So I thought I'd take a moment to touch on something that's very near and dear to me, yet something very few of my friends know anything about - my hobby.
Many of you will have seen it. An enigmatic place tucked away near a small coffee stand in the Merry Hill centre. A place you perhaps wouldn't enter even if someone paid you to do so because you couldn't possibly risk being seen among the nerds. A place full of like-minded, creative individuals who enjoy the experience of tabletop wargaming. I am of course referring to Games Workshop.
Some people enjoy the hobby because they like to build and paint models, some because they like to 'bits-bash' different model kits to come up with completely unique creations from the depths of their warped minds, and some get their enjoyment from using the finished products in simulated war scenario's on the tabletop. I myself enjoy all three.
"Haha, he's a nerd who paints toy soldiers then pretends to fight with them!!!" I hear you say as you point and laugh. It's really not that simple, stop being so narrow-minded and expand your horizons a little.
The game I play is called Warhammer 40,000. It's not just a case of "My man shoots your man. PEW PEW! He's dead." It involves rules. Lots of rules. 432 pages of rules to be exact. And for those of you thinking it's a game that only children play, the majority of hobbyists within what I'd consider the 'hobby community' at the Merry Hill store are in their 20's. In fact the game isn't even recommended for children under the age of around 12 because it's far too complex.
Essentially it's a turn based wargaming scenario where one person's army tries to get the better of another person's army based on the mission objective(s). There are scenario's akin to capture the flag, take and hold, and complete annihilation, amongst others. Think of it a bit like online multiplayer Call of Duty, Halo or Gears of War. The difference is that instead of sitting on your arse getting fat while you stuff you face and stare at pixels thrown up on a screen by your Xbox, you get to build your army, paint it however you like, and then test your skill as a General as you attempt to defeat your opponent, rolling many, MANY dice in the process.
I'm all for the occasional dabble on a computer game, but here's the thing; Xbox gamers get one guy with a gun, they get to shoot some other random player who lives on the other side of the world that they'll probably never meet, then when they turn off the console they have nothing to show for it, save for a few lost hours, a few extra pounds on the waistline and a high score.
I on the other hand get dozens of huge armoured marines, Terminator-style killer robots, monstrous aliens whose swarms devour planets, and evil daemonic creatures from the 'warp', not to mention all of the tanks, jetbikes and other assorted vehicles on top of that. I get to meet my opponent. I get to share jokes, stories, innuendo's and insults with them. I get to expand my social circle, meet other like-minded people who share the same interests as I do, and I get to make friends. When I've beaten my opponent, I can go to the pub with them immediately afterwards for a cheeky pint. And when all is said and done, I have a beautifully painted army of models which I'm proud to display.
Perhaps not such a silly hobby after all when you sit and think about it, is it?
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