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So I did a search and a topic like this never came up. I know that it gets a lot of off topic comments in various threads but it doesn't have an actual thread yet.

I want to talk about actual facts of WHFB's popularity. A lot of opinions stat that it has lost popularity due to the new rules but I see actual facts disagreeing but as with all facts they can be interpreted quite differently. So I thought I reach out to dakka and see if any posters can come up with more solid facts. I don't care which way the lean but I just would like real world facts that can be verified.

Example, I own a game store and my sales records indicate a decrease, yet I never sold much fantasy any ways. I can back it up with a record of sales from previous months etc. I know not to actually expect something like that but hey its an example.

Now my fact is this on rankings HQ for America the number of tournaments for WHFB is slightly larger for 40k in all respects, meaning more registered players more registered tournaments that are reported, etc. So to me this is one fact that states the WHFB has not decreased in popularity at all. It actually has at least maintained its popularity but from a website like rankings HQ this could only just reflect that the few players for fantasy really like tournaments compared to the hundreds of 40k players.

So what do you guys think?

It depends on how you define 'popular'. If you're going by registered tournament events, then your fact supports the conclusion that Fantasy is more popular.

If you're going to go by sales volume, dollar sales, or player base expansion in the non-registered-tournament circuit, then your fact does not support this, and you need more facts before you can say anything one way or the other.

At my store, the people who have always played Fantasy still do, fewer casual players have shown up than usual, and almost no new players have picked it up, that I've noticed. Make of that what you will.

A local tournement that is going on, last year only had 40 people register, this year 64 competitors are registered. This is in middle of no where Wisconsin, however, and that's the best I got for you.

However I've seen more fantasy than 40k played in the local store in past two months however.

Honestly? Just look at the difference between Army Book and Codex releases. I'd be lying if I said I was sure, but I think we've had more Space Marine Codexes of various flavours re-done this year than we've had Fantasy stuff released the last two. I may well be wong though.

Games Workshop pumps out what sells, and we've had so many more releases for 40k than Fantasy...which sucks, because I'm actually really fond of the new rules and have few people to go against.

How many play both? I used to do both when I was younger and playing the games, the way there seem to be two camps of people is only something I've seen since coming online.

I don't know about the Rankings HQ data - but for Adepticon, 40K out sells WFB by 3 (or even 4) to 1. The postings from the NOVA tournament here on Dakka indicate they are selling out of 40K tickets as fast as Adepticon.

One stores records are hard to judge a trend by. A lot of your regulars will play what you push. If you tried, I bet you could get WFB rocking and 40K on the side lines by the end of the summer.

Howard A Treesong wrote:How many play both? I used to do both when I was younger and playing the games, the way there seem to be two camps of people is only something I've seen since coming online.

A few, I know the main two out of the three guys who run the tourney are fantasy only players, and even run a fantasty focused pod cast. http://pointhammered.com/
I can actually say that my only 3 of my regular 40k opponents have a fantasy army that's ready to go, Two of them have each bought and swapped an IoB box, so I know there are some more coming, but that's a lot of rats and elves.

I think that another good fantasy release with a few new books would help at this time.

I too used to play both, sixth ed. Fantasy rules were amazingly good fun to play, it felt really tactical and encouraged thoughtful play. The comparative 3 ed 40k was a mess of boring dice-offs. With 5th 40k has really come into its own and now feels alot more fun and tactical. WHFB has descended into the boring dice chucking of 3 edition 40k. I think Games workshop idiotically created a perfect game with 6th ed but saw from 4th ed 40k how profitable re-releasing minorly tweaked rules could be. 8th has some nice elements: The magic system looks amazingly good fun! but all the changes to the close combat, eradicating proper guess range from games workshop, and 'Rolling a charge' rather than declaring it are pure pish...

I play both but have only recently come back to Fantasy since recent edition. And in terms of games played, the balance is skewed way more in favour of 40K.

So many things to factor in. Sales is not a good indication the way the economy is. And you`d have to factor in all the second hand sales and e-bay sales etc. Tournaments might be a factor but then you have to factor demographics and the fact that some groups are just more organised than others.

I play both systems. In my neck of the woods 40K takes it and always has. I find with 40K the fluff is amazing and they re-invent some armies (how many marine variants to we have?) and it is faster paced I find.

But as for fantasy I played 4 months straight when the new rules came out. As for releases we`ve seen the new rules, high elf wave of plastics, IOB, upcoming O&Gs, rat stuff, Empire stuff.

Gamestore facts can vary quite a bit but will actually provide some insite as to what the players are doing on a local scale. Around my location there is a store that plays fantasy only. Then two stores within 20 - 30 minutes that have a variety of both and other games. The local store is mainly a place for card gamers but the small selection of miniature gamers are all fantasy.

40K always seems more popular than Fantasy where i've ever played. Whenever i go to my FLGS i always have to take an army from both game systems, even though i intend to play fantasy, because i'm unlikely to get a game in if i don't. Most new players coming into the store normally pick to play 40K (and then pick the Space Marines, but that's another matter). I think it's a shame, i like the new fanstasy rules, there's a few issues, but there always are.

Fantsay came before 40k, and yet GW concentrate primarily on 40k, i know it's profitable and all, but it's still a shame, WHFB kicked them off after all.

Still, it's unlikely to ever die out and there are still going to be a lot of people who play fantasy, a lot of gamers play both, so it's ok in that regard. I find it harder to get a fantasy game than a 40K though, and i'd really like to play some more fantasy.