Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So, with the discount they give too students at my town, I decided on a tatoo, specifically on my calf.
So, recently I shaved my head, it is nice and shiny.
I showed my friend the Aquila im getting he said "Are you trying to look like a Racist?"
So, Im wondering, is an Aquila that bad? will people take it out of context?
Failing that, What about a Tau Empire symbol?
Or White Scars?

Just so I'm clear, you're getting this on your calf, not your head, right? Cause yeah...head tattoo...

Anyway, yes, the aquila is a bad idea because it is far more commonly associated with other things than 40k.

 curran12 wrote:
Just so I'm clear, you're getting this on your calf, not your head, right? Cause yeah...head tattoo...

Anyway, yes, the aquila is a bad idea because it is far more commonly associated with other things than 40k.

What he said.

When people (normal people, not nerds like us) see this:


They think, because they have no fething clue what that is (or have never picked up a damn history book), this:


And that gets their nickers in a twist. Add shaved head to the mix and you have the nazi alarms going off everywhere. If you're anything but white, though, you're probably fine.

EDIT: I would probably advise you not get a tattoo of a symbol form 40k. Might lose interest at some point, and then the tat will be something of a waste. Get something logical. Like your girlfriends name. That could never go wrong.

I guess a tau symbol then. Or inquisition

I seem to recall you wanted to lose a large amount of weight, if so any tattoo is a bad idea.

Even on the calf? Which is still mostly muscle for me?

It's probably still a bad idea.

Don't get a tattoo, especially one from a place that gives a discount to college kids.

 ScootyPuffJunior wrote:
Don't get a tattoo, especially one from a place that gives a discount to college kids.

It isn't that odd around here. The local game store gives 20% off. And they are reputable.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Stonebeard wrote:
advise you not get a tattoo of a symbol form 40k. Might lose interest at some point, and then the tat will be something of a waste. Get something logical. Like your girlfriends name. That could never go wrong.

What if, because I do like gaming, a pair orpeople flaming d20

 hotsauceman1 wrote:

 ScootyPuffJunior wrote:
Don't get a tattoo, especially one from a place that gives a discount to college kids.

It isn't that odd around here. The local game store gives 20% off. And they are reputable.

I didn't say it was "odd" and my point still stands.

Don't chose a tattoo shop because they give discounts to college kids.

Why? They are clean, several if my friends got from there, and they are reasonably priced

Choose a shop based on their work. Never go by price. You have to live with what you have inked on you. I went halfway across my state to get an ex hollywood guy to work on my moto tattoo.

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
Why? They are clean, several if my friends got from there, and they are reasonably priced

Why? Price shouldn't even be on the list of things to consider when deciding on a tattoo.

 ScootyPuffJunior wrote:

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
Why? They are clean, several if my friends got from there, and they are reasonably priced

Why? Price shouldn't even be on the list of things to consider when deciding on a tattoo.

Yeah, this. I got my first tattoo based on price (I was 18 bite me) It's pretty bad. Not that I actually care too much. Lesson learned.

Me too. £5 for a poor tattoo when I was younger than I should have been.

Around £1000 to have it lasered off 30 years later.

Most of that 30 years I was unhappy that I had it.

Bizarrely, I still find them cool.

Guess I haven't learned my lesson yet.

Discount tattoo, which later becomes full price regret.


Don't get a gaming tattoo, it's dumb. If you grow up one day or decide that you don't like the company you are branded for life.

If you get a tattoo get something that matters to you on a person level and make sure it isn't a piece of advertising for somebody else. Otherwise you may as well just get a tattoo of the coke or pepsi logo.

Also at a glance the Imperial Eagle looks like a Nazi symbol to people not familiar with 40k. If somebody assumes you are a white supremist, it can lead to arguments, loss of your job, create fights with gang members, etc. Really bad idea. It's best to place tattoos in areas that can be covered up, as visible tats are still received negatively by a lot of potential employers.

Word of advice...don't get a tattoo. Just...don't. And especially do NOT get a tattoo based on a game you currently play...

 Sigvatr wrote:
Word of advice...don't get a tattoo. Just...don't. And especially do NOT get a tattoo based on a game you currently play...

Ehm, theres nothing wrong with getting a tattoo.

If you want to go to Japan you should avoid being Tattoed.

You probably won't be allowed to go into a public bath or onsen spa.

 Soladrin wrote:


Ehm, theres nothing wrong with getting a tattoo.

In general? No. At his age? Yes.

 Sigvatr wrote:

 Soladrin wrote:
Ehm, theres nothing wrong with getting a tattoo.

In general? No. At his age? Yes.

I have quite a few tattoos and I tend to agree.

 Kilkrazy wrote:
If you want to go to Japan you should avoid being Tattoed.

You probably won't be allowed to go into a public bath or onsen spa.

Or a capsule hotel. The reason I don't have a tattoo yet is mostly because of this.

Still, I heard they pretend not to notice when it's a gaijin and has one or two parts of the body covered in bandages (ofc I can't confirm this)

 TheDraconicLord wrote:

 Kilkrazy wrote:
If you want to go to Japan you should avoid being Tattoed.

You probably won't be allowed to go into a public bath or onsen spa.

Or a capsule hotel. The reason I don't have a tattoo yet is mostly because of this.

Still, I heard they pretend not to notice when it's a gaijin and has one or two parts of the body covered in bandages (ofc I can't confirm this)

Huh, really? Didn't know they were so dumb about tattoos. Then again, it's Japan, they are dumb about a lot of stuff.

I guess it depends on the type of tattoo worn by a certain type of.. character in Japan.

Also, GW have major issues with GW related tattoos. They see it a huge breach of their copyright, IP, trademarks, whatever etc. I've heard many, many stories of employees being fired for getting them or potential employees being shown the door immediately. This includes those that don't even work in customer facing jobs.

I like how the second of the right has weed leaf on his leg.

 Compel wrote:
Also, GW have major issues with GW related tattoos. They see it a huge breach of their copyright, IP, trademarks, whatever etc. I've heard many, many stories of employees being fired for getting them or potential employees being shown the door immediately. This includes those that don't even work in customer facing jobs.

Cheese Slicer.

This is the aquila tattoo you should be getting. With this, no one will ever mistake you for a fascist again:

I genuinely laughed*.

Also, at young age a tattoo is not the best of ideas. Especially a cheap one.

*trust me, people would

Yeah, I wouldn't recommend a GW tattoo at all. Ask yourself this:

Do you love the Imperium enough to have a reminder of it permanently etched into your skin, for the rest of your life?

If the answer is 'yes', you have a lot of growing up to do and therefore probably shouldn't get the aquila tattoo.

If the answer is 'no', you probably shouldn't get the aquila tattoo.


My best advice, if you MUST get a gaming-related tattoo, is to make it as generic as possible so you're not super embarrassed about it in later life. Something like a D6 can look cool and still symbolises your love of gaming.