MetaNoia: The War is Fake, the Salt is Real
Its Chris, and I’m back again with another “hot take”. Are you ready for it? Meta. Doesn’t. Matter. That’s it. That’s my hot take. But, since you are here I suppose we can dive a bit deeper into why obsessing over meta is probably a waste of your time.
Meta is a term we hear get thrown around a lot. “This is meta”. “Meta chaser”. “What is the meta like”? Sometimes we hear it being discussed in much more subtle tones. Simple questions on discussion groups such as: “I’m going to a tournament, what should I take?” and “I bought the starter box, what should I add?”.
Before I tell you why it doesn’t matter what is meta, let’s talk about what meta is. It is actually an acronym: Most Effective Tactics Available. But what it really boils down to is: What’s the most efficient and effective list I can bring. What is the “best”. The reality of it is, for the most part it just doesn’t matter.
Sure there are instances in which a unit is so absolutely bonkers that you really should include it, even if it isn’t your favorite. There are also instances in which the opposite is true, a unit is so terrible that it just chews up precious space in your army roster, but for all of those armies and units in-between, for the most part lists can be flexible.
Let’s discuss why it doesn’t matter, at least not as much as you think it does.
- Meta Constantly Shifts
If you have a good group of local players with a reasonable amount of skill, games are going to be constant tinkering and changes. Time will be spent playing different units and understanding each unit’s strengths and weaknesses. It shouldn’t be static, and if it is that either speaks to a lack of skill in the group, or a really shitty game.
2. Skill Beats Lists
I’ve said it before. I think a good pilot with a bad list can outperform a bad pilot with a good one. Taking the hot, “meta” choice might make things easier, but it isn’t necessity.
3. Metas Differ by Area
If they don’t, the game has just become homogenous, and that’s bad. In my experience local metas tend to revolve around a group of players constantly working to overcome each other, and are probably more fluid than a larger-scale meta would be, though that is simply a theory.
4. Creativity is Key
If a meta has become stagnant that is most likely because of one of two things (Maybe both): Either the current top dog faction is so good that it dominates, similar to how early 9th ork jet builds dominated. Or people lack the creativity to attempt to counter it. Thinking outside of the box drives the meta forward and can help innovate and push the game in a positive direction.
5. You Suck (and that’s Okay)
Seriously. You suck. I suck. We all suck. The sooner we come to grips with this, the easier it becomes to let go of the meta-obsession. Each tournament has a top 3. Sure some have consolation prizes and other things to encourage a deep player-base, but at the end of the day there should only be a small number of unbeaten players. In the words of one of the most handsome devils I’ve had the opportunity to work with, “You are all losers”- Mike Brandt during every pre-tournament speech.
Its okay. Accept that in most situations you are probably not skilled enough to win. This doesn’t mean you don’t try, but at an event with professional players your odds go down drastically. So go out there, give it your best, and stop fucking worrying about what some podcaster said is “the bestest most efficientest way to army your army”. Remember, the dice will always betray you, and you still suck, so have fun doing it.