Games Workshop’s Golden Demon competition is back in 2024, with a new location and rules that actually don’t prohibit 3d printing or AI art.
Golden Demon is basically the Big Kahuna of miniature wargaming painting competitions, and if you want to really show off what you can do, this is the place! Unfortunately, the event has been marred by the fact that a two-time Slayer Sword winner used AI in his most recent Golden Demon entry, and Alexandre Dos Santos (below) allegedly used a 3d print for the reflection part of his entry. Let’s go over the rules to see if this is even a problem.
GW Announces Golden Demon 2024 Locations, Categories & Rules
This year, there are two competitions, one in North America at Adepticon and one in Europe. There will be 16 total categories this year (14 regulars alongside young blood and open). Here are the latest rules for the 2024 Golden Demon competition, as posted by Games Workshop.
Well, let’s start with possibly the most important part: where they are taking place and when!
The 2024 Golden Demon painting competition held at this year’s Adepticon raised the bar even more with hundreds of amazing entries. However, in the end, there could only be one winner for each of the 16 categories, as well as one to take home the legendary Slayer Sword.
This year’s selection of winners looks phenomenal, and you can read more about it in our winners showcase article here.
Then, in Europe, the Golden Demon will be at SPIEL Essen from October 3-6, 2024. The event will showcase an expanded range of categories and will be held at the Messe Essen Convention Centre in Germany.
2024 Categories
In this year’s Golden Demon competition, several changes were made to the categories, allowing for more diverse entries.
- Warhammer: Horus Heresy: Now, a dedicated category recognizes the unique lore of this setting.
- Warhammer 40k Monster and Vehicle: There used to be two categories for Monster and Vehicle models, but they have now been combined into a single category.
- Diorama & Duel: This category has been merged into a single category, focusing on the art of storytelling through the use of miniatures.
- Necromunda: This skirmish game returns with its own category for gangers and terrain alike.
- Blood Bowl: The popular fantasy football game has returned, featuring unique teams and coaches.
- Epic Scale: Previously named “Small Scale,” this category now encompasses massive models and epic battles.
- Warhammer Underworlds: In addition to the other categories, there is a dedicated one that celebrates the fascinating warbands and characters from Underworlds.
There are actually some big changes this time around, with some categories getting lumped together, additions to Warhammer 40k and AoS, and a bunch of the new games included! If you have some awesome Old World models, you should dust them off (or paint them up) and bring them to the competition!
Now, let’s get into the rules and where some controversy came in.
Golden Demon Painting Competition Rules
There are some changes this year, so if you want to read all the new rules, you can download all of them here! However, there are no mentions of AI, and the open category is meant to be just that, open. Plus, if you look at GW’s policy on 3D printing, there is nothing really against it, but there are restrictions.
Accusations About Two-Time Slayer Sword Winner Using AI
However, the big news so far this year has been accusations against Neil Hollis that he used AI art as the backdrop of his gold-winning entry. So, let’s first break down the AI art part. It’s easy, as there is nothing in the rules about using AI art in the background; that’s all there really is to say. The judges chose this as the best miniature, and it didn’t break any rules. We know the judges know more about painting and modeling than we do, so we won’t question what they think is the best. Now, let’s move on to the 3D-printed part, which is a little murky.
Here is a quick outline from GW about using 3D parts in tournaments and open categories:
As long as all the parts used in your conversions are produced by Games Workshop or made from scratch and fit in with our background and universes – let your creativity run wild!
This means that if you create your 3D-printed parts, you are not only allowed to use them, but it almost seems like GW encourages it. As long as the base is from GW, you are allowed to make all your own parts. They just don’t want you using parts from third-party companies; as long as you make your own bits, they don’t care. Many times, people think scratch-built means using green stuff and bit bashing.
However, it also extends to 3D printing (at least as currently written). As long as you create the files yourself, there are no rules against it. Obviously, if you just download the files, you are not supposed to use them, but if you make them, it’s totally fair game. GW has gone even further with the policy this year.
Here, GW says you can design and print all of your own bits. They can also ask you to prove where they are from and possibly even remove them if there is any doubt. However, they don’t mention anything about models’ bases here, which has been a big issue in the past. So, if you ask us, there is no foul play here, and they went by the rules GW themselves have laid out.
Click Here For All the Adepticon 2023 Golden Demon Miniatures!
Have you made it to AdeptiCon before? What event was your favorite?
About the Author: Travis Pasch
Travis Pasch
Job Title: Head Writer & Editor
Socials: @paschbass
About Travis Pasch: Travis has been a Warhammer 40k hobbyist since the 1990s, playing the game since Third Edition. Through extensive traveling, he’s seen a lot of the miniatures hobby from across the world, giving him a unique perspective on the latest gaming topics and trends.
Travis’s brother even owns a commission painting studio, where he’s picked up a lot of good advice and techniques for painting Warhammer and tabletop miniatures over the years, as well. Travis joined the Spikey Bits team in 2019 and has been the lead writer since 2020.
Currently, he’s working on converting all his 40k Adeptus Mechanicus models and becoming a true tech enjoyer, complete with both sad and happy robot noises!
