Golden Demon Winners, GD UK

[Old_Paladin]

Pictures of the Golden Demon winning models from GamesDay UK are now available for viewing; and like always, there are some really stunning works.
http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?aId=18500038a
I've personally always liked the 'duals' and 'diorama' categories; and these ones didn't let me down.
Although I'm finding I like most of the silver and brozen winners, over the gold.
Hoping for an honourable mentions list, it never hurts to cram in as much eye candy as possible.

[DrLove42]

Its all very nice.

But I think the wrong model won the slayer sword. Don't get me wrong its nicely painted. But its no where near as good as a lot of the other stuff there. Not even sure it deserved to win in its category

[Old_Paladin]

I've noticed a trend the last few years, that it's often the least 'flashy' and converted models that tend to win Gold and the Slayer Sword.
It's like they want pure painting skill alone to win, and it makes them backaway from most of the more complex pieces.

I agree, that Necromancer just doesn't seem to 'pop' in anyway.
I think that the same artist should have won, but with his Deamonette standard barrer (the face on the banner is haunting).

[DrLove42]

I saw the demonette on the day, it immediatly caught my eyes. Its infinitly better in person

[fuzzbuket]

ohh good :)

the only thing im not fond of is how the same guy won a 6th (15%) of all the statues avalible, it seemed a little meh and frankly whilst i dont fault the artist (hey if you can enter a stunning mini in all the categorys good for you) but possibly the ruels, why dont they make it a ruel, that there is a max limit of of statues you can win.


-fuzz

p.s. did anyone see my entry (gk banner bearer? in youngbloods)
p.p.s. they really should look at thee ruels in a lot of categorys there was stuff that either a) didnt fit in the category or b) was entered in the youngbloods by someone that was too old :(

[UltramarineFan]

p.s. did anyone see my entry (gk banner bearer? in youngbloods)
p.p.s. they really should look at thee ruels in a lot of categorys there was stuff that either a) didnt fit in the category or b) was entered in the youngbloods by someone that was too old :(

better than that, I've just realise I stood next to you in the queue at the what's new today stand! saw you write your email but hadn't made the connection with your username on BoLS

[DrLove42]

I agree with the rules for entry thing.

There was a stunningly gorgeous large scale, hand sculpted duel between Sanquinius and Horus, but someone entered it into the Duel category. The duel category requires them to be on a single tiny base. There were so many things entered into categories they shouldn't be, and would have won in their own. Thing like Wraithlords in single miniature, and the broodlord that won...surely that doesn't count as monster?

[Wildeybeast]

I'm pleased to see that this is part of a dedicated Golden Demon section that has winning entries from around the world http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?catId=cat440136a&categoryId=1100021&section=&aId=13000009a I agree that they only thing missing is a 'highlights' section that shows some interesting or unusual models that didn't win. I'd like to see them bring back the 'Scrap Demon' award for converted models, rather than just focusing on painting.

[StraightSilver]

Ok so I am now aware that I have to be extra cautious when posting this. :)

RUMOUR: Apparently there were some changes to the way Golden Daemon UK was judged this year which caused a bit of controversy.

Firstly there was a limit put on the number of models making it through to First Cut, this year it was limited to 30.

Then there was also the fact that Alan Merret was able to overrule any of the judges decisions, which I believe may have always been the case but this year he exercised that right more than is usual.

Allegedly he encouraged the judges to favour newer plastic models, and where possible entries with as few conversions as possible.

Some entries which the judges wanted to put through into First Cut were excluded in favour of newer models such as Ogre Kingdoms at the urging of Alan Merret.

I can understand why GW would want to do this, it is a great way to showcase some of their latest releases but this did upset quite a few of the entrants.

There were quite a few entries which really should have at least placed that didn't because they were either too heavily converted or were older models.

This does now beg the question is Golden Daemon just a marketing campaign or a bona fide painting competition?

It also means that you may have more chance of placing if you start your entries later in the year to ensure you can enter with newer models?

And of course there was the scary moment when the judges dropped somebody's poor Stegadon..... :)

[Wildeybeast]

Oh come on man, you can't post a sh1tstorm like this, that personally disparages Alan Merret without posting your source. This isn't some half baked rumour on future developments, this is a serious attack on the integrity of the whole Golden Demon. I'm assuming you must have a reliable source on this, or otherwise you would'nt have posted something like this. So where has your source come from (you don't need to name names, just the location of the source). Also, I find this hard to believe, having just re-looked through the winning entires from the UK this year, I don't think a single one of them has been released in the last 12 months and many of them are converted in some minor fashion.

[StraightSilver]

I wouldn't say it was bringing into question the integrity of Golden daemon, just highlights a new angle on their judging policy, which GW are entitled to do as it's their competition, it's just that it did upset a couple of entrants.

There were at least 3 entrants this year who were told this information by at least one of the judges when asked why their models didn't make it into the final cut.

Obviously I only posted it as a rumour as I didn't speak to the judges personally, but I have seen some of the entries that didn't make it through, and trust me they really should have done.

And it wasn't the case that the winners weren't older models, or in some way converted, just that the judges were told to favour those with less conversion work or newer models when deciding first and final cuts.

There are threads about the new policy on both Warseer and CMON which also show some of the entrants that didn't even get a green sticker and the feeback from the judges as to why they didn't get through which corroborates this.

As I say in their view it was quite controversial as it is a big change from previous years.

The limit to 30 places is probably the biggest change.

In terms of the winning models, the Slayer Sword mini was released in July this year and features twice in the winners, the duel category features two brand new plastic models, Warhammer Monster Gold is OK mini and 40k squad features Dark Eldar (admittedly more than 12 months old).

However it was in the 30 final cuts where it was really apparently evident, with Ogre Kingdoms and Dark Eldar featuring prominently.

As I say I have heard this from entrants who spoke to the judges, but apparently it wasn't a secret on the day, just a change in policy. I just put the rumour disclaimer on as I personally didn't speak to the judges directly, but it is well documented on other forums too.

It also wasn't a dig at Alan Merret, as I know Alan of old so didn't mean it as a disparaging remark.

As head of IP Alan has always had the final say over Golden Daemon winners, it's just that he normally gives the judges free reign when it comes to choosing final cut.

I have only ever heard of him overruling the judges a couple of times, but apparently this year was different.

I can understand why they would want to promote newer models, or those more recognisable with less conversion work, I just think that maybe this change of tack could have been hinted at beforehand.

[Lexington]

I wouldn't be terrifically surprised to find out this was true - while looking through the entries, I noticed that a fair amount of them skewed "new," but put it down to painters wanting to paint new things, along with the fact that GW's been really on-key lately with minis releases. It's not 2004 anymore, thank all that's good and holy.

Also, given his history, is it really difficult to believe that Alan Merret made a poor decision?

[Old_Paladin]

I don't think Silver is too off the mark.
I noticed a HUGE change in the types of models winning about three years ago.

The second and third place models, resently, are usually much more converted and 'flashy' then the first place winners. The models that take gold are usually quite plain, but painted very well.

The rumour I heard a few years ago was that it was to stop the 'high volume' of people buying custom commisions and entering them as their own (people are much more likely to ask for something that goes all out, if they are going to be paying for it).

[eldargal]

Completely off topic, but I always get a small thril when I see someone on a forum say change of tack instead of the incorrect but so common 'change of tact'.:rolleyes:


I can understand why they would want to promote newer models, or those more recognisable with less conversion work, I just think that maybe this change of tack could have been hinted at beforehand.

On topic, if people on CMON don't like it it probably means it is for the best. The style promoted at CMON is in my opinion a triumph of technique over aesthetics, overdone, over the top but skillfully executed paintjobs. Not particularly relevent to the issue at hand but still.

Focusing on newer products is a bit rough when you think they have that hall of fame thing now for models the team deem to be classic. Should an Ogre Fireblly get precedence over a superbly painted Eldrad Ulthran? I don't think so myself.

[StraightSilver]

I was trying to be all nautical, and what with Dreadfleet thought that would be appropriate! :)


And I totally agree with you about CMON too, I really don't like a lot of overly worked minis on there, they just don't seem to work on 28mm figures.

I suppose it's a way of stopping people starting their projects a year or so in advance, or also resubmitting older work.

The other thing about Golden Daemon these days is that it does seem to be much more commercially important to the entrants, which cutting down the final cut entries hopefully will sort out.

I always get annoyed when the day after Games Day you see loads of final cut pieces on e-bay, and that final cut placing seems to be the main focus of their selling point.

Having newer models more prevalent also shows that the painters who get through can paint quickly as well as brilliantly. The pirate captain this year being a good example. If you look it has a Count Noctillus Wanted poster on the base and was obviously painted up in anticipation of Dread Fleet which means it must have been done quite quickly.

But don't even get me started about people commissioning stuff for GD. I wonder if that's why the judges dropped the Stegadon... :)

[Psychosplodge]

I don't understand the point of commissioning a piece for GD, surly if you win, you want to win because YOU won, not 'cause you bought it? or is that just me?

OT It would be sad if it's true, I always felt half the attraction was the conversions, showing a rounded skilset if you like.l

[StraightSilver]

I don't think the idea is to do away with conversions per se, just to have easily recognisable GW minis.

So more subtle conversion such as reposing etc, or kitbashing using easily identifiable parts.

That wasn't true for all the winners though. The Valhallan Diorama that won silver was pretty much sculpted from scratch, but the point is he did such a good job that immediately they looked like shop bought Valhallans.

I can understand the reasoning behind this, it makes it easier for GW to market their models, but also strips the competition down to the basics.

The more I think about it the less controvesial it seems and actually seems like a good idea. I hadn't realised but maybe Golden Daemon had lost it's way a little bit and this drags it back to its roots.

I just wish I wasn't such a slow painter though, I don't think I would be able to get a winning entry done in the time frame required for the models to still be considered new.

[Psychosplodge]

You know how they have the open competition where basicly anything goes?
Maybe they should have a nominated model in about June and have an extra category for this one standard non-converted model, for a purely painting aspect...

[MarneusCalgar]

I agree with the rules for entry thing.

There was a stunningly gorgeous large scale, hand sculpted duel between Sanquinius and Horus, but someone entered it into the Duel category. The duel category requires them to be on a single tiny base. There were so many things entered into categories they shouldn't be, and would have won in their own. Thing like Wraithlords in single miniature, and the broodlord that won...surely that doesn't count as monster?

Yes, the authors of the duel are Alfonso Giraldes "Banshee" and Diego Esteban "Dieguete", from Mindfishers, they are from here, Madrid, Spain, and it took them almost over 300 hours.

They became very angry because of the decision, first of all, they wanted to participate into the Open cathegory...

"Someone" moved it into Duel, even when it breaks the Duel rule DrLove says up here... And finally they only deserve a Finalist pin?? Not even a Bronze Demon??

Well, when you got a duel like that you can, in my opinion, do two things...

- You take it to the Open cathegory, and give it a demon.

- Disqualify it.

But if you put it wrongly into duel only to give them a pin... I think something´s wrong!!

Seems that in recent GD´s they prefer giving Demons to blister minis more than created ones...

[Old_Paladin]

I don't feel bad for them at all then.
Collaborations are strickly against the Golden Demon rules.
It must be the work of a single person, and must be entered by that person.