As War Gamers, we are part of a super unique community that is both very strong, yet salty AF at times. Here’s why!
Our community as a whole is very giving, sociable, and loves to consume content about the games we’re passionate about. People are becoming more and more educated on it every day, and the community is very unique and resourceful- as you would expect from a bunch of hobbyists! Over the last 4-5 months it very noticeable that we as a community have the power to change things we don’t like and really grow the things we love.
The idea for this post was inspired by some great comments on a recent GW editorial article and an especially insightful comment by Atomic Socrates. Let’s take a look at three reasons why this community is great and how we can shape the future by voting with our hobby dollars.
The Tabletop War Games Community Backs What They Love
If someone comes out with a really cool project that you love, then back it! It’s that simple. If content creators are really going above and beyond to create value we need to show them. And the community does, just look at how many amazing KS projects gt backed far above their goal and hit tons of stretch goals.
How many Patreons can create a living for an artist? That backing doesn’t come out of thin air. It comes from great hobbyists who want value and to help. Most hobbyists give way more than almost any other type of game, which allows a ton of variety to exist and people to look for what actually gives them value and fun. Because the value proposition should be there for all gamers in the products they back.
Consuming Content
The amount of hobby content out there is almost staggering! But there’s a good reason for it, people love to check it out. There are so many great tutorials, websites, and blogs just filled with hobby content. The willingness of the hobby community to support and watch such content creators has created an entirely new stream of income for people.
Again, it’s all a value proposition, if you feel you’re getting a lot out of someone’s content, you should support them, and tons of people do. It’s just really cool to see people backing what they love, whether that be projects or content in general.
A Unique Community
There aren’t too many other communities like this one. It’s very sociable, gives you something to do in your free time, and something to look forward to. While there is always some salt thrown in (okay, sometimes a lot) the majority of it comes from a good place.
We all care about the hobby and really love it, this binds us around something that connects us.
With something so sociable and loved, we as a community have the opportunity to change things. It always comes down to one thing, voting with your hobby dollars. If you support things you love and not others, the market will work itself out. Even with GW releases, we can stop supporting them if they have no value, because if the dollar isn’t there, eventually it will change.
Getting More Educated & Voting With Your Hobby Dollars
Every day the community is getting wiser to certain business practices. Especially with COVID tightening wallets, people have had to make more calculated purchases and where to put their money. If you don’t see value in something, don’t support it.
It’s always been that way, but more so now than ever. If a company gives you a great value on something, back it. We all have our favorites and it should be no different when it comes to dealing with GW.
There are so many viable 3rd party options out there, if you like what they are doing more than GW, why shouldn’t you back them instead?
The same goes for your local store, if you have a favorite store, back them! Go buy your minis there when you can, get your accessories there.
Because it has been hard on all of them, the more you can help your favorite store, the longer they will be around.
What do you love the most about the community? Do you back projects and Patreons?
Let us know in the comments of our Facebook Hobby Group, and make sure you enter the latest monthly giveaway for FREE today! You can also support us on Patreon and get ad-free access to the site, plus a ton of minis that helps support some of the best creators out there!
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
