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https://jobs.games-workshop.com/search-and-apply/games-developer-matched-play

Key Responsibilities:

Develop and refine rules and mechanics for Warhammer 40,000’s matched play format, ensuring a balanced and competitive experience.

Conduct extensive playtesting and analysis to evaluate the impact of rules changes and gather feedback from the competitive player community.

Collaborate with other designers to create new matched play, mission packs that challenge and inspire players.

Stay informed about the current metagame and competitive trends within the Warhammer 40,000 community, incorporating valuable insights into your design work.

Work closely with other departments, including the Miniatures team and wider Warhammer 40,000 Studio teams, to ensure rules integration and consistency across all aspects of the game.

Engage with the Warhammer 40,000 player community, attending tournaments and events to gather feedback and represent Games Workshop as a knowledgeable and approachable ambassador

Requirements:

Extensive experience playing Warhammer 40,000 in a competitive tournament environment, with a demonstrated winning track record.

In-depth knowledge of the Warhammer 40,000 rules and a passion for the game’s lore and universe.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify game balance issues and propose effective solutions.

Excellent communication and collaboration abilities, as you will be working closely with a diverse team of designers and interacting with players from various backgrounds.

Flexibility and adaptability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

A creative mindset and a desire to push the boundaries of Matched Play gaming through innovative design choices.

All i can say to this is that old Shackleton piece:



Especially the 'small wages' part

Oof, talk about applying for a job where a vast majority of your customers hate you

Not my idea of a sane job tbh

 tauist wrote:
Oof, talk about applying for a job where a vast majority of your customers hate you

Not my idea of a sane job tbh

On one hand, you'd get paid to read Dakka.

On the other, you'd have to read Dakka to get paid

"Conduct extensive playtesting..."

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
"Conduct extensive playtesting..."

In German 'extensiv' has a secondary meaning of "conducted with a vast breadth, but with very little effort" The opposite of 'intensive'.

Someone on Reddit posted that when the last time this job was posted they only offered 25K salary and required re-locating to Nottingham.

So, don't expect this position to be the solution to very many problems.

 CaulynDarr wrote:
Someone on Reddit posted that when the last time this job was posted they only offered 25K salary and required re-locating to Nottingham.

So, don't expect this position to be the solution to very many problems.

If true, the salary alone is the answer to every forum post asking why GW can't every get their gak together when it comes to rules.

 CaulynDarr wrote:
Someone on Reddit posted that when the last time this job was posted they only offered 25K salary and required re-locating to Nottingham.

So, don't expect this position to be the solution to very many problems.

GW is notorious for paying laughably low sums for what amounts to serious design work, they operate on some sort of BS logic that is sadly rather common in artistic and adjacent circles: you do this job to build a resume, because it's your passion, and because you love the worlds they're building. Apparently sometimes they even suggest taking on other jobs (at lower priority, of course) to allow you your 'dream' of working at GW... As the saying in artist circles goes, exposure is something you die of

I assume that it's not a remote work position and that you have to live near/work in Nottingham. I have no idea if that is a good or bad thing.

 warboss wrote:
I assume that it's not a remote work position and that you have to live near/work in Nottingham. I have no idea if that is a good or bad thing.

Let me put it this way - estimated cost of living in Nottingham, including rent, ranges around 1500 pounds a month, for a single living alone.

Contrast that with GW's princely offer of 25.000 pounds annually (a figure that turned up more than once in several videos of ex-GW people), and keep in mind that you'd be expected to buy hobby stuff and such on your own money, and draw your own conclusions.

Tsagualsa wrote:

 warboss wrote:
I assume that it's not a remote work position and that you have to live near/work in Nottingham. I have no idea if that is a good or bad thing.

Let me put it this way - estimated cost of living in Nottingham, including rent, ranges around 1500 pounds a month, for a single living alone.

Contrast that with GW's princely offer of 25.000 pounds annually (a figure that turned up more than once in several videos of ex-GW people), and keep in mind that you'd be expected to buy hobby stuff and such on your own money, and draw your own conclusions.

£25k for Nottingham is still poor money in reality, I live in an area of the country where the cost of living is lower and 25k is still just "ok" at best.

some thoughts:

that GW is searching for a professional playtester after the game is released and most of it printed tells me to not expect a lot in the next 6-12 months and that even with this new position the game gets necessary changes by the time it is halfway thru and work on 11th already ongoing

that they want them to settle in Nottingham while this position is for someone heavily invested into the game, so a person that would have everything necessary to do it at home means it likely someone already in that area or a person that wants to get into the game design community and "game designer at GW" makes a good entry


but at least GW acknowledge the state of the game and that it needs to do something about it

Dudeface wrote:

Tsagualsa wrote:

 warboss wrote:
I assume that it's not a remote work position and that you have to live near/work in Nottingham. I have no idea if that is a good or bad thing.

Let me put it this way - estimated cost of living in Nottingham, including rent, ranges around 1500 pounds a month, for a single living alone.

Contrast that with GW's princely offer of 25.000 pounds annually (a figure that turned up more than once in several videos of ex-GW people), and keep in mind that you'd be expected to buy hobby stuff and such on your own money, and draw your own conclusions.

£25k for Nottingham is still poor money in reality, I live in an area of the country where the cost of living is lower and 25k is still just "ok" at best.

Yeah, that's what i'm saying, sarcastically After taxes these 25k become more like 21k for a single, which rounds out to 1750 a month, just 250 pounds above the absolute bare necessities, and that does not figure stuff like the cost of actually moving there etc. - you'd have trouble even putting down a deposit or whatever at these wages, and that's all considering you can even get the stated rent etc.; you're one broken down car or whatever away from desitution with that job. It's barely tolerable for a recent graduate or someone on his first job, and outright insulting for anyone experienced or professional.

member when GW hired an editor somewhere in 8th to 9th edition era.

member that when HH dropped the english rules had multiple differing iterations of certain things to this day.

 kodos wrote:
some thoughts:

that GW is searching for a professional playtester after the game is released and most of it printed tells me to not expect a lot in the next 6-12 months and that even with this new position the game gets necessary changes by the time it is halfway thru and work on 11th already ongoing

that they want them to settle in Nottingham while this position is for someone heavily invested into the game, so a person that would have everything necessary to do it at home means it likely someone already in that area or a person that wants to get into the game design community and "game designer at GW" makes a good entry


but at least GW acknowledge the state of the game and that it needs to do something about it

Honestly the recruitment criteria if the supposed salary is true is utterly mental. To relocate to a new city for a low paid job for someone with a proven track record of 40k competitive event wins is like a goldilocks situation.

The other big question I had is whether this is expansion or backfill.

Dudeface wrote:

 kodos wrote:
some thoughts:

that GW is searching for a professional playtester after the game is released and most of it printed tells me to not expect a lot in the next 6-12 months and that even with this new position the game gets necessary changes by the time it is halfway thru and work on 11th already ongoing

that they want them to settle in Nottingham while this position is for someone heavily invested into the game, so a person that would have everything necessary to do it at home means it likely someone already in that area or a person that wants to get into the game design community and "game designer at GW" makes a good entry


but at least GW acknowledge the state of the game and that it needs to do something about it

Honestly the recruitment criteria if the supposed salary is true is utterly mental. To relocate to a new city for a low paid job for someone with a proven track record of 40k competitive event wins is like a goldilocks situation.

The other big question I had is whether this is expansion or backfill.

We have at least one data point from James Hewitt:

My salary as a part time retail store worker in 2002 was just over £2.50 an hour (£4.16 in 2021 money, adjusted for inflation — this was when there was a different minimum wage for under 21s), and when I left in 2008 I was on a salary of £14,000pa (£19,100afi). As a store manager in Windsor I was on £17,000pa (£23,300afi), and this increased to £20,000pa (£24,900afi) when I went to Kensington. As a Rules Writer I was paid £19,000pa (£21,700afi), increasing to £20,000pa (£22,300afi) in Specialist Brands.

via: https://lagoon83.medium.com/working-at-games-workshop-the-nuanced-version-edda9ffb1237

Now mind, that was half a dozen years ago, but it seems to fit at least the ballpark.

He goes on:

Also, the figures above shouldn’t be taken as indicative of what anyone else in the same role was being paid at the same time. For example, I know that one of the more senior members of the Rules Writing team was on at least £30,000, because that was one of the things I pointed out in my many attempts to ask for a pay rise. I also know that the person who replaced me on the team was on £26,000, because they matched his previous salary. The point is, the rule seemed to be that they would pay as little as possible, and that generally meant matching what you were on in your previous job if you really put your foot down and said you weren’t taking a pay cut. That said, there were definitely people who were told “sorry, we can’t pay that much”, so presumably there are some (hidden) salary bands for the various positions. That, or the managers have a set budget for their team, and it’s down to them to make a call on whether someone’s too expensive.

So even if they pay more like 30k-35k today (which is a big 'if') that's still extremely low in general, and especially with the very specific demands they're making.

 warboss wrote:
I assume that it's not a remote work position and that you have to live near/work in Nottingham. I have no idea if that is a good or bad thing.

They ought to allow remote work so us crazy Americans that break codex within half an hour of leaked rules can attempt to stop that from happening.

I bet there's already someone they have in mind. A job posting that won't last long and has garbage pay implies it.

Dudeface wrote:
The other big question I had is whether this is expansion or backfill.

going from the responsibilities I would read it that this is a new position in addition to the other game designer whom are you working with but that job has the main focus on balance for matched play

 kodos wrote:
https://jobs.games-workshop.com/search-and-apply/games-developer-matched-play

Key Responsibilities:

Develop and refine rules and mechanics for Warhammer 40,000’s matched play format, ensuring a balanced and competitive experience.

Conduct extensive playtesting and analysis to evaluate the impact of rules changes and gather feedback from the competitive player community.

Collaborate with other designers to create new matched play, mission packs that challenge and inspire players.

Stay informed about the current metagame and competitive trends within the Warhammer 40,000 community, incorporating valuable insights into your design work.

Work closely with other departments, including the Miniatures team and wider Warhammer 40,000 Studio teams, to ensure rules integration and consistency across all aspects of the game.

Engage with the Warhammer 40,000 player community, attending tournaments and events to gather feedback and represent Games Workshop as a knowledgeable and approachable ambassador

Requirements:

Extensive experience playing Warhammer 40,000 in a competitive tournament environment, with a demonstrated winning track record.

In-depth knowledge of the Warhammer 40,000 rules and a passion for the game’s lore and universe.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify game balance issues and propose effective solutions.

Excellent communication and collaboration abilities, as you will be working closely with a diverse team of designers and interacting with players from various backgrounds.

Flexibility and adaptability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

A creative mindset and a desire to push the boundaries of Matched Play gaming through innovative design choices.

for the likely salary they have no chance of getting anyone capable of doing the job, the analytical requirements alone will pay, considerably, better elsewhere

leopard wrote:


for the likely salary they have no chance of getting anyone capable of doing the job, the analytical requirements alone will pay, considerably, better elsewhere

That's not just a GW problem. I heard Fantasy Flight offered similar low salaries for design positions. It came up from a player who was doing some real intricate mathematical analysis on X-Wing. He offered his services officially, but they were no where in the ballpark of what creating his mathematical model would cost on the market.

Designers for games like this should be making comparable salaries to software engineers of similar experience. But given the quality of the Warhammer 40K app, they are probably underpaying for that too. (Changing the unit size not accordingly changing the number of default war gear in the unit offends me professionally and spiritually)

I'm looking at my job which requires two degrees and paid less than what GW is offering when I moved half way across the country to take it, and thinking that the money seems not terrible for somebody who just needs to have a half decent grasp of 40K and be able to control their drooling when in public...

Ok, so its not the worlds best wage, but i will say, that the average wage in the Uk right now is somewhere in the region of 25k a year. In Wales, where I live, its closer to 22k. In London its a lot higher, but so is the cost of living (hence the old london living allowance).

I would ask the posters here what they would consider a decent lkving wage seeing as nurses in wales get an average of £33,000 -£35,000 per year and that is considered one of the most stressful/labour intensive jobs available.

Please note, I am not disparaging anyone here, I'm honestly interested in peoples opinions.

Neither am I defending GW. if it becomes apparent that this is a low wage then I will fully accept these arguments.

princeyg wrote:
Ok, so its not the worlds best wage, but i will say, that the average wage in the Uk right now is somewhere in the region of 25k a year. In Wales, where I live, its closer to 22k. In London its a lot higher, but so is the cost of living (hence the old london living allowance).

I would ask the posters here what they would consider a decent lkving wage seeing as nurses in wales get an average of £33,000 -£35,000 per year and that is considered one of the most stressful/labour intensive jobs available.

Please note, I am not disparaging anyone here, I'm honestly interested in peoples opinions.

Neither am I defending GW. if it becomes apparent that this is a low wage then I will fully accept these arguments.

Glassdoor puts the average salary for Game Designers (mostly of the digital kind, of course) for the UK at £33,000 with around £2,500 additional cash compensations. That's an average that his already heavily slanted downwards by low-level mobile game companies and such. General 'Analysts' sit at £40,000 and Product Designers at £55,000.

GW, by their own admission, are looking for a full-time position, willingness to relocate, with design responsibilities, for someone to keep track of the whole competitive scene, which might include travel and/or work in different timezones and such, with analytical skills, design skill and a proven track record of tournament wins and experience.

If that rumoured salary is true, it's basically a joke for the package of skills and relevant experiences they want.

princeyg wrote:
Ok, so its not the worlds best wage, but i will say, that the average wage in the Uk right now is somewhere in the region of 25k a year. In Wales, where I live, its closer to 22k. In London its a lot higher, but so is the cost of living (hence the old london living allowance).

I would ask the posters here what they would consider a decent lkving wage seeing as nurses in wales get an average of £33,000 -£35,000 per year and that is considered one of the most stressful/labour intensive jobs available.

Please note, I am not disparaging anyone here, I'm honestly interested in peoples opinions.

Neither am I defending GW. if it becomes apparent that this is a low wage then I will fully accept these arguments.

The £25k average salary figure includes part time workers. The UK average salary for full time employment is £33k according to the ONS.

It’s also worth noting the minimum hourly wage in the UK is now £10.42, so a 40hr work week is £21,673.60pa. £25k for any sort of skilled job is laughable.

Aash wrote:

princeyg wrote:
Ok, so its not the worlds best wage, but i will say, that the average wage in the Uk right now is somewhere in the region of 25k a year. In Wales, where I live, its closer to 22k. In London its a lot higher, but so is the cost of living (hence the old london living allowance).

I would ask the posters here what they would consider a decent lkving wage seeing as nurses in wales get an average of £33,000 -£35,000 per year and that is considered one of the most stressful/labour intensive jobs available.

Please note, I am not disparaging anyone here, I'm honestly interested in peoples opinions.

Neither am I defending GW. if it becomes apparent that this is a low wage then I will fully accept these arguments.

The £25k average salary figure includes part time workers. The UK average salary for full time employment is £33k according to the ONS.

It’s also worth noting the minimum hourly wage in the UK is now £10.42, so a 40hr work week is £21,673.60pa. £25k for any sort of skilled job is laughable.

Especially for that laundry list of things - even setting the Warhammer-specific stuff aside, they want someone with strong analytics, project management skills, experience in agile environments, strong and rapid decisionmaking and design 'hotfixing' skills, with aptitude for leadership and communications in diverse environments as well as effectively customer and key stakeholder communications skills (with the tournament scene/ playtesters/ organizers). That's either a job for a team of several people, or for some sort of experienced project manager or consultant with some successes under their belt.

princeyg wrote:
Ok, so its not the worlds best wage, but i will say, that the average wage in the Uk right now is somewhere in the region of 25k a year. In Wales, where I live, its closer to 22k. In London its a lot higher, but so is the cost of living (hence the old london living allowance).

I would ask the posters here what they would consider a decent lkving wage seeing as nurses in wales get an average of £33,000 -£35,000 per year and that is considered one of the most stressful/labour intensive jobs available.

Please note, I am not disparaging anyone here, I'm honestly interested in peoples opinions.

Neither am I defending GW. if it becomes apparent that this is a low wage then I will fully accept these arguments.

Nurses are a profession who are in short supply, grossly underpaid and under represented as well. They deserve more for the hours and work they do.

A better example maybe is that in Yorkshire where I'm hiding, a first line software support guy can easily make 25k at some firms, some of the ones I've worked alongside however couldn't tell their there from their they're. Never mind come close to managing the world load and expectations of that post for a market leader.

Does this mean someone lost their job over the 10th edition launch datacards? The crowd who went to the first hypercompetitive event this weekend in Salzburg sure thinks that they should

Or that position did not exist until now

Read some reports from Salzburg and it was mostly Eldar, Knights and GSC tabling each other and fighting mirrors with a Marine list slipping thru winning 5 out of 6 games

I've seen some posts indicating that a similar position opened um 2ish years ago, with no indication if it was filled or not.

Also, you need to factor in experience in salary. Anyone that could come in and fix their problems right away is going to have to come with a high level of experience. Someone whose been doing similar analysis for for 10 years at least. So you can't look at comparable average salaries, you need to look at average senior level salaries.