From: Jerry McVicker <gmcvicke@w...>
Date: Wed, 28 May 1997 14:06:25 -0400
Subject: No! THIS is GW bashing! Hehehe.
IN GAMING HALLS, May 27th, 1997 A Declaration By the GAMERS of the WORLD COMMUNITY, In a general game assembled When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one group of Gamers to dissolve the Gaming Bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self evident, that all Gamers are created equal, they the are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are, unambiguous rules, complete rule sets, affordable miniatures and the pursuit of fair and friendly games. That to secure these Rights, Gaming companies are instituted among men, deriving their powers from the consent of the Gamers, that whenever any form of Gaming Company becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Rights of the Gamers to alter, abolish it, institute new games or to purchase from new gaming companies. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Gaming companies should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shewn, that Gamers are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Editions, and Price Raises, pursuing invariable the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Monopoly, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Gaming Companies, and to provide new Games for their future entertainments. Such has been the patient Sufferance of these Gamers; and such is now the Necessity which constrains them to alter their Gaming Company. The History of the President of Games Workshop is a History of repeated injuries and price gouges, all having in direct Object the Establishment of an absolute monopoly over these Gamers. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid World. They have instituted continuous price increases without justification. They have produced miniatures for numbers of years, without change in form and charged a greater price. They have NOT produced miniatures for army books that have been out for years. They have constantly revised editions of games and forced us to buy the latest editions. The changes have been too drastic to allow editions to play together. They have constantly produced miniatures, included with their games that many gamers do not want, but give no allowance to this. They have consistently produced games without complete rules sets, as to allow them to sell us future rules that should have been included. They have consistently produced games for which support is dropped in 18 months. They have produced rule sets that are ambiguous and force us to buy a monthly magazine for "official" answers. They have taken a gaming magazine, added "official" rules and sold us the latest catalogue. They have "promised" that army books would be compatible with the latest edition of Warhammer and then proceed to rewrite them. Thus, forcing us to purchase OUR army books again. They have replaced metal miniatures with plastic ones and either kept the price the same or raised the price. They have reduced the number of "plastic" miniatures in the plastic boxed set, to allow us to "easier field our regiments" but not lowered the price. They have disallowed older "official Citadel" miniatures in tournaments, saying that they are no longer "official" They insist that all miniatures be what you see is what you get, or not allow their use in games. They have made the Rhino model from the same mold for over ten years. Yet they have went form $12.50 US for two to $18.00 US for one. They have produced plastic Terminator models and attempted to sell them for the outrageous price of $6.00 U.S. each. They have put items such as the Forbidden Rod, The Book of Ashur in our games. They have insulted us by saying "if the rules don't cover it, roll a d6", because they have written poor rule sets. They have taken rules from older editions of games and introduced them as "new", in rewritten Army books. They have reduced the number of models in a blister pack from 3 to 2 and raised prices of the packs. They charge outrageous prices for "Special Characters" even though you only get one miniature in the pack, and then disallow them in a tournament games. They remake demon models and raise the price 300%. They make regiments of troops in Fantasy Battle not worth buying, eg. Two Skaven Slaves for $6.00 US for 4 pts. of models in the game. They have given snotty customer service calls, requesting that the "Consumer" say "Please!", when it is clear that they should say "Please!" to us! They have harassed distributors for selling the product they buy as seeing fit. They have harassed store owners for the way they decide to conduct business. They have often said that gamers should use their own models and conversions, but will not allow them in a tournament. They have played games with the consumer, by repurchasing, repackaging and reselling miniatures at a higher price. They have produced a game, Epic 40K, which changed army organization and figure basing, in order to sell us new miniatures. They have lowered the age requirements of their games and their complexity, in order to lure in new gamers at a lower age level. Therefore abandoning the older gamers that have played their games for some time. They have misrepresented their position on the "Current Status" of gaming systems. They have left many gamers without support, because of slowing sales. Which they then reproduce after a number of years with new rules and miniatures. They have added elements of randomness to our games that add nothing to game play, but unbalances things to a greater degree. They have been utterly insensitive to the voices of gamers, their needs or their economic station. They have ignored pleas for justification of price increases and led us to believe it was for "quality" alone. In every stage of these Oppressions we have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only be repeated Injury. A Company, whose Character is thus marked by every act which may define a Monopoly, is unfit to be the Gaming supplier to a free gaming People. We, therefore, the Representatives of the WORLD GAMING COMMUNITY, in General agreement, appealing to the Gamers of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good Gamers of the World, solemnly Publish and Declare, That these Gamers are, and of Right, ought to be, Free and Independent of Games Workshop. That they are absolved from all Allegiance to any rules systems and products they produce, and that all commercial Connection between them and the Company of Games Workshop is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent Gamers, they have full Power to play and buy any games system, with any miniatures they see fit, and to change any rules and any miniatures in order for a better game. Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our games, our fortunes, and our sacred Honor. Signed, Gerald McVicker, Member of the "World Gaming Community" Feel free to copy this and replace it with your name. Send copies to your friends. Make a statement to Games Workshop, send them a copy as well. Let them know, that WE the WORLD GAMING COMMUNITY have the economic power to decide which companies will supply us with out entertainment. Make them remember that they work and cater to our needs, and that we will NOT be slaves to thier prices!