Tuesday, April 30, 2019

So How's GW Doing With Adeptus Titianicus?


Photo visualization of GW's rollout plan to support the new Adeptus Titanicus.
So, I've been painting quite a lot of 19th century/Franco-Prussian War stuff for a while - and loving it - but it's fun to take a break.  I thought it might be fun to look again at my Adeptus Titanicus collection, and work on some improvements...that would start with some new weapons for the Titans, or maybe a couple of the new Cerastus Knights...this pointless rant is the product instead...

Many fans of the Horus Heresy, 30k and Epic were very excited to see Games Worksop's re-launch of Adeptus Titanicus last year.  Certainly I was. Anxious, yes. But on the whole, good stuff.  The new models are really striking, great kits.  The rules are excellent, a reminder that GW can really put excellent rules out there.  The game looks cool, and is great fun.

But there was also a lot of trepidation for many fans - there certainly was for me. The new scale, the eye-watering prices, all limiting the audience of the game.  And GW itself seemed to be half-assing it when it came to getting the game out there in the first place. The combo of models and weapons in the original box was a let-down (only one weapon load-out for the Warlords, etc). The game itself seemed to take forever to get to market. GW only seemed to be releasing this game because some unseen power was forcing them too, and doing the bare minimum needed to support it.

But hey, once it got out there, if would be out there!GW would surely get behind the game, muster its formidable marketing and product release engine, and get things moving, right? Right?

Let's see how that has been going...

Late last year, there was the fiasco where they tried to force you to purchase an entirely new Warlord Titan just to get some of the new weapons for the Warlord Titan kits.  This episode inspired one of their most tone-deaf responses to fan furor I have seen from them - and with GW's standards in this regard, that is saying something.

Wow - that spin will make you dizzy...
But hey, give them some credit, right? They did listen (after getting ventilated online, but still), and pledge to make the new weapon sprues available separately.  It did happen - a month or more later than promised - but it did happen, so you wouldn't have to purchase an entirely new Warlord Titan just to get a broader weapon load-out for the new models in your collection.  Great, right? Except...

If only I could some new weapons for my Warlord Titans...
Hope you got em' while you could!

Hey - maybe I can try those new Cerastus Knights while I'm waiting for new weapons for my Titans? That seems like fun! I just need those command terminals to run them in the game...oh...too bad this has been the case for two months or so now:

Only the temporary lasts...
Well, at least Forge World is releasing more weapons! That has to be good news, right? I mean, the exchange rate conversions are pirate-level, and I dislike working with resin, and the quality control at Forge World is bonky at times, but they are nice guys and will certainly stock the new weapons for my Warlord Titans, right?  I can't wait to work on these while the other stuff gets stocked up...

Oh rats...maybe I can get that other one...?

Nope...
For f*ck sakes, GW - are you guys serious about this or not?

It's not like there are no models out there or anything. The original Warlord (and the "new" one) are out there, so are the Reavers and Warhounds. And you can fill you boots with terrain (at least for now).  But the funny word "Titanicus" is in the title of the game for a reason - the game is built around the Titans.  Nobody is running around wishing they would release Adeptus Terrainicus. The different weapon load-outs of the Titans are an integral part of the enjoyment of the game.  Somehow it's been almost a year and you still can't get a full suite of weapons yet...I'll paint the buildings and stuff at some point, but I want to work on the Titans...stop trying to make me buy more super-expensive Titan models just to get more weapons. 

I'm sure there are a lot of good people trying to do the best they can. It's just a hobby. These are first-world problems. And in business, stuff happens, right? But maybe you could divert 5% of the energy used to issue new deamonic whackadoodle stuff and actually get your act together on Adeptus Titanicus?

And so, back to the 19th Century for now!

8 comments:

MFraser said...

Maybe GW is bringing a 3D printer onto the market? It’s the best explanation I can think of. It would be shaped like a skull with a 300% markup.

Simon said...

It really surprises me that people fall for the GW product. It certainly does not appeal to me. I used to buy a few paints from them now and then, but have found cheaper better products elsewhere, it’s not hard after all. GW are the greedy Evil Empire.

Wouter said...

When I learned that were going to release the game in yet another scale I decided not to buy anything, I still have a ton of Epic 40k I'm quite happy with. Given the premium price they're asking I'm not even tempted. I can feel your pain though.
It's like they want people to even pay more than what it's worth on eBay.
As a company they made huge steps forward these past few years but this a step back.

warpaintjj said...

Hi there,
We've bought about 20 - 25 AT18 Titans between us and love the game - a very welcome re-release. That said I entirely second your comments and like you suggest we have no interest in Knights what so ever, we just want the three basic Titans with FULL weapon loads available. I don't want Knights or scenario books or even scenery - just Titans with lots of weapon choices please. I hope someone is listening to you.
Unlike you I don't stress about it though, this is GW - they'll do what they like when they like - end of!
Best wishes,
Jeremy

Dallas said...

I'd totally buy Adeptus Terrainicus.

I KEED, I KEED!!! Great rant, dude... one might even call it... "Epic"...?

Moiterei_1984 said...

I was seriously considering getting into AT... well, not anymore. There are other companies I can throw my money at and these have their products in store... well, most of the time anyway.

Curt said...

I tried to think of something balanced, conciliatory and nuanced to say in response to your rant, Greg. Perhaps something like it's unfortunate that the lack of corporate support for the AT has betrayed an excellent re-imagining of the rules and the outstanding quality of the models. But in reality, there is no excuse. GW is still run by a gaggle of smug, incompetent, pud-pounding, half-witted ass-clowns who somehow brilliantly excel at over-promising while diligently under-delivering at the highest possible price. Once I get settled back from our vacation my 3D printer will be running day and night producing beautiful proxy models from talented open source designers, with my heart warming upon each print, knowing GW will be getting sweet fuck all from my wallet.

AmyC said...

I love AT18 but yeah, the fact that we still don't have all the weapon options for the main titans is a joke, coupled with the fact they already previewed the Knight Porphyron its like yeah fine, that's nice and all but could you... I don't know, maybe sort the weapon loadouts for the Warlord and Reaver first, and get those damned Cerastus terminals back in stock while your at it?

As for Forge World and the Quake Cannon and Gatling Blaster, really FW? You didn't think everyone who has at least 1 Warlord is going to want at least 2 of each since they can be magnetised? I do wonder sometimes whether they actually think about these things...

I still love the game though and damn me I know I will still buy all the new things, and stock up on the weapons/terminals when they come back in stock *sigh*