So for years I heard bits and pieces as to what was going on at GW around the time Rick and Andy (and others) left the company, and why people generally hated Kirby, how GW became a company mainly interested in selling plastic, and how Gorkamorka almost broke GW. Well, the reasons how it all came about are here in these two interesting articles:
https://www.goonhammer.com/what-happened-to-gorkamorka-part-one-gorkers-and-morkers/https://www.goonhammer.com/what-happened-to-gorkamorka-part-two-the-hulk/I really have no idea if this is true, but I heard when Andy left, it was because he called some people c*nts and asked them when the last time any of them picked up a paint brush, so something to that effect. If it is true it was probably directed at the Sales team. I heard that Andy had written a new edition of 40k that was completely different than anything that came before it, and management said no, they did not want such drastic changes. I am guessing this was the sales team saying no.
The failure of Epic 40k had a big impact too, as it was Sales that killed the plastic version of Warmaster. Also, aside from one offs here and there, like Battlefleet Gothic and Dreadfleet, the vast majority of GW games sit in the 28mm range, something Sales also ruled on. I believe it was also them who pushed the 8 page or so rulebook for 40k 8th edition - as Rick has put it - Jervis created the rules based on the
parameters he was given.
So as a long time gamer who has been playing GW since Rogue Trader, these articles really fill in the gap on how GW evolved and got where it is today. Many might know all this already but I never really dived into the details, as much of it was online forum rumors anyway. But it all really makes sense now, and while GW is so massive today, pushing out far more product that I ever imagined it could, I have felt for many years that GW has lost some magic so to speak. The massive volume being released means few games last for long in the gaming circles. But also, I got into these games with friends and we spent a lot of time reading articles and getting to know the designers, who provided a lot of help and inspiration on how to play their games. Now I just feel Sales drives what they think will sell, and White Dwarf markets it all, and we end up with a hollow giant pile of shame. It all looks great there is no denying that, and had you not been around in the early days of GW, you might not understand its early appeal. I do believe the era of 4th ed WFB to 40k 2nd ed, through to Epic Space Marine and Necromunda to Mordheim, and WFB 5th was the Golden era for GW. I do believe 40k 3rd and WFB 6th were amazing too, but they begin the grimdark era, and don't quite feel like the same company. When I think of the games that were released during those Golden years, and how I still love them today, says a lot about what those designers were able to do with a free hand. The games came first, not the minis.
