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Hey guys, in a few days I'm going into my local games workshop for a few hours, and even tough I have been there before, I have a few questions.
Now, I'm a 14 who looks like a 12 year old, is it likely I'll be able to get a game?
Will adult players take me seriously?
Would it be considered rude to step out side and take a quick phone call?
Any other advise on local shop courtesy ?
Thanks in advance.

I'm not the most experienced with playing in stores, but:

Age shouldn't matter as much as personality. Be mature, be sensible and be polite, and people will take you seriously. On the other hand, be childish or immature and you can't expect people to play with you.

I'd advise not taking a call during the game itself, but if you're in the store waiting or after playing then it shouldn't be an issue. If you do have to step out for a call, be decent and just inform and apologise to your opponent beforehand.

Try to avoid any rules arguments, and if there are any disputes, a roll-off is the best option after checking the rulebook, and as far as any house rules/conversions/proxies/terrain goes, always agree with your opponent beforehand.

Sounds obvious, but bring your own dice/tape measure/books. Some people are fine with others using their dice, others are not, so use your own to be on the safe side.

Also, don't let other 'regulars' try and screw you on rules debates, and don't let them get away with cheating. Just because they're older/more experienced/at the shop more often, doesn't mean they have a right to try and cheat you. You have as much right to expect a fair game as they do. This shouldn't be an issue, but be prepared to stand up for your side.

To summarise: be a decent fellow, and you'll be fine.

It depends on if people are actually looking for a game, or even the same type of game you're looking for.

Not knowing you at all, you should get along fine with some players, and others not so much. But that's the same with everyone else everywhere else.

You'll be fine taking the call, it might bug people if you're in the middle of a game, but it's not really something people will do anything about. Making a call in the middle of a game would be rude though.

Definitely a good idea to call them first - they'll often sort you out a suitable opponent.

Most of the GW stores are really helpful in this regard. When you call it's a good idea to have the points value you want to play at in mind, it's often best ot keep it at 1250 or less, as sometimes they're not too keen on bigger games that last a long time.

Let us know how you get on, and which store it is. We play most a GW Bluewater - it's a great store if you deal with the manager, Ben, there are a couple of other staff Hivefleet Jr doesn't like as much.

Make sure to take some money and buy something and that the manager sees you do it. GW stores hate deadbeat customers. Buying stuff goes a long way towards being allowed to game and stay in the store.

Some people are outgoing and friendly to new players and others are cliquish, you never know until you try.

Biggest piece of advice - deodorant (for you) and Vicks (for others)

 the shrouded lord wrote:
Hey guys, in a few days I'm going into my local games workshop for a few hours, and even tough I have been there before, I have a few questions.
Now, I'm a 14 who looks like a 12 year old, is it likely I'll be able to get a game?
Will adult players take me seriously?
Would it be considered rude to step out side and take a quick phone call?
Any other advise on local shop courtesy ?
Thanks in advance.

Seriously?


Its just a store. once the initial "I needs to buy all this stuffs.." phase wears off, its just like walking into any other shop. You go in, be yourself, don't be a D bag, and have a good time. Depending on how the staff treats you, form your own opinion, and play it from there.

If you go in looking for a fight, you'll usually find one or two. The staff has to do their routine, let them do it, then go on about your business. Buy something if you want to, (but remember at the end of the day its overpriced,) you are there to have a good time.

I've had some fun in the shops, and the last two I went into, the managers were nothing but ace. They are down to the single manager shop, the hours suck, and they have to do the routine several hundred times a day, but other then that, if your there to have a good time, you will. If your there to be a cheese log, you can have that as well.

DON'T expect them to grief you unless you want them to.

Have a good time.

As said, the staff just have to do their job, which happens to be a sales job.

I do tend to buy stuff if im playing in a GW store though as kind of a thank you for the use of a table and usually a good chat (normally a member of staff i play)

But ill usually have a game to work out what im missing from an army at the time.


But just be polite and adult about things and it gives no one any reason to complain or have an issue with you.

Find out how many staffers will be there that day, get your parent(s) to rent at least one Playboy Bunny for each staffer, then go in and have a good time.

be polite, and be there to play. why is this hard?

Switch to a different gaming system(I kid, I kid)

Just be polite and wear deodorant. Don't be overeager.

 timetowaste85 wrote:
Find out how many staffers will be there that day, get your parent(s) to rent at least one Playboy Bunny for each staffer, then go in and have a good time.

There's only going to be one, unless it's a big day.

Go - chat, relax and have fun!

Age isn't much of a barrier, go and be friendly.

I would suggest:

1) Dice - ruler - rulebook - codex for your army - you want all those things at the very least. I would also say take along a pen and paper. That way you've got the dice and ruler you need to play the game; you've got the rule book to help ensure any rule arguments can be sorted out (don't assume your opponent will bring one) and you've got the codex for your army so that you know how much things cost in points and what your unit stats and abilities are - even if you know them off by heart you want the codex there.
The pen and paper lets you write out an army lists - nice and clear so you and your opponent can refer to it as and when needed.

2) Take a few models to assemble/paint - this can help if the day turns out to be less active as you can at least sit and model with some company. If you do this then take your own tools/paints.
When working at the store try to keep things tidy, I never take out more tools/paints than I need at the moment from my bag so that I don't end up cluttered (that's the best way to lose stuff).

3) Find out when the gaming nights are, a really active store might even have two (typically one aimed at younger and one aimed at older gamers). In my experience GW stores are also oft more active during the day on a gaming night because you get more people encouraged to filter in during the day for a long day of gaming/assembling.

4) If you know you're going in advance phone ahead and ask if there are tables free, even if you've got no opponent this gives the store owner an idea of who is going to turn up and when, might be that they can help find a game for that time slot; and heck if they are free and doing nothing they might give you a game themselves (just remember when playing store staff they might leave at any moment to deal with people who want to buy things - whilst not typically that long it can cause breaks in the gameplay during active hours).

General Hobbs wrote:


Make sure to take some money and buy something and that the manager sees you do it. GW stores hate deadbeat customers. Buying stuff goes a long way towards being allowed to game and stay in the store.

Even if you don't buy anything, if you're there playing you're at least helping provide games for people who might well be paying. Most stores don't complain unless they have a serious problem (ie no one is buying ever) however a serious problem is normally a sign of something going wrong.
Personally I've never known a store to complain unless a person was loudly advertising/encouraging others to go shop away from the store whilst in the store itself. A mention here and there that "Oh I got that on ebay" is fine - but if you start going really strong about it its just rude to the shop staff.

Never feel pressured into buying something, GW staff (just like any shop staff) are there to encourage you to buy, but you should never be pushed into a purchase. The prices on things won't change and you can certainly come buy them another day if you want to think it over. I would support your local store as much as you can as it helps to keep them active and on the highstreet to play in.

Go in act as if you've never heard of GW before, ask if they sell video games, take the spiel, see what they try to sell you, point out they, "want how much for five little guys?!" (Dire Avengers) ask them if they have any board games and where the comic books are then settle for buying A pot of paint.

xraytango wrote:
Go in act as if you've never heard of GW before, ask if they sell video games, take the spiel, see what they try to sell you, point out they, "want how much for five little guys?!" (Dire Avengers) ask them if they have any board games and where the comic books are then settle for buying A pot of paint.

I don't think that would make me popular.

Gw (and often the people who play there) tend to prefer smaller games, especially during busy periods ie weekends and I know it's school half term coming up here in the UK. It's worth phoning and checking that there isn't anything special going on that might mean that there are no tables available.

It's worth pre writing lists at 100pt intervals up to 1500pts and printing them out.
Keep them in a legible format in a folder or something just so your opponent won't be bamboozled by back of a napkin scrawlings or even worse a memorized list.

Same goes for models, keep them organized, wysiwyg, assembled and painted.

I used to run a store and I'd refuse to play or teach people of any age when the army was poured onto the table in a mish mash of bits and there wasn't a list in sight. I'd strongly suggest that they spent the time painting and modeling. If they were desperate to play at that stage I'd break out a store or demo army for them

I'd rather play a fully painted and organized game at 200pts than a 2000pt unpainted bits smash.

General Hobbs wrote:
Make sure to take some money and buy something and that the manager sees you do it. GW stores hate deadbeat customers. Buying stuff goes a long way towards being allowed to game and stay in the store.

Disagree here. I've been going into my GW store for games regularly for years and, although I will have bought stuff from there in the past, I haven't bought anything save paints in there for about two years, possibly more. I'm still welcomed there. I always bring my own rulebooks etc, use GW models, am happy to play a game with whoever, I'm not rude and I'll help others out. GW may be a slightly "cash-grab" company, but being a nice guy still goes a lot further than being a rich guy when it comes to spending time in their stores.

I dont know if that will be an issue at your store, but try to stop them from ''forcing'' you to buy anything. Sometimes the people working at your local GW store will try hard to convince you into buying something.

Look for someone who has a really well painted army.

This shows the person likes and takes pride in the look or "spectacle" of the game and "tend" to act like an "ambassador" for the game.

Warning signs are unpainted, partially assembled models since I find the people who are more "competitive" about the game are only concerned for what the models represent rather than the look.

Making it clear that you are learning and do not mind some rules discussion will help people explain things more as each phase of the game plays out.

Some of us older gamers have kids younger than you we are trying to get into the game, so have the patience to find fun playing a younger new player.

Good luck!

Most of your points have been covered but for myself I would definitely not mind my opponent stepping out to take a call if it was kept short. I would consider ignoring a call on my opponents behalf more rude to my caller than accepting the call and politely excusing myself for a moment.

 the shrouded lord wrote:

xraytango wrote:
Go in act as if you've never heard of GW before, ask if they sell video games, take the spiel, see what they try to sell you, point out they, "want how much for five little guys?!" (Dire Avengers) ask them if they have any board games and where the comic books are then settle for buying A pot of paint.

I don't think that would make me popular.

But, if recorded with a hidden Go-Pro, might make for a really funny Youtube upload.

Hi. I am planning to eventually go to a game store for their weekly "40k night" would it be advised to bring pre-made armies or should I do it after some asks to play (or vise-versa).

I think the general etiquette is to find out what kind of points people will be playing at, and have a couple of lists ready for those points.

If you can't find out, then build lists for around 500-1500 points in 250-point intervals so you've got something ready to go.

I'd do the following:

1) See who is coming and see if you can't arrange a match for the night with someone; this can help avoid ending up standing there doing nothing for a while as you wait for a gamer to become free to play with.

2) Take one or two "catch all" army lists; something that is generalist and that you want to play. You could also take themed lists.
These are you "go to lets play" lists

3) Take pen and paper and if you arrange a match with someone you've got the option to write up an army list if there's time and its suitable.

4) Take some models to paint/assemble - most GW stores have the hobby tables open and its a good way to get something done hobby wise if the tables are all in use or the players all playing. Remember bring your tools and paint too of course.

5) If its a local hobby club they might not have hobby tables setup - at that point a copy of Munchkin or similar short card or board games are handy so you can setup a game whilst you wait for tables (Magic the Gathering and Ygio are also popular however games like Munchkin are cheaper as you don't have to collect cards to play - just open the base game and game).