Narrative or Competitive?
When it comes to Games Workshop, Thursday’s around the world are generally Games Night. As all three of us used to work for Games Workshop we have many, many memories of Games Nights. Some good, some bad, and some very ugly. These days, Games Nights are few and far between. For us, a Games Night now is whenever we can fit it in.
When we start reminiscing many stories come up around Games Nights when we were in charge of stores. Back in our day running a Games Night always gave a great chance to come up with a theme and some narrative around what was happening in the games. Personally, I found this type of game and coming up with the story around them really enjoyable.
Once any of us got together for a game after the store had closed though, the narrative tended to go out the window as we tried hard to out game each other. While the intense battles and manipulation of obscure rules suited some of us (cough.. Fairy.. cough) it still tends to be the games around a narrative that stand out as memories.
Games where your characters gain experience and you become attached to them like Necromunda, Blood Bowl, Kill Team, or Mordheim are the ones that I tend to remember most fondly. While a competitive game might have the odd memorable roll or specific moment, it’s the narrative that always stuck with me.
Can I interest you in a narrative?
So why are we talking about this? Well, part of creating an army for a lot of people often involves coming up with some background and a theme. At the very least, for some, this might just be choosing a pre-existing background like an existing chapter of Marines. But for others, it could be coming up with a completely new chapter name, colour scheme, and background. These choices can often be great motivation. For me, they can also be a distraction. Take today for example. I spent way to much time thinking about why my Hive Fleet is green. Sure I chose the colours because I thought they worked well but there was more to it.
When I started the Tyranids all those decades ago it was to be an adversary for my Jungle Fighters. Green fits with the theme of a jungle planet. But I couldn’t stop myself there. As I started to paint so much Ork coloured skin on them I began imagining how this fleet might have moved through the galaxy. It seems only fitting that they have devoured a large Ork Waaagh! Taking the Ork genetic material into the Hive ships and rebirthing a new strain of menace that thrives even more for war.
So as my background forms I now need to think of a name. That is what most of today has involved. No decision has been reached but it has become both a distraction and motivation. The narrative has pulled me into my army and I’m becoming more attached. I’m thinking of base decorations that will link to my theme. Would I be so invested if I was just doing this to create a competitive gaming force? I don’t think so.
I’m only here to win
For some though spending hour after hour looking at lists is where their drive comes from. Doing the maths behind what troops are better choices is certainly one way to pick an army. After many nights gaming against Fairy, I can understand that competitive drive too. Creating a list and preparing it to compete and crush all before it is definitely motivation to paint.
Fairy is currently ensuring his Adeptus Titanicus have enough models and options that he can swap things in and out to take on all comers or form a force for any given scenario. If you don’t have as many models as Fairy you might sit and work out the most tournament worthy force before making a purchase even. That motivation to collect and paint your army comes from wanting to win. The thought of competing is what can drive you to get your models painted. Maybe you will even spend hours on each miniature because you are trying to win a painting award.
Both the narrative drive and competitive drive are two sides of the one coin. I think all hobbyists find themselves on one side or the other. Some, like me, may even switch sides from time to time. Generally, though one side will motivate you more than the other.
Which side are you? Where do you find your enthusiasm comes from? Do you enjoy creating the background and detail of your force or are you more into the maths of which unit will better suit the scenario?
If you don’t know there’s an easy way to find out. Ask yourself this.
If there was a model that really fit the look, feel, or theme of your force but was absolutely horrible in the game, would you still take it?
Let us know in the comments or on our Twitter poll here
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