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I would do nothing. If I owned that company, I would probably be making a SH*TLOAD of money. Why would I mess with that??
Seriously though, I have no idea what the bottom line of that company is so I would honestly say that I would do nothing until I was fully informed on the state of the company before started messing with things like pricing and/or introducing new product. I would however improve relations with the fan base, and probably advance the fluff story.

I'd let it listen to the people as long as there would be enough profit to make it expand and improve as much as possible. Oh, and kick out Kirby and lock "Our spiritual liege." in the basement or a cooling cell.

Games Workshop have survived when almost everyone else hasn't. So they need to be understood to be doing things right because they ARE.

What they do well:

protect I.P. very well, run stores against a background of high street store closures worldwide, make compelling miniatures (probably the best) and keep all their staff fed paid and in employment in the uk (no mean feat) run community events fairly well via stores

The only things I would do is tinker:

since we probably already sold our metal manufacture capability look at a subcontractor (not forgeword but an arrangement *like* forgeworld) to re-introduce metal as a premium price option (i.e. let the customer choose to not go fine cast if they don't want to)

sell bits n kits

invest in computer games delivery team run by proper skilled folk. hire them folk from the computer game industry. sell special minis that only come in the game box etc etc.

look at a movie deal. then go and look harder. then really go and look VERY MUCH harder

If a straight owned GW. first though would be to sell and retire. but really.

The direction id like to go (especially as a player):

Remove the notion of the rules dont matter beer and pretzell yaddayadda nonsense.

Make a proper Dev team for rules.

I dont know if its the right decision to move to china for production but figure out a way to lower model costs.

Also add a proper and affordable gateway game

I'd buy privateer press and then make Warmahordes a specialist game.

DOH!

1) close brick and mortar stores
2) give incentives to flgs shops to pick up the slack and get new customers, partner with local tv advertising, etc
3) focus on flgs and direct mail order distribution
4) create a frequent purchase program to reward frequent shoppers with discounts and promotions
5) decrease prices to attract more players and create more demand than supply, then leverage short supply to raise prices back up somewhat

Probably not what you wanted to hear.

I'd keep shops, give you control of brand, key to success.

+ with stores you have dedicated support for players, quality control and you can get real time info from stores on what's selling. What's not, customer mood etc.

I honestly do not know. Everyone always has ideas on what may work but it's based on your own perspective or (worse/better) the internet. I don't know how to run a multi-million dollar company. For all I know and all my disagreements with the company, they may be doing things right (at least in a growing financial manner). There may be things that are not working due to greed and are damaging in the long term with very small short term gains. There may also be things that seem like they're bad but are actually creating deliberate and intentional growth. There are some things that I do disagree with and do not think there's ANY excuse though.

There shouldn't be any reason why there's no spelling or double/triple checking for any codex out there.
Increase transparency. Unless you're doing something immoral that shouldn't be a bad thing
Have some sort of reward policy/discounts like Steam. It's a model that works. It may not make you a TON of money but people boast whenever they're happy and people do love sales and seeing value in what they buy

I'm sure there are more but then it goes into the whole fantasy thing about running a corporation. I do not think that any of these changes are outrageous by any stretch.

If I was running games workshop I would do the following:

1) Bring back the Bitz catalog. In this day and age of 3D printing and automation, GW could easily make this entire operation a webstore that makes things to order and is entirely automated. You also have an option of free shipping to your choice of FLGS or GW branch. If the store puts in a kiosk that has an digital catalog then they even get a cut of the revenue and whatever was ordered gets included in the next shipment to the store from GW. Also you could ship to your house for how ever much FedEx wants.

2) Bring back all the specialist games back. They are low barrier to entry games that are all set in GW's existing IP universes and lots of fun to play. They make great tools for recruiting new players into the hobby. With point 1 it could be done at almost 0 capital cost. especially if you made all the rules free.

3) Continue expanding the design philosophy of multipart plastic kits that are mainly bodies and arms, only make kits and/or parts for every unit in my different game universes. Combined with point 1 this would make building an army cheaper, encouraging people to have several and play several games. Furthermore I would modularize more of the plastic kits.

4) Create a totally digital ecosystem for the all the games. The physical paper books would continue to exist and be sold in their form factor (with digital access codes included) but the go to place for all the rules will be the website/digital apps. The system would include an army list creation tool. It would also allow you to document your army and help you create and share your fluff and models. It would also provide a shopping portal with expense calculator. Given points 1 & 3 and knowledge of the models you currently have in your collection, the the program could figure out all the things you would need to order for a given list. It could also would out statistical damage modeling to different unit types and give you composition feedback. This would also include a digital model creator with access to models of the GW entire bitz line. Also by creating an digital ecosystem it becomes really easy to know what everything in his list does, whether it is legal.

5) Start aggressively expanding the number of video games that are using the GW IP. I would make games that directly port some of the games into high quality digital forms. Games like Necromunda and Mordehiem lend themselves very well to community driven history and experience. What if you would play a Necromunda campaign that included your local gaming group primarily, but also hundreds of thousands of other people? With the current level of computing you could create a play by push notification system. If you really wanted to be nutty you could even develop a digital-tabletop interface with multiple video cameras and projectors. Either tabletop gaming is going to make a comeback or its going the way of the dodo. Furthermore between 3D scannershttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16838650001 and 3D printers http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16828650024 the cost of forming plastic into small shapes is coming down rapidly. Also in 2-3 years many of the patents that govern the much higher resolution 3d printers will expire. These printers have the accuracy to print on at the scale that GW is molding their minitures at. The company needs to start adapting to ensure its survival. GW has some very interesting and valuable IP they should look to be leveraging it beyond the tabletop. This creates additional revenue at little cost to the company and increases brand awareness. Due to all the previous points the lower overall barrier to entry gets more people buying and playing your physical games.

6) Repair the relationship with the community. I think that many of the previous points will allow for GW to reengage with the community and sort out the relationship. This definitely would include a large online presence in forums and other forms of social media. I would also restart sponsorship of tournaments and make actively seek input on the current rules from the best players. Also actively look to the independent stores are your primary sales vehicle. GW should basically look to support them with terrain and tools to expand their playing space. Also they should setup a league and player tracker system that includes all the local stores both GW and independent.

7) Hire a couple of mathematicians and computer simulations guys. They will use math and balance the game. Then set the winners from the tournaments and as many power gamers as you can find on it. Hammer out the point value balance issues. Also once you have a much better metric of points/unit battlefield effectiveness, then you can start allowing for much more variety of choices in the different armies. Sort of a "O you want to say your guard army is sharpshooters and are BS 4 or your Dark Eldar have all take drugs and are now S 4 cause that is the fluff I came up with" then it is going to cost you X points per this model and Y points per that one. Yet it is all balanced and easy to keep track of cause of point 4. I would also focus on designing the series such that people can build armies out of the models they like and it will be a viable list with minor tactical consideration. You want to build that all jump pack list or all bike or an armoured company list? Great here is how and will do ok against most stuff. GW should be doing everything they can to encourage people to buy and field every unit that exists in as many copies as they want and makes sense from both a balance and fluff perspective.

Some of my thoughts on this fine sunny Spring morning. Sorry for the wall of text. It just comes out sometimes.

Peregrine, anyone who who wants to win a stupidity award just has to remove an army from 40k. Everyone will hate anyone who gets rid of support for their faction no matter how good said faction was.

Just look a sisters of battle- they were a army that sucked for 40k and were much less popular than bids, yet any sisters player has to be restrained from psysically attacking GW,

1. Fire all of the staff. The writers, the lawyers and the accountants.
2. Hire actually competent writers and staff. Have people that are well qualified and knowledgeable in the field I expect them to work in shore up the board.
3. Redo Warhammer 40k to make it tightly balanced. Fortifications will be removed. Superheavies will be nerfed so that they are simply bigger units rather than the all powerful gods of war. Allies will also be removed.
4. Supplements will be reintroduced as a means to get several specialized army lists. Ex. The Imperial Guard supplement will have rules for Mordian, ASL and Catachan regiments.
5. Dataslates and formations will be free. Why have a barrier to a means to get people to buy more of our stuff?
6. Impose stricter guidlines on fluff writing to improve the feeling of the lore. Make Black Library a venue for getting 40k books rather than the only source.
7. Outsource the production of specialist games to different games companies. Ex. Allow FFG to produce Necromunda and Dark Heresy.
8. Stop giving licenses to companies to produce shovelware. This is to improve brand credibility.
9. Give license to either produce a printed or online comic book based on Warhammer 40,000.
10. Discontinue Warhammer Fantasy Battle. Instead, produce two different games. A skirmish fantasy gamec and a small scale mass battle game in the same setting. The small scale game will be mostly the same as the current WFB except with even more units allowed. The game as is is a little unwieldy. Produce very high quality sculpts for a good price for the skirmish game and good quality miniatures for the small scale game.
11. Close the B&M stores and give better support for the FLGS.
12. Embrace the internet. Allow online sales abroad, bring Australian prices down, give sneak peeks to upcoming releases and interact with the playerbase. Hire PR people with thick skins to deal with the built up dislike for the company.
13. Playtest the damned game.
14. Improve the sculpts of the current minis for 40k slightly, decrease prices by 5% and raise points cost of all models a tad.

1. Turn over Games Workshop stores into instead Games Workshop Hobby Centers include card games, board games, Magic the Gathering. In a large store format and not saturate a Metropolitan area with 4 stores but have one Store with 4 Employees that is larger, carries more varied stock and supports play of multiple games. Instead of being a specialist retailer just for GW , be a specialist retailer that specializes specifically in the gaming miniature hobby.

2. Streamline the core system of play and instead have dedicated limited release codexes such as Deluxe Versions, then Basic Versions. Deluxe Versions would also include a digital copy. Give people a reason to buy hardback and physical copies of manuals such as a include specialty figure only available with that codex.

3. Support a competitive play environment such as the MTG pro tour does.

4. Focus on Narrative Play by allowing World Campaigning, Escalation, Fortifications, in "normal" play. Specifically release supplements for players who wish to "campaign" with their armies.

5. A Dedicated Website where players can post their armies, Win loss, as well as information similar to a Facebook style app but geared more toward supporting local gaming clubs, news events for tournaments, and player finder in your area services. This would also have a built in battle report and Narrative Report function where you could sign up to participate in a Narrative campaign through the system and post your win and loss similar to what has been done in the past with the Armageddon campaign.

6. Develop stronger IP in the venue of Media specifically games for Ipad, Iphone, etc.. specifically develope a free to play game based around the IP.

I would turn Games Workshop into more of a hobby and gaming company. We would stop producing models, and would instead focus our resources on making the rules work, and helping the customers with modeling. Who makes the models? Various other companies. Let's say about five or six other sanctioned companies. I would commission a new model, for example a Leman Russ, and provide certain specifications, pretty specific, but with room for interpretation. Now, we have six different Leman Russes that are all compatible with the rules, all sanctioned, all the same size, with the same weapon options and mostly the same design aesthetic, but with ever so subtle, minor differences. Now, I have made the market more competitive, and better for both the customer and the companies. Also, it makes everybody's armies look a hell of a lot more unique.

You would still want to produce your own models, but with the increase hopefully in income and as a general hobby retailer with a decent reputation , one could probably produce figures at a lower cost , lowering prices and making it more affordable

Add articles and painting guides back into the Codices / Army books.

The 6th (?) ed Lizardmen book had a tactics article, an article about Lizardmen Glyphs, a southland army list (in addition to the normal army list) and a little painting guide.

You don't have that in the new book; instead of those you have some 17-20 pages of GW showing off their pretty models, with just a line for each one.

Oh, and the "make your own terrain" guides, like in the early 2000s. Sacrificing that option just so they can try to increase the sales of their terrain was a dick move on GW's part, imo.

I also would bring back the specialist games as well. Properly too; none of that limited edition nonsense like Space Hulk, I mean a full blown release, tied into the 2 "core" systems (40k specialist games for 40k, and Whfb for whfb, obviously) if possible.

Also, I would revise some of the copyright rules. Some of them are a bit silly.

Sell to WotC and go on vacation forever.

1. Halve the cost of models/codecies/hobby supplies.
2. Include supplement/dataslate content in the actual codex.
3. Spend the time to thoroughly play test each codex.
4. Retcon Draigo out of the game.
5. Stop the codex creep.
6. Fire Goto, Cruddace and Ward.
7. Bring back the specialist games.
8. Listen to customer feedback.
9. Protect the IP from gak like this while allowing/helping genuinely creative fan projects to flourish.
10. Make adults the target demographic once again.
11. Begin the production of a non-half assed 40k movie that is not about the Ultramarines.
10. Explain to everyone why GW has gone bankrupt.
11. Blam myself.

 Grugknuckle wrote:
Ok, I know I'm going to get flamed for this one BUT...why not sell pre-painted and assembled miniatures in addition to the current product line? Before you start typing in all caps at me, just read on.

GW wants a younger player base? It's ridiculous to expect a 10 year old to buy a $100 rulebook, read it cover to cover AND paint and assemble his miniatures. It's inevitable that said 10 year old will just be disappointed with the look of his mini's. INSTEAD, offer pre-painted, pre-assembled, ready to play miniatures for those who just want to play the game. Heroclix and X-wing are the examples I have in mind. Offering something like this will really let new players ease into the game for a lower price point, they'll get to play right away and WHEN they become hooked on the game, they'll eventually pay more for the standard GW miniatures.

EDIT: I'd actually like to double down on this assertion. Consider that there are essentially 3 types of GW customers (for miniatures). Collectors, painters and gamers. Gamers want to play the game, many can't even be bothered to spray paint their mini's and play with a horde of bare plastic. Pre-painted, pre-assembled miniatures would really appeal to the gamer crowd - especially if the price was comparable ( < or = ) to the un-assembled kits. Collectors and painters still get the high quality model kits.

I would like to remaster a lot of the kits to make it possible to mould them in multi-colour plastic. This technique has been used for the better Gundam kits for some years. They literally flow several different colour plastics into the same sprue, enabling a model to have a lot of visual appeal without any painting. I have seen sprues with four colours on them.

This technique would work very well on Space Marines. GW could offer all the major chapters in their proper heraldic colours without any painting necessary. Gundam also use colour markers for detailing the models. This technique would work nicely on the details of the SM heraldry.

 Wilytank wrote:
I'm getting weird deja vu. Have we had this thread recently before?

It comes up every few months. People like making wishlists. There are always a few good ideas, many more that are mundane or poor, and very few that are new - although "get rid of Tyranids" is a new one to me. I rather like Tyranids, though I do not play them.

As for me, I would change nothing.


pictured: Tom Kirby

I'd continue the Tom Kirby path of unsustainably miking the company of every last dividend I could from behind a desk with a giant pile of cocaine on it. I'm totally seriously, I care way more about my own self interest then I do about this mediocre game. Let Hasbro figure it out when I'm done with it and the death-spiral is inescapable, I say.

Unlike a lot of you awful bosses id show compassion and understanding. Things will continue as they are. I'll have "spies" researching forums and so on to see what people are asking (if its reasonable) and make plans to implement it long term. So changes may take up to 3 years to come through.

Within the first year i'll make it known that changes will be made, but that all models will still be viable so people dont get worried or stop buying models.

I will open up a forum with limited commenting ability. It will be more like a blog with options for voting and the occasional comments. So for example i will have a rules preview where people can vote on the ones they like etc. Same with model releases. To make the masses think they have some input, however minor.

Then in time look at the opposition and see what draws people to them using "spies" on the internet and try my best to use superior size and wealth to try crush them or out do them. I'll leave historical games alone to carry on their business but any other sci fi game or fantasy game will be a target for trying to undermine by attempting to out release them or take what they do well and incorporate it into future plans.

I agree that cost is an issue for new comers so I definitely will release starter sets for each race with each release of a codex. Just a snap fit basic force.

But using forums like this to base future releases along with offering beginner sets to get started and eventually giving people pre release voting options will slowly change the hobby for the better maybe. Then when the hot heads cool down id feel comfortable giving the fan base more involvement in the hobby. But a lot of the anger has to be done away with from the fans before I think much change will matter on my part.

In short, goal one please players in time and make it easier for beginners to join in time. Assuming I have the assets to do so.

Sell it to Hasbro for an incredibly large sum of money. Buy my own island, retire and laugh all the way to the bank.