A New Week

That's right, it's a new week, full of opportunity! Welcome to the final bit of July, and I hope it's treating you all well. So, as you can hopefully tell by now, I am not a competitive gamer. I don't have fun sitting around computing ultimate strategies to sweep whole tables at the nearest gaming con. I am fluffy. I love the story, I love the effort in making models that look beautiful, I love playing against friends and challenging opponents in a very casual setting. That is not to say that I don't like competitions! I've entered into several painting and modelling competitions (Local level, sadly) and won handily! Nearly swept a War of the Ring Opening painting tournament, Army, Monster, Unit, Character. Didn't have a monster to enter, but that's not the point. My point is, and some of you might have seen a similar post on BoLS tonight, that painting is an integral part of the hobby, and it breaks my heart to see the quality of paint jobs at my new LGS. Not the gobbed on paints, as those indicate a certain level of skill, and can be improved. No, I mean the primed only, or worse, unpainted naked models, grey plastic. It breaks my heart to see those neglected models. After all, if you buy the models, and don't paint them, you are buying for the sole purpose of winning tournaments, in which case why even use the expensive models in the first place?

Of course, there are exceptions. The guy who can't afford the paints, or can't afford the time off. The guy who works slowly, to excruciating precision. The kid who needs a mentor to show them what to do. The newbie who just bought his first squad, and is eager to try them out. These all make sense, and are totally acceptable! But when I come back, week after week, to new ranks of Dark Eldar, or a brand new Carnifex, without a single drop of paint, when I see purchases made, and no effort to paint, it really chafes my hide, because those models need attention too. If you really were a point-cutting, seat of your pants competition player, you'd understand that most tournaments have a painting score, a sportsmanship score, simple things that make the game more fun and more of a community. I can still name four guys I played with from my store 6 years ago, but I can't recall even the faces of my latest opponents, and their cookie-cutter army lists, primed pure white. There's no individuality, or passion, which is the entire reason why we, as gamers, enjoy this hobby that seems destined to ostracize us. If we don't have our creativity and unique style, then how is that different from a football player, or any other athlete. Oh, that's right, we're on the whole weaker than them. Not painting armies, I therefore postulate, is simply trying to emulate athletics without the actual exercise. If you're okay with that, be my guest. But realize these are the stakes.

I beg of you, please comment below. Thoughts, arguments, stories, anything at all. Just remember the cardinal rule, and Be Awesome. No flaming, got it?

For your patience in sticking with me through the wall of text, I shall reward you with one of the new Finecast Commissars, personally painted by myself. And just who am I? Well, you can call me Lord Fancy Feast.


Good night, and good luck.