A look at the highlights of this week in 40K
And WOW, was this a week of news! GW Financials, White Dwarf changes and one very cool model from our favorite people at Forge World.
The GW Mid-year Financials
Of course, the big news is Games Workshop's spectacularly BAD financials.
The basics of which are:
Revenue £60.5m (2013) £67.5m (2012)
Pre-tax profit £7.7m (2013) £11.1m (2012)
That means that sales were down about 12% and profit down about 30%. Very big numbers. What is notable is that the profit is down so much despite major GW efforts to reduce costs and restructure their retail. And their gross revenue is down despite the past two years or price increases. GW is still making money, but a publicly traded company need to constantly grow.
This is the news that you will be hearing lots about over the next few weeks. It highlights everything that has been said about Games Workshops business practices and constant price increases impacting its business.
White Dwarf Changes
White Dwarf Changes
The official announcement of big changes in White Dwarf hit this week. The monthly Warhammer Visions will be interesting, but the weekly White Dwarf Weekly sounds like a 32 page sales brochure. And for $ 4? Why pay to see previews of stuff available that week?
From Games Workshop:
White Dwarf magazine goes weekly!
Saturday 1 February sees the birth of the new, weekly, White Dwarf magazine.
Saturday 1 February sees the birth of the new, monthly, Warhammer: Visions magazine.
Yes, that’s right. We’ll be launching two new magazines on the same day, Saturday 1 February.
White Dwarf, now weekly.
From Saturday 1 February, White Dwarf will be available each and every Saturday exclusively in your local Games Workshop store, Independent Stockist and at games-workshop.com
White Dwarf will contain everything that’s new and exciting in the hobby that week, from news and information on all the week’s other new releases, to new columnists, interviews, painting, modelling, game rules and much more. And the price? The same as a pot of your favourite Citadel paint.
Warhammer: Visions, now monthly.
Warhammer: Visions will be available on the first Saturday every month in your local Games Workshop store, Independent Stockist, games-workshop.com and local newsstands in the UK, Europe and Australia.
Warhammer: Visions is a completely new monthly magazine, also from the White Dwarf team. It’s unlike anything we’ve ever done before and this super high-quality visual feast weighs in at a whopping 236 pages, each and every month.
World Wide Campaign in Beta
A new World Wide Campaign is in beta! Centered around the Dark Vengeance set, it's a low points event for some fairly casual play. Beta testing is under way.
Here are the details:
On the remote imperial planet of Kaiserslautern VI in a distant sector the servants of the Dark Gods open a new chapter in their unending campaign to destroy the Imperium of Man. Having planted the seeds of rebellion among the populace for centuries, Chaos Lord Krannon the Relentless is now ready to reap the bitter harvest. There is still hope, however, for the citizens loyal to the Emperor. Company Master Balthasar and his Dark Angels stand ready to defend Kaiserslautern VI with their very lives, if necessary. The fate of the planet is now in your hands. It is time to choose sides and once again let slip the dogs of war."
You will need a few things to play, mainly a small army that uses a modified Force Organization chart.
- 600 point army that has 1 HQ, 1-2 Troops, 0-1 Elite, 0-1 Fast Attack, 0-1 Heavy Support, and 1 swing slot that can add 1 more slot on any part of the Force Organization chart. Alternatively, you may use either one of the armies from the Dark Vengeance Starter Set. The Dark Angels player may not use the Limited Edition Chaplain however.
- 1-2 additional Basic Troop choices without upgrades, such as Kabalite Warriors, a Space Marine Tactical Squad, Chaos Cultists, etc. These should be in addition to your 600 point list as they will be added to your army later in the event.
- 1 Fast Attack choice without upgrades
- 1 Elite choice without upgrades
All of these unit are important as this is a story driven campaign that starts with a few small games and builds up larger as you get further into the story. The actual missions will be posted in the store, and score sheets for the event will be handed out on the nights of the event. This is designed as a fun and friendly event, so feel free to come out and have a great time with us. There will be small participation prizes for everyone who shows up such as lanyards and patches, so come out and get some free loot as well!
You will need a few things to play, mainly a small army that uses a modified Force Organization chart.
- 600 point army that has 1 HQ, 1-2 Troops, 0-1 Elite, 0-1 Fast Attack, 0-1 Heavy Support, and 1 swing slot that can add 1 more slot on any part of the Force Organization chart. Alternatively, you may use either one of the armies from the Dark Vengeance Starter Set. The Dark Angels player may not use the Limited Edition Chaplain however.
- 1-2 additional Basic Troop choices without upgrades, such as Kabalite Warriors, a Space Marine Tactical Squad, Chaos Cultists, etc. These should be in addition to your 600 point list as they will be added to your army later in the event.
- 1 Fast Attack choice without upgrades
- 1 Elite choice without upgrades
All of these unit are important as this is a story driven campaign that starts with a few small games and builds up larger as you get further into the story. The actual missions will be posted in the store, and score sheets for the event will be handed out on the nights of the event. This is designed as a fun and friendly event, so feel free to come out and have a great time with us. There will be small participation prizes for everyone who shows up such as lanyards and patches, so come out and get some free loot as well!
Forge World Releases Achilles Pattern Land Raider
And they can have twin-linked Volkite Culverins as sponson weapons! I do wish they would have changed the kit more to be more Heresy-era. Basically, they slapped on new sponsons and wallah! Not enough for me. I want to see a new front end.
From Forge World:
The Achilles-Alpha pattern Land Raider is the most durable vehicle currently in the service of the Legiones Astartes. These vehicles shrug off weapon strikes that would cripple other battle tanks, and are proof against even the most toxic environment. The weaponry of these vehicles is formidable, featuring an advanced quad launcher and powerful volkite batteries.
The Achilles-Alpha pattern Land Raider model, designed by Stuart Williamson, is a complete multi-part resin and plastic kit that comes with the option of either twin-linked multi-meltas or twin-linked volkite culverins as sponson weapons. This model is available to pre-order now and will be despatched from Friday January 31st.
The Achilles-Alpha pattern Land Raider model, designed by Stuart Williamson, is a complete multi-part resin and plastic kit that comes with the option of either twin-linked multi-meltas or twin-linked volkite culverins as sponson weapons. This model is available to pre-order now and will be despatched from Friday January 31st.
The new Tyranid Vanguard Dataslate was previewed. This is the first of THREE for the Leviathan Hive Fleet. Tyranid players who are whining about the mediocrity of their list can find solace in this new fluff and formations.
Tyranid Vanguard - Rising Leviathan I
Description
To the horror of the planetary governor of Satys, a Tyranid hive fleet has cut the planet off from Warp communication, and its creatures are infiltrating the furthest reaches of the planet. The irradiated jungles are being stalked by Lictors, while Genestealers are starting to infest the manufactorums. It is up to the planet’s two Catachan regiments as well as a small strike force of the Aurora Chapter to lead the planet’s defence. But the Hive Mind rapidly responds to the defenders’ tactics, and soon begins to overwhelm the Imperial forces...
In this Book:
Leviathan Rising is the first book in a trilogy of Tyranid Dataslates, each of which details the different stages of Hive Fleet Leviathan’s assault upon the planet of Satys. This first installment showcases the vanguard organisms of the Tyranid fleet. It contains formations, missions and rules so that you can re-create the hideous invasion techniques of Hive Fleet Leviathan in your games of Warhammer 40,000.
About this Edition:
This interactive edition features quick-links to special rules for ease of reference during your games.
In this Book:
Leviathan Rising is the first book in a trilogy of Tyranid Dataslates, each of which details the different stages of Hive Fleet Leviathan’s assault upon the planet of Satys. This first installment showcases the vanguard organisms of the Tyranid fleet. It contains formations, missions and rules so that you can re-create the hideous invasion techniques of Hive Fleet Leviathan in your games of Warhammer 40,000.
About this Edition:
This interactive edition features quick-links to special rules for ease of reference during your games.
That's it for now! Go forth and game!
Nykona