Warhammer 40k is NOT for Casual Players 

Whoa, lots of people are actually watching this! I can't keep up with all of the comments, so here's an FAQ ;-) ************************************************************************************************************************* -I'm genuinely happy for anyone who has found a game that they enjoy, keep on having fun! 🙂 -The definition of "casual" in this video is based on the number of Saturdays Per Year (SPY) devoted to a particular hobby. - I started learning Warhammer 40k in 1999 on the same day that I started learning how to paint. I played some of 3rd, 4th, 7th, 8th, and 9th. -My painting journey has been cumulative and rewarding, my 40k journey keeps getting hard resets every few years. -I've heard that 10th edition is "better," but I haven't tried it. In 2 years we'll see whether or not 11th is even better than 10th. -"Just play an older edition" is fantastic advice! There may be issues with incorporating newer units/ armies, but I'm sure those can be worked around. -My friends are lovely, there is nobody I would rather play against. -My opponents offered to explain anything that I wanted about their armies. I requested the *quick* (low-headache) rundown of their army lists before each of the games. . -One reason why deploying a whole army in 2-3 huge piles behind LOS blocking terrain looks dumb (IMO) is because we all understand that explosions are a thing... regardless of how they are represented in the rules. -Magic Commander is easy to return to after a few years because Sakura Tribe Elder and Llanowar Elves keep doing the same exact things that they've always done :-) The free-for-all design and the existence of board wipes in MTG also help to keep rusty players alive in the game. -DnD is easy to return to for *players*, but obviously requires a ton of prep for DMs. -5th edition DnD (current edition) released the same year as 7th edition Warhammer 40K. -Yes, I have heard of OPR ;-) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-86sQ6xAqPcI.html

"The rules change faster than my ability or desire to learn new rules." Exactly!

I love that your negativity is still more positive than most Warhammer RU-vidrs' neutral coverage.

Brent. I was tracking with the video, but you absolutely killed me when "My army pledged allegiance to the backstreet boys.. and in beast mode the backstreet boys will give them..."

My main issue with recent iterations of 40k is that the core rules barely matter when things are largely powerful due to special rules or stratagems.

Great and fair assessment. Been a player since '89 and been through every edition (except 6th 'cause I blinked). After 35 years, my 40k philosophy is: people come for the models, stay for the lore, and suffer the rules. My son (now 11) started his journey in the final days of 8th and, after recently playing a few games of Mantic's Armada and Gaslands: Refueled, had the sudden realization: "Dad? 40k's not all that fun." I think he was worried I'd be upset, but I just smiled and said "Welcome to the club." Keep doing what you do, Brent. Love the channel!

A 50min stay in Goobertown?? Now that's a vacation!!

As a casual gamer, your description of what you like about minis games sounds like what a casual gamer likes.

As someone who is just getting back into the game from a long hiatus, I can already tell that I would appreciate a longer edition cycle.

This video was exceptional! I watched it last night, but couldn't comment from my TV. I really want to sit down and do an entire reply episode on this subject or a dissection from another angle. I half want to beg you to join us and do a sequel conversation of sorts. You touched on so many of the topics that 10th edition changed from 9th, while also pointing out the major complaint most people have with the presentation of the rules from GW with gatekeeping your opponents rules behind a paywall and the archaic format of physical rulebooks. The idea that the entire rules of the game evolve over time and the impact it has on different types of players is another whole topic. Even the things I'd call new player/casual player mistakes you showed off in your games are interesting to discuss the way they could possibly be avoided by setting up player expectations correctly and presenting rules to the player differently. (GW actually is doing some of these now, but they would also be interesting to discuss how they're tackling certain issues.)

Youre not wrong. Your assessment of the 40k experience is spot on.For a lot of people, theyre stuck in the abusive relationship that is the Games Workshop release cycle. The best games theyve put out are the ones they dont support anymore, so you can actually learn the rules, they wont ever change, and everyone can have fun

I'm with you 100%. It's also extra frustrating to me when I feel like I understand how my army works and what my units do, and then a codex releases which changes 90% of how my stuff works and I need to wrangle with old vs new rules and remembering which is the correct, current rule.

But Goober, how are we gonna keep pumping out 40 dollar army books if we don't give them the backstreet boys re-roll?!

All hail the Backstreet Boys! Bless these guns.

If you like casual miniature games, Frostgrave and Stargrave are extremely fun and quick to learn

Thanks for sharing this video. Honestly your frustration totally encapsulates my anxiety about attempting to get serious enough to play semi-regularly. Every few years a new edition gets released, and everything I knew is worthless again. New models, new rules, new meta... We went to Adepticon this year and had a wonderful time, and in our enthusiasm my companions and I decided "we're going to seriously learn and plan to play/compete next year!" and now that the post-event warm fuzzies are wearing off I'm wondering if that's even possible with our busy schedules haha.

I think you have helped me realize why I struggle with 40k myself. I love collecting the models, I love painting, But actually playing just doesn't excite me. With the rules always changing, all the special rules, it just frustrates me, which sucks, because I want to enjoy the game.

I lost 49 of my 60 warriors in their first shooting phase before I got to do anything. Statements like that are one of the many reasons I left 40k.

I "joined" the hobby 2 years ago. Intention: To casually learn to play the game, collect/build/paint armys for various game but mainly Warhammer (being most recognizable to me outside Star Wars legion) and if I enjoyed myself, regardless of how good I was I'd use the armys I built to compete officially for fun. The Reality: While the collect, Build & paint aspect was easily achieved I have yet to still play a single effin' game. I know not a soul in my area and the few game clubs I could find locally meet up nights I work. Then couple in the rules or points or something changing every 5 minutes makes a guy like me (with all new books replaced multiple times now) too embarrassed to even try to find anyone else to play, nor have the motivation to even look.

I feel like only 1% or less of the 40k fan base actually plays the table top.

Easy solution. Switch to One page rules. Free rules. Much faster gameplay. Use your existing minis. Yes, it has less depth and is not without it's own problems. But overall, we seldom look back.

Your feelings on this are valid. Best part of the 40K hobby is hanging out and chatting about the game with friends. I still talk 40k with friends, but I don't play anymore. I also appreciate your stance on not hiding behind cover. I used to play Daemons and spent 90% of the game getting riddled with bullets as I charged.

OPR was mentioned already in the comments (and the FAQ), but for me this was also the point where I actually started to play. The biggest game changer for me was that it removed a large hobby conflict for me: I did not have to chose between the models that I liked and the models that were good! I can just buy and convert the models I enjoy and then find a fitting and balanced army list (or make my own with OPR's army forge studio).

The constant elaborate rule changes in every edition makes it feel like a single player game, which is the exact opposite of what we want out of a tabletop where we hang out with friends. Everyone has their own little mini game with the codex and nobody else can bother to learn so much to know everything. Like you said, it ends up being a game relying on trust when someone has to look up what even their own army is allowed to do.

You succinctly summarise why I noped out of Warhammer games years ago. Your experience sounds identical to mine and it was always a frustrating time that ended up feeling like a bad game of cops and robbers where one kid keeps changing the rules.

The grumpiness on this video is brilliant but makes me really want to say thanks Brent. I wasn’t into wargaming at all but started watching your videos randomly because you (normally) give out really positive relaxed vibes, now I play a game called Bolt action and have got 6 of my friends involved (only one was a miniature enthusiast beforehand) you have been a genuine inspiration encouraging me to paint even if I’m not very good (yet) and just enjoy games because it’s time with friends and not just because they are competitive. All the best and keep up the good work.

Man on man in this a timely video! Literally played a game of 40K last night where I realised after turn one that I wasn’t really enjoying myself and almost felt like I was having an existential crisis because I couldn’t understand if I absolutely love 40K, love collecting & painting the models, love the lore, love making lists and even learning strategies but then when I start a game I get that same heavy feeling you accurately summed up!?! Don’t get me wrong, Id actually love to be more than a casual player but as a dad with two kids, a wife, a business and a job, Im unable to dedicate the time needed to go deep enough, through multiple weekly games to have my playing experience be, as you said “snappy”. I think for now something like Warcry (which I actually felt great playing) or Necromunda might be were my hobbie journey pivots to. Either way, thanks for putting this out there as it really helped me process and figure out why I was feeling the way I feeling about the game. Oh and the ‘Pledge the the Backstreet boys’, is the best strat I’ve ever heard of 😂😂😂 Cheers 🙏 👍 👌

I totally agree with your point of view. My group simply started to play the 4th edition of 40k and BOY OH BOY! THIS IS FUN!

Your segment about the hyper-specific combo moves and gotchas is what I like to call "January with Vanilla Pudding" rules. The name is a Spongebob reference, but basically it just refers to incredibly granular and specific rules that are either so specific that they will never come up but are annoying when they do or those really crunchy interactions that players spend days building entire strategies around to improve efficiency. I.E: If you are playing on the third wednesday of January and it's not raining outside after you eat vanilla pudding, you can reroll all wound rolls of 1. Like you, I really hate these rules. Sucks the fun right out of the game for me.

Goobs - this is your magnum opus, seriously. So many well argued points that basically summarizes my own 30+ years of experience in the hobby, and framed in such a way that isn't mean spirited or offputting to the diehards of the games. Much better than the screaming rants I have when talking about my love/hate relationship with Warhammer games, lol

I love your work and have been a fan for years. I appreciate your introductory note about the difference in tone of this video compared to what you'd usually share. I love how positive and cheerful your videos in general. That said, I completely relate to your frustrations with 40k and have had the same experience myself last year as a beginner. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who has had these thoughts. I love the hobby side, but It's unrealistic for a new player to keep track of your opponents stratagems, as you're just trying to correctly utilize your own. You're the man Goobz, keep up the good work!

Man, you hit it on the head. I deal with the same problem. I like many different games and it is difficult to keep up with 40k. It is a drag trying to get the rules figured out and which special rules my faction has. I think the last game of 40k I won was back in sixth edition. I would love to do the campaigns but I don't have the time to be able to regularly attend.

In a lot of ways it's a "be careful what you wish for" situation. Back when I still played (3rd-5th editions), the pace of balance patches, rules changes, and even new releases were very slow and the community endlessly complained about it. "My army hasn't gotten any new models in 4 years! I want more stuff! I want it faster! " Well, you got it. Oops.

Yup! That's my exact problem with Warhammer 40k in a nutshel. The basic mechanic, move, shoot, charge, fight. Those are straightforward, but familiarizing myself with all the special rules for 50 Space Marine Chapters, all the Chaos armies, Endless Orcs, Eldar, Space Dwarves, Tyranids, Tau and Space Mummies is just too much. I can't keep track, and while 19 out of 20 players in my community won't take advantage of their opponent's ignorance, there's always that last player who relies on their opponent not understanding all the rules to win games. It just makes for a bad experience.

My old manager wanted to get me into WH40k tabletop with him. Was going to give me $2,000 to start an army. But I had to be real honest with him that it felt like if I just dedicated the time needed to learn the rules to learning more professional skills I could double my pay. Glad to hear I had the right idea.

as someone who LOVES rolling dice, I can do without the added mental load of double checking rules, so i get MORE time for playing MORE games to roll MORE dice!!

As a country boy in my early 20's I moved to the city and discovered a Games Workshop Store. Wow! I bought a box of Warhammer Fantasy "Robin Hood and Merry Men" that were a part of the Brettonian forces. I bought paints, and spent the next couple of weeks painting them up for a beginner game at the store. I proudly set my little unit up on the store battlefield, and then watched as my unit was destroyed on the first round. I left and never played again. 20 years on, I play Blood Bowl. I have 5 teams, all of which are third party. Thanks GW.

Hard agree on this. I'm helping my son set up a wargaming club at his school, and while he started off with bloodbowl and heroquest, 40k has come up because its the biggest game. I hadn't played since 2nd ed, so i bought the rules and codexws and....sheesh. the number of rules for each individual units is mind breaking. And players are saying this is a simple version. I reckon one oage rules might be the way to go.

Love the rambling. I absolutely appreciate the honesty about 40k. Entertaining and wonderful video. Thank you.

Holy cow I thought I was the only one who thought this. Everyone around me is playing with tonnes of passion but I'm sitting at the other end of the table waiting for some dice to be handed to me and see the orks I've spent weeks painted be wiped out. Then I pack it ip and go home and cry.

Because of this I really love warcry! Fewer minis, shorter rules, casual gameplay. And most importantly: an excuse for myself to collect models from every army from age of sigmar. 😂

I played rogue trader once back in the late 80s, it can’t have changed too much since then, surely

I feel similarly. Things got a lot better for me when I started playing Kill Team instead! I've heard great things about One Page Rules too. My husband and I are currently figuring out how we can play through Crusade: Pariah Nexus using OPR or Kill Team. If you try either of those games, please make a video on them!

Please do a follow-up video if/when you play Grimdark Future. I really liked this video alot. The longer format really worked well for this sort of thing.

10th edition arguably simplified the rules a lot, but it still feels like a lot of the rules are not "on the table", they're still all in the datasheets and books. As a result, you still feel like you have no idea what's going on when your opponent starts listing off various backstreet boy-related abilities.

This really makes me appreciate that the only tabletop game I play, Battletech, has only really had minor errata over the past 20 years. Sure, I haven't kept up with some of the new tech added to it, but those are just a matter of a few additional rules for movement largely specific to whatever unit is using it.

You have the most calming voice and exude such kind and sweet energy. Aside from wanting to get into miniature painting, I had to subscribe just because you seem like such a lovely person ☺

As a 40k veteran, I have been feeling this way for a long time. You articulate my feelings in a way I couldn't. Thank you!

Thanks for this Brent, I really needed to hear this from someone else. I felt like a failure at the hobby that I love because I couldn't get into the game and this video helped me see we can like things the way we want to.

I agree with this video a lot, it took me about 3 years to understand the general rules of the game (changing from 8th-9th) then I took a break and rejoined during tenth and it’s still a lot to learn. Every new army facing is a different surprise and worry it’s just overwhelming

4:04 Man, that well thumbed codex with the splitting spine and goofy looking models brings back memories. I started collecting Dark Eldar when I was like 15, only a year or two before they refreshed the whole model line!

Haven't finished the video yet but can't believe you were gonna ditch such awesome timelapse footage

Wow. When the "Bob Ross" of miniatures painting has THIS to say about 40k. I feel you, though. I started in Rogue Trader and stopped by 8th. Too many rules and the locals I had to play with were always 'training for a tournament'. I still collect the models and do play some of the board games.

I realize that the explanations were rhetorical, but they really got the point across. I haven't really played any main-line Warhammer since Old Hammer, and those wacky rules interactions you described look utterly bonkers. Thanks for the video!

This is a great video and captures what I believe to be the essence of the idea and the anticipation of playing the game is better than the actual playing of the game.

It wasn't the Backstreetboys, it was Nsync. Man get your 40k lore strait, it is shameful ...

"It feels like a sprint to get into the fun zone before the edition ends" This is why my friends and aren't playing 10th edition We know how 9th works We have armies that we understand and know what cool combos we can pull off We didn't want to throw half of that away for some temporary rules while we wait to buy another rule book for our army That and we're also stubborn And change scares us There's a reason none of us are playing Tzeentch armies

I completely understand your frustrations, that was me when i first started playing but it's really not that hard to learn if you're playing with an honest helpful person.

I just bought an Astra Militarum combat patrol for the first time. Been watching lore videos of 40k now and then and this is my first attempt to get into the hobby. Building and painting was interesting enough but reading the core rule was not easy. This video was insightful to watch and kinda spell out why I was scared to get into the hobby. Thanks for the video 😀

This was one of the best breakdowns of the hobby, for sure. Been following the channel for a while, since Brent's soothing voice always helps me paint minis, but this description is what just made me subscribe: I got into the hobby for the whole "customization and painting" aspect of it, so I rarely play. I finally got my teeth into 8th edition, only for it to be replaced by 9th. I played a single game and got wiped (similar experience as yours) turn 1. It just wasn't enjoyable and I didn't have the time to sit down and read all the strategies. So now I play Mordheim, since the rules are set and don't change. I can afford to play once every two months, because the game is what it is and it won't change again, realistically. So spot on, and thanks for being such a cool and chill hobbyst!!

Try Kill Team! It's like a boiled down version of Warhammer, a much smaller scale as well. And fewer models mean more time for painting.

The amount that I relate to this to multiple hobbies of mine is amazing to me, I’ve always tried to communicate to my friends why I just don’t get down the rules of games and stuff, very well put goober!

Absolutely fantastic video. Thank you for sharing your insight. I too have a similar issue with 40k. My wife and I recently picked up Combat Patrol boxes. After watching nearly a hundred videos of games we are still very much lost. The lore and popularity of 40k caught our eye, but I'm afraid the complexity of the intricate rules may be too much for us to be able to enjoy playing. We've looked into OPR, but it too seems to be quite complicated.

Even when critical your "negativity" is still respectful, non confrontational and kind... can we please fill the world with people like you? :) I dont even have any intrest in this game, never had and still liked watching the whole video and found it intresting. Glad you choose to release the taped material anyway.

Thanks for the video! You put words words onto what I (maybe my whole group) has been starting to feel. It has taken some time for us to understand what we have become (casual). As other also people have said here we've started sticking to old editions. (It's also interesting to philosophize why a new edition has two reasonable responses - either to move over to the new stuff, or quit the game, not quietly stick to the old edition. Maybe this move should be louder.)

Awesome video, 40k was fine when I was younger and spent time staying up to date, can't do that these days. Infinity and BattleTech Alpha Strike is my gaming fix because I can not play for a few months and not feel completely lost when I do play again.

yes! a grumpy goobertown video!

This channel is the best example for ‘you reap what you sow’. I read some of the comments before watching this and like I thought it was nothing but respect and acceptance - and that’s exactly what Brant is showing us with every second of his content in the past. Not coming on too strong, always being mind- and respectful and upfront with his thought process. Whilst watching I thought to myself ‘fair assessment but people gonna be offended’ Not the Goober family though, wholesome!

I completely agree and thanks for sharing! Feels good not to be alone in liking to collect build and paint, but not enjoying the actual 40k game that much... I really kind of dislike (ok I hate it actualy...) even the chance to be oblitirated before even having a turn... Feels like setting up a shooting alley. Thats why i really tend to lean towards games like Warcry, Infinity or even Kill Team in wich turns alternate after each action or the game gives players a reaction option. Makes for so much more balanced and fun gameplay, to me at least :)

Love your videos, you are the Bob Ross of miniature painting, all those happy little mini accidents. 😉🤗

At this point in my life, I don't want to play any game that refreshes editions more frequently than once a decade.

I got a hint of sass on the second game and I was already laughing. They look awesome, even when hiding behind rocks like cowards. Love it!

That is exactly why I am making my home a 10th edition home. Picking up codices, datasheet cards, eventually I will download and print final dataslate/points and I will be probably ignoring subsequent editions, maybe picking a single index/codex per edition just to be able to grab a pickup game at my LGS, its too much to keep up on while working 60-70 hours a week, managing a homestead and leaving room for other hobbies/activities.

This video was great brent! It summarised the mistakes I made rejoinging the hobbie… ie taking core units and expecting them not to be cannon fodder. If you mix up some units I hope you’ll have more fun the next time you play :) love the channel

The 3 year edition cycle is nuts. Anyway. Thanks you for this video. I have both enjoyed and been frustrated by various aspects of 40k for two decades or so as well. Hopefully one day some hobby zen like you have!

So many sweet Dark Eldar ships and you didn't end up painting any of them. Those were the best models.

You've articulated my gripes with 40k perfectly. Particularly the part about 1's and rules being an interaction between one player, their book and their dice tray. Also the fast pace that the rules get updated just invalidating all previous knowledge. Been playing Infinity recently. It's much faster and both players are active during each others turns. It's got a learning curve but once you're over that things seem to be basically the same between editions... And there's no hard deadline refresh and no codex equivalents. Give it a go you might find a cyberpunk skirmish game you can pick up and play whenever you like :)

😂😂😂 your rant at 40:00 is hilarious. Loved it Didnt find it grumpy at all

I love 40k lore. I love GW models. I loved 40k in the 3.5 to 6th ed Era. In those days I maintained 7 armies and their rulebooks. I did not like 7th, and absolutely hate every edition that included command points and broke away from the force organization chart. Because of this, GW lost me buying rulebooks for all my armies, and new models for all 7 each release. My most recent 3 purchases from GW have been silver tower, Blackstone fortress, and cursed city. Now I have a 3d printer and print and paint fun models to use in frostgrave, or rangers of shadow deep.

Never Started Playing only tried a starterbox, even there i got frustrated. You made a very good mention by saying no one would play it with tokens/Standees, for me thats enough to know why i never should start! If a game is mechanicly not fun, it almost never will be fun however it is packaged

Love the vid. Are you going to continue with Goobertown Roulette? Was a fav series of mine that inspired me to try new and different things, and work through the backlog :)

While I enjoy 40k overall, the many reasons you outline in this video are why I shifted from full blown 40k to Kill Team. Kill Teams rules, game size, and smaller model requirement allows the hobby side to go nuts with up to 20 models max, faster games, easier to set up on a coffee table, and things like losing all your team Turn 1 don't generally happen.

I've recently dug out my old 3rd Edition 40K rulebooks mostly out of nostalgia's sake (and taking some inspiration in that post-Red Period, moderately grimdark painting style). The 3rd Ed rules felt like they had over-corrected on 2nd Edition's complexity, but these days if I were to go back to the game, I might start there. Everything felt faster and simpler -- sounds better with less time compared to when I was a teen.

Thank you for posting this. I got into this with a friend in 9th and am finding it all very difficult to keep up with. Makes me realize it's not just a me issue. I think I'm going to try the OPR to see if I get the joy back.

I understand the frustration of keeping up-to-date with all the rule changes. I started 40k at the end of 9th. Got enough models and very basic paints just in time to be pressured into joining a small local tournament with a 1k army. I knew very little about the rules. Only basic stuff on how to shoot but very little about how to score points. So since I was playing Necrons I just wanted to jump in and stand on objectives the whole game. To my surprise I ended runner-up. That was my last game of 9th and I haven't played since. Been collecting a lot but never felt ready. Now that I finally feel ready again I never have the time to play and it's quite frustrating, cause I've been looking forward to it. Back to what you said about not knowing what their army can do. Don't you have a chat about your armies before the game starts? What unit does what so you have a better grasp of what you're up against.

I definitely feel this video. I want to enjoy actually playing 40k but I bounced hard off 9th (way too steep of a learning curve). I've played a few games of 10th and it's much more easy to digest, but still not super fun. Current Kill Team however is actually enjoyable and I think that's because 1. the rules are digestible and 2. the I-go-you-go flow of the game keep you engaged and active and prevents the alpha strike/lose half your units before you can do something with them.

Thank you so much for finally putting my feelings of 40k into a video! For a lot of theses reasons, ive switched to playing a lot of the GW specialist games and I haven't looked back!

Loved the video. Only got into 40k a bit over a year ago. Played 9th, 10th, & OPR 3.0 thus far. And everything you voiced is how I think I & many others feel. I honestly think there needs to be more games like you are describing. I hope to be involved in a building a game like that one day.

Great channel - hard work is paying off!

I’d love to see you do more reviews like this of games. You have a unique point of view. I’d love to see you find some miniature games that appeal to you as a casual gamer.

I think you've just encapsulated what I've been feeling and trying to understand/quantify for years and put it into words that I could actually process. This is exactly me. I love the lore, I love the models and painting and hanging out with friends but trying to keep up with or understand enough to be able to play with any understanding of why x does y is just beyond me these days.

I had a similar experience with 40K, loved collecting, painting, and terrain building, but seemed to only get 3 or 4 games in before a new edition would come out, then your shelling out more money to update rules and codexes. I started with 3rd edition and quit after 6th. Appreciate the video!

In my book, that's just good game design feedback, not grumping. Great video, thank you for putting this out there. One of my hobbies is game design, so hearing how people react to games is valuable input. I agree with your concerns, and it's interesting to see how some other games try to solve these things, like the One Page Rules or even Warmachine/Hordes.

Great video!! Have you considered giving the old world a try?

Hey Brent! I stopped playing Warhammer about 12 years ago due to financial issues, and just recently returned. Sort of! I'm getting started on Kill Team and OnePageRules' Grimdark Future for the Saurian Starhost (thank you for painting them and showing how they play). Another small teams game that's nice and simple is War Cry. It's been described as a simpler fantasy Kill Team and it's on my list of things to try!

Love this video Brother, I am blessed to be able to play 40K at least once a month and I still have trouble with the rules at time. I too have a hard time hiding my army turn 1 to my detriment and I never really thought about why. You nailed it. I like my army to look cool haha

Thank you for the video. I don’t consider myself a casual gamer. I love devouring rules, playing competitively, lore, fluff etc. heck - I went all in on Aeon Trespass and found it quite charming and not that rules heavy, in contrary to many others. However, my feelings about 40k as a game is exactly the same as yours, on all accounts.

Firstly just want to say it's so good to see a new Goobertown video. I thought it was really good and you didn't come across too grumpy. I think your points are fair, I've faced the exact same challenge of wanting to return to 40k but then realising I have no idea if my rulebook is still current and the last army book/codex I bought for my faction is already obsolete so that's a good chunk of money before I do anything (and it gets worse when you find out, oh yeh, these points have been tweaked in this publication which was part of one months White dwarf and by the way you need this supplement and that supplement...). There are benefits to a boxed all-in-one game or card game which you can learn in a round or two; some can still be very tactically rewarding but without a big overhead in learning. On the command point and special rules discussion there are literally hundreds interspersed in the books too which don't always have a common language. One of the good things with 6th ed Fantasy was pretty much all magic came from a common chart in the main rules, so you always knew what was what. Plus while GW have more data than ever to help balance the game there are still ridiculous situations where one army just mauls another. The innovations like command points etc. do add a tactical depth which wasn't there in 3rd ed, but I agree it comes at a risk of overcomplication; perhaps if they kept the same model but made the range of command point skills more standardised then we'd only have to remember exceptions.

Excellent video and points. As someone who is definitely a casual player in the same vein as you, (I agree with your points about things looking cool vs working well with the mechanics of the game) I can definitely feel where you are coming from. I have only played a couple people in the game due to having a family and a job that I have to be on the road for at times, but the two people I have played are on opposite ends of the spectrum as far as experience and knowledge. My first opponent, and the one I've played the most, is someone who goes to tournaments and knows the game really well. It's very nice to have someone who can help me with my rules and explain things to me, but I get the experience you have had, where he's reading things off to me and to be honest, I just kind of go blank. This is definitely because I'm still at the point where I have to look at my stats to know how far to move certain units, and what the weapon profiles are. I don't have a chance at remembering all the interactions he tells me at the beginning of the game or who does what. I usually get absolutely stomped in games with him, and while that's fine, it's not the most fun I've ever had. It usually just involves him rolling (then rerolling) dice and then telling me how many (failed) saving throws to attempt before I start removing models from the table. I can usually tell by round 2 that it's over, but I figure the only way to get better is to play more and work at it. My other opponent is my daughter, who is brand new as well. In those games we've only gone really basic. Just data cards for the most part, and we're going to slowly start working in stratagems and other things that get more complicated and it has been a blast. I still have only won 1 game, because she managed to roll double 1's on saving throws from Necron Warriors vs her SM Captain, but even that was a crazy game that I thought for sure I'd lose. That game however, went the full tilt and was close the whole time. I thought I would lose it, but it was never at the point where I had only wiped out maybe 1 squad and a character while the vast majority of my army was gone. Granted, when I played her, I tried not to go all out (for what that's worth as a complete newb =P), I let my squads be in places where she could shoot them, and I did disuade her from making big mistakes by explaining to her why she should do things like keep her SM Captain further away from my squads / characters so that I had to shoot the SM's first and she could keep her powerful guy safe (This was played with 9th edition rules as it was a mission from the starter box and I didn't want to mess things up by mixing and matching). I think a big part of the game is playing with people who are on your level as far as knowledge and skill. There's nothing wrong with playing people who are way above you, but it doesn't feel good as a casual player to get absolutely blown off the board, and know for certain that there's no way you can accomplish anything at the end of turn 2 or beginning of turn 3, for me at least. I know lots of people can enjoy the against all odds part of that, but for me, if I couldn't get anywhere with my whole army, I know there's no chance I'm getting anything done with two half strength squads left. By then it always feels like why even bother, because by the end of my opponenets next turn everything will be dead by then anyway. Where as when I played someone who is on the same level as me I'm not really sure where it's going to end up, it feels a lot more like it's going to depend on the dice, not that I made a mistake deploying turn 1 and it's all over now. Maybe it's worth trying to find some folks who are more on you're experience level and play with them. I've found the same thing in Magic: The Gathering as well. Playing against someone with the craziest meta or net list deck just isn't fun for me, I like a more casual experience. I've even been the one to build a deck that I played against my kids with, and it seemed they couldn't even do anything against it. I had a great time theorizing and building it, and it was fun to play this strong deck the first time or two, but after I realized it just stomped the people I was playing I stopped using it because the games became unfun due to the experience difference between the two opponents. For me it's not fun to be on either side of a blowout and I think it's very easy for huge blowouts to be the case, with how in depth 40k can be, so in the end, I think it's more about finding the right opponents than anything. For what my opinion is worth anyway. Thanks again for the video, it was great!

Thanks for the video! We all have tough days of gaming where we aren't at out best. I appreciate your honesty and sharing this with your reflections.