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I've been tossing up for months on wether I should just sell my space marine army and I really don't know wich way to go.

on one side, I'm on of the best artist's at my store, I've been playing for years and I have enough to field a small apocolypse army.

cons, price of mini's is outrages, plus a 50% (HOLY god!) increase on some models.
most of the people I know are either in the 'good/nice' player click or 'donkey-cave/donkey-cave' click. and untill you wipe the floor with them they don't care.
all the time and money spent to play a few hour game.
I've been playing for about 5-6 years and I tied for last in ardboys. I win my share of regular games but I can't punch in.

I'm joining the guard soon and after basic i'm going to college. 40k has been like a bad girlfriend to me. you've been togethor for a long time and there's always something else you can do togethor to keep going but in the end she's just a girl, just plastic men and plastic dice.

If I don't put my heart, soul, and budget, into this game I"ll never be respected as a player, but if I do i'll be a shut in under a brush.

I use to just lose myself in the fluff of the game and love my army. but lately I go to the store and just waste my time playing it seams like.

and the last kicker, I see the adults that play this game. and the vast majority of them, I do not want to live like that. a room full of mini's, house is a mess, and either their single or their wife seams to have a personality of little to nothing.

can this be a respectable passtime? is there anyone out there that has a respectable life that plays this game or is it the 'intilectual marijuana' that sucks up money, time, and your life?

So take a break.

Lots of people do around your age, and then come back. It is an involved Hobby, and once out of high school, you have other, more important demands on your time, and something has to give.

I wouldn't sell *all* of your army off, at least not in a oner. Best advice (YMMV) is to sell off the bits you don't really use that much, and downsize.

That way, when you go to College, should you get into a Gaming Community, you don't have to pick up from scratch. And if not, you can always sell it on at a later date, like when you need the money.

And prices, when looked at amount of use, are actually fairly reasonable.

40k radio said it was going to be a huge price hike that sets in stone on the 29.

whats gone up by 50%?
Everything is rising by price bands,

but yes as Mad Doc says- just have a break- if its something you get back into in the future- great- if not- well life goes on

50% sounds like codswallop to me.

Wonder if the Online store has any info on it?

Mad doc has some good advice - don't sell off everything. Keep a good core of stuff and that makes it a hell of a lot easier to pick it up again later. I sold off a bunch of lizardmen about 9 years ago, but kept the core of the army (skinks/saurus/kroxigors) so last year when I wanted to start them up again, I have a 2500 point army for only $100 bucks spent on ebay. And only a few things to paint.

Plus you don't have to be "into" the hobby 100% in order to win. I take breaks of a couple months here and there when all I do is a little bit of painting/modeling and no gaming at all. And I'm married, have a son, and they both have great personalities. And I won my store's 'ardboyz (edit - that doesn't make me a "good" player btw, it means I got some lucky matchups and the dice went in my favor - but you don't have to play all the time in order to win or more importantly enjoy playing).

Don't sell everything!

Don't sell everything!

Don't sell everything!

And besides, it's not winning that makes you a good Gamer. It's how willing your opponents are to give you a rematch.

If I slap someone's army seven ways from Sunday, and all he does is piss and moan, or get finneckity about the rules, chances are I'm not going to play him again. Ever. Whats the point? I matched wits with him, won, and he just complained.

But, if someone frankly embarasses me with the ease of their win, predicting all my moves correctly, and generally running rings, but was friendly and, well, sportsmanlike, you bet I'll keep playing them.

If someone beats my army like a redheaded Step-child, and then gloats. And gloats. And gloats endlessly, I probably won't play them.

If I beat someone mercilessly and they accept that, luck aside, I earnt the victory, I'll play them again.

A player's Gamesmanship determines the victor. But it's a player's Sportsmanship that determines the winner. Bad loser or Bad winner, doesn't matter. Have humility and pride in equal measure, and take the rough with the smooth.

To add my 2p I'd say definitely give it a break. If you aren't getting much of a kick out of it any more, then there's no reason to do it. As others have said, its good advice not to dump all your stuff. By all means get rid of some if you really need the cash, but you won't really realise that much cash as unless it is painted unbelievably well the price you'll likely get is a fraction of what you paid for it. Box it up carefully and stuff it in your folks' attic until such time as you KNOW you definitely don't want it - even to give to your children in 20 years time ...

Personally I took a break from wargaming in my late teens. It lasted until my early 30's. I am now 40. During those years my hobby needs mutated from something I did to keep me busy during my long periods of free time as a school kid/student to being something I could pick up or put down with minimal expense (compared to many adult hobbies such as fishing, or hangliding or whatever) and kept me entertained when the only alternative was watching crap on TV.

There's definitely a period around theie 20's when most normal people find that playing toy soldiers isn't as much fun as it used to be. That's pefectly normal and sensible. You're motivations and priorities change (or should change) tremendously at that time. Its called "growing up"!

You may as well plan for the eventuality that in a decade or so you may find it attractive again though. No point in burning your bridges - its a heck of a lot easier to "get back into things" if you have an old, obsolete, but basically coherent set of models to play with than if you have to start all over again from scratch.

I produced a huge amount of stuff when I was a teenager but I pretty much packed it in around your age and once I went to Uni I did very little for years. I always did more of the modelling/painting side than the gaming, but the gaming slid off completely and the modelling dried up because I didn't have the time.

I do more now, not a lot but I manage a bit each week and I'm not out too much of practice so my painting hasn't deteriorated over the last few years.

I think having a wage and bills really brings home the expense of these things putting it in perspective. When you parents told you GW was expensive they weren't joking. I'm a painter not a gamer now because I can't justify the expense of a whole army.

Don't sell the stuff you do have, it'll be like throwing it away at the prices you're likely to get. Keep it and it'll either be there for you to dig ot later or it'll be an investment. I've done rather well out of selling some of my older figures.

I agree with everyone else:


Get out of the hobby if it doesn't interest you but *do not* sell your painted minis. Pack them away somewhere. You will thank us all years from now when you get the bug to play again.

Don't sell it. You will be more happy to have your stuff later if you decide to get back into it.

Yes, don't sell it. You will be sorry.

Anyway, I don't see your problem as really being a problem.

I own one painted army where I can play, oh, 2000 points reasonably easily, 2500, even 3000 if I start busting out semi-painted or unpainted stuff. I own a bunch of semi-started other armies. I've only been playing for maybe 2.5 years but haven't spent more than $700 on the hobby or miniatures total. For perspective, I bought a $600 electric piano a year ago and pay for twice-monthly lessons, and before that I spent I think $1500 on a year and a half of improv classes. Heck, I spent $600 over the last two years with my friends to rent a Gym once a week to play basketball. Look at how much golf costs. Unless you treat it like pokemon, Warhammer is not really a super expensive adult hobby.

As for the people/environment...well, I do know those people you're talking about, who look like they live in a GW warehouse. They are the exception, not the rule. There are plenty of warhammer players in their late s/early 30s and beyond who are not cheeto-covered mouth breathers.

For me, the best way to enjoy this hobby is a) to actually enjoy painting/modelling, so you don't feel like all the time spent is just wasted time to be able to play the game, and to b) collect at least 3 or 4 regular friends/opponents so you don't have to spend your time playing random people at the game store. Not that there is anything wrong with the random people at the game store, but pretty much *everything* is more fun when done with real friends. Stop looking for random people's warhammer respect and start looking for actual people you'd be willing to do things other than warhammer with to play warhammer with and I think you'd enjoy the hobby more. And if this doesn't exist in your area, take a break.

You always regret the mini's you have sold and the bug seems to come and go and when it comes back again it costs you twice as much to feed the addiction.

It is a game and it should be fun. If it feels like it is becoming a chore then don't play, and it sounds very much like the OP is at a point in his life when concentrating on other things would benefit him in the long term.

But I speak from experience when I say a time will come when you remember what you enjoyed about the hobby and you will have a fresh perspective about it. Maybe it will come and go, maybe one day you will return for good. But if you get rid of all your stuff then it will really suck when you want it again.

Fifteen years ago I had 4,500 points of space orks that I got rid of, and now I have decided there is a slight hole in my life where an ork horde should be. With all the commitments that I have now I'm really struggling to get a 1,000 point army assembled and painted.

On the plus side, if you concentrate on getting an education while you have the chance you at least have the possibility of earning enough in the future that you won't have to worry about the price hikes.

In any event, good luck with whatever you decide to do.

If you painted your minatures to a good (or even decent level) then keep them. If nothing else, you can look up on the shelf and admire your artistry. If you got a bunch of unpainted stuff taking up space, then by all means sell that off if you don't think you're going to want to play with it for years to come. If it's in a box somewhere, you can always go get it out again years later. If you sell it off now, it's gone forever.

I have to agree that you could regret selling off everything. You should take a break from all activities at one time or another. Also, the guard and college are full of gamers. I am willing to bet you will meet some new ones, which I suspect might change your view of what an adult gamer is like. I cannot think of a hobby that requires you to be that guy you describe. I know way too many guys who have interesting jobs and are married to beautiful, engaging women to think that there is any causality. This hobby might attract more of that personality type, or perhaps you are more primed to recognize those guys because of the stereotype. Either way, it’s based on the individual and not a destiny for all. If you don't want to hang out with those guys, and they are all you end up finding, you don’t have to social with the people you game with. If you decide to get back into the hobby, the best part is you can decide your own goals. How much you spend, how much time, how big of a collection you have. You also are the one who decides what level of enjoyment you get out of it. Perhaps you are more of a casual gamer. You shouldn't ask if you are respected as a player, you should be asking if you are having fun. It doesn't sound like you are now, but with some time and a new perspective, you might again.

Agree with much of the above advice. Save your painted figs and pack 'em away, and when you want to come back to it they'll be there. Besides, nothing is cooler than showing up for a new edition of the game with ancient relics painted impeccably. Toward the middle of 3e someone showed up to game with his RT Imperial Guard army. Who CARES whether he can use the human bombs at that point: it was super cool. When 7th ed. comes out and you bust out your 3-4th ed. figs, people are gonna plotz.

Woops

Being respected as a gamer? Who cares? Quite fraknly, why are you putting so much stock into the "respect" of others. The few simple questions you should be asking your self are. 1. Do I enjoy playing this game, (win or loose). 2 Do people enjoy playing against me (win or loose). And third : Is this a game that I am going to continue to enjoy? Everything else is unimportant. I have been playing Warhammer for almost 20 years. I have been in I think only 2 local tournaments, and thats it. I got last in the most rescent one, and second to last in the one before that. My win persentage over that 20 years is probably less than 25%, however, I have enjoyed almost every minuet of it. I am concidered by my club to be one of the best opponents, because I don't take the game seriously enough to ever get made or pissed off. That is more important to me than winning, the fact that I and my opponent have a good time. Ponder what your real motovation is for playing. If it's because you like the stratagy, and pitting your self against another , than I say keep playing. If you find that your motavation is grounded in "winning" or being able to create "Competative" lists, then move on, because the game is superficial to your desires. Try online video gaming then, it's cheaper, and you'll win more.
Ok thats it for my philosophy of Warhammer : )

sell it all if thats how you feel but be warned i did that thinking the same way you are and BAM i bought a new army this year and if i would of kept my army i wouldnt of had to spend all the money again!!!

I agree with what everyone is saying here. Keep your minis.

wash-away wrote:I see the adults that play this game. and the vast majority of them, I do not want to live like that. a room full of mini's, house is a mess, and either their single or their wife seams to have a personality of little to nothing.

can this be a respectable passtime? is there anyone out there that has a respectable life that plays this game or is it the 'intilectual marijuana' that sucks up money, time, and your life?

I have a very good friend who plays, and has played for years, and he is a very respected administrator at a private school. Make it your own. You don't have to be like everyone else. If you like it, then like it. You can still have whatever life you want to have. This game, or for that matter, any other hobby you have in life shouldn't change who you are. If you want to have a clean house and a good job, do it. But if you also like to game, then find a way to incorporate it into you life. It is never a good idea to walk away from something that you love or are passionate about just because some other folks you don't like are also into it. I think you'll find the equivalent to the greasy gamer in everything. Find the good, and don't dwell on the negative.

<Gets off soapbox, applies grease to blend back in with the greasy gamers.>

wash-away wrote:and the last kicker, I see the adults that play this game. and the vast majority of them, I do not want to live like that. a room full of mini's, house is a mess, and either their single or their wife seams to have a personality of little to nothing.

can this be a respectable passtime? is there anyone out there that has a respectable life that plays this game or is it the 'intilectual marijuana' that sucks up money, time, and your life?

Hi, I'm Janthkin, and I'm a 40k gamer. I'm also a patent attorney, married, and have a lot of non-GW pasttimes. And my wife would definitely object (violently) to being accused of having no personality.

What you may find is that some of the "respectable" games don't hang out at the gaming store. I, for one, just don't have the time to play every week. I do make tournaments, though, and the larger the tournament, the more people like me I find there.

Most people (myself included) find that 40k can feel like a dead end after a while. The constant evolution of the game, and GW as a whole can leave hobbyists feeling breathless at the prospect of keeping up. You are lucky in that you play marines. If you unbox an army of Blood Angels from 15 years ago, it will still fit in.

Your immediate future suggests that dedication to the hobby will be strained at best. Now is the time to ''hibernate''. If you choose to return in a few years time, there will be new changes and fresh challenges. Painting is not a skill you can forget easily, so those years of dedication will not be lost either.

Getting a partner to understand the hobby is really down to your personality, and theirs. If they are truly worth having around, they won't care, so long as you don't shove it down their throats or let it get in the way.

Put the marines in stasis. The game isn't going anywhere, and you have plenty of models anyway. A break will allow you to reassess how you feel about the hobby, and its future. You'll know whether it's relevant or not from that point onwards.

All the best.

Janthkin wrote:

wash-away wrote:and the last kicker, I see the adults that play this game. and the vast majority of them, I do not want to live like that. a room full of mini's, house is a mess, and either their single or their wife seams to have a personality of little to nothing.

can this be a respectable passtime? is there anyone out there that has a respectable life that plays this game or is it the 'intilectual marijuana' that sucks up money, time, and your life?

Hi, I'm Janthkin, and I'm a 40k gamer. I'm also a patent attorney,...

He said respectable life, being a lawyer doesn't count j/k


I'm a software developer (nothing says nerd like backing up a nerdy career with a nerdy hobby), but I'm also a biker whose ridden my Harley across the US, a musician, a homeowner and a Chicago Bears season ticket holder. Gaming is a part of my life, but not the only thing in it. My wife would also object heavily to being called personality-less. But, I met her at a Vampire Larp, so she's as much a gamer as I am and even plays in doubles tournaments with me occasionally.

Everything in moderation

Yeah, I agree on lots of points here.

I gave up wargaming when I was in my late teens because more important things (like girls and university) came along. Once I was out of uni for a few years I got the urge to start gaming again and I haven't looked back. I was VERY happy to find boxes and boxes of old models still in my parents' loft, and I now rarely buy new models except on eBay. So, if you're not enjoying playing, then stop. But keep the models, just in case. If you still don't want them in 10 years, you can sell them as OOP for twice as much...

I also agree that a trip to see the geeks at the local gaming store doesn't really fill you with confidence about your future as a human being! I think someone used the phrase "cheeto-covered mouth breathers". There ARE real, successful adults who play the game - you might find quite a few on here (since we're the ones who don't have time to hang out for hours discussing Kill Points in a shopping mall) - check out the member articles section. There ARE the greasy uber-geeks as well, but you get to choose who you play with...

And to add my 'I'm a real person, really' credentials - I design sfx and video graphics for live bands & theatre shows, I get to tour the world, both as a designer and a musician, and I still manage to play Warhammer occasionally, without having to resort to the local group of beardy gaming nerds...

I took a 12 year break from wargames to get married, get a career, get a daughter, take another degree, and so on.

During all that time I hung onto every piece of my wargaming and RPG stuff. Then I sold everything that I really knew in my heart, I was never going to use again. It hurt to let it go, but I felt liberated, and glad that it weant to people who really wanted it.

It brought in a fair amount of cash, much of which was reinvested in Tau.

The really important stuff I kept.

It took time to get that perspective. If I had flogged off all my kit early on at firesale prices, I would probably have always regretted it as a lost opportunity.

I'm a recent college grad, I've been with my multinational company for about a year and a half now, and have a very promising and rewarding career as a supply chain manager. I've got several armies, I play on Saturday, and although some of the people I regularly see at the store are complete losers like you describe, I'd never lump myself in with the herd.

The hobby is what you make of it. Take a break, but do *not* sell your minis.

thank you everyone.

and as cheesy at it sounds it's good to know that I'm not the only one that this happens to.

Keep you stuff but take a break. I recently rediscovered my figures when my 5-year old boys started asking about them. Now we do set ups and very simple games with them.

TBH, you might also be in a rut because of the people at your local store. Go to Basic, go to school and find a new store. Often times, a change of scenery is all you need.

Additionally, you might consider some of the GTs. After reading the battle reports from the LVGT, I might go next year just to meet up with others. That's a refreshing change in an of itself.

Best of luck.