General | Schools | Libraries | The GCN

GENERAL CLUB QUESTIONS

Do I need to know about the Games Workshop Hobby to run a gaming club?
No you do not need to know how to play our games in order to run a club. Most people who want to attend a gaming club will already know how to play and those who do not can be either taught by other club members or attend the Beginners Programme at their local Games Workshop store.

Does Games Workshop offer any club discounts?
Games Workshop does not offer any discounts. We do offer practical support in the format of tutorials in our stores which are available to either groups or individuals. We also offer club advice through the Community Coordinator Bek Hawkby (see Contact Us for details).

Can we have free rulebooks for our club?
Games Workshop does not offer free rulebooks, we do offer a wide range of activities in our stores that can help a club (or individual) learn the rules. Most hobbyists will own their own rulebooks anyway so if you do not have funds to purchase them I would not worry about it!

Will Games Workshop provide gaming boards for our club?
Games Workshop does not sell gaming boards, but if you visit any Games Workshop store the staff will be able to share their expertise in building gaming boards. Occasionally a store has old boards that they are giving away but this is at the discretion of the manager.

Can I advertise the club in my local Games Workshop and White Dwarf?
We only advertise Gaming Club Network (GCN) registered clubs in store and in White Dwarf, this is because the GCN asks for certain standards from all its member clubs. These include Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks for committee members and a Child Protection Policy. We can sometimes make exceptions for library clubs so please contact the Community Coordinator Bek Hawkby (see Contact Us for details).

Will Games Workshop run a one off taster event in my area?
Games Workshop does not run any one off taster events, we have found that one off events have no lasting benefit to the school, library or venue. It is far better to have a club that meets on a regular basis which provides a place for people to come together and enjoy the hobby. Games Workshop offers support and advice on running a club through the Community Coordinator Bek Hawkby (see Contact Us for details).

Do we need Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks to run a club?
If you are running a club that children or young people will be attending then we strongly recommend that you get at least the committee members to undergo a CRB check. For more information please contact the CRB.

Where is the nearest Gaming Club Network club to me?
The GCN network is steadily growing and the details of all our clubs can be found here at our online Store Finder. If there isn't one local to you yet, please keep on checking as new clubs are joining up all the time.

What is Games Workshop?
Games Workshop is the largest and the most successful tabletop fantasy and futuristic battle-games company in the world. Our major brands are Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000. In addition, we hold a global license from New Line Cinema for a tabletop battle-game based on director Peter Jackson's BAFTA and Academy award winning film trilogy, The Lord of the Rings.

Our business is about helping mighty armies of miniatures to meet headlong on the field of battle. At our HQ in Nottingham, in the UK , we design, manufacture and retail the vast range of Citadel Miniatures plastic and metal soldiers and rulebooks, which are the foundation of an almost infinite hobby. The UK manufacturing operations in Nottingham are complemented by a production facility at our US base in Baltimore, MD and our dispatch warehouse in Memphis, TN, USA.

At the heart of the Hobby are the millions of gamers aged about 12 and upwards, who spend many of their waking hours collecting, creating, painting and building up the armies which they will go on to command on a carefully prepared table top battlefield.

What is Warhammer 40,000?
Warhammer 40,000 is a tabletop game for two or more players where you can command the armies of the Imperium or one of its many enemies. A game of battles between armies of futuristic warriors, fighting machines and hordes of implacable aliens set in the far distant future. Learn more about Warhammer 40,000 here.

What is Warhammer?
In Warhammer the opposing factions – the armies – are represented by models, assembled and painted by you. The tabletop becomes a battlefield of many different types of terrain. The object of the game is to outfight your opponent, which requires a mixture of both skill and luck. It is a very tactical game but with all the excitement of combat. Learn more about Warhammer here.

What is The Lord of the Rings?
This is a game that uses miniatures and dice to stage all manner of battles from the world of Middle-earth – from tense encounters between a handful of warriors to huge battles with hundreds on each side. There is much more to the hobby than fighting battles. There are models to collect and paint, scenes to be created and battle strategies to be evolved and refined. Most importantly of all there is a hobby to be shared with other talented and enthusiastic gamers. Learn more about The Lord of the Rings here.

SCHOOLS

How do I set up a school club?
We offer a pack with advice on how to start, including ideas for keeping interest and School League information. Contact Bek Hawkby Community Coordinator bek.hawkby@games-workshop.co.uk or download the School Toolkit from our Club Resources page.

Why have a gaming club in a school?
A gaming club has many benefits for the school; it gets a diverse group of young people together to share in an activity that promotes social interaction and provides an opportunity for different year groups to share a hobby. Most importantly it does this in a way that they enjoy and gives them a safe venue to pursue their hobby and meet with others who share their enthusiasm.

Why does it have to be a teacher or member of staff who registers the club?
We ask that a teacher or member of staff contacts us for several reasons;

1. Not every school is happy to give out their contact address or phone numbers without checking that the data they give out is protected by the Data Protection Act.
2. Joining in with the School League activities requires a level of commitment from the school and we like to make sure that the school are not signed up without their knowledge!
3. Because of our Child Protection Policy we do not take any contact details from any under 18s without the knowledge of the school or child's parents.

What is the School League?
The School League is a tournament aimed at Year 7 to Year 13 (11 to 18 years old) pupils across the country. Each school will be offered the chance to take part in School League activities in their local Games Workshop store, these activities culminate in Regional Finals which are held in March each year with school teams battling for a place in the National Final.

How can we get our school registered to take part?
A teacher or member of staff needs to contact the Community Coordinator

What is the age range?
The School League is aimed at age 12 – 18 or school years 7 to 12

How many people are in a team?
There are four students in a team

Can we have 1 team that plays all three games?
No, at the Finals the 3 different systems will all be played at the same time so you will need a separate team of four people for each system you want to play. For example you can have a Warhammer team, a Warhammer 40,000 team and a The Lord of the Rings team.

Does each team member have to have their own army?
Yes, each member has to have their own army chosen using the School League rules.

Does each team member have to have the same army?
No, the armies can be different.

Can a school enter more than one team for each system?
Yes you can although only one team fore each system can ever win!

Does each army have to be painted?
Yes, you will loose points for each unpainted army in the tournament

What counts as a painted army?
Three colours minimum and based. A painted model means that every part of the model is appropriately painted, for example leaving a sword black means the model is not fully painted. If a single model in the force is not painted then the whole force counts as unpainted. See example below 

What counts as based?
Based means that at least one layer of texture has been applied to the models base

How do I get hold of an Army List?
At the back of the School League pack are blank Roster Sheets for you to fill in with your Army List. If you need help with this please get in touch with your local Games Workshop store or contact our Hobby Specialists in Direct Sales.

Do I have to take the same team that won the Regional Final to the National?
If it is possible then this is the best option, however there are always circumstances that can get in the way of this so if you need to change the line up it is fine. You will need to notify the Community Coordinator (Bek) on 0115 9004821 as soon as you have finalised the changes

How do I buy items for my school club?
You can either purchase items directly from your closest store or order them via our Direct Sales department. Our stores do not have the facility to generate invoices so if you need a proforma invoice you need to contact Community Coordinator Bek Hawkby (see Contact Us for details) who will be able to generate one for you.

Do you dispatch goods before you receive payment?
No we must receive payment before we dispatch any goods. We can generate proforma invoices though if you need one please contact Community Coordinator Bek Hawkby (see Contact Us for details) who will be able to generate one for you.

LIBRARIES

How do I set up a library club?
We offer a pack with advice on how to start, including ideas for keeping the club members interested. Contact Bek Hawkby Community Coordinator bek.hawkby@games-workshop.co.uk or download the Library Toolkit from our Club Resources page.

Why have a club in a library?
A club can help meet library targets by encouraging teenage boys into the library and changing their perception of what the service has to offer them. It is an ideal opportunity to get them reading and using the other services that are available. Most importantly it does this in a way that is relevant to them which they enjoy and which gives them a safe venue to pursue their hobby and meet with others who share their enthusiasm. By providing a place for the young people you can also raise your issue figures and footfall counts. Most libraries make membership of the library a requirement for joining the club.

How do I buy items for my library club?
You can either purchase items directly from your closest store or order them via our Direct Sales department. Our stores do not have the facility to generate invoices so if you need a proforma invoice you need to contact Community Coordinator Bek Hawkby (see Contact Us for details) who will be able to generate one for you.

Do you dispatch goods before you receive payment?
No we must receive payment before we dispatch any goods. We can generate proforma invoices though if you need one please contact Community Coordinator Bek Hawkby (see Contact Us for details) who will be able to generate one for you.

THE GAMING CLUB NETWORK (GCN)

What is the Gaming Club Network (GCN)?
The GCN is a independent volunteer organisation which was started in 1999 to bring together like-minded clubs for lots of gaming fun!

Games Workshop does not run the GCN, rather GW supports its efforts and welcomes the GCN clubs to events. GCN clubs ran half of the participation games at Games Day 2007.

The Gaming Club Network (GCN) strives to meet the following objectives:

• To promote good communications between Gaming Clubs and Games Workshop.
• To assist in the running of local gaming events.
• To support other clubs' activities.
• To assist in the running of games at the national level.
• To provide a forum for Gaming Clubs.
• To facilitate club development and growth.
• To create a safe environment for people to play in.
• Find your nearest GCN Gaming Club with our online Store & Club Finder.

How can my club join the Gaming Club Network?
You need to be approved by the GCN, after having met their required standards. For more information visit their website.