You have decided you want to start with participating in the Wargaming Hobby (either historical or non-historical). You have an idea in your head from watching YouTube and reading blogs that you will have all this terrain and beautifully painted miniatures with a ruleset you know backwards and forwards, and many players to interact with. That most likely will not be the case the first time you get started, and that is perfectly okay and normal. Here’s why:
The Expectations vs. Reality
Wargaming hobbies, whether historical, fantasy, or sci-fi, have exploded online. Social media, YouTube After Action reports, and convention showcases all highlight sprawling tables filled with gorgeous terrain, expertly painted miniatures, and smooth gameplay between seasoned players. It’s an inspiring sight, but it can also set unrealistic expectations for newcomers. The truth is, your first few games might be played on a bare table with books as hills, soda cans marking objectives, and unpainted miniatures that are still smelling of primer—if they’re even assembled at all. And that’s not just okay; it’s how almost everyone starts.
Why the Myth of a “Perfect Start” Can Hurt You
Believing you must begin at the same level of polish and presentation as what you’ve seen online can be paralyzing. You might consider delaying the start until your army is painted. Or think you need to memorize every line in your chosen ruleset before even setting models on the table. You may feel like you’re not “really” a wargamer until your terrain looks like it belongs in a museum diorama or comparable to those you’ve seen online. This mindset will kill the momentum and suck all the joy out of what should be a creative, fun, and social journey for you as a player.
Wargaming is a journey, not a Showcase
No seasoned wargamer you admire or have seen got there overnight. They started exactly where you are: with an interest, some dice, maybe a rulebook, a desire to push a handful of models around and have fun. “But what about the fancy terrain boards and expertly painted units?” you may say. Those were built up over the years, often piece by piece and game by game. What you don’t see in the social media photos is the first cardboard hill someone made with PVA glue and too much flock, or the night before priming sessions done under terrible lighting. Every hobbyist out there has a graveyard of abandoned projects and mismatched minis; you’ll be in good company and are not alone.
Learn by Doing, Not by Waiting
Getting models on the table, even if they’re unpainted or only proxies, will teach you the game in a way reading never can. Playing imperfect games with imperfect terrain still teaches you movement, positioning, tactics, and the rules you choose to use. More importantly, it builds experience and confidence. Don’t wait to paint before playing. Play now and let the excitement of the gameplay motivate/inspire your painting and building. Each game you play will add fuel to your hobby passion.
Your Table Is Your Canvas
Start with what you have around. Use paper templates for terrain. Stack some schoolbooks to make hills. Print black-and-white unit cards. Your creativity in the early stages is not a weakness; it’s the soul of wargaming. The hobby has always thrived on do-it-yourself spirit, not perfection. Some of the most memorable games are those where things weren’t ideal: mismatched units, rules looked up mid-game, house rules invented on the fly. Those are stories you’ll remember more fondly than whether your base rims matched your army’s color scheme. What more bonding moment with friends or family is there without a humorous “oopsie”?
The Community Is More Forgiving Than You Think
It’s easy to feel like you’re the only one not living up to the high standards you see online. But in real life, most gamers are happy to play with beginners and are more interested in rolling dice than judging your terrain or minis. Many even find charm in early hobby attempts; it reminds them of their own beginnings. Most local gaming groups are eager to help new players. If you show up with a good attitude and willingness to learn, you will be welcomed regardless of the state of your miniatures.
Start Small, Be Flexible
Begin with a skirmish game or a smaller scenario. A handful or a dozen models per side is more than enough. Focus on learning the basic rules and mechanics of your ruleset. From there, everything else can evolve naturally. You might even find initial things to change in your rules or minis. The army you thought you would love might not click in play or in how you want to play, or a terrain project might turn into something else entirely. That’s natural and part of the fun this hobby gives to you.
Your Goal Is Fun, Not Perfection
The ultimate point of wargaming is to have fun: to make/tell stories, to push miniatures, to roll dice and share laughs with newfound or old friends. None of that requires perfection in play or setup. It requires presence and just showing up and playing.
So, if you are staring at your unpainted army, your blank tabletop, or your unopened rulebook and thinking you’re not ready, know this: you are more ready than you think.
Start ugly. Start small. Start now.
You will look back one day, surrounded by painted models and custom terrain, and realize that the best part wasn’t reaching the “perfect” table, but building it, game by game and experience by experience.
-Mike
This is a beautiful and timeless sentiment for people approaching what can often be a daunting undertaking. Thank you for sharing.