There’s a lot to love about our bizarre little niche hobby, but this is definitely the best.
In a hobby that is world wide, but has a tiny community thanks to the internet, we often see rivalries flare up, and big egos that tend to dominate the hobby landscape. When you combine that with the anonymity the internet provides, and how easy it is to misinterpret what someone is saying when you lack the verbal cues that speaking to someone in person provides, it is easy to think that this is a pastime filled with negativity. In the search for the perfect list, or the best combo, we often get caught up in the competitive aspects of the game and can forget what got us into in the first place.
Most gamers don’t go to big events, or spend far too many productive hours cruising the internet. Most gamers play with a small group of friends in their local area and just have a laugh tossing some dice and enjoying what this game is all about: having fun.
I recently got a letter from a friend I made at Adepticon: Henrik Lampén. Henrik was a member of the (notorious) Team Sweden, a group that made the trip all the way from Northern Europe to partake in the Mecca of Wargaming. They were a great group of guys, very fun, positive, and all very good players. Henrik and I both made it to the second day of the event to play in the finals, and we drew each other game 6. Henrik was playing a Space Marine list that looked like something you would see from the pictures in the Codex against my trim-all-the-fat Bjorn Wolves.
It didn’t look like it’d be much of a game to me, and I honestly wondered how he had gotten as far as he had with his list and knew he must be damn good.
We played a great game. I was trouncing Henrik but he never gave up, despite seeming to be getting smashed. The, in the last turn, all but 1 of my 15 Long Fangs missed and Henrik somehow, someway, managed to win the game! It was a crazy turn of events and a great display of tenacity on his part to beat me when it looked like all hope was lost.
We both parted friends having enjoyed a really great game together.
Fast forward to now, and I get this email in my inbox from none other than Henrik:
nice story. The people I have met and get to hang out with really make this a lifelong hobby. Add to the fact my son will be playing in a couple yeaars, and it only gets better! Hopefully some day I will make it out to the west coast for a game or two.
I agree! And man, having your son to share the hobby with would be awesome. I look forward to that one day, myself. The Gentleman running our Firestorm Armada event at the BAO is doing it with his son and they have a Podcast together, too. That sounds super fun to me.
Reece, thanks for posting this. My local scene has a “top tier” player that is there because he is a bully on the table top. I think the attidude that both you and Henrik bring to a game is a great example of what players should aim, especially because you both show that you don’t have to be a jerk to be a real top tier competitive player.
It’s too bad when you see that. It is just a game after all. Who cares if you lose from time to time? So long as it was a fun game, that is what is most important in the end. Winning is great, but not at the cost of fun.
Thanks a lot, Reece!
I am really happy that you posted this and I must also say that every “competitive” and seasoned tournament player I have ever met has been nice people. As I have been playing in Sweden, Europe and USA, and happened to have the honour to face a lot of skilled veterans during the way, also, I have watched quite a few games during the ETC 2009 and 2010, I feel safe to say that it is a rare occasion that you will meet a douchebag at a tournament, 99% of us 40k players are wonderful people!
I love you guys, and will be in Chicago, April 2012!
/ Henrik
I couldn’t agree more! We’re looking forward to seeing you guys there, too!