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Made in us
Dark Angels Librarian with Book of Secrets






I used to play every week for about 1.5 years. When I moved, I ended up selling my army for financial reasons.

Flash forward 2 years, and I'm in a much better place with a new Death Guard army. I've been back into the hobby hardcore for about 3 months, but between family and other hobbies, I'm finding it hard to have the same passion.
Half the time I just want to buy pre-painted models so I can get to the part I enjoy more, the playing. I do enjoy painting, but half the time it feels like a chore. When I do play, I've been trying to get a game in once a week, but it seems like the day before or the day of, I'd rather just hang out with family or do one of my other hobbies.

I also feel like the time commitment is a large chunk of it for me, as games typically take about 2-3 hours. Between family and work, it seems like I'm forced to choose between weekly boardgame night or Warhammer because I don't like leaving my wife alone with our kids for that long two days a week.

Sorry if this is just rambling, but I've feeling this way for a while and wanted to put this out. Is this just typical burnout? How often do you guys play? What do you think is a decent amount of time?

~1.5k
Successful Trades: Ashrog (1), Iron35 (1), Rathryan (3), Leth (1), Eshm (1), Zeke48 (1), Gorkamorka12345 (1),
Melevolence (2), Ascalam (1), Swanny318, (1) ScootyPuffJunior, (1) LValx (1), Jim Solo (1), xSoulgrinderx (1), Reese (1), Pretre (1) 
   
Made in gb
Frenzied Berserker Terminator




Southampton, UK

Yeah I'm struggling similarly. Not played for months, and did my first bit of painting for ages yesterday.
   
Made in gb
Decrepit Dakkanaut




UK

A few thoughts:

1) You mention you don't like leaving your wife alone with the kids for 2 evenings a week. Now that isn't unreasonable, but at the same time its not too bad either. I think the key is that there's balance within the relationship and that you've got your evenings where she can do her thing, even if she's not going out to do it, you can take the load for the evening and let her focus on her hobby or interest or just have the night off to relax.

2) There is no shame what so ever in buying pre-painted or hiring someone to paint your army. If your core of fun is in gaming and you can afford it, then go for pre-painted forces. The only time its an issue is if you pass the work off as your own painting. Even if its your scheme, the paintwork isn't yours so its not fair to claim as such (esp in competitions).
Otherwise who cares - if you want to game then game.

3) It sounds less like burnout to me and more like competing interests and lack of time. To me that suggests considering formal structuring of your time and really stepping back and reviewing your priorities. Warhammer might be far more fun if you and your wife have a well and fairly drawn up weekly rota and plan for activities. I think part of what I can see in what you've written is a hidden feeling of guilt at playing warhammer which is seeping through and spoiling your fun when you are gaming and after.

4) Your free time is yours and if you want to do another hobby do it. Burnout is perfectly normal and natural and sometimes it can strike without warning. People also vary a lot, some never ever get it, others only have it for a few moments or a week or so - others can just fully move on and never come back etc...
There's no right nor wrong really; save that you shouldn't wind up forcing yourself to do a hobby you no longer enjoy in the long term. That only leads to more problems and often lashing out at people.

A Blog in Miniature

3D Printing, hobbying and model fun! 
   
Made in us
Commanding Lordling





Maybe try writing out your schedule and designating time to play Warhammer every other week?That way you have a week in between games for other pursuits. Or just take some time off and try again later.
   
Made in us
Monster-Slaying Daemonhunter





 jreilly89 wrote:
I used to play every week for about 1.5 years. When I moved, I ended up selling my army for financial reasons.

Flash forward 2 years, and I'm in a much better place with a new Death Guard army. I've been back into the hobby hardcore for about 3 months, but between family and other hobbies, I'm finding it hard to have the same passion.
Half the time I just want to buy pre-painted models so I can get to the part I enjoy more, the playing. I do enjoy painting, but half the time it feels like a chore. When I do play, I've been trying to get a game in once a week, but it seems like the day before or the day of, I'd rather just hang out with family or do one of my other hobbies.

I also feel like the time commitment is a large chunk of it for me, as games typically take about 2-3 hours. Between family and work, it seems like I'm forced to choose between weekly boardgame night or Warhammer because I don't like leaving my wife alone with our kids for that long two days a week.

Sorry if this is just rambling, but I've feeling this way for a while and wanted to put this out. Is this just typical burnout? How often do you guys play? What do you think is a decent amount of time?


Personally, I enjoy painting, but when I feel burnt out on one thing, I typically go and paint or play another thing. I have 4 Warhammer armies, so if I'm burnt out on one I can play another, and I also have Flames of War and DZC miniatures around the house that I work on whenever. I think it helps, because if I'm tired of painting Battle Sisters of Grey Hunters, I can switch to painting M4's or T-34's.

I typically play Warhammer 1-2 times per week, D&D 2 times a week, and Black Crusade once a week. I'm not burnt out on Warhammer, but definitely am on D&D

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2019/07/08 19:24:36


Guardsmen, hear me! Cadia may lie in ruin, but her proud people do not! For each brother and sister who gave their lives to Him as martyrs, we will reap a vengeance fiftyfold! Cadia may be no more, but will never be forgotten; our foes shall tremble in fear at the name, for their doom shall come from the barrels of Cadian guns, fired by Cadian hands! Forward, for vengeance and retribution, in His name and the names of our fallen comrades! 
   
Made in us
Shas'ui with Bonding Knife






Running into the same issue myself. And, it's not because my wife is against me playing at all. My wife is a stay at home mom (she works A LOT harder than I ever will), and she gets to hang out with friends of hers who have children as well. And, she is out twice a week training one of our dogs in protection. She loves it, and I love it for her. Unfortunately, only one of these nights I have free. And, I'm usually honestly near dead tired from work (30 mile drive each way... anywhere from 45 to 80 minutes each way depending on traffic).

There was an MTG prerelease this past weekend which she was fully behind me going to. But, again, driving 40+ minutes into town to play for 3 to 5 hours (depending on the amount of people, day I'm playing, etc.)... I just don't want to leave my wife alone for that long. And, on top of that, if I didn't play in an MTG event once per week or once every other week, I'd be wasting money just to go to a prerelease.

I haven't played at my FLGS at all though they have been into Warhammer since probably before my local GW opened. But, I got into Warhammer because of how close my local GW used to be (before I moved). So, those are the people I'm most comfortable with.

So, that said, there is a lot I can't do at my local GW. Necromunda NEVER took off there. I'm not sure they even have the core set at all. About six months ago, EVERYONE at that GW was into Kill Team. So, over the months when I had time, I painted up a couple of Kill Teams only to find out Kill Team had completely died at my local GW.

With my attention span being only about 90 minutes, it's been tough for me to get motivated to get involved in 2000 point 40K games or any AoS games as they seem to take longer without the IGOUGO of 40K. But, I've been switching projects like crazy only to see myself NEVER getting anywhere.

I finally decided this past weekend that, since APOC is out, I'm going to focus on that. Does it go against my 90 minute attention span? Yes, but I'm hoping it has something that will make it seem more fun. Either way, I just pulled out all of the Imperium models that I already had painted. I have something around 525PL split between my DA, IG, and IK.

All that said, I find it tough to want to go to MTG prereleases or to make the trip to my local GW. Both require approximately two hours of driving alone plus any time spent playing.

Many days at home, I've sat thinking whether it's even worth breaking out my brushes, paper towels, palette paper, possibly my airbrush, brush cleaner, water, etc., or would I rather just relax and play a few video games. On days when I don't really slow down until like 7:30pm or 8pm, it's a really hard choice to paint as I have so little time to break everything out and clean everything up before I need to start getting myself wound down and ready for bed.

Wow, this is a novel, and thank you for reading this far if you have. But, yes, I'm at that burnout stage. I have a few more things that I need to finish painting as well as a few additional models that I'd like to paint... then comes basing everything, and I think the hobby side of Warhammer is going to take a back burner for me for a good while.

SG

40K - T'au Empire
Kill Team - T'au Empire, Death Guard
Warhammer Underworlds - Garrekā€™s Reavers

*** I only play for fun. I do not play competitively. *** 
   
Made in us
Ork Boy Hangin' off a Trukk





One of the things that helped me get more models painted in short bursts was gathering the specific supplies (brushes, paint pots, models etc.) into a kit. Then, I could work on them a little at a time.
   
Made in ie
Regular Dakkanaut





Try alternating. Play 40k every 2nd week, maybe?

I have two kids, as well. I used to play league football and went to hurling matches all the time, as well as playing Warhammer once a week. When the first kid arrived, I threw my hat at the football and moved Warhammer to twice a month.

Kids are important and I know the sense of responsibility that goes with being a Dad but we, and Mammies, need and deserve a bit of head space.

That's what my bi-monthly visit to the gaming club allows. Otherwise you start to feel a little hemmed in and your wife and kids take on the role of adorable, inescapable and above all permanent gaolers.

   
Made in us
Dark Angels Librarian with Book of Secrets






 Overread wrote:
A few thoughts:

1) You mention you don't like leaving your wife alone with the kids for 2 evenings a week. Now that isn't unreasonable, but at the same time its not too bad either. I think the key is that there's balance within the relationship and that you've got your evenings where she can do her thing, even if she's not going out to do it, you can take the load for the evening and let her focus on her hobby or interest or just have the night off to relax.

2) There is no shame what so ever in buying pre-painted or hiring someone to paint your army. If your core of fun is in gaming and you can afford it, then go for pre-painted forces. The only time its an issue is if you pass the work off as your own painting. Even if its your scheme, the paintwork isn't yours so its not fair to claim as such (esp in competitions).
Otherwise who cares - if you want to game then game.

3) It sounds less like burnout to me and more like competing interests and lack of time. To me that suggests considering formal structuring of your time and really stepping back and reviewing your priorities. Warhammer might be far more fun if you and your wife have a well and fairly drawn up weekly rota and plan for activities. I think part of what I can see in what you've written is a hidden feeling of guilt at playing warhammer which is seeping through and spoiling your fun when you are gaming and after.

4) Your free time is yours and if you want to do another hobby do it. Burnout is perfectly normal and natural and sometimes it can strike without warning. People also vary a lot, some never ever get it, others only have it for a few moments or a week or so - others can just fully move on and never come back etc...
There's no right nor wrong really; save that you shouldn't wind up forcing yourself to do a hobby you no longer enjoy in the long term. That only leads to more problems and often lashing out at people.


Appreciate it man. Definitely I think it is a bit of guilt, especially because I know I'm away from my kids, and I already only see them in the evenings because I work the typical 9-5 M-F.

I think one of the other big things is while I like playing Warhammer, the games I do get in are with people I don't really know, i.e. one offs. Versus like when I play D&D or Boardgames, it's with a core group of friends who I know fairly well.

~1.5k
Successful Trades: Ashrog (1), Iron35 (1), Rathryan (3), Leth (1), Eshm (1), Zeke48 (1), Gorkamorka12345 (1),
Melevolence (2), Ascalam (1), Swanny318, (1) ScootyPuffJunior, (1) LValx (1), Jim Solo (1), xSoulgrinderx (1), Reese (1), Pretre (1) 
   
 
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