Grey plastic at a tournament: perfectly fine, mildly rude, or a crime against the hobby? It depends who you ask.
Few questions start an argument faster at a game store. You signed up for a GT, the event is Saturday, and half your army is still grey. Do you bring it anyway, or do you sit this one out? We hear both answers at our tables every week, so here is how the debate usually goes.
The Case for Just Bringing It
Local events exist to get people playing. A newer player who shows up with a half-painted army is better for the community than one who stays home because they are embarrassed. Painting takes time, and jobs and families take more of it. Nobody has ever lost a game because their opponent's Intercessors were grey.
There is also a practical side. Plenty of players learn what they actually enjoy painting by playing the army first. Forcing a full paint job before the first game can stall someone's hobby for months.
The Case for Painting Your Stuff
The other side argues that the hobby is the point. A table of painted armies looks like Warhammer. A table of grey plastic looks like a playtest. Players who put serious hours into their armies can feel a little shortchanged playing across from bare plastic, especially at an event that hands out a painting score.
A painted Deathwatch Terminator Captain from our Secondhand Shop. Even a simple scheme reads as an army from across the table.
Where Most Players Actually Land
In practice, most of the community settles on a "battle-ready" standard. It is achievable in a weekend, it looks like a real army from across the room, and nobody feels cheated:
- Prime it. One spray session covers the whole force.
- Three colors. Armor, a spot color, and metal.
- Base it. Finished bases make almost anything look done.
The real etiquette rule is simpler still: read the event pack. If it says painted models, that is the deal you signed up for.
Our Take
For a casual local event, show up. Grey plastic on the table beats an empty seat. For a ticketed tournament with painting scores, show up painted. If you are short on time, these get you to battle-ready fast:
The FLG Paint Studio handles commissions, from a single character to a full tournament army.
Summary and Final Thoughts
There is no single right answer here, which is exactly why the argument never dies. Bring what you have to casual nights, meet the standard the event asks for, and aim for battle-ready when you can.
So where is your line at a local GT: anything goes, three colors and based, or fully painted or stay home? Let us know in the comments.