Thursday, August 7, 2014

The point at which it all falls apart.

o/

Well, the flood gates are about to open. A combination of economic necessity, my general state of apathy towards 7th edition, along with my total contempt of the way GW is doing business has led me to this point. I'm not saying I'm 'done with 40k' but I am going to be making a massive reduction in my overall collection. Hell, right now, I don't even want the 7th ed rulebook. Why waste our money? My GF offered to buy me the Stormclaw box for my birthday but I declined the offer. Honestly, there wasn't anything in the box that I wanted. No, not even the rules.

 No longer interested in selling great games, GW is instead only concerned with wringing every last dollar out of its fans, whilst trashing its core game of 40k. Firstly, you need to spend a bucket load of $$$ on 'supplements', remember folks, GW is a miniatures company, not a rules company. Thus spending $150 on a codex and 2 supplements to be able to get full functionality out of your models is just an option. Apparently supplements are now designed to contain an army's lynchpin rules that were left out of the codex books (rather than adding contents in after-the-fact like a 'supplement' ought to do).

Following that, you need to buy the latest giant stompy/flying whatever that debatably fits into the fluff (a marine inside a marine, really?), and/or models that only ought to be in Apocalypse (don't hear about that flavor of 40k much anymore, guess its obsolete). Then with these new toys (who's rules are far better than what you bought years ago) they will paste whatever is in front of them, unless the opponent has something equally unbalanced. But wait! Don't forget those supplemental 'formations' where you get some 'free rules' in return for spending a mortgage payment's worth of money on whatever they're trying to sell (like 5 battlewagons, because everyone needs 5 of them in a regular game, right?).

Umm, where's the strategy in that? 

Toss in unbound (not that I've ever seen anyone bother with it as multiple CADs essentially do the same thing, only better as permission is not required), the WHFB-esque psychic phase with the alteration of making dispelling all but impossible unless the opponent spams psykers, (I'll skip the obvious rant on all of the witchfire spells in the ork codex) along with the rest of the half-assed, shove it out the door 7th ed, which was only done in the futile hope of raising the bottom line quickly (and how did that go GW?).

Oh, not so good you say? Wonder why? Perhaps the fish stinks at the head?

Tom Kirby (Dogbert) in action...

Nothing, and I mean NOTHING that I've experienced with this stupid, premature edition has excited me, nor made me want to play 40k more.

Not. One. Damned. Thing. 

I've loved this game for 20ish years and this is what we get? GW screaming: BUY MOAR!!! All while not giving us what we want, or even asking. Instead just making shit up and expecting people to buy it with glee?

Just a few games in and my GF and I are all about X-Wing. True that is probably just 'ooh, new and shiny' syndrome, but ya now what? It takes strategy to really play it, not just buying the new uber model. Then again, the direction GW has taken with 40k gave us, and many others reason to go looking for something else in the first place. Hell, we've also talked about dusting off my quite neglected WHFB armies to play (I'm tentatively set to play WHFB this weekend actually, first time in at least a year). With the advent of 7th ed. 40k, Saturday night gaming at the FLGS has gone quickly from 40k and maybe another random game or two, to an even mix of: Infinity, Warmahordes, X-Wing, and 40k in relatively short order.

We all lay the blame at GW's feet. 

As an example: prior to the Ork codex release, our gaming group was planning an enormous Orks vs/Everybody Apoc game. Now? Nope, notta word about it. Of the 5 main Ork armies that were in our group, 2 have been traded away (both by the 2 guys who were the ones organizing the Apoc game), and mine is in downsizing mode.

Already the Spess Puppy players are bitching as they have tons of Grey Hunters with Bolters and Chainswords, and apparently that's not an option in their new, forthcoming codex. Come now guys, be good GW fanbois and just throw those models out and buy new ones, you know that that's what they want. Also be sure to buy Santa Claws, and a flying brick for every squad. So glad. So...so glad I sold my Space Wolves back in 4th ed. That stupid sled (admittedly, the termie riding in it looks AMAZING!!!) ought to be converted to have it jumping an 'ice shark' on its base.

I just...I just don't understand what their thinking is. I really don't and at this point, the really sad part is: I don't think I'd even care if I did.




22 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think a lot of folks go through a phase like this. I say take a break for a while, and come back when something strikes your interest.

I had no interest in 40k 6th ed. and didn't play it at all, but continued with other games like Epic, BFG, Necromunda, and a whole host of other non-GW games that require small skirmish forces instead of vast armies.

Necromunda got us talking about 40K again and our effort this fall will be some 30K Heresy stuff with small scale actions instead of vast armies.

Some of the friends of the group are playing.... just using previous editions instead of trying to keep up with the current madness.

greggles said...

Just don't dump your armies. You'll regret it in 6 months.

Oh and the grey hunter thing? That's not true. They can take them for 2 points. The net just loves to rage. You'd think we were all khorne players.

Da Masta Cheef said...

Not dumping them, just cutting them back. its been awhile since I've had an excess miniature purge anyways.

Mordian7th said...

I feel ya, man. To be honest I only get one to two games a year in these days (though I will say I have found 7th to be a much more enjoyable game system for friendly matches than 6th was), and the GW releases of late have left me cold for the most part. You'll note my shift over the FW and Heresy gaming of late, seems like a much more measured, reasonable and fluff-centered group of players on that side - less concerned about what the new killer meta is, and more into just making beautiful armies and having a laugh. I barely even keep up with the 'regular 40k' world these days and to be honest I'm enjoying the hobby more for it!

All I can say is beware seller's remorse, but don't feel bad putting minis up on the auction block. It's good to clear out the shelves every so often, looking forward to seeing what you come up with in the future!

neverness said...

So the solution is to sell your best army? Hmmm, ok...

Da Masta Cheef said...

Actually Mordian I'm thinking I just need to diversify games. Being so centered on 40k leaves me open to this sort of problem. Besides, even the 'fun' players in 40k get infected with the giant stompy robot syndrome, and complain at 'only 1500 points? but I'm running 2 riptides...'.

Bleh.

@Neverness: No, that's just the prettiest one. My Iyanden & Siam-Hann Corsairs actually have more points to them than the Exodites do.

greggles said...

I actually find playing games at 1k (for teams), and 1500 (for singles), results in much more balanced games.

Can't bring all the giant smashy things without making sacrifices at those point levels!

Try X-wing. It's very cheap to get into, has an extremely tuned rule set, and the models look nice to boot.

Da Masta Cheef said...

I agree, but more than once have gotten complaints as my army was *only* 1500 points. Unless vs. a new player (who lacks models), suggesting a 1k game results in looks of incredulity at best...

As for x-wing, yes we've started into that recently and are enjoying it considerably so far. :-)

Imperial Recruitment said...

Always looking for a few good pilots.

neverness said...

Actually, with my crazy schedule, a 1k game is looking far more viable... I am willing to do it for both 40k and WFB.

HappySpawn said...

Just wait until I get back and we start playing Bolt Action (assuming I ever put the models together). The Werhmacht will have their day soon enough.

Da Masta Cheef said...

Yeah, assuming ANYBODY ever assembles an army to play it...

Just let us know what day works for you Neverness.

Imperial Recruitment said...

Or... X-Wing.

Da Masta Cheef said...

We are up to 4 Tie fighters!

Imperial Recruitment said...

Welcome to the dark side.

Da Masta Cheef said...

lol! Okay, now where's the cookies??

Imperial Recruitment said...

Bait and switch. We are the dark side.

Da Masta Cheef said...

lol, well played!

neverness said...

I am curious, how much does 4 tie fighters cost? They seem expensive for what are essentially Mirco-Machines...

Imperial Recruitment said...

About the same as 3 bothans, or $15 per ship.

greggles said...

I originally thought...wow, the x-wing pieces are really expensive.

1) You can get them off ebay for 12 bucks shipped in the states.
2) It's not just a miniature, it's a whole set of cards, tokens, pilots, upgrades

Each little fighter in X-wing is like buying a expansion.

You don't have to paint them (and the default paint jobs are pretty good, unlike the star trek attack wing).

You can get tie fighters super cheap through the starter sets, since it comes with 2. The starter set routinely goes on sale for under 30. (comes with three ships)

I'd recommend tie interceptors over fighters though. I love boosting.

Da Masta Cheef said...

Well remember Neverness, in addition to the ship, you get a bucket load of cards and tokens as well.