24 May 2012
08 March 2012
Everything that's wrong with Games Workshop, summed up in one miniature
Games Workshop currently has the above, beautifully painted Space Wolf Runepriest in Terminator Armour listed on their New Releases page, for $23.75 CDN ($19.75 US, £12.00 GBP). He is part of the Finecast line.
There are a number of problems with the model itself, not the least of which is its presentation on the wrong sized base for Terminators. It is also a tad small for a terminator.
The reason for these two issues, which, in and of themselves are relatively minor, is because this is not a new release. The model was in fact originally released in the mid-1990s, and I suspect that the model shown above may be a touched up version of an old studio model, rather than an actual painted example of the current Finecast miniature.
My complaint here is that GW is either hoping we won't notice this, or simply does not care. Releasing the EXACT SAME MODEL 17 years later is not a new release, even if I accept the argument that it's in Finecast now--which I don't.
Rehashing the same old is simply unacceptable. It becomes egregious when you pair it with a price increase for a material that is supposed to be cheaper.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Warhammer-40k-Space-Marine-Space-Wolves-Terminator-Runepriest-/290664790972?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43acf8bbbc
21 February 2011
Obvious stupid is stupid obvious
It seems like every couple of weeks now, some buffoon on Bell of Lost Souls makes a comment referring to "Codexes".
Today it actually started with the following gem:
Rakoth
in reply to Gareson
Would you rather quickly done, not planned out codi *cough*Tyranids*cough*, or well written and interesting codi?
"Codi"? Really? To be fair, at least the poster knew that something was wrong with his first instinct.
This being the internet, it wasn't long before someone supplied the correction. Yes, children, the plural of "codex" is..."codices".
Because:
"Codex" is a Latin word for an old book. Basically. And the plural ending for words ending in "-dex" is "-dices". I don't make these rules. Blame the Romans.
Other words you might know like this include index, uh...subindex, and...uh...caudex. Words ending "-ix" are the same. Appendix. Radix. Also words ending "-tex". Vortex. Vertex. Cortex. And words ending "-pex". Auspex. But not apex. Oh well.
Spandex is actually pluralized spandexes. This word is an anagram for expands. It was invented by Americans.
Now, back to BoLS, and here enters RealGenius. Spoiler alert: He's not a real genius.
RealGenius
Since it is a big 'c' word, you can use Codexes as well. No one speaks Latin here
...
RealGenius
It is the "Space Marine Codex", not the "Space Marine book-format-that-replaced-the-scroll-and-stone-tablet". English, we take words and make them ours.
...
RealGenius
I read Codexes, not codexes or codices.
Now, part way through looking like a complete fool, RealGenius makes this interesting move:
PANZERbunny
in reply to RealGenius
I think your username looks ridiculous when taken in context of what you're saying.
RealGenius
in reply to RealGenius
Finally the irony (OMG, a joke?!) isn't lost on PANZERbunny.
...
RealGenius
in reply to Psyberwolfe
Happy to be an American with the right to argue any damn point I want. Seriously, how often does this come up? (At least twice a year.) Why to people keep trying to correct grammar in the comments section of a poorly edited blog? I'd link you to several other articles where I explain codex/codicies, but I'm lazy and the irony/humor would be lost on you.
Psyberwolfe
in reply to RealGenius
Oh please do I'm all ears. The irony here is linked to my previous statement, "...can't be bothered to read a dictionary..." vs. yours, "...I'm lazy..."
PenelopeTheWonderPony
in reply to RealGenius
You spelt "codices" wrong. Just sayin' :P
But I will give RealGenius this: he goes out with a little class.
Weafwolf
in reply to RealGenius
Twice a year? I think it came up four weeks ago. The appropriate plural is "codices," but GW has printed "codexes," so do what you want. I'm sticking with "codices" because I like to feel superior to you.
RealGenius
in reply to Weafwolf
Best reason ever!
This will come up again, I'm sure. And every time it does, we can look back on this moment and see a high point of low points in the 40k meta.
14 February 2011
Marine Commander: Leman Russ
Marine Commander
Imperial Record AA/SW 05/015. f19.P6. Profile: Leman Russ Born: 2612016. M32. Guranta D Gurantan system. Commissioned Adeptus Terra as special agent 0134041. M32. First rose to Imperial notice during Lucan Crusade. Appointed Imperial Commander Lucan 0333042. M32. Instrumental in founding Adepts Astartes unit 4 'Spacewolves'. Suffered severe alviola damage during acid storms on Susa. Transplanted with model cybron-osmotic grill.
03 February 2011
Good job, Games Workshop
I love to rag on GW at the corporate level. As a consumer, I think some big mistakes have been made there over the past few years.
I also love to tease the red shirts for their dogmatic sales technique, but I've also had a lot of good experiences with the staff at my local GWs (shout out to Vince, Matt, and now Ben at Montreal Eaton's Centre).
Today, though, I had my second great experience dealing with GW customer service on the phone.
See, I collect the White Dwarf. I've been back collecting it for years, and I need something like 38 of the 260+ issues that have peen printed, and almost all of those are in the first 50.
So this is a big deal to me.
Now, one might think that I would get a subscription to the White Dwarf, but I've never had one. When I worked for GW I got it free every month for the couple of years I worked there, and otherwise I made a regular trek to the store to buy it. In December, however, at the prompting of my local GW manager, I coughed up for a subscription (and the Space White Dwarf).
I was anxiously awaiting my first ever issue in the mail.
It arrived. Unbagged. With the label stuck on it. Dog eared and folded.
This was not good.
I called GW, ready to cancel my sub, but the fellow who answered assured me that this wasn't how it was supposed to come, that he'd look into it, and in the meantime he'd ship me a brand new one.
This was good.
The replacement issue arrived in a huge box, well protected and padded, and all was well. Until this week, when my second ever issue arrived.
Unbagged. With the label stuck on it. Dog eared and folded. With a little tear.
This was not good.
My second call to GW was effortless. Madison was understanding, helpful, and very pleasant on the phone. He took my issue seriously, and has arranged for me to pick up a replacement issue at my local GW. He assured me that he would pass this up the line and that things would get sorted out. And, if it happened again, he asked me to call back, and he'd look after me.
Thank you, Madison. Thank you, Games Workshop.
I appreciate it.
I also love to tease the red shirts for their dogmatic sales technique, but I've also had a lot of good experiences with the staff at my local GWs (shout out to Vince, Matt, and now Ben at Montreal Eaton's Centre).
Today, though, I had my second great experience dealing with GW customer service on the phone.
See, I collect the White Dwarf. I've been back collecting it for years, and I need something like 38 of the 260+ issues that have peen printed, and almost all of those are in the first 50.
So this is a big deal to me.
Now, one might think that I would get a subscription to the White Dwarf, but I've never had one. When I worked for GW I got it free every month for the couple of years I worked there, and otherwise I made a regular trek to the store to buy it. In December, however, at the prompting of my local GW manager, I coughed up for a subscription (and the Space White Dwarf).
I was anxiously awaiting my first ever issue in the mail.
It arrived. Unbagged. With the label stuck on it. Dog eared and folded.
This was not good.
I called GW, ready to cancel my sub, but the fellow who answered assured me that this wasn't how it was supposed to come, that he'd look into it, and in the meantime he'd ship me a brand new one.
This was good.
The replacement issue arrived in a huge box, well protected and padded, and all was well. Until this week, when my second ever issue arrived.
Unbagged. With the label stuck on it. Dog eared and folded. With a little tear.
This was not good.
My second call to GW was effortless. Madison was understanding, helpful, and very pleasant on the phone. He took my issue seriously, and has arranged for me to pick up a replacement issue at my local GW. He assured me that he would pass this up the line and that things would get sorted out. And, if it happened again, he asked me to call back, and he'd look after me.
Thank you, Madison. Thank you, Games Workshop.
I appreciate it.
22 November 2010
Titans and their varieties
Titan configurations present a wide variety of often confusing nomenclature. This is a product of two main circumstance:
First, the models have evolved quite significantly since their introduction originally in Adeptus Titanicus; that game introduced only one broad type of Titan, but we now have about twenty.
Second, Games Workshop has been...ambiguous in sorting things out and, on at least one occasion, made obvious errors. Now the ambiguity helps to reinforce the mysterious elements of 40k, but simple errors could have been avoided.
I. TYPE
Broadly speaking, the first and most important distinction between Titans is their Type. Since most of the 40k universe is presented through the eyes of the Imperium, they get to label the Types. They are:
Emperor - the largest and rarest type, Emperor Titans are mammoth.
Battle - the most common type, Battle Titans perform a variety of battlefield roles and do the majority of the fighting.
Scout - the lightest type, Scout Titans perform in a reconaissance and support role.
II. CLASS
Within each type, there are subdivisions. Essentially, this is a matter of the basic "chassis".
The Imperium fields 4 (or possibly 5) different Classes of Titan. They are:
Imperator (Emperor type)
Warlord (Battle type)
Reaver (Battle type)
Warhound (Scout type)
The possible fifth class is the Warmonger. This monster is an Emperor type Titan; however, it is not clear if it is a variant of the Imperator, or a unique chassis. There are important similarities and differences between the two.
III. PATTERN
Various classes of Titans are produced throughout the Imperium. As a consequence of STC technology, the same essential Titan could be built by a variety of forge worlds. However, because of the fallen state of the Imperium, a number of cosmetic and even systemic differences can exist between the same class of Titan.
The most obvious Pattern disticntion is that between Mars and Lucius pattern Titans. Mars-produced Titans tend to have rounded carapaces and armour plates, whereas Lucius-produced Titans tend to be more angular and slab-sided.
HOWEVER, this analysis is complicated by the fact that Epic: Armageddon and Jervis Johnson indicate that "pattern" refers to weapons loadout, rather than cosmetic appearance or place of origin. This position should be discarded as grossly inconsistent with Forge World's various conversion kits (Ryza pattern turrets) and essentially the entirety of the rest of what we know about Titan classification.
IV. MARK
Because GW's modelling technology has advanced over time, and they have withdrawn and reintroduced models, "Mark" has emerged as a way of distinguishing earlier/later versions of the same model. The Armorcast Warhound, with it's rounded carapace, is clearly a Mars-pattern; Forge World's most recent smooth armoured Warhound is also Mars-pattern, hence Mark 1 and Mark 2.
V. VARIANT
Variant refers to weapon and equipment loadout. In Adeptus Titanicus, this was a very important classification, but it has diminished in importance over time as more Titans' were introduced to the game. Since in Adeptus Titanicus there was only one class of Titan in the box, these could be configured differently to create light, medium, and heavy versions. As the Reaver and Warhound were introduced, these roles were filled by dedicated Titan classes, and so variants become much less of an issue. Nonetheless, some weapon variations are so common that they have been standardized as named variants.
Imperial Titans appear in the following variants:
Warlord Nightgaunt - Assault weapons [Laser Burners, CCWs]
Warlord Nemesis - Support weapons
Warlord Eclipse - Relics
Warlord Deathbringer - Tactical weapons
Reaver Vandal - Relics [Devotional Bells, etc]
Reaver Hun - Tactical weapons [Gatling Blasters, Turbolasers]
Reaver Goth - Support weapons [Vortex Missiles, Deathstrike Cannons]
Warhound Wolf - Anti-Tank weapons [Plasma Blastgun & Turbolaser]
Warhound Jackal - Anti-Infantry weapons [Inferno Gun & Vulcan Megabolter]
It could be argued that the Warmonger is in fact a variant of the Imperator, given that much of the structure is identical, but for the weapons load.
First, the models have evolved quite significantly since their introduction originally in Adeptus Titanicus; that game introduced only one broad type of Titan, but we now have about twenty.
Second, Games Workshop has been...ambiguous in sorting things out and, on at least one occasion, made obvious errors. Now the ambiguity helps to reinforce the mysterious elements of 40k, but simple errors could have been avoided.
I. TYPE
Broadly speaking, the first and most important distinction between Titans is their Type. Since most of the 40k universe is presented through the eyes of the Imperium, they get to label the Types. They are:
Emperor - the largest and rarest type, Emperor Titans are mammoth.
Battle - the most common type, Battle Titans perform a variety of battlefield roles and do the majority of the fighting.
Scout - the lightest type, Scout Titans perform in a reconaissance and support role.
II. CLASS
Within each type, there are subdivisions. Essentially, this is a matter of the basic "chassis".
The Imperium fields 4 (or possibly 5) different Classes of Titan. They are:
Imperator (Emperor type)
Warlord (Battle type)
Reaver (Battle type)
Warhound (Scout type)
The possible fifth class is the Warmonger. This monster is an Emperor type Titan; however, it is not clear if it is a variant of the Imperator, or a unique chassis. There are important similarities and differences between the two.
III. PATTERN
Various classes of Titans are produced throughout the Imperium. As a consequence of STC technology, the same essential Titan could be built by a variety of forge worlds. However, because of the fallen state of the Imperium, a number of cosmetic and even systemic differences can exist between the same class of Titan.
The most obvious Pattern disticntion is that between Mars and Lucius pattern Titans. Mars-produced Titans tend to have rounded carapaces and armour plates, whereas Lucius-produced Titans tend to be more angular and slab-sided.
HOWEVER, this analysis is complicated by the fact that Epic: Armageddon and Jervis Johnson indicate that "pattern" refers to weapons loadout, rather than cosmetic appearance or place of origin. This position should be discarded as grossly inconsistent with Forge World's various conversion kits (Ryza pattern turrets) and essentially the entirety of the rest of what we know about Titan classification.
IV. MARK
Because GW's modelling technology has advanced over time, and they have withdrawn and reintroduced models, "Mark" has emerged as a way of distinguishing earlier/later versions of the same model. The Armorcast Warhound, with it's rounded carapace, is clearly a Mars-pattern; Forge World's most recent smooth armoured Warhound is also Mars-pattern, hence Mark 1 and Mark 2.
V. VARIANT
Variant refers to weapon and equipment loadout. In Adeptus Titanicus, this was a very important classification, but it has diminished in importance over time as more Titans' were introduced to the game. Since in Adeptus Titanicus there was only one class of Titan in the box, these could be configured differently to create light, medium, and heavy versions. As the Reaver and Warhound were introduced, these roles were filled by dedicated Titan classes, and so variants become much less of an issue. Nonetheless, some weapon variations are so common that they have been standardized as named variants.
Imperial Titans appear in the following variants:
Warlord Nightgaunt - Assault weapons [Laser Burners, CCWs]
Warlord Nemesis - Support weapons
Warlord Eclipse - Relics
Warlord Deathbringer - Tactical weapons
Reaver Vandal - Relics [Devotional Bells, etc]
Reaver Hun - Tactical weapons [Gatling Blasters, Turbolasers]
Reaver Goth - Support weapons [Vortex Missiles, Deathstrike Cannons]
Warhound Wolf - Anti-Tank weapons [Plasma Blastgun & Turbolaser]
Warhound Jackal - Anti-Infantry weapons [Inferno Gun & Vulcan Megabolter]
It could be argued that the Warmonger is in fact a variant of the Imperator, given that much of the structure is identical, but for the weapons load.
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