Here are some great ideas on gearing yourself and your hobby up again so you’re ready for getting back to gaming again!
Over the past year, I have been pretty hobby stagnant from limiting my in-person interactions with a small group of people. As we see things open more and we approach what is hopefully herd immunity (got my first shot last week!) it is time to think about getting back to gaming again and getting excited about getting together again to celebrate our hobbies!
First, be Safe and be Respectful
Follow your local guidelines as we are all in varying degrees of opening. In the mitten state, I am thinking I will start visiting more crowded areas in May a couple of weeks after my wife and I get our last shot. We still need to be careful because we have kids who will not be getting a shot anytime soon due to their age. So I plan on still wearing a mask when appropriate.
Even if you do not think the mask does anything, please be considerate of the business owners, club homes, etc. and of the people who may feel varying degrees of safety at this point. (You are there for friends and dice, not politics) I personally plan to have some games and beverages outside in the backyard, so that we can keep a comfortable distance between us but still all enjoy the hobby we love. But I will ask that anyone entering my house use the bathroom, grab something, etc. to wear a mask while they are inside.
Second, Celebrate the Good of the Past Year
We can all admit that this past year really sucked, but a lot of us were able to have a lot more hobby time than we normally have. There is a slew of things you can do to celebrate what you accomplished over the past year like having a painting competition from the models you painted over 2020. You can have fun games that are just armies of the models you painted or do a mini-campaign where you beat back the tides of Nurgle (assuming you have a Nurgle player nearby). There are loads of things you can do to get people together and start getting back into the swing of things, but the important part is to focus on the positive not the negative.
Third, Start Something New and Fresh
I am itching to get back into having a steady stream of AoS games again, but I also wanted to bring something new to the table to get locals excited again. We decided to begin planning for a Necromunda campaign once things settle down. Now, this is something you are going to want to plan for (we are shooting for June) because everyone needs to learn rules, build gangs, and scenery needs to be built and painted. Just make sure everyone is on board, be the champion, and get it organized.
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It does not have to be a miniature game, you could do any sort of game, but the important thing is to get people excited about getting together around a table and playing something.
Fourth, Brush up on Lore and Rules
A lot has changed in the hobby scene over the past year, especially with the lore of AoS and a lot of the rules. Just because the world slowed down, does not mean your favorite hobby did. Schedule some video chats with your hobby friends and talk about the changes to the rules or brush up on old ones you might have forgotten. Talk about lore changes and what you are getting excited to see on the horizon (hello Soulblight) but get everyone on the same page.
Be ready to answer questions that might be specific to lore and rules changes but getting everyone on the same page will let you guys jump right back into your gaming sessions.
Fifth, Enjoy the Hobby and Getting Back to Gaming Again
Look at what you really missed over the past year and a half and focus on that for your hobby time. If you missed the competitive scene try and build on that, or some beer and pretzels games maybe work out a narrative campaign. Over the past year, I have found I really hate putting together models but love painting so often, I will trade the building part to a friend who loves it, in exchange for painting a hero or something for him.
There you have it, 5 ways to help restart your hobby as we start to see a light at the end of this tunnel. Here is to hoping that when things open up again you are able to get your hobby groups together and get right back into the swing of things!
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