Will’s girlfriend, Ashley, has written an article for Frontline Gaming on how to broach the subject of your toy soldier obsessions with a current or potential lady friend.

 So let’s be real for a minute – Warhammer isn’t exactly “first date” conversation material (unless you’re part of the two percent of gamers who met their significant other through Warhammer, in which case I tip my hat to you). Of course, there’s a time and place for everything, but always bear in mind – everybody has their preference in hobbies. Yes, some may be socially considered more “nerdy” than others in the mainstream. I, for one, took part in a competitive Scrabble team here at UC Berkeley, to which a handful of my friends would argue as the absolute height of geekiness. In fact, it wasn’t until I informed William (my boyfriend, for those of you who don’t know) about my past commitment to my Scrabble team and previous obsession in painting Warhammer figures that he finally informed me of his “secret hobby”. My boyfriend plays Warhammer.

It wasn’t until a few months into our relationship that William finally told me, after multiple attempts in trying to figure out what he was so diligently keeping discreet.  Not only was I relieved that he wasn’t some kind of anime porn addict or mass murderer (or worse -both), but I was more saddened by the fact that he kept it silenced from me for so long. In his defense, he clarified his reasoning to withhold his hobby from me by explaining that he just couldn’t find a balanced but informative way to bring it up. Alas, this blog post. I made a list of a few tips to smoothly enlighten your significant other (or potential) of your hobby without being too revealing and scaring them off.

If for some reason or another your partner decides your appreciation for Warhammer is not something they can accept, just remember – they’re not worth it to begin with. Their loss, not yours. Contrary to popular belief, there are girls out there who aren’t as shallow as we’re made out to be. And yes, there are hot ones out there, too.

1)      Find a medium- The first few dates aren’t intended to spill your whole life story, rather, to get a feel for the person’s character and goals in life. Hobbies tend to be one of the more common topics of conversation, but I personally recommend holding off on your Space Marine obsession until you feel more comfortable with the person, or when they take the first approach in confiding something in you.

2)      Introduce painting before anything– I haven’t met a girl in my life that doesn’t appreciate art and painting, or a man that can do so himself for that matter. Painting shows attention to detail, patience, and consistency- something girls continually search for in a partner. Plus, the game of Warhammer is far too complex to present as a whole, so breaking it into increments rather than showing her the full table right away will be a more easy transition into actually understanding. For all you know, she may even start painting your figures for you one day (wishful thinking).

3)      Be confident– Confidence is sexy! If you introduce Warhammer as something you’re not so self-assured of, you leave room for judgment and criticism. Security in yourself is absolutely vital, and becomes most apparent when you stand strong with your appreciations.

With that being said, go out and find some ladies. It gets a little lonely here at Frontline Gaming being the only source of estrogen. Aside from that, I’m curious as to what your experiences are in introducing Warhammer to a partner?

 

-Ashley Saffarian