Brandon Twp.- The Christmas season is seen by many as a time to promote peace, but on Dec. 26, there will be war here.
No worries, it’s all in the name of fun and charity.
The Warhammer 40K Team Event, a fundraiser for the library, is planned for 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Dec. 26, at the library, 304 South St.
Warhammer 40K is a miniatures game.
‘It’s simply a tabletop game where you control armies of painted miniature tanks, infantry and guns against an opponent’s force,? explains Adult/Teen Assistant Librarian Ben Peterson. ‘Games are fought between two players where each player takes turns to move, shoot and fight with their miniatures aided by simple rules, dice and tape measures.?
The figures used in the game are based on 28 mm sizes, with everything based to scale. Items used in the game include tanks, infantry and even aliens and all equipment can be purchased at hobby stores. Peterson notes that there are different armies for every taste and players build their armies for their playstyle.
The armies are set up on 4-foot by 4-foot tables on miniature terrain that can include trees, buildings, hills, rock formations, and fences. The setting can be a cityscape, countryside, or even a moonscape. In Warhammer 40K, the idea is that armies are battling 40,000 years in the future.
Each of the miniatures, whether a vehicle or unit, have rules for moving, shooting, and hand-to-hand combat. Some have superhero powers.
Every Tuesday, from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., Warhammer 40K and Warmachine players gather at the library. On a recent Tuesday, several teen boys sit at tables, using tape measures to determine at what distance to set their figurines. Peterson explains that everyone set up within a foot of their side of the table and from there the strategy begins.
‘It’s like chess with dice,? he said. ‘The neat thing about it, especially with teens, I have to show them how to use geometry so they can shoot mortars. They have to learn to triangulate. They guess how far they are from one side of the board and know where to drop a mortar.?
While the games today are dominated by teen boys, Peterson emphasizes that everyone is welcome. In the last Warhammer 40K tournament the library hosted, people came from as far away as Jackson, Detroit, and Charlotte. The game was invented in 1986 and Peterson said the average person can learn it after about three demonstrations. He has been playing since 1992 and knows men who are in their 70s who play the game.
‘It’s fun because it’s a learning game and the gamers have good camaraderie with each other,? Peterson said. ‘It’s competitive, but not cutthroat.?
Players participate in four rounds of an hour-and-a-half each. Lunch is provided. Entry fee is $15 per person and 48 spots are available. Register early by calling the library at 248-627-1461 or at www.brandonlibrary.org.