40K... How Do You Play Yours?

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all from The Folly of War. As we mark the end of a overall good year in wargaming, I feel its time for some reflection and changes with my view of the world of 40K.



This is not my 40K

What a jam packed (strawberry flavoured) year it has been for 40K with the new rule book, chaos 30K and loadsa new shiny toys. Has it been good or has it been bad? Constant moans of "allies is stupid" are being cried up and down the country in tournament games everywhere. The hardcore majority of my friends are of that breed and will stop at nothing to create the most "broken list". I myself have even fallen into the seductive arms of tournament gaming with promises of glory and silverware this year (yeah right I can dream). Many an evening was spent in heated discussion about what should go into an army and what shouldn't due to its viability in tournaments. I remember one afternoon after just purchasing Lucius the Eternal a complete stranger told me that I shouldn't have bought him and that he was a waist of money for a "decent" Chaos army. That kind of conversation really knocks the hobby stuffing out of you and low and behold no Chaos army 3 months later. This type of thing happens to me quite a lot and can be a massive blow to any new army I want to collect.

My Dead Pile

However, after a very one sided game between me and my ever so delightful brother (Space Wolves are his friend) I realised something. Who the hell is anyone to tell me how to play MY damn hobby! I have, quite frankly, had it with tournament players and their "ooooh I don't think you should do that..." attitude. My brother has taught me a vital lesson this year, which is I just don't want to be "that guy". He is a very competent 40k player but his love for his hobby is very different from mine and thats fine. His point was this "I don't like painting but I like to win and at the end of the day I don't care if my army is painted or not". Now, at first I thought my brother was just being a win at all cost kinda guy but actually he has a point. Its his game as much as mine and if he wants to build an army that kicks out enough firpower the British armed forces blush then fair play.

His Dead Pile (the 3 Marines on their own Killed themselves)



My point is I want the same entitlement in reverse.



This is my 40K!!!!!

I want to take certain lists because they're in the background. I want to use models because they look good and I have spent vast numbers of hours painting them. I want to buy a model without being put off by someone elses perspective of the game bluring my own. So, I have decided I am going to go back to how I used to collect when I was a teenager. My Blood Angels are staying with me but I am going to paint the entire 3rd company. If i decide to go to a tournament I'll take a list from what I have and not go out and specifically buy units that will "compliment" each other on the table. I am also looking at going to more themed events (Campaign weekends and Apocolypse games). Hopefully with this in mind I will keep my love of 40K fresh and hopefully not end up (like a lot of people I know) falling out of love with 6th. My wish for 2013 is that people begin to understand that not everyone plays the game like them and thats okay.



You might have a different oppinion or might agree. Am I talking nonsense or the truth? Should we tell people how to play their game? Whats your take? Leave a comment below.