Anyone else struggling with the rate of expansions?

[paul7926]

Hi all

I know this is technically an AOS forum but I was just wondering if other people are struggling with the huge amount of 'good stuff' that GW are selling this year.  I'm about to start making some tough choices because I simply don't have the money or the hobby time to keep up with everything.  That's a shame because I actually like all of the stuff GW are currently pushing but short of winning the lottery (for the money) and being able to give up work (for the time) I just can't do it all.

You have the two core games of AoS and 40K which I suspect will be all I end up sticking with.  These have gone from being things you could just 'buy a force and rules' for into something that has an ongoing cost due to things like Endless Spells and the GHB yearly release.  You have some really nice playing smaller games in Warhammer Underworlds and Kill team but these have such an aggressive release schedule I've fallen behind on both and the cost of catching up is become too large.  You have things like the Speed Freaks box which looks like a lot of fun but it's just something else to add to the list and the new card game which again is good but I've ended up just playing on mobile after buying a few cards.  Then there was Adeptus Titanicus which I simply had to let pass me by without ever being able to start it.

I know that this is probably 'the' definition of a 'first world problem' but having to decide not to play what I think are actually good games is a little painful.

How do you guys determine which systems to continue with and which you're just going to have to accept you can't keep up with?

[Sleboda]

I completely understand and sympathize with your struggle (so to speak) with this.

I, too, have had to tackle the issue. I solved it by giving in. I just buy it all, secure in the knowledge that as long as I have miniatures that remain unpainted, I cannot die. I am immortal.

[ManlyMuppet88]

Yeah, I’m now starting to accumulate unpainted boxed games  - I just can’t run the risk of not getting one because it’s been discontinued. Been burnt before.

[schwabbele]

Not really.

Only care about AOS "main game". Maybe I will start a Kill Team. 

[RuneBrush]

I think many of us have had this issue increasingly over the past couple of years or so, the quantity of amazing stuff being released is massive and it's pretty impossible to keep up with everything and retain your sanity.  Funnily enough it was something I was talking with a friend about yesterday - I will add that I've been in the hobby for many years now, so do have models for pretty much every system going (with the exception of Adeptus Titanicus).

What I've found is that I'm a lot less likely to "impulse buy" something and think long and hard about each purchase even if it costs me more in the long run.  If I'm being honest the vast majority of starter style boxes have resulted in me ended up with models left over (original and current AoS starter, Forgebane, etc) and spent far too long sat on a shelf - quite often in my garage as indoors is pretty much full.

Most purchases are made now based on when I think I'll get round to painting them - so I picked up a set of Blasted Hallowheart about 3 weeks ago and they're all painted and ready to be put with the rest of my scenery.  There are odd exceptions based on how exclusive it is (e.g. 500th store models), but overall it seems to be helping keep things manageable.

I will be honest and say my biggest gripe is the number of games being brought out that need some kind of consistent "DLC" style purchases - Underworlds and Kill Team both utilise a system where you feel obliged to buy the latest expansion in order to gain a handful of cards you can't get elsewhere.  I think they're great if that's the only game you play, but quite frustrating if you also play other systems.

[zedatkinszed]

1 hour ago, paul7926 said:

I know that this is probably 'the' definition of a 'first world problem' but having to decide not to play what I think are actually good games is a little painful.

How do you guys determine which systems to continue with and which you're just going to have to accept you can't keep up with?

Yeah I struggle with this occasionally. I actually subscribed to Warhammer Conquest and then unsubscribed because I just couldn't justify the spend (even if the deal is AMAZING!).  GW's marketing team is excellent - I end up wanting to buy everything.

But I don't need 99% of it. Even the desolated township has me salivating ... but I won't be buying it. I'm waiting for the 2 storey Azyrite ruins. 

Since AOS came out it's set my imagination and wallet on fire I've bought all the Underworld's stuff ... all of it. I've bought all the WHQ stuff, all the expansions, the 500th store AOS model. The best solution for me is a monthly budget.

 

[paul7926]

2 minutes ago, RuneBrush said:

I will be honest and say my biggest gripe is the number of games being brought out that need some kind of consistent "DLC" style purchases - Underworlds and Kill Team both utilise a system where you feel obliged to buy the latest expansion in order to gain a handful of cards you can't get elsewhere.  I think they're great if that's the only game you play, but quite frustrating if you also play other systems.

I think this is my biggest problem with Underworlds and Kill Team.  I appreciate that in most cases you can still play the game without having it all and it's only if you want to compete in tournaments that you 'need' it all.  I guess I'm just a bit of a collector as I don't really like not having everything.  This lead to me picking up all of the Shadespire bands and never playing (or in some cases even assembling) them.  As you say if I just played Underworlds then I'd be happy with the rate of release but when it's just one of many games it gets too much.  I'm very reluctant to go 'all in' on these by dropping the 'core' game they come from because in history GW have dropped support for everything apart from the 'core' games.  

Logic tells me not to bother with anything but core games but my heart says that I enjoy things like Underworld and Kill team and they do fit better with the limited amount of hobby time I seem to get these days.  All I know for sure is that I just can't do them all.

 

[Vanger]

It's not only that GW is releasing so many good looking and interesting games, but when you want to own multiple armies/warbands. I had to pass on Titanicus, because it cannot be used in any other game, so I couldn't justify it like "I'll be using it as a dominus class knight" or something. Kill Team I also let go because there is not enough time for private life, hobby time and actually playing games.

[SuperHappyTime]

Purchasing Flowchart:

0. Do you have the money?

Yes, Definitely: Okay, go on.  No / No, but I'll have it in a week / No, but there are bills that need to be paid: You need to focus on priorities.

1. Is this actually a part of my main game (AoS)?

Yes: Continue to #4.  No: #2.

2. Is this somewhat related to my main game (WHQ, Shadespire, etc)?

Yes: Continue to #3.  No: Don't Buy it.

3. Is it something related that I can get into my armies, or is part of a game I get to play often?

Yes: #4.  No: Don't Buy it (This usually eliminates Books, other games, etc).

4. Is this a limited time release or Made to Order?

Yes: #7. No: #5.

5. Is this a newly released set of models that is not part of a larger set?

New: Pass. They'll still be around for a good long time.  Older: #6.  New, but Starter Set/Other Deal: Yes.

6. Is it part of a Starter set, Start Collecting, or other deal on price?

Yes: #7.  No: Don't Buy.

7. Does this actually fit into the army(-ies) you are building?

Yes: #8. No: Don't Buy.

8. Do you really need this?, and can you really afford this?

Yes: Okay, buy it. No: Don't Buy.

 

Also, if you find yourself buying and playing a lot of Kill Team, you might consider that Kill Team (not AoS) is your game.

[chord]

For the last 12 months I have a rule only buy when I have everything painted.  It's helped me a lot. 

[syph0n]

2 minutes ago, chord said:

For the last 12 months I have a rule only buy when I have everything painted.  It's helped me a lot. 

I've stuck to this now for my main armies. I could easily buy another 10 Melusai, Morathi and so on, but why when I've not finished my Order Serpentis 1k, let alone undercoated my Daughters of Khaine! That's not to speak of the 2k of Stormcast that sit, undercoated gold. 

I'm struggling now. I picked up Kill Team because I can run the school club with it, but I've yet to build the scenery. I've got Ultramarine, Space Wolf and Chaos kill teams built and undercoated too. But, they've now launched the expansion for that and I'll never keep up. 

But then I remembered: you don't have to. The rule book isn't unusable just because the expansions launch and I still have people to play with. 

I try and manage now by sticking with just AoS and Kill Team. I don't know how others do all of it! 

[SwampHeart]

I tend to be pretty monomaniacal in my hobbies so I don't have the same concern but I know many players in my local group feel the same as the OP. When I picked up AoS it meant putting down 40k entirely and while I do play Underworlds my total cost investment there is pretty low. Another thing that helps me personally is I'm only ever working on one project at a time so I can keep my purchasing focus pretty tight. 

But hey at least we live in a world where GW is putting out lots of quality releases and you've got more and more options for what and how to play. 

[Forrix]

I'm really only interested in AoS and Warhammer 40k, the main games. So if anything I've been kinda let down by all the specialist games/kill team stuff and how they've been luring players away from the main games. Kill team in particular seems to have almost wiped out 40k in my area which has sucked as I finally got around to working on my Knight army.

[Icegoat]

I am saving up for a chaos warrior re release new model update. Of the board games and expansion games I've purchased I've played zero games of silver tower or hammerhal.ive managed Two games of shadespire and painted around half the warbands got bored on skaven and fyreslayers. I painted neave black talon from blight war. Its too much. Now I'm just waiting and hanging onto my money for stuff I actually NEED! Need those new chaos warriors. 

[Icegoat]

Also a aos kill team like game will cause the aos fan base to increase I would say ten fold overnight 

[Nos]

Made a point of not buying anything til I've finished a big set, Soul Wars SC in this instance. Otherwise I'll just drown under it all. Helps that I literally have no physical space anymore too.

[AaronWilson]

I'm in the lucky position where I have want I want for nearly all my armies. I did initially get involved with shadespire but I've not kept up with recent releases if I'm honest. 

Want a few more spicy things for my DG but don't feel obliged every new release. I like sticking with one army and growing it to a big size (my Horus Heresy army sort of gives the game away a little).

[Skreech Verminking]

Well not really,

i haven’t struggled yet, but this could chance through a announcement of some sort of a skaven release.#

edit: Yes-yes only the skaven race is worthy enough, to be a part of my forces (and only them)

#i could also start struggling when an update for clanrats anounces that they cost 4poimts per  model now.

which would mean that i’d Be buying at least another 300models of them to ad to my collection of clanrats.

(a man can never have enough clanrats)

 

[Kramer]

2 hours ago, RuneBrush said:

I will be honest and say my biggest gripe is the number of games being brought out that need some kind of consistent "DLC" style purchases - Underworlds and Kill Team both utilise a system where you feel obliged to buy the latest expansion in order to gain a handful of cards you can't get elsewhere.  I think they're great if that's the only game you play, but quite frustrating if you also play other systems.

This is what i'm 'struggling' with as well as the rate of things getting dropped or only available through made to order. Those usually are the models that formed the hobby for me back in the day. So i'm getting models i will most likely not paint in a long time, just to prevent ridiculous eBay prices. 

Stopped playing Underworlds, except as a simple boardgame with friends, right after the second wave because of this. 

 

But like the OP said, it's a luxury situation where you have to choose between too many awesome things.

[kenshin620]

Well I certainly prefer more than less!

Compare that to WFB 7th-8th edition which the extra rules really were scarce like Storm of Magic (a completely lopsided extra mode since...well 8th edition magic....) Triumph and Treachery was kind of neat, but this was released like what, the last year or 2 of WFBs life? So despite I think people saying it was fun, not like there was much time for it left.

 

That being said imo find Campaign style expansions a little...timed based(?). It's fun when everyones doing it (around the world) but once the season is over it's quite hard to have a use for those books outside of a tight nit local group. And Skirmish/Path To Glory is still kind of rudimentary.

[Enoby]

I think this is one of the benefits to only being interested in one faction - you're much less likely to go bankrupt ?

[paul7926]

Thanks everyone for the thoughts.

I do agree that it's better to have the choice we have now and not be waiting months/years for anything new to come out.  In an ideal world I'd be able to have the time for everything but that's just not how reality is working for me at the moment.

I think that I'm going to stick with AoS and drop Underworld.  I do like the game but needing every expansion for the cards is not sustainable for me.  Using the same logic I'm going to stop getting Kill Team stuff and gradually move over to full 40k.  I think it's more viable to keep playing Kill Team without needing all of it and it will not be that long before I have enough Marines/Nurgle/DeathWatch to start just playing smaller points 40k anyway.  I do really like Kill Team for the small model count but the campaign progression is not really that interesting and with commanders being added recently it's more 40k-small-model-count than a real skirmish game with character progression.  So I might as well just go 40k and be done with it.

Missing out on things like Blood Bowl and Adeptus Titanicus and Speed Freeks is annoying but in truth they will sit in their boxes most of the time so I'm missing out on playing them anyway.

[Absolution black]

I play the following games:

AoS

Wh40k

Necromunda

Blood Bowl

Kill Team

 

I would say I am pretty 'fanatical' in that I like to have everything for a particular army or game.  I only collect Stormcast Eternals in AoS and since I already have 4000+ points of these I am in no rush to add to them, only picking up a box or character as and when.

Necromunda is on the back burner at the moment but I try and keep up to date with the releases (though I steer clear of Forgeworld), so this isn't too much of a burden.

40k is a system I am just starting out in and will be building an Ork army as and when I can, picking up units off ebay where possible or as of this week, picking up the Speed Freaks game as I am planning a large Evil Sunz contingent!  I picked up my Burna boyz unit and warboss using the Kill team boxes because....

I play Kill Team.  But restricting myself to just Orks. Though I am purchasing the terrain and Kill Zone sets to build up a decent amount of terrain for larger games.  It is these boxes that I struggle to keep up with!

About the only game I am obsessive over is Blood Bowl and pick up every team as they are released. 

I would estimate that I spend about £100-£150 per month on hobby stuff, which isn't bad but it does mean I am lagging behind the release schedule and always playing catch up!

 

 

[CaptainSoup]

I have what I feel is a somewhat unique mindset to collecting and the urge to buy new models. My main focus isn't painting or collecting (though I do enjoy painting my models) but actually playing the game and being a part of the community at large. Due to that I always prioritize playing the game rather than painting. That may sound like sacrilege for some, but in my defense I do at the very least follow a "strict" 3 color minimum for my models before I put them on the table. 

Currently in AoS I have two armies, Fyreslayers and LoN; both of which are fairly new armies I've collected. To help sort of prevent myself from going crazy buying the new expansions, I tell myself to focus on what I have and whenever I decide to get a new army its only after a longer deliberation with myself. Once I do make that decision though I go hard on it and don't stop until I have everything I need to make most army compositions, afterwards I abruptly stop so I can start working on them. My reasoning is I want to start putting a workable, decent army on the table as soon as possible for the sake of playing with the community so I have to buy what I need now. 

Another simpler reasoning I use to control my impulses is the fact that due to me focusing so hard on the community, I have to try and not over-invest in one game if the game isn't popular in my area. Case in point I love Kill Team, but my community doesn't go hard on it so I haven't bothered getting the new Commanders book yet. Why bother if no one is going to play with you?

So while most people try to make sure they don't have backlog of things to paint for the sake of painting, I use my desire to participate in the community as effectively as possible as my reigns from buying too much too fast. 

 

[paul7926]

23 minutes ago, CaptainSoup said:

 

So while most people try to make sure they don't have backlog of things to paint for the sake of painting, I use my desire to participate in the community as effectively as possible as my reigns from buying too much too fast. 

 

I can't do that as people in my area move rapidly from one game to another faster than you can investigate what they are playing.  They also play in several FLGS which means they can jump around all the games out there not just GW ones.  I've bought stuff in the past that they have moved away from before I've even got it out the box! 

It's one of the reasons that I now stick to GW stuff.  There are more players of GW games so I stand a better chance of finding opponents.