Yesterday I
went into my local GW to pick up some of the new Genestealer Cult
kits. By the time I got there, a whole two hours after opening, there
was one box of Acolyte Hyrbrids/Metamorphs left on the shelf which I
bought and spent the next hour chatting with the staffers and
watching the disappointment on the faces of later customers.
In truth, I
didn't go in for the Acolyte kit. My original plan was to start with
the Neophyte Hybrids and work my way up the generations from the most
human to the least so I could experiment with the alien elements as I
went along. Instead it looks like I'll be taking the opposite path
and built these Acolytes as Metamorphs and work my way down the
generations towards the Neophytes.
I don't
mind, I'm quite looking forward to these models, they look lovely and
I have a fair idea what I want to do with the flesh and chitin
elements.
No, rather
what interests me is that they sold so well. I'm not surprised, this
is one of those armies like Mechanicus and Deathwatch that hobbyists
have been wanting for years. At this point I think the wishlist is
complete barring Sisters of Battle (one can always dream...).
However, they were sold out in the store, they were all but sold out
on the website (only the Neophytes were available to order when I
checked that morning) which goes to prove that things not wearing
layer upon layer of power armour can
sell.
Now,
I like Space Marines fine. I've had a couple of Space Marine armies
and I absolutely want a Deathwatch force but I have to admit I don't
like how they dominate the game and the background. They are, in
short, a bit dull. They have a very simple and uniform design
aesthetic; they don't vary much in personality or personal history;
and there are just so many of those armies around you end up playing
a lot of Space Marine against Space Marine games in a club
environment.
I
don't doubt that fewer kits were pressed for this release than the
Deathwatch release a couple of weeks backs but I do hope that the
very fact they sold so well online (since I can't really judge from
one shop's selling out how they did at retail) is a sign that GW can
make some decent money on things that aren't just more Space Marines.
Who
knows, is things like Mechanicus and Genestealer Cults can be a
success maybe we'll finally get those Steel Legion/Valhallan
Guardsmen in great coats that have been rumoured since the year dot.
