Is 40k competitive play thriving or falling flat? We break down the trends, the drama, and what’s really happening on the tournament scene.
Another Long War Two-Fer is HERE: Keep those hobby muscles strong with this week’s webcast and the latest exciting podcast of table-top wargaming awesomeness mostly centered around Warhammer 40k.
Episode 484
Show Summary:
This week, the crew discusses the future of tabletop wargames. Here are the key takeaways, section by section:
- (00:01–02:20) Lighthearted opening banter between Rob Baer and Kenny Boucher about their decade-long run, plus nostalgic talk about Garbage Pail Kids, Mad Balls, and a current obsession with Sanrio × Ninja Turtles Happy Meal toys.
- (03:14–04:25) Rob describes a smooth in-store Games Workshop experience to get the limited “Centos” miniature, noting its $45 retail and ~$100 eBay resale.
- (07:26–08:52) Discussion of Games Workshop’s $10.2 million final court judgment against 161 sellers, including cease-and-desist orders and platform shutdown powers.
- (08:52–10:50) Concerns over Age of Sigmar’s decline, missing Spearhead product listings, and evidence of poor internal coordination between GW departments.
- (10:50–12:34) Speculation that disorganization and limited releases push players toward 3D printing; GW’s rising licensing status is compared to being “the prettiest girl at the prom.”
- (12:57–15:14) Hobby news: Goblin Hobby Stampers restock, War Scenery Kickstarter for Tau-style terrain, cheap Kill Team starter from Barnes & Noble, and Joy Toy releases (Perurabo, Cipher, Sanguinary Guard).
- (15:39–19:22) Meta talk: Knights remain gatekeepers; praise for balance cycles where overpowered units are later nerfed to keep the game dynamic.
- (23:43–30:21) Lone Star Open scandal: a player admits to fielding an unlisted Hellbrute in all six rounds, apologizes, and accepts scrutiny from the community.
- (31:18–37:09) Frontline Gaming drops Carmona to last place, awards zero ITC points, issues a red card, and announces a one-year voluntary break; hosts question the optics and accountability.
- (37:09–59:03) Community backlash on Facebook and Reddit calls for stricter enforcement; hosts argue for consistent application of floor rules, “umpire-style” judges, and a stronger stance on integrity as competitive 40k grows.
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