Are you a gaming snob?

[Hammers]

It's how things are done.

[Captain Blood]

It's how things are done.

To the point, Peder!

Does the pursuit of excellence, achievement and standards in any walk of life, chosen activity or pastime make you a snob? I would say not. Music, sports, art, writing, angling, miniature wargaming... What's the difference? In every pursuit, some people are happy just to do the activity. Other people strive to be really good at it. That's life. Neither is wrong. We're all entitled to set our own standards, so this conversation could run and run in ever-decreasing circles. The question was 'are you a snob?' Not 'How should other people enjoy their hobby?'

I think it would be fair to say that there are a few elite painters on this forum but I have never had anything but a positive experience when dealing with them. I certainly haven't experienced any of the rudeness or arrogance that seems to be implied in some of the comments. I have visited this forum for quite a few years now and I have seen and received nothing but positive feedback and constructive critisicm for which I am very grateful. I have NEVER seen anyone excluded, patronised or deliberately offended on LAF if I had I probably wouldn't be here most days. I certainly see LAF as aspirational and inspirational rather than elitist and snobby. Just my opinion though.

Well said, Mr J. This is it for me.
I can honestly say, when it comes to painting wargames figures (and I am talking wargames figures, not esoteric CMON mini masterpieces), I have never yet met a 'good' painter, here or elsewhere, who was not eager to share tips, techniques, and give encouragement, support and advice. Never.
In my experience, the 'snobbery' is usually the other way round. Because I've seen lots of comments down the years (not so much here, but certainly on other forums and in magazines) from wargamers who do not have the time, interest, skill or money to paint figures as well as they would like, or make / model terrain they would like, and who are resentful, bitter and hostile  towards those that do. This again, sadly, is just a very human trait in some people. 'I can't do it, so why should you?'

Certainly for me, the (undefined) spirit of LAF has always been to encourage and inspire through the sharing of work and ideas. If we all settled for the line of least resistance and said 'it doesn't matter what it looks like', there would be nothing to come here for apart from endless pontification, and nothing to inspire.

[Silent Invader]

Once again I find myself posting after Captain Blood. His use of the word pontification struck a chord with me and prompted me to think of a few more such as procrastination and paralysis. 

Where I'm coming from is not painted minis versus unpainted minis but embryonic projects versus completed projects. I've already written that, in the context of the OP, I am a miniature wargaming snob. A lot of miniature wargamers (and I purposefully include 'miniature') seem to accrue a plethora of unprepped minis (the cursed lead mountain), rule books and other such raw materials but don't get close to a finished project.

What do I mean by finished project? Well that's a potentially contentious question so I'll stick with my own personal aspiration which is 'minis and terrain complete to a standard that reflects the best of my crafting ability with a set of rules that maximises those ingredients to enable a fun and/or absorbing game' (I just threw that together so no doubt it could be better!).

I have no desire to play a part-finished project and go so far as to test rules with completed minis and terrain. If it's my project, I want it to reflect my crafting (so I generally paint my own) but if I'm playing someone else's game it matters not a jot to me if they have paid someone else for everything. I can accept that some people would prefer to (or have to) outsource their painting, much as they might outsource (ie, buy) rules, terrain, etc.

So for those that aren't self-confessed miniature wargaming snobs, have you asked yourself if - with regard to your hobby projects - you pontificate, you procrastinate, your progress is paralysed?  I'm not asking this for an answer as to be honest I really don't care how others enjoy their hobby and I certainly don't desire to impose how I enjoy mine on others. Rather, I'm sensing that what started as light-hearted banter about our shared and differing eccentricities has taken a somewhat negative turn and rather than see this thread spiral down to the point it gets locked I'd really rather encourage anyone who is stalled by the three Ps (pontification, procrastination, paralysis) to stop thinking and start doing.

Final word: no doubt there are flaws in this off-the-cuff post and if it offends then I apologise as that is not the intent. Right, 'nuff said: the family is out so I shall be cracking on with some terrain.

[matakishi]

In my experience, the 'snobbery' is usually the other way round. Because I've seen lots of comments down the years (not so much here, but certainly on other forums and in magazines) from wargamers who do not have the time, interest, skill or money to paint figures as well as they would like, or make / model terrain they would like, and who are resentful, bitter and hostile towards those that do. This again, sadly, is just a very human trait in some people. 'I can't do it, so why should you?'

Certainly for me, the (undefined) spirit of LAF has always been to encourage and inspire through the sharing of work and ideas. If we all settled for the line of least resistance and said 'it doesn't matter what it looks like', there would be nothing to come here for apart from endless pontification, and nothing to inspire.

Exactly this.

Furthermore, it doesn't take long before 'not wanting unpainted miniatures at the table' is equated with somehow 'not wanting new players, or young players, or some other sort of hypothetical and disadvantaged player at the table'. Which is just bollocks. Exceptions are always made to encourage new or interested people. In my experience the person who is invested in their hobby enough to put in all the extra effort to achieve a level of visual interest and excellence is far more welcoming than the arms racing unpainted brigade.
Thankfully many of the former choose to frequent this forum.

[Dr DeAth]

Interesting as all these small essays are, I can't help thinking that the time taken to write them could be better spent painting figures, which after all is what the LAF is all about  

 

[Modhail]

As it is my main hobby, I put a lot of thought into wargaming. I simply cannot express it all in painted miniatures... I have tried interpretative dance, but after several china breakages and an unintended defenestration of a hanging lamp, this has been forever barred by the misses. So typing it must be. 

[Silent Invader]

Interesting as all these small essays are, I can't help thinking that the time taken to write them could be better spent painting figures, which after all is what the LAF is all about  

(The bold emphasis is my addition to the quote)

Though LAF does seem to generate a lot more walls of text than it used to, which saddens me

[matakishi]

Interesting as all these small essays are, I can't help thinking that the time taken to write them could be better spent painting figures, which after all is what the LAF is all about  

Or getting an archery game into print...

[Dr DeAth]

Or getting an archery game into print...

Now that's a novel idea . . . 

[Malamute]

Now that's a novel idea . . . 

Stop procrastinating and get on with it!

[Dr DeAth]

Stop procrastinating and get on with it!

I never procrastinate, it's such a waste of time.

[Modhail]

Eh, not today, I'll procrastinate tomorrow... 

[Silent Invader]

Eh, not today, I'll procrastinate tomorrow... 

I think you should think that through .....

[Vanvlak]

As it is my main hobby, I put a lot of thought into wargaming. I simply cannot express it all in painted miniatures... I have tried interpretative dance, but after several china breakages and an unintended defenestration of a hanging lamp, this has been forever barred by the misses. So typing it must be. 

I'd have liked to see this. Did the chandelier start the thirty years war?

I prefer painting to gaming, and prefer gaming with painting models, but it's just a preference not a law of nature - all models are unpainted beneath their paint job, anyway.

[Dr DeAth]

Did the chandelier start the thirty years war?

I think Chandelier mostly wrote about the Napoleonic Wars, can't find any of his works on the TYW.