Games Workshop Gets a New Splash of Paint!
March 26, 2012 by dracs
Games Workshop have announced the release of a new paint range for you to paint your minis any colour you desire (though no pink orcs please).
This extensive new range will be replacing the current range of Citadel Paints and may provide you with a lot of new options for your miniatures.
Accompanying the new paint range is a new edition of How to Paint Citadel Miniatures.
As you can see this new edition is published in ring binder format, a practical change as it allows you to easily prop it up at the pages you need, rather than trying to weigh the pages down with a mug of tea.
The book also comes with a 90 minute DVD to take you through all the various tips and techniques.
All in all you are definitely getting a lot of bang for your buck ( I cannot believe I just used that phrase).
One thing is for certain, we will have to get ourselves some of these new paints, tie Romain up in front of his painting table again and get him to tell you guys how these hold up. Have fun Romain.
Do you guys think these new paints will make much of a difference? Will you pick up a copy of How to Paint Citadel Miniatures? Personally I am tempted, my painting could use all the help it can get.
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While the system they are introducing does seem quite well thought out in theory, it remains to be seen how useful it really is. For instance, specific glazes and drybrush paints? Any painter worth a damn seldom drybrush and just about all have their paints so diluted they often are only one step away from a glaze anyway. Also they make a huge noise about the size of the range. Really? Over 140 paints? Vallejo has over 220 paints in their most basic range (not counting everything else they make), P3 has about 80 and even Army Painter’s Warpaint series has some 35 paints which is huge considering it has only been around a couple of months.
Also, I have to wonder, why oh why, are they renaming all of the paints they had previously? The only reason I can think of is that they have a grudge against Vallejo for making the Game Color range.
Totally agree.
So easy to make one’s own mediums. A bottle of W&N Flow Medium and Matt Medium lasts ages
It was unnecessary to change the name of the existing colours
Some of the new names make even less sense than the old ones.
They renamed them becasue they are not the same color anymore.
“Be aware that as the new paint range comprises brand-new formulations we can suggest close, but not exact comparisons.” -from the conversion chart page.
True in a sense that they probably are new formulas. False in the sense that many colors are the same no matter what the formula. For instance, how many varieties can you make of black? Old or new formula, chaos black should be no different than abaddon black in actual color, though other things might have changed, like the consistency.
That’s not what I read last week
GW said that they were providing the old names on the chart so if you ran out during a big painting project you would know what colour to get.without any probloms.
That suggests that the colours are identical.
To the anonymous antagonist I quote from the colour conversion chart:
“This colour chart allows you to get a good match between colours from our old and new paint range-ESPECIALLY USEFUL IF YOU’RE MID PROJECT AND NEED TO RE-STOCK YOUR PAINT SUPPLY.”
That suggests that there is no difference between paints whereas as the go on to state.
…we can suggest close but not exact comparisons.”
So there IS a difference. Even if small there is a potential difference in hues it still ain’t the same.
Could I ask you, why “any painter worth a damn seldom drybrushes” ? I must say I’ve moved away from drybrushing as I moved for a more “cartoony” affect, but drybrushing has always produced outstanding, realistic, results for me, on models – skin, leather, most surfaces.
Is drybrushing frowned upon etc?
Drybrushing is certainly not frowned upon, but the more you paint, the more skill you gain and the more confident you get, the less you tend to drybrush. Hence I fail to see much of need for specialised drybrush paints.
Well, I guess my own experience has demonstrated your point lol but even so, a look at those new drybrush paints seem to cover the usual colours you might expect (apart from purple ?!) so perhaps they are convenient for less experienced painters (or painters in a hurry to get that unit painted for Saturday) – and perhaps they are specially formulated for drybrushing?
I assume they will be a bit thicker
Personally wouldn’t buy a set of colours for drybrushing though, seems a pointless exercise in giving away cash for needless paints.
I agree about drybrushing though. It is another technique. If used well it is effective. But the same could be said for any technique.
Drybrushing can end up like sugar frosting if done badly. (Ask me how I know! lol)
I suspect that to be the case. When new painters discover drybrushing they often use it all the time like it’s the second coming of the lord (Me and my brother sure did, some 15 to 20 years ago). For anyone painting in that manner, I have to admit that specialised drybrush paints are probably quite nice.
Dry brushing is handy for the speedy painting of large numbers of rank and file troops… the skilled painting can then be used for the Leaders and Characters etc. There is a place for all techniques I think.
Also, I understand that the Drybrush paints are to be very thick, like a gel almost.
Since i began to paint I take note of what I used on a particular mini or army, always used a small color palete and kept track of techniques used in vehicles, etc.
Not a easy task, maybe with this new expensive and large range I could do a better job, maybe not.
Despite of having many different kinds of greens, reds, blues, doesn´t change the fact that I ( and many others ) mix their paints to get an extra color or a twist on the existing one.
I am more of a painter than a gamer so my hobby is focussed on mixing, painting, and finding recipes and techniques. The book might be useful if the techniques and the texts are focused on general ideas and hints, but i doubt that.
I will wait until I can check on the contents and see what looks like. 🙂
The idea of a bindef format is a plus.
I notice that the tops are coloured.
This may not seem a big deal but well done GW
it is a pain to have to paint the tops myself cos I am a lazy tight git who hates wasting paint.
Suspect the book will be useful if you want to paint in the GW house style which may well be the case for a lot of bods, but personally am not fond of the ‘Eavy Metal style. They are good painters of course but it ain’t my cuppa.
Yeah, I guess the ‘Eavy Metal style is more concerned with showing us the details on the model as opposed to painting effects, since we need to see what were buying, I guess.
I don’t like some of the names changes either, particularly the metal colours-why change those? Some sound a bit shit to be frank lol. They do have a conversion chart pdf on the site and it will be in the new white dwarf, link here http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m2320032a_Citadel_Conversion_Chart
Some of them make sense and relate to the figure ranges more, but not all of them needed to be changed (like Skull White to White Scar? That’s pants!).
My biggest concern is whether the washes will be close to good old Badab Black and Devlan Mud, as I know some painters on youtube use them extensively (like TemplarsCrusade01 who uses a 50/50 mix of both on all his minis).
I am very tempted by the new painting guide however, as there’s always room to learn something new (if indeed it does show techniques and not solely how to use the new paints.) And the fact that they have put a 90min dvd in there is a great bonus, something I thought they should have done ages ago, because it’s easier to learn things when you can see them demonstrated before you, and it’s all ways good to learn new things.
Plus the book design is a great idea too, so I’m hoping they carry this on to their other how-to books, since their books always come apart.
I’m also glad the page count is over their usual stupid limit of 96 pages (why do loads of GW books end at 96 pages? Only a few books don’t, like the Guard and Marine/Chaos Marine codices).
Best to check it out in the store-unless the BoW guys can get it first and review it, eh? Eh? 😛
I can’t comment on a book I haven’t read (obviously) and the gaming gods sure know we all can get better at painting, but I have a sneaking suspicion that you get better vaule by buying the ‘Eavy Metal Masterclass book, since it’s half the price of this new painting guide. As a side note, the old How to paint book is also about half the price compared to the new one.
Has anyone seen the price of the bundle set? Almost 600.00 in US dollars! No thx.
Here in Sweden the price would be 5 050 Swedish Krona, which translates into about 785 US dollars, and 490 £. It’s lovely to live in Sweden. GW truly loves us. 🙂
GW can’t do much about 25% VAT.
True, but your math is wrong. 333 £ plus 25% VAT would be about 416 £, NOT the 490 that it actually is. Besides, both Sweden and Britain has VAT of some sort and are both located in Europe so my numbers are wrong as well. The price would probably more like 400 £ in Sweden when taking that into account.
The bundle deal costs a mean £333, ladies and gentlemen!
Now, how much would it cost if you bought all the paints individually?
Anyone?
The answer is… £333.50
That’s right! A whopping saving of 50 pence!! .. you get a free carry case though, so I guess that makes it ok.
If that is correct and assume your are good at sums Poosh, it is taking the peepee not to give a discount on the full set. No excuse.
Its no excuse but you get a big army-bag with the deal that originally cost 90€ …I know that doesn’t make 3€ per tiny little pot of colour any better ^^ but its not just 50 pence you save ^^
The value of the deal became much better indeed. I had missed that detail partisan. Still, I think it would have been better to provide a discount instead of something that most people already have some sort of version of.
I’ll wait for a review from a non-GW hater, but I am currently saving for the full bundle – assuming you can purchase it discounted from an online store. If not, no thanks.
“Completely new”… “revolutionize”…
Right.
While I appreciate Citadel paints aren’t all bad and have their fans, this is just a more expensive version of what other brands have been doing for years.
Vallejo (liquid putty, textured pastes, paints, washes, inks, extra opaque colors…) and others as well.
I’m not saying it’s bad (I aven’t tried it yet)… I’m just saying it’s NOT new, and NOT the second coming of the lord… Just like Failcast was advertised.
BoW Romain
Oh how I like that even Romain refer to GW resin models as failcast.
As I said below, they are simply bringing it all together under one range making it easier for beginners to get access to types of paint they didn’t know where to look to buy. And I think it’s unfair to say that it’s not revolutionary… in the bracket of GW hobbyists at least. Unless someone told you what to look for, your average hobby painter isn’t going to bother trolling the web for AK’s filter range for example.
I think you are taking a pedestal position on this one that isn’t overly fair on what GW have done for THEIR hobbyists.
Are you seriously saying that because GW is finally bringing this to their gamers it is a revolution? I can barely fathom that statement. It’s almost like saying “Sliced bread has been such a revolution for Europe and North America that we will now spread it to those savages in Asia and Africa”.
Besides, do GW, or any other company for that matter, really have any customers that they claim are “theirs”?
Oops meant to write in the last sentence “… that they can truly claim are “theirs”?”
I feel compelled to answer, even though I know I shouldn’t…
Speaking from a pedestal ? Really ?
It’s a pretty crowded pedestal, then.
As numerous as they are, GW gamers and fans still do not constitute the whole hobby. Probably half of it at best… No matter how skewed the perspective looks from there.
Where I stand, there are people who started with Airfix models, Ral Partha miniatures, Humbrol enamels and Tamiya paints… Just to mention the people who had a similar experience to mine.
I’ve had Citadel paints (bought in London because you couldn’t get them in France at the time… There was only one Games Workshop store in Paris and it wasn’t very well stocked) when they were still over 17ml a pot and still made by Coat d’Arms, I’ve played Warhammer Fantasy Battle when 4th edition was new (dwarves, if you must know)…
And that was long before Beasts of War OR the web communities of today existed. It is now much easier to get informed about such things.
Is it unfair, haughty, or even elitist of me to broaden the perspective and offer genuine information about different products so that people can choose (especially if they are, as you say, struggling to see beyond the GW ranges) ?
I don’t think so. Quite the opposite of elitism, in fact. I think it would be selfish and pointless not to mention what’s out there.
Not just as a member of the BoW team, but as a person.
You know, to help out.
Just to add how I got in the hobby, it was through playing D&D and, yes, I did buy some GW at a time when White Dwarf would contain D&D articles but most of my mini’s were grenaider (because I was skint) and I bought GW paint because that was what I knew but it didn’t take me long to stumble on Vallejo, there are more local stockists for me and only one GW. I don’t think you have to “troll” to find good alternatives and as Romain says, isn’t it the responsibility of the community to educate people that there are alternatives out there that are not only cheaper but often better too?
More like GW Miscast
I have been using GW paints since I started painting minis, only a few years ago, but only out of necessity, there are no local hobby shops or anything nearby, only a GW store. After collecting a large number of their paints and ready throw them in a box somewhere and buy a truckload of vallejo paints, having realised there is a greater variety of paints out there. Thanks GW, for making this decision fast and easy.
They have done quite a bad job renaming many of the colours. Some of them have gone from short specific names such as “dark flesh” to the longer “doombull brown”, are all Doombulls this colour? Devlan mud, now called Agrax Earthshade, and “burnished gold” becoming “auric armour gold” are perhaps the worst…
I can’t say for certain, as no one has ever survived a meeting with a Doombull, to report back their colour…
Touché
So in essence, we don’t even know if Doombulls exist? Maybe all colours taste like chicken. Or something like that. 😉
Hey Romain, on the off chance that you might read this comment, do you / are you planning on doing any video reviews (hell I think some of us would be happy with just your written words in an article) on “How to paint miniature” Guide Books (such as the above GW one, but with other books and classic guides as well), and advice on Air Brushing? I don’t know if you Air Brush or not, but if you had any advice or wisdom to offer, I’d appreciate it and maybe others as well!
The previous message is being sponsored by me! 🙂 Seriously, more reviews from the master is always appreciated.
also, we’re planning to kidnap 85% of the BoW team, and force them to do a Battle Report…
Why only 85% ? Oh, right, Romain has remain so he can test all these new paints.
Thanks for the vote of confidence, guys !
we have discussed such book reviews, but so far we’ve settled for actual tutorials… We won’t discount the possibility of reviewing those books, as there’s certainly a lot out there.
As for the new Citadel range, I’m actually eager to see what they came up with, were it only to see how it measures up to the hype.
Stay tuned !
BoW Romain
If the pots are better that in and of itself is good for those that use GW paints.
I dislike on principal the idea of specialized glazes,drybrush and layer paint because it convinces the inexperienced that you have to buy such things and there is something special about it.
Glaze medium and any acrylic paint = glaze, you are not restricted tot he four colours they produce.
Paint for layers, thinned paint.
I think , especially in the UK, an awful lot of us cut our teeth on GW paints, and they certainly have some good things in the range, the metallics cant be beat as far as I’m concerned, but its more expensive for less paint for bottle than other brands, and the whole ‘got to buy 4 reds to paint a red model, base, layers and glazes, whereas you can use on colour, add purple to darken, yellow to lighten and glaze medium to change the effect is also a way to get you to spend more money.
I dont like that sort of hard sell, I think its taking advantage of people, and it does annoy me.
It’s GW we’re talking about here. They exist (nowadays) to suck money from us so they can give to the stockholders. So of course they will take advantage of unsuspecting customers and inexperienced painters.
I think I might actually disagree, after watching that video. Yes, a lot of these things I can go through the painful process of mixing (and it is painful because sometimes I simply cannot repeat the exact mix for the next batch of models). But these seem very well tailored to my, at least, personal needs. Looking over the colours etc, at least quickly, I can see exactly which colours were brought out for which models, and I can see many ways my life will be made easier. They do seem to have just built upon the Foundary paint scheme though. I welcome the range – it might be that other paint companies have the same colours, though i suspect these paints are far more vivid and striking.
But as always, it’s the quality of the paint that matters. And one will have to actually test it to find out.
So have any of you actually used the new paints? No? Then why all the hate? 😛
Sure GW paints are more expensive for less, but so is ever single other item GW produce, get over it 😀
Yeah the name changes suck a big one, but at the end of the day there’s an expanded range of paints, with more “foundations” and some new glazes.
Of course, you can make your own washes and glazes, but for those who don’t know how/want to, this offers a great solution. By using the GW glazes, it means I get to test out some glaze effects and not worry about the trial and error of making my own. And if I decided I like the effect, I’ll then move onto making my own glazes for some expanded colours.
Pretty much every comment I’ve read, on several forums, from people who have tried the new range is positive, so how about you give them a go, or at least wait to hear some reviews/opinions on them before damning them to the fires of hell? 😀
I’m all for GW hate in most cases, but I don’t really see the reason here.
What hate?
Where?
I haven’t seen anyone who has not tried them say they are rubbish.
There is this thing called trying out new ways rather than trying out new products cos the man says we should. 😉
Why should I try a new stuff just because it is shiny?
I have enough colours already. Not going to spend a ton of cash on a whole new range when I can make and bake my own.
not hate just a love of being practical.
I have used them. The work like any other paint on the market with the exception of a few things. The DRY paints have an extream pigment count and it’s viscosity is thicker. I see this as good for the use it’s ment for. As I mentioned below in a comment, the new shades are the only thing that really pissed me off as great paints like Devlin Mud are now gone.
Vallejo makes close analouges of GWs (now) old washes so they are always an alternative when you run out. Thing is though, they are not quite the same, since they dry to a very matte finish. I suppose I need to go stockpile som devlan mud and badab black before they are gone for good.
I like the new ideas (for them) that they are introducing. GW have always tried to be a one stop shop. I still happily dry brush rank and file models. I especially use dry brushing on bigger figures and scenery. I’m glad to see GW trying to adapt to the market. I dont see GW as ‘hard sell’. There’s this thing called the internet where we can see lots of other options. I’ve heard of this site called Beasts of Waagh or similar that has lots of products where we can see their reviews and make up our own minds… I’ll be buying the new paints cos I like what GW do, I’ll also be trying out their new painting book. After all I poked holes in Romains vids he did, but that’s the beauty of sharing ideas on the internet: take what works for you and leave the rest.
Well you are entitled to your opinion, as you rightly say.
Pity it is wrong about Romain’s painting videos though 😛
Now, now !
I completely agree : Everyone has his style, and we’re supposed to be doing this for fun.
There is no “one way” to paint, well or badly… Painting is very idiosyncrasic, and I’m always for what works for YOU.
My favored techniques won’t suit everyone, and I’m certainly not painting to GD standards in my videos…
As the man said, take what works for you and leave the rest !
BoW Romain
Way to go GW. Release the ‘Eavy Metal Masterclass paint guide then hot on the heels of it redo the entire paint range it refers to
I tried some of the paints over the weekend and they worked well. The only things that I see as an issue is things like the washes that are now shades. They work a bit different than before. The wash was good for a shading and the tinting of serfaces. Now the new shade paints really are only good for for that, shading. For some thats good as it will pull itself more into the recesses and cracks and leave the rest of the area unchanged. But for me, it helped to tie and blend drybrushed areas and I liked the washes.
The main beef I have is the renameing of all the paints. Yes over time we will know them by heart but it will suck for us that run out of paint on a job and need to go back for more. The names confuse me as I have no idea what color is what. I have no attachment to the old names, they where just easy to remember and made sense in most cases. The new names are just all over the place, with no rhyme or reason.
I read an interresting remark from Dark_Gear on belloflostsouls.net abaut these new paints:
“The paints are produced by a new supplier, therefore all the paints are based on different pigments and formulas. As this would lead to slight differences in hue compared to the old colours, they were all renamed so that buyers of the new paints couldn’t say:
“This Bleached Bone isn’t like the old Bleached Bone!”
Another benefit to renaming all the paints, as BigRed pointed out, is that the names now reflect GW’s model lines more effectively than before. ”
http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2012/03/gw-news-new-paints-unveiled.html
I think this explains a lott
Let me copy and paste a bit here: “True in a sense that they probably are new formulas. False in the sense that many colors are the same no matter what the formula. For instance, how many varieties can you make of black?”
Anyway let’s assume that almost all colors are slightly different, that is still no reason to change the names based on previous histort. GW has changed hues, pigments and formulas for colors several times before and STILL called them the same, despite the very obvious difference.
Also is it really better that the names reflect GW’s model lines? To me it seems that it’s more shameless selfpropaganda. “Oh you are painting leadbelchers, then you must use Leadbelcher metal”.
Wonder if they will improve the brushes now too.
so when will we see a review of the new paints from you, romain?
Lets be honest, anything GW do gets ripped apart on BoW so the reaction here is no suprise. If Mantic released the exact same product, it will be the bees knees, so yeah you get used to the bias on here.
Non the less on to the paints…
I think the name changes are pretty stupid and needless, but whatever. Some of the range interests me but to be honest, I don’t need most the stuff as I make it myself, but for the new painter I can see the appeal. It can be quite daunting seeing nicely painted minis when you start out, so anything that makes the job easier for new comers to the hobby is a bonus.
I like the fact there a foundation (base) white now too, im very interested to see how that turns out.
That is not being honest.It is certainly not fair. I have seen many things including these paints receiving praise on BoW.
Just because something is GW it has to lauded to the skies? Am certain you are not of that opinion yourself, so please dear Lawks a lummee can we have no more of the “BoW/Everyone and his budgerigar hates GW” It is patently clear this is not so.
If Mantic released the same product my reaction for one would be the same.
It is not the same as saying that the paints are no good, as saying I would not see any point to them. Neither is that suggesting that everyone should do as some of us do. It is your choice.
It doesn’t necessarily make it easier for newcomers. A wider range of paints makes it potentially more confusing and sound application techniques come from experience of handling the medium. No you are faced with more mediums, there are a greater number of possible effects. Unless of course you buy the book and follow the instructions.
That sounds fun 😛
fwiw I agree, as I said elsewhere on BoW, that Foundation White is a good move.
Im not saying the BoW team are ripping GW apart (well Romain usually does…but we love Romain hehe), Im saying the BoW community usually does, It’s true! Read most the replies.
While I aint no GW fanboy, and never will be, I think theres good and bad in all the companies. but for some reason people seem too polite to say mantic/PP et al are crap just because they are a smaller outfit. yet if GW bring something out and its iffy (Like failcast) we never here the end of it. It does come across as very bias indeed.
It just the way I see it really, I spose GW get the stick as they are the biggest compnay out the mini producers, but I do think SOMETIMES the criticism is unjustifed.
Oh and yeah, following instructions is no fun at all 😀
That’s unfair, people lashed out at Mantic when they pulled their space-orks with fantasy bodies crap.
And there was some lashing out at PP when people thought they *might* be starting to act like GW.
I agree that some of the “criticisms” are irrational, in regard to these paints. It IS stupid to attack GW’s claims until you’ve actually got hold of the paint and tried the new system. Sitting down and trying their stage-by-stage method (which seems like the Foundary Paints scheme) is the only way to know if this system is as “amazing” as it claims to be. GW miniatures are largely biased in favour of experienced, decent painters – excluding their target audience (ironically). This entire system favours – at least what they claim – younger or less talented gamers, giving them a chance to glide into doing a good painting job. It also expands the range for experienced painters who like GW paints but have had to deal with having to mix their paints to achieve the affects they want. IMO it seems GW have at least given a lot of thought, it seems that these are actually competitive paints.
I’ll have you know my budgerigar is a great fan of GW. Plays the wood elves.
BoW Sam
What GW have done here is master “accessibility” These types of paints have existed for years but GW have put together their paint range so for a beginner they are faced with products that were usually for more elitist painters to hunt down online. If anything it’s going to allow young and new painters to jump up their skill faster than before. Of course it’s still down to practice and understanding but they are making it easier.
Is supposed “accessibility” really a good thing? The way I see it, it might actually become a limiting factor since it’s such a complete package with such clearly marked labels that every painted GW model might start to look the same.
Also I fail to see how young and new painters are going to even start using this since they will barely have money to buy the paints, let alone an army.
I don’t agree. Where I live I have 3 vallejo stockists vs 1 GW and one of those vallejo stockists in what’s arguably the main shopping centre. It’s a branch of Model Zone and they also stock Tamiya, Mig pigments and I’m pretty sure they’ve got the Vallejo texture’s in there too as well as things like matt medium. There are two art/craft shops that have things like matt medium, flow enchacer, retarder, etc. so no trawling required. Where I live GW resoundly lose on the accessibility front – the alternatives are more plentiful and cheaper
Having tried them at the weekend I thought they were very good, much better than the old paints. The new base paints cover much better than the old foundation paints, and the dry brushing paints are like marshmallow in consistency. You can turn the pots upside down over your head while open in complete safety! The new washes don’t seem to pool as much and give a lovely effect where desired. Be interested what some of the others think who have actually used them.
HI folks.
GW have brought a range of paint meduims together and made it easier for hobbiests to see how each different meduim is used.
However, are ALL of these realy necissary for all but the most experienced painters?
And dont the realy experianced painters have acess to these meduims from other sources?
(Or use alternative techniques that render some them redundant?)
I may be being a bit of a cynic , but all this seems to do is infer to the less well informed ALL these products are NECISSARY.And not just an option you MAY feel like tring out.
The advise professional painters always seem to give is ;-
Learn to paint neatly, Blocking in colours.
Then use other painting techniques washing /dipping , layering dry brushing and edging to bring out the depth and detail in the minature.
AFAIK, no one NEEDS to use all these specialy formalised paints to achive good results.
Because Golden Deamon competitions seem to have had stunning minatures for decades!
Is GW plc marketing these as a shortcut to better painting?(At a price.)
The quality of the product is not in question.
But the method of marketing is perhaps.
No. No. No.
First off, how stupid do you have to be to think you are obliged to buy all these paints ?!!
Second, Foundary and others maybe, have a similar method of getting models painted. GW seem to have taken this notion and adapted/improved it?
Thirdly, anyone can come to a certain preference of tone for a certain colour that requires mixing: GW have just allowed us to buy a pre-made mixes which will be useful for many of us
Forth, as you can see from the preview pics, you only need to buy a certain selection of colours, for YOUR SPECIFIC ARMY, and if you intend to follow their “new” stage-by-stage painting method, as seen in the video above.
A lot of these new paints seem to have been chosen with a great deal of thought. If other paint companies beat them to it, then so what? GW SHOULD be keeping up with other companies – just a shame they don’t lower the cost of their paints in order to compete better, as GW’s paints have always been high quality – it’s just their cost and the fact that they dry out without any effort, that lets them down.
GW are marketing them to the gamer (who isn’t a painter) offering them a logical, simple, method of painting their armies, with limited time.
Alas, I’m afraid it’s not a question of stupidity, it’s a question of age…
Their main target is a twelve year old boy who doesn’t know anything beyond Games Workshop… And that’s from their own mouth.
That said, I’m all for making it easier for beginners (and others !) and using new products.
Facing the usual GW marketing strategy, one must stay serene… When the time comes, I’ll try them out and see for myself, just like with any other brand.
At nearly $900 Australian (AUD) they can shove it where the sun don’t shine, and as for the case? Ha! What a joke.
You know who I feel for? All the poor saps that bought the previous mega paint set thinking GW was being kind to them by re-offering the whole paint set, now superseded by this paint range.. GW are trying to not only grab your money but they are raping people’s wallets with their current price structures… Seriously, the whole movement of pricing around the world is not getting better or any positive focus from GW.. I think it is getting worse IMHO..
The Vallejo paint range just became Ben better value, thanks GW for making another over priced mid markete product that encourages me to go with other companies and givin me the ammunition needed to not line your coffers with my hard earned..
/end rant.
It seems to me like the content of the “How to…” book would be a really powerful marketing tool if made available on the website for free as part of their astronomicon blog or in the hobby section. I get that it wasn’t free to produce and I also get that a lot of people will buy that book so giving it away is an opportunity cost, but it just seems that the best way to sell your new paint line is to demonstrate professional painters getting really good results while using it. They can make youTube videos explaining the line (like the one above) all they want, but it’s just not a compelling sales pitch for most people.
I want to see the paints get used and see the results. Then, maybe I’ll buy some. In a GW-owned shop they can funnel new players into buying their paints and their instructional material, but in other shops or online they should have to try a little harder. If I were a new player, I’d look online for painting tutorials and hear a lot of really great painters recommend different paint lines. As an already established painter, I’ve settled on the brands I like (Vallejo and Reaper, with some Secret Weapon washes and only the occasional GW pot if my local store is out of stock of the color I want in a different brand). I’m not going to start buying these new paints for no good reason.
I think the book should (or the content of the book really) should be free. Not because we’re entitled to it (we’re not), but because it’s a lost opportunity for GW to get some really good marketing out of showcasing what their new paint can do and highlighting why they think you should use it. If not free, then at least sell it for less as a loss leader or something. At its current price it just feels like an unnecessary extra gouge or a very expensive catalog, like buying a magazine only to discover it’s mostly ads.
I don’t really care how many new colours they have added. Reaper still has more colours, gives you a little more per bottle, and is a dollar less per bottle. The only part of the Citidel line that I might buy are the base paints and the textured paints. Other than that Citidel really provides no incentives to buy their product.
Well I’m glad that I picked up some Mechrite Red and Devlan Mud recently (Blood Angels player) but I am also looking forward to trying their new equivalents. At the end of the day its just some new paints, nothing to get to excited (or angry) about.
A company that makes paints, expands their range and make more paints…
People get angry.
Hi poosh.
Lots of companies make products for the table top minature gaming hobby.
Vallejo, CoatDarms,Army Painter, Humbrol, Exacto,etc.
Why are these companies different to GW plc ?
They dont target a specific demoghraphic that is ‘very suggestable’ and infer that thier own products are the only ones available.
As far as I know GW plc is the only company thats primary policy is ‘isolationist marketing to a vunerable demoghraphic’.
So no problems with GW plc products per se.
But I dont agree with thier marketing strategy.
I am not angry or upset.
Just stating my opinion on an unsuprising action by GW plc.
Well one of the other reasons to get angry is their price point. It doesn’t take much to realise that GW are significantly more expensive when you see that £2.30 gets you 12ml vs Vallejo, for example, that gets you 17ml at £2. Significantly more for cheaper, works out GW are over 60% more expensive. What is galling in this release is the texture range. Romain did a bit on them a while back and they look pretty comparable to the GW but it’s about £9 for 200ml vs £2.30 for 12 again. That’s over 400% more expensive!
It’s not just that either it’s the whole trumpet blowing, ego stroking “Oh look at us, we’ve revolutionised painting”. Nonsense. They say on their texture paint ” an entirely new breed of paint.” more nonsense. They said the same about liquid greenstuff, rubbish similar products have been around for years and at a much cheaper price, They said the same about failcast and that has revolutionised miniatures… never before has a company got away with selling such tat and got away with it.
Anyway, to nip my rant in the bud, THAT is why people have got angry when GW released a new paint range. We’re sick of the rip-off/narcissistic lie combo.
GW paints have always been expensive (well, they cost just over 2 KFC hot wings) (though you are paying ALSO for the GW shops and their staff, and other things, within the price – which may or may not be fair, but that’s the reality). They doubled their range, and you’re what? Angry about them not lowering their prices of their paints? Your free to buy other paints. And if you are young and dumb enough to not shop around then that’s YOUR FAULT. And GW are perfectly allowed to take advantage of your inability to exploit a market. (It’s wrong for them to sell to young children, that’s disgusting and a different subject, that is an incredible sin on GW’s part).
I’ve seen many painting guides on youtube etc, from professional painters and they use paints for all the ranges, picking and choosing their favourites. And guess what? They choose GW paints a lot of the time. That tells me quite clearly they GW do bring out some outstanding paints that these painters opt for as opposed to the other paints. (and of course, vice versa).
I can’t find where GW said that texture paint is “an entirely new breed of paint” – in the video he actually says at least once the paint is entirely new *for their range* …which is true.
At any rate, GW big up and have a lot of bluster and BS about whatever their latest “idea” is. So what? Even Mantic BS on the back of their products about the quality of their miniatures. Everyone does it. Every other advert for every other product out there contains the same BS. What do you want GW to do? Say, “on btw, there are 5 other companies who sell paint, which we compete with … you might want to look at them as well, before buying from us?” This has just got insane. I’m not going to talk about Finecast, because the same principle applies, though on another day I would defend it (even as I wait for 8 boxes of Finecast to be replaced from GW… which I had to wait 3 weeks for, after 3 phone calls asking them wtf is going on).
Yeah, GW, you know, keep up with the market (their new guide is on par with what the market has been doing for years on Painting Guides and GOOD ON THEM note the reasonable, competitive price of the Guide). Do you expect GW to not at all change or adapt, or step up to the plate, with other paint companies? I honestly don’t know what’s going through some people’s heads now. They finally do what other companies have been doing for ages, and people get angry? Because they big-up and bullshit about how amazing their new products are? Which is standard behavior for a company, and something most people can see through. Did you moan when Mc Donalds brought out their own version of KFC’s crispy strips. Or did you think “oh cool, I have two difference places to choose from now”). Sensible companies compete with eachother and try to one-up eachother, and HYPE their products. GW paints, personally, are slightly over-priced imo to the point that once these other companies you mention start aggressively marketing themselves, GW will be forced to lower their prices (look at GW terrain, all most all of it is pretty reasonable, even cheap BECAUSE other companies are competing with them, GW’s hand is forced to lower their prices)
This really is insane. Fair enough attacking GW’s models, you HAVE to use them, if you want to play Warhammer. But with their paints, tools, and other auxiliary stuff it’s really, really “if you don’t like them, don’t buy them, and stop moaning about them – it has nothing to do with you”. You can sit people down and convince them they’d be better off buying these other products, that’s cool. But the anger is irrational and offputting. GW selling their entire paint range in a bundle saving you 50 pence (and a free carry case that most will never use and cost them little) is a business error and worth attacking GW on. But as for a product that NO ONE here has used, it just proves some of the other writers points, above.
A company that makes paints doubles its range.
People get angry.
I think GW stuff in general is overpriced, some of it is almost competitive, but not much. The scenery is not a bad price generally.
I disagree in part with what you said – You only HAVE to use the figures for WH/WH40K if you intend to play at GW shops or conventions etc, otherwise in a group of friends or games club you can use a lot of substitutes.
Their paints being 60% or so more expensive is no laughing matter. The bundle not being discounted is a major p1sstake, They should have rewarded the buyer with a more attractive price, £275 or something like that. Most kids are internet savvy, thus the success of Coolminiornot.com and BOW. I think more kids are in the know than their parents 🙂
But, I do think anything the community can do to promote awareness of alternatives the better.
One thing meant to say too, was that for those kids that get into the hobby via GW soon become aware of other stuff, Flames of War, Warmachine etc etc, and soon discover all these groovy systems and figures on/from the internet.
Sorry, blinded by the 100% awesome notion of a Vorlon. GW can price their paints at whatever price they want, and yes they do overprice them … but you mustn’t raify (is that the right term?) their paint products. Unlike other companies GW price their products responsively to the fact that they have to raise money to keep GW stores up and running, as well as research and development etc (3/4 plastic new kits a month from GW, is not an easy task). IMO they should close all their stores or make them flat-out hobby stores for all products. When I was young and got into Warhammer, I was about 11-12? Me and my mates had the sense to shop around, looking for the lowest prices. I think people underestimate youth.
You’re right, you can use Proxys, but I can appreciate people getting angry about the model prices. I can’t, with the miscellaneous stuff such as paints or glues, or flock.
🙂 Actually I’m with you on the quality of GW stuff generally being very good. I am not actually having a go at their stuff at all, only their pricing.
Every company has R&D and production costs to cover.
When I started gaming GW stores were hobby stores and sold loads of different product, not just their own.
And as i said kids are clever enough these days to look around.
I meant that most companies being referred to, only make paints, specifically – so all R&D goes on paint etc. Whereas GW, i assume, spread the costs depending on what their particular preference is. And certainly few other companies have to run stupid GW stores.
It seems simple and obvious to me, perhaps I’m wrong, but if GW opened up their stores to ALL products, they’d be taking a junk of the pie from PP and Mantic, etc – seeing as they can buy in bulk for less and then sell just below the retail price (which is what online stores do).
@poosh The source of my quote on texture paints http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/wnt/blog.jsp?pid=2000010-gws which was their release statement on the site. In full:
“The Texture Paints are an entirely new breed of paint. Unlike Layers and Basecoats they contain a mixture of paint and fine grit, which can be used to texture the bases of your miniatures. Even better, there are six different colours, so you can paint your bases to look sandy, dusty, snowy, muddy, or swampy straight out of the pot. Pretty clever stuff.”
I think it’s fair for the community to point it that it is nothing new and at over 400% more expensive the obvious alternative it’s exceptionally poor value for money, don’t you?
I had a try of some of the paints and was quite happy with them. i tried the one of the glazes (inks) and got a very good effect with SM eyes. the base paints covered really well.
A lot of the lids had a catch on so they actually stay open, I suspect GW realise if your paints dry up they’l sell more 🙂
All in all I’m quite pleased they havn’t ruined a good product ( mat ward dosn’t do paints but if he did…………)
So goblin green is now called? ????
@tony88 Warboss Green apparently
I have to say that I shall not be buying them, I had bought the £150 one for it to dry up within 6 months!! and had been turned away from GW staff as they said I must not have looked after them properly (I was away in Afghanistan for 4 of those months). Yet on several forums others had the same problems……
So, that leads me onto my question…. “Why the hell would I want to risk any of my money AGAIN on GW **** paints?”
everyone knows that Vallejo rule the roost by providing more paint per pot (Vallejo 17ml @£1.75and GW 12ml @ £2.30 (which is almost half the price per ml)) and far better quality at a cheaper price. This seems a no brainer to me considering the risk factor.
I have to say I have become very bitter with GW over the years (due to their poor customer relations etc) and I feel even if they were better, I don’t feel that I have it in me to line their pockets, as I often see great professional results from Vallejo (also see some of GW to be fair though). SO with experience I have found a new home with Vallejo game colour (will be buying the model air and model colour also to complete the range, as I am so impressed with them). Cant wait to try the model air stuff as I was found guilty of buying the spray gun from GW to and yes, it did turn into a very poor boomerang, (which is a great result I thought, as I didn’t get it back) 😀
GW = expensive risks
Vallejo = top quality at about half the price.
sorta seems a no brainer imho!!
(/sarcasm on) oh wait that guy in the video says “revolutionise” a lot, well I must get them then!! (/sarcasm off)