The "Comfort Zone" Syndrome

Have you ever been asked to try something new, and refused just because you didn't want to? Not for an actual valid reason, mind you, but simply because you really didn't want to try something new.

Okay, now if you think you've never done that, we can all have a good laugh and just admit it. Whether it is with the types of food we eat, the television shows we watch, we all have a comfort zone that we just don't like to move outside of. There isn't a logical reason for it, it's just because we don't want to.

But can this "Comfort Zone" Syndrome exist in our gaming and hobby world as well?

I'm THIS Many! Miniature Tim Turns 3!

Where the heck did the month of May go?!

3 years ago on May 30th I rebooted my blogging efforts, killing my old Tim's Minis blog and starting Miniature Tim. I was encouraged to do so by many friends across the nation, as well as excited to be a part of the blogging community of our hobby. I felt I could bring something to the proverbial table that would be worthwhile to the hobby community as a whole, and I was bound and determined to make my blog work the second time around, to not give up again...

…but I still had no idea 3 years ago I had no idea that I would be typing "3 years ago…"!

Podcasts…Where the !@#$ have I been?!

Seriously. I am fully aware that Podcasting has been a thing for quite some time now. Wikipedia has the start of Podcasting circa 2004-2005 or so, but for some backwards reason, I only began really listening to Podcasts about a month ago.

Why? Well, honestly it was because I wanted more information about Infinity, and Mayacast had just started. Then once down that rabbit hole, I discovered so many Podcasts that I felt like I had been living in a cave for the past few years, finally having seen the light of day. Heck, I've cancelled my SiriusXM subscription because I haven't listened to it since subscribing to so many Podcasts.

So what do I listen to?

New Editions: Good, Bad or Indifferent?

We've all be through it. Years of wargaming have taught us that there is never just one rulebook written for a game that will not be replaced later by a new edition. Warhammer Fantasy is going on it's 9th Edition, 40K is on the brink of 6.5 or 7th depending on who you talk to, Infinity just released that their 3rd edition is due before the end of the year, etc. so-on and so-forth.

So why is it that time and time again, we always get so bent out of shape each time a new edition of our favorite game is rolled out?

Friends don't let Friends Buy Stupid

Before we dive in here, I have to admit I stole the headline for this article from Tom Schadle. He mentioned it in one of his own blog posts and it was too good to pass up. It really tied together all my thoughts for this article into one concise phrase and I've got to give him the plug and credit for it. He coined it in his article on the new GW Toolkit, that can be found here.

I won't rehash why it's a bad decision to purchase that Toolkit, as Tom does an excellent job. Go clicky-clicky and read it from him.

I do, however, want to address the main theme as it relates to our hobby overall. I'd also like to bring up that the pendulum can swing both ways in regards to Tom's words of wisdom. As much as you can easily over spend in this hobby, you can actually under spend as well.

Pushing my Boundaries with Green Stuff Sculpting

Originally this was going to be the final Adepticon Coverage report. Considering this is more of a synopsis of one single class I took at Adepticon instead of overall coverage of an event or something larger, I thought I'd separate it out and really dig into not just this class, but sculpting in general to some degree.

My forays into sculpting started back in 2006-ish, with my Black Templars, teaching myself ways to sculpt wild fur to somewhat match the Fantasy Chaos Warriors, and capes/cloaks. Fast forward to about 3 years ago, and I hadn't gone any farther in my Green Stuff skills. Not because I didn't want to, but more because I was intimidated by sculpting. So in 2011, I took a class by Joe Orteza at Adeption to learn some basic Green Stuff Sculpting skills.

Turns out I never needed to be intimidate. Why?

MayaCast: A New Podcast for Infinity

MayaCast is a (kinda) new podcast for Infinity the Game, by Corvus Belli. It's run by Tom Schadle and Kip Parcell. I say "kinda" because they were the hosts for a previous podcast, and have moved on to start their own. Their first episode posted yesterday, and while a little rough, something they admit themselves, they are vets and I expect them to refine their format quickly.

Okay, so typically I don't advertise or review much on here. I've got to really be behind a product or site to give it some time on this blog. Not because I'm special or anything, but because most of you don't come here to read stuff like that, and I want to make sure when you do come to my little corner of the interwebz you kind of know what to expect. However I do now, and will always, support those who try and better the hobby community through their own efforts for others,and that's essentially what a podcast is folks.

Lately I've been diving head first into Infinity. Honestly ever since I painted that Tohaa Soec Ops figure. I've already got a fairly substantial Yu Jing collection I'm chomping at the bit to assemble and paint, and have been learning the rules. Definitely expect some Infinity content in the future. That being said. When MayaCast launched, I immediately listened to their first episode and enjoyed it immensely. I only see good things on the horizon for this podcast.

Check out the links to their blog and Facebook page below, and show them some love and support.

www.mayacast.com

www.facebook.com/InfinityMayaCast

- Tim