Is Mordheim increasing or decreasing in play?

Hello,

I'm new to the Mordheim and Warhammer games so I do not have a good read on the following. Is Mordheim's popularity increasing or decreasing of late? Say maybe the last 2-3 years.

It seems to be making a comeback at our local store.

Thanks!

I bought the boxed set and played it quite a bit when it came out. I feel like, even though it was supported earlier on, there was a lull around 2005-2008, but it seems more popular than ever now. There are something like 800 registered users here, and I know that for the folks that played these games as kids, Mordheim works well now that many of us are "grown up" — with families, kids, jobs, mortgages, it's difficult and expensive to collect, assemble and paint hundreds of troops, nor do I have 8 hours to play a battle that will end in a rules dispute.

I was about 11 when I started in the Warhammer Hobby (WFRP 1.0 and WFB) in 1987-88, and Mordheim feels like just the right size, price point and time investment where's really optimal. If I have three hours, that's enough time to at least get a couple of games in.

Additionally, it sometimes takes an IP falling out of corporate favor to reinvigorate a franchise. WFRP fans kept the game alive for about 15 years (the superior 1.0), until it was resurrected only to be butchered by Black Industries. I know FFG is doing something with it now, but it doesn't seem like roleplaying. Too much of something kills it, and sometimes you need a break from something to remember why you liked it (Star Trek: The Next Generation is proof of this, until there was "Too much," and Enterprise was cancelled after other franchise spinoffs like DS9 and Voyager; I worry that Doctor Who might be heading this way as well — people wanted DW after an overdose in the 90s, and now we have it, but with shows like Torchwood, etc.).

Anyway, as this is about Mordheim and not about WFRP, I personally feel like this is a great time to get involved with the hobby.

Ordo - You must a marketer... "IP"

You hit the nail on the head with the family statement. My son and I like Mordheim better than Warhammer due to the lower time commitment to joy quotient. Just the other day we went in to play a Legendary game at our local store. The setup alone took 2 hours!

DV8 wrote:

Ordo - You must a marketer... "IP"

You hit the nail on the head with the family statement. My son and I like Mordheim better than Warhammer due to the lower time commitment to joy quotient. Just the other day we went in to play a Legendary game at our local store. The setup alone took 2 hours!

Ha! Actually, in licensing, so this is what I do all day.

I think I'll start using the TC:J quotient/ratio; I like this!

I think it's making a comeback. Following the semi-official Nemesis Crown supplement, there have been several great projects of fans to further broaden the Mordheim experience, namle Border TOwn Burning and Sartosa, two great settings with a lot of thought and work put into. Also there will be Mutiny in Marienburg adding to that list. Hopefully, more people will go back to the smal scale of Mordheim or discover it for themselves now that Warhammer seems to follow the Apocalypse path with regiments of 40 or so soldiers being a useful size and supersized monsters being released for all the armies..

I think it is making a comeback as well. As Eliazar pointed out Warhammer and 40K are vastly more expensive than when many of us started, and army sizes are growing, and power creep.

Mordheim is much less expensive (for most of us at least!) and you get to make a much more colorful unit. I play Imperial Guard for 40K and it got old after painting my 40th nearly identical guy with a Lasgun, so i didn't even bother with the second half of them.

Although if you really like 40K still check out the Death Squads game. I really like it as well. It is like Mordheim enough that you will learn rules quick, but has been designed to be balanced. Mordheim needs a more story-based approach, but DS can be very competative if desired.

I think it's very hard to get a good answer to this question, I suspect it's very different in different countries, stores and circles of friends. Since there are no general impetus generated from WD or similar it needs someone interested in driving it on, so some places will see a lot of Mordheim gaming while others won't even have heard about it.

I know its definantly making a comeback in australia because no body can afford to play warhammer or 40k anymore! I went to my local store a while ago and nearly flipped out when he told me they were playing mordheim again! Then when i asked him why they were doing it he said they were being forced too.
And i know its not because GW told them too its because noone wants to pay $1000+ to get into and play warhammer when u can buy a $55 dollar set of empire militia and download mordheim and coreheim and off you go... i also noticed theres now a massive pile of empire militia boxes that go down every week lol. Only problem is i couldn't stop with the militia when i first got into it i then got greatswords, archers, handgunners, pistoleers, flaggies and maruaders -_-

Edit: I also noticed that alot of people ive met lately in the state where i live that are over 20 are either playing again or gunna get back into it so that backs up alot of what you guys have said.

Well... I cant say that I feel its getting a comeback where i live since there very little activity going on about it. However, as soon as i get into "how to make an working campaign" (i have NO idea as where to start or anything) a bet there are someone who gonna pick up a band and join me. In the meantime i hang out on this fine forum and follow whats happening around the world.

Speaking of this site, i do indeed believe there is a comeback. Everyday i see the "Welcome Newbies" thread blink.

The beauty of this game is that while you only need a few miniatures for playing, theres so mutch heart, tears and blood that true fans has laid into the game available on the net.

Oh, and GW;s pricerise do make skirmish games mutch more interesting...