Wargames Geek

Age of Sigmar Battle report

2016-01-11T15:12:00.000+00:00

A nice battle report for Age of Sigmar over at A Tabletop Gamer's Diary.

https://ttgamingdiary.wordpress.com/2015/12/22/battle-report-sudden-assault/

Photo: Copyright A Tabletop Gamers Diary

Mantic 2015 Summary

2016-01-09T17:00:00.000+00:00

Just picked up on this 2015 summary from Mantic. Very interesting reading. Having followed the Deadzone kickstarter a bit I know there have been a few complaints and comments that Mantic have not lived up to their previous high standards of customer communication.

This blog post gives an answer why and it seems like overall it is a good thing, if perhaps with some short term pain. Mantic have grown exponentially in the last couple of years and perhaps the last couple of kickstarters have caught up with them because they have been too damn popular. Probably not enough staff in place to deal with demand, and this post seems to admit the ball was dropped slightly.

It is a very difficult 'chicken and egg' situation to manage, you cannot hire staff when the income is not there, but when things explode you are then playing catch-up. Add in a customer base who probably do not have the first clue about running a business and you need to keep up with that good communication.

However the fact that Mantic have increased their customer base so massively can only be positive for the company and hobby. There is a lot of good will towards the company and hopefully they continue to be as transparent as practical.

Games Workshop Black Library - Ravenlord released

2016-01-08T14:55:00.000+00:00

Black Library have just released RavenLord

"As the Horus Heresy grinds on, Corax and the remnants of his once mighty Legion now wage an entirely different kind of war – liberating worlds oppressed by traitor forces, they gather more and more followers to their banner, disrupting the Warmaster’s influence wherever they can..."

Ravenlord - Gav Thorpe

Black Library - what is coming in 2016

2016-01-07T14:50:00.000+00:00

Black Library have given an update on what to expect in 2016.

"What does the year have in store for Warhammer Digital? What delights await us as 2016 rolls onwards? Here are three of the top things we think you'll love over the next twelve months:

1) Exporing more of the Mortal Realms. Warhammer Age of Sigmar has taken us across the Realms of Fire, Metal and Life so far, but that leaves four more war-torn lands to find out about... What awaits the Stormcast in the Realms of Light, Beasts, Death and Shadow? You'll have to wait and see...

2) Finding out where the next Warhammer 40,000 campaign will take us. The last couple of years have explored the Sanctus Reach, the Cryptus system and the Damocles Gulf... where next? There are no shortage of wars to choose from...

3) Apps! 2015 was a great year for apps, with a relaunch of the Warhammer news app, brand new Warhammer Age of Sigmar and White Dwarf apps, and even a quiz app... and 2016 looks to be equally exciting. As well as loads of updates for the existing apps, we have plans for all sorts of new ones... You'll have to see them to believe them."

Source

Games Workshop - start collecting boxes now available

2016-01-06T14:45:00.000+00:00

The new Games Workshop start collecting boxes have arrived, for some armies at least. Previously discusses, these packs represent good value, especially if you factor in the third party costs.

Find out more here

Photos: Games Workshop

Mantic Forces of the Abyss

2016-01-05T11:04:00.000+00:00

February will see a brand new army from Mantic, the Forces of the Abyss

In the north-east of Mantica lies the Abyss; a vast rent in the ground, to which evil beings flock like moths to a flame. This chasm is a wound in the skin of the world, a prison for the most vile beings ever to walk the world of Mantica. Banished there at the end of the God War, twenty-seven wicked dieties plot the downfall of civilisation, led by the most devious of their number, Oskan the
Father of Lies.

The figures are definitely in the Demonic Mould! I can see these working as 'mix in' with Khorne. You can find out more at Mantic.

Realm of Chaos Blog Summary of the year

2016-01-04T11:03:00.000+00:00

Great write up of the wargaming year and some super minis over at Realm of Chaos 1980s. Well worth reading and drooling over the Oldhammer figures on display.

Photo: Copyright Realm of Chaos 1980s.

Games Workshop Prices - too high?

2016-01-03T14:14:00.000+00:00

Are Games Workshop prices really that bad?

Before there are howls of derision I want to make an objective observation on GW prices when you compare them with another 'toy' in the same niche. If you are the same age as me you might not like them being called toys, and indeed GW seems on one hand to portray the models as high quality collectors's pieces, while at the same time operating a churn and burn policy in the 10-16 age group.

So for a parent who has been buying lego for the past eight years (I am one!), is the switch at eleven years old to GW going to be a huge shock? How many who comment on the big forums about prices are actually parents and really know the price of living and goods?

I would contend GW prices are in line with their niche, within that age bracket the cost of GW models is not out of kilter with lego and similar top end toys. You may argue that they are ALL too expensive (good argument) but in terms of what the market price for these type of items happens to be then they are not too wrong.

For example an individual lego figure will typically cost you anything from £2.50 to £15, depending on rarity. However the average going rate seems to be £2.50-£3. A squad of lego figures would therefore be £25-30. A squad of some of the Force Awakens Star Wars figures may set you back £50. A Space Marine Tactical squad suddenly looks reasonable, especially as you have the option of buying from a third party discounter bringing the price to just over £2 per figure.

We can also look at big kits. Some of the larger Star Wars kits (where the greatest amount of price gouging occurs for Lego) started off at £3-400, Forge World territory. The Kylo Ren command shuttle is £100. For that money I can get a complete Cadian Defence Force, and more from a discounter.

The lego movie Construct-o-Mech is currently £70-80. Not much different from a Wraithknight or equivalent 40K model.

And Warhammer has always been expensive. Back in 1987 three Goblins cost me £2.50. That was a big sum for me. The Warhammer rulebook cost £14.99, again that was a significant amount of money. According to an online inflation calculator £2.50 is now equal to £6.50, about £2.17 per figure now. As I speak a Goblin regiment is on sale for £20.50 at GW, so £1 a figure. So the cost per Goblin is actually 50% of 'the good old days'. On the other hand the same calculations show that the equivalent price of boxed games and rule books is far above inflation.

Back to the main point, overall you need to compare their current prices with niche competitors. I believe that the pricing GW use is 'lego' pricing. Luxury, best of the best, original product pricing for the 10-18 age group. Now I also think the prices for ALL these types of items are far too high.

But within their niche they do not seem too bad, and that is why the parents with the spending power will just not bat an eyelid when little Jonny wants some Space Marines.

What do you think of GW prices?!

Forge World Horus Heresy masterclass Volume One

2016-01-03T11:41:00.000+00:00

Forge World are making available a new Horus Heresy Model Masterclass book. Just off the presses and not even available to buy yet it seems, but one to keep an eye out for.

Source

Photo: Forge World

Sci-fi terrain and buildings for Warhammer40K and Necromunda

2016-01-02T19:00:00.000+00:00

Northumbrian Painting Service have released a some new Sci-fi and industrial buildings and terrain.

There are some nice pieces and the prices seem pretty reasonable. I particularly like the pipeline set. Available painted or unpainted. These ranges were previously available at TSS. Would suit Warhammer 40K, Necromunda, Deadzone or any similar game.

More at Northumbrian Painting Service

Warhammer online games on the increase

2016-01-01T16:30:00.000+00:00

There has been a recent explosion in the number of games available online set in the Warhammer universes. In particular there has been an increase in the number of apps available for the iphone. There has been a stated policy shift from Games Workshop where they are now engaging with individual (and often small) game developers on single individual projects. If you have a good Warhammer game idea then it seems Games Workshop is open to hearing your pitch.

Warhammer 40,000 Apps

All of this seems slightly ironic as one of the bigger imminent games is Total War: Warhammer. This is set in the Old World, pitching the Warhammer races against each other in huge set piece battles. That being the same Old World which has just been obliterated in the fluff and for the Tabletop game, being replaced by Age of Sigmar. Perhaps though the next Total War: Warhammer game is already in the pipeline - Total War: The End Times - Sigmar rises?

Warhammer 40K Squats proxy models from Predastore

2016-01-01T11:36:00.000+00:00

Predastore have some new models available which would proxy for Squats. Very nice sculpts though they are at the top end of the price range. Good for individual characters or specialists for those still missing the Squats.

More and buy at http://www.predastore.ch

Photo: Predastore

Black Library Digital Mystery Box

2016-01-01T11:20:00.000+00:00

Black Library have released a Digital Mystery Box bundle of eBooks and MP3 audios. The bundle promises £240 GBP worth of e-items for £100. THis is a subscription based service which lasts 6 months. Each month you will be sent a new set of reading and listening materials.

Limited availability until 10th January

Source

Games Workshop new start collecting boxed sets

2015-12-31T13:26:00.000+00:00

So the rumour mill on natfka and elsewhere is predicting that Games Workshop will shortly be bringing out 'Start Collecting' box sets which will be a real bargain, in GW terms at least! Each box set will be £50 GBP. The sets will not be direct order only so will be available at further discount from your favourite third party retailer.

As a former Tau collector this seems like a good chance to get back in there. Nurgle look good too. No Eldar unfortunately but maybe in the future.

This would nearly be a return to 15 years ago when a Battle Force was £50, and as low as £37 from third party retailers.

It is an interesting departure for GW and does seem like a concerted effort to realign prices for the beginner. Perhaps they have been listening to the Vets who have long wanted a decrease in prices? Doubtful, market forces are what drive policy in public limited companies so it seems GW are looking at their decreasing market share and player bases and making amends in an attempt to bring in new players.

What do you think?

Warhammer Visions 24 out now

2015-12-31T11:05:00.000+00:00

Warhammer Visions 24 is out. The issue includes...

"the fabulous Word Bearers army we showed you a picture of on Saturday, entries from The Fang painting contest, a gallery of models painted by former Golden Demon winners, another host of entries from Golden Demon: Tanks, a Zone Mortalis board and Tyranid army painted by Paul Gaynor, a Parade Ground of Warhammer 40,000 units, Readers' Models, the latest from 'Eavy Metal, Armies on Parade, the latest madness from John Blanche and a Paint Splatter article for Archaon.."

Buy now

Warhammer TV - Horus Heresy Betrayal at Calth

2015-12-31T05:58:00.000+00:00

If you are still on the fence on whether to pick up the

Betrayal at Calth

set from Games Workshop then this playthrough video might help you decide. At the least the number of models available for the money is quite good.

Warlord Games 10% off sale now

2015-12-30T13:19:00.001+00:00

Warlord Games have a 10% off sale until the end of the year. Enter code BADSANTA2015 at checkout to get the discount. Still time!

Warhammer TV Advent 22 Weathering and chipping on models

2015-12-30T05:56:00.000+00:00

Catch up with day 22 of the Warhammer TV advent for 2015, weathering your models

Warhammer TV Advent 21 Painting snow bases

2015-12-30T05:53:00.000+00:00

Catch up with day 21 of the Warhammer TV advent for 2015 and learn how to make snow covered bases.

Warhammer TV Advent 18 Ork Checks and Dags

2015-12-30T05:45:00.000+00:00

Catch up with day 18 of the Warhammer TV advent for 2015.

Warhammer TV Advent Day 17 - urban tank camouflage

2015-12-30T05:41:00.000+00:00

Catch up with day 17 of the Warhammer TV advent for 2015.

Games Workshop White Dwarf 100 available now

2015-12-29T18:51:00.000+00:00

White Dwarf 100 is now available

From source

"Our centenary issue is a huge celebration of 2015, a look back at all the wonderful miniatures, books, boxed games, board games and supplements that have come out this year. As we found out, a lot can happen in a year, including the End Times, the Age of Sigmar, Betrayal at Calth, Harlequins, Skitarii, Space Marines, Tau… the list goes on! We also ask you to vote for your top five miniatures of 2015, which you can email to us at the White Dwarf email address. We'll be announcing the model of the year in White Dwarf some time next year once we've counted up all the votes (we received over 600 last year and Grots aren't known for their counting skillz)."

White Dwarf Issue 100 - buy now

Warhammer TV advent 20 Creating a Marble Effect

2015-12-28T18:00:00.000+00:00

Catch up with day 20 of the Warhammer TV advent for 2015, techniques for creating a marble effect.

Beyond the Gates of Antares Concord Painting Guide

2015-12-28T15:00:00.000+00:00

Andres Amians gives a step by step guide to painting his Concord Army for Beyond the Gates of Antares. He was looking for a good Wargames standard without spending "three hours on each miniature". Have a look at the results.

Buy now

Black Library News - Horus Heresy Pharos digital exclusive

2015-12-27T21:30:00.000+00:00

Black Library have released a digital exclusive Horus Heresy novel.

"With the noble Emperor Sanguinius ruling from Macragge, Imperium Secundus stands as a lone beacon of hope even as the Warmaster’s forces continue to ravage the rest of the galaxy. Roboute Guilliman, still Master of Ultramar, has convinced his brother that Terra has fallen and that the mysterious Mount Pharos on Sotha now holds the key to mankind’s future. But the Night Lords, those cruel and pitiless sons of Konrad Curze, have been watching from the shadows, and make ready to launch their long-planned attack on the Pharos itself…"

Buy Pharos - Guy Haley