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Author Topic: Specialist Games [coming back, new extra rules in print?]  (Read 13077 times)

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Offline Alienscar

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Specialist Games [coming back, new extra rules in print?]
« on: November 12, 2015, 11:27:48 AM »
A while ago I read a few rumours that said a new Games Workshop magazine is on the way that would include more hobby content. There is now rumour that Specialist Games could be making a come back. Putting these two rumours together how cool would it be if the new magazine turned out to include new missions for HeroQuest or new rules/updates for Blood Bowl.

What do you all think? Is something you can believe? Would it be something you would buy?
« Last Edit: November 12, 2015, 01:50:31 PM by Mr.Peanut (Turtleproof) »
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Offline Irisado

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Re: Specialist Games
« Reply #1 on: November 12, 2015, 11:33:59 AM »
I don't think that the rumours are credible, unfortunately.  The reason being is that GW has made it clear that it neither supports nor updates the rules for any of its specialist games, and they have long since been taken over by the community, with mixed results.  In view of this, I cannot see GW devoting its resources to producing a magazine for rules and models which it no longer produces, as it wouldn't make enough of a return for its investment.

I love Epic Space Marine (second edition) and Advanced Heroquest/Heroquest, so I would be more than happy to see these games make a comeback, however, the philosophy underpinning those games has long since disappeared from GW's games design.  As a result, I'd be rather apprehensive as to exactly what the end product might end up being.
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Offline Alienscar

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Re: Specialist Games
« Reply #2 on: November 12, 2015, 01:50:23 PM »
You might be right Irisado but ignoring the fact that the rumour has come from both Hastings and Atia does it not strike you as odd that the rumour originated on the Facebook pages of Games Workshop shops. There is even a reference to this on the Facebook of Peterbrough's GW Store. So whilst you don't think the rumours are credible I find it odd that GW stores themselves are involved.
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Offline Mr.Peanut (Turtleproof)

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Re: Specialist Games [coming back, new extra rules in print?]
« Reply #3 on: November 12, 2015, 01:57:09 PM »
Hope Is The First Step To Disappointment.

There's a chance that GW is feeling the hurt in their wallet after crapping all over their specialist division and slaying Warhammer Fantasy, but don't count on it.  I have read reports that Age Of Sigmar is a boon and other reports that it's bleeding them out (scuttlebutt that many of the glowing reports are from the desperately impoverished one-person-store operators trying to build hype (off the clock, not getting paid to advertise this junk on social media).

I do know for a fact that the Assassinorium game is hurting them, they're charging astonishingly high prices for the individual models and the boxed set is rotting on the shelves of some stores.

Hope aside, would be super cool if they calmed down their pricing rampage and made the magazine good again.  Lots of fond memories of battle reports and keen paintjobs in the ol' White Dwarf.

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Offline Irisado

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Re: Specialist Games [coming back, new extra rules in print?]
« Reply #4 on: November 12, 2015, 02:01:43 PM »
I never read Facebook pages, except for 40K Online's when the server goes down, so I wasn't aware that's where the rumours had originated from.  There have been a lot of rumours in the past about Specialist Games making a comeback, none of which has ever come to fruition, which is why I remain sceptical.

Hobby content is a very opaque statement from GW.  That could mean almost anything, and it also doesn't mean that it is has to be new content.  They could easily re-print old specialist games material, for example, although I find it unlikely that they would even do that, unless this new magazine were specifically to be aimed at experienced players.

I would love all the rumours that you've mentioned to come true, I really would, I've just had my hopes about Specialist Games dashed too many times to feel overly optimistic.

Hope aside, would be super cool if they calmed down their pricing rampage and made the magazine good again.  Lots of fond memories of battle reports and keen paintjobs in the ol' White Dwarf.

Seconded :).
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Offline Alienscar

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Re: Specialist Games [coming back, new extra rules in print?]
« Reply #5 on: November 12, 2015, 03:12:21 PM »
Hope Is The First Step To Disappointment.

Only if you are a pessimist otherwise hope springs eternal or even when all is dire and bleak, there is always hope.

I never read Facebook pages, except for 40K Online's when the server goes down, so I wasn't aware that's where the rumours had originated from.

I don't read Facebook either I just took it for granted most people on here would have read the rumours on Faeit or BoLS.

That could mean almost anything, and it also doesn't mean that it is has to be new content.  They could easily re-print old specialist games material, for example, although I find it unlikely that they would even do that, unless this new magazine were specifically to be aimed at experienced players.

Funnily enough the rumour is the opposite and is supposedly aimed at beginners.

Hope aside, would be super cool if they calmed down their pricing rampage and made the magazine good again.  Lots of fond memories of battle reports and keen paintjobs in the ol' White Dwarf.

Seconded :).

I too would like to see the return of a hobby magazine.
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Offline Irisado

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Re: Specialist Games [coming back, new extra rules in print?]
« Reply #6 on: November 12, 2015, 03:18:32 PM »
Funnily enough the rumour is the opposite and is supposedly aimed at beginners.

That's interesting, since it suggests to me that they might be thinking more of boardgames, such as Heroquest.  If so, it would make sense for something like Blood Bowl to return as a one off release, a bit like how Space Hulk has returned on a couple of occasions.  They could also make a one off boxed set for the games which could not be turned into a board game, a bit like how they released Dreadfleet.

There was a rumour being discussed on another forum about the return of some Specialist Games as one off boxed sets, to that may tally with this idea of new content which you've seen.
« Last Edit: November 12, 2015, 03:19:37 PM by Irisado »
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Offline Calamity

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Re: Specialist Games [coming back, new extra rules in print?]
« Reply #7 on: November 12, 2015, 06:27:47 PM »
I was really out of the loop, because I completely missed this Assassinorium game.  It looks cool but it will probably end up like Dreadfleet (which I really wanted to get but couldn't afford).

And I too would love for the specialist games to return.  I really really would.  A happy childhood memory of mine was getting the Mordheim game on Christmas.  My friends and I played it for years.  A helmet was the only armour you needed.

Offline Spectral Arbor

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Re: Specialist Games [coming back, new extra rules in print?]
« Reply #8 on: November 12, 2015, 07:26:18 PM »
If Age of Sigmar has been "successful" in GW's eyes, they might be making a reasonable assumption that people are willing to spend $200 on a game, where they wouldn't spend $1000 on an army for WHFB... for example.

Something I loved about Blood Bowl was that I could buy a starter "army" for $50 [in the before times] and then spend another $50 to buy the rest of my "army" to fill out a roster. I could buy an paint an "army" in a weekend, if I was really in a mood to do so. I mean, it always took me longer than that. But I could have. I still have a Human, Orc, Dark Elf, Dwarf, and Chaos team kicking around. :)

So if they're finding that people are more willing to spend $200 [several times] they might be inclined to restart the Specialist Range. If their current M.O. is to soak someone for a Starter Box, then maybe sell a couple hundred bucks more goodies before people ditch, then the specialist range would certainly fit that bill. I suspect they ditched Specialist Games, because they were under the impression that everyone loved their models soooo much they all wanted to buy $1000's of models. But that doesn't seem to be the case, it gets too intimidating. So the specialist range lets them sell you a $200 "army" and then if you like it you buy another $200 "army". There's less "Oh amphetamine parrot, I've got to paint 200 Clan Rats before I have a painted army..." You can paint 15 duders in a weekend, and you can play Blood Bowl forever. :)

As a gamer first, painting can kiss-me-where-I-poop-type hobbyist, the Specialist Range was perfect for me.
« Last Edit: November 12, 2015, 07:27:20 PM by Spectral Arbor »

Offline Alienscar

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Re: Specialist Games [coming back, new extra rules in print?]
« Reply #9 on: November 13, 2015, 10:53:02 AM »
Well then, those of you with the Warhammer App or read rumour sites will know that this is no longer a rumour. Some specialist games are making some sort of a come back.

I'll be honest I have absolutely no interest in the majority of the specialist games but if they happen to release the American only box sets of HeroQuest in the UK I will be crying tears of joy.
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Offline Calamity

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Re: Specialist Games [coming back, new extra rules in print?]
« Reply #10 on: November 13, 2015, 11:57:31 AM »
Any news on what games might be brought back?

Necromunda would be cool.  They could release the game as a book, and make a plastic boxed set for each house, with enough parts to build a basic gang (leader, heavy, 2 juves and a bunch of gangers) with booster sets for terrain and similar stuff.  All the 40k city terrain could easily fill in.  And maybe this time they could bring vehicles into it.  They could be particular models common to all gangs.
« Last Edit: November 13, 2015, 12:37:01 PM by Skitarii Tangi »

Offline The GrimSqueaker

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Re: Specialist Games [coming back, new extra rules in print?]
« Reply #11 on: November 13, 2015, 01:08:20 PM »
The article mentions "Our all-new Specialist Design Studio will even be tasked with bringing back and re-vamping some of our old favourites. Blood Bowl, Epic, Necromunda, and Battlefleet Gothic are just some of the great games the team are already eyeing up."
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Offline Irisado

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Re: Specialist Games [coming back, new extra rules in print?]
« Reply #12 on: November 13, 2015, 01:09:50 PM »
Revamping definitely suggests to me that any of these games which they do remake will be one off boxed sets.  Blood Bowl and Necromunda would definitely be well suited to that format.
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Re: Specialist Games [coming back, new extra rules in print?]
« Reply #13 on: November 13, 2015, 02:09:05 PM »
Just so long as models for all the gangs are included I'd be very happy.  With the extras like the enforcers and ratskins coming later too.

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Re: Specialist Games [coming back, new extra rules in print?]
« Reply #14 on: November 13, 2015, 02:23:40 PM »
Hmmm... revamp and streamline the rules for BFG and I can think of many people who would be interested in picking that stuff up.  That is, as long as they don't make it into a board game...
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Offline Calamity

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Re: Specialist Games [coming back, new extra rules in print?]
« Reply #15 on: November 13, 2015, 02:55:34 PM »
From a business perspective this makes sense.  Think about it; not everyone has the time or money to make a full sized army, but smaller easier to pick up sets might work better as starter games for beginners or side projects for veterans.  Just so long as they have staying power.  Necromunda and Mordheim were best played as campaigns, not one offs.

Offline Spectral Arbor

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Re: Specialist Games [coming back, new extra rules in print?]
« Reply #16 on: November 13, 2015, 07:35:44 PM »
The nice part of specialist games, from a gamer perspective, is exactly that. You can buy the basic set, and then you can buy more models to fill out those factions, or buy other models to start new factions.

It's exactly what I did with Blood Bowl. We played that like a religion, one year. I looked at BFG, but they were shutting it down at the time, and since I prefer painting infantry to vehicles [even then...] it didn't seem like something I'd get into. The rules seemed tight, and if I recall there were movement related restrictions that would make the game strategically AND tactically challenging from turn to turn... but I never had a chance to try it.

I tried Necromunda and Mordheim a couple of times. While they seemed like they'd be Ok, I liked Inquisitor more for that sized game. And Blood Bowl is awesome. I'm going to see if my buddies are in the mood for a game next weekend. :)

I really hope that these games take off again. I also hope Epic comes back. I think I'd really like that game.

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Re: Specialist Games [coming back, new extra rules in print?]
« Reply #17 on: November 14, 2015, 04:40:56 PM »
Personally, I'll be waiting for my revised Necromunda. Though part of me is saying at the back of my mind that it won't be as good as Underhive, which tempers my expectations.

Not so sure about an Inquisitor revival though. As much as I enjoyed Inquisitor back in the day, doesn't Dark Heresy and the other FFG RPG's kinda take it's spot?

Offline Calamity

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Re: Specialist Games [coming back, new extra rules in print?]
« Reply #18 on: November 14, 2015, 05:17:40 PM »
I really hope we get a proper revival of necromunda and not just a watered down version of it.  I really want to build a gang and play with it.  This could be the thing that reunites my old regular gaming buddies.  I'm drawn towards either House Delaque or House Van Saar.

I wonder how necromunda might look these days, since GW has changed its style somewhat over the years.  Take the Golaiths for example.  Are they going to get the huge 80s era punk style Mohawks that the originals had or are they going to get more smaller and more sensible looking ones like the second wave models had? 

And I was pretty sure Dark Heresy is Inquistor's replacement.

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Re: Specialist Games [coming back, new extra rules in print?]
« Reply #19 on: November 14, 2015, 06:34:48 PM »
Interestingly (more accurately disappointingly) Mordheim was not mentioned in the official announcement by Games Workshop ... alas the Old World has slipped into the ether ... or has it? 

To be honest I don't think they even know what they're doing :P  But I like the idea of it so far :)

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