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Made in us
Reeve




A local group of friends are trying to get me into SW Destiny. I refuse to because I see it loosing popularity and becoming worthless. For this reason I have avoided the GoT, Net Runner, and L5R living card games. Interest will wane and I will have wasted money.
With mini games I get the solo enjoyment of painting, and the fun of gaming. I am a decent enough painter I can at least break even or only loose a few bucks.

Curious how you approach gaming and money?
   
Made in gb
Fully-charged Electropriest





I play games because I hate money and want to dispose of it as fast as possible.

Serious answer, you need to consider how much investment the game would take and how much enjoyment you're going to get out of it. There's games I've bought into and played a handful of times, but the total cost was a like £30-50 so whatever, who cares. On the other hand, if you have to buy a £300-400 army to play the game "properly" and you're worried it might not even be around this time next year, then hold back unless the minis really appeal to you for modelling and painting.

I have basically no interest in card based games for exactly the reason you described - they're designed to be partly or wholly disposable, and if you're not actively playing the game you get nothing out of them. There's models I've bought and painted which have never seen the table, but I enjoyed them for the hobby stuff so whatever. You can't really say the same about obsolete card games.



“Do not ask me to approach the battle meekly, to creep through the shadows, or to quietly slip on my foes in the dark. I am Rogal Dorn, Imperial Fist, Space Marine, Emperor’s Champion. Let my enemies cower at my advance and tremble at the sight of me.”
-Rogal Dorn
 
   
Made in ie
Calculating Commissar




Frostgrave

beowulfhunter wrote:
Curious how you approach gaming and money?


Do I get enough enjoyment to be worth the money? Aye. Spend it.
Is that to good a deal to pass up? Aye. Spend it.

I clear stuff out occasionally to make space, but I've never made any real decision on a game based on how much I'll get back later. That doesn't sound like fun and would cut off most of my gaming hoarde :(
   
Made in us
Snord




Midwest USA

I invest money in gaming in an attempt at enjoying my time spent on it. I do not at any point expect a financial gain from gaming, just an emotional one. If I'm going to invest in something gaming-related for financial gains, I would start my own gaming company or a blog or something.

I jokingly tell my daughter and step-daughter that my Warhammer collection is there inheritance, but there is some truth to that. I have just about culled everything from my collection that I don't want, with the remainders being what I want to keep for the foreseeable future. Ah, I can just see it now, my kids arguing over who gets the Space Marines and who gets the Armor Cast Titan....
   
Made in us
Battlefield Tourist




MN (Currently in WY)

Once you buy a game, if you have what you need to play it then it is never dead and can be played as much as you want to play it.

Cards and models do not simply disappear when the company that made the game "dies".


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Made in us
Dakka Veteran




Seattle, WA USA

Herzlos wrote:

Do I get enough enjoyment to be worth the money? Aye. Spend it.

Pretty much this for me, with the additional calculation of determining how many hours I'd need to work to earn X amount, and figuring out if I'd get at least that many hours of enjoyment/use out of the product. Works for everything, not just games. The trick is making sure you're not signing yourself up to work 30 hours a day.
   
Made in us
Stubborn Prosecutor





I have the time and energy to invest in two minature games at a time. This is based on storage, available time, and the fact I can play once a week.

I have Team Yankee and Warhammer 40k right now.Moving to 40k meant dropping Warmachine (the community died out in my area after some drama)

Bender wrote:* Realise that despite the way people talk, this is not a professional sport played by demi gods, but rather a game of toy soldiers played by tired, inebriated human beings.


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Made in gb
Ridin' on a Snotling Pump Wagon






All about the relative value.

Currently, I'm buying but not playing. I just don't have the time on hand.

So I'm extracting pretty pants value.

But in November, I'm looking at getting a home board. That takes much of the time issue off me (peeps come to me, board already set up. Can still do my household pottering during). At that point, I get far better value out of my purchases.

Look at it this way. I give you £500, and with that you buy yourself not just an army, but all the bits and bobs needed to field it. Rules, brushes, paints, glue, dice etc (but not a board. I'm not insane).

Now, consider how many hours that army is going to occupy in a given year. That includes any time spent designing it from the Codex/Battletome/Whatevs, building and painting, playing, and tweaking your list.

Those hours soon rack up, even if you just go straight to playing. One game a week at 3 hours becomes 156 hours per year. Divide that £500 by the hours? £3.20 an hour for your entertainment.

YMMV, but there's very little else I can do for that sort of cost, and that's how I consider the value (YMMV. This is an example, not a lecture)

   
Made in us
Ultramarine Terminator with Assault Cannon






Unless you're buying up vintage MtG cards it'll all be worthless eventually.

You have to gauge the level of personal investment (money, time, etc.) vs. the level of enjoyment you'll receive. Only you will be able to determine what is acceptable and what is not.

When I'm making this decision for myself I focus primarily on these factors:
1. How large is the player base (e.g. can I go to multiple LGS's and find players)?
2. How much time is required to be active in the community as well as actively participate in playing the game?
3. What is the monetary expenditure (short term and long term)?
   
Made in au
Grizzled Space Wolves Great Wolf





Honestly wargaming isn't a big enough investment for me to care about the money lost. The biggest problem is time, I try (and often fail) to manage my time and not buy in to games I'm not going to have the time to work on.

That's not to say I'm going to burn money buying stuff I don't think is worth it, it's just if there's something cool I want the price is a minor factor rather than a major one. Kind of like price is the nail in the coffin of something I was tempted to buy but had reasons not to buy rather than the sole reason not to buy.

As far as being an investment, trying to make money out of wargaming just seems like a waste of energy to me. The amount of money I can make vs the effort trying to make it just isn't worth it.
   
Made in us
Powerful Phoenix Lord





Considering how much gaming I normally get in...it's tough to rationalize some stuff.

However, I try to only paint/invest in stuff I know will be useful in 20+ years. I'll be playing 40K for the foreseeable future, and even if not current 40K --- I play 2nd edition on occasion and enjoy it immensely. The advantage to 40K is that if I ever have a hobby dump and abandon everything it will sell on okay and I'll recoup maybe 60-70% of the money I invested in it.

My Old West stuff is used pretty often (I enjoy running convention games). I also use my table and terrain and miniatures to sell my Old West game rules, so it's partly and investment in promoting my game. Again, if I sell it off I could easily recoup 80%+ of what I've spent.

My dungeon stuff...that's the biggest issue at the moment. I have thousands of dollars of Dwarven Forge dungeon that I almost never use. I do play Mordheim on occasion, but that dungeon stuff was purchased years ago when I had a lot of disposable income. It will be something I keep for life unless I fall upon hard times.

Generally speaking, if a $5-6 figurine gives me 10-15-20 years of gaming service...that's a phenomenal return on investment. Add to that I have three nephews --- there is a lot of family wargaming in the future if they take to it (meaning a hobby or time I can spend with the nephews having fun rolling dice).

Without question the amount of money I spend in tabletop wargaming dwarfs the amount of money I've spent on computers and computer games --- and the return on investment is often much longer/greater.

PS: My only other active hobby is firearms...which makes wargaming seem like an incredible value (admittedly firearms are a phenomenal investment). One of my main rifles would fund two full armies, a table, board, mat and terrain for a single wargame...easily.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2017/10/30 16:18:42


 
   
Made in us
Rough Rider with Boomstick






Honestly, I look at any wargaming purchases as money permanently gone. Using that mindset, I can effectively budget and decide how much I really want to purchase something.

I treat most hobbies the same way, it's a rare moment when I can get any of my money back.

You say Fiery Crash! I say Dynamic Entry!

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Made in us
Shadowy Grot Kommittee Memba






 Easy E wrote:
Once you buy a game, if you have what you need to play it then it is never dead and can be played as much as you want to play it.

Cards and models do not simply disappear when the company that made the game "dies".



Believe it. I've got my box of Monsterpocalypse stuff - doubled my collection for basically nothing when the game went OOP - and I play it at every opportunity. Finding willing players isn't hard, it's a cool game and the people you play with don't have to buy in.

"Got you, Yugi! Your Rubric Marines can't fall back because I have declared the tertiary kaptaris ka'tah stance two, after the secondary dacatarai ka'tah last turn!"

"So you think, Kaiba! I declared my Thousand Sons the cult of Duplicity, which means all my psykers have access to the Sorcerous Facade power! Furthermore I will spend 8 Cabal Points to invoke Cabbalistic Focus, causing the rubrics to appear behind your custodes! The Vengeance for the Wronged and Sorcerous Fullisade stratagems along with the Malefic Maelstrom infernal pact evoked earlier in the command phase allows me to double their firepower, letting me wound on 2s and 3s!"

"you think it is you who has gotten me, yugi, but it is I who have gotten you! I declare the ever-vigilant stratagem to attack your rubrics with my custodes' ranged weapons, which with the new codex are now DAMAGE 2!!"

"...which leads you straight into my trap, Kaiba, you see I now declare the stratagem Implacable Automata, reducing all damage from your attacks by 1 and triggering my All is Dust special rule!"  
   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka





I do not expect to ever get anything back from game money spent.
   
Made in ca
Deathwing Terminator with Assault Cannon






 LunarSol wrote:
I do not expect to ever get anything back from game money spent.


Ditto. It's no more an investment for me than going to see a movie or out to dinner with friends is.

Being able to recoup some residual value can be a nice bonus, but I don't purchase or budget with that in mind.
   
Made in gb
Implacable Skitarii






Miniatures are like Lego, they don't really lose value. A squad of Space Marines or a set of cards will be valid in a game and someone will buy it from you.

But personally, I can usually justify what I buy to myself. An army is an investment. I get to make it exactly how I want, which is a big plus. It's a way of hanging out with friends through gaming clubs, talking about rules and models.

If I wanted to, I could probably sell everything I have for enough money to be happy with.

I play regularly enough to continue adding to my armies and buy new things. Local commission painting makes back some of what I spend as well.

It is an investment, but it's something that can be sold off easily.

 
   
Made in ca
Insect-Infested Nurgle Chaos Lord






Gaming stuff is not gold. It will almost never appreciate in value, and even when it does there's no predicting what or how it will. And yes, people interest will wane. You will lose friends who play games over time.

It will be far less of a stress if you go into anything gaming with the mentality that whatever money it parts from you, that money is gone forever. If you're not willing to permanently part with that money, then don't buy it.

I have over 100 steam games, and I've only clocked time (like, just opening them) on maybe 30 of them. Granted most of them came from bundles where the games that I did want turned out to be more expensive than the bundles themselves, but still. I also have Netrunner, Warhammer Conquest and other board games. They've seen play maybe once or thrice. I do not regret these purchases though, since the odd time they do get played, we have a blast.

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Kanluwen wrote:
Hell, I'm not that bothered by the Stormraven. Why? Because, as it stands right now, it's "limited use".When it's shoehorned in to the Codex: Space Marines, then yeah. I'll be irked.


When I'm editing alot, you know I have a gakload of homework to (not) do. 
   
Made in us
Ancient Venerable Dreadnought




San Jose, CA

 Elbows wrote:
.

PS: My only other active hobby is firearms...which makes wargaming seem like an incredible value (admittedly firearms are a phenomenal investment). One of my main rifles would fund two full armies, a table, board, mat and terrain for a single wargame...easily.


40k (what I play) is flat out cheap compared to shooting. everytime I go shooting, I have to buy; ammo, targets, and cleaning supplies (all that are used up in the fun). The only consumable that i need for 40k is my snack/drink.

btw, at least with guns you can defend yourself from a break in. throwing my Hellblasters at the crook wouldn't turn out as well.

I'm not expecting to get a return on my 40k, I didn't buy it as an investment and the only return I want is my enjoyment from playing.

Now my Lego collection is really where the resale would almost be a big return on investment!
   
Made in us
Powerful Phoenix Lord





This is why you keep some metal minis on hand...there is a reason "dread sock" is a thing

(And I agree.) Lego? The only way to pay more for plastic.
   
Made in us
Blackclad Wayfarer





Philadelphia

I could easily spend it on concert tickets, expensive scotch/cigars, or virtual items in video games. Instead I like the investment and journey of building and painting an army. I can resell an old army for more hobby money or I can paint friend's armies for more money to cycle in the hobby - the circle of money continues

I like building terrain the most because it's cheaper and allows more freedom. Armies are more of an investment (as are entire tables of terrain!)

2-3k/year on hobby

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2017/10/30 19:08:51


   
Made in gb
Decrepit Dakkanaut




UK

Thinking of it as an investment is a mistake,

think of it as a hobby where you might just loose less than if you spend your cash on travelling, eating out or going to the pub since you end up with physical stuff which could be sold for some of the original cost

it's rare for gaming stuff to appreciate significantly, especially if it's made in any decent amount especially when you consider inflation (early MtG is probably the main exception where even played cards can be paper gold and I doubt we'll ever see anything like that again)

 
   
Made in ca
Ancient Venerable Black Templar Dreadnought





Canada

A hobby rarely becomes an investment unless it applies some skills, then you are investing in yourself.

I like models.
I got pretty good at putting them together over time.
Painting is slowly catching up to my assembly ability.
Occasionally people are happy to pay for my assembly / magnetize / custom assembly and even giving the painting a shot.
It is just enough to take the edge off the cost of my hobby.

X-wing is a full model - end-stop.
I am happy to have them just for the look of them and to customize a couple.
No investment, just makes me happy.

It is the gateway for meeting people, hanging out and generally having a good time.
This is my main "return on investment" I rarely get my money's worth any other way.

A revolution is an idea which has found its bayonets.
Napoleon Bonaparte 
   
Made in gb
Malicious Mandrake




As a financial investment? It's a gamble at best, and a long shot at that.

I have mumble mumble worth of toy soldiers. I perceive that I have had good value from them, because I have had a lot of fun, and I haven't finished yet.

As a financial investment, some figures are worth more than others. Today, my Dogs of War army would probably fetch twice what I paid for it, based on current ebay prices. Next year, they might be worth more - or less. For example, I have an old trainset as old as I am, and still in its box. It originally cost 21/6. In the 80s it was worth £8K, when rich bankers were rebuying their childhood. Today, £200 at a push.

As the Dragons say: "I'm out".
   
Made in us
Legendary Master of the Chapter






beowulfhunter wrote:

Curious how you approach gaming and money?


Its disposable income.

and i can always sell off stuff and recooperate a bit of my costs after hours to years of enjoyment.


 Unit1126PLL wrote:
 Scott-S6 wrote:
And yet another thread is hijacked for Unit to ask for the same advice, receive the same answers and make the same excuses.

Oh my god I'm becoming martel.
Send help!

 
   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka





Steelcity

Gaming is probably one of the worst investments you can make. Put it in actual investments if you want to make money.

Any kind of gaming is basically on par with the investment capabilities of "snorting cocaine"

Keeper of the DomBox
Warhammer Armies - Click to see galleries of fully painted armies
32,000, 19,000, Renegades - 10,000 , 7,500,  
   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka





If you are spending money on games as an investment, you're FAR better off putting the money into CDs, T-bills, or stock.

Buy games to entertain yourself. If they then wind up being valuable when you're done with them, that's a bonus.

CHAOS! PANIC! DISORDER!
My job here is done. 
   
Made in us
Ancient Venerable Dreadnought




San Jose, CA

 Kirasu wrote:


Any kind of gaming is basically on par with the investment capabilities of "snorting cocaine"


Wargamers don't let Wargamers do drugs.

Cocaine is an investment tho, just short term and high/risk high/reward.


oh and also illegal (at least here)
   
Made in au
Anti-Armour Swiss Guard






Newcastle, OZ

The "value" I get out of gaming stuff is not measured in dollar terms and resale value but by how much enjoyment I get out of it.


I'm OVER 50 (and so far over everyone's BS, too).
Old enough to know better, young enough to not give a ****.

That is not dead which can eternal lie ...

... and yet, with strange aeons, even death may die.
 
   
Made in au
Norn Queen






 chromedog wrote:
The "value" I get out of gaming stuff is not measured in dollar terms and resale value but by how much enjoyment I get out of it.



Basically this. I own stuff I simply don't use anymore but I enjoy having it around, like my Tyranids and small selection of boardgames. They might never see the table, but that doesn't mean I don't like having them.
   
Made in au
Grizzled Space Wolves Great Wolf





 Easy E wrote:
Once you buy a game, if you have what you need to play it then it is never dead and can be played as much as you want to play it.

Cards and models do not simply disappear when the company that made the game "dies".

It depends on the game. Board games where the entire game is in the box (maybe with expansions or whatever) that's true. But many miniature games rely on the pooled resources of several players. Warhammer and 40k are the most obvious examples, you build an army but without someone to play against the game is dead. You can collect 2 armies, but that's a massive time/money investment and part of what makes the games fun is the variety of armies, so only owning 2 makes the game somewhat hollow.

Many games exist on a spectrum between board games and games like WHFB/40k where lack of support from the game makers can cause varying levels of game death.
   
 
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