So Games Workshop has really upped the release speed of their codices and army lists, so much that something new seems to be coming out every month. Here we are now halfway through the year with the Eldar out about a month ago for 40K, and rumours of Apocalypse and Space Marines around the corner (with, of course, the requisite models in addition to the books). I’ve been reading on other blogs and forums of people half-jokingly lamenting the state of their bank accounts, but there’s an undercurrent of a very real situation of 40K players being not just forced to choose carefully what they buy, but being overwhelmed by choice. Some may argue that this is a good place to be, that GW is finally filling in the gaps that needed filling for so long. But is it really a good thing?
For me personally, I don’t think so. Historically, I’ve been excited about every new release, even for the armies I don’t play and have no intention of collecting. I loved seeing the cool models, the new art, the new rules. But somewhere on the way to the release of the Eldar, it changed. Excitement faded, and whatever remained became just a bit tinged with despair. The frantic release schedule turned into the relentless hammering of: Buy! Buy more! Buy even more! You need all this stuff to play the game!
I know it’s not really true (especially that last sentence), but that’s what it felt like. And frankly, I have to admit, the hammering is beginning to flatten my enthusiasm for 40K. I very much want to keep up with this game, but I don’t even intend to buy most of this stuff and I still feel overwhelmed.
It’s turned into an avalanche and I’m getting buried. And it’s just halfway through the year. We haven’t even got to Apocalypse and the Space Marines yet…