" The current trend to use unpainted miniatures " Topic

Is this TMP's longest running thread ever?

I recently spent three weeks on a set of Hat British light Infantry and then put them in the bin!!! I must admit it was a low point in my brief painting career. Not to be deterred i started a set of A Call to Arms British Infantry and will finish them in one week to a much better standard than i was ever going to manage with the Hat figures. I learnt some valuable lessons with the Hat figures, mostly what not to do. I do think there is some really nice satisfaction to be had from painting your figures to a standard you are happy with. Each to their own i suppose.

Been thinking of a stake in its heart, but I doubt that nuking it from orbit would work.

Love playing with well painted toy soldiers;
Love playing with badly painted toy soldiers;
Love playing with unpainted toy soldiers.

Neh, neh, neh nah nah to the anally retentive!

"Is this TMP's longest running thread ever?"

Not even close.

Yes but, is there anyone that play with UNPAINTED miniatures BY CHOICE?

Roby

I've only noticed this syndrome amongst Games Workshop gamers.

BY CHOICE?

Have you actually read the thread?

There seems to be a "cultural" aspect at play beyond other factors. Some games, or game stores, tolerate unpainted models. Perhaps this is so they don't hamper the buying frenzy. In my area, we are very light on clubs and so have very little by the way of peer pressure to paint. I once played with a group which had a gentleman's agreement to have no bare metal on the table. However, that was the exception and not the rule when it came to big name gaming. DBA, on the other hand, you would NEVER even think to bring an unpainted force to our local DBA night. It would be like intentionally showing up without clothing. Then again, you would not be "trying out" an army list, or have just bought some waaaay cool new unit for your army. Oddly enough, I know a guy who is a total snob about using only metal miniatures and will not play with pre painted plastic, even when this dooms him to being a tin boy with poor impulse control and a vast hobby allowance.

If you CAN put in some effort at presentation, then I think you SHOULD. If you can't, for physical reasons, then this does not apply to you but, if you choose not to put in the effort, I'm confused why you don't just use counters or paper models. There are multiple options for painting services and the odds are you could get a nice paint job from a local fellow gamer who could use the cash.

My personal feelings on this are that it is disrespectful to play with unpainted models in anything beyond short games lasting an hour or less. When you play with another gamer, you are sharing a social interaction. Forcing them to stare, for hours, at an army which has been slapped together, or is in bare metal/plastic, is as rude as not bothering to attend to personal hygiene before a road trip. If you just want to collect models, do that. If you just want to compete without creating anything, try computer games. A person who spent time in presentation is doing something for the hobby and enhancing the experience for all players and spectators. The exception would be casual games with a buddy who can deal with you when you are unwashed. I have a standard for events and "matches" and a much more lax standard for in home "beer and pretzels" gaming.

I agree with SSV, painted figures are all apart of the entire Wargaming package. Playing with unpainted figures is akin to showing up to a game without dice, or measuring devices, and an incomplete understanding of the rules, and still have an expectation that your opponent should now enjoy themselves. I think it shows disrespect to your colleagues.

I must say that I also disagree with the title of this topic. IMO, the current trend (even from 6 years ago) is to use painted figures exclusively.

I don't get the whole unpainted thing. If you have a life maybe you need a different hobby as you are too busy to invest in this one. The Beauty of the thing is in the Art as much as the History. Something that doesn't come from a computer screen. Something that one person (No matter How anal retentive they seem) Actually made with the intention of sharing their Art and their snapshot of History at that place and time with others. I am not talking about kids here. Kids games are a whole different topic. I Love the History, I Love the Art. But In this Day and age of Instant gratification and Political correctness…Ok Here Is the Marine in me. LAZY is just exact ally that. I respect someone who tries,who at least cares.but if you cannot take the time to try please don't whine and cry when no one else cares. Rewards come from hard work even if its for a game…Semper FI

I would like to add a post script… On Friday night Guys night at my Friend Gordons House , we get together and enjoy the games and I would like to think each others company.The company of friends both old and New. This Has Gone on well over 25 years. People come and go as life places demands on them,and there is much rejoycing when they return a hearty hand shake a manly hug and perhaps a beer we keep a fridge full of beer an soda (no one has to drink). Some of the people who come have never once put on a game or even done anything other than used/participated in what was there. They are still just as welcome. We pretty much have only two rules NO illegal drugs and NO unpainted figures on the table…Gordons shelves are full of them and so is my basement.

LOL unpainted miniatures that is…

UNPAINTED FIGURES is why the whip and baseball bats were invented. Lazy sloth like individuals require some physical discipline to make them see the light and and produce presentable figures in public.

Of course if they continue to present unpainted ones in public after liberal application of the whip and or baseball bat then one has to worry that perhaps they have another agenda!

Especially if they seem to be bringing more and more unpainted stuff along and enjoying the punishment!!!

But then again…they could be just Warmachine/Hordes players!

I personally don't allow the attitude of those who will not paint to bother me, that's their choice, which is no different then my choice to discourage unpainted miniatures on my table. If you wish to bring troops to my table, don't whine or complain, pick up a brush. Or your troops may not be used.
My group and I put a lot of effort into the preparation of our games simply because the visual appeal is important to us and we do not wish to compromise this, If you can not respect our efforts, you have the problem, not Us, and you probably wouldn't enjoy the game.
If you wish to join into our groups effort you just have to meet our standard. With that said our expectations are not all that high as long as there is an effort. I don't expect museum quality ( My own Painting doesn't belong in a Museum) but I do expect some effort in meeting our expectations. I am also fortunate as to have a large collection of figures that can supplement the efforts of new players, and I'm willing to help out.
I have also made several observations over the years. Those who paint their own figures tend to respect the painting effort of others and handle the figures of others appropriately, which is something I do appreciate. Those who paint their own figures tend to have more fun as they have a vested interest in how their figures perform and are also able to tell more war stories (Groan). Those who paint tend to be more reliable and show up for games, and are often better prepared.
As per allowing Unpainted miniatures into tournaments, and public events, that is up to organizers to decide. Just like it is up to me to decide if I wish to participate in an unpainted event or not. I'm prepared to live with my decision.
I have noticed that unpainted miniatures tend to be found in games that are Faddish in nature, not necessarily the game, but many players are often only in it for a relatively short term, until the next fad hits them and they move on. Constant power releases of new miniatures tends to also overwhelm players, and their painting suffers to a point where many can‘t be bothered to even start painting, as its only good until the next release. This is whats hurting the hobby as it creates the habit of unpainted miniatures being used on the table. The manufacturer's who care little for the gamer and only prey upon them with full knowledge that their interest may only be short term and ensure that if they ever return to the hobby they have to start all over, those are the real people hurting the Hobby.

The manufacturer's who care little for the gamer and only prey upon them with full knowledge that their interest may only be short term and ensure that if they ever return to the hobby they have to start all over, those are the real people hurting the Hobby.

So now its the manufacturer's fault? And only the popular ones at that?

As much money and time I spend on the best terrain and to make my table look very impressive, interesting and make others want to play the game (keeping that in mind), putting unpainted figures on the table is against the law, and a felony in my book. I spend years and years painting, so my table looks outstanding. If you like to play with unpainted figures, stick to board games and role playing games where you belong. How can it be fun that way. Ofcourse if your just playing on the floor or something or on a sheet, and terrain is not a concern, and your in your house, who cares. But not in public.

IMO

tom

brightly painted medieval knights (eight school lunch tables of them end to end…facing each other at a gaming convention) got me interested in minis

it was breath-taking

until then, I had been strictly a hex wargame guy

I know the incredible visual appeal of painted armies and love them -- they're always impressive

on the other hand, there can be something kind of zen about unpainted minis -- as with chess pieces, the minimalism can be ok

and for collectors, there comes a point when one realizes that there probably aren't enough years left in life to paint everything; so the situation becomes sort of use it, don't lose it

I see unpainted pretty regularly with GW figures. The reason I've heard from most is they do not have the skill/interest/desire to paint, nor the money to pay for others to do it for them, they just want to play.

There are a couple, though, who go in for the, "flavor of the month," and do not want to paint figures because their skill level would limit their resale value & they do not plan on having the army longer than the latest favored codex.

How about if unpainted miniatures only get to play on unfinished terrain?

Or perhaps a die roll deduction of -2 if unpainted?

Mind, my son feels a coat of Testors spray paint makes them painted miniatures!

How about if unpainted miniatures only get to play on unfinished terrain?

And unmarked dice.

Wow, haven't checked this part of TMP for a while and this thread is still going?…

Note I haven't checked because I hate painting and seeing others excellent work depresses me!

But I have to concur, painting with unplayed models is no fun, but would always allow it to people starting out. If they needed inspiration I would show them my fastest paint job ever – tundra tanks, white spray, green lines to break up shapes, tracks and similar picked out :)

"Longest thread? Not even close" really?! Other than Napoleonic facing colors what topic could be longer? BTW i only game with painted figs as it's an incentive for me to finish. I don't worry about the other players.

"Longest thread? Not even close" really?!

There are a few longer threads. BUT, this is the longest thread generated by, what I believe to be is, an erroneous original post. I don't contend that there ever was a "current trend" for using unpainted miniatures. Not even when this thread started.

More 10 year olds play 40K and Warmachine than Napoleonics or ACW. Many don't have the attention span, or the compulsion, or even see the need to paint. That's why you see the use of unpainted figures here. I don't think that is an indictment of those games either. The quality of the paint jobs one sees at Adepticon exceeds that which I see at the Historical conventions, that I usually frequent.

In my experience the current trend IS to use painted figures.