Blimey, a positive GW thread? That's a relief. I read the negative ones with much rolling of eyes. So many of the "truths" in those are subjective at best, and many flat out bollocks. Presumably from already having a negative opinion on them so anything further they encounter either supports that ir gets ignored, and from inferring what isn't implied, and failing to appreciate that a bad experience gets reported to about 10 times more people than a good experience so such negative anecdotal accounts aren't terribly indicative at all really. It's a thing though isn't it, a popular trend, visiting scorn upon the big boys, like Microsoft. I know I have that reaction to all things D&D and D20.
Still, ain't for me to quote and pick apart a persons opinion. It's theirs, and the likelihood of something turning around with "oh, actually, yeah, I was wrong about that, it isn't fact, just an isolated experience" ain't gonna happen.
I like GW. Used to love 'em, but can't maintain that higher level of appreciation since not being so immersed in it all. Still love Warhammer, the setting, but always did and continue to get most of that from WFRP (2ndEd' of course, couldn't get on board with FFG's card game edition). Never was much into the battle games though. Thirty plebs and a monster/tank didn't scream "army" to me, a small skirmish, and for that I favoured the games that focused in more to a level to better present skirmish action (Necromunda, Mordheim, etc)
Got into it in the late 80's. The figures were of dubious quality, some good, some bad. Depending on the sculptor. The settings were still in early phases of what has remained an ongoing development, but was particularly wobbly back then. For all that, there was a lot of character. Fun stuff, seemingly done for the joy of its creation without thought to such things as how useful it'd be or game balance.
I joined the company in the early 90's. Was asked up to Eavy Metal but didn't want to move out of London. Instead spent five years being a retail bod' mostly ensconced at a painting table. Bloody good years. The other staff, and I encountered many, of those I wouldn't need many fingers to count anyone I wouldn't happily go for a pint with. It's why most of them were such fine folk really, when recruiting, it was a thing to consider. Beyond qualifications and availability and all the normal things you have to think "would I like to work with this person?" so the trend was for cool peeps with a geek-side.
The company, as I joined, was starting to get organised. Core games being re-released on a 3-4 year cycle with supplementary games filling out a release schedule. The structure and training was being more finely defined. Was always rather fond of the ten commandments they developed. Acknowledging folk that came in, with a nod, wave, or hello, and then tailoring ones approach depending on the punter, mostly meaning conversational questions suggesting recommendations but if that tailoring approach screamed "this person, for whatever reason, wants leaving alone, do that".
All the toot about rabid redshirts descending on folk is pretty much an aberation. It wasn't something that they'd want to do. Wasn't something the management would want done (mini's aren't fridges, so hard sell tactics are not advisable).
Various gaming nights and means to "build the hobby" were set into motion. Handy for the staff to be able to invite punters to something relevant for the individuals coming in.
I had to leave after five years. Retail is a dead-end unless you're of the mental archetype to go into management and despite trying, I wasn't. Remains a golden period in my life, all the quality people I worked with an all that.
Have still added the occasional new release to the lead mountain, but not so much. That loss of the staff discount was felt keenly, and because of that already had more than I could paint in a lifetime. Have switched to picking up paints from pretty much every non-GW range I encounter, more for experimentation and variety as a reaction to price though.
The occasional price rise can generate a sneer. Especially on special characters, and now the company has taken on more plastic production into the ranks that pricing seems harsh in comparisn to how plastics prices used to be so much cheaper than metal. It isn't as stark a "Blimey, GW are pricey" as I expected though. First few non-GW ranges I came across were cheaper, but now, the fancy Avatars of War and such are seemingly priced on a par with GW so the occasional GW character fig added to an order of random stuff ain't some oppresive gouge.
It's to find myself thinking with GW so much of the rest of our hobby wouldn't exist. It's one of the trite arguments that perpetuates Tolkien as being appreciated as the master of fantasy. And I bloody hate that. Tolkien, clever academic, but as an author he sucks the farts from a leprous donkey. Where he around today he'd be best off writing background books and leaving the fiction to folk that understood characterisation and pace. And, er, that was a bit of a tangent. GW, yeah, I like 'em... so ner.
thanks peeps
