Oooh! look at his little hat!

[Palewarrior]

What reactions do your miniatures get from people, who don'tknow about wargaming or the figure painting hobby?

Here a few of my most memorable comments, all from adults...:confused:

"Oooh look at his little hat!"

"These look good" looks at my painted stuff. "But I like these better!" unpainted shiny figures. :(

"would'nt it be easier just to spray them one colour, who'd notice?" on me painting a friends 6mm napoleonics.

"what are these made of?"
" a lead alloy...harmless unless you chew a boxfull"
"metal?" drops figure on carpet" so they wont break then?"

[gaminguy]

"Isn't that cute" about my Titan Gladiator.

"You'll never meet any single women with hobbies like this." (My stepmother. I'm gonna clock that woman one of these days.)

[PuppetRebel]

My fiance always calls pretty much anything i make cute. She does it because she knows it bugs me.

[Joroth]

"I love the men with their little kittens" - about the ferox

"What are these made of?"
"Pewter, it's a cheap and malleable metal"
"Oh so they bend?" -off snaps a pike on a cetrati after a full 180 bend:(

"Are these valuable? Oops..." *falls to the table and bounces to the floor* sad panda

[whitekong]

My girlfriend always wants me to get my "little men" off the table.

[KomphHammer]

"...your dolls. I'm sorry, Action figures."

"Oh, I didn't know you collect knick-knacks."

"So you put them together and paint them... Why?"

"...hahahaha, you're a nerd, what a waste of money! Well, I'm gonna go have a cigarette."

[Festablo]

"Are you playing army today?"
"what are you talking about? oh you mean those toys you play with?"
/sigh

[komodokeeper]

"OOOOOHHHHH......so you're another 40 year old virgin?" (my old boss who really didn't have a clue...)

[BloodyGums]

Actually, You can be sophisticated and say that your expanding your horizons beyond Chess and creating and engaging into a more in depth 3 -dimensional competetive activity for entertainment purposes on the tabletop.

This activity involves artistry, strategy, tactics and provides enjoyment as a pass time.

Or You can say it in the other extreme and say My toys! and you cant touch them. (Stick out your tongue here), go away!!!

But If it was me I would just say I enjoy the commeraderie of friends, The bantering between other people, and The competition to try to win! win! Win!. Collecting, sharing and being creative.

[CptCalvinus]

My wife used to think the Carnifex in WH40k Tyranids was cute. Now, she likes Circle because they're furry...

[Prismatik]

"Oh, you're going to play Warhammer today?"

*twitch*

[gaminguy]

Actually, You can be sophisticated and say that your expanding your horizons beyond Chess and creating and engaging into a more in depth 3 -dimensional competetive activity for entertainment purposes on the tabletop.

This activity involves artistry, strategy, tactics and provides enjoyment as a pass time.

Or You can say it in the other extreme and say My toys! and you cant touch them. (Stick out your tongue here), go away!!!

But If it was me I would just say I enjoy the commeraderie of friends, The bantering between other people, and The competition to try to win! win! Win!. Collecting, sharing and being creative.

I vote for option two!!!!

[Mr.B]

"Why is it that everytime Dylan goes over you play w/ those stupid doll things?"..."You two talk about Warmachine so much i sware to god you two are gay for each other!" :mad:- Exgirlfriend
I have a new girlfriend now. "I wanna play the one that's America."... "That would be Cygnar sweetheart."... "Yeah they look awesome."
I think i've made a major upgrade. :D HAHA

[lastspartacus]

"Isn't that cute" about my Titan Gladiator.

"You'll never meet any single women with hobbies like this." (My stepmother. I'm gonna clock that woman one of these days.)

Better, you steal the taken ones ;)

[PPS_Mod:Josh]

I think my favorite was with regards to the Old Witch.

"Are those faces?! Cool!"

That or possibly when someone, talking about Legion, mentioned 'elves in black leather' and everyone within earshot perked up.

[Bruunwald]

"Why is it that everytime Dylan goes over you play w/ those stupid doll things?"..."You two talk about Warmachine so much i sware to god you two are gay for each other!" :mad:- Exgirlfriend
I have a new girlfriend now. "I wanna play the one that's America."... "That would be Cygnar sweetheart."... "Yeah they look awesome."
I think i've made a major upgrade. :D HAHA
My advice is to marry the one that wants to play with you.

Worked out well so far for me (10 years this last November 13).

[TimVanBoening]

Most of my interactions with family and friends have been positive. My brother has been building model cars (who is amazing, by the way) for about thirty years now, so when I got into Warmachine a year and a half ago, it wasn't too far removed from that. My exfiancee would say

"I remember when you used to talk about guitars with as much interest as these little men"

or

"Have fun with your wardolls" (she liked teasing me about it)

or

"Do they hold hands and go on adventures like Elijah Wood and that other guy in Lord Of The Rings? Are these two in looooove?" (basically she's pointing at any two models)


....I miss that girl.

[Mr.B]

My advice is to marry the one that wants to play with you.

Worked out well so far for me (10 years this last November 13).

Yeah the first one left me while i was doing Navy training anyway. So girlfriend number 2 is def/ keeper... for more reasons than just WM. haha thanks for the comment though

[Cambeul]

My advice is to marry the one that wants to play with you.

Worked out well so far for me (10 years this last November 13).


Grats :):):)

[gaminguy]

My advice is to marry the one that wants to play with you.

Worked out well so far for me (10 years this last November 13).

You lucky SOB.

My ex made me sell all my figures. It was all 40K, so I guess it worked out in the long run.

[Mr.B]

Almost forgot this one!
4:00 a.m.
- Steve "Dude... OMG!"
- Me "What?"
- Steve "I know what Grim Angus needs"
- Me "Ok, i'm listening"
- Steve "A rocketship!"
- Me ..."*blinks* ...w*f bro?
- Steve "What? You disagree?"

[Cambeul]

My Dads GF at the time told these other people that I carved all my models out of Ivory and then painted them.

Idiots.

[Mr.B]

My Dads GF at the time told these other people that I carved all my models out of Ivory and then painted them.

Idiots.

I find a very valuable lesson in this. Smoking crack is never good for anybody.

[rvrchamp]

I had this chick come over to my house once... we were standing outside and I was unlocking the door, and I mentioned to her before she walked in, "I'm sorta a nerdy guy, just so you know." I sorta like to prepare them before they walk in and see my bookcase full of models (painted of course).

What did she say?

"I'm painting your silver pants BBBLLLLUUUUEEEEEEE!!!"

My response? "FML"

[PWC]

I had this chick come over to my house once... we were standing outside and I was unlocking the door, and I mentioned to her before she walked in, "I'm sorta a nerdy guy, just so you know." I sorta like to prepare them before they walk in and see my bookcase full of models (painted of course).

What did she say?

"I'm painting your silver pants BBBLLLLUUUUEEEEEEE!!!"

My response? "FML"

There was a most excellent article on how to ignore your sister/wife while painting your army of silver pants blue.

[Wiccus Mcguffrey]

The common ones for me are

Me "Yeah this is my nerd game."
several people "Oh...." followed by them pretending I didnt show them my vast collection of little metal soldiers

a lot of chicks giggle and say "They're so cute"

"Look at all your little guys!"

several people have brought up 40 year old virgin

[ThePaintingMage]

My mother can't understand: "How can you throw your money away for this crap" :)

My betrothed like my hobby and help me a little bit with my time management :)

[teejayv]

of course, going back to the atypical references to 40YOV, my wife once said to me as I was painting my cygnar army:

"OH, LOOK AT YOU PAINTING MR. BLUE PANTS!" (and she said it in a playful manner that made it all the funnier!)

[Capsfan34]

My wife and kids call them "your guys"...

But being 6' 2" and weigh 310 lbs, I don't think some random dude/dudette is gonna just come pick up my figs without asking, that's just wrong and grounds for hand removal.

[Raven Abaddon]

My folks and love are more forgiving. Mostly they just say something along the lines of "I've no idea how you can remember so much rules when you're playing" when they see me gaming in the balcony.

[megatron0]

"Oh, you're going to play Warhammer today?"

*twitch*

this is the one that gets me or " oh so its like warhammer?" :mad::mad::mad:

[tonyzahn]

this is the one that gets me or " oh so its like warhammer?" :mad::mad::mad:
That's not such a big deal, really.

My response to that is "same basic idea, but I like the rules for this game better."

[Rogue Sun]

It's not a specific comment per say, but my brother criticizes me all the time and says it's a waste of money, disregarding the fact that he has a closet full of baseball cards he still collects.

My girlfriend calls the models "Adorable." It's all in good fun though, and she supports my interests.

[GrimmerOengus]

I once had a little girl (maybe 7-8) who lived next door come over and ask about the figures me and my friend were painting. I gave her a couple Eldar jumpsuit people to paint and she had a lot of fun.

That's the weirdest experience with painting for me though, for some reason people don't tend to make nasty comments to me.

[Defenstrator]

My mother can't understand: "How can you throw your money away for this crap" :)
My mother used to say stuff like this. Then I started mocking her for playing golf. "So, did yuo have fun trying to knock a call into a hole today? You know, I could just dig you a hole in the backyard and you wouldn't have to spen all that money on golf fees." It's easy to shut people up when you point out how indefensible their own hobbies are.

[thesavage]

Hey! Don't make fun of golf. Golf is a very exciting sport . . . well, maybe if you know what you are doing. So why do I like to play then?

Then again, I don't know what I'm doing in Warhammer 40k or Warmachine, so whatever.

By the way, I heard Tiger Woods changed his name . . . to Cheetah!

[modefan93]

My friends sister calls them War Barbies.

[megatron0]

LoLZ that is funneh!
To the tiger woods joke :P

[squidstudios]

My mother, regarding a Squire I painted for a friend: "He's got such a cute little nose or should I say big round nose."

I'm not even sure what qualified what I would have considered the *eye* a "nose".

[PWC]

I just tell people its Warhammer, they at least understand that concept, and if they don't I say "Chess, with more rules and less squares." You have to remember no body cares whether its warmachine or warhammer, because they don't play either.

I usually just play the "hobby" card, you know "Its just my hobby, I like painting them, theres no real rhyme or reason", if that doesn't work, I usually play the "I'm an artist" card, and if that doesn't work I point out flaws in other people's hobbies like Defenstrator does.

"Lets strap our feet to a board and throw ourselves down a mountain for 500 bucks, in the middle of winter. You could go jogging for free."

Other than that I don't get much crap from people when I tell them its Chess, but less boring.

[gdaybloke]

I had to put a post-it on my unvarnished models so the cleaning lady didn't touch them...

Much like my brother-in-ink up there (Heya Dazza!) my wife and kids refer to them as my little guys.

Everyone at the office I work at has come to terms with my being geeky, so if they stroll past my cubicle while I'm sitting there painting during my lunch break, htye usually just smile and nod. Some pass commentary on how amazed they are that I'm painting something to tiny.

(For the record, yes, I frequently take some brushes and half a dozen pots of paint to work with me to get some progress made on my rank and file).

[TimVanBoening]

Everyone at the office I work at has come to terms with my being geeky, so if they stroll past my cubicle while I'm sitting there painting during my lunch break, htye usually just smile and nod. Some pass commentary on how amazed they are that I'm painting something to tiny.

(For the record, yes, I frequently take some brushes and half a dozen pots of paint to work with me to get some progress made on my rank and file).

That isn't that weird to me. During my last two jobs, I have done the same thing. My Nyss Hunters got painted that way. I also got the 40 Year Old Virgin jokes at the first of the two. Of course, 90% of the people who worked in the office were immature alpha male d-bags.

Nothing like your boss telling you to "get your -richard- beaters off my stuff!!" ...glad they fired that guy. The second job, people were amazed that I could paint such small details.

[Mckree]

My cousins boyfriend (We're all banking on him changing status to "husband" soon) made a joke along the lines of "what kind of women do you meet with that hobby", well I pointed out that he spends 32 hours a week in an office, drinks lots of beer and watches TV all evening, and all it got him was my cousin.

He laughed, my cousin hasn't been talking to me much since then.

Other than that, most people are amazed at the detail painting, mostly, since that whole "highschool-stereotype-culture-clash" schtick never really caught on in Austria, thankfully. So most people don't care or smile their knowing smiles while buying themselves 900$ worth of arts&crafts equipment.

We're all slaves to our hobbies.

[PPS_Mod:Bobaferret]

I paint at the LGS frequently. Most of the guys know me and know that I play WM/H and that I'm the area PG.

When new folks come in, I'll get this:

"Oh, are you painting those for someone else?"
I am.
"You probably can't make money doing that."
Actually, um, I do.

"Hey, those look neat. I don't suppose you play though, right?"
Thanks. These are my models and I do play with them.

Of course, the best comment of all came from the boyfriend several years ago:
"I don't have the patience to do that. And if I do, I'll never paint eyes."

Yeah, guess who has more painted models than me and paints eyes on a regular basis now? :D

[Jhaelrnya]

First, I'm an avid wargamer - Warhammer and all GW games, WM/H and recently Malifaux. I also love DnD, Dark Heresy, WoW Cards, World of Warcraft, the works. Gamer through and through! (notice I didn't say nerd - we're not nerds, we're gamers. There's nothing derogatory about what we do, and that word sadly has a negative stereotype associated with it).

My GF loves to call my models my "Warhammersssss" and stresses the s, cause she knows it bugs the crap outta me. She's been doing it since I first showed my hobbies to my friends in High School, and I stopped giving a crap about what people thought. I'm loud, proud, and totally willing to show off my skills. The people who make fun of our hobby are just too chicken to try it themselves, or know right off the bat they can't do it.

Also, working in a gaming store, I get the "Holy crap, you actually PAINT these things?" a lot.

[pipeline]

I am a nerd.

[PsychoLaughs]

i'm a nerd. no shame about it.

but the best comment i ever got was a girl in a group of friends that came over for a movie night:
"wow... i''m impressed. i really don't understand it, but i'm impressed."

[carson]

I don't really get any comments now. All my chums are wargamers and my family totally supports what I do. I think they are jealous I can paint my wardollies so well :P

I guess the only time I get wierd comments is when I try to explain the concept behind a miniature wargame to someone who has never heard of it before.

[sirron]

My friends are just like most of us, so they actually find the hobby and wargaming very interesting!
My mother just said that the hobby was very interesting, and useful because dont use much room of the house, since my father do the fishing hobby, and that can fills a lot of room and money!!!
About the 40yov, you just need to make your actions talk by yourselves!

[dcf]

Back when I started to play Warmachine and still lived with my parents I used to occupy a large table in a living room. My mother was passing by when me and my friends were engaged in another steam-powered combat and took an interest in it. She picked up Destroyer and commented like this: "Whoa, it's heavy". I felt somehow proud.
I am not hiding my minis and anyone visiting my room can see them, but there's no one to visit me lately, so I don't have any other stories.

[HandsomeDan]

I had a kid walk right up to a game once. He went "whoa cool" and picked up two of my trolls. He immediately started bashing them together going "rawr! pow! argghh..." "No no no no" I said. Then his dad saw what was going on and all the color drained from his face "NO! STOP PUT THOSE DOWN!" The kid stopped immediately, as if coming out of a trance looking horribly embarrassed. He started apologizing immediately and looked genuinely sorry. I think something about the trolls just made him lose control. He just had to pick them up and play with them. No chipped paint somehow thank god.

[SRDragon]

People come to my house and either their faces sort of glaze over or they say things like "COOL, Those Dragons are your wife's?!!" And I say "Yep, She's pretty cool." then I show them my paint room and they are like "OMG, How do you keep track of what you are doing?" Yes, my paint room constantly needs picking up. I did have a friend of mine say something to the effect of "Oh is this one of those little Knick-Knack things?"

I sometimes just tell people "It's like playing army men, but with cool rules and a hobby attached." Don't get me started on Terrain Building!! /sigh people think you're into Dollhouses! No they can never say Model Trains! It's always Doll Houses!! LOL!! Well, I can laugh, my wife totally supports me, She doesn't play but she will call me and ask me if I want something a Toy or what-not for Terrain. She Rocks!!

[pipeline]

"next stop: ship in a bottle"


to which i replied: "im saving that for when i get old"

[PitLord]

I don't really have any funny one liners.

My wife takes enough interest in my hobby, purely because it is my hobby, to be able to identify models by faction and even has me paint a reaper mini she likes every so often. She also offers honest and generally useful opinions on my paint jobs.... I am a lucky man

My parents think I am weird.

My mother in law tries to seem interested but can't really see well enough to tell what they are.

My father in law while not really knowing anything about war-gaming builds models and so understands.

My best friends wife like to look at them but won't touch them for fear of dropping them. She doesn't even like to sit near them if they are on a table.

[Carnikiller]

Whenever I started dating someone I would always self-depricate to get it out of the way. I would encourage "little men" or other snickering just to own it. When my wife and I started dating I said something snide and she stopped me, "Never make fun of this. You're passionate about it and that's awesome."

Fast forward three years and she now teases me and asks every so often, "Are we really using all these trees in the armoire?"

When I remind her of what she said she replies with wide eyes, "I could never have known then just how... deep it all goes."

Frankly, I think she still doesn't ;)

[Calmorian]

I explained my hobby to my girlfriend, who always has some project or another. She didn't seem real enthused about it until I showed her some sites with painted models. She was impressed with the art in it, then I asked if she'd mind painting mine. She has since joined playing as well.

[scorchedearth]

I was painting a Spyglass mini once (the Katalin one), when a friend of mine dropped by and started wow-ing and stuff (even though i'm a crap painter :s). i think she was trying to make me give her a free mini when she then asked me if i needed "human" references, along with the a wink that could have sent me to the foot of menoth's throne :o

another nasty experience coming from the "unenlightened" towards the hobby was when one of my younger cousins strapped my revenger with a firecracker to "test" its chassis. What can i say? the effects of battle damage were awesome :p

[CT GAMER]

My wife used to give me slight grief along the lines of "do you think you will ever outgrow gaming?", etc.

I explained to her that she better hope not, because the alternative norm for most "grown up" married dudes is to blow massive amounts of money on happy hours, lap dances at strip clubs, and betting on football...

She seems to have made peace with my wargaming...

[SRDragon]

My wife used to give me slight grief along the lines of "do you think you will ever outgrow gaming?", etc.

I explained to her that she better hope not, because the alternative norm for most "grown up" married dudes is to blow massive amounts of money on happy hours, lap dances at strip clubs, and betting on football...

She seems to have made peace with my wargaming...

LOL, My wife knows better of me but she's said something like that to some of her friends. "Well at least I know what he's doing if he says he's gaming I never have to question it!" A few weeks ago I teased her It was when the whole Tiger Wood's thing came out. I said to her "Hey Honey I need to take a Road trip to LA!" I winked at her and said "You know I need to go to an out of town Tournament, like Tiger does." She gave me a withering look and said "Give me a break, I know you'll be playing WarMachine!" I was like "Damn! The jig is up!" We laughed! The Tournament was small but having 3 press gangers(Um 4 including me) in the same shop was awesome! Thanks Tony(PG_Luxionmk2), Ross (PG_CptCaine) and Darren(PG_Butcher of Ana) Ross kicked my butt, I had to buy rolls to win against Tony, man it was a great time and for a great cause!

[odinsgrandson]

"Wow, these look good. You must have really good paints."

[Charwood]

I am a nerd.

EVERYBODY is a nerd. Someone who sits around catching EVERY game and memorizing EVERY cross-season record is just as nerdy as any gamer (video, tabletop or otherwise). All that changes is the topic of interest.

- Charwood

[Serric]

Everyone I work with cracks jokes about my hobby and by now I'm used to it.

The most surprising thing I've ever been told, after taking a girl I was dating to an all nighter at my LGS was:

"you seemed to be having fun when we went. We should go back whenever they have those again it was fun. I liked chilling with you there you seemed at home so to speak."

[Leatherman]

When I started going out with my current girlfriend i basically just showed her some of the stuff I'd painted, told her I was a nerd and expected a lukewarm reaction. Instead it went on to a coversation on awesome famous ginger people (after seeing Stryker) and she now affectionately refers to me as "her nerd". Result

Also my ex who I am still friends with is currently painting up a Gorten Grundback battlegroup and my other female housemate is a paladin-loving Menite player,

[Gdufner]

From the 4 year old, "Can we get daddy some Boy Poly's for Christmas?"

Boy Poly = Poly Pockets for those of you without kids....They are small 4" plastic dolls.

[matthais]

My 6 year old daughter calls them "little guys", like some others have commented. Every game night, she asks "Daddy, are you going to the little guy game?"

[gaminguy]

EVERYBODY is a nerd. Someone who sits around catching EVERY game and memorizing EVERY cross-season record is just as nerdy as any gamer (video, tabletop or otherwise). All that changes is the topic of interest.

- Charwood

Amen brother, Amen.

I had this conversation the last time I showed my 8 year old daughter a model I'd just finished:

Me: "Check this one out. What do you think?"
Her: "Meh"
Me: "Meh?"
Her: (starts laughing) "Actually that's really good. Can you please make dinner now?"

[TimVanBoening]

Ross kicked my butt

Ross is good people. I'm jealous he doesn't live up here in LA with us.

[ImmortalStrain]

I always have family members call me a nerd and I've pretty mch excepted it now. But I recently became an uncle and my brother said he had a dream one night that was horrific......

Neice: "Uncle Shaney! Uncle Shaney! (as she grabs a few models)
Me in dream: "Yes Ella?"
Neice: "Look......" (she SLAMS the models together and makes punching sounds!)


Me in real life: *shivers and cries
Please just let it be a dream.....

[lawyerpants]

I explain this game to everyone in school as :"Advanced Risk" or simply "Boardgames".

My mom still thinks I play Warhammer
My dad trys to be interested but I no he really isn't
And my 12 year old sister says that I play "house" with my dolls.

Sometimes it grinds my gear. why can't everyone just know what this game is.

[PWC]

I explain this game to everyone in school as :"Advanced Risk" or simply "Boardgames".

My mom still thinks I play Warhammer
My dad trys to be interested but I no he really isn't
And my 12 year old sister says that I play "house" with my dolls.

Sometimes it grinds my gear. why can't everyone just know what this game is.

Like I said, what is the difference between warhammer and warmachine, to the person who doesn't know?

And isn't warhammer very similar to warmachine when lumped under "boardgame"?

Be glad they say "warhammer" instead of "dolly".

[lawyerpants]

Like I said, what is the difference between warhammer and warmachine, to the person who doesn't know?

And isn't warhammer very similar to warmachine when lumped under "boardgame"?

Be glad they say "warhammer" instead of "dolly".

Everyone else says board games or warmachine.
My mom still insists on "Warhammer" just her, not generally.

[Brownboot]

My family has refused to buy minis of any sort for me for years now. Apparently I can't have more till "all these are painted." GF has bought into that philosphy as well, but I intend to undermine this by providing no christmas list ideas other than Bloodrunners.

GF insists on D&D now so it's only a matter of time once the new IK RPG comes out before she has an army.

I wish I could paint minis at work. But I'm a concept artist so if my arm doesn't sit idle for that one hour a day at lunch it will probably stage a coup and assasinate me to end its suffering.

[Raven Abaddon]

My 4by4 is in the balcony of my apartment where there is a lot of human traffic should guests come visiting.

Strangely, whenever I play there, people don't seems to see us. As if we weren't even there.


They employing the "Ignore the nerds" strategy?

I bet my Mum told the guests not to disturb us as the fate of our world and that of the little soldiers depends on us XD

[littleatomies]

Apparently I can't have more till "all these are painted."

Shhh, don't spread that philosophy or else I'll never get new models again >.>

[grotboy]

Well, My family and I went away one weekend to a farm house out in the country, and I was keen to paint my new Khador dollies.

In retrospect asking my Mum to be an example for the Old witch wasn't such a good idea.......

[Dark Fledgling]

The worst thing ever said to me was when a friend was over and I was showing him some of my fully painted tyranids from my old 40k days. He was very meh about the whole thing but then he saw a pair of carnifex's that where just primed flat black with some spray paint.

he went "Dude those look awesome! why didnt you do the rest of them like that!"

made me sad, very, very sad.

Other then that my family calls them "my dudes" but my ex used to call them "minis".
I've even had friends go to the LGS and say "our friend plays a game with furry metal things with "War" in the title, what can we get him for Xmas?"
Luckily the guys working their know me pretty well and where able to figure out it was for me and had them buy some circle stuff.

almost ended up with space wolves, *shudder*

-DF

[Mael]

She was impressed with the art in it, then I asked if she'd mind painting mine.

They ALWAYS say that.

[thesama]

My three-year old daughter refers to them as "guys" as in "I want to paint some guys!" I've got some old minis (from the Nin Gonost Line... there's some obscurity for you). that I primed white and I let her slop paint on them. I also have her helping me with terrain projects, scattering rocks and other debris onto rough terrain templates.

i even had her helping me make bases for my bile thralls, I put on the glue, she pressed them face-down into the tub of flock.

She loves helping me by putting my completed painted minis into the display case (and rearranging them a bit).

Last night she said "when i get bigger I want to make buildings like daddy!", in refrence to me constructing some ruins from Hirst Arts blocks.

Makes for a Proud papa.

[sirron]

The worst thing ever said to me was when a friend was over and I was showing him some of my fully painted tyranids from my old 40k days. He was very meh about the whole thing but then he saw a pair of carnifex's that where just primed flat black with some spray paint.

he went "Dude those look awesome! why didnt you do the rest of them like that!"


-DF

this happened to me too, but the crusader weren't even primed yet, and it was with my little sister!!!
She also help me a lot priming and making the base color, but she still prefer them in the metal/plastic color!!!

[Gentlesamurai]

"Are you playing with your metal dollies tonight?"

I get that from many friends.

[Mael]

I've got my GF calling monsterpocalypse "Monsters" but i haven't peaked her interest in the game very much past "Oooh, Werewolves" and "Those Whelps are cute!"

Oh, I let her try a space marine painter program and the marine turned out baby blue.

[littleatomies]

They ALWAYS say that.
Yeah, but I already had a major geek bent, so picking up his models to paint and eventually my own was only natural >.>

[Bruunwald]

Grats :):):)
Hey, thanks!

[Bruunwald]

EVERYBODY is a nerd. Someone who sits around catching EVERY game and memorizing EVERY cross-season record is just as nerdy as any gamer (video, tabletop or otherwise). All that changes is the topic of interest.

- Charwood
I've been saying the same thing using an almost identical sports analogy for years.

It's just true.

Although, I personally feel that there's a "nerd line", where if you stay on the side where you "own" your hobby and can set it aside for more immediate concerns, you're not technically a nerd. Whereas if you land on the other side where your hobby controls you to the point that people avoid you just so they don't have to hear about which Klingon dialect is which, or who scored what touchdown which year, or which army kicks more butt, or - Heaven forbid I should be guilty of this one :rolleyes: - who would win in a fight between imaginary character A and imaginary character B, then you might actually be a nerd in the classical sense.

By that standard, I'm a nerd in certain company, but most people wouldn't know it. Not that I'm hiding it. Just that I don't feel I have to explain myself, so I don't volunteer much.

Well, except with this extremely long post! :o

[admanb]

I use the geek/nerd terminology, but I'm not sure anyone else uses it the same way as I do. I've heard that the west coast tends to view 'geek' as the less harsh word, whereas the east coast it's the opposite. I guess I'm a true west coaster.

Anyways, here's how I define it: everyone is a geek about something, for some it's football, for some it's clothing (you can totally be a fashion geek) for some it's math, for some food, whatever. Geekness just means you sink more attention into a particular subject than the average person. For us Warmachine players, of course, it means we sink attention where no-one else does.

However, nerdiness is across the dividing line. You become a nerd at the point where your geeky interest becomes the dominant aspect of your life -- you define yourself and your relationships by your interest, and you concentrate on it to the exclusion of basic human self-improvement.

[Almightyfoon]

I use the geek/nerd terminology, but I'm not sure anyone else uses it the same way as I do. I've heard that the west coast tends to view 'geek' as the less harsh word, whereas the east coast it's the opposite. I guess I'm a true west coaster.

Anyways, here's how I define it: everyone is a geek about something, for some it's football, for some it's clothing (you can totally be a fashion geek) for some it's math, for some food, whatever. Geekness just means you sink more attention into a particular subject than the average person. For us Warmachine players, of course, it means we sink attention where no-one else does.

However, nerdiness is across the dividing line. You become a nerd at the point where your geeky interest becomes the dominant aspect of your life -- you define yourself and your relationships by your interest, and you concentrate on it to the exclusion of basic human self-improvement.

Yeah I support that, could be me from being from the west coast as well.

[Ganmeyde]

Yeah, I agree.

(Also from the West Coast... and I'm sensing a pattern here)

[Avecrien]

I've always heard 'nerd' defined as someone very smart and into erudite endeavors. 'Geeks' are people who play games with hand painted miniatures and know that D&D comes in different editions with drastic changes.
From outsiders in my region there doesn't appear to be any greater insult attached to either.

[TsavongLah]

I split my time between college in L.A. and home in San Diego, and everyone I know uses "nerd" over "geek". Generally "geek" connotes socially awkward people who haven't learned how to interact with the rest of the world, whereas "nerds" are just people who have atypical interests and pursuits; i.e. Warmachine, classical medieval literature, computer science, D&D, &c.

Anyway, most people who have seen my models have either ignored them or taken an interest and asked me about them. My dad and I built and painted model cars/airplanes together when I was younger, so my parents totally understand. So no particularly interesting stories from me, sorry. ;)

[halbard100]

If you take location out of the equation I particularly like this:

http://s.buzzfed.com/static/imagebuzz/terminal01/2009/9/6/7/nerd-venn-diagram-9420-1252236207-2.jpg

I keep my minis packed away when I'm outside of my cave or game store <_< my little brother thinks they're pretty cool though, should probably get him into it if i wasn't afraid about how much better he would be than me and how much more money he could sink it it heh. Other that I think my dad has asked about the art box I carry my few models in... I just say its painting stuff :D

[saxondog]

Really depends on who is looking at my collections.
My family thinks I'm some kind of Rembrandt. They just are amazed at "All the little details".
Friends responses are all over the place, ranging from positive to indifferent.
Surprisingly, when you consider the less than positive stereotype that TV and Hollywood have promoted, (Thank you very much 40 Year Old Virgin) I can't think of a woman I know that is not positive when they see my collection.

SFK

[Palewarrior]

This thread seems to have morphed, into some sort of social commentary! :D

[Mael]

Be proud to be a nerd. They will inherit the earth after all.

[komodokeeper]

If this helps anyone... I asked for the "War of the Spider queen" from Forgotten Realms for Christmas and was told no one would get it for me because they refused to buy me a "Devil-worshipping textbook." Intersting huh?

[Valander]

If this helps anyone... I asked for the "War of the Spider queen" from Forgotten Realms for Christmas and was told no one would get it for me because they refused to buy me a "Devil-worshipping textbook." Intersting huh?

Man, is that association of "D&D == Satanic Training" still around? I thought that went out of vogue in the late 80s...

My wife calls my models "little dudes." Which is fine, because I often call them that, too. She's also an artist, so she appreciates the technical work that goes into painting them. She's even helped me build some terrain on a couple of occasions, and enjoyed that.

Now she's actually mentioned a couple of times maybe trying out playing "the F*in Russians" at some point, since she's seen how much fun me and a few friends have when they come over and play. As she was trying to explain to her folks the other day on the phone, "yeah, he goes back there and they push little tin soldiers around, and much manly laughter ensues."

[SRDragon]

If this helps anyone... I asked for the "War of the Spider queen" from Forgotten Realms for Christmas and was told no one would get it for me because they refused to buy me a "Devil-worshipping textbook." Intersting huh?

Dude, if I had it I'd send it your way, (Not to mention the how expensive all the D&D books have gotten lately!) with a cool letter welcoming you to the Fold of DEVIL Worshippers!! LOL

[HandsomeDan]

I just thought of another one. My mother in law saw escalation lying around and started looking through it. She actually asked me if the robots moved. And when, dumbfounded, I asked her to explain further, it turned out that yes, she really was asking if they walked around under their own power. Maybe she just couldn't understand what my interest in them was if they couldn't do something that cool.

[thesavage]

I love videogames, and tabletop games and stuff, and I tell other people that I'm a nerd, making fun of myself.

In actuality, I'm pretty athletic (ran Cross Country in high school, still run after graduating college), I play guitar, golf, racquetball (when I can actually find a court/people). Also, I have decent social skills. Wherever I lived in College, my apartment was "the party place."

And yet, I still define myself as a nerd. Why? Well, old habits die hard. I figure that if people believe themselves to be so "normal" that they can't stand nerds, then they are probably intolerant *******s anyway, so why should I waste my time with them? However, if the person is open minded, I'm sure I can find something that I have in common with them.

For example, I have one friend who I jam out with on guitar, and run with sometimes, who has absolutely no interest in warmachine.

I have another friend who loves video games (and is going to school to become a game designer), but would I be able to go running with him?Hahahaha! No.

And there's another friend which I only hang out with late, late at night . . . but other than that I don't have much in common with her . . .

[johnni]

My friends who are not into comics and games are supportive of my hobbies and if not, then completely indifferent to it. I've had a few of my friends and ex-girlfriends actually try to get into it but never stuck. Though they might casually play the more self contained board and card games like Space Hulk, Tannhausser, Gloom, etc.

In fact most of the judging pertaining to comic books and gaming in my life came from myself as I tried to make sense of it all socially. Unless you meet me for the first time at the comic & games store, people do not associate me with these interests. I also notice that my circles of friends are very segregated when I go out to do stuff. So I'll hang out with one group and then another but rarely do friends of different groups bleed over. Probably something that I should work on.

In terms of titles for my pewter and plastic horde of awesome, I just hear "Figures, miniatures, minis and little dudes".

1! 2! 3! Warball! Let's see if an Iron Agenda host catches this.

[Red5angel]

My ex made me sell all my figures. It was all 40K, so I guess it worked out in the long run.

good gawd, apparently she also made you sell your man-pants.


My girlfreind and her best freind like to tease me about "playing with my toys".