Mood: Smiling.
Music: Don't Go, Yaz.
Game: Rock Band (360), Call of Duty 4 (PC), Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (360), Hellgate London (PC), MMO Beta (PC), Warhammer 40K? (Tabletop. Tabletop?!)
Book: Debt of Honor, Tom Clancy.
Watching: Nothing.
Weather: Warm, Sunny.
So, last night a bunch of guys from work decided to play Warhammer 40K, and, not really having anything to do, and seeing as just about everyone in the office was playing, I thought I'd tag along and see what it was all about.
Warhammer 40K is a tabletop miniatures wargame. Basically, everyone decides what army they're going to play, runs out and buys a mess of metal and plastic miniatures, paints them in ridiculously amazing detail, then puts them on a large slab of wood, painted foam, resin, and so on, and "fights" with them.
Of course, there are tons of rules, dice, tape measures (LOTS of tape measures), templates, reference charts, and so on...but the net of it is that you move your guys according to rules, line 'em up, say who's attacking what, consult charts to see what you need to roll to "hit" a unit, then determine how much damage they took (if at all) and so on.
Like any social game (even one as geeky as this one,) the draw is that it's social, full of laughing, good-natured arguing, assorted cursing and questioning of heritage and parentage. The fact that you get to shoot your friends in the face (metaphorically, of course) is a bonus.
The models I saw last night were fabulous...very detailed, well-painted...the tanks some of the guys had were hysterical.
I'm idly thinking about joining them (they play once a month...) and choosing an army, buying little figures, and spending some time painting miniatures, something I used to love years and years ago.
I need a new hobby, and this definitely meets the criteria. It also gets me engaged with some folks here socially, which would be welcome as well. I've lived here now for about two and a half years, and I don't really have any friends out here. It's be nice to start meeting more people and doing stuff....
Posted by Glenn at April 11, 2008 04:22 PM