Is Warhammer today really a rip off when compared to Warhammer in the late 90s?

[Lathe Biosas]

And the best part... with all the monopose models, I don't have to spend any brain power trying to pose anyone!

 

It's all done for me. 

[gideon stargreave]

An observation I have to make  is that clearly the minis are on the whole much much better than when I started the hobby, but as a converter the new era is much much more wasteful. I don’t mind paying 40 for a kit, but it’s annoying that I HAVE to to get the parts that I want; I end up with tonnes of random bits (lots of half arms etc) that I can’t ever use. I’d love for a resin or metal bits service again; I don’t want to buy a whole box of some kit I don’t care about just for the heads or the cherub 

[Valkyrion]

3 hours ago, Deus_Ex_Machina said:

We are having it nowadays much better than in the past because more companies offer hobby materials such as paints, texture paints for bases, basing materials such as tufts and plants, etc. So we are not held hostage by GW. Granted in most cases their models are still the best on the market though their competitors are no longer bottom tier trash. You can perfectly buy a box of beakie marines and a couple of never-do-wells and recreate the strip & search scene from the Rogue Trader book.

 

Emphasis mine.

 

We have never been held hostage by GW.  I don't quite know how to dispel this myth that GW are some massive overlords of gaming, but they really aren't.  White Dwarf actively approved using whatever was around to make scenery, they showcased an entire army that had aquatic plastic from pet shops.  That hasn't changed. You can still do that. 

[Valkia the Bloody]

I have been in the hobby for 30 years now.

And to be honest- Warhammer has always been a rip-off. 

From the start, I was scouring dusty back corners of shops to look out for old (and cheaper) Warhammer models and this is how I got my hands on a mostly metal "Dogs of War" mercenary Fantasy army. All these metal models still sit in the attic at my parent's place, and although they are painted, they will be worth a lot (and they have some sentimental value). 

Today, I am scouring Ebay and the Tyranid army I am working on currently I basically got for half price. 

Back at uni people looked at us members of the Warhammer club in a strange way and were wondering how we a) could afford all this extremely overpriced plastic (and metal) and b) why we would prefer to spend our little money on little men instead of other "student pleasures and activities". No use trying to explain it to them.

However, one of my flatmates (and good friend) was very artsy, too, and she understood how great painting my figures was for calming down and care for my mental health. She even once helped me paint the last squad of my army at the last minute because I had to go to a tournament the following weekend and I needed them painted. She still remembers this fondly and even reminded me of this last week when I posted my latest finished figures on Facebook. 

I love converting and using unusual materials (above pet shop plastic plants are mentioned, yes, I used those, too!) and honestly, I have never felt constricted by GW in my creativity. I even had an argument with the employee of the local Warhammer store about this the other day. It is a bit of a pet peeve for myself. 

I remember when you could only present your army for Army on Parade on the official GW battlefield squares and I withdrew my entry back then in a fit since I had built and decorated a cheap tray which I found in a second hand store (I still won best painted at the following (unofficial) tournament, though). 

I am glad they scrapped this ridiculous rule, and these official battle board squares are no longer sold. 

 

I do however agree that the latest plastic miniatures are VERY much improved from the early ones. I always loved the idea of a Tyranid army and I liked all the lore about the genestealers. But I hated how the models looked. But now, with the latest Tyranid models, I finally took the plunge and started up an army (using the new models, I still avoid the old warrior and Carnifex models). Both Termagants and the new Genestealers are such a great improvement, much more detailed, with much better proportions and much more agile and lithe looking. Same is true of course for many others of the new plastic models- I also collect Chaos and the new Chaos kits that have come out are also sublime. 

 

However, I still have a very soft spot for the metal models of the old days. I have made an effort to actually get the old metal models I always wanted back in the day but never could afford (for example the old metal demon prince).