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Are you a “guest player” or a “host player” when you are gaming?  [RSS] Share on facebook Share on Twitter Submit to Reddit
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Are you a “guest player” or a “host player” when you are gaming?
I am a “guest player”. I focus on my favorite minis and rely on others for the rest.
I am a “host player”. I have my favorite minis but I also provide terrain/NPC’s for world building.
I do not consider myself either and will explain in the comments below.

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Made in de
Dakka Veteran





I have this idea that there are most players, let’s call them “guest players,” the folks who may have their favorite character mini, or their favorite warband, maybe even their favorite army. They also may have their favorite dice and appropriate personal rule books but no terrain, no NPCs. I believe these players are the majority of gamers.

For most of the years I have been gaming I was a guest player. It never crossed my mind to get some props, terrain or minis that I would not be “controlling”. I always relied on a “host player” for these things.

So then, what are “host players?” They have playing/storage space, game props, terrain, their own favorite character/warband/army and a bunch of NPCs that they or others may be “controlling.” These host players could also be described as world builder players. I believe that they are likely a minority of gamers.

The last couple of years I have become a host player.

Now I would like to test my theory… are guest players the majority and host players the minority?

To what end you may ask?

For me, adding terrain to the table helps share the sense of world building. It makes me feel more like it is “our table” compared to “my table”.

I would love to see the majority of players get some terrain, easy to transport scatter if you will, some buildings or modular pieces of buildings. Pieces that they can continue to use long after they have repeatedly switched favorite character/warband/army. Pieces that they bring to the different games they play and pool together to help host players make even more amazing tables.

It is true that some folks do this already as part of gaming clubs but again I believe that is a minority and that most folks who bring things to share at clubs or events are still actually host players…. Just on the move, so to speak. It is folks doing this that gave me the idea that maybe it would be good for the hobby if more did it.

Another thing that sparked this thought was watching Too Fat Lardies using their random terrain set up system for Infamy, Infamy! on YouTube.

Do you think it would be a good idea for more players to have a couple of favorite terrain pieces and/or NPC’s to bring to games?

What do you think could be done to encourage more players to do this?

Rick, the Grumpy Gnome

https://thegrumpygnome.home.blog/ 
   
Made in fi
Locked in the Tower of Amareo





Both. Why limit yourself to one place to play? I play where I can. Sometimes at home, sometimes at opponents home, mostly at FLGS.

But asking people to bring terrain to other places is pretty rough these days. It takes space. And armies can take already space. My lumineth takes up 2 big boxes. My 40k armies can take 4-5 boxes and even if I reshuffle units around it's carry all. And even reshuffling still results in 2-3 box often enough. Carrying terrain as well?

For that to be viable GW needs to shrink their models first

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/06/16 10:07:43


2024 painted/bought: 109/109 
   
Made in de
Dakka Veteran





tneva82 wrote:
Both. Why limit yourself to one place to play? I play where I can. Sometimes at home, sometimes at opponents home, mostly at FLGS.


The topic is not focused on where you play but instead whether or not you help provide more than just the miniatures that you will be directly controlling, ie do you always rely on others for terrain?

Rick, the Grumpy Gnome

https://thegrumpygnome.home.blog/ 
   
Made in fi
Locked in the Tower of Amareo





Always no. when I'm at home it's my terrain etc.

GW makes models too big and numerous to make carrying terrain outside home sensible.

2024 painted/bought: 109/109 
   
Made in au
Owns Whole Set of Skullz Techpriests






Versteckt in den Schatten deines Geistes.

Some of my friends are trying to get terrain, but I own tables and tables of the stuff.

I often end up providing entire armies as well.

Industrial Insanity - My Terrain Blog
"GW really needs to understand 'Less is more' when it comes to AoS." - Wha-Mu-077

 
   
Made in gb
[DCM]
Coastal Bliss in the Shadow of Sizewell





Suffolk, where the Aliens roam.

Nearly always a host player, even when I ran gaming clubs in the 90s I provided all the terrain.

I can count the number of times I have played outside my home in the last fifteen years on one hand, and two of those were Doubles Tournies at Lenton.

This is not a bad thing mind as I really enjoy making terrain.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/06/16 11:12:39


"That's not an Ork, its a girl.." - Last words of High General Daran Ul'tharem, battle of Ursha VII.

Two White Horses (Ipswich Town and Denver Broncos Supporter)
 
   
Made in de
Battlefield Tourist






Nuremberg

Ever since I started in the hobby with an old pool table and some model railway trees I've been the "host player", often starting clubs or otherwise introducing people to wargaming or roleplaying or what have you. These days, without a wargaming group, I provide everything for games, all the figures, rulebooks, dice, measuring tapes and terrain. I don't mind as long as people are respectful of my stuff (had some minis broken by careless players over the years unfortunately, that is irksome!) and I like introducing miniatures games to new people.

I think we're likely to get a skewed result here though. I think people posting on long running fora like Dakkadakka are more likely to be heavily into the hobby and therefore are more likely to be hosts than guests.

   
Made in de
Dakka Veteran





Whilst I have been asking these questions in a number of forums, fair point about results possibly skewed by the type of interested folks who are on such forums compared to more casual players.

I can see from early responses in various places my terms are causing some confusion.

The fact that you would provide minis and terrain at all makes you a “host player.” The question is not where do you game or are you a DM/GM. Where ever you play, in whichever role, you help in hosting the game by helping with the physical tools of world building.

And yes this often falls onto the more experienced players with more resources available… but should there be a way to encourage new players to help out with terrain at the same time they buy their first minis?

Rick, the Grumpy Gnome

https://thegrumpygnome.home.blog/ 
   
Made in us
Battlefield Tourist




MN (Currently in WY)

To put it in perspective, I play with about 10 other folks who are all "Guest" players. None of them post here.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/06/16 13:45:34


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Made in gb
Malicious Mandrake




I'm confused by your definitions of host and guest, and I would argue that where you play is a factor in answering your question.

I have played regularly here at home, at friends' houses, at GW stores and at Warhammer World.

In store I use the store's scenery, and never bring any. I HAVE brought second armies for a new gamer to play with (host in your definition?). At the club, they have scenery, so I don't bring any. At friend's homes, generally the physical host provides the scenery, while I bring my own army (unless they say "Can you bring...?) If we're trying a new game in any venue, the game proposer brings enough for both or all to play. At the school wargames club, I brought nearly everything. At home, my friends brought their armies.

Both, in your terms, I guess, but overlapping.
   
Made in us
Fresh-Faced New User




We host, and we have terrain and minis we have collected over the years. The GW armies serve double and triple duty since well, a chaos warrior is a chaos warrior.

In the process of painting, some scatter terrain, because we have been playing a lot more in the recent past.
   
Made in gb
Battleship Captain





Bristol (UK)

Definitely a guest player.
I am but a poor student living in shared accommodation so having people over isn't an option. I play pretty much exclusively at gaming clubs/university society.

Although I do have all the terrain I need for Necromunda, but that's very small and compressible so it doesn't occupy much room.
   
Made in gb
Been Around the Block





Im host for like 99.something% of my games.
For obvious mainstream games it's a lot easier to be a guest, there's a good chance I could find another host for 40k and just have to supply my army. If I want to entice other people into a game they hadn't considered before then I'm going to have a much easier time if I have a full set of terrain or maybe a second army for it.
   
Made in us
Ultramarine Terminator with Assault Cannon






I go with the flow, but I tend to host most games at my house. It's a more relaxed atmosphere, better terrain, better food and there's beer.
   
Made in gb
Stalwart Tribune





stroller wrote:
I'm confused by your definitions of host and guest, and I would argue that where you play is a factor in answering your question.

I have played regularly here at home, at friends' houses, at GW stores and at Warhammer World.

In store I use the store's scenery, and never bring any. I HAVE brought second armies for a new gamer to play with (host in your definition?). At the club, they have scenery, so I don't bring any. At friend's homes, generally the physical host provides the scenery, while I bring my own army (unless they say "Can you bring...?) If we're trying a new game in any venue, the game proposer brings enough for both or all to play. At the school wargames club, I brought nearly everything. At home, my friends brought their armies.

Both, in your terms, I guess, but overlapping.


This. Same.

Praise the Omnissiah

About 4k of .

Imperial Knights (Valiant, Warden & Armigers)

Some Misc. Imperium units etc. Assassins...

About 2k of  
   
Made in us
Legendary Master of the Chapter





SoCal

 Easy E wrote:
To put it in perspective, I play with about 10 other folks who are all "Guest" players. None of them post here.


Most of the people I play against are friends and family who are casually interested at best. I have to host everything with them. With other wargamers, they tend to host more often then I do because their models are mostly painted.

   
Made in gb
Joined the Military for Authentic Experience





On an Express Elevator to Hell!!

 Easy E wrote:
To put it in perspective, I play with about 10 other folks who are all "Guest" players. None of them post here.


I think that's an interesting observation, and my experience as well. I have some friends/colleagues that are just about into gaming enough that they will boxset of miniatures, maybe even have a go at painting them, and will come around to play games at mine or a friends house. But myself and another friend that are really into the games are the ones that go through the 'trouble' (although its not really!) of collecting terrain, learning the rules, providing a venue.


Epic 30K&40K! A new players guide, contributors welcome https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/751316.page
Small but perfectly formed! A Great Crusade Epic 6mm project: https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/694411.page

 
   
Made in de
Battlefield Tourist






Nuremberg

I think that's the norm outside of specialist venues where groups of people like us congregate.

Certainly after leaving university and my old group from Uni who were all more engaged, I've realised that if I wanna play these games I've gotta be ready to provide everything.

As to getting others to contribute, I think you'd have to organise it, like a fun activity for them crafting terrain for example where they get to keep the pieces. But you'd still be providing the materials and tools I'd say, at least at first.

   
Made in us
Commanding Lordling





I have table, terrain, and extra stuff if needed for all the games I play. I guess I'm a host player, which is nice as I have a dedicated space for my gaming and other hobbies.
   
Made in de
Dakka Veteran





stroller wrote:
I'm confused by your definitions of host and guest, and I would argue that where you play is a factor in answering your question.

I have played regularly here at home, at friends' houses, at GW stores and at Warhammer World.

In store I use the store's scenery, and never bring any. I HAVE brought second armies for a new gamer to play with (host in your definition?). At the club, they have scenery, so I don't bring any. At friend's homes, generally the physical host provides the scenery, while I bring my own army (unless they say "Can you bring...?) If we're trying a new game in any venue, the game proposer brings enough for both or all to play. At the school wargames club, I brought nearly everything. At home, my friends brought their armies.

Both, in your terms, I guess, but overlapping.


By the terms I was aiming at you are very much a host player. You make an effort to help world build where required, providing more than is necessary just to play what you control… when those items are requested/needed/necessary.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
 Da Boss wrote:
I think that's the norm outside of specialist venues where groups of people like us congregate.

Certainly after leaving university and my old group from Uni who were all more engaged, I've realised that if I wanna play these games I've gotta be ready to provide everything.

As to getting others to contribute, I think you'd have to organise it, like a fun activity for them crafting terrain for example where they get to keep the pieces. But you'd still be providing the materials and tools I'd say, at least at first.


What an excellent idea, a crafting session! Now that is a perfect example of give a player a fish compared to teaching a player how to fish!

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/06/16 17:08:10


Rick, the Grumpy Gnome

https://thegrumpygnome.home.blog/ 
   
Made in us
Battlefield Tourist




MN (Currently in WY)

I also found social painting/building session to be pretty cool and fun!

Support Blood and Spectacles Publishing:
https://www.patreon.com/Bloodandspectaclespublishing 
   
Made in gb
Executing Exarch





Bit of both really

I play exclusively at my local club, which has a reasonable stash of mats and terrain mostly suited to 40k

But I've also got my stash for games I play that the club doesn't have stocks of

"AND YET YOU ACT AS IF THERE IS SOME IDEAL ORDER IN THE WORLD, AS IF THERE IS SOME...SOME RIGHTNESS IN THE UNIVERSE BY WHICH IT MAY BE JUDGED." 
   
Made in gb
Fixture of Dakka





Went with neither as it has been pretty much from home and the games are with my long term opponent and fellow adventurer, my older brother. Used to play after school, back in the 90s, and it was a good laugh, but only had a few games at other venues and found them awkward after a while.

During these hard times its been mostly solo games.

Casual gaming, mostly solo-coop these days.

 
   
Made in us
Ultramarine Terminator with Assault Cannon






I used to host a Friday Night Fight & Paint at my house. Some of us would play, some hobby. My hobby supplies were open for anyone to use (except my bushes and GW spray cans). I did this in an effort to keep the group excited and get their models painted.
   
Made in au
Anti-Armour Swiss Guard






Newcastle, OZ

I can be both.

I have some space at home for gaming, when I can be bothered hosting someone. I have terrain and boards and even spare armies/forces for several games.

Most of the time, I game at a club, where we have terrain and boards and the facilities.

I'm OVER 50 (and so far over everyone's BS, too).
Old enough to know better, young enough to not give a ****.

That is not dead which can eternal lie ...

... and yet, with strange aeons, even death may die.
 
   
Made in us
Blackclad Wayfarer





Philadelphia

Host player

   
Made in us
Master Engineer with a Brace of Pistols





washington state USA

Absolutely a "host" player

I bring entire containers of various special terrain for different scales of games we play along with spare armies for others to use or learn how to play a game system. i actually fill up my little van with stuff for gaming every weekend to the point i do not have room for any other people to ride in it. i also run the late night gaming area at the FLGS, usually spending 12+ hours at the store on game night.





GAMES-DUST1947/infinity/B5 wars/epic 40K/5th ed 40K/victory at sea/warmachine/battle tactics/monpoc/battletech/battlefleet gothic/castles in the sky,/heavy gear 
   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka




NE Ohio, USA

Depends upon the day, what were playing, and where.
But by your general definition I'm easily a host player.
   
Made in us
Brigadier General






Chicago

Definitely Host.
I'm happy to be a guest when someone else is leading but my default setting is host.

I love terrain building and whenever possible I like to be able to provide an army/warband for guests who might not have painted figures. I enjoy setting up impressive terrain tables at my home and also enjoy running big convention games. Finding interesting scenarios for players is also fun for me.

Really, I just like to see people enjoying my handiwork, whether I win or lose isn't much of a concern to me.

The one area I'm not always interested in leading is rules. I was famous in my old club for forgetting rules. Unless it's a convention game I'm putting on or a game I'm very familiar with I always hope someone more rules-minded is around.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/07/01 14:32:09


Chicago Skirmish Wargames club. Join us for some friendly, casual gaming in the Windy City.
http://chicagoskirmishwargames.com/blog/


My Project Log, mostly revolving around custom "Toybashed" terrain.
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/651712.page

Visit the Chicago Valley Railroad!
https://chicagovalleyrailroad.blogspot.com 
   
Made in gb
Dakka Veteran



South East London

I had to put myself down as a neither.

I generally play games at my local store or club, or, predominantly at a friend's house.

I have a table and scenery at home for multiple game systems but: I live in London so space is a premium but I also have 4 cats....

This makes hosting games difficult so I tend to play as a guest 99% of the time (when i do host it's usually board games).

One day, when I have more space, I will have a cat-free, dedicated gaming room. But, sadly, until then I am reliant on other venues.

"Dig in and wait for Winter" 
   
 
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