Interesting. I think I've become one of GW's mythical collectors that none of us know.
Over the past few weeks I've been watching quite a few hobby videos on YouTube, most of them aimed at painting 40k models. These are generally airbrush tutorials, but not exclusively so. They have really enthused me to start painting the bare metal/plastic 40k models I have downstairs in the Dunn-geon.
So out have come the 40k Iron Warriors and I'm currently building them, ready to paint.
But the really interesting thing is that I have absolutely no interest in playing 40k - just in finishing the army!
The reason for this may be a diminished attention span but really it is the perception that the game is a complete dog's breakfast.
A lot of this seems to be driven by the introduction of complication for no discernible purpose. Notice I don't say complexity. None of the added material is necessarily complex, rather just veneers of added rules. The last two 40k competitions I've viewed - Call to Arms and Maelstrom had people nose deep in their rule books trying to decipher some unnecessarily elaborate rule.
The second thing that sticks out is the introduction of allies into the mix. This "unbound" nature has created forces that have no semblance of a reasonable basis - Tau armies with allied Space Marines, an Imperial Knight and maybe an assassin or Inquistor. I'm sure you can tell me a story how they all got together but in my eyes "Cool Story Bro, it doesn't look like an army". Maelstrom last year looked like "Bring Your Imperial Knight to School" day.
The final thing is the power creep introduced by GW's release schedule. So you've had two Tau releases (and one on the way) since the last Chaos Space Marines. Because GW has to sell models these releases have to see some sort of power creep as by their own admission GW gave up any thoughts of balancing their games at least as long ago as 2013. This was evidenced in WHFB with the release of Doomfire Warlocks, the Host of the Eternity King and no FAQs in the last 30 months of the game. They followed this with Age of Sigmar where you just "bring your collections" because balanced points are so last decade. Roll on Q4 when GW throws out any
I'm sure some TO will tell me I'm wrong and the game is great and I should give it a chance. However just like I know I wouldn't enjoy being subjected to prison rape although I haven't experienced it , I don't have to play 40k to know I wouldn't enjoy it.
Thanks GW....you made me into a Collector!
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Its not long now until 40k looses the points and becomes Age of Sigmar 40k...
ReplyDeleteI don't play but I'd love to.
ReplyDeleteThe codexes and supplements are so crazy and real confusing to get into. That said I am reading the core 7th edition rules and I think its a fun set.
Really I think they just need to keep points but make all these damn formations free to download so everyone can actually keep up.
I'm in the same boat, I'm a collector of the Space Wolves. When I occasionally read an article about competitive armies it just makes me sad that what was once a cool system seems to be about nothing but counter-intuitive gimmicks.
ReplyDeleteThat's it for me. The reality of the game is so far away from the fluff.
DeleteI'm building my Iron Warriors to the old IA model (except only 3 HS) with the addition of the Warpsmith model and the Forgefiend.
Same for me as I collect Death Wing :(
DeleteStill got your old 3rd ed rulebook & 3.5 chaos dex? Then play some wrinklehammer instead ;)
ReplyDeleteBut with pre-measuring!
DeleteBut guess range was so much fun for whirlwinds & stuff!
Deletenot being able to premeasure caused so much frustration and mistrust of the opponent.
DeleteI like the idea of playing third edition again (or at least some variation of it) I want a game where a squad of marines counts for something.
I am painting up a Flesh Tearers army Pete so we can put your cool fancy board to use.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. I can run all my no longer existing armies - Chaos Legions, Ulthwe, Goffs - against you!
DeleteHi Pete,
ReplyDeleteI've just started painting a new Space Marine army, aiming for 750 points at the moment if you fancy a game sometime. I'm really enjoying the Maelstrom missions with the random cards.
Cheers,
Bryn.
Hi all,
ReplyDeletenew to the blog and must say I like it a lot, great job Peter! On topic: I switched as well from WHFB to KoW and I am now planning to do the same with my 40k stuff. Have you considered Warpath? Beta is already out and in a couple of weeks Warpath Firefight will also start beta phase. Looks interesting to me, especially WP Firefight. Keep your army, keep the fluff if you like, just switch the system. Iron Warriors should play nicely using the Forge Fathers army list.
Cheers,
Jan