An update (and the ramblings that come with it)

So, it's been a while since I last updated my journal here. Just 2 or 3 weeks short of 6 months even. And back when I started this account, for the purpose of my ongoing project, which hasn't seen a lot of progress in terms of illustrations I posted here on DA, I planned to do a monthly "update" of sorts. I fail... a bit.

So, what's going on? Why haven't I posted a lot? How's my project holding up? What else is there coming?

So what's going on? A lot of personal stuff. Trying to keep myself somewhat sane and noticing it's an uphill battle. Seen way too many "specialists" over the past year who made even less sense. But at least they admit they don't have a clue what's up either. Makes me wonder why someone is a specialist. It also meant my inspiration was (and still is) at an all time low. It's not as much than I can't come up with a funny or silly thing here or there...obviously my facebook as well as some personal interaction are proof for that. But for most people not embracing a certain degree of madness themselves, it feels like it's not connected and it's a bunch of nonsensical drivel. Luckily I don't deal with a lot of these "normal" people. And luckily they don't have to deal with me.

As mentioned earlier, inspiration is an all time low, hence my project is, well... having low output. It's not on hold. On the other hand, painting up miniatures is coming along fine. So I guess I'm not a fully dysfunctional idiot. More on miniatures later.

Anything interesting coming soon? Well, I will be painting up a lot less GW figures for a few reasons. But as a result, I will be painting/posting figures from other games a bit more. I already posted Dystopian wars miniatures last week, and there's still a few miniatures I want to include in my Empire of the blazing sun naval battlegroup. Recently I ordered a Warmachine starter box, so I'll be painting up the Khador side of the box, and down the line a few more models for that faction. No plans for Hordes as of yet... that can change. Also planning to get into Dystopian Legions, which is set in the same universe as Dystopian wars, just with actual infantry instead of ships. Nothing too big and more of a Warmachine type of skirmish game. And I've been looking into Malifaux a bit, but that's really far down the line. The moment a tabletop game can show me I can play games with under 5 figures per player and still make it a fun game, I'm all in. Well, aside from Dystopian wars, but in general it's a cheap game to get into. Oppossed to other games. Which brings me to the big bad... GW, and why I wont be painting up a lot of those figures.

In recent events, as in in the last year, GW changed a lot of stuff that just didn't sit well with me. And the way they're acting now doesn't do a lot for me in their favor. Aside from something like a pretty fine Tau codex, they put out recently (and from what I heard, High elves is fine as well), there's a lot of stuff that rubs me the wrong way. Here's a summary of things.
- Ongoing disputes against online bits stores. GW binned their own bits service, overhauled it and (IMO) made it less appealing. And now they want to enforce rules on how you can sell said GW products.
- Trade policies. In Europe we're somewhat covered by EU trade agreements, but not everyone is protected by this. The moment new trade policies pretty much run stores out of business you can wonder how good these policies are
- Codex pricing. I don't want a hardcover codex that runs me almost the same as a core rulebook. It makes me think twice about starting a new army. I'm perfectly ok with the old format of softcover books for a softcover price. And I could care less if it's full color, I'm only interested in whatever my units do in terms of gameplay. Oh, and why exactly is a digital codex the same price? It's not a jab at just GW... I never understood why digital copies should be the same as physical copies.
- Death from the skies. Really? Did we need a flyer supplement? And, for the single flyer I own (well, 2.. of the same model), why would I want to buy a book, that I have to pay for all 70 somewhat pages, just to use 1 model entry, out of 11 listed. Such things belong in an army codex. And, despite the models being great... I'm still not sold that we need flyers in 40k the way we have them now. Skimming transporters were fine, but the way flyers work... *cough*cron air*cough*. Granted, more armies get something to fight flyers, but it shouldn't be an auto include just in case my opponent brings a flyer (or multiples) that wrecks my full army single handed.
- Closing down blogs which actually review and discuss your new products. It's 2013 and it's the internet... and most likely you cannot have total control of what is being said about you.
- Discontinuing specialist games. Well, I didn't really expect them to do a lot with them, they were just sitting there, in their stock. I find it interesting to note how all specialist games are relatively cheaper to play (low model count) and clearly GW doesn't want any of that. Oh wait... there is Lord of the rings, but even that has it's epic, huge battles rulebook. The only reason The hobbit is still a small-ish scale is because otherwise, it isn't The hobbit anymore.
- The new paint range. Well, the range itself is fine... but the discontinuing of some colors (and the lack of a similar replacement) is annyoing, since I doubt anyone wants to paint over their army for uniformity sake. If anyone can tell me a good replacement for Mechrite red, I'm all ears.
- And lastly, and that's just something I hear all over the internet, the closing of "gaming tables" at GW stores. Back when I got into Warhammer stores were more fun, since there was a bit more of a "community" going on. And they had 2 (and if neccesary a 3rd) tables around. People met up there. Now it seems more like a salesdriven pitch for any new players, sell them a box of figures and just don't care anymore what said customer does with this item. I'm fully aware that most stores don't offer facilities to use their products (whatever they sell), but a lot of these stores don't have their own storechain going either. In my opinion, it makes GW stores and staff irrelevant. Just stock your kits in the nearest toystore in between the Revell, Italeri and Airfix kits.

This is my opinion and how said company slowly is losing a customer. And thus also why my money is spent on competing companies within the same niche business. The on and off moments new GW stuff ends up in my gallery is when I have acquired stuff through ebay or so, but surely not as a full retail price product.

But that's it for now, thought I'd give an update

Peace out,

M.