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 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
I've just finished reading Pen and Sword's 'One Hour Wargames.'
A good book which I'd recommend to anybody.
Now, the premise of this book is that wargaming can be done cheaply, quickly, and be available to all, regardless of how much space you have in your home, and that the model pushed by magazines and wargames companies can be off putting.
And it got me thinking. When you look at wargames magazines and rulebooks and see the 12 by 6 tables, the highly detailed terrain, the sweeping dioramas, expertly painted models, and the average game size being 10,000 points a side, it can be intimidating. Years ago, when I first started, it nearly was off putting. I suspect the average wargamer, in a small flat or house, who may not have access to a store or club, probably felt this as well. Especially when the first miniatures they paint fall way short of 'eavy metal levels.
So, are the magazines and companies pushing a justified promotional attempt i.e trying to present their stuff in the best light, or has this unrealistic culture of increased expectations spiralled out of control?
Having brought the latest Wargames Illustrated, i'm 50/50 on this. Some of the scenarios was real pie in the sky stuff for your average gamer.
Warlord games' Bolt Action supplement, Sea Lion, is a wonderful book, but some of the suggested force sizes for the scenarios are well...
What does dakka think?

I would say that cheaply done and looking good IS possible.
I hate to say that it is that double sided coin of time vs money.
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
Easy for me to say, I have been building models for (yikes!) 37 years and there seems to be tons more for me to learn and no sign of it ever ending.
Unfortunately some research is the only means to get good results if making custom bits and pieces rather than buy from "out of the box" kits which equal much money.

For a table:
Do-it yourself 4'x4" table tops out of "cheap" build material can cost ~$50 each never mind the table you may set them on.
I think Mini-wargaming had a fast and dirty guide.
It can only go up from there.
Stabilizing them with gluing on blue or pink insulation helps and you can cut out or add terrain to make it look good (remember to coat with white glue or something prior to spray painting or the solvents will eat it).
Cut with foam steak-knife, electric turkey carver, hot wire... it is all out there.
This "starter table" is ideal for the "limited space" play on the kitchen table, I would recommend adding the stick-on felt pads to protect the table.

For miniatures:
My friend bought I swear every old, badly assembled, badly painted models of space marines out there on eBay and kajiji and took them apart into their component parts.
Ways to remove paint (Simply green, Zep, Superclean...) and pop the plastic bits apart, again things readily searched and well documented.
He assembled an entire mechanized company of Marines.
He waited until getting a 50% off coupon at Michaels (hobby/art store) for coloured Liquitex paint in rattle-cans for that quick chapter main colour.
He has proceeded to do the same thing with Orks.
People sell their old kits all the time.
Good deals are to be had if you search by mis-spelling the unit's name: nothing like someone not knowing the models (hence spelling incorrectly) to save money.

For terrain:
Hedges can be made out of scouring pads, card and flock.
Rubble can be chewed up in a meat grinder or preferably a garbage food processor.
Custom buildings can be made out of bits of Polystyrene and foam-core.
I believe Terra-Genisis is a fine go-to. (http://www.terragenesis.com/)

I would say the main roadblock is getting the skill up for assembly and paint.
BUT there is SO much material out now that every single thing you may want to try, someone made a video for.
Heck, the various washes or dips out there have drastically improved "newbie" efforts to show off detail with little effort.

Airbrush is even somewhat "affordable" again, depending on your circumstance (this is toward where time is more limited, this is the tool to beat).

I would say that finding some "old" dude at the hobby shop that did models "forever" is more than happy to teach you everything he knows because he likes what he does and wants people not to "suffer" but to enjoy just like them.
I was lucky enough to find a "mentor" a couple years back and learned a lot.
PLUS our fine support group of nice folks here are happy to have any topic opened up with a question and give more advice than you asked for!

For a hobby that some effort is expected where it is more than just playing a "boardgame" it is not a massive investment.

I just painted up some heroes for the original Zombicide for my sister-in-law and cannot wait to give them to her.
She was impressed with what she saw of my models and I feel a bit like a drug pusher by giving "free samples" for something I can charge a commission on but there is a hope to get her further interested.
It is my down-time hobby, I enjoy it too much charge money for and so that pretty much defines where I am at this time.

Also, I am "just learning" and expect things will remain that way well into retirement.

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
@ Talizvar
A very good post.
But I'm afraid you're preaching to the converted.
I go down to the local beach for sand (why pay for GW's sand when you can get it for free ) and I'm probably an expert at taking rocks from the garden and converting them into terrain pices.
As for trees, some PVA glue, some kitchen paper, and some wire, and you're laughing.
It took me years to get to this stage, and it was probably the same for you. But from the perspective of a kid getting into the hobby, who doesn't have our knowledge or skills, that person might see the giant display boards in WD and could possibly be overwhelmed by what they see.
That's the point I'm getting at.

Say for the moment I focus on GW's White Dwarf.
I would agree that it does portray a somewhat unachievable standard.
I know for a fact they do photo touch-up in the magazine so whatever their professional painters could not achieve, their professional photographers can correct.
They want the images to be inspiring because "everyone" would be very excited to play with "toys" of that caliber, it would be so epic looking.
The magazine is also biased because it is geared toward advertising GW's goods, so if some trees are for sale, they will not be inclined to show how to make your PVA glue, kitchen paper and wire ones.
I have looked at the articles lately and they have been good at showing what amounts to "block painting" of just how to neatly get a coating on each panel of the model without getting into shading just yet.

Now, I would say in their defense that I notice the models may have more detail but they portray more mono-chromatic models or with very few multi-colour models (more an iconic looking model than realistic).
You want to paint a marine? Prime it the main chapter colour, apply 2 to 3 other detail bits and then a wash and you have a good and reasonable tabletop standard looking model.

The 8th edition release has these "push-together" models that look pretty darn good right from the start so beginner efforts should not be too bad.
We are far and away from kits that would be under 2" high and have 10+ parts to them.
I would say that unless you play a game like X-wing, GW is getting their 40k game into shape to be a good entry product for new hobbyists.

I really must note that I have done this for so long that I may be completely overlooking some "simple" challenges the uninitiated may be facing.
I keep reminding myself for every 5 minutes I seem "brilliant" represents some 2 hours of stupidity in my past.

Ha!

Still got my incredibly old CSM and daemons with the bright green thick graveled bases just like in the WD!
I truly have committed some painting crimes in my past (by today's standards).

I will second that enamel paints are beyond evil.
I have no idea how I got anything to look good back then using those fine Testors Enamel paints.

I think people should keep in mind that your worst critic is yourself.
If anyone opens their trap and says your painting is horrible, it is more a reflection of how horrible their personality is.

I think the absolute worst thing I can say in respect to painting is "Good coverage." and pray they do not read between the lines (I am usually at the very least impressed an attempt was made to paint).

I dunno, at some point I would love to get a page together of "I wish I knew then what I do now" for each stage of model preparation and paint.
Getting a bunch of the folk together here would make a heck of a FAQ document.

I say, we need that insane bar to reach for in painting standards, while managing to get practical advice to the new hobbyists so they can squeeze the most fun out of their leisure time.
The good thing is, many of us show off some of what we paint to each other at various levels of capability so we do not only see the near perfect models.

Maybe magazines and companies are rather irrelevant at setting the expectations?
It is our peers that lend that support and push us to improve our game.