Not all factions in Warhammer 40,000 are the same – this applies not only to the world itself, but also to the game. Space Marines receive more new models than any other armies, which has been causing some trouble for a while. Now Games Workshop itself mocks the situation, but the fans are not even mad.
What is this “protest” about?
- In a new video on YouTube, Games Workshop shows a crowd of people in front of the Warhammer headquarters in Nottingham, England.
- The fans there are loudly demanding new releases for the Ultramarines, the probably most famous chapter of Space Marines in Warhammer 40,000. They say things like: “We haven’t gotten a new model for Calgar in 2 months!” (Calgar is the chapter master of the Ultramarines.)
- This is all just a marketing stunt to sell the “protest” merch from the merch shop: T-shirts, scarves, and mugs. But the video has a more or less serious background.
What’s behind it: Games Workshop regularly releases new models for the Warhammer tabletop – for both 40,000 and Age of Sigmar and The Old World. However, particularly in Warhammer 40,000, there is a significant imbalance.
In recent months, there have been various minis for all kinds of factions, including a whole new “dwarf” faction with the Votann conglomerates, but one army receives more than all others: Space Marines.
And even here there are differences, as especially the Ultramarines, considered the poster boys of the universe, receive special models. Recently, for example, a small squad around Captain Titus from Space Marine 2 has appeared, shortly before a new mini for Chapter Master Marneus Augustus Calgar.
This makes sense, as the story of Warhammer 40,000 continues here. In addition, a new set has been released around the Horus Heresy, focusing on Space Marines from the 31st millennium and their massive armors.
Nonetheless, this imbalance keeps causing discussions in the community because other armies are not receiving nearly as many new models or are even losing – meaning: old models have no rules anymore in new codices. But the fans are taking the jab well.
Rather effective British trolling
In the comments under the video, YouTube users are already praising the successful trolling or are fully on board with the staged protests. It really can’t be that Calgar is so neglected, he urgently needs a Saturnine armor with a jump-pack on a scooter.
Also on Reddit fans find themselves entertained by the video – even if they see the “protest” as rage baiting. However, this whole thing is good marketing, and at least Games Workshop seems to be aware that something is not balanced here. Story-wise, it all makes sense even if it sounds very much like marketing for new models:
On one hand, the miniature is almost 10 years old and was made right before primaris became a thing.
On the other hand space marines don’t need more releases right at the end of the edition when they’re inevitably just going to get a range refresh anyway.
SourTredmill on Reddit
The advertising for the new merch is getting its own special attention. In the Grimdank subreddit, there are heaps of memes and edited pictures of completely absurd items, such as edited US flags and satire about political events.
That Space Marines are receiving so many new models is certainly due to their popularity: according to goonhammer, they are the most played army at tournaments by a large margin. Additionally, there are individual chapters, each with their own rules.
Especially Ultramarines are one of the most well-known and important chapters, their primarch is even currently the head of the Imperium and the Emperor’s direct representative. However, they are not the most powerful chapter of the Space Marines, but only ranked number 2: Warhammer 40,000: The 5 strongest chapters of the first loyal Space Marines in the power ranking
