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I'm enlisted in the Navy, and set to leave for boot camp sometime next June... And I've been thinking about a lot of things.. Namely 40k. There's obviously no way I'd be able to continue playing while I'm in, and frankly, I don't feel compelled to waste money on it in the time I have left... Not to mention the only person I play on a regular basis with is moving to California this summer, so there'd be no one to play with (all of our gaming group is connected to his family, not mine) anyway.

I love the hobby and the game a lot, but it just seems like a losing prospect when I have other things that could be done with my hard earned cash... And time. I'd definitely keep my armies, most likely in the care of my parents, and maybe when I get out (IN FOUR YEARS) I could pick it up again.... But I might not even care about it at that point. I just don't really know what to do.

Anyway. Have you ever considered quitting? How'd you figure it out? Even better, if you're on of those people who picked it up after a long hiatus, how do you feel about it now? Thanks

Well, When I joined the Army back in 03, I put my Dark Eldar in storage, because I thought I would never have time to play, or that I would never be near a games store. Truest me, I was wrong.... some of the most hardcore 40kers I have met are in the military.

Now the Navy, it might be different, especially when your on the boat, but who knows, you may have time to play, or at least paint. Leave them with your parents until you can find out where you will be for a duty station and how long you might be there, then find out what gaming groups or stores are in the area. You will probably be surprised to find a good thriving gaming community tied in with wherever you are stationed.

I was brougth back into the game in 08 by one of my soldiers who plays IG. He had recently bought an Eldar army, and him and I ended up chatting about 40k one day, and I told him that I used to play, and we swapped stories for it on a few hours of a bus trip. That weekend, he called me and asked me if I wanted to meet at the CAC(Community Activity Center) cause him and some other guys were going to play some 40k and I could see what 5th edition was like.

So I went down there, and as soon as I walked in, two army bags were shoved into my hands and I was told to build a 2000 point list to play with. I looked in the bags, and there was his new eldar army! Well, I did what I could to build a list, not that I knew what was good or bad now from being out for so long, and we played a game. After the game, I packed his stuff up and went to hand it back to him and he told me to keep it and play it for the rest of the time I was in Korea. And now, thanks to him, I've gotten hooked back onto my plastic crack, and I have gotten my oldest son addicted also!!!

I'm in my fourth year at the Royal Military College (Canada) and having to balance academics, military training, PT, bilingualism, extra curriculars, a bad drinking habit, and a social life, I still found time for the hobby. Wasn't a huge amount of time, but its definitely not something you can't ever do when you're in. Hold on to your armies and see what happens, but I'll guarantee you you'll have some time to make it worthwhile.

I'm not joining the military (And am unlikely to) but i have thought about dropping the hobby alltogether and sticking with the fluff only.
I will probably tone it down until i quit atogether... though that's not gonna happen for at least a few more years.

It's not unheard of for military types to keep on with the hobby. One poster I talk to another forum is a combat reporter-type over in Afghanistan, and he's US military. He paints a lot, but doesn't play over there.

You may think now that these times are a changing in your life, and they are. But some things don't. A gamer has got to game. There are many FLGS out there where ever you find your next duty assignment.
There is also a big and long lived thread on here somewhere about all the 40k being played in Iraq and Afghanistan. So first off, never ever get rid of your figures! cause you will kick yourself for doing it when suddenly there is a game to be had and your fig less and staring down the daunting prospect of re-investing in your game of choice. Store them safely, never part with them completely. Think of all the wonderful new friends to be made over the table tops in far away places.

With me it was the Army. Gamed across the states, Germany, Korea, Haiti, Egypt ect....

Thanks a lot

I'm not totally sure where I'll be when I get there. I told my recruiter I'd rather be at see than on a base, and I would, for sure, but it's hard to tell if I'd be in a position to keep a small amount of stuff with me (Apparently I get a 'coffinlocker' after a while, but that's for clothes).

My mother told me she'd be happy to look after my stuff while I'm away, which is a blessing. I don't think I'd ever consider tossing the stuff. I've put too much effort into it

It's not surprising to hear that people play warhams in the military. I've noticed a lot of the types on here are veterans, or even currently enlisted. That's great, really

I got necrons, nids and chaos and i haven't played a game since september

I take extended breaks, but never quit.

I quit when I met my girlfriend, now fiancee.

About 3 years later I decided to have a gander at what was released, namely with Tyranids since when I quit they still had the old 3rd edition models. My jaw just about hit my desk when I saw the Carnifex and Trygon, and plastic Gargoyles and Raveners, and decided to get back into it.

Never mind that I had about 2000 points of Salamanders sitting around. They're going to be stripped and redone when I have the time.

Basically, don't throw your gak away. You never know when you might want to get back into the hobby.

When I went overseas (not with the military though...) I brought a few boxes with me, and intricately worked on a bit, not a model, just a BIT every day, honing my painting skills, and learning every little bit of its face, arm, leg, etc...

I spent about 30 minutes right before bed, each night. It helped me stay with the hobby over the 6 months, and I gained some painting skill (despite me still sucking), it taught me something about the hobby and why I bothered to stay with it.

It was fun, though I'm not sure if you will be able to do it...

When i enlisted in the Marines in 05 i put my tau up, never really thinking i'd play again unless i was on leave, one day i was curious and found a FLGS!!! I played every saturday all day like clockwork for my last year and a half! Made some of the greatest guys i know there, 5 of which were actual fellow marines! Just stick them in storage until you find out where you go after bootcamp and start fresh! You'd be surprised what tactics peopel use across the country! Good luck out there future squid!

I quit when third edition came out, mostly out of shock and anger, but then came back when 4th edition came out, because in my opinion they had at least fixed the worst flaws. I'm not fond of 5th edition, but I've grown fond of finding new absurd bugs in the rules, sort of gaming morbid curiosity. However, I'm getting pretty bored of playing Orks, what with the resurgence of codex creep. I am considering moving to WFB Tomb Kings, if I can sell of my chaos space marines. Otherwise, I'm out until either a new Codex: Orks comes out.

When I was about 18-19 I decided that beer etc was more interesting then toy soldiers I gave away 2 fantasy armies and a smallish CSM army plus 2 or 3 necromunda gangs...10 years latter I am back in the hobby and really wish I had all my olde stuff still.

I have quit the game twice. I started the hobby in 1992 and am in my third run right now. Been playing this time since 2006. I guess you have three options right now. Put everything away in storage, sell it and get out of the game for now or forever, or try to continue on. My room mate has been deployed overseas three times in the last nine years, twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan.

During his last deployment he took some new Ork models and some paint to have something to do during his downtime. He quickly assembled and painted the models he brought over and had me ship some more to him. I couldn't ship any spray paint to him so I primed and repackaged everything before I sent it. By the time his tour was over he came home with about 3500 points in nicely painted orks. He also found a couple other guys to play games with while out there. So while it may be a bit of a hassle to ship models back and forth across the world, it can be done, and there are other people out there doing it.

I got out of the navy a few years back and for all but the time I was deployed I found that I had plenty of time to game. Sure, during the work week I didn't get much of a chance to play but on weekends I could spend all day at my (then) FLGS. The military (at least the navy) isn't all flogging and work , you'll have time for other things as well.

Well, on a ship is tough. You may have picked the wrong service for wargaming. I was first exposed to the hobby while in the army at a store called Regiments in Kileen TX when I was looking for model tanks.. Another friend of mine picked it up in the army too in Kentucky or Hawaii.
When army guys aren't in the field they've got diddly to do with their time, and room and board are free so who cares if you blow your check on that battleforce?

I'm currently in Flight School learning to pilot chinooks and when I went off to basic I didn't think I'd be able to play them much. Now yes during basic I coulden't but during AIT there where plenty of guys to play so I had my gf bring them with her when she moved up here to Ft. Leonard Wood and I play pretty often. Of course I'm just now getting into Fantasy but you never know what could happen.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Sorry I'm just now getting into 40k

I took several years off from GW after a few years of working for the company (and being professionally mandated to play a lot of 3ed 40k, with its horrible assaults) gave me Warhammer fatigue. Didn't leave the hobby though, I got into WW1 collecting and tinkering with an experimental rules set. The plastic Carnifex drew me back in, I'm mad keen on Tyranid hobbycraft. Started more actively playing since 5ed BRB, despite my dislike for literal LOS systems.

I have an e-buddy who was an active gamer with his unit whilst serving in Iraq, his accommodation had room for gaming gear but hobbycraft was pretty much out of the question.

If worst comes to worst, it COULD be possible to play Vassal with a little down time...

Not be beat a dead horse, but I also didn't stop even when I enlisted. I knew that after boot camp (US Marines) I would have about a year of training in Twentynine Palms during which there would be plenty of time on the weekends (since there's nothing out there) to paint. I didn't get any gaming in, but I painted almost a whole army while there. In fact, I used my time there as an excuse to get into 40K after years of playing fantasy. Years and years later I shipped my paints, brushes and tools to Iraq with me (on my second deployment there) and got quite a bit painted.
Regarding quitting, well, on two occasions I've taken time off where I didn't play or model anything; sometimes for several years. Much of this was while in college when I had almost no free time. Still, I returned to the hobby.
To sum it up, I agree with everybody on here suggesting that while it may be difficult to game or paint over the next few years, it is doable and you can always come back to it later. Getting out of the hobby and returning to it after a few years is viable as well.
By the way, the military was one of the best times of my life. I hope that you have a great experience as well.

Stay with a hobby if you like it. If you don't then drop it like a ton of bricks! If getting rid of a bunch of toys buys you great times in your youth don't think twice imo.

However, I would hang on to your favorite stuff, if for nothing else the memories! I was going through a bunch of junk yesterday I had stored in a box and found my old as what Star Wars Slave 1 ship with Boba Fett still in the cockpit. Instantly was 9 again making swoosh noises like a pro!

Always keep the fun stuff man.

If you really do like the game and you'll have a decent Internet connection, look into VASSAL 40k. You can still keep up with the game so when you come back you won't be too rusty.

As long as you keep your models, you're not quitting, you're not not playing for awhile. There's a considerable difference.

I think it's been mentioned before, but I ask you, do you prefer playing or modelling?

If you prefer modelling, have you thought about just switching your focus? i.e. instead of painting large units/armies for playing purposes, maybe start doing smaller units or single models, and spending lots of time getting them to insane standards/just improving your technique?

That way, you could still enjoy the hobby while making it fit better with your changed lifestyle.

I was talking to Major in the New Zealand army at the local wargaming club, he's really good at this game and has one 3 national tournaments, one of them after his 6 month tour in Afghanistan. He he really likes the game, he gets paid 80 grand a year or higher...not sure...and his food, bills, roof, all gets paid for by the military, and he's got all his HARD earned cash to spend on 40k, so even if you are going to the navy, put your models in a safe place (Like your parents place! ) and you come back for how long your gone, get back into it and enjoy the game (Being GW probably has set out new rules by then.)

I thought about it although I got back into my Salamander marines and have started up chaos.

My problem is that the fluff hooks me in and I want to 'remake' my 'old' armies from when I was younger - dark eldar, necrons etc. I won't be getting new DE or Necron stuff although I'll get the new necron codex but not any new minis. Gone are the days when you could get a large battleforce, add a box of troops and a blister and then you have a fully functioning army.

Assuming the minis are made of awesome I'll pick up SoB's but after that I think I'll stop However I'm making the proviso to myself that unless I paint everything I'm not getting anything new. (which is why I didn't get any dark eldar

I lost interest in 40k way back during 2nd edition and have just returned to the hobby, a lot has changed (plastic minis, yeah I'm looking at you) but to be honest despite being away from the hobby for so long I can't get enough of it now. I think if you take a break for a while and return to it when you can you will be fine, perhaps you will gain a whole new level of enthusiam for the hobby.

I think its safe to say once a gamer, always a gamer!

Lots of people stop playing for a long time. It's normally about 4 years and then relapse back into and start playing again. They can't resist the sirens call.

Although GW seems to be starting to sing out of tune to me.

im in the navy, and on hawaii from time to time

still play when my schedual permits