Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I'm not sure. I started wargaming to get me out of the house. If I hadn't started I would probably just be playing more WoW or other videogames.

I never really thought about it before, but I have a couple very close friends that I've met through wargaming (Flames of War specifically, but we play other games now too).

I probably would never have met them otherwise. It's really kind of cool that things like that happen. Sometimes you don't really think about it. I enjoy the hobby for it's own sake as well, of course, and like everyone else I would have spent money on other things, but looking back on it, having the opportunity to meet and become friends with some of the awesome people that I have is probably the thing I cherish most.

I'd be richer, go clubbing more and annoy my lady less.

Hmm, more vacations, more silly plastic instruments with brightly coloured buttons on them and a care for asthma.

Not by much. It's not like my life has changed dramatically in the last two years. Actually I'm now better at mental arithmetic, probability and my memory skills are improving.
I also got rid of my shaky hands, I'm more patient and I have increased my sense of fair play and tolerance.

Actually, I'm a better person for it. My girlfriend would have a lot more room though.

Oh, and I'd have bought a lot more Transformers.

My closer friends are all gamers.
I'd not have met them.
If I hadn't have met them, I'd not have been invited to their parties, and would never have met my wife.

I'd still be the same bespectacled introverted nerd that I was (I'm an extroverted nerd, these days but still wear glasses).

I am pretty sure that I would be an alcoholic/Everquest nut. I'm not joking because the time that I wouldn't have spent on minis would have been spent on booze or computer stuff so that I could play online games. I was already creeping towards that lifestyle before I started playing 40k. Going out and drinking or playing on the computer became secondary goals to painting little men and hanging out with my new geek friends.

I also think that I would have graduated school earlier. Before my several year break from school I was spending more time in class reading WD instead of the textbook. So maybe that was the tradeoff. I also believe I would have stuck with my music. When I began playing 40k I was also an aspiring bass player. I was in a couple of bands before I started playing, but once I started 40k I started playing music less and less. So maybe if I hadn't played then maybe I would have stuck with a band till now.

I'm also sure that I would still have geek friends, but they wouldn't be the same. I would probably be playing more D&D as well, but I think I would have spent more time online and eventually abandoned them. I know for a fact that I wouldn't have met some of my better friends. I've met some really great people over the years and my life would be lacking if it wasn't for them. Besides the great memories, I've really learned a lot about how to (and how not to) balance the hobby with your relationships. I've seen both sides of the coin and I'm a better person for it.

I also think that I wouldn't be quite as young at heart as I am now. Painting and playing with little plastic has helped to keep me more balanced. It has helped me to control my anger and has served as a focal point and a form of therapy. I imagine that I would have found something else, but what that is I don't know.

Regardless of how things could be different I am happy with my life now and I'm glad that I got into the hobby.

Id have a hell of alot less books to read. I could never get into the other nerd type books out there, even Star Wars, a personal favorite universe of mine never really drew me in with their books. 40K books just have something about them that has put me through so many long trips, jury duties, and boring family events. The codexs have also been with me, something about re-reading the codex over and over to get an almost second nature feeling with your army has always been a great feeling.

But, Id be no less nerdy, would have spent my money on video games and upgrading my computer, and not have a hobby (the painting side at least) to share with my wife and daughter, something I hold very dear.

I'd have more money, but...

Mo money mo problems.

I'd have found other hobbies to fill my time. I'd probably have read more novels and spent more time painting and drawing. Once the kids are grown up a bit more and don't need my wife or I to be round the house in the evenings when they're in bed I'll likely revert to old habits and spend more time going to the pub for a start! What got me back into wargaming was the need to find something to do with my time that was more interesting than watching crap on tv all evening, but didn't require me to be out the house much. With that imperitive removed the whole wide world opens up again and I will be able to rejoin the human race!

Imagine how much more tanned and healthy I would be, but in all seriousness I'd probably have just more bought video games I've yet to complete to replace the little men I've yet to finish painting.

I would be richer pocket and poorer in friendships. I would have more free time but other than reading I would not know what to do with it. I would spend more time in front of the TV but also outside. My sons and I would not have the wonderful relationship that we do. I would watch my wife do her craft thing and wish I had a hobby that I was passionate about.

Gaming of all types has enriched my life.

I'd still be playing Yu-Gi-Oh! competitively. I'm only playing 40k hardcore til the format changes to something bearable then it's back to children's-card-land for me.

I'd have more money and less friends.

If you have money, you can buy friends.

I don't think the girl would approve of competition.

If I didn't play warhammer i wouldn't have to spend so many freaking cold days walking to the FLGS in Laramie, WY in the middle of winter... ya, thats about it, I would probably know what happens in most movies as well, instead of knowing how it sounds.

I'd be happier, richer, would have a lot more storage space in my home and quite probably a fun, constructive hobby for meeting people with.

I'd still be playing D&D. Wait - is this a trick question?

My poor neglected 360 would have more games.

Also, I'd have decent Airsoft guns and paintball markers.

I imagine I'd have died of alcohol poisoning by now and would most likely have less scars from modelling accidents and getting beaten up at school.

Platuan4th wrote:Also, I'd have decent Airsoft guns and paintball markers.

Same here.

Sirius42 wrote:I'd be richer, go clubbing more and annoy my lady less.

I second that lol


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Platuan4th wrote: I'd have decent Airsoft guns and paintball markers.

I also second that aswell !

What? Wait, if I never started Wargaming, maybe I'd HAVE a life!

LOLROTFL

Think I'd would have finished reading Don Quixote.

I would have a PS3 by now. Also a Glock 17. 40K has kept my home from being protected from the crackheads on my street. (Advisory: There are no Crackheads)

I don't want to think about it. I love wargaming. I wouldn't have half the friends I do now, I'd probably be working at an EB *shudder* instead of a game shop, and I probably wouldn't know/be interested in alot of the stuff I am now.

The themes, and influences that are behind wargames (history, war, music (in the case of GW's older heavy metal theme), writing, physics, politics) have made me seek out other topics just by looking into those.

That last sentence/paragraph was hard to read, I hope you got my point...

I would sleep on a huge pile of gold.

Let's just say the world is safer because I have something to occupy myself with.
much much safer...

1) I may have stayed with an ex-girlfriend! (True story!), then again, I might not have gotten together with her in the first place (she may/may not have thought it was just lame enough to be cool, without going overboard).

2) I wouldn't have kept in touch with some friends, which would've been a shame!