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Despite sources, GWs current direction, and all other causes that would lead to this happening, I gotta take it with a grain of salt. Would I buy one? Hell Yes. Would I use it? Probably not. But I feel like this could all just be hype for an April Fool's joke. Which, if it is, and they don't respond with some form of "btw, you will get thunderhawks back, just not immediately.", big error. I don't think so, and it'll be interesting as to see how it goes over considering 8th is a few months out. These last couple waves of releases, have given us lots of big models, such as Magnus, Guilliman, and now Mortarion. Perhaps the new edition will create an environment more friendly and accessible to superheavies.

 Heliodore wrote:
For the people asking about the size of the metal T-hawk, here's mine next to a Stormraven:

Spoiler:

Respect

 Buttery Commissar wrote:

gungo wrote:
Wasn't the metal thunder hawk slightly smaller scale then the resin? And considering plastic can be significantly lighter than resin. If gw makes a plastic version with a sturdier single flight stand they can make the thunderhawk much easier to play with on a 6x4 table. That's what I'm hoping for something akin to a baneblade in table space. Of course this means flyer rules need to suck less on 8th

Smaller, but between 7 and 8 kilos when built, IIRC. Boxed up in the wooden suitcase, around 11KG.

The metal one is substantially smaller than the resin one... 30% smaller by length, 50% by volume. It's closer to a Storm Eagle or Fire Raptor in size than it is to the resin Thunderhawk.

 Don Savik wrote:
I can't wait for the community facebook page to make a post about the new plastic thunderhawk! Then myself and many others will ask 'why can't dark angels/blood angels/space wolves/ and chaos use the thunderhawk when they're all founding chapters?' and then GW will delete the whole post to silence opinions.

Ahhhh.....good times.

In response to my earlier comments, I'm skeptical about this news, but that doesn't mean to say I oppose it if it ever happens. On the contrary, the thunderhawk would be a fantastic model for the painter and collector and would look amazing on any coffee table.

But there in lies the problem. I may be stating the obvious here, but Games Workshop is primarily a GAMES company, the clue being in the name. Games need rules, and the Thunderhawk does nothing for the game or the rules.

40k is, at its core, still the same system from the days of rogue trader. At its heart it's a game of small unit action, skirmish, for warbands of up to 20 models and/or 1 or 2 light vehicles/medium tanks.

When you start adding Knight Titans, Thunderhawks, Tau mega battle suits of doom, and other rules bloat piled on top of one another, you get this horrible, bloated mess of a game.

It's like the British tax system. Years and years of stuff added on, but the core remaining unchanged, no attempt to change it, and the game suffers.

For the collector and painter, this is welcome news. For the gamer, it's a disaster. IMO, thunderhawks for the game should be restricted to epic 40k, where the game was designed to handle them.

Gamesworkshop are a company that exists to make money. The thunderhawk will make them lots of it

That's why it is happening.

Because a thread about a long awaited happy event cannot possibly contain 0% negativity after all...

Can't you just be happy for everyone you know who's going to drool over this model?

Yeah I don't think Games Workshop have cared about the "Games" part in a while, other than its capacity to sell more miniatures at higher prices.

Vorian wrote:
Gamesworkshop are a company that exists to make money. The thunderhawk will make them lots of it

That's why it is happening.

For sure, 99.9% of companies are in it for the money, but most also see the long term picture, and don't sacrifice it for short-term gain.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

AllSeeingSkink wrote:
Yeah I don't think Games Workshop have cared about the "Games" part in a while, other than its capacity to sell more miniatures at higher prices.

A strategy that nearly had them over the cliff edge for a while.

It's no sacrifice, it's s long wished for model. They've put out a huge amount of new games recently with more coming, so it's not exactly impacting them in that way.

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:

Vorian wrote:
Gamesworkshop are a company that exists to make money. The thunderhawk will make them lots of it

That's why it is happening.

For sure, 99.9% of companies are in it for the money, but most also see the long term picture, and don't sacrifice it for short-term gain.

I think that ship has sailed for GW. We already have 400pt Knights and 800pt Stompas written right in to the core codices.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:

AllSeeingSkink wrote:
Yeah I don't think Games Workshop have cared about the "Games" part in a while, other than its capacity to sell more miniatures at higher prices.

A strategy that nearly had them over the cliff edge for a while.

As much as I hate to acknowledge it, GW seem to be having more success by just giving customers bigger toys while leaving the games in their crappy states.

They're pulling themselves back from the edge of the cliff with more toys, not better rules or better prices like I wish they would do.

It's hardly jumping the shark, but I guess commentators gotta commentate.

In the words of bender, screw it, Im going to make my own non space marine space marine codex, and its gonna have black jack, and thunder hawks, and contemptors…

They're pulling themselves back from the edge of the cliff with more toys, not better rules or better prices like I wish they would do.

But they are actually reducing prices, they are just doing it in different ways.

They are releasing more games, with rules that aren't terrible. AoS is aiming for a tight ruleset that's tournament ready (you'd presume 40k is heading that way). They are brining back old popular games. They are bringing out a game specifically for the competitive market.

They are also ENGAGING with their community. It's generating much more good will than the dark years of basically treating it as a hostile entity.

There's lots to the new GW and it isn't just bigger models (though they don't hurt )

With FW announcing something ('which may or may not be-')related soon, the last WD page teasing 'A time to celebrate' and the Warhammer Fest in May, the TH will probably be sold in Q2

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:


But there in lies the problem. I may be stating the obvious here, but Games Workshop is primarily a GAMES company, the clue being in the name. Games need rules, and the Thunderhawk does nothing for the game or the rules.

Actually Games Workshop primarily describe themselves as a miniatures company, the games just happen to be an (albeit big) side part to that. Their own business model in a single sentence is :

We have a simple strategy at Games Workshop. We make the best fantasy miniatures in the world and sell them globally at a profit and we intend to do this forever.

So a plastic thunderhawk would make sense based on that statement.

Though they do actually expand on this and say the games are an important part of it

The games are a key part of both our Hobby and our business model. Our games are played between people present in a room (a Games Workshop store, a club, a school), not with a screen. They are truly social and build a real sense of community and comradeship. This again makes good business sense. The more fun and enjoyable we make our games, the more customers we attract and retain, and the more miniatures our customers want to buy. This in turn allows us to reinvest in making more and more exciting miniatures and games, which creates a virtuous circle for all.

But I'm guessing if it turned out 99% of their customers were only collectors/painters and not gamers they would probably scrap the games!

But I'm guessing if it turned out 99% of their customers were only collectors/painters and not gamers they would probably scrap the games!

To be fair if nobody is buying the rule books there'd be no point to really making them.

The issue is when Kirby and the atmosphere that was being generated pretty much ignored every aspect ASIDE from the model part when they had more bases to cover.

But with regards to the model itself, I'd like a plastic thunderhawk, but much like the others have stated probably more as a collectors piece. But I'm primarily a heresy gamer these days, so I might get a chance to use it now and then especially as some of my opponents have non-primarch LoW . Though it would probably be used for scenario purposes as well

e.g an Istvaan type scenario with both sides scrambling to take control of a (working) abandoned 1, either to escape or use it's weaponary, or as was mentioned previously a Black Hawk Down type scenario

Do_I_not_like is just trolling and trying to derail the thread, that's why he has to answer to himself every now and then. Just ignore him

I've wanted a thunderhawk transporter for quite a while now but could never justify the cost, but now? BRING ON THE PLASTIC AND MAGNETS, POST-HASTE GW!!!

I haven't seen this posted anywhere so apologies if it has been buried think this pic from the video posted the other day confirmed it??

Why is the bloke from Sons of Anarchy visiting Warhammer TV?

To address a number of points.

I'm repeating myself, but I have no doubt it will be a wonderful model for the painter and collector, but a balance has to be struck between those who game, those who collect, and those who buy only to paint.

To my mind, the gamers outweigh the other two groups, so they should be the main priority. Good, solid fun games, like what GW used to do, will encourage repeat business in my book. If you're only a collector or painter, then the rules are not your priority.

I appreciate the fact that some people have been waiting for this Thunderhawk for years, but once those people have the model, you have your short term boost to profits, but what about the long term?

Like I said, the Thunderhawk being used in the game hinders the game, because the rules are so badly in need of an overhaul.

There's nothing worse than spending weeks building and painting up a squad of 20 imperial guardsmen or whatever, lovingly creating them for the tabletop, putting them on the tabletop, and then, 30 seconds later, you're taking them off the table because the Thunderhawk or the Tau mega battle suit of doom, the Primarch etc etc looked at them...

That's a knee to the groin.

In that regard, the Thunderhawk is a double edged sword in my book.

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
To address a number of points.

I'm repeating myself, but I have no doubt it will be a wonderful model for the painter and collector, but a balance has to be struck between those who game, those who collect, and those who buy only to paint.

To my mind, the gamers outweigh the other two groups, so they should be the main priority.

I think there's a large number of gamers who don't really care, are happy seeing absurd models on the table and/or like the idea of a game more than they actually care about the game itself.

Luckily they are making gaming a priority again, with the incredibly turnaround for AoS and hiring people like James Hewitt to work on board games with good, solid rules like Silver Tower (improved even further in Shadows of Hamerhal), giving over Specialist Games to Forge World, publishing tons of new rules material in WD, streaming games several days a week, running competitive tournaments again, etc. Not to mention the fact that they are now actively doing playtesting with tournament organizers and top players for games like AoS and Blood Bowl (and 40k 8th apparently). So while your complaints might have made sense even two years ago, now they pretty much only apply to 40k, and we already know it's getting a reboot.

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
In response to my earlier comments, I'm skeptical about this news, but that doesn't mean to say I oppose it if it ever happens. On the contrary, the thunderhawk would be a fantastic model for the painter and collector and would look amazing on any coffee table.

But there in lies the problem. I may be stating the obvious here, but Games Workshop is primarily a GAMES company, the clue being in the name. Games need rules, and the Thunderhawk does nothing for the game or the rules.

40k is, at its core, still the same system from the days of rogue trader. At its heart it's a game of small unit action, skirmish, for warbands of up to 20 models and/or 1 or 2 light vehicles/medium tanks.

When you start adding Knight Titans, Thunderhawks, Tau mega battle suits of doom, and other rules bloat piled on top of one another, you get this horrible, bloated mess of a game.

It's like the British tax system. Years and years of stuff added on, but the core remaining unchanged, no attempt to change it, and the game suffers.

For the collector and painter, this is welcome news. For the gamer, it's a disaster. IMO, thunderhawks for the game should be restricted to epic 40k, where the game was designed to handle them.

This is flat out not true, Games Workshop is primarily a miniatures company. They make most of their money off of people who will just buy cool new thing than they do anyone else.

The GW of the Kirby era touted itself as a miniatures company but I have not heard that mantra repeated since Rountree took over. In fact there have been more rules for more games released in the last 2 years than the previous ten. That said I really don't think it will have much effect on the way 40k is played. Even if it sells for £125 I think GW will be very happy if they sell one to 10% of marine players and many of those will not want to play it in many games.
There is always a lot of talk about how the big kits and primarchs will ruin 40k but I think I only saw one primarch in use at Adepticon and that was the studio's model.
I also think that GW is stalling until the release of 8th edition. That is why we have not seen an updated codex for a while.
Having a thunder hawk as the last hurrah of 7th edition would be a pretty good way to see it off.

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
Like I said, the Thunderhawk being used in the game hinders the game, because the rules are so badly in need of an overhaul.

The game is unplayable regardless of Thunderhawks.

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
To address a number of points.

I'm repeating myself, but I have no doubt it will be a wonderful model for the painter and collector, but a balance has to be struck between those who game, those who collect, and those who buy only to paint.

To my mind, the gamers outweigh the other two groups, so they should be the main priority. Good, solid fun games, like what GW used to do, will encourage repeat business in my book. If you're only a collector or painter, then the rules are not your priority.

I appreciate the fact that some people have been waiting for this Thunderhawk for years, but once those people have the model, you have your short term boost to profits, but what about the long term?

Like I said, the Thunderhawk being used in the game hinders the game, because the rules are so badly in need of an overhaul.

There's nothing worse than spending weeks building and painting up a squad of 20 imperial guardsmen or whatever, lovingly creating them for the tabletop, putting them on the tabletop, and then, 30 seconds later, you're taking them off the table because the Thunderhawk or the Tau mega battle suit of doom, the Primarch etc etc looked at them...

That's a knee to the groin.

In that regard, the Thunderhawk is a double edged sword in my book.

The problem with the Thunderhawk is not its damage output, it is nowhere near the most OP unit in its points range, the problem is how you maneuver the thing on the average 6'*4' table that has the correct amount of scenery on it. Mine is rarely used as it is such a pain to game with, I would rather game with any of my other super heavies, even my Ordinatus or Reaver are easier to play with. The Thunderhawk takes up most of a FW gaming tile.

I'm glad GW are making the Thunderhawk, I just hope people who buy one get to enjoy lots of games with it.

Chikout wrote:
The GW of the Kirby era touted itself as a miniatures company but I have not heard that mantra repeated since Rountree took over. In fact there have been more rules for more games released in the last 2 years than the previous ten. That said I really don't think it will have much effect on the way 40k is played. Even if it sells for £125 I think GW will be very happy if they sell one to 10% of marine players and many of those will not want to play it in many games.
There is always a lot of talk about how the big kits and primarchs will ruin 40k but I think I only saw one primarch in use at Adepticon and that was the studio's model.
I also think that GW is stalling until the release of 8th edition. That is why we have not seen an updated codex for a while.
Having a thunder hawk as the last hurrah of 7th edition would be a pretty good way to see it off.

I actually lifted the statement directly off their corporate website, but it does also say that the games are a major part of their ability to sell the miniatures but also around building a community. So first and foremost they do still see themselves as a miniature company, but I guess they're trying to change the perception of how they meet that end.