Heya

I have a some games coming up and decided to use my Night Goblins, only problem is that the army is unfinished and needs some more models before its done.

Not having bought any GW models for over a year i went online to see how much a few models would cost.

I was amazed by the insane price increase from 1 year ago, £18 for 5 squig hoppers? the last pack of 4 i bought cost, from memory £6 or £8. How can anyone afford to carry on playing when the cost of units has more than doubled? Orc Boar boys... £35.. for 5? or £9 for 3 orc arrer boys, Thats £3 for a 6 point model... its madness, what would have cost me maybe £30 a year ago is not going to cost me well over £50.

Is there anyway i can buy/make the following units cheaply? Are there alternative model makers that dont charge so much?

Squig Hoppers.
Squig Herds
Pump Wagons

I am at a loss to be honest, i mean affording the models was always a bit of stretch but now i have been priced completely out of the market. I have tried ebay, and the prices are not much better and the lots are tiny in terms of model numbers, it would take weeks of constant bidding on "1 squig hopper" lots to get enough troops.

Any ideas?

Hi

for squiqs you could use these:http://z3.invisionfree.com/Orc__Goblin_Warpath/index.php?showtopic=25118&st=0&#last

For pumpwagon wel look for a second hand chariot or so and some snotling and off you go. Pumpwagons are very easy to make a scratch build version.

Greetz
G

I know what you mean, the prices have really gotten out of hand. Have you checked out bits and kits or the bitz box for parts? failing that have a look at maelstrom games they do free shipping on orders over £10 and give a 10% discount, they also do money back so you can save points for free orders.

Nice idea with the furry little critter models, only thing is i play in a GW store.... so they may nt allow the use of non-GW models.

There are several sites that sell the models at a slight discount but none of them discount enough for you to make any real saving unless you buy in bulk, say order your whole army in one hit, then the 10% and free shipping really kicks in.

I suppose i struggle with why the prices have be to raised so much, it costs like 6 pence to make a model and they sell that model for £3-8. I dont know ANYONE outside of full-time employment who could even consider buying models on a regular basis at that cost. And, certainly where i live.... with us being in a global rescission very very few people have jobs.

The models used to be priced just about right, a kid could save up and buy a regiment once a month, or a blister every 2 weeks ect, combined with Birthdays, treats from relatives, xmas ect a 14 year old could have a 2k army in 2-6 months, dependant on family finances. Now with mos costs more than doubled i dont see that happening.

lets take the Squig hoppers as an example. A 14 year old kid wants a unit of em, 5 years ago he would have got maybe £5 a week pocket money, at the end of the month he buys 3 blisters for £18 and gets 12 hoppers. Nowdays after a month of saving he buys some hoppers for £18 and gets.... 5. you need 7 at least for a proper unit, so its gonna take him TWO MONTHS to buy 10 models and get a 150 point special choice.... what kid is gonna want to get into a hobby where it will take him 6 months to a year to get a basic 1000 point army?

or lets look at Spear Chukka's, a fairly essential part of many Orc and Gobbo armies, from memory they used to be £6, then £8, then £10 now they are £12. So, with a bit of help from mum and dad and by doing some more chores our "kid" could get 4 of em in a month, thats two special choices for his army!, now it will not cost him £24 it will cost home £48.... thats £12 for a 35 point unit.

I fear that if GW keep this up than they wont have any new players at all and it will become a game populated entirely by a fading cadre of ageing gamers, the only ones left who can afford to play.

I also think its sad that many of the little "specialist" games get ignored in-store so much now. I remember playing Gorka Morka in the store and bloodbowl both fantastic games, Gorka Morka in particular drew a vast number of young players to the game in my area. Without these little simple and much much cheaper games to "hook" prospective players into getting into the hobby without needed to invest in tons of paints and models i worry about the future of the hobby.

My, you are on a downer at the moment. It all depends on how much you enjoy the hobby at the end of the day. In my view it would be better to buy a few models per month than none at all and enjoy painting what I buy.
unfortunately prices will always rise and keep rising, I remember when a comic book used to cost me 20p now I'm lucky if I can get one below £2.50, I buy the essentials and download the rest (naughty I know, but times are hard)
keep trying ebay or maybe check out bartertown, put up a post or two on the market place on the warhammer forum, there's lots of options.