Hello everyone!
Games Workshop has just announced the release of its pre-painted terrain for Warhammer 40,000. This could be exciting news if it weren’t, once again, accompanied by extremely limited availability! The announced price is €320, which is a substantial sum, but one that comes with a few rather pleasant surprises when you take a closer look at what the box actually contains.
Let’s be clear: Games Workshop’s sales policy for this type of release remains highly questionable. Offering a product in extremely limited quantities, without giving hobbyists enough time to prepare financially for such a significant purchase, encourages impulse buying. The fear of missing out on an opportunity that may never come around again — the infamous Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) — is likely to influence purchasing decisions once again. And that’s a shame, because a purchase of this magnitude deserves to be considered carefully.
However, after looking at the contents of the box, we have to admit that the offer is far from unappealing.
The set effectively contains the equivalent of two Battlezone sets. Based on the individual Battlezone terrain sets, which retail for €139 each, that represents a total value of €278 for the unpainted terrain. In other words, for just €42 more, you get a gaming table with terrain that has already been painted to a standard tabletop quality.
And that’s where the offer becomes particularly interesting. Having an equivalent amount of terrain painted by a professional painter can easily cost between €300 and €600, depending on the level of finish required, and that’s without including the cost of the terrain itself. For hobbyists with the budget to spare, this box therefore represents a particularly appealing compromise for getting a gaming table ready to play in next to no time.
Of course, this comparison doesn’t take into account alternatives such as 3D printing, nor the enjoyment some of us get from painting our own terrain. We’re passionate about the hobby in all its forms, the work of professional painters and, above all, the artistic diversity that everyone can bring to their gaming tables. But we have to admit it: despite our convictions, this box is tempting us!
That said, our enthusiasm doesn’t stop us from asking a few questions. As attractive as the offer looks on paper, we haven’t had the kits in our hands yet. Before taking the plunge, we’d like to make sure the quality lives up to expectations.
What about mould lines? Are they still visible on the pre-painted components, or does the manufacturing process minimise them enough to prevent them from spoiling the final result? Are any lines left by the manufacturing process noticeable? Have the sprue attachment points been designed to avoid leaving unsightly marks on the terrain? And, above all, what is the actual quality of the factory-applied paint job? Is the finish clean and consistent enough to look convincing once the pieces have been assembled and arranged on a gaming table?
These are all questions that make us hesitate before reaching for our wallets. The price may seem attractive, but the finish still needs to meet our expectations.
Another question is more personal and relates to how we approach gaming tables. We prefer narrative tables that tell a story and immerse players in a coherent environment, rather than collections of predefined terrain pieces simply placed in designated areas of the battlefield.
With this in mind, we like to complement our tables with additional elements, such as barricades or accessories painted by us, to strengthen the overall visual coherence. However, combining pre-painted terrain with custom-painted pieces requires a little thought to maintain a harmonious overall look, both in terms of colour schemes and the atmosphere we’re trying to create.
This obviously doesn’t diminish the appeal of the box, but it does raise an important question: will this pre-painted terrain blend naturally into a more personal, narrative gaming table, or will its finish impose a certain degree of visual uniformity?
Despite all these questions, we’re tempted enough to consider getting our hands on a box. Our goal will be to bring you a proper review, with concrete answers covering build quality, paint finish, potential imperfections and how well the terrain can be integrated into a customised gaming table.
We don’t want to rush into buying this release simply out of fear of missing out. But if we manage to get hold of a box, we’ll finally be able to determine whether this pre-painted terrain really is a good deal and whether it deserves a place on our Warhammer 40,000 gaming tables.
In the meantime, one thing is certain: Games Workshop has managed to grab our attention. Now we just have to see whether the contents of the box can live up to the promise!
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