40K, the end.

After 4 editions, I am done with Warhammer 40K. The loss is difficult and grieving is a process.

Starting in the middle of 3rd and now leaving after only two games of 6th in over a year, it was a good time. However, that good time is over. My buddies bailed at the end of 5th. I should have as well. I just wasn’t ready. Now I am.  Why?

Well, I have no safe haven for games. Sure I could go to a store, but I cannot. I started my 40K career in a game store and it was a good group. We played small campaigns and went to small tournaments, but it wasn’t real serious. Then “That Guy” showed up. We had a weekly league of good time shenanigans and then the list optimizer and tailor appeared and started rolling over everyone. Then, he started complaining about no competition. Well the response of  group was to adapt to stop “That Guy.” Then the random fun games became tournament level games, min-max lists, and all that mess. This is when I jumped ship. Plus my buddies were playing Lord O’ the Rings and I was introduced that world.





Eventually the guys delved into 40K and it was a damn fine time. 4th edition was in its prime. We went from orcs and elves to chaos, marines and guard. I rolled in with an awakened tomb world. It was glorious! We had a basement a couple tables, loads of terrain and 3-5 guys to play 40K. It was a glorious time! We had small X-mas tournaments, aspirations of campaigns and even branched out to find new blood to bring to the group. It was a good time and in an environment that was free from “That Guy.”

Sadly, the good times always end. We found other interests, lost a key member to foreign lands and life was always happening. Sure he hit the Adepticon team tourney once, but that was sort of the beginning of the end of our weekly 40K group. Then 6th edition was rumored and released. Nobody wanted to buy more books and rebuild armies to match the sweeping changes that would be coming. So 40K ended.

I did play a total of two official games of 6th (and one stripped down version of the new rules with my son). This was very early on in the release. It was at local store with one of the two guys that introduced me to the game. I didn’t hate either game, but I did not like where it seemed to be headed. The core rules had good changes, but way too many questionable and just bad changes. Then there was the fact I would have to return to the store circuit to game. The two games played were fine, but the annoyance of the environment was not. The annoying trading card players constantly interrupting, the lack of space, the constant noise, the lack of comfort, the feeling of being in the way and the hassle of maneuvering to and from the store with an army, makes me sound like a whiny bitch I know. 1st world gamer problems, I get it. Still after being spoiled with several years of the friendly confines, away games just blow donkies!

So I am closing the book on the 40K gaming universe. I should have long ago, but I still had killbots to paint. The time between my last game and now has seen so many changes to the game. I refuse to use allies, fortifications, flyers and super heavies. These all looked good on paper, but the rules and use of them has twisted the game. There was a good intention, but the road to Hell is paved as the saying goes. These are all so easy to over use and abuse. Then there are the big codex kits. These look awesome, but I could do nothing to them. I wouldn’t last more than a few turns before my advancing killbot horde would be tabled. Sure I could switch to Chaos or Night Lords (use in Blood Angel codex), but that won’t help much either. I don’t mind losing if it is a fun game. However, being a whipping boy vs. multiple flyers, giant mecha suits, mini Eldar titans, re-roll able 2+ units, or min-allies for maximum effect is not something I am willing to do. That or go the other way and buy into the new crazy that is 6th edition allies, plane, wall gun having, giant kit, super heavy madness. The game is too different and expensive now; and since I cannot adapt, I guess I’ll go the extinction route.

I need a place for a casual game. Where is that? A place where people play with fully assembled and painted armies. A place where you can swear and laugh without repercussions A place where you don’t have to hassled to buy merch to support the place you play, or risk losing your spot to a money making game/group. A place where you can bring your own snacks, and not have to buy over-priced Cheetos and Mountain Dew. A locale where one can have an adult beverage. A basement or garage where there is no “That Guy”, the” Net-lister” , the “Know-it-all”, the “Argumenter” and the other gaming stereo-types (All stores have some if not all of these. Don’t kid yourself.) Where does a guy go for a pick-up game with likeminded 40K gamers in an environment like that?

Get to the point! I know.

This means that in the near future my armies will be catalogued, photographed and put up for sale. This will be difficult seeing them sold. All that time and money spent, but having them lie around in their storage units does nothing for them either. The 40K universe will live on without this guy. I’ll still follow the comings and goings of the dark millennium in novel form, but my universe shaping on the tabletop is at an end. The Necrons have gone back to their tombs and my Chaos forces have returned to the warp.

It was a good, time, but that time is over. Good bye Warhammer 40K. You were a good friend.