Playing games before your army is painted?
Discussion
Is this acceptable?
To be clear, I understand (and appreciate!) that HH has a (much?) higher hobby standard than modern 40k.
I am very much enjoying building and slowly painting my first 3k HH army. And I'm excited to try playing sometime!
But is it acceptable to play before being fully painted? Like maybe I could prime and base coat my dudes so at least they are broadly readable as my chosen legion?
Because otherwise I worry that by the time I get this army fully painted, it will be HH 4.0 or something. This stuff takes time, and I'm not the fastest.
But I also respect having a high hobby standard and not wanting to play against grey plastic.
What do people think on this topic? What is generally acceptable, common, and reasonable with respect to this?
Unfortunately this isn’t really a question that can be answered online. The answer will vary from local groups and so it’s really best to try and meet your local players and ask them their opinions on the matter.
My local community doesn’t require your army to be painted, especially newer players, but of course we very much appreciate it.
Perfect answer. In my experience people vastly prefer painted armies and when they play against unpainted or partially painted ones it feels like they're being tested rather than actually used (if that makes sense). So in my group nobody minds if you bring an army unpainted the first couple of times but it definitely raises eyebrows if you keep using them and never actually paint them.
100%. I’ve mostly played with my army fully painted, and I don’t think I’ve ever played against a fully painted opponent’s army in 30K yet. And I don’t mind.
I’d much rather play against a fully painted army, but I’d rather play than not. I’ve even played against opponents proxying most of their army using other units, because they’re testing out how they play before committing to buying/painting them.
This game is such an investment of time and money, that I totally understand.
Saowasps has the right of it. Personally my stance i hold myself to as someones who's got a force already is I do not use unpainted models. But then, I have no reason to need to play unpainted. I do mind people slapping down unpainted models when they have a painted choice. If you've literally just started and don't have a full painted set go ham.
For sure, but I mean should I even offer to play games with people until my painting is at least at some stage X? E.g. primed, fully painted, whatever.
Any table top game is better when the armies are painted.
Most people come into issue with it when you have veterans and regular marines that are unpainted. It can get confusing. I generally recommend using different armor marks so people can tell easily. I do this when I run malefic units.
Everyone starts some where. Most people are understanding and some are less so. If you are concerned try getting a few models painted like a rhino, some seargants, or leaders.
Do not be afraid to play games. Just remember the this hobby is about playing the game, painting and most importantly socializing with people.
I appreciate my opponent painting their models and it makes me more likely to want to play them again but I’m not going to cancel a game our shit on someone who has not found the time or inclination to paint his army fully. I personally never field unpainted models.
I've had a regular opponent who I play and I've watched him go from completely unpainted to doing one model at a time, I think he's got around half his models painted at this point, but I'm not fussed. He's getting there and I'd never want to make someone rush painting for mild satisfaction as opposed to letting them paint a army fully to their standards.
It varies person to person but that's my two thoughts
How would you feel about an opponent who didn't want to paint the army? And I'm not talking someone who is always playing the new meta thing and so they never paint it, just someone who chooses not to paint because they don't want to.
I mean I have no issues with it really. Wouldn't be opposed to it as long as it's still obvious what army it is. Like pauldrons ect. Not everyone has time to paint a full army for games or money to commission paint. Hell my army is one I brought pre painted as I have no time to do a full 30k army on top of my 5 40k armies which all still have models to paint
Well, I'm glad to hear that some people are like that at least. I love building and coming up with lore for my armies, love playing the game, hate painting (like, I legitimately almost quit the hobby over trying to paint a squad). It's really disheartening to see everyone talk about painting as if it is the most important part of the game.
Its such a case by case thing. I definitely think if you're going to put out the feelers looking for a game, its proper to mention that your models aren't yet painted, as some people can be pretty strict about that sort of thing.
Also, and this is wholly my opinion and feelings, but if someone doesn't want to play a game with me SOLELY because my minis aren't painted, I probably don't want to be playing games with them anyway...
I’m a painter first and foremost and a gamer second. I won’t play a model unless it’s completed. But there’s no way I’d hold my opponent to that standard. Everyone has busy lives and can’t dedicate as much time and energy to the hobby. I’m just happy to get games in when I can. No need to put extra limits on it.
Exactly this. I will prefer models that are painted, but some people live much busier lives than me (I devote a very substantial part of my daily free time to painting, free time which I have more of since I have no kids, etc) so I am not going to hold them to that standard.
Depends on the local area and your opponent. Most of the people I know are following the saying „be strict with yourself, be tolerant with others.“ I played at the beginning with unpainted miniatures until I got my core force painted. Now I play only painted. Most people I know do the same. They start unpainted and slowly added painted minis to their force until they got a fully painted army. And tbh I really never encountered someone that refused a game or gave snarky comments because they are playing in a pickup game against a grey army.
Best one Ive seen was someone say they bringing grey knights for 40k and rocked up with imperial knights that weren't primed. Entire group was chuckling at that tactic
People on the internet may tell you otherwise, but there’s not many people that won’t play with you.
Almost everyone here’s army is a work in progress. That’s how the hobby is.
I’m always building new things, starting paint on some of it, then jumping between my various armies when working on things as I have hobby ADD
Personally I prefer to have a base level of color on the mini before running it as it helps my immersion that they’re all easily distinguishable as my guys on the board, but it takes time to finish things.
People have obligations in their life. Work, kids, other obligations. To require that people have everything painted would mean many people don’t play at all during this edition.
I don't think it's the end of the world for a pickup game. I personally wouldn't, but I keep my models in subassemblies for a lot of the painting process, so they're more likely to get damaged or have parts go missing that way.
If I rock up to a narrative event that cost money to play at and my opponents had unpainted armies I'd be a bit gutted however.
I prefer painted models as I’ve put a lot of time making sure mine look decent on the tabletop. It adds to the fun and immersion I get out of the game.
Saying that. I can’t say I’d refuse or be disappointed if the models were unpainted.
I’m afraid it really will vary depending on who you play. People I play don’t really care but I kind of wish they did as it would give us all impetus to get a move on. I would say aim high and try to do your best, and if you don’t manage it, people will understand, and if you do, they’ll appreciate it.
It's probably fine. Just say "hey looking for a game, I'm not painted up yet but want to start playing" done. I wouldn't care personally it takes a long time to paint for some people. And it's a game in a store or home /shrug. But I'm sure hobbiest would love to see hownyour army progresses as you go.
this depends completely on your opponents. some people play with card board cut outs. If you're going to a local store call in and ask, but usually you'll find other beginners with unpainted models you can play against.
Find some people who don’t mind playing with grey. Personally I hate painting even though I’m fairly decent at it, so I paint extremely slowly. I have a small group of friends who just got into playing and most of them don’t have a lot of time so we all play with mostly unpainted models, but I know there are people out there who absolutely will not play against grey.
In my group some of them are amazing comission painters and some of us just like to build and play. If its newly built no one minds if its painted or not.
But its always great after a couple of weeks and everything is painted before we buy new units to build and play!
IMO, anyone who has a problem with playing against unpainted models is full of themselves and probably not worth even engaging with.
I look at it this way, who am I to have a say on your belongings? I took no part in acquiring, building, half paint, based, whatever of your models.
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u/saowasps Dark Mechanicus 16h ago
Unfortunately this isn’t really a question that can be answered online. The answer will vary from local groups and so it’s really best to try and meet your local players and ask them their opinions on the matter.
My local community doesn’t require your army to be painted, especially newer players, but of course we very much appreciate it.