New GW Specialist Studio - Including LOTR, Epic, BB, BFG - Small scale Warlord Titan by FW (one-off)

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**Ketara**

Latest News:

On the recent sighting of a one-off small scale Warlord Titan:

Warhams-77 wrote:
It is not an Epic model actually, just a fun project from one of the FW guys who made the 28mm Warlord. That was openly communicated when asked about the 'little brother' at the Open Day. This smaller Warlord is larger than the old Imperator titans and not the first of the new model range. It does show well what amount of detail modern kits could come with. They will have to scale it down at least 20% to fit the Epic range. If not 40%.

Warhams-77 wrote:
Via Atia's blog

November 12th News:

Warhams-77 wrote:
This thread grows fast, hope it hasnt been posted already. Hastings on Warseer is dropping the info bomb now

AFAIK the scope is pretty big, just don't be expecting things overnight, my understanding is we are still a few months out from seeing anything yet. Def full blown epic armies, not sure about how much will be plastic and how much will be resin. I expect rules to be updated where needed. Do not expect to see old sculpts unless they are classics.

I have not heard warmaster discussed, however do not discount it, this is currently in it's infancy. The HH box seems to be well received and not too bad of a price point when you compare the equivalent cost of the minis and the fact there is also a standalone game in there. I don't expect any of it will be "cheap" but it will be more accessible. As I understand it Epic & BB are quite high up the list of priorities.

Originally Posted by BramGaunt
So I'm guessing it will be different from what we are expecting. What we are expecting is a return to how 'specialist games' were run, but what we are probably getting is a branch akin to Fantasy Flight Games that produces GW License board games that double as miniature games.
Indeed, pretty much spot on mate :-)

http://www.warseer.com/forums/showthread.php?414985-Specialist-Games-quot-Reboot-quot&s=aefdabe3ed174b9d3028ed9f7a87fa95&p=7566110&viewfull=1#post7566110

Warhams-77 wrote:
Hastings

When I said Bram was spot on I was referring to the fact that SG will not be how it used to be. This team will almost be like a FFG within FW producing our old favourites, not everything is a board game, imagine other classic tabletop games getting an update, doesn't mean they have to change into a boardgame format. Specialist Games ARE coming back, only with a slightly different name with an updated product and not under the direct (incompetent) control of GW.

http://www.warseer.com/forums/showthread.php?414985-Specialist-Games-quot-Reboot-quot&p=7566132&viewfull=1#post7566132

Awesome

Screenshot from the Warhammer App:

Mymearan wrote:
Yep, it's in the app, ITS OFFICIAL PEOPLE

This must be an exciting time to work at GW

November 11th News:

sarduka42 wrote:
GW Australia facebook pages are announcing the creation of a new division called Specialist Design Studio.

NECROMUNDA, EPIC, BATTLEFLEET GOTHIC, BLOOD BOWL and more are coming back?!

Here is the facebook link:
https://www.facebook.com/GWBelconnen/photos/a.672758389489940.1073741829.660073050758474/854745547957889/?type=3&theater

Good morning Hobbyists!

I have some exciting hobby news to share with you all! Games Workshop has established a Specialist Product Design Studio which will include the existing Forge World Studio but also design, create and develop new models, games and standalone product. But that's not all! The Specialist Design Studio will also be responsible for bringing back some of our old favourite games as well!!!!

As if that wasnt enough, this team is also (and I'm quoting from the announcement for dramatic effect):

"...will also be responsible for maintaining our journey into Middle Earth. It will be the only GW studio that will produce new product to support Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit."

So there you go! How exciting!? New product for the Hobbit? Very exciting!

I was always a fan of Warhammer Quest and Necromunda, why not comment below with the specialist game you'd most like to see return with a reboot or just a reprint?

Akragth wrote:
The image was created by the GW Belconnen store manager, as he stated on the Facebook page from which it was taken, not by GW HQ or anything of the like.

That is, btw, a legitimate GW store FB page.

Akragth wrote:
Also, at least one of the US stores have confirmed: https://www.facebook.com/GWFreewayV/?fref=ts&hc_location=ufi

It's also mentioned on several other store pages that I've seen.
https://www.facebook.com/GWLaunceston/posts/451295141739731
https://www.facebook.com/GWHobart/posts/407315386134245
https://www.facebook.com/GWGeelong/posts/1687435674805333

Original Post:

This was just posted by two separate members of GW staff on the Australian page:
'Hey Guys,
Official GW words here to confirm Hobbit moving to a specialist studio:
"This studio will also be responsible for maintaining our journey into Middle Earth. It will be the only GW studio that will produce new product to support Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit."
And with that I wish you all a Good Morning.'

It was posted on an Australian FB SBG community group.

The rationale for it going out to Australia first is because of the timezone difference, so if true, confirmation should be rolling out in the next 24 hours worldwide.

Somewhat baffled as to what 'specialist studio' means. Forgeworld perhaps? Either way, if true, it means it's not being dropped, and indeed, new support may be forthcoming. It would be nice if they've decided not to waste their license.

Related - Staff Training:

judgedoug wrote:
Hey everyone,

didn't know if I should start a new post on this, but I do not know if it's AoS, HH, or 40k related.

1. Before AoS was released, all GW reps had to spend a few days training on the new product.
2. Last week, all GW reps had to spend a few days training on the Betrayal at Calth.
3. My source (check my rumor tracking for my accuracy rating btw) has informed me that GW reps are going to spend several days next week training for something new. I do not know if it is a big supplement or what system it is for, just that the only time the GW reps go to training in the last year have been only to learn and demo AoS and to learn and demo Horus Heresy. This is the third time they are going for training to learn and demo something, and I do not know what it is.

Mods, feel free to roll this into another topic if it is more appropriate.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Correction: new training for GW reps is THIS FRIDAY.

judgedoug wrote:
I have confirmation from my source.

This Specialist Games thing is happening. It is not a secret within GW as of right now. An internal "Vox Caster" company wide email discusses various aspects of it.

This is 100% what my post yesterday http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/670113.page was about.

I stake all of my rumor accuracy on this.

**His Master's Voice**

Forge World picking up LotR and actually supporting it (glaring like a basilisk at you, Warhammer Forge or whatever your name was) would be ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.

Which is why it's not going to happen.

**Waggerz**

Just saw this from the Geelong store (facebook search will find the post, not sure if I can link it):

Good morning Hobbyists!

I have some exciting hobby news to share with you all! Games Workshop has established a Specialist Product Design Studio which will include the existing Forge World Studio but also design, create and develop new models, games and standalone product. But that's not all! The Specialist Design Studio will also be responsible for bringing back some of our old favourite games as well!!!!

As if that wasnt enough, this team is also (and I'm quoting from the announcement for dramatic effect):

"...will also be responsible for maintaining our journey into Middle Earth. It will be the only GW studio that will produce new product to support Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit."

So there you go! How exciting!? New product for the Hobbit? Very exciting!

I was always a fan of Warhammer Quest and Necromunda, why not comment below with the specialist game you'd most like to see return with a reboot or just a reprint?

**H.B.M.C.**

Great. LOTR/Hobbit gets a specialist studio whilst GW fails to capatalise on any of their existing games - BFG, Necromunda, Epic, Mordheim and so on.

**timd**

H.B.M.C. wrote:
Great. LOTR/Hobbit gets a specialist studio whilst GW fails to capatalise on any of their existing games - BFG, Necromunda, Epic, Mordheim and so on.

You may have missed this:

But that's not all! The Specialist Design Studio will also be responsible for bringing back some of our old favourite games as well!!!!

Sounds like it may be a new Specialist Games thing.

Tim

**Ghaz**

H.B.M.C. wrote:Great. LOTR/Hobbit gets a specialist studio whilst GW fails to capatalise on any of their existing games - BFG, Necromunda, Epic, Mordheim and so on.

Actually it looks like they are if the rumor is accurate.

**Abadabadoobaddon**

Wair, so they're sending LotR/Hobbit and Forgeworld to Specialist Games? Yikes...

You go in the Specialist Games. Specialist Games go in the water. Hobbit's in the water. The Hobbit. Well farewell and adieu to you far Spanish ladies...

**MLaw**

Specialist Games returning? Hm.. If this is like Spacehulk returning.. I dunno. If it's like an honest resurrection of Epic, BFG, Necromunda, Gorkamorka, Mordheim, Inquisitor, Man-O-War, and Warmaster.. then.. hm.. I may be interested in GW again.

EDIT: Oh.. I forgot about Aeronautica Imperialis or whatever the aerial game was called. I was interested in it too but it was way too pricey to get into for such a niche thing with no player base.

**Ketara**

Could this be what the supposed re-briefing of sales reps is about? If this new studio takes on LOTR, there's no reason it couldn't be taking on BFG and Blood Bowl too.

**H.B.M.C.**

I still don't buy it.

**Necros**

Maybe Specialist Games will make all of the games, because Games Workshop is just a model company?

I do hope this means specialist games will be coming back for real though. That would be real nice.

**Jehan-reznor**

Is that GW jargon for chucking it into the bin?

**jonolikespie**

I have a horrible feeling this will be the equivalent of them taking the Hobbit to that farm upstate that Fluffy and Mittens went to.

It's odd though, if I am reading that right the entire FW studio is being folded into this new GW division. Do they not like having separate brands and are trying to consolidate?

**Kid_Kyoto**

Some sort of specialist game studio for fanatics?

Everything old is new again...

**Theophony**

FInally some support for Dreadfleet

**Rygnan**

It's possible that this new/revived "Specialist Games" that is absorbing FW could be completely sold on the main GW website isn't it, meaning that FW would be on the main site too. I hope to god that this is what happens, and if specialist games make a return I'll be immensely happy, seeing as they all died just as I started up wargaming as a hobby

**H.B.M.C.**

Necros wrote:
Maybe Specialist Games will make all of the games, because Games Workshop is just a model company?

I do hope this means specialist games will be coming back for real though. That would be real nice.

I guess that kinda kills my dream of GW farming out the rules to FFG whilst GW stick to making the minis.

**Fishboy**

If they bring back BFG with all the bug and Eldar ships I would be quite pleased. I enjoyed the game for the very short timespan it was out wh e I started war gaming.

**PrehistoricUFO**

Would love to see =I= or BFG return. :(

**Ghaz**

If they do bring back the specialist games, I would expect to see Mordheim first as a large number of the warbands can be created with the current WHFB plastics.

**General Hobbs**

Thank God. Hobbit/LOTR is one of GW's better games. Historical players are using the rules for skirmish games now....this is great news.

**Abadabadoobaddon**

So assuming GW is not being split into Games Workshop and Model Workshop, what are the chances this is the beginning of the end for Forgeworld? Could Betrayal at Calth be the first step toward rolling the profitable part of Forgeworld into GW proper so the rest can be cut loose? I mean, if you're in the same boat as The Hobbit... that's not a boat you want to be on.

**-Loki-**

Ghaz wrote:
If they do bring back the specialist games, I would expect to see Mordheim first as a large number of the warbands can be created with the current WHFB plastics.

Except in the Warhammer fluff Mordheim doesn't exist anymore and they're in the process of revamping the Warhammer range. It would have a place as a Warhammer Skirmish game, but wasn't that the whole point of Age of Sigmar? I get that the game scales are still very different, but I don't see Mordheim being the first thing they jump on.

**Ghaz**

And Mordheim was never in the 'present' of the WHFB setting, occurring some 500 years in the past. Just because WHFB is now Age of Sigmar is inconsequential. Mordheim has the shortest lead time as all it would require is rules and not new miniatures to be produced.

**Schmapdi**

They would probably remake Mordheim into some silly AOS bastardized version where they reshuffle the vowels in all the names.

**Ernster**

I could see them doing Mordheim based on the success of Frostgrave.

**H.B.M.C.**

Well that picture makes things more clear.

I retract my earlier statement.

**Azreal13**

I think I may cry...

**RiTides**

The problem for me is, it's likely too little too late (even if true). Why would I go back to a "specialist" division of GW for, for example, a skirmish game when so many other skirmish games have taken their place?

Still exciting though, and makes so much sense I'm almost not sure if I believe it

**Kanluwen**

H.B.M.C. wrote:
Well that picture makes things more clear.

I retract my earlier statement.

That picture actually makes things a bit confusing, to be honest.

Wasn't this supposed to have been an "internal email?