Friday evenings are my time. It’s the end of the week and I deserve it. Six hours away from all responsibilities and domestic concerns. A voice from upstairs calls out, “ If you are going to Firestorm Games, I’m coming…..”

So, the boys in school are into Warhammer 4ok. Of course I had to take him to my club nights again.

It had been ten years but the Evil Empire had risen again! In the attic lies an unloved plastic box. They were loved once more. On the plus side. My boys are interested in gaming, not what I call proper wargaming i.e. historical gaming. I did share this with my boys, and then I listened to myself. I was saying that GW wanted to put less “war” into wargaming for increased profits. Did I really want to expose them to real war in game form?

We live in strange times. They reminded me that I had told them that hell would freeze over before I let them join the army to defend Starmer and a state that hates the white working class male. They answered that they had been lectured on military history all their lives and now I was telling them not to think defending our country was a worthy ideal. Consistent parenting is not my forte!

We entered the lair of the beast: a Warhammer store. I had warned them that they would be immediately pounced on by a shop assistant a little too eager for sales. They actually found the assistant charming and engaging. The store was a riot of colour and interest; the models were fantastic and they were hooked.

I thought about how I would explain their purchases. Would my wife think my miniatures cost even half as much? I reasoned with my father in law; sixty pounds gets you an afternoon of peace, years of play and an asset that goes up in value. He wasn’t convinced…

I do like this generation. Would they smuggle their purchases out in a plain brown bag? Well no, they carried them out proudly. Their models are cool and what I do is up to me! Space marines are cool: toxic masculinity in armour. Never apologise for something you love. I loved 2025- the wheel has turned and suddenly the world is wondering who will defend the weak. Life lessons from Games Workshop space marines: they will be horrified. I can see the banners now, “make Warhammer great again.” “ Let’s celebrate the war in Warhammer!” Perhaps it’s better that they aren’t into historical prototypes.

So the models are bought, glued together and next comes the painting. We have two new club members and a new family hobby. I’d be interested to know of your experiences and whether GW is in fact the gate way drug for historical gaming. Painting Tau over Christmas, who would have thought it!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Miguel Ferres