"Am I hitting mid-life crisis?" Topic

I have far too many figures. Both painted and yet to be painted. Last count I had 70,000 painted figures. This isn't a how big is my collection contest, I just realised most of them have never seen a table. I know that there is the addage that: "I've never collected anything I needed" etc, but frankly I think this is getting out of hand.
I have no intention of stopping, but it some ways it just seems futile.
Is this a sign of mid 40s panic, or should I seriously think of stopping (which I won't). But if I stopped, what would fill the void with? Certainly not gardening.
Inspirational thoughts from younger gamers and wisdom from older are welcome.

How does the 70,000 break out between painted/unpainted? If you're just buying unpainted lead and piling it up, and never getting it painted, then you've got a problem…although investing in lead is not a bad idea…they aren't getting any cheaper. Seems futile…hardly. Take two aspirin and call me in the morning.

db

Play more. Use them.

I think it is dangerous to become precisely aware of how many figures you actually own.

Here's the thing: if your hobby is collecting minis in the hopes that you will paint them or game with them someday, then you are having fun. A lot of women are the same way about shoes and accessories, they find the perfect thing and then never wear it. Other kinds of guys are like that about their garage toolshop. A lot of us seem to have a need to spend our money on things that please us. For you, it is minis. And why not?

Unless you are seriously pondering a way to turn those 70,000 figures into a red sports car and a 21 year old steel bellied airhead, don't sweat it.

Well,

I think you need to decide what is really important here: Painting or Gaming. I have a kid that probably paints 80-85% of his hobby time and games 15% (frequently to make me happy). The only reason he games competitively is to win painting contests!

I on the other hand, paint to game. In fact I have real issues with motivation (painting wise) if those figs I'm working on are not needed very soon.

We are both happy with our hobby.

There is no right or wrong here.

BUT

If you really do want to game more, then it is time to put that energy into joining and building a group or groups. Don't be the guy the provides all the lead. Instead spend your time helping others to learn how to collect/paint. I think most gamers paint to game anyway.

mjc

Where do you store them all? Why would you stop? If there's nothing you'd rather do then keep going.

What do I know I've less than 1,500 figures.

Yes, I too have far more figures than I ever game with and I'm still buying but generally speaking figures bought = figures painted.

I'm playing more nowadats and I try to rotate my games through the periods to use as many as possible (Jack of all rules, master of none)

But my forces grew initially in a time when I gamed rarely but when I was under stress at work. I've commented often in other threadsthat if I was painting I knew I'd found time to swithch off and relax because there's only one speed you can put paint on lead.

If what you are doing worries you then I think the advice to have a strategy to increase your gaming is worthwhile but I'd go the opposite way from quidveritas. Be the guy who provides all the lead and make it easier for newcomers to enjoy the hobby by playing you using your figures.

I keep staring longingly at the neighbour's Aston Martin Vantage, and I don't even drive – now *that* is mid-life crisis material….

Dom.

First we need to define what a mid-life crisis looks like. I am thinking a potbellied guy with a comb over and dyed hair who is spending his days looking at wanting the young hotties. He dreams of youth lost and acts as if he had it back. A guy with 70,000 toy soliders is not having a mid-life crisis.

If you are worring that you have too many, ask youself what would Ed do. He would find some one like a you collage student who is just getting int gaming and give him some figures on the promise that he put on a game with them.

Or you can come to the understanding with yourself that having 70,000 oe so to soliders is just gamer OCD, and that you really need more….

Sell some of the old ones on E-Bay… or give them to me.

That said, I've been gaming since the 60's and have only 5-6,000.

In reading ColonelToffeeApple's post, he has 70,000 painted figures plus an unspecified number of unpainted figures.

That is a lot of painting time!

Mid life crisis usually involves suddenly deciding you missed something in your life and therefore, going in an entirely different direction to avoid dying before you get to enjoy whatever you think you missed ( red sports car, airhead girlfriend, making yourself a superhero ).

If you have 70,000 painted figures and know you are going to get more, that is not a midlife crisis. That is a very deep rut. You would need a crisis just to bring you up to even.

I have been through a midlife crisis. Mine was a waste of time except for the running. Best I ever felt in my whole life. I should have kept it up. Other than that, it was all in my head and merely wasted daydreaming power when I could have been painting figs or taking up a new hobby.

Good luck with whatever you do! Remember, never waste a minute. The older you go, the faster they go.

I recommend that you move to Sri Lanka immediately. You will rapidly become the most popular guy in town. They might even elect you mayor.

I just sold my whole collection of WW2 20mm North Africa – I painted them all and had quite a lot (Italians, Commonwealth and Germans). I completed the lot about 6 years ago and never once played with them – I sold them this week and I am already regretting getting rid of them…so don't sell any!

My wife tells me that I am on about my third mid-life crisis (I am 43) but my hobby is cheaper than buying a sports car or motorbike, or having an affair with my secretary (now that would really be expensive, Mrs Spider would probably get the house and I would keep my figures).

I am a big believer in the adage that I cannot die while I have unpainted lead so I say, "Carry on, sir."

"what would fill the void with?"

A fast car and a hot chick?

"I stopped, what would fill the void with? Certainly not gardening."

Au contraire. Gardening makes a very pleasant alternative to painting and wargaming. It also gains lots of kudos with She Who Must Be Obeyed.

wrt the figure problem, as long as you can store them, whats the problem? I've got more stuff that I'll ever use, so these days I just pick up bits and pieces and pursue goofy projects.

Far too many figures: this is dangerous.
For your mental health you need to divest yourself of at least 69 999 painted figures.
For a small fee, I'll be willing to take them off your hands.
Please, don't thank me….

Keep going.. if you weren't happy with it I'm sure you'd find something else to spend your money and time on.

TW.

I don't understand … what's the problem? Collect, paint, game, be happy. Repeat as necessary.

Don, I think the problem is that "game" is missing from his "collect, paint, game"

Maybe slow down on the painting and buying and up the ante on playing – that's why you got them, right ? Which might mean :

a bigger circle of gaming friends is needed to get more opponents

maybe join a club

run games at conventions – at least it'll keep you away from the traders

Buy the newly reprinted Featherstone books on Solo Wargaming and Wargame Campaigns and get a solo campaign going (and consider signing up to the SWA for more inspiration)

And you could consider garden wargames…there were some articles in Practical Wargamer many years ago about a chap who gamed in 54mm, with forts and harbours and cities built into the flower beds. It's a nutty but also bizzarly attractive idea. I don't think I'd be allowed to though (some parts of the home have to be game free apparently).

sex in big doses – it makes you forget about everything for a while =)

With 70 000 figs, toy can easly start a club on your own,

Put an ad in the papper saying you got thuosands apon thousands miniatures and want to find people to play with.

Do steel bellied airheads come ready painted?
Or are they going to pile up unused in my attic too.

Don, I think the problem is that "game" is missing from his "collect, paint, game"

Ah, I see. OK. Next question: Do you have a place to game? (a game room, a table, etc.) If not (as I did not for about 30 years) then that might be the source of the problem.

Lets get real about this discussion.

If you have more than 5000 unpainted figures, you can not die until they are all painted.

It's that simple.

"Live long and prosper"

That's far too many to have.

I will solve your problem by accepting a few thousand of them off your hands for free.