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 Sqorgar wrote:

 Filch wrote:
It really doesn't matter if they do because you people with deep pockets keep buying GW stuff.

Money isn't the only cost in buying new models. It's cheaper to buy models in an ecosystem you already exist in than it is to change game systems, find new players, learn new rules, and build new armies. For instance, the Start Collecting Seraphon set fits into my Stormcast army/table as is, while starting a different game would require months of time and hundreds of dollars. In that way, you could say that the Seraphon box is ONLY $85.

Man, you know prices suck in your country when the $140 (admittedly a great deal) 'get started' kits are still more expensive than buying into a new game.

 argonak wrote:

Davor wrote:

pox wrote:GW will charge the absolute highest cost for a model that players will pay. It can be argued if this is good business, that it may be short sighted, or that it's a premium product for a premium price. I think they are taking steps to keep the prices in line, and I feel like they have reached the ceiling or close to it.

GW surpassed it. The proof is their sales are down. GW doesn't make as much anymore since there are not as many people buying as they use to. So I would say they have passed the line for the "common gamer" and now seem to deal with not gamers but "collectors.

There will always be whales buying 2,000 dollar castles, and there will always be scratch builders making something the same size for 30 bucks with a lot of foam and glue.

Really? Name calling?

Whale is a common term used in gaming industry (especially pay to play/freemium/mobile games) to describe consumes who pay the bulk of the money in the economy. Versus the minnows. I doubt he meant it as an insult. In most games of that type a small percentage of the consumers pay the vast bulk of the money, and most players don't pay at all, or only dip their toes in the water.

Thank you for the explanation, I never herd the term before at all.

* The return of Specialist Games
* Online sales, loyalty rewards, cheaper start collecting boxes
* Actually asking for input for the Warhammer TV advent calendar painting videos
* Free rules for AoS
* Actual customer interaction through email and facebook
* Showing and talking about new products more than a week in advance.
* Video play through of Betrayal at Calth with GW employees (also, plastic 30k)

GW has made a bunch of moves recently that were out of character that has spawned many discussions about whether the new CEO is turning things around for the company - while also selling $165 Archaon models.

* Specialist games have yet to return and the execution of these will tell a lot.
* the cheaper starter boxes is a good move.
* When did they ask for input? (genuinely curious)
* When did they interact on Facebook?
* The basic rules for free is a good start.
* More than a week in advance? Examples?

 MWHistorian wrote:

* When did they ask for input? (genuinely curious)

In November, they asked for input about what painting tutorials they should do for the Warhammer TV advent calendar, complete with an email address. I think there was a rumor thread about it.

* When did they interact on Facebook?

My bad. That was technically Warhammer World's facebook page - but it was big enough news that it that BoLS had an article about it called "GW: Warhammer Fantasy Still Welcome". Yeah, two strikes against me for using BoLS and not reading carefully.

* More than a week in advance? Examples?

Well, they showed upcoming Blood Bowl models at the 40th birthday party (not to mention announcing that Blood Bowl was coming back in the first place).

 Sqorgar wrote:
Yeah, two strikes against me for using BoLS and not reading carefully.

That's what you get for using BoLS in the first place

* More than a week in advance? Examples?

Well, they showed upcoming Blood Bowl models at the 40th birthday party (not to mention announcing that Blood Bowl was coming back in the first place).

Technically I believe that was FW showing those off. It's good, but GW themselves are still only announcing things when the preorders go up the week before release, and they are still themselves not communicating with their fans, just giving each store a facebook page and telling customers to take questions and whatnot there.

Roundtree does seem to be changing things, and it might just be taking a long time to reverse Kirby's stupid policies, but like MWHistorian said the implementation of the revived specialist games will speak volumes about GW's future I think.

They sent a bunch of the big podcasters AoS starter sets and the first campaign books.

 jonolikespie wrote:
Roundtree does seem to be changing things, and it might just be taking a long time to reverse Kirby's stupid policies, but like MWHistorian said the implementation of the revived specialist games will speak volumes about GW's future I think.

It's probably important not to put all your faith in the specialist games implementation. No matter how it is implemented, it is working against a lot of nostalgia. I wasn't around during the specialist games previously, but my guess is that they won't be very cheap, featuring fewer models overall, or simplified to the point where people get upset.

My argument for the first is that a lot of board game companies end up releasing revised editions with fewer models (Descent 2E and BattleLore 2E, for example) to reach a cheaper price point, and I doubt GW can even remotely approach the value that games had twenty years ago. And my argument for the second is that specialist games are the perfect beginner point into a hobby that desperately needs new blood, so they'd be fools if they kept the more esoteric rules of the original versions (think Betrayal at Calth - did anyone actually play the game part?). I'm not saying it will be like WHFB to AoS streamling, but it will probably be a bit. Mixed with the nostalgic factor and I just don't think they can live up to the lofty expectations everyone has for them.

I'm just saying, temper your expectations or you are bound to be disappointed. Ultimately, I think the specialist games will be a huge success - just not exactly with the people who are most looking forward to it.

We probably shouldn't count the return of specialist games as a success until they actually have released them. We have no way of knowing what the rules for the new Blood Bowl will look like.

 TheWaspinator wrote:
We probably shouldn't count the return of specialist games as a success until they actually have released them. We have no way of knowing what the rules for the new Blood Bowl will look like.

Indeed. Though it is something to look forward to, one should now put too much into this. We don't know how different the game will be from the original and we do not know how GW will price the box.

Though I really like BB, I can't see myself purchasing the box it for 100€+, for example... and I don't see GW pricing it under 100€.

 jonolikespie wrote:

 Sqorgar wrote:
Yeah, two strikes against me for using BoLS and not reading carefully.

That's what you get for using BoLS in the first place

* More than a week in advance? Examples?

Well, they showed upcoming Blood Bowl models at the 40th birthday party (not to mention announcing that Blood Bowl was coming back in the first place).

Technically I believe that was FW showing those off. It's good, but GW themselves are still only announcing things when the preorders go up the week before release, and they are still themselves not communicating with their fans, just giving each store a facebook page and telling customers to take questions and whatnot there.

Roundtree does seem to be changing things, and it might just be taking a long time to reverse Kirby's stupid policies, but like MWHistorian said the implementation of the revived specialist games will speak volumes about GW's future I think.

I was at the 40th bash and asked several designers and staff members about the new Fyreslayer models (that had already been leaked here and on other sites) and they all point blank denied knowledge of them.

@Davor:

I know it has been covered already, but I really want to stress I was not trying to be insulting to anyone for any reason. Vegas casino's have been using the term "Whale" for many decades now. It is a gambler who rolls into town and spends a whole lotta money gambling. To reach whale status, this number is often in the millions per year. (Or visit!)

They are know by name receive the best rooms, usually have a concierge assigned to them, and have everything but the gambling comped. It's not even an insult to the whale! most are aware of their status, and enjoy the five-star treatment they receive. (although that being said, I'm sure no one actually calls them "whales" to their face.)

When I use the term on a GW player, what I usually mean is that person has a lot of disposable income and spends a lot of it on models.