Hard Light Productions Forums
Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Mpez on June 19, 2016, 01:26:40 pm
-
(http://straightrazorplace.com/attachments/vendors-corner/175469d1407474413-official-straight-razor-place-razor-boxes-threadrevive.jpg)
Sorry for the necro, but I'm really curious about what hobbies work for you guys now, especially because I know some of you actually have families now and/or are trying to balance work/family/hobbies.
-
I've split the topic, because it's really not necessary to dig up something 10 years old. There is no limit on the number of threads we can have, after all.
That said, to contribute, I am a terribly boring person with no hobbies that aren't immediately guessable :D
-
I play miniatures and board games, and paint miniatures. Primarily BattleTech, but also X-wing, Armada, Dystopian Wars, Warmachine and Hordes, Netrunner, D&D 5th edition, Magic: the Gathering, Leviathans, and most recently a game called The Duke.
I play a lot of games.
-
I solve Rubik's Cubes.
I'm not very good yet.
-
Curling. Because it's weird and fun and involves drinking beer afterwards. :D
-
Skimboarding. Rock music, learning to play bass a little with Rocksmith. Recently started shooting, looking to get my first rifle soon. Soccer was my biggest in the past. I was a damn good goalkeeper. I'm still kinda sore at my parents for not supporting that more than rec league and high school teams. I really do believe I could have had a legitimate shot at a career. I wish I could get back into that in a serious way. Also miss Australian rules football.
But really, working all the goddamn time isn't leaving any time for hobbies. When I do get time off I'm usually so exhausted or pissed off I just sit at home watching movies or playing video games.
-
on friday I will be taking my first steps into "pen and paper" RPGs with a JP style streamed Run of Dark Heresy through Roll20 which if works out I will be running as an Assassin of Hive Noble origin (translation, The party's unofficial banker lol)
other than that it's all computer gaming for me
-
As for me:
Video games, but that's rather obvious.
Airsoft.
(https://scontent-waw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/1782079_763817217012673_6505203589068624730_n.jpg?oh=14329349bf87ee972ce957ee8df4955e&oe=57CE4CA0),(https://scontent-waw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10628522_763817213679340_7509803306404053913_n.jpg?oh=48487cf19fbd74ae6b5c83820d08e666&oe=57D4E1CE)
Pictures were taken in 2014 so a few things changed. I'm still collecting the Bundeswehr gear and I try to keep it in good shape and buy new things if I have some spare cash <which is not very often :P> Currently I'm thinking about a drum magazine and some sidearm (H&K USP?) My G 36's initial pellet's speed is almost 500 feets per second so any shot from close rage can result in bruises or broken teeth. Gas pistols are less powerful and perfect for CQB games.
And, my second favourite hobby, paper models. Far less spectacular but at least as much fun for me :D. My last finished project:
(http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab206/Karolisuaf/th_DSCN1496_zpsictnpfwn.jpg) (http://s864.photobucket.com/user/Karolisuaf/media/DSCN1496_zpsictnpfwn.jpg.html)
And a plane I'm currently working on, the beautiful Ta-152 H1:
(http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab206/Karolisuaf/Ta%20152-H1/th_owiewka_zps4daljobu.jpg) (http://s864.photobucket.com/user/Karolisuaf/media/Ta%20152-H1/owiewka_zps4daljobu.jpg.html), (http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab206/Karolisuaf/Ta%20152-H1/th_DSCN1621_zpscjavuy1z.jpg) (http://s864.photobucket.com/user/Karolisuaf/media/Ta%20152-H1/DSCN1621_zpscjavuy1z.jpg.html)
And by "beautiful" I of course meant the original plane's design, not my model, which has many flaws ;) Every model is in 1:33 scale. Right now I'm making Ta's wings and flaps.
-
Wait...that's papercraft? Holy crap. :eek2:
-
I build Lego models (http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?m=CP5670) and take them to display shows and exhibitions, with my latest one (http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=563813) somewhat inspired by the Shivan style.
-
Not a fan of real USPs. Worst grip on a handgun I've ever held, very expensive, and proprietary rail.
-
Rifle shooting, though due to scarcity of shooting ranges in Poland I haven't been able to do that in a while (I have always envied Americans for their easy access to guns and plentiful shooting ranges). Even air rifle ranges are hard to come by around here. I'm also looking at picking up sailing this summer.
-
Rifle shooting, though due to scarcity of shooting ranges in Poland I haven't been able to do that in a while (I have always envied Americans for their easy access to guns and plentiful shooting ranges). Even air rifle ranges are hard to come by around here. I'm also looking at picking up sailing this summer.
That's why I'm grateful we have at least two ranges in my area. The one I visit is located in a re-purposed WWII German bunker. Place has some nice atmosphere.
Unless you live in a crowded city or have neighbors who are di**s calling the police immediately, shooting the air rifle should not be a problem at all :D. All you need is just some empty space. I practice almost every time I come to my grandma's farm :)
-
Not a fan of real USPs. Worst grip on a handgun I've ever held, very expensive, and proprietary rail.
Grip takes some adapting to but once you get it down it's nearly magical. At least on the real one. I've never actually held an airsoft one.
Ironically despite being American I'm in the same boat as Dragon for target shooting. Don't get too jealous. The range around here does like to bring in "loaners" for people to rent, classic firearms, which is nice, but I rarely have time to be there.
-
Rifle shooting, though due to scarcity of shooting ranges in Poland I haven't been able to do that in a while (I have always envied Americans for their easy access to guns and plentiful shooting ranges). Even air rifle ranges are hard to come by around here. I'm also looking at picking up sailing this summer.
That's why I'm grateful we have at least two ranges in my area. The one I visit is located in a re-purposed WWII German bunker. Place has some nice atmosphere.
Unless you live in a crowded city or have neighbors who are di**s calling the police immediately, shooting the air rifle should not be a problem at all :D. All you need is just some empty space. I practice almost every time I come to my grandma's farm :)
My mother once bought a CO2 cartridge pistol (an inaccurate piece of crap, I might add), but we don't have enough space for that. I suppose a big enough piece of metal could work somewhat, but it'd be difficult to set up a safe range. Besides, even an expensive CO2 airgun isn't quite the same as a proper, 7.62mm, magazine-fed bolt-action rifle. :)
-
Blacksmithing and beekeeping are currently my two biggest hobbies. I used to do a lot of fishing. Other hobbies include gardening and building anything from sheds to arc welding. That said my most common and favorite hobby is wrestling with my kids and flirting with my wife. ;)
-
I cook - and not just to put the daily meal on the table, I mean. I enjoy going all-out on new recepies and ingridients, and almost all of what comes out of my kitches is both edible and tasteful. This hardly makes me a good cook or a master at any rate but it lures in unuspecting "test subjects" nonetheless.
My Wargaming Hobby (Wh40k, Infinity, X-Wing, Armada) and the P&P RPG stuff are kinda dead since I moved last year ... I still build and paint the newest minis for my Nomads or ALEPH but way too far from any tournament play, which is both saddening (I don't get to play competetive anymore) and nice (I don't spend my weekends hanging around douchebags* anymore).
* That is not to say the Wargaming Community does not include nice people but there is always that one overbearing guy who just does not know when to shut up.
-
I cook - and not just to put the daily meal on the table, I mean. I enjoy going all-out on new recepies and ingridients, and almost all of what comes out of my kitches is both edible and tasteful. This hardly makes me a good cook or a master at any rate but it lures in unuspecting "test subjects" nonetheless.
i 'smell' a HLP cooking showoff challenge on the Horizon! :g:
Going for similar things myself, looking at recipes and picking stuff i ve never made to try it out.
Also some of the higher level cooking classes can teach you incredible stuff (that isn't necessarily all too difficult ... but often quite clever in how it is prepared. I.e. "Easy", but only once you know it! ;-) )
-
I collect spores, molds, and fungus.
-
Rifle shooting, though due to scarcity of shooting ranges in Poland I haven't been able to do that in a while (I have always envied Americans for their easy access to guns and plentiful shooting ranges). Even air rifle ranges are hard to come by around here. I'm also looking at picking up sailing this summer.
Don't let the movies and media fool you, it's not the wild west over here either. Even near the largest military concentration in the world, shooting range availability is pretty low, at least for rifles. Of the 4 ranges within driving distance, two are 10 and 15 yards respectively and are handgun only, the one I go to is 25 yards and you can only shoot a specific paper target at full range, and the fourth is prohibitively expensive and overall an awful place to go. One of those kinds of places that takes advantage of new shooters/ ones who want to be tacticool. The weekend warriors. Nice facility though.
-
Finally writing the book that I've been planning for ~5 years. I can't stop thinking about it.
-
I enjoy making candy and cooking. I like building model planes and star trek ships. Restoring and trouble shooting old military rifles is another hobby I like to do. Hunting, fishing, and shooting when I get the time...
-
Having a family has reduced the amount of time i spend playing games, but I still consider it a hobby.
I occasionally hunt and fish, and am a member of a local shooters club with access to several outdoor ranges, including up to a 400 yard rifle lane. Like my games, though, I seem to collect firearms more than shoot them (although I have not bought a new one in several years). I have a variety of guns, from .22 rifles and pistol up through a .308 rifle for deer hunting and a .357 magnum revolver that I have also used for hunting deer. My favorite one to shoot though is my 5.56mm Bushmaster AR-15. With its short 16" barrel and AK-74-style muzzle brake it is by far the loudest gun I have, but man it rocks! Whether exploding water-filled aluminum cans at 50 yards or putting 30 holes in a paper plate at 15 yards as fast as I can, it is literally a blast to shoot.
I also like working on old cars (from the 60s and 70s), but haven't really done it since my daily driver WAS an old car.
-
Seriously, nice job on those paper models Col.Hornet especially the top one; thought they were plastic models when I first saw the photos, the cockpits on both of them look perfect. (Pardon late mention of this net was wonky yesterday).
My big one at the moment (probably more 'obsession' than hobby) is the World of Darkness RPGs. Supernatural characters (Vampires, Warewolves, Magicians etc) and a dark gothic-y modern setting with lots of dark conspiracy and politics (it's a series designed for adults not kids; lives up to the name a lot). I'm one of our common game runners and I've been working with a friend on a AU New Orleans canon (Wikipedia and google maps are lifesavers) to set our games in and setting up an online space for organising it all. We don't get to play a great deal, but I quite enjoy the world-making so I just carry on with that. I also just love the mechanics of the game; complex rules but they flow so well you don't think about it. Been on-and-off about trying to modify the base WoD system (and stripping out the supernatural stuff) to make an FS universe RPG.
Alongside am a long-dormant Warhammer/Games Workshop fan trying to get back into it (waiting till I have income before I start collecting proper). Haven't bought many models in a long time; to be honest I enjoy reading/discussing the canon way more than I do playing it (it's been around for a while and the universe is massive; I heard they won an award of some kind for it's depth). Am debating having a shot at writing some stories set in the universe and seeing if I can submit them to Black Library (the GW book people) but I seem to hit writer's block way too easily. Favourite side? I'll just say "The Greater Good" and leave it at that :pimp:.
Last big one I guess is philosophy (maybe bit weird sounding, but there ya go). I did an MA that touched on it and left me wanting to look into it a lot more so I try to read up on theorists and theories when I get the chance (found a good lecture set in iTunes U that helped; from The University of New Orleans ironically :yes:). Am quite interested in how technology and socio-politics interplay and how technology can shape and benefit people. One of the big things that first hooked me to Blue Planet was how the UEF use supercomputer projections to guide policies; is a concept I would love to see tried in real life (“Political campaigning? Multi-party politics? Inefficient and outdated!” :lol:). Have an own IP I've been brainstorming that's inspired by my politics/philosophy interests (really do want to make it one day). That was another big BP hook in fact; the UEF is in a lot of ways similar to my IPs main protagonists (there are some big differences too, but I'm still worried if I do it now everyone would think I've ripped off BP :o).
-
Since retiring from the glorious world of EOD in the British Army, (pic 1)
I've taken up photography and serious things like making minibars out of old jerrycans.
I love bushcraft too as it would be a shame to get rid of my hennessy hammock and drop point knife
[attachment DELETED!! by Strong Bad]
-
i 'smell' a HLP cooking showoff challenge on the Horizon! :g:
I think cooking deserves a thread of its own actually. I think I might go make one.
-
dooo eeet
-
Done.
Cooking is actually my biggest hobby apart from gaming. The high point of my day was when my girlfriend pointed out that the syringe I'd ordered online had finally arrived and now I could finally try making jam doughnuts.
-
I assemble plastic model robots.
-
Lego spaceship and world-building w/ the kids. Swimming w/ the kids. Painting and various other art projects with the kids. Plastic sword fighting with my kids (surprisingly, my pacifist daughter gets as into this as my younger and considerably more violent-minded son! Something viscerally appealing about beating up Daddy, I guess.) Video games with the kids on the Wii. Occasional movies w/ kids, but I frequently retreat to the study whenever movies come on.
Reading. Video games on my PC. Wasting time on the internet. Most all of my time is taken up by job work, house work, various maintenance projects, and occasionally small bouts of useless inactivity I've been told most people refer to as "sleep." Obsessive guilt over not spending enough time w/ job / kids / dearest wife / job / anything of actual significance.
Trips w/ kids to as many different aquariums, zoos, and museums as we can as we travel. National and State Parks whenever possible. Took the kids to star night at the McDonald Observatory in the Davis Mountains in West Texas year before last. Daughter had a blast and got to see several galaxies, Saturn, and Jupiter with her own eyes. (NEVER happen down here at sea level!!) Son was kind of freaked out by the darkness and had to go back inside, but he eventually got brave again because he had to put eyes on sister to make sure she was ok.
In case you can't tell, your life changes rather a lot once you become a parent.
-
I climb on top of things and take some pictures and then climb back down them.
(http://i.imgur.com/0R8XvfO.jpg)
-
That spans nicely across my dual monitors, seriously that is a spectacular view
-
If the various pieces of artwork I've posted on HLP did not make it obvious, I fancy drawing stuff. Pretty much doodle continuously but if the mood strikes me I will tackle something a little larger and more complex.
I enjoy weapons based martial arts and have been involved in some form or another for about ten years. I've dabbled in quite a few of the European traditions but currently I practice Kendo and Iaido. Its a nice combination since Iaido is precision driven solitary kata while Kendo is high energy screaming and hitting people with a bamboo stick. There is also a local Kyudo club which I might check out.
Historic Wargaming, 28mm Napoleonics is my main focus but I've got some 1/285th WW2 Microarmor and some Battlefleet Gothic kicking around. When I complete my current French force I might take a break and start a Trajan era Roman Legion or maybe Warring States Era Samurai.
When I want something more complex than minis I like scale modeling. I run the gamut of armored vehicles, warships, aircraft and some scifi, in fact I have a bunch of subjects keen to be airbrushed this summer.
While I up New Hampshire during the summer I like to row, paddle board and abuse myself running up and down obnoxious Granite State topography.
-
I play D&D. I started assembling Gunpla models. I RP over Facebook Messenger with my friends. I play video games.
-
It's probably time for me to contribute as well. Apart from gaming and yt, I love listening to history podcasts while commuting to work. Don't have much time for playing bass, FS and map making for other games now, as work and commuting takes a lot of time and makes you feel completely drained out of energy at the end of the day (after reading a few posts here I think that this is a common thing).
Was looking for a new hobby that I could do on the train or before sleep and turns out origami is quite nice - you can do it almost anywhere and it doesn't feel like wasting time. Also, I'm looking forward to buying a few jigsaws.
Noticed most of the stuff described here is rather a 'I want to be alone doing my stuff' kind of thing. Do you recommend anything that works well when you have a boyfriend/girlfriend (especially when they're not into hard science fiction, miniatures and guns)?
-
I'd join some kind of class or club. Cooking, dancing, martial arts, horseback riding, whatever you both might enjoy.
-
It's probably time for me to contribute as well. Apart from gaming and yt, I love listening to history podcasts while commuting to work. Don't have much time for playing bass, FS and map making for other games now, as work and commuting takes a lot of time and makes you feel completely drained out of energy at the end of the day (after reading a few posts here I think that this is a common thing).
Was looking for a new hobby that I could do on the train or before sleep and turns out origami is quite nice - you can do it almost anywhere and it doesn't feel like wasting time. Also, I'm looking forward to buying a few jigsaws.
Noticed most of the stuff described here is rather a 'I want to be alone doing my stuff' kind of thing. Do you recommend anything that works well when you have a boyfriend/girlfriend (especially when they're not into hard science fiction, miniatures and guns)?
That would depend on how much you enjoy being around the other person and how well you work or play together. The possibilities are endless. One of the things I could recommend is find something you can each do a part of. That is a lot of fun to finish your part and then hand it to the other person. For instance last evening my wife and I weeded two rows in the garden. We started so we could meet at the same time, but she met me faster cause she can move faster than me. In the end we both had fun while working in the pouring rain. No matter what hobbie you both do, it's how you and the other react.
-
Mainly cooking lately, it's cathartic. Trying to decide if I want to convert an old gas grill into a large smoker for barbecue.
Also TVTropes.
-
Back into DIY.
Making a portable minibar out of a jerrycan.
-
To play Videogames... and to create Let's Play Videos of them also.
But my most time-consuming hobby is still my writing of novels. Primarily Sci-Fi Military and Fan-Fiction to sci-fi videogames (including freespace).
But i also still read many books and fan-fiction :).
-
I really need to start thinking about some new shelves in my room. Wingspan of that bastard is huge.
(http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab206/Karolisuaf/Ta%20152-H1/th_DSCN1670_zpsayya7oix.jpg) (http://s864.photobucket.com/user/Karolisuaf/media/Ta%20152-H1/DSCN1670_zpsayya7oix.jpg.html), (http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab206/Karolisuaf/Ta%20152-H1/th_DSCN1668_zpscz7qat66.jpg) (http://s864.photobucket.com/user/Karolisuaf/media/Ta%20152-H1/DSCN1668_zpscz7qat66.jpg.html)
-
Why not hang it from your ceiling?
-
Anxiously awaiting my rifle. And trying hard not to buy a Mark 23 (civilian version of SOCOM pistol) while I wait.
-
Another hobby: Photographing sunsets, looking for the green flash.
(http://i.imgur.com/IV5wqIu.jpg)
-
Other than my easily guessable hobbies related to video games....
I sing with a Barbershop style chorus and the occasional quartet. My current chorus, Central Standard (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZJN3SC4lOU) took 2nd place in this year's international competition.
-
Sounds awesome, although after seeing that, I think conductor mounted cameras should be banned :p I used to sing in a choir and met my wife there, but it folded, and then we had kids, and we just haven't been able to find a new one that we can both join & attend regular rehearsals.
-
Recently taken up sailing (just returned from a course where I got my "inland yacht skipper" license). Only on the lakes so far, but next year I'm thinking of going out to sea. :) Either way, it's a lot of fun, especially when the wind picks up. I hope I'll manage another trip to the lakes this year together with my dad (a veteran sailor himself), but it depends on whether we can find the right boat.
-
Sounds awesome, although after seeing that, I think conductor mounted cameras should be banned :p I used to sing in a choir and met my wife there, but it folded, and then we had kids, and we just haven't been able to find a new one that we can both join & attend regular rehearsals.
Ahaha, yeah I'm not sure why they thought it would be cool to strap the GoPro to the director... Barbershop singers are a particularly nerdy bunch.
-
* blows the dust out of the thread.
Do you guys remember the paper model I posted a few months back? Well.... I finally finished it.
(http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab206/Karolisuaf/Ta%20152-H1/IMG_0040_zpsg3xehu7e.jpg) (http://s864.photobucket.com/user/Karolisuaf/media/Ta%20152-H1/IMG_0040_zpsg3xehu7e.jpg.html)
You can watch the whole building process in this album:
http://s864.photobucket.com/user/Karolisuaf/library/Ta%20152-H1?sort=3&page=1
Also, here is the next plane I plan to cut :D
(http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab206/Karolisuaf/P-51%20D-20/th_IMG_0049_zpstjvdpcyq.jpg) (http://s864.photobucket.com/user/Karolisuaf/media/P-51%20D-20/IMG_0049_zpstjvdpcyq.jpg.html)
-
That's paper??
-
The sheer amount of time and physics-defying miniscule cutting I spent doing a simple papercraft thing once makes me weep in horror at the prospect of something like that.
-
Gonna go sling some 45 super lead downrange out of the Mark 23. Still haven't received my rifle, I think a phone call is in order. Been tempted by many other things in the meantime, but a 30k MP5 and rumors of fantastic stuff on the horizon are keeping my wallet closed.
-
I miss shooting down a 400 meter range and getting 10 out of 10 on a 2 inch square section of target.
I'm in the wrong country for accessible civilian leisure shooting.