>>30783076
Ask GW who shits in their corn flakes every morning.

>>30783076
How many chicks visit your store?

>>30783109

No one really. Many of GW's poor decisions come from a very old upper management who've been in Nottingham for so long they aren't even familiar with their own customer base.

Do you know when a new blood angels codex is coming out?

>>30783131

My store was a bit different (being one of the Flagship stores).

On a regular basis it was a very small number, maybe 4 regulars who were female.

However as a destination location we saw quite a few women from around the country who'd make the trip to visit. I probably had 3 or 4 women a week who would make the trip down with family, friends, etc.

>>30783150
Unfortunately I do not know. As a general rule I know very little regarding releases, release schedules, etc. Games Workshop is very tight lipped internally about these things, even more so concerning the US business.

what is the timeline for codex updates

>>30783076
How much advance notice of upcoming releases do you get?

>>30783076
Here's a simple question:
What are you being laid off for? Corporate re-org? Piss off the wrong suit? Store closing?

So, any news about the plastic Chosen and Havocs?

Why is GW white primer crap? Why are your brushes so overpriced?

>>30783173
>>30783176

I know virtually nothing regarding the release schedule. We were kept in the dark, effectively I knew roughly a week to a month ahead of time what was coming out (so slower than most rumor mills).

>>30783178
Corporate re-org - any store that isn't Warhammer World is fully moving to the one format and I was a staffer who got the axe as a result.

>>30783076
whats the process for making models and deciding which kits to update, whats kind of playtesting do they do, and how do they formulate both the rules and fluff of the codexes

What's GW's plan to deal with the chinaman?

>>30783202

Nothing that I've seen regarding Chosen/Havocs but as I've said release info isn't something I have much of.

Our White Primer is crap because the company that manufacturers it has never hit a consistent formula. So what works one time doesn't work the next.

Our Brushes aren't that bad (at least in my area). From 5-9 bucks is close to what I pay at say a Michaels or Hobby Lobby. That aside most GW hobby related products are expensive because GW caters to new hobbyists who don't know any better. If you are brand new to modelling and hobbying you don't realize 16 bucks for a pair of clippers is a rip off.

Does GW every give you any inside shit? Like when the new thing comes out before the WD would be released?

Are you allowed to kick out any stink pigs? Or is it so sales driven you had to shill like you've never shilled before.

>>30783215

I don't have much of a concrete answer for you by virtue of my position in retail with GW. I can tell you that generally speaking models drive updates so whatever the sculptors are working on will often drive the release schedule.

Play testing is done by a very small group mostly at Warhammer World. Rules/fluff formulation is left largely up to each writer with input from the head of IP Alan Merret.

>>30783240
He doesn't register on GW's radar anymore than any other counter fitter. The amount of sales GW is losing to counter fitting is miniscule in comparison to lost revenue to failure to recruit and retain customers.

>>30783255
We got free WDs, normally a week before release. We also got email product briefs sometimes containing information on new releases, this was about a week or two before releases hit.

You can't necessarily kick someone out for for stinking but I've had a conversation or two with customers regarding hygiene and personal appearance before. Being sales driven means presenting a welcome shop front.

The business is incredible sales driven as of late. Everything is numbers/growth/profit driven so if a suit walks in you had better be hard selling everything all the time. If not you're clearly "against GW" and "a bad ft for the company".

Do they send in mystery shoppers? Like, to make sure you hound each and every person that walks into your store?

>>30783076
Why is GW so bloody inconsistent? I hear stories about retarded stores where Specialist Games were forbidden even when GW still made them, vets are always kicked off tables so the staffers can play a two turn demo with 10 year olds and you aren't even allowed to mention a miniature that isn't GW. And then I hear stories about stores that still host Blood Bowl tournaments and encourage veteran players to teach new kids, and it's all very schizophrenic.

What's the deal? Which one is following the corporate two-step and which one is out of line?

>>30783248
>Our White Primer is crap because the company that manufacturers it has never hit a consistent formula. So what works one time doesn't work the next.

As someone who used to manufacture niche cleaning products, this doesn't really surprise me... Which seems worrying, but honestly happens more than you'd expect...

>>30783340

We had secret shoppers at one point in the company's history. However as of the past 3 years we haven't, it was an easy cost for GW to cut.

Instead GW will send out trainers who watch your customer base. If your customer base reacted oddly to being sold they'd assume it was because you usually didn't sell but were instead selling because the trainer was there. This is how'd they'd identify if you were "engaging in the proper behaviors".

So if you have a GW store you go to and there is another GW guy there and your normal manager acts odd, just roll with it. Otherwise you're outing him and he's going to be in trouble.

>>30783328
>The amount of sales GW is losing to counter fitting is miniscule in comparison to lost revenue to failure to recruit and retain customers.

how is that going for GW, really? it seems like they're having a bit of a time recruiting anyone lately since they made the rulebooks and such so expensive.

>>30783369

First it depends on your country, second it depends on how far you are from HQ.

In the US in my store we never banned specialist games. We never booted vets off tables, we didn't ban people for talking about non GW products (but we didn't curtail those conversations politely).

That said we never encouraged specialist games, we had a demo area that was reserved for demos, and we'd never have let you use a non GW mini in the shop.

The issue comes from an inconsistent internal message, relayed through middle managers (the worst part of GW). So you get guys who go over zealous about shit because they think it will earn them brownie points.

>>30783380

Gotcha, that makes it a bit easier to understand. Why is getting a consistent formula difficult?

>>30783392
Recruitment is down nationally and internationally. GW will blame its staff, the internet discounters, FLGS discounters, pretty much anyone but themselves. GW generally exists in blame denial cone. They blame anyone but themselves for their failing.

>>30783240
they can't do anything

>>30783464

Why are your store locations so terrible? I live in Seattle and we have no stores in the city. Even out battle bunker (before it closed) was a 30 minute drive out of Seattle. Now shockingly all the GW stores are closing because no one wants to go out of the way when we could play at a non GW location.

tldr why are your location choices so bad.

>>30783464
this doesn't surprise me, really if they would figure out an image to present to middle school/early high school kids and market to them while toning down the costs of entry to the hobby i dont think they would have that problem. i digress though

>>30783508
>go out of the way when we could play at a non GW location

you answered your own question.

>>30783508

In the US the issue comes from UK control. So the US team picks a site and then has to go back to the UK to approve that site. In that time the site can be lost, or the UK can veto the site due to cost, etc. The UK maintains such a strict leash on the real-estate department that quick moves cannot be made.

>>30783550

I agree 100%. I worked for GW when core sets were 45-60 dollars and we recruited tons more customers at that point.

>>30783464
Getting a formula wasn't my job, I made the stuff. But things went wrong all the time, like "This isn't the right viscosity/colour etc" so I'd end up recording all the minute changes I ended up making to the consistent formula, since every batch was ever so slightly different.

Plus you get chemicals in to make stuff, so if those chemicals are slightly different it ends up snowballing.

I think I only ever got 1 or 2 unusable/unsaveable batches of stuff.

>>30783585
>Recruitment is down nationally and internationally. GW will blame its staff, the internet discounters, FLGS discounters, pretty much anyone but themselves. GW generally exists in blame denial cone. They blame anyone but themselves for their failing.
>So the US team picks a site and then has to go back to the UK to approve that site. In that time the site can be lost, or the UK can veto the site due to cost, etc.

Holy shit. I knew GW was on the ass-backward denial train but I didn't realize that they were drinking their own Kool-aid or actively hobbling their non-UK branches. I used to tell people that I expected GW to be around for another 10+ years, just slowly losing relevancy that whole time, but this makes it look even bleaker.

Do you ever feel bad about hard selling to kids?

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You don't work at the Memphis shop Workd of Battle do you? Saw on facebook the shop (which is in their North Anerican HQ/distribution center) is being turned into a one man store for some reason. If so is the gaming hall closed already or is there still time? Buddy of mine wants to make the trip to go see the tables and store armies but the outlook isn't good.

How do you see the likely future of GW?

>>30783076
What does the latest plan from GW involve (The one that got you fired) as far as you know? More/less stores? Price hikes, etc.

>>30783585
Didn't realize things were so bad.
I live right down the road from where the old US HQ was.
You could always tell when a bigwig showed up, the staff went from super cool to kinda douche.
And picking out the bigwigs was so easy, cause they were SOOO FUCKING BRITISH THEY SHIT THE QUEEN.

They use to manufacture metal minis at the site too.
I'll never forget going on the tour and being so happy seeing the minis get made.

But now its all gone, and the manager that use to run the store bought the property and opened up his own FLGS in the same building the GW was.

Now the only official GW stores in the area are in shitty locations.

>>30783670

Similar question to this. Having read Kirby's little black book (the newer one) and all that, do you ever feel like GW's pressure sales method doesn't work, but had to tow the line?

>>30783585
thats the single worst business policy i have ever heard. why the fuck would you not make a us department to handle that?

>>30783620
thats really fascinating in a mundane way, and thinking about it, it makes sense. never occurred to me though

>>30783619
yeah when i got into the hobby there were people of all ages playing. now its 13-16 year olds and then 35+ guys who have been in the hobby for ages and have tons of free time and cash. no one in between seems to be able to afford it, at least not when we could spend it on shit like steam

>>30783585

Yikes that is just terrible, no wonder their stores are always in such silly places. I'm just glad we have good LGS we can play at, since I'm sure in a couple years all the colonial stores will be closed anyway and their employees recalled to jolly olde England to fight Zulus are something.

>>30783668

Yeah GW exists in a place where literally everyone but GW is to blame for their downfall. I've heard customers being blamed (salty vets), discounters, the internet, literally anything but themselves.

>>30783681
Probably

>>30783698
They'll stay around for awhile yet. They have no major debt as a company so they can stay afloat for quite sometime. The thing that will kill them is the small bites, they aren't taking major hits. Thus shareholders are OK and we aren't seeing major changes in upper level management.

>>30783132
>>30783464
>very old upper management[...] [who] aren't even familiar with their own customer base.
>They blame anyone but themselves for their failing.

I think I can already hear the corporate boardroom.
"By Jove! Those young upstarts with their intertubewebs are ruining our completely sensible bussiness strategy!"
"Why, in MY time we bought those metal boxes, no matter how poorly thought out, and we liked it that way!"

>>30783739
>thats the single worst business policy i have ever heard. why the fuck would you not make a us department to handle that?

$/£

>>30783786

Gotta spend toofs ta make toofs ya grot

dats orkenemy 010

>>30783711

The plan is one man stores. I think openings are supposed to slow down until more stores are profitable 9currently 22/100 NA stores are profitable).

>>30783730
Dropzone is awesome and Tom is the man for sticking it to GW the way he did.

>>30783670
I didn't hard sell. Not my style, I am a presumptive closer who sells on association. Hard selling is unnatural to me and I never did it because I never saw success with it.

>>30783735
Some guys do the hard sell well. They can move in, ask a few questions and really open wallets. However I'd say it fails 7 of 10 times because most people don't like the way it reads. Customers who purchase niche products want to buy from a reliable expert, not a used car salesman.

>>30783619
You probably can't answer this, but a lot of people have gotten the impression that in the last 2 or so years, GW has been acting as if they were "ringing out" their customers. ie, trying to squeeze out every last cent they could get without much thought of long term plans.

Rumors about the CEO retiring and selling off their IPs abound, but I do have to say, the increased rate of army book/codex releases, combined with increased price on everything (sometimes to hilarious levels) could easily paint the picture of a company seeking to max it's revenue right now rather than cultivate a player base for the future.

>>30783739

I agree. It is mostly to due with the fact that UK cannot stomach relinquishing any control of the business. They want to control everything from Nottingham. Lets be honest the UK is a terrible country to center a business in and given the opportunity the shareholders would demand a move to a better seat. The UL protects itself by controlling everything and keeping the processes shielded and thus the HQ is safe.

BRB my dog is being a shit.

>>30783076
Tell us about the worst customer/regular you've encountered?

>>30783851

fight ur dog m8

>>30783735
It works on on the new target audience, kids, parent and clueless grandparents.

The sort that pays, leaves and don't waste time with complaining or taking up game table space.

>>30783824
>currently 22/100 NA stores are profitable

holy shit seriously? how is that even possible? i'm not in business but that sounds like hemorrhaging money

>>30783824
22 out of a HUNDRED? Jesus Christ are you serious.

Do you know international numbers?

>>30783884
Sadly they work on the assumption that is McD can do it, so can they.

Cut down on costs and service until they make money.

>>30783824
Are you from the Maryland area?
Or has he become something of a legend?

>>30783884

Have you been into a GW store? It's not that surprising given the quality of their employees. We had our local Geedubber get promoted, and they replaced him with a dude who had never even heard of Warhams before he got hired.

Nice dude, and he could paint but he had to get other people to run demos for him, had no idea how any rules worked or what to sell people and was all around just pretty useless.

And someone hired this guy.

>>30783132
>By Jove! Those young upstarts
Nah m8, Nottingham, not Surrey.

I'm a student in Nottingham right now, maybe I should head to WHWorld sometime and break into the offices and tell everyone about how derp they are.

>>30783884
It's not sustainable over the long term. Just raise prices, reduce all your stores to one-man operations to cut costs , reduce the number of models in the box, decrease the point per model to force the purchase of more models per army and change your base material form white metal to a cheaper lower quality resin, and pump out codexes and new editions of rules sets.... Oh wait they've already done all that. Beats me how they manage to loose money.

>>30783150
ooooh fellow misguided BA player....we got fucked enjoy your digital edition codex...

>>30783831

There have been rumors of that nature circulating for years. They may be true, may not, I have no idea. That kind of thing is way above my paygrade.

I personally thing the truth is far less nefarious and far more inept. Games Workshop was a monopoly for so long that they think they can get away with anything they want. They are blind to competition, to customers who aren't interested, etc. They're old men in an ivory tower who are convinced this is still the 90s where GW is king.

>>30783864
Nah, he's pretty cool.

>>30783871
That was true when the cost of a starter set was 100 bucks. However now it doesn't work near as well because most parents won't drop a bill on something they aren't even 100% their kid will stick with.

>>30783884
70+% of the money made by GW in NA is made by trade sales (business to business sales). Stores failing is a big deal but the amount of money retail brings in is miniscule compares to what trade makes yearly.

>>30783916
I do not.

>>30783940
I knew Tom when he still worked for GW, after they brought him in when Scott fucked over the GBB. I love seeing an ex employee show GW how poor their practices are by taking their product and making a killing off it.

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>>30783964
>leave a giant dumpster size flaming dog crap in the Nottingham parkinglot

>>30783076
is that you Stuart?

>>30783851
Did GW ever give any internal reason as to why they decided to go Ostrich on customer feedback and shut down forums and similar feedback left and right?

>>30783997
Is he making a killing off of it? I've played Dropzone, and I think it's a lot of fun, but it seemed like no one else is interested in trying it because "nobody plays it" (ie, a circular problem)

>>30783953

The primary process for being hired as a HCO (store guy) is to have applicants write a letter to apply (with a resume attached). The resume is nearly meaningless, the latter is the only thing that matters. The only people who get interviews are the top letters (usually top 3).

You read that correctly, GW puts more stock in your cover latter than in your face to face interview.

>>30783851
>the UK is a terrible country to center a business in
GW certainly aren't the smartest lot but you're pretty retarded yourself.

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>>30784052

Oh god my sides, it's like they want to go under.

>>30784013

No sir, are you referencing Stuart from NY? He was a grade A guy (I also didn't know he was gone).

>>30784026
They didn't like all the negativity they got. This is oft repeated. They closed forums because "all anyone did was bitch, it was unproductive". This is generally why GW doesn't listen to veteran hobbyists, upper management considers them embittered and spiteful. So why listen to them?

>>30784051
He's running a VERY successful trade account right now.

>>30784051
The name of the store is called Dropzone Games.
Not to be confused with Dropzone Commander.

>>30784072

Stop shitting the queen and take a look at the UL tax code compared to say a state like Delaware. Or alternatively a double Irish arrangement. The US is generally more friendly to corporations with its tax code than the UK is.

>>30783824
>>30783730
>>30783940
Word up to my Maryland elegan/tg/entlemen! Dropzone is such a damn sexy store now.

>>30784086

Not that i play GW games, but if all the veterans are embittered and spiteful ought that not make the management wake up and wonder why?

>>30784138

I am not a Maryland bro, just a guy aware of how awesome Tom and his shop are.

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>>30784130
Of course we are, given that the corporations might as well be our government.

>>30784086
nah, Stuart from Scotland, another GW guy that I've heard was getting the hoof due to poor recruitment/retaining since a proper LGS opened around here.

>>30784143

Based on what I've read from other people, and what OP is saying, it'll take a great deal of upper management shuffling before GW does anything for their veteran players.

>>30784081
Again "It's what all the other top companies do", most other companies can do just fine with the first guy of the street that's finished 9th grade and has work experience.

>>30784143

That makes sense. Having spent 7 years total with GW I can tell you they rarely choose the "makes sense" avenue.

>>30784130
> implying British business doesn't just funnel through tax havens in past colonies

Britain is actually pretty good for large businesses. It's why we have a shit load of bank control

>>30783953
actually i go there pretty often. our manager is both a nice guy and a good salesman. have it on good authority that its the most profitable store in our region too

>>30784177

Many UK business do so. GW does not - take a look at their financials and you can pretty clearly see where and how they are being taxed.

>>30784130
mmm yes corporation-kun please cum in my arse because I'm a fucking useless faggot whose government is bought and paid for
-u

Not everything is about taxes and taxes can be avoided anywhere.

>>30784052
When I applied to the Glen Burnie Bunker, it was some kind of weird "trial by games".
>play a game without using dice rolls
>paint a mini
>work together with a team to create a bridge of paper and tape
>2 facts and a lie about yourself
Everyone got a blisterpack, but people who scored at the top got a higher tier blister.

The "intro to GW" video was made by some kind of headupass corporate nazi.

>>30784192

What store do you go to?

>>30784207
Have fun bud. I'm not here to discuss the economic benefits of basing a company in the UK versus the US versus any where else.

>>30784221
I'm guessing this was 4+ years ago?

>>30784246
Don't make stupid comments if you don't want stupid replies.
Not hard.

>>30784172
from what i've gleaned from the store managers i've talked to who were willing to be frank, there's very much a "left hand doesnt know what the right hand is doing" with the middle management

>>30784246
How horrible was the fincast release for you guys?

>>30784246
Yeah, it was early as fuck in the morning so I was half asleep the whole time.
Also, during the interview the 3 managers sitting to my right, watching me like I'm on trial or something did not help.

>>30784246
one of the houston ones, i think its called the royal oaks store? until the latest guy we churned through managers at a rate of one per 9 months though. but yeah last i heard it was something like "the only store in houston thats seeing growth". thanks in part to a nearby store being run into the ground by a rude and hard selling manager too way i heard it

>>30783508
>Even out battle bunker (before it closed) was a 30 minute drive out of Seattle.

As a redshirt, eventual assistant manager, who was part of the opening crew to that bunker, I can answer about it's location.

When GW opened the Seattle area bunker, there were two other stores in the 'cell'. Auburn (a dump, located in the SuperMall), and Alderwood (located north almost to Everett area. The Factoria location was selected as an 'in-between' third spot, with the idea that it'd be the central hub to build more stores off of. It's first year was hard, but at the time getting across the I-90 bridge from Seattle proper wasn't more than about a 15min drive. And so eventually it built a base of regulars.

About it's 2nd/3rd year of operation, there was a massive shift in the management, and the Bunker fluxuated. Sometimes it had a good crew... othertimes they were lacking.

>>30784280
So just like the rules, modelling and supply departments?

>>30784266

Would you like to take a look at major companies based in the UK versus those in the US? This isn't a pissing match about which country is better.

>>30784280
This is generally correct. Our middle management is very self preservationist. They create and manage as many sub systems as they can to justify their positions and salaries. This creates a lack of transparency which makes it difficult to seek help or identify problems.

>>30784305
Those were very different times. GW was still interested in hiring hobbyists at that point.

>>30784296
Not so awful, we just replaced the stuff people had issues with and kept on going.

>>30784317
Gotcha, I don't know a ton about the Houston stores. Who is the manager there?

>>30784318

Was the 2nd/3rd when you guys got Justin Doyle or was that just when Drew Cremeans was the regional manager?

>>30783831
Not op, but I can step in on this one.

Gee-double-ya use a form of business that revolves around paying off the interest on extremely long term loans and operating at such a low profit or loss that they don't have to pay shareholders all that much.
The increased cost of fuel has probably been responsible for the increase cost of models, as freight costs for everyone has also risen.

It's unlikely they'd ever sell off an IP though, that shit will be worth more than their model business has ever been for a long time to come.

>yfw they could be clearing pixar levels of money with one shitty sci-fi action flick about a marine doing marine things.

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>>30783240
BASED CHINA-MAN!!!!

SWAG-YOLO-DOSH!!!!-SWAAAG!!!!

>>30783739
>thats the single worst business policy i have ever heard. why the fuck would you not make a us department to handle that?

At one time, there was a seperately run office for US GWs retail. The main HQ was on the East Coast. Eventually they had a small office in LA to handle the West Coast, and opened the central Memphis location. Then they consolidated everything to Memphis. And not too long ago they closed it, and consolidated everything back (iirc) to the UK to save overhead costs.

>>30784357
name of bryan. nice guy

>>30784357
I don't think the word "hobbyist" is the right one.
It seemed more like "wallstreet go getter alpha male leader of men and dwarves".

>>30784415

The Memphis HQ is still open. US Trade is run out of that location as well as all shipping and distribution. It also housed a large store, but as of March 26th the store will become a standard one man operation.

GW cannot operate in NA without having some form of US HQ - the cost of shipping would be astronomical otherwise.

>>30784425

You may have interviewed right at the shift. There was a time frame where hobby involvement and personality were primary hiring qualifications. These days it is hard sellers need apply.

>>30784416
I know your store now, yeah he is doing decent right now.

>>30784008
i want to "vandalize" the statue:

>rush in, middle of da nite
>spray it blue
>MAT on one shoulder in yellow
>Ward on the other ditto

endlessss lulzzzzz

>>30784386
It was eventually Drew. The first year shift was when the regional cell manager, John, retired from being burned out. He was a good man. I worked with him about 2 years. Lee took over the independent support, and Shawn became the cell manager... Shawn... wasn't so good. Those were the Dave Kingston days, so Dave would come up and throw a chair occasionally. Surprisingly, I lasted 3 years in Dave's regime before leaving on my own.

Drew took over sometime during after the bunker's 2nd year of operation. I met him during this time briefly on my way out, and ended up keeping in contact with him to some degree as a regular to all the stores in the area. He occasionally would give me paint-projects to do, and I even donated an army over to the Tacoma store when it opened.

During Drew's reign, was mostly when the bunker fluctuated. It seemed like it couldn't keep a decent crew. I vaguely recall Justin a few times, but I came from the South Sound so I didn't make it a habit of knowing every person working up in Factoria. Still, it seemed to have a turnover rate even worse than the other GW stores in the area.

I used to work for Sony. I've been to department meetings with management where all I could do was just sit there quietly and mentally shake my head.

Have you ever had a moment(s) like this? Where you know that you're being handed bullshit or retarded orders and you know you'll have to carry them out? What were they?

>>30784516

Yeah Dave Kingston days were very bad. Fortunately I was a Southern Regional guy under Mike Jones so I never dealt with his bullshit. Drew was a good guy, he made the move to Memphis with the company during the '10 shift.

>>30784477
Ok, so Memphis is still around. Is Memphis little more than a pawn to Nottingham, now? I remember there was a time Glen Burney US HQ was *almost* autonomous and even doing their own supplements like the Warhammer Fantasy General's Compendium.

>>30784357
>isn't a pissing match
You certainly seem to be making it one.
US has 5 times the population of the UK, it has more corporations.
Companies that were founded in the US are based in the US. Number of people shocked: 0.
That has nothing to do with whether or not it's good for basing a business.
London accounts for about 40% of forex trading, clearly that's retarded and we should all move to murrica.
Is the UK a shitty country for business or are you a stupid little cunt who needs to stop replying?

>>30784502
maybe i don't want GW to market to young teens after all

>>30784576
Yeah... Dave days were bad... I think all of us can attest to that.

Do you know if Drew's still out in Memphis? I remember when he took off in '10, and wished him well.

>>30784582
calm down

>>30784573

Nearly everyday of my life. Particularly during my 2 training weeks. The amount of bullshit we got handed during those time frames was truly amazing.

>>30784581
Yeah Memphis is still around but yes is entirely answerable to Nottingham. It is effectively a US Office.

>>30784622

Drew is still in Memphis but no longer with GW.

>>30784603
>implying a full grown man can't enjoy a little old fashion vandalism

>>30783076

GW has the most recognizable wargame franchise in America. Why do they insist on pricing everything as though it were a super-exclusive collectors item instead of making mad dosh on bulk?

What's the worst example of a customer you have?

>>30784634
>Yeah Memphis is still around but yes is entirely answerable to Nottingham. It is effectively a US Office.

That's too bad.

>Drew is still in Memphis but no longer with GW.
Ahh... I didn't know he left the company. I know he basically had to invent his own position when he moved down there. Still, I hope he's doing well.

>>30784695
>lulzzzzz
>full grown
>ward jokes in 2k14
>full grown

>>30784715

Because GW thinks they are the Rolls Royce of miniatures gaming. They don't care about bulk.

>>30784715
>Why do they insist on pricing everything as though it were a super-exclusive collectors item instead of making mad dosh on bulk?

Profit Margin. GW's run by old-time business guys in the UK, who are a bit disconnected from reality and their customer base. Their goal this past several years has been to slowly increase prices to find the highest profit margin per unit sale they can, while still building profit. Then it became cutting costs and trimming fat in an effort to get rid of overhead. Now they're kinda just treading water... But the short of it is... Shareholders, and the old farts who run the company, don't know shit about the customer base.

>>30784718

Probably an IG player who tries to set up terrain to create planet bowling ball and then bitches when people want LoS blocking terrain.

>>30784762
do you honestly think theres a chance of prices and policies of gw improving in the future? i love a lot of the models but it's getting a bit absurd

Were you in to 40k before you took the job? If so, has it changed your perspective or opinion on the game? How

>>30784789
We had one of those guys at the Seattle bunker when I was there. He once convinced two kids to play a 2 on 1 game, where he got two detachments and they each got one. The board was unsurprisingly devoid of terrain, and he had 6 basilisks back during the days of 3.5 edition. Immediately afterwards, both the kids came up to me and said "Guard are overpowered!"

Personally I think the worst customers we had when I was at GW weren't of any army demographic in particular. They were usually just any excessively biased player who only loved the faction they played, and bitched incessantly about every other faction (and it was always every other faction).

>>30784821
A burnt child dreads the fire.

The question is whether GW will survive a burn painful enough to make an impression.

>>30784821
>do you honestly think theres a chance of prices and policies of gw improving in the future?

Not him, obviously... but I think there's a chance provided GW's profits continue to sink. Then the high lords of terra (guys who call the shots) will look into ways to drum up growth once again. Right now, they're living mostly off of their IP.

>>30784502

>Matt Ward jokes
>Not making it proper Orky.

Da fuck is wrong with you?

>>30783997
>70+% of the money made by GW in NA is made by trade sales (business to business sales)
Does that mean they don't try to kill off LGSs by opening their own stores near them? Or do they do that regardless?

>>30784582
faggot

>>30784821

I honestly do not.

>>30784849
I was into the hobby a great deal before I got the job. Honestly I'm still passionate about the hobby, I don't necessarily like GW but I still enjoy my hobby.

>>30784762
The Rolls Royce? Hah! Really? That's the shit these chumps think about themselves? Well that explains an awful lot.

>>30784821
>do you honestly think theres a chance of prices and policies of gw improving in the future?
It's already happened, no? I mean, for the past few years (not sure how many) there have been annual price rises across the board, and last year it didn't happen. Sure, new releases are more expensive, but I'm pretty sure that was already happening and the annual rises were on top of that.

Also they've started selling box set collections which actually represent a discount, and even marketing them as cheaper on their website.

It's not much, granted, but it's something.

>>30784914
> Then the high lords of terra (guys who call the shots) will look into ways to drum up growth once again.

Or the other solution, when a chicken ain't laying, a horse ain't running or a cow don't give no more milk.

>>30784932
they still do that but he's saying stuff like licensing 40k vidya games is their bread and butter

>>30784932

GW has never tried to kill of LGS and any of the "successful LGS's get sabotaged" nonsense makes no sense. First that would cost GW money, second trade guys make their money off having their accounts order lots of products. GW has a more vested interest in the success of FLGSs than it does in its own retail business.

>>30784849
GW has made it a point to hire most of it's store staff from regular customers. The reason is because it's easier to teach a gamer how to sell, then it is to teach a salesman how to love the game. And, hiring from the customer base generally means you're not in any shortage of replacements.

>>30784958

I've heard that exact phrasing. They often say things like "well I want a ferrari but I can't afford one" or "I don't see people bitching to Bently that they cannot afford a Bently".

>>30784988
Unless I'm horribly confused, licensing wouldn't be trade sales. Trade sales would be selling minis (and books and other stuff) to other businesses, i.e. LGSs.

>>30784973
Only starter sets and early release bundles, one-click collection have 0% savings.

Whats the deal with writers like ward, or even worse, cruddace? Did they get hired out of the xtreme discount bin or something?

Is the nids codex really cruddace's fault, or was it too much dabbling by accountants, causing everything to turn into shit?

what is GW's stance on warmahordes and infinity?

>>30783076
What's your opinion on /tg/'s persistent rumor that GW is moving to more copyrightable names and identities after the Chapterhouse suit? Hell, your opinion on that whole clusterfuck in general?

>>30783076
Any tales of BIG CASH events?

Also what does the company tell you about their target demographic? Do they tell you to focus on kids? New players? Do they say anything about how you should treat longstanding players (who probably don't buy so much)?

>>30784988

Incorrect - I am referencing business to business sales. I.e. GW selling to your FLGS. This is the vast bulk of the money earned in the US.

>>30785011
This was true pre 2010 before Sandra Casey was hired as the head of the US business. This is no longer a true statement. GW largely prefers non hobbyists or at best with a limited knowledge in their current hiring strategy. They would now rather teach product knowledge to a salesman.

>>30785020
That's a pretty hefty delusion to think the quality of their product is anything like a luxury car. Do they ever do comparisons with competitors or do they just assume they have the best product?

>>30785062
I'd say that's hardly a rumour given the whole Imperial Guard thing.

>>30785028
Retail isn't in on any of that information, generally. But Ward I know started writing for Lord of the Rings sometime back when GW got that license around 12 years or so ago. Kelly was working for White Dwarf and was offered some opportunities to write some rules and work on studio projects during the 3.5 and 4th ed era, and that's how he got started. And Cruddace iirc came from one of the HQs (US maybe?) and got hired in for some reason. Don't know specifics.

>>30785028
Codex's are mostly down to the editors being useless.

They let the writers run rampant like sperglords on a wiki, and only get involved to enforce the deadline, no proofreading or internal consistency checks.

>>30785080
>They would now rather teach product knowledge to a salesman.

Isn't it just a weekly email with:
"This is new, sell it hard."

>>30785028

As i understand it GW dont really give a damn about the rules.

If they thought they could get away with it, they would sell a "book" consisting of a crumpled sheet of paper and a used Yatzee die.

Basically the rules are considered a necessary evil for selling the models.

>>30785080
>Sandra
Why am I not impressed that once again a girl is making worse the things I used to like.

>>30785080
>This is no longer a true statement. GW largely prefers non hobbyists or at best with a limited knowledge in their current hiring strategy. They would now rather teach product knowledge to a salesman.

I stand corrected then... wow... So 2010 really did a number on GW's method of operation?

>>30785020
That's pretty hilarious. They must realise that there's absolutely no analogy there at all.

I mean, GW relies for its business on customers barely even knowing about other games, or not being able to play them because nobody else does. It depends on a captive market, essentially. That is in no way like a luxury car maker, whose customers obviously know many alternatives exist but who choose to pay a premium.

>>30785062

I don't know much officially. I do know that from now one there will only be rules with models released. You will no longer see a unit entry with no model in a codex due to CHS.

As to my opinion. We were being bullies and we got called on it. Our high priced lawyers proved they weren't worth much more than a suit.

>>30785067
I never dealt with BIG CASH shit.

Target demographics are entirely oriented around new customers. Games Workshop is interested in you for one year, after that if you stick around cool, if not fuck you they didn't care. I was trained via this line of thinking, it is the reason GW has one man stores.

>>30785159
Don't know her particularly, but GW has a long habit of every few years "reinventing the wheel". They'll just up and change ALL THE THINGS for whatever reasons. So... I'm less surprised that they changed everything, than seeing that it's a girl's name behind the changes.

>>30785196
>You will no longer see a unit entry with no model in a codex due to CHS.
So why is there fucking "Banned by inqusition mandate" in my copy of Stronghold Assault, still?

Are they going to keep putting out ugly designs like stormraven, landspeeder vengeance and so on?
Or did they lern anything?

>>30785196
>Target demographics are entirely oriented around new customers
Yeah, I think this explains why there's so much online dissatisfaction yet the company keeps going. The people vocally complaining on /tg/ just aren't the target market.

>I never dealt with BIG CASH shit.
Dammit. That's my favourite.

>>30784582

Chillax son, the man made a point, and whether or not you agree, there's no need for the agression.

Now come on, let's all just bury the hatchet and enjoy the thread

>>30785228
The answer to the first part is yes.

As to did they learn anything? Yeah... they learned marine players will buy anything, no matter how ugly. The reason is largely due to the demographic.

>>30785028

If a writer sells models he keeps his job. GW doesn't care about rules in the slightest, they feel they are a model company with rules tacked on. As long as the writer sells models then he is OK.

GW still thinks Warmahordes and Infinity are upstarts that aren't worth time considering so they really have no stance.

>>30785090
There is effectively a base assumption. Games Workshop would never deign to compare itself to what it views as lesser products.

>>30785118
Not sure on Cruddace's hiring but he is a Brit. Vetock is the American on the team.

>>30785149
You pretty much hit the nail on the head. The email says 'This product is X for Y army, it sort of does X (no rules here just vague stuff), customers want it for Z!"

>>30785165
Yes, in 2010 the business changed drastically. This heralded the move from Baltimore, the ouster of Ernie Baker, the hiring of Sandra Casey, and the move to one man stores.

>>30785175
I agree that it is dumb. However it is what they think.

The reason GW makes bad decisions is because they don't fucking know their own product.

To sell something you must know it.

To sell hobby you must hobby. Old dinosaurs at GW HQ need to GTFO ASAP.

>>30785196
>You will no longer see a unit entry with no model in a codex due to CHS
I just hope Based Kelly continues to extend his protection to the Jetseers.

>inb4 Jetseers are OP and should disappear forever
OK, OK, right now they allow for OP combos, but they're also space elf wizards on flying bikes. C'mon, that's pretty cool.

>>30785223
i'd have to guess because a third party company would have a damned hard time making terrain and doing it in a profitable way. i've never seen a third party terrain manufacturer that focused on 40k or did anything beyond "trees and shit" in that scale

>>30785223

SHS and Escalation were most likely finished before CHS was wrapped up. I do not know this for a fact - this is just my primary guess.

>>30785223
Because it's going to be out by September when Stronghold and Escalation are obsoleted.

You paid for a Beta-test.

>>30785196

I dont really believe there is much to fault the lawyers for, except perhaps for failing to make their bosses understand that this was a battle that was unlikely to be won.

As i understand it they did not really have much of a case.

And of course GW should be careful about throwing rocks in glass houses, seeing as a lot of the ideas that are not entirely bland are blatantly ripped off from Moorcock, Dune and 2000AD.

>>30785273
Do they expect me to wait till they make a kit that does not suck?

>>30785324
>Paid
Where do you think we are, anon?

>>30785288
>As long as the writer sells models then he is OK
Do they not think there's a connection between good rules and sales?

...and assuming they don't, are they right? How did Nids sell? Did the shitty rules have any noticeable effect on sales?

>>30785228
>Are they going to keep putting out ugly designs?
You've seen the Ogryns, right?

>>30785333
No, they don't even acknowledge you. They expect marine players will buy a kit that looks like suck, because they'll give it Heavy 20 guns, or rerollable attacks, or make it an AV 14 flier.

>>30785248

You've largely hit it. They don't care that vets are screaming online. They don't care that established customers are angry because those people aren't the target of the business model.

The goal is to recruit because a new recruit spends 700~ in his first year and they want that money as often as possible,as fast as possible.

>>30785361
I've asked myself and others in the company that same question. No one has ever had an acceptable answer. But then again most of the time asking questions internally gets you black listed as a dissenter and a "bad fit".

Logic says that with good rules come good sales, experience defends that positions. However GW will not acknowledge it come hell or high water.

>>30785361
>You've seen the Ogryns, right?

It's a sad world when most of the kits released are better used as Ork conversion material than their intended purpose.

>>30785361
>Do they not think there's a connection between good rules and sales?

GW's fanbase isn't known for turning down something in favor of 'good rules'... They tend to be in favor of "borken rules". Cruddace led to a lot of sales for his work on IG. Nids... not so much. But a LOT of Vendetta's have been sold in the form of Valkyrie conversions. And IG armies make a boat load of money for GW, especially when the box of 20 guardsmen gets split down to a box of 10 guardsmen at 2/3rds the original price.

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How would someone become a CEO of a company in the first place. Why haven't these Emperor forsaken old guys in G.W. management been fired?

>>30785361
>>30785321
What this guy said. How did nids actually sell?

>>30785426
You have to be part of the shareholders and board of directors. Knowing a lot about Wall Street helps.

>>30785431

They sold moderately well in my store. I do not know what larger numbers looked like.

>>30785426
Being the single largest single stock owner helps.

>>30785425
They're not at 2/3 the original price, they're AT the original price.

>>30785455
So being a rich guy who loves the hobby would solve the problem?

>>30785431
Initially the 5th ed Nid codex did sell. A lot of Nid players bought Trygons when they came out, and Doom was considered borderline OP. So the thing a lot of players conveniently forget, is Nids were a hot sale in 5th just after Wolves, with a lot of Nid players swapping out Fexes for trygon/mawlocks.

What killed Nids in 5th, was the FAQ that ran them into the ground with such things as "Shadow in the warp doesn't affect psykers in transports", along with Doom's inability to affect transported units. Once that happened, Nid sales dropped... but it didn't matter because that was beyond the 1-year mark and they made money back.

>>30785492

Being very wealthy is important yes. Additionally you'd need to get a spot on the board of directors (possible through purchasing a large enough block of shares presumably). I don't know corporate rules and regs that well.

>>30785466
The dropped to 2/3rds the original price when it was first repackaged (as did the Orks). Now they're at the original price.

BRB heading out to grab a quick bite, should be back in 5 to 10.

>>30784086
All their feedback is negative because they're doing everything wrong!

>>30785492
Rich, yes.
Love the hobby? Well... that's entirely optional.

>>30785492
Sadly, loving the hobby and being rich seem to be mutuality exclusive.

What if.... ALL THE HOBBISTS formed an organization, and used the potential pool of funds to buy up stock and force their way into the CEO slot?

>>30785523
whats with that bs line that managers feed you about "actually prices have only kept up with inflation"? its very demonstratively false and i can understand why they don't want you bitching about prices in the store but where did that crock come from

>>30785546
Nu-Uh!
It's because there this one angry neckbeard counterfeiter and competitor that posts with a hundred different profiles and tries to make GW look bad, also he sabotages every bit of fine-cast before it hits the stores.

>>30785546
No, anon, clearly GW is all knowing and infallible, and how dare you criticize them, you are the cancer killing our beloved model company. You're probably only bitching because you're too poor to buy into the Ferarri of miniatures. I bet you're Irish too, your post reeks of potatoes and whiskey.

>>30785570
Out of their asses.

Answering one more post because my wife takes forever to get ready.

>>30785546

I never said I agreed with it, just giving the reason.

>>30785570

That's effectively the company line. there was one email that went out once that had a half assed justification of the concept so it became the standard line.

>>30784177
I think you're confusing The City in London, Uk, with "Britain". Two different things.

>>30785288
Indeed we must remember gw, started as a miniature company and the first warhammer rules were just an afterthought/creative exercise.

Also I can see warlord games becoming their main competitor, it's gaining and it has a lot of ex-gw talent.

>>30785426
>Why haven't these Emperor forsaken old guys in G.W. management been fired?
Because they made the company what it is. Tom Kirby's been there since the late 80s, so he's overseen a pretty massive expansion of GW across the world. They must have done a lot right, really.

Are you bitter about being sacked from a middle ground retail job?

>>30785724
also not the guy i'm replying to but Richard Ansell is a big bastard but seemingly still wields influence.

>>30785715
Does it have Jes Goodwin and Blanche?

Then no, it doesn't have talent

Is 6th nids doing well in terms of sales? Is crud in trouble?

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Meanwhile at G.W.:

<- gif related

question about working at gw: how does the company treat its employees? how is the work environment, outside of the one man stores? anything particularly notable

>>30784221
so whats the back story behind Tom, Scott and the Glen Burnie Bunker?

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>>30784731

>>30785774
It's historical, it doesn't need either as all the miniatures are based off osprey art, it does have cavatore among others working on the rules which is where it needs the edge, anyone can do good historical miniatures but no one does professionally done rules that are any good.

>>30785923
you can have fun as someone who acts like an adult and isn't obnoxious and puerile bra.

>>30785931
Exactly, Historical Miniatures.
A cesspit devoid of any talent where the model designers go to die.

Here is the truth kids. The reason why GW is still tops is because you need to buy rather large armies, the troops are pretty fun to assemble, you can customise them and the game still encourages you to do all that and paint them however you want.

It's why Warmachine will forever be small time, there is little to no hobby to the game and the kits are trash.

It's why Infinity will forever be small time because there is no hobby to the game because the models are one pose kits.

It's why Mantic is basically "Buying Warhammer for cheap" using it's potato people designed like ass.

These companies need to look at GW, not it's business structure, but how it became so big.

And that Answer is Multi-part plastic kits that were FUN.

Everyone remembers grabbing their first box, gluing them together roughly and painting them without thinning paints. Yet you took pride in them because they were YOURS.

It was More like LEGO and Less like Rebuilding a broken GI Joe.

>>30785931

are you suggesting that GW has "professionally done rules that are any good", because that hasn't been the case for a long long time.

>>30786050
gonna have to agree with you, the whole appeal of 40k is that not only are the models mostly really good but you can assemble and paint them how you want and you can even use parts from different kits to create really cool models. disagree about some of the other games but really none of them are shooting for that "customizable and pretty model kits" thing that gw has on lock

>>30785981
The proper response to this type of post is to not.

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>>30785852
Tom manages the GB bunker it's one of the, if not the top performing stores in the whole company.
It gets closed for no reason.
Tom leases the empty building he use to manage as a GW manager.
Opens Dropzonegames.
Making money hand over fist.

Pic related, its Chuck, the Blood Angel that use to be in the GB Bunker.

>>30786050
This guy. This guy knows his shit.

Look at all the pre-painted figures wargames. Where are they now? Guess where X-Wing is going.

GW does well because they get you so invested in their product. It's why they're focusing on hobby over tournaments. Why would they support a customer base that says "don't ever buy this unit, this unit is garbage and worthless and you'd be dumb to buy it. by the way, my all plastic, resin and metal marine army counts as any marine codex I want, including chaos and count as Tau" when they could support the customer base that says "buy the units you think are cool and play for fun. then when you get tired of that army, choose your next favorite and keep going"

Don't get me wrong. As a hobby player I'm loving 6th edition and everything about it... except the prices.

>>30785755

I'm not bitter - I understand why my job was terminated. It is the nature of business. enjoyed my time (largely) with GW and don't wish anyone any ill will (well maybe 1 or 2 specific guys).

>>30785778
I don't know any Nid numbers minus my own store which saw Nids sell fairly well. It is doubtful that Cruddace is any serious trouble.

>>30785832
The benefits are fantastic. Work environment is hit or miss, it all depends on your middle management. I've had great years and terrible years, but I can tell you this the one many environment is not for me.

>>30786279

All this is correct. Scott managed the GB bunker before Tom, rand it into the ground the moved to Memphis to manage the Memphis Bunker for 9 months as he ran it into the ground too.

>>30786148
I mean hell I don't hate any other company and their model range but I am just being extremely blunt about it.

I collect Warhammer, have done for around 11 years and I have played around 10 games at the table personally.

I model them, I paint them I enjoy it as a hobby.

I can't do that for any other company because their sculpts are either secondary in ideal over their rules or designed to be an alternative to warhammer.

If anyone here has any pull with PP or whatever. Here is what I offer to them.

See GW doing Multibox kits? Do that. Now. For everything.

And fix the fucking heroic scaling on your models, you make the Cadian guard look normal with all your damn shoulder pads and dinky feet.

>>30785634

Have you noticed a drop in customers from the rise of warmahordes/infinity/other competitors?

Would you recommend new tabletop strategy players start with a GW product? If not, which other product would use suggest?

>>30786369
my only real disagreement was on warmahordes rules being mediocre but thats a bit moot

PP really just doesn't appeal to me because, just like you said, the models are just markers for what unit you are fielding. it doesn't feel like something i would paint and model and have fun with. i have a similar issue with a lot of fantasy battle stuff. really i enjoy building and painting interesting and relatively unique models and being able to smash stuff together and have it look cool. other companies don't manage to do that

Hey Ex-GW Staffer, would you mind if I archived this? Assuming you haven't been lying to us this whole time (and I don't think you are), this is fascinating insight into the inner workings of GW, and it'd be neat to preserve it for late-comers.

But if you'd prefer to keep this less public and let the thread die off, that's also fair.

>>30786050
> Answer is Multi-part plastic kits that were FUN.

What the fuck are you talking about m8?

If I want good plastic kits, gundam is so superior over GW so much that GW's kits look like prototype gunpla kits made 1000 years ago.

I can point a middle finger using my gunpla. It has articulation down to its finger joints, its skeleton is more detailed than any completed GW product, I can kitbash without using any files, drills or knives, I don't even need to fucking paint. What innovation has GW done in the past 25 years? Down syndrome orgyns?

If you want to fight purely down the model kits line, don't even mention gundam, there's a line of companies waiting to fuck GW in the arse.

The reason they're so successful is because of their stores, sales tactic, fluff, public image, games and the chance to socialise. Don't kid yourself. They've distilled all the above into one successful package by opening up the GW stores. You can do nerdy shit, read nerdy shit, while making nerdy friends all in one obvious place.

New customers aren't going to hunt down an FLGS behind maddame paine's bar, down dodge alley, They're more likely to see gee-dub in high street, and all the colourful figurines.

The reason warmahordes and infinity is smaller is because almost their whole customer base is people that has passed through the system, and know GW is shit.

Also, they're burning up their goodwill faster than they can produce it. Times are bad, and new customers are getting lesser. The best tactic now is to actually retain repeat customers, which they're shit at doing.

The beast won't go down that easily, but it is going down.

>>30786401

I haven't seen a drastic drop. I'd attribute most of the drop in customers to price/cost of entry for the hobby.

As far as recommending a "getting started" game I think it takes a bit more touch. I'd need to know what drives that person - is it rules, models, fluff? Different games have different appeals and strengths and weaknesses so I'd want to suggest the correct product for that person.

>>30786050
>It's why Infinity will forever be small time because there is no hobby to the game because the models are one pose kits.
Did you never convert metal models in your GW-loving days?

>>30786481

That's OK with me. I try to offer polite and helpful insight where I can.

>>30786446
Oh I didn't mean Warmahordes rules being naff, they're pretty good. I just meant like you said, the models are secondary.

>>30786482
Gunpla also cost alot more due to shipping and handling and at the time I was trying it out was generally less friendly to painting. Sure, they've not been innovative, but they made models I enjoyed, especially the Dark Eldar Range.. Gunpla are just Gundam.

>>30786509
I did, it was a fucking ballache to try and get beastmen out of the clone wars.

When Beasts of Chaos came out, I literally shat myself at being able to have a dark Celtic army where each soldier looked nothing like the next.

Mono pose isn't bad, but if all your units are mono pose, it makes everyones army feel the same, as a hobbyist that's something I dislike.


Nobody liked the Clone Wars anon.

>>30786482
How are Gundam relevant when the guy was obviously comparing model ranges from wargames?

>>30786536
>Gunpla also cost alot more due to shipping and handling

You wot mate? hlj.com. You can get gunpla for $40 inc. shipping, cheaper if you buy more. A knight costs $155, I can buy 4 gundams for the price of a knight.

superior Japanese product is superior.

>>30786509
I think his point (which I do agree with) is that it's much much easier with those multi part models.
I still have my first or second WD with its article about how to convert all-metal models into a Tzeentch warband and maaaan was it some difficult shit to do. I would've never dared it back in the day. But those Heroquest and Space Crusade minis? You bet your ass I modded them!

GW made the whole thing more accessible. As much as I hate them, it's true.

That being said, Gundam-Anon is _also_ right. There are tons of other manufacturers who are superior in quality and customisation options. I agree with him that creating a community (years and years before the Internet was around to do it for you) was a much more powerful factor.

>>30786604
I live in britbong land son, so I can pay nothing for shipping.

Also those Knights do come unpainted and undesigned, allowing me as a hobbyist to go to town on them with my hearts content.

Look, I am not saying Gunpla are bad, and Lord almighty I wish we do get Gunpla grade models in the future, but right now I think Models are supposed to be glued and remain static and the Riptide is pretty nifty in posability too, not a Gunpla, but It fits my robot needs.

And to be honest, Gunpla is a different hobby altogether.

How does GW view its customers? Former Sonyfag here again. From interacting with people above my paygrade (I was a line manager), I could tell that middle management and above saw customers as nothing but cash cows. Decisions are made not based on the customer's experience with the product, but in what kind of savings it would mean to the company. Was GW the same way? Because from the outside looking in, it seems very familiar. Do you have any example anecdotes?

>>30786599
Because the dude said multi-part is the be-all end-all, which is not, because GW models are shit.

I'm saying its not, its more complex than that.

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>>30786574

>Nobody liked the Clone Wars

u wot

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>>30786720
Wrong Clone Wars buddy.

This one.

>>30786709
But Gunpla is Multi-part. I'm gonna be brutally honest guy, Multi-part IS the Be-all and end-all.

It's why I don't collect Warmachine or infinity bar select units I like the mono pose of.

>>30786511
Archived:

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/30783076/

May future generations forever know of GW's hubris and ignorance.

>>30786791
Foolz archives /tg/

Can i just take a moment, here, to say what an insufferable shit Ash Barker is and how glad I am he was fired?

Ash Barker is such an insufferable shit and I am glad he was fired.

Seriously, fuck that guy.

Fellow redshirts will know who I'm talking about.

>>30786879

Boy fucking Howdy was I glad the day they popped his ass. He is getting deported soon too which is double amazing since he bought a fucking house in Memphis.

>>30786679

Your experiences with Sony seem in line with mine from GW.

Training is focused on asking customers to buy, overcoming objections to buying today, constantly looking at customers with the intent of selling them product through every conversation.

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>>30786947
Such is the cruel nature of capitalism; the only true goal is $$, $$$, and $$$$.

>>30786764
>But Gunpla is Multi-part. I'm gonna be brutally honest guy, Multi-part IS the Be-all and end-all.

Why don't you shit on your GW minishits and flush it down the toilet then? Compared to Bandai, GW shit looks like it was made a 1000 years ago, by monkeys, with a very blunt rock.

Also, kotobukiya, tamiya, academy, dragon, airfix, etc. etc. are waiting to ream GW in the arse if that was the case.

Stores brah, don't kid yourself. Game, the social aspect, store visibility are more important.

>>30785024
That seems to go directly against the point of ordering in bulk

>>30787043
They're counting on people not doing the math and assuming bulk means savings

>>30787004
Oh please. Airfix models have always been cheap plastic made breaking the backs of the chinese and only bought by old people to paint in specific colors.

GW's minis have the niche, the Hobby gamer.

None of those you listed have it. But tell me exactly. If the Game, the social aspect, is so damn important.

Why has PP not utterly stomped them in sales?

Why do they constantly need to remain small dogs?

>>30786913
>>30786879

Who is this Ash Barker?

>>30787064

I don't that is it. They believe that customers appreciate the simplicity of being able to select all the new releases in one go. They also think (and probably rightly) that people are more inclined to buy everything when it is presented as an option. You might not think to buy everything available but hell if the button is there, you might consider it.

>>30787079

PP hasn't stomped them in sales because they're well on the path of becoming as bad as GW. Have you seen the prices on some of their kits lately?

>>30787079

GW models just have something to them that makes you want to own them. I don't even play but I have 4 large armies. I do intend to play a game eventually but I'm happy with just modelling tbh.

Infinity and warmahordes may have better rules but who gives a fuck, their models objectively look like ass. If they were like 10 cents a piece I might consider it but they're fucking expensive on top of being ugly. I like the crocodile guys but that's it. The rest of the concepts are weak and look dumb.

Is there any traction to the rumor that forgeworld will be avalible for order at GW stores?

>>30786511
Do you know any staffers by the name of Abe Peturka, and what happened to them?

>>30787083
Retail regional manager, although his title changed a few times while GW groped for some sort of retail management plan. I've got a story to share but not while I'm typing on my phone - later, once I get home, if anybody's actually interested.

>>30787083

A motherfucker of epic proportions.

I don't know his pre-2010 history in Canada. However he spent 4 years here in the states as a Director for Growth (regional manager) and then head of training. He was a know it all insufferable cunt who turned every fucking conversation into something about him or Canada.

He was smug to the point of condescension, would come in to your store, treat you like shit then ask why you didn't have a sales conversation with him. He'd tell you he bought things at other stores because they had sales conversations with him. He constantly talked down about other people's hobby.

And literally any conversation you had with him he knew more about the subject than you.

This motherfucker once told a man with 3 kids that his (Ash's) baby (3 weeks old at the time) didn't get sick because his (Ash's) child was perfect! What in the fuck?

He also told a customer (a paying fucking customer) that his Tom's (shoes) were unethical and he was unethical for wearing them.

>>30787118
Thats exactly my point.

I have around 4 armies and literally tons of once of bought units I really enjoyed and painted up. Dark Eldar became an army purely because of this due to the literal top tier model range they have.

>>30787108
Becoming as bad as GW with models are are boring and dull doesn't make people buy them.

>>30787137

I know Abe, he still works for GW.

>>30787136
Cannot answer.

>>30787118
>may have better rules but who gives a fuck, their models objectively look like ass.
>The rest of the concepts are weak and look dumb.
This is hilarious coming from a warhams zealot.
Especially concept wise, where 40k has some of the worst things ever. Like tank design.

Keep sipping the kool-aid.

>>30787147
>Canada
We would kindly like to apologize for Ash Barker, Ted Cruz, Justin Bieber, and shitty Flash children's cartoons.

That being said, he's being deported back to Canada? Fuck.

>>30787180

I don't own any tanks except for a few rhinos

>>30787196

Yessir he is, back to Canada (an otherwise lovely place).

>>30786050
That's it. I'm sick of all this "Beer and pretzel narrative" bullshit that's going on with miniature wargaming systems right now. Wargames can be better than that. Much, much better than that.
I should know what I'm talking about. I myself have been playing warmahordes in the pacific northwest since 2005(thats 9 years) and have been getting good. I can even win national cons with my Blindwater lists.
Privateer Press developers spend years working on a single rulebook and playtest it up to a million times to produce the finest wargame known to mankind.
Warmahordes is thrice as balanced as any European miniature games and thrice as intuitive for that matter too. Any play style a warhammer ruleset can offer, warmahordes offers better. I'm pretty sure a banethrall could easily bisect a space marine wearing terminator armor with a simple charge attack.
Ever wonder why there are custom card threads but no custom mini rules threads? That's right, they are completely unnecissary due to how balanced the game is. Even when hordes was initially released, it was able to hold its own against warmachine armies since the balance is so fine.
So what am I saying? Warmahordes is simply the best miniatures game that the world has ever seen, and thus, requires more recognition in the gaming community. Here is how I would recommend rule systems to new players looking for a game:
Games workshit
ok minis
option for fantasy IN SPESS!!1!
Has terrible business practices, and the procedes go to AL Qeada

maulifax
no one actually plays this

Fapfinity
only european grognards “play” this, and by play I mean masturbate to the figures
made by Mexicans

Warmachine and hordes
Intuitive, comprehensive and effective rules
no codex creep, well balanced
minatures sculpted by the reincarnation of michealangelo himself
Privateer Press literally can do no wrong
Counts as Masterwork

Now that seems a lot more representative of merits of these systems in real life, don't you think?

>>30787180
Do point us to some better tank design.

Or are you going to then say you play Historical, and this completely voids the point of what we are making because Historical is the realm of old men harping about the past and getting anal retentive about color schemes.

>>30787108

This is what is funny, people complain and whine about GW being expensive all day long, yet you don't hear a peep about PP who charges very similar prices or Wyrd who charges $20 for three plastic figures or CB who charges $10 at least for a single metal figure.

The only thing is some weak ass deflection "W-Well you n-need less...."

>>30787216
I hope I won't be seeing him in BC soon.

What a wanker.

>>30787218
I'm saving this post forever. It's almost as good as the marine sniper post.

>>30787218

I laughed way more than I should have.

>>30787218

>minatures sculpted by the reincarnation of michealangelo himself

They look like they jumped straight out of a C class manga about generic robot looking bad guys. They look fucking AWFUL. I am a model enthusiast. I don't even play. I have a LOT of models from a lot of ranges but warmachine is just fucking ugly and generic as fuck. They don't even look like they could move in most cases.

>>30787079
>Why has PP not utterly stomped them in sales?
>Why do they constantly need to remain small dogs?

Laugh all you want now, when PP is bigger 10 years down the track, you'll know you're wrong. They're small dogs because they started 20 years later.

They've grown massively from the old warcaster+jacks only, without even a rulebook, but using old printed cards, to prime, to hordes, to MKII

Why don't you answer me, if warmahordes is so shit, why is it growing so fast? Every dog has its day.

>>30787323

That was the edit of a copypasta bro.

>>30787196
Shush! Don't let them know our chief export is people we don't want in Canada!

>>30787355

Still doesn't change the fact that if they were real, most of them would be so top heavy they'd fall over and be unable to get up. There's no sense of realism to them. I want my minis to look like they're able to get up and walk away.

>>30787390

I'm not debating you regarding PP minis. I was pointing out that you were responding to what is, effectively a very old troll post.

>>30787352
It's not growing.

it's consolidating. The prices for the models are downright astronomical, if I wanted to get into Warmachine here, my closest shop sells one of the starter parts for close to £60. For around 5 models, that most are usually useless in the competitive game and /tg/ itself has told me can be literal traps.

So I need to buy them solo, and guess what, they cost AS MUCH as Warhammer for LESS HOBBY SIDE.

Warmachine isn't growing, it's merely consolidating it's power and remaining small, if it wanted to be big, why isn't it building itself? Why are model kits not being made with more choice?`

>>30787429

Yes, I know.

>>30787218
What about warlord?
Decent rules
Multiple systems/time periods
Plastic multi pose infantry for all of the big nations plus metal parts/heads and separate head box sets for niche formations/countries.
Plenty of articles from hobbyists and a forum.
Miniatures are pretty good, although I would like them a lot more with fixed heads.
They have Paul Sawyer doing conversion articles.

>>30787287
>It's not a bad design because I like it and have never looked at other mini lines.
Well, uhm, ok, I guess being retarded is your prerogative.

Check out any other sci-fi line with vehicles. Maybe start with AVP and work from there? At least they understand low profiles.

>>30786764
I want to point out that while most infinity models aren't all that customizable,you don't need to double up on any so you avoid the clone wars problem at least

>>30787465
Isn't Warlords Historical?

Historical is literal trash.

>>30787471
I see, you meant bad designs as in some sort of rage against actual aesthetics and style choices.

I thought you wanted to point out better sculpts, I have not found any that are not made out of inferior plastic and look utterly devoid of personality.

>>30787465
never heard of it, and the pasta is very close to the character limit.

>>30787435
It's definitely growing though. WMH clubs outnumber warhams clubs. Most games stores around here have a WMH night but none have one for 40k or any GW products for that matter.

Also poeple jumping ship because of terrible rules and poorly written codexes.

There's been a HUGE shift, if you can't it that through your rose tinted goggles, I dunno man.

>>30784318

Dang, I learned how to play Warhammers from you or someone you worked with then.

Yeah, I don't know where to play now that the Battle Bunker went under.

>>30787520
>I have not found any that are not made out of inferior plastic and look utterly devoid of personality.
Well, you obviously buy into the 40k retardedhuge-with-skulls aesthetic hook line and sinker so I won't bother with you.

>>30787534

I don't have a personal opinion on the subject but that is obviously anecdotal evidence.

I personally enjoy the ever living hell out of Hordes and WHFB so I get to play both.

>>30786672
If you want you can always apply glue to lock your Gunpla in one pose and/or prime and paint like you could any wargame model.

>>30787564
>still not pointing out other sculpts

>>30787584
Well, apart from the anecdotal evidence of battle bunkers closing and stores downsizing and consolidating of course.

Just coincidence right?

>>30787534
I assume you are American? Probably is a large scene over there.

Also using Anecdotal evidence.

Or I can simply say this. I play in the Leeds area in The UK. I have seen a grand total of ONE Store that sells WMH stuff, and a Grand total of ONE Night dedicated to it. Reason why there is no night dedicated to Warhammer?

The GW down the road is pretty much the same community. the store still sells Warhammer stuff.

>>30787616

That is evidence that GW is suffering, not that WMH is growing.

>>30787616
And those Local stores becoming WMH battle bunkers are.....?

>>30786851
Yeah but sup/tg/ is (theoretically) the best threads compared to foolz which archives everything.

>>30787483

True, but a lot of the appeal of wargames is having an entire legion of little guys on your table.

Infinity is really granular, and great for Counter-Strike style conflicts, and Warmahordes has great rules too, but at the end of the day people love to be able to dump 200 infantry on a table with a cadre of tanks wading amongst them.

That's why Flames of War is so popular (in addition to the history buff appeal), and why even though we know how toxic GW is, we keep playing 40k because we just love to be able to fill up 2 square feet of board with minis, then slowly take chunks out of the other side.

I still collect 40k minis for the fluff and visual style; I like my models a bit goofy looking (lelcadianproportions), but I don't enjoy fantasy or historicals.

That basically leaves me with Infinity, generic systems like FUBAR, and 40k.

I know these other systems are better, and I've played them and acknowledge that they are, but at the end of the day that's not what I want to play.

>>30787564
Please show me a superior game design.

>>30787615
Except I did?
>Start with the AVP line and go from there.
Zzz.

About as much logic as I expect from 40kids right there.

>>30787619
I'm not American.

And UK is still GW aligned. Main HQ and what not.

>>30787637
>Number 1 has problems and losing fans.
>Doesn't mean the lead competitor isn't growing.
Wut.

>>30787639
Except why would a local want to be a WMH BB when they sell magic and all that junk too? That's ridiculous.

>>30787653
...FUBAR? What is that?

>>30787698
Game design =/= Aesthetic design.

Learn the difference.

Though 40k is a terribly designed game too.

>>30786050
>It's why Warmachine will forever be small time, there is little to no hobby to the game and the kits are trash.
Which is why they are in the #2 position as far as best selling Wargames in North Armerica, right? Warmachine outsells Warhammer Fantasy right now.

>It's why Infinity will forever be small time because there is no hobby to the game because the models are one pose kits.
Oh yeah man, totally agree. Just like pic related. Any company that produces one pose metal minis can never get better.

You've got a point about getting people invested, but you're crazy if you think that other systems can't do this.

>>30787740
Sorry.

Please show me a better aesthetically designed and better sculpted series of models please

>>30787717

When one business fails it does not mean their competitor is succeeding or growing. The alternate is the money is going to video games, movies, books, TV, etc.

Just because GW is doing poorly doesn't mean, necessarily, that WMH is growing. I am not saying it isn't, I am simply saying you cannot correlate one business's poor performance with another success without more evidence. They are not directly correlated.

Do you reckon GW plans to leave the US to selling only through FLGSs?

Despite the hit in brand awareness (which, credit due, is amazing for a niche hobby) it would reduce costs and save them having to think about where to put stores. I've yet to see a one man store in the UK, after all.

>>30787520
Jesus listen to yourself, not enough tits and sess mahreens in it for you, you fucking 4 year old?

>>30787717
you're really bad at presenting any evidence and doing anything but making fun of the points that other people are making.

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>>30787758
Goddamnit it, pic got left off.

>>30787758

Can you show sales data to back up your claim that WMH outsells WHFB?

I know you can't because PP is privately owned thus its financials aren't publicly available so you have no idea what their sales numbers look like.

>>30787717

Yes, the number 1 losing does not mean that the number 2 is winning, because people may choose to not buy any wargames at all. That's what's happening, more than people switching games.

>>30787763
You've yet to see a one man store in the UK, huh? Most stores in the UK are one man stores.

>>30787760

Infinity

>>30787850

I think that is the same guy who doesn't like Infinity's single pose models so probably not a good answer (but I do not know for sure).

>>30787760

Dropzone Commander

>>30787877

Those are really pretty models! Have you played the game?

>>30787870

I can't help his shit taste.

>>30787218
Nice "katanas in d20" rewrite, must have taken awhile.