The Cheerleader Effect

Barney Stinson

For those of you not familiar with this phenomena, it is described by Barney Stinson as occurring when:
"A group of women seem hot, but only as a group. Like cheerleaders, they seem hot, but individually - sled dogs."
It is also known as the Bridesmade Paradox or Sorority Girl Syndrome.
In support of gender equality, I'd also like to add that this also applies to groups of men - usually sporting teams.


APPLICATIONS TO FANTASY WARGAMING

Apart from something to be wary of, how does this apply to Fantasy Wargaming?
It came to me when I had finished my Swordmasters of Hoeth regiment. Individually, each model is painted to table-top standard. Nothing fancy. But when formed up in ranks, they look like a mighty force to be reckoned with indeed!

I suppose this effect is a foundation of getting a large fantasy army ready for the table-top. Painting a large number of troops to a good standard seems to me to be just as impressive as painting a small number of troops to a higher standard (as you would for skirmish wargaming).
In fantasy armies, where a lot of the detail is hidden by the ranks in front, it makes sense not to worry too much about the details - which will be obscured by the rank in front anyways!

In terms of time-management, it seems like a good investment of time to paint the first rank of five to a higher standard, and spending less time on the troops in the following ranks.
Of course, if you have the capability and capacity to paint all your models to a high standard, that's even better... but as someone that doesn't have as much hobby time as I'd like, this isn't the optimal option.

And there it is - the Cheerleader Effect, as applied to Fantasy Wargaming.

Sync out.