The flesh is weak! Don’t give in brothers!
The Unpainted Army: A Warhammer Hobbyist’s Eternal Struggle
The Hobbyist’s Dilemma
On one side of this meme, we see the concept of having a girlfriend, an experience that many Warhammer players might only theorize about, much like lost STC templates. On the other, the ultimate dream of every tabletop wargamer—a fully painted army, standing proudly in formation, ready to wage glorious war. And yet, the unfortunate soul behind this meme has neither. No partner to share moments with, no army free of the dreaded grey plastic curse. Just an ever-growing pile of shame and the distant hope that one day, both situations might change.
The Flesh is Weak! Don’t Give In, Brothers!
The Omnissiah teaches that the flesh is weak, but resisting the temptation to leave miniatures unpainted is even harder. Many hobbyists may be lured by distractions, whether it be socializing, relationships, or the simple idea of going outside. But the true disciples of the Emperor and the Machine God know their purpose—to batch paint squads at two in the morning, to curse their shaky hands while edge highlighting, and to live in the endless cycle of priming, painting, and regretting color scheme choices. This meme speaks to the grim reality that some have neither the time nor the will to balance painting with personal life, making them neither a master of war nor of romance. The Adeptus Mechanicus would declare such inefficiency a crime.
The True Path of the Hobbyist
This meme is not just a joke—it is a reflection of the eternal struggle every Warhammer fan faces. It reminds us that love may come and go, but an unpainted army remains forever, silently judging from the shelf. The path of the hobbyist is paved with unopened boxes, half-finished miniatures, and countless excuses to avoid painting today. While others may seek companionship, we stare at our unfinished armies, telling ourselves that next weekend will be different. In the end, who truly wins? Certainly not our wallets, but perhaps, one day, when the pile of shame is finally conquered, victory will be ours. Until then, the Emperor protects, but he does not paint for us.