"Why I’m Done Playing Warhammer 40k: This Is the End" Topic

"This is a topic I've thought about for a long time. I last played Warhammer 40K around March of 2018, not all that long after the release of 8th edition. During that time I've had a lot of time to think on the subject and why I just can't play the game again.

I started playing Warhammer 40K in 2006 near the tail end of 4th edition. By that point the game was in a weird place because it was dated and codex information from some armies just didn't line up.

Still, I played my Orks enthusiastically and tried to get in as many games as I could. That equated to about 6 games a year but I loved it regardless…"
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Amicalement
Armand

I started 40K earlier, 1989 and ended around 2003. I played one more game around 2007 and my opponent after losing trashed his army in a temper tantrum. Kinda sucked the fun out of it. I still have my army, I will use other rules with them.

I've been a 40K-addict since 3rd Ed and bought the new 9th Ed WH40K box set 'Indomitus' when it dropped at my FLGS a couple of weeks ago. Despite the codex-creep and planned obsolescence that's been part and parcel of 40K since its very inception, it's a habit I just can't kick because I love the minis and fluff.

Rules imbalance in 40K is a never-ending slippery slope arms race I've resigned myself to long ago. Much of it has to do with the fact that GW is constantly releasing new minis and units for profit that are cooler and deadlier. So if "Army X" gets an upgrade via said new releases, some or all of the other armies become relatively less competitive and GW has to redress the imbalances to give those other armies a fighting chance. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

Like the OP I can think of a million reasons why I should quit, but why bother? Don't worry and be happy.

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

That horse died a very long time ago.

There are many other rules sets out there that offer different experiences. I've played some of them until I found a set I liked. That's what I play now, but 40K got me started in the hobby.

my opponent after losing trashed his army in a temper tantrum

Still, it was nice of you to play a game with a fragile little boy.

Re-discover Rogue Trader… ;-)

I had games where I had to remove half of my army before I had my first turn. Games where I was tabled on the second turn. If you play against tournament players, it takes the fun out of the fluff. I stopped playing somewhere in the late 6th edition, but lost my heart during the 5th. Still have more Orks then I can physically place on a normal battlefield, and get myself the odd mini from GW, but not to play their rules.

I've played 40k off and on since 87 with some gaps away from the game lasting up to 10 years.

Recently I've played Kill Team, Blood Bowl & Space Hulk. I haven't played an actual 40k game since 5th Edition.

Ive picked up the 9th rules and am now building a Mantis Warrior army which I'm enjoying very much.

I dont know if my Mantis Boys will ever see a gaming table but for right now just building the little guys is enjoyment enough to keep me happy.

now building a Mantis Warrior army

I'm not familiar with their colors and heraldry so googled them. I must admit I like it.

I have 5 mostly underutilized armies in 40K:

Primaris Ultramarines
House Terryn Imperial Knights
Astra Militarum Cadian Shock Troops
Biel Tan Craftworld Eldar
Tau Cadre of the T'au Sept (ochre scheme)

I have KT, BB and SH but haven't played them in over a year. Same goes for Adeptus Titanicus and Aeronautica Imperialis. My gaming group has been playing more 15mm Battlefront FOW and TY so I had to "do what the Romans do."

Played 40k and War$ Fantasy since RT and 2nd ed. Stopped about 10 years ago since the rules are very easy to bend (aka cheat) and a lot of players around here take advantage of that.

So in fact the problem is more to do with the people who play the game, i.e. people who have temper tantrums or who cheat rather than the game itself.

As for game balance, why is competitive gaming a thing anyway? When I used to play 40k against friends back in the old RT days I lost all the time and it never bothered me in the slightest. Mind you I am British, losing comes naturally to us.

Ah, the perennial 'why I'm leaving 40k' article. 🙄

By now, everyone's figured out whether they are going to put up with GW's ways and stay with 40K or not. It's been around long enough so that the company's ways of targeting the kids has been heavily nullifed by the dominance of video games, and that today's 40K kids are most likely going to be children of the previous generation of gamers, who already know how GW works.

The only difference with 9th edition is that 20 years of Space Marines are being put into obsolescence by the new Primaris figures, so a lot of Marine players used to having everything they wanted are in danger of having their long-established collections phased out. But by now, those who are going to object have pretty much already objected a good while ago.

Heck, I even kind of perked up a little when the new Battle Sisters came out, but no sooner had their stuff come out than GW pretty much pushed them aside (I told myself that if they wouldn't make a new Repressor Tank, I'd not fall to temptation) to basically redo Space Marines completely.

So, yeah, the perennial article, indeed. Considering we've got the One Page Rules folks covering the figure collectors now, there's really not any wiggle room anymore – there's too much information, coverage, and opinion-slinging out there for anyone to be in doubt of their position or not.

I knew I'd reached the end of my limit when single figures (normal-28mm-people sized, not even big ones) passed the US$30 range, so, yeah, it's been pretty much a finished deal for me for some time now.

Besides, I've had more fun with Gaslands in the last two years than I've had with 40k in 5 times that amount of time.

I've amassed over 200 'firstborn' (as they seem to be calling them now) marines (incl 40 terminators) due to people quitting or at least retiring their marines in favour of Primaris. I'm a little vague on what I'm going to use them for but the Primaris allowed me to put them together cheaply.

"It's been around long enough so that the company's ways of targeting the kids has been heavily nullifed by the dominance of video games, and that today's 40K kids are most likely going to be children of the previous generation of gamers, who already know how GW works."

Ever seen conquest?

Also easy fit stuff is hardly aimed at adults. Nor contrast, one may assume.

"The only difference with 9th edition is that 20 years of Space Marines are being put into obsolescence by the new Primaris figures"

No. A space marine is a space marine. Just use your old models. Perhaps just blutac them on larger bases, it will also add height! Its no different to using behemoth nids for kraken or metal necrons or plastic androids for necrons, so on.

I love 7th edition and, isolated during this pandemic, I'm getting in a lot of solo gaming with my 40K armies. Having a great time.

People get burned out with a set of rules. They move on. They need a break. No big deal.

I'll only learn 9th edition so I can play with the guys at the local GW store. Otherwise, I'm sticking to 7th, and I'm buying up all the classic Space Marines I can for the inevitable day when GW stops selling them.

But I'll keep playing with them. GW can move on to new editions, but This is a hobby--and I'm having fun.