Warhammer World September 2015 Mystery

Warhammer World will be shutting for almost a week in September from the 24th to 28th. The mind boggles at what event could take so long? September was traditionally the home of GamesDay. Clearly at this point it’s too late to sell tickets to an event of that sort of magnitude. So the question remains what could the guys at Warhammer World be up to for almost a week? They are also advertising for model makers and painters maybe this is a big clue. Will we be seeing an expansion of the exhibition displays for the rumoured Horus Hersy board game? Or are we looking at a more dramatic remodelling to the centre? Maybe they will finally make the new entrance hall worth while. I’m afraid the only facts I know is that the Forge World displays and artwork prints which were visible from the gaming hall are now locked behind shutters, being only visible to those who have paid for entrance to the exhibition. This does mean the exhibition ends in the shop so something in the world has been put to rights. So there are now defiantly  more painted models on display in your local Gamesworkshop than at Warhammer World, unless you pay for the exhibition.

Over and out

Jon

We have learnt this is an internal Games Workshop event which requires all tables to be removed. Obviously it’s not an internal games day.

Ben

Plastic Mk4 Space Marines are not from Forge World

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

IMG_3957-1.JPGIMG_3960.JPGIMG_3956-3.JPG

The Beginning and End of Warhammer and 40k

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!

Space Marine Devastators

Leaked Space Marine Devastator Pictures hit the Web

Devastator Squad

Hot on the heals of the Assault Squad, Pictures of the new Devastator Squads have been leaked on Bolter and Chainsword The new kits looks like a modem take on the old second edition devastators. It also appears to come with 2 extra Grav Canons. The pictures can be found here Devastators.
Assault Squad

Vanguard Veteran

It looks like we are in for a new bunch of Space Marines in next week’s White Dwarf. Leaked images of both Chapter upgrade sets for Ultramarines and Dark Angles have been posted along with a very dark photo of the new Assault Squad. To me the Assault Squad looks very reminiscent of the old Finecast Vanguard squad.

You can view the pictures here Space Marrine Chapter Upgrade kits

It’s interesting to see new Space Marine models so soon after there last release, two years ago. Picture of new kits don’t prove there will be a new codex. Given Games Workshop’s recent codex release rate I’ll be surprised if there isn’t one. This increase is codex frequency is both a blessing and a curse. While it’s good not to see the likes of Grey Knights neglected due to a lack of new models, it makes me reluctant to buy a codex unless it’s recently been published. I bought a Space Marine codex for a friend earlier this year, as he thought the last one was unjustified. I can only imagine how he will react if and when the next one hits. My own personal collection of up to date codex’s is getting smaller and smaller with each publication. I’m now out of date with Grey Knights, Blood Angels, Eldar, Space Wolves and Orks, yet I have purchased 2 codex in recent months. The good thing about this change in GW’s release policy is the rules in White Dwarf have meant that players can still use some of the new units even if they don’t think a codex purchase is justified. A much better alternative than codex piracy.

As for these new kits. I really like what GW have done with these frames. The fincast Chapter Shoulder pads were simply awfully small compared to the plastic ones of most of GW’s Space Marine kits. The new assault squad also looks to be a marked improvement and long overdue. Of course until we see the prices we won’t know if it will sell like hot cakes like, the new Tactical Squad did, or if will just continues to plug the gaps in players collections.

New Space Marine Assault Squad

Now available from Games Workshop, the New Space Marine Assault Squad

 

Sisters of Battle after May?

New rumours have surfaced that Sister’s of Battle will see new models this year. Early rumours had stated Q2. The same source is now saying post May.

Via Zion on Heresy Online

From the Ripper Swarms:
1. May looks to be a little too soon, but I didn’t get word of where it’ll fit in exactly, just that May was too soon.
2. There is a format change coming for Sisters. I don’t have details coming but there is a change coming. Granted if they get a real codex that’s a format change, but I have a personal feeling that it may get a change in how they build an army (like how the Necrons build the Decurion).
3. Lastly there was some detail regarding the visual design being more inspired by Blanche. Blanche did the 2nd Ed codex cover:

So the trickle of Sisters rumours continues. While we have herd wolf cried many times before, this is the 1st time we have been getting an ongoing drip feed of rumours. This drip feed is much more consistent with GW’s deliberate leaks; than someone having a power trip all to themselves. We can only hope this is true and not someone dashing everyone’s hopes again.

[Edit Ben] The consensus on most of the chat rooms is this “Q2” is going to be 2016, not 2015, sorry to dash your hopes Jono.