New Blood.

We are not overly forthcoming to others about our hobby. Anyone who remembers the early 2000’s and the 90’s (or god forbid earlier even!) will remember that this hobby was something that could get you negative attention. Sometimes rather forcefully expressed.

A cardinal sin was to mention it in too public an area and you would be lynched by your compatriots if you talked about it in front of girls!!!!

We wonder why women are not part of the hobby, we never told them! We feared it meant the opportunity for female attention would cease permanently if they knew this about us. I didn’t tell my wife for 2 years because I thought she wouldn’t look favourably on me. Naive sod that I was, well not completely naive, they were different  days and acceptance of quirks was not as forthcoming as it is now.

GW is a multi billion pound market share company. So where are the consumers!?!?

Statistically, in my local villages there should be between 50-120 people interested in this stuff. I know 4.

I made other people play the games. They did not want to hobby, but they like to play.

Where are these people!?

My wife has other men’s wives round, some make knowing noises when they see my hobby shelves. A play date is arranged between the wives on their husbands behalf. We are forced to meet. We play. If I had not been willing to have my stuff on display the wives would never have organised things as it never comes up in conversation.

I am determined to winkle out these players I know exist. I know more gay people in my villages than I do wargamers and gay people are statistically less likely!!! I sometimes feel anyone above 35 who wargames is stuck in a period similar to gay people in the 50’s. I know that you know, you looked at me in ‘that way’ when I observed a friendly couples child playing with Star Wars toys (and being disparaged for it in that British way “we can’t keep him off them!’ Sort of thing) and I replied ‘well we all have our toys and interests, even to this day’. A warhammer player knows this is not sexual, they look up suddenly, almost furtively. ‘Many of us certainly do, I quite liked making airfix kits when I was young’. A meaningful look fills the empty space left after that seemingly innocuous statement. I leave to get more tea, the girls natter. He comes over while I’m filling the pot. ‘Still do it occasionally as a matter of fact’.

I look at him. I almost whisper, ‘for the Emperor?…….’

‘YES! I play Blood Angels!!’

What’s wrong with us! Kids have no problem! And there’s tonnes and tonnes of girls and sporty types all doing the hobby these days. They don’t have any qualms about it. I must find these people, this timidity hanging over from the early days must end. I also don’t like travelling far for clubs and such. I want local normies to play and have barbeque gaming sessions with.

I shall make an event in the village hall and shout loadly so the grannies will hear of it and spread the word to the mums and wives .

I spend 5 hours setting up gaming tables, 4 of them. I make a large display area for completed minis and invite my friends to display their armies they aren’t using on the gaming tables. I put aside a space for casual painters who turners up who want to sit and chill. I make a free to see, (non lending!) library of hobby paraphernalia. I theme the day on 40k as I know that’s the most popular, but make sure the pics include minis from other games.

I invite everyone, anyone, even just to drop

In and be introduced for 5 mins. I make clear it is free to attend. Let’s see who there is.

People we live across the way from turn up as gamers. People in neighbouring villages turn up as gamers.

The local armed police, turn up for 15 mins when on duty to scare the shit out of me at the door. Open it to him while he’s carrying a sidearm and fully geared up, he mildly timidly asks, ‘can I come see the warhammer please, I saw the banner….’

He an amazing painter with thousands of points of 40k. Happily shows us photos of his minis while I try to ignore how much I want to look at his gun, maybe he’d let me shoot it at a pheasant in the field behind?…

After talking to them all and taking numbers, I deduce this 16 people that want to play games with us is around a 3rd to half of the local contingent. I decide to try and make a club. Let’s see how this goes. WhatsApp community group is made.

There was also children who attended, 3 of which where joys to have around and introduce to the hobby. A young girl of around 11 won a game in the grim dark future! She won a prize for claiming the bridge with her banshees, a copy of the original dungeon saga. She couldn’t believe she now had this prize, it felt great to encourage them.

A local lad who struggles to concentrate at school found it captivating to look at the Lord of the rings stuff and I was able to point his father at eBay deals to get him going cheaply and enjoyably. He has not relented in his interest, now there is a framework he can build from for his dexterity, social skills, literacy and history. This hobby is good for kids.

Alas there was one child, a rogue child, who came storming in all enthusiasm, pushed over my 40k bridge setup without so much  as how do you do, or an apology! Then demand a I show him how to play. I reluctantly realise I’m not going to find it easy to get rid of him or include him with his attitude, I pull him to one side and spend ten minutes watching him ignore what I’m saying, bash my minis together like they are Lego and insist on playing bigger games. His mum is present the whole time and simply says ‘be careful dear!’ That’s it. Not stop and be respectful. Not, you cannot treat them that way. Not, for the love of fuck use your head!! Luckily the mum gets the hint and shuffles her little ‘treasure’ out the door and the whole room breaths again.

He may be special needs, I can’t comment. I was left feeling he was in especially need of a few phrases and ‘guided’ education from me. Either way, he didn’t make friends.

This was one incident out of 30 odd. The rest were incredibly positive. So I am very pleased with how it went.

Only two things went missing, two of my sustained fire dice that no one can locate. Which given how easy access and stealable everything was I assume this means I’ve misplaced the bastards. Which given how much stuff and how many people came this was a minor negative on a thoroughly positive experience. I highly recommend others try and include local families in your interests. You’ll be surprised who turns up!

There was 4 people who turned up just because they wanted to know what warhammer was about!

I think I shall do it again, and I shall let this project know how my new found local group shapes up.

Fingers crosse