The LAF Games Workshop Discussion Thread

[FramFramson]

The sickest burn

[beefcake]

 

[FramFramson]

One of my friends is playing and is currently on the Vampire Counts campaign. Apparently the VC have the worst economy, which makes tons of sense and is absolutely fitting, but it's funny to hear anyone actually describe them like that.

You can imagine some poor non-undead sod on VC retainer as a steward or something complaining pedantically about "total outputs" or "turnover" and the Carsteins just staring blankly.

[Redmao]

Games Workshop announced the release of their Battle for Vedros line in stores.
We have yet to know where exactly this line will be available... Great marketing.

[Andrew Rae]

The first batch, posted on 28th of April. Update posted on 11th of May.

https://www.facebook.com/battleforvedros/photos/a.779529768857372.1073741828.779197942223888/820777914732557/?type=3&theater

Maybe no ones stocking it in Canada!

[Elbows]

What a silly post...four stores in the same state and two in another.  Really effective. 

I do suspect this idea will be a big success for them.  I may pick some up to play some games with my 9 year old nephew.  I think the real steal here will be if/when these stores decide to do 50-75% off random items in the store.  These kind of stores likely aren't buying into any GW limitations on what they can/can't do. 

[Vermis]

Games Workshop announced the release of their Battle for Vedros line in stores.

Their what?

[Andrew Rae]

North America-only (and apparently not much of it...) repacks of old sprues with sold in non-gaming shops.

[Elbows]

Yep, basically from what I understand:

+Simplified rules to introduce players to the core concepts of basic 40K.
+Old plastic kit produced in pre-colored plastic (green for orks, blue for mehreeens)
+Sold together in a box with some brushes and small paint pots.

The weird thing is that they're targeting some odd retailers in the US --- not game stores.  So they're intentionally spreading the market to hobby shops which don't carry GW lines etc.  I think the hook here is that at some point some of these kits may be sold off at silly reduced prices if no one buys them.  A local store is more likely to clear the shelf at 75% off than a hobby store.

If they release any old vehicles (I think some Orc kopters are in there) you could maybe grab a few for a steal.  Interesting to see if it works at all.  It's a bold idea from such a controlling company.

[Timbor]

Agreed, it is a bold move, but TBH, the second hand market is already flooded with those models so any 'serious' gamer could easily find them and avoid paying GW's regular retail.  There is very little investment in the development as the figures are already sculpted... mostly just packaging and marketing investment.  I can see them selling enough to at least cover their costs for something like this.

If my boys were a bit older, I would pick up a kit like this for them to play around with so they don't ruin all my 'collectable' figures  Heck, if it does well, I might just be able to do that in 3 years or so.

[Major_Gilbear]

The idea for Battle of Vedros is to reuse the moulds they have for the old Battle For Macragge/Assault On Black Reach boxed sets to make a "40k Lite" game for sale in more general retail outlets. I think the initial releases are a trial to see how they fare.

The ultimate intention I believe is to have a stand filled with boxes that are simplified versions (in coloured plastic as mentioned) of the typical units for the featured factions (Orks and Marines so far). These display stands would have a starter kit and then lots of add-on boxes, each add-on containing a complete unit. They are also to be priced at a much lower price point than GW's equivalent "full" kits.

Personally, I got on very well with the simplified kits from the recent GW starters. Much easier to clean up, assemble, and paint than the "full" kits - even if some of the details are a bit so-so occasionally. Once painted up, they are indistinguishable from the full kits, and they are usually at least half the price. My top tip in using these to build an army is to get one full kit (or to get selected parts from one through an online bitz-seller...) and spread the contents over half a dozen starter kits to jazz them up.

I hope Battle for Vedros does well, and that we see these cheap snap-fit kits released over in the UK too.

[Andrew Rae]

Oh how I'd have loved for Silver Tower (and Betrayal at Calth and Overkill) to have included simpler, push-fit figures! So. Many. Parts. 

The best Space Marines GW makes are the push-fit ones from the new 40k paint set. They're not squatting and their waists articulate as the armour is designed to do! https://www.games-workshop.com/en-US/Space-Marines-Starter-Paint-Set-2016

[Major_Gilbear]

Well, I'm currently painting regular Dark Angel Marines from the DV box, and they are  a doddle compared to the fiddliness of the full kits.

Don't get me wrong, the new Tactical/whatever kits are very nice and sharp, and they have tons of cool options.

They just take forever to clean and assemble (more parts = more mouldlines), and when you have a full company on the table, nobody at any inspection distance is going to notice or care that they were loads more work than the three-part DV Marines who look just as good.

To my mind, the only way the DV marines could be significantly improved is if they had separate heads and if there were ten poses in a squad rather than six. That little detail would make them a bit easier to alter and vary over a big army. But you know, only if that sort of thing bothers you!

[YPU]

Oh how I'd have loved for Silver Tower (and Betrayal at Calth and Overkill) to have included simpler, push-fit figures! So. Many. Parts. 

The best Space Marines GW makes are the push-fit ones from the new 40k paint set. They're not squatting and their waists articulate as the armour is designed to do! https://www.games-workshop.com/en-US/Space-Marines-Starter-Paint-Set-2016

I hadn't seen those, I have to agree those are surprisingly good looking for push fit paint set models.

[MagpieJono]

I've found that the packs of 5 push fit Cadians are much better mouldings than the multipart ones. They're cracking little models.