Why Your "Pile of Shame" Isn't USELESS

[@warrenconnell4612]

"Think not of the books you’ve bought as a ‘to be read’ pile. Instead, think of your bookcase as a wine cellar. You collect books to be read at the right time, the right place, and the right mood." -Luc van Donkersgoed Replace books with minis

[@CuriousKey]

Wonderful sentiment. Though I don't collect physical books much, I have an absurdly large folder - the counting of which would be a challenge in itself - of books waiting for the right time. There's a bizarre pleasure in reading a book you collected so long ago you've forgotten everything about why you originally bought it.

[@Kevin.Mitchell]

"No one likes a scalper. Not even their mothers." Heh. Love it. I'm in the process of moving, and have rediscovered a whole new pile of potential up in my attic that I'd squirrelled away over the years - well, old pile of potential really, but looking forward to sorting through this stuff when I have the time.

[@mattsergi4828]

Lol-ed at that line

[@EdAllen]

I just painted 11 mostly 70s metal D&D minis from one of those boxes in the lead mountain. 40-50 years in the pile, finally ready.

[@Bacxaber]

Long time subscriber here, I just wanna say I'm glad you're still out here makin' content.

[@FernandoMSanz]

My pile of shame turned into my new Stargrave crew, recently.

[@JarottM]

I hear you! ive got like eight teams now!

[@Will_GM_for_Food]

I just Frankensteined a Traveller Scout PC out of a Stargrave body; Wargames Atlantic Bulldogs head, arms, and backpack; and a couple of bits from Bolt Action panzergrenadiers.

[@asafoetidajones8181]

My "pile of shame" is actually an Archive of Acceptability. Every unpainted mini I have is primed black, either overbrushed white or zenithal sprayed, based, mounted on paint stir sticks, organized by type/concept, and stored in stacking boxes.

[@hawkthetraveler6344]

impressive but id put that in a whole different category !

[@asafoetidajones8181]

@@hawkthetraveler6344 there's a small amount of shame though because some of them date back 6 or so years and the prime and/or overbrush is thick and uneven and should likely be stripped, but I also do a lot of toy conversions and bashing, so I'm reluctant to drop minis in the sauce indiscriminately because they might come out in pieces. Still, I'm pretty proud that I have an organized craft life (table, paint and tools too) and it really helps me stay interested and avoid burnout because I have ADHD prime Ultra force Super Blue S+ level.

[@elfbait3774]

My pile of shame has helped me jump on minis agnostic games as they come out. when Turnip 28 came out, I was able to convert a bunch of leftover Viking plastics into a bunch of creepy fishermen. Old Reaper Bones minis laying around became Stargrave and Frostgrave bands.

[@ShadowdragonYamiryu]

Same! OPR was my hobby Renaissance and I've definitely felt happy getting mileage out of my massive collection.

[@theRemyLuna]

I have no shame. Or pile of it. I wanted to own minis as a kid and could never afford many if any. Now I look at them painted or unpainted and feel absolute joy. So do what you want and enjoy life and the little piles of plastic men & monsters

[@liquidbeefbag]

Here here, huzzah, amen!

[@benelliott2484]

Well said 👏 If you want to have a pile of shame, you do you. If you want to buy kits and build straight away, do that. My only advice is if you move house, don't put all your sprues in a bin bag which someone might mistake for rubbish and throw away £200 worth of models.

[@christopherpeery7436]

I recently sold off like 70% of my pile of shame and made $600. Be honest with yourself, do you still actually want to paint that? No? Okay well sell it and go buy something you actually wanna paint

[@specialmeats]

I came to this hobby from the Gundam & plastic model universe, so I was deep into the habit of buying stuff that had parts that I "might need" for kitbashing sometime. My upstairs closet was already full of little robot boxes and now my hobby space is filling up with boxes of GW & resin bits.... I'm probably going to die without opening half of them!

[@Will_GM_for_Food]

I'm currently using some Starblazers kits for Full Thrust starship miniatures.

[@Amaurn89]

I've never felt shame about my bitz boxes. Love kitbashing, sculpting and having loads of options to mess around with!! 😊

[@claydougherty9996]

On the “out of sight, out of mind” topic: I love opening a box in my garage and seeing some minis I bought years ago. It’s like Christmas! And most of the time it renews my interest in that game.

[@albinofreak620]

I have assembled a pretty deep collection of stuff I haven’t built or painted yet. I also have a lot of projects that I have started but abandoned (eg “This bust looks fun to paint” then I realize I’m not having fun when I’m working on it, so I stop and do something else). Big agree: having a collection that I can browse through and pick things out to work on whenever the feeling strikes is great.

[@fransaacs]

Kitbashing takes up almost all of my hobby hours atm. Bought a box of the old MK3 Heresy Tactical Marines last year because I've always really liked the iron clad aesthetic, it's modular design and **especially** for it's compatibility with older multi-part kits. Plan was to start a Blackshield force for Zone Mortalis games at the LFGS... Since seeing how much these kits re-sell for after their cancellation I've been making every kind of excuse not to break the cellophane. Up-side is I still managed to build about a 1000pts of marauding rag-tag renegades but instead by using up leftover bits from the older Apocalypse set, Dark Vengeance, Cailth and Prospero kits. Love your our Necromunda builds.

[@JMcMillen]

I still think that one of the reasons that the GW kits have pieces spread all across each sprue was to make it more difficult for people that buy kits for the purpose of parting out the individual mini's. It would force them to put a lot more work into finding and cutting out all the pieces for a single mini. The hope being that more sellers would decide that it was too much work and not do it.

[@gurtwurz]

That may be the most sensible reason I've heard of in relation to their chaotic layouts!

[@CaptinCrofty]

It’s done by a program

[@JMcMillen]

@CaptinCrofty But who controls the program? GW, that's who. It wouldn't be overly difficult to insure some level of chaos to minimize pieces from the same mini be next to each other. Just like it would also be possible to set up the program to try and group pieces together by mini. I've been hunting minis on Ebay for years, and there does seem to be fewer people parting out individual minis from newer boxes. These days, it's mostly people buying bundle boxes and reselling whole sprues. The only exception is if there's a special character on the sprue, then they might separate it out to sell separately.

[@CaptinCrofty]

@@JMcMillen they just group the most efficient way for shipping. I’d say there is some effort to keep most of the parts close, atlest in the kits iv done though sure there’s always a few pieces no where at all close.

[@roberthartburg266]

It's also an attempt to make copying the sprue more difficult. If one miniature has parts that are spread over 2-3 sprues, then you have in theory to do more work to pirate a certain miniature.

[@cervantes3773]

I had only ever heard of it as a "pile of shame" until I watched a (now deleted) video by Terrainosaur, who called it a "pile of opportunity", and that brought me tremendous peace. No matter how you're feeling, there's something to inspire you in your pile of opportunity!

[@tinytitanminiatures]

I feel the kitbashing, just bought and build the cities of sigmar command corps and couldn't decide which head option to use for the arch-knight. After looking at my pile of potential, I made a chaos chosen into another arch knight, and it worked really well. I'm so happy to have a fish knight and a bear knight now.

[@ChrisKCook]

There's a 'Fish Knight Head'? Oh that will be handy when I go to kitbash Sons of Manan for a Warhammer: the Old World Marienburg Empire army...

[@rohanalmond]

Looking for new kits is one of my favourite parts of the hobby. Then having a cupboard full of things means you can go back to stuff weeks/months/years later like it’s a new find, and enjoy it all over again be that painting it as is, or kitbashing! Picked up some Anvil industry bits this week as they were in the sale. Just got them cos they were cool, with no plan as such, then yesterday the skirmish game I’m learning announced a space expansion that fits them perfectly!

[@jaymehickey]

Great video. With your new game Deth Wizards I'm go over the Cursed City box that's on my shelf and coming up with lots of options for the game. I also purchased some miniatures for the Cursed City expansions last year that are all undead, so getting to work on all those minis. Lots of fun!

[@basstedson]

I recently built and painted my 3rd edition Dark Eldar that have been following me around since I got the starter box for Christmas about a quarter century ago. They made the perfect test models for the new box of clan Escher I got with the intention of pushing my painting to see how good I can be.

[@GoufinAround_]

I sold mine off. My pile of shame was making me have a lot of painting paralysis. Getting rid of it helped me start painting again. I'd rather just buy something when I'm ready to paint it and keep next to no backlog

[@vxicepickxv]

That's a perfectly fine way of doing things.

[@poursperfectpints]

I recently painted a metal Great Unclean One that I bought around 2001 or so. It was in my pile the entire time. I don't mind having a large collection.

[@johnbruce4004]

Most of us have several (!) projects on the go/in planning stage at any time. Having a collection of kits to choose from really can enhance your hobbying experience.

[@johnashley-smith4987]

Thanks for this video. The " Pile Of Shame" for me is " a pile of ambitions and dreams" .Having a large collection of unbuilt and unpainted models is only a problem in that storage can get out of hand. I end up forgetting about some things I have...the old out of sight , out of mind.. I deliberately set out to reach a sort of " critical mass" to create the kitbashed army I have long planned. It has taken more than fifteen years , buying when I could , models specifically for this purpose.The list of kits includes models from Necromunda(following your lead..!), 40k, Wargames Atlantic, North Star, and a few others.I have even bought cheap tank kits with this in mind. All that said, I have a lot in my " queue" at the moment with all the games I am building and painting for,my " Dream Army" might actually get started this year....unless something else butts into the queue! This discussion reminds me of one of the late Warren Zevon interviews where he spoke of how people buy books and put them on their shelf , thinking they have bought the time to read them. Thanks again!

[@elwindil8566]

Quite some time ago, I purchased an entire army box of skeletons from Wargames Atlantic because they have that Ray Harryhausen aesthetic that I love from watching those old sword and sandals films of the 70's and 80's. I just today saw a video about a game called Silver Bayonet that would let me use them in that as well, so now I have another game that's miniatures agnostic to use them in. Now just have to put them together and paint them....and come up with something to store them in since they are a little fragile looking.

[@zhouenlai2569]

Discovering that you already have all you need for a new game is indeed great feeling. This year I started playing "The Doomed" and finally found a use for a collection of (unpainted) Gorkamorka Diggas I had for 20 years.

[@johnkidby7948]

9:06-9:56 - Alright, I'm gonna need to know where a few of those heads came from - the ones on the Cawdor and Orlocks especially. My pile of potential demands growth!

[@ssbtd00m]

FYI, Harbor Freight has the best deal on those "clear fishing tackle boxes", which I call Plano boxes. the 9x14 run about $5 and I store finished models in each "cell" and the clear box makes it easy to pick one out. If you have a Cabellas or BassPro shop, they also have them cheap (often about $5) and I think they're made by the name brand folks.

[@benjaminhayward5921]

Wal-Mart has them hella-cheap, too, over in the fishing aisle.

[@MrSJPowell]

I have a pile of 1st and 2nd ed Stormcast that's now going out of print, and that very announcement mentally freed me from holding onto them "In case I need them." I now have several of them assembled and ready, knowing that I don't need to be too precious with them, and can just make what I want with them as needed. Kitbashing with 5, 6, or 7 kits to get one truly unique model, that I love is totally open to me with them now. Some of it has been leftover bits, but a decent amount is "This plume would look cool there".

[@jabbamiles]

Fortunately my wife has got into miniature painting in the last few years, so has her own "Pile of potential " building. Also means hobby purchases are normally for both of us. Win win 😊

[@LordChaos2010]

10 Combat Patrols 3 K Eldar point army 2 K Orc Army 2 K Nids army. I painted 4 Combat Patrols and say 1k Eldar stuff. The issue is I have only been in this hobby for less than a year. I feel like I overdid it but then again I dont feel bad. I dont think I ever enjoyed a hobby as much as this.

[@marrowkaiproductions7053]

Well I'm sure you'll be able to get anyone into the Hobby with that many combat patrols!

[@grapetonenatches186]

Thats alot of stuff, but its not enough.

[@LordChaos2010]

@@marrowkaiproductions7053 Thats the plan :)

[@LordChaos2010]

@@grapetonenatches186 I do have maybe some other 1k resin models but yes I agree not enough :)

[@00die00991]

That’s some serious paypig behaviour

[@mycatistypingthis5450]

I just made some armoured skeletons from a few Perry minis with skeletal arms. One of my 1:48 spitfires has a Warhammer toolbox. I used the arms of multiple Frostgrave Wizards boxes on all sorts of minis. When people ask me for a mini, I have so many options to give that to them.

[@Unholycrumpet]

Ever since I started printing more models, I’ve taken an approach that 3d printing is its own hobby and it’s ok to print neat stuff and keep it in a box of other neat stuff I haven’t e ant if with yet. It’s like a gift to my future self when I have time/motivation to finish or reimagine a project

[@blissfulbadger]

I love my Pile of Potential! I'm working on 2-3 army builds right now, and felt like working on a smaller project. Went over and decided to build the Navy Breachers from Into the Dark. After building these, I'll paint up another unit of my Necrons, finish painting the 2 Screamer-Killers, and then maybe build another squad of mk6 from Age of Darkness. It's only shame if you never plan on touching the models, and you're still holding on to them.

[@olskoolsouljah]

Photo organization boxes from hobby stores are great for bits. The ones that are briefcase-sized with 10 or so little 4x6 containers slotted into them are perfect. You can label them and easily pick them up and see the contents without digging around in a little drawer. Highly recommend.

[@BlakesPipes]

This is my validation video for any who ask about my pile of possibilities ! Thank you, I needed this video for future me!

[@ThePlayplay64]

I've always loved having a pile of shame and often aim to keep somethings around. I grew up with well kinda poor and as i got older i find life loves to give you curve balls. Pay your bills/ get food and the like but using some extra cash now to tuck something away for later can be helpful. When money gets tight and i need to cut back I still have toys to paint up and play with. I had a friend once, really good at his job no issues, never called out, he got laid off randomly when his job "down sized " no warning no nothing. The guy did everything right but still got hit with a new job and about a 30% pay cut. He had to cut back on alot. I have a box of hate on the shelf waiting for that or something like it to happen to me.

[@brianquinlan8891]

I always considered the pile of shame to be the kits I have started but not finished, and moved onto other projects for an unnamed amount of time. My stash is my collection of kits that I have not started yet but plan on making. Great video btw :)

[@Blutgang]

I still have all my kits and bits as far back as the mid 1980. Some even still sealed. Now I am into 3D printing and between collecting files and printing piles of stuff. My shame or glory is much more. Love the hobby so much and all the people and creativity in it.

[@dmeep]

My tower of ambition is being worked on. the recent price increases helped.

[@danielhenderson8000]

I have a MASSIVE bitz collection, and while there are plenty of times I never have to touch it, I have gotten back into the fun of kitbashing with smaller and weirder games. Gaslands was the big one and even ate up a lot of my Ork bitz that I thought I'd never get through! The issue now, though...is where to store stuff. I love building models and collecting, and while I do need to refine how I store my "Pile of Potential" it is actually where to show off the painted or near painted models! I have run out of display shelves and struggle to figure out the best way to add more. So, yeah, I agree that the Pile of Potential is a great idea and way to look at it, kits are never REALLY wasted...but a constant flow of creation certainly leads to an awkward end with no space left...

[@grendelb3298]

I feel that by building and at least priming my minis, they’re ready for more “potential”. If I look at all of the unfinished minis, that may get me discouraged. If I hit sale, that helps too. I once got a Daughters of Khaine Start Collecting for $50! It’s now the start of my Vanguard/Spearhead.

[@VJMorph]

Ah... Uncle Atom's box of heads (TM) always good to hear about it getting dusted off :P

[@andrewlane8267]

In the model community we call this SABLE, stash accumulated beyond life expectancy.

[@abnon-tha3088]

I look at it in the same spirit as Nassim Nicholas Taleb referencing Umberto Eco's 'anti-library'.

[@marrowkaiproductions7053]

I'm currently working through my backlog. I pretty much bought a entire Army over the course of 2 months (Starter Set, Leviathan, Onslaught Swarm.) almost done with the Space Marines so I can get to the Nids.

[@cspo]

100% agree. Something I've found over the years is that the money I've invested (when I've had it) in minis pays off when I'm poorer as I can focus on paying bills/rent/food, and rather than going out just stay home and build/paint miniatures. It's been very helpful when dealing with unexpected rough patches in my life.

[@asdasd9174]

I've just started playing this new game called 'deth wizards' and my pile of shame has delivered me a cool Lord of Plagues as my war reaper and more undead than I can deal with.

[@gammafighter]

I just cruised Facebook groups for good deals and bought one when I found it. As I was working my way through that project, I continued to peruse for not just a good deal, but a deal so good I couldn't pass it up. Now I've got two big batches of models that I'm working my way through and I'm quite content. It was $300 for everything but it should keep me busy all year. While i would like to play, I'm mostly in it for the painting experience. I don't really feel the need to buy more because I've got plenty to work on. Maybe when I finish one of the batches I'll start looking again for some of the units I'm missing.

[@MilinkovicFilip]

While my towers of potential are many and varied (do not, I repeat, do not look at the attic, sanity damage will occur), an example of a valid one was first buying everything for my fantasy Chaos project, so that I'd have all the bits for kitbashing ready before I started building anything. Some projects just work better if you have every piece in hand before starting, even if that means dozens of boxes and over a hundred miniatures sitting and waiting for your budget to slowly gather everything.

[@surturmasgri]

A few years back I could not buy anything because I was helping my parents. And Thanks to my pile of miniatures I keep having things to Paint and make a few conversions. You never know when you can need a pile. And when you have a conversion in mind and already have bits to do It is great.

[@matthewsnyder66]

I think one thing that should have been mentioned, but wasn't--in this wonderful video--is that your "Pile of Potential" is also a "Pile of Adventures" in that it creates a nice wandering sensation that you can go anywhere anytime in any direction, which creates a sustained sense of spontaneity in a world of conformity and dayjob work repetition.

[@Zarkil]

I primarily play five leagues from the borderlands and five parsecs from home now, along with occasional games of one page rules fantasy, gangs, or sci-fi skirmish games with friends. Basically a kitbashers dream. I keep an eye on ebay and a few different online stores for good values to keep my library of miniatures stocked.

[@intzbk1]

Excellent video! I've went through different phases in bit storage. I started with the little craft boxes but then found it too time-consuming to find the bits I was looking for. Then I switched to plastic Ziploc bags which are transparent which eases in identifying bits and I put all the bags in a storage container. Now, I think I'm at the keep them on the sprue stage and put them back in the box. I think I find it easier to scan the boxes on a shelf.

[@halfblindbear]

I have noticed that as my pile of potential shrinks my painting time slows. I think I actually have a certain amount of fear about finishing all my models. That being said I play mainly Napoleonic games, so there is an end to the "project", unless I want to be truly insane and paint 1:1 ratio for some ridiculously large battle.

[@harazhangf5782]

I 100% agree with the video. With my brother we recently went through my pile of plastic to kitbash some cultists using Cadians/Catachans bits mixed with lizardmen kits. They fit perfectly together it was an awesome experience. And I am in the process of kitbashing some havoc brothers using space marines, tyranids and other bits and it is great.

[@grahamkramer8050]

You had mentioned something similar in a recent video about having multiple projects in different stages so that impulse can drive your options; and I have gotten a lot more accomplished recently. I have some Stormboyz I just started painting, a Trukk that has about 3/4 of a paint job, the main body built on the Dakkajet/Bomma just need to decide on how best to give myself access to all the options...I got a deal on the Cats And Catacombs minis that are still in the box, and then impulse bought a bust from Monument Hobbies yesterday when they announced their sale.

[@ADarkRogue]

My pile of potential really came in handy when I started playing "Space Station Zero" & "Five Parsecs from Home"! It's been a lot of fun kit-bashing or finding random obscure models that fit a character, faction, or random enemy.

[@WisePenguin007]

That's exactly what I think. Most of my unbuilt/unpainted collection was bought at a very good price from 3rd party stores, and since prices haven't stopped going up, even if I decide to sell them (which I did for a lot of kits), I know as a minimum I can get what I paid back. Also, you never know when you're going to want to build and paint a new crazy idea (which I love to do), and having all those kits at hand makes it sooo much easier.

[@chadnine3432]

Unstarted projects don't bother me. My half-finished projects drive me bonkers. I don't need more projects when I can be working on stuff that needs to be finished.

[@michaeltribou4261]

Oh yeah. A pile of opportunity. A new pile is growing with my immersion into sci-fi gaming. Years ago I had many unopened fantasy/DnD blisters from the ‘70s and ‘80s. During a difficult time in life, I sold those blisters on eBay. I made a ton of money. To this day, no regrets as my interests have changed. I still have blisters of Minifig Napoleonics stored away. A lot of 15mm WW II blisters…. Hmmmmm So yeah. My pile of opportunity allows me to sell off unwanted or out of interest kits, as well as having newer stuff for kit bashing or in house inventory to build another squad for gaming

[@BlackDouglas1000]

One of the ways I have been getting minis painted is to A) have a bunch primed and on the table. B) when I am painting I will use the excess paint in the fidget popper (thanks for that tip) and use it on the less important models. As a result I have a tribe of barbarians, sabretooth tiger girl and several old Trek crew done or nearly done while I have been working on some black powder armies, Monsterpocalypse and other 'special' models in my collection.

[@marccaron6008]

Landfills are full of useless model kits. LOL I used to over spend because I hated my job and impulsive buys were a way for me to compensate for the stress. I have a simple rule since 2018 when I sold and gave away my pile of shame. I cannot buy new models unless I've assembled, primed (not always fully painted) and played the current ones. As for the cost I justify it at the rate of 25$ an hour of entertainment value. Each hour spent assembling, priming and painting and playing a miniature is entertainment (leisure time). If you buy a $100 model and spend 4 hours assembling, painting it you are already reimbursed yourself. The rest of the time spent playing them is bonus leisure time. The problem starts when you buy and let it accumulate dust in shrink warp. Now I buy less and put the money in my retirement fund.

[@citizenrico42]

This is a perfect video for my current hobby journey. I have been more and more disappointed with 40k and our group decided to try Frostgrave the next time we play. It ended up inspiring me to paint Hedkrakkas Madmob that was purchased for a Weirdboy. Really made me rethink the models and armies i have that I'll probably never do anything with and try to downsize. Much more fun to paint cool models than good rules.

[@PeepoStrong]

Always go with a common sense - I bought a Space Hulk in 2017 - apparently I played it two times. Up to this day painted most of the terminators. And slowly but surely I'm thinking to sell it - everything except terminators. Did it with most of my board games that I initially thought that "oh I'll play it one day" - and I feel no regrets about it. Did similar stuff for minis - selling my Primaris, because I do not play them at all. Still have something on my pile, but this is a mostly stuff that I have a plan to play/use for some custom scenarios.

[@Dhalgren71]

I'm only 2 years into the hobby, and I call it - unironically - my "Pile of Opportunity." Opportunity to learn and try new things.

[@UndergroundPlus302]

Excellent video. The grey pile of opportunity is pure inspiration to me. I really did appreciate how you doubled down on the idea that people shouldn't spend money they don't have. Lots of people don't need much encouragement.

[@johndarhower]

I hear you , I still have GW stuff I bought in the early 90's still in sealed boxes, I may have a problem, but the again I have the room and money to play with, and a wife that is happy at times for me to disappear into my hobby room. Loving the show more every week , thank you so much.🎉

[@IBPaintsppp-wt5ou]

Thanks for the vid. I keep a small pile of shame, but it was really nice to buy one of the Christmas boxes I loved (Bonereapers) and slowly build it over the next year. If I were to loose my job suddenly, having these mini's to build and paint (and having already payed for them) would help me stay busy and happy with that idle time.

[@alphaleigpyne]

I've went back to some old piles and used a few in recent years on new projects. I've primed a couple of Blackstone Fortress models this month, no longer in the grey pile (or red piles because they were made in red plastic when they came out), and rebased more older models to help me move forward to goal.

[@grapetonenatches186]

Im happy with my tower of cool plastic toys. Eventually my army will be a complete unit. One thing that might help is to pick a lane. If you choose 1 game or faction or character and stick to collecting that specifically your collection will be more cohesive and it might help you avoid regret or impulse purchasing. If thats an issue for you.

[@redmist1122]

I'm digging your approach on the "Pile of Shame" concept to a "Pile of Potential". Like most, I'm always finding "good" deals to good to pass up for that "what-if" project. Will be adjusting my verbiage to Pile of Potential when I talk about my other pile...too funny. Again, another good and informative video.

[@sonwukong7602]

this "chitchat" is very interesting and it's a nice reminder about the hobby. How people can like in their own way. Thanksfor sharing your thought.

[@darkjak565]

This video strikes a particular relevant chord with me now. Back in 2020, I bought literally an entire army of Gitz. Basically the whole thing, in one fell swoop. I was stuck in a tiny apartment quarantining, not in a great spot mentally, but wanted to support my LGS in the midst of the lockdown. Well, suffice to say, I got in the 100+ models and was immediately overwhelmed, so the majority of them stayed in the boxes. Fast forward four years, I'm doing better, have a house, happy with a fiancee, etc etc and opened the closet to find "oh shit. I have a whole army of gitz." I saw potential in those models years ago, and now I'm having fun building them, and letting the fiancee go nuts with her ADHD and bright colors on my gobbos. By the end of this, I'm gonna have the most batshit army of shroom-snuffin' gobbos I've ever laid eyes on, and it just took me a few years of staring at their boxes.

[@verpine3534]

Those nifty compartment boxes are great! I have so many "old" space marine bits stored in those I could probably build two good sized, fully decorated armies from them.

[@davydatwood3158]

I feel the most important part of determining what level of Pile of Potential any given person should adopt is to very carefully examine *why* you're buying the item. I have a collector's mindset. I find myself trying to buy *all the things,* whether it's Transformers or books or Necromunda minis, and as a result often the reason I want to buy something is simply because it's part of the set, and not because I see any real value in having it for itself. Inevitably, I find myself looking at some of the things and asking "why did I waste my money on that?" It's taken many decades to learn to examine my motivations *before* buying it. I also have a really bad habit of buying things because of the promo image even though they aren't going to do anything for me that the things I already own aren't already doing, and so that becomes yet another unutilised purchase. "I am going to build and paint and display this" is a good reason to buy a miniature. "I am going to use the heads and guns for kitbashing and will probably find something to do with the rest" is also a good reason for buying a miniature. "I might want to build this and it will be alot more expensive in the future" is an okay reason for buying a miniature - this one really depends on what else you could be doing with the money you're going to have tied up in that box; but it certainly *can* be a good reason. But all too often, the reason I and many others buy a miniature is because it has a cool cover photo and I haven't bought anything this month, and then that just becomes a waste of money. So, on the one hand - if you *have* a big pile of miniatures that you've accrued over the years, feeling shameful about it isn't really healthy. But on the other hand, modern community pushback on the concept of the "pile of shame" shouldn't become an excuse to keep spending money on something you're never going to use. Because it doesn't matter how useful something *could* be, if you don't actually do *something* with it, it's money you should have spent somewhere else.

[@Juanmacm]

I totally agree that a manageable pile of shame is not such a negative. The problem is obsession to the point that it harms you in some aspect of your life. But I'm happy with my collection even though I don't have much time now... it's so cool!! But in case it helps, I have a trick to avoid becoming obsessed, I'm completely sure that over time miniatures will come out that are better in many aspects (although I have a certain taste for old things). So don't worry about FOMO, just buy what you really like.

[@jasonnewell7036]

People who do yarn based crafts understand us all too well.

[@benjaminhayward5921]

My wife, man! 😂 Her pile of shame is almost as bad as mine!

[@sovietbear1917]

My wife and I have been adhering to the 'buy it now, if we can afford it', not just for FOMO reasons, but because price hikes have been so regular, we figure that it will never be cheaper than right now.

[@tabletopminions]

That’s a good point - it may be cheaper now in comparison to six months from now. Thanks for watching!

[@thatdarnsatan]

I have a Pile of Shame, but I don’t feel the slightest bit of actual shame, I just enjoy the term. Pile of Potential People can have their term, but it seems so earnest. I carry the stacks of plastic around pretty lightly and will do a clean-out when it gets on my nerves - either sell it on, or repack it to be a smaller pile. (Once I threw out a bunch of stuff, but it hurt and I re-bought everything later. I felt especially silly to have to buy a *second* Dark Vengeance box I wasn’t going to do anything with.) Currently I’m very proud of the pile - I’m Pile Proud - and I often find myself poking through bins, seeing what I can use to supplement the Malifaux keyword I saw on a battle report and liked, or some GW thing that just got a ton of new models and it so happens I already have a battle force. It’s fun!

[@KristovMars]

Yep, I embrace the term with the same attitude that has me refer to my models as "little war dollies". P.S. You're all nerds. And I love that you are part of my tribe.

[@hogger95905]

I used to work in a manufacturing facility where we would buy hundred of circuit breakers that would arrive styrofoam boxes with a spot for each breaker that coincidentally holds one small model. The styrofoam makes it easier to make the spots bigger for larger models. I have maybe 30 of these boxes at home with a majority of my models inside of them in a shelf I made that holds all of these boxes. It looks nice and organized. My painting table that has all my models that are work in progress is not very organized and it’s a pile.

[@green_zebra_crafting]

It's often referred to as my list of future projects or more generally my bits bin (even the full kits) I'm actually pretty good at buying a unit I need and then building it (painting is a whole other issue) and I don't really have any kits that I bought because I TOTALLY NEEDED THAT UNIT and then never built it... But what really grows my pile of kits is... "Oh i need this one piece for a conversion... Oh that one piece is 8 bucks on its own. Plus shipping that will take 2 weeks plus tax plus... Oh the kit is only 40 and available at this store I am at today and I'll also use this part and this part..." Cue a new box of intercessors on the shelf because I needed a grenade launcher and the kit was a better deal than the one bit.

[@birddispenser]

I had a pile of shame (more of a tiny mound) for quite a bit since I just wasn't brave enough to paint my nice Idoneth Deepkin. But this year I realized how silly that was and just started painting them. I also had a 40k recruit box that I never painted, and I don't think I am going to continue with 40k since I am more interested in Malifaux. So, I decided to just use the necrons and those space marines as a sort of sketchbook since I don't mind messing up with them (and thank goodness that they were the first things I primed, some of those marines are absolutely flooded with the cheap primer haha.) Also, I have been very liberal with their bases and am very happy with how I am able to make snow now. I think there is really something to getting a small starter box of guys you don't care about just to practice painting without being worried about messing something up.

[@Ducknuck84]

+1 on the bits organizing, it will save you so much space. For stuff like GW's weird slicing of minis that kind of make it hard to do this you can also just do sprue trimming to get rid of the empty sprue areas where parts were already used and just keep the sections with the left overs doesn't fully get rid of clutter but it at least lets you shrink it. I tend to do this with Vixtrix minis due to the nature of how the arms work

[@NotSoMelancholy]

The value of kitbashing can’t be understated I think. I used to have an almost hoarding mentality. I was big into Tamiya vehicle models and Gundam. I kept all my models, and all their sprues (with bits still). Recently I downsized, but I also got into wargaming. I’ve been taking parts from old vehicles and making new proxies for models I couldn’t otherwise afford. The gundam models have very “gothic” shapes which has leant to create decorative bits for vehicles and great terrain decorations. Even the models that I kept because they were “sentimental” have found a new purpose in my kitbashes which makes these new kitbashed models feel that much more special. If you have old collections on the shelf, don’t be afraid to look to them for potential. Also a kitbash side note. If anyone has ever put together gunpla, check to see if you still have your transparent sprues (for beam weapons) the sprue ends make for fantastic looking lenses/optics.

[@armandoestebanquito2282]

The problem I have now is to store the painted miniatures. I like to store them in foam cases and I have too many of them! I'm starting to buy photographic cases and custom foam adaptations because they are easier to organize than the "trunks" of the companies that make wargaming storage material...

[@Will_GM_for_Food]

With my Stargrave and Deathfields boxes, I've got Traveller PC minis for decades to come. Besides, any project will leave you with at least a small stack of bits, especially if you're working off of hard plastic sprues.

[@philippschmitz1787]

Since I started calling my "Pile of shame" simply what it is (my massive bitz box) and started to plan my painting pipeline I reduced a lot of pressure and that led to a lot more enjoyment of the hobby and so to painting more minis and keeping the motivation up.

[@DaGoook]

"These kits that we store, they never really go bad." Warhammer Legends: "Hold my beer."

[@UnciaAmethice]

Only true if you only ever play the latest version of Warhammer.

[@Christian_from_Copenhagen]

All the more reason to try other rulesets!

[@citizenrico42]

​@@UnciaAmethiceSadly my playgroup does

[@foreverfornever1124]

A healthy pile of shame should be one where you have some idea and plan for models. As well as a heirachy of least to most important, in an attempt to conserve what is the most important, while potentially selling/trading parts of your pile that are the least important if need be for financial reasons, storage space, or some hot new released plastics/resins you care about more. My start in the hobby like many others was messy, the plastic crack hit hard lol. 5 years later, Iv trimmed down 40k and converted that into my primary 40k armies and KT and Warcry. I now have the ability to successfully start AoS in more healthier way and am now considering Star Wars shatterpoint, investing in my first non-GW game.

[@ChrisGallagher-c5q]

This is exactly how one turns to the chaos gods.

[@chriswolfe403]

My struggle was not purging my collection every few years, as I'd always regret it later. I did reign in my spending, and it has caused my pile of shame to transform slowly into my repository of inspiration. I'll pick up a new game, such as Deth Wizards or OPR, and bam! Old miniatures become relevant!

[@AndrewMcColl]

In my case, it's backing mini Kickstarters, but never actually putting in the ground work to get other people interested. For example, I backed Carnevale 2nd Edition and received a couple of starter gangs. I assembled a whole four models before my magpie brain engaged and I moved on to the next shiny. 12 years later, a couple of guys at my gaming club also discovered the game and got into it. I realised I had some models and, after a bit (okay, a LOT) of digging into my stash I was good to go.

[@joecosier22]

Why do we have to be 'ashamed' of our unpainted minis? Maybe there are some people that are OK with not painting them. I don't feel any shame in anything that isn't yet painted. I first heard them term 'pile of opportunity' when I found tabletop alchemy and feel this is a much better description.

[@erinweatherly6539]

It’s growing. But it is a balance between terrain crafting and mini painting. But the minis over take quick.

[@TheSteamBigot]

Good video. My personal pile of shame is models I started but never finished. I may have been frustrated or disappointed or lost interest. I do go back to some from time to time and complete them and get a lot of satisfaction from that. The unbuilts are my collection and now that I am retired they will get their day on the bench. Hopefully they will not be added to the pile of shame. Take care and happy modeling.

[@V-V1875-h]

I like using pile of shame ironically, its just very nice to have something on standby to build when I get the urge to do so

[@jasonnewell7036]

Space is finite. You are finite. Zathras is finite. This... is wrong tool.

[@ratmaster2000]

Love that character on B5. He needed more screen time

[@jasonnewell7036]

​@@ratmaster2000 he would have got more screen time too, but... tsk-tsk-tsk nobody listen to Zathras.

[@andyshaw5378]

I built my pile of potential up last year as I knew I was going to retire and that my monthly income would reduce. I sold a load of stuff on eBay that I didn’t want to have. Now retired I have the time to paint, and play with the stuff I have. I’ve dived into a few deals and new games adding to my pile. But definitely over the next few months I’ve reached my limit.