As I stroll through other peoples Blogs and follow links to yet new ones, I am amazed at the amount and standard of Games workshop models these days. I know I will never go back to It myself but I still get a thrill at looking at other peoples work.
However, I did get my GW fix a few years back by playing Dawn of War on the PC. Painting up armies in half an hour then letting them lose with fantastic graphics and sounds effects was brilliant, It's no wonder computer games have hit the table top gaming scene so hard. I have to say though I enjoy the painting side of gaming more these days and that could never be beaten by a computer.
I think for me my lust for GW has been solved by collecting WWII ranges, where you can still go to town on heavily armoured vehicles and equipment and feed your historical head at the same time.
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There's a hobby shop just up the street from me that hosts alot of 40K games. I thought it would be cool to build an Empire army using all WWII models. BUT, the GW purists there were very discouraging of the idea.
I'm mostly into painting anyway, so if there isn't anyone interested in playing with the models I like, that's ok with me.
The Catachan Army troopers always reminded me of WWII Germans,I even bought some from Black Tree Design all those years ago to use with my units. A big GW no no.
I know what you mean though about the purist element to GW gaming. It's not only other ranges that get snubbed, but even their own ranges that have been updated. I hear this all the time. If I were to take my old collection in I'd be laughed out of the shop, not that I ever would mind you.
Still, I have to say their figures and models are breathtaking and the detail they can now achieve with plastic moulding is incredible. At least this last bit we are beginning to see carry over into Historical gaming too now, happy days.
See above, I meant to say Cadin troopers, you see my GW is very rusty.
Interestingly, my mate Greg's Imperial Guard all seem to be Tommies:-
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GBYpymyJpPM/SqvIndHXK3I/AAAAAAAABtg/yGppN1Y_uFI/s1600-h/IMG_3218.JPG
Paradoxically, my own late 1980's Imperial Guard are all French Foreign Legion!
how come you stopped with the games workshop stuff?
I grew tired of games workshop when they started to do more plastics, made lots of army box sets, and doubled all the prices!
I liked the time when there were a lot less models fielded, and those that were there were more unique, I will probably still paint GW stuff in the future but get hold of some of the OOP stuff...
Im mostly into the painting aspect too, I like to read about some of the rules, battle reports, and background information though...
Oh yeah, I messed up too. I meant to say "Imperial Guard," not "Empire." Fun illustration, by the way.
BigRedBat, those 40K Tommies are cool!
I did dabble with 40K again back in 1996 because I liked the look of the MK II marines with their cut off new helmets. I even bought a few vehicles and Dreadnaughts.
The straw that broke the camels back for me though was the time they released the plastic Dreadnaught. After making such a fuss about how plastics could be sold cheaper they released it at the same price as the metal one. The box art showed two so I thought great that's really good value. However, when I found there was only one inside I throw in the towel with GW. I couldn't keep giving my money to these people and moved on. I found the Romans waiting for me.
Hi BRB, It's Greg's army that I've mainly been talking about in the above post. Has he modelled those Tommy helmets from another range or are they yet another version of the Imperial Guard? I like his Industrial, urban look he's achieved on them, very nice. It's though his site that I stubbled across all the other 40K sites, some very impressive stuff going on out there.
I've been fighting the urge lately, too.
But mine's been for the Bugs... not something as easily re-directed by historicals. ;)
I do get pangs of yearning for the good old days. Say what you will about the GW hobby (I have said a lot myself) but I never found myself lacking opponents or wanting for fellow hobbyists when I played those games.
Oh I know It's still very popular, It's just a shame about the prices of the playing pieces.
I don't know If the two are connected but I was surprised to see the price of the Flames of War minis. There's something very Games Workshop about Flames of War and I can't quite put my finger on it. It might even be a secret little brother, I don't know, but I didn't think 15mm figures could be so expensive.
Mind you, maybe I got too used to buying my Mini Figs way back in 1995 at bargin prices.
FOW isn't quite as bad, though when they rebuilt themselves as a company and retooled their product line they are supposed to have called in "experts" from GW to help them.
Keep in mind they went from just one of many 15mm WW@ manufacturers to a gaming juggernaut of their own.
I will say that when they have had to raise prices, they have tended to think a bit more holistically and try to find ways to reduce costs by restructuring their line instead of gross price hikes.
Oh right, I do like Flames of War don't get me wrong, they do produce fantastic reference books. Also It's nice to see full sized units on the field with all their support. I have chosen to stick to 28mm but I do see the pull of fielding a full platoon of Panzar IVs.
Hello. I just poked my head in here quickly, and saw this topic. I just can't resist because you're saying the same things that I've felt.
I love 40k too. The models are great, and the flavor/mood is even better.
If they weren't such crooks, I'd probably still buy their stuff. After my 3rd army, I looked at what a rhino cost, and just said "I'm done".
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