Hi all, i was wondering what the deal with the saurus box is. I mena, why does it come with 16? Its just stupid, and i was wondering if anyone had any ideas as to GW would screw players over like this. Also what to do with the other Saurus, because i'll be using mine in 15s or 18s. Maybe, if youget 3 boxes, have 2 f 15 and one of 18? This isn't really expected to go anywhee, more of a rant really. But seriously, if you know why GW would do such a thing, then please, share. Please. Thanks
16 infantry models is simply the way GW produces them, in four sprues of four bodies. It is a number that is not at all useful to players, however it is just about ease of manufacture. In essence, GW doesn't care about us getting the unit sizes we will actually use in battle.
They were in 16 when I started playing LM in 6th, then it was only 4 models to make a rank so maybe that has something to do with it. I don't think GW are "screwing people over", we'd all love 20+ saurus models in a box but GW still wanna be making money I guess. If you're running 15 then buy a box and do a little conversion and extra time on the paint job on the extra guy and run him as a scar-vet - so you'd be saving money!
I wouldn't complain as much about saurus as I would about skinks or orc boys. Skinks don't even come with enough blowpipes.. and orc boys come in boxes of 19...
LOL Corbachev, as soon as I read your post I rushed to the GW website to see for myself but it's "down for maintenance".
They do, my brother has them..... And I find that skinks definitely have not enough blowpipes, but using 2 boxes I was able to get 36 of em with them, the other 12 were javelins
I agree, GW isn't screwing anyone over at all. I'd also say that Sammy has an excellent point, which is what I originally thought when I noticed that we get 16 instead of some kind of even number. On skink boxes not giving enough blowpipes, converting a javelin to a blowpipe is easy enough. You can even get creative with greenstuff if you want. Just cut the end off of the javelin and.... blowpipe. Your opponent won't even notice from across the table.
6th edition is exactly why there is 16 of them. Back then, 4x4 was the norm for a unit, especially a tough unit like saurus. Now they just haven't updated the box size. IMO the boxes of 16 have been around long enough that GW has already recuperated the production cost and has the mold churning sprues out, they should just add an extra sprue to 16 strong boxes and give us 20 until they get updated... But that won't happen. You will notice that all the recent infantry boxes in response to 7th ed are coming out in boxes of 10. GW claims that it is a much better number (true) and allows you to customize your units better (maybe) and presents better value (FALSE). We now pay $40 for 10 men instead of $50 (Aus dollars) for 16 or 20 in the case of skeletons and some others, it is a big markup. Eh.. What can you do. You will end up with some spare models that won't see battle, but for most people that isn't too much of a problem. The other solution is to buy through ebay or whatever, they usually either give you a better number of models or so many for a good price that you don't care about extras.
I didn't mean screwing us over money wise, i meant by sticking us with an 'abstract' amount of models. What do you all think about the 2 units of 15 and 1 of 18 Saurus per 3 boxes idea. Any thoughts on that? (also, how well do you think cutting Sauren hands off to replace them with different ones would go? When i got my Saurus, i foolishly built them with Hand Weapons. grr) And thanks Strewart, that was definatly something a wanted to hear. (Thanks to everyone else as well.)
Well giving us a stupid number of models does screw us over moneywise as well. Now when you buy a box of 16, you need to buy another box to make a unit of 20 and you are almost always going to have models left over that aren't used. If we had a good number, that wouldn't happen, we would get to use all the models thus get full value for money. 2 of 15 and 1 of 18 is a good start for units, and with that many saurus you have the option to change it up a bit anyway. About cutting off hands, that can often be a bit tricky since the area is so small. You need to try to use a really really thin knife to lose as little plastic as possible, and try to cut really smothly because any roughness needs to be files or shaved flat for a perfectly smooth edge. If it is rough the pieces won't go together very well and it will be easy to break. Hands are a bit fiddly, but not really too bad if you just do them slowly and carefully.
Some of you were laughing at the Orc 19 man box, but even that has a story behind it. Originally the units were meant for 6th, so a 4x4 unit. The box came with metal bits to upgrade the unit to have command as well. It was discovered that the metal bitz did not work well and they were replaced with an entire sprue that contained enough to make 3 full command models. The result was a box of 19 men. EDIT: Also depending on the glue you used it will probably just be easier to rip the arms off at the shoulder and glue on the spears. Take a pair up side cutters from behind the model and go to cut off the arm, but instead spin the model as to lift the arm off. The USUALLY gives you a clean break. Then take a knife and clean it up and glue on some spears.
Well, i've used plastic glue so im not sure that there even really is a 'good' break with that stuff. But atleast now i know a good breaking technique for the future Again, thanks guys.
We should count ourselfs lucky, most infantry is getting changed to 10 a box. 16 is a bargain nowadays.