Warhammer Fest 2023: What happened & Changes we want to see! 

#GRINdark

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I came from Germany for this, i paid 430 euros in accomodation, and i spent3 days of quees, i didnt get to play any games because i didnt booked the tournaments, and i didnt try the new 40k because i refuse to stand for 3 hours plus. i asked for a refound, it was absolutely not worth it for me and i feel completely ripped off. if i as around the corner sure, but i will never go to another official warhammer fest, i feel dumb for spending this amount of money for this.

I went with my 8yr old boy on the Sunday and he looked at you (in your costume) for a while and said to said "Daddy is that the Scottish Orc lady? Can we go say hello?" and I went "Nah, it can't be!" but I owe him a serious apology 😆

I love how Lukas of Squidmar Miniatures is just chilling at 9:38.

I've gotten into the hobby for almost 6 months now, I had to talk to GW support one time because a seller on Amazon pointed any help inquiries directly there. I bought the Scions of Macragge box to start my Ultramarines collection and Tigurius was missing a leg piece. I checked the box, all of the sprues to see if it fell out and was stuck and couldn't find it, I emailed support, and while not the fasted responses, they straight up sent me an entire Tigurius even though I was asked if there was just an upgrade sprue or something I could take from to use which was unbelievably helpful

Great to see you here 😃

The fact that you got to cosplay as an awesome sister of battle, AND dragged your mum into the photo just warmed my heart, seriously, tears of joy for you!

honestly, you're absolutely right, the best part of the events, the parts of the two games days i went to that i still remember and tell people about, were interacting with studio/BL/ETC staff (getting a book signed by Graham McNeill, embarrassing myself confusing a Juan Diaz sculpt for one done by Jes Goodwin when gushing over Jes' work when i met him out the front, only to be digging my way out of that hole when my friend took over and gushed about the dark eldar sculpts) whilst maybe a tad rambly, those examples are the tings that made/make events priceless, so i'd hope so long as the staff are willing to come to the events, that they aren't sidelined as seems to be the case, as i cant tell you what i bought at the two games days i went to (other than dreadfleet, maybe space hulk) or what i built, but those human experiences are the ones that stick, even something like (!!?) fifteen years later?

It was cool but nerve wracking to submit my first GD entry, and to see you entering yours right next to me - light competition! Kicking myself I didn’t say hi. Amazing models!

You're costume was awesome. You should be allowed to smile while wearing it and enjoying the con. Very interesting stuff about the queues. I think for many the event should have been only a day or two. Very interesting video. Hopefully they make improvements going forward. Keep up the good work.

From working in events, I know they need to keep a lot of space open for attendees to generally walk around (health and safety reasons), which I do feel like was needed especially on Saturday. But it does feel like outside of pre-event ticketed things like the workshops, Kill Team Live or the tournaments, day visitors had not a whole bunch to engage with. Maybe a bigger venue is the solution so they can cram more in? Love the idea of things like a Necromunda area that's all themed etc and a few beginner boards, with other systems getting a small space of their own around the show. Maybe even merging the tournaments into those spaces. Either way, glad you had a great time and it was lovely to chat to you briefly!

Yeah the fest was a bit dull in parts but I had staff go above and beyond for me and they were all incredible and did an amazing job

Got mates texting me going “you and Fi are in the new Rogue Hobbies vid” proper chuffed 😊

Ben is an absolute legend - he would randomly help out at Bugmans when it was rammed even though it wasn’t his job at all. AAAA++++ dude! I didn’t go to Warhammerfest - Thanks for highlighting the set design. It is something I haven’t seen reported on before yet it looks awesome! I hope you’re enjoying your channel as much as I am!

Thank you so much for this review. It's so fair-minded and honest, and I'm extremely grateful that. This channel is such a blessing for the hobby!

Nice surprise to randomly see that one second clip of Ben. I met him at a festival many years ago, i can't even remember which. I remember telling him he is my spirit animal and i had honestly forgotten him (because i quit social media, and in a way the internet. I rarely ever comment or contribute to the internet in any way now - but he's a beaut so thought i'd comment). Glad you had a good time.

Malo Mart never gets old.

I can't stop looking at that wall of vintage paints.

I love your energy!

You looked amazing In the SOB costume .

I found your channel by accident today. I am sad to hear your not at GW anymore, but happy to see your doing well. I also was super sad that I did not run into you at Warhammer fest. Your cosplay looks amazing. keep up the great work!!!

Both black and white hair suits you 🤩

Ha! My hands get a cameo at 9.57! 😁

Great video, glaf you had a blast 😊. It's just a shame GW stopped doing the international Game's Day's around the world. Was good for us hobbyists who'll probs never have the chance to visit the UK.

Great to meet you and spot a wild Mr MLG in the background too 😂😂

I spent 3 hours in a queue to play 20 minutes of 10th and I regret nothing! 😂 You seem to be loving the new venture and the vids are great, look forward to more!

Thank you for the awesome review!

While I’m a filthy USA nerd, having talked to content creators who have been to WHF, I can definitely say that multiple gaming systems set up to play games, would have made the experience, speaking as a 3rd party, probably incredibly enjoyable. Especially when there’s so many to choose from!

great video, really interesting to see a different perspective

Great video thank you! I dropped in with my 12 year old son who’s got into warhammer in the last year. We really enjoyed checking it all out but didn’t get to do the queueing things as he (and I) just didn’t have it in us!

9:38 Casually hanging out with the Squidmar guys?

Queues are awful. My brain just rebels at them. BUT I think the best part of fests is seeing friends. I know every year at larpcon it's just having out with friends from around the country needing out and catching up. Love your enthusiasm.

My offering to the algorithm god :D Great content as always!

Loved the dance!! 😂

So lovely to meet you on the Saturday! Also fabulous video!

Weird, your goody box seems to have less things than mine. I also received the poker chip style tokens and a envelope with 10GBP discount at the convention shop. Free codex was also missing for me.

My greatest memory of an official warhamz event was Alexandra Palace for the (first lol) 13th Black Crusade event - reason why? EVERY CREATOR AND WRITER! Sheesh I got ten minutes solid of geeking out over Storm of Iron (and the kitbashed honsou I had brought with me) with Graham McNeil before getting him to sign that and Warriors of Ultramar, chatting design methods with the Forgeworld creators…. I’d have gotten none of that this year, sure I’d get to see my friends in the Cosplay vibe (shout out to Dyffrig “Iron Warrior” and David “Exeter Cosplay”) but I can geek out with them elsewhere.

As far as I'm aware the code for the codex was only for the £1K tickets. If it was for the premium tickets, I'm missing mine as well! 100% agree with you, I missed a lot the seminars and meet the creators from last Warhammer Fest. Three or four years ago my feeling about the fest was that I missed a lot of thing, thankfully this year I played Warcry tournament on Saturday and a few casual games on Sunday; if I weren't had those games I would probably come back 1 day earlier home even having the hotel and the fest ticket paid.

Absolutely loved your Cosplay! We did the same mistake Louise. Booked our 3-day pass tickets back in November from the Eventbrite app and didn’t see that we had to purchase GD tickets separately. Unlike for you though, the Warhammer team didn’t reply to our email or on Twitter. 🙃 We did received an email offering us to purchase GD tickets the day after we requested a refund, 2 weeks before the event. 😅😂 It was by then too late for us but looking at how the Fest went, not sure if this incident wasn’t for the best in the end.

Keep up the good work, you lovely lady you!

Love the cosplay. The quality of the costumes now blow my mind.

Holy crap, that was you as a Adeptus Sororitas? I was there.

Not sure if Sisters of Battle are -supposed- to smile, but you pulled it off!

Got to say hello to you and a couple of pics of you and and others in your SOB get up looked fab, really enjoyed it but as you say there could have been more things to do, and shame about the queues all in all a good 3 days.

My favorite part of this review was *boat. Which inevitably leads us to this question: Who is the shark?

I would love to make a Warhammer fest or Adepticon, but as you point out travel and accommodation and food are not cheap, and I’m on the west coast of Canada. Trying for Adepticon next year though. Already saving my duckets!

Was that Lucas from squidmar miniatures behind you at the 9:39 mark?

Serves her right for dressing you strange in the 90's - LMAO, love the shots with your mom!

A great shame they are hiding away their creative people. I have incredible fond memories of getting to talk to Jes Goodwin and Jervis Johnson a couple of years a row at a Danish tournament.

Suggs is so damn adorable... XD

If you ever get a extra ticket, now you can use it for a extra for one of your Patrons via some sort of contest ( mini painting)....

I just noticed your paint racks in the background, I HAVE THE EXACT SAME ONES FOR MYSELF! They're great for my ADHD brain, highly reccomend. Which is a good segue actually... when are you going to do a paint studio and supply rundown? :)

It's crazy GW put the IP above the people who make it what it is... The people who are the face of GW are just as big of a draw as golden demon. Meeting Duncan would have blown my mind as a kid when I was first learning to paint. Obviously GW thinks they build creators rather than creators building the brand. The new painting tutorials suck, not because of the painting but because they have had all the personality taken out of them. I'd love to get my books signed by the black library authors, play a game with the battle report guys from warhammer plus or attend a class by you and the new citadel colour masterclass guys. I understand they don't want to build a brand for their staff only for them to leave to go solo on RU-vid but if they didn't suck so much then that wouldn't happen or at least not as often.

I think maybe some Canadian events would be great. it almost feels as though we have been forgotten.

Thanks for promo code for Rogue Trader

Queued for 2.5 hours to play 1 turn of 10th ed lol Your costume was awesome!

Looks like it was fun.

Cosplay brings out the gobbo in you 😂

You make as great SoB.

Other people talked about the Codex code being sent to the email they used when buying the ticket.

Silly question. I just purchased those exact same paint shelves. I have a hang-up about putting holes in my walls. I've tried command strips but they keep falling down. Do you have any tricks to get yours to stay up, or did you just screw them into the wall?

pin is sick, nice one

Gutted I missed you :'(

Damn the tacticus code is taken 😢

The Great British Queue-Off

Howdy, dear! 😘 Awesome vlog! Personally, I would make Warhammer Fest similar to Blizzcon. Your new redesigned layout looks good but, I would also invite more game developers to attend, as well. Well done, LuLu! I cannot wait until your next post. 🍸🧐👍

No MESBG stand? 😢

Really the greatest one ever. Because there are many many videos about how it was a complete disaster popping up.

your cameraman has an amazing voice.

Instead of hosting a 300 person tournament they should have used those tables for demo 40K.

SoB rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :P

A great balanced video, some good ideas. I guess WarFest is becoming a victim of its own success.

It is quite a strange change to get rid of the studio staff. I imagine they were immensely popular. 4 hours queuing I imagine has to be the venue. Like that is pretty severe.

I am a bit emberesed to say but I wish The Adepta Seroritas minis loked/had faces/were smilinig a bit more like you did. Also, yeah there were other online creators that went as fans like you and said there was not enough to do but maybe they are just jaded.

Hi Louise, did you win anything at Golden Demon? Finalist pins or anything?

Needs to go back to the NEC

TL;DR: I'd be very disappointed paying more money now for less than back then in 2005-2011 Games Days. Having gone to four Games Days spread between about 2005-2011, I have to say that all of them sounded much more fun than this. Every store came with a unique store banner to display and a game/scenrio to run (there were so many tables!), there were huge games of Floorhammer with 40k Forge World flyers run people like Jervis Johnson, and authors like Dan Abnett to speak to and get books signed, designers to talk to, even someone 3d modelling live a new (at the time unannounced) Ork Trukk (still on sale today) talking about how the way they design models is becoming more digital. You had Fantasy Flight Games running loads of tables for all the different licenced games and RPGs they did, the video game devlopers not only showing their games but people like Paul Barnett from Mythic doing talks about video game design in relation Warhammer Online AoR. Then there were all the seminars, the event shops (plural) and a free event miniature for everyone (besides different event miniatures to purchse). There were goodie giveaways and all sorts. I still have my free squig mug with coffee magic item rules for 8th ed WFB printed on the side (it could make your troops faster) 😂 I only remember queuing once for 20 mins for a FFG demo of one of their board games and maybe like 10 mins to try Dawn of War or Bloodbowl in the video game section.

If she didn't dress you weird in the nineties she wasn't a proper mum so bless her.

That SoB costume is incredible! Very nice of Alfhild Windrunner to loan it out!

A smiling and cheerful Sister is the most dangerous, since she is content and fulfilled in His grace.

Wish they'd bring back Epic. We used to engage in system assaults by first engaging in space combat with Battlefleet Gothic, then move to the planetary assaults with Epic, then finally fighting select individual battles in 40K. It was simply INCREDIBLE to stretch a campaign out through all those games.

It worries me when there's the lack of designers and pannels. I worry because it feels like a growing trend within the company to not champion their creatives.

great coverage :) speaking as someone that attended one of the NMM classes - it was indeed VERY well done and invaluable! ...I also want to echo the point about much respect being due to the staff there on the weekend, everyone there running things despite the issues did a great job

It is a huge joy seeing you spread your hobby wings. Warhammer Fest looked fun, and you looked smashing in the SoB costume. And Congrats on 55K subs already ❤

Premium tickets weren't £70, they were £140, making it essentially +£100 for the box + t-shirt.

The main issue at WHF2023 was the fact the majority of the space was taken up by tournaments. I'm not sorry for saying this, but a tournament is not what wargaming is ultimately about. Tournaments are the most niche thing about wargaming. If the event organisers would've focused more on the atmosphere and activities rather than rushing around to put any old thing together then it would've been far more successful. Only having a few tables to play 10th edition for 10,000 people per day is ridiculously bad. I probably won't be going to any GW event any time soon. Gamesday was where the heart of Warhammer was. I miss it.

I entered in every Golden Demon back in the day when I was still visiting the Games Day events. Of course I never expected to even survive the first tier of eliminations, but entering as a Golden Demon painter meant that you got into the venue 60 to 90 minutes before the doors opened for the rest of the visitors. Which meant: no queues at *any* stall whatsoever. Coffee with the studio guests before the mayhem started. A great bonus were the looks you got from some of the best painters in Europe waiting next to you, with all their masterpieces delicately packed in padded boxes, while you entered a Tactical Marine you literally carried to the event in your jacket pocket XD.

Im really glad people enjoyed it, even when i didnt. And im sad i didnt, it doesnt give me a kick to moan about things, it was more frustrating giving the benefit of the doubt and feeling dissapointed and let down the more the weekend drew out (and as a solo atendee, it really did draw out!) The cost of travel accomodation and parking for that venue was a real drop compared to previous venues, and the content abailable for three day tickets just wasnt there. It was great the amount of community and social content but it wasnt provided by gamesworkshop it was paying customers! It felt mismanaged, but i have endless respect fornstaff that still got the job done in the midst of all that. I hope that is a wierd aberrant year and next year will return to what made previous games days and warhammer fests so good, and to a venue better suited better located and with some good day management.

By far the happiest review of the day that I've seen. So refreshing. Also, that man's Horus cosplay was 🔥 (as was your SoB costume)

The fact that you gave one of your tickets to your mum is incredibly wholesome. Fantastic

"it probably serves her right for dressing me weird in the 90s" 😂😂😂😂 Great video, loved it!

Sugs, your enthusiasm for the hobby is infectious and a true boon. I worked with Ben at his previous workplace, he's one of the nicest guys on the planet, glad you both had fun 😊

I used to work with Ben in his previous job before he joined GW and he's such a sweetheart. On the rare occasion that I bump into him at Warhammer World he's always full of smiles and hugs. A real credit to the GW brand ❤

I think the crowds would have been tough for me. I get a little claustrophobic and find crowd's tough going, but would love to bring my son one day. Maybe a normal visit to warhammer world will do us. Glad you enjoyed it, great sister of battle outfit. 👍

Great video, glad to hear so many people enjoyed themselves, but hearing a bit more about it makes me miss the old Horus Heresy and Black Library Weekenders which for me were always the pinnacle of GW events.

Sounds like the last few E3's. So crowded you only end up doing like 2 or 3 things in an 8 hour day.

Hi, cashier at the Warhammer Fest store. If I took a drink for every time someone complained about the ques, I wouldn't be typing this. I was there for five days, two days setting it up and three days serving and taking it down, four days working overtime as well. It was bit mis-managed from my own experience and from customer feedback, some people speculated it was done intentionally but that feels a bit farfetched. I'm glad people complained because most people made a joke of the ques but said "I haven't done anything yet but I'm enjoying it". I just appreciate honest feedback. This was my first ever Warhammer event I've ever attended and given what I was told about their statistics of attendance this was the biggest one they've ever had with 20,000+ attendees, which I speculate they vastly underestimated. 10,000 people on Saturday, 6,000 Sunday and 4,000 Monday. Then again I don't know what you do at Warhammer Fest normally so I could be wrong. There was also a lot of thefts as well due to the layout of the store area being poorly designed as well as the 10th edition and store ques ending up at the store exit. I tried to enjoy what I could but having to balance my break with sightseeing it was difficult but did what I could. Heck, I even got to kill a titan and shout "engine kill" in a titan fight, that was pretty cool and seeing the cosplayers. Also if you saw a staff member glaring at you, that was me. Not out of malice I was just trying to figure out if it was you or not and I've been told I have that kind of face sadly.

You basically described exactly how I remember Games Day being. I remember waiting in line for something one year, and an employee had a rolling cart with the Lord of the Rings game on it that we got to demo while we waited, which was great. But by far the biggest thing I will always remember was meeting Studio people; this was right when the big Dark Eldar revamp in 5th edition was happening, and I got to meet Jes freaking Goodwin, Phil Kelly, and even a young Peachy! (I think Adam Troke was there as well?) I'm a giant fan of all things Aeldari, and getting to talk to Jes Goodwin and Phil Kelly, being able to flip through Jes's sketches, was the coolest thing ever to teenage me. I can't imagine not having those sorts of interactions with the creatives.

I've never played Warhammer, never painted a mini, I mostly enjoy the games and the books and the general setting. I'm glad YT suggested your channel to me because it's been an absolute joy! I might be an outsider so... who knows how much my opinion matters lol, but it's pretty disappointing to hear that there wasn't any Warhammer staff or Black Library authors there? It's nice to see other content creators and such but when I've gone to comic con's or other events, my favorite thing is just seeing the people who make my hobby a reality. Seems odd to not have that.