[Epic] Re: playing unpainted

From: Richard Dewsbery <dewsbery_at_...>
Date: Thu, 15 May 1997 11:31:52 +0100

Robert Lenghaus wrote:
>
> START RANT
>
> People who whinge on about people playing with unpainted minitures REALY
> annoy me.

I haven't heard any "whinging" here, just individual viewpoints. What
annoys me is not that others disagree (and I'll even put up with others
disagreeing in a loud voice) but people who tell me that my views "annoy
them," and are therefore invalid, worthless and shouldn't be voiced.
Well excuse me for breathing, I'll just go out and shoot myself shall I?

> When EPIC 40k first came out I went to the local GW store with
> my Titan collection (because they didn't have any) to try out the new
> titan rules, now most of my titans are painted to a reasonable standard
> but I had only just started on my Mega Gargants which had only a two
> colour scheme. When I was playing against one of the staff, another staff
> a_at_#hole says "hurry up that game ,those minitures aren't painted well
> enough" I would have to say that I almost walked out right then. I will
> never spend any money at that store. I think anybody just starting the
> hobby would have given up and traded their copy of EPIC.

That guy was clearly an asshole. I can understand the shop wanting
people to use painted figures - it sells more product, but I don't think
that ANYONE around here has said that they wouldn't play with someone
whose figures weren't painted well enough (that would be
anally-retentive behaviour to the highest degree). And I wouldn't
refuse to play anyone whose figures were unpainted. But I've taken a
little time and trouble to paint my figures, I can't see why my opponent
shouldn't do the same. Its not difficult to paint an army. Use spray
paints. A single coat of red / blue (whatever) will do. If you then
overpaint with an ink wash, and paint the base, you'll have aq perfectly
respectable paint job.

In wargaming circles, if you turn up with unpainted figures, you don't
get to play. It is part of the hobby. If you don't like it, you either
paint your troops, but painted troops, or find a new hobby. I quite
like sitting by a river bank trying to catch fish. I don't like pulling
fish hooks out of fish. As a result, I don't go fishing.

If you turn up to a wargames event with badly painted troops, you get to
play - you just won't get any admiring noises from anyone about the
paintjobs of your troops (and if this really matters to anyone, they
should see a shrink)
>
> So all you idiots out there,

Lower the temperature, please. Just because we disagree on a matter of
aesthetics doesn't make either of us idiots.

> painting, while a nice aspect of EPIC will
> never replace the actual game. I will play anyone, and I don't care if
> they have minitures of golden demon standard or straight out of the box.
> New EPIC players are always welcome!
>
And they can use one of my painted armies if they'd rather play with
painted troops (and most do). The spectacle of two well-painted armies
clashing on a tabletop with interesting terrain will attract new
players. Seeing two people play a game with unpainted figures on a bare
wood table with a couple of bits of cardboard to represent woods and
hills is likely to attract much less interest.

Why do you think GW puts pictures of painted figures on the box? Answer
- it looks more attractive, catches the eye and sells more product. As
a result - more new Epic players.

Richard
Received on Thu May 15 1997 - 10:31:52 UTC