Games workshop hates specialist games.

[Grailkeeper]

I recently went down to my local games workshop to paint up my Escher gang. I hadn't been in the store for about a year so I asked a red shirt if it was still ok to paint there,- he said it was fine. I then mentioned that I was painting up some necromunda figures- just by way of making conversation.

I was then told that I wouldn't be allowed to paint the models that i had bought in that very store, as games workshop didn't allow you to paint up anything other than the core games. The reason behind this was because as they no longer supported specialist games the staff didn't have to know about them. If someone was to then see me painting the models they might ask the staff about them and as the staff wouldn't know anything about Specialist games this would reflect badly on GW. When I pointed out there was only one other person in the store, and that i had no problem explaining necromunda to anyone personally I was told that this was Policy from head office and there was no way around it. This was still the case when i offered to call the models female guardsmen.

Does anyone else have similar experiences?

[MC Tic Tac]

Thats grade A horse dung mate.

Sounds like that store (or red shirt) have got the wrong end of a rather short and one sided stick.

[Big mek]

You could just have told him it was youre IG penal legion models ;)

[scadugenga]

Sounds like your redshirt was on a class a meathead power trip.

[fuzzbuket]

Thats grade A horse dung mate.

Sounds like that store (or red shirt) have got the wrong end of a rather short and one sided stick.


:D

maby it was they couldnt give you painting tips

cause last time i was in a gw store they had dark eldar

last time i was in a gw store and i bought a box of space marines they charged me for 100 boxes said i should have bouht a legion and gave me 99 boxes of space marines.

last time i was in a gw store there was a staff member converting pre hersy TS


(out of these 3 statements 1 is false but on the internet no-one knows which :D)

[Grailkeeper]

You could just have told him it was youre IG penal legion models ;)

I did try, and some day I plan on using them as acolytes for the Pimp-quisitor I'm converting out of a von carstein vampire.

The red shirt directed me to a lgs which he said would let me paint the models, and they did. Which is the reason I now get my modelling needs from them only.

[Lerra]

You've got two main types in retail, the ones who follow all of the rules to the letter, even when they're innane, and those who know exactly how far they can bend the rules to make the store actually function.

Unfortunately, it looks like you ran into the former. He's probably a new employee or newly promoted.

[BuFFo]

I recently went down to my local games workshop...

STOP.

That was your only mistake. GW stores are NOT hobby centers - they are advertising centers, and nothing more.

Go find and support a friendly local gaming store and enjoy your hobby in peace.

[MarneusCalgar]

In Spain happens also as you say... You cannot play or paint Specialist Games on the GW Store...

That´s why all people who still play them here go to an independent retailer

[Hyperion]

I recently went down to my local games workshop to paint up my Escher gang. I hadn't been in the store for about a year so I asked a red shirt if it was still ok to paint there,- he said it was fine. I then mentioned that I was painting up some necromunda figures- just by way of making conversation.

I was then told that I wouldn't be allowed to paint the models that i had bought in that very store, as games workshop didn't allow you to paint up anything other than the core games. The reason behind this was because as they no longer supported specialist games the staff didn't have to know about them. If someone was to then see me painting the models they might ask the staff about them and as the staff wouldn't know anything about Specialist games this would reflect badly on GW. When I pointed out there was only one other person in the store, and that i had no problem explaining necromunda to anyone personally I was told that this was Policy from head office and there was no way around it. This was still the case when i offered to call the models female guardsmen.

Does anyone else have similar experiences?


Yeah, I think it was the 'female guardsmen' that did it... GW hates female guardsmen. And nerds.

[Col.Gravis]

It's fairly common practice that GW stores ban specialist games that they don't stock, and playing or evening hobby relating to them - because the way that is is often seen is that they detract sales from the core games which the stores do stock. It's all down to the regional and/or store manager what is and is'nt allowed pretty much and if it's enforced or not.

[Lane]

From what I have heard the new "one man store" plan allows the operator a lot more freedom with Specialist games. In fact my local GW store has plans for an Aeronautica campaign and would like to get some Epic gaming started, in store.

Also, at least in the US they are not allowed to ban people from the store.

[BlackKnight15624]

Forget that- GW makes it, GW sells it, GW should allow it in *GW* stores.

I understand an employee might be uncomfortable asking questions, but that shouldn't mean they ban their own models from the store...

[Ssyrie]

That's weird. The GW store near me would have a weekly Specialist Games knight.

[Drew da Destroya]

That's weird. The GW store near me would have a weekly Specialist Games knight.

Does he wear plastic armor? And wield a mace made of melted down squats?

[Sister Rosette Soulknyt]

Lol, i can imagine if i took my converted miniatures with ChapterHouse parts, the guys there would have a heart attack with the conversions ive done.......its not GW ahhhhhhh

Seriously though, they made the products, i cant imagine them not allowing you to paint them, its just stupid. Not calling you a lyer, its just rediculous of GW policy screwups that all.

I now want to take my Necromunda miniatures i converted to GW store in the city now to repaint her to see what they do

[DarkAngelHopeful]

Does he wear plastic armor? And wield a mace made of melted down squats?

This made me chuckle out loud. Good catch. I love fun with words. ;)

[DarkAngelHopeful]

Furthermore, I think GW employees should be knowledgeable about all of GW products. I'm not sure how choosey they can be in the hiring process, but it might help if they were to lean towards hiring mainly people who know a majority of their products and game systems. Alternatively, it would help if they leaned towards hiring people with a drive and commitment to getting to know the product line.

Question, for people who have worked for GW, what kind of training do they give you?

I want to own a LGS, maybe an actual GW shop when I retire from the AF, and I have all sorts of ideas on how to run a store so it's an awesome experience for players.

[UltramarineFan]

STOP.

That was your only mistake. GW stores are NOT hobby centers - they are advertising centers, and nothing more.

Go find and support a friendly local gaming store and enjoy your hobby in peace.


STOP.

It actually depends where you live, my local GW actively encourages us to come down and paint/build our models. I haven't heard anything about Specialist Games not being able to be painted last week one of the staff was helping two customers to choose paints for there Necromunda models but they didn't actually have the model with them so they couldn't pain them there so I'm not really sure.

[rbryce]

my local GW are trying to convince me to bring my bloodbowl set down. in fact when i mentioned it he went nuts about how he missed playing it. i also use mantic parts for basing etc(cheaper to buy for basing purposes), and they have no problem. honestly, if they say you cant paint/play GW games in thier store, ring head office there and then on loudspeaker, and explain whats going on!

[Cossack]

Yeah I smell inconsistency here. The GW store near me has a Bloodbowl league on Sundays.

[Hyperion]

Furthermore, I think GW employees should be knowledgeable about all of GW products. I'm not sure how choosey they can be in the hiring process, but it might help if they were to lean towards hiring mainly people who know a majority of their products and game systems. Alternatively, it would help if they leaned towards hiring people with a drive and commitment to getting to know the product line.

Question, for people who have worked for GW, what kind of training do they give you?

I want to own a LGS, maybe an actual GW shop when I retire from the AF, and I have all sorts of ideas on how to run a store so it's an awesome experience for players.

GW interview in my head:

You there! Do you like little men?

No! Wait! Do you like little men made of... plastic? Or, dare I say it, metal?

But not too little because that'd be squats you pervert! You don't like squats? Jolly good... Now see this here? This one is a woman: w-o-m-a-n! It's a sort of lady chap I dare say. Don't worry about them too much: we don't like making them and we don't like people suggesting we make them. Unless they're in fetish gear. The people asking? Yes them too I suppose... wait... you're not a woman are you? Can't be too careful... Necromunda? Get out of here you filthy deviant!

[BuFFo]

STOP.

It actually depends where you live, my local GW actively encourages us to come down and paint/build our models. I haven't heard anything about Specialist Games not being able to be painted last week one of the staff was helping two customers to choose paints for there Necromunda models but they didn't actually have the model with them so they couldn't pain them there so I'm not really sure.

If you actually read the posts in this very thread, you'll find what the general consensus is regarding GW advertisement centers.

[Daemonette666]

STOP.

That was your only mistake. GW stores are NOT hobby centers - they are advertising centers, and nothing more.

Go find and support a friendly local gaming store and enjoy your hobby in peace.
I f you ever get the feeling you will run into another red shirt like this one in a GW store, then just tell him you are painting up models for an Inquisitor's retinue.

Oh its GW, they might drop witch hunters and daemon hunters in the near future, just like they have dropped squats, space slaan, space zoats and rogue traders in 40K and Norse, Amazons, Slaan, Sea Elves and Nippons in fantasy. And every specialist game they tried out but was not profitable enough for them - blood bowl/dungeon bowl, warmaster, Battle Fleet Gothic, Epic Space Marine, Adeptus Titanicus, Necromunda, and a list so long I can not remember them all.

[eldargal]

GW has had a longstanding policy of only supporint specialist games for two years, and all those things from WFB you mention are still in the fluff, they have not been 'squatted' they just are not represented in the model range/ruleset.
Also GW have, on several occasions now, ruled out dropping any races from 40k.


I f you ever get the feeling you will run into another red shirt like this one in a GW store, then just tell him you are painting up models for an Inquisitor's retinue.

Oh its GW, they might drop witch hunters and daemon hunters in the near future, just like they have dropped squats, space slaan, space zoats and rogue traders in 40K and Norse, Amazons, Slaan, Sea Elves and Nippons in fantasy. And every specialist game they tried out but was not profitable enough for them - blood bowl/dungeon bowl, warmaster, Battle Fleet Gothic, Epic Space Marine, Adeptus Titanicus, Necromunda, and a list so long I can not remember them all.

[miteyheroes]

My local GW regularly lets people paint & play with Inquisitor and Mordheim models. And there's talk of the shop organising a massive 40k campaign including BFG and Inquisitor games...

[Daemonette666]

GW has had a longstanding policy of only supporint specialist games for two years, and all those things from WFB you mention are still in the fluff, they have not been 'squatted' they just are not represented in the model range/ruleset.
Also GW have, on several occasions now, ruled out dropping any races from 40k.
Does this mean that if I still had my Norse, Nippon, Slaan, Zoats and Amazon armies wich all had GW miniatures in them, that I could play games of Warhammer Fantasy with them? Not just friendly games between friends - propper games.

The Army lists have been dropped. The races may be mentioned in the "Fluff", but if you are a long term games who has collected these armies, then you are out of luck trying to play a game with them in a GW competition. This is a major part of the reason I got out of Warhammer fantasy back in 1995.

I do not hate GW, just that the way they run their business sometimes. It makes it really hard for gamers to want to collect new armies, or invest money in thier specialist games. I played Epic Space Marine for over 5 years before they announced they were not going to support it anymore. It used to be a mainstream game just like Warhammer Fantasy and Warhammer 40K.

That is the reason I am not getting into Lord of the Rings. It is not selling as GW expected it too, so I expect it to be relegated to the specialist games section as well.

[miteyheroes]

Does this mean that if I still had my Norse, Nippon, Slaan, Zoats and Amazon armies wich all had GW miniatures in them, that I could play games of Warhammer Fantasy with them? Not just friendly games between friends - propper games.

Or Fimir...

[eldargal]

You would have to proxy them, but yes they are GW miniatures so you can use them even in tournaments. My main point was that you can not compare the WFB armies which are still in the fluff to the 40k races which have been et by Hivefleet Retcon. Some are still there and can be given army lists, others are gone forever. As an aside, there is talk on Warseer of 'an old friend' being given a new army book, most assume it is Chaos Midgets.



Does this mean that if I still had my Norse, Nippon, Slaan, Zoats and Amazon armies wich all had GW miniatures in them, that I could play games of Warhammer Fantasy with them? Not just friendly games between friends - propper games.

The Army lists have been dropped. The races may be mentioned in the "Fluff", but if you are a long term games who has collected these armies, then you are out of luck trying to play a game with them in a GW competition. This is a major part of the reason I got out of Warhammer fantasy back in 1995.

I do not hate GW, just that the way they run their business sometimes. It makes it really hard for gamers to want to collect new armies, or invest money in thier specialist games. I played Epic Space Marine for over 5 years before they announced they were not going to support it anymore. It used to be a mainstream game just like Warhammer Fantasy and Warhammer 40K.

That is the reason I am not getting into Lord of the Rings. It is not selling as GW expected it too, so I expect it to be relegated to the specialist games section as well.

[Cyron]

My GW store had a league for Mordheim up untill 8th ED mainly because of the hype of the release. people do still paint but buy the models there online.

[BuFFo]

I f you ever get the feeling you will run into another red shirt like this one in a GW store, then just tell him you are painting up models for an Inquisitor's retinue.

If I ever lose all sense of intelligence, and somehow find my way inside a GW Advertisement Center, then I'll remember your wise words :)

[scadugenga]

If I ever lose all sense of intelligence, and somehow find my way inside a GW Advertisement Center, then I'll remember your wise words :)

The Battle Bunkers are much more player-friendly. Once you get the redshirts to leave you alone.