As I sit near my pool, enjoying a fine Dominican cigar and the companionship of my favorite Schnauzer, I can't help but think of the state of our hobby, particularly given the massive customer rebellion of Games Workshop's latest practices. To comment on those practices here would be pointless, as many have already made similar points and I would hate to muddy the waters.
Many of my local compatriots have decided to boycott Games Workshop and its assorted stores, and I commend them for it. To stand for what you believe in is a great boon to a community that has seen GW's stores and policies essentially corner the market. The question, then, becomes simple: Where do you go and what do you do now that GW is no longer an option?
When you ask what to do, the answer is pretty simple, but the simplicity makes it complicated. There are multitudes of game systems and models out there (which I will cover in due time, of course), from Warmachine/Hordes to Malifaux to Battletech to D&D to board games, all options that were closed to you when you only suckled on the teat of the Workshop. Of course, you could still play 40k, fantasy, bloodbowl, or the variety of other GW games. There's no reason not to.
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As to the where, the question becomes far more difficult. Many of us do not have marble inlay gaming tables with mats of the finest vellum, nor the space to house such a thing. While I do not suffer such difficulties, I enjoy problem solving and some of my less economically savvy friends do feel these pains, so I will give you some options.
The first is the simplest; play at your own manor. Popular hardware stores sell very affordable particle board that can easily be laid down upon your kitchen, dining, or breakfast nook table to provide an even and appropriately sized gaming surface. A simple application of paint or fine velvet makes the table a good option for those of you with limited budgets. Such boards can even be cut into smaller sections to facilitate easy storage.
The second option, and perhaps the most fun, is the “Friendly Local Game Store”, commonly called the FLGS. They often have gaming tables as well as providing soda, snacks, and the gaming supplies you need. They will be happy to have you as a customer, and you'll be happy to have them as a source for quality gaming goods. My personal FLGS is staffed by only the finest people and actually happen to offer a better Games Workshop selection than the local GW stores, oddly enough. I still avoid that section to instead focus on other games. The employees are both happy to assist and, being gamers themselves, knowledgeable of the products on their shelves. Some are even fluent in nerdspeak, a bizarre language consisting entirely of damage tables and initiative checks.
I can hear you beginning to dictate letters to your servants now, asking “well, Baron, what do I do if I don't have space in my guest house for a gaming table and I do not have an FLGS near my cottage in the Swiss alps?” Tell your man to stay his hand, and listen to the third option. It is perhaps the most ambitious, but the dividends are worth the work. The task is to find a place where you can play, either free or cheaply, with a modicum of privacy and space. Simply look around you! Many public libraries are willing to give space to local gaming groups in their unused meeting rooms, and places like bowling alleys not only have the space in their unused banquet halls, but actually serve alcohol on the premises. Their selection may not match your private cellars, but a couple drinks more than makes up for the privilege of gaming in their establishment.
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Gamers of late have become lazy, complacent in the availability of Games Workshop stores and the relative ease of getting their products. You need to look back and realize that what we do is not just game; it's a labor of love. We work hard on our models and spend increasingly large amounts of our parent's money to acquire the latest and greatest. Take the time to apply that same passion to making a gaming group or building some collapsible gaming tables, and the hobby will truly become yours. Nobody can take away your passion or your skill; don't let them take away your hobby.
