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I would be depressed about it. Probably not start an army again. I can't rebuy what I've already paid for once. Now if I got reembursed that's different.

I'd be as annoyed as if you came along and deleted all my Final Fantasy save games + the increased cost of 40K models.

Probably totals up to rage levels of annoyance. I feel free to start as many armies as I like at all times because I know I can't focus on one thing for that long

I love my models, terrain, etc, but in the end...

It's just stuff.

I'd replace some, but not most, and would probably just move on to different miniature projects.

I even feel this way about my electric bases and amps which are more valuable and have more sentimental value.

As regard the OP's statement about feeling freed by having it all gone. I can't say for certain, but I could easily see my self feeling more free and less constrained by the many unfinished projects I currently have.

It's just stuff.

The financial loss if all of my models disappeared, without compensation, would be a bitter pill to swallow. Although that has to do with the size and rarity of my main army, Praetorian IG. I could easily get a few grand for that army, making it a reasonably valuable asset.

That said, if my models disappeared, but I was compensated at something close to market value? I would probably build another 40k army, but I wouldn't rebuild the sprawling collection of armies I once had.

As others have mentioned, if I was compensated, I'd probably just re-buy my Necrons and perhaps my Eldar and/or Tau and get on with it again. Less than 1% of my models are painted, and none of the ones that is painted is done to anything over tabletop standard. I don't really have any unqiue or difficult conversions, either.

Seeing what my CSM have become over the last two codices, and with 8th edition Fantasy not my cup of tea, I currently have four armies I've not touched for over a year; each one a decent size but not really fun for me to use any more. Having a reasonable cash equivilant of those armies means I can expand my Necrons and Eldar and/or Tau a bit further (the latter two depending on their new codices).

It'd be frustrating at first, but I don't have much of a connection with anything bar a select few models, and that isn't as strong as, say, someone's connection with a full painted army.

My interest in the hobby has always been cyclical- buy and paint up a bunch of stuff, reach a point of disinterest, sell them off and do something else until I decide to come back to it. That being said, to actually lose all my stuff before I'd reached that point of disinterest where I choose to reboot my collection... I'd probably be at rage levels of annoyance, yeah. I had a friend when I first started who lost his entire collection to an accident of a similar nature described in the OP, and I believe he's still pretty peeved over it to this day.

Live and learn... and then buy a giant metal vault that is fire, bullet, water, nuclear fallout, killer rabbit proofed in which to keep your minis I guess

Were I to be reimbursed for my loss? Probably rebuy all of it, send it out to have someone else paint it. I'd be sad to lose my conversions etc, but I'm in it for the game.

Without compensation? I'd probably walk away. Probably be better for my health.

About 6 years ago all of my original chaos marine army (lots of metal models etc) were lost or destroyed when some people got into the storage at my university and essentially started throwing boxes around looking for stuff to steal. (Thousands of dollars in dvds and electronics were looted, but thats besides the point)
All of my 40k stuff was beyond repair, and I did not have the funds to replace or repair it. So 40k went out of my life for about 3 years, and then I graduated, and got right back in to it....albeit taking more of a one unit purchased and painted a month approach instead of trying to build an army immediately.
It sucked, but I didnt really feel sad or depressed about it, as I had plenty of other stuff to keep me buys.

I don't think I'd restart if I lost all my models. I might buy a kit here or there but my heart wouldn't be in it.

Which is a shame, since a goodly portion of my stuff is from when I first started playing, and those paintjobs are just awful. I'm way better now.

 mattyrm wrote:
Id be gutted, its not the money though, its the effort.

I wouldn't give a gak if £500 worth of unpainted models went up, but I would be pretty gutted if my well painted army, especially my magnetized LSS (see gallery) that I spent ages on went up in flames.

I suppose I wouldn't even be bothered if I gave them to a kid, or sold them to a gamer, because I like the idea of people playing with something I put alot of effort into, but their total destruction would be sad.

This for sure. I've put a lot of work and extra cash into finding the right models for what I want, or converting models the way I wanted them. Or just acquiring a certain all female fringe army GW despises and that costs a small fortune to collect simply because I'm a fan of the fluff. If I lost everything... models wise especially I'd probably just find something new... I mean I can't begin to imagine doing all that again. Starting a new army? Sure it's a lot of fun! A new system? Just did with Infinity, I love the models and the game, but from scratch? ....no thanks.

It's not really the money that's involved, it's the heart and effort.

It would suck royally. I would be inconsolable for a long time.
Maye even enough to not play 40k again.

It took me 25 years to get my Orks the way i want them, and i'm still painting the fethers.

Even if they magically vanished and a wad of cash equal to the amount i spent on them was sitting there instead i'd be gutted.

And no, i wouldn't pick up a new army. My Orks have been part of my life for too long. I'd likely quit 40k, maybe spend the money on something loud, violent and oily (like my combat robots or a motorbike) to console myself..

If it happened to me it would be my insentive to finally kick the habit and get out of this money leaching hobby

depends how much effort i put into painting them. if i had just mastered a wet blend on a cloak that i'd slaved over for 6+ hours i'd probably scream or sit in a dark room and get a nosebleed from stress lol

I lost about 100 minis on Xmas eve due to a break in. I don't find myself agreeing with the OP. I'd rather not have had gone through the holiday at all truth be told.

If money were not an option I might relish the chance to build up a whole new force. I think I'd like to try a new color scheme and different army. However, my collection is the second most expensive acquisition I have after my car. If I were to lose my army i feel I would be both emotionally and financially devastating. That said, I'm sure I'd get over it... Though I don know that I'd buy another army for quite some time.

I would be pissed it have 1000's of pounds worth my LE collection is insured for £6000 alone. Then I have a 10000point Spacemarine army, a 5000 tyrannid, a 5000 ork and a 6000 tau plus some imperial gaurds. Been collecting since I was 12 battle for macragge was my first purchase

I would hate to have to start again. However a new colour scheme is always tempting and I do like building the models. Id happily start a new army, wanted to make a Adeptus Arbit army my a count as sisters of battle or imperial guard and if love to make a scibor romans Space marine army

Here is my LE collection

http://limited-edition-warhammer.blogspot.co.uk/