Warhammer 40K - The Lowest Common Denominator?

[ashmie]

40k is a pretty good game and I usually really enjoy it in whatever format. Sure I have trouble keeping up with the rules and codex changes but who doesn't. I think 5 game systems in my head used to be my limit for rules. Now I can probably mange two or three at any one time due to getting older and slower. I think I'd rather use the brainpower for studying Japanese these days. It is a shame about the constant rule changes. I have the new rules but I think my Marine codex is already out of date and I only bought it last year.
I think my favourite Nagyahammer was 2009 or 2010? There were lots of exciting missions that Prim and Badruck had put together, the tables were all scratch built and new, hell there were even baseball caps for each participant. It was a great time.

GW, not saying it was all their fault, but they did make it nearly impossible for like minded folks to get on in gaming. Arguments about rules, style of play, powergaming, (whatever that actually means?), fluff balance, play to win, play for fun etc. This all got in the way of just shooting the breeze and enjoying the experience. Building and painting was always the fun for me. Personally I got tired of getting tabled when I just turned up to play for fun but that was my issue. I found I wasn't playing to win and as a result I was losing every time. LOL I also found it got a bit too serious and competitive at times but that can also be the fun if we can take it in fair play.

But this shouldn't stop Nagoyahammer from happening. If it isn't broken don't fix it. It's a great event that has run for over 5 years and it needs to keep going as it gives players hope and something to work towards. Life is pretty dull after the glamour and mystique of Japan wears off lets be honest. Well speak for myself maybe but the hobby stuff has kept me focused is all I'm saying. Gamers get together to hang out at the end of the day and let off steam so it's a social event more than anything. Don't let the micromanaging of GW put you off gaming or 40k.

How about everyone stating their favourite wargame and then everyone agreeing to build a faction or army for that for next May? Do a poll. The most popular game gets picked and we all take it from there.
The most fun is the build up and the putting the army together for the big day. After that no plan of battle survives first contact. And then there's the beer hall after the day of gaming! Awesome.
Hope this helps.
As you were.

[Konrad]

I'm all for Naghammer keeping a day of 40K. I still love the game, and there is nothing like a whole room full of fully painted 40K armies battling it out. And while I am not in anyway a competitive "tournament" player, I do like to have the chance to mix it up with different players and see who is "winner". I think last year's tourny with the plot characters struck a great balance between competitive and narrative. We've all invested a lot of time (and cash) into these toys, and Naghammer is my excuse for keeping the damn things around. Naghammer is like a big once-a-year-blowout where we all get together and say, "Hey. remember when we played 40k like all the time? What a great game!" Also, I can't think of a single game that would draw the level of participation for an all-day tournament that 40K does. I doubt anyone but my fellow Orks would show for Nagoya-morka. If there is going to be an all day tournament, it will probably have to be 40K. If not 40K, Naghammer becomes 2 days of free participation/demo games. Which honestly, would not be a bad thing either come to think of it. Just would be some agonizing decisions to make. Oh man, do I play Judge Dredd or run a Necromunda demo? Get in on that Talisman game or the Hunters of Ruin test play sessions?

[Miguelsan]

For me is the chance to play with you guys. And what other system allows us to full a table with badly proportioned miniatures?

As simply as that.

M.

[Auxryn]

I'd be lying to say that I'm not tempted by the new Tau Gargantuan robot. I'm just a sucker for robots of unusual size. I hear rumors of a new Tau codex and will probably buy things if there is one.

On the other hand, it would also be lying to say that 40k is the game that I am most interested in playing right now. That's probably Dropzone Commander.

Being the lowest common denominator is a really good argument for playing 40k. It's something we all have in common. If we wanted to do a different system, we would need to have a bunch of loaner armies and substantial rules support. Like when ToD has done Epic 40k events. Can be done though.
Another option would be to play multiple systems and string together a narrative based on all the results. Simultaneous games of Battlefleet Gothic, Advanced Space Crusade, Epic 40k and Warhammer 40k, each influencing the results of the other. That's a pipe dream. Will end only in nightmares.

Finally, a big part of Nagoyahammer is drawing people from outside the normal playing area. People who we don't get to play with normally. Probably the only games big enough to draw people over a wide area are 40k and WMH.