A question of value: The war with no end

 

    'They cost how much?', 'but there are cheaper options out there', 'why has the price gone up again', and 'that's it I am out'. All of my favourite reoccurring comments I see regularly across multiple gaming spheres. Value is the single most hotly debated abstract concept in so many communities in gaming. None probably more so than Games Workshop, or to use its trendy new name. Warhammer. I want to try and explore this idea of value, and try to contrast in some small way value across different gaming options currently available. 

From battles to Billions

    There is no denying that Warhammer is the apex predator of the wargaming miniatures landscape. By which I mean it is the top of the food chain and is arguably of late generally pretty predatory in its business practices. From its humble beginnings nearly fifty years ago as a purveyor of roleplaying miniatures for games such as Dungeons and Dragons it would spin off with the creation of its own universe. Somewhat as if it were one of those fish that cling to the bottom of a shark to then suddenly turn into the Incredible Hulk and devour its host. Now I want to be clear. I mean this in kudos. To become as big as they currently are was not an accident. So I will be contrasting other miniature wargaming options against them. After all that seems to be the repeating trend online. Second only to the debate between narrative and competitive players. 

    Firstly let us look at our contenders in this metaphorical contest of plastic pugilism. For the purposes of this article we will be sticking to a few basic rules. So we will try only look at 28mm scaled games. So all those other options out there I am sorry but you are not tall enough to compete in this article. Additionally I will be talking about costs in AUD (Aussie Dollary Doos) because well I'm Australian. I hope to look at each of these as we use them to demonstrate some argument about this concept of value. 

    First up let us have a look at the newer entry to the sci fi wargaming world. Star Wars: Legion. It launched in 2017 following on the heels of other Star Wars offerings such as Armada, and X-Wing. With a core set running the average Aussie punter at about $130 AUD. This gets you a collection of thirty three miniatures including the iconic father and son duo, Luke and Darth Vader. It is a start and most unit expansions will range from $30 right up to the more pricey $100 AUD. Also most of the character expansions will see you drop about $25 AUD, and it almost reminds me of those old days in the 90s picking up those character blisters at my local GW. To give you an idea of army size this is a sample of a rebel army. 

    Not a bad sample and most players advise simply buy two core sets as the cheapest option for getting all of your units. So lets pretend you go it alone. The above army would cost you roughly $300AUD if you were a madlad and spent all that cash alone, keeping in mind this also gives you two Empire lots as well allowing you the better part of two armies. Or you could do what is fairly common in the gaming world and split the cost with a mate for just over half the cost. Not a bad bit of work there. 

    In terms of the miniatures it is worth noting that the company started with soft plastics and went to more detailed hard plastic multipart kits in recent years as the game grew. It is also worth mentioning that some of those expansion boxes provide multiple units. For Example one kit I have purchased is the Clan Wren Mandalorian expansion, primarily because I wanted to paint them. This kit makes seven miniatures and can create two squads for the game. So technically that's double value depending on your build. 

Roughly 60 dollary doos for two units

        Overall this game has an ongoing lifespan and with Disney cranking out copious amounts of content and with plenty of background to draw on this seems to be a fairly strong contender for that sci fi tabletop dollar. The unit expansions are all pretty well self contained with all the rules and parts needed to run them, and the company supports the line with rules and updates for free. If you are a fan of a galaxy far far away and rolling dice it could be argued that Star Wars Legion offers you a fairly solid option. 

    The next offering in our potential plasticrack addictions comes in the form of Deadzone. From Mantic Games and launching in 2011, Deadzone is a 28mm to 32mm scale miniatures game set in a sci fi setting. Currently in its third edition this game. For the canny consumer you can pick the starter box up from Games Empire at a cheap price of $125 AUD. This will get you dice, board, terrain, counters, twenty four miniatures, and perhaps most interestingly 2 big books. The first is the core rules and the second being a factions book with all the rules and stats in one place. The rules for this game are also interesting with movement and shooting ranges dictated not with tape measures but simply with the game's grid map. Certainly very different to a number of other games but appears to have been do to speed up gameplay. 

    If you do not want to go this route, or want to get a different faction to those included in the starter game, then you can outlay between $55 to $40 AUD on Games Empire. With these boxes providing a full force of eleven to twenty plus miniatures. It is worth mentioning that this is on the lower end of miniature counts when it comes to sci fi wargames and this allows for a cheaper and quicker buy in. The miniatures themselves are a mix of metal and plastic multipart miniatures depending on which faction you purchase. The level of detail is pretty good as well considering the price point. Also it uses d8s so you get 33% more dice and that is great value. 

    If you find yourself enjoying Deadzone, but want a larger scale of game it is worth mentioning that you can go bigger. There is always the Firefight rules set. Though you might find it harder to find core sets. The game goes larger with Firefight rules set. Which will set you back about $173 AUD on sale with shipping, and provides you with the trademark two books, some dice, tokens, and seventy miniatures. Or if you want to go bigger than this you can go the mega bundle and pick up two big vehicles. Either way it provides another fairly viable option to fill that need for sci fi tabletop warfare of a 28mm variety. 

    Once more dipping into the sci fi wargaming sphere with find our next option for dice rolling sci fi warfare comes to us from Corvus Belli. Infinity, the manga inspired dense ruled spec ops flavoured skirmish game set in the high tech future almost two hundred years from now. I tracked down a listing on Gameology's online store for the price of $127 AUD, and buy it now last one in stock. However, other sellers listed the item for the same price. So what do we get for that price tag. Well you will have fourteen metal miniatures (oooh hefty), some nineteen pieces of terrain, a game mat, markers, rulers and a little Operation Wildfire book. Not to worry because guess what else Corvus Belli has. A pretty substantial collection of downloads including the full rules book for free. 

  So having gotten this where does one go? Well for about $65 to $70 AUD you can purchase any of the other teams to take to the field. These are usually made up of more of those hefty metal miniatures that leave you nostalgic for the days of good old blister packs. Regardless even skipping the starter game you can come in as a new player with just the purchase of the squad starters. What about the rule book? Well that has the wallet busting cost of the time it takes you to download a free rule set. That's right the whole one hundred and seventy plus page epic is a free download. So if you are a sci fi fan with an anime bend then skirmishes are a mere squad buy in away. There is of course one addendum to this. The game has a pretty large focus on terrain and although there are some pretty cost effective options. Mightyape will have you covered with a table set up at the easy one of cost of $46 dinkum Aussie dollary doos. Not exactly the back breaking price tag that other terrain can swing around. 

    There are more options I could list out there. Star wars Armada, X-Wing, Warmachine, Conquest, Marvel Crisis Protocol, and on and on. However, I am not going to because in the end it is not productive. It was never the point. The point of all this was to merely demonstrate other options, but also to see if you the reader would even be interested. To demonstrate that even in seeing all this you would have that voice in your head that says 'yeah but I want to play Warhammer'. That thought is your own personal argument of value. As much as we debate the costs and value in money, there remains one thing we will never admit as consumers. Like little junkies we can rant and rave as our dealers continue to up the cost, but in the end we will metaphorically steal our loved ones silver and pawn it to feed our addiction. Because when it comes to value there is a simple element that goes unspoken of. 

    The simple fact is as expensive as GW's products are. We as consumers are the ones placing value on them. We consume them. We decided that yes we are prepared to pay as much as we do because value for players goes beyond the dollar. We made a decision that we wanted to play these games. That little voice that said 'yeah but I want to play Warhammer' when you are given alternatives with the simple dollar costs all laid out, is the expression of the value. You still place value on GW's products. It is why they can continue to drop FOMO box after FOMO box, splash releases, limited runs, and generally underwhelming start collecting boxes containing a mere thirteen miniatures, and we will all continue to come back. We like the lore, the sitting, the aesthetic, or the general Stockholm syndrome that collecting a game for over a decade can induce. We can be drawn in by the latest OP releases that will be nerfed in the new 3 month balance update. We all know this game, and keep playing it. Remember I am saying we as they have gotten me a few times as well. This is why I laugh a little when the discourse continues to bubble up time and time again. 

    The other flipside in this equation is the company themselves. Who do they value? In short answer it is very simple. 

    Whilst there are plenty of legacy players within the community. Whilst there are plenty of self confessed narrative players and alike. There is no denying the discourse is dominated by tournament competitive play. Ask yourself when was the last time GW leaked lore and not an 'omg it does x mortal wounds' weapon profile. They have spent the last few years refining their practices and have it down to a fine art. You think I am over simplifying you tell me how only a few years ago they dropped ninth edition with over 50 miniatures, dice, and books for $290 dollary doos, and they got me with it as well. Though I play the speculative Warhammer market having sold off the Necron half in advance for $150. Yet the cunning internet sleuths have found that the new Necromunda Ash Wastes will retain for an astounding $400 dinkum dollary doos. I ask is that value? Oodles withstanding. 

    There is an inescapable question we must ask ourselves as hobbyists, and one that as we approach the eventual release of my long desired Warhammer Old World. How much are we prepared to pay to keep playing Warhammer? I have long now felt myself cooling when it comes to Warhammer. I am less likely to buy new models, less likely invest. Preferring instead to accept that $25 for a new Darth Vader presents a better option than a $60 plastic apothecary. It has nagged me for too long. After seeing Ash Wastes I know that I am not prepared to get harpooned because I place value on Warhammer Old World. So I want to leave you with a this final question. 

    I want to make it clear. There is no judgement either way. This is not some call to arms, nor is it some incentive to start dunking on each other. I want you the reader to take an honest moment of self assessment and ask a hard question about your chosen hobby. Because when a company can flog a $400 box of toy with fewer models than in the 90's I think it is a more productive conversation than narrative vs comp players at the very least. Just remember there are always other options out there for Warhammer players. Even options that go 'Brrrrrr'

    Until next time remember Hospitality is sacred.