Tuesday 26 June 2018

"Warhammer World" Loot 2018

"Warhammer World" - The main building complete with giant statue and "Warhammer 40K" game display
This past weekend saw the start of what will hopefully be a semi-regular pilgrimage to Lenton Lane, Nottingham, and the supposed "Mecca for collectors and gamers across the globe" known as Warhammer World. I haven't actually visited the global headquarters of the "Games Workshop" hobby since its early days, and was surprised by just how many different games, genres and miniatures the company currently produce. Certainly, I found my willpower simply to pick-up the odd little trinket wilting the moment I arrived and came face-to-face with the place's gigantic statue of a Space Marine and Rhino armoured troop carrier.

Having therefore found myself already considerably enthused with "Warhammer 40K" I set foot inside the Visitor Centre and promptly came face-to-face with a marvellous display of Ultramarines storming an incredibly detailed mining facility which had been unfortunate enough to fall prey to an infestation of Nurgle's chaotic disciples. Somewhat overshadowed by a formidably-sized statue of Lurtz from "The Lord Of The Rings", not to mention a second Space Marine (perhaps the original sculpt which stood outside?), this enclosed miniature display in some ways actually made me want to drive back home and start painting up the contents of my "Dark Imperium" boxed set straight away...
Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader - "Produced to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Warhammer 40,000" 
Naturally there was still plenty more to see, and resultantly I spent some time moving around the various downstairs display cabinets before venturing up into the building's main store. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly for a manufacturer who is literally just about to release the second edition of their "Age Of Sigmar" rule-set though, it was not until I ventured up these steps that I started to notice its publicity; the vast majority of which came in the form of large cloth advertisement banners displaying some of the games more popular factions, such as the Stormcast and Daughters of Khaine.

However, as you can probably imagine, this momentarily banished all thoughts of their "dystopian science fantasy universe" from my mind and had me making a bee-line past the welcoming member of staff, and straight to their substantial "Age Of Sigmar" miniature exhibits. It was at this point though that I realised I really had ill-prepared myself for the sheer volume of plastic, metal and resin "Games Workshop" produce, and the presence of "Forge World" and their entire resin range didn't help matters either.
Errant-Questor WIP - The Stormcast Eternal has been assembled, based and primed
Luckily I was able to take a moments breather and libation at the wonderfully atmospheric Bugman's Bar, before returning to the store area and pressing on with my plan to view every single model on display. This refreshing respite momentarily allowed me to regain my wits and logically decide to only purchase from the centre's 'exclusive' range, rather than rampage through the fully-packed aisles of wares which I could doubtless purchase online (and at a significantly reduced cost).

To that end I was rather pleased to simply walk away with just a "special edition facsimile" of the original "Warhammer 40,000" rule-book, in order to replace my badly battered copy of "Rogue Trader", and the rather enigmatic-looking Errant-Questor multi-part plastic model for the Stormcast Eternals. Of course, paying £20 for a single average-sized miniature, even when it comes in a myriad of small fiddly pieces, is definitely not something I plan on doing everyday, especially when at one point I had been torn between purchasing either "the lone survivor of a retinue" or an entire "Blood Bowl" team for exactly the same price. But it was hopefully a one-off, and perhaps the start of another army for "Age Of Sigmar"...

24 comments:

  1. H aha, I went to GW headquarters (as it was called back then) for the launch of "Inquisitor" back when I was writing for "Valkyrie", it was a great day out, and got to come home with some free stuff too. I imagine it's grown quite a bit since then! Nice report, I think I'll keep a polite distance from the place myself though.

    "Get thee behind me Satan!!"

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. LOL Roger :-) It was temptation itself tbh, as they apparently every mini for sale on display there - and haven't spent ages walking from cabinet to cabinet I could believe it. Of course, they also all cost RRP, so the temptation perhaps wasn't so great as one may have thought. Although I certainly left the place wanting to play nothing else but "GW" games... at least until I walked into "Warlord Games" later that day ;-)

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  2. Great post! The place clearly made an impression on you. When I went I spent ages wandering round like a kid in a sweet shop. The staff were nice and those Forgeworld devils nearly made me part with a lot of money, but I resisted. Lovely read, your feelings come through this prose wonderfully!

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    1. Thanks Undercoat. 'Twas a truly inspiring place to visit, and apart from the prices I was totally in awe of the selection of goodies on show. Of course "Forge World" was extremely tempting too, especially some Nurgle Toads which looked simply stunning... So don't be surprised to see me picking up a unit of three of them next time I visit "GW" HQ ;-)

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  3. It’s still an aspiration of mine to go there one day, I’ll be sure to keep my wallet at home though I think. Whatever you think of GW and there business strategies, they still produce good games and stunning miniatures.

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    1. Indeed Andy. I'd certainly recommend going simply to see all the wonderful miniatures which "GW" currently have on show. Tbh though, I think their prices will be enough to ensure most people's wallets are safely shut, albeit they do have plenty of tasty bits for sale as HQ exclusives, plus there's "Forge World" too.

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  4. I went there about twenty years ago and bought a couple of Forge World products for my Tyranid army purely to save on post and packing. Yes, the display cabinets were quite awe-inspiring but it's not a place I'd be in any hurry to return to as I know I'd spend nothing there.

    On that same day, my friends and I visited the Wargames Foundry store and I spent far more there on loads of figures. I'd probably do the same again now and if I ever visited Warlord Games I'd spend an even bigger fortune.

    Sorry to say, I'm not impressed with that Stormcast Eternal you bought. I really hate that army... even more than Chaos! Still, you obviously had a great time and so I'm happy for you.

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    1. I did indeed buy a considerable amount more figures at "Warlord Games" when I visited it later in the day, Bryan. As for the Errant-Questor, he is certainly not worth the money but was ultimately bought as I thought he'd make an interesting mini for some "Age Of Sigmar" skirmishes, perhaps using my "Shadespire" trio as support.

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  5. I've never been. I must remedy that someday. Though looking forward to visiting Wargames Foundry this weekend!

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    1. I’d certainly recommend it, Simon. I’ve not been to Wargames Foundry, so may have to remedy that the next time I visit Nottingham :-)

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  6. Looks like you had a great time Simon, haven't been up there for six years now, may return at some point.
    Got to speak to the young lady responsible for the reprint of Rogue Trader, she explained it was a long task and how much work had to be done to save it

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    1. Thanks Dave. I’ve not yet unsealed my new “Rogue Trader” but it seems considerably thicker than my other original copies - presumably its made of stockier stuff or there’s some new bits added?

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    2. It's a faithful reprint of the original, just been cleaned and tidied probably a heavier gauge of paper to make it last longer

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    3. Makes sense. I did wonder as to whether they’d be a ‘making of’ chapter in the back or some such. But an authentic copy is probably what most people wanted.

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  7. Whatever peoples views are of Games Workshop, I'd say an occasional visit to Warhammer World is always a worthwhile jaunt. They keep making improvements to what I've always found to be an impressive set-up, so there's usually new sources of inspiration.
    Did you call into North Star when you visited Warlord Games? Since they're only at the "bottom corner" of the car park, I always make a point of 'killing two birds' ;-)

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    1. I totally agree, Greg. Amazingly I spent so long at "Warlord Games" that "North Star" were actually closed by the time I left...

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  8. Even `the wife' was impressed when we visited a fair few years ago. A great day out, especially for kids but I;m slowly parting ways with most things GW mass battle related and sticking to small skirmish games. Nice beer though in Bugmans

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    1. A great day out indeed, Phil, and Bugman's Bar was a definite highlight of the place for me - great atmosphere inside :-)

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  9. Undoubtedly a great place to visit, (but not one I'd go of my way to) yoummust have been iron willed to resist all the goodies on offer.
    I think
    it would drive me slowly insane putting together any figure that had more than a limb or two to attach, but good luck with it.

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    1. Thanks Joe. Tbh I have a pretty good idea of how much discount places like "Dark Sphere" offer on "GW" goodies, so that helped stave off any desire to splurg; apart from their HQ exclusives.

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  10. Hoping to make my first visit next weekend myself. 😊 i too fear for my wallet tho...

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    1. Fingers crossed you’ll enjoy it as much as I did, Dai. It’s a great place, and I’d have thought you’d have a splendid time there. Not much in the way of loot for me, as its stock is so much cheaper on-line. But a great place to visit nonetheless.

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  11. In the words of your school teacher on your year end report.. must try harder...., you know your wallet really wanted to!

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    1. LOL Dave. Indeed it did, and I have subsequently have, but through a discounted E-Store, so I've scooped more plastic for my buck :-)

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