The new plastic minis remind me of the figures that were in the fantasy regiments boxed sets which were released many years ago and even the psychostyrene dwarfs that were GWs first plastic figures.

But the figures are meant to be rank and file and I don't really care all that much if the detail is not great as they will not be seen in isolation. I think the command groups and characters are much more important and are usually supplied as metal minis, purchased separately of course.

I will probably end up getting this set as I have all the other WHFB editions but the 4th & 5th came from e-bay for a lot less than from GW they still haven't been taken off the sprues so no rush.

I do the same thing myself, but you are using the miniatures for something they were not really designed for.

I think the idea is a good one, I started gaming with Warhammer 1st Edition and Forces of Fantasy and it took me ages to get any sort of army (pocket money & metal minis didn't go very far ). To have two reasonable armies in the game to start with is good and they are better quality than say the Fantasy Warriors figs which was the same idea.

I agree that it would be better to have more variety in poses but GW as usual try to keep costs as low as possible. As for the multi part plastic figures I thought they were hit and miss. I really like the night goblins and Dark Elves but thought the Dwarfs and Skaven didn't really sit together all that well.

i use zap a gap green for my minis.
as for the new GW minis.
well we kinda knew this would happen eventually.
since all the great mini designers have left the standard has dropped. However in line with a previous comment, this is a starter set. i agree the new dwarves and gobbos are awful but they are for starters.
i play chaos and woodelves my self and the wood elves were re done last year. and they looked ok. aslo take this as a chance to show YOUR modelling skills. Paint, modifiy and make it a better model
thats why we are called modellers.

I bought the set, and am currently painting the dwarfs. I'd say they are about the level of detail you'd find in that eight-figure set for Warhammer Quest. As they are assembled in one piece, they also have a lot of "filler" plastic on the inside, such as the large mass behind the shield that connects it to the body.

There is a "you get what you pay for" aspect about this, and I have to say I'm happier buying the box set with the micro rulebook than pay $50 for the hardcover. With most of the rules the same as the previous edition, and duplicates of the color photos appearing in this month's White Dwarf, I'm not sure I'll ever pick it up.

For the first time this past weekend I popped into a GW store and gave the new boxed set a close look. I'm surprised to say this, but the dwarves really are not very good. COuld I sculpt them? No way, not in ten years. But I've come to expect more from GW. Tjis is a big step back from prior versions of these minis.

The gobbos are okay - not fantastic, not dreck. They would make fine rank and file which is what they are supposed to be. And while Grump buys minis for RPGs it's only fair that GW doesn't make their minis for that, so I won't judge them the way I would a mini that is supposed to stand on it's own like one used for RPGs.

Funny, I was so distracted by how bland the dwarves were and how cool the spiders were, I didn't even see a cannon.

The spiders were terrific. I really liked them. I was just getting into WFB back when the edition was changing and the forest gobbos (and their spiders) were discontinued. But I remember lamenting not being able to buy and use those old figs. These are so much better.

The rulebook was nice, and I agree, I would't buy the hardback.

My take on the set: the spiders (and 10 of them, not 5 like I was expecting) are going to end up in a $35 boxed unit set. And worth the price. That's $3.50 each with rider and base, not bad by today's standards at all (extra good considering GW's metal prices per fig).

So if you buy the set for $45 you are paying $35 for the spiders, and $10 for the small rule booklet. The rest is free. If you sold it en mass on ebay for $10 for all the dwarves, and $10 for all the other gobbos, you would substantially reduce the price of the rules. And if you don't like the spiders (have no use for them) they would probably fetch $20 easy. Bringing the cost of the rules down to a $5 spot.

Of course, that said, I didn't buy the box.

I found myself trying to talk myself INTO buying, and normally, it's the other way around. I came to my senses and figured if I had to con myself into it, I could pass and not regret it.

Steve

Oh, don't get me wrong, I've been a fan of their fantasy game since the edition of the game that came with plastic goblins and elves. I've played many enjoyable games since then, but almost all of them using the older rules (back when you used Winds of Magic cards for your manna). I was not fond of the dice pool change, nor were my friends.

But I haven't played Warhammer Fantasy in over 3 years, so while I would LIKE to have the newer rules (just to keep current) I'm trying to be more logical and tell myself that those funds would be better off going into something else that my friends WILL play.

Since I have a large greenskin army, and love the gobbos, and want those spiders, it really does make sense for me to get the boxed set, just for the spiders and rules. I'm just going to hold off for now.

I can't tell you how happy I was to read that you also have a greenskin army. My resolve was weakening, and I would have suggested that I buy the box NOW and then meet you and swap all my dwarfs for all your gobbos. Whew! Crisis averted