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After moving heaven and earth to get my Space Marine army up to scratch and plotting a new force of Orks…I just seem to have run out of steam.

For a while it was 'all hands on deck'. Getting models, building, painting, rules learning and beginner games. Then all of a sudden...nothing. This has confused me. I was having a great time playing, meeting new folk at my local GW. All I have left to paint for my Marines is a piddling four tanks. My Ork force was showing promise and potential to be HUGE fun. What has gone wrong?

The only things that springs to mind are not too troublesome in themselves. There was a single game that occurred not too long before my loss of interest/focus. I wandered all the way into town to play against someone from work. He was a self confessed ‘powergamer’ and sure enough, wiped the floor with me. Took all of 45 mins or so. He packed up his minis and left straight after thumping my Marines. I was left a bit cross. Not at losing (I am well used to that). Maybe it was the way I lost (ie, badly). maybe it was because all I could do after the game was head home myself. No painting space at the tables, no other opponents who were not already playing. Nothing to do.

Another factor may have been the chap who had begun his army roughly the same time as me (and become a good friend and regular opponent/ally) had to move away from the area. A few months down the line it has suddenly dawned on me that I have not been to GW, played any games, painted anything or built a model kit.

Any of you have any tips for overcoming this hobby drought? Should I even try to overcome it or wait for the bug to bite again? Any similar experiences?

Sometimes the shininess of something wears off

I can remember times I have been super pumped up for a video game, and after having it for a week or two I get tired of it

Stuff like this happens all the time, when something goes from new and cool, to routine, and perhaps eventually a chore. Perhaps a break is needed? Just wait till something finally interests you pops up

kenshin620 wrote:Sometimes the shininess of something wears off

I can remember times I have been super pumped up for a video game, and after having it for a week or two I get tired of it

Stuff like this happens all the time, when something goes from new and cool, to routine, and perhaps eventually a chore. Perhaps a break is needed? Just wait till something finally interests you pops up

A good point. But surely I would remember thinking 'augh, off to game I go' or something. But just cooling my heels and not forcing it may indeed be the best way to go.

I hear you bud.
I`m in the same boat myself for now, cant paint, cant play can convert a little bit. But even after a few weeks i still cant really face a game.
1st time i`ve ever been like this in 15 years of this game.

I believe i`m like this because i know a new edition of the game is around the corner and i already feel as though i`m playing an old game.

Been offered a game tonight though, i think i`ll try for it.

kryczek wrote:I hear you bud.
I`m in the same boat myself for now, cant paint, cant play can convert a little bit. But even after a few weeks i still cant really face a game.
1st time i`ve ever been like this in 15 years of this game.

I believe i`m like this because i know a new edition of the game is around the corner and i already feel as though i`m playing an old game.

Been offered a game tonight though, i think i`ll try for it.

Wait, what? New edition? Oh for the love of...

I was just starting to get the hang of this one!

Well it seems like part of the problem is you are a friendly gamer and then got smacked around by a power gamer. If that made you not want to play then don't play it will happen again. I have it happen alot but I enjoy building my stuff and painting when I can( on hold till warmer weather). But I get beaten pretty much all the time. I go to tournaments and get smashed by everyone I still play cause I love the models and hanging out with "most" of the people. You will run into jerks and you need to deal with them as it comes. I recently was given a low sportsmanship score not cause i am bad but cause I used chaos models as space wolfs. I even heard one guy want to get me kicked and banned for it.

Hey Mutley

I feel your pain, i've had a couple of droughts myself. Like you started the hobby and went hell for leather for a little over a year then lost a lot of interest.

My loss interest was mainly down to the way our local GW was being run and the ever increasing prices. Then with a few friends we started our own club and I started to get interested in gaming again.

Unfortunatley I've had a real problem in the last 6 months with getting back into the hobby side of it as i've recently bought a house with my other half and have drastically increase my commute to work so it never felt like I had time to do hobby or was too tired to do it.

So recently I have been forcing myself to do little bits (like painting that mulitlaser I never painted) that don't take a long time to try and rekindle the orignal passion I had for the hobby and encourage me to use the time I do have. I've also been able to start reading a lot (one good thing about the bus) again which was the thing that got me into 40k in the first place. The reading has helped a lot, thinking of starting another army.

My advice is gaming wise try a few of your local gaming groups, hopefully one which is more about fun than competetive gaming, see if you can find your self another opponent. No one likes losing but being pwned is even worse (been there it sucks and as hard as you try can take the fun out). Gaming is a social activity and the people you play against can make a huge difference.

Also try and remember what it was that you loved about the hobby to start with and concentrate on that, I recently realised that part of the reason I was becoming despondent was becasue I was trying to learn fantasy and to be honest the system never really appealed to me and in hindsight I should have just stuck with 40k.

Stick with it mate and I hope you overcome your drought.

Spank

Its the people you game with that keep the enthusiasm going. You need a good team!

I just personally got back into it a month ago. I hadn't done anything for 6 months. Then the new necron codex came out and I always wanted a necron army. I have already built and assembled 2k points. It happens, I'd recommend trying other things that interest you and maybe drop into local gw store every few weeks and wait till it really interests you again.

It seems like your experience with the power gamer is what destroyed your motivation. These people exist, so it's best to put the experience as one of learning under your belt. In addition, eventually everyone needs a break, no matter what the reason. Take one. You'll know when it's time to get back to playing when you have that itch again.

I know myself and a lot of gamers who have been doing this for a long time go through phases. I've just learned to accept that it is cyclical. I paint and play a lot for a year then work on something else.

40k works best as a long term hobby. It doesn't have to be something you always do, but it is always there waiting for you to come back too.

riplikash wrote:I know myself and a lot of gamers who have been doing this for a long time go through phases. I've just learned to accept that it is cyclical. I paint and play a lot for a year then work on something else.

40k works best as a long term hobby. It doesn't have to be something you always do, but it is always there waiting for you to come back too.

This..I'm also going through a slight hiatus from 40k as well(gotta love college right hah)

riplikash wrote:I know myself and a lot of gamers who have been doing this for a long time go through phases. I've just learned to accept that it is cyclical. I paint and play a lot for a year then work on something else.

40k works best as a long term hobby. It doesn't have to be something you always do, but it is always there waiting for you to come back too.

Lots of truth here^.

My interests cycle all the time (is it really cyclical if the order changes). I play M:tG, D&D, very rarely WHFB, and several other random games. In time youwill likely want to play again, so don't sell off your stuff, it will be more expensive when you come back.

I'd have too agree with a lot of what's been said already..I've been gaming since RT days (1989), and it can really be cyclical. I took a 4 year break from the GW hobby and never played a game of 4th Ed, not once. Played a few games of 5th but have now started too play a heavily modded version of 2nd Ed which I prefer.
If you feel like it's just a loss of love for the GW games systems then maybe you could DL some different game rules from the Internet? 'Infinity' is free and the game is good fun, although you need D20's to play it. Failing that just check around and find something that you like the sound of. Just proxy a few mini's and get playing again...dont despair though dude, the GW bug will bite you in the ass again, when you least expect it!

Hmmm, wise words indeed being put forth here. A break may be in order. I have a few things I can be getting on with, and it is not like my minis are going anywhere. Having said that, after starting this thread...I have a sudden urge to paint. What gives?!

But regarding the powergamer incident: The Guy was NOT a jerk. Nice chap, even if a bit of a beardy git. He did not gloat or cheat. Yes, I thought his army was a touch OTT, but it was a very mild feeling of annoyance more than impotent rage.

So I may just kick back and lazily paint up some models if and when the mood strikes.

I was getting bored painting...

then I bought an airbrush. Now, painting is really, really fun

Try something new.

Horst wrote:I was getting bored painting...

then I bought an airbrush. Now, painting is really, really fun

Try something new.

Airbush you say? I remember buying a Tamiya compressor/spraygun combo when I was still living in Hong Kong (it was a British colony at the time. So this was a LONG time ago). It was awesome for about two kits. Then the nozzles jammed, and the replacement sets were shoddy. Mixing the acrylic paints and thinning them was a nightmare. Then the hoses all split when I got back to the UK...yadda yadda yadda...

Has the airbrush evolved as a tool since then? Or was I just rubbish at using it...

Probably a mix of both.

I've been using my airbrush for about 2 weeks now, pretty heavily every day. So far its needed a break down for thorough cleaning twice, other than that its worked perfectly. Mixing paints is really easy, just pour some paint in the top, put a few drops of thinner in, mix with a junk brush, and your good to go.

Or just use Vallejo Model Air, which comes pre-thinned for airbrushes.

I have put models away for a few months then gone back to painting when the bug came back. Usually playing a game will get me back to painting.

Find people to play with who're pretty easy going, have a few beers and some 'erb (if that's your poison), chill out and game.
Avoid "powergamers" at all costs. Or anyone who takes the game side of it really seriously, go for modellers over "gamers".
It's all about the people you play with dude.

I got quite a number of hobbies so this month, I might be all hell for leather for 40k tabletop, next month it might be my horse, then my interest might focus on 40k RPG, or other non-40k RPGs, or retouching roleplaying char pics, or pulling out the telescope to see what's around. etc. So my level of enthusiasm really does cycle, and even in 40k is it wargaming, or RPG, or painting or assembling, or reading?

It's pretty natural.

I got a couple other suggestions, though some of the guys who've posted have some pretty ace ones already.

As for playing someone easy going, I'd add to that, play with someone you know you'll have a ball with regardless of the outcome, that you can have a laugh with during the game and won't deride you over your mistakes.

My partner and I always get roped into hosting our social groups "painting/assembling bbq days". When they come around, I may not have painted for a month or more, just can't get up the enthusiasm or energy, but once I'm forced to sit down with that brush in my hand, I just can't seem to stop and then it's full steam ahead. Invite a couple friends around just to paint and talk 40k, maybe.

And nothing quite gets your excitement up (if you're me or others I know) like reading a well-written 40k novel based on your army. Maybe see what Black Library has that tickles your fancy. I don't know what SMs you play, and there's only a short story written from the Orks PoV but plenty of Imperium pov novels that features orks highly - and the Imperium doesn't always win in the end.

It could be because you're feeling down. Sometimes being sad can make you lose interest in your favourite things. I'd certainly be sad if I had a helmet over my eyes. Maybe you just need a hug.

Ive had the same problem over the years, building and painting huge amounts, and then almost losing interest completely. there are a few options that may help you out

get involved in another game. it can be another games workshop game, or a different one entirely. I personally love flames of war and firestorm armada. Firestorm is relatively inexpensive, and 15mm world war 2 figures can be found very cheaply. combat patrol or killzone can be great for this, as they require few figures and stay within the 40k background. You could collect a killzone force for multiple armies until you get your mojo back.

try painting your armies with different techniques, colors and bases. This change up can break up the monotony of painting the same color scheme, and painting the skin on orks is very different than painting power armor.

Ive found that apocalypse has kept me very interested in the game, I have a HUGE chaos army (13,500 painted), made up of traitor guard, khorne daemons, world eaters, and a khorne terminator army using the space wolves codex. When I get tired of painting power armor, I paint IG, then I paint terminators, then daemons. The super heavies are a joy to build and paint, and can be used as a reward for painting the smaller stuff.

hope that helps

I know how you feel man, no motivation to see the stuff done. Breaks are sometimes required, even if you never rand into a powergamer, which isn't a bad thing.

Hell, I've taken breaks from every hobby I've had and always go back fresh-faced and ready to go as ever. Eddtheman had a good idea, try a different game or painting style, sort of like trying to break the table-top gamer's 'modeler's block' as it were.

This happened to me.

I'd been playing for about ~15 years solid. I had (and still have) a regular opponent. We would play 2-3 times a week, sequeezing 3-4 games in those days. It was really fun.

Then I moved further away. It was about a 90 minute drive for either of us, and after that travel time, we felt more like catching a movie or playing a round or two of Counter Strike than playing 40k. After a while I packed my stuff up because we just didn't play.

We had the idea to get back into it with new armies, but it didn't get off the ground. Then I got a full time job, which really killed my hobby time, being used to having all day to do stuff. THen I met my fiancee, which killed the very last of my free time.

After a 3 year break, I ended up thinking to myself 'I wonder if there have been any new Tyranid models since I quit' and saw the huge range released with 4th edition. Needless to say, to a very annoyed fiancee, I dove back in. My regular opponent did as well, and I was surprised to learn my brother and another friend were really back into it too.

After a 3 year break, I ended up gaining another 2 regular opponents, a fresh enthusiasm for the hobby, and still no free time But I plug away at my armies when I can.

I'll give some advice though - if you decide to take a break, pack your stuff away. Don't sell it. If you enjoy the hobby now, chances are the bug will bite again, and having your old stuff there helps.

WH comes and goes in cycles. The best advice is pace yourself and try to keep things in the hobby to keep you interested. For me, its new model lines. Sometimes you will have a a huge dry length of time with no interest and then you binge and buy a ton of models. I've worn myself out so fast sometimes that I dont even get to play the army before I've lost interest (Damn you lizardmen). Find someone fun and simple to play with, games are a lot of work and to drive to the middle of nowhere to play a game with someone you dont like or who plays the game differently than you (Too competitive or too friendly) can kill the mood, especially when you have to sit through 3 hrs of game. I have my girlfriend for simple games at home, I advise it.

You lot are a bunch of freakin' certified geniuseseses. Some of the suggestions here make sense, others just rule. I will be popping 40k sort of on the backburner. Maybe I'll paint something and post here. Maybe I'll just leave it for a little bit. I shall try and find some more casual gaming types and avoid the combat-wombats. I may also build the Killa Kans I bought a while back, rather than trog on building the mob of boyz. The reason I wanted to do orks, was the 'kustom deff masheen' aspect. So the infantry can wait, I want to muck about wiv me konvershunz.

Also..
Hugs: Good idea. I shall pester the wife after work today.
Hobby BBQ: GENIUS! May do a midwinter madness session at some point rather than wait for fair weather. Spag-bol, Space Marine movie, video games (maybe) and a whole lotta building/painting.

To me, half the game is having a decent group to play and paint with. I've been lucky in finding a good club devoid of power-gamers and twitchy types.

Take the game to a level you're comfortable with. Try to get some 'painting days' going, with people over to convert and paint stuff together.