It seems like Games Workshop has handled the release of Age of Sigmar much like the fickle Fateweaver would, with two heads trying to act together- each with drastically different results. Take a look at this… First off remember all the early ‘news’ for the Age of Sigmar? Games Workshop basically started discontinuing and removing products from retail stores and their website, all with the eerie silence that would make the Phoenix King’s bodyguards jealous. That drove player batty right from the get go, as forums and blogs we’re abuzz with rants and raves mostly against what was going on.
Such statements that GW was ‘killing off Fantasy” could be heard wherever you looked… Not the best of ways to start out a product launch.
Then gradually about a mere two weeks out from the Advanced Order date, images of the new models and terrain started surfacing and everyone seemed to do a 180° back to being excited and hopeful for the new Age of Sigmar game again. Let’s face it those models looked amazing, and yes our inner Space Marines were quite pleased. But as quick as the favor for AoS was gained, it seemed to slip away once again with the discovery that there were no points in the game when the rules were leaked about a week out from launch.
People literally burned their armies they were so mad. Yet for all that Chaos, when the models finally hit the shelves, they seem to have become well received. In stores where demos were ran, and management was positive about the new game system, copies seemingly sold out overnight (including White Dwarf #75 with the FREE Sigmarine model).
Now the next chapter of the Age of Sigmar has yet to be written, and it remains to be seen how players (both Fantasy and 40k alike) will respond to weeks of repeated AoS releases. As for right now, Fateweaver – er Games Workshop seems to have the Age of Sigmar situation under control. There is however, nothing as constant as change…
How would you have handled the launch if YOU were in charge?
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Episode 10 – Top 5 Fixes For 40k & ATC Prep (The Long War)
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.
