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I know it may not seem the most reliable to ask on a forum, but I figured it might be the best bet to help with my research report. So I am looking for input from people of this forum on their Wargaming habits and norms to determine what the culture of Tabletop miniature wargaming. I will give a list of questions to answer, and I wish you to answer to the best of your ability. Also, names about games, companies, people on this website and this website and others will not be mentioned in order to keep the privacy of these peoples and groups a top priority (you may mentioned the names yourself here, but on my report I cannot and would have to say "Consultant A" for a person I interview or "Company C" when talking about a company). If you do not wish to answer and at best do not leave a dry reply as I do not want to have to sift through too much junk data as much as possible.

Alright, here are the questions to answer as part of this exercise:

1) What got you into Miniature Wargaming and approximately when? Was it a friend that introduced to it or something that you heard through other mediums?

2) What company is your main provider for miniature wargaming (like what is your main game and what do you usually buy) and how do you feel generally this company (like quality of the products and rules, business practices, etc)?

3) Are there any other companies that provide for your miniature wargaming needs (as in do you play more than one game from a different company)? If so, how do you feel generally about this company/ these companies? If not, what is the main barrier for trying other providers for other games for you and your area?

4) What do you believe is a major factor for you to have a healthy Miniature Wargaming hobby or major ideals in promoting the Miniature Wargaming in a healthy way?


Again, I thank you for helping me out on this as much as possible and I thank you for your cooperation in this matter! ^_^

1) Got into D&D when a friend's mom bought him the basic game for his sixth birthday. After we played through the 1-3 basic level set, we went to a local game store for the first time ever to get the expert set. This was the first time I ever saw miniatures. They were painted and in display cases (mostly Ral Partha D&D miniatures) and it was like seeing images or statues in a church or temple for the first time. It was presented to me as something I could get into as I grew up. When I was 8 I got some single pice Ral Partha castings of a armoured dog and warrior and painted them (horribly) with my brother's testor's enamel paints (he built model cars).

2) Almost accidentally, most of my miniatures are actually HäT Industrie historical miniatures as you simply get so many in a pack and I like the slightly smaller scale. HäT Industrie is a model manufacturer and doesn't make rules. I like them a lot. They show progress on all the future releases, engage with collectors and generally offer quantity as their value-for-money approach. They're not for everyone, but I like them:


3) That said, I buy miniatures and games froma wide variety of sources. Reaper's new(ish) Bones line has gotten me to expand my fantasy skirmish gaming. I have a small Menoth and Cryx force for Warmachine. I'm apathetic towards Privateer as a company. Their switch to plastics has been to a less than stellar material. i find it far worse than the flexible plastic used in Reaper Bones or HäT Industrie's 1/72 figures. I've taken to using Reaper Bones for my Warmachine/Hordes armies and have a Skorne army that uses Reaper's giants as skorne titans.

4) I think the best approach to the hobby is to go with figure manufacturers who don't make rules and rules publishers who don't manufacture figures. This way both the rules and the figures have to stand on their individual merit, rather than having bad rules propped up by nice figures or bad figures given value in game by rules. And if a company does offer both, approaching them as if they are separate and on their own merit works for me.

.

Sure, why not?

1) What got you into Miniature Wargaming and approximately when? Was it a friend that introduced to it or something that you heard through other mediums?

My cousin introduced me to war gaming when I was around 8 or 9. He played Battletech and I found one of his books and loved the robot illustrations. For a couple of years I'd pour over the same book every time I visited and eventually he gave me the book and my journey began.

2) What company is your main provider for miniature wargaming (like what is your main game and what do you usually buy) and how do you feel generally this company (like quality of the products and rules, business practices, etc)?

At this point it is Games Workshop. The company has problems, the game has problems, but they haven't been dire enough to cause me to quit playing. I think there is a bit of an echo-chamber effect when it comes to bashing GW on the internet, and while I don't think all of the criticisms are unmerited, I think people have some unreasonable expectations regarding how GW should manage their IPs and fan base.

3) Are there any other companies that provide for your miniature wargaming needs (as in do you play more than one game from a different company)? If so, how do you feel generally about this company/ these companies? If not, what is the main barrier for trying other providers for other games for you and your area?

Yes, I do not only play only one game/system. I still buy Battletech products from Iron Wind Metals and Catalyst Game Labs, and play smaller games like Wreck Age by Hyacinth Games, Helldorado by Cypher and Aeronef by Brigade Miniatures as well as supporting small boutique companies like Victoria Miniatures, Curious Constructs, MaxMini, Kromlech, and Micro Arts Studio.

4) What do you believe is a major factor for you to have a healthy Miniature Wargaming hobby or major ideals in promoting the Miniature Wargaming in a healthy way?

This is a regional bias, but a strong gaming store (LGS) is crucial for learning about and trying new games as well as meeting new players/hobbyists (though I imagine a well-run club would be just as effective). I have never played more, or expanded my range of games, since a well managed LGS took root in my area and I never played less than when the closest LGS was a pit of BO and despair. Following that is an active online community for each game provided either by the game's company or a group of dedicated fans. This hobby is largely social, so having an outlet to interact with other players is crucial even if that interaction is only over the internet.
In terms of promoting the hobby in a healthy way, I think time is on our side. As geek culture becomes more popular the stigma associated with war gaming should diminish, and the merits of the hobby will be able to shine. If the focus shifted to the benefits war gaming provided individuals (Improved reading and math skills, creative exercise of artistic ability in terms of building and painting models, socializing, ect.) instead of the "weirdness" of the community I think we will see a growth in new players.

frozenwastes, do you mind if I ask you to expand on question two and three possibly? You may decline to expand on it if you wish

For two, is there any problems you have with this manufacturer or something that you wish you can do better?

For three, you said you are apathetic of the company of Privateer Press? Does this mean you do not like them as a whole or just some things they do? Would you buy more from them if they increased their quality of their plastic products? Is there other things you would like to touch upon them both good and bad?

 Tanakosyke22 wrote:


1) What got you into Miniature Wargaming and approximately when? Was it a friend that introduced to it or something that you heard through other mediums?

I had always been aware of miniature wargaming from a young age, but did not get involved with it until much older. In fact, my first significant exposure came from a class offered under a program at the University of New Orleans designed for younger kids. I forget the name of the program. In any case, it was an evening class on tabletop gaming. One of the things we did was paint miniatures, which I thought was dreadful. Thereafter, my exposure to miniatures was in the form of miniatures for table-top role-playing (primarily Reaper), and HeroClix (which I only did for a short while in high school). A lot of my friends played Warhammer but I never got into it. In college, I started reading Gaunts Ghosts novels which were recommended by a friend and from there grew interested in trying table top wargaming. I gave 40K a whirl via Vassal 40K, liked it, and then bought my first second had guard army in grad school.

2) What company is your main provider for miniature wargaming (like what is your main game and what do you usually buy) and how do you feel generally this company (like quality of the products and rules, business practices, etc)?

Right now my main companies are Red Box Games and Knuckleduster. This is because I support Tre Manor's artwork on principle because his work is progressive in the table top miniatures industry. Knuckleduster because I fell out of Games Workshop products after the Chapterhouse lawsuit was filed and eventually decided to design my own Wild West game system. That project has monopolized my hobby time for more than a year, and I had to build a collection of Wild West models. Knuckleduster is my favorite company that produces Wild West models. It is an artist run, one-man US company, like RBG, and his work has a similar quality that I found lacking in other products on the market. However, I have always been pleased with Perry Brothers products, and Fantasy Flight Games has been producing great products.

3) Are there any other companies that provide for your miniature wargaming needs (as in do you play more than one game from a different company)? If so, how do you feel generally about this company/ these companies? If not, what is the main barrier for trying other providers for other games for you and your area?

Lately I like to keep my money with artists, so I prefer to purchase directly from an artist if I can. Black Scorpion is a solid miniatures company, as well as Hasslefree Miniatures. I also often purchase the odd model or conversion bits from Reaper. I very much enjoy Freebooter's Fate and have a good deal of FBF products. I have a growing collection of Quar models from Zombiesmith, but they have gotten little attention. I get a lot of hobby supplies from Gale Force 9, most notably bases and green stuff. Again, lately I have been spending time on my own game, and this is the main barrier to playing other games. I do play X-Wing on occasion because it is easy to play without a significant investment of time.

4) What do you believe is a major factor for you to have a healthy Miniature Wargaming hobby or major ideals in promoting the Miniature Wargaming in a healthy way?

A combination of manufacturer support and a welcoming atmosphere in the local gaming community. Manufacturer support really helps a new game take off, and you need a diverse group of players to keep a healthy community going. but above all, you need a friendly and engaging hobby community. When I first started table top wargaming, which is now my most significant and important hobby, the local community was welcoming and encouraging. I literally took a bag packed with a second hand army and went to the FLGS on 40K night having never assembled a model or played a game face to face. Within 10 minutes someone had come up to me to say hi, found out what was going on, and said "Let's open that bag, see what you've got, and get a game going." Within weeks I was building and converting my own models. I firmly believe that positive engagement is a big part of why a $100 investment in a second-hand army flourished into the most engaging and stimulating hobby I am involved with today


Again, I thank you for helping me out on this as much as possible and I thank you for your cooperation in this matter! ^_^

1) I walked into a Games Workshop store when I was about 10 years old. I liked the look of the toys and tugged on my mothers sleeve until we went in. I kept that up until I was around 13/14 then stopped due to GWs prices. At 16/17 I looked into it again, saw that prices hadn't risen *as much* and decided to get back into it. Since then I've been on and off but now it's certainly my main hobby.

2) Mantic is my main provider, but since November I've been participating in a Warmachine Journeyman league which has taken up all of my hobby funds and time. I've dropped GW completely now, though I've kept my Ork armies for sentimental reasons.

Mantic I feel gets things right 9/10 times. They produce excellent rules, the figures range from average to great with the exception of some duds and their business practices are great. They strive to do the best they can with the limited resources they've got and have a real passion for games. They engage with their fans and really foster a true community spirit. I love Kings of War for the simplicity of its rules, with a real tactical depth, and love Deadzone for how cinematic every single game is.

Privateer Press I've not looked into how the company itself is run since I'm fairly new to the game. I'm very satisfied with the products though. The rules are extremely well written and balanced and my miniatures have all been top quality. I'm not keen on metal miniatures myself and I'm glad to see them converting their range gradually to plastic. I love having a complex game that is well written without loopholes or huge imbalances.

3) Privateer Press as discussed above. With the Journeyman league wrapped up my attention is back onto Kings of War and Deadzone from Mantic, but I'll still be getting regular games of Warmachine in. I would like to start a second Warmachine army since I've enjoyed the game so much so far, but have a large backlog of Mantic projects to finish first.

I also play X-Wing by FFG, but again that's taken a back burner recently. Like Kings of War I love the simplicity of the rules and that it's still far more tactical than any GW game. Once my hobby schedule settles down I expect this to be my fourth most played/favourite game after Kings of War, Warmachine, Deadzone then X-Wing.

4) I think that wargaming has a very poor image, and deservedly so. Hygiene and social skills are often a serious problem within gaming groups, far more often than the few "bad eggs" that it's often made out to be. Homophobia and misogyny are rampant within some wargaming communities. One of the reasons I enjoyed the journeyman league is because there was a *gasp* girl who played, and so the homophobia and misogyny weren't present. That this poster is often required in gaming stores says it all.

Unfortunately, people are often also of the impression that it's not on to speak up to people who give us a bad image. That somehow telling someone to stop joking about rape is bullying and therefore not acceptable. We have to accept everyone as they are, no matter how bad they smell or their lack of social graces.

One of my worries for when GW collapses is what will happen to wargamings high street presence in the UK. At the moment GW utterly dominates the UK high street, to the point where most people call wargaming "Warhammers". To the majority of the UK, GW is wargaming. For all their faults, GWs stores are almost perfect. They are well run (mostly), well lit, clean and the staff are extremely helpful. They never get into edition wars, they're always ready to help you and asides from a little pushiness on the upsell, the GW shopping experience is extremely positive.

By contrast, most of the independent stores I've been in (not my LGS thank god) have been dingy, unkept and the staff suffering from much of the maladies that plague the wargaming community. Socially awkward, edition ranting, smelly and obnoxious are some of the words I've used to describe some indie store staff. If GW collapses and the high street is given over to indie stores in their current form then the wargaming scene in the UK will shrivel up. No-one's going to walk into an indie store to experience wargaming for the first time and come away with a positive experience.

 Tanakosyke22 wrote:
frozenwastes, do you mind if I ask you to expand on question two and three possibly? You may decline to expand on it if you wish

For two, is there any problems you have with this manufacturer or something that you wish you can do better?

HaT tends to jump around too much. For example, they came out with a range of Napoleonic French in 2005 for the Peninsular War but the British forces weren't released in 2009. So for four years wargamers, modelers and diorama makers were left to hunt down figures from elsewhere. They've done better on some releases, but there have still be ranges left pretty incomplete.

They also have the occasional stylistic mismatch where the sculptor of a kit doesn't do a very good job matching the company's overall style. Fortunately there are places like http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com where I can see close ups of the kits before purchasing.

For three, you said you are apathetic of the company of Privateer Press? Does this mean you do not like them as a whole or just some things they do? Would you buy more from them if they increased their quality of their plastic products? Is there other things you would like to touch upon them both good and bad?

I play Warmachine/Hordes regularly. It's just been a long, long time since they've come out with a release that I really wanted. I've prepped and painted some of their newer figures on commission and found some to be fine but others to be terrible in terms of mould lines, warped pieces and the like. It seems to be getting worse as encounter problematic plastics more and more when I work on new releases for people.

It's also like the don't think about the utility of a figure in the game when they make it so you end up with weapons and arms sticking all over the place, so you're left with removing the figure from the table and replacing it with a figure-less base to mark its position when it gets sufficiently close to another model. Here's a good example:

This model was seriously designed for a game where you need to get within 2", 1/2" or base to base contact (depending on the application) of the model. What were they thinking?

I also don't see the utility in their expansion books. I find their rulebook fiction to be mediocre and the rules printed in the book don't really have any utility in play. Their mobile app is a much better way to get their rules information in a useful form. They've started embracing the digital distribution of their fiction and rulebooks as well.

As I said, I do play their games regularly, I just don't buy very many of their products. There seems to be no shortage of alternative miniatures to use that actually stay over their base and I can just use a mobile app for the rules.

 Tanakosyke22 wrote:

1) What got you into Miniature Wargaming and approximately when? Was it a friend that introduced to it or something that you heard through other mediums?

I got in gradually. My friends introduced me to D&D. In the later 80s I picked up Battletech from the local store. I picked up GW stuff in the early 90s.

 Tanakosyke22 wrote:

2) What company is your main provider for miniature wargaming (like what is your main game and what do you usually buy) and how do you feel generally this company (like quality of the products and rules, business practices, etc)?

At the moment my main company is Privateer Press. However, my main company switches frequently. In the past six months my main company was Mantic. Before that it was Wyrd. A long time ago it was GW. I no longer buy their products.

In terms of how I feel about Privateer Press, I feel they are an above average game company. Their rules are better than average. Their metal models are also above average. I do not like the quality of their plastic models, the detail is soft, and they are difficult to work with. One of my gripes with their game system is that it is fairly necessary to use synergies between units. This limits model selection, as you are compelled to use units that work well together, rather than ones that appeal to you.

 Tanakosyke22 wrote:

3) Are there any other companies that provide for your miniature wargaming needs (as in do you play more than one game from a different company)? If so, how do you feel generally about this company/ these companies? If not, what is the main barrier for trying other providers for other games for you and your area?

Yes, other companies provide for my miniature needs. There are too many to list. I generally feel good about these companies. There is no barrier for me to try other providers.

 Tanakosyke22 wrote:

4) What do you believe is a major factor for you to have a healthy Miniature Wargaming hobby or major ideals in promoting the Miniature Wargaming in a healthy way?

I think that it is important to have a friendly community. In my experience, wargaming attracts a diverse group of people. You have power gamers, painters, clowns, psych patients, unclean ones, jocks, nerds, conservatives, liberals, straight, gay, etc. Wargaming does not always bind them together because they come to the hobby for different reasons. Some like to play to win, others like to paint, etc. Gamers are not always welcoming to new people who are not part of their clique.

1) What got you into Miniature Wargaming and approximately when? Probably around 1992. Playing Heroquest, then space crusade with a couple of friends. From there, I went onto whfb.

2) What company is your main provider for miniature wargaming? I don't have a main provider in terms of game system - for me it's all about variation. However, I buy most of my supplies from wayland games, due to the massive available choices. They can take a while to deliver, but I'm patient, and the discounts are ok.

3) Are there any other companies that provide for your miniature wargaming needs?
I play multiple game systems, so some of the companies I buy from:
Fantasy flight games -xwing and previously dust tactics. Great customer service, generally great products.
Games workshop - fantasy battle and 40k. Nice models, schizophrenic attitude to their player base. Good customer service.
Privateer press - warmachine/hordes. Mediocre models, shocking quality control, but excellent rules
Corvus belli - jawdropping models, great rules, still small enough to have that personal, independent feel
Toying with the idea of starting up malifaux in the nearish future,

4) What do you believe is a major factor for you to have a healthy Miniature Wargaming hobby or major ideals in promoting the Miniature Wargaming in a healthy way?

I believe variety is the spice of life. I like to bounce from one system to another, and get enjoyment from all the choices out there. From the prepainted, 'lightweight' rules of x wing (though no lack of depth for that), to the intricate and terrain heavy complexity of infinity. It's all good.

 Tanakosyke22 wrote:


1) What got you into Miniature Wargaming and approximately when? Was it a friend that introduced to it or something that you heard through other mediums?

2) What company is your main provider for miniature wargaming (like what is your main game and what do you usually buy) and how do you feel generally this company (like quality of the products and rules, business practices, etc)?

3) Are there any other companies that provide for your miniature wargaming needs (as in do you play more than one game from a different company)? If so, how do you feel generally about this company/ these companies? If not, what is the main barrier for trying other providers for other games for you and your area?

4) What do you believe is a major factor for you to have a healthy Miniature Wargaming hobby or major ideals in promoting the Miniature Wargaming in a healthy way?

1. I saw some miniatures in a model shop when I was 8 and I was intrigued, that was 26 years ago.

2/3. I have no main provider, In terms of % of models bought its probably for Flames of War but I buy from lots of different manufacturers. Over the last year I have bought stuff from Plastic Soldier company, battlefront and Peter pig (all for Flames of War), Artizan and Warlord (for Bolt Action) and Ebay (for 40K). I don't have an attachment to a particular game and will generally play just about anything at least once. What I like from a games company in terms of models is quality and a low price (Perry Miniatures, Plastic Soldier Company for example). From a rules perspective I want rules that are simply but which provide a complex game, which are well maintained and which are fairly popular so that it is relatively easy to find opponents. What I dislike are poor quality models and those which are far too expensive (Games workshop and Privateer Press). Ruleswise I dislike badly written and bloated rules which are needlessly complex but which don't provide a complex game (basically anyting that GW has produced in the last decade).

4. A major factor for me is the ability to find opponents and rules/models that allow me to collect armies that I find interesting.

 Tanakosyke22 wrote:


1) What got you into Miniature Wargaming and approximately when? Was it a friend that introduced to it or something that you heard through other mediums?

Some kids in school were talking about Space Marine later I saw the game in a hobby shop and I stepped inside. Must have been late 80's early 90's.

2) What company is your main provider for miniature wargaming (like what is your main game and what do you usually buy) and how do you feel generally this company (like quality of the products and rules, business practices, etc)?

Since I have started diving into ww2 and have just gotten the battle group ruleset PSC, peter Pig and skytrex have been my go toos. Since Battlegroup is 15mm or 20mm I have also spent a bit on cheap Airfix and revell ww2 models to bulk out my collections.

I love the Battlegroup ruleset - even though I have only played a few small games - The Battle Rating system for morale is excellent and the nature of the ruleset leads to very few frustrations during play.

3) Are there any other companies that provide for your miniature wargaming needs (as in do you play more than one game from a different company)? If so, how do you feel generally about this company/ these companies? If not, what is the main barrier for trying other providers for other games for you and your area?
I play games and collect minis from many different companies.
I like variety in my gaming - from boardgames to tabletop.
Never really got into CCGs or RPG's


4) What do you believe is a major factor for you to have a healthy Miniature Wargaming hobby or major ideals in promoting the Miniature Wargaming in a healthy way?
A positive vibrant community is essential. Be it your mates. a group or club, or an event such as salute (UK). getting together, playing and having fun are key.

Again, I thank you for helping me out on this as much as possible and I thank you for your cooperation in this matter! ^_^

1) What got you into Miniature Wargaming and approximately when? Was it a friend that introduced to it or something that you heard through other mediums?

I first got into miniatures in the mid 1980s as something to collect and paint, and later to use for roleplaying games (D&D, Rolemaster, Call of Cthulhu), before adding in wargaming (warhammer, mutant chronicles, AD&D battle system) when I had more minis. I think I first started up on my own but soon found others at school who were also interested, this was made easier as we had 2 or 3 decent independent game stores plus a Games Workshop (which at the time also sold other companies stuff)

2) What company is your main provider for miniature wargaming (like what is your main game and what do you usually buy) and how do you feel generally this company (like quality of the products and rules, business practices, etc)?

Probably my main provider (in terms of cash spent) in the last couple of years is Mierce Miniatures with their Darklands game, but this first started with picking up minis to paint (they began as a mini line and are only just introducing the game to go with them). The company is very focused on quality (and so is expensive but worth it), the owner is very communicative and enthusiatic the rule system seems decent so far. In terms of business practices they split from the online retailer maelstrom games (both owned by the same person) which folded owing money/goods to gamers and suppliers and while the split was legal this has put off some potential players/buyers, but it's certainly not something he wanted to happen and everybody deserves a second chance).

3) Are there any other companies that provide for your miniature wargaming needs (as in do you play more than one game from a different company)? If so, how do you feel generally about this company/ these companies? If not, what is the main barrier for trying other providers for other games for you and your area?

I rarely actually game any more (lack of regular opponents as people have grow out of gaming or moved away), however I buy minis from a wide variety of companys, my primary interest is do I think the mini is worth the money to me. I'll buy from big companies like GW who I think have stupid business practices as well as small one man operations like Statuesque Miniatures that I really respect, but I'll tend to be prepared to pay higher cost to companies I like. I'm also happy to buy second hand if it's cheaper. There are no real barriers (other than cost) to trying minis from any manufacturer as they are all available online. In terms of the games there are a couple of local clubs I'm not interested in a GW with no table space, a local gaming store that's basically only into heroclixx or persuading friends to give something a go which usually involves me buying 2 forces for the game

4) What do you believe is a major factor for you to have a healthy Miniature Wargaming hobby or major ideals in promoting the Miniature Wargaming in a healthy way?

Wargaming as a hobby tends to be something people (boys) get into in early adolescence, many play for a few years and then grow out of some stick with it especially if going to college/university where more like minded folk are concentrated. However more and more drop out as drinking, girls, marriage, jobs and children get in the way. You also find a fair few come back to gaming (or painting/collecting minis) in their mid 30s when they have more cash to spend. So for a healthy hobby you have to attract new players (with all the competition of video games) to replace the old, you have to attract more women (beginning to happen in the mini collecting/painting aspect but still lacking in gaming), and you have to keep the older players interested and engaged.

Promoting the hobby is not being ashamed to talk about it, chatting to folk on forums and in person, teaching new players (instead of crushing their dreams), having fun is they key. If part of the experience is no longer fun stop (rather than hanging around moaning about how horrible it it), and find something else in the hobby that's more for you

1) What got you into Miniature Wargaming and approximately when? Was it a friend that introduced to it or something that you heard through other mediums?
.
Friends. They played WW2 in 20mm scale back in early 1986. I got into that. Then that led into 20mm moderns, and from then, I went to my first games con. Then I found out about gaming magazines (there were more than just WD and Dragon magazines at that time) and that led on to Battletech. Then down the rabbit hole I went.

(2) What company is your main provider for miniature wargaming (like what is your main game and what do you usually buy) and how do you feel generally this company (like quality of the products and rules, business practices, etc)?
I don't play just one game. I play several equally - and so my money is split between both. Corvis Belli and Spartan Games at the moment. I neither like nor dislike the companies. I like some of their products and there's no Antipodean tax on them (unlike a certain other miniatures company - or certain computer/software companies).

3) Are there any other companies that provide for your miniature wargaming needs (as in do you play more than one game from a different company)? If so, how do you feel generally about this company/ these companies? If not, what is the main barrier for trying other providers for other games for you and your area?
See above. I've never been a one game or game company gamer. I have no feels about the companies beyond whether they sell me a product I like and want to use. The same goes for GW. I don't hate the company, I just dislike their products and prices.


4) What do you believe is a major factor for you to have a healthy Miniature Wargaming hobby or major ideals in promoting the Miniature Wargaming in a healthy way?
For miniatures games, it's the models. If I don't like the models, I'm not going to buy them. If I don't like them enough to want to buy them, I won't paint them and if I don't paint them, they won't get fielded (because I won't field unpainted models.).

Alright, I am rather content with the responses to this very much and I apperiate it very much! Although, if you do not mind, those who have answered the previous questions already if you do not mind answering a couple more?

5) What is your approximate age, and what age group do you believe is more common in tabletop gaming?

6) How much income do you put into to spend on Miniature wargaming compared to other expenses percentage wise?

 Tanakosyke22 wrote:
Alright, I am rather content with the responses to this very much and I apperiate it very much! Although, if you do not mind, those who have answered the previous questions already if you do not mind answering a couple more?

5) What is your approximate age, and what age group do you believe is more common in tabletop gaming?

30 y/o. Wargaming spans ages between 10 and 60, but the most common age range is, I believe, (using the new US census age groups) 18-24 with 25-34 close behind.

6) Where would you consider yourself income wise in relation to how much you put into the hobby as well?

I'm not sure what you are asking here. Can you try to clarify? Are you asking about my personal income, household income, what amount I put into the hobby on a yearly basis, or what relative proportion of my income is dedicated to the hobby? I think you need to unpack that question a little bit, and you might get more reliable responses via PM as respondents will be more biased to inflate income publicly

weeble1000 wrote:

 Tanakosyke22 wrote:
Alright, I am rather content with the responses to this very much and I apperiate it very much! Although, if you do not mind, those who have answered the previous questions already if you do not mind answering a couple more?

5) What is your approximate age, and what age group do you believe is more common in tabletop gaming?

30 y/o. Wargaming spans ages between 10 and 60, but the most common age range is, I believe, (using the new US census age groups) 18-24 with 25-34 close behind.

6) Where would you consider yourself income wise in relation to how much you put into the hobby as well?

I'm not sure what you are asking here. Can you try to clarify? Are you asking about my personal income, household income, what amount I put into the hobby on a yearly basis, or what relative proportion of my income is dedicated to the hobby? I think you need to unpack that question a little bit, and you might get more reliable responses via PM as respondents will be more biased to inflate income publicly

I am trying to ask how much income do you have to spend on Miniature wargaming compared to other expenses percentage wise. I should probably fix that a little bit so thank you for point that out.

I'm 34. The folk I game with are all 25+, and I try not to think about how much I spend.

If I'm honest, it's probably in the region of 4-5% of my total earnings.

1: It was when I was 12 or 13 when I was interested in DnD. I went to borders and instead found a Warhammer Fantasy Rule Book for 6th edition. Since then I had my break but got re-involved when I started playing Dawn of War with Warhammer Fantasy my main game.

2: Games Workshop is for the most part my main provider of fantasy miniatures. I love the quality of the miniatures, except for the hit and miss of finecast. The prices are a bit much but at the same time understandable

3: Wargames Factory is my main secondary since I am an independent game designer and need historical miniatures and lots of them, they also have a range of sci-fi troopers I use for 40k. Perry Miniatures/Warlord come in second since there is wide range of historical.Mantic is my fourth choice because of undead and finally wargames foundry is my 4th choice.

4: Getting younger people involved in the hobby and providing a safe welcoming area to play. Also to introduce games where the learning curve is not so steep.

5: 23, most of my opponents are at my age or 25 to 50 years old. I think that the later are most common wargamers age group.

6: I cannot say

 Tanakosyke22 wrote:
Alright, I am rather content with the responses to this very much and I apperiate it very much! Although, if you do not mind, those who have answered the previous questions already if you do not mind answering a couple more?

5) What is your approximate age, and what age group do you believe is more common in tabletop gaming?

6) How much income do you put into to spend on Miniature wargaming compared to other expenses percentage wise?

5) 26. I think most fantasy and sci-fi wargamers fall into the 20-30 category. Historical is mostly over 40's.

6) I have 10% of my monthly income budgeted for wargaming. That includes travel costs to any tournaments or events, though my beer money once I'm there comes out of my regular going out/drinking budget.

I'm probably 4-5% of my personal income...maybe. I'd have to sit down and do the math. It changed a lot after I had kids, lol. Little buggers are expensive!

 Tanakosyke22 wrote:
1) What got you into Miniature Wargaming and approximately when? Was it a friend that introduced to it or something that you heard through other mediums?

I picked up a 40K 2nd edition starter set when I was (a lot) younger (I think from Argos?) because I thought they would be fun to use with my micromachines - not realising they were on a completely different scale

I think this was in the mid 90's.

My brother and I then split the starter set and played intermittently for a while. I got back into 40K when 4th came out and have played intermittently since.

I also played RPG's at university after wanting to get into them for a while after finding someone else on my course who played them.

2) What company is your main provider for miniature wargaming (like what is your main game and what do you usually buy) and how do you feel generally this company (like quality of the products and rules, business practices, etc)?

GW I suppose in terms of wargaming, though I have not bought anything from them other than a couple of codexes and a mini rulebook from ebay in several years (since around the time of the RoW embargo and other business practices that made me decide not to support them with my money any more). You may therefore be able to tell from this that I don't really like the company any more and even the game is pretty meh now - I only still play it as there is a local gaming group that plays it and I already have all the models (having sold off more than 70% of my GW stuff to invest in other wargaming/model manufacturers). I am also not a fan at all of their newer models - most of them look like happy meal models and have terrible detail and design compared to even small garage companies.

3) Are there any other companies that provide for your miniature wargaming needs (as in do you play more than one game from a different company)? If so, how do you feel generally about this company/ these companies? If not, what is the main barrier for trying other providers for other games for you and your area?

I get a lot of my RPG (ie almost all of them) models from Reaper - I put in for both of their kickstarters and have been very impressed with their quality, especially for the cost. I have the Pathfinder rules for RPG'ing and games like Zombicide for board gaming. I also have a faction for Infinity and hope to get my local group playing a few games, though despite owning them for a couple of years now I have never actally played

I have no issue with any of these companies. The main barrier for any game is having a group who are willing to invest in it and play it.

4) What do you believe is a major factor for you to have a healthy Miniature Wargaming hobby or major ideals in promoting the Miniature Wargaming in a healthy way?

Enjoying the game/models/etc is a big part, as is having a group who are also interested to interact with - especially "in real life", though an online community can also help sustain you and raise enjoyment levels. Promotion (or advising the avoidance of a system/company/etc) largely rests on how much you enjoy the game and the community who play it, although how the company behaves and interacts with the community at large can also significantly impact on how I will advise people - I now never suggest people get into any GW game but suggest alternatives instead.

5) What is your approximate age, and what age group do you believe is more common in tabletop gaming?

I am in the mid-late 20's. The gaming group where I play is skewed towards older gamers, where the average age is probably 30's, though the median is probably late 20's.

My RPG group are all in their late 20's to mid 30's.

6) How much income do you put into to spend on Miniature wargaming compared to other expenses percentage wise?

I could not quantify it really. Wargaming/RPG's are my main "hobby" outlay, along with computer games - I generally don't keep track of how much I have spent on it to be honest. I think in the last couple of years I have probably spent... £5-600. Not a huge percentage of my current wage, certainly.

1) What got you into Miniature Wargaming and approximately when? Was it a friend that introduced to it or something that you heard through other mediums?

I used to play D&D as a kid in the '80s, and one year I went to GenCon and saw the huge tables with all these soldiers on them, and thought, "I want to do that." I couldn't at the time, no money, etc. Then life happened. Now, in my 40's, I was reading the Honor Harrington books, and was looking for a space combat computer game, and ran across some space combat tabletop games. That got me re-started in tabletop miniatures gaming, and I can afford it now! I got restarted in 2012.

2) What company is your main provider for miniature wargaming (like what is your main game and what do you usually buy) and how do you feel generally this company (like quality of the products and rules, business practices, etc)?

Mantic is the main company. I play Deadzone and Dreadball. I think their rules are excellent, and their minis are improving. Currently their minis are OK. The new hard plastic minis are great, and I can't wait for them to switch everything over to hard plastic. Business wise, they are growing fast, and I think they need to take a pause and catch up with themselves.

3) Are there any other companies that provide for your miniature wargaming needs (as in do you play more than one game from a different company)? If so, how do you feel generally about this company/ these companies? If not, what is the main barrier for trying other providers for other games for you and your area?

The other game I play a lot is SAGA, from Tomahawk studios. These are excellent rules.

The main barrier to trying new rules / games is finding people to play the games with. I have the rules, and painted minis to play Chain Of Command (WWII Platoon level) from Too Fat Lardies, and Gruntz (15mm Sci-Fi) but I have trouble finding opponents for these less popular games.

4) What do you believe is a major factor for you to have a healthy Miniature Wargaming hobby or major ideals in promoting the Miniature Wargaming in a healthy way?

There are lots of games I'd like to play, but I have forced myself to concentrate on the games I can actually get to the table - SAGA, Dreadball, and Deadzone. My local area has local groups that play these games, so I can get a game in on a regular basis.

To have a thriving local community, you need 1) people to play, and 2) a place to play. I live in a major US city, so both those things exist, even for smaller games like SAGA, Dreadball and Deadzone. But not for the really tiny games like Chain Of Command or Gruntz.


5) What is your approximate age, and what age group do you believe is more common in tabletop gaming?

I am 44. I see a lot of men, aged 25 - 60 playing wargames. Maybe the most are 30-45.

6) How much income do you put into to spend on Miniature wargaming compared to other expenses percentage wise?

I spend around $150 a month on the hobby - minis, paint, rules, etc. Of my total entertainment budget, if you include going to bars, going out to dinner, movies, books, etc, wargaming is about 30% of my entertainment budget. If you include my home mortgage, car payments, insurance, mobile phone, food and other living expenses, wargaming fades to almost nothing.

$150 a month sounds like a lot, but that's a dinner for 2 at a nice restaurant, something my wife and I do about once a month. Going to a movie costs about $25 per person, when you count popcorn, and a soda. And a night at the bar for a drinker like me can get expensive fast. When you look at it like that, wargaming is downright cheap!

Alright, I just got my paper back today. I got a 87% for the paper, and the professor said she enjoyed reading up on the Tabletop Miniature Wargaming sub-culture. The only thing she said that went against me is some of the grammar in the paper, and I focused on the businesses as a backdrop to explain the sub-culture a bit too much.

Glad it worked out for you.

 Tanakosyke22 wrote:
Alright, I just got my paper back today. I got a 87% for the paper, and the professor said she enjoyed reading up on the Tabletop Miniature Wargaming sub-culture. The only thing she said that went against me is some of the grammar in the paper, and I focused on the businesses as a backdrop to explain the sub-culture a bit too much.

Any chance you could put your findings up? Every so often a thread like this pops up on Dakka (or elsewhere) and a good few people respond but then the findings and results are never made available. It may make an interesting read (although this is the internet and people will disagree with you and somebody will claim you're being biased/raciest/sexist/bigoted/stupid/ponies/going against god etc. so if you'd rather not I'll understand)

 Koppo wrote:

 Tanakosyke22 wrote:
Alright, I just got my paper back today. I got a 87% for the paper, and the professor said she enjoyed reading up on the Tabletop Miniature Wargaming sub-culture. The only thing she said that went against me is some of the grammar in the paper, and I focused on the businesses as a backdrop to explain the sub-culture a bit too much.

Any chance you could put your findings up? Every so often a thread like this pops up on Dakka (or elsewhere) and a good few people respond but then the findings and results are never made available. It may make an interesting read (although this is the internet and people will disagree with you and somebody will claim you're being biased/raciest/sexist/bigoted/stupid/ponies/going against god etc. so if you'd rather not I'll understand)

I can try, but it will have to be after I am done with this semester and then I can transfer it to a PDF format.

Cool, glad the responses were useful