30k Gatekeeping is alive and well (Got Booted from Anuj's Group)

[Crablezworth]

So joined Anuj Malhotra's 30k facebook group, noticed a lot of locked posts, read them, see first hand he's taking any criticism of anything related 2.0 very personally. Basically not following any of the rules he set out for the group. People call him out and just disappear. I post about it, he replies, again not pm's me but replies in publuc. A second admin replies calling me a troll, very curteous of him. 

Posted pics of the latest 30k game board and advice/tips. The group is about tips and tricks for 30k. 

Find out I'm on post approval, could be automated for first time posters but suspect its from the prior day' incredibly warm admin "interaction". I pm one of the admins, the post is approved immediately with no reply. 

 

Several minutes later, the same admin's status goes to unavailable and the post is removed, along with me and blocked from the group. 

So I have no problem with making this public, dirty laundry is necessary when these people act like the stasi. They ask you to message them privately, don't respond and act like 5 years olds. Be warned, 5 admins and gatekeeping abounds. 

 

As always:

https://youtu.be/sj1KHhhllTQ

 

Edited August 22, 2022 by Crablezworth

[SkimaskMohawk]

Yea, remember this is the guy who was a lead rules writer; apparently negative is a synonym for insult.

 

Spoiler

Kind of explains the whole spicula fiasco, as the guy clearly just chooses words to mean things they don't, or to ignore inconvenient parts:

Spoiler

See, the OPs situation for breaking rules 2-3, or this one for breaking rule 4.

 

[Crablezworth]

He's on the slash and burn over people even just pointing out actual errors, regardless of their opinion. Like I'm sorry pointing out a possible need for a recall on a ford isn't tantamount to causing harm and distress to ford employees. My god lol. 

Edited August 22, 2022 by Crablezworth

[WrathOfTheLion]

I got rid of facebook and all that stuff back when I was an undergrad in college a few years back, so I'm completely lost.

I guess they're just winging whatever they feel like as far as what's allowed and not?

[SkimaskMohawk]

@CrablezworthThere's also a difference with forgetting to add a rule to a unit (like say Scoria missing character subtype) and having completely different versions of the rules out at the same time (like the different core rules versions, or the English mechanicum turbo laser not being transcribed properly). You literally search function to ensure parity between different editions; not doing that is doing an objective poor job. And it is a job, they get paid to do it; it's not a volunteer thing during their free time.

@WrathOfTheLion there's a lot of touchiness about rules quality criticisms currently. People are feeling frustrated because we pay a lot for the rules, and there's all sorts of obvious blunders across the editing alone; Anuj is super defensive because it's basically his legacy.

Edited August 22, 2022 by SkimaskMohawk

[Dont-Be-Haten]

3 minutes ago, WrathOfTheLion said:

I got rid of facebook and all that stuff back when I was an undergrad in college a few years back, so I'm completely lost.

I guess they're just winging whatever they feel like as far as what's allowed and not?

I stepped away from a lot of social media for a couple years. Decided I needed it for community involvement with the city's player base. That's it.

[lansalt]

Facebook groups are actually the only worthwhile part of that platform. Several of the 40k/HH groups are interesting with good content, like the oldhammer groups. As always, like in any forum you have to be wary of the administration style and member's biases.

Given how much backlash the new Mechanicum book is getting everywhere even in the most usually cheerful places, it seems that Anuj has reasons to be... annoyed.

[Crablezworth]

10 minutes ago, lansalt said:

Facebook groups are actually the only worthwhile part of that platform. Several of the 40k/HH groups are interesting with good content, like the oldhammer groups. As always, like in any forum you have to be wary of the administration style and member's biases.

Given how much backlash the new Mechanicum book is getting everywhere even in the most usually cheerful places, it seems that Anuj has reasons to be... annoyed.

Ya it's just he's taking it out on people buying his rules, like this seems incredibly short sighted. Everyone having to think happy thoughts basically, it's like that simpsons treehouse of horrors episode. 

 

 

 

Edited August 22, 2022 by Crablezworth

[ashc]

Does he still work for them?

Its incredible poor behaviour that I just don't see in other people who work for Games Workshop.

[Joe]

Anuj left the company in 2020 - he's at Creative Assembly now.

That said, Anuj's reaction is in stark contrast to other former Games Workshop rules writers who interact directly with the community about how they wrote their rules - Rick Priestley is very approachable about his legacy, and Tuomas Pirinen is incredibly active in the online Mordheim circles.

[Crablezworth]

So someone on dakka has twice now deleted the screenshots, gotta re-upload here. 

[SkimaskMohawk]

1 hour ago, Joe said:

Anuj left the company in 2020 - he's at Creative Assembly now.

That said, Anuj's reaction is in stark contrast to other former Games Workshop rules writers who interact directly with the community about how they wrote their rules - Rick Priestley is very approachable about his legacy, and Tuomas Pirinen is incredibly active in the online Mordheim circles.

I think the reason is that 1st isn't really his legacy; the core of it (both good and bad) is bligh's. Here's the stuff he was (presumably) directly responsible for in 1st:

- toning down Custodes 

- not fixing scars mechanical errors in any way in their rules reprint.

- a completely broken faction in daemons 

- aggravating solar aux players with the changes to the malcador 

- the mechanically broken spicula rockets (including updated temp rules, that didn't understand the rules issue)

- the dissapointing dark Angels rules

Lots of things that were frustration points or questionable. 

But 2nd is something else; he was able to mould it to fit his vision of balance and it's gone...a bit poorly. A lot of people don't like the direction/implementation of ideas, and they certainly don't like the sloppiness in their product. Maybe it's a bit harsh to say he's at fault for the end result as he left in 2020, but he's taking credit for the libers on LinkedIn, so he can take the responsibility. 

So yea, his legacy is mostly of community frustration. Doesn't pair well with prideful people.

 

[Crablezworth]

Dakka mod locked the thread, confirmed gallery mod deleted them twice without notification. Basically proving they're just as bad honestly.  It apparently doesn't matter that I've been contributing images on there for a decade, tagging mine and others images and generally providing far more neutral content than commentary, still, apparently it's not news worthy that the literal author of the damn game is acting like stalin because his product has problems. Objectives ones, outside of anyone's opinion of the new edition, the same book in different printings shouldn't have different rules. 

 

 

 

Edited August 22, 2022 by Crablezworth

[Noserenda]

Urgh yeah the Malcador nerf was probably the heaviest handed, worst dealt with nerf ive ever seen in an FAQ, anywhere. Just straight up crushed a unit into utter uselessness all because one player at WHW was abusing a rule that could just as easily have been fixed precisely (IE make them blow up like regular vehicles) and then obviously that was it for years before they have apparently been screwed like all the other super heavies in the pdf.

I mean to some extent when someone is telling you who they are, listen. 

[Crablezworth]

1 minute ago, Noserenda said:

I mean to some extent when someone is telling you who they are, listen. 

Ya very true, dakka just showed their hand too. 

 

[lansalt]

I'm afraid that I agree with the Dakka mod here. It does not make anyone favours to bring drama from another place, specially when the person referenced left the company years ago and no longer speaks for it.

[Crablezworth]

10 minutes ago, lansalt said:

I'm afraid that I agree with the Dakka mod here. It does not make anyone favours to bring drama from another place, specially when the person referenced left the company years ago and no longer speaks for it.

 

Yes, but it would appear he was employed when these books were written, remember covid delayed the release schedule. Regardless, he's not banning people for their composure or treatment of others, he's doing it when people post actual print errors from the most recent book, this isn't just some mod or admin, this is basically the author taking it out on the customer. If it was anyone else I'd just let it die, but sorry, sick of this, especially from the top down. He may still hold stock, he may also be doing this to other stock holders. If this was about what he does with his personal facebook 30k group it'd be one thing, but there may be pending litigation over the books, especially in australia. If that comes to pass, this is incredibly relevant behavior given consumers rightfully taking issue with a faulty product. Australia has rather insane consumer protection too. 

 

Edited August 22, 2022 by Crablezworth

[Pacific81]

I think you have annoyed one of the mods on Dakka Crablezworth, that is normally one of the more chilled forums to post on with least active mods, and I've noticed someone stepping in before even in the Special Games section, which is normally pretty quiet with only a relatively small group of us posting. 

For what it's worth I will echo @lansalt comment above, hobby FB is the only part of that platform that I use. The olderhammer groups, Epic, Necromunda groups are absolutely stand-out, really great place to see mini pics. It just sounds like this one particular chap may have a chainblade inserted in a certain orifice, I just wouldn't bother engaging and find another group to post in - there are plenty. 

[Crablezworth]

19 minutes ago, Pacific81 said:

I think you have annoyed one of the mods on Dakka Crablezworth, that is normally one of the more chilled forums to post on with least active mods, and I've noticed someone stepping in before even in the Special Games section, which is normally pretty quiet with only a relatively small group of us posting. 

For what it's worth I will echo @lansalt comment above, hobby FB is the only part of that platform that I use. The olderhammer groups, Epic, Necromunda groups are absolutely stand-out, really great place to see mini pics. It just sounds like this one particular chap may have a chainblade inserted in a certain orifice, I just wouldn't bother engaging and find another group to post in - there are plenty. 

Fair point, my complaint isn't them having their own group, my issue is their treatment of others, especially in context of the most recent book. Really nice chill hobby posters without a mean bone in their body were getting booted for simply asking to confer if their book has a print issue. And again, if this was anyone else other than a former employee and possible author of these very books I would have just let it die, but this is too much. Let this be a watermark for the getekeeping in 30k, the head rots from the top down on full display. 

 

 

Edited August 22, 2022 by Crablezworth

[ashc]

He sounds like a dude who can't let go to be honest.

He also sounds like someone who really can't handle criticism of any sort.

A pair of toxic traits that.

[Crablezworth]

29 minutes ago, ashc said:

He sounds like a dude who can't let go to be honest.

He also sounds like someone who really can't handle criticism of any sort.

A pair of toxic traits that.

That's just it, he's the one on point saying he's the one behind 2.0, this is from his linkedin profile, he posted it when the trailer dropped for 2.0 So it's not that he has a facebook group, it's that he as the author is taking every issue seemingly quite personally, it's a bevy of locked threads and deleted comments. I mean I get moderation but we all know admins and mods are taking the line that any discussion even trying to parse out a rule or understand a print issue with the new books is like tantamount to trolling or directly attacking gw staff. He's made no secret of being the author, he can have his group, but he can't get away with treating people like that, especially when so much money is involved.  "Incredibly proud to have developed the new edition of the Horus Heresy game system, and congrats to all the team at Games Workshop who worked alongside me on this. What a fantastic announce trailer!"  

Edited August 22, 2022 by Crablezworth

[SkimaskMohawk]

1 hour ago, lansalt said:

when the person referenced left the company years ago and no longer speaks for it.

Its pretty likely that he was lead on the rules though. He might have quite in December 2020, but the original potato cam leak of the back of the box set came out in June 2021. It strains credulity that they had the box made without the rules that go in having gone to the printer. That, and him taking credit for the rules on LinkedIn makes it seem like he's was the lead, and had a team to ship the finished product.

And is now freaking out when people complain about the shoddy rules writing in the product he's responsible for.

[TheTrans]

In b4 this post gets locked :P|

But I've found Anuj to be pretty snide and dismissive on the book of faces to anything he doesn't deem to be 30k.

I think its pretty fair he is copping grief over 2.0, he *wink-wink, nudge-nudges* a heap of comments about knowing what was up with :cuss: before it was released for 2.0 and factor in his event rules that stop Legacy units and give you extra VP for using Beakies or the Kratos..just..its like the worst ego-:cuss: I may have seen in the hobby haha. 

Not to mention the writing on the Rangdan Xenocides..jesus that was...just..blergh.

But back to that FB group and all the drama, 2.0 is a complete and utter mess, before you even factor in the zero levels of balance, the books themselves are a mish mash of bad editing and unclear wording, the release has been downright horrific if you don't run gunpigs... I realise its meant to be Marine on Marine, but all the other armies (to me any way) give you an excellent frame of reference for the marines. We still don't have any timeline on Militia and Daemon rules. 

By and large a good handful of my group are still all for 1.0 given the pretty dissapointing state 2.0 is in, with no comms or acknowledgemeant from GW about all the issues (lack of comms isn't Anuj's faulth, but the stuff neccesitating it kind of is :P).

Like at this point the FAQ is going to be fatter than the rulebook!

I for one look forward to Liber We-Done-Goofed coming sometime after the Solar Aux/Custodes Book.

[brother_b]

So, what’s wrong with 2.0?

Haven’t played a game yet, still working on my army.

[Crablezworth]

18 minutes ago, brother_b said:

So, what’s wrong with 2.0?

Haven’t played a game yet, still working on my army.

Well without getting into the weeds on opinions, objectively the books have had issues with having different rules between printings/region/language/digital, it's sadly not just the rulebooks but it's also present in the latest mechanicum book and people discussing this trying to figure heads from tails in terms of what's the most up to date/correct stats rules are basically having comments deleted, their posts locked and in some cases accounts removed/blocked from the tips and tactics group, anuj's group, and he's the lead/was the lead on 2.0, it would seem he's taking any discussion of gw publications not being perfect quite personally, whether or not people are being "negative" "neutral" or trolling. 

 

My opinion is 2.0 is no replacement for 1.0, that's as kind as I feel like being given the circumstances. But like people who aren't even critics of the new edition getting in trouble/censored/banned from his group and him acting like it's a perfectly gentlemanly way to lash out at others is too much. Especially if the books are so bad it leads to a re-call or litigation or both. 

Edited August 23, 2022 by Crablezworth
spacing, spelling