The ultimate horror story is that guy who had a frustrated kid try to eat one of his figures. That is legend.

Is that the one about the "unbeaten" TS player who clipped off his opponent's Librarian's Force Weapon and ate it, cackling "He can't use it now can he?"?

I'm sure the full story of that is around here somewhere if it's not that one.

Fear not lads, for I had made sure to subscribe to that thread for when the story was brought up again! I was cracking up here at work reading it over again.

Here it is:

Little lord Fauntleroy wrote:Worst happened earlier. I was playing against a chaos marine guyin a 1500pt game-he was new to chaos, so I thought "What the hey-should be fun, and as a chaos player myself I might be able to give him some help". However, I decided to use my Howling Griffons, and my newly converted plastic Epistolary Librarian, so it doesn't just turn into Thousand sons ap 3 slaughterhouse.

From the moment the game started I knew it would end badly-the exact nature, of it though I couldn't have forseen. He had the most annoying voice, and constantly bragged about how his Lord with a demon weapon, Sorceror with bolt of change and 10 heavily upgraded Terminator champions (Yes, I laughed too-and died a little inside) would totally annihlate my little 'girly' marines. However, his attempt to telerport his Terminators containing the sorceror right next to my one remaining scout I had on the objective failed, with them all being destroyed. He looked pissed off, but I didn't honestly think he was going to kick off. So, I charged my Libby into his lord-fair enough, you probably think. Wait for it (I know this is long winded, but I just want to be as clear on the events as possible-I don't quite believe it myself yet). In the assault phase, I strike first (Under the effect of the Quickening Power) and wound the lord. Then, passing my force weapon check, killed it in one before it struck back.

For a moment, the guy just sat there, mouth open. I asked if he wanted to redo the combat, and this time I wouldn't use the quickening (it did seem a kind of cheep move in my eyes.) Then, with a wail that would have put a banshee to shame, he grabbed his clippers from the table and came at me. I think he was going for my throat, but I moved quickley-it just caught my face, and drew a bit of blood. While I was dazed, he picked up my libby, clipped off his force weapon blade-and ate it. Yes, that's right, he actually ATE my force weapon. He then proceeded to clip more bits off, before smashing him into the ground and grinding it into the ground, before jumping back and asking "How's Booky Dweebish (His name for my Librarian) gonna kill my marines NOW?", and started laughing.

The store had just completely stopped now-all eyes on me. I bent down and picked up the battererd remains of my Librarian. Yes, a tear or two were shed-But I had put at least 15 man hours into PLANNING this guy out, he was to be my masterpiece. I then looked up at my opponent. He had stopped laughing by now.

I don't know exactly what happened next, but people standing nearby said to me after that they could see the Mark of Khorne light up in my eyes, and that I have never moved so fast. In the end, I think it was Paul-Resident Blackshirt and a credit to managers everywhere.-who stopped me from going after that guy and killing him. Afterwords, after closing and well into Pauls own time,he sat with me and helped me to rebuild my Librarian-although I asked to keep his backpack slightly broken as a reminder. I then walked out of the store with 2 nice free boxes of the new Stormvermin-so today wasn't a total loss .

I just got back from the docters a while ago-he said the bleeding should stop soon, but I may have a scar there for the rest of my days. I know some people will say I overeacted, and I apologise-but that Librarian was important to me (and I wonder why I have no Girlfreind ). I know that some people will also complain that I've wrote too much-again I apologise, but as I said earlier, I'm still not sure I belive this myself yet.

Take care

LLF

@Sinister brain: Oh my...Was the Chimera okay ?

**Ian Sturrock**

The clippers story is slightly scary!

Awesome tales in general in this thread.

I have to say that while I am happy to bash GW's business decisions, poor playtesting, poor writing, and prices, I've always had positive experiences in dealing with their retail staff. Admittedly I don't go in GW stores all that often (high prices, again), but whenever I do, the staff are polite, friendly, and helpful.

**carmachu**

General Hobbs wrote:

I hope you never look at PP or Reapermini prices.....

Priavteer press prices I get. Reaper minis? I gather you dont actually look at the models and prices. Becasue no, reaper isnt in the GW/PP catagory of pricing...

**MaximusPrime**

Im glad to say that the people in my GW store are fantastic. They are socially intact, and you can ingage in a porpper conversation to them without feeling awkward.

The local GW has a great atmosphere for me, people are laughing, high-fiving and having a good time. The cool thing is, they aren't bossy and waiting to tell someone off. They are more than happy to justify rules and questions, and even lend you gaming aids if you need any.

With all this animosity people are making about GW, alot of people are waiting for Gw staff members to do something wrong, and making a big deal about it when it happens...

I can also understand why the GW staff members don't like forums like these. They are the main source for GW haters to go and blow off steam without the awkwardness of being told off in person. If a website is creating a bad name and reputation for GW, they have all the right to not like these forums. I myself respect their point of view (even if it isn't the same as mine).

Im done

**Bongfu**

I have not been to a GW store in a long while, even though there is one two blocks down the road and the Hobbytown my club plays at is a 40 minute drive for me.

Generally all the managers in my area (my area includes no less than 3 GW stores) seem to form clicks with the players who do nothing but blindly follow what GW tells them.

When the store opened down the road from me I was super excited. I spent almost every day in there for a month. I got a long okay with the manager, but eventually he started harassing me due to me not ever buying anything in the store.

My arguments were A) I built my armies a long time before this store opened. B) I at least try to consider myself smart with my money (though I just dropped $400 of my tax return on Warhammer) so I look for better deals on eBay or Craigslist before I buy in the store.

I understand his point about me not supporting the store, but seeing how the stores are corporate and not franchises I would much rather spend my money elsewhere. Our local Hobbytown has a deal going with our club where our members get special discounts on GW and Privateer Press products.

Long story short, the last time I was in the store both the regional manager and the store manager argued with me about my stance on being a hobby player and not being a "flavor of the month" player. Never been back since, even though both of them have been fired.

**Frazzled**

How is that a horror story? You don't but anything then get out.

**Thaanos**

Experiment 626 wrote:

Thus was the true legacy of GW Burlington!

You forgot the earthquake

We can't believe the store closed down over a year ago now...

I can assure you that this is all true. I was a regular in that store before it closed down, and I remember being there for some of it, or hearing about it the next day. Now I play most of my games in my basement or in one of the other local hobby shops (as the next closest GW is about a 40 minute drive, and I don't have a car).

I actually have fond memories of this store, the only upselling that was ever attempted on me(after my first month of visiting) was stuff that the staff knew I would actually want to use. and once I said I couldn't afford it, they said stopped.

**Skippy**

Gymnogyps wrote:
These guys are so nasty they don't even get the irony that I was lambasted for not working the internets correctly (phone number), but then I'm a troll for being on the internet. At this point, I am completely offended. I silently pay and leave. I am ready, right then, to quit and sell every last GW product I own, and if I can't sell it, burn it.

I talk to a friend, who knows the regional manager. Regional manager asks me to come to lunch, apologizes, and comps me a Stegadon. I find out later that both were fired, not because of this, but I still am relieved they aren't around anymore.

That regional manager kept me involved in GW, but I still will not step foot in that store. It can rot for all I care.

Glad they were fired!

**warhawkstriker**

I don't really have any horror stories, mostly because I have never set foot in a GW store. I play at the FFG event center during the summer, and it is the best experience ever. Nothing feels better than when you walk into a FLGS when you are home for break, and the manager greets you by your first name(granted we share a name) and asks what you have been up to. although it does seem that every time I go there during the summer there is a huge storm that rolls through.

**blood reaper**

While not truly a horror story, an example of the obnoxious and horrid nature of the little ones in certain situations:

I was showing off my four Bloodcrushers of Khorne, and happily was obliged to describe the power of the Daemonic cavalry and their power and then, the stores high pitched demon spawn wonders over to the table and makes and idiotic and somewhat sly comment;

"Butz they Getz pwmzd by grey knights"

**Thaanos**

Experiment 626 wrote:
#3 The type of unwanted regular 'customer' we termed 'Grossies'. I know you think you're funny and all, but please don't bring your crystal dildo into a store with young children.

I'm assuming this was Andrea......

**Ma55ter_fett**

Lt. Coldfire wrote:
Grimtuff wrote:
Howard A Treesong wrote:The ultimate horror story is that guy who had a frustrated kid try to eat one of his figures. That is legend.

Is that the one about the "unbeaten" TS player who clipped off his opponent's Librarian's Force Weapon and ate it, cackling "He can't use it now can he?"?

I'm sure the full story of that is around here somewhere if it's not that one.

Fear not lads, for I had made sure to subscribe to that thread for when the story was brought up again! I was cracking up here at work reading it over again.

Here it is:

Little lord Fauntleroy wrote:Worst happened earlier. I was playing against a chaos marine guyin a 1500pt game-he was new to chaos, so I thought "What the hey-should be fun, and as a chaos player myself I might be able to give him some help". However, I decided to use my Howling Griffons, and my newly converted plastic Epistolary Librarian, so it doesn't just turn into Thousand sons ap 3 slaughterhouse.

From the moment the game started I knew it would end badly-the exact nature, of it though I couldn't have forseen. He had the most annoying voice, and constantly bragged about how his Lord with a demon weapon, Sorceror with bolt of change and 10 heavily upgraded Terminator champions (Yes, I laughed too-and died a little inside) would totally annihlate my little 'girly' marines. However, his attempt to telerport his Terminators containing the sorceror right next to my one remaining scout I had on the objective failed, with them all being destroyed. He looked pissed off, but I didn't honestly think he was going to kick off. So, I charged my Libby into his lord-fair enough, you probably think. Wait for it (I know this is long winded, but I just want to be as clear on the events as possible-I don't quite believe it myself yet). In the assault phase, I strike first (Under the effect of the Quickening Power) and wound the lord. Then, passing my force weapon check, killed it in one before it struck back.

For a moment, the guy just sat there, mouth open. I asked if he wanted to redo the combat, and this time I wouldn't use the quickening (it did seem a kind of cheep move in my eyes.) Then, with a wail that would have put a banshee to shame, he grabbed his clippers from the table and came at me. I think he was going for my throat, but I moved quickley-it just caught my face, and drew a bit of blood. While I was dazed, he picked up my libby, clipped off his force weapon blade-and ate it. Yes, that's right, he actually ATE my force weapon. He then proceeded to clip more bits off, before smashing him into the ground and grinding it into the ground, before jumping back and asking "How's Booky Dweebish (His name for my Librarian) gonna kill my marines NOW?", and started laughing.

The store had just completely stopped now-all eyes on me. I bent down and picked up the battererd remains of my Librarian. Yes, a tear or two were shed-But I had put at least 15 man hours into PLANNING this guy out, he was to be my masterpiece. I then looked up at my opponent. He had stopped laughing by now.

I don't know exactly what happened next, but people standing nearby said to me after that they could see the Mark of Khorne light up in my eyes, and that I have never moved so fast. In the end, I think it was Paul-Resident Blackshirt and a credit to managers everywhere.-who stopped me from going after that guy and killing him. Afterwords, after closing and well into Pauls own time,he sat with me and helped me to rebuild my Librarian-although I asked to keep his backpack slightly broken as a reminder. I then walked out of the store with 2 nice free boxes of the new Stormvermin-so today wasn't a total loss .

I just got back from the docters a while ago-he said the bleeding should stop soon, but I may have a scar there for the rest of my days. I know some people will say I overeacted, and I apologise-but that Librarian was important to me (and I wonder why I have no Girlfreind ). I know that some people will also complain that I've wrote too much-again I apologise, but as I said earlier, I'm still not sure I belive this myself yet.

Take care

LLF

@Sinister brain: Oh my...Was the Chimera okay ?

Awesome, now find the one about the shrike model and this thread will be complete!

**motyak**

Jeeze I feel pretty lucky, the worst I've dealt with was feeling crook after eating a Nando's double fillet burger in 4 bites so I wasn't rude in making the guy I was playing with wait. Before I started the game I told him my dinner was coming and would have to duck out for 5 mins, but then felt bad so scoffed the thing in 4 bites..It was an achievement I think. My local GW in Brisbane is just brilliant compared to most of these stories, the guys are top notch, funny, welcoming, don't push any kind of hard sell, they are just good blokes it seems. And they play brilliant music ha

and @Maximus Prime, your store a Brisbane one?

**Lt. Coldfire**

Ma55ter_fett wrote:
Awesome, now find the one about the shrike model and this thread will be complete!

Oh my, you don't mean (names have been changed in accordance with the FWPP):

Person A wrote:
I had my worst experience a not that long ago. I'm admittadly a new player, and just finished assembling my drop pod army. I know I should probably have practiced with some friends first, but I figured that the guys at the gaming store would be fun to play with.

I met this one guy who seemed a little off, but he was also a new player. He kept scratching his butt and smelling his hands. I didn't let him touch my models.He kept getting snippy about my drop pods, saying they were lame and stuff. I dunno. I still think they can work. Anyway, I thought that the didn't scatter, but I read that rule wrong. Also, I knew that only half would land on turn 1, but I thought that you get the rest on turn 2. I now know that you have to roll for the rest. But it was my first time with drop pods, and I'm learning.

He kept arguing a lot. Like he knew the rules, like when he tried to say that all of his nids had the "Without numbers" rule. He kept talking to his dice. He said he punished one of them by eating it...I didn't ask how he got it back or which one it was. He did pause everytime he said "Let me roll for scat...ter." *shudder*

Anyway, I told him that I had to go wash my hair and packed my stuff to leave. In my haste to get away from him, I think I left my shrike that I painted. I called and asked the store manager, but he hasn't found it, yet.

Person B wrote:

A couple months back, when I'd just started 40k, I played against a marines player who was running dreadnought swarm. He was drop podding them all in. So I ask him, "Hey, what the hell are you rolling first turn for? Deep striking units come in on the second turn!" He says "No, they have a special rule"

I didn't play marines, so I had no idea how drop pods worked at the time. BUT THAT"S NOT IT! When he was deepstriking, he would never roll for scatter. I asked him why he wasn't rolling for scatter, "Yeah,uh, drop pods have a special rule."

So yeah, naturally I lost the game, on account that it was my second game. It's okay though, I stole his kayvaan shrike model, Bwahahaha. Don't leave your HQ on the floor next time, douchebag!

**Samus_aran115**

Shush you. That other guy was trolling

Spoiler:

**FifteenHours**

To be honest, if you are going to use the "...eating a Mcdonalds burger in a Burger King.." analogy, then technically if you are painting a non-GW product with GW paints in a GW-store, it is like buying a Mcdonald's burger and then going to Burger King to buy the fries, and eating both in the Burger King.
And to be fair, plenty of people do that and neither establishment has ever complained about it.

So yeah, to me it's totally unacceptable GW asked the OP to leave. I would've politely explained that since I had just bought GW citadel paints that I don't see why I should leave...

They could've just asked him to put it away and everyone is happy.

Well this is just one of many reasons I get all my GW products off ebay and second hand these days.

**Ian Sturrock**

As an ex-shopkeeper myself (not at GW) I can understand the retail managers' frustration at people who are there often but never buy! As a customer, I would feel awkward doing that. I'd want to at least buy a small item every second visit or so -- even if it was just a pot of paint or a snap-together kit. Sure, I could save 50p or £1 buying elsewhere, but there's a courtesy issue I think. You have no obligation to buy, but really, the manager has no obligation to provide free gaming space to people who do all their buying on eBay. I do *most* of my buying on eBay too... but I'd still pick up some Gryphonne Sepia or something, to show willing.

**FifteenHours**

Well that was my point - if you buy some paint in there you should be allowed to paint whatever you want (within reason). It gives much more justification.

At the most, a polite word telling the customer to be 'discreet' with non-GW models would be suffice, or to maybe put the model away until it's a bit quieter.
I just have a major issue when loyal customers are treated badly. Which they often are.