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Hello DakkaDakka!

I'm not very sure where to put this thread, but I think general discussions should due.

I have been a long time hobbyist. Been doing it since I was nine. Recently I have begone doing research into why other hobbyists started for a sample article. Its different for everyone, but what draws people into painting little plastic/metal men/aliens/demons and playing a game with them. Share your story. How did you fall into the hobby, and what kept you?

I've always been carp at painting and drawing on 'paper' but was okay at painting a model doing some airfix and other stuff when I was young. Warhammer was a natural leap as I could paint stuff with the possibility of using the models as well! It helped that my cousin had quite a lot of minis and I had a couple of games with him as a wee lad that helped get me interested.

Took a long time to actually get started though, wasn't until Uni (some years ago....) that I actually bought my first minis.

I think the thing that keeps me most interested is actually having something to show for your efforts at the end of the day. When the kids have gone to bed I normally either play on the computer or do some painting. The computer is hard to resist but in the end I feel a lot more satisfied after painting minis for a couple of hours.

Hi all.
I collect and paint JUST so I can play wargames.
I enjoy experiancing the strategic and tactical challenges of a good wargame , without any chance of trauma ,(Excluding stray dice impacts,tape rule nips etc. )

I can dog fight with the Red Baron over the WWI trenches,
Intercept a 100+ bomber raid over Henly, with my Spitfire Squadron ,
tackel a Mig strike over the delta,
go for a tour in the booneys,
overthrow the opressive might of the Nazi invaders,
save a space station ,
destroy the french Fleet at Trafalgar,
ride to save middenhiem,
throw back the chaos mutants,
Win the Choas cup,
Explore a remote and haunted city,
or any other fantastic journey in my imagination, good wargames allow you to go on.

TTFN
Lanrak.

I've been in the realm of gaming since I was 12. For me it started with Heroquest which my brother got for christmas one year. From there I wandered into a Gamesworkshop, and started Eldar. I took a break during high school and a weird thing happened when I went to college.

During my senior year in college I was in a fraternity and playing on the college lacrosse team. Myself and a fellow fraternity member would out in the pubs and blundered back deciding to watch a movie with some of the late goers. I went to his room to grab extra beer and found blood angels on his shelf, it was his dirty little secret. He convinced me to restart and I did.

I started Iron Warriors, that led to WFB, which led to Mordheim, and off I go. 19 years later from when I picked up a minature i'm still at it. I've sold armies since then and whittle down to a few core armies.

I love the fluff, i'm the guy that starts themed armies, converts like a loonie, and loves painting. I like having a painted army. Something about hordes of painted models, rolling dice, and laughing is why i'm hooked and likely to stay

I am in the midst of a journey of self-discovery. I've spent far too long doing things just because they are "what people do". I've kind of always been outside looking in on gaming and "nerd" hobbies, and I've always wanted to be inside the circle instead and have never figured out how to do so.

About five years ago, I passed by the window of Games Workshop and noticed the LOTR figures. At the time I was not interested in gaming, but I kind of wanted to set up a display in my house of the shire. A tea party scene of hobbits. It never happened because I wasn't certain where in my house this could be displayed.

Two years ago my son was born, and I've been going through a terrible post-partum depression. I'm still not certain what i'm doing most of the time when it comes to being a parent.

I decided to pick up a battalion of wood elves because they are pretty and because I need something more fulfilling to do with my free time than play on facebook. Little has brought me joy in a while, but i do feel calmer and more relaxed when I am painting even though I have only been doing it for a couple of months and haven't gotten very far.

I also am looking for something my husband and I can do together that is not related to TV.

I plan to game soon, but I am waiting until my army is mostly painted and until the new fantasy rulebook comes out. I've never gamed before, and I'm not certain how good I'll be at it.

Because I have far, far too much disposable income for a 13 year old. I do too much work.

@Lorana: Another Girl on Dakka? They're slowly taking over, I knew this day would come .

I work with computers, and stare at screens most of the day. I like having a hobby that involves interacting with other humans, and not staring at a screen.