More Than Just "That 40k Player": Why Gaming Clubs Let You Discover Something New

At Barnsley Association of Tabletop Gamers, I am sometimes referred to as "That 40k Player". There is no malice in it. It is simply the sort of shorthand that develops when a group of people spend enough time together, and in fairness, they are not exactly wrong. I play a lot of Warhammer 40,000. I own several very large armies, I have spent a considerable amount of money building them over the years, and I genuinely enjoy getting them onto the table. When you have invested that much time, money and effort into a game, you naturally want to get your money's worth from it.

But being known for playing Warhammer 40,000 does not mean it is the only thing I enjoy. I also love board games and roleplaying games, and one of the biggest advantages of being part of a club like BATG is that I get the opportunity to play things I probably would not otherwise come across. That is something which can easily be overlooked when people think about joining a gaming club. You are not just finding somewhere to play the games you already own. You are suddenly gaining access to an entire room full of other people's interests, collections and enthusiasm.

Trying Something Without Having to Buy It First

Tabletop gaming can be an expensive hobby. Anyone who collects miniatures already knows that, but the same can be true of board games and roleplaying systems. It is easy to see something that looks interesting, spend a fair amount of money on it, and then discover that you cannot find enough people to play it with or that it simply is not for you.

Being part of a club changes that considerably. Someone else may already own the game you have been curious about, and there is usually somebody willing to show you how it works. You can sit down, give it a try and decide afterwards whether it is something you want to explore further. There is no requirement for every new experience to become another purchase, which makes it much easier to be curious about different parts of the hobby.

From Judge Dredd to Inis

A good example for me recently was Judge Dredd: Helter Skelter. It is a game that immediately appeals to someone who already enjoys miniatures and tactical games, bringing together characters from 2000 AD worlds including Judge Dredd, Sláine, Strontium Dog and Nikolai Dante. Each faction has its own characters and action cards, giving the game plenty of personality, but it is all contained within a board game rather than requiring another army, another rulebook and another collection.

It is exactly the sort of thing I might have looked at and thought looked interesting, but probably would not have gone out and bought without knowing more about it. At BATG, somebody owned it, somebody wanted to play it, and suddenly I had the chance to experience something I might otherwise have passed over.

More recently, I played Inis, and that gave me something completely different again. At first glance it reminded me of Risk, with players controlling areas on a map and moving forces between territories, but once we started playing it became clear that there was far more going on. The game is driven heavily by card drafting and careful timing, and conflict is not always the best answer. Negotiation, positioning and knowing when not to act can be just as important as simply taking territory.

For me, it felt like a brilliant alternative to the traditional Risk-style game. There is enough familiarity to understand what you are trying to achieve, but the way you get there is much more interesting. Again, it is a game I may never have discovered properly without somebody else at the club putting it on the table.

Finding the Game Is Only Half the Problem

Owning a game is one thing. Finding people to play it with is another.

That is probably one of the biggest advantages of a gaming club. A four-player board game is not particularly useful if you can never find three other people who want to sit down and play it. The same applies to roleplaying games, miniature systems and campaigns. BATG brings together people with different interests, which means there is always the possibility of being introduced to something outside your usual corner of the hobby.

I may be known primarily for Warhammer 40,000, but somebody who mainly plays board games might try a miniature game for the first time. A historical wargamer might join an RPG session. Someone who arrives because they love Dungeons & Dragons might end up spending an evening playing something they had never heard of before. Nobody has to give up their favourite game. You simply gain more opportunities.

Your Favourite Game Can Still Be Your Favourite

I will continue playing a lot of Warhammer 40,000. Considering the size of some of my armies, it would probably be financially irresponsible not to.

What BATG gives me is the opportunity to enjoy that while also trying completely different games alongside it. One week I might be moving a large 40k army across the table, while another evening I am playing a board game I had never considered buying or joining a roleplaying session.

Sometimes you discover a new favourite. Sometimes you simply have a good evening playing something different. Both are worthwhile, and that is one of the things I value most about being part of a club.

You bring the games you already love with you, but you also gain access to all the games, ideas and interests of everyone around you.

And you never quite know what might end up on the table next.

Fancy Trying Something Different?

Whether you already have a favourite game or you are looking for somewhere to discover new ones, Barnsley Association of Tabletop Gamers brings miniature wargaming, board games and roleplaying games together under one roof.

If you would like to enquire about joining BATG, send us a message here and come and see what might become your next favourite game.