GW's stance on conversions legality at tournaments

[Kugane]

Hello, while I'm aware that there usually is a rule that states that a miniature has to be at least 51%~75% games workshop parts, this got me thinking - what about mounted characters for example? If you were to kitbash a rider from a different miniature line on top of a GW horse, you would pretty much beat that 51%~75% rule easily. But is this allowed?

The reason I am asking is that I'm in the process of converting a bunch of chariots to fit in with my army, but I absolutely hate the sculpt of the original riders. I tried to put some vampire counts skeletons and grave guard on the chariots, but their 'walking' pose makes it look unnatural, as well as the weapons not being very dynamic to fight the chariot look.

I am now looking for alternative miniatures to put on these chariots, but I may need to expand my search to non-GW miniatures, or some LotR line minis. Would simply swapping the riders still qualify as a legal miniature?

[Melcavuk]

Which tournaments specifically. Warhammer world tournament packs state the army must consist solely of citadel/games workshop products.

[Stevewren]

I'm afraid you're pretty much out of luck. You could chance your arm, but if you get caught expect to be asked to have the models removed. However there are plenty of independent events that are much more flexible in the models you can use. 

[WoollyMammoth]

The analogy I often get is, you cant walk into pizza hut with some other companies pizza. 

The rule is that it has to represent a GW model, aka - you have to buy a GW model if you wanted to re-create the same model. For this reason, replacing parts of the model is likely okay - replacing a chariots wheels, replacing the horses, etc.

In this case its like ordering a pizza hut pizza, but you brought your own fresh cheese to sprinkle on the top.

Changing the riders with non-GW models is a little bit further. That's like ordering a pizza, then dumping a bunch of steamed veggies on the top.  If they dont sell veggie pizza, they have the right to tell you to box it up and take it home.

Its a risk, and probably not worth it. I would magnetize the riders, so you have the option of swapping out the original riders if you get ****** for it.

[Ollie Grimwood]

I used to work for Pizza Hut back in the dim mists of time and they would let people bring in other

Company's food (including Mc Donald's which was just down the road) as long as some of the people on the table were buying pizza. Not that relevant but the above analogy sparked my memory.

 

It's still a fair point though at a GW event or store they're going to want you to use GW models. Independent events or stores seem to be much more relaxed.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[TheOtherJosh]

For Warhammer World tournaments you're right: "Additional: All miniatures in your collection must be produced by Games Workshop and be fully assembled, painted and based. Each model must fully represent what you have presented on your army lists."

 

LOTR is still GW. As is older out of print stuff. (Tomb Kings for example.)

 

At most GW stores I've been to, converted is fine for play (but still should be mainly GW). But sometimes not for tournaments and "mega battles".

 

[G.Prest]

Not to highjack the thread but back when I used to play they allowed scratch built stuff as well. Out of curiosity how do those stand these days?

[MyGeekyPersona]

Just to chime in, there was some discussion about this on Twitter today. Sadly, the most recent tournament packs explicitly state 100% GW - https://20889-presscdn-pagely.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/GT-Season-2017-Event-Pack-GT3.pdf

Of course, any company is entitled to create rules for their own premises, but personally I find it a bit of a shame. Playing a game at Warhammer world had been on my "hobbit bucket list" but I can't see me doing that now - too many 3rd party bits strewn amongst my conversions / kit bashes. 

MGP

[RuneBrush]

11 minutes ago, MyGeekyPersona said:

Just to chime in, there was some discussion about this on Twitter today. Sadly, the most recent tournament packs explicitly state 100% GW - https://20889-presscdn-pagely.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/GT-Season-2017-Event-Pack-GT3.pdf

Of course, any company is entitled to create rules for their own premises, but personally I find it a bit of a shame. Playing a game at Warhammer world had been on my "hobbit bucket list" but I can't see me doing that now - too many 3rd party bits strewn amongst my conversions / kit bashes. 

If you were playing a casual game on a table, you may well get away with it.  GW don't go round checking armies being used, though if it's quiet the staff do occasionally bimble round.  A certain amount of common sense is required, a massive third-party centrepiece model is likely to draw a lot of attention, but an alternative head or weapon would be fine at a glance.

Tournaments are a different kettle of fish entirely as we often see live streaming and pictures being taken along with best army voting, hence the ruling on 100% Games Workshop models.  That also includes the bases - if you want an alien world effect you're going to need to create your own rather than a resin sculpted base.

[TheOtherJosh]

Just to chime in, there was some discussion about this on Twitter today....

 

Share the twitter link for context for the rest of us?

 

100% of your miniatures must be made by GW doesn't say anything about conversion bits on the miniature. (This is miniatures with an "S" not miniature, singular.)

 

It says that none of the miniatures can be made by a 3rd party. (IE no Malifaux, Chapterhouse miniatures etc.)

 

It sounds like you're saying that if one were to put non-GW rocks or cork on the base of the miniature or non-GW greenstuff for tentacles or use a non-GW scenic base they wouldn't let one play at the event?

 

[MyGeekyPersona]

@TheOtherJosh here is the url - 

 Sorry - I didn't actually know that a tweet/conversation could be shared in that way, I'm such a Luddite! To put things in a bit of context, the conversation started when the idea of using third party heads on GW models was mentioned. I don't know any of those chaps personally, but they've been to Warhammer works, and I haven't, so I'm inclined to think that they are giving an experienced opinion. Apparently, you might get away with the odd bit here and there. 

I dont believe that @RuneBrush was suggesting that 3rd party basing products were forbidden, more precast resin/plastic bases.

 

@RuneBrush - good point about the bases - it's easy to forget that GW sell these now (as I haven't bought any of theirs). Definitely will be a consideration when I finally get around to deciding on a base scheme for my army!

MGP

[TheOtherJosh]

So... the overleaf page (the backside of the page) is talking about Proxies and Converted models.

 

We're not talking proxies here... we'd be talking Converted. (With Converted being anything that isn't coming directly out of the box.)

 

So ... best bet for Warhammer World would be to contact them at their provided info:

"Contact us at whworldevents@gwplc.com or ring us 0115 900 4994 and check to make sure your conversion/ proxy is appropriate for our events."

 

And they recommend to send pictures with the question:

 

The bottom page of the note also clarifies:

 

"Note: Fully assembled means just that – fully assembled. Examples of models that are not fully assembled are cavalry without riders, artillery pieces without crew, one Mangler Squig on a base rather than two, half a skeleton representing a full one and so on. Please bear that in mind before deciding what to bring along!"

 

So, if it "meets the rule of cool, is a solid conversion using 100% GW miniatures as your base and is fully assembled" there is a solid chance there will be no issues.

 

Like they said:

"Also, don’t panic. We are really nice and we LOVE cool hobby."

 

[Melcavuk]

The fact that all miniatures must be 100% GW produced is a pretty definitive answer. If you have 1 model that isn't 100% gw components (so a 3rd party arm) then you have failed to comply with every miniature being 100% GW