Is Warhammer 40k losing its soul? We look at how constant meta chasing and rule shifts are leaving long-time, die-hard fans behind.
Another Long War Two-Fer is here: Keep those hobby muscles strong with this week’s webcast and the latest exciting podcast of tabletop wargaming awesomeness, mostly centered around Warhammer 40k.
The Long War: Episode 521
Article Table of Contents:
Show Summary
This week, the crew talks about changes and shifting meta with balance discussions. Here are the key takeaways, section by section:
- 00:00–09:32: The crew opens with hobby chat before Kenny marks his tenth Twitch anniversary, announces an August 18 celebration, and considers taking his first army-painting commission in 10 years.
- 09:55–14:34: Mike discusses the newly announced animated Deathwatch series tied to Amazon’s broader Warhammer plans, the theatrical return of Transformers: The Movie, and the new Masters of the Universe film.
- 15:18–24:32: Rob breaks down GW’s latest financial report, including a 37% drop in licensing revenue after the Space Marine 2 boom, two companies exiting Warhammer licensing deals, and progress on the Amazon projects. The panel also debates GW’s CEO receiving his maximum bonus while employee profit-sharing dropped from £6,000 to £5,000 per person.
- 24:32–34:54: GW appears heavily focused on recruiting new hobbyists through starter boxes, Warhammer Academy, skirmish games, and an increasingly connected product ecosystem. Independent game stores remain crucial, accounting for 65% of trade sales and serving as GW’s only growing sales channel in the report.
- 35:13–39:28: The news roundup covers the Jimothy raccoon miniature, the Helldivers 2 Warhammer 40k crossover, Wahapedia’s 11th Edition updates, officially licensed BattleTech terrain, Star Wars Legion flyers, and new Warriors of Chaos and Blood Bowl Sevens releases.
- 39:53–42:37: The main discussion asks whether die-hard 40k players should ignore “essential” new releases. Unless someone is seriously chasing tournament wins, the panel argues there’s no reason to buy every overpowered unit or follow every internet-approved list.
- 42:54–45:42: Players are encouraged to choose armies based on lore, miniatures, painting, and playstyle. Rules and faction strength change constantly, while someone who truly knows an off-meta army can be far more dangerous than a player chasing the latest flavor of the month.
- 46:04–49:44: Sticking with one faction doesn’t mean freezing a list forever. Players should adjust to common threats and tournament trends, but learning an army’s full toolkit creates more lasting success than repeatedly rebuilding around whatever currently looks strongest.
- 49:44–55:43: Epic heroes, Battleline units, and dedicated transports are highlighted as purchases that tend to remain useful through rules changes. Combat Patrols also offer a practical way to sample new armies without committing to several full 2,000-point collections.
- 55:43–1:00:56: The crew closes by encouraging hobbyists to slow down and find the part of Warhammer they genuinely enjoy, whether that’s playing, painting, collecting, reading lore, or sticking with one army for an entire edition. They also praise Necromunda’s downloadable rules for older characters as a better alternative to dumping models into Legends.
Engage with us!
Sign up now and become a FULL VETERAN for around $6 a month, enjoy the mind-blowing hobby features below, and of course, full access to The Long War’s Hall of Veterans, videos weeks early in an ad-free experience!
🔗 Related Reads From the Show:
Show Sponsors Links:
- Monument Hobbies has some of the best paints in the business
- Get your hobbies for less from Fabricators Forge
- Shop BHAWK Spirits Online
- Tequila Fortaleza 150 Years of Tradition
- Top Hobby Supplies For miniatures
Connect With Us
Each Week, You’ll Get The following:
- Access to the weekly pre-game “Afterhours” show and podcast. Performed live, this VOD is available only on Patreon or Twitch for subscribers.
- New “Before the Afterhours” 15-minute segments, where all the spicy stuff happens, are available only on Patreon.
- New Listener Q&A: Patreons can now submit questions for us to answer during the show.
- You’ll get Ad-Free access to the downloadable videos and the video player on Patreon.
Sign up now and become a FULL VETERAN and, of course, get full access to The Long War’s Hall of Veterans over on Patreon!
🔗 Support and Engagement Links:
- Become A Veteran of the Long War Today!
- Join our Discord
- Heretic Swag
- Essential Hobby Products & Tools List
- Long War 40k Doubles Tournaments
