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I used to war-game a lot more, but I still get at least 2 nights of doing something (assembling, painting, playing)

Although I paint a fair bit myself and don't have this issue, several people in my gaming group do have a problem finding the motivation to sit down and paint by themselves. We put on a "Painting Day" every couple of weeks where we don't game, we just sit down and paint/assemble/convert while chatting about anything and everything.

Usually there is an airbrush or two set up so we can get quick coats of paint down and everyone has access to each others hobby tools so you can try new techniques and tools for different effects.

As a few others suggested it’s a great way to get things done and we usually get pizzas and drink some beers so even if someone doesn't feel like doing much on the day they are still entertained.

League of Legends is my problem. I sit down at my pc which is also where I paint, log onto Teamspeak to chat with my friends and do some modelling, and end up playing league till bed time.

Eugh.

I'm a "gamer" rather than a "wargamer", though I've had miniatures since I was less than 1 years old. I have pretty regular Friday night gaming sessions with my wife and some friends. They come over after we finish work, we go out and grab some dinner, then we come back and play some games in the evening/night. Mostly multiplayer computer or console games (World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, Left 4 Dead, Borderlands, Op Flashpoint, etc, sometimes boardgames (Ravenloft, etc). Aside from the fact that I've always enjoyed computer/console games, they require little setup or space, and can be good to go right away. LANing it up makes it quite a social activity as well.

This is because of my current living situation (small house, filled with our stuff) and work situation (I'm hammered after each day, let alone each week). I paint when I can (folding table set up in the lounge, that doubles for boardgames, etc). So, basically, I can't game. What does this mean? I spend shirtloads of cash on gaming stuff as a "substitute". Which then sits in boxes because I have no time or space to play, build, paint or use them). Result? I've got more "stock" than many small stores.

Hopefully the end is in sight. Moving into a new place in a month, with a garage and what will be a dedicated painting room (that will also store miniatures and boardgames, etc). Also hoping to reduce my hours at work so I can spend more time with family (Mum's in her final years, and it feels like every year could really easily be the last one) and also balance my life with hobby time for the mental peace that painting and modelling gives me. (And some 12-hour WoW sessons if needed!)

It'll mean a fair bit less income, but it'll also mean I may have a chance to enjoy the things I've worked hard to buy, with the people I love and are close to me. What is it the kids are saying now? Yolo?

My motivator is, pushing for a game or event, that always makes me knuckle down. It has made me stick to build the mass of Necrons I have recently purchased, and because i dont really like gaming with unpainted models it is pushing me to want to get on with painting them.
I like to build an army then start to put paint on it, I have done it this way for so long now it is just my preferred way. I know really i should buy a little build it, paint it and move onto the next, but it just doesnt work with me, I enjoy obtaining it all, building it all then painting it all each as a seperate project in itself. All the time I am buying and building i am finding out about the army as much as i can, and deciding on how i want to paint it, base it, so when it comes to painting i usually know what i want it too look like, when i am buying depending on the army i will have decided what conversions i want to do if any and will be hunting down what i need., I enjoy all aspects of putting the army together, and then i start to game with it as much as I can, at this point I will have moved onto my next army project and the sycle begins again, I dont rush any of it, i get through it when i get through it, Its my hobby and i love it have done for 4 decades, but to really make me get moving on painting, organise a game, and decide to use something that isn painted will ensure i will paint that model for the next game, or join an event and i will do my best to paint up an army for it.

 Flashman wrote:
Ditch old system, sell everything and start again with new system, but one box/blister at a time.

That's my new approach

This is an excellent approach. I second it.

 angel of ecstasy wrote:

 Flashman wrote:
Ditch old system, sell everything and start again with new system, but one box/blister at a time.

That's my new approach

This is an excellent approach. I second it.

Wouldn't work for me. I play too many different games to want to ditch the ones that I'm not currently playing. Not to mention I couldn't afford to replace even a fraction of what I've currently got.

What I do however, is to try to keep everything but my current project or two in the garage and so I only have access to what I am working on right now.

 scipio.au wrote:
I'm a "gamer" rather than a "wargamer", though I've had miniatures since I was less than 1 years old. I have pretty regular Friday night gaming sessions with my wife and some friends. They come over after we finish work, we go out and grab some dinner, then we come back and play some games in the evening/night. Mostly multiplayer computer or console games (World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, Left 4 Dead, Borderlands, Op Flashpoint, etc, sometimes boardgames (Ravenloft, etc). Aside from the fact that I've always enjoyed computer/console games, they require little setup or space, and can be good to go right away. LANing it up makes it quite a social activity as well.

This is because of my current living situation (small house, filled with our stuff) and work situation (I'm hammered after each day, let alone each week). I paint when I can (folding table set up in the lounge, that doubles for boardgames, etc). So, basically, I can't game. What does this mean? I spend shirtloads of cash on gaming stuff as a "substitute". Which then sits in boxes because I have no time or space to play, build, paint or use them). Result? I've got more "stock" than many small stores.

Hopefully the end is in sight. Moving into a new place in a month, with a garage and what will be a dedicated painting room (that will also store miniatures and boardgames, etc). Also hoping to reduce my hours at work so I can spend more time with family (Mum's in her final years, and it feels like every year could really easily be the last one) and also balance my life with hobby time for the mental peace that painting and modelling gives me. (And some 12-hour WoW sessons if needed!)

It'll mean a fair bit less income, but it'll also mean I may have a chance to enjoy the things I've worked hard to buy, with the people I love and are close to me. What is it the kids are saying now? Yolo?

Strong Ratios

I paint a lot more than i wargame but then i have painted 100`s of figures in the past year .i also have more free time than most people my age if less money .if you only get a few hrs a week to paint your figures id suggest braking the project down into squads/units or tank/monster .get another gamer at the club to agree with you on a target for the year (im going to paint 1500pts of X army ) or whatever .then just keep what your working on that month out on the desk don't even look at the other model you`l get to them in due time .

If you listen to a lot of podcasts or batreps rambles ,then try to do that during your hobby time as you will need something to keep the ole grey matter ticking over .it really could be anything you enjoy listening to .make sure you have a dedicated area where you do your painting/modeling be it just a small space on your PC desk or what i use which is an old writing bureau i got dirt cheap from a charity shop .they are very good for our needs as gamers and id keep an eye out for one as they aren't much esp if you don't care about looks .

But yeah brake it down into squads/units ,don't look at what you have still to paint ,listen to your fav podcasts/music documentary's rambles whatever and try to get a space you can leave set up just for painting .another thing is to do a squad/unit per month say and then do a monster or tank hero type dude in the next month .that way your getting the grunts painted and the others you can take a whole month on and lavish a bit of love on .

That's what works for me and i think it`s pretty basic advice for any painter bar lots of stuff iv left out because i don't want to be typing for hr`s .or boring you all to death for that matter