"In Defence of.... Unpainted miniatures in a game." Topic

I have used counters but I'd rather use proxies, unpainted or base coated minis than counters. I don't say that I don't like the spectacle just that we never had the time and money to do really fancy tables like some people have. I have a few armies that I can field entirely painted forces for games and some decent terrain. I play with them more often than not that's why they got priority on paint. But even they have some unpainted units that see use once in awhile.

We collect and play for our personal satisfaction and don't do much recruiting so there's not much stress about presenting the best looking game possible. I'd like too have everything finished to a high standard but it hasn't happened in the last 20+ years and isn't likely to happen soon. As busy as life's gotten for me lately I'm happy if I can get any gaming or painting in and don't worry about everything being perfect. That said I wouldn't have a problem with being a part of a club that had higher standards.

These threads always amaze me.

I don't use unpainted figs, but as far as I know I am the only gamer within a 50 mile radius who has this rule. Everyone else I know uses unpainted figs all the time, some of them for the last 25 years. It doesn't bother me.

The way I look at it, I'm a pretty basic painter, and my figs don't always look that good. Would a better painter look down on my paint jobs and refuse to play because they are not up to his standards?

One guy I know used to spray paint his figs; he had the silver knights, the gold knights, etc, and he was always the loudest complainer when someone else had unpainted figs. I found that somewhat ridiculous.

And I use proxies a lot, although they tend to be a late war Pz4 subbing an early war Pz4 or something like that.