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I'll throw my hat into the ring.

I've been doing Warhammer since I was about 10, maybe a little younger. I think it was third or fourth grade when I got into it.. I'm only in my 20s now, so it's not -that- long ago, but relative to me it's a huge portion of my love.

Throughout grade school everyone was impressed and wanted to play. I even managed to coerce a few of my friends (and subsequently their parents) into starting up the hobby. Most of them didn't make it very far, and matter-o-fact I still have most of their models in bits boxes. That's neither here nor there.

Once I got out of grade school though it went south. I learned pretty quickly that it wasn't nearly as 'neat' among teenagers and kept mostly to myself. Pretty much no-one I knew had any idea I did it.

As a (young) adult it's been a mixed bag, though I still tend to keep a low profile. I tend to mention it during job interviews, though I liken it more to model trains / cars planes. It goes over well due to showing that I have patience, attention to detail, yatta yatta. Amongst actual people it doesn't come out much. I had a manager once who ran a D&D group and literally hired me on the spot once I told him I played Warhammer, but then I've also gotten a never ending stream of harassment and been condemned by some.

Like I said, it's a mixed bag. Fortunately my girlfriend being involved in it tends to turn most of my friend's around mentality wise. She's really quite attractive, so at first when we go to a store or group all she gets is looks. Once it becomes clear she actually has an interest I can't even get a word in edge-wise with anyone. All the guys just want to talk to her.

I had a similar experience with a coworker who tried to belittle me for playing with toys. I just told him that it was ok for him to be scared of things he didn't understand and that he should just go home and drink his beer and beat his dog since that is what real men do. He has left me alone since.

Yeeees....

I usually don't tell anyone that I wargame. I just say that I paint models in my spare time and it's a good way to use up those long hours on a Sunday afternoon doing something that makes you feel you have achieved something. Only when people ask and I say that I do wargame, they look at me in an odd way and say that I don't look like the sort of person that would "get into those things". I know my aunt will never really look at me in the same light for the next 20 or so years but my father seems ok with what I do. He's seen the amount of effort that goes in but my mother probably remains unconvinced. She says that entire part of the house or "my half of the second floor" is a mess. And it is, really. I've had a lot of mixed reactions when I say that I wargame but nobody has really done or said anything too nasty.

Ghaz wrote:

 Jehan-reznor wrote:
Chess could be considered a war-game...

Even a cursory look at the history of chess shows that it most definitely is a war game.

Vulcan wrote:

 Jehan-reznor wrote:
Chess could be considered a war-game, Igo is definitely a battle for area control. How about board games? Some of those could be thought of as glorifying violence, lying, backstabbing, deceiving etcetera.

Chess is generally considered to be the ORIGINAL war game.

And you don't see parents demonizing Chess, or maybe they will after seeing the chess match in Harry Potter

I've never had a problem with my wargaming interest interfering with real life. Some of my friends don't really understand it (especially the prices lol), but no one has ever belittled me or anything for being into it; including co-workers. Most of 'em like looking at pictures of my games. Even my fiance helps me come up with painting ideas.

I really don't see the point in hiding my hobbies from anyone, if they care that much what I do, I don't want to associate with them anyways.

 Robisagg wrote:
I've never had a problem with my wargaming interest interfering with real life. Some of my friends don't really understand it (especially the prices lol), but no one has ever belittled me or anything for being into it; including co-workers. Most of 'em like looking at pictures of my games. Even my fiance helps me come up with painting ideas.

I really don't see the point in hiding my hobbies from anyone, if they care that much what I do, I don't want to associate with them anyways.

I guess it kind of comes down to who you hang out with, what age you are etc. Like you might hang out with total nerds, work in IT with total nerds and also have a total nerd girlfriend. I don't, so that's why it's kind of my hidden passion.

 Kill3RKiD wrote:

 Robisagg wrote:
I've never had a problem with my wargaming interest interfering with real life. Some of my friends don't really understand it (especially the prices lol), but no one has ever belittled me or anything for being into it; including co-workers. Most of 'em like looking at pictures of my games. Even my fiance helps me come up with painting ideas.

I really don't see the point in hiding my hobbies from anyone, if they care that much what I do, I don't want to associate with them anyways.

I guess it kind of comes down to who you hang out with, what age you are etc. Like you might hang out with total nerds, work in IT with total nerds and also have a total nerd girlfriend. I don't, so that's why it's kind of my hidden passion.

I suppose, although my friends group stems from my running an airsoft store, so that might have something to do with it lol. Even my non-nerdy friends (mostly from work, as a line cook and where I work currently, at a hospital), I've never had a negative reaction. The worst reaction I've had is indifference. I'm not exactly evangelical about the hobby, but I don't hide it either.

 Kill3RKiD wrote:

 Robisagg wrote:
I've never had a problem with my wargaming interest interfering with real life. Some of my friends don't really understand it (especially the prices lol), but no one has ever belittled me or anything for being into it; including co-workers. Most of 'em like looking at pictures of my games. Even my fiance helps me come up with painting ideas.

I really don't see the point in hiding my hobbies from anyone, if they care that much what I do, I don't want to associate with them anyways.

I guess it kind of comes down to who you hang out with, what age you are etc. Like you might hang out with total nerds, work in IT with total nerds and also have a total nerd girlfriend. I don't, so that's why it's kind of my hidden passion.

I sell boats, have a fiancee, im 20 and hang with a range of genders and ages. If anything, being nerdy is considered cool at the moment. Your hidden passion is your own business, but you sound like your 15 (which would explain a lot if your last post is anything to go by) and in a few years you will realize people dont care what you do once you leave college.

If anything wargaming gets people talking to me, I wear a storm trooper shirt to a party and all of a sudden I got people who dont even look like they have seen starwars more than once in their life voicing their opinions on the subject. One of my Fiancees girlfriend admitted she plays wargames and has been for ages when she found out I did. You have nothing to loose and lots to gain by being open about it. I even get paid days off work to attend wargaming related events and so on.

Unless you hang out with the scummiest of scum, wargaming isnt a problem most of the time for most people, and if it is, then chances are its more of a problem to you than it is to the other person.

I also fail to see your GF being anything important to you if you have to hide your passion from her for no real reason. It seems like your relationship wont last long

I also fail to see your GF being anything important to you if you have to hide your passion from her for no real reason. It seems like your relationship wont last long

Agreed. If she doesn't respect what you're into, she doesn't respect you. My Fiance makes fun of me a fair bit, but she also loves the fact that I have a hobby that doesn't involve me going to bars and blowing money away/shooting drugs into my arm. She even bought me my 2nd heldrake for my birthday

 Swastakowey wrote:

 Kill3RKiD wrote:

 Robisagg wrote:
I've never had a problem with my wargaming interest interfering with real life. Some of my friends don't really understand it (especially the prices lol), but no one has ever belittled me or anything for being into it; including co-workers. Most of 'em like looking at pictures of my games. Even my fiance helps me come up with painting ideas.

I really don't see the point in hiding my hobbies from anyone, if they care that much what I do, I don't want to associate with them anyways.

I guess it kind of comes down to who you hang out with, what age you are etc. Like you might hang out with total nerds, work in IT with total nerds and also have a total nerd girlfriend. I don't, so that's why it's kind of my hidden passion.

I sell boats, have a fiancee, im 20 and hang with a range of genders and ages. If anything, being nerdy is considered cool at the moment. Your hidden passion is your own business, but you sound like your 15 (which would explain a lot if your last post is anything to go by) and in a few years you will realize people dont care what you do once you leave college.

If anything wargaming gets people talking to me, I wear a storm trooper shirt to a party and all of a sudden I got people who dont even look like they have seen starwars more than once in their life voicing their opinions on the subject. One of my Fiancees girlfriend admitted she plays wargames and has been for ages when she found out I did. You have nothing to loose and lots to gain by being open about it. I even get paid days off work to attend wargaming related events and so on.

Unless you hang out with the scummiest of scum, wargaming isnt a problem most of the time for most people, and if it is, then chances are its more of a problem to you than it is to the other person.

I also fail to see your GF being anything important to you if you have to hide your passion from her for no real reason. It seems like your relationship wont last long

Calm down mate, my post was purely from observation lol. Chill out, you're appearing like I struck a nerve and had to respond with a "I sell boats" post. Lol. Boats.

My ex found my wargaming a bit nerdy, would sometimes give me sh*t for it but I'd just be like whatever b*tch you spend more money on makeup. So we both just canceled each other out and it was more playful banter than agressive attacks.

I don't hang out with the scummiest of scum, but I do hang out with a variety of different personalities. However, in their company we generally discuss common interests.

If someone notices my wargaming, or mentions it, I'm more than happy to dicuss it with them and give them insight into my nerdy little passion. That's cool and I'm fine with that.

You're 20 with a fiancee? Lol. I'll stop here before I get in trouble.

I do sell boats, means I can buy a house and get married at my age. But its not IT, and I can talk about my hobbies. Which is in direct conflict with what you said. Thats the only reason I stated it.

Seriously mate, learn to type with maturity. But I was simply responding to your post which essentially said "I cant talk about my passion because it would ruin my life and I will end up a stereotype". I was simply stating my experience. People dont mean talk about their hobby 24/7 in this thread, its just about mentioning it and getting reactions. You made it sound like unless you are the stereotype, you cant talk about it etc.

I also didnt type anything to hint I was angry/upset. It had more pity than anything. Im sure, with your poor choice of words, you offended someone out there.

Nothing wrong with getting married dude... sheesh.

I think you took my post personally (hence the angsty response). That was far from the intention. Simply putting, in my experience, you are wrong. Thats all.

 Swastakowey wrote:
I do sell boats, means I can buy a house and get married at my age. But its not IT, and I can talk about my hobbies. Which is in direct conflict with what you said. Thats the only reason I stated it.

Seriously mate, learn to type with maturity. But I was simply responding to your post which essentially said "I cant talk about my passion because it would ruin my life and I will end up a stereotype". I was simply stating my experience.

I also didnt type anything to hint I was angry/upset. It had more pity than anything. Im sure, with your poor choice of words, you offended someone out there.

Nothing wrong with getting married dude... sheesh.

I think you took my post personally (hence the angsty response). That was far from the intention. Simply putting, in my experience, you are wrong. Thats all.

Haha, take it easy cuz. I'll hit you up on Facebook later on tonight Jayden.

Dont have a Facebook dude. But yea, please dont take it wrongly...

Chances are im reading your post wrong anyways.

Rage against the Wargamer more like Rage amongst the Wargamers

GW should try a licensed range of deodorants, just get something of a suitable strength stick the logo and a marine on it, a suitably daft name and sell them in store and on the website...

leopard wrote:
GW should try a licensed range of deodorants, just get something of a suitable strength stick the logo and a marine on it, a suitably daft name and sell them in store and on the website...

"Musk of Slaneesh, when you need to smell of depravity"
"Stench of Nurgle, to rot your opponents face off"
"Khornes Rage, to bring the Blood God out of you"
"Tzeencthes scent, tp change the way you smell"

I have only ever encountered Anti wargamer stuff twice at highschool Ware it was a Case OF "Your weird you play with toys" and stuff like that.
And the other time was when, the guy that that used to rent next door threatened to call the landlord because there was a load of empty GW boxes in the paper recycling bag and I put some Guys I had just based outside to dry in the nice weather intending to base coat them later.

 DukeBadham wrote:

leopard wrote:
GW should try a licensed range of deodorants, just get something of a suitable strength stick the logo and a marine on it, a suitably daft name and sell them in store and on the website...

"Musk of Slaneesh, when you need to smell of depravity"
"Stench of Nurgle, to rot your opponents face off"
"Khornes Rage, to bring the Blood God out of you"
"Tzeencthes scent, tp change the way you smell"

Musk of Slaanesh, "Sixty percent of the time, it works every time!"

 DukeBadham wrote:

leopard wrote:
GW should try a licensed range of deodorants, just get something of a suitable strength stick the logo and a marine on it, a suitably daft name and sell them in store and on the website...

"Musk of Slaneesh, when you need to smell of depravity"
"Stench of Nurgle, to rot your opponents face off"
"Khornes Rage, to bring the Blood God out of you"
"Tzeencthes scent, tp change the way you smell"

Where can I preorder it?

 Naberiel wrote:

 DukeBadham wrote:

leopard wrote:
GW should try a licensed range of deodorants, just get something of a suitable strength stick the logo and a marine on it, a suitably daft name and sell them in store and on the website...

"Musk of Slaneesh, when you need to smell of depravity"
"Stench of Nurgle, to rot your opponents face off"
"Khornes Rage, to bring the Blood God out of you"
"Tzeencthes scent, tp change the way you smell"

Where can I preorder it?

At your friendly local Warp Rift!

Side effects may include, but are not limited to: Asthma, Psychotic Episodes, Typhoid, Syphilis, Funny Syphilis, Whooping Cough, Insanity, Gastronomical Anomalies, Leukemia, Space AIDS, All The STD's, Choke-My-Mother Syndrome, Skin Rashes, Ow-My-Spleen, Ow-My-Sphincter, Influenza, Rape, Berserker Rage, Chaos Worship, Witchcraft, Wych Craft, Sudden Understanding of Xenology, Heresy, Think-I'm-A-Commissar Syndrome, Madness, Inability to Stop Writing, Itchy Ballsack, Trollbait, Spawndom, Incessant Use of Technology, Technophilia, Sudden Death, Resurrection Powers, Enlarged Sexual Organs, Sensory Deprivation, Addiction to Everything, Chaos Worship...

 Selym wrote:

 Naberiel wrote:

 DukeBadham wrote:

leopard wrote:
GW should try a licensed range of deodorants, just get something of a suitable strength stick the logo and a marine on it, a suitably daft name and sell them in store and on the website...

"Musk of Slaneesh, when you need to smell of depravity"
"Stench of Nurgle, to rot your opponents face off"
"Khornes Rage, to bring the Blood God out of you"
"Tzeencthes scent, tp change the way you smell"

Where can I preorder it?

At your friendly local Warp Rift!

Side effects may include, but are not limited to: Asthma, Psychotic Episodes, Typhoid, Syphilis, Funny Syphilis, Whooping Cough, Insanity, Gastronomical Anomalies, Leukemia, Space AIDS, All The STD's, Choke-My-Mother Syndrome, Skin Rashes, Ow-My-Spleen, Ow-My-Sphincter, Influenza, Rape, Berserker Rage, Chaos Worship, Witchcraft, Wych Craft, Sudden Understanding of Xenology, Heresy, Think-I'm-A-Commissar Syndrome, Madness, Inability to Stop Writing, Itchy Ballsack, Trollbait, Spawndom, Incessant Use of Technology, Technophilia, Sudden Death, Resurrection Powers, Enlarged Sexual Organs, Sensory Deprivation, Addiction to Everything, Chaos Worship...

I like those side effects.

Now wait for the imperium to release their own brands,"Oil of geneseed" or some rubbish

 DukeBadham wrote:

 Selym wrote:

 Naberiel wrote:

 DukeBadham wrote:

leopard wrote:
GW should try a licensed range of deodorants, just get something of a suitable strength stick the logo and a marine on it, a suitably daft name and sell them in store and on the website...

"Musk of Slaneesh, when you need to smell of depravity"
"Stench of Nurgle, to rot your opponents face off"
"Khornes Rage, to bring the Blood God out of you"
"Tzeencthes scent, tp change the way you smell"

Where can I preorder it?

At your friendly local Warp Rift!

Side effects may include, but are not limited to: Asthma, Psychotic Episodes, Typhoid, Syphilis, Funny Syphilis, Whooping Cough, Insanity, Gastronomical Anomalies, Leukemia, Space AIDS, All The STD's, Choke-My-Mother Syndrome, Skin Rashes, Ow-My-Spleen, Ow-My-Sphincter, Influenza, Rape, Berserker Rage, Chaos Worship, Witchcraft, Wych Craft, Sudden Understanding of Xenology, Heresy, Think-I'm-A-Commissar Syndrome, Madness, Inability to Stop Writing, Itchy Ballsack, Trollbait, Spawndom, Incessant Use of Technology, Technophilia, Sudden Death, Resurrection Powers, Enlarged Sexual Organs, Sensory Deprivation, Addiction to Everything, Chaos Worship...

I like those side effects.

Now wait for the imperium to release their own brands,"Oil of geneseed" or some rubbish

And Repelent for Nids

More like repellent to everyone.

Still I don't remember the "old lady" railing against smelly gamers. If she did she might have a point.

Yeah, unfortunately the main reason I can't stand to play in stores is the smell of the players. It's repugnant.

I hadn't played anything in a gaming store since my CCG days back around 2002ish, and I immediately recognized the smell. However, I definitely didn't remember it being that strong. I put up with it for one night and then just decided it wasn't worth it if that was how I was gonna have to play 40k.

What! A female is repulsed by wargaming? Stop the press!!!

But in all seriousness, I find it repulsive myself. I think it is because it can be so pedantic. If you listen to gamers argue with each other, it really sounds like they're about 5 years old:

"My guy kills your guy"
"No! my guy is alive because he has infinity armour"
"Well my guy has infinity +1 laser cannon"
"No he doesn't! that got FAQed and he doesn't"
"We're never going to have sex are we?"

I think another common interaction people have with wargamers is when they (or their kids) touch your models. I'm sure if they understood that what they were holding cost a week's wages and 200 hours work, they would understand why it bothers you so much, but they don't. To them you're just an arsey guy getting in a mope about his toys.

I remember one time my friend's GF offered to carry a bag, which had all my Zombicide stuff in it (including all the limited editions). And then she just left it a shop. I think the worst part of that was trying to pretend that it wasn't a big deal as we walked slowly back to the shop. Waiting for the traffic lights to change seemed to take an eternity. It gave me a lot to think about... I didn't want to be mad at her, but I think I ended up just being mad at myself for owning something so stupidly expensive and irreplaceable that it made me feel that way. Is it really so much better playing with £50, limited-edition bits of plastic? Rather than what comes in the box? (to be honest once they are on the board you can't really see them).

The problem, if people do lose/damage your stuff is that they don't realize it's a big deal, and then when you explain to them what a big deal it is in terms of money, their next reaction is "Who would be stupid enough to spend that much on toys?".

I guess no one wants to be around someone who is fussy and anal about their stuff, but with miniatures it's really hard not to be.

LOL, that reminds me.... I have a friend who plays 40k and hangs out with Hooters girls (it's odd, it's like he's magical or something, it seems to help that he's really short and therefore not threatening). They would come over to use the pool while we were playing 40k and would just pick up models on the table and look at them. He would start yelling at them for touching his stuff in a somewhat tongue-and-cheek-but-seriously-put-it-down manner.

There's something truly hilarious about a 4'10" wargaming nerd yelling at a 6' drop-dead-gorgeous babe in a bikini to stop touching his plastic toy soldiers.

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

Saldiven wrote:

This is very true. Our FLGS has a bunch of people who are quite athletic. Several regulars at the store play on a club rugby team.

Please tell me where you live, so that I may make pilgrimage to this holy site!!! (I'm probably the only hooker on this site, or at least the only one to admit to such ) I know rugby is big in my area (well, as bit as rugby in the US can really be, we did just have the US National Club 7s Championships up here), but I've yet to see a gaming store that houses multiple athletic types.

Giga Bites Café in Atlanta Georgia.

Heck, even one of my regular Pathfinder players is getting freaking ripped. About a year ago, he got crazy into weight lifting, and now he's 6'5", under 200 lbs, and cut.

Biggest mistake with the wife:
She came down to the man-cave to talk to me.
I was doing some fine detail work painting so decided to use the jeweler visor.

To her, it looked like this:

She then said something around the line of the impact it had on her libido.

Thereafter they were called "The sex goggles." if she sees them again, it is not happening.

Aside from that, the hobby is fine with her.

Exalted for Bubbles!

 Talizvar wrote:
Biggest mistake with the wife:
She came down to the man-cave to talk to me.
I was doing some fine detail work painting so decided to use the jeweler visor.

To her, it looked like this:

She then said something around the line of the impact it had on her libido.

Thereafter they were called "The sex goggles." if she sees them again, it is not happening.

Aside from that, the hobby is fine with her.

This was a great story and totally something I could see happen to me and my significant other. Thank you for sharing!