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Was having a think today about all of the novelty stuff I've bought from GW. When I got back into the game after a long lay-off I got the 40k bug again bigtime and pretty much bought every new novelty item they brought out.

I bought two servo-skull tape measures [bought the second because the first didn't work, so thought it was a dud, but then the second worked very poorly].
I also have the vehicle and objective dice. The vehicle dice I never used because it was too much hassle looking up the icon. Used the objective dice a couple of times but stopped for the same reason [just wrote the random objectives on bits of paper].
Bought the psychic card deck and the CSM upgrade pack. Used them twice I think, although they were a little more useful.
Just bought the Maelstrom mission cards as they seem to be pretty important for the smooth running of the game but yet to use them.

Stopped buying novelty stuff after that as I realised it was a waste of money. So, do you still use your GW novelty items or are they consigned to a dark drawer?

I used the messenger bag that came with the 6th edition box set of some kind for years until it eventually came apart on me. I really quite liked it.

I have my GW "eagle" badge (the large one cast in pewter/white metal), not the later smaller one), my laser pointer and the bullethole dice (16mm, black with silver bullet splashes for pips with a black/silver scatter die.) and that's about it (but that's about all I have in regards to GW novelty stuff.

The badge is on the same leather jacket as my B5 EarthForce Pin (Cloisonné) , my x-files "trust no one" pin (also Cloisonné ), and my "THINK!" badge (also cast in white metal).

 motyak wrote:
I used the messenger bag that came with the 6th edition box set of some kind for years until it eventually came apart on me. I really quite liked it.

I liked the messenger bag as well, but set it aside after the straps ripped out.

The servo skull tape measures were cool, but the tape would slip back into them, so replaced those. A shame, since they are pretty stable vertically. I'd like to paint them at some point to use as terrain/markers.
Also got the marker dice, which I still use. They're distinct enough to keep me from picking them up and the little servo skull holders make good markers for stuff.
I made mad use out of the psychic cards until I got the app. Still hoping for a 7th ed psyker app. Both made running daemons much much less work to track.

I still use the old orange tape measure. Its awful, but its so light and small.

I use Skully the Tape Measure when I don't have my 'proper' one to hand. That's it.

I got the fancy looking templates as a gift and I still use those because it's just a bit fancier than the regular templates.

I still use the 6th Edition messenger bag, as well as the green Aquilla belt, and the Lasgun ammunition tin which I managed to pick up from Games Day a few years back after they had sold out in stores.

The transparent green templates, the Bullethole dice on occasion (though mostly just the scatter dice), I used the Psychic Discipline cards from last edition a lot (not so much with 7th as I haven't picked them up as-yet). Past that, I don't have any fluff items. I use a 10' Stanley brand tape measure, and some Chessex dice (the kind that have the actual numbers on each face and are more 'square', versus using pips like in a brick of standard dice.)

Those are pretty much my '40k tools' in a nutshell. Though, I do use the Bolter Shell metal ammo box that the 5th edition rulebook came in as a transport for all of my gaming gear, dice, tape, cards, card stock objective markers, and on rare occasion, as it's appropriate, my Bolter Shell:





Outer Ring text: "+ALL SHALL FEAR THE WRATH OF THE ADEPTUS ASTARTES+"
Primer Ring text: ".75 FW RYZA GODWYN BUYAKIS" (Not sure if its BUYAKIS, as the detail is a little fudged on the word, but it was like that when I received it.)

I won this at the Memphis, TN GW Battle Bunker many years ago at the launch of 4th Edition 40k, which was called Warlord's Weekend if my memory serves. My buddy Rob and I went up there Friday for the first day/evening of festivities, which included a 500 point tournament, which did have to have the FOC met. I took my Blood Angels and managed to win all three games (two handily, one very close game). The Memphis Bunker had gotten three Bolter Shells in and had them on display, with the winner of each of the day's tournaments (Friday/Saturday/Sunday) winning one of the three coveted Bolter Shells. I claimed my prize as Friday's tournament winner, and it stays proudly on display on my painting table.

I carry it with me to certain tournaments as a good luck charm. I Believe it's a Forge World, limited production item, though that may be incorrect. It's solid, whatever it's made out of, and that's the original paint on it.

That's all I've got to add. Take it easy for now.

-Red__Thirst-

I never planned on buying novelty items much. Now I can use the munitorum dice I got and the holders as objective markers. The only Novelty Item I want from Games Workshop is models that aren't what I would use in game because they don't fit my play style or that are useless. Stealth Suits fit that description as they are useful, but they don't work well with my army structure. If I where playing a Farsight army they would be invaluable.

I live in Texas, and I must say, "novelty items" has an entirely different meaning in this state. Guess I should check with GW to see if they ship stuff in discreet packaging.

Anyway, I still have the backpack from the first Apocalypse release somewhere, as well as the 6th Edition messenger bag. Still have my Baneblade certificate from the release, too.

I bought the servo skull tape measure and was also disappointed.

I have the servo skull tape. I like it. It doesn't stay out 100% of the time so I just hold my finger under it to keep it out. It looks cool and the tape stays up even when you extend it 60" out so I prefer it to normal tapes even though it doesn't always lock properly.

I have the bolter dice, vech dam dice and APOC ver1 bag.

I use the servo skull tape measure.

I use the original Apocalypse backpack as a general-purpose backpack. It does the job pretty well.

My Inquisition badge and Uplifting Primer have been used as LARP props.

I use the munitorium dice and various datacards when playing 40k.

I actually seem to get more use out of my novelty items than a lot of my miniatures.

I have quite a bit actually, but a lot of what people have already listed (measuring tape, cards, etc.) are what I refer to as 'gaming aids'.

I've purchased virtually every gaming aid GW has released with each new edition launch, but have sworn them off entirely. I'm put off buying them anymore after only getting 2 yrs. worth of use from the 6th ed. psychic power cards.

As for true novelty items, I have:

6th ed. messenger bag
World of Battle coffee mug
2x World of Batlle pint glasses
2x GW key chain lanyards

 Tannhauser42 wrote:
I live in Texas, and I must say, "novelty items" has an entirely different meaning in this state. Guess I should check with GW to see if they ship stuff in discreet packaging.

Anyway, I still have the backpack from the first Apocalypse release somewhere, as well as the 6th Edition messenger bag. Still have my Baneblade certificate from the release, too.

lol. Out here in California, they call that stuff "mandatory items"

I have the metal ork rocker band. I have no idea what they're for; I don't think they have any rules for 'em right now.

Only have seen/bought three novelty items that I thought were useful. All from 5th ed.

The metal ammo crate from the launch of 5th.

The led crosshair pointer for the then new tlos rules

And

A tin or two of GW's dice.

Stuff that came later all looked cheaply made so I didn't waste money on them.

Later,
ff

Let's see, I have a set of vehicle damage dice from (I think) 5th edition that a friend got for a birthday present. Had to be at least 5th since it still had glancing and penetrating hits as separate dice. Never taken them out of the container except to position them all with "6" facing up. I figure if I keep them in there long enough then eventually gravity will load them for me . Have a nice little tin with a Hammerhead tank on it too, I could re-purpose that come to think of it.

Other than that I think it's just the really old clear plastic templates from the 3rd edition starter and some fancy dice I got from their Inquisitor game back when they still sold specialist games stuff in box form. The dice look really impressive, all mottled red with a big ]-[ instead of a "1". I like to call it "the Inquisitorial 1" because it is by far the most common number you roll with those dice...

Didn't realise there was an ammo tin released with 5th, but now I've seen it I want one! @ Red_Thirst love the bolter shell.

You reminded me that I also have the bullet hole dice which are the only scatter dice I'll use, even though I usually get massive scatters with them. I did have the dice tins that look like las rifle ammo, but couldn't find a use for them, so gave them to my Guard friend, who also cant find a use for them. Oh, and I have two of the green wallets, but I stopped using them because they looked a bit childish

I still have the old metal dice tin, red games workshop tape measure and an imperial eagle key ring.

I have the servo-skull tape measure, and use it at every opportunity. II think it's quite possibly the most awesome thing GW have ever released.


I also have the 5th edition ammo box, which is currently used to carry around my Cryx warband.

I have the Servo-Skull ammo box. Also got all the 6th Ed psychic cards. Thought they were a wonderful throwback to 2nd Ed and they were a wonderful quick reference tool during games. If only they weren't invalidated less than 2 years after printing.

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
I have the Servo-Skull ammo box. Also got all the 6th Ed psychic cards. Thought they were a wonderful throwback to 2nd Ed and they were a wonderful quick reference tool during games. If only they weren't invalidated less than 2 years after printing.

Couldn't agree more, didn't bother with the 7th ed cards because of the potential life-span. If we go back to a 4 year edition cycle I might try trusting items like this again.

D