Talking super-heavies in a broader sense, I brought my exotic model collection into Battlegrounds Sunday for inspection. I thought I’d show Derek and Chase the infamous ‘frisbee,’ and get their thoughts. We bounced a lot of questions and standards for non-standard models back and forth. I’d like to throw them out with opinions as to plausible answers.
1) Is it table worthy? Is it a good looking well built model that looks like it belongs in a war zone? There is general agreement on a low end standard… the KFC bucket and toilet paper roll model was not up to snuff. I might set the next higher standard. Does it look like it came from a hobby shop rather than a toy store? I shall note that all my exotics actually did come from a hobby store. I don’t know that kits from Revell or Tamiya are of any lower quality than GW’s. It matters a good deal if one takes the time to assemble and paint them well.
Scratch builds might be harder to judge. I am inclined to judge a true scratch build generously. Someone who can make something built from scratch stand up to a professional kit standard will get respect and a generous grade from me. I’ll give a special nod to Paul with last year’s lamp shade Stompas and this year’s open topped Baneblade. Someone who combines solid work with good results deserves a place on the table.
2) Is it WYSIWYG? When you put it down, can one immediately recognize it for what it is? There might be multiple levels of recognition. One might easily recognize Paul’s efforts as Orc Stompas, but not be able to trivially recognize which data sheet belongs to which Stompa. One might recognize Deep Dive Marine’s model as a superheavy flyer with lots of troop carrying capacity, but have to ask if he is playing it as a Thunderhawk. My saucer might be easily recognized as a superheavy skimmer with big guns, but again one wouldn’t be able to specifically identify which data sheet. Even Jester’s Harbinger of Change might be easily recognizable as a Chaos baneblade variant, but as the unofficial data sheet doesn’t include a picture, will it be indisputably WYSIWYG?
I’d like to lobby for a less than absurd standard in WYSIWYG. I think the general capability of a model has to be immediately obvious, but let’s not get crazy with it. If one is putting down a custom model, if someone asks a question or asks to to see a data sheet, the model’s owner should answer the question or show him the sheet. We’ve been doing this in prior years. I’d like to see it continue.
3) Is the model the right size? Can one figure out the front, side and rear facing? I’m going to highlight my saucer to make the rear quadrant easier to identify. I’ll admit that my fighters are small, thus I’m obliged to add a few inches to any enemy attacker’s range. (I’d like to put my models next to a Forgeworld version to peg precisely how many inches.) I’m willing to work with people to be fair. I’m not pleased by those who won’t work with others, who just seem to be looking for excuses to ruin other people’s day.
4) Is it as expensive as a Forge World model? A few players have spent big bucks. They seem to get anal at the thought that other players can have as much fun on a smaller budget. I have little sympathy. I believe we have allowed reasonable proxies of quality in past years and should continue to do so.
5) Some players just don’t like a given model for arbitrary and subjective reasons, go anal, and set out to do what they can to ruin the other guy’s fun. I’ll note Deep Dive Marine’s thunderhawk and my ‘frisbee’ as two such models that have triggered this effect. My response to DDM’s thunderhawk was ‘oh wow,’ while others developed allergy symptoms. I understand that there is some element of taste, but don’t think we should get in the habit of snubbing hobbyists with a strong concept and who put a lot of work into making their ideas table worthy.
While Derek and Chase have blessed my collection as table worthy and WYSIWYG, they expressed a desire to avoid controversy. Thus, they intend to ask around to see if there are objections. If someone disagrees with the standards I set above, and wishes to set a higher standard my models do not meet, fine, so long as any such higher standards are specific enough to be applied to everybody. For example, do we want to set a hard firm criteria about matching size?
On the other hand, I don’t know that the best way to avoid controversy would be to allow a subjective objection from one faction to remove the other team’s models. That seems a hazardous path.
With regard to the Harbinger of Change… I was almost ready to bless it at 500 points. At 600, no problem from me. If you might show hatches sealed shut somehow, with colors and emblems of the appropriate Chaos power, I’d be entirely content.
