Scaling Back Projects: Advice thread

[Scaryscarymushroom]

***NOTE*** price is inherently an issue here, but PLEASE keep all price-related posts on the GW pricing feedback thread. Thanks.
GW's price hike has really made me think hard about how much I care for their products. I can't be the only one in this situation, so I'd like to dedicate this thread to anyone who wants advice on what to do next. If you're confused and you want some help with expanding your existing model collection (without GW blatantly taking advantage of you), then feel free to jack this thread.

I have been working on an Inquisition army (on and off) for 7-8 years now. I finally decided to get a rhino for my adeptus arbites/inquisitorial henchmen and I put some forge world inquisitor doors on it. It's a chaos rhino covered in gargoyles, but without any of the really warped bits on it. It looks awesome, and strangely fitting for the inquisition. Tons of chains, skulls, spiky bits, and a really archaic look.

I have inquisitor land raider doors. For the past 8-10 months, I have been tossing around the idea of getting a chaos land raider to use the doors on. At $66 a piece it's a difficult purchase to justify. So I never did it. With the price going up next Monday, it feels like a 'now or never' scenario. A 12.5% price hike is simply too high for me to be interested. I'd probably also get a crusader/redeemer upgrade sprue, and some magnets. (Ironically bringing the total cost up. But, if I'm getting a $66 tank, I'll be damned sure to get my money's worth.)

If I didn't get a land raider for my inquisitor, I'd kick myself for it later. It's a part of a collection that I've always imagined myself having. On the other hand, it's EXTREMELY unlikely that I'll use it in more than 1 or 2 games. For me, the game of 40k is dying; and it will be replaced with other games- which I've already decided will be worth the money I would have otherwise spent on GW products.

Should I buy the Land Raider this week? What do you think?

[Ithaka]

If you want to stop buying Games Workshop, stop. Go cold turkey. If you want to finish an army then do so, but you walk a fine line between quitting and getting sucked back in. It comes down to whether you believe sixty something dollars is worth it for what will presumably end up, at most, a display piece, and ultimatly, noone can make that descision on your behalf.

As for advice for people on what to do next; go forth and explore all the other games out there and find one you like. However, don't play something purely because it's popular, and don't look down upon people who still play 40k.

[McBoner]

I get the impression that these nonsensical annual price rises are GW's version of a "sale" to generate a quick and easy cash injection.

Think about it, how many people are going to rush out in the next week to pick up all the items they need before the prices go up? Essentially, these rises have the same effect as a sale would have, without actually having to discount anything.

Don't fall for the scam. Just keep an eye out on eBay.

[Iron Puritan]

Considering that every announcement GW makes about price increases triggers this reaction amongst some members of the community, the practice most likely does result in a moderate sales spike that required no outlay of effort on GW's part. It would not surprise me in the least if the sales bump is roughly analogous to the extra number of units they would move by conducting a sale.

I second the recommendation of using the secondary market to acquire a suitable Land Raider. Also consider that if Chaos gets a new Land Raider variant and accompanying model to go with the anticipated codex, you might prefer working with it or taking advantage of a deal when someone offloads an old one in favour of a new one.

[Okuto]

I'd decide based on whether or now you'd actually use it.....if you don't see it having a good term life cycle then don't buy it.....

I'm also having this problem and combing through what I need and don't need.....

If it were me though I'd not buy it....cause then you'll end up buying something else and want to expand......

[Scaryscarymushroom]

With last year's price hikes, several projects that I wanted to start got scrapped before they even began.

With this year's price hikes, I'm scrapping projects that are currently on my painting desk. I had plans to be able to field virtually any kind of inquisition/Sister of Battle army I could want in 2000 points using the witch hunters codex. Now? I could care less. The only thing I think I might want is the Land Raider. I'll paint what's left of it, but I'm done expanding now. If I decide to expand on my army in the future, I'll do it without GW's model kits.

[Mastodon]

The more people turn to the secondary market, the higher the price of that market will become. It wont always be so cheap.

Im having a rethink of my 'buy it just to say i've got it, then work on it at some indeterminate point in the future' style of purchasing. I'm sitting on quite a lot of money if I turned to ebay.

[spaint2k]

I probably shouldn't be giving you advice, since I have the equivalent of at least three full armies still in kit form, and a fourth assembled but only part painted.

Buy the land raider if you'll use it in your army and get to play with it more than once in the next year or so. Do it now and get it out of the way but recognize that you're not getting anything else in the future. Hopefully, the land raider will add enough variety to your force to make this true.

Magnetizing a land raider, by the way, is no minor task. There are 52 locations on my Land Raider which are magnetized in order to allow me to swap out any and all weapons - that's with the doors glued on and the front ramp glued shut.

[eldargal]

Buy from one of the discount retailers before prices go up, 20-30% of current RRP.

[Sureshot05]

Eldargal has the best advice, though you have to be sure that the LR will give you closure. If you feel it is one more thing that isn't so vital then I wouldn't bother. I would say it sounds like the only reason you are getting the LR is because you have the doors. This in turn suggests that unless you have a particular image of what you want to achieve, I would consider giving it a miss.

Though I would point out the nice warpath corporation miniatures for henchmen/guardsmen...

[6mmhero]

If your thinking of it, prob best to get it rather than hang on and end up buying it in a few months.

To be honest I don't start a new project or army these days on a whim, I tend to have a think about how much I like the figures and want to paint them and how much I would game with them. Price is a factor but at the end of the day if I like the figure enough then I will get it.

[Gargantuan]

My Space Wolves project has been cancelled and I'm gonna use the miniatures I've bought as Red Corsair allies for my Death Guard. Dunno What I'm gonna do with my orks, Maybe convert them into Gorkamorka miniatures and give some of them to my brother and some to my brother's wife so I can get some Gorkamorka opponents.

[jack da greenskin]

I'm tempted to sell my first fully painted army, my ork dread mob, choc full of conversion.

Why? I'm not that emotionally attached to them, as I hardly use them, and I hate 40k. I could get a tonne of money from selling them, and I could use that money to buy more malifaux, mantic and PP :L

[Reinholt]

Don't go with half measures. Here is what I would do:

1 - Buy models only secondhand. Ebay, trades with friends, etc. If you are going to cut yourself off, do so properly. The bottom line is that you can actually find a shocking amount of things at a discount on ebay, and the patience and discipline that comes from finding good stuff on there also makes you think more about the money you lay out and the hobby as a cost center. It will change how you think about buying things in stores as well ("I could get this now, but if I wait a month, it will crop up on ebay and I can get it there much cheaper").

2 - The only things I still buy from GW are paints and some of their other supplies. I really do like the new line of GW paints and feel they offer a good value.

Forcing yourself to wait to find things on ebay also keeps the costs under control.

[Scaryscarymushroom]

Thanks all.

I placed the order with mixed feelings. Even at a discount of 20%, I feel slightly resentful- like I was coerced into buying through some sort of slimy business tactic. But I'm also feeling like it will bring me a sense of closure.

[Iron Puritan]

It sounds like something you have wanted to do for a while, so take your time with the project and get the most out of the experience. If you haven't already, take a look at some of the resources out there for scale modelling AFVs. Adapting techniques like those used by people such as Mig Jimenez (which incidentally are along the lines of what the Forge World guys do) to do up a Land Raider would be a great way make it an army centrepiece.

[eron12]

The more people turn to the secondary market, the higher the price of that market will become. It wont always be so cheap.

Im having a rethink of my 'buy it just to say i've got it, then work on it at some indeterminate point in the future' style of purchasing. I'm sitting on quite a lot of money if I turned to ebay.

While it may increase the secondary market, by its very nature is self regulating. Prices will only fluctuate within the range acceptable to purchasers.

As to the OP, I would say don't buy it, that just sends GW the message that what they are doing is working. Watch ebay and other online places and sooner or later one will come by at a price you like.

[Tresidentevil]

If you care that much buy it. Sure have a look on Ebay first. Price tends to be quite low on the list of factors that go through my head when I buy Warhammer but that's just me. For a signature piece like a Land Raider I'd just pay the money.

[Morkash]

I cut down my projects in a pretty simple way: 2 pledges.

The first pledge is that I won't buy anything miniature-related after the Savage Warboss until my Ogre army is fully painted. Which equals to a Tyrant, a SM, 2 unassembled Ogres, 6 Maneaters, 20 Gnobs and a Firebelly.

When this is done (judging from my painting speed it will keep me busy this year) I will order once from Wayland or Maelstrom if there is anything interesting to get. Then the second pledge kicks in - at least assembling the stuff lying around and painting one or more O&G regiments...maybe with my O&G as entry for the ToFP 2012/2013.

Now this is not only because I want to be nasty to GW or even myself, but rather a combination of lacking budget (my living costs increased a bit...again...and no income this summer either!) and overflow of stuff. I could pledge to fully paint my O&G army, but I want to keep this realistic and actually achievable. (One does not simply paint a 8000 pts. army)

[Scribe of Khorne]

Don't go with half measures. Here is what I would do:

1 - Buy models only secondhand. Ebay, trades with friends, etc. If you are going to cut yourself off, do so properly. The bottom line is that you can actually find a shocking amount of things at a discount on ebay, and the patience and discipline that comes from finding good stuff on there also makes you think more about the money you lay out and the hobby as a cost center. It will change how you think about buying things in stores as well ("I could get this now, but if I wait a month, it will crop up on ebay and I can get it there much cheaper").

2 - The only things I still buy from GW are paints and some of their other supplies. I really do like the new line of GW paints and feel they offer a good value.

Forcing yourself to wait to find things on ebay also keeps the costs under control.

Yep good points.

This upcoming price jump has just reinforced that I do not have the funding available to do all the projects or armies I want. So I have been in the process of selling everything, with the intent of only having one 40K, one fantasy, and then small crews for other systems (Malifaux/Infinity). I will no longer tempt myself by getting a model here, or unit there, of other factions for 40K because its simply not possible to expand those into viable forces when you have land raiders after tax here hitting almost $100.

A good way to stop yourself is to also add up what the value is for the models you do have. I was...shocked at how much DE I have for example. :]