How Much Is Too Much?

Pre-orders for the new Chaos Space Marine codex are up on Games Workshop's website. For $50 you too can own the newest edition.

At that price I am seriously questioning my willingness to purchase it. It is mind blowing how much GW's prices have risen in the last 10 years. For comparison's sake the first codex I purchase was the Space Wolf one back in 3rd Ed. it was $9.99. Yeah 20% the cost.

Now I haven't thumbed through the new Chaos book yet, but I am almost certain it is not 5x as good. I am pretty sure the rules aren't error free. I can guarantee the fluff won't be worthy of literary awards. I am positive the painting/modeling sections won't be life changing. I don't want to pay more for the hard cover, which I don't want anyway. I am also sure it isn't a required text for a college class, which is about the only other type of books that have similar price range for the percentage of content you will use.

There are only two ways I see GW's current business model ending:

1. Eventually GW prices itself out of the market. At this rate of price inflation in 10 more years a codex will cost $250. Seriously at some point it just becomes impossible for people to buy the product, no matter how much MOAR FANCIER! it gets.

2. Gamers come to their senses before number one actually occurs and boycott forcing GW into bankruptcy, at which point someone not hellbent on alienating their consumers purchases the IP and starts selling the products for a reasonable price.

Now seeing as the collector's edition of the codex which was $83 (Yeah that isn't a typo $83, outrageous!) is already sold out, I have very little hope for #2. So GW will mercilessly continue to crush its consumer base...

So I put out my question, somewhat rhetorically, how much is too much?

Other companies get it:
D&D - Starter Box at WalMart $13.00
Flames of War - If you bought last edition's rulebook you get the new mini rulebook FREE.
Fantasy Flight - Our games are expensive, but our rules are incrediblly well written and we even FAQ those regularly. (Insert any major board game company here.)
Mantic(Kings of War/Warpath) - Wait, I can download your core rules FREE?

I could go on and on, but it really isn't worth it. At what point do I stop going back to GW? At what point am I so fed up with paying scads of cash for poor rules quality and a company who cares very little, if at all, about their consumer that I just quit playing?

That point is rapidly approaching, I think the only reason I haven't reached it yet is that I have too much invested. Maybe that is what GW is counting on. Makes me so glad to be your customer GW, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

DOOM Scythes

Why did none of you warn me to bring lube? That was horrific.

My plan for fliers was to ignore them and deal with the rest of my opponents army and just weather the storm. Worked pretty well until I met DOOM Scythes.

Necrons are pretty good in their newest incarnation, not invincible, just very good. I went 1-1 against them. I got slapped around by their DOOM Scythes.

They are over the top. It would only take a few adjustments to fix them:

- They should only fire weapons to the front arc. Those weapons look fixed to me.

- The death ray should have to start its line on a model in the primary target unit within range and LOS.

- The death ray line should follow the hellhound's rules so the line can't end closer than it started to the firer.

Too easy. (As they currently stand, how are at least 2 not an auto include in every Necron army?)

My thoughts, take them as you will.

The Internet, Nerds, and Gaming

I am currently in something of a miniature gaming hiatus, partially by circumstance and partially from lack of draw back to the group.

I have been removed from gaming by work for about 6 months up until my recent visit to the game stores as detailed in my last post. I did get to play one game with an old friend around Hanukkah time as well. Other than those brief forays into the mini gaming world my only association has been anonymously on the internet. Let me just say the internet hasn't made me excited to be a miniature war gamer lately. It seems the rift betwixt fluffy and competitive is as wide as ever, and the vitriol spewed is just as corrosive as I remember.

Let me ask a question that may never be adequately answered: If you don't like a person's opinion or delivery, why do you visit his site, write about him, or go to the trouble of adding disparaging definitions/descriptions of him to websites? Why give the publicity? Why not prove you are the bigger person and just ignore the hate?

Hoping something will spur my interest again soon, or these models may go to waste gathering dust indefinitely.

GW (and other) Stores

     I have recently moved to the Baltimore area, and because of that had my first opportunity to go to an official Games Workshop store. I have been to two so far, and several other local game stores.

     Color me unimpressed with GW. I didn't have a bad experience at either one, just underwhelming.

     The first I went to was the Battle Bunker in Bowie, MD. This is supposed to be the epicenter of Games Workshop events in the greater area, and to be fair there were several events going on. Terrain was plentiful, but not up to the standard to which I am accustomed. It appeared that the only terrain available was the prefab GW table and terrain kits. Nothing scratch built or innovative, and middling paint jobs on what was available. Gamers were plentiful as was their funk as my wife noted upon entry, and the age demographic was inviting (from teens to 50's with a nice mixture). I was mildly interested in a couple of the offered events, but didn't get any information until I approached an employee and began asking questions. I would have expected a new face to at least get a "Hey my name is Bob, can I help you? ... Feel free to look around, and grab me if you have any questions." Not only that, once I had asked the aforementioned employee about the events underway and what other were offered, I had to prompt him to give me a calendar of upcoming events. Maybe the guy is new, I will cut him a break, but my experience there didn't sell me on the GW Corporate gaming environment.

    The second was the GW store in Columbia, MD. I had exactly the opposite experience with the store employee. He was friendly and out going, asked about my level of experience and armies I play, gave me information on events and handed me a calendar and facebook profile for the store. My problem here was the demographic of the store. I was easily 15 years older than anyone but the employee. I don't mind playing against younger opponents or teaching them to play, but a couple 12 year olds with their 2 tactical squads of marines is not my ideal gaming community.

     I won't even mention the names of two of the game stores that ostensibly carry GW and other miniature war gaming products. A couple of boxes from two editions ago tucked behind the massive slot car track doesn't really count.

     The most pleasant experience I had and the store I am most likely to return to was at Games and Stuff in Glen Burnie. The staff was pleasant and informative. I was greeted as soon as I walked in the door, even though there was an event in the registration phase. The staff also made sure they were available to me without being smothering. I didn't stay long enough to see if it was really enforced, but there was a policy clearly posted on the wall in the gaming area to keep language above board, and while I was there it was observed by the patrons. The store was large and well lighted and the gaming area was huge. Not only that having a variety of miniature and board games that I haven't tried was intriguing. From what the staff said they ran a 30 person GW tournament simultaneous to a 20 person FOW mega battle, and from the look of the game room that was no exaggeration.

So GW, a word in your ear, you aren't winning me into your stores on first impressions.

A shout out to my buddies in SLC, thanks for making the last several years of gaming fun. I hope I can find another group as entertaining to game with, and thought provoking to associate with as you.

Competitive vs. Fluffy

I have been an author on Stelek's "Yes the Truth Hurts" for quite some time and the local gaming group that I play 40k with most often is at a local shop called Mind Games, and I find that all too often there is conflict between two groups of people.

First, the competitive gamer who wants a rule set that is well tuned and well supported and desires to play games that are well played tactically with good solid lists on either side.

Second, the fluffy gamer who is all about themed lists and painting and conversions and doing things the fluffy way. These gamers are much more story driven. They often see their game style as "friendly".

Now these descriptions are somewhat simplistic, but really I think this is what the two camps boil down to. For some reason each group sees the other as repulsive and even idiotic. For some reason in most places the two groups refuse to coexist. This to me is totally incomprehensible as I enjoy both ways of playing and feel that they are complimentary rather than conflicting.

To the fluffy gamers: does it hurt the way you like to play for the rules to be well written, frequently and thoroughly FAQed and balanced? Is it unreasonable for someone to enjoy playing the game with a really good well tooled list and be focused on winning rather than creating a cool narrative? Does it cause harm to you in any way for competitive gamers to pursue this course in a reasonable manner?

To the competitive gamers: Does it hurt your play style to have un-tuned armies that are based more on theme than on winning on the table? Does it hurt you to have well painted lovingly converted armies presented to for others to see and comment upon?

So we all agree that the opposing viewpoint is a reasonable pursuit so long as it doesn't impinge on our ability to do things our way right?

My solution to the whole deal is for everyone to simply grow up. You can love the way you do things, that doesn't make it the best, it just makes it yours. In fact I think everyone can appreciate the other way of doing things at least to some extent.

I for one love both competitive and fluffy gaming, I love to throw down with Stelek, and Kyle and others in a no holds barred style where everyone brings the best list they can and shows no mercy. I also love playing ridiculous themed lists that are simply based on what looks cool or seems fun at the moment. (Stupid Thunderfire Cannons)

What seems to me to be the real point of conflict is when one side or the other states as fact that theirs is the BEST (read: only) way to play, or when they give advice on something which they have relatively poor grasp.

So my advice to all including myself:
Take a step back, relax and remember it is a game. Let others enjoy what they enjoy. Don't pretend to be an expert when you aren't. Please admit when you are wrong. Remember there is room for everyone here, just because they don't like to do things your way doesn't mean they don't belong. Finally, you can be friendly and competitive simultaneously. In other words you can be kind, respectful, and have a good time while crushing face on the table top.

Computers aaaaaaaaaaaaahh!

So I don't know what happened, could have even been my kids, but a bunch of my old lists have disappeared from my computer, so I am trying to recreate them currently. I will hopefully get more published soon.

Mercenary Painting

I paint for hire for some of the guys at my local store, and I tell you that since I started doing it painting my own armies has ground way down. I currently have the last of 1 army to finish up and then 2 other armies in the hopper.

Word to the wise, if you don't really like painting you probably shouldn't paint for hire. Also leave room between jobs to work on your own stuff or it will really discourage you.

Oh by the way, if someone paints your army for you, you really shouldn't take credit. REALLY. That just strikes me as really wrong. Why would you want to, you just look really stupid if someone finds out, and if someone does ask for advice on how you did something, you are doing them a disservice by feeding them some crap on how you did(n't do) it.