It looks like the hobby world is getting attacked once again! The Guardian has taken their stance on GW models and has found them to be exactly like heroin.
The Guardian is probably a website that needs no introduction for most of you. Just like PETA in the past, today, they decided that they were hobby experts themselves and weighed in on Warhammer hobby. Long story short, according to them, Games Workshop models are apparently heroin.
All “plastic crack” jokes aside, let’s figure out what’s going on here.
The Guardian Compares GW Models to Heroin
Coming from The Guardian:
Warhammer was what middle-class nerds did instead of heroin. It was just as expensive, and probably no better for your social life.
Yes, GW has taken a lot of flak over the years about their models being too expensive. But just like any hobby, it’s as expensive as you want it to be. There are plenty of other much more expensive hobbies out there that no one seems to bat an eye at. However, we’re back here again talking about plastic minis.
A small squadron of space marines would cost about £20, a fortune for a 12-year-old; but a full two-player game would need almost 10 times that many units, as well as tanks, bikes and special figures
At the end of the day, GW is a business and they have a lot of employees. People underestimate how much time and manpower that goes into brainstorming, sculpting, and rules-writing that goes into minis. Especially at the rate that GW pumps them out. -Yes, some of their minis are pricey, but they last you a lifetime and some of the models could bring you hours of hobbying alone.
Hobbies ARE expensive, but just like with any of them you are getting the bang out of your buck.
As for the “addictive” side of the hobby that people mention, yes some people have an addictive nature about them. Anyone that’s been in the hobby longer than a month will probably tell you that they spend way too much on Warhammer. However, there are WAY worse things they could be spending their money on (you know like actual heroin)…
Despite giving in to the allure of new models sitting on the shelf at a hobby store, the hobby world is a great place to meet new people. Hobbyists from all different backgrounds can come to one spot having a common interest and have the potential to make life-long friends.
Games Workshop is A Hobby Titan
Games Workshop has stopped at nothing to bring the most amount of fans into their family. If you like space, there’s 40k, if you like magic and medieval themes, there’s AoS. If you like a real “fantasy Football” there’s Blood Bowl. The list can go on and on. People are associating GW’s success as doom for lesser game companies and stores.
But Games Workshop’s success may have a downside for small companies. Adrian Hunter, who runs the games shop Weyland’s Forge in Birmingham, says it is steamrollering competitors such as Warmachine and Malifaux. “While the success of all the Games Workshop lines is great – the company is a genuine joy to work with right now – other games … have seen a large drop-off, to the point we’re just trying to clear the stock now. And it’s not just our store, either.”
The reality is that GW has by far, the best-looking line of models out in the hobby industry. They are the most iconic and they are able to always have a steady supply of new minis on the way. Since they always keep things moving and never stale, people don’t want to ever leave.
King of War By Creature Caster
However that is not to say other miniature companies out there are not doing just fine sales-wise, and that Asmodee company the Guardian mentioned in their article, well they make this game called X-Wing, which until it’s reboot over the summer, outsold Warhammer 40k over the last two years.
Ultimately, Games Workshop is the heavy hitter in the hobby world. It brings in players from all different backgrounds and educations. Regardless, everybody has one thing in common. Over the years, Games Workshop has done a fantastic job at making the game accessible to almost anyone.
From an “easier” rules format of 8th edition to cheaper model deals in Start Collectings and Battleforces, you can get an army to full-strength without dipping too much into your savings -you just have to shop smart.
And as far as the author of the Guardian article goes, we’re sorry to hear about the destruction of your Necron army all those years ago. Had you tried to repair those broken models instead of giving up, you may have learned the true hobby joy that comes from miniatures (and then never written this semi-salty piece 17 years later).
Heck miniatures back then they were even mostly made of metal still my man!
Overall we think the Guardians piece is a bit light on research but heavy on all the things that they need to get people to read thier posts. We hope that they do a little more research on the hobby topics they do decide to tackle in the future. I mean anyone can put GW and Heroin in a title to get clicks, but it helps if you have a little more credibility on the topic you are writing about.
What do you think about Games Workshop’s model pricing? Have you ever been addicted to buying their minis? How much hobby time have you logged into on army? Let us know in the comments of our Facebook Hobby Group, and be sure you’re getting free hobby updates each morning as well!
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
Bio: Virginia restless, miniature painter & cat dad. He blames LEGOs for all this, as there was something about those little-colored blocks that started it all. Spikey Bits sprung from Rob staying motivated to hobby on his backlog of projects, while sharing his knowledge with others during the early blogging era.
LEGO maniac and scale model hobbyist in the 80s turned miniature wargamer and trading card player ever since. He’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition), but 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 minatures made of pewter and resin.
