Hobby has lost its ‘Magic’.

[Mendi Warrior]

I am recognising myself in many aspects that have been expressed already. The "magic" sometimes still happens, but less often than when I was younger. It comes and go.

 

I would call that the law of diminishing marginal pleasures (sounds very Slaaneshi doesn't it?).

 

I experienced the same with another passion of mine, namely Oceanic tribal art. There is an art fair in Paris once a year, and the first years I went I would be super excited, I would enjoy my day there seeing many pieces, lots of "whaoows!!!", but with each passing year I would grow more "blasé" and feel less enthusiastic.

 

In my personal case, an additional element is being out of job, hence not having the same purchasing power I used to have years ago. I would see the new releases, get somewhat excited then realise that I can't buy them anyway because of all my other, more critical, expenses. That can be frustrating, which is killing part of the "magic". And then when I finally end up buying something, my excitement and hapiness would be killed by delivery issues ... On the other hand, I sometimes buy a few bits here and there which allow me to progress or even complete some models I have, it is not powerful "magic" but it brings a bit of excitement without bankrupting me totally.

 

Also, the overall doom and gloom mood that we experience nowadays doesn't help much (unless you are a truly devoted follower of Nurgle).

[Captain Idaho]

 

People have been saying “tech will kill the hobby” for years and years now. If anything covid and lots of time at home has made analog hobbies even more popular. People have flocked to model building and Gunpla too

How many kids do you have and what's your experience with their attention span, laziness and hobbies? I'm not saying video games are better then 40k and technology will win. I'm saying the newer generation has a shorter attention span and more access to technology. Yes 40k is doing great, but how much of it's success is from new people 8th Ed and onward and how much of it is people from 1-3rd with multiple armies? Certain things in the US like baseball and Harley Davison are slowly dying because of their failure to attract younger people.

They got rid of Slaanesh for a bit in Sigmar to try to appeal to younger people (their parents) right? I don't think that worked. At all. And Slaanesh is back anyways. My statement was not about technology killing 40k, it's that kid's attention spans are getting shorter and shorter, technology gives them instant gratification which just makes it worse. Most kids don't want to spend their money on something they have to sit there and assemble and paint and go somewhere to play when they can just put on a headset and turn on the TV. You can feel free to think what you want but I see it. Late 90's early 00's when I would go to a hobby shop it was all sorts of people, lots of teens. Now it's all older people, 20+ 30+, and the few parents I saw bring kids in looked at the price tags, laughed and walked out.

I must say I agree with this sentiment. Anyone with kids themselves can testify to the issue of video games being easier, quicker and less space intensive than this hobby meaning it's much tougher than ever to get them interested. Which as a serial geek this is sad state of affairs.

[Blindhamster]

yeah have to say, despite being in the hobby for.. 25 years at this point, even I generally tend to opt for computer games, just easier to fit into the limited free time I have, plus getting older my eyes are :cuss now and painting detail gets progressively harder and slower and I've always been a perfectionist (im 33... not old, but genetics).

That said, I still get excited for some new releases, I'm lucky in that primaris breathed some life into my interest for the hobby when they were first shown (remember the potato image so many people thought was fake lol), got me interested enough to actually make progress on models and dedicate some time to gaming again, but yeah even that extra excitement tends to be relatively short lived. I do like some of the AoS releases, quite imaginative and interesting stuff that side of the hobby, plus I've dabbled in other games from other manufacturers.

 

ultimately I think if I got an xcom like kill team game I'd be happy and probably be even less likely to touch the models, I still love the lore and other fiction, the setting continues to hold appeal for me and unlike others I actually like the ongoing narrative approach they're switching to, its no different from things like D&D, RuneQuest or a great many other major RPGs, still plenty of space in setting to stage your own stories.

[phandaal]

 

You can feel free to think what you want but I see it. Late 90's early 00's when I would go to a hobby shop it was all sorts of people, lots of teens. Now it's all older people, 20+ 30+, and the few parents I saw bring kids in looked at the price tags, laughed and walked out.

 

Just want to comment on this part.

 

My experience as a teenager in the late 90's and early 00's was our local hobby shops having older guys playing Warhammer Fantasy or 40k and the kids playing something like Magic, Yu Gi Oh, or Pokemon.

 

For me that experience carried over into the 2010's as well. Most of the people I found to play wargames were older than me - guys who had been in the hobby for a long time.

 

Now that I am closer to 40 than 30, it finally feels like the pendulum is swinging the other way. There are guys my age and older, but I actually have games with people in their late teens or 20s now too.

[Noserenda]

Yeah some of the oldest writing in existence is about the youth of today not appreciating things properly, and most hobbies have been predicting their own deaths due to computers etc for years. Funny story though, when one of the larps i attend got featured on a moderately successful geek youtube channel all those gen z'ers folks had written off were suddenly appearing in great numbers to try a hobby they hadnt heard of or considered, sometimes is just getting that positive advertising out there where potential newbies can see it.

More specifically a couple of my brother's kids are interested or play and a few more in the extended family. Probably the same amount in mine or any other generation, some of them will lapse no doubt but the seeds are out there. 

Stuff your parents are into is automatically pretty lame to most teenagers too, its hardwired :D 

[Brother Christopher]

Since “magic” is a very subjective term, I’ll share some of my personal experiences and thoughts (without having to worry that they are subjective, ha!). I too feel that 40k has lost much of its magic and the appeal it originally had for me (I started around the beginning of the 5th edition). I should note that I think that there should be a distinction between a loss of interest in the hobby, as others have pointed out, and a loss of sense of magic. While I lost interest in many aspects of 40k as a hobby, I still find the hobby which consists in having, painting, converting miniatures, with the gateway to potentially play the game, mostly enjoyable.

There is also the caveat that we will have a very different understanding of what the hobby or – in fact – 40k actually is. The concept has to be very fuzzy and greatly subjective since people indulge in and appreciate different aspects of it. To me, the problem I want to focus on is with the “official 40k.” By “official 40k” I would probably mean the product that GW tries to offer us – the contents of new books (including novels and rulebooks), the marketing materials on the WC website, the new lore and art style, as well as new miniatures. I find all of this to be too overtly a product – something manufactured but mostly heartless (subjectively speaking), unlike instances in the past where you could see the more elusive passion of the people making 40k-related things.

For me, the evaporation of the ephemeral magic of 40k today boils down to three things that I’ll try to outline below.

1. The models. Indisputably, the quality of the casts has increased over the years. However, the technical quality does not go in line with the designs. For me, as an SM collector and player, the most pressing issue is with the proliferation of Primaris marines with their 3 marks of armours which – with the lack of variety within single boxes/squads and tacticool undertones – is a deviation from what I understand the Warhammer aesthetic used to be. It is particularly painful since other factions could have been developed more to the benefit of 40k – maybe if other lines got better treatment, 40k would (re)gain some of that magic it has lost through the overreliance and extensive focus on Primaris. The new models for other armies were mostly a hit (like Sisters of Battle or Necrons or Chaos or, to some degree, the Orks), with the occasional miss (Death Guard or, to some degree, Orks which sometimes are too funky and/or cartoony but in a way, I don’t like). I should note that the older artwork and video games, such as Dawn of War I and II, Space Marine or Deathwing (and the animation Astartes) managed to capture the magic of 40k aesthetic pretty nicely unlike the quite monotonous Primaris, as well as most of the artwork in the more recent publications and productions (particularly in 7th and 8th editions).

2. Moving the timeline. Warhammer became a more dynamic, narrative-driven setting. Personally, I preferred the earlier approach, with the frozen timeline and with the numerous black spaces in the history of the setting and vaguely-referenced events, just hinted at in codexes and other publications. A short blurb or a passing remark often was sufficient to spark interest in a certain event and create a sense of wonder and elusive mystery, magic if you will. Knowing less created an atmosphere of a mystical and unknown space. We also had the clear understanding imposed on us that the galaxy is a hostile environment for humanity which, with extremely limited resources, is able to just barely survive thanks to the oppressive, backwater empire. Now that same empire is able to create the ultimate version of their ultimate weapon and arm new chapters of Primaris marines. Probably the worst part is that Primaris marines appear to have been generally accepted and welcomed by all, which stands in stark contrast to what I used to know about the Imperium and by previous lore standards; i.e. that it’s almost certain that this would cause a rift in the Imperium and a major internal conflict. What mean to say is that sometimes less is more; the changes to the 40k canon appear to have been handled by people who lack the talent or the will to do it properly. Well, I’m probably too old for the character-driven, repetitive and bombastic scenarios that GW tries to sell me

3. The approach to your army. The approach to collecting models for your army changed, too. Before the “new GW” (how many years has it been?), their catalogue of miniatures was more or less complete. With a different release schedule and often not much change between editions. there was a sense of stability in the slow-paced environment. I think that you were able to plan purchases, as well as the army composition, in advance and have a valid (and often playable) army between editions. Personally, with my pace of work, I liked this more contemplative, no thrills approach very much! There was definitely something magical in creating plans for your army. For many years now, you can’t really plan the purchases or, in fact, the organisation of your force because you just don’t know what’s up ahead and if the new thing that might appear in the indefinite future will totally change your existing army.

Releases have become like a TV series with too much Internet-fuelled hype-building and cliff-hangers uncertainty. Given GW’s popularity, apparently, this must be the right approach to things; however, personally, I wouldn’t enjoy the pressure to keep up with new releases and the fear of missing out on something you’d like to add to your army. Just like with a restaurant menu, I’d prefer a smaller portfolio of “good” products instead of a large and incoherent one. Furthermore, there’s the problem of imbalanced rules which change too often, but don’t really address the imbalance that much or that well.

But, if you have gaming even remotely in mind, probably the worst offender is taking away wargear options for models and/or invalidating units altogether (those few “Firstborn” marine collectors who are still around can surely relate to this). This makes your army feel more like a product/service – that someone else has control over – than a miniature representation of a fictional military force.

4. Bonus point – 40k as a business: This is extremely unsubstantiated, but from my observations, people are now way more focused on talking about shares and business strategies and money and growths than – say – 5 or 7 years ago. In the first part of my decade in the hobby, I felt that all of the discussions surrounding 40k were about rules, miniatures and lore, with the occasional complaint that the minis are quite expensive. Nothing more. Now there’s significantly more focus on GW as a business.

The points outlined above resulted in my sense that the magic of the official 40k is gone. I am clearly disenchanted with and tired of the 40k of today. However, thanks to some deliberation and several conversations with my friends, I must confess that, I managed to find the magic of the old 40k and enjoy working on my soon-to-be invalidated squat Marines. One day, I will have an army that I’ll be able to proudly display and appreciate… It’s a shame that the army will have been finished at least 5 years too late.

[Doghouse]

yeah have to say, despite being in the hobby for.. 25 years at this point, even I generally tend to opt for computer games, just easier to fit into the limited free time I have, plus getting older my eyes are now and painting detail gets progressively harder and slower and I've always been a perfectionist (im 33... not old, but genetics).

 

I know that feeling! :D

 

I'm not far off the point where I have to get someone to hold the mini on the other side of the room while I wave around a broom handle with a paint brush duct taped on the end as I squint through binoculars to be able to see it. I'm not sure if I am painting or preparing to call down fire support these days.

 

It's not really something I genuinely ever considered that there would ever be a consequence for aging for my hobby time. Now when I paint I look like Ray Stanz about to go ghost busting with all the gizmos, lights and lenses I have on my head.

 

Like you say sometimes it's easier to just put on the pc and play a game instead. I still think you're one of the best mini painters I know though mate.

[Scribe]

 

People just get older and priorities change. I saw a video talking about video games cashing in on the nostalgia but not getting the results they wanted. Back when MMORPGs were coming out in the early 2000's I was in high school with no job or responsibilities, same with my friends. Now we are all in our 30's with families and careers. It wasn't how amazing the games were back then, it's how easy people's lives were back then.

 

My oldest brother played 40k from 2nd edition and the rest of us joined in 3rd. But we ALL quit in 6th. Some of us came back in 8th because we liked the new rules and direction it was going. Some never came back because now they are older with families and they don't care to buy over priced plastic and spend hours painting when they can just put on a head set and get on Xbox or something.

 

I will say GW is going to have a hard time with the newer younger generation getting into the game. They grew up in a world of touch screens, high-speed internet and instant gratification. Not alot of these kids are going to want to spend that much money and time getting into the hobby I feel with all the other stimulation being thrown at them. My daughter is 9 and doesn't give a hoot about painting models but she paints other things. I was 8 when the 3rd edition starter came out and my brother gave me the marines to paint (I did a terrible job too). But all I had then was a n64 and ps1 I had to share with two brothers and dial up internet with one family computer. My 9 year old has her own Xbox, TV, phone, high-speed internet and everything at her fingertips. 40k will be a hard sell to these new generation of kids.

People have been saying “tech will kill the hobby” for years and years now. If anything covid and lots of time at home has made analog hobbies even more popular. People have flocked to model building and Gunpla too

Older people, sure.

 

The nerds who had time and money.

 

Thinking that kids are going to be the life blood...nah.

 

My son grew up around the hobby, grew up gaming, he would paint when he was young even.

 

I took him out to tournaments, over to friends, the whole thing.

 

Now? At 16-18? He couldn't care less.

[Monstra Sumus]

yeah have to say, despite being in the hobby for.. 25 years at this point, even I generally tend to opt for computer games, just easier to fit into the limited free time I have, plus getting older my eyes are now and painting detail gets progressively harder and slower and I've always been a perfectionist (im 33... not old, but genetics).

 

That said, I still get excited for some new releases, I'm lucky in that primaris breathed some life into my interest for the hobby when they were first shown (remember the potato image so many people thought was fake lol), got me interested enough to actually make progress on models and dedicate some time to gaming again, but yeah even that extra excitement tends to be relatively short lived. I do like some of the AoS releases, quite imaginative and interesting stuff that side of the hobby, plus I've dabbled in other games from other manufacturers.

 

ultimately I think if I got an xcom like kill team game I'd be happy and probably be even less likely to touch the models, I still love the lore and other fiction, the setting continues to hold appeal for me and unlike others I actually like the ongoing narrative approach they're switching to, its no different from things like D&D, RuneQuest or a great many other major RPGs, still plenty of space in setting to stage your own stories.

 

 

Are....are...are we the same person? 

[MegaVolt87]

I think its an age, convenience and monetary thing that the magic dims. Its just so easy to boot up a video game, "paint" your character/ avatar and go off on an adventure etc. As a kid, you have the time but no money to do what you like. Get older, that thing called life happens and you are out of more involved hobbies like warhammer. Time goes on, you feel old while not being old, you remember the warhammer, realize you have money now and before you know it your shelves, desk are stacked with probably more warhammer than you ever owned in the past. You look fondly at it all and tell yourself "why did I ever stop?".  Some time passes, life catches up again and you feel the guilt of leaving that unit/ army sitting there, half assembled. But you still go for a stream, vidya nearby instead after work in your downtime. Then something snaps, the shows bore you, the vidya doesn't hold your attention and here you are going ham on the warhammer again. The circle of life. 

[Scribe]

I think its an age, convenience and monetary thing that the magic dims. Its just so easy to boot up a video game, "paint" your character/ avatar and go off on an adventure etc. As a kid, you have the time but no money to do what you like. Get older, that thing called life happens and you are out of more involved hobbies like warhammer. Time goes on, you feel old while not being old, you remember the warhammer, realize you have money now and before you know it your shelves, desk are stacked with probably more warhammer than you ever owned in the past. You look fondly at it all and tell yourself "why did I ever stop?".  Some time passes, life catches up again and you feel the guilt of leaving that unit/ army sitting there, half assembled. But you still go for a stream, vidya nearby instead after work in your downtime. Then something snaps, the shows bore you, the vidya doesn't hold your attention and here you are going ham on the warhammer again. The circle of life. 

 

This is such a big thing to me. When I came back in force to the hobby I had time, and money, and was old enough to both budget, and do whatever the heck I wanted with my money.

 

Its why I always laugh at the 'target demographic is early teens'. They have no money! lol

[phandaal]

 

I think its an age, convenience and monetary thing that the magic dims. Its just so easy to boot up a video game, "paint" your character/ avatar and go off on an adventure etc. As a kid, you have the time but no money to do what you like. Get older, that thing called life happens and you are out of more involved hobbies like warhammer. Time goes on, you feel old while not being old, you remember the warhammer, realize you have money now and before you know it your shelves, desk are stacked with probably more warhammer than you ever owned in the past. You look fondly at it all and tell yourself "why did I ever stop?".  Some time passes, life catches up again and you feel the guilt of leaving that unit/ army sitting there, half assembled. But you still go for a stream, vidya nearby instead after work in your downtime. Then something snaps, the shows bore you, the vidya doesn't hold your attention and here you are going ham on the warhammer again. The circle of life. 

 

This is such a big thing to me. When I came back in force to the hobby I had time, and money, and was old enough to both budget, and do whatever the heck I wanted with my money.

 

Its why I always laugh at the 'target demographic is early teens'. They have no money! lol

 

 

They have no money, and most are physically incapable of the kind of patience required to build an army anyway.

[Scribe]

 

 

I think its an age, convenience and monetary thing that the magic dims. Its just so easy to boot up a video game, "paint" your character/ avatar and go off on an adventure etc. As a kid, you have the time but no money to do what you like. Get older, that thing called life happens and you are out of more involved hobbies like warhammer. Time goes on, you feel old while not being old, you remember the warhammer, realize you have money now and before you know it your shelves, desk are stacked with probably more warhammer than you ever owned in the past. You look fondly at it all and tell yourself "why did I ever stop?".  Some time passes, life catches up again and you feel the guilt of leaving that unit/ army sitting there, half assembled. But you still go for a stream, vidya nearby instead after work in your downtime. Then something snaps, the shows bore you, the vidya doesn't hold your attention and here you are going ham on the warhammer again. The circle of life. 

 

This is such a big thing to me. When I came back in force to the hobby I had time, and money, and was old enough to both budget, and do whatever the heck I wanted with my money.

 

Its why I always laugh at the 'target demographic is early teens'. They have no money! lol

 

 

They have no money, and most are physically incapable of the kind of patience required to build an army anyway.

 

 

I mean...I dont know about that, but my son has things to occupy his time, and the connection to always have it be present. He wants to talk to his friends, or girls, well they are right there on his phone.

 

When I was his age? We had to catch a bus and meet up, the investment of time was just far higher, so unless you REALLY wanted to get together, you did something more productive, be it sports, or work, or put tiny plastic men together...

[phandaal]

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think its an age, convenience and monetary thing that the magic dims. Its just so easy to boot up a video game, "paint" your character/ avatar and go off on an adventure etc. As a kid, you have the time but no money to do what you like. Get older, that thing called life happens and you are out of more involved hobbies like warhammer. Time goes on, you feel old while not being old, you remember the warhammer, realize you have money now and before you know it your shelves, desk are stacked with probably more warhammer than you ever owned in the past. You look fondly at it all and tell yourself "why did I ever stop?". Some time passes, life catches up again and you feel the guilt of leaving that unit/ army sitting there, half assembled. But you still go for a stream, vidya nearby instead after work in your downtime. Then something snaps, the shows bore you, the vidya doesn't hold your attention and here you are going ham on the warhammer again. The circle of life.

This is such a big thing to me. When I came back in force to the hobby I had time, and money, and was old enough to both budget, and do whatever the heck I wanted with my money.

 

Its why I always laugh at the 'target demographic is early teens'. They have no money! lol

They have no money, and most are physically incapable of the kind of patience required to build an army anyway.

I mean...I dont know about that, but my son has things to occupy his time, and the connection to always have it be present. He wants to talk to his friends, or girls, well they are right there on his phone.

 

When I was his age? We had to catch a bus and meet up, the investment of time was just far higher, so unless you REALLY wanted to get together, you did something more productive, be it sports, or work, or put tiny plastic men together...

Do not get me wrong, I am not saying that disparagingly. Teenagers just do not think the same way or operate on the same time scales as old fogies.

 

In general, there are many activities with a lot more natural appeal to a teenager, and that is totally fine.

[Scribe]

 

Do not get me wrong, I am not saying that disparagingly. Teenagers just do not think the same way or operate on the same time scales as old fogies.

 

In general, there are many activities with a lot more natural appeal to a teenager, and that is totally fine.

 

 

Yeah thats fair, and totally correct, especially in this connected instantaneous age. I'm not sure what I would have been up to if I had the connectivity my son's age group now enjoys, but...it probably would have been trouble. :D

[Blindhamster]

 

I know that feeling!

 

I'm not far off the point where I have to get someone to hold the mini on the other side of the room while I wave around a broom handle with a paint brush duct taped on the end as I squint through binoculars to be able to see it. I'm not sure if I am painting or preparing to call down fire support these days.

 

It's not really something I genuinely ever considered that there would ever be a consequence for aging for my hobby time. Now when I paint I look like Ray Stanz about to go ghost busting with all the gizmos, lights and lenses I have on my head.

 

Like you say sometimes it's easier to just put on the pc and play a game instead. I still think you're one of the best mini painters I know though mate.

 

 

Thanks mate, means a lot! Not sure I agree but appreciate the sentiment, always loved your stuff too (as you hopefully know!)

 

As for gadgets, absolutely, magnifiers to sit over my glasses, extra lamps, elbow rests, the works! The deterioration of my eye site has been a slow and steady blow to my love of the hobby for sure - i still like building things but rarely sculpt or paint anymore. Then the whole virus thing has reduced my games to essentially zero over the past couple years too.

 

 

 

 

Are....are...are we the same person? 

 

 

Haha, i'm sure it's a common story :D

 

 

They have no money, and most are physically incapable of the kind of patience required to build an army anyway.

I think it varies a lot, i was very actively into the hobby and completed (build and paint) quite large armies when I was in my early to mid teens. In my late teens to early twenties I only ever managed relatively small ones to full completion despite having more funds available, I simply didn't have the time. And sadly over the past decade I've barely finished a unit of anything due to my other woes as mentioned.

[Noserenda]

It's an old cycle, and one gw knows about. Most hobbyists dip in and out and 16/18 is a super common time to go chase girls and beer for a bit :D

[Fire Golem]

 

People have been saying “tech will kill the hobby” for years and years now. If anything covid and lots of time at home has made analog hobbies even more popular. People have flocked to model building and Gunpla too

How many kids do you have and what's your experience with their attention span, laziness and hobbies? I'm not saying video games are better then 40k and technology will win. I'm saying the newer generation has a shorter attention span and more access to technology. Yes 40k is doing great, but how much of it's success is from new people 8th Ed and onward and how much of it is people from 1-3rd with multiple armies? Certain things in the US like baseball and Harley Davison are slowly dying because of their failure to attract younger people.

 

They got rid of Slaanesh for a bit in Sigmar to try to appeal to younger people (their parents) right? I don't think that worked. At all. And Slaanesh is back anyways. My statement was not about technology killing 40k, it's that kid's attention spans are getting shorter and shorter, technology gives them instant gratification which just makes it worse. Most kids don't want to spend their money on something they have to sit there and assemble and paint and go somewhere to play when they can just put on a headset and turn on the TV. You can feel free to think what you want but I see it. Late 90's early 00's when I would go to a hobby shop it was all sorts of people, lots of teens. Now it's all older people, 20+ 30+, and the few parents I saw bring kids in looked at the price tags, laughed and walked out.

 

I mean, that’s definitely not why. All the Slaanesh models were still in the game, Slaanesh was still in the lore. 

[Special Officer Doofy]

I mean, that’s definitely not why. All the Slaanesh models were still in the game, Slaanesh was still in the lore.

I thought I read somewhere (multiple places actually) that there was a push to downplay slaanesh (in a push to appease parents and try to attract younger players), that's why slaanesh was less present. Even the everchosen model doesn't have a slaanesh head, something about the elves doing something to slaanesh. I could be wrong but I swore I even saw fraters here talking about it too before.

 

But I won't challenge people on fantasy/sigmar lore, for I don't know or care about it, and it's not a board topic.

[Redcomet]

 

I mean, that’s definitely not why. All the Slaanesh models were still in the game, Slaanesh was still in the lore.

I thought I read somewhere (multiple places actually) that there was a push to downplay slaanesh (in a push to appease parents and try to attract younger players), that's why slaanesh was less present. Even the everchosen model doesn't have a slaanesh head, something about the elves doing something to slaanesh. I could be wrong but I swore I even saw fraters here talking about it too before.

 

But I won't challenge people on fantasy/sigmar lore, for I don't know or care about it, and it's not a board topic.

 

That was just uninformed internet chatter. The Everchosen model came out years before AoS.

 

And the rest was just pure speculation.

 

I

[Fire Golem]

 

 

I mean, that’s definitely not why. All the Slaanesh models were still in the game, Slaanesh was still in the lore.

I thought I read somewhere (multiple places actually) that there was a push to downplay slaanesh (in a push to appease parents and try to attract younger players), that's why slaanesh was less present. Even the everchosen model doesn't have a slaanesh head, something about the elves doing something to slaanesh. I could be wrong but I swore I even saw fraters here talking about it too before.

 

But I won't challenge people on fantasy/sigmar lore, for I don't know or care about it, and it's not a board topic.

 

That was just uninformed internet chatter. The Everchosen model came out years before AoS.

 

And the rest was just pure speculation.

 

I

 

He was post AoS, but yeah the stuff about them getting rid of Slaanesh because parents is just internet nonsense.

[The Neverborn]

It agree with the sentiment.

 

I feel myself rolling my eyes for new releases. - There's too many models/codex bloat for me.

 

A family member asked me about how to get into the hobby, I showed him a picture of my Great Unclean One and asked him to guess how much it costs, just the model, not the paints. He said £30.... when i gave him the price i paid he very swiftly decided it wasn't for him.

 

Nothing lasts forever, I still somewhat enjoy the hobby..

 

Maybe it was the environment but it seems over the last 10 or so years the difference between the most effective and least effective units has widened.

 

I'm going to be watching the companies actions very closely, I get the feeling we're in for a big change over the next couple of years.

 

The good thing is the models do old their value. So there's always the option of selling up.

Edited December 30, 2021 by Battle Brother Abderus

[Special Officer Doofy]

Slaanesh aside, they were struggling to get younger players to start the hobby. They started to do comics, some younger aimed publications, they did that alliance pledge with 2,000 UK schools (enough to get 12 kids set up/hooked at each school). I don't mean that as an insult to GW, it's a smart move to secure long term returns. It's hard enough to get my kid to go outside let alone to do a cool hobby like 40k.

[Rik Lightstar]

There's been official GW support for school clubs in the UK for at least 20 years.

 

They even used to support local gaming clubs in the UK until just after they were brought in a requirement for any club organisers to be criminal records checked to get the support. A significant minority of organisers refused and the project died slowly from there.

 

Rik

[Noserenda]

Slaanesh aside, they were struggling to get younger players to start the hobby. They started to do comics, some younger aimed publications, they did that alliance pledge with 2,000 UK schools (enough to get 12 kids set up/hooked at each school). I don't mean that as an insult to GW, it's a smart move to secure long term returns. It's hard enough to get my kid to go outside let alone to do a cool hobby like 40k.

GW have been doing all those things for like 20 years :D Short of seeing some conclusive numbers id be surprised if teenager numbers have dipped much honestly, they come and go a bit based on trends but there will always be a few coming inand no other wargame has the reach of GW.

 

The regular partworks are probably a good recruiting tool though, they are more than the famous LoTR one but that pulled in ridiculous, almost company breaking numbers!

 

 

 

A family member asked me about how to get into the hobby, I showed him a picture of my Great Unclean One and asked him to guess how much it costs, just the model no the paints. He said £30.... when i gave him the price i paid he very swiftly decided it wasn't for him.

 

 

 

Well yes if you show them one of the most expensive minis in regular production, and one thats tricky to scale (Depending on the photo) then sure its going to look bad, obviously.

 

Second hand is still a great way to get into the hobby, i chucked a box of old minis at both my interested nephews and a couple of friends kids, they were only gathering dust in my garage otherwise and they have a bunch of stuff to learn on, possibly once dad strips some of them :D 

 

 

He was post AoS, but yeah the stuff about them getting rid of Slaanesh because parents is just internet nonsense.

 

 

Yeah Slannesh was bushwhacked and stashed in a pocket dimension, like, the early AoS fluff is godawful but i suspect that was entirely a delaying action on more Slannesh stuff to release rather than trying to appeal to kids. Loads of stuff was missing on launch or using very basic rules. Besides, outside of the US murder and such is general thought of as worse than sex drugs and rock'n'roll and there was still loads of that in the game :D ;)