While the Warhammer Old World starters have great value, the game might have a big problem, similar to what happened with the Horus Heresy.
As we said, the launch boxes have great value, but there may be a big problem with the release of Warhammer The Old World in general. Currently, there seems to be a lack of information for hobbyists to make an informed buying decision about the game before stock runs low. Unfortunately, Games Workshop has said explicitly that selling out each release is their goal.
Not only do we not know how crucial rules will work exactly, but with so much being only available from the Warhammer webstore, people may not even know what they need to buy before stock runs out. This could easily lead to some buyer’s remorse, stopping folks from playing the game before it has a chance to take off.
It is quite possible that something similar happened with the relaunch of Horus Heresy. We saw a lot of hobbyists pumped when the game was announced. However, across the board, at the local game store level, Horus Heresy hasn’t seemed to have taken off since its launch in the summer of 2022.
Does Warhammer The Old World Have a Big Problem?
Let’s start with the good; as this isn’t bemoaning the game or the boxes, as they have really great value. It’s more just about the lack of information for hobbyists that we think they should have before they start buying full (or what we presume to be full) armies, as GW hasn’t revealed the total points or even how they actually work.
Depending on the content of Games Workshop’s influencer videos that are released the same day as pre-orders go live, hobbyists still may not even know how points work before it is time to purchase the product they need (before it sells out).
In their Bretonnia army construction article, Games Workshop said armies would be 2,000 points. The launch boxes were advertised as being able to make a 1,200-point army. This means you only need another 800 points per army to play the “standard” 2,000-point game. So that part is excellent. However, the contents of the boxes raise more questions, not only about points but also about pricing.
These regiments and other future regiments are returning in boxes that contain enough plastic miniatures to make a full regiment, not just a rank or two. With the Peasant Bowmen box, you’ll be able to build a unit of 32 archers, complete with a command group and Defensive Stakes. So dreams of creating massive armies of ranked-up troops will be well within your grasp.
Games Workshop has mentioned that the bowmen will come in units of 32. From the looks of it, though, you only get 24 in the launch army box. This means that if you want to fill out a single regiment block, you’ll be eight short. While that is most likely a single sprue, will you have to buy another whole box of 32 models and have just a ton of left-over archers?
Are These Unfinished Ranks?
While it might not be a big deal for archers, will these army box units give you the full-rank bonuses, or will you have to buy a separate regiment squad to get what you want? GW said you will again get rank bonuses in Warhammer The Old World. Looking at the Men At Arms models in the Bretonnia Army Box, you get two units of 18 (three ranks of six). So. if you want four full ranks, you will either have to make a unit of 20 and a unit of 14 or two units with only three ranks.
Also, 18 seems to just be an odd number of models, so again, will a full regiment box be 32 models or 24? Either way, this could mean you will have to spend some cash and have a wild amount of extra minis hanging around to make two full-ranked squads from the launch box. But there is no way to tell any of this for sure when the pre-orders go live.
If you look at the rules, the army box for Bretonnia will give you two legal units according to the unit size of 10+. But again, it’s more about the lack of precise information about how it works.
- Do you pay per model for units like this?
- Do you pay per rank?
Maybe it isn’t an issue at all, and the army boxes will work perfectly. It just seems like terrible promoting on Games Workshop’s part if hobbyists spend a bunch of money on these launch boxes only to find out they don’t have the models they actually need to play the game.
This is also compounded by the fact that, if previous product launches are any indication, most of the stock may be sold out for weeks after it hits pre-order.
In the past two years, we have seen this happen with both Legions Imperialis and Horus Heresy game launches.
Comparing The Old World Prices to Horus Heresy
Currently, Squads of Legionnaires in Horus Heresy run for $75-$80, and it looks like The Old World may follow suit. We were hoping for a little cheaper for units, but it seems like $80 may be the price for big infantry squads, even if they are 32 or 20 models. Honestly, though, 32 minis for $80 would be acceptable in today’s pricing structure from GW. Since we haven’t seen the pricing or contents of the men-at-arms regiment box, we just don’t know for sure though. Again, it’s the lack of information at launch that is concerning.
We do know the plastic box of 20 Tomb Guard also runs for $80, which is identical to similar boxes in Horus Heresy. So, if you are wondering about regiment pricing overall, we would keep an eye on the prices for the Age of Darkness units. The real unknown, however, comes more in terms of specialty units.
This Assault Squad (which is still a very standard unit) runs for $70 for ten models, and now it looks like Old World might have even harsher pricing.
While these are metal, you get 12 models for $80, which puts the price per model very close to the Assault Squad above. If you want a regiment with four ranks and the Reliquae, you’ll need to spend $160, which seems a bit wild if you ask us…
These Mounted Yoemen suffer from the same issue; to get a unit and the command models, you would have to spend $135, and before you even know the rules or points. Unfortunately, this isn’t the final issue regarding Warhammer the Old World and a lack of information.
So Much Direct From GW Webstore
Last but certainly not least, about half the releases are only available directly from the Warhammer website. As we said, if this release is anything else like the launches we’ve seen for the past two years, everything may sell out quickly.
This could force hobbyists to buy before they know much or even which types of units they will even need. Which could lead to buyer remorse and a lack of hobbying for this game in general. Realistically, if you spend $400-$500 and end up with a bunch of random products you do not need, you’re going to be upset. Or conversely, it could all just work out perfectly, and everything just works together harmoniously. Regardless, we feel like Games Workshop has a responsibility to their customers to communicate product information better for game system releases like this. That way, hobbyists can make informed buying decisions for their needs, not GW’s.
While the Warhammer Old World starters offer great value, there seems to be a lack of information for hobbyists to make informed buying decisions about the game. The pricing and contents of the army boxes raise some questions about points and pricing, and it’s uncertain how specialty units will be priced. The lack of precise information at launch is concerning, and it remains to be seen how successful Warhammer The Old World will be.
In case you missed the major Warhammer Old World announcements since 2019, we’ve included them here:
- Warhammer The Old World: New Rules Changes & Models
- There Will be NO Warhammer The Old World Starter Set
- The Shocking Reason Behind GW’s Choice of Armies for Warhammer Old World!
All the Latest on Warhammer Old World!
What do you think of the lack of information and pricing for Warhammer the Old World? Is it a problem or do you not care much?
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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.
