Why Did You Pick that Army? Player Personality Traits and Faction Choice in the Miniature Wargame Warhammer Fantasy Battle

Abstract

Previous research has focused on how the personality of miniature wargame players differ compared to players of other games and how personality is linked to motivations for engaging with the hobby, however, there is no research exploring how personality can be expressed within the game itself. This study explores connections between player personality traits and faction choice to better understand how different aspects of personality are linked to individuals’ gaming preferences and practices. The Ten Item Personality Inventory (TIPI) was administered to 706 self-selected respondents (97.3% male) who also disclosed their first and most beloved faction in the game Warhammer Fantasy Battle. Results suggest that the personality trait conscientiousness is associated with the choice of first faction, showing significant differences between players, with small to medium effect sizes observed between players of different factions. Results are discussed in light of previous research, along with practical implications and possible future research directions.