Looking at the latest Made to Order (MTO) offerings from GW, exclusives seem to mean nothing now, which is good and bad for hobbyists.
So, why are we saying this? Well, an exclusive model from just last year just hit MTO. So now people who went out of their way to get it have nothing more now than just an MTO model (and, of course, the memories of the event where they bought it.)
While some people might like the chance to order exclusive miniatures after the fact, it sort of destroys the whole point of truly exclusive models and any additional monetary value assigned to them.
These exclusives are meant to represent an event you either went to or a specific time or milestone for the hobby. This makes them meaningful, and physical scarcity is the only thing that drives collector value.
It looks Like GW’s Exclusives Mean Nothing Now
The MTO details and pre-order lineup came from Warhammer Community. themselves.
First among these is the Primaris Company Champion. Previously an event-exclusive model, this hero of the Chapter has proved exceptionally popular – who can resist that stance? In future, look out for other event miniatures returning to sale via Made to Order for a limited time after their event window has closed.
This was an event-exclusive model just a year ago, which gave rise to the whole debate. The Primaris Champion was a 2022 exclusive; now, it’s up for $35 on MTO.
While it’s good that this now gives collectors and hobbyists who missed it a chance to order, it, unfortunately, drives home the fact that nothing seems to be genuinely exclusive or limited anymore if GW can just whip up a batch whenever they feel the need.
Speaking of whipping up a batch of Made to Order items…
This new MTO offering is also interesting when mirrored with the recent Lion release. That was a box set that was not meant to be exclusive (and will come out on its own eventually) but currently has more scarcity than most of GW’s exclusive mini offerings.
So, while that model will be available at some point, why couldn’t GW do an MTO for something so many people want, like the Lion?
You could even argue that GW should make any of the short-produced allocated items this spring, like Gallowfall, or the Tau and Orks Boarding Patrols, into MTO offerings so hobbyists could actually get them!
Instead, they seem to be deadset on devaluing the inherent meaning and value of their exclusives by putting one of the more popular models in recent memory on MTO barely a year after it hit shelves for the first time.
If you look at the current prices on eBay, this is about half the price (or less), which we really don’t have an issue with. But like we said, for collectors who pay top dollar after the fact for these, event exclusives are supposed to be hard to get and go up in value over time.
Games Workshop 2023 Event Exclusives
This also makes their current exclusives (for 2023) just not very appealing, as you might be able to order them next year now.
Lastly, GW isn’t the only company to do this when they want to push a few more products; look at how badly the reprints of Magic: the Gathering 30th Anniversary set went…
Let’s hope this doesn’t become the norm and event exclusives mean something and retain their value!
Games Workshop 2023 Store Exclusives
Just something else to think about when you step up to the register, plan your travel to events or browse eBay this year.
As we always say, vote with your hobby dollars. If these new MTO offerings have value to you, then grab it. If not, pass it up and wait for the next thing that sparks your hobby fire!
What do you think about Games Workshop already putting one of last year’s exclusives up for MTO?
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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.
