Explore the deep psychological draw of wargaming. Uncover the real reasons we build, paint, and can’t seem to break our Warhammer obsession.
Another Long War Two-Fer is here: Keep those hobby muscles strong with this week’s webcast and the latest exciting podcast of tabletop wargaming awesomeness, mostly centered around Warhammer 40k.
The Long War: Episode 522
Article Table of Contents:
Show Summary
This week, the crew talks about why they play wargames and what keeps them and others coming back. Here are the key takeaways, section by section:
- 00:05-16:06: The episode opens with the usual Long War chaos: hobby projects, Kenny and Wyatt’s custom Wu-Tang-inspired daemon princes, questionable search histories, antibiotics, golf-course storm sirens, and the sort of side quests that somehow eat the first 16 minutes.
- 16:06-24:49: The hobby news covers new Games Workshop Ogor Mawtribes releases, One Page Rules adding optional monsters and vehicles to its skirmish games, and LVO expanding its Gundam Assemble presence with a painting competition. They particularly like that Bandai’s entry form asks for artists’ social media, giving painters some actual visibility instead of treating them like anonymous display pieces.
- 22:41-28:33: Attention shifts to upcoming Orks. New Nobz and Warbikers are teased, while a leaked Ork codex rule suggests psykers may once again use psychic levels. The crew wonders whether this is an Ork-specific mechanic or a hint that 40k psychic rules could become more involved again, especially if denial mechanics or meaningful failure chances return.
- 29:03-34:40: The main topic asks why people start wargaming and why they keep coming back. Rob originally got hooked through scale modeling, then discovered those models could actually be used in a game. Wyatt similarly values the models, but says the lasting appeal comes from simply enjoying the game, painted armies, Warhammer nights, and tournaments regardless of whether the current edition or meta is perfect.
- 34:40-35:50: Kenny argues that wargaming sticks because it provides a constant creative outlet. Building, converting, painting, planning armies, and finishing projects creates an ongoing sense of purpose and accomplishment, while the social side gives players a reason to get together.
- 35:50-39:20: For new players choosing between a cool setting and a game with an established local community, they strongly favor the community. Amazing miniatures don’t help much if nobody nearby plays the game. They recommend checking local game-store Discord servers, Facebook groups, clubs, or scheduled gaming communities rather than relying on old-school pickup nights.
- 39:52-46:58: Competitive events are framed as major community builders rather than something inherently hostile to casual players. Modern conventions often include tournaments, narrative campaigns, Kill Team, Age of Sigmar, and other formats under one roof. Their larger point is that one rough tournament experience shouldn’t become someone’s permanent opinion of competitive Warhammer.
- 45:09-50:07: They stress that entering a tournament means opting into competition. Players shouldn’t expect opponents to soften strong lists, but neither should tournament success be the only measure of having a worthwhile weekend. A hobbyist can aim for a winning record, best painted, meeting people, playing five different opponents, or simply having a good time.
- 47:17-52:58: The reason many longtime players never really quit Warhammer is that their definition of success evolves. Wyatt once cared heavily about winning events, but now adjusts his goals depending on his army, the meta, and how much preparation he’s willing to put in. The hobby survives edition changes because gaming, painting, collecting, travel, friendships, and personal projects offer different reasons to stay engaged.
- 52:58-54:48: The episode closes by discussing the Great Wargaming Survey. One recurring concern among miniature gamers is finding opponents, reinforcing the episode’s broader argument that community access may be every bit as important as rules or miniatures when keeping people involved in the hobby.
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