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I am trying to get into the playing in the store world, but feel weird showing up with my toy soldiers to play a glorified board game with strangers (and given what I have observed at said FLGS while shopping, said strangers may or may not have questionable hygiene).

Can anyone give any stories or your "first time" or words of wisdom to help with the anxiety?

Ask the store owner what day is 40k night. Go then.

Don't worry about having to play someone with poor hygene and what not. If someone walks up to you that's unpleasant, just say that you're waiting on someone.

I have to say i havn't met a single sterotypical neck beard, Ever. I go into my local GW and play someone, i go everyweek so no one is a stranger for long. Everyone has good hygine (for teenage boys...) and almost everyone is friendly. The first time i came in with my fantasy army of 1,500pts (been collecting long before i was playing) at the age of 10 i got a game vs a friend who i now know affectionatly as Meta-Gamer. He treated me like anyone else and i had a great game (got trounced, he was daemons and i was wood elves...and he was a better player). He got me into meta gaming (because as wood elves, you have too) which led me to dark eldar. I owe him practically everything for the simple fact of him treating me like anyother player, not a noob kid who didnt know what i was doing.

Not a lot of true neck beards in my neck of the woods these days playing 40k. Im in a military centric area and all the guys from around the country gravitate to the local store for gaming. Card players on the other hand...

40K night, post a find a game thread here on Dakka, find out if there's a monthly tourney, show up and watch some games and chat with the fellas. Most players want more players to play against.

I've got an odd first story. My FLGS was a card/RPG store getting into GW. As one of the regulars, I was asked to help demo the game.

After that store closed, I found a new FLGS a few years later. I head that there was a new place, and Wednesday was 40k night, so I showed up with my army. It helped that I recognized a lot of the people from the old days. Played there for a number of years until they shut down.

My current FLGS I feel a bit like an outsider. Doesn't help that I'm on the introverted side of things. But I heard that the 3rd Saturday of each month was a $5 entry 3 game tournament. So I just jumped in and showed up one day. Plonked down my fiver and had 3 games with some nice guys. I don't get up there as often as I'd like, but it's a good crowd. Friendly low-key tournaments are a good way to meet people and get some games in.

Remember, everyone there shares your hobby. That gives you at least one thing in common to talk about. Which is more then you can say about most assemblies of people. There may be hygiene issues, or not. Just be sure you take a shower, and at least you aren't contributing to the problem/stereotype.

 Thorn678 wrote:
strangers may or may not have questionable hygiene

I loathe this attitude. Get over yourself, and get over the "ew factor" the you have because someone smells of sweat.
People who get involved in wargaming are rarely fat nerds who don't shower. Hell, I'm one of three rugby players at my FLGS. Despite the severe lack of this steretype, I still think it's pathetic when people judge someone else on whether they wash every day. No one is asking you to touch them, just stand on the opposite side of a table and be friendly.

My 1st experience was bad but all others were good. He lied about the score, tried to bully me by saying he is my elder in game and out and he makes all the rules calls, but 90% of the 40k players are really above average friendly. I keep a list just to stomp that guy if he ever shows again which I got to use only once on him before they ran him off for being a true follower of discord. Dang Chaos worshipers.

Hygiene shouldn't be an issue there is a whole table between you and him.

I'm probably the closest thing to a "neckbeard" at our FLGS. Often quite unkempt (facial) hair (admittedly not just a neckbeard though, but rather a full beard), and even sweaty... but that's largely because I walk to town unless it's summer when I can use a bicycle. And that's a 30-minute walk. And I sweat easily regardless of my physical fitness at any given time (which varies a lot), so by the time I'm at the store I won't smell of fresh roses most likely. No can do about that part, really. Not that anyone's ever complained to my face, at least, but I must admit I was making even myself quite uncomfortable two weeks ago at an Apoc match, after walking to work and being all day there, plus the LGS being uncommonly warm that time, and with the smallish table being a bit crowded with six people on it I was quite... fumed. Yuck.

Aaaanyway, that aside my first match was indeed a PUG, and to date still one of my only four 1vs1 victories.

I think Americans in general have a heightened sensitivity to personal hygiene and sense of propriety that we in grimy England either lack or generally are able to overlook out of politeness.
Also, England is more permissive in terms of eccentric hobbies- miniature wargaming is on the cusp of social acceptability, if only just. I suppose the stereotypes are different in America as well.

to the OP, don't get too hung up on all the cultural stereotypes and bollocks, life is way too short to spend doing things we don't like. Just concentrate on having friendly, being a good opponent and
ensuring your opponent has much fun as you do. Going to a gaming night is useful to, look to join a Facebook group or such to communicate to the local community of players.

 Griddlelol wrote:

 Thorn678 wrote:
strangers may or may not have questionable hygiene

I loathe this attitude. Get over yourself, and get over the "ew factor" the you have because someone smells of sweat.
People who get involved in wargaming are rarely fat nerds who don't shower. Hell, I'm one of three rugby players at my FLGS. Despite the severe lack of this steretype, I still think it's pathetic when people judge someone else on whether they wash every day. No one is asking you to touch them, just stand on the opposite side of a table and be friendly.

I don't get the sense he's saying if you don't wash that makes you a bad person, but I would agree with the OP I would not look forward to playing against someone who has questionable hygiene, if you don't have proper hygiene and make an area uncomfortable for others then I think it's natural to loathe being around a person like that regardless of their personality. First impressions are very important and smelling poorly, is a poor first impression. And if your showing up for the first time to play a game against a new person I'd pick a soapy one over a sweaty one

That being said.. Our game does require a bit of open mindedness because everywhere does have a person like that and you just have to accept that.

I started alone going to the GW store to play. And then my friends and I started going there in groups, and now we go and take over a table just about every Saturday.

Man, it was SARCASM. Such sensitivity! I don't know about you, but my sense of smell detects body odor from much further away than across a table.

Byte: out of curiosity, which area?

 Thorn678 wrote:
Man, it was SARCASM...

Sure didn't seem like it, especially with what followed:

I don't know about you, but my sense of smell detects body odour from much further away than across a table.

So how does that hurt you? It's this attitude of looking down on someone because they sweat that's just appalling.

I don't enjoy playing standing up all the time, doesn't mean I'll refuse to play because there aren't chairs. Similarly I don't mind playing someone who may have body odour issues if they're a nice person and fun to play with.

Dude, okay, sorry? Wow, calm down and get over YOURself.

EDIT: Actually, it makes me gag.

 Thorn678 wrote:
Man, it was SARCASM. Such sensitivity! I don't know about you, but my sense of smell detects body odor from much further away than across a table.

Byte: out of curiosity, which area?

Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Ah, just wondering. My area is pretty military as well - but they all seem to gravitate towards a store that is much further away from their base (probably because the one that is closer is run by a dude who is super political, and very annoying about it).

 Thorn678 wrote:
Dude, okay, sorry? Wow, calm down and get over YOURself.

EDIT: Actually, it makes me gag.

Well while personal hygine is a problem for some people, a good Deoderent will fix that. Being rude, full of your self and judgemental carnt be fixed as easy, and i for one find that MUCH more annoying then a bad smell. And lets be honest, how many people do we know that smell so bad its an actural problem? When i go into town to go to GW in my bag a bring a lynx, just in case. But i dont judge people for not doing so, and if they are really bad i offer some, but i'd find that quite rude. Also my GW isn't so bad, on hot days they bring out cups of iced water to drink out side for free.

*It makes me gag* To paraphrase, Get over YOURself, this is an obserd over reaction.

^^

Your sig made me lol. Yay for Slaanesh.

The easiest way is to not "PUG" in the strictest sense at the beginning. Go the week before on 40k day. Chill for a while and watch a game or two and chat with some people. Figure out if there is someone you would be inclined to play and setup a game for the next week. That way you can get some experience playing in the store, but not be completely blinded by a random opponent.

^ That's probably what I should do - just go and hang out. It's a friendly bunch - someone always goes out of their way to talk to me when I'm in there, which is nice.

I don't know anyone else that plays, so for my first game I'd emailed my FLGS to find out which nights were best for a newbie. one of the employees wrote back and offered to play a couple games with me (in addition to giving me all the info on their 40k nights). super nice guy; it worked out really well.

I ended up shopping at my lgs one day. And just went up to 2 people who were playing and said hi. I asked a couple questions and they asked if I played, I said yes and they asked if I wanted to play. First game there I found my stores forums then started posting their to get games. Now I'm friends with almost everyone there and it's cool.

Don't be afraid to just cold contact people who are playing. Worst case scenario they are jerks and you walk away.

My first FLGS experience was with a friend, who had also never been there, on a Monday night. The next night was 40k night, so I came in alone for a pickup game against an 8th grader (who no one would play against because of his age). And it was a good experience.

I used to run a V:tM LARP at a MtG store, so neckbeards don't bug me all that much, except when their breath is so bad I can smell it across the table. I can handle BO, or food-breath, but when it smells like rotting flesh I'm out.

What really grates on my nerves is the one-upping on knowing obscure rules and fluff.

Actually, the first time I went to my FLGS, I walked into a big 3000 point Crimson Fists v. Tyranid game. Saw it and immediately thought "Holy crap, that is awesome." Went to buy my Terminator Librarian because the Battleforces don't have HQs, ended up a buck short because of taxes, shop owner said it was chill because it was my first time there and paid the difference as long as I promised to pay it back later.

Ended up spending about $400 there over the almost year I've been going. I think that last dollar has been paid back


I've also never really had any bad experiences with people there either. Most everyone is really nice and a lot of fun to play with, even the MtG people.

 ALEXisAWESOME wrote:
*It makes me gag* To paraphrase, Get over YOURself, this is an obserd over reaction.

As was brought up earlier, this is very much a cultural thing. I grew up in the States and was kinda surprised to find that Europeans aren't as overzealous as Americans are about showering. Many Americans shower multiple times a day and it's considered pretty gross not to shower in the morning. I spent several years in the military, even the worst packed metro car of Parisians in July can't compare with the musk of a cavalry platoon after a month in the field, so it wasn't really that much of an adjustment for me, just a bit surprising. Claiming it "makes him gag" is a bit of an overreaction but Americans do tend to be much more sensitive to that sort of thing than Europeans.

Anger about foreign cultures being foreign aside, every time I've played at a new FLGS (I move around a lot) has been a pick up game and I've never really had any problems. In the States the first stop should be to find out when gaming night is and express a desire to play, sometimes the store owner will even shoot out an email and try to get you set up with a game so you'll stick around. Other times you just show up and there's always been somebody who is willing to play a game with the new guy. At one store there wasn't anyone available that first night but I got set up for a game the next game night right away. People who play with plastic space mans tend to be a pretty accepting and chill group as a whole. This does include playing with people who may be a little funky.

I've played 40k in several US states, Canada, France and Germany and have good times playing with strangers in each place. In Germany the store owner even managed to find me opponents that spoke English, a favor I've returned by sort of becoming my local GW's go-to English-speaking random opponent.

Also, I imagine the soldiers all play far away from base for the same reason they drink at bars far away from base, they want to avoid other soldiers because they're sick of being all Army all day. Of course, this has the side effect of this far away gaming store becoming all military, although nobody really talks about it.

My recommendation is to show up on game day, line up your army on a side of a table and smile and greet other players. It's an easy way to show that you're looking for a game and ready to go. The FLGS I go to has a solid group of gamers and that many of us are in the military doesn't seem to effect much except our sweet haircuts. Good luck and just be friendly, the army on the table is an open for business sign that is hard to miss.

First time in a store was ... unpleasant.

Middle of summer and the aircon was broken. The back gaming room was stagnant and more than a little ripe.

I described it as "the funk of 40,000 years" (cf. Vincent Price, Michael Jackson's "thriller" song) to the staff.

The vast majority of my gaming is done in a non-store based club. No sales pressure, no-one cares where I bought my models. Playing in a store just seems so ... wrong.

 chromedog wrote:
First time in a store was ... unpleasant.

Middle of summer and the aircon was broken. The back gaming room was stagnant and more than a little ripe.

I described it as "the funk of 40,000 years" (cf. Vincent Price, Michael Jackson's "thriller" song) to the staff.

The vast majority of my gaming is done in a non-store based club. No sales pressure, no-one cares where I bought my models. Playing in a store just seems so ... wrong.

some stores are better than others. the one I have in town, which is only a couple miles from me, is a nice enough to shop in, but not an impressive place to play. 3 folding tables set up in the back of the store. lighting's a bit dim, not a lot of space around the tables, not a lot of terrain to use (and half of that isn't even painted). staff is cool, though.

the store I actually play in is on the other side of the bay, about an hour away from me via a bus & train combo. 6 custom gaming tables (4x6 playing area with edges so nothing can fall off, separate 2x2 areas for each player for models, books, etc., rock-solid) set up in a well-lit, open mezzanine space that's above the actual sales floor, tons of fully painted terrain of all flavors, great staff with a chill, no-sales-pressure attitude. oh, and a decent brewpub right across the street. totally worth the commute

Careful, Chromedog. You wouldn't want to offend anyone because you find body odor offensive.

Quite pleasant. Only 'horror' story was someone who was watching a game and wouldn't shut up. Couple of "shhh please, I don't mind you talking but I'm trying to tell my opponent what I'm going to do".