Goatboy here to talk about how I got into 40k and how over 25 years later, it’s reconnected me to some old friends from the tabletop.
It was a wild time when I started down this 40K hobby rabbit hole and while I did have a break too it was something I easily came back too. It was an old friend who was ready for me to come back, throw some dice, and get some paint on some addictive plastic. Let’s take you back to the 1990s.
Just Getting Into 40K – with My Buddy George – 3rd Edition
The year was 1999 and I had been playing a bit of 40k 3rd Edition. A few friends of mine from High School were in college with me and we got started building models and figuring the game out. One of the other local guys around the shop I worked at got involved in playing. I remember playing him a ton all the time as he tried to figure out how to beat me with his black Marines. It was a wild time and he would come up with a list, I would show up, and usually I would wreck him pretty quickly. George would get frustrated but he would come back again and we would play and my dice would destroy his army.
Of course the whole entire time we were initially playing this he was playing 1500 points and I was sitting on 2000 points. He never told me how many points to bring and I never questioned the beatdown my Chaos Marines or Orks gave to him. When I finally sat down to plan his army out I discovered he had been playing under points the whole time. We both laughed at this but it is such a “George” story. He did beat me after getting his points right and we continued to play games and throw dice.
George Returns to the Grimdark – 11th Edition
I bring this up because George is getting back into the game this year with new Armageddon boxed set and painting up some Orks! He even came by my house today to grab some models as I am somehow that is a pack rat of models due to my thought that I can hold on to things for people in case they do come back. It is my way to give back to the game a bit and ensure people can play with models, save some money, and just have a good time.
I have been talking with George to give I’m painting tips, some paint as I have extras, and just see how much this game has changed with all the new hobby goodies we have. The paint is such a wild difference from the stuff we used in the past. The washes alone are amazing as well as just some of the Contrast stuff to get started. I also like a lot of the stuff you can do with Primer and rattle cans to get a nice starting base.
Reconnecting With Old Friends via 40K – In This Digital World
I’ve talked about it in the past how this game can really do wonders for players. It can be a lonely time for people right now especially if getting access to human interaction can be hard with work, school, and just life. Every time I go to an event I meet new people and discuss all kinds of things. It isn’t just about 40k but we talk about our kids, family, and life events. I enjoy that interaction just as much as I enjoy watching my plastic dudesmen wreck your army on the table top. It is something that I definitely cherish about what this game does for me and I hope does for the players I interact with.
I am happy to see some of the old players coming back to the game. I know it is pretty expensive now but it isn’t like it used to be. If you are more pinpoint in your purchases and with the hobby side being so well supported it is easy to grab a box, clip out some models, build them, and get them ready for the tabletop.
Getting the High School Gang Back Together
I know I will end up playing George later on this year and he will have a great shot at beating me up. He won’t be playing under points this time around and while I mostly make the right decisions the dice will always abide in the way they want to. I even think another good friend from High School might be coming back to the game a bit. I threw in a box for George to give to him as they have kept in touch from the College days. Just being able to give people some models and get them a nice taste reminds me of how I got started back in this game with a boxed set, some extra models from a friend, and a desire to make the coolest looking Chaos army.
Here’s to old friends, the Grimdark, and rolling 6’s into the sun set!
Don’t Miss:
Thomas Reidy, aka Goatboy, the ever-evil member of BoLS. I do arts, play 40k, and even paint a lot of stuff. I have been playing Warhammer 40K since the 1990s, and have won multiple national events including Adepticon and GW GTs. I’ve been writing for BoLS for 15 years. Look at my Instagram to see what I am working on – or working on for someone. I am always doing something hobby related.
Source: Bell of Lost Souls
