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Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but here I go.
I’ve always been intrigued by miniature games, and RPGs, but was afraid to get into it in my younger years as I didn’t want to be labeled a “nerd” etc. I’d buy the odd game or book but never had a group of friends to play with. Fast forward into my adult years and a friend of mine introduced me to Magic the gathering, I fell in love with the game and community immediately, and began frequenting my local game store. I actually got 2 of my close friends into magic and they are now more into it than me. I ended up getting more into Warhammer, as my favorite part of RPGs and tabletop games is the tactics and combat. I’ve been fighting depression and a drinking problem for a while but this game has given me something to do that does not involve my self destructive tendencies. Whether it’s painting/building, playing or reading novels. My LGS just recently started carrying Warhammer products and started weekly game nights and it took off instantly. I’m grateful that I found this hobby and finally got over the “stigma” of being labeled as a nerd for being into it. My only regret is not allowing myself to join the hobby when I was younger, I’m sure it would have saved me from a lot of poor decisions I made in my younger years.
Anyways, there wasn’t any point for this post besides saying this is a great hobby with lots of avenues for getting involved, and if you are worried about what other people think of you as a fellow “nerd” those people don’t even matter anyways. I actually found out my best friend and former roommate was into the same stuff as me after he saw my Warhammer collection, we just had never talked about that interest before.

Welcome, and I'm glad you're here!

Also, if anyone does call you a nerd, either embrace it and say, "thanks!" or correct them - the proper term is "geek".

But "nerd" is a compliment! I always use it with pride, as something that (positively) differentiates me from "normies" or "muggles".

When I was a kid, admitting to playing computer games would get you vilified.

As a recovered alcoholic myself, I can definitely say hang in there and keep trying. Take pride in small victories, even if its just not drinking for a week, etc. Having a hobby is a great distraction.

Welcome to the boards where we collectively have more flaws than a recasted [insert random spindly Forgeworld resin model of your choice].

Here, we try to accepting of others (others are generally tolerant of my inability to understand obscure British TV references and/or anything Harry Potter related), so you shouldn't feel like anything you say is too nerdy or geeky. Trust me, you can't reach that threshold-- the bar is waaaaay too high here.

So create a thread, make a couple of posts, and join the fun!

4TheEmp4R0R wrote:
I’d buy the odd game or book but never had a group of friends to play with.

I can definitely relate to this.

I'd buy the odd White Dwarf from the newsagent, and just pore over the images. I have distinct memories of Skaven in the first issue I saw, the idea of them absolutely blowing my mind. And I'd buy random third-party splatbooks for the D20 system, just for the fluff. Imagining what it would be like to actually be into it with a group. I wish we has LFG boards back then.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 BorderCountess wrote:
Also, if anyone does call you a nerd, either embrace it and say, "thanks!" or correct them - the proper term is "geek".

I love that we can do that now. When I was in school, "nerd" and "geek" were inescapably insults; no ifs, ands or buts. You wouldn't even dream of applying it to yourself. Much much later I remember seeing a girl wearing a t-shirt with "GEEK" printed on it. I thought, Man, the world's changed. (That was quite some time after the LOTR movies come out. New Line Cinema through hundreds of millions behind nerd stuff, and all of a sudden nerd stuff became legitimate. That's my theory, anyway.)

I think computer nerds suddenly becoming multimillionaires (or, at least, paid way more than many other walks of life) changed the perception quite a bit.

That, and also realising that being a nerd and being sporty and fit and/or confident are not mutually exclusive.

A chunk of it will be changes in TV.

Think back to Saved by the Bell (mmm. Kelly Kapowski…)

Zack was a “jock”. Or more appropriately, a total sociopath intent on squandering his, and ruining everyone else’s, education.

Slater was a jock. But also a solid, pretty responsible guy.

Screech was a nerd, allowed to hang around because Zack the Sociopath needed someone to do his work. He was presented as pretty pathetic and needy socially.

The other Nerds? Glasses, Pocket Protectors. One dimensional “hurr durr them am smort and diffrunt we am ridikul naow”.

In more modern TV, geeks and nerds are presented as actually kinda rebellious. They don’t follow fashion or trends, not because they’re oblivious, but because they don’t see the point or don’t care. They’re happy being themselves and pursuing their own happiness.

Which has always been the truth of it, if you ask me. I wasn’t into Sci-Fi, Fantasy and associated stuff because no other social group would have me. I was into that stuff because I had, and still have, a genuine passion for it.

Wasn’t without its downside at the time, but once you’re into your 20’s, it really does matter a lot less.

I think Simon Pegg said it very well.

Being a geek is all about being honest about what you enjoy and not being afraid to demonstrate that affection. It means never having to play it cool about how much you like something. It’s basically a license to proudly emote on a somewhat childish level rather than behave like a supposed adult. Being a geek is extremely liberating.

Now there are of course boundaries, and they’ll vary from person to person. Passion I respect and admire. But when a passion becomes your entire personality, it can be (but isn’t always!) cringe.

Welcome! I too have found a lot of solace and refreshing change from "the hobby". As one famous music producer friend of mine once said: "Painting miniatures huh? Well, it keeps you from trouble!". In my youth it was either getting mashed up or random girls, both of which can be much more debilitating to you than a fresh box of the plastic crack hehehe!

Welcome and well done for finding your tribe.

I had a similar experience myself, in that I only found out well after the event that my university housemate, who I lived with for three years and still love like a brother 25 years later, was massively into Warhammer and had a huge beastmen army. It just... didn't come up!