twjolson Posted June 5, 2005 Share Posted June 5, 2005 I've never been shy about bashing the evil empire! First off, I do go to thier store, and I do look, and even buy. I have always found the staff to be helpful, and I like looking at the painted models shown. I do like how they are "one stop shopping". And thier box sets, 30 orcs for 30 bucks, are a great deal, if you like painting units (I am a painter, not a gamer, so units don't usually catch my eye) However, the value just isn't there. For individual mini's is insane. For the same price I can get a huge giant from reapers line; and it will be as detailed or more so then GW's regular sized mini! Some of thier mini's are very nicely done, lots of detail, cool pose, etc. But the majority of thier mini's are bland, no character to them. Whereas Reapers all have character, almost like they have whole histories! Anywho, I could go on and on for hours, but my rant must end here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heisler Posted June 5, 2005 Share Posted June 5, 2005 GW has been sneaky in how it does its price increases here. When you buy a plastic box, you feel like you're getting a deal. "Only 2 bucks each for this? What a deal!" thing is, this time last year, you could get a similar box where each figure was around $1.50, or even worse, $1.25. What changed? Dropped the number of figures from 20 to 16, and then jacked the price $5. Not so great a deal, IMHO. Not that I like to defend GW but the number of figures in the Fantasy Box Sets (I don't play 40K so I can't speak to that), to the best of my knowledge, has never changed. I know for a fact that the Dwarf set did not drop from 20 to 16 figures I have been buying them from the moment they were released and was quite upset because they only had 16 figures. I had to buy three boxes to be able to build my 2 regiments of 20. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanite Posted June 7, 2005 Share Posted June 7, 2005 I used to think we were on the same wavelength, Nanite - but I feel I don't know you anymore. ;) I am filled with shame : ( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars Porsenna Posted June 7, 2005 Share Posted June 7, 2005 Not that I like to defend GW but the number of figures in the Fantasy Box Sets (I don't play 40K so I can't speak to that), to the best of my knowledge, has never changed. I know for a fact that the Dwarf set did not drop from 20 to 16 figures I have been buying them from the moment they were released as was quite upset because they only had 16 figures. I had to buy three boxes to be able to build my 2 regiments of 20. You're right, the actual figures in the boxed sets, once released, never changed; my point is, though, after releasing past boxed sets with 20 figures, GW now charges the same price for newer sets that contain 16. They "sneaked" in a price increase by cutting molds with fewer figures (since they all use the same mold, it costs just as much to cut, or nearso, but pennies to include an extra frame to bring it up to 20; thus you are "forced" to buy an extra box to make up your armies). IMHO this is the most insidious form of price increase. Damon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erion Posted June 7, 2005 Share Posted June 7, 2005 Games workshop is doing somethingright. And I say more power to them. If they can keep people coming back every five years to replace an entire army and rulebooks for their core games, I see no reason why they shouldn't use this trend to their best advantage. Some of their ideas are just ridiculous, and when I think something is I will readily say as such ($40 for three platic ogres, for example, or the more recent astoundingly overpriced Jungle Plants). However, the new wood elves line for WFB is exquisite. Every model I've seen for it up close has called to me, and I'll Finally be taking the full-fledged plunge into WFB because of them. I'm actually curtailing most of my game-related spending for the next couple of weeks to buy the army box when it comes out in August. Is it a lot to spend all at once? Sure, but it's money I would have spent on gaming anyway. I generally don't play 40k anymore except on very special occasions, because 4th edition was far from what it could have been, and the well-designed LOTR game, with the equally well-done miniatures range, might as well not exist around here. Still, GW was my gateway dealer, and I wouldn't have found reaper without them. Say what you want about their methods, but GW is one of the main reasons a company like reaper is able to enter the tabeltop games market in the first place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRigger Posted June 7, 2005 Share Posted June 7, 2005 $30-35 for 20 Imperial Guardsmen is a still a good deal. It's less then $2 for a nicely detailed, easily convertable model. $15 for a single plastic space marine captain is too difficult for me to swallow. Erion! Don't do it! If you *must* buy the models - base them for Warlord! ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars Porsenna Posted June 7, 2005 Share Posted June 7, 2005 However, the new wood elves line for WFB is exquisite. Every model I've seen for it up close has called to me, and I'll Finally be taking the full-fledged plunge into WFB because of them. I'm actually curtailing most of my game-related spending for the next couple of weeks to buy the army box when it comes out in August. Is it a lot to spend all at once? Sure, but it's money I would have spent on gaming anyway. Holy Crap! It took me a while to find them, but yeah, they definitely look cool! I already collect High Elves, so this isn't much of a leap for me... Damon, who will coincidentially have his CC payed off by then... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadaver Posted June 7, 2005 Share Posted June 7, 2005 What hacked me off is the dreadnoughts, and landspeeders used to be made of metal. The metal dred cost about $30, but it was a solid chunk of metal. GW stopped producing the dred in metal assuring the customers that they were switching to plastic to reduce the costs. When they released the "new plastic dred" it costs just as much as the old plastic one. Now it's up to $40 for a plastic model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranzadule Posted June 7, 2005 Share Posted June 7, 2005 24 bucks = 3 bucks a mini, unique poses and beautiful figures. My problem as a long time gamer is that WFB and 40K get worse with each new edition. The rules are dumbed-down and I am the coiner of the phrase you'll hear more and more on forums: Yhatzee-Hammer! (Even if I cannot spell it, you get the idea.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vil-hatarn Posted June 7, 2005 Share Posted June 7, 2005 Well, I won't say that the changes are all bad, but there are a few problems. They tend to overreact to problems or completely ignore them. The price hikes are just plain annoying, and are turning many new gamers off (I've stopped buying GW for the moment). Also, there is a difference between simplification and clarification. They have failed in both, and the result is a ruleset that is not only moderately complicated, but also requires tons of errata and is highly confusing. Go Warlord! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephyrus Posted June 7, 2005 Share Posted June 7, 2005 Heh. When I saw the title, I thought it was a MicroSoft bashing thread. Guess that's what I get for living in the Pacific Northwest. I don't buy GW stuff, so I can't really comment on their evilness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
:0) Posted June 8, 2005 Share Posted June 8, 2005 Twenty plastic skeletons for $30 (or $25 online). Twenty-four plastic goblins for $30 (or again, $25 online). Find me better deals. GW do have some incredible deals, but yes, some things are overpriced. Hobby tools and scenery (especially the new "jungle terrain" $40 pack) are outrageous, but compare something like the GW sprue clippers to Tamiya's or Testors'. @twjolsen: Don't like $8-12 single hero models? Too bad, it's just how the pricing dynamics work. GW is not a roleplaying company such as Reaper. I feel that people are forgetting that. Reaper deals in small bands filled with heroes, so single models are cheaper. GW deals in large units with few single models, so units are cheaper. Sucks to be you. @The plastic dreadnought comment: If I remember correctly, the plastic one comes with multiple arm components, unlike the metal dreadnought which required specially ordered arms. If you don't permanently attach one set of arms to your dreadnought, it saves you money. @The Rag-Narok comment: http://www6.mailordercentral.com/thewarsto...item=9&mitem=12 Seven small minis and some piddly little familiars for $26? At discount? @Warhammer becoming too simplistic: Yes, children are the grease that keeps the GW wheels turning, sadly. Veteran gamers do not keep the bills payed. Point in case is the "Easy to Build" models that come in the starter boxes (dating back to Rogue Trader era and early 40k. Single peice tyranids and marines, anyone?), so I agree with your plight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vejlin Posted June 8, 2005 Share Posted June 8, 2005 To be honest 6th edition WHFB is IMO much better than 5th edition. But then I like both rules, minis and fluff. Only thing I don't like is the prices and crappy customer care. GW prices are heavily influenced by the models in-game usefullness or points cost. Regiments boxes containing models worth few points have more models in them than boxes with valuable models. It sucks big time. Cadaver, I think you can still buy the old GW minis online (metal dread), not sure though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maceswinger Posted June 8, 2005 Author Share Posted June 8, 2005 Well this has nothing to do with the discussion but I just wanted to say that GW wasn't my gateway to the wonderful world of wargaming. I was playing Demonworld and Fearless before EVERYBODY around here started playing 40k (now several years later noone still plays it think ) and since I always do something opposite then the general hype (like when every RPer i know played Dark eye I started playing AD&D) I started playing Warzone. And only a few years ago I started playing Lotr and started buying theyre paints. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deep_sashelas Posted June 8, 2005 Share Posted June 8, 2005 Twenty plastic skeletons for $30 (or $25 online). Twenty-four plastic goblins for $30 (or again, $25 online). Find me better deals. I wasn't going to chime in, but I can't resist a challenge. Please note the below to be stated in a lighthearted sort of voice. 20 plastic skellies for $30? http://store.us.games-workshop.com/storefr...5203&GameNav=13 That's odd. This online store says there's only 16 in here. http://www.black-tree-design.com/btdcat.ph...⊂=&shp=&tot= 18 skellies for $30.63. Granted, not inclusive of shipping charge, but my guess is they're metal. Didn't scan the site long enough to check. http://ironwindmetals.com/catalog/product_...roducts_id=1332 12 skellies for $24.95. Assuming 16 equivalent to GW, total cost $33.33, also metal. Not a total bargain, but a presentable alternative. Well, you can scan the rest of the site I was looking at for ideas. http://www.frothersunite.com/files/wk/sc/s...el1/undead.html Oh, and completely tongue-in-cheek, if you like a bit more flesh on your skellies... http://www.twilightcreationsinc.com/zombies/ 100 plastic zombies for $24.95!!! Seriously though, it's just fun to call Games Workshop the evil empire. Not just because their prices are ridiculous for 'hero', single-character figures or the higher the points cost in their armies, the higher the price - but personally, I remember when there was a time GW was affordable and all their miniatures cheaper. And suddenly everything turns plastic and fewer in number, and the price goes up. Within 3-5 years. Surely inflation is not -that- bad. As you can see from my avatar, I am still hoarding a number of GW figs that I bought in a cheaper day and age and will be happy to paint those up eventually. GW has undeniably very nice sculpts from time to time (as does Reaper and Confrontation), and when I fall in love with one of them, I do end up buying it and burning a hole in my pocket at the same time. (eg. All hail Lord Kroq-gar and his Cold One, if I ever get around to painting him...) Yes, evil empire they may be, but sometimes one has to bend principles. Like I'm typing this post on a Micro$oft machine since the games I like to play all support only WinXP. *coughs* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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