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 azreal13 wrote:
1) Reorganise the retail operation. Close the pokey one man stores and centralise the operation into larger multi staff destination stores open 7 days a week and well into the evening. Incorporate staff bonus schemes to include community growth as well as sales growth, linked to tournament entries, game night attendances etc. The staff would be responsible for organising these. Move to stock Forge World and FFG materials in store.

2) Produce a genuine one per faction starter that included a small but balanced force and codex for an appreciable discount.

3) Instruct the studio to produce a small, squad based skirmish game, using the core rules from the main games as their inspiration, with a two step structure allowing for a very basic intro game but with a more advanced level, a la Infinity. Box it with absolutely everything needed to play, get it into non specialist retailers and advertise it in mainstream media. Use this system as both a bridging game and a means to stimulate sales on some under performing lines. Imagine how good a DE Mandrake could be at skirmish level with rules allowing it to redeploy all over the table, make sneak attacks etc, as opposed to their decidedly mediocre 40k showing.

One of the few decent posts in this thread. I agree completely with these suggestions.

 azreal13 wrote:

4) Accept the internet exists

GW do have a regularly updated Facebook page. They also post fan paintings frequently, which is a lot more than most companys' face book pages do. I'd like to see White Dwarf suppliments posted online after a certain period of time, though I think that the free content that a lot of fans are asking for is a bit much. You can't expect GW to pay to produce creative content without charging for it.

 azreal13 wrote:

6) Give the studio more control, only intervening if their ideas were genuinely too costly.

Pretty sure that Yakface said this is how it happens anyway. The "suits" have no real impact on game rules/points value. They might release something new (flyers/buildings) and tell the design team to come up with new rules for them, but the notion that specific units are undercosted becuase GW want to sell kits is by and large a myth.

 azreal13 wrote:

7) Realise that the demographic I was alienating (vets) had more money and were more likely to continue to stick around and adjust the company output to at least reflect the older players interests.

What specifically are you talking about? I'm interested to know what you think GW could do to help out vets.

Hike prices up even further. Forge World and Australia being profitable shows there is more room there. I bet we can get prices up to Australia levels all around the world. It can be the new normal.

Issue myself stock options right before a cost cutting plan is announced in the financial reports. Then I'd exercise the options and borrow money to pay a dividend to myself.

There might be long term issues with such massive price hikes, but I'll have left with my pockets lined with money and they can be someone else's problem.

So basically what Kirby is doing now. There's really no reason to do anything differently. Well, unless you like care about the hobby or something.

 KingmanHighborn wrote:
Make 3rd parties my friends instead of sueing them.

Bring back bitz services.

Bring back the little troll magazines.

Make White Dwarf cover the whole table top hobby.

Have HBO make a graphic cartoon series.

Internal expansion of merchandise. Not just books, but FULL clothing lines, lunchboxes, Space Marine and Sister of Battle halloween outfits, etc. If it exists, slap a 40k label on it.

Allow kitbashing from other sources, and let those models be used in GW stores.

Let people use LOTR bitz and models for 40K and Warhammer conversions, as currently GW does not let you use LOTR bitz on your models in thier stores.

And yeah price drop, but that's a shock tactic, and also try and be nice to the fanbase again. You know by bringing back a forums and suggestion boards and the like.

What do you mean I can only exalt this post once?!

I would also reinstate Tournaments. I know it was a scared cow but, tournaments promote tournaments. New players may spend $1000 dollars in the first year but, veterans are more willing to buy competitive additions to their armies.

 Kanluwen wrote:
I would do nothing that anonymous people on the Internet suggest, unless I actually have empirical evidence to support their suggestions.

Don't be daft Kan. Some (certainly not all) of the people posting in this thread have their heads on straight. Simply dismissing them because they are "anonymous people on the Internet" is disingenuous and arrogant.

 Rainbow Dash wrote:
Marketing, I'd have some
Not only traditional ads, but big tables at conventions to promote the product, hand out fliers and leaflets (a 5-10 page white dwarf thing, a proper catalog)
games day's would be 2 or 3 days, like a normal con, and the stores would have special bonus' and savings and other deals (buy this much and get this free)
obvious price cuts, resurrecting specialist games, actual stores, an internet presence
customer Q&A, that sort of stuff
e-books would be more expensive but would be a guaranteed update for the next version/replaced when errata'd (obviously would be for more then an ipad)
fire matt ward, sweeping changes, how the product is sold and marketed
just some things that come to mind

You read my mind!

 BryllCream wrote:

 azreal13 wrote:

7) Realise that the demographic I was alienating (vets) had more money and were more likely to continue to stick around and adjust the company output to at least reflect the older players interests.

What specifically are you talking about? I'm interested to know what you think GW could do to help out vets.

I don't have any specific ideas, I guess I meant engage more with the community and react accordingly. One thing I would definitely do is pull back from this GI Joe aesthetic that seems to be infiltrating the more recent releases.

Perhaps a 'black label' miniatures range? A selection of alternative sculpts that embraced the grimdark idea rather than seemed to shy away from it. Make these good enough and direct only and you may win back business from those who have walked away.

Also, nostalgia is a powerful thing, especially with wargamers it seems. Revisiting the chapter approved type articles, but perhaps as an occasional book release rather than a hard to find magazine article. Nothing says the game rules have to stop at rulebook+codex, so why not revisit the Realm Of Chaos or Ere We Go books? Not as an essential to play, but to add deeper levels of fluff and more complex rules to factions. Players may buy them just for interest, plus it will allow those who want greater depth from the game to get it.

Make the public company into a private one. In that way you are not beholden to the investors.

I'd raise prices and issue more lawsuits.

I'd withdraw specialist games from sale, and destroy the moulds.

I'd make Matt Ward head of the design team, and have all background determined by him.

I'd ban sales of the product to FLGS that stock non-GW wargaming products.

I'd make the company more child-friendly and introduce more clip-together models.

A new 40k skirmish game targetted at younger audiences with blind-bagged PVC prepaints would be introduced.

 scarletsquig wrote:
I'd raise prices and issue more lawsuits.

I'd withdraw specialist games from sale, and destroy the moulds.

I'd make Matt Ward head of the design team, and have all background determined by him.

I'd ban sales of the product to FLGS that stock non-GW wargaming products.

I'd make the company more child-friendly and introduce more clip-together models.

A new 40k skirmish game targetted at younger audiences with blind-bagged PVC prepaints would be introduced.

The fact you used up some of your life to write this makes me sad.

I would LMFAO.

 azreal13 wrote:

 scarletsquig wrote:
I'd raise prices and issue more lawsuits.

I'd withdraw specialist games from sale, and destroy the moulds.

I'd make Matt Ward head of the design team, and have all background determined by him.

I'd ban sales of the product to FLGS that stock non-GW wargaming products.

I'd make the company more child-friendly and introduce more clip-together models.

A new 40k skirmish game targetted at younger audiences with blind-bagged PVC prepaints would be introduced.

The fact you used up some of your life to write this makes me sad.

Only way his favorite company Mantic will succeed

 scarletsquig wrote:
I'd make the company more child-friendly and introduce more clip-together models.

FYI, this is a change I'd actually support, I like the simple monopose clip together models for my rank and files.

 TheFatElf wrote:
Hey Dakka!

I was running this through my head, and I thought I'd pitch it to you lot:

What would you do if you could become Head of GW?

By this, I don't just mean swim in pools of little plastic men, but more what would you change, i.e. Annual Price increases etc.

I would make a balanced game.. I would change it so that it the entry level to play and have fun would be much lower then it is today. Then I would also suport Fluff rules, that are unbalanced and Whacky, for fun games, more inline with the old Rouge trader rules. You can throw Vortex bombs, do crazy stunts with bikes.. Have to break your vehicles or risk rolling off the battle field or into terrain hehe. Get gas back into the game, the fun table you rolled on after you got Gased in Rouge Trader was fun hehe.. so

1. Balanced competetive game, I would stop Releasing codexes in print form. Just put them up on the Webbsite in PDF format for free download. This would make it easy to change rules and fix Unbalanced things.
2. Would integrate the Forge World rules and models and also make them Balanced,,
3. Make fluff rules for people who just want Crazy things to happen on the battlefield, that function well with the lore, and are mad to be played for FUN..
4. Change up the armies.. there are way to many I think at this point. With an Online Codex you could, Integrate all spacemarines into one Faction for example.. and still keep all the Fluff rules for each...
5. Make an offical forum to get feedback from the comunity..
6. Start suporting older players that actually can afford to buy BIG armies.. But also make the entry level for the little kidds alot cheaper....


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 scarletsquig wrote:
I'd raise prices and issue more lawsuits.

I'd withdraw specialist games from sale, and destroy the moulds.

I'd make Matt Ward head of the design team, and have all background determined by him.

I'd ban sales of the product to FLGS that stock non-GW wargaming products.

I'd make the company more child-friendly and introduce more clip-together models.

A new 40k skirmish game targetted at younger audiences with blind-bagged PVC prepaints would be introduced.

HAHAH this made my day man well put... I love the Blind bagg Idée.. This is just Exellent.. and that you get hate frome some people just shows you hit a nerv...Because this is the GW of the Present and Future if they keep the gak they have been doing and not change up thier company policy...

Fire Matt Ward. Problem solved.

apart from that I think GW is going alright. would like to see a drop in prices, and I would lay off everyone at forge world who believes they can charge THAT MUCH for a piece of bendy resin.

There are too many changes to mention and the specifics would rely heavily on metrics that are only available internally right now. I doubt you could get away with price drops, but repackaging for an increase in value to the customer might be manageable for a few products that sell enough units.

The one big thing I would do would be to split citadel games and games workshop hobby centers into two businesses both owned by the games workshop parent company. Likewise, I would set higher standards of quality and service in most aspects of the business.

I would instantly retire on a large paycheck, and then roll about in my barrels of money.

Then I would probably spend it all on GW models.

instead of full size flier campaigns i'd reintrodune Aeronautica Imperialis and Battlefleet Gothic. Use them for campaign battles and do another mass campaign week like Medusa V. Id release a plastic model of the old lightning and give decent flyers to ALL armies, 1 fighter/bomber and 1 assault transport. Rehash the stormraven and stormtalon kits so they look theyll actually move and then release more varieties of infantry (different IG regiments, DE kabals and such)

Make some bloody fantastic Gaunts Ghosts films.

If i was the head of GW for a little while this is what I would do. Sorry to those that will get angry about this but it's business.

1) Open up internet businesses to sell models online. Make all models available.
2) Drop finecast, too much bad publicity even if they have resolved the problems.
3) Look for a way to lower prices while still maintaining profits, this may mean staff cuts and putting some projects on hold. Possibly even having to bring back metal for a little while.
4) Find out who supplies models for Privateer Press and see if GW still has enough resources to make an exclusive contract with GW to make models. Possibly look into this as a forgeworld replacement.

NickF509 wrote:

4) Find out who supplies models for Privateer Press and see if GW still has enough resources to make an exclusive contract with GW to make models. Possibly look into this as a forgeworld replacement.

PP make their own models in the US, contract the plastics to China, and have the metal models for Europe contracted to Cerberus I believe.

I think the main one is get a decent PR person sorted out and drop the lofty attitude. If GW does stumble, they'll have enough rabids to be able to pick them up, but the company image reeks at the moment.

Don't PR people already have the reputation of being:

"The most expensively hired people a company never listens to."

GW might actually take that to new heights!

wait wait.. I totally know what i would do i has the head of GW. ADVANCE THE PLOT AND STORY OF THE 40k UNIVERSE.

Convert everything to plastic.
Seek a alternative to plastic that can be used in plastic molds.
More combo boxes of minatures with built in discounts.
More campaign style books, and missions for players to buy
More back ground 40k games to play - again mission styles
Expand terrain models to include something for all races - come on guys you would buy this.
Sell/make bits for all the models in the shop, wanted just one of that special sword? Dere ya go! - spend more money..
the greed machine needs ya money, and i am gunna sell you things so you just throw your wallet at me.
Price lock models at 80$ maximium for normal play. Ie the most expensive a model could get is 80$.

Release codex dependent fortification, and objectives. Yup you an buy objectives now.

Make stores do every friday, as a warhammer trial day. invite friends, play on the stores armies.

Include a starting army promotional - spend 150$ get a box of warhammer free that 60 or less when you are starting a army.

Have a email line for people to email in brilliant ideas, and if it is good enough, get free set of what they suggested.

make more gt's and campaigns and things for people to come play.

make my stores host painting tusedays, where people paint at the store on store paints - people will be present to teach you.

Yeah, and continue the power creep. the primarchs must make table top eventually.

thats about it really.. as far as everything else it all seems good.

Well, while we're on this gay summer dream galavanting through poppy fields, in my magical fantasy world:

I'd adopt Steam's tactic of extreme sales based on community requested merchendise a few times a year

I'd put up the codecies and rulebooks online, meaning that the loss of sales there would be made up for by not having to produce them in the first place.

I'd stop charging for units based on their in game rarity/point cost (space marines come with fewer options that a guard squad yet cost 15 dollars more?) And instead set flat rates

Depending on the cost/benefit analysis I'd stop production of paints and brushes and contract through an outside source to bring superior quality at lower prices

I'd include legitimate starter kits for each race, or else alter the balance and price so existing battleforces are universally an ideal beginner's choice.

I'd make the tau both more viable, and play up the fact that the ethereals are the only thing stopping them from literally murdering each other to extinction

At the same time I'd treat the lore like a religion, introducing newbies to the noah's ark of the game (humanity is great! Look at them face these aliens!) Before letting them read up further on the real grimdark nature of things on their own.

I'd offer discount reward systems, wherein long time buyers from gw sources (rather than online secondhand sales) would be given heavy discounts and good incentives, to encourage a return in profits rather than the insanely big secondhand sales market that exists now.

I would also offer a buyback system in each store, where people can sell their models through us to others, and we'll display the for sale stuff in the store, for a cut of the profit. (Yet another attempt to cut into the secondhand sales market competatively)

I'd lower the limitations for stores carrying our goods (probably to "you must carry 1 model/box option for each race minimum") to encourage non gw stores to stock products, and hopefully grow that into having gw models in every hobby store in the uk, australia, and US/canada

I would encourage customer feedback, and respond efficiently to customer suggestions (provided they are in significant numbers, one hillbilly in otowa isn't going to neccessitate a policy change) and as such would get rid of finecast, and switch from using metal/plastic to whichever would be cheaper and still durable.

Hopefully, with lowered prices and faster updated codecies and rulebooks, people would also be more inclined to delve into various forces, and I would emphasize official tournaments before (provided it would prove beneficial) orginizing a tournie circuit in the three main provinces.

Also, instead of altering rules to encourage multiple purchases, I would emphasize the different playstyles of the various games, and return bloodbowl, battlefleet gothic, and space hulk to the center stage.

I'm sure i'll come up with more later

1) get rid of all models
2) sell shaped cooking pans and cookie cutters to bake units
3) change the game name to Smorehammer and Smorehammer 40k
4) profit

Actually read Dakka Dakka bolter & chain sword and listen to the fans to some degree.