He has played before, but usually in Apocolypse games. He enjoyed it then, and laughed and had a great time. No complaints.
He recently played in our local tournament. I asked if he wanted to play, and he said yes in a pretty positive and happy manner. There was no coercion going on - it was totally his choice.
I paid for him to play and loaned him my models. I offered him the choice of Black Templar, Space Wolves or "Vanilla" Marines to field since those were the factions I had a Codex for. He picked Templar and made a list.
I ran errands and did other things at home while he played. A few hours into the day, I got a text stating that he hated 40K, and that the game was awful. He was not having any fun.
What amuses me about this is that he owns an army and used to play. He was a big Tau fanatic (owns the FireWarrior video game) and had a blast and a half with the drones.
After some question and answer, I discovered that he just hates Marines- especially the ones that assault. Poor kid got turn 1 assaulted, and lost 2 entire units within a moment of play beginning. He also had the unfortunate luck of having Abhor The Witch against Grey Knights... NOT good news.
So is he right? Is 40K terrible if you don't like Marines? Are you totally hosed if you are a Xenos loving, tentacle having, Dis-integrator gun wielding fiend? Please chime in, oh cult of not-Marines, and tell me like it is.
The boyz of da long wayz dezert groop have found no reason to come off of their shelf for quite some time if that's any indication...
ReplyDeleteSounds more like "I don't like tournament play/ers" more than 40K.
ReplyDeleteThe game isn't terrible.
ReplyDeleteThe Codices frequently are.
The fixing of the Codex problem by changing core rules is fucking infuriating.
Yeah have to say this "sounds" like poor opponents who saw an opportunity to pick on the young new guy.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally it reads like your lad didn't practice with the list before going to play- the game, especially tournaments is not plug a play you do need some prep time research to be ready to play 40k especially in a tournament scene- where people feel they are playing for sheep station!
sucks though and I understand how he would react that way.
Sounds like a typical bad experience where it skews the view of the game. We all have them in various other facets of life. I know I haven't drank long island ice teas since getting hammered on them for my 21st birthday and spending 3-days hungover, but I also recognize it was my own stupidity that caused it and not the drink itself.
ReplyDeleteTournament play isn't typically the place for "fun" times either. It'll bring out the worst in people and when people go after seals, they add nails to their clubs.
ReplyDelete-_-
ReplyDelete....that is all....
...
Ok, maybe that ISN'T all...
Firstly- all you own are Mareenz, 'Lo?
for shame....
Secondly- in it's current state, 40k is awful if you don't run Marines, or if you run BT or DA.
Those armies can compete, but hafta re-build to accomadate the new toys they were given- Cyclone Missile Launchers and Storm Shields, and if you don't own a Typhoon, I'd suggest getting one or three.
Preferably three.
The current Marine 'meta' is Missiles+Melta= win, with everything in bawxes...
Please, point yer friend in the direction of a website like 3++ or YtTH (yes, I know yer not a fan), as these sites will teach him the finer points of list building, threat radiuses and so forth.
If he's a flufy type, he's better off gaming with the boys and avoiding tournaments altogether.
I am kinda curious to see what list he bought. BT require very aggressive play, and abhor the witch is kinda fail when you can have universal preferred enemy.
Oh, and I like Von's comment.
ReplyDeleteWell said, sir...
Just want to post something real quick to clear stuff up. There was no "baby seal" clubbing going on. It was a tourney, yes, but no one outside the regulars showed up and we all know him and he knows us and I can guarentee no one took advantage of his being new. Now that's cleared up, I do think 5th ed is a little stacked toward marines. Given the fact that since it's release we've had 2 maybe 3 xenos releases (not counting the upcoming 'crons) and only one of those is really top teir imho.
ReplyDeleteI'd say it was more due to the BT having been written for a rule set that no longer exists and it really is not a "beginner friendly" force like say, BA or Vanilla Marines... Lots of weird little things that if you are not VERY familiar with the current rules (and hopefully the local "group/meta"), make the BT especially unfriendly and less fun...
ReplyDeleteAs "tournaments" go, it was a VERY low key, not to say un-competitive, but pretty much just the locals going out and getting in a few games...
Not sure if 5th ed is "marine favoring", or really more "Mech Heavy" favoring... My Deathwing are an oddity, and there really are some armies I simply cannot beat with them. BT are the same I think, a few really "good" builds (really only know a little about them, one good build I am familiar with), so someone starting would be hard pressed to guess that build and play it correctly...