It’s another black eye for Games Workshop as they just slashed allocations to stores for the new AoS 3.0 Dominion Box Set.
Looks like GW is pulling the same thing they did when 40k Indomitus first came out and cutting store shipments by half or more.
For now, though, let’s check out what goes on pre-order this week, and then take a look at how many of each will be available, and round it up with our thoughts on the matter.
AoS Dominion Box Set: $200
The first thing you’ll find after pulling off the lid are the models. Sooooo many models, and every single one is amazing. There are nine frames of plastic loaded with 21 Stormcast Eternals and 39 Kruleboyz – the cunning new breed of orruk plaguing the Mortal Realms
Not to mention an exclusive art Core Rulebook, an intro booklet with scenarios to help you start playing, 14 warscrolls cards for the included models, and an Allegiance card for each army. That seems pretty neat that they can put rules for the Allegiances on cards now, which could make updating the Battletomes a lot easier!
Another huge change is board size! Just like with the 9th edition and Indomitus release, the Board size for AoS will shrink to match its 40k counterparts. That means you’ll be able to use Warcry mats to combine into a full-size AoS board, just like you can for Killteam and 40k.
This makes “kitchen table” games much easier and hopefully makes it easier on the newer players to pick up some games.
If you make your way through GW’s new queue system apparently designed to thwart scalpers, and pre-order the new box set from their site, you can get this new set of command tokens for FREE!
As an added bonus, if you pre-order your copy of Dominion from Games-Workshop.com, then while stocks last you’ll receive an exclusive set of Coin Malleus Command Tokens in a hinged presentation box. You can use them as command point counters in your games, or you could feed a necklace through the hollow Ghal Maraz design to make a talisman, just like a warrior of a Dawnbringer Crusade.
But the Starter box isn’t the only pre-order coming to herald in Age of Sigmar 3.0! Let’s break down the rest of what we know is on the way!
AoS 3.0 Core Rule Book: $65
If you don’t like either of the launch factions, you’ll be able to order the full new core rule book on its own on June 19th!
AoS 3.0 Limited Edition Core Rule Book $65 (both Stormcast & KruleBoyz Versions)
Of course, you will also be able to lock in a limited edition version if you want to show off your hobby devotion.
AoS 3.0 Generals Handbook $40
Designed to work hand in hand with the new edition, this update brings together a host of changes and updates for your pitched battle games, including updated warscrolls for endless spells, new battleplans, and all the core rules of the game.
Path to Glory Diary $35
Path to Glory is getting a revamp in the new edition. It will be very similar to the 40k Crusade system, so if you’ve tried that before and liked it, you might like the new Path to Glory as well!
Realmscape Objective Set $50
This set of six scenery pieces represents the trappings of a Dawnbringer Crusade settlement. Mark objectives during your games or use them to add some Era of the Beast spice to your games.
These would also go perfectly with the starter box if you and your buddy want to try some objective-based games!
Realmscape: Ghurish Expanse $50
Just like the terrain, these are meant to go hand-in-hand with the starter box, making for a pretty good board experience without the hassle of making a full table.
In the past, these cardboard tile sets have retailed for $50, which may be a bit too presumptuous on GW’s part we think.
AoS Combat Gauge: $25.00
The Combat Gauge isn’t anything new, but it is getting a little update to launch with AoS 3.0. These are pretty nice for AoS since there aren’t as many long-range weapons or abilities.
New Citadel Base Paints $4.55
Alongside the new starter box, some themed paints will also be launching to make the buying experience that much easier to get that box cover look.
Allocations for Age of Sigmar 3.0 Dominion Box Set
These aren’t exact numbers, but GW is cutting every store’s (in the USA at least) order in half. They said that a shipment got delayed, meaning they can only give every store 50% stock right away. Then in a “couple” of weeks, they will receive the second half of the shipment.
This really sucks for stores, because if they planned on 30, now they get 15. This is very similar to what happened with Indomitus, where something unknown happened, and at the last second, supplies were cut.
Right up front, this doesn’t sound like the worse thing in the world. But, in our opinion, this is a way for GW to build false hype and perceived scarcity.
Meaning you could make the case that GW wants people to go onto the webstore and buy it there. If people start thinking they have better chances of getting something directly from the webstore, than from their local store, this will start pushing more and more customers away from local stores- which creates higher profits for Games Workshop.
Even though stores are getting the second half in a little while, for those that don’t want to wait, this greatly reduces their revenues in an already difficult time.
Did GW just realize that it had fewer Dominion box sets sitting in their warehouse all of sudden? Of course, not that would be just ludicrous from a business perspective. Are stocks still stuck in port? Anything is possible sure, but why start the whole pre-order process machine, all these weeks of preview coverage if you didn’t have the product in the warehouse ready to ship (most likely slightly early due to volumes) to stores?
It’s just crazy to even think they just realized they didn’t have the stock in hand.
Again, in our opinion, it feels like they called the stores up, gauged interest, and then decided they could make more money by just cutting the supplies for the stores and will make more profit on the direct orders.
GW could be using FOMO (or the Feat of Missing Out) as a tactic, so with stores getting less, people feel like they have no choice but to buy it on the webstore. Especially if they implement the queue, it will feel like you have no choice but to sit around and wait on the webstore.
Vote With Your Hobby Dollars
If your store made it through the tough times of COVID, please support them! We’re all busy people, so the chances of you fully building and painting everything in a week or two is probably low, if we’re being honest with ourselves.
Show your support and keep local stores going, with them getting another big restock, you should be able to score the box on the restock. Meaning you’ll still get your minis and your store can hopefully continue on in these difficult times.
Are you going to pre-order the new AoS Dominion box- perhaps split one with a friend?
Let us know in the comments of our Facebook Hobby Group, and make sure you enter the latest monthly giveaway for FREE today!
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About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
