Profit warning hits Games Workshop

[Ibram]

I was realy into GW for a while there... back around when WH40K 3e came out. I built up some armies, and moved on to WHFB when that new edition came out. But after a while, and a few price hikes, I stoped buying their stuff (honestly, have you seen the price for White Dwarf... its gone up 3 dollars). I still like their stuff, but I just dont have the cash to afford their minis right now, not to mention their books (I'd love to get a copy of Ogre Kingdoms).

What I do still buy is their Black Library stuff, which has put out some of my favoret series over the years (Felix & Gotrex, the Gaunts Ghosts saga, the Eisenhorn Tirlogy). I'll buy their books as they come out, but I wont realy start back into the miniature games until i get a decent job.

 

[Lars Porsenna]

I don't think the army books are all that expensive. I bought my copy of the High Elves 6e armybook for $20, and its consistent with other books its size in cost. In fact, I think its a little cheaper than some D20 softcovers the same size (its 80pgs long). The books by themselves are great if you want setting information and the like. Although I'm sure WHFRPG will eventually come out with beefier setting books someday, these are still a great value.

OTOH, I think the 5e books were a little better in terms of fluff and content (not to mention a little longer at 112pgs). A lot of this stuff, especially the older 5e materials, can be had in stores, or cheap on Ebay. I think I paid $5 for the 5e HE book (which I bought so I could have a "complete" collection of HE army books, from 4e, 5e, and 6e).

Damon.

 

[cmanos]

GW seems to have a policy of "Screw the guys who have played for 15 years, lets get the 12 year olds who's parents will buy them stuff so they can lose interest in 2 weeks."

Currently I have been playing WFB for 13 years and 40K for...15 years. I have some pretty massive armies. I don't spend nearly as much on it as I used to do. I can make my own scenery that is better than the stuff GW sells for a fraction of the price. If something really cool does come along I'll take a look at it, but I won't necessarily buy it. I think it comes down to I am successful with what I have. Why do I need to go out and buy a new $40 Greater Daemon, when I have one of each from 10 years back that I bought for $10? Sure the newer ones are very cool figures, which is a very good reason to buy them...paint them and put them on my collector's shelf, but also...why spend $40 on somethig at a GW store when I can get it for $35 at the local store or $20 on e-bay?

Also, the annual "mark everything up 10%" has frankly gotten me VERY annoyed. A college bud of mine used to work at the local GW store. His first job was to go around and mark everything that wasn't a core troop up 10% in price. But he did get a 60% discount, and let me tell you....we made sure to abuse that.

I currently can field around 3000 points of 3 armies for both 40K and Fantasy. Dwarves, Chaos and Khemri are all pretty much at a point where I won't buy anything more unless it has big orange hair and 2 big axes. Eldar, OK I think I need some more Dire Avengers, but that shoul do it. Sisters are my new army and I'm pretty content with 1500 points of them. Tau, could use another unit of fire warriors and some railgun toting pathfinders but that is also done.

I don't plan on any more armies. I will still pick up an occasional cool fig to paint for the display case, but no more $500 armies.

 

[cmanos]

I don't think the army books are all that expensive. I bought my copy of the High Elves 6e armybook for $20, ...

...and you can usually get them half price on e-bay. Or wait til the 12 year old whos parents just bought him the boxed set, army book and boxed army gets tired of it (in 2 weeks) and buy it all from him for $50.

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

Its a good game and really is well put together but the price increase is pretty offensive to many of their fans. Of course, their price increase could not come at a worse time as WarMachine is a pretty attractive game, too. And much less expensive.

 

[Olive]

Being based in the UK is a big reason for the pricing. It makes a huge difference.

 

[Captain NeMo]

You never know, they might decide to lower costs.
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Oh look, a pig just went flying by....

 

[francisca]

The cost of tin has more than doubled in the last 24 months. I don't know what ratio of metal to plastic minis they manufacture, but it has to be making some impact.

 

[Darmanicus]

GW seems to have a policy of "Screw the guys who have played for 15 years, lets get the 12 year olds who's parents will buy them stuff so they can lose interest in 2 weeks."

Totally agree with you there. I've been playing/painting for years but stopped with re to GW stuff apart from the odd cool minature years ago, it's just far too expensive.

When I used to frequent GW it was made up of an older crowd but nowadays it's just kids no older than about 12/13; in fact the place is more like a creche than a gaming stores what with parents leaving their kids there whilst they do the shopping etc.

 

[Kax Tuglebend]

Maybe people finally realize that $3 for a tiny jar of paint that's designed to dry up after a few months isn't a good deal.

er, i havent heard much companing about the paint drying out since they changed the 'pots' last year