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It seems a lot of people think of war-games as a big hobby that they plan to do with most of their free time for the rest of their lives. I like painting the miniatures... I like the game... But it's not so much a hobby for me, more so just a game. You may say, "What's the difference?" I'd have to say passion.. I don't have a passion for the game... It's just a really fun board game.

I'm interested in what you have say about where you stand?

It's a hobby for me.

Currently I play:
Flames of War
Warmachine (Haven't won a game yet, but I came close during a League game tonight! Forward to victory!)
Battletech (Quickstrike)
Full Thrust (preparing a couple of fleets)

With aspirations of getting into 6mm Modern (Cold War Commander) and 15mm ACW. So... so much. T_T

I guess it is a matter of passion. I do research into the background/history of the games I play, whether it's historical or completely made up. Then again, I'm a fan of pen & paper RPGs, so I guess having an over-active - or, at least, a 'high-gear' - imagination is sort of a prerequisite for really turning Wargaming into a hobby.

I can see that. What pen-and-paper RPGs?

Because I can't imagine playing without my Army (2k Orks) looking pretty awesome, I can't just call this a game.
A game for me would have everything you need out of the box, without needing to invest in crafting/painting/modeling supplies, and lots of time to get it right.

I honestly can't imagine someone having a decent sized army with a solid paint job who wouldn't be considered a hobbyist.
Unless you buy all your armies pre-painted, get your army lists off of forums, and just play without REALLY knowing the rules, I'm going to say you're a hobbyist, even if you don't think you are.
Monopoly is a game. Warhammer is a hobby. Unless you play it like monopoly.

As matphat touches on above, a lack of real, burning passion does not make your miniatures gaming any less of a hobby...I mean, the definition of hobby is "an activity done regularly in one’s leisure time for pleasure" (according to the Oxford English dictionary that comes with my Kindle). I do not even think you disqualify for being a hobbyist if failing matphat's definition of decent sized army and solid paint job - you can easily consider playing monopoly as a hobby. I have other hobbies, myself. I exercise, do living history, play the occasional boardgame, watch series and movies, try to get an RPG session in every blue moon, and get sucked into computer games now and then.

A real, burning, passionate, I-almost-imagine-my-Skorne-as-actual-people-when-I-play-and-Immerse-Myself-in-The-Fluff-to-the exclusion-of-all-else attitude to miniatures games I think I would regard as signs of being slightly mentally unstable more than as a "hobby" attitude

I don't see it as a hobby. I see it as plastic crack, and a hobby..

Currently Playing:
40k
Fantasy
Flames of War
DBMM
DBA

I would only consider it a game if the models come pre-built, pre-painted, no backround, just play. But I have to build, paint, and learn rules and read backround, which I enjoy doing... very much.

Really, a hobby is what you make it out to be.

Wargaming is definently a hobby for me .

definetly my favourite hobby. It even stops me from PC-gaming, I really spend most of my free time doing warhammer related stuff!

It's a hobby.

It's not a passion.
It's not a chore.

It is a pleasing diversion that I derive joy from.

I enjoy it. It's a hobby.

I agree with OP - It's totally a game for me. I'm only really interested in the game aspects of it, and the fact that the game pieces are nice looking are just a bonus.

I suppose I should change the theme to... How bad would it be for you if war gaming just disappeared. For me it would be sad... But not that bad.

It would be great! I would have more money!

Lol

I would just have more free time to myself that would quickly get absorbed by my other hobbies.

My friends and I would also likely just find something else to do when hanging out.

No big problem, but still nice that wargaming is here.

Fantasy, 40k, battletech. If I lost the first two, I'd ragequit life. Battletech is only for hanging out with friends on Thursday-it's not the game, it's the fellowship.

I would die

I barely play now so I wouldn't be too heartbroken.

I'd finally be able to use made up rules without feeling like I was cheating.

You should work for GW then DarknessEternal it seems thats what they do with the rules all the time anyways.

It would be a bummer, but I'd find something else to spend my $$$ on.

If wargaming were to just disappear I'd concentrate on regular miniature painting. I haven't gamed much last year and if I could no long I'd probably switch over to PC or consoles games, pen and paper games, or just not game at all.

I guess what I would consider the biggest loss would be that there are so many good ideas, stories, and sculpts that are brought together by wargames like GW, PP, Defiance, Infinity, etc that the inspiration and imagination of it all would be sorely missed. My wallet would probably be a lot heftier for its passing though.

I would probably play more sports and be less fat.

If wargaming as a whole just up and disappeared? I'd probably play more videogames, or ideally animate more. There's no hobby I enjoy as much or have as much passion for though.

I stopped counting how much money I have spent on wargaming minis when I went over the $10,000 dollar mark (yes I am a wargaming whore). It would be real bad for me if they disappear.

Honestly, it wouldn't affect me that greatly... My other hobbies include scotch collecting/drinking, cigar smoking, and Cycling, not to mention the scale models that I enjoy building (really the plus to wargaming is that I can play with the things I just got done painting, rather than just looking at them).

If I'm not smoking/drinking, riding my bikes, or painting/gaming right now, I'm taking care of the kid (with another on the way)... So really, I have plenty to occupy me that I consider hobbies.

Oh man, how bad would it be?

I'd probably go back to jogging, catch up on all of the hobbiest electronics projects I've wanted to play around with, have the excess pocket money to patent that idea I had a while back...

I´d find something else to occupy my time with. Still, it is my oldest and longest living passion in (recreational)life. Many friends I found this way and many of my social contacts involve the hobby in one way or the other.

I think I'd be okay and my wallet would be thicker and my wife would be a lot happier.

I've played a number of games that have come and gone, but I'm sure I wouldn't loss any sleep over it, but would just find somethign else to do. Or maybe I'd start on 1/25 scale model cars or Star Wars/Trek stuff...idk...

If it went away, Id have to re-invent it.

Its as much a part of me as anything else is.

Currently, I play:

40k
Warmachine
Dreamblade
Heroscape
Pirates of the Spanish Main
Magic: The Gathering

If all of these just vanished... I would probably find other things to keep my hands busy. Probably end up building a giant robot dinosaur in my garage.