Alright so guys, just wondering here, how many of you guys and gals paint most or all of your armies? I can boast an almost entirely painted Chaos Marine army (3585 points) with 2 oblits, 10 regular marines and 10 raptors requiring attention. I seem to be the only player that fields such an army at my local gaming store. There's 1 or 2 other guys who have entirely painted armies but they collect, they don't play any games.

Most of these people though that don't have painted armies are between the ages of 25 to 40 and they work a lot of jobs, so buying units and playing 40k consumes a lot of their time and money, understandably they don't have the time to paint it all and they don't have the money to hire somebody to paint it all. I'm 19, have been painting since I was 12, so I have the luxury to do it. I paint my dads nids for money amd that's mainly how Iearned to paint so well. I have a feeling when I get older I won't be so lucky...

So for you guys, how many of you have managed to paint most if not all of your army?

Everything is painted before it goes on the gaming table. Even it takes months to finish a new tank I want to use I'm still not going to lower my standards and play with unpainted models. And TBH if you don't paint your models to at least a basic standard I'm probably going to judge you for it.

 Peregrine wrote:
Everything is painted before it goes on the gaming table. Even it takes months to finish a new tank I want to use I'm still not going to lower my standards and play with unpainted models. And TBH if you don't paint your models to at least a basic standard I'm probably going to judge you for it.

I honestly like playing painted armies a lot more than basic grey non painted armies because you can distinguish certain units from eachother like, SMs, you can notice Sternguards with their white helmets (assuming the said person paints them as a codex chapter) and not get them confused with regular marines. Stuff like that but again, 40k is an expensive hobby, I would love to play an entirely painted army (aside from my brother) at my LGS, but a lot of people can't get it done merely because of the time and money.

Judge away good sir. Purchased 15,000 points of orks and only about 1/3 are painted. It'll take me a long time to paint that many orks. Doesn't bug me one bit. Ridiculous that you'd judge someone you're playing because they wanna use a model. Your standards aren't theirs.

And I do agree, my units aren't used unless they are painted. I like seeing my painted army assembled for battle.

Nerve damage has relegated me to relying solely on commission painting services, and that also has changed the way I buy and paint armies.

I rarely can just buy a new thing and slap it in on the fly. I tend to buy in large pieces, and have a commission artist lined up ahead of time for that piece. So I only field painted armies, but that is mostly a factor of necessity because I don't buy units and stuff unless I have the painting work lined up.

Pain4Pleasure wrote:
Purchased 15,000 points of orks and only about 1/3 are painted. It'll take me a long time to paint that many orks.

Who cares how long it takes to paint 15,000 points? Paint 2,000 points that you'll actually use in a game and finish the rest whenever. In fact, since you've got ~5,000 points painted already you have no reason to ever use unpainted models outside of large Apocalypse games (which aren't really worth playing anyway).

Your standards aren't theirs.

No, but I'm playing a game with them and having unpainted models on the table significantly reduces my enjoyment of the game. And given how easy it is to do a basic base + wash + drybrush paint job playing with unpainted armies is essentially saying "I don't care how much you enjoy this game, I'd rather save 15 minutes".

Everyone know painted models roll hits better, though they tend to die first too. I field my armies fully painted unless I just got them; I love to face a fully painted army as well, though I be alright if they aren't or WIP.

The part I can't stand is people having models for months on end and they're still at the same stage, no progress; at that point I refuse to play against them until they have it moving.

Pain4Pleasure wrote:
Judge away good sir. Purchased 15,000 points of orks and only about 1/3 are painted. It'll take me a long time to paint that many orks. Doesn't bug me one bit. Ridiculous that you'd judge someone you're playing because they wanna use a model. Your standards aren't theirs.

Hm, 1/3 of your army? So I assume you could easily play a 3,000 point battle with painted models then ay? I do admit, painting horde armies is tough, I have like uhhh, 106 models I think? My dad has like, over 300, at least.

Yes I could, and mostly I do, even going as far as using grots at times. However sometime I like to field my deff dreads which only one is painted, my favorite thing is kan wall so the formation is awesome to use for me. But none of my kand are painted, I just finished my morkanaut, so the dreads will be next then the kans. I refuse to not use models though, as at least I'm progressively painting them and not just constantly playing the same grey plastic with no new advancements.

 Big Mac wrote:
Everyone know painted models roll hits better, though they tend to die first too. I field my armies fully painted unless I just got them; I love to face a fully painted army as well, though I be alright if they aren't or WIP.

The part I can't stand is people having models for months on end and they're still at the same stage, no progress; at that point I refuse to play against them until they have it moving.

Haha, yea, I know what you mean. First time I played with unpainted models was the 3 oblits I bought last week, but I was just way too excited. I painted one fully and the other two were primed black.

 Peregrine wrote:

Pain4Pleasure wrote:
Purchased 15,000 points of orks and only about 1/3 are painted. It'll take me a long time to paint that many orks.

Who cares how long it takes to paint 15,000 points? Paint 2,000 points that you'll actually use in a game and finish the rest whenever. In fact, since you've got ~5,000 points painted already you have no reason to ever use unpainted models outside of large Apocalypse games (which aren't really worth playing anyway).

Your standards aren't theirs.

No, but I'm playing a game with them and having unpainted models on the table significantly reduces my enjoyment of the game. And given how easy it is to do a basic base + wash + drybrush paint job playing with unpainted armies is essentially saying "I don't care how much you enjoy this game, I'd rather save 15 minutes".

Yeah, no. This isn't how I paint. I do one model at a time. I have ocd. I use paints at my disposal to put as much detail as I can on my models. Even my boys. My friends say "but their in a mass horde, no one is gonna care for detail on them" But idc, it's how I paint. An ork boy typically takes me 40 minutes to complete to my satisfaction. I have a pregnant wife and 3 kids, and a job as well. I try to do a few models every week. It'll get done when it's done. I stated before, I refuse to not use models I have paid for. Especially since I'm not just "saving 15 minutes"

I don't usually buy minis I know I can't finish painting; I however am a big sucker for alleged exclusive or rare stuffs like very old 40K minis or about-to-go-the-way-of-the-doodoos ranges or the campaign sets.
So I've got a bunch of DAs and BAs hanging around that I have just scratched their chapter liveries off and only half of them painted (I did converted the Shield of Baal dread into a decently close-looking magnetized SW dread, so that felt good). And I've got all the metal assassins I haven't touched.
Sad thing is, I'm also think about starting a IG/AM army...

Since I made the switch from power gamer to collector I've started to get my paintbrushes out. Just finished my first Ork boy and while I've still got to touch him up to make him acceptable to my standard (granted I'm a beginner painter so will probably go in store to aask for help), I'm more proud of that one model out of the rest of my base coated armies.

I paint pretty fast, I can get 2 regular Chaos Marines done in an hour. Haha, forgefiend on the other hand? Ehh, took me 3 or 4 dedicated hours of work.

Everything i field is painted, although i have lots of stuff unpainted, but i don't like unpainted stuff on the gaming table.

Pain4Pleasure wrote:
I stated before, I refuse to not use models I have paid for.

And you have a right to do that. I'm still going to judge you for it.

 Frozocrone wrote:
Since I made the switch from power gamer to collector I've started to get my paintbrushes out. Just finished my first Ork boy and while I've still got to touch him up to make him acceptable to my standard (granted I'm a beginner painter so will probably go in store to aask for help), I'm more proud of that one model out of the rest of my base coated armies.

You should get to be good at it soon, just requires a ton of patience. If your LGS owner paints you could ask him/her for advice. My guy actually gave me good advice on my models. Painted Blood Angel terminators and boy were they bad.

 Peregrine wrote:

Pain4Pleasure wrote:
I stated before, I refuse to not use models I have paid for.

And you have a right to do that. I'm still going to judge you for it.

As I you.

Apart from the first odd GW demo game with just-bought models, never fielded an unpainted army.

Been working on an ork army for a year and only just fielded it, as it took so long to get the first 60 boyz, 3 battlewagons and all the walkers painted.

Would be majorly pissed off if someone turned up for a game and their army was unpainted. Would far rather face a cheese list that left my Boyz as cinders, if it was well painted.

You can argue aesthetics don't matter but they do, as they do in practically every other area of life. Don't expect excellence, but I expect my opponent to care.

At my LGS (4TK Gaming) during tournaments now, the rules are that all of your models should be based and painted.

If there are some models used on the day that don't meet the standard, you get preferred enemy against them.

Games are just nicer to play when everything's painted.

 Peregrine wrote:
Everything is painted before it goes on the gaming table. Even it takes months to finish a new tank I want to use I'm still not going to lower my standards and play with unpainted models. And TBH if you don't paint your models to at least a basic standard I'm probably going to judge you for it.

I have an IG army, out of 7 models painting (some are WIP, those are the only ones that don't see play, because I don't want to add fingerprints under the paint), I have some half assembled wyverns, seeing play every time, and I'd love to play against you or just show pictures just to annoy you. Not personally you, just this uptight frame of mind.

Edit: while I'd love to play with fully painted army, I try to do it right, I'm not a fan of TTQ (which mostly means coloring between the lines and most of the times is just ugly), so I try to do my best, which is a slow process (and still learning how to paint). It takes time. I'd rather play a plastic army or some ugly, rushed TTQ. Ofc I have my limits as a painter, so likely it won't be better at all than TTQ, but I want to try at least.

I agree that playing with/against a well painted army is way better than with/against half assembled plastic, and I understand if people have a problem with it.

 obsidianaura wrote:
At my LGS (4TK Gaming) during tournaments now, the rules are that all of your models should be based and painted.

If there are some models used on the day that don't meet the standard, you get preferred enemy against them.

Games are just nicer to play when everything's painted.

Wow, that's creative actually. Should encourage players to paint their armies for sure

I don't actually know anyone who plays an unpainted army. At my FLGS, we have hard barn-raisings where we helped new players paint their armies to get them on the table quicker.

With regards to buying a painted army, I know people who have bought specific pieces, but no one who had their entire army painted for them.

 obsidianaura wrote:
At my LGS (4TK Gaming) during tournaments now, the rules are that all of your models should be based and painted.

If there are some models used on the day that don't meet the standard, you get preferred enemy against them.

Games are just nicer to play when everything's painted.

This is exactly the same at my home addresses club (my friend was livid when he found this out and refuses to play in store now).

 Lord Tarkin wrote:

 obsidianaura wrote:
At my LGS (4TK Gaming) during tournaments now, the rules are that all of your models should be based and painted.

If there are some models used on the day that don't meet the standard, you get preferred enemy against them.

Games are just nicer to play when everything's painted.

Wow, that's creative actually. Should encourage players to paint their armies for sure

It works really well actually and makes everyone step up their painting skills. Plus they've stopped giving awards for 2nd and 3rd. Now it's 1st place and best painted.

You can take a look at the last torny here http://4tkgaming.co.uk/cog%201750%20(may%202015).html their website isn't brilliant but you can see the quality of the armies there.

My Skaven can't be placed on bases until they are fully painted becuase they are on clear plastic. It's forced me to man up and paint the whole army just to be able to play with it.

On a different note;
That white 4TK Gaming Necron army has a FLAWLESS white finish. I'm gonna guess airbrush?

 Purifier wrote:
My Skaven can't be placed on bases until they are fully painted becuase they are on clear plastic. It's forced me to man up and paint the whole army just to be able to play with it.

On a different note;
That white 4TK Gaming Necron army has a FLAWLESS white finish. I'm gonna guess airbrush?

Spoiler:

Yeah I think so, with some gloss too. I'd not seen the army before that day, plus didn't play him so didn't get a chance to ask.

Here's mine though

 obsidianaura wrote:

 Lord Tarkin wrote:

 obsidianaura wrote:
At my LGS (4TK Gaming) during tournaments now, the rules are that all of your models should be based and painted.

If there are some models used on the day that don't meet the standard, you get preferred enemy against them.

Games are just nicer to play when everything's painted.

Wow, that's creative actually. Should encourage players to paint their armies for sure

It works really well actually and makes everyone step up their painting skills. Plus they've stopped giving awards for 2nd and 3rd. Now it's 1st place and best painted.

You can take a look at the last torny here http://4tkgaming.co.uk/cog%201750%20(may%202015).html their website isn't brilliant but you can see the quality of the armies there.

Yess, love those beautifully painted armies, glorious. Your LGS is awesome man

Here's my best jobs so far

You need to base them. They will look a lot nicer and more complete. Its simple to base as well.

I am trying to paint an army 100% on my own at the moment.



Photo is terrible but thats where I am at. The Jetbikes have crazy Harlequin faces on them too.

I dont care if someone paints their army, I do however suggest they paint them but do or say no more.

 Swastakowey wrote:
You need to base them. They will look a lot nicer and more complete. Its simple to base as well.

I am trying to paint an army 100% on my own at the moment.

Spoiler:

Photo is terrible but thats where I am at. The Jetbikes have crazy Harlequin faces on them too.

I dont care if someone paints their army, I do however suggest they paint them but do or say no more.

Those vehicles look nice, especially the bigger ones (sorry, I'm forgetting their name). The designs I think really make them look great.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oh, were you talking to me about basing?

I don't like using unpainted models, and my army is always as WYSIWYG as practicable*. I also prefer to play against[i] painted models, and using equally well painted terrain.

I won't [i]refuse to play against an unpainted army, or one full of proxies, but given the choice, I'll avoid doing so. If I had a choice of opponents, having a painted army comes a close second to "are you a jerk?"

I played Dropzone Commander recently using unfinished models, and it felt ... wrong.

* For me, the army list exists to let me use models I own, rather than to choose exactly what I want to field. My Tactical squads have a missile launcher and flamer, or plasma gun and plasma cannon, and both have Rhinos with Extra Armour. That's how I field them, regardless of whether it's "optimal" or not against a given enemy.

I will not use any model unless it's painted. Gets really annoying for hordes but worth it.

I don't care if your army is just bases with unit types written on them in marker (yes, I've actually played against this guy). My army is heavily converted and sometimes takes a week for me to pose a single model (I work very long days). I sometimes put down unpainted models because I am so insanely judgemental about my own army, but no-one else's.

I do not care what state your army is in, I do not care what the board looks like. I've played on boards that were covered in a sheet of paper and area terrain was drawn onto it. It was still fun to me because we were rolling dice and having a good time. Anyone who is going to judge another player by the appearance of their army rather than their character and how enjoyable it is to play with them is just not a person I am interested in playing this game with. Life is too short to spend it associating with people with that kind of attitude.

Similarly, I take great pride in the fluff of my army and I write out little stories about each individual model and why they take the kit they choose and what all their little gubbins represent. I am very fond of how they fit into the universe as a whole. However, I don't care if you're playing My Little Pony Astartes or Hello Kitty Sororiitas, as long as you're a blast to play this game with. Be a good sport and you can play Eldar/Guardsman hybrids and Genestealer Orks and Chaos Tau for all I care.

 j31c3n wrote:
I don't care if your army is just bases with unit types written on them in marker (yes, I've actually played against this guy). My army is heavily converted and sometimes takes a week for me to pose a single model (I work very long days). I sometimes put down unpainted models because I am so insanely judgemental about my own army, but no-one else's.

I do not care what state your army is in, I do not care what the board looks like. I've played on boards that were covered in a sheet of paper and area terrain was drawn onto it. It was still fun to me because we were rolling dice and having a good time. Anyone who is going to judge another player by the appearance of their army rather than their character and how enjoyable it is to play with them is just not a person I am interested in playing this game with. Life is too short to spend it associating with people with that kind of attitude.

Similarly, I take great pride in the fluff of my army and I write out little stories about each individual model and why they take the kit they choose and what all their little gubbins represent. I am very fond of how they fit into the universe as a whole. However, I don't care if you're playing My Little Pony Astartes or Hello Kitty Sororiitas, as long as you're a blast to play this game with. Be a good sport and you can play Eldar/Guardsman hybrids and Genestealer Orks and Chaos Tau for all I care.

I exalt you good sir

My LGS is full of great painters, and like all good work it moves slowly. It's great playing against a grey army once, and in subsequent games watching it slowly turn into a beautiful fully painted force.

As long as progress is being made, (and even if it isn't), I'll always play you. (Unless you're a douche, and even then I'll play you once)

I have a friend who spent a few months working out how to make two colors of primer interact to make it look naturally shaded, and now his models look good, even with only two colors of primer on them.

The wait is always worth it.

In my club id say it's about 70/30 painted to semi/unpainted. I personally always field painted and feel dirty putting ninjas on the table.

Even in test games against myself in my own home, I'll only use painted minis.

That said, while most of my collection is painted to some standard, a good deal of it is in line for stripping and redoing. My Blood Angels are the only army where I could field a full list to the quality I happy with, but they'll often be supplemented with the better painted units from my IG, DA, Raven Guard, GK, Ultras and Wolves.

And I will admit that my exception to this rule is vehicles. My rhinos were 2nd hand and need stripping, my Knight is going to take a long time and Drop Pods are just scary...

I pretty much refuse to play unpainted minis unless I just got them put together. At a minimum though I like to at least have them base painted if I have more than a day or two before putting them on the field. I have almost 8000 points of Night Lords and another 3k points in Iron Warriors. Every NL is at least primered and dry brushed dark blue and most have the brass edging at least started, all squad leaders are a little farther than this to set them apart. Iron Warriors are the same way although their paint scheme is more complicated and thus not as far along, but at least base painted and first and second washes complete and black where the hazard stripes will be. Vehicles are in the same boat. It takes so very little time to do base coats/washes that there is no excuse really not to have models done that far.

 j31c3n wrote:
I don't care if your army is just bases with unit types written on them in marker (yes, I've actually played against this guy). My army is heavily converted and sometimes takes a week for me to pose a single model (I work very long days). I sometimes put down unpainted models because I am so insanely judgemental about my own army, but no-one else's.

I do not care what state your army is in, I do not care what the board looks like. I've played on boards that were covered in a sheet of paper and area terrain was drawn onto it. It was still fun to me because we were rolling dice and having a good time. Anyone who is going to judge another player by the appearance of their army rather than their character and how enjoyable it is to play with them is just not a person I am interested in playing this game with. Life is too short to spend it associating with people with that kind of attitude.

Similarly, I take great pride in the fluff of my army and I write out little stories about each individual model and why they take the kit they choose and what all their little gubbins represent. I am very fond of how they fit into the universe as a whole. However, I don't care if you're playing My Little Pony Astartes or Hello Kitty Sororiitas, as long as you're a blast to play this game with. Be a good sport and you can play Eldar/Guardsman hybrids and Genestealer Orks and Chaos Tau for all I care.

Just bases? Whoa, how does one figure out line of sight?

Anyway, I do agree that an open mind sbould be used when playing 40k. I for one am practically in love with this universe so I often don't find it hard to play odd armies, I'm merely just overjoyed to see two fully painted armies facing off against eachother, it's a sight.

 Lord Tarkin wrote:
Just bases? Whoa, how does one figure out line of sight?

"This guys should be around this tall, he can probably be seen."
It's not rocket surgery if you're not an absolute strict rules lawyer.

 Lord Tarkin wrote:

 obsidianaura wrote:
At my LGS (4TK Gaming) during tournaments now, the rules are that all of your models should be based and painted.

If there are some models used on the day that don't meet the standard, you get preferred enemy against them.

Games are just nicer to play when everything's painted.

Wow, that's creative actually. Should encourage players to paint their armies for sure

Yeah, let's punish players in game for not satisfying everyone's aesthetic standards out of game. Do you even ask why their stuff isn't fully painted? Sounds more like a really good way to discourage people from joining the hobby.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Throwing a fit over an opponent having a partially painted army is like whining that someone is using the default texture in a video game instead of paying for one of the unique skins. It doesn't really matter for the game and you end up sounding like a neckbeard.

I get that people who have no intention of playing anything but the Gray Legion are not as fun to play against but when you're judging a guy for choosing to raise his family instead of painting every weeknight you need to reconsider your viewpoint.

 Purifier wrote:

 Lord Tarkin wrote:
Just bases? Whoa, how does one figure out line of sight?

"This guys should be around this tall, he can probably be seen."
It's not rocket surgery if you're not an absolute strict rules lawyer.

Maybe you're a bit disappointed but I'm a very competitive person and yes, things like that bother me. I want things to be proven to me, so I'll never play an army of bases. So, guess you can call me a rules lawyer.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

lustigjh wrote:

 Lord Tarkin wrote:

 obsidianaura wrote:
At my LGS (4TK Gaming) during tournaments now, the rules are that all of your models should be based and painted.

If there are some models used on the day that don't meet the standard, you get preferred enemy against them.

Games are just nicer to play when everything's painted.

Wow, that's creative actually. Should encourage players to paint their armies for sure

Yeah, let's punish players in game for not satisfying everyone's aesthetic standards out of game. Do you even ask why their stuff isn't fully painted? Sounds more like a really good way to discourage people from joining the hobby.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Throwing a fit over an opponent having a partially painted army is like whining that someone is using the default texture in a video game instead of paying for one of the unique skins. It doesn't really matter for the game and you end up sounding like a neckbeard.

I get that people who have no intention of playing anything but the Gray Legion are not as fun to play against but when you're judging a guy for choosing to raise his family instead of painting every weeknight you need to reconsider your viewpoint.

Well, read my OP, I stated why some people can't paint their whole armies but I guess it doesn't matter to me since I don't play tournaments. Tournaments in general are a little too hardcore for me and honestly, I go to my LGS for regular competitive games. Every gaming store has their own set of rules that some people don't like. For instance, the owner of my store Jason doesn't let anybody use models that weren't bought from his store. He let's some people get away with a few out of store purchases but then there are some people who have entire armies that are completely foreign and those people have to pay to play any games in the store.

As far as tournaments go, not sure if he has any rules towards unpainted armies, never heard of it but there are tons of other rules thaf I don't care to remember.

lustigjh wrote:

 Lord Tarkin wrote:

 obsidianaura wrote:
At my LGS (4TK Gaming) during tournaments now, the rules are that all of your models should be based and painted.

If there are some models used on the day that don't meet the standard, you get preferred enemy against them.

Games are just nicer to play when everything's painted.

Wow, that's creative actually. Should encourage players to paint their armies for sure

Yeah, let's punish players in game for not satisfying everyone's aesthetic standards out of game. Do you even ask why their stuff isn't fully painted? Sounds more like a really good way to discourage people from joining the hobby.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Throwing a fit over an opponent having a partially painted army is like whining that someone is using the default texture in a video game instead of paying for one of the unique skins. It doesn't really matter for the game and you end up sounding like a neckbeard.

I get that people who have no intention of playing anything but the Gray Legion are not as fun to play against but when you're judging a guy for choosing to raise his family instead of painting every weeknight you need to reconsider your viewpoint.

It's not a barrier to playing at the shop, just to joining in the tournaments. It's not discouraged people playing the tournaments as they're always fully booked.

15 years ago you couldn't play at a GW shop without a fully painted army so it's not so far fetched.

Personally I don't mind playing against unpainted armies, I prefer painted but its not imperative. An unpainted army is a rarity at 4TK though, at least on the veteran nights I go.

 obsidianaura wrote:

lustigjh wrote:

 Lord Tarkin wrote:

 obsidianaura wrote:
At my LGS (4TK Gaming) during tournaments now, the rules are that all of your models should be based and painted.

If there are some models used on the day that don't meet the standard, you get preferred enemy against them.

Games are just nicer to play when everything's painted.

Wow, that's creative actually. Should encourage players to paint their armies for sure

Yeah, let's punish players in game for not satisfying everyone's aesthetic standards out of game. Do you even ask why their stuff isn't fully painted? Sounds more like a really good way to discourage people from joining the hobby.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Throwing a fit over an opponent having a partially painted army is like whining that someone is using the default texture in a video game instead of paying for one of the unique skins. It doesn't really matter for the game and you end up sounding like a neckbeard.

I get that people who have no intention of playing anything but the Gray Legion are not as fun to play against but when you're judging a guy for choosing to raise his family instead of painting every weeknight you need to reconsider your viewpoint.

It's not a barrier to playing at the shop, just to joining in the tournaments. It's not discouraged people playing the tournaments as they're always fully booked.

15 years ago you couldn't play at a GW shop without a fully painted army so it's not so far fetched.

Personally I don't mind playing against unpainted armies, I prefer painted but its not imperative. An unpainted army is a rarity at 4TK though, at least on the veteran nights I go.

Complete opposite at my store. I've never ever seen a fully painted army assemble for battle before. I always battle armies of grey. I understand why some people can't paint all their models, I do, but eventually I would love to play a painted army for once.

Having work, school and military duties I really do not have a lot of time to paint and quite honestly I have 0 patience to even attempt to. I am currently in the process of having my (now completed collection!...for now ) of Farsight Enclaves Tau being painted by a good friend of mind who is attempting to start up a miniature painting business. I have slowly grown into the mentality of only wanting to play with painted armies but I will never refuse someone a game because theirs isn't and understand that guess what life happens. Anyone that thinks "its not painted I wont play against them" or "they should really paint their army and stop being lazy" without knowing the facts of that persons personal life can shove it.

 Lord Tarkin wrote:

 obsidianaura wrote:

lustigjh wrote:

 Lord Tarkin wrote:

 obsidianaura wrote:
At my LGS (4TK Gaming) during tournaments now, the rules are that all of your models should be based and painted.

If there are some models used on the day that don't meet the standard, you get preferred enemy against them.

Games are just nicer to play when everything's painted.

Wow, that's creative actually. Should encourage players to paint their armies for sure

Yeah, let's punish players in game for not satisfying everyone's aesthetic standards out of game. Do you even ask why their stuff isn't fully painted? Sounds more like a really good way to discourage people from joining the hobby.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Throwing a fit over an opponent having a partially painted army is like whining that someone is using the default texture in a video game instead of paying for one of the unique skins. It doesn't really matter for the game and you end up sounding like a neckbeard.

I get that people who have no intention of playing anything but the Gray Legion are not as fun to play against but when you're judging a guy for choosing to raise his family instead of painting every weeknight you need to reconsider your viewpoint.

It's not a barrier to playing at the shop, just to joining in the tournaments. It's not discouraged people playing the tournaments as they're always fully booked.

15 years ago you couldn't play at a GW shop without a fully painted army so it's not so far fetched.

Personally I don't mind playing against unpainted armies, I prefer painted but its not imperative. An unpainted army is a rarity at 4TK though, at least on the veteran nights I go.

Complete opposite at my store. I've never ever seen a fully painted army assemble for battle before. I always battle armies of grey. I understand why some people can't paint all their models, I do, but eventually I would love to play a painted army for once.

Emigrate here to England we'll look after you

 obsidianaura wrote:

 Lord Tarkin wrote:

 obsidianaura wrote:

lustigjh wrote:

 Lord Tarkin wrote:

 obsidianaura wrote:
At my LGS (4TK Gaming) during tournaments now, the rules are that all of your models should be based and painted.

If there are some models used on the day that don't meet the standard, you get preferred enemy against them.

Games are just nicer to play when everything's painted.

Wow, that's creative actually. Should encourage players to paint their armies for sure

Yeah, let's punish players in game for not satisfying everyone's aesthetic standards out of game. Do you even ask why their stuff isn't fully painted? Sounds more like a really good way to discourage people from joining the hobby.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Throwing a fit over an opponent having a partially painted army is like whining that someone is using the default texture in a video game instead of paying for one of the unique skins. It doesn't really matter for the game and you end up sounding like a neckbeard.

I get that people who have no intention of playing anything but the Gray Legion are not as fun to play against but when you're judging a guy for choosing to raise his family instead of painting every weeknight you need to reconsider your viewpoint.

It's not a barrier to playing at the shop, just to joining in the tournaments. It's not discouraged people playing the tournaments as they're always fully booked.

15 years ago you couldn't play at a GW shop without a fully painted army so it's not so far fetched.

Personally I don't mind playing against unpainted armies, I prefer painted but its not imperative. An unpainted army is a rarity at 4TK though, at least on the veteran nights I go.

Complete opposite at my store. I've never ever seen a fully painted army assemble for battle before. I always battle armies of grey. I understand why some people can't paint all their models, I do, but eventually I would love to play a painted army for once.

Emigrate here to England we'll look after you

Haha, I sure would love the cold weather!

 Lord Tarkin wrote:

 Purifier wrote:

 Lord Tarkin wrote:
Just bases? Whoa, how does one figure out line of sight?

"This guys should be around this tall, he can probably be seen."
It's not rocket surgery if you're not an absolute strict rules lawyer.

Maybe you're a bit disappointed but I'm a very competitive person and yes, things like that bother me. I want things to be proven to me, so I'll never play an army of bases. So, guess you can call me a rules lawyer.

Disappointed? Nah, man. You do you. But I'm with j31c3n here. I would be fine with estimations. My gaming group has sort of evolved from stone cold RAW to everyone going "is this guy hit by the blast?" "eh, could be. 4+, it's hit." And in our group it has really helped us all enjoy the game much more.

 gmaleron wrote:
Having work, school and military duties I really do not have a lot of time to paint and quite honestly I have 0 patience to even attempt to. I am currently in the process of having my (now completed collection!...for now ) of Farsight Enclaves Tau being painted by a good friend of mind who is attempting to start up a miniature painting business. I have slowly grown into the mentality of only wanting to play with painted armies but I will never refuse someone a game because theirs isn't and understand that guess what life happens. Anyone that thinks "its not painted I wont play against them" or "they should really paint their army and stop being lazy" without knowing the facts of that persons personal life can shove it.

LIke many others, I love playing painted armies but shoot, a 40k game is a 40k game and that's about all that factors into it at the end. The opposing army will be slaughtered anyway, so how they choose to look upon their death is completely up to them! Lol


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Purifier wrote:

 Lord Tarkin wrote:

 Purifier wrote:

 Lord Tarkin wrote:
Just bases? Whoa, how does one figure out line of sight?

"This guys should be around this tall, he can probably be seen."
It's not rocket surgery if you're not an absolute strict rules lawyer.

Maybe you're a bit disappointed but I'm a very competitive person and yes, things like that bother me. I want things to be proven to me, so I'll never play an army of bases. So, guess you can call me a rules lawyer.

Disappointed? Nah, man. You do you. But I'm with j31c3n here. I would be fine with estimations. My gaming group has sort of evolved from stone cold RAW to everyone going "is this guy hit by the blast?" "eh, could be. 4+, it's hit." And in our group it has really helped us all enjoy the game much more.

Well if it doesn't bother you then more power to ya. I mean, I'm not the type to whine and complain trying to save a model getting hit by a blast. My LGS does pretty much the same thing, both players roll off and whoever wins gets their way in an uncertain situation.

I suppose it's down to what you want from the game.

Some people it's the game itself, the gameplay and winning/losing.

For others its seeing a big battle unfold and cinematic scenes to enjoy.

I'm guessing people who don't paint their armies don't pull out a camera and take photos of the battle?

For me I'm an all-rounder I enjoy the game and looking at the pretty painted models. I like looking back at the photos and how cool it looked.

These are some of the cool shots from the tournament a couple weeks back.

 obsidianaura wrote:
I suppose it's down to what you want from the game.

Some people it's the game itself, the gameplay and winning/losing.

For others its seeing a big battle unfold and cinematic scenes to enjoy.

I'm guessing people who don't paint their armies don't pull out a camera and take photos of the battle?

For me I'm an all-rounder I enjoy the game and looking at the pretty painted models. I like looking back at the photos and how cool it looked.

These are some of the cool shots from the tournament a couple weeks back.

Spoiler:

Ha, yes, those are nice scenes. That right there is awesome. I mean, it's not just that they're painted too but they're painted nicely, I'm sure the Dark Gods approve.

well here comes another aspect.

I love to play the game, the fun comes from the narrative we create for each game we play. i paint, slowly, but i am not about to NEVER play just becasue we dont all have painted armies.

we dont play less than 3k games (becasue if find them lacking in excitement, tactics, and fun) but we always reqcruit new players, so it would be a jerk move to demand everythign be painted.

Therefore, we constantly encourage painting because that adds to the aesthetic of the game. So far its working, as people who never played have gigantic armies and are starting to learn painting as well.

Haha, oh wow. I mean it's a very thematic table, but god damn, that desert table is sparse.
"My Tau gunline has settled on this desert planet."
"why?"
"... isn't it obvious?"

 tenebre wrote:
well here comes another aspect.

I love to play the game, the fun comes from the narrative we create for each game we play. i paint, slowly, but i am not about to NEVER play just becasue we dont all have painted armies.

we dont play less than 3k games (becasue if find them lacking in excitement, tactics, and fun) but we always reqcruit new players, so it would be a jerk move to demand everythign be painted.

Therefore, we constantly encourage painting because that adds to the aesthetic of the game. So far its working, as people who never played have gigantic armies and are starting to learn painting as well.

Encourage?! Noooo!

Purge the unpainted with the cleansing fire of chaos black UNDERCOAT!
Strike them down with the righteous BASE PAINT!
Proclaim their sins in explicit DETAIL from the highest keep
Baptise them in the redeeming INK of retribution.
HIGHLIGHT the heinous errors of their ways.
Finally when their body submits itself to the Emperor for judgment, cover their remains with the grit of BASING SAND.

I try to paint all my gak before I use it.

I would never show up to a tournament with unpainted gak, even if it was allowed. Tournaments is where you bring your A Game.

Also, the first time I played at my new FLGS (moved a few years ago), I only brought my painted gak. First impressions and all that.

I have played against unpainted hordes many times. I've even used unpainted gak. As long as the other guy isn't a d-bag (painted or unpainted), then we'll have fun.

Some people have kids/multiple jobs/other hobbies. I'm not going to judge them based on their painted or unpainted armies. Hell, I've got a handful of units I would LOVE to finish, but just can't find the time.

Do I prefer painted? Oh yeah, for sure. It adds to the depth and cool factor of a game. But it's not going to ruin my night if someone rolls up with naked plastic.

I judge people where it counts when it comes to gaming.

1. What shoes do they wear?
2. Do they have a large, metal belt buckle?
3. Do they winter in Galveston, TX or Miami, Florida?

While I prefer painted armies, I don't judge people on whether or not their army is painted. People have real life to deal with, and everyone knows how much that gets in the way.

For me, I always try to get everything painted to tabletop standard (the only standard I'm capable of) before fielding them, or buying more models. Has definitely saved me a lot of time and money.

I only try to play with and against painted armies if at all possible. To me this isn't just a game - it's a hobby. I like the battlefield to have great looking terrain as well. I only get to play about once a month so I like my games to look good and encompass all aspects of the hobby!

Unfortunately most of the players at my local game store don't have painted armies. I try to schedule games in advance against players with painted armies, as walking in for a pick-up game almost always leads to playing against a tide of grey or primed models. Some of them aren't even assembled!

Fortunately our local tournaments require fully painted and based armies. Tournaments are the only sure way for me to get fully painted games in anymore.

I have two fully painted armies, one being my Space Wolfs and the other being my Tyrannids. Took me about a year to paint both as I am a slow painter and not very skilled at it too, but the end restult felt good enough, and I have not had any complaitns either from my regular opponets

 TheNewBlood wrote:
For me, I always try to get everything painted to tabletop standard (the only standard I'm capable of) before fielding them, or buying more models. Has definitely saved me a lot of time and money.

I try to hold myself to this same standard: No more new models until my old ones are "finished". Sadly it's all to easy to find some new toy I convince myself I need...

I have thousands upon thousands of models - mostly painted

the poorly to average is mine
the average to good is ebay
and the good to excellent is commsioned

lustigjh wrote:

 Lord Tarkin wrote:

 obsidianaura wrote:
At my LGS (4TK Gaming) during tournaments now, the rules are that all of your models should be based and painted.

If there are some models used on the day that don't meet the standard, you get preferred enemy against them.

Games are just nicer to play when everything's painted.

Wow, that's creative actually. Should encourage players to paint their armies for sure

Yeah, let's punish players in game for not satisfying everyone's aesthetic standards out of game. Do you even ask why their stuff isn't fully painted? Sounds more like a really good way to discourage people from joining the hobby.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Throwing a fit over an opponent having a partially painted army is like whining that someone is using the default texture in a video game instead of paying for one of the unique skins. It doesn't really matter for the game and you end up sounding like a neckbeard.

I get that people who have no intention of playing anything but the Gray Legion are not as fun to play against but when you're judging a guy for choosing to raise his family instead of painting every weeknight you need to reconsider your viewpoint.

Three colors and something on the base is preeeeetty much standard for most major tournaments. That's kinda in there with WYSiWYg.

I have one army and I make sure its fully painted before it goes out on the table, when possible.

It deffos adds to the experience having a fully painted army, otherwise your pushing grey plastic around a board for hours

My son has inherited my Eldar Army which is fully painted. My SM army is also fully painted. However most of the players in my local club, field hordes of unpainted models. We also have many kitbashed and homemade proxies and counts as. I dont have any issue with this as long as the player says "this uses the Wraithknight rules" or "this counts as a Terminators." I do draw the line however when a player places a chia pet to represent a nid Hierodule!!

wulfbrigade wrote:
My son has inherited my Eldar Army which is fully painted. My SM army is also fully painted. However most of the players in my local club, field hordes of unpainted models. We also have many kitbashed and homemade proxies and counts as. I dont have any issue with this as long as the player says "this uses the Wraithknight rules" or "this counts as a Terminators." I do draw the line however when a player places a chia pet to represent a nid Hierodule!!

Chi-chai-chi-HIERODULE!!! Just make sure you trim it regularly, them Nid's can get nasty.

If it's not painted, I refuse to put it on the table. If I want to use a model, I paint it - simple as that. For a while I was working 60 hours a week, and if I can do it with that schedule, there's really no excuse. As for the whole "family > gaming" argument, most of the guys I see with unpainted messes are single, young, and not working long hours, whereas most of the guys I see with painted armies are older and have families. That's obviously a sweeping generalization derived from a very small sample size, but it's just been my experience in my area.

I'll play against unpainted models, but there's nothing trashier than a grey horde of Flavor of the Month. One shot ticket to forever alonesville.

 Purifier wrote:

 Lord Tarkin wrote:
Just bases? Whoa, how does one figure out line of sight?

"This guys should be around this tall, he can probably be seen."
It's not rocket surgery if you're not an absolute strict rules lawyer.

That particular player was in the process of assembling his brand-spanking new Necron army (it was his first game) as we played. I just asked him to cut up some pieces of sprue from his kits in the rough heights of Necron units that were being represented and we went from there. Not difficult.

 NuggzTheNinja wrote:
If it's not painted, I refuse to put it on the table. If I want to use a model, I paint it - simple as that. For a while I was working 60 hours a week, and if I can do it with that schedule, there's really no excuse.

That's great that you enjoy spending so much free time painting, but I certainly do not. I like painting but I also paint sloooow. It might take me 2+ weeks to finish the paintjob alone on a single model. My dudes are not golden daemon quality by any means, but my hands aren't the steadiest things in the galaxy so I have to paint slowly and deliberately. After about an hour at a time I start to get bored and I'd rather watch TV or play a computer game or talk to friends online or read some threads on Dakka.

The vast majority of my stuff tends to be in various stages of done at any given time. If someone's gonna quibble with me about my colors and WYSIWYG and we're not playing a tournament, then chances are that person is never gonna share a table with me cuz I ain't got time for that kind of negativity.

Pain4Pleasure wrote:
I exalt you good sir

Thank you good sir.

I had silver GK for a long time. Then about a year and a half after I got back in the game, I painted up my 2K list for a tournament...some of it was cleaning up older paint jobs but a lot of it was from scratch. I also based them for the first time. They looked so much better. And I felt so much better about myself that I pretty much confine myself to only using painted stuff these days.

I will only play with models that are fully painted, even if that means very small games at first. I actually rank the hobby before the game, personally.

Hell, I have a custom converted and painted pirate squadron for X-wing, from before Scum and Villainy came out. So if I am willing to paint a prepainted game, then yeah, it shows how dedicated I am to playing with painted models.

Twi-lek Deathseed (TIE Interceptor) and X-TIE ugly (counts-as Z-95)




If you aren't converting and painting, how do you show off any of your cool models to gaming partners? That's half the fun.

 AegisGrimm wrote:
I will only play with models that are fully painted, even if that means very small games at first. I actually rank the hobby before the game, personally.

Hell, I have a custom converted and painted pirate squadron for X-wing, from before Scum and Villainy came out. So if I am willing to paint a prepainted game, then yeah, it shows how dedicated I am to playing with painted models.

Twi-lek Deathseed (TIE Interceptor) and X-TIE ugly (counts-as Z-95)




If you aren't converting and painting, how do you show off any of your cool models to gaming partners? That's half the fun.

Posts like this are making me feel so sorry for those individuals in your areas that have to put up with this ignorance. It's called showing it in progress. Week 1 I show up with 2 painted dakka jets, 30 painted boyz, a painted trukk, but 2 unpainted trukks, a unpainted dakka jet, and an unpainted war boss... Week 2 that unpainted trukk is fully painted... Week 3 the third dakka jet... See what I'm getting at? Progress..

Wait....are you being sarcastic, or just nasty?

I hope the former, as I'm equally hoping you don't think I am somehow punishing other players by my not fielding a new army/unit until it's fully painted, unless someone wants to play a smaller game with what's done (in the case of an army), otherwise just playing with one of my other armies/units that are painted.

Luckily my having played and heavily been involved in painting forces for 40K since 2nd edition endows me with a healthy stable of fully painted armies, so the situation above is a rare one.

I found as I learn new ways to paint I get lazier, my bad I know.
Assembly is my preferred thing.
Basing: no problem.
Black prime? Right on it.
Right here is where it drags out.

Then as we get older black prime is hard on the eyes.

Got into airbrush.
Hey! Back into the race: block painting!
Masking and literally "painted" 100 IG/AM grunts in one sitting.
No shade, or detail however, but look at the horde of painted models.

I can paint REALLY good but the laziness is bad.
Players who do far worse in painting are unable to "judge" me and shame me into further progress.
I think I am shamed now however.
My level of model distraction is bordering on terminal.
My BT army is the closest to fully painted for 1850 point games, but a few block painted models snuck in there.

Oddly only about one guy in my area has done a full detailed paint of his army.
I really need to step-up and reward the guy with a fully painted opponent for a change.

So off to the basement to deal with some remaining block painted "eyesores".

I put nothing on the table unless it is painted and I play alot of different games. I'm purely a tabletop-quality painter, so I don't judge the quality of the paintjob, just that it is painted.

Many of you may have heard me describe it before, but a few of my buddies and I started a club about 4 years ago and we don't put anything (figs or terrain) on the table unless it's painted, but we do keep alot of extra figs around to share with guests and newbies so they can jump right in if they don't have the figs for a given game.

Most of us are working stiffs in our 30's who only get to game every other week, so we've agreed that life's to short to spend your valuable limited gaming time with unpainted figs and ugly terrain.

I wrote an unexpectedly inflammatory blog post on the subject of painting as a hobby standard some time ago….
http://chicagoskirmish.blogspot.com/2014/08/painting-matters-in-defense-of-hobby.html

 Peregrine wrote:

Your standards aren't theirs.

No, but I'm playing a game with them and having unpainted models on the table significantly reduces my enjoyment of the game. And given how easy it is to do a basic base + wash + drybrush paint job playing with unpainted armies is essentially saying "I don't care how much you enjoy this game, I'd rather save 15 minutes".

15 miniutes... Hmm, ill give you my entire army if you can show me how you can base+dry+wash over 300 models in '15 minutes'

I feel that painting is up to the owner of the models. TBH, I don't like fielding unpainted models, myself. I want to paint my army if only to see what it all looks like fully painted. We have a pretty low painting standard usually in my area, in tournaments usually 1/4 of the players may have an army of mostly gray plastic, although we do have at least a few players with armies that have SPECTACULAR paint jobs . I at least try to prime my minis, as I think black looks better than gray. I am trying to learn to be a better painter, and I really want to learn to paint faster, like do a whole squad in a day (not easy when I have a full-time job, but that's what days off are for!). My main problem is distractions, especially video games (not trying to make an excuse, just sayin'). I figure if someone doesn't have a fully painted army, it doesn't necessarily mean they are lazy, but rather that they have a life outside the hobby, so I give them the benefit of the doubt and just enjoy the game!

I only play with what I have painted.... but then I don't play much so it doesn't really matter to me. My Tyranid army took me something like 3 years to do, so I have plenty of sympathy for people who do care more about gaming than me but don't have the time to paint an army.

I don't really see the point in judging someone based on whether or not they're playing with a painted army. There's so many more interesting character traits to judge people based on... like judging someone based on them feeling superior because they did a better job at painting their man dollies

3, 2k armies and 2, 1k armies painted and based, pulse a ton of other stuff.

We use to have a sea of unpainted mini’s at the local shop. 4 months ago we started a slow growth painting league and things are getting done!

Now there’s a well-defined line between hobbyist and the gamers, and we can see only 2 out of 14 players with grey models.

Those who can, do.

It takes me two weekends to paint a 5-man.

And its not a very good paintjob.

But the painted part of my collection grows. And my painted:non ratio generally improves over time.

However, I spend a lot more time modelling. The ratio keeps getting better, but the quantity of unpainted also keeps increasing as well. Not sure if it'll level out, but honestly I gave up on WHFB when I realized I'll never paint so many repetitive 10-mans.

I'll probably always be fielding grey plastic, but it is a lot more rewarding fielding my mostly-painted CWE Swordwind.

Well, like in the usual 40k discussions it really comes down to why each of us play the hobby.

My friend in under a year did an ebay binge of getting all kinds of space marines and only getting the old Rhinos, Whirlwinds and Predators.
He stripped, assembled and painted an entire space marine armored company. Hence why my great primed legion of AM/IG got the spray paint block painting treatment. He wanted to face something equally as big and that was all I had that could touch it but not a lick of paint on any of it. So rather than see his unhappy face I had to suck it up and paint an unholy hoard of stuff because he did.

He wanted it HUGE and everything painted for the drama of it all. I think it was all that recent playing of Epic that started that insanity.

The thing is, this is not like some board game with the plastic or card chits we push around acting as icons for combat units: they are models to fairly realistically represent them. A kind of simulation or moving diorama.

I understand the need for the drama of it all or we might as well have stylized chess pieces. I guess most of the culture has allowed less so some of us coast along.

I understand some people have challenges to perform the painting aspect of the hobby but how many people seriously were planning on never getting to a painting stage? If you can assemble, you can manage to paint.

I wish I can understand that moment when you pick up a brush and go "ah, no. feels too much like work at this time.". You need to do this hobby for you BUT sometimes I do recognize you have to consider your opponent and their enjoyment or you will not get many games.

 Talizvar wrote:
I wish I can understand that moment when you pick up a brush and go "ah, no. feels too much like work at this time."

I love having worked out, but I hate working out.
I love the feeling of having lost fat, but I hate having a chicken salad instead of Burger King.
I love having painted my army, but I hate painting it.

The ends rationalise the means.

 cosmicsoybean wrote:

 Peregrine wrote:

Your standards aren't theirs.

No, but I'm playing a game with them and having unpainted models on the table significantly reduces my enjoyment of the game. And given how easy it is to do a basic base + wash + drybrush paint job playing with unpainted armies is essentially saying "I don't care how much you enjoy this game, I'd rather save 15 minutes".

15 miniutes... Hmm, ill give you my entire army if you can show me how you can base+dry+wash over 300 models in '15 minutes'

Yeah, for real. Sign me up. Also, I would rather take my time and give each model its proper due, instead of having an entire army of sub-standard paint quality. I like the progress bit brought up by Pain4Pleasure. Each time I play I like to have something new done if possible, but I'm not going to slam through all of my painting in one week just to have it non-plastic for a game.

Painted models are a prerequisite for gameplay in my normal gaming group, so I paint everything before it sees play on the tabletop.

I lack the time to paint all my models, although the ones I do paint I strive to keep a high standard for.

With summer closing in and the break from studies that it heralds, I hope for some time to get a substantial part of my army painted.

I only play against fully painted players.

 Grimskul wrote:
I only play against fully painted players.

Now I'm just picturing someone refusing to play against an opponent unless they are covered in body paint head to toe

There's nothing quite like looking at two fully painted armies on the table, but as long as my opponent has shown effort, and is slowly progressing in their collections 'paintedness' I would gladly play them.

Personally I have never played a game without painted minis( although I think the total of games I've played can be counted on two hands tops).

AllSeeingSkink wrote:

 Grimskul wrote:
I only play against fully painted players.

Now I'm just picturing someone refusing to play against an opponent unless they are covered in body paint head to toe

Erotic body paint helps to distract the opponent.

100% painted



No problems playing VS an unpainted army but dont enjoy it and feel it detracts from the overall experience.

 clamclaw wrote:

AllSeeingSkink wrote:

 Grimskul wrote:
I only play against fully painted players.

Now I'm just picturing someone refusing to play against an opponent unless they are covered in body paint head to toe

Erotic body paint helps to distract the opponent.

Especially if they add that extra rouge on their nips, mmmm nyesssssssss.

Jaysus, keep it clean mate, family site n all that

 Talizvar wrote:
You need to do this hobby for you BUT sometimes I do recognize you have to consider your opponent and their enjoyment or you will not get many games.

I see it as a 2 way street. It's nice to present your opponent with a fully painted army for a game.... but the game only lasts a few hours compared to what is likely a couple of hundred hours of assembly/cleaning mould lines/painting. I don't expect my opponent to torture themselves for couple of hundred hours for my benefit during a couple of hours worth of gaming.

 Talizvar wrote:
Well, like in the usual 40k discussions it really comes down to why each of us play the hobby.

There is much truth to this. I got into the hobby out of a love for a field of painted miniatures and terrain. I simply have almost no interest in a wargame game that falls short of that. In an open FLGS situation I might game with someone who has a partially painted army, or I might not. Luckily I don't have to make that decision anymore. Now that I have a group of like-minded gamers I've had 5 years of all-painted gaming and as long as it's up to me that's the way it'll stay.

 Eilif wrote:
Now that I have a group of like-minded gamers I've had 5 years of all-painted gaming and as long as it's up to me that's the way it'll stay.

Ha! The cult of the fully painted armies!
Wield thine brush to skewer mediocrity and bring greatness and honor to the field!
The grey hoards of infidel shall be thwarted at the moat of shade dip.
If thee are to be well met at the field of battle you must have colors to fly or you will not be recognized as an honorable foe!

... goodness, I could carry on like this way too long.
Happens when you recently visit the "Medieval Times".

"Yo! Paint wench! bring me mine brush rinse cup and not the metallics one or floggings shall be meted out!"

 Talizvar wrote:

 Eilif wrote:
Now that I have a group of like-minded gamers I've had 5 years of all-painted gaming and as long as it's up to me that's the way it'll stay.

Ha! The cult of the fully painted armies!
Wield thine brush to skewer mediocrity and bring greatness and honor to the field!
The grey hoards of infidel shall be thwarted at the moat of shade dip.
If thee are to be well met at the field of battle you must have colors to fly or you will not be recognized as an honorable foe!

... goodness, I could carry on like this way too long.
Happens when you recently visit the "Medieval Times".

"Yo! Paint wench! bring me mine brush rinse cup and not the metallics one or floggings shall be meted out!"

Lmao, I can't XD

As far as playing against unpainted armies goes, I'm perfectly fine with it. I would prefer to see two fully painted armies squaring off, but a lot of the people I regularly play with either don't have the time to paint up their army quickly or are just starting out with an army. I myself prefer to play with a fully painted army, but I don't hold other people to my standard.

I don't mind playing unpainted armies. I love seeing different art and paint jobs though. I would say their more fun to play. I've almost completed my 2000pt of guard.

 Talizvar wrote:

 Eilif wrote:
Now that I have a group of like-minded gamers I've had 5 years of all-painted gaming and as long as it's up to me that's the way it'll stay.

Ha! The cult of the fully painted armies!
Wield thine brush to skewer mediocrity and bring greatness and honor to the field!
The grey hoards of infidel shall be thwarted at the moat of shade dip.
If thee are to be well met at the field of battle you must have colors to fly or you will not be recognized as an honorable foe!

Cult is right! We tell newcomers the only club rule is painted minis only. The ritual combat, study of the theology of paint and slaying of the infidel grey hordes come later.

To be sure, it's a hard road to travel but the paint wenches are a fair reward for such commitment.

 Ratius wrote:
100% painted



No problems playing VS an unpainted army but dont enjoy it and feel it detracts from the overall experience.

Exactly. I will play anyone, but have closing in on 20 years of painted models (about six 2,000pt armies) I want to show off to any opponent or onlooker!

It entirely depends, I can't field a painted army right now due to the fact that I am so new that I just want to play a few games once and a while and I can literately can't field a whole painted army (almost done though! 2 LRs, 2 MFs, and 1 or 2 zerkers to go... Sadly, I entirely re did my zerkers 2 times and my chaos lord 3 before I actually liked them... Bit of a perfectionist...). It is entirely Situational on whether it is acceptable.

 dragoonmaster101 wrote:
It entirely depends, I can't field a painted army right now due to the fact that I am so new that I just want to play a few games once and a while and I can literately can't field a whole painted army (almost done though! 2 LRs, 2 MFs, and 1 or 2 zerkers to go... Sadly, I entirely re did my zerkers 2 times and my chaos lord 3 before I actually liked them... Bit of a perfectionist...). It is entirely Situational on whether it is acceptable.

Starting out "sucks" that way.
You learn in leaps and bounds and by the 30th model you want to redo the first 10.
You are doing awesome, never let anyone tell you different.
It is a happy thing that there are few people more critical of your paint job than you.


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 Eilif wrote:
To be sure, it's a hard road to travel but the paint wenches are a fair reward for such commitment.

I am thinking of another quote to butcher:
"Ain't nobody leaves this place without painting the blues."
(adventures in babysitting... darn I am old)

Yay verily, if though hath done the great works and fielded armies in proud colors: when thou exit the last great battle, thou shalt enter the great hall of blue table.
There, great works shall be witnessed and can take thine place in those hallowed halls to anoint models of the unskilled with rainbows to salve the wounds of their opponents.

Okay, now I am rambling.
Got the message, will paint, got a lifetime of them to do so might as well get cracking.

I'm willing to field an unfinished army so long as only one or two things are unpainted/primed/half painted.

I'd not be mad if my opponent was short painted models, but I'd at least hope they'd take the initiative to get more than 50% of their army done up, even if it looks like a toddler scribbled on the tank with a crayola.

I will play one game with an unpainted unit just when i finish building them since I'm always so eager to play them, then they're locked away until I'm done painting them. I currently have everything I own painted, except a single crisis suit who I decided to strip the paint of and redo in a slightly darker shade

All of my army that I play is painted, but certainly, I haven't painted every miniature I have purchased. I probably have 100+ models that are in my work queue, primed, prepped, and in project boxes waiting for painting (some will never get done), at least a couple hundred de-sprued and sorted into boxes (many of them mold line cleaned!), and likely thousands still brand new in box... certainly more than I can ever hope to finish unless I live to be as old as Dante or da Emperor :X

Painted all of your armies is easy enough but at same time it is harder as hard part you have to sacrifice your own free time include playing on video game, watch movie or go to pub..

I try to paint my armies 10 min everyday.. 365 time a day ( some remove ) so that can be 365 model a year I can. paint.... Never did it... Too busy with freelance and children...

Once time.. Before I go to event, I don't like unpainted model to play with.. I rush and paint all greentide Ork in single night!

Hand sore.... But it was good fun at event! Only me and other man had painted ALL Ork... Yes. Both of us play Ork that day and everyone else either undercoat or none at all... Heh.

My tip to you guy who don't have time for paint your armies, sacrifice your own time!

Ahhhh love the arrogance in these threads expecting that people will behave certain ways when it comes to painting minis and taking it personally when they don't.

Have news for you folks: another person's unpainted minis have nothing to do with *you* and you have no say in how they handle the minis that they have bought.

If you give grief or act superior to another player simply because their minis are not painted then you are pretty much just a jerk and they are better off not wasting their time playing against you anyway. Having your pretty toy soldiers painted does not make you a better human being.

I have not found painting or not painting of one's minis to be an indicator of whether a player is a decent opponent or not and have had great games with people with fully painted or fully unpainted armies and every stage in between. I have found that 100% of the time when someone starts bemoaning an opponent's unpainted minis, that they will pretty much tend to be a git throughout the entire game.

Skriker

Man, I can't believe all the hate on unpainted armies. I love painted forces, and think it's great to see on the table, and certainly prefer to have painted armies myself, but people have lives, and maybe they want to play without the effort 'cause they're busy or just tired... or they could even be doing really nice jobs which also takes time.

Yeah I feel like this thread quickly identified two camps of thought:

1) Who cares if minis are painted, its a fun game anyways. Paint is preferred, but not required.

2) Expect minis to be painted to improve game atmosphere. Showing up with naked plastic is not okay.

Obviously there are people on both sides who take it more seriously/extreme. It seems like the last 3 pages have been outlining those same points.

Aye. That was true!

From 1994 since now... Have I play with 100% painted model? Erm. I do remember I play as Blood angel against tyranids. Wow neat painted! I spend more time looking at his tyranids and drooling than focus on game...

Same story with Ork last year.

So that was maybe 2 out of Erm? 400 match?

Unpainted... Neat grey plastic material... Dip paint...
Game is game!

Clamclaw, welcome to every discussion on the subject in a nutshell. Yep those are the camps and some people on each end can get pretty extreme.

Worst I ever saw was a Flames of War player who "to allow players with unpainted armies the *privilege* of playing a game with him" would require them to use one of his other fully painted armies and not their own armies. He failed to see the insane level of arrogance in his position and couldn't understand why more people didn't take him up on his offer since he did all the painting work. Hahahahahaha

Skriker

My dad dip his war hammer fantasy!

 Skriker wrote:
Ahhhh love the arrogance in these threads expecting that people will behave certain ways when it comes to painting minis and taking it personally when they don't.

Have news for you folks: another person's unpainted minis have nothing to do with *you* and you have no say in how they handle the minis that they have bought.

If you give grief or act superior to another player simply because their minis are not painted then you are pretty much just a jerk and they are better off not wasting their time playing against you anyway. Having your pretty toy soldiers painted does not make you a better human being.

I have not found painting or not painting of one's minis to be an indicator of whether a player is a decent opponent or not and have had great games with people with fully painted or fully unpainted armies and every stage in between. I have found that 100% of the time when someone starts bemoaning an opponent's unpainted minis, that they will pretty much tend to be a git throughout the entire game.

Skriker

I'm seeing a few straw men here. Most of us in favor of painted armies aren't "taking it personally", or trying to have a "say" in what they do with their own minis. What you are missing is that whether painting-or-not has any effect on someone's being a good "opponent" has nothing to do with why we paint. We don't paint mostly for the sake of gameplay. We paint because the reason we got into the hobby was to play with lots of painted toy soldiers on the table, It's a fine line, but let me lay the differences in perception out another way.

When the "It's a game, painting is optional" crowd have a great opponent in a game with unpainted minis, they still had a great game.
-The game is what they came for and that was what they got.

When the "Spectacle of painted armies" have a great opponent in a game with unpainted minis, they still had a game with unpainted minis.
-The Spectacle was what they came for and even with a good opponent it wasn't fulfilled.

It's not about elitism or being a better person, it's about whether or not (and how much) you value the painting part of the tabletop wargaming hobby. If I choose not to pursue a game with someone fielding grey hordes, it's because without painted miniatures, it's not the hobby I signed up for.

 clamclaw wrote:
Yeah I feel like this thread quickly identified two camps of thought:

1) Who cares if minis are painted, its a fun game anyways. Paint is preferred, but not required.

2) Expect minis to be painted to improve game atmosphere. Showing up with naked plastic is not okay.

Obviously there are people on both sides who take it more seriously/extreme. It seems like the last 3 pages have been outlining those same points.

Didn't read this.

I thought this topic was for person who really want painted their OWN models. If this topic was rant at other people unpainted then I'll stop read this topic.

I don't mind Other person who don't paint. Even my friend have all base colour look like chess to me.

I am fussy with My Own Models. I don't like play my own unpainted model.... I keeping scare at the model and feel like it just look right back at me and tell me "paint me!" Just same as when I look at my own car... Mud all over from all fun at off road...

Will I leave my car mud and hope rain wash it out? Or I wash it myself?
Me = wash it myself instead of wait for rain come. Same feeling as I look at my own models...

I am not quite the same camp of Eilif on the need for fully painted armies and you could claim I am a "fully assembled" snob where if I face one more army with arms missing I will snap.

I see his point however and do not attribute it to arrogance: we each have a certain goal of what we want out of a game and if it is not met, we are not as happy as we could be.

What would you pick?:
If you had a choice of playing a partially assembled army of a fully assembled?
If you had a choice of playing a unpainted army or block painted army?
If you had a choice of playing a block painted army or a fully painted army?
If you had a choice of a "fluffy" army or a netlist?
If you had a choice of a Gw army or a Forgeworld?
If you had a choice of a proxied army or a fully converted one?

Skriker: you are looking for conflict (or trying to incite it) where none is intended: people are exorcising their "preference" of how they spend their precious leisure time.
In this case, if your army is not fully painted, that was your choice and they will be happy to play you any time you decide to "finish" no judgment required.
I am right on that in-between stage of some good painting, some block painting, a ton of primed stuff and unmentionable unassembled.
The "decent" opponent aspect is where your main focus may be a good tough battle and you could not care about the "cool look" of it all: chess pieces and cardboard chits still help organize a good game, these people want more or why use models?
Do you honestly expect any of these people to give you heck for unpainted models? They would just take one look and say "No thanks, but thanks anyway!" and move on.
Anything else you outline is just being a jerk no matter what preference you have.

We all have our wishes and lines we draw in the sand or at least exorcise OUR choice not have someone else's choice jammed down our throat.
I do not have to play you, you do not have to play me, but if we act decent we may decide to ignore less than ideal circumstances anyway.

99.99% of my army is painted. the remaining 00.01% are the few guys who have only recently finished construction and don't have a base or just got based black and I have not painted them. Yet.

Said guys who are only based include 1 Manitcore, 1 Onager, 1 Ironstrider. Non-based are a wheel tank turned Macharius Vulcan and 4 Skitarii Rangers converted from various pieces including Scions and heads from the iron strider and Onager crew. At the least that's what I can recall off hand.

But the vast majority of my army is totally painted.

 Talizvar wrote:
I am not quite the same camp of Eilif on the need for fully painted arm

What would you pick?:
If you had a choice of playing a partially assembled army of a fully assembled?
If you had a choice of playing a unpainted army or block painted army?
If you had a choice of playing a block painted army or a fully painted army?
If you had a choice of a "fluffy" army or a netlist?
If you had a choice of a Gw army or a Forgeworld?
If you had a choice of a proxied army or a fully converted one?

Anything else you outline is just being a jerk no matter what preference you have.

We all have our wishes and lines we draw in the sand or at least exorcise OUR choice not have someone else's choice jammed down our throat.
I do not have to play you, you do not have to play me, but if we act decent we may decide to ignore less than ideal circumstances anyway.

You missing one more - just base without model.
I did play with other player who use just coins and base. Bit weird but nice man and we play till end.

In my group we have two types of players, artistic types with awesome painted minis and conversions and the mathhammer players with hordes of grey unpainted or white primed models. Heres the thing, I like the modeling aspect and I can say Im a good painter, but the mathhammer guys talk to me on game night and tell me the most clever tactics to try . Im like, "dang I never thought of that" then I try this tactic and BAM it works!!

Then there's the guy who is a good painter AND wins games...we secretly hate that guy.

Solidcrash wrote:
You missing one more - just base without model.
I did play with other player who use just coins and base. Bit weird but nice man and we play till end.

Well, it was not meant to be a comprehensive list.
Oddly, I mind the base without model less than base with model and no arms... weird of me.
So now we could compare this to playing checkers.
If the person is decent enough about things exceptions can be made because it is also a social hobby.


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wulfbrigade wrote:
Heres the thing, I like the modeling aspect and I can say Im a good painter, but the mathhammer guys talk to me on game night and tell me the most clever tactics to try . Im like, "dang I never thought of that" then I try this tactic and BAM it works!!
Then there's the guy who is a good painter AND wins games...we secretly hate that guy.

You are seeing the good side of "competitive players".
They follow the rules to a sharp edge so their game is a truly intellectual thing and yes, stuff they see in the rules works.
Their stuff tends to be "grey" lately because nothing in the rules says they have to be painted.
I would see those guys with very "good" painted armies back in the day where the first rule in a GW tournament was to have a fully painted army and they proceed to outline what that is.
They want something photogenic to advertise as a cool game.

At the very least, few could argue that the better ambassador for the game in getting people's interest is nicely painted models not the great "gray legion".