Hey everyone! Adam, from TFG Radio, here to once again expound upon the hobby that is Warhammer 40,000.
SoCal Open, and Renegade Open, are the last of the really big tournaments as we come to the close of this ITC season. As people prepare for theses tournaments, and as we get closer to the Las Vegas Open, we start seeing a rush of activity to get armies ready. Many people get their creative juices flowing and try to build their own version of some of Games Workshop’s models. It’s an aspect of the hobby that many people enjoy, and excel at. It can really make an army pop from the crowd and can often be the difference between Best Army and second. Sometimes, however, it is probably best just to buy the actual, instead of trying to make your own*.
I am not saying that proxies, or heavy conversions, are bad or should not be made. The problem arises when someone, who most likely can’t afford the model they want to use, tries to find a cheaper alternative. Often times these people find some cheap toy in a discount store, put some 40K bits on it and try to pass it off as the model they were made to represent. The model actually can take someone out of the immersion in the game due the way the model looks compared to the rest of the army. Other times it just looks cheap and poorly built. This can also have a negative play experience for your opponent and could result in people unwilling to play with you. if they know you are using that model. Another side effect is that the model being used is a different size than the actual model. This then becomes an issue of “modelling for advantage”, whether intended or not. We have had to turn many proxies away due to this issue. If you ever see me, ask me about the Eldar “Void Shield Generator” someone tried to use, and it’s unique shape.
I understand that not everyone can afford Games Workshop or Forgeworld models. I also understand that some people may not like the current models for some units (obliterators). I also get how there are some people that just like to build their own stuff from scratch, although sometimes I wonder with the time and effort that they spent doing that they could have just bought the actual model. It may also sound elitist of me to make such a bold suggestion as to buy the actual model. The truth is that there are many ways to get those models for less than retail. Examples would include:
- Trading or buying from friends or club mates (lets be honest, not all our club mates are our friends)
- Ebay (if you really have to)
- Second hand shops (If I only knew of one)
- Retailers that offer discounts
- Trading in models to get store credit
These are just a few ways to get the models that you want. I certainly have used a few of those ideas. If you still want to custom build your stuff, that’s fine, be sure to talk to people, both in person and online, to get advice on getting better. If you are in a group of scratch builders, be honest in your critique of someone else’s work, and give pointers on making it better. As a final note, just because I may take issue with your custom model, doesn’t mean I won’t play a game with you. So keep on building** and aim to make them better.
That’s all for this week, I hope you enjoyed the read. Let me know your thoughts, and if you have seen any cool looking custom models, in the comments section. Don’t forget to visit our Facebook, Twitch, and Patreon pages to stay up to date on what we’re up to and when episodes drop!
And remember, Frontline Gaming sells gaming products at a discount, every day in their webcart!
*Except for Ork players
**Except for you, Danny