Goatboy 40k: – Why I play this Game
Goatboy here again. I was chatting with MVBrandt the other day and we were talking about why we play 40k. This got me thinking. We all have our frustrations with this game. Whether it is pricing, rules, or just the players we all have had or still have some issues with this plastic dudemens in space game. So with all of these “issues” why do we still break out these models, crack open our codexes, and throw down and yell at our dice?
I think there are really 2 things that keep Games Workshop at the top of the miniature market and the rules are not one of them. I think it is a combination of awesome models mixed with a deep pool of fluff and fandom that still keeps this game rolling along. I am not saying I hate the rules as I keep playing them in games but I do think there is room for improvement of the product.
So lets look at the model department. Here is a company that has really embraced plastic as the avenue of a better game. Plastic allows you to make lighter and more complicated models. Whenever you bring CAD into a design process you get a higher quality build. When was the last time you had a GW model that didn’t fit properly? I have had a few metal models from other companies that just had my head shaking as I tried to fit the two hands onto the stubby arms to complete the model. The lighter weight also lets you do models that can have fluidity due to the lack of needing multiple points to glue and hold the model together. Throw some of GW’s new stuff up against other companies offerings and you can see the difference in quality. I know some of the other models have cool looks and a great design anesthetic but when it comes down to it when GW really tries, their stuff just looks great (Dark Eldar). That’s not to say they don’t kick out some stinkers as well (Minotaurs).
This comes into the other thing that lets GW push itself ahead of the other companies. Almost all of their ranges allow for different ways to build the models. This is huge as you now have a chance to make the model something that is your “design” as much as it is the companies that made them. How many times have you wanted to see a different arm pose on one of the other games out there? Yes you can dremel and cut it down but we are all not amazing artists that can rebuild and remake the model from a hunch of tin. Having more options in a kit is awesome as it makes the kit feel like it is something more.
This leads into the back story of the universe. GW got lucky in that they built up a story that is both interesting and wide enough to allow for different things to grow and prosper. I know I am a spokesperson for Count-as-armies and I think 40k excels in that aspect. It lets you create your own design/atheistic and lets you put it into the game and still allow for “correct” game flow and interaction. Yes we are all dog-tired of Marines but somehow they appeal to the masses and most players have multiple armies that can easily come out of one Marine model range. That is awesome and is probably the biggest factor in what is keeping GW the King of the Hill…for now.
Now all of this just flows into the whole idea that GW is just a model company. We have seen them say that before and I think that while neat for us model loving fools GW is still missing out on a chance to create a great game system. We all know how Privateer Press has created a great, airtight game that emphasizes competitive play. I would love for GW to look at their system and come at it from a company that isn’t just about making a cool looking model and instead as a company that makes a great game with awesome models. Time will tell.
The FAQ that just came out might hopefully be a sign that GW is starting to look at the game as something more then just a side piece. I want to see more rules coming out and more tweaks and changes to help keep the game fun. The more armies you bring up to speed, the better chance you have to get cool games versus armies that you never see. I wonder how cool it would be if GW went into it like Magic the Gathering – creating a game that is both wide and broad with fluff and neat ideas but still rooted in the game in a competitive standpoint. Really I am already invested heavy in the models and fluff and I just want GW to bring the rules up to their model quality.
So what is the biggest reason you play 40k?
