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You're thinking too much. If you didn't do something because someone else could do it better, then no one would ever do anything, ever.

I paint models because I enjoy painting them. I play the game because win or lose, I find it enjoyable. Don't worry about how other people roll.

Do you have any armies now? Can you tell me their saga and show us some pictures?

I know I'm a meh painter, and I don't write well either. But, I continue to play all sorts of miniature games because I enjoy creation. Besides, this is 40k. This is a universe where space wolves and Tau fight underwater. In Land Raiders and mech suits with propellers. Anyone who wants to take this universe seriously enough to cut you up is just giving you a hard time.

Here's my main project right now. Read the threads and become inspired.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/319507.page

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/320499.page

M.

You are definitely overthinking it.

What do you enjoy about the hobby? If you just got into it so you could do everything better than everyone else, you got into it for the wrong reasons.

Do you enjoy painting, or do you just do it to show off?
Do you gaming, or do you just play to win?

Me, I enjoy painting. I'm not good. My brother is really good - he's just passed regionals with all of his golden demon entires. Mine would be an embarassment just to enter.

I enjoy playing, even if I get my ass handed to me. Mostly because I don't play to win, I like trying different tactics, and having a laugh with friends while playing.

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Hey guys, I'm new to the forum so I'll keep it short!

My early models looked like they had been painted by a deranged chimpanzee with a mashed crayon wedged between it's butt-cheeks.
Now, they just look like the chimpanzee has got a colour perception problem, and has drunk too much coffee to hold a paint-brush.

But, the point is it's a mild improvement and I can take a little pride in what I have done, even though it looks primitive compared to what other painters can come up with.

Same too with fluff, to be honest just reading the BRB is enough to start off with.
Most people are fairly relaxed about it, and so long as you don't have anything ridiculous (a tau-eldar husband and wife team operating a shokk attack gun), just a little understanding goes a long way.
I think people are more inclined to get upset about crappy proxying, "this here crumpled can of pepsi is a bloodthirster" or, "my Nid army uses the Blood Angel codex"

No one here can decide if you really want to do the hobby or not, and thats for you to decide. I find the internet community is much more aggressive and hard nosed than anything at a club or local level, simply because generally the people who care enough about the hobby to spend time on a forum will get heated when discussing something close to their hearts. For the most part (and I hope this isn't too much of a generalisation) the gaming community is a relaxed and fun place to be, and a world away from other 'special interest' groups such as those centred around computer games.

FaarisShazad wrote:I used to own CSM, marines, orks, tyranids.. none of which i could get right it seems. I had to sell them all when i left canada.
Even at that time, i was nothing more than a bitz collector. I had a bunch of paints but most had dried into unusable lumps inside their containers. the few models i did paint looked pretty shoddy.. despite the hours and hours i spent reading painting articles and how to paint books published by gw. Going to clubs was even more depressing, as literally children could and had painted more and better than me.Lack of inspiration? lack of talent? Whatever it is i couldn't even bear to look at the things i had done and the last army i had collected (orks) were mostly just primed black or half assembled in the vain assumption it would be easier to paint if i left the arms off. Was i really doing this out of enjoyment, or because i had nothing better to do?

Certainly i had no enjoyment from playing the game. I lost almost every game i ever played, each loss leaving me to wonder why i had ever even started.. and each victory was a fluke of having more models than my enemy could kill to get them off objectives ect. Sure I won, but it felt hollow and pretty much as though i had cheesed my way to winning.

Do i just not enjoy the game, or not enjoy life? Either way i kept clinging to my little collection because its all i had known since i was just a little chap scrounging at necromunda models and the space hulk set my mom bought us for christmas, of which little remained but a few models (and you know, the obligatory genestealer with power fist!) And i really just never stopped collecting the stuff even though it was incredibly disheartening to play.

Having reviewed your questions, I don't even know why i do it. I sold everything i owned to my little brother for next to nothing (along with all my video game stuff, handhelds ect) because i was leaving the country to go teach english. I kept a few models and codexes that lil bro was unconcerned with. maybe its just nostalgia for something i was never good at.

I guess the fondest memories i ever had were from people i played with. There was a really pretty girl who ran the store i used to frequent, married mind you, but quite fun to be around and she enjoyed my company. With that in mind, i feel like a total loser for playing this game... because it seems like i only did it to have friends or get attention. not really my intent but from the outside looking in thats how it appears. I feel embarrassed to even mention all this stuff to a bunch of randoms over the internet.. but whatever. You couldn't judge me any more harshly than im judging myself. Thanks for taking the time to read all my BS and have a nice day

Sorry to hear your going through this. Its never fun. I would agree with some others posts. Look into what aspects of the hobby you enjoy most. You don't have to be the best in X or Y parts of it. If you find something entertaining do it! My first year playing Dark Eldar when I first played in early 2000s saw me getting my ass handed to me for over 6 months. Mainly to marines and equivalent forces. I nearly gave up till i got talked into doing a doubles tourney with a fellow Dark Eldar player. We both did some redesigns and new tactics. Basically they played tactical squad/gun equipped dreadnought gunline armies with tanks. And we went for ravagers and close combat squads in raiders. We ripped everyone apart in the tournament as at the time we were the laughing stock of the local store. No one had bothered to research capabilities and possible threats. That's what kept me in the hobby till this day personally. Just remember theres always powergamers and the like. And people who would call themselves "pro" players. Just because they might have better tactics than you doesn't mean you aren't welcome to the hobby. The same goes with modelling and painting skills. These things can be refined with patience and time. I've played 8 years and still cant layer properly.

I would definitely recommend reading some peoples blogs on here. This site has become a great source of inspiration in the near year I've been here. It's part of why I've stuck around. If you don't like why you might have been in the hobby before. Like I said it probably is time you reassessed why you do it. But for a good reason. Not just quitting. Look at what's important in the hobby to you. Then work towards improving at it.

Anyway. Reams of text over. Hope it finds some use to you. Hang in there and take care.

Phew, nice blocks of text. Anyway though, I'd like to contribute to this.

I'm a somewhat veteran gamer, started in 94 with Dark Angels and play dark angels and IG. Half my models aren't assembled or painted. The kids in my GW actually make conversions than me and I'm not that flash at painting either.

Gamingwise, I'm none too good. However, I try because I want to get better AND because I enjoy what I do, not because other people do it. If you enjoy what you do, and play for fun and not for winning, you are winning.

I think the problem is that you teach English.

Everyone knows English teachers sell their souls to obtain that degree

M.

Buy a good list, crush an donkey-cave friend of yours. It will make you want to go on.

What Jaon said! If you want to play get a good list bitch slap some nnobs and laugh! Then slowly start taking on the better players... If you can find a player who will explain to you mistakes an tactics during a game then he's the guy you want to play against. If you lurk on the forums you should be familiar with some good tactics and stuff.
I read somewhere "I can if I will not I will if I can..." and it's just toy soldiers with some complex rules.

PS I can't paint at all yet

I'm not sure what to think about this thread. There's a lot of self-pity being expressed here.

OP: There can only be ONE person the best at something. Most people will never beat Hulksmash in a game of 40k, except by a wicked streak of unstatistical dice-rolls. Most people will never be able to create a painted mini to match Atropos' stunning creations. Most people will never know the rules as well as Gwar!. This extends to every facet of real life as well.

If your problem is your inability stand out as exceptional and be praised for it, you have two choices: Either buckle down and focus on getting better at one aspect of it, or exit stage right. No one gets to just be the best at something - you work hard to get there. Get to work.

I think the OP ran away. Sounds to me like his too competitive. Comparing painting skill and gaming skill to others can be a bad thing if you have little goals in this hobby. Are you willing to say "hay, im just learning, teach me" or will you say "OMG you're better then me, I quit"?

For me, I love the look of Eldar and want to paint as best I can. Im no gamer. But thats my goal; painted awesome Eldar. I started in January 2010 and have painted a squad of Guardians and nearly finished a War Walker. They look pretty darn good, lots of blending, but thats it.

Play for fun, don't play to win. The only thing you get out of trying to win is a fat ego. Sounds like your ego has deflated some.

I'm sorry to hear that, but at least something good will come out of it if you won't be wasting time flogging a dead horse.

I love this forum already, I've been a member for just a few hours and already read about someone acknowledging good advice from a spiky dildo!

Dude I'm glad you reached a decission that you are happy with, whatever that is!!

Also just to set the record straight it's not a spiky dildo. It's a snozcumber from Roal Dahls book the BFG. Basically a disgusting cucumber. But you have made my day and if it's OK with you I will quote you in my sig! thanks it's awesome

Doctadeth wrote:Phew, nice blocks of text. Anyway though, I'd like to contribute to this.

^ Indeed, I admit I didn't bother going through the lot.

Even so, at the risk of repeating others' sentiments, I feel I'd like to express my thoughts,

In this hobby I'm surrounded by people far better than me - I'm average at painting and I lose the majority of my games. But I really like the 40k universe, and the hobby. I play it because I enjoy it, not because I'm good at it. And if you find you only play it for the company of those people you played with, so be it! Like any hobby or sport it has a bit of a social side to it, which brings you together with other people that share your interests. In this way it can be likened to other 'clubs' and passtimes.

If this isn't reason enough for you to consider carrying on with it, maybe you should think about other investments of your time and money - 40k is known to put a serious drain on both of these. And if you don't get enjoyment out of it..

Dashofpepper wrote:Most people will never beat Hulksmash in a game of 40k, except by a wicked streak of unstatistical dice-rolls. Most people will never be able to create a painted mini to match Atropos' stunning creations. Most people will never know the rules as well as Gwar!. This extends to every facet of real life as well.

If your problem is your inability stand out as exceptional and be praised for it, you have two choices: Either buckle down and focus on getting better at one aspect of it, or exit stage right. No one gets to just be the best at something - you work hard to get there. Get to work.

I beaten Hulksmash, so that means I should stop playing 40k.

Nice edit OP. I fear life will be hard for you with this attitude. My condolences.

Hmmm...

Curiouser and curiouser.

Though to the original point of this: If you don't enjoy the game, don't play it. Seems simple when you just come right out and say it, no?

All OP posts are of dot lines and angry orkmoticons. All I can say is work at it and through blood, sweat and tears do you succeed.

Life is hard, wear a helmet.

Dunno how worth it is posting in this thread after all the edits...

But regardless. I do not think it is being competitive; just for someone to compare themselves to other people. Everyone does it all the time, and it can be disheartening when all that you see are your inadequacies.

This eventually leads to frustration and de-motivation, and you slowly end up hating what you are doing as even the thought of doing it becomes a chore.

It's not uncommon. Writers call it 'writers block', If you visit any art forum you will see frequent topics by people who just can't seem to finish anything, and don't know why? They usually end up just getting a load of 'supportive' but mainly useless advice too.

I do know why, because I've been there. I draw for a living now, and I just can't afford to get de-motivated, or stuck, or have things not seem to work out today.

So here is the scoop:

What you basically have to understand is... People like doing things they are good at, so they do them more and inevitably get better and better. If they are inherently bad at something they will tend to avoid it and make no improvement.

What happens to some people is they start out doing something they enjoy, and might even be good at, but then they start getting ahead of themselves. They set their expectations too high, they will attempt projects that are too advanced for their level. What happens then is the project becomes a chore, because they don't know how to approach it. Everything is trial and error, trial and error. Often they will give up because it's just too much hard work, or they will finish but won't meet their own expectations.

Then they will see other people who just seem to pull out great work after great work effortlessly... Suddenly they feel they are not good enough. Remember what people tend to do when they are bad at something? They will start to avoid it, and they won't improve. They might sporadically have another go... But it will usually just end in further frustration. They eventually just become de-motivated and depressed.

The way to get out this situation is to build up your confidence. The best way to build up confidence is through preparation. Ask yourself, do you know how to paint a cloak or shiny armour? Are you any good at faces? Do you know where the highlights and shadows are supposed to go? do you have the right colours mixed? Do you have a really nice place to work?. Ask yourself as many questions as you can, and If the other is 'No' then you need to get that sorted. Start reading up, looking pictures, researching, experimenting with different techniques on something you don't care about. Plan your time... what time do you have free, how much will you spend painting, what do you plan to get done in each time slot. Maybe even start a diary so you always know where you stand.

The more preparation you do the more confident you will be. When the time comes for you to really paint that cloak, or that face, you will know what you are doing, because you have practised it 20 times. Instead of taking you days and still not being quite right; you can just BAM! do it in a few minutes and get it perfect first time... Because you've practised, and you know exactly how to do it.

Soon Your minis will be looking better than ever, people will be admiring them, and you'll be having so much fun painting that you won't want to stop.

But you have to do the ground work first. Practice, prepare, research, and rebuild your confidence.

Down the road, not across the street.

A painless alternative would be to add ammonia to bleach in a confined space listening to sad songs and reading a C.S. Goto novel.

The mistake that I made was comparing my minis to how others paint them. Even worse it took me a few years to realise that I could not match games workshop painters; it actually stopped me painting for three years, that's how disillusioned I became. But! I came back and literally put the shutters down on outside influences and concentrated on my own style and you know what? IT WORKED. For years my syle was solely to get the model tidily painted, I didn't bother with highlights because they never looked right. Only in recent years have I started to feel confident in applying highlights(judge for yourself in my painting posts)I'll never win awards(don't really want to),I paint for myself. The biggest tip there is is the following;
AIM FOR A TIDY PAINTJOB,IGNORE ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS ETC UNTIL YOU FEEL CONFIDENT TO DO SO
Just as important; Tap into all the camradarie that all posters here have shown you, it is more vital than anything else.

you chose to start this hobby for a reason, remember that and build from that.

And remember, there's always something more you can do for your hobby.

Trollity troll...