There are certain phrases that get bandied about in the 40k Community, and at this point they are quite annoying to me.
This one gets me every time:
'40k is a beer and pretzels game, it was never meant to be played competitively.'
Usually another favorite of mine can be found lurking in the same thread/post/comment section:
'You're ruining the game.'
Nowadays, I simply make this face -_- and see an internet meme in my head:
*Cuz one good cliche deserves another, right?*
....Sigh.
Still, I keep reading these things. Why? Because, well....they amuse me.
DON'T YOU JUDGE ME!
I just love a bad argument, I suppose...
Every so often, these train wrecks devolve past the 'Fluffy vs. WAAC' hissy fits and get a lil' more personal.
I suppose this is a completely unsurprising thing, considering where these arguments occur.
The internet has given people from every corner of the globe a place to gather and discuss our interests....and bicker about them.
And, y'know...download stuffs.
;)
*Like tentacle hentai, natch*
When it comes to things like terrain, lists, and style of play, every once in a while sides get taken.
These three topics are sure to lead to some, uh...heated debate, no matter where they get discussed, but one thing is pretty clear: gamers on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean have some differences in opinion.
When a 'Fluffy vs. WAAC' argument gets really outta hand, this is the bottom of the barrel.
Suddenly everybody is a patriot, everybody is a historian, monocles are knocked off of noses and Budweisers are deliberately spilled in contempt.
It's tragically funny, actually.
The old 'Team America' quotes and 'who bailed who outta WWII' accusations just never get old, do they?
These three topics are sure to lead to some, uh...heated debate, no matter where they get discussed, but one thing is pretty clear: gamers on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean have some differences in opinion.
When a 'Fluffy vs. WAAC' argument gets really outta hand, this is the bottom of the barrel.
Suddenly everybody is a patriot, everybody is a historian, monocles are knocked off of noses and Budweisers are deliberately spilled in contempt.
It's tragically funny, actually.
The old 'Team America' quotes and 'who bailed who outta WWII' accusations just never get old, do they?
*Internet meme sez NO*
Seeing as how I've spent my entire Xenos life living in the country known as America (including my pupal and larval phases), and I'm a 40k player to boot, I feel I have a unique perspective to offer.And I intend to do so...cuz this is the internet, and we do that here.
Nyah.
:P
This is in no way intended to perpetuate any arguments, differences of opinion, or stereotypes.
But if it does, well...whatevs.
I'm here for teh lolz.
Obviously I can only provide an 'American' viewpoint, and I realize even saying that might cause a few hackles to rise.
....Breathe easy, these are mostly jokes. Relax and have fun, this'll go easier for both of us.
*That's what SHE said......wait, what?*Firstly, I have to address a common misconception. Europeans commonly refer to the people of my home country as 'Americans,' but that's not how it's said here at all.
When we say 'I'm American,' it's actually two words combined. What we mean is 'I'm a 'merican.'
Here in 'merica, we don't play that pansy-ass 'proper enunciation' shit.
Get it right, Europeans.
Sheesh.
...moving on.
Another thing we do here in 'merica occasionally is to take a shine to something that's not from here, and adopt it.
'Oooh, it's nifty. It's different, cuz it's not from here...but that makes it cool, see?'
Things that are not from here have a certain charm, a certain appeal to us. If whatever it is that's not from here has a broad enough appeal (read as: marketability), we'll adopt it and make it our own.
Inevitably, we'll end up turning it 'merican.
The reverse is also true, however.
If someone that's not from here has a whatever it is, and they wanna make money (which ironically appeals to mostly everyone everywhere), they might just 'merican-ize it and market it here.
40k has seen a pretty big dose of 'mericanization, of that there's no doubt.
There was an evolution that bought us here, however, and I'm pretty sure GW is as much to blame as us 'mericans.
Cuz, y'know, making money appeals to everyone, everywhere.
Games Workshop undeniably has an almost 'merican ability to take various stuffs from various genres and somehow make them more than the sum of their parts.
Hell, a certain videogame company here in 'merica pretty much stole all of their IP's and made billion dollar franchises out of them. While I'm sure there's some kinda cosmic irony at work there, this gets largely overlooked...since it pales in comparison to some of the thefts 'merica has perpetrated in it's history.
And besides, we forgive them cuz of Diablo, right?
;)
The only thing I've ever witnessed GW pull off with perfect form was the whole 'Dawn of War' thing.
Releasing in the same year as a new edition (4th), with a Black Library series of tie-in novels and an actual decent 'starter set' (Battle for Macragge) the whole kit 'n kaboodle was a pretty good move on GW's part.
That was in 2004.
Since then, 40k has grown quite a bit in popularity on this side of the pond, and if anything, GW has made some moves that helped 'mericanize it.
They've also 'mercianized themselves, in a way, dropping the 'quaint' way of doing things and adopting a more 'merican business stance.
Gone are the specialist games, the old-school 'wacky charm,' and many other elements that screamed not from here.
They've made every GW release since 2004 shinier, bigger, more 'splodey. They know us 'mericans are suckers for that stuffs.
4th edition also saw the Space Marines get a makeover in 2005, and the first Horus Heresy novels in 2006. GW was cleverly setting the stage for the next phase of 'mericanization.
The first 'Ard Boyz Tournaments were held in 2007, I believe.
GW seemed to be embracing the change.
Enter 5th edition.
Droppin' bombs in a true 'merican fashion, 5th edition hit with a 'new, improved' Space Marine Codex in 2008.
*Kaboom*
Hello TLOS, troops that run and go to ground. Hello cheap transports for every army and MSU.
Hello to the only 3 missions and 3 deployment types you'll ever need.
How 'bout a pocket size rulebook (perfect for Tournaments!) that omits annoying, mostly irrelevant fluff completely?
GW came up with that idea, folks. Remember that.
Because a few short years later, I think 40k has come to a crossroads of sorts.
Certain things GW has done in the last few years makes me think they're unsure of where they want 40k to go, and unsure of where they're going themselves.
Guys like Andy Chambers, Alessio Cavatore and Graham McNeill went away, for whatever reason.
In 2009 GW decided to pay some lip service to the old guard with the re-release of Space Hulk, and have re-introduced a bit of 'cheekiness' with the return of both Marbo in the IG Codex and Jokearo Weaponsmiths in GK.
Jervis Johnson is a big ol' curmudgeon who grumps about stuffs in the back of White Dwarf like Andy Rooney in 60 Minutes.
Just when we thought things like the INAT FAQ, Nova Missions, and the death of Comp events were inevitably going to be the norm, GW decides to return to the Tournament scene with Throne of Skulls.
These same people hired Matt Ward and Robin Cruddace to rape the fluff so many held dear.
When we say 'I'm American,' it's actually two words combined. What we mean is 'I'm a 'merican.'
Here in 'merica, we don't play that pansy-ass 'proper enunciation' shit.
Get it right, Europeans.
Sheesh.
...moving on.
Another thing we do here in 'merica occasionally is to take a shine to something that's not from here, and adopt it.
'Oooh, it's nifty. It's different, cuz it's not from here...but that makes it cool, see?'
Things that are not from here have a certain charm, a certain appeal to us. If whatever it is that's not from here has a broad enough appeal (read as: marketability), we'll adopt it and make it our own.
Inevitably, we'll end up turning it 'merican.
*Whether or not that's a good thing is debatable. 'merican TV needs moar tentacles, imho*
The reverse is also true, however.
If someone that's not from here has a whatever it is, and they wanna make money (which ironically appeals to mostly everyone everywhere), they might just 'merican-ize it and market it here.
*Sometimes it really works out and there's no debate at all...Shakira needs tentacle lovin'*
40k has seen a pretty big dose of 'mericanization, of that there's no doubt.
There was an evolution that bought us here, however, and I'm pretty sure GW is as much to blame as us 'mericans.
Cuz, y'know, making money appeals to everyone, everywhere.
Games Workshop undeniably has an almost 'merican ability to take various stuffs from various genres and somehow make them more than the sum of their parts.
Hell, a certain videogame company here in 'merica pretty much stole all of their IP's and made billion dollar franchises out of them. While I'm sure there's some kinda cosmic irony at work there, this gets largely overlooked...since it pales in comparison to some of the thefts 'merica has perpetrated in it's history.
And besides, we forgive them cuz of Diablo, right?
;)
The only thing I've ever witnessed GW pull off with perfect form was the whole 'Dawn of War' thing.
Releasing in the same year as a new edition (4th), with a Black Library series of tie-in novels and an actual decent 'starter set' (Battle for Macragge) the whole kit 'n kaboodle was a pretty good move on GW's part.
That was in 2004.
Since then, 40k has grown quite a bit in popularity on this side of the pond, and if anything, GW has made some moves that helped 'mericanize it.
They've also 'mercianized themselves, in a way, dropping the 'quaint' way of doing things and adopting a more 'merican business stance.
Gone are the specialist games, the old-school 'wacky charm,' and many other elements that screamed not from here.
They've made every GW release since 2004 shinier, bigger, more 'splodey. They know us 'mericans are suckers for that stuffs.
*Draigowing...FUCK YEAH!*
4th edition also saw the Space Marines get a makeover in 2005, and the first Horus Heresy novels in 2006. GW was cleverly setting the stage for the next phase of 'mericanization.
The first 'Ard Boyz Tournaments were held in 2007, I believe.
GW seemed to be embracing the change.
Enter 5th edition.
Droppin' bombs in a true 'merican fashion, 5th edition hit with a 'new, improved' Space Marine Codex in 2008.
*Kaboom*
Hello TLOS, troops that run and go to ground. Hello cheap transports for every army and MSU.
Hello to the only 3 missions and 3 deployment types you'll ever need.
How 'bout a pocket size rulebook (perfect for Tournaments!) that omits annoying, mostly irrelevant fluff completely?
GW came up with that idea, folks. Remember that.
Because a few short years later, I think 40k has come to a crossroads of sorts.
Certain things GW has done in the last few years makes me think they're unsure of where they want 40k to go, and unsure of where they're going themselves.
Guys like Andy Chambers, Alessio Cavatore and Graham McNeill went away, for whatever reason.
In 2009 GW decided to pay some lip service to the old guard with the re-release of Space Hulk, and have re-introduced a bit of 'cheekiness' with the return of both Marbo in the IG Codex and Jokearo Weaponsmiths in GK.
Jervis Johnson is a big ol' curmudgeon who grumps about stuffs in the back of White Dwarf like Andy Rooney in 60 Minutes.
Just when we thought things like the INAT FAQ, Nova Missions, and the death of Comp events were inevitably going to be the norm, GW decides to return to the Tournament scene with Throne of Skulls.
These same people hired Matt Ward and Robin Cruddace to rape the fluff so many held dear.
*Wanted: Dead or Alive. Preferably dead*
GW also started leveling legal actions against a lot of 3rd party product makers, forgot to make models for many Codex entries, introduced Finecast, decided yearly price increases were mandatory, and gave a big ol' middle finger to Australia.
They also thought Dreadfleet was a good idea, and maybe went a lil' overboard on the whole Space Marine trip.
Not even gonna mention the LoTR games, but let the record show that neither myself, nor anyone I know personally has seen this game played in 'merica.
Now from a purely 'merican perspective, it would seem that GW is a little unsure of how to proceed, and 6th edition 40k is approaching.
Fantasy 8th edition was a pretty big fail, and seemed like a backwards step for GW. Did they try to appease both the 'mericans, by making it bigger and more 'splodey, or are they trying to return to the 'quaint charm' of old-school gaming with wackiness like random assault lengths?
'Ha! You rolled snake eyes and came up short! You just lost! It's so wacky!'
-_-
I wonder if 6th edition 40k will include 'living terrain' rules, cuz that seemed to go over big...
This does not bode well for 40k, which has seen an increase in standard games size from 1500 points to 2000 points in a single edition, and has increased the model count and cost of building an army thanks to the 'troop plus transport' mechanic.
Yeah, I'd definitely say that GW has been showing signs of multiple personality disorder in the last few years, and I can only wonder whether their 'mericanization is the cause or the result.
In all honesty, you'd never see this kinda behavior from a purely 'merican miniature gaming company. Look no further than the infamous Privateer Press 'page 5' if you'd like an example of how we roll here.
But GW's is not from here, so...I'm at a loss.
So is GW, from my somewhat skewed Xenos/American perspective. 40k is at a crossroads, design-wise, and maybe the company's hold on a big chunk of 'merican gaming, as well.
Should 40k 6th edition turn out to be a big pile of fail similar to Fantasy 8th, other systems that are already nipping at GW's heels could make huge gains here.
PP and Wyrd are hometown boys. We love a hometown boy, and have a thing for underdogs, ya know.
I've talked to 'merican hobbyists that are brand new to gaming, and some have never played 40k. They came in on another system, and were leery about GW as a company.
The price of entry, and the long time between releases and updates were their two main complaints.
Remember, here in 'merica, GW products only occupy a certain percentage of shelf space in the FLGS, and you can't buy their products online from anyone except them, without resorting to some 'call for pricing' shenanigans.
GW introduced that policy in 2003...go figure.
The rumors about 6th edition, and the plethora of Codexes 'in the pipeline' are coming at a daily rate on some websites, and GW, as always, is doing little build anticipation, hype or anything that even closely resembles 'marketing.'
*sigh*
It's downright un-'merican.
;)
Until next time folks- HAVE A VERY XENOS DAY!
-SinSynn
P.S.- If they let Cruddace write the new Tau book, I swear by the holy tentacles of Cthulhu they will FEEL MY WRATH!
They also thought Dreadfleet was a good idea, and maybe went a lil' overboard on the whole Space Marine trip.
Not even gonna mention the LoTR games, but let the record show that neither myself, nor anyone I know personally has seen this game played in 'merica.
Now from a purely 'merican perspective, it would seem that GW is a little unsure of how to proceed, and 6th edition 40k is approaching.
Fantasy 8th edition was a pretty big fail, and seemed like a backwards step for GW. Did they try to appease both the 'mericans, by making it bigger and more 'splodey, or are they trying to return to the 'quaint charm' of old-school gaming with wackiness like random assault lengths?
'Ha! You rolled snake eyes and came up short! You just lost! It's so wacky!'
-_-
I wonder if 6th edition 40k will include 'living terrain' rules, cuz that seemed to go over big...
This does not bode well for 40k, which has seen an increase in standard games size from 1500 points to 2000 points in a single edition, and has increased the model count and cost of building an army thanks to the 'troop plus transport' mechanic.
Yeah, I'd definitely say that GW has been showing signs of multiple personality disorder in the last few years, and I can only wonder whether their 'mericanization is the cause or the result.
In all honesty, you'd never see this kinda behavior from a purely 'merican miniature gaming company. Look no further than the infamous Privateer Press 'page 5' if you'd like an example of how we roll here.
But GW's is not from here, so...I'm at a loss.
So is GW, from my somewhat skewed Xenos/American perspective. 40k is at a crossroads, design-wise, and maybe the company's hold on a big chunk of 'merican gaming, as well.
Should 40k 6th edition turn out to be a big pile of fail similar to Fantasy 8th, other systems that are already nipping at GW's heels could make huge gains here.
PP and Wyrd are hometown boys. We love a hometown boy, and have a thing for underdogs, ya know.
I've talked to 'merican hobbyists that are brand new to gaming, and some have never played 40k. They came in on another system, and were leery about GW as a company.
The price of entry, and the long time between releases and updates were their two main complaints.
Remember, here in 'merica, GW products only occupy a certain percentage of shelf space in the FLGS, and you can't buy their products online from anyone except them, without resorting to some 'call for pricing' shenanigans.
GW introduced that policy in 2003...go figure.
The rumors about 6th edition, and the plethora of Codexes 'in the pipeline' are coming at a daily rate on some websites, and GW, as always, is doing little build anticipation, hype or anything that even closely resembles 'marketing.'
*sigh*
It's downright un-'merican.
;)
Until next time folks- HAVE A VERY XENOS DAY!
-SinSynn
P.S.- If they let Cruddace write the new Tau book, I swear by the holy tentacles of Cthulhu they will FEEL MY WRATH!
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