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Yeah, dude, have to say, take a break, but DON'T sell.

After a break, the hobby can really be better than before. I started up again about 4 years ago, and am just now starting to have a painted force again. (I sold 4 armies when I quit. :( )

As far as normal adults...

Yes, there are plenty of us adult wargaming nerds who have their ducks in a row. Check out the D6 Generation podcasts run by Russ Wakelin (founder of Dakka Dakka) and friends - normal, job-holding, family guys who game like crazy. I have a full-time job, wife, and many other hobbies, and still get in regular games of 40k and paint my models.

Plan for the long term; you may not get a lot out of the hobby right now, but chances are if you like the fluff/hobby aspect of it, it will become more rewarding for you in the future. You don't have to devout all your time to it.

But for God's sakes, don't sell your figs, man.

syr8766 wrote:Agree with much of the above advice. Save your painted figs and pack 'em away, and when you want to come back to it they'll be there. Besides, nothing is cooler than showing up for a new edition of the game with ancient relics painted impeccably. Toward the middle of 3e someone showed up to game with his RT Imperial Guard army. Who CARES whether he can use the human bombs at that point: it was super cool. When 7th ed. comes out and you bust out your 3-4th ed. figs, people are gonna plotz.

Well, I didn't get rid of all my rogue trader era stuff, and if I manage to finish rebuilding my army I'm hoping that people will understand that cyboar cavalry is super cool and not just complain that it isn't in the latest codex...

I think just about every gamer goes through this at least once. I have gone through it myself, though my break from the hobby was not terribly long.

I think a lot of people have made valid points so I will just add this:

Most of gaming is the environment, the environment is created by the players. I was really lucky to find a place early on called Mind Games in Utah that was full of stand up guys, most of them are married and have kids as well as successful careers. Because of that the environment is a lot like Cheers, everybody knows your name and it is pretty low key. It has been interesting to watch a lot of the younger gamers lose interest like you are talking about for a period of time, most of them eventually return, and the best part about that is they are even better guys than before.

By the way normal people do play the game, I have a beautiful wife and two awesome daughters, own my own company and am even active in my local church.

Step away for awhile get some perspective and remember it is just a game. Maybe look for a different place to play when you come back to the hobby, one with an environment more to your liking.

whoa...what an angst-ridden post!
Look, take it from me, a guy who has a copy of the 1st edition rules and the 5th edition rules--that's right, I took about a two decade break from the game--you can be all grown up and play 40k. You will find that many a wife would rather have her husband spending $ and time with "nerdy friends" (even if some happen to be full bird colonels in the u.s. army) than in some bar drinking and watching pay-per view MMA. Put your 40k stuff in careful storage and go get worldy. You will not regret rediscovering that gak ten years from now. And cheer up.

edit: I've got more degrees than a frakking thermometer. trust me, when you have a career you will find that you can truly indulge your hobbies and you'll have the self-confidence not to give a fiddler's flying frakk what others think.

I took two three year breaks and always came back. First time I sold my stuff, 2nd time I didn't. I learned from my mistake.

OK, so you're joining up and going to college. You won't have a lot of time for gaming (I've been in the army, trust me, you'll have PLENTY of time to game.) and when you come out, odds-on girlfriends, work and marriage will probably take their toll on your time as well.

Well, I started this 40k lark at the beginning, way-back, way-back. There was a time (most of 2nd ed) that I sat it out, because of time constraints - I just didn't have the time. I kept my marines, and most of my eldar (save the harlequins - who I gave to a mate). I came back with 3rd ed, and I've been here since. Take a break if you need it.

I have a wife, and a healthy hobby. I'm trusted by the local community group to help run my club (Police background checks, 'working with children' checks, etc) and I'm also a qualified and certified first-aider because of my club (management policy was for Volunteers and staff to be so trained). My wife pays for my hobby, and has never objected to my purchases (I have to get things to assemble and paint for her because she likes the models sometimes, but that's a fair trade).

You don't have to live and breathe the game 100% to be respected (you'll be respected about as much as star trek fans who can quote stardates for various events and storylines). You'll be respected a lot more for being a good sport and better gamesman.
I have friends my age who are gamers, some of whom are also married. To fellow (female) gamers. Don't get the idea that the game is only for kids, or that only kids play. Some of us grown-ups do take it seriously, but others use it as a way to socialise, have some fun, throw back a few beers, and a chance to ignore the 12 yos clamoring for attention.

I found myself in kinda the same position after working for GW for a short time. The staff discount really hit me hard, when I left I couldn't face paying the normal price for stuff and then to compound it I found that the reality of playing 40k was way different to the fluff (which I still love). It's now been over 2 years and I've not played 40k for all that time.

My love for gaming and painting is still there (in fact I would say it's stronger) and I've started to play other games. Games like Urban War, Infinity, Rules of Engagement and Hordes all allow me to collect and paint, without the big investment that 40k needs.

wow...
that kinda hurts since I know what store you are talking about. Although I do see what you mean about the whole click thing cause it definitely is a problem their.

But you also other factors in some of the things you are seeing because I saw your first game in Ard Boyz cause it was me and that was a tough game for me, I think you did well, also I know who your last game was and I know I wouldn't have done so well against that army cause he wiped me the week before.

So maybe you should take a break from the game if thats how you feel but give yourself some credit at least.

Hi .
I can identify with gamers getting 'hot and cold' on any game they play for a long period of time.
But having a range of games to play with you gaming buddies realy helps IMO.
DO NOT SELL ANY MODELS , unless you realy have to .

I got my original metal SMs back in the early 1990s. I played with them for about 8 years then gave totaly on 40k.(I turned out to be a 'tread head' and fell for WWII historicals.)
My eldest son got into 40k at school and so we re vamped my old metal SM with the new plastic arms etc.

I had so much fun re -building my old SMs I started playing 40k again.(I 'revamped' my old Orks after seeing the new Ork dex, good old PK!)

If its just the game play you find lacking depth in 40k, why not use your 40k minatures with another rule set?

Or if its a particular groups play style that leaves you cold , find another group?

TTFN
Lanrak.

Commisar00 wrote:wow...
that kinda hurts since I know what store you are talking about. Although I do see what you mean about the whole click thing cause it definitely is a problem their.

But you also other factors in some of the things you are seeing because I saw your first game in Ard Boyz cause it was me and that was a tough game for me, I think you did well, also I know who your last game was and I know I wouldn't have done so well against that army cause he wiped me the week before.

So maybe you should take a break from the game if thats how you feel but give yourself some credit at least.

ard boys was the exception, but up till that and now after we don't really do anything. we don't have campaigns or tournaments or anything outside of things like ard boys. its all the same terrain and games over and over again.

I put a lot of time into some of my models (landraider ares, fully magnatized pred's, and other conversions in my list) but the same old same old is getting old. I guess its more of a rant of the store then anything else. saturday's when I don't work I go to mind games and though they don't have as much terrain, what they do have is better. pizza's cheep right next door, and its more of a club then a store. and since you know me, tracey is the one of the few people that I've gone to their house and was impressed, that said I haven't gone to many because of that.

I here what you are saying about the store for sure, I was thinking of setting up a kill team campaign for this reason. Also because its quicker to build 5-10 guys to a good finish. Problem is I think I only have about 3 people interested in it.
As far as Ard Boyz goes I too am a little burnt out on 40k and am painting up some Warmachine to mix things up a bit.

Something else to consider is, when you come to shacking up with some person (or marrying) it will be easier for him/her to accept the idea of a wargames miniatures hobby if you already have a couple of boxes of stuff in storage, rather than if you wait until married and then go on a buying spree.

Yeah, I'm with you guys....

I hadn't played since '97 when I boxed up the minis I had during a move. I was sick of the game and the scene, the greasy gamers, the time taken away from doing things I liked and needed to do instead of gaming. I got married, adopted my son, have a full time job that I actually like to go to, and picked up a few more hobbies to fill my spare time.

After my last move about a year ago, I popped that box open and couldn't believe I still had these great miniatures - and didn't I have such a great time painting them so long ago? It's amazing what a little separation will do for exposure-fatigue.

Seconding the above comments about wives/girlfriends, my wife would pummle you senseless if you said she lacked personality. She doesn't play 40k (I'm getting her to consider picking up High Elves or Wood Elves so we can spend time painting together), but I don't begrudge her lack of interest. In fact, I feel that it gives me time to do something that I enjoy that she can take a passenger seat to - the same way I feel about her interest in crocheting. EDIT: She takes a passing interest in my purchases at the FLGS the same way that I help her pick which color/material yarn at the FLYS.

I don't have a room for my little men, but I would if I could. Sometimes it's nice to pack everything up and hide it for a while, closing the metaphoric or literal door on the hobby. And it's especially nice to go back to it after a nice break, with new ideas, new models available, and a vintage army that looks kick @$$ fully painted. Save the models, you'll thank us.