Games' Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Players, Pawns, and Power-Ups

17. The Workshop of Games

135 17 The Workshop of Games The Games Workshop company is widely known for a number of products, but their biggest claim to fame is their incredibly popular miniature war games Warhammer Fantasy Battle and Warhammer 40,000. Both of these games have legions of fans worldwide, who take great care in building their armies and painting their miniatures. Designed for skirmish-size battles, though large-scale battles are possible, the games provide both a visual experience for the eyes and fun gameplay for the soul. If you’re deciding to get into either game, there are certainly some things you need to know before sending your soldiers into battle. 1. PLUG INTO THE COMMUNITY Once you start playing, you will quickly get tight with all the other local players, and they will most certainly become your mainstay for playing, and quite likely new friends. The Warhammer community is very large, however, and there are many, many online communities worth checking out. These communities offer an expanded camaraderie, as well as more people to share your stories with and show off your hard work in painting and terrain building. With that, you’ll also get to see other people’s work and get their tips on how they did what they did. 136 Games’ Most Wanted™ In addition to the online groups and friends you can find, there are many conventions where you can meet more players , test your tactical savvy, and share your painting and construction tips as you learn new ones. Conventions enable players to meet new people face-to-face, helping to reinvigorate their love for the hobby. Seeing so many people enjoy the same thing as you do will recharge your gaming batteries and really get you in the groove to get back and hit the battlefield as soon as the convention is over. The miniature war gaming community is tight-knit to begin with, but when you drill down to the individual games, like Warhammer, it becomes tighter still. There’s no reason you should take up this game and hobby in a void, especially since there are so many players out there looking for people just like you. 2. LEARN THE HISTORY Playing a war game where you march up and down the field attacking your enemy (or retreating from them) is only fun for so long. Even the most skilled players will get bored of that repetitive exercise in math. What truly makes a war game enjoyable, even a fictional one like Warhammer or Warhammer 40K, is the story behind the battles. Knowing (or creating) the backstory to your unit, and why the soldiers are engaged in this critical battle, adds a sense of excitement and importance to what you’re doing. It also helps to raise the stakes and gives you more to play for, even if that more is an intangible beyond simple bragging rights. Of course, there is the official story line, and your victory may go against the grain in that regard, but it gives you a great story to tell when you meet with other people who may have run through the same scenario. Beyond this, knowing the history of the game will help you enjoy the hobby more. It adds an element of life to what The Workshop of Games 137 you are doing and just like the reason for the battle, it gives your hobby a bit more direction and purpose. 3. SHOP AROUND There isn’t much choice when it comes to buying new models and sets for your game, with very little wiggle room when it comes to price, but picking up used armies is another matter entirely. There are many new players coming into the hobby, but also a number of those leaving it for various reasons (time, money, looking for something new). These players have invested a lot of time and effort into the game, and may be looking to recoup some of the costs. Searches at online auction sites can yield interesting finds, from the simplest of accessories to full-on armies for sale, all at great prices. In fact, for the player truly looking to start right away, this can be an attractive option, as readymade armies ready to march are available. Another place to look for bargains is the local hobby shop, where still active players might be interested in selling some of their little-used pieces...