Lord_Ikka

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I can't remember the exact terminology used, but there is a really good argument going around about the reason that companies like Crumbl and various coffee/baked goods shops are really popular even if their products are not great/can be produced at home with a little time/effort. Especially in the current era of high overall prices and issues that the younger generations are having with employment/purchasing housing, something relatively small purchased as a reward is something that the human psyche craves. Can't afford a house, buy a latte, the theory goes, because it will make you feel better in the moment even if the overall situation may be depressing. Something similar could be a big influence on people buying gaming/hobby stuff. Even if the price is a lot more than it used to be, it doesn't matter because you'll get a hit of dopamine when purchasing/building/painting/playing and the cost is (relatively) cheap compared to something like a new car or house.

Agreed. The rising price point is just one of the issues I have heard of from many people about why they don't play 40k anymore or won't start. One of the major issues I can see cropping up for GW in the next few years is their insistence on sticking with physical rulebooks/codices and apparent lack of institutional knowledge/desire to work with digital media. I don't really see another miniature game company being so stubborn about not offering full digital rules (free, paid-for, or subscription)- even games with the same historical age of 40k like Battletech offer pdf versions of their rulebooks. GW seems to have decided that they will only offer physical books. It's really baffling to me that this is a hill they seem to want to die on. At least they have sort of priced the codices better in 11th, but I don't think that that is a real saving grace.

Hmm. Trying to find it, but I believe someone mentioned that since 2022/23, can't remember which, that GW's prices have risen roughly 20-25%. If that is true, that's a pretty steep rise. I understand that both materials cost and production costs (primarily energy costs) have risen, but I don't think either have risen that high.

Drekar The Lord spoke and told them of their mission. Reconnaissance and test in one, done by those considered somewhat expendable. Very well. If Talek Varn wished to see if Drekar and his fellows were competent, he would get his wish. The auditorium was large and the Astartes spread out. Veterans and new-bloods stood mixed yet apart, in both look and demeanor. Drekar kept to the edge of the gathering and watched. His scout armor was different than almost all of the others, clad in their MK VI suits of heavy ceramite. He was slighter and sleeker than them, carapace covered in a color-shifting cloak that blended into the background of any surface. His was a scout and assassin, first to find the enemy and first to spill their blood on the edge of his knives. He had been raised to do this, surviving the gang wars in his hive by stealth and sheer viciousness. The Iron Goods had given him further gifts and training, making him powerful and lethal beyond the understanding of the scum he had been born among. For that he owed them and would fight for Varn in his wars. Bring the tests and the trials and the challenges. Drekar of the Iron Gods was waiting.

I believe Drekar is also good to go, pending the Geneseed roll of 5.

Darius Parry Test Target - 54 Roll - 44 Result = Pass, 1 DoS

[ spoiler ] your text then [/ spoiler ] with no spaces.

I'm feeling ok about my progress on the Word Bearers, so I'm going to add on to my vow and try to finish up all of my CtA stuff this month. I, Lord_Ikka, vow to paint for the month of August the following: 1 Chaos Lord in Terminator Armour, 1 Master of Executions, 1 Warpsmith

Very nice. Love the theme, well done!

If you are worried, just go through the link on GW's website- they won't steer you to a scam.

It's the official GW merch store, yes (GW has direct links to it on their websites). Licensed to sell everything that you see there. As for the quality, no idea, never bought anything from them.

Well, been a busy couple of weeks, so I haven't updated in a while. I managed to finish off painting my Knight Destrier in time for my painting comp (didn't place, but didn't expect to given the high level of competition we have there) and finally figured out how to do Ironkin Beserks. First up, Destrier of House Romlas- I'm pretty happy with him, fits in well with my other Knights and wasn't too much of a pain to put together or paint. As for the Votann, I had originally had some issues with figuring out what to do with Beserks. Since my Votann are all Ironkin, I didn't want to have a bunch of half-nekked biological Kin running around as my melee beatstick. I waffled back and forth, looking at various other companies before coming back to GW and deciding to use the Necromunda Ironhead Squats. The Squats aren't quite as heavily armored as most of the other available options, so I think they work out decently as the Beserks have less armor than Hearthkyn. The Squats have a different set of weapons than the regular Votann as well, so I think they will translate well for Beserk squads. So far, I'll be ordering the following- One box Ironhead Squad Prospectors (8 models) 2 boxes Charter Masters/Drill Master (another 8 "regular" models and 4 each "exo-armor" and techmite models) 1 box Squat weapon upgrades 1 Claim Jumper character (Berehk count-as) This will turn into a total of 20 beserks, or four 5man squads, as each pair of the exo-armor Drillmasters/techmites will form the mole launcher model of each squad of beserks. I've plotted out what weapons I should have and it should turn out ok as far as every member having a melee weapon and then either an empty/utility hand or possibly one or two pistols. Going to try to give them mainly utility hands as the beserks themselves only have the mole launcher as a ranged weapon and I like having stuff match as much as possible. The Claim Jumper model will be the base for a Berehk count-as, and I think he'll work pretty well- the only real conversion I'm going to be doing is possibly changing out the back of his pickaxe for different weapon, using another Votann bit to make it more polearm-like rather than a straight mining tool. Anyway, that's all I have planned at the moment, but I'll be working on my CtA vow of CSM with 22 models vowed to get done this month and then a few characters to finish off in September. I'll try to update when I get the Votann in/made, but the CSM will be updated in their own blog when finished.

Classic black, in deference to all the ink that has been spilled in leu of blood.

Goonhammer/Tabletop Battles just released their reviews of all the new Necromunda stuff. Should have quite a bit of info in there.