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As I was researching 40k miniatures on the internet, I came across an unfamiliar website called Forge World. I know it's run by GM, and the models fit in lore-wise to those found on the normal GM website, but the models aren't listed in the normal codexes, and Forge World also has other armies I'd never heard of from GM's other site either. A brief internet search didn't show a clear distinction between the two, so I was wondering if there is a difference in play/usage, and if not why they are on different websites.

Forgeworld is the golden radiance of expensive resin perfection, the makers of specialist models deemed too beautiful to be put into plastic a division of GW in charge of making specialist resin models. The rules for their models are contained within the Forgeworld Imperial Armor books.

Yes, they are completely legal for use in 40k, but some opponents/stores won't like playing against FW models.

HaterTot44 wrote:
As I was researching 40k miniatures on the internet, I came across an unfamiliar website called Forge World. I know it's run by GM, and the models fit in lore-wise to those found on the normal GM website, but the models aren't listed in the normal codexes, and Forge World also has other armies I'd never heard of from GM's other site either. A brief internet search didn't show a clear distinction between the two, so I was wondering if there is a difference in play/usage, and if not why they are on different websites.

Forgeworld is a subdepartment of GW (still part of GW, not subsidiary) that does high end stuff that either mainline GW is not interested in doing or cannot profitably do in plastic. This includes stuff like Titans & Thunderhawks, alternative model lines (e.g. Death Korps of Krieg vs Cadians for IG, Chapter/Legion specific models, Eldar Pirates, etc), reimaginigs of older GW products (e.g. Thudd Guns), and dramatically more elaborate and detailed (and expensive) books on more specific subjects (e.g. Badab war, Vraksian rebellion, etc).

For reasons known only to GW, they mostly pretend like FW doesn't exist in most of the stuff you see, but mainly it's just a different sales channel for more specialize and higher end products.

Also worth mentioning that FW is a also used as a test bed to see if it would be worth doing a product in plastic. Baneblades, Valkyries, the current 30k HH line, they all started as FW only and have proven successful enough for GW to bring into their plastic mainlines.

Trygons were also a FW resin kit before it became the plastic kit that makes trygons/trygon prime/mawlocs.

FW also release faction specific books which supplement GW codices. Some of which are very good, looking at you IA:13.

It is also worth noting that FW produces the Horus Heresy game (AKA Warhammer 30K) which is (kinda) separate entity from normal 40K. Some of the models they produce are meant for HH and do not have rules for normal 40K.

Also worth noting that Forge World models also end production more quickly than GW counterparts, so it's not uncommon for models to be discontinued or replaced.

If you like something, better to get on it sooner rather than later.

Forgeworld is an associate company with GW. Some things are only sold by forge. Forge has lots of cool models, which are 100% 40k legal. Forge also has extra games like Horus Heresy, and on Forge if you are interested in getting a titan, it helps you build one.

FW is comparatively to Slannesh, it will drain every drop, I mean expendable income from you, but it is sooo good!

Edit: this thread may interest the OP
https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/659902.page

It is not complete, especially within the past year, FW has been purging its product line supposedly running out of mold storage space.

Outside of 40k, they also produce models for games such as Necromunda, Blood Bowl and whatever-the-Lord-of-the-Rings-game-is-called-this-edition, to expand upon the plastic sets released by GW itself.

These days the fw department/brand(?) within gw seems predominantly specialist games, though it does some some bespoke models and bits for the main range.

They have their own webstore segregated from the main one, and even their own storefront at warhammer world.

Locked due to severe thread necromancy.