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Hey all,

So after playing 2 games of 40K last Saturday I was feeling totally drained.

I played a 1750 and 1000 pts game back to back against the same player (winning both ) but after 5 hours of gaming I felt totally strung out, like I had been up for 24 hours drinking redbull's and coffee.

Even playing 1 game I end up feeling burned out, not to say that I'm not having fun, but I inevitably feel mentally tired after playing.

I'm under 30 and in good shape, so it's not likely the physical strain of standing, pushing plastic doods around the board or furious dice rolling.

Anyways, just wanted to see if anyone else has the same experience and has ways to combat it.

I'm typically beat after 2-3 games in a day, as are most of my friends. I'd consider it a pretty normal experience.

Yea, this is normal. I usually feel mentally fatigued if I play more than 2 games in one day.

During Tournaments I carry headache medicine with me.

Ha ha, at least you are not playing fantasy! My gaming buddy is pooped after the 3rd-4th round. Though that is usually when I am just getting excited.

_Tim?

We did a mega battle that ran from 10 in the morning til after six at night, with people drifitng in and out. Me and my friend Padraic were the only ones who lasted the entire thing, and by the end we were absolutely bone tired. I had rarely been so drained in my life until then.

What gets me, isn't the APOC games/all day tournaments...

It's the "Drive two hours there, play in the tournament, drive two hours back"

The most gaming I've ever done in one day was at Historicon, year after year, but I'd usually spend my time between games wandering about, buying stuff at the flea market, or going back to my motel room. It's just a matter of breaking it up over the course of the day so you don't get wiped. I've got my first tournament coming up this weekend, so I'll get to see how a day of 40k with no breaks goes!

I'm only fatigued after a full weekend (2-3 days of Adepticon or 4-5 days of Gencon).

I'm pushing 40... and nowadays, I'm good for 1 game, 2 is pushing it. It's the standing for most of the game that hurts my old guy feets and trying to talk louder than the other nerds around me hurts my throat.. this getting old crap is for the birds.

I've never done a weekend long 2 day tourney and I don't think I ever will. 1 day is enough for me and I'll take a relaxed friendly game over a tourney anyday.

Remember as well, that depending on the calibre of your opponent, the game can be extremely mentally draining as well, you have to think on your feet. That alone can contribute to tiredness.

One serious point that you may have missed (or may not):
Keep drinking water, it really makes it easier. You'd be surprised how quickly you dehydrate when you are talking for most of five hours (at least that's how I play), and what a huge effect that has on your mental abilities.

I can do 3 games (1750 or higher) or 5 games of Combat patrol with no problems.

I'm over 40.

Keep hydrated. Especially in an air conditioned venue (the dehumidifying effect makes you dry out faster).

At the local Tournament it's usually 3 games, with an hour between 1 and 2 and 15 mins between 2 and 3.

Game one i'm generally not all the way awake until about turn 2 (i'm usually up painting until about 6 am and the event starts at 10.30, plus i'm usually walking a mile or so with minis to get there)

Game 2 i'm alert, awake and generally at my best.

By about turn 2 or 3 of the third game i'm forgetting rules and phasing out out of game, as well as in -game, because my tactics go to hades when i'm exhausted.

I know i should get more sleep pre-event, but inevitably there is something than needs painting in my list, that should have been finished a week previously

I get a dull ache behind the eyes midway thru my third game of a 3-game tourney. Not surprised, I think it is just hunching over and concentrating for all those hours! Wish my FLGS served draft beer - that might help!

In a fast & furious timed setting - first 2 games are always fun - 3rd is work.

I think doing anything for 6 straight hours will get you tired! What do you expect? You aren't a Necron.

Gods, I wish sometimes

I paint for 12 hour stints sometimes, and not getting tired or in pain would be nice

The longest I usually play is at my FLGS for up to 4 hours, usually 1-2 games. By the end I'm usually tired and my legs usually hurt because I stand the entire time.
I will soon see how I handle conventions and tournaments, though. I am attending the Warstore Weekend this year and may be doing the 40k tournament, or just playing other games and walking around.

For me a few games in a day is big fun. After a tournament, however (the competition being so much more intense) I'm drained to the point I may not touch a miniature for months.

Post Game Stress Disorder?
Comes and goes, depends heavily on opponent(s).
When I play with someone who knows the rules and doesn't argue / lookup every thing then the game is fun. We drink a few beers and have at it.
Then there are the other type.......

I played back to back Fantasy and 40k with my brother. I wanted to die afterwards.

I had my first tournament yesterday; 3 games of 40k over the course of 9 hours and I was exhausted. It was a good idea not to play the day before or today, as I'm a bit 40k'd out. The tournament was a lot of fun, but being on your feet all day talking over a huge crowd across a table really takes it out of you!

The people at the club I game with like to play 2000 point games. Just one 2K point game drains me. Today I played two 2K point games back to back... I took a short nap once I got home.

I never knew people could be so exhausted after playing a couple games of 40k.

I can easily last all day (9am-10pm) though I probably wouldn't want too.

But how old are you?

I'm not a teenager any more, and haven't been for a long long time

I played a 2500pt game yesterday (GK v CSM berserker spam) and could happily play a couple of other games afterwards at my club.

@Lost boyz: My club hires the boardroom of a local sports club and we (adult) members have access to cheap (licenced clubs have cheaper drink prices than bars) on-tap beer. Makes for a more fun game in the creche.

One 2k point game is generally pretty ok. After the 2nd game I'm wiped out. Those are usually the times I find myself taking a little break from miniature painting and gaming.

A lot of it depends on how much thinking is involved. If the game is particularly challenging or we spend a lot of time sussing out rules, 1 game can floor me. 4-5 hours of intense concentration will do that...

Back from the Colonial GT. 2 hours of sleep Friday into Saturday, 4 hours Sat into Sunday. I'm done. Physically and mentally wiped out. Around 10 hours total driving time

Who says Warhams doesn't give you exercise?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I was beat after last year's 'Ard Boyz, I was utterly drained mentally.

I had wargame fatigue really hit me when my LGS moved to a new location. They had more room which meant more tables which meant more games. At the prior location I was used to maybe 1 or 2 games per visit. At the new (present) location our group would get maybe 4 or 5 games in...it was pretty exhausting. That was mostly with Warmachine/Hordes. In regards to 40k... I'm spent after one game. 3 Round Tournaments almost stretch my limits... thank goodness for food breaks between rounds. I think if I tried an Apoc sized game I'd need an adrenaline shot or a defib after every turn.

Ascalam wrote:But how old are you?

I'm not a teenager any more, and haven't been for a long long time

24, I work construction plumbing then frequently skate board for hours after work. Warhammer is my "down time", standing in one spot is like a break for me lol.

I have played in only one wargaming tournament, back in 2005 - the LotR GT. While all my opponents were great fun, and the weekend was well organised, I realised that playing wargames all day was just not fun. It showed in my record - I won the 4 games on the first day and lost the 4 on the second. I was just too tired and couldn't really be bothered to think about playing any more.

Since then I have never gamed for more than 2 hours at a time, and I play no more than once a week. Not because of any self imposed restriction, but just because I'm not motivated to do any more than that.

Wargaming is a hobby, not an obsession!