Is the Spirit of Creative Hobbying Fading?

Lately, I've been reflecting on one of the aspects of Warhammer Fantasy that pulled me into the hobby: the unbridled creativity that players would bring to their armies. When I started, the community felt like a sandbox of ideas. Converting models, proxying, and running with wild concepts weren't just accepted-they were celebrated.

This was especially true of the Army Showcases in the old White Dwarf magazines: a player would take a snippet of lore and be off to create something as unique armies told stories. I remember my local GW manager fielding a Strigoi Vampire Counts that leaned hard into Ghouls-skirmishers then, getting the chance to convert two Ghoul-themed Mercenary Giants. It was weird, grim, and just awesome.

Inspired by that, I created Dwarf Slayer Giants. When I showed them recently, they responded, "But what do they count as?" The answer is, of course, Giants. My point is that people didn't need every idea to fit into a neat little box back then; they could appreciate the creativity.

It's as if that spirit is fading. For example, modern GW models are beautiful but much less friendly to convert than older models. The loose ends in the lore are fewer now, ones inviting exploration and interpretation- because it would appear GW now tries to create a polished and marketable story. Let's face it: unusual ideas do not translate to sales, and there is, therefore, less reason for a company to encourage that side of the hobby.

The internet has also changed the hobby. While we’ve gained incredible resources and an interconnected community, we’ve also lost something. Many of the fantastic hobby blogs and forums from the early days—packed with guides and conversion inspiration—have disappeared.

Don't get me wrong, I love that the hobby is stronger than ever, and I'm thrilled about the return of The Old World. Still, there is a tinge of melancholy when I reflect on the creative freedom we used to embrace. It is not entirely lost, but it feels like the spark is slowly dying, and I miss it.

How about you? Are you in the same shoes, or am I just being nostalgic? I'd love to hear if others still keep that creative spirit alive in their armies. Let's share some stories and projects that keep this side of the hobby alive!