Author Archives: Jon

Golden Demon 2016

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Looking for the winners? Here is the link. Golden Demon 2016 Winners

Great news. Chaptermaster’s very own Ben Jackson will be going to Golden Demon this year. Somehow he had managed to squeeze in a visit to Warhammer Fest in his busy Mathraton training schedule. Ben had this to say.

“I love Golden Demon and I’m so glad GW are making a day of it this year. While I love a trip to Warhammer World as much as the next person, 12 trips in one year is a bit much; unless you live in Nottingham. The atmosphere Golden Demon is electric, and on top of all of the fantastically painted models, the Forge World displays are normally exceptional. I can’t wait to see what I’ve done this year. As a venue The Rico arena is a huge improvement from the NEC and NIA. Having a much more relaxed atmosphere and better food choices available, the parking was also free last time. So big thumbs up to Kevin Rowntree on bringing back the best day in the games workshop calendar. I hope to post some pictures on the day and keep the ChapterMasters website busy with new content for weeks to come.

Plastic Mk4 Space Marines are not from Forge World

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Unless you have been cutoff from the Internet for the last few weeks you have probably gathered Games Workshop have now got production of Mk4 plastic Space Marines underway. This isn’t a great shock, they have had them for years, the bits have just been few and far between and split over a few different boxes of space marines. These new models have clued a bit of upset on the forums, as those who have shelled out for Forge World marines at £25+ per 5 aren’t thrilled at their purchases possibly being devalued. Well on closer inspection (see below) I think it’s clear that although based on Forge World’s design for Mk4 armour (which is based on Citadel’s original design, still available from the GW webstore Armour through the ages, these models are not a carbon copy of the Forge World designs. These new plastic Mk4s look closure to the current tactical marines with some tweeting to appear more like Mk4 armour. Due to which I think the FW designs will hold their value, and possible even increase if Forge World withdraw them all together.

So let’s all keep it frosty and remember that we willing paid the money for Forge World’s highly detailed resin Mk4 models. Disagree? Please do comment. Jon

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Mk8 Rogue Trader Ultramarine Sternguard

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There is still a little detailed paint work left to do on these MkVIII Rouge Trader Space Marines. However now they have reached gamable paint standard I’d like to show them off. I’ve been working on these for decades. The core of the unit is made from all 3 of the original Mk8 Space Marines sculpts by Jes Godwin. I’ve added bits from the Ultramarine Upgrade set, some spare Vanguard and Death Company shoulder pads, and weapons from the Space Marine Tactical squad, along with a single Rouge trader Bolter and Auto pistol to make a combi Melta for the squad leader.IMG_3891.JPGIMG_3892.JPGIMG_3890.JPG

There is a single Rouge Trader back pack has been used for the banner. The others have additions from the plastic Venerable Dreadnought kit.

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And so ends the longest dry spell on Chapter Masters.

The Beginning and End of Warhammer and 40k

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So Warhammer is dead! For years trolls have predicted it’s doom. I guess it’s no surprise to anyone. The product that was once Games Workshops flag ship has been outsold by 40k constantly for many years. The rocketing price of white metal in 2010 meant games workshop had to move their production to plastic, which requires higher sales volumes to reach profit point. Warhammer hasn’t been selling enough of the new lines to justify their production. Hence 40k players not knowing what had hit them, with an eye watering release rate of 40k books and models this year. Warhammer player have looked on in wonder, and horror I should think. There have been nine 40k codexs so far in 2015. Compared with 3 in 2011. Where as there have been 2 Warhammer books compared to 3 in 2011.

40K Codex releases in 2015

Codex ISBN Release Date
Dark Angels ISBN TBA June 2015
Space Marines ISBN 978-1782537472 June 2015
Cult Mechanicus ISBN 978-1782537427 May 2015
Imperial Knights ISBN 978-1782537342 May 2015
Craftworlds ISBN 978-1782537304 April 2015
Skitarii ISBN 978-1782537380 April 2015
Khorne Daemonkin ISBN 978-1782537267 March 2015
Harlequins ISBN 978-1782536833 February 2015
Necrons ISBN 978-1782536079 January 2015

40K Codex releases in 2011

Codex ISBN Release Date Superseded by
Necrons ISBN 978-1907964183 November 2011 7th Edition Codex: Necrons
Sisters of Battle N/A – White Dwarf August/September 2011 6th Edition iBook Codex: Adepta Sororitas
Grey Knights ISBN 978-1841549910 April 2011 7th Edition Codex: Grey Knights

Warhammer Amry books 2014 and 2011

Army ISBN Release Date
Wood Elves ISBN 978-1782532873 May 2014
Dwarfs ISBN 978-1-78253-239-2 February 2014
Army ISBN Release Date
Ogre Kingdoms ISBN 978-1-907964-11-4 September 2011
Tomb Kings ISBN 978-1841549965 May 2011
Orcs & Goblins ISBN 978-1841549866 March 2011

There have been zero Warhammer army books in 2015. The closest thing we have is the End time books

Supplement Notes ISBN Release Date
The End Times: Archaon Volume 5 of the End Times Expansion, contains the grand legion of the everchosen list TBA March 2015
The End Times: Thanquol Volume 4 of the End Times Expansion TBA January 2015

Source https://en.wikipedia.org/

 

So given Warhmmer is not hitting the volumes required to keep the shareholder happy. I don’t blame GW one bit for starting again. Sometimes when you have a car that doesn’t work you should get a new one.

http://andyflavoured.co.uk/blogs-2/archive/blogs-2012-07-09/transport-2-the-cars-that-ate-britain/rusty-old-car/

 

But sometimes you should ask why it doesn’t work and try to fix it first. If it’s because you are putting the wrong gas in the tank you will have the same problem with the new car. You’ll have spent a lot of money and still be stuck.

http://cool-pin.com/post/old-car-wallpaper/

 

The gas in this example is the business equivalent to marketing and the mechanic is the business equivalent to market research. I’m not saying ending WFB was the wrong call. I just can’t see how a new name and a new set of rules will make any difference. I don’t think the names, rules, games sizes or races where the problem with Warhmmer. I hope I’m wrong as this could be 40k in 10 years time.

The reason I say this, is that 40k and Warhammer really owe their success to MB games. The release of Space Crusade and Heroquest took the Games Workshop hobby out of dark… streets across a busy road from a shopping mail, into the main stream. That legacy is still having a impact now. Many Wahammer and 40k players owned or had a friend that owned one of those games. It’s not hard to see why, for many of the kids that bought these board games they were a new idea , playing a game with space men. They were also packed with value, 20 space marines, 15 green skins 8 tyranids, 2 Necrons and a Dreadgnought all for the same price as a normal Board game. In business terms this is known as a market penetration strategy. It’s how to achieve growth in a competitive and emerging markets.

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/448098/my-new-space-crusade-set-just-arrived

 

Anyone who watches the apprentice knows Lord Sugar says cheap volume goods create profit. Space Crusade cost the same amount of money as Monopoly, it was not 3 times the price, which is where GW currently price their board games. GW current pricing strategy is called market creaming. I don’t think a market creaming strategy is wrong for some of their models, the imperial knight being one example. It costs a crazy amount of money and has no more plastic than a land raider, but the value it taken to be almost £100 because it’s a monster of a model and good in the game. However pricing rank and file models above deluxe monopoly is another risk which GW have continued to take. Although this is not good for generating good will, I don’t really see this as the reason their sales have been constantly falling for years.

Games Workshops moved their stores away from the beaten track some time ago. If GW do want to appeal to a new Market with a replacement system, they need to find some way to let people who don’t already play their games know about it, for example advertise it on the TV like MB did with Space Crusade. If they follow their existing marketing strategy, i.e. White Dwarf publications, Games Workshop stores, website and the GW You Tube channel how will they reach anyone new? They might get a few 40k and Lord of the Rings players to cross over but that will be it. I believe their is a new generation of gamers out their and Games Workshop could make a fortune if they actually did some market research, created an affordable product …. and told people about it!

New Space Marine Devastators

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Unlike the Assault Squad kit the Devastators were not really in drastic need of an update. The last set was only 8 years old, by GW plastic life spans that’s practically new. None the less GW have found a way to justify the update. This new set provides an additional 4 heavy weapons as well as more weapon options for the sergeant. The other big change made to freshen up the kit is inclusion of external suppressors on the legs. The devastator legs armour has been depicted in many iconic bits of artwork. They were introduced on the late Rogue Trader Long Fang, pictured below, and subsequent metal Space Marine Devastator kits.

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GW didn’t appear to be able to make these in plastic up until now. GW’s move to using 2 parts for each set of legs has opened up many possibilities, including the other old sets of power armour. It just goes to show GW does listen.

In all this kit provides six sets of legs just like the product it replaces, however their are now 2 Multi Melta, 2 Missile Lunchers and 2 Grav Cannons with Grav amps . The new sergeant options include Lightning Claw, combi bolter with the option of grav, flamer, melta or plasma and a Thunder Hammer along with a over 10 heads to pick from, including 2 mk6 patten, for the womble lover. So what has been lost. I don’t think anything but Grenades and hip mounted bolt pistols had gone.

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So is there really any significant draw back to this new kit. The price has gone from £20.50 to £28. That’s almost a 37% increase and feels like 50% Is it justified? Of course that’s a matter of opinion. At £28 I can’t see people going mad on this one. I also don’t think there is any need to buy more than one box, unless you want a squad of 4 Grav cannon toting Devastators. Most of the other heavy weapon builds can be done for less money using Forge World sets. Which is the only real alternative to this new citadel kit.

I do intend to get one of these new kits for myself. I’ll spread the new legs across two Devastator Squads and build some Grav/Melta and Plasma/Bolter reserve Squads for my Ultramarines.

I actually don’t think GW have overpriced this set, if anything I could have seen it going for £30. There is as much plastic in the set as a tactical squad and each sprue is unique. If it had been £22.50 I probably would have already ordered one just so I could have a play with it. I’d also be thinking about getting a 2nd set so I could have the new legs on a lot more of my heavy weapon marines. As it stands, it will sit on the wish list and it will probably stay there for a while.

So over all, it’s a good product, it’s got a reason for existing, it offers something new and some old and it’s price isn’t ludicrous like some of GW’s other products.

8.5/10 it better than converting your own.

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