How To: 40k While Traveling
Pimpcron explains how to get some hobby in while traveling!
Here I am again, presenting a feast of words for the spheres under your eyelids. Pimpcron wants to show you how to get some 40k in while on the road.
Rule #1: Research Your Destination
If you’re trying to get a game in, check online for any nearby Games Workshop stores. That is the most straight forward way to go about it. But being that many GW stores have gotten rid of most of their play space, the harder but probably better choice would be to look for local Independent Stores. Many comic stores offer space and players for 40k and the Find a Comic Store website would be a good place to start. It should go without saying I would never suggest going to a stranger’s house to meet up and play; be sure it is a public place. That might fly with your freaky-deaky Craig’s List encounters, but let’s not involve our innocent miniatures in all of that.
“Are you here for the Furries Meet-up?”
“No, Warhammer.”
“Oh, that weirdo is around the corner waiting for you. Dressed like a space elf.”
This is what I did on my recent trip. I found a comic store that offered 40k near my destination and contacted them. They had a group that played there and I even set up a game through their Facebook page. I can’t tell you how many times in the past I have went traveling and smacked myself in the head like I should have had a V8: I hadn’t thought to bring any 40k stuff to hobby or play. Then I would find a local store and regretfully say, “If I had remembered to bring them, we could play a game.”
Rule #2: Come Prepared
If you plan on gaming, be sure to bring exactly what you’ll need to play but nothing more; it helps if you have an army transport. If you want to be really efficient, build a 2000 point list and only bring that stuff. That way, you can play a 1500 or 1850 point list and have some choice of variety in your units when you find an opponent.
I think you brought too much.
I personally have a gaming satchel that I keep all of my templates, main rule book, tape measure, and dice cubes in. This way it doesn’t matter what army I take, I always bring that satchel and always have my stuff.
Okay, that’s not really necessary.
If you plan on hobbying be sure to bring all of the stuff you will need such as paint, brushes, glue, etc. Even though you may think you will have a place to prime stuff at your destination, it’s probably best to already have your stuff primed when you get there. This is because you never know what the weather or humidity will be like when you get there and you don’t want that to hold you up.
I brought some pre-primed stuff with me, but my primary project (3 Imperial Guard Sentinels) was unprimed and it rained the first two days I was there. But luckily I had some Heavy Weapons squads already primed to paint in the meantime.
Rule #3: Enjoy The Planning You’ve Done
I love it when a plan comes together: have fun meeting new people at the gaming store if you’ve set up a match with someone. You might be surprised what you’ve been doing wrong all this time that playing with new people can teach you. It seems like every group of players gets kind of a “group think” where they all play the wrong way in the same manner. When you go play another group, you find that both of you teach the other what you’ve been doing wrong. But don’t feel bad, with a giant rule book it’s bound to happen. In most cases you’ll find that the players you meet around the world are pretty cool. Of course there are always jerks in any group, but *most* gamers will probably be a lot like you.
Satisfied Frog says, “I’m glad I listened to Pimpcron.”
I had a great game with a really nice guy named Caleb who stomped my Guard with his Tau. Haha. Actually it was a pretty close game until turn 6 when my Master of Ordinance’ Orbital Bombardment scattered like 15”, wrecking my Chimera and making my people get out. We both had fun and even talked about setting up another game when I’m in town again.
If your goal was to hobby, sit back and relax while you use your down time to get some much-needed hobbying done. Weather sucks? Who cares? You brought primed models to work on. You also brought all of the paints you need in a handy container of some sort. Plus you will feel great getting some progress on your models.
When it rained the first two days I was there, I would have been pretty disappointed had I not brought pre-primed stuff. All in all, I got my three Sentinels completed, as well as 3 Heavy Weapons squads finished completely and 3 more weapons squads almost finished. That is way, way more than I would get done at home in a couple days.
So what tips do you do have for traveling with your hobby?
Want to witness my slow descent into madness first-hand? Check out my blog at www.diceforthedicegod.com
