40k: Waves of New Players?
Pimpcron is back again this week to talk about the influx of new players.
Hi guys and gals. The most interesting guy you know, Pimpcron, is here again. I have played this game for many years and have noticed something strange going on lately.
New Players!
Ever since I started playing this game, we have gained two or three people each year to our gaming group, and lost one or two due to life changes. I live in a rural area and the closest two gaming stores are both about half an hour from me in opposite directions. For years, we have been the only 40k gaming group within literally an hour radius of my house. But since 7th edition has come out, there has been a huge influx of new players in my area.
Our group of about 8-10 regulars meet every Wednesday at our FLGS and we were the only group for about six years. Then the other gaming store nearby started a 40k group with a completely separate group of new players. Then our regular store started a Saturday group that was escalation-style, with many of them not coming from our Wednesday group (read: new players). Then starting around the beginning of this year, our Wednesday nights have been so full of players that our store is talking about opening up Thursdays to 40k as well! What is going on?
Why I Am Puzzled
If the previous six years did not have this influx of new blood, what has caused this sudden swelling of our ranks? It certainly isn’t because the prices have dropped on GW product. It certainly isn’t that the economy is so great that people have huge wads of cash to spend suddenly. It can’t be due to marketing of any kind on GW’s part (the last TV commercial I’ve ever heard of was from the 90’s and I’m not sure if was just a local one). I really don’t think it is because of the new campaign boxes (even though they do make nice starting points for new players). I can’t seem to figure out the exact reason for these new players. I have asked the new players how they found the game and each of them has a different story and reason for getting into it. So I still stand puzzled.
Only kind of related, but it still made me laugh.
Some of the “new” players I am counting are also return players that took a break for a couple of editions and are now coming back. They are new to our group, but something has spurred them to suddenly pick up the game again after long hiatuses.
I for one have been reinvigorated by 7th edition and have really enjoyed playing this past year over the other years. Of course I have some issues that I wish were fixed but that’s because I’m a whiny robotic bitch. Is this edition really good enough to be the reason for these new players? I know it sounds ridiculous but if there is no other readily available reason, I guess I have to go with that one. All I know is, the enthusiasm of the new players has really livened the place up. Us older players have enjoyed showing the new guys how to play and helping guide their model purchases through the lens of “You’ll get more use out of this box versus that one for the same price”. I wish I had some people to give me advice when I started, otherwise I doubt I’d own so many Monoliths. It’s also a lot of fun making new friends and getting to see the game through new players’ eyes.
Is This Happening Everywhere?
The reason for me bringing this up is to find out if you all are seeing the same wave of new players entering the game in your area. And what do you think the reason is? I don’t think it is just because we are a back-country area where we live decades behind the rest of the world. Hey, on another note, have you seen those new Gameboys that have color screens? They are so cool!
Let this redneck hillbilly robot know if you are seeing the same thing in your area.
Want to witness my slow descent into madness first-hand? Check out my blog at www.diceforthedicegod.com
