UnseenAcademicalJul 25, 2023
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Show threadmaxmoon 🌱Jul 25, 2023

@UnseenAcademical Why are people passionated with Warhammer40k for decades?

What makes it so fascinating for so many people?

Show threadUnseenAcademicalJul 25, 2023

@utopify_org Ooh! Well, I want to preface by stating that I can only speak to my own experience and those I've observed. Since I avoid some corners of the internet and the 40k community, I can't be completely authoritative.

That said, motivations can include:
* Sufficient depth on multiple axes (minis, lore, etc)
* Antidote to common scifi narratives
* Encouragement of creativity among the community
* Explicit "death of the author"
* And sadly, sometimes as a popular cover for vile beliefs

Show threadmaxmoon 🌱

@UnseenAcademical Thanks for the answer, but this is a little bit too abstract to me. I can't image what every point means.

Can you write a little text to every point you wrote, because as someone, who has nothing to do with wh40k, those points sound a little bit strange, too.

Jul 26, 2023 at 6:48amWeb
Show threadUnseenAcademicalJul 26, 2023

@utopify_org Totally fair! I'll expand on them as best I can.

Sufficient depth: a lot of people with intense interests tend to find the "bottom" of a hobby or game space fairly quickly. They've experienced all the experiences, and while its fun there might not be new things to explore and learn. If that feeling of "newness" is enjoyable, then 40k can give a lot of newness due to its size and history. The hobby as a whole is deep and vast.

Show threadUnseenAcademicalJul 26, 2023

@utopify_org Antidote to common sci fi narratives: There's many lines that can be drawn across sci fi stories, with many similarities. For example, "Only a special group of people (Jedi) can use the ancient weapon (lightsaber)". A lot of sci fi tends towards Bright Future (Star Trek), space fantasy (Star Wars), post-apocalypse (Mad Max), cyberpunk dystopia, etc

40k's strong theme of Grimdark is distinctive and is uncommon still. People used to classic sci fi can find it new and gripping.

Show threadUnseenAcademicalJul 26, 2023

@utopify_org Encouragement of creativity: As a community, people like engaging with the creative work others are doing. "Share your paint scheme!", "I really love the fanfiction you wrote!", "Here's my theory on why this is what's happening in-story."

A lot of people find a huge community of fellow creatives to tap into. This gives a strong foundation for someone who otherwise might not have many outlets. This can cause significant bonding with the setting + fellow fans.

Show threadUnseenAcademicalJul 26, 2023

@utopify_org Explicit "Death of the Author": The 40k staff and owners make it clear that they may own the setting and determine what gets licensed, but they aren't presenting the only 40k interpretation. People are encouraged to have headcanons, fan theories, unique and impossible armies...

Because these are all explicitly valid creations, it can be easier to feel like you have permission to play around without having to conform to a 40-year canon. And discuss your creations with others!

Show threadUnseenAcademicalJul 26, 2023
@utopify_org Popular cover for vile beliefs: Games Workshop has not been the best in actually preventing fascists, eugenicists, dictator fanboys, etc from participating in 40k. GW provides a lot of ammo for "well, but in this case fascism is the only option!" style discussions. This can be used by fascists to find other fascists, etc. It provides a useful shorthand and an easy place to hide dog whistles for those wanting to say, do, or find others based in, violent ideologies.
Show threadmaxmoon 🌱Jul 26, 2023

@UnseenAcademical Thanks a lot for the good explanation. I really didn't know what it's all about, but I definitely know more, now.

For me 40k always looked like a really wasteful hobby, if it's about resources and sustainability.

There is a lot of hazardous stuff (plastics, glue, resin, ...), which can't even be recycled and a lot of stuff lands in the trash can.

I even saw people creating huge landscapes to just play for a while on it with their figures and then throw away most of it, because they don't have space to store it, repeating this process at the next tournament (or how it's called).

And while getting more information on 40k, I figured out, that even planed obsolescence is a thing too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DEmAwofzDE

What do you think about my observation?

I am DONE with Games Workshop...

YouTube
Show threadUnseenAcademicalJul 26, 2023

@utopify_org While it’s hard to calculate total externalities of different hobbies and pastimes, you are definitely seeing a real problem with the traditional models (hah) of hobby modelling.

In the past, it wasn’t uncommon to need specific pieces from specific kits, requiring either buying whole additional kits for one part OR ordering from another fan running a secondary parts shop. Just one example, but one that regularly annoyed me.

Show threadUnseenAcademicalJul 26, 2023

@utopify_org The recent rise in 3D printing has made it much easier to “collect” digitally and then print things only when needed, breaking apart a lot of the mass-manufacture culture.

A lot of people are now publishing fan rules that let you play with whatever minis you have available, meaning you don’t NEED to always have new minis or have GW-specific models.

Just two examples but they’re two examples I am actively engaged in myself.

Show threadUnseenAcademicalJul 26, 2023
@utopify_org In a sense, 40k is as physically wasteful as the player wants it to be. Some build giant tables and then dispose of them. Others spend literally ten hours painting a single miniature figure. Some barely even engage with the minis at all and work purely digitally. It’s easy to assume that all 40k fans participate in the same way but that’s like all chess players or all woodworkers do the same thing.