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Made in us
Frenzied Berserker Terminator






Been a crazy 6th and a fairly successful one for me. However, I'm just not feeling it as of late. I have been changing my diet and working out like mad so maybe that's contributing. I'm wondering if others have taken breaks in the past, and if they have has it renewed their love for the game? Thanks!



" $@#& YOU! There are 3 things I want in a guy: Tall, Handsome, and plays Dark Eldar!"-every woman since
November 2010 
   
Made in us
Furious Raptor




Fort Worth, TX

I've taken an extended break now...almost a year. I've painted some and more or less kept up with the game, but I find I have little desire to actually play anymore.

I out with in both 40k and WHFB.
Co-host of the HittingOn3s Podcast
 
   
Made in us
Archmagos Veneratus Extremis




On the Internet

I'm not playing as much as I used too instead focusing on more hobby related things instead. I get a lot of stress relief out of painting models so that's been helpful for me personally.
   
Made in us
Abhorrent Grotesque Aberration





I go in spurts. My FLGS runs a league once a quarter. I participate in two of those a year. This lets me get quite a bit of play time in AND allows me to mentally reset.

------------------
"Why me?" Gideon begged, falling to his knees.
"Why not?" - Asdrubael Vect 
   
Made in us
Wraith






My new meta has tournaments with Swedish-style Composition, so I can not worry about updating my armies and just play what I have. The game has soured for me and some other folks I know. The place I play now tried a tournament season with zero comp after years of comped and saw a massive dropout, so that speaks that players (at least locally) want change.

I've taken to skirmish games. It's hard to wrap your head around concepts of "just take what you like to look at, it's all playable" but that's the truth in other games. Maybe I chose right with Cryx in Warmachine, but I just pick up a new blister a week and it's all cool looking and always a good addition to the army. It's both refreshing as a player, but damming as someone who enjoys 40k and is frustrated with how it's currently being developed.

Shine on, Kaldor Dayglow!
Not Ken Lobb

 
   
Made in us
Decrepit Dakkanaut





Vallejo, CA

I've taken a few extended breaks myself, and yeah, I find them to be good things, especially if you take a harder break (like, no games, no painting, no spending time on places like dakka). It can be easy to sort of lose yourself in the great swirling mass of it all, and things can wind up getting obsessed on.

Taking a break allows you to sort of stop and get your priorities straight and sense of 40k identity back. You go from doing nothing to, say, painting some minis in preparation of what you want to do when you start playing again and you realise that painting minis is, in itself, and enjoyable activity, rather than just a means to and end of playing games to playing games with stronger lists to winning games. You get back into the 40k fluff, and realise that there is such an interesting story to everything, and that 40k the game is much more about playing out these stories rather than something that can be ignored when you're playing because you're just playing to win, etc.

It helps give you some perspective and generally lets the burnout wash away. Between 4th end 5th, I took a break of about a year and a half, and between 5th and sixth I was out for about a year. The only reason I'm not out right now after having finished my main thrust of regular play some six months ago is that I've been doing so much other work like making terrain. Plus, I've found as I've gone along that it becomes somewhat easier to avoid getting sucked in to one thing the longer you go.




This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/04/21 16:23:32


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Made in gb
The Daemon Possessing Fulgrim's Body





Devon, UK

I think nearly every wargamer, probably every person with any sort of hobby, goes through these cycles.

I go through it with painting, I go through it with what I want to paint when I am painting regularly (units/big display stuff) I go through it with playing, I go through it with what I play.

These days, I only get chance to play once a week as a rule, so that makes it some,what of an event and helps keep me interested, but I highly recommend picking up a second system to give yourself a break. I started X Wing a little over a year ago, and in my opinion it is an excellent game, but an almost perfect second system - it takes little investment to start, it doesn't require any time to paint models, it is totally different to play than 40K, and it is much quicker to play and set up - all things that 40K isn't.

We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't. - Frank Howard Clark

The wise man doubts often, and changes his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubts not; he knows all things but his own ignorance.

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Made in us
Screaming Shining Spear





Rapid City, SD

I have taken a pretty big break from the game myself. Right now I am filling out my Eldar collection to have 3 of each unit and doing some painting. The only games I really play in now are larger games (4k+). I don't always play them apocalypse style either. Sometimes i try to get in a normal double FOC 4000 point game. I usually do this on a weekend as it takes a couple of hours to do it, but the game isn't won/lost on list building and nobody i know owns 6 riptides so alot of shenanigans goes out the window with the additional benefit of having all the tools you need on the table with the only limitation being how good of a commander you are rather than the OPness of your codex.

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Made in au
Anti-Armour Swiss Guard






Newcastle, OZ

I've taken several breaks from 40k. Mainly because of work and lack of time - but each time I came back to the game, something had changed and something was "gone".


My current one is 2 years going on 3. It hasn't reinvigorated any love in 40k, though. I played a game a few weeks ago at a club - but I found I just really dislike 6th ed.


I'm OVER 50 (and so far over everyone's BS, too).
Old enough to know better, young enough to not give a ****.

That is not dead which can eternal lie ...

... and yet, with strange aeons, even death may die.
 
   
Made in us
Gore-Soaked Lunatic Witchhunter




Seattle

What I did was move to a different flavor of 40K. As my circle of gaming-interested friends grew, all with their own backgrounds in various games, it became apparent that none of us had the time or space to play table-top 40K amongst a group the size of what we had.

What we could do, though, is sit around a table and play RPGs. Before there was a Dark Heresy, and even before there was an Inquisitor, there were a number of RPG systems out there that, over the course of a few months, we tailored into a 40K RPG. So we played that (and other games).

Then Dark Heresy came out, followed by its expansions, and so now we play those. People still get their "40K fix" while not having to spend hundreds-to-thousands of dollars on armies and codices and having to keep up with various dataslates and rule-changes and all of that... and an RPG lets us all get together once a week for a few hours and have gaming fun as a group, rather than watching 2 people play on one table with their models.

It is best to be a pessimist. You are usually right and, when you're wrong, you're pleasantly surprised. 
   
Made in au
Grizzled Space Wolves Great Wolf





I have never "planned" a break from table top wargames, it just happens. I get bored, I have too many other things to do, whatever. In the 18 years I've been gaming, I've probably spent less than half of them actually gaming.
   
Made in us
Androgynous Daemon Prince of Slaanesh





Norwalk, Connecticut

I took a break when 6th hit and played a game about 3 months ago. Hated 6th. The break actually helped influence my decision to quit 40k. Most of my friends had stopped playing, and I found I didn't miss it at all after that time. I love miniatures games though, and picked up X-Wing and Mantic games as a replacement. I'm loving those and don't need a break at all from them.

Reality is a nice place to visit, but I'd hate to live there.

Manchu wrote:I'm a Catholic. We eat our God.


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Made in us
Trustworthy Shas'vre




DFW area Texas - Rarely

I play a lot of different games, some with the same group (40k) some not.

This helps a lot with any burnout or what not.

Random list of other games to play...

Xwing
King of tokyo
Lords of water deep
Small world
Bang
Powergrid
Letters to whitechapel
Eon
Cosmic encounter
cards against humanity
Eclipse
Zombicide (and expansions).
any RPG

Then of course, are video games as well.

DavePak
"Remember, in life, the only thing you absolutely control is your own attitude - do not squander that power."
Fully Painted armies:
TAU: 10k Nids: 9600 Marines: 4000 Crons: 7600
Actor, Gamer, Comic, Corporate Nerd
 
   
Made in us
Ancient Venerable Dark Angels Dreadnought





took a break from 40K for about 6 years (I think...it was definitely 4th edition). I just got back in and building new Eldar (I sold off a massive force). been playing FOW for the longest time and just wanted to play some casual 40K and build some ghostwarriors. Not worried about playing seriously, won't be entering any tournaments.
   
Made in au
Boom! Leman Russ Commander





Brisbane, Australia

 Dalymiddleboro wrote:
Been a crazy 6th and a fairly successful one for me. However, I'm just not feeling it as of late. I have been changing my diet and working out like mad so maybe that's contributing. I'm wondering if others have taken breaks in the past, and if they have has it renewed their love for the game? Thanks!


Is this not to do with all the controversy that follows your name?

Go for it. If it'll help you, enjoy it.

 
   
Made in us
Hellish Haemonculus






Boskydell, IL

I've taken a couple of breaks, and usually come back to the hobby more excited than when I left.

If you decide to 'get out' of the hobby though, you know who to contact about selling off those Dark Eldar!

Welcome to the Freakshow!

(Leadership-shenanigans for Eldar of all types.) 
   
Made in us
Douglas Bader






In my experience it has been the exact opposite. Since I haven't been playing 40k (for schedule/player availability reasons) I've realized just how terrible the game is and that the main reason I was playing at all was just out of habit. I still like the models and maybe even the occasional game, but taking a step back and getting some perspective has completely killed my desire to play seriously anymore. I doubt I'll ever go back to playing 40k full time.

There is no such thing as a hobby without politics. "Leave politics at the door" is itself a political statement, an endorsement of the status quo and an attempt to silence dissenting voices. 
   
Made in gb
Fresh-Faced New User





I have a few thoughts about taking a break, if you don't mind me sharing them.
1. When I started the first time I was young, and had a lot of disposable income, so I impulse purchased and bought new units while old units sat sloppily painted, primed, or just tacked together waiting to be started. This left me feeling overwhelmed and like the hobby was all too much. I was also collecting 2 40k and 1 fantasy army at the time, that didn't help. Coming back to the hobby I have found I have a better appreciation for the models I do have, and I've made the decision to finish what I have before I buy more (and I've stuck to it so far.)

2. Everything changed while I was gone.. and it might be for the better. Coming back to a games that is always changing is difficult, I came back expecting the game to feel the same way it had when I left, when I bought back in I was certainly thinking that I was going to be able to pick up right where I left off, but things are different. The biggest thing I've noticed is that the game seems to be attempting to account for more real world combat type situations (such as offering close air support through fliers and allowing fortifications) and while I understand where they are coming from I still don't think I should have to roll a "is your unit distracted because they missed their field shower last night so now they're feeling itchy" test before each shooting phase (hyperbole, but I hope I'm sounding a familiar note).

3. It's still familiar and that's fun. Coming back to the same Space Marines, Tyranids, Orks, etc. is nice, it's like coming back home after living away from home for a while. Sure the TV is in a different room, and your mom renamed your pet cat Astra Militarum for some inexplicable reason, but it's still the same universe, and the same things that made you enjoy it before still strike the same chord.

4. In my personal opinion, it's better the second time around. Maybe it's coming at it from a wiser (older) point of view, maybe it's that the universe gets fuller and richer as the model range grows and the fictional universe expands (occasionally retroactively), bu either way I have found much more enjoyment from my controlled, rational return to 40k.

5. Seriously though, if you're going to take a break, even if you're sure it's going to be forever, don't get rid of everything. I've had a pain of a time rebuilding my arsenal of modeling tools, I never thought I would miss that old pin vise I left in the desk of my college dorm room junior year, but after the fourth time I noticed fingerprints on a freshly painted shoulder pad I wanted to cry a little. When I stopped playing, I jettisoned everything, and I thought I was done for good, but after rereading "Starship Troopers" and spending a little too long checking out the newest GW models (just to see what they looked like these days) I ended up coming back to something I didn't even realize I had missed.

I think I got off topic there, but yes, taking a break has made the hobby more enjoyable for me.
   
Made in ca
Bounding Assault Marine





Canada

I took a break for 2 years and have been working out a lot as well and playing sports and I just got back into 40k again about a month ago and started up iron warriors and I have to say painting and modeling is still very fun more fun than before but I haven't been playing much
   
Made in us
Frenzied Berserker Terminator






 Scipio Africanus wrote:
 Dalymiddleboro wrote:
Been a crazy 6th and a fairly successful one for me. However, I'm just not feeling it as of late. I have been changing my diet and working out like mad so maybe that's contributing. I'm wondering if others have taken breaks in the past, and if they have has it renewed their love for the game? Thanks!


Is this not to do with all the controversy that follows your name?

Go for it. If it'll help you, enjoy it.


Has nothing to do with it, the haters keep me lovin life man.



" $@#& YOU! There are 3 things I want in a guy: Tall, Handsome, and plays Dark Eldar!"-every woman since
November 2010 
   
Made in us
Regular Dakkanaut




I alternate between 40K and WHFB.
One game is based on surgically ripping tour opponent apart and adjusting as they try to do the same to you. The other is based on leverage and delaying the inevitable long enough to prevail - WHFB is inherently cat and mouse
   
Made in us
Bounding Assault Marine




United States

Thanks JMS, I really enjoyed reading your post.

I agree that taking breaks (small or large) helps you see the forest through the trees so to speak.

2000+

"Can we stop saying CCSM and CSM to just say CSM and SM? I mean really, don't we already know they have a codex? Plus my colon key is broken."  
   
Made in us
Powerful Pegasus Knight





Omaha

Yes and no, sometimes you can just get burnt out of something. I have not played a 40k game with people other than my friend, and we use hybrid 4-5th-6th ed rules, in over a decade. I went to Flames of War and I am now feeling the need to play 40k with others again. I never lost my love of buying and painting models, just lost my love of playing.

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts."  
   
Made in ca
Changing Our Legion's Name






I took a 9-10 year break. Allot of rules changed, I lost most of my army (why I no longer play space marines). and the rules that didn't change I forgot.

All that said I have really gotten back into it and have gotten deep into the fluff (which I hadn't before), started a new army (soon to be two new armies), and overall just have been enjoying it far more than I use to. Probably the best thing I could have done regarding the hobby

I wouldn't suggest a 10 year break but a little while of fluff reading and no games could definitely help. A new (small say... 500 point) army could also help.


 
   
Made in us
Shade of Despair and Torment







Once you stop, after a while you realize how much time, money, and frustration you saved (and wasted in the past). You realize you've done more meaningful things with your freetime since you stopped, and it hits you that your an adult with adult responsibilities and adult obligations. It's a rebirth of sorts.

Welcome back to reality my friend.

Then this reality slaps you in the face, and back into wanting an escapism from it again, and you will get that "new army" fever when, after a year "break," you "casually," stop by a GW store to see what's new...

***** Space Hulk Necromunda Genestealer Patriarch Ripper Jacks Broodlord ALIENS THEME https://www.ebay.com/sch/carcharodons/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649 
   
Made in us
Preceptor




Rochester, NY

I'm kind of in the middle of a break now, having just moved and having a ton of other things to do anyways.

It's probably the correct sentiment that when you take a break, don't get rid of EVERYTHING, but I personally do recommend getting rid of a decent amount of things. I've been focused on eBaying the following:

1. Books I don't expect to use (i.e. codices that I think will be out of date when I come back to them)
2. Models I never liked/played
3. Anything else that I don't want as part of a "core" force

Basically my mentality is to just keep a little bit and run fairly lean, getting rid of a lot of the clutter. I have that money sitting in a Paypal account, and I generally use it to fund other entertainment activities; for example, it funded my PS4 purchase in December.

The main thing I won't sell is terrain, because I barely ever get around to finishing it and I would never want to start from scratch.

Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.

- Hanlon's Razor
 
   
Made in nl
Pragmatic Primus Commanding Cult Forces






Taking a (short) break is really refreshing, I would really recommended one very now and then.
Try picking up a very different game besides 40k. Variety really makes everythin more fun.
I am having a short break from my beloved SM chapter right now. I am painting a Russian fleet for Dystopian Wars (I really recommend checking out Dystopian Wars, it is awesome).

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