"Reasons Why You Have Too Many Miniatures!" Topic

"Are you a wargaming hoarder? Do you put your local game store inventory list to shame? Maybe you have a large collection of tabletop wargaming minis that you don't need anymore. But, you're unwilling to donate or post them for sale on eBay or Facebook. Your Warhammer 40k models sit there in a box, on a shelf, perhaps unassembled or fully painted, collecting dust. If you're a long term gamer or miniature hobbyist, then you'll understand the inner conflict and oftentimes guilt of stockpiling so many models.

Hoarding models is a common issue that many take pride in. Some even boast on social media with photos of their enormous collections, stacked floor to ceiling. Are you someone who can't seem to sell off your unused, unpainted miniatures?…"
From here
link

Amicalement
Armand

There is no such thing as too many miniatures…
Lack of time, storage space and/or funds to buy even more are the real problems…

Interesting article. I would could say yes to all those points but I won't admit to experiencing them in the extreme. I do have figures that haven't seen the table in years or are still unpainted from the last century. I have sold off projects that I realized I wasn't going to finish or no longer had enough interest in. (sometimes only to go back and reinvestigate). All this is part of the hobby. Most anything carried to the extreme or allowed to become obsessive is not good.

Too many what now?

Well,

First, his collection, even if there is the same amount again in boxes, is a little less than I have on the display shelf in my living room. Not counting the mini storage room, and the ones stored elsewhere (boardgame minis in the boardgame boxes, etc.).

Second … hoarder, problem? I was happy to see in the article, he addressed the reality of collecting being a problem:

"leads to clutter of living spaces and compromises the use of living spaces."

and

"creates clinically significant distress or impairment in functioning, including the ability to maintain a safe space."

All the rest of the clinical definition is useless. Not that it doesn't matter, but any activity in which you engage that causes you serious problems is … well … a problem. If the activity doesn't affect your physical, spiritual, mental, etc. well being, then it's not a problem.

Quite honestly, I think we cause issues when we over-label the problem. You're focusing on the external manifestation, not the problem. I suppose I hit this because I have had colleagues and coworkers who have been "treated" for their problem – at the expense of the organization. They never reverted back to the damaging behaviour (AFAIK), but they did in short order substitute another behaviour in a similarly damaging way.

Also, the list of "causes" is over-correlated with the behaviour. If I am overly emotionally attached to my minis, that is not the problem. The real problem is I have an unresolved need for emotional attachment that I am not getting in a healthy way. That's what needs to be fixed.

If you have one miniature and it negatively affects your life, you have a problem. If you have 10,000 and it doesn't, you don't. And the problem is not the mini.

Too many miniatures? Not possible

Simple solution, go to 15mms or in extreme circumstances 6mms, problem solved….NEXT!!!

Heresy and I know it when I see it 😉

These kids today don't understand the traumas of their elders. Trying to build an army on a weekly allowance, one unit at a time, then watching the manufacturer go under and leaving you half done.

So now we horde. We buy everything we can possibly imagine needing RIGHT NOW, before it goes away and we're left with a project that's started but can't be finished. Yes, I know that rarely happens these days, with lines generally being bought and kept in production instead of just disappearing completely, but this isn't a rational thing. We're like people who've had a near-starvation experience who hide food, even when they know there's plenty available.

Mserafin is right on the money in my case. I buy stuff I know I may actually never paint, but grab it "just in case it goes away", because I plan on someday getting to it. Someday.

The reason is simple, It's easier to buy miniatures than it is to paint or play with them!

witteridderludo expressed my sentiments perfectly!
I do recall that Tom Waits song line," I don't have a drinking problem unless I can't get a drink."

Tango posting in Chinese now? Can't make heads or tails of this post.

Define, "Too many"

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

Because I can.

Nature of the beast. I recall a posting a few turns ago about one of our friends who passed away. The story went that during a game one of the players saw a large box of 15mm figures stored in the game room bathroom.

"So now we horde. "

And also hoard… ;-)

I have a huge Citadel collection, all cataloged. Don't have time to paint & play with it. My brother is mystified why I won't sell it off. I didn't buy the stuff for an investment, I bought it because I liked it… ;-)

Because I don't golf, go to sporting events, concerts, or travelling vacations. It frees up disposable income to do what I really enjoy; collecting miniatures.

hahahaha

1) 'Coz I bought 'em.

What is this "too many" of which you speak?