How's 30k doing in your area?

[Ishagu]

Well, I must say it's definitely growing in my corner of Terra, and I wondered if people are seeing similar patterns?

 

The release of BaC and Prospero was a massive boost, and in my local area I'm taking a tiny bit of credit as I was showcasing my army in games at my local clubs and GW on a weekly basis. It's amazing just how many people are now committed.

 

It's turned from the same 3/4 guys that are scattered here and there, to hobby nights at my local GW that literally have most tables filled with people painting or playing 30k.

The sets made it very affordable. In all honesty, here in the UK at least, the FW vehicles aren't much more expensive than the regular GW selection, and with the infantry all available in these game boxes it's very affordable to put together a 30k force... In some ways it's CHEAPER than collecting a 40k Marine army.

 

According to whispers, 30k has now overtaken Age of Sigmar and GW has taken note.

GW are also conscious of the things that people like about it.

 

So, is everyone seeing growing interest?

 

 

*Edit* I've been hard at work expanding my army. I'll be sharing some pics soon :-)

[olsol]

Ever since I finished my Night Lords I have been introduced into the 30k community in 'Straya and it's more popular than I expected... there's even a massive HH apocalypse game this weekend at my local GW.

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

It seems more people like to talk about it in my local area but state wide it's really growing.

[Dono1979]

The hobby has been growing pretty constantly in Australia for a while now, the initial groups in Canberra and Brisbane have grown into a quite sizable communities with Sydney growing quite rapidly over the past twelve months into a very solid gaming group of 30-40 players on the books. Melbourne and Perth are also coming along quite nicely and while slow, Hobart and Adelaide have a growing Heresy population.

[noigrim]

Here almost nobody plays it I know of just one guy and he lives outside my city, 99% play 40k and even use the HH plastic sets as 40k armies (either chaos or imperial marines). Funny how from certain sources the FW vehicles are cheaper than 40k stuff.

[Noserenda]

My specific gaming circle has been doing it nigh on a decade and grabbing odd folks and converting them ( :D ) but ive noticed in the last few years lots of others taking up the torch and even whole other local groups on FB and the like or familiar local faces at WHW etc, even a local campaign weekend in April! :) 

Ironically our group barely plays regularly these days, mostly collecting/gathering dust :( 

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

It's all about the conversion !

[Supe robot gangster #1]

My local area has quite a few people converted from 40k. Unfortunately they all have the 40k mindset and bring the most OP lists you can run to "friendly games". So for now I just focus on the modelling and painting aspects of the heresy.

[Nightmare84]

we had a good group going. then our local gaming store shut down last week. warhammer store wont let us play heresy there either. despite most of us having bought multiple sets of BaC and BoP

[Ishagu]

we had a good group going. then our local gaming store shut down last week. warhammer store wont let us play heresy there either. despite most of us having bought multiple sets of BaC and BoP

That's very strange.

Simply having 30k players around looks great to anyone who walks into the store, and it's all official GW armies after all...

[Soldier of Dorn]

As far as I can see, it's doing pretty alright in my area. The 4 or 5 guys I hang out with to paint at the GW all started Heresy armies (Word Bearers, Salamanders, Blood Angels & second undecided Legion, Sons of Horus & Ultramarines, and Raven Guard,) but most of us are more focused on modeling/painting than actual gaming, so... yeah. I personally have yet to play a single game with my Fists. :P

 

In the wider Pacific NW area, though, there's a pretty active scene. Within an hour's drive or so, there are plenty of Heresy players. There's a pretty active FB group going too, with 150+ members that organizes events every so often.

[Vogon]

In my area there are 5 or 6 of us who play in the local GW store it is certainly growing round here however we've hit a snag.

 

The store manager has decreed that 30K will no longer be welcome as a mainstay of Thursday night gaming night. His justification was that despite selling B@C and BoP he doesn't sell the models that supports the game.

 

We're pretty hacked off as between us we've spent several hundreds of pounds in store on those two boxes alone not to mention all the paints etc

 

Cheers

 

Vogon.

[Soldier of Dorn]

The store manager has decreed that 30K will no longer be welcome as a mainstay of Thursday night gaming night. His justification was that despite selling B@C and BoP he doesn't sell the models that supports the game.

 

That's one of the biggest piles of tripe I've ever heard, and this is coming from someone who had a immediate family member get involved with US politics. :P Sadly, it's also something I've heard on multiple occasions.

 

F'rex, take the Legion list, by far the most prevalent armies in 30k. How many products does he sell that are usable in this army?

 

Let's see:

1. Betrayal at Calth
2. MKIV Marines
3. Contemptor Dreadnought
4. Cataphractii Terminators
5. B@C Character Box
6. Burning of Prospero
7. Rhino
8. Whirlwind
9. Predator
10. Vindicator
11. Land Raider
12. Drop Pod

That's everything that would be available to a "purist." Additionally, if you don't object to MKVI and MKVII armor, basically the entirety of the Space Marine range opens up. Hell, 99% of my collection is off the standard GW kits (with the exceptions basically being the Tartaros Legion Praetor and a converted Ultramarines Standard Bearer.)

 

Besides, if he's only going to allow stuff you can buy in store, shouldn't he disallow Sisters of Battle?  I mean, all their stuff is Web-order only, so technically you can't just buy them in store. Sure, you can order them from the in-store order point, but they're not immediately available. And if the problem is with the fact that some models are made by FW, well... he's sold at least two different FW models from his store within the past year.

 

It's just a silly argument. I would appeal it to Corporate, too. Not exactly sure  that he's permitted to prohibit 30k in the store, either. Remember, GW's aren't franchises and he's not the owner, he's just the manager. He's got people he reports to that decide certain things for him. Just an idea, though.

[Paradigm]

Seattle certainly has a great player base. I play just up the road from the Psycho, coincidentally, and there's another five or so players there. There are a lot of FLGS options around here, and they all seem to have their contingent of Heresy players. It helps that a lot of stores allow 30k lists at their local 40k tournaments, too.

I agree the prohibition on 30k is overly dramatic and in poor taste. Call corporate. They will likely set him strait. At a minimum I'd email.

[LukeTheButcher]

It seems to be growing in my area. Some friends are now dipping their toes off the back of Calth & Prospero and Tournaments are on the rise. But…. I do see the perceived 'elitism' putting off some people. The first question I hear is "can you use GW mini's?" followed by a "Yes… But…". I haven't seen this elitism/negative attitude in practice, but I suspect its only a matter of time. It seems that nearly every long term Heresy player has such an anecdote. :-(

[Fenbain]

It seems to be growing in my area. Some friends are now dipping their toes off the back of Calth & Prospero and Tournaments are on the rise. But…. I do see the perceived 'elitism' putting off some people. The first question I hear is "can you use GW mini's?" followed by a "Yes… But…". I haven't seen this elitism/negative attitude in practice, but I suspect its only a matter of time. It seems that nearly every long term Heresy player has such an anecdote. :-(

I may be misinterpreting what you said, but isn't "Yes, but..." a perfectly valid answer? "Yes, but certain armour marks, vehicles, weapons and units didn't exist or were extremely rare prototypes. So you'll want to look into the ins and outs of the Heresy-Era before committing to purchases."

 

For a lot of people (I'd argue a majority, but who knows), it is in effect pseudo-historical sci-fi wargaming after all.

[A D-B]

My "area" is ultimately like a lot of people's: not a local scene, but an established gaming group. It's catching on with us - our first weekend for it will be in Feb/March. The plastics really helped, both in terms of price and the fact they're even nicer and less uniform than the resin versions, which was an awesome surprise.

 

Several folks have no interest in it because they're not big on HH lore or more in favour of playing the xenos races, but that's all good. It's harder to swing meetups when everyone wants to come at the same time.

[Memento Of Prospero]

My gaming group has had steady growth over the last two years, thanks to the plastic kits.

 

There is always some form of elitism to deal with but I don't have much of a tolerance for it. As long as there is a solid WYSIWYG, everyone is welcome to play in my events.

 

I am expecting 14 players for my next heresy weekend on the 26th, so Heresy, such Apocalypse, much hyped!

[LukeTheButcher]

 

It seems to be growing in my area. Some friends are now dipping their toes off the back of Calth & Prospero and Tournaments are on the rise. But…. I do see the perceived 'elitism' putting off some people. The first question I hear is "can you use GW mini's?" followed by a "Yes… But…". I haven't seen this elitism/negative attitude in practice, but I suspect its only a matter of time. It seems that nearly every long term Heresy player has such an anecdote. :-(

I may be misinterpreting what you said, but isn't "Yes, but..." a perfectly valid answer? "Yes, but certain armour marks, vehicles, weapons and units didn't exist or were extremely rare prototypes. So you'll want to look into the ins and outs of the Heresy-Era before committing to purchases."

 

For a lot of people (I'd argue a majority, but who knows), it is in effect pseudo-historical sci-fi wargaming after all.

 

The "Yes...But" is more that there are players who will look down on you/mock/insult/veto/ban ect your decision to use GW stuff over FW. Heaven forbid you use mk Vii armour or have aquilla's on things. 

 

Not my issue, as I'm a live and let live (and honest enough to admit i take a cash saving where I can for this game) but the fact that GW mini use often carries a warning can be off-putting. Thats before you get into how little of modern 40K gear is transferable.

 

But as I say, on the whole, the scene is growing. I think that is a little disconcerting to those who spout the elitism guff above, as its not just their precious game-anymore.

[Rangaman]

I have never frequented the GW stores as the local ones here were usually a bit out of the way for me, but down at my gaming club there is now more 30k then 40k games being played and luckily everyone is still in the narrative/play for fun mindset, rule of cool and all that. It is definitely growing too!

[Perry]

Plenty of Heresy in North West London, and a fair bit elsewhere in the big smoke.

 

We just finished an 8 week Heresy campaign which saw a well deserved Traitor victory after many close battles.

[Vazzy]

Lots and lots of Heresy here in the Central to South Texas area. We have a huge Facebook group, and I'm helping the Forgoten Legion put on South Texas in Flames 3 this Spring.

[Fenbain]

The "Yes...But" is more that there are players who will look down on you/mock/insult/veto/ban ect your decision to use GW stuff over FW. Heaven forbid you use mk Vii armour or have aquilla's on things.

 

Not my issue, as I'm a live and let live (and honest enough to admit i take a cash saving where I can for this game) but the fact that GW mini use often carries a warning can be off-putting. Thats before you get into how little of modern 40K gear is transferable.

 

But as I say, on the whole, the scene is growing. I think that is a little disconcerting to those who spout the elitism guff above, as its not just their precious game-anymore.

I really don't see how what I said is elitist. I'm all for using GW kits where it's appropriate. You've got three era-appropriate marks of power armour available in plastic. Two marks of Terminator Armour, three if you remove the Crux Terminatus. Mars Pattern vehicles, Godwyn pattern Bolters, all the plastic heavy weapons you can get your hands on etc. are all good in my books. But MKVII and aquilias everywhere? Using those and a select few easy to remove or not include symbols/units means you aren't playing in the 31st Millenium anymore, and if that's the case what's the point in starting Horus Heresy. It's frankly lazy.

[Memento Of Prospero]

In this case, you are using "lazy" as a word of contempt for something you feel is beneath a "true" heresy gamer. Thus yes, elitist. Not everyone is drawn to the hobby for it's modeling aspect and is neither skilled , inclined to or have the time to do so.

 

You need to broaden your views brother, and not project your expectations onto others. You can encourage others to follow your path, but If your appreciation of the hobby is compromised by what others are doing, you either need to A - look at this yourself or B - move on.

[Fenbain]

In this case, you are using "lazy" as a word of contempt for something you feel is beneath a "true" heresy gamer. Thus yes, elitist. Not everyone is drawn to the hobby for it's modeling aspect and is neither skilled , inclined to or have the time to do so.

 

You need to broaden your views brother, and not project your expectations onto others. You can encourage others to follow your path, but If your appreciation of the hobby is compromised by what others are doing, you either need to A - look at this yourself or B - move on.

I think contempt is a bit strong. Not seeing the point is fairer, as I don't see the appeal without it. What is the difference between Heresy and normal 40k if you take away the historical and modelling aspects? But fair enough, I'll give it a rest and stick to Thumper's policy.