As we get older and more experienced, it can be natural to become jaded. You've been there, done that, seen it and have the t-shirt. In some ways, time can give you a deeper, more fulfilling experience with what you love. But there's that danger of becoming jaded, of taking what you love for granted. It can happen in your relationships with people, and it can happen in your relationships with the games and fictional universes we love too. That thing you used to love and find joy in becomes a chore to deal with, a glaring mess of flaws that obscures the good.
I recently ran across a couple of things that brought this up for me. One, a bit of a rant from
Recalcitrant Daze about his reactions to the 7th ed books and the new Ork codex. He's sad to see some of the more fun, creative things not making it into the publications - conversions giving way to stock models, evocative art giving way to more pictures of stock models, rules and text that are less evocative (YMMV). As an old grognard he's seen what he considers the glory days and has access to it - but what about the new players, those who are being exposed now? Is 40K forgetting to bring the awesome?
The second was a wonderful blog about a gamer who somehow has never been directly exposed to much of the stuff that geeks hold in high esteem and quote at each other across the table. Dude's never seen Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, etc. until recently. As he watches them, he writes his reactions. And they're great reactions. Check his "instant reviews" out at
Some Wonderful Kind of Noise. After multiple viewings over many years it can be easy to lose the sense of wonder we had with our first exposure. But I think if we try, we can get it back.
What's great about 40K? What drew you in? Was it getting to use tape measures and foam transport cases? I doubt it. More likely, it was guys in powered armor being fired at a planet from space, leaping into battle with guns that make people explode and chainsaw swords. FREAKING CHAINSAW SWORDS! Daemons bursting out of people's brains, rough and tough aliens with crazy technology that usually manages to work (when it doesn't blow up in their faces), relics of a heroic and dangerous past, a galaxy of wonders and terrors met with deliberate ignorance and hatred.
Did I mention FREAKING CHAINSAW SWORDS?
Embrace the awesome. When there's someone new to the game or universe, don't discourage them with technical rules arguments and complaints. Stoke their enthusiasm for the awesome, and leech some of it off for yourself.
And don't forget the chainswords.
