"Have you ever SEEN a stranger sneer at painted figures?" Topic

AND the Black Numenoreans even had a white/grey Minas Morgul skull/moon painted on the shields but the misery-guts really ruined my day (being the impressionable teenager that I was!…).

And – to cap it all – the chap* was a 'respected rule writer and game organiser at the time.

Oh well. Not that I've harboured a deep resentment of it over the decades, you understand

John T

* who, even though he passed away many years ago, I shall not name on the basis of gentlemanly conduct!

Since I have been in the hobby since the 1970s, I have seen sneers and smiles. Everyone sneers at hobbies they do not like or understand.

A minor detour (but related to cfuzwuz' anecdote):

Back in the 90s there was an annual general hobby exhibition here. One year one of the local clubs had a stand. Although I wasn't formally involved in running or manning it, I did drop in briefly to assist.

While I was there a work colleague passed by with one of her female friends. She was a blonde, moderately attractive, and an enthusiastic and confident pursuer of men. As they passed by I greeted them. I suggested that they come over and learn about the hobby. The blonde declined with the comment 'I'm only interested in real soldiers', whereupon an army reservist manning the stand optimistically responded 'I'm a real soldier!'.

2. Never saw it happen but my sample size doesn't mean that it is a myth.

2. You don't pick up someones figures without being in the game or asking first. That is what makes this scenario unlikely.

Now if you remove the picking up the figure part, then I have seen something similar. Not exactly the same thing but I had someone, not playing in my game but just walking by.

He got into an argument with me about having hidden units. He wanted me to put all my figures on the table which would have ruined that particular game.

3. I have a long time friend who owns a game store with a gaming area and he had to ask people to leave because they were making fun of other peoples figures and was hurting business. He didn't care if they were painted at all, as long as they kept buying.

Yes, in a game I was running at Triples a few years back.

"Those are the wrong kind of jeeps" said our helpful friend. We all fell about and sent him on his way.

I was once told a tractor I had on a WW2 table as scenery for a demo game, was not only the 1947 version, but also that it was never produced in the colour the model was painted in…

:)

Yes. I was on the receiving end once. A Warhammer master painter looked down his nose at some of my historical figures. Not their accuracy, just my technique. It was not a pleasant moment despite his admitted superiority as an artist.

Yes, a group of friends quietly (not to the guys face) derided the paint jobs of a newby adult painter. In their defense, the guy had brought a union army that he had spray painted blue with no detailing. His flags were those ones that you get on birthday cakes. It was a simple case of misunderstanding the conventional standard. He got a lot better a lot quick.

2 – Urban myth through the 70's to the 90's. No idea about the 00's or now.

You don't pick up someones figures without being in the game or asking first. That is what makes this scenario unlikely.

No, that's just what makes doing it ruder than rude.

Had a guy coming to our group regularly for a while, until he moved out of the area. He was really enthusiastic about some things and wanted to put on a couple of games. He was an artist so we were expecting beautifully painted figures to be a part of the game (WWII Japanese vs. Marines). When he arrived and pulled his figures from the box, they might as well have been spray painted. They were all hand-painted, I don't think he even put any skin-tone on their faces and hands – it was simply green. No details whatsoever. His vehicles were considerably better, but the paint was applied to thickly that it obscured all details of the models. We were disappointed, to say the least. I don't recall anyone commenting on it to him, although being the jerk I am, I may have said something without necessarily being mean about it. I do remember all of us just shaking our heads in disbelief after he left. Knowing I have an extensive WWII collection, he couldn't believe that I didn't jump at the chance to purchase his Japanese.

I like to take poorly painted units to a tourney and then thrash the sneering opponants with my poorly painted figures.

I had jokingly told a GW staffer that the reason why he lost a painting competition was because he did not have enough mushrooms on his base. Does that count?

"Well,to help me overcome this problem,feel free to supply me with the correctly painted ones".

"Good spot! Look. The Dealer's area is still open. Run right down and get the right unit. Bring them back painted and maybe I can squeeze you in. But until then, kindly off."

Saw this at Penarth some years back with one of Mike Slack's amazing 190s South American games. I forget the details but it was along the lines of:

Visitor: "You've used the wrong shade of green for those Columbians, what a load of rubbish, do you know nothing?" (visitor then rabbits on for a while about the conflict to show that he is an "expert".

Mike: "Ah, but if you knew anything about this conflict you'd know that the XXth Columbian regiment was never issued with standard uniforms and had to provide both their own shirts and also dye them, and the local wokka-wokka plant which they used for green dye has that very distinctive shade"

We all smiled quietly to ourselves as the visitor huffed away

I recommend a 9 iron to the face. You get more backspin that way.
But if you use a "2-handed chop", you get very little. It's just like using an axe, which in the long run may just be more satisfying.
Possibly illegal in most jurisdictions, but if your lawyer is a gamer (like mine is!), he can do some judicious judge shopping.

I've seen this dozens of times. Of course, as all my armies are Imagi-Nations, it knocks a few of them off their trotters when they say "THAT'S a great weathering job of British infantry in the field but… the figure….." They aren't British and they aren't weathered. They are the infantry of the Army of Princess Trixie of Saxe Burlap und Schleswig Beerstein, and that army wears pink coats-- the figure is a Surens Garde Francaise."

They are usually stunned at that, but the good ones catch on and look at the pretty colors with the funny pictures and puns all over them and usually laugh. The disdainful ones I show them the stand of the Mackattack Indians with three Mohawks firing forward while the two others are peering over a bush on the back of the stand concealing a couple "en flagrante delicto"

There is no need to use a machine gun when a custard pie will do.

1. Had a guy walk up, look at some Ral Partha Polish Winged Hussars I had painted to use in a fantasy game, and remark, "It's a shame you painted them up for fantasy."

But he apparently thought I had done a good paint job.

I am appalled at the thought of someone walking up and picking miniatures up without first asking for permission.

I was once told a tractor I had on a WW2 table as scenery for a demo game, was not only the 1947 version, but also that it was never produced in the colour the model was painted in…

Is it true that that level of wilful inaccuracy is still a hanging offence ? Or do we have to rely on a lynch mob formed from concerned wargaming citizens ?

(That is a joke – well, it is meant to be a joke. I don't really advocate hanging for wargaming innaccuracies….mainly because I'd be at the front of the queue heading to the gallows…..)

+2 to what HangarFlying said. Of course, there are rude ones in any hobby or job. I knew a guy in re-enacting who always had some criticism about clothing, kit, etc. After a while I would just try to avoid talking to him. On the other hand, the vast majority of people in both these hobbies are welcoming and helpful.

Chuckle…

Are you figures so fragile? My goodness, however do you play with them??!!

I remember once many years ago when we had a Christmas open house at the local historical society in town, I volunteered to put on a display of war games and toy soldiers, board games, chess sets, paper dolls etc., filled a 20 x 30 room.I remember when it opened up, kids being "drovered" in by their moms like cowboys do to cattle. Then the bored, cold, dull eyes saw "the toys" and boys and girls FLEW to the tables with a gasp of "Oh wow!"

The moms followed them trying to hold them back, sqealing and yelling "Don't Touch! Don't Touch!" I said to one of them. "Oh ladies, please, it would be too cruel to show the youngsters these marvelous things and not allow them to touch!" They said "Oh I'm afraid of them breaking something!" I smiled and said "No need, they are easily repaired-- it's not a holy relic." and I let them look and touch and move them around, and whisper and shout out "bang bang.. or shoosh, shoosh" if their dreams were guns or lazers. I showed them how the games worked. One little girl took down a copy of Moreschauser's book and sat on the floor reading it. Another was enraptured by the paper dols. "Mommy Mommy this is the wedding dress I want when I get married!" she said. The mother smiled softly and said "we'll see." I said to the little girl, yes, "Marie Antoinette liked it too."

And so it went, from triari to tanks, from Richard Lionheart to Rommel.

They had quite forgotten about Santa Claus, until prodded by their Moms.

Then we had the video in the refreshment room of the Laurel and Hardy vehicle "Babes in Toyland" (what better propabanda film for toy soldiers and another "The Nutcracker" (what better propaganda for little girls who want to be princess, and find a handsome prince.

People do it all the time . I see it at conventions in games I run, play in and just spectating . The other thing I see and hear is the small group of "friends" that will look at figures and then after they have left make comments about them . More common in smaller conventions .

It isn't just in this hobby -it happens in others as well(re-enacting, cooking, etc..).
I see and hear it in the wine industry at tastings and events . and listen at sporting events (all levels )
It is no different than nameless online comments – there is a certain type of person that tries to make themselves feel important by belittling someone or something .

They are here to stay – just ignore them .Like the crying baby in church whose parents don't care ,there is nothing worth doing about it .
Though a friend did have a hilarious response at Cold-Wars a few years ago .
Typical gamer picks up a 1/2400 BB and says -" the lifeboat is the wrong color for the Italian navy " Dave responds " my apologies ,those were painted by my dead son and I cant bring myself to repaint them" Gamer apologizes profusely and a number of times over the con.

I should point out -The ships were not painted by his son, who is not dead .

I guessed. And laughed

And may I publicly apologise for ever making such comments at shows, as i must have done at some point or another. I will promise to be better from here on

Great thread – very eye opening