#Like sure to some bone collecting is an engaging and fascinating hobby

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headcannons for hobbies? Like what they do on their off time?

Hi nonnie! I actually did a Hobbies HC for “all” ops a long time ago. But seeing that was before the expanded bios, and it only reached up to Gridlock and Mozzie, I’d say it’s time for an updated version, don’t you say? 

Some of the answers are unchanged from the old post, because I already nailed it or the new info didn’t disprove my ideas. But I had to revise a lot of the answers I gave the first time around! In order to find their hobbies and/or get a glimpse of their lives beyond Rainbow and what they might like, I read all the bios, and looked up concept art, and elites, and past battlepass content, etc. And when none of that was enough, I just went with my gut instinct 😂 Thank you to @grain-crain-drain, @dagoth-menthol & @todragonsart for bouncing ideas with me when I was stuck! 💕

Hobbies Headcanons for ALL ops (up to Neon Dawn)

FBI

- Ash: According to her savta, shooting things is not a hobby, but Ash disagrees. And since according to her expanded bio she knows Hebrew, Arabic, English, French and Greek, I’m willing to bet she enjoys learning languages as well. - Thermite: He grew up on a ranch and loves riding. He’s also taken an interest in improving gadgets it seems, so my old proposal that he dabbles in forging/smithing stuff seems plausible. And based on this concept art, demolition derbies attending and maybe even competing himself too? - Pulse: He’s interested in a variety of topics and goes through phases of intense, nearly obsessive focus, until something else captures his attention. He still has a lingering fondness for building muscle cars, since it was something he used to do with his father. And like Thermite and Hibana, it seems he might enjoy demolition derbies. - Castle: He’s a language nerd, studying/reading/practicing new languages is his hobby for sure. Since the expanded bio says he rescues abused dogs, I don’t think it would be far fetched he volunteered at animal shelters too.

SAS

- Thatcher: Aside from repairing his boat, The Iron Maggie, he also enjoys fishing. He used to do that with his dad & brothers, and tried to take the rest of the SAS fishing as a bonding experience. It didn’t go very well - Sledge: He plays rugby, and has an inexplicable fondness of trying the wildest ideas that tend to end with something broken, be it one of his bones or a structure or wall (just read his extended psychological profile and you’ll see, lmao) - Smoke: Boxing, it helps him focus all his chaotic energy. And chemistry in general, it’s not just a hobby but a passion of his. - Mute: he enjoys tinkering with stuff, taking it apart and then putting it back together in a different way, just to see if he can improve it or make it work in his own way. Flying drones plays perfectly into that, with the added bonus of being able to do the flying part just for fun too.

GIGN

- Montagne: His main passion is working with people, teaching and mentoring others, and therefore when he’s not on duty, his main passtime still is mingling with people and getting to know them. I could see him making overtures with Castle, interested in the American and fascinated by his knowledge of various languages, an area Monty feels insecure about due to only knowing French and English.  - Twitch: Engineering, robotics and developing an empathic AI is her life.Twitch is a workaholic passionate about those topics. She also greatly enjoys traveling and, according to her expanded bio, people watching.  - Doc: He surely had some hobby at one point, but he can’t remember it, or the last time he had free time for it. Doc is also a workaholic, although one that loves to complain about it.  - Rook: Apparently he’s passionate about cycling, auto racing, and rock concerts. Mainly cycling though, since he dropped out of university to cycle around France.

Spetsnaz

- Tachanka: He collects and repairs old weapons. Mostly soviet, but he has some interesting pieces from other countries too. And he dances surprisingly well.  - Kapkan: Aside from a certain interest in psychology, his main hobby is hunting, of course. But he also whittles and carves wooden figurines.  - Glaz: Quite obviously, painting. He’s an artist, and quite a good one. He also likes playing cards, especially poker. - Fuze: He builds new weapon prototypes for fun. And tests them, if he can convince Six of it. He also likes to bake from time to time, a skill he learnt thanks to his grandma - and because he has a sweet tooth.

GSG9

- Jäger: Planes. Model planes, repairing old WWI & II planes, you name it. And watching copious amounts of documentaries.  - Bandit: His bike is his main hobby, both taking care of it and riding it. He also likes playing pool; and, if pranking people counts as a hobby, that’s his oldest one, dating from when he was a kid. - Blitz: He was and still is an athlete at heart, and Blitz loves running. - IQ: In order to disconnect from engineering pursuits, she indulges in rock climbing, spelunking, and writing science fiction stories.

JTF2

- Buck: He crafts mechanical puzzles, and enjoys all kinds of physical activity that can take place outdoors. - Frost: She just loves being surrounded by nature, and often goes mountain climbing or diving.

SEAL

- Valkyrie: Swimming and diving, of course! She wanted to be a professional swimmer, but now it’s just a hobby. And apparently she enrolled for a helicopter pilot license, and language classes. - Blackbeard: According to the expanded bios, he likes sailing and even participated in a championship. And since he climbed Mount Everest, it’s safe to say he also likes mountain climbing.

BOPE

- Capitao: He loves football, playing or watching it, doesn’t matter, he’s all for it. - Caveira: Spends a lot of time practicing Jiu Jitsu, in the gym and also on unofficial tournaments.

SAT

- Hibana: For her it’s traditional Japanese archery (Kyūdō). And probably demolition derbies too accounting that concept art from before with Thermite and Pulse. - Echo: According to the expanded bio, he has few interests outside work, but I always imagined he’d be into gaming and e-sports. Hacking too, and that’s a direct influence from Dokkaebi.

GEO

- Jackal: He plays the acoustic guitar/spanish guitar, and sings too. And now we also know he volunteers with at-risk youth. - Mira: Fixing cars is second nature to her, and thanks to her expanded bio we know she also does metal sculptures that incorporate used mechanical parts.

SDU

- Ying: Extreme driving, which can sometimes trigger her PTSD, and traveling. Especially exploring cities by randomly jumping in public transport and just going anywhere. - Lesion: He is also one to volunteer in underprivileged areas (like Junk Bay, where he grew up), and clearing mines and other unexploded devices. I also imagine him with a certain gusto for playing blackjack.

GROM

- Zofia: If obsessing about her father’s supposed suicide and the oddities surrounding it, and desperately trying to reconnect with her sister count as hobbies, sure, she has those. - Ela: She’s also an artist, one with a very particular vision that some have called narcissistic. Apparently she also does some “freelance” volunteer work, roaming the streets at night and offering help/comfort, or a willing ear to the people she meets.

707SMB

- Vigil: He likes to take walks around the forest, just aimless exploring and marvelling at nature and any animals he might come across. Often listens to relaxing music while doing so, and he might pick a pretty rock here and there to bring home. - Dokkaebi: Hacking is her hobby, of course. She also has several social media profiles and is an active member in a couple of hacking forums. As per a previous battlepass, I believe she enjoys mountain trekking too. And dancing to electro beat, due to her elite.

CBRN

- Lion: His rebel years left him with an appreciation for rock music and a dream to be in a group. Lion still plays the electric guitar, when he’s not off volunteering at the local church. - Finka: Pushed by her parents from a young age to try different sports, just like her siblings, she eventually discovered a strong love for fencing and ice-skating.

GIS

- Maestro: Cooking, and boxing, an interest he shares with Smoke. But mostly cooking. - Alibi: She’s also a marksman, engages Ash in friendly shooting competitions.

GSUTR

- Clash: She’s very involved in different activist causes, mostly surrounding racial issues and inequality. - Maverick: Photography, mostly nature or candid shots of his fellow operators. I also think he likes horses and riding. And Buzkashi of course, but he hasn’t played since he left Kabul.

GIGR

- Kaid: Playing chess, he’s a good strategist and it shows. And  while dozing off with a cat on his lap is not a hobby, he also loves that. - Nomad: Traveling to all sorts of remote locations, she’s an explorer with a thirst to prove herself. She also keeps a travel journal, which includes maps and some drawings of the places she’s seen.

SASR

- Mozzie: Dirt biking, of course. The more dangerous the jumps and stunts are, the more he likes it. He knows his limits and works to surpass them. - Gridlock: Robotics. She still wants to compete again in robot championships, just like she and Mozzie did so many years ago. She would consider that fixing cars and vehicles has become more part of her job than a hobby, but still loves it too.

Phantom Sight

- Nokk: Fencing, as evidenced by some of her concept art, she participated in fencing tournaments. - Warden: He knows appearances are important, and he cultivated a very specific image, so he likes to take care of that, be it by buying luxury or antique cars, or designer suits, etc.

Ember Rise

- Amaru: Archeology and exploring the Amazon jungle is her passion. It used to be her whole life and job, but since she joined Rainbow, she’s been busy with training and missions, yet she never lost her love for adventure, history and protecting her country’s cultural artifacts. - Goyo: He’s a really good chess player, and enjoys other games where he either has to think, or his usual poker face and calm demeanor can throw his opponents off.

Shifting Tides

- Kali: When she’s not writing reports about her underlings progress, or making lists about who should be ascended/rewarded, who needs to be punished or chastised, etc, she’ll be doing yoga, since it helps her focus. Or hardcore pilates when she needs to burn away some frustration first. - Wamai: Diving and being underwater in general, be it on his special immersion tanks or on the actual sea, it doesn’t matter. He finds it calming (and he’s addicted to the anoxia sensation)

Void Edge

- Iana: Space exploration fascinates her, and she’s always trying to learn everything she can about the cosmos, watching documentaries and conducting her own in-depth research. - Oryx: Wrestling helps him hone his physical prowess, and it’s also a measured outlet for his deep seated rage. He also greatly enjoys reading poetry.

Steel Wave

- Melusi: She’s committed to the conservation cause, which stems from both her love of wildlife and nature, and her protective instincts. She likes to explore too, although she’s not driven by a will to prove herself or reach certain goals, but simply for the joy of seeing natural spaces. - Ace: Social Media. He’s obsessed with his public image and popularity. While he travels quite a bit, it seems he does it more to share new and exciting selfies on Instagram than for the pleasure of visiting new places.

Shadow Legacy

- Zero: He knits and crochets, it’s an engaging hobby that helps him clear his mind, plus he enjoys making stuff too. Not many people know about this side of him though. 

Neon Dawn

- Aruni: She and Hero, her giant pouched rat, volunteer on landmine detection and removal efforts. She also likes to travel extensively, and has done so in the company of Twitch and Nomad.

[navigatorkyle]

To You, 40,000 Years in the Past

Graham Littler, with his overlooking view of the battlefield, considers his tactical options. His forces are clustered around a central, vital objective, which must be held if victory is to be achieved. The enemy was slower to reach the objective, but they are almost upon Littler's soldiers now, and if they were to engage in melee then the day would surely be lost. To make matters worse, a precision ambush mere moments ago had taken his tank column out of commission- it was down to the foot soldiers to clinch victory. But how to break this charge? Abandon the objective to take the enemy head on, hoping to recapture it if they survive? Have the troops hold their ground and pray they can endure? Spend precious resources to bolster the defense? Littler considers the pile of dice in his hand, and the lovingly crafted miniatures in the center of the six-by-four table. His forces would hold. After all, they were his. As ever, the victor would be decided by fortune. He shakes the dice in his hand, and lets them roll across the table.

Back to Basics

It is the year 2020, and the giants of the modern entertainment industry, wherever one draws its boundary lines, is held in the iron grip of technology. Television has evolved, and is now more accessible and ubiquitous than ever. Mobile phones have become astoundingly complex, and everyone who has one understands how difficult it is to go without. Video games have shouldered their way further into the mainstream, with increasing levels of fidelity and capability provided by the blistering pace of technological progress. It's not difficult to imagine that the sheer dynamism of these forms of technology would have buried the more retro forms of entertainment, like board games. This is not the case. In fact, the amount of money in the millions of dollars being poured into tabletop games up for funding on websites like Kickstarter is only increasing- last year that number rose to $176.4 million, up 7% from 2018. And as tabletop games industry giant Games Workshop's stock continues to rise, it seems more and more people are being drawn into the fascinating hobby of tabletop wargames.

The Daydreamer's take

The appeal of games like Warhammer 40,000, Games Workshop's flaghip Intellectual Property and by far the most popular tabletop wargame in the world, can be understood in the way its players look at themselves. Take luck, for example. Littler shook his head as he scraped excess plastic off of a piece of a sculpt fresh off the sprue- a shoulder pad he planned to add to one of his officer miniatures. “When I use my lucky dice... I'd say it's up there, but compared to everyone else, probably on the lower end.” Everyone who plays sees themselves this way- an underdog, battling against their opponent and their own rotten luck at the same time. Narrative is the core of this hobby. Games like Chess, or Mahjong, or Abalone, or Shogi are deep and complex contests of wit, but they lack a certain context. Warhammer, on the other hand- “It's massive. My army of thousands is merely a cog in a giant machine of war in this huge universe that we can explore, through this game.” To put it in perspective, when you purchase a rulebook for Warhammer 40,000, you don't just get the rules. You get pages upon laden pages of rich lore and absurd, fantastic storytelling that gives depth to 40k's grimy, grungy vision of our galaxy. It's a time-honored tradition among players to reserve the right to name a miniature after they have- through sheer luck of the dice or supreme tactics on behalf of the player- performed some incredible feat. It's notions like this that transform tabletop wargaming from a purely competitive experience to something akin to a combination of collaborative storytelling and competition. “With things like video games, your interactions with people usually go something like 'why aren't you playing this correctly, you absolute bonobo.' Whereas, with this game, you're usually only playing with one other person. So if they're not playing well, you'll either give them pointers, or 'teach them the hard way,'” Chuckles the veteran Littler. The advantage of tabletop games over internet-based games is a much more helpful, generous, and tight-knit community. What's more, the game is only half the hobby.

Arts and Crafts

There's something incredibly fascinating about watching someone with an eye for artistic composition carefully and painstakingly apply tasteful colors to a small, heroically posed model soldier, while listening to heavy metal music. This is the second draw of tabletop wargames- the hobby behind the game itself, or the building and painting of a collection of miniatures with which to play the game. Essentially, it boils down to personalizing your band of merry fighters. “I feel a lot more when I lose one of my Intercessors, or a T'au, or one of the cultists I worked on, because that model has some real personality- I think it helps me invest myself in the game more,” Says Littler as he carefully glues a pouch of grenades the size of a termite to the belt of a 32mm tall, revolver-toting gunslinger. No two armies look the same in this hobby. Every faction out of the 32 available has a unique aesthetic and art style, with models ranging from the blocky, brutish tanks of the grim Astra Militarum to the sleek, graceful organic contours of the sophisticated Eldar. On top of that, acrylic paints drawn from every color under the sun are widely available from any number of established paint companies, allowing for literally limitless artistic expression. Among Littler's regular play group can be found his black-and-patina Space Marines, blood-red and bone-white space pirates of the Dark Eldar, Ghastly green and gunmetal of the notorious Chaos Space Marines, and the gore-spattered browns and greens of the Death Guard.

The Galaxy is Your Oyster

Tabletop wargaming as a hobby has never been easier to experience. “I think pretty much anyone can get into it, considering the amount of content they have- there are so many points to get into the game.” Littler says when asked about the accessibility of Warhammer 40,000. There's a little something for just about everyone. The hardcore strategists, the painting demons, the modeling gurus, the lore junkies- all enjoying a shared hobby. “It starts when you play your first game,” Littler grins. “Then you're hooked.”