So this guy I work with plays Games Workshop games, you know, painting up figurines and acting out a war on a large diorama. All well and good, and far be it from me to denigrate the beloved pastime of a brethren gamer. In the course of conversation, me playing chess came up. He said: "The people who invented Games Workshop invented it because they found chess too easy". Too Easy?! I couldn't let it lie... It felt like an insult to Capablanca, Fischer, Kasparov... To my shame, I called him an idiot. Things have been somewhat awkward since 

It's the third time in my life where my passion for chess has come out in conversation, only for the person I am talking to proclaim that their game was better (the others were Go and Pool), and that chess was boring/too easy/too difficult. I rather resent being put in a position where I have to defend my hobby. 

Just wanted to get that off my chest.

Like any hobby with a massive spectrum when it comes to skill levels,  non-chess enthusiasts either dismiss it as "not for them" or develop horrible misconceptions about it such as :

- Those serious players are programmed to think N (insert favorite number > 1) moves ahead at all times.  "how am I ever  going to concentrate like that..."

- Maybe I'll get lucky and win a few games at this club ... (unless the club has people who share your limited interest, uhh..not really!)

- Automatically assume that because somebody plays it a wee bit more seriously, they're evidently Masters or even GMs.

- Alternatively, ask "You mean you're not a master yet? You've been playing at clubs and tourneys for a few years, haven't you?" (my favorite!)

- Feel that you're unstoppable because you can beat your dad/family members and few friends in your neighborhood/colleagues at work => and then go into denial when you get your tail handed to you in a club by a few serious 6-year olds :)

So I'd get used to comments like the ones you get because our herd continues to dwindle :)

Warhammer isnt balanced as well as chess is =) and there's no lucky dice rolls in chess either. 

It doesnt matter though, theyre just different games.  I dont know the context but I imagine he was probably just being jovial.  People shouldnt put down the interests of others either way though maybe you need thicker skin?  Would be a shame to ruin a good working relationship at your job over that.  My 2 cents