So, recently Games Workshop announced their new range of 'Build & Paint' model sets.
This is a range of kits, including glue, a paintbrush and some paints, and appear to be molded in colour instead of the usual grey, designed to encourage people to build and paint models - the goal is that they could be sold in stores among the model airplanes and sports cars, and of course are offered at a price point that younger audiences can afford.
Bare in mind that this is 'series 1' of their 'Build & Paint' sets, so they probably at least intend to do more...
This is a good idea, in theory - cheap models, pre-coloured in a primary colour to encourage people to paint things, and it'll stop us seeing a sea of grey on the battlefield, even if they aren't painted.
However... I have to admit that it's not the smartest move they've made.
For one, people have been joking for years that Games Workshop will eventually get bought by Hasbro and the figueres would come in pre-coloured plastic, so it's sort of hillarious that they're thinking of doing this themselves without being bought out by a toy company.
Remember, they're a model company that sells models and no games.
So, here's the first image - from their flyer, showing what the series 1 range includes.
While I don't have the other image available, I'll just point one thing out: The Space Marine Bike one also comes with a 'Captain'. This is actually the old plastic Terminator Sergeant that was around when I first started... Nice to see he got himself a promotion after all these long years of service.
I also find it hillarious, given that Terminators have had a size increase since then that a unit of Terminators can now be lead by a Captain who is way smaller than them.
I guess it's some sort of new 'Primaris Reductus' type Terminator armour that is ultra-compact or something.
Now, bare in mind that these boxes are mock-ups and not the final design type, but I have an issue with the bottom Ork one.
ORK 'ARD BOYZ MOB. This box contains an Ork Boss in Mega Armor, 7 Orks and a Deffcopta
Ready for the issue with this? Okay, second image go!
This image shows the content of the box. Okay, These are Black Reach kits - Deffkopta is nice to have out again, as there's no way to have plastic ones without it.
That's also 5 Black Reach Ork Nobz and 2 Ork Boyz with Big Shootas.
And the Ork Warboss from Black Reach. Who is clearly not wearing Mega Armor.
It's not even similar. That's 'eavy armor at best (it has some plates on the body and one leg and has two shoulder pieces, that's good enough if you read the codex description) and it's never going to be Mega Armor.
What's sad is that there has never been a mega armor Ork Warboss with the exception of Ghazghkull Thraka, and this would be a good opportunity to do it.
So, first off, the box lists the wrong contents. It's just not a mega-boss.
Second off, let's ignore the boss and the Deffkopta for a second.
We have a box of 'ardboyz... containing 7 Nobz, and 2 Boyz with Big Shootas.
Let's assume for just a second we're fielding Nobz as 'Ardboyz because the armour is right and we're ignoring the scale difference between the Nobz and the Boyz.
That's an illegal unit.
'ardboyz units must be at least 10 boyz large and can only include 1 Big Shoota per 10 boyz.
So in effect, they've given you a not mega-armoured Warboss, which is... alright, but change the name, a unit of 5 nobz, which is cool, a deffkopta, which is fine, and 2 useless big shoota boyz.
Great value for money, there, guys.
The other option is that that box contains a mega-armoured Warboss and by default 5 Meganobz with illegal equipment.
The third option is that WYSIWYG doesn't apply anymore and should be scribbled out in bright red crayon in your rulebook.
So take your pick, I guess.
What's even sadder about all of this is... There hasn't been an actual box option for 'ardboyz since 3rd edition, in which it included metal components to make it so that the boyz had a metal plate on their chest, two shoulder pads and either a helmet or an iron gob - or both.
This could've been a good time to try and market 'ardboyz.
But no. Let's not do that.
What's really tragic is that at the same show, they revealed models that look ripe for use as 'ardboyz with only minimal converting. Know what they are?
Bloodbowl Orc players.
I'm not even kidding here. THOSE look more like 'ardboyz than this box Games Workshop is bringing out.
So... In short, neat idea, terrible execution and poor choice of names.
If they sort those issues out, sure... Maybe it'll work.
But consider this.
That Space Marine Bike with Captain are the older 2nd/early 3rd edition plastic molds.
So the Ork Trukk and Bike are too, most likely.
So the boss and boyz included in those probably are, too.
While the Space Marine bike and power armour in general haven't changed too much in the years, Orks have changed. In fact, the old bike predates the style change in which the Orks started to look as they do now. They look more like Grots than Orks, given the scale and lack of detailed muscle.
So... If you want to paint old models with not much detail on being put out by a model company that supposedly only deals with premium quality kits, sure, save yourself the money.
If you want to get a five year old into the hobby without sacrificing nice models, sure, get the kit.
Otherwise... I.. really hope that not all of the future series of kits are going to be old shit laying around the office from 2nd edition.
