Themed Imperial Guard Plastics

[agurus1]

All of us Imperial Guard lovers have a favorite fluff regiment, from the Obviously more favored (by GW) Cadians and Catachans, to the Tallarn, Death Corps, Vostroyans, Mordians, ect... ect... not to mention desire to create our own regiments based on fluff, artwork, history ect...

In short does anyone think that GamesWorkshop might in the future release an IG plastic set with interchangable uniforms ect. so that you could create your own regiment (ie, I am thinking more great coat torsos, different helmet styles, ect...)

[Korraz]

When they the plastic Thunderhawk.
Unless they do unique rules for one of the specials. Then, maybe.

[Inquisitor Kallus]

Ive always wanted something like that. It would be very cool. They could also add in some simple rules for customisation, such as models that wear less armour can scout/re-roll reserves, camo cloaks, or some other cool fluff related stuff.

I think out of all the armys the Imperial Guard have the biggest divergence in appearance potentially. They could also do a chaos guard version, Very cool, and a great excuse for a campaign in stores etc...

[Eetion]

I think Mordians would sell well.
Could even just have a few alternate heads in as well and they could be a Praetorians also. To regiments for 1 sprue set.

[Stormfather]

I am a longtime guard player and enthusiast, and as much as I'd love to get my hands on some plastic Tallarn, Terrax, or Mordians, I believe that other parts of the 40k range are in FAR greater need than the Imperial Guard is currently. Although I'd be first in line to throw down for some plastic Vallhallans or Vostroyans or Savlars, I'd rather see some plastic love thrown towards the Tyranids, who still have quite a few holes in their model range, the Sisters of Battle, who are all metal, the Necrons, who still have a lot of those ungodly plastic/metal hybrid kits and rely on metal Immortals, who are $14 EACH, or the Eldar, who still rely on a lot of metal to field their aspect warriors and still, AFAIK, have some ungainly plastic/metal hybrid vehicles.

Once the other armies are brought up to the same standard that the Guard range is now at, I'd love to see some variation on guard armies. Some plastic Steel Legionnaires, to go along with all the Chimera useage?

[Col. Tartleton]

Personally I'd rather have the next generation of plastic Cadians and Catachans.

Oh and Forgeworld should return to Tallarn and do it properly before they do anything else. FW Tallarn are probably my favorite Range. Unfortunately they're just some random models... good thinking FW. I know they're big on Armored Warfare, but they should have some models.

[agurus1]

Its just that after reading all of the Guant's Ghosts novels where you are exposed to so many different types of regiments from different backgrounds ect... and even in the "Legion" Horus Heresy novel where the Imperial army's differences were well explained, I think that the "all Cadian/Catachan males or bust" kinda mentality GamesWorkshop seems to have is limiting. Even introducing some feminine plastics into the current range would greatly enhance in reality, that anyone can be conscripted.

[Inquisitor Kallus]

I am a longtime guard player and enthusiast, and as much as I'd love to get my hands on some plastic Tallarn, Terrax, or Mordians, I believe that other parts of the 40k range are in FAR greater need than the Imperial Guard is currently. Although I'd be first in line to throw down for some plastic Vallhallans or Vostroyans or Savlars, I'd rather see some plastic love thrown towards the Tyranids, who still have quite a few holes in their model range, the Sisters of Battle, who are all metal, the Necrons, who still have a lot of those ungodly plastic/metal hybrid kits and rely on metal Immortals, who are $14 EACH, or the Eldar, who still rely on a lot of metal to field their aspect warriors and still, AFAIK, have some ungainly plastic/metal hybrid vehicles.

Once the other armies are brought up to the same standard that the Guard range is now at, I'd love to see some variation on guard armies. Some plastic Steel Legionnaires, to go along with all the Chimera useage?

But the OP isn't talking about other armys, he is talking about Imperial Guard plastics, and what he would like to see sometime in the future.

Personally I'd rather have the next generation of plastic Cadians and Catachans.

Oh and Forgeworld should return to Tallarn and do it properly before they do anything else. FW Tallarn are probably my favorite Range. Unfortunately they're just some random models... good thinking FW. I know they're big on Armored Warfare, but they should have some models.

FW doing any more Tallarn is highly unlikely at the moment, especially as they could be working on AM instead.

[Baneboss]

I'd rather see some plastic love thrown towards the Tyranids, who still have quite a few holes in their model range...

You believe such a big machine as is Games Workshop wont be able to divert their resources into releasing a dozen kits per month (or many more actually)? Such a company has the potential to do something more than just focus on releasing several kits per codex and then several more in the 2nd wave. They just dont do it because in their more hallowed thinking it seems not that economical.

[baphomael]

It wouldnt really be that feasible to do any of the established regiments as an interchangeable plastic set - essentially, you'd end up having to put enough parts into one box to outfit multiple squads of different types. Problem is, most of the established regiments have uniforms of very different styles.

They could, potentially, use a generic uniform style (probably Cadian, since Cadian seems to be the default guard uniform these days), with perhaps alternate heads and accessories to personalise them. But they wouldnt be radically different uniform styles.

[Theocracity]

You believe such a big machine as is Games Workshop wont be able to divert their resources into releasing a dozen kits per month (or many more actually)? Such a company has the potential to do something more than just focus on releasing several kits per codex and then several more in the 2nd wave. They just dont do it because in their more hallowed thinking it seems not that economical.

I'm not sure you realize how much plastic moulds cost.

[Inquisitor Kallus]

It wouldnt really be that feasible to do any of the established regiments as an interchangeable plastic set - essentially, you'd end up having to put enough parts into one box to outfit multiple squads of different types. Problem is, most of the established regiments have uniforms of very different styles.

They could, potentially, use a generic uniform style (probably Cadian, since Cadian seems to be the default guard uniform these days), with perhaps alternate heads and accessories to personalise them. But they wouldnt be radically different uniform styles.

If you want to see how much variety can be put on sprues just take a look at the Space Wolves.

You could have a set of legs (10) and a number of different torsos (15-20) , a number of different heads(15-20) , and a set of arms with guns that have the same style as the leg materials. Add to this extras such as plates for chests/knees/elbows/shoulders, masks, cloaks and a number of other accessories such as grenades, mines, and other equipment and you could have a huge amount of variety. it does not necessarily have to be just the 'big name' Guard regiments either.

Make a similar one for Chaos and BAM! Awesome release.

[Stormfather]

Let me clarify my earlier post, I don't think I was clear on what I was thinking:

The OP asked if we thought we'd see this, and I said regrettably no, because they're working on other things, and other ranges need more attention at the moment.

I strongly believe that GW lacks the capacity to release dozens of plastic kits per month. Doubling the volume and or variety of their production would double their costs without doubling their revenue- most people who buy GW do not have an unlimited games budget. No matter how many cool kits come out in one month, I only have the time and money to purchase, paint and assemble a specific amount, and won't buy (too much) more than that. I believe we have seen an increase in the scope, variety and volume of new material offered, but this growth has been and will continue to be slow because, as far as I can tell, GW is interested in sustainable growth. I would be very, very shocked if GW did something radical, like released 21 plastic kits in one month, or launched two simultaneous codexes.




That being said, an interchangeable uniforms kit would be hard to do right, but not necessarily impossible. Some regiments have enough similarity that it might be conceivable- for example, a single greatcoat trooper could be the basis for a few different regiments with sufficiently different bitz options- but I doubt we'll see anything like this in the foreseeable future. I think this would be a pretty ambitious goal (but as Kallus points out with the SW, it wouldn't be 100% unprecedented), and if it were to happen, I'd wager a guess it would happen as a (hypothetical) wave 1 release for the (hypothetical) 6th edition Imperial Guard codex, which would included something along the lines of 4e's Regimental Doctrines to promote people to shelve their Cadians and buy some new Build-A-Regiment boxes. I'd also expect to see some new regiments in there, with conveniently similar chestpieces or legs and more variation in the heads or weapons or whatnot, to facilitate efficiency in the Build-A-Regiment box. Personally, I'd fill my apartment floor to ceiling with them, if they were well done, but once again, I don't expect it to happen, at least in the foreseeable future.

Of course, some of the plastics we game with today were impossible/unfeasible by 2000's standards, so who knows what's going to be possible/feasible in the next few years? I know that there have been revolutionary advancements in 3d dental printing in the last decade or so; they're now becoming economical enough that they can be an option for individual practitioners ($60k-$150k or so), something people wouldn't have dreamed of 10 years ago. Surely GW's manufacturing power will continue to evolve, and ultimately open doors no new options and methods.

Make a similar one for Chaos and BAM! Awesome release.

I'd buy a chaos upgrade sprue or a LatD pack, sight unseen.

[creeping-deth87]

Interchangeable uniforms would be awesome and a great way to create your own fluff for your own regiment. I'd be on board 100%.

[Baneboss]

I'm not sure you realize how much plastic moulds cost.

While i dont believe you are the expert of their financies.

I strongly believe that GW lacks the capacity to release dozens of plastic kits per month. Doubling the volume and or variety of their production would double their costs without doubling their revenue- most people who buy GW do not have an unlimited games budget.

Thats true economical reasons but I just wont believe they wouldnt be able to release lots of plastics if they just wanted to (and it was profitable in the long run).

[carldooley]

Thats true economical reasons but I just wont believe they wouldnt be able to release lots of plastics if they just wanted to (and it was profitable in the long run).

GW won't release a dozen kits a month for the same reason that they shut down their bitz stores - people will buy the 'hot items' and little else - resulting in massive overstocks of unpopular kits.

Personally, I didn't mind them doing that - I remember building a competitive nid army with a single broodlord and dozens of genestealers (on the cheap).

[Theocracity]

While i dont believe you are the expert of their financies.

A quick Google search found the following Warseer quote from Harry, a trusted source on GW production:

I don't think they have done many for the 20,000. I think they start at around 50,000. They average at around 80,000. 100,000 is not uncommon and some have been over 100,000. I remember one figure I heard of 130,000. I have no idea if this is the most expensive one to date or not. (it is possible there may be an element of 'the fishermans tale' involved in this.

This is the new technology. These are the steel moulds for the 13 new high pressure computer contrlled plastics machines. They are made to withstand thousands if tons of pressure per square inch. (not sure if they still work in inches!).

It is my understanding that these figure does not include the computer sculpting process. But is form that point onwards.

It is my understanding that it is not the cost of the mould or even cutting the mould that is the big cost but the highly skilled and lengthy polishing process which follows this that takes the time and money.

Regardless of what I know of their finances, I don't think that many companies in a niche market such as miniature modeling are going to be willing to make an outlay of close to a million dollars per month for a dozen plastic model kits that might not make their cost back. They may go bankrupt after a bad month or two. I also second everyone's arguments about saturating the market - people are only going to pay so much to buy, build and paint new stuff every month.

While it would be nice, it's not economically feasible for them to do that much.

[laudarkul]

In short does anyone think that GamesWorkshop might in the future release an IG plastic set with interchangeable uniforms ect. so that you could create your own regiment (ie, I am thinking more great coat torsos, different helmet styles, ect...)

This is a more viable economic decision...
But I prefer to buy slowly (in a couple of years) boxes of Steel Legions and now Valhallans (metals) in order to supplement my Cadian style force.
I would need that set NOW in order to make 4 veterans squad but I think that some PigIron heads will be more available for the moment.

[Major_Manny]

Like Tartelton said earlier, if FW finished off their Tallarn range then im sure they would fly off the shelves. I love the unique shape of the weapons very fluffy.

if they got a couple of squads done for them then they would sell silly amounts of Chimeras too, because everyone knows thats how the Tallarns roll!!

[AlexHolker]

I'd like to see more IG regiments - it's more likely to be something I'd actually want to buy than a sixth plastic SM Dreadnought kit or the latest idea to congeal inside Ward's skull. I'm pretty sure you'd only need three sprues for an entire regiment: one for the IG squad, one for the command squad and one for the heavy weapons team.