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The Samurai visits Warhammer World!
04-08-2013, 05:56 PM (This post was last modified: 04-09-2013 10:52 AM by samuraitrev.)
Post: #1
The Samurai visits Warhammer World!
Hello and thanks for taking a look at this article. I'm sure like many of you who have been into the hobby of gaming and/or painting you will all know about Games Workshop. The place I visited is their HQ http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/conten...tid=163244
It's about an hours drive from where I live at Nottingham (England) and I thought it well worth to give you guys an inside peak at what's there and a bit of a review of what you can expect.

We (me and my wife/photographer) arrived in the large car park outside the place around 12pm and were greeted by the full sized imposing figure of a space marine. I need me some of that power armour. I'd look the nuts trying to get to the bar on a Saturday night!
   

I made my way to the entrance with the quick step of barely contained excitement. Yet again I was thrilled to see the cool Ultramarine Land Raider from the world of 40K. I wanted to get in it and drive it around the car park, maybe roll over a few cars and shoot the hell out of something. I closed my eyes and dared to dream...
   

My inner geek was getting pretty warmed up by this point. Here at the entrance I was greeted by the friendly face of Lurtz the Uruk-Hai leader from the Lord of the Rings film: The Fellowship of the Ring. We had a quick arm wrestle and I apoligized after for hurting him.
   

By this point it was time to get in there. When you walk in there's a flight of stairs which leads to this huge gaming area. There are always various boards set up that anyone can game on. All you need to do is ring and book a table and you're away. The scenery on this table is top notch, the kind of quality that you see in the White Dwarf magazine. I have a huge Vampire Counts army I would love to take out on one of these battlefields. As you can see the area is surrounded by cool castle walls that add to the atmosphere. Actually this photo would look a lot better without yours truly taking up the shot (sorry!)Zombie17
   

To the left of this photo is the huge Games Workshop, shop. It contains all their current games and figures. All the supplies you could ever want are also there such as paints, brushes and modeling tools. Within milliseconds of crossing the threshold of the store I was greeted by a kind but insistent barrage of questions. I know it's their job but wow! This happens in every Games Workshop place and annoys me a bit when I'm just trying to have a quiet look around. Another guy later on just said something like
"If I can help, just give me a shout"
I was cool with that, but the 1st guy asked me everything from what armies I painted to my wife's vital statistics. Okay I'm exaggerating but come on, enough with the hard sell.

After a waltz around the shop I felt thirsty and compelled to investigate a place known as Bugman's Bar (This place is just right to the picture above). I walked in and the entire place was decked out like a dwarf bar (Old Dwarf would be right at home!) Now out of all the dwarf bars I've been to this was by far the best. The bar staff were very friendly and really cool. I ordered a beer and sat down on one of the benches. Other people were playing games in here too! Right next to me a couple of guys were having a right laugh playing Blood Bowl and drinking ale. As the beer went down the serving wenches kept passing me with platters of hearty looking food such as roasted pork and steaks. I caved in and ordered a burger. I can't recall what my wife had I was too busy tucking in. Even my 2 year old got stuck into some good grub, everyone was happy!

Later we made our way upstairs to the Games Workshop museum/miniature showcases. I could have wept with joy when I walked in. There were shelves and shelves of expertly painted miniatures by miniature painters from around the world. Many of these armies I have seen within the pages of White Dwarf there were even dioramas from decades ago. I think one of them was called The March of the Dead by a legend in the painting world known as John Blanche. I was blown away with seeing the piece with my own eyes.
   

Many of these painters have aspired to win these trophies they are known as the Golden Demon trophies there's a bronze, silver and gold category. I think the smaller one is for children painters.
   

We all enjoyed the day. Even my wife who's a gamer, but not a painter enjoyed the day. To commemorate the day and have a bit of a souvenir I bought a glass pint tankard with an acid etched Bugman's symbol on it.

There are many things I disagree with the Games Workshop about such as the dropping of nearly the full range of metal figures in favour of plastic or resin. I know the GW argument will be all about the price of metal and I understand this I just think it's a shame. The constant changing of the army codex’s and edition after edition of the same game frustrates me too. Regardless of that we had a great day and I would recommend a visit. Oh yeah and it's free to enter. Here's me testing the tankard (again!).Watchmen02 To my left is my LNoE cabinet.
   

I hope you enjoyed taking a look. Any comments would make this trip worthwhile!
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04-08-2013, 08:16 PM
Post: #2
RE: The Samurai visits Warhammer World!
That place looks awesome! I never played any of their games, but I have always bought the figures to paint. I always found the books too expensive and like you said, they keep changing the same thing.

I'm not dead. I'm electroencephalographically challenged...
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04-08-2013, 10:07 PM
Post: #3
RE: The Samurai visits Warhammer World!
So this is where it all began! What a landmark you've got there in your back yard.

"It's the smell... it's driving them CRAZY!"
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04-09-2013, 12:16 AM (This post was last modified: 04-09-2013 12:40 AM by samuraitrev.)
Post: #4
RE: The Samurai visits Warhammer World!
(04-08-2013 08:16 PM)friskers96 Wrote:  That place looks awesome! I never played any of their games, but I have always bought the figures to paint. I always found the books too expensive and like you said, they keep changing the same thing.

It was really cool. I agree what you say about the books it frustrated me for years (still does). Thanks for reading the article.

(04-08-2013 10:07 PM)scarydk Wrote:  So this is where it all began! What a landmark you've got there in your back yard.

There's some good and bad miniatures companies around here. When I spot some good stuff I will let you guys knowZombie17
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04-09-2013, 01:22 AM
Post: #5
RE: The Samurai visits Warhammer World!
I don't know how GW continues to exist. They abuse their customers AND their middle men from every direction possible.
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04-09-2013, 09:18 PM (This post was last modified: 04-09-2013 09:20 PM by spiritusXmachina.)
Post: #6
RE: The Samurai visits Warhammer World!
I once was there too for a EuroGetTogether. The place is awesome! I can really recommend it to anyone who played their games and can afford a trip there.
Even if I'm not playing any of their mainstream games anymore I still play some of their specialist games like Warmaster and Blood Bowl. And I still buy some bits from them now and then. But I'm a bit afraid of my 7 year old being interested in WH 40k or the like because that will tear a big hole into my wallet.

P.S.: By the way there are some photos I would have mistaken you with a LotR hobbit. Especially the one with Lurtz! :-P
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04-09-2013, 10:30 PM (This post was last modified: 04-09-2013 10:33 PM by samuraitrev.)
Post: #7
RE: The Samurai visits Warhammer World!
(04-09-2013 09:18 PM)spiritusXmachina Wrote:  I once was there too for a EuroGetTogether. The place is awesome! I can really recommend it to anyone who played their games and can afford a trip there.
Even if I'm not playing any of their mainstream games anymore I still play some of their specialist games like Warmaster and Blood Bowl. And I still buy some bits from them now and then. But I'm a bit afraid of my 7 year old being interested in WH 40k or the like because that will tear a big hole into my wallet.

I never played Warmaster. Is that the game with all the Epic sized figures? I own Bloodbowl too and it's a hidden gem! I know what you mean about the expence. The prices are through the roof.

(04-09-2013 09:18 PM)spiritusXmachina Wrote:  P.S.: By the way there are some photos I would have mistaken you with a LotR hobbit. Especially the one with Lurtz! :-P

Haha I'm 5' 6" but this guy's about 7' something! Sometimes I wish I was a hobbit, just think how long a pint of beer would lastZombie17
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04-10-2013, 08:41 AM (This post was last modified: 04-10-2013 11:49 AM by Sarge.)
Post: #8
RE: The Samurai visits Warhammer World!
Looks like you had a great time Watchmen02
Now I've got to ask myself why I haven't been....I only live about 1 1/2hours away, just a short jump up the M1!
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04-10-2013, 11:23 AM
Post: #9
RE: The Samurai visits Warhammer World!
BUGMAN'S!!!You were at BUGMANS...the Holy Grail of Dwarfdom!!!.So jealous.

So you got into the Belly of the Evil Empire.I don't do GW anymore (well paints & that's been awhile)
but back in the 90's this hex & counter Wargamer got into Space Marine,Morthelm & then totally
when bonkers on LoTR .Then the Rot set in,price increases,the gutting of White Dwarf,the dropping of
their Forums....well let us not turn the thread into a GW bash.

Anyway great Trip Sam.

OD

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Wailing for the lost one that comes not again:
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04-10-2013, 02:02 PM (This post was last modified: 04-10-2013 02:05 PM by samuraitrev.)
Post: #10
RE: The Samurai visits Warhammer World!
(04-10-2013 11:23 AM)Old Dwarf Wrote:  BUGMAN'S!!!You were at BUGMANS...the Holy Grail of Dwarfdom!!!.So jealous.

So you got into the Belly of the Evil Empire.I don't do GW anymore (well paints & that's been awhile)
but back in the 90's this hex & counter Wargamer got into Space Marine,Morthelm & then totally
when bonkers on LoTR .Then the Rot set in,price increases,the gutting of White Dwarf,the dropping of
their Forums....well let us not turn the thread into a GW bash.

Anyway great Trip Sam.

OD

Agreed on all points. Back in the day they brought out some really cool stuff by some of the best miniature sculpters in the world. I don't use GW anymore either except for painting supplies.

(04-10-2013 11:23 AM)Old Dwarf Wrote:  well let us not turn the thread into a GW bash.

Well said.
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