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Herzlos wrote:
Hastings on Warseer has said that all he's seen that's been confirmed is the re-org & Hobbit support, nothing about the specialist games we're getting excited about.

Not that it's impossible; we do know that they had a Blood Bowl relaunch ready to go and pulled it due to Dreadfleet sales.

I thought he also implied he believed this would be limited run stuff, but I'll caveat that by saying I was having some difficulty following the obscure comments he was making on that.

Well I'm certainly cheered by the possibility of Sg coming pack and with all Plastic/resin models to boot if GWs current direction is anything to go by.

Bad news for eBay scalpers I'm sure, but I wouldn't expect old SG prices. New divisions have overheads....

Nontheless I'll be over in the corner sitting on this pile of salt I found.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
And I just found out that Sepp Blatter is in Hospital, what a day!

I'm off to get a lottery ticket!

Oh man, new Blood Bowl AND Battlefleet Gothic?

-excitedly runs around house squealing like a man-pig-

Honestly, I don't know how I feel about this. On the one hand I play Epic and have played Necro and would like to play BFG. On the other hand, current policy of writing poor rules and selling models for more expensive than the guys on ebay has me worried about it.

It would be nice to have some new opponents and access to high quality rank and file stuff. However, I could see this going as a mini release of some board game like they did with dreadfleet a while back. A lot of over designed models with terrible rules that no one ever plays.

Time will tell I guess. No sense getting to excited until game rules and designs start coming in.

So Hastings ramblings on warseer seem to imply the following

- new department for specialist games as part of FW
- department was responsible for new HH game
- will be responsible for lotr/hobbit
- have access to plastic design/tooling for releases
- would be the department that releases any further new properties/properties reborn

What Herzlos posted

Standalone games, well there is a market - big enough for GW to invest into.

Re-Releases of great games, still played and loved? Does GW get their investment back? Not so sure actually. Clearly GW main is not interested in that vendor, as they closed sale of them not so long ago.

@nedT - You're obviously not playing Warmaster/Necromunda/Mordheim. All are selling 2nd hand for high prices, with some scarce/rare models at frightening prices - just look up a Brettonian Trebuchet or anything Vampire Counts/Skaven for Warmaster. Can be 5x the last GW price for starters!

I love Necromunda and would like to see modern tooled plastics for it, the same with Epic. If anything, even modern GW prices would see the Imperator Titan cost come down compared to the current ebay costs.

They should probably start with warmaster though. I prefer sci-fi but that was the best rule set GW ever produced.

Mmmmmm not all that bad news as I really enjoyed the specialist games. So if it turns out to be true that they are coming back then fantastic ! The support for lotr/hobbit is also very welcome as this is still a game I really enjoy playing so all in all a pretty good piece of news for me.

@notprop Exactly but that is - as much as love these systems and also buy older stuff for them second hand - probably not the size of a peer group GW wants to sell to. It is profitable in small scales. But what caused axing SG in 2013 if not low sales?

I was always interested in Necromunda and BFG but the thought of ruining expensive metal models was too much for me to handle (I was 10 when I first saw them) and I never got in. Now, hopefully, I've got a shot Would using a large painted globe be in scale with bfg models? Would love to start a narrative campaign that begins with a space battle. I'm set with imperial ships due to third parties and tyranids are easy enough to kitbash but I'd love some plastic chaos and eldar ships

UNCLEBADTOUCH wrote:
So Hastings ramblings on warseer seem to imply the following

- new department for specialist games as part of FW
- department was responsible for new HH game
- will be responsible for lotr/hobbit
- have access to plastic design/tooling for releases
- would be the department that releases any further new properties/properties reborn

Yeah, this has the ring of truth around it. For example, we know from inference that Forgeworld is one of the areas of GW that is doing well so giving them a bit more freedom to do well can only help overall. Also, Alan Bligh is a colossal BFG fan...

MacMuckles wrote:
I was always interested in Necromunda and BFG but the thought of ruining expensive metal models was too much for me to handle (I was 10 when I first saw them) and I never got in. Now, hopefully, I've got a shot Would using a large painted globe be in scale with bfg models? Would love to start a narrative campaign that begins with a space battle. I'm set with imperial ships due to third parties and tyranids are easy enough to kitbash but I'd love some plastic chaos and eldar ships

The actual "scale" of BFG ships is a tiny, tiny point at the end of the flight stand. The ship model is just representative. So you can use whatever you want for a planet; generally people use a flat cardstock cutout or a half-sphere of some kind so it's clear on the table where the planet is.

Competitors have already carved up the void left by specialist games' demise, I think this is probably too late for GW, but all the same more games are always a good thing.

nedTCM wrote:
Honestly, I don't know how I feel about this. On the one hand I play Epic and have played Necro and would like to play BFG. On the other hand, current policy of writing poor rules and selling models for more expensive than the guys on ebay has me worried about it.

It would be nice to have some new opponents and access to high quality rank and file stuff. However, I could see this going as a mini release of some board game like they did with dreadfleet a while back. A lot of over designed models with terrible rules that no one ever plays.

Time will tell I guess. No sense getting to excited until game rules and designs start coming in.

Indeed. I wouldn't give GW much benefit of the doubt when it comes to gamedesign these days.

If a new studio is formed and given reasonable autonomy from GW proper, there could be some good stuff coming out for sure. I wouldn't get my hopes up until I see concrete results though.

Now on the GW Maidstone Facebook wall:

Good Morning Maidstone Well i have return from the Games workshop HQ with great news infact fantastic news, which is.........=+-=-=-=))))@@@ in code till Saturday 14TH NOV so i say to all of you come into the store on Saturday morning and find out, this also coinsides with the release of Bettrayal At Calth on Saturday

BFG is returning? Yeeeeeeees!

Gief a Gloriana, pls k ty!

 Fifty wrote:
Now on the GW Maidstone Facebook wall:

Good Morning Maidstone Well i have return from the Games workshop HQ with great news infact fantastic news, which is.........=+-=-=-=))))@@@ in code till Saturday 14TH NOV so i say to all of you come into the store on Saturday morning and find out, this also coinsides with the release of Bettrayal At Calth on Saturday

I guess... Oooooops?

Silent Puffin? wrote:

 Mymearan wrote:

- Would SO play Epic. Love the idea of 40k-scale battles in a miniature scale that actually makes sense.

There is nothing stopping you playing it now. The rules are easily found online and if you pick Marines/Orks/Guard then its not all that expensive, especially with third party stuff such as:


My club plays more Epic than anything else.

This. The SGs are already out there. No need to rip out a kidney to appease the GW idol. The actual minis - or suitable minis - might be less forthcoming, but there are people working on them all the time, at the mo.

I had a small, official, Space Marine Army for Epic. I sold it so I could rebuild it with Troublemaker and Onslaught miniatures. I still will, even if this clattery rumour turns out to be true.

Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:Part of me wants to run through the streets shouting with joy at this news...

but then again, part of me remembers GW's shameful attacks on Chapterhouse, their contempt for customers and independent retailers, and the big you they've been giving the wargames community these past years.

Years ago, pre-internet, when GW were the top dog, they brought these games out, and then let them wither away and die, and now, here we are in a climate when GW are posting a financial loss year after year, and under attack from various new companies, and these games are 'supposed' to be coming out again?

And yet, strangely, people are not worried that these games won't die out again?

If they couldn't afford to support them years ago when they were number 1, then they sure as hell can't support them now. People will get burned again, it's GW.

I must say I'm also disappointed in the dakka community. People seem to have short memories of GW's attitude to the wargames community.

GW dangle the possibility of BFG under people's noses and suddenly all is forgiven?

I'm disgusted, if I'm being honest.

A bit hyperbolic maybe, but y'know, I get it. Especially when people start e-running around like headless chickens, calling the fantastic rush of new games 'SG clones' etc. as if GW is the one, true, games publisher. I guess all it takes is GW to mutter: "Ah'm sorry, baby. Ah di'n't mean tuh get so mad, but you make me do it..."

Akshullee, no, that's not quite accurate. This is a case of a friend of a friend of GW's, muttering "Ah'm sure he's sorry, ma'am. Ah wud guess he di'n't mean to take on so, but he's so crazy ovuh you..."

Mymearan wrote:
Also I don't really have any moral qualms in the case of GW, there are so many companies doing FAR worse things in other sectors, things that kill people, cause irreversible damage to the environment etc, so copyright bullying over miniatures is pretty low on my list of grudges.

Is Volkswagen the new Ferrari?

10penceman wrote:
As for rereleaseing epic 40k it was the worst game in gw history release the old epic this is not good news

It all seems half a**Ed

This isn't rampant fan speculation that they're rereleasing Epic 40K.

It's rampant fan speculation that they're rereleasing Epic: Armeg - beg pardon - Armageddon.

Agreed with that last bit, though.

Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
Not having a go at you, but I remember the Chapterhouse thread and the hand wringing from dakka members about 'evil' GW, but now it's all yeah, I hate them, I hate them so much I'm going to show how much I hate them by walking into their stores and buying their stuff. That'll show them.

Do me a favour.

I remember plenty of stuff like that, even without the Chapterhouse thing. It was always 'I'm gonna stop buying from GW! Just as soon as I've finished my 19,732pts of Space Marines..."

I would be interested if SG somehow made a comeback, to be honest. Back when they were first canned I really hoped GW would rethink it's decision. But now, so much water's gone under the bridge that this gossip of a hint of a rumour of some guy down the pecking order actually fills me with some sort of dread. I would be interested if SG somehow made a comeback - but I'd want anyone other than GW to make it happen.

So the Aussies jumped the gun. It is looking more and more likely that this is true. Hastings and Lady Atia have confirmed some aspects of this. Just need to hear from Sad Panda for the trifecta.

Warhams-77 wrote:
@notprop Exactly but that is - as much as love these systems and also buy older stuff for them second hand - probably not the size of a peer group GW wants to sell to. It is profitable in small scales. But what caused axing SG in 2013 if not low sales?

Lots of reasons for a reversal of decision, mostly money driven but;

They could well have dropped SG in the belief that they were cannibalising the main lines. A few years of flat/falling figures could have shown them that this might nit be the case or the opposite, i.e. they are now perceived as a Gateway to the main systems.

There could also have been the perception that the few million quid of revenue they generated was coming at the cost of staff that could have generate more on the main systems, this could also have been proved to not be the case.

GW management might have given into pressure from Jervis Johnson/others again to start it up; they have lost a few big names over the last few years and might not want to lose those that remain.

GW need to increase revenue after a couple of less than stellar financial reports. A big release of a specialist game would deliver this revenue. Space Hulk sold 70k units at £65, so nearly £5M. Epic was the "3rd" system before LotR so this would have a good possibility of the same sort of business with an all singin & dancin' box. Ditto Bloodbowl, Necromunda and Mordheim.

They might also want to leverage the current popularity of the Video Games like Vermincide, Mordheim and in time Total War: Warhammer & BFG; Allot of the SG titles dovetail with these.

New CEO/chairman/Whatever is his own man is happy to go back if he sees a mistake.

Did I mention the desperately needed turnover, stock prices always need a little tickle.

Warhams-77 wrote:
@notprop Exactly but that is - as much as love these systems and also buy older stuff for them second hand - probably not the size of a peer group GW wants to sell to. It is profitable in small scales. But what caused axing SG in 2013 if not low sales?

Space Hulk.

They probably realized that they had painted themselves into a corner with SG. Years of neglect had left holes in the range, many of the people who pioneered the games had left the company and any attempt to raise prices (GW's favorite past-time) would result in people just not buying the models anyway, so why not kill it off? Then the "this game doesn't exist anymore" paired with the "we did feth all for this game in terms of expansion/advertising" time period gives them a nostalgia window to cash in on with big splash releases like Space Hulk. Now they bring back the game, bump up the price and people will go "sure it's SOUNDS expensive to pay $50 for two plastic cruisers, but have you seen what they go for on eBay? It's a steal!"

Mildly tin-foil hat at the end there, but as far as a business plan goes it's actually not terrible to let the field lie fallow for a little while to gain more freedom in what they do with the range and actually figure out a direction for it. I doubt that's reality, because in the Kirby-as-CEO era I can't muster the belief there was any long-range planning on anythng creative, but it is a plausible theory.

Chikout wrote:
So the Aussies jumped the gun. It is looking more and more likely that this is true. Hastings and Lady Atia have confirmed some aspects of this. Just need to hear from Sad Panda for the trifecta.

Just the bits no-one is getting excited about though? Or do you have a link / quotes?

Man, there are some seriously jaded folks here.
"Bring back specialist games! This sucks!"
"Hey guys, we're bringing back specialist games!"
"Psh, no you're not. Lies. Don't believe it."

I mean, GW has done a lot that hasn't thrilled me, but I believe in rewarding good behavior, and they're actually trying to be good right now (bringing back specialists, multiple new board games at reasonable prices that are real 40k models...).

Some of you guys are making me feel real dirty for siding with the white knights on this one!!

Good points, notprop. I don't think the CEO has much more influence though than others in the company, but thats minor if the general trend in HQ would change the way you describe it. Would be great indeed if that came true. We will know more soon I guess, with rumors pointing at official announcements on Sat, 14th of November.

@Krinsath That makes sense

 timetowaste85 wrote:
Man, there are some seriously jaded folks here.
"Bring back specialist games! This sucks!"
"Hey guys, we're bringing back specialist games!"
"Psh, no you're not. Lies. Don't believe it."

I mean, GW has done a lot that hasn't thrilled me, but I believe in rewarding good behavior, and they're actually trying to be good right now (bringing back specialists, multiple new board games at reasonable prices that are real 40k models...).

Some of you guys are making me feel real dirty for siding with the white knights on this one!!

Not seeing any real evidence of the return of specialist games here. FW and Lotr/hobbit news, yes. SG? wild and rampant speculation.

How about making a specialist fantasy game of massed army combat, with ranks, files etc? That'd be pretty cool. I believe that they may already have something that they discontinued and could just reprint.

 timetowaste85 wrote:
Man, there are some seriously jaded folks here.
"Bring back specialist games! This sucks!"
"Hey guys, we're bringing back specialist games!"
"Psh, no you're not. Lies. Don't believe it."

I mean, GW has done a lot that hasn't thrilled me, but I believe in rewarding good behavior, and they're actually trying to be good right now (bringing back specialists, multiple new board games at reasonable prices that are real 40k models...).

Some of you guys are making me feel real dirty for siding with the white knights on this one!!

We haven't actually seen them do anything yet though.

Well, Battle of Calth contains models at reasonable prices (at least by GW standards they certainly are) but people are rewarding that behavior by purchasing those boxes 'en masse' so I think your criticism is misplaced.

As a LOTR/Hobbit fan this is great news for me particularly with the hint that there would be new releases on the way.. The return of some of the specialist games would be good news as well.

I remember a comment in the last results along the line of we are looking at ways to be more have more price point options. I wonder if the smaller scale of some of the specialist games would open an avenue for this. I am thinking of individual team members for blood bowl, individual BFG ships etc

 Graphite wrote:
How about making a specialist fantasy game of massed army combat, with ranks, files etc? That'd be pretty cool. I believe that they may already have something that they discontinued and could just reprint.

That'd be Warmaster.