Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

 Matthew wrote:
I know, I know, stand up for yourself blabla. I'm a 14-yearold, I can't go around telling everyone I paint little plastic guys and then use them in fights. That would sound ridiculous. What is the best way to say that I play warhammer (preferably with the painting part in focus) without making me sound like a total nerd?

I'm 43, sit (sleep?) in corporate boardrooms, wear expensive suits, drive fancy cars, and I tell people, with glee, "I paint little plastic guys and use them in war games!" If anyone indicates surprise, I follow up with, "Hey, it's more intellectually stimulating than lugging around a bag of metal clubs to whack balls into four and a quarter inch holes."

Generally, though, it's a great conversation starter -- because it's something different -- and people want to see pictures.

Get good at painting and show them a picture of something bad ass that's been well painted.

Scale modeling's a good one, if not quite accurate. But tell people who ask, if they're truly interested, and ignore the ones who're just looking for a way to make themselves look better. Trouble is of course, telling the difference. Have to decide yourself if it's worth it. Nothing wrong with being a geek/nerd. Besides, you'd be surprised how many people are also interested, or could be interested, if you're confident enough to just throw it out there.

In the long run it's your life, tell them whatever you like the only one you really have to make happy is yourself. If they're going to judge you from a hobby, well they're not the kind of people you probably want around you anyway.

At your age I wouldn't bring it up unless specifically asked. That said, I always describe my hobby as

"I build and paint models, and then use them in games that are essentially risk on crack because I like to use the models for something."

If they're interested and ask about it in more detail, I keep pictures of a few painted models on my phone with a quarter next to them so they can get a better idea. 15mm stuff in particular, especially historicals, seem to get a good reaction and a "holy crap how do you do that".

The best part is I'm a mediocre painter at best, hearing people complement me always makes me laugh after seeing all the masterpieces other put up online.

Actually, painting models is much more likely to give you "cool" rather than "dork" as compared to stuff that doesn't require creativity/talent, like video games, comics etc.

It's a skill that highlights fine motor control and attention to detail, and it adds value to the item you've purchased. Until I got out of college and got a couple real jobs under my belt, it was on my resume, and it helped me get my first job as a tech for a biomech company, which I now work at as an engineer.

If you're worried about girls/boys, don't. Seriously. Just say you paint. If they ask paint what, say mostly scale models. Have a couple models from the less gross/gribbly factions to show off maybe, like a Harlequin or something. None of the girlfriends I had throughout high school or college ever thought it was anything worse than cute. It's a nice relaxing creative stress reliever that shows your patient and care about the little details of things.

I never showed chicks on a first date my shelves of comics, extensive video game collection, or miniature warriors. But they all discovered them eventually. One day the woman who became my wife asked if I was 13 or 30. I told her I could always engage in activities more befitting my age like alcoholism, domestic violence, drug use, watching sportsball and ESPN constantly, impregnating other women, spending thousands on guns, expensive cars, or gambling. She never mentioned it again.

 Talys wrote:


I'm 43, sit (sleep?) in corporate boardrooms, wear expensive suits, drive fancy cars, and I tell people, with glee, "I paint little plastic guys and use them in war games!" If anyone indicates surprise, I follow up with, "Hey, it's more intellectually stimulating than lugging around a bag of metal clubs to whack balls into four and a quarter inch holes."

Generally, though, it's a great conversation starter -- because it's something different -- and people want to see pictures.

LOL, wow. I'm also 43 and whenever my patients ask me if I have any hobbies, I tell them I paint little miniatures that are smaller than my thumb and yeah, they want to see pictures! I'm also a musician, like one of the other posters in this thread.

I do Golf though, lol. I kinda find it intellectually stimulating, too.

Own it, man. Who cares what others think. I know it's tough at your age, but I was one of those comic book, AD&D geeks back when. I understand, but it's who you are. Approach it with enthusiasm one way or the other! If you love it, don't be shy about telling anyone and everyone.

Just tell people you paint. That simple. If they're interested past that, tell them that you paint sculpted figurines. In high school it might be a stigma, but once college hits, if you get good at it, girls will see it as artistic and that you take your time and you're good with your hands. If that sounds like an innuendo...it is.

 MrMoustaffa wrote:

build and paint models, and then use them in games that are essentially risk on crack

I've used this description several times. Seems to convey the message well. But as I get older I care less and less what people think, and now openly say yeah my friends and I play with toy models in the garage on weekends. Kinda proud of it actually.

Though I have had a few people try and give me grief about it. An ex girlfriend a while back thought it was weird and tried to bring it up in a social setting as a cheap laugh. She wasn't laughing when I left her.

I say own it. But I understand at your age it can be tough.

When people ask what my hobbies are I say "Muscle cars, race cars and scale miniatures". Most people seem to find it an interesting contrast

These days it's probably be more accurate to say "Waste time on the internet and occasionally paint a model or fix one of my cars when it breaks". I've gotten boring in my old age.

Just tell them you paint models. That's what I tell most people. Those who ask what kind, I tell about gaming. I don't feel ashamed about it and neither should anyone else. It's your life and your hobby, no one can take that from you.

 Strombones wrote:

 MrMoustaffa wrote:

build and paint models, and then use them in games that are essentially risk on crack

I've used this description several times. Seems to convey the message well. But as I get older I care less and less what people think, and now openly say yeah my friends and I play with toy models in the garage on weekends. Kinda proud of it actually.

Though I have had a few people try and give me grief about it. An ex girlfriend a while back thought it was weird and tried to bring it up in a social setting as a cheap laugh. She wasn't laughing when I left her.

I say own it. But I understand at your age it can be tough.

I mainly use the "risk on crack" explanation because it's easily relatable. A lot of people I know have played risk at my age (20's) and consider it a pretty crazy game. So when I say it's basically that cranked to 11, they understand pretty quickly with "ohhhh OK that makes sense".

For my gamer friends, I just say it's a turn based strategy game like XCOM or Advanced Wars, but you're the computer and do all the math yourself.

Either one works well, gets the gist across, and if they ever want to know more I can always give them a proper demo

 MrMoustaffa wrote:

 Strombones wrote:

 MrMoustaffa wrote:

build and paint models, and then use them in games that are essentially risk on crack

I've used this description several times. Seems to convey the message well. But as I get older I care less and less what people think, and now openly say yeah my friends and I play with toy models in the garage on weekends. Kinda proud of it actually.

Though I have had a few people try and give me grief about it. An ex girlfriend a while back thought it was weird and tried to bring it up in a social setting as a cheap laugh. She wasn't laughing when I left her.

I say own it. But I understand at your age it can be tough.

I mainly use the "risk on crack" explanation because it's easily relatable. A lot of people I know have played risk at my age (20's) and consider it a pretty crazy game. So when I say it's basically that cranked to 11, they understand pretty quickly with "ohhhh OK that makes sense".

For my gamer friends, I just say it's a turn based strategy game like XCOM or Advanced Wars, but you're the computer and do all the math yourself.

Either one works well, gets the gist across, and if they ever want to know more I can always give them a proper demo

Yeah. I've used the "Risk where you can actually use the canon as a canon" line a few times. Most people then turn around and say that they've always wanted to do that instead of just rolling dice.

I tend not to say anything about that part unless they ask further.

As to the painting aspect - "I paint statues"

I am training hand eye co-ordination and tactical awareness for when i join the battle to fight ISIS in the army.

USE YOUR OWN WORDS, OWN WHAT YOU DO AND BE PROUD!!!!! Sure you'll take a barb or two, who cares. It's water off a duck's back. Infinitely more rewarding in this equation is the fact that those who accept you and your hobby will be the individuals with which you will be able to develop real friendships.

"I paint man dollies"

Mdlbuildr wrote:

 Talys wrote:


I'm 43, sit (sleep?) in corporate boardrooms, wear expensive suits, drive fancy cars, and I tell people, with glee, "I paint little plastic guys and use them in war games!" If anyone indicates surprise, I follow up with, "Hey, it's more intellectually stimulating than lugging around a bag of metal clubs to whack balls into four and a quarter inch holes."

Generally, though, it's a great conversation starter -- because it's something different -- and people want to see pictures.

LOL, wow. I'm also 43 and whenever my patients ask me if I have any hobbies, I tell them I paint little miniatures that are smaller than my thumb and yeah, they want to see pictures! I'm also a musician, like one of the other posters in this thread.

I do Golf though, lol. I kinda find it intellectually stimulating, too.

Own it, man. Who cares what others think. I know it's tough at your age, but I was one of those comic book, AD&D geeks back when. I understand, but it's who you are. Approach it with enthusiasm one way or the other! If you love it, don't be shy about telling anyone and everyone.

Hehe ... yeah, I play golf too -- it's very much a mental discipline, get your head in the right space game, IMO but it's always fun to make fun of, because practically everyone I interact with on a daily basis plays at least one game of golf a year.

It's amazing how much more interesting 40k and miniature wargames are to total strangers than the things they're accustomed to talking about. Like you said, OWN IT!!

I generally just say it's my hobby and that we all have our things.

My bestie though used to describe the hobby to her friends as "It's like playing with toy soldiers, but better!"

Hivefleet Jr is 15 and has similar issues.

There's only one thing to do, really: front it out, but manage the information. It works for politicians.

So I'd say, "it's a geek thing, I paint figures that I use for strategy games."

And don't be embarrassed; it's demonstrably cooler than playing endless Call of Duty or watching endless porn, which are two more mainstream male teenage pursuits.

Most important: it's how you say it that matters. If you're embarrassed about it, don't mention it or it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. But better to be upfront and not worry about it.

Mine hobby doth involve the application of paint to sculpted figurines. Hence forth, they are then used to take part in militaristic simulations where books of lore are consulted and the rolling of dice is partaken.

Make sure you look down your nose as you say it, or have your little finger sticking out if you are drinking tea. Frilly jacket is optional

I didn't get into wargaming until after my 18th birthday, so I have no idea how a kid would handle it.

I was into electronics at 14 - and model rockets. I had a couple of friends also into that stuff. We didn't exactly advertise it around - but we were also science nerds, so it's not like the wider school community knew who we were or cared (big focus on sport at my school).

Don't tell them if it's that big a deal. It's not so much a secret as not advertised. If they ask, you can tell them, but you don't need to be out about it. Teens have enough other issues to deal with without opening up other cans of crap.

 ZergSmasher wrote:
Just tell them you paint models.

To me that makes it sound like you paint body art on human models....

Google images "painting models" for a NSFW example of what I mean

AllSeeingSkink wrote:

 ZergSmasher wrote:
Just tell them you paint models.

To me that makes it sound like you paint body art on human models....

Google images "painting models" for a NSFW example of what I mean

...yeah, tell them that
I'm pretty sure that's every 14 year old guy's fantasy.

'I paint.'
'I paint model kits'
'I paint scale models'
'I paint miniatures'
'I build and paint dioramas'
'I paint playing pieces, for a board game'
'I paint rpg models'
'I paint plastic infantry, for a game'
'I paint men of the Cadian Shock troops XIVth, armed with 19 megathule M36 Kantrael Pattern Lasrifles, in winter camouflage'

"My hobby is assembling and painting 28mm sci-fi miniatures"

Vänta tills du börjar gymnasiet så slutar folk att bry sig

 Mymearan wrote:
Vänta tills du börjar gymnasiet så slutar folk att bry sig

2 år kvar...

 TheCustomLime wrote:

 Matthew wrote:
I know, I know, stand up for yourself blabla. I'm a 14-yearold, I can't go around telling everyone I paint little plastic guys and then use them in fights. That would sound ridiculous. What is the best way to say that I play warhammer (preferably with the painting part in focus) without making me sound like a total nerd?

Easy. Don't.

Agreed. I typically don't go around advertising and telling everyone all about what I am into. Guess what, they just don't care.

If you have o tell them, be upfront and tell them what it is in a nutshell. let them ask questions if they want to learn more. It also helps if you sort of make fun of it yourself.

If push comes to shove, just tell them you do modelling. Then do a Zoolander face.

'I paint miniature figurines for historical and fantastical military recreations'.

But what I really do is paint my miniatures in public - the other day my good lady and I were painting miniatures at Wendy's, and had fan girls watching us paint (age... 14 to 16?).

Megan told me that they were my fan girls, because it is all about appearances, and I look like a crazy artist, while she looks like a crazy artist's girlfriend.... (Megan is an art school student - she will always be my crazy artist.)

If you look like you know what you are doing, and like you are enjoying yourself doing it, people tend to think that what you are doing is cool.

The Auld Grump

*EDIT* I have gotten customers and commissions by painting in public.

I work with micro-sculpts of varying topics, finishing them to movie prop standards.

(pfffffffffffffttttttttt lol)