Episode 128: Back to 40K

The Battlehosts - A Warhammer 40k Podcast

In this episode, we talk about getting back into 40K. Most of us have been absent from the game for a long time and we have a new edition to learn, so it will take some time to get back up to speed playing the game again. For our second segment, we discuss how to balance 40K with your personal life. It’s especially appropriate now, given how many of our lives have changed as a result of the pandemic.

Introduction

As the COVID vaccines roll out to countries around the world, life is finally just starting to get back to normal. For us, this means playing 40K in person again and actually getting to grips with the 9th edition of 40K. It has been almost a year since it was released, but without playing in person, it still feels like a brand new game.

Where have you been? What happened?

Last summer when everything was shut down for Covid, we were able to play Garage hammer with restrictions. But last Fall and Winter when our numbers spiked locally , we could not play safely in person anymore. This had a big impact on our engagement with the game to be honest.

Getting back to 40K

What have we learned about this new-ish edition of 40K?

The missions make the game feel very different. The game favors objectives over killing units.

Terrain is an even bigger deal now and is varied. What players need now, updating from 8th.

Shorter boards mean melee by turn 2 for most armies.

t’s really easy to make mistakes as some small things have changed; cap on minuses to hit/wound, for example. You need to get experience with the new rules.

Balancing 40K

The Warhammer 40K hobby is multifaceted. The major elements consist of modeling and painting miniatures, playing the game, reading or listening to the fictional content, and engaging with the community. There are also the smaller things, such as list building, or watching battle reports, going to events, listening to podcasts, 3D printing, converting models, and the endless amount of time you can spend learning about the “meta.” You can even start a podcast about it if you are really into it! Because there are so many elements to this hobby, it’s really easy to get sucked into spending more and more of your time with it, sometimes to the detriment of other areas of your life.

How 40K can take over your life, and is this a problem?

At the end of the day, it’s supposed to be a fun hobby. When it gets serious is when you should consider taking a step back. Social media posts make you angry? Game becomes too intense? Getting upset with GW? Spending time away from family to take part in the hobby? Ignoring your health (physical/mental)?

Maximize time/money to get the most out of it

Considering time and money constraints, how best to maximize either?

1. Focus on the stuff you enjoy the most about the hobby to maximize your time.
2. Don’t feel you need to buy all the new stuff in order to maximize your money.
3. Surround yourself with like-minded people.
4. It’s OK to disengage from people/groups you don’t want to spend time with.
5. It’s Ok to take time OFF from the hobby. But don’t sell your painted models unless you have to.

Carving out time

It’s important to take time for yourself to do the things you enjoy.

If you are married/have a partner, negotiate time to do the things you enjoy, make sure they have time to do their hobbies as well. Take an evening once a week. Considering the alternative, this hobby is a healthy outlet and social activity!

Important to remember, it’s just a game, the company will do things you don’t always appreciate, and the community can be frustrating. When it’s not fun anymore, it might be time to step back and consider where you spend your time and energy.

Sponsors:

Trader-A

Logo Design: Isaac White Design

Music: The Right Direction by Shane Ivers – https://www.silvermansound.com