AJM Nerdcore

I asked Instagram for AMA questions. Loads of you responded. I did not count them, because I enjoy peace and mental stability. This video is the result.

This is a long-form AMA covering Warhammer 40K, miniature painting, Blood Angels, Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game (MESBG), Lord of the Rings, gaming, fitness challenges, streaming plans, cats, Pokémon, and why Stormcast Eternals nearly ended my hobby career.

Everything is timestamped so you can skip responsibly:

0:00 – Intro
1:08 – Do I play a lot of Warhammer 40K? (emotionally yes, practically no)
2:41 – What army am I facing next in 40K? (decided by coin flip and fate)
4:07 – Lord of the Rings, miniature painting & the inevitable MESBG pipeline
6:34 – Cat lore. Mandatory. Sanguinius approves.
7:49 – How I got into Warhammer (Black Library, vampires, and poor decisions)
10:44 – Favourite Pokémon (with 90s card trauma)
12:23 – Learning to paint minis + where beginners should start (lower expectations)
14:13 – Future fitness competitions: Ironman 70.3 vs my own sanity
15:59 – Next army after Blood Angels (speed, bikes, and no more red paint)
17:27 – Gaming streams & reading streams (probably ARC Raiders)
19:09 – Do haters get to me? (they used to, now they’re content)
20:17 – What my perfect date looks like (no murders, Lego encouraged)
22:05 – How many hours I paint minis & why it feels like homework
24:26 – Top 5 video games of all time + current obsessions
29:53 – Conclusions, regrets, and unfinished armies

#warhammer #warhammer40k #ama #askmeanything #lotr #gaming #pokemon #fitness

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In this video, I dive into the lore of Lorwyn–Shadowmoor and explore why Magic: The Gathering has returned to one of its strangest and most beloved planes with the new Lorwyn Eclipsed set. I break down the light-and-dark duality of Lorwyn and Shadowmoor, the Great Aurora, eclipsed realms, and what happens when a world starts rewriting your memories.

Alongside opening product from Lorwyn Eclipsed, I focus on the story behind the cards, explaining the plane’s history, its factions, gods, and why this setting matters so much to long-time MTG fans and complete beginners alike. This is less about pure unboxing and more about understanding the world, the conflict, and the themes that make Lorwyn–Shadowmoor so unique.

If you enjoy Magic: The Gathering lore, fantasy worldbuilding, Commander sets, or story-driven card games, this video is for you.

‪@mtg‬

#mtg #magicthegathering #lorwyneclipsed #mtgunboxing #lore #wizardsofthecoast #magicthegatheringcommunity

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Let's talk about Huron’s full story – from loyal Chapter Master of the Astral Claws, through the Badab War, to becoming the infamous lord of the Red Corsairs and master of the Maelstrom. Along the way we look at his new miniature, his inner circle, the Red Corsairs range, and why The Maelstrom: Lair of the Tyrant might be one of the most exciting narrative expansions Warhammer 40,000 has had in years.

Timestamps:

00:00 – The Reasonable Introduction (Nothing Unhinged Happens Here)
Why I love Huron Blackheart, the new mini, and yes… doggos

05:23 – Stabby Management: The Masters of the Maelstrom
Huron’s inner circle, terrifying friends, and why mortals are somehow worse

09:18 – Pirates, Space Hell, and Lair of the Tyrant
The Maelstrom explained, narrative books, campaigns, and why piracy solves everything

14:33 – Who Is Huron Blackheart? (Very Simple, Very Bad)
From Astral Claws Chapter Master to “this could’ve been an email”

18:19 – Watching the Maelstrom While Being Ghosted by the Imperium
Why the Astral Claws were doomed and Huron started making questionable choices

24:58 – The Gene-Seed Problem and Other Villain Origin Moments
Illegal legions, tax strikes, and the Badab War kicking off properly

29:34 – Moving to the Maelstrom and Becoming a Space Pirate King
Red Corsairs, Hell’s Iris, Chaos being a terrible roommate

33:35 – The Battle of Chogoris (Winning, But At What Cost?)
White Scars, dramatic reinforcements, torture, and classic Warhammer misery

38:46 – Conclusion: The Final Boss Is Still Alive
Why this perfectly sets up Lair of the Tyrant and why Huron isn’t done yet

Let me know in the comments:
– Is Huron Blackheart a tragic fallen hero or just an absolute menace?
– Are you tempted by the Red Corsairs army?
– And if you could build a custom hero in Crucible of Champions, what nonsense are you unleashing on the galaxy?

Like, subscribe, appease the machine spirit...you know the drill.

#warhammer #warhammer40k #warhammerlore #huronblackheart #redcorsairs #warhammercommunity

AJM Nerdcore is represented by Digital Fox Talent. Brand partnerships: digitalfoxtalent.com/brands/creators/ajm-nerdcore

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In this video I attempt to paint a Blood Angels Ballistus Dreadnought using only community advice. Along the way I also ramble through why Warhammer is so popular, from White Dwarf nostalgia and the Lord of the Rings boom to Black Library and video games like Dawn of War.

This is not a painting tutorial. This is a cautionary tale.

Timestamps:
00:00–03:24 Intro: I Ignore Common Sense and Begin
03:24–06:38 Part 1: Primed Black Because I Own Nothing Useful
06:34–10:19 Part 2: Drybrushing Silver Like a Discount Terminator
10:19–13:05 Part 3: Oiling Up DT With Nuln Oil Against My Will
13:05–18:24 Part 4: Red Armour, Big Brush Confidence, Immediate Regret
18:24–21:17 Part 5: Tiny Brush Misery and the Social Side of Dice Gremlins
21:17–26:11 Part 6: Black Details and the Tragedy of Unsealed Paint Pots
26:11–30:02 Part 7: Off-White, Community Wisdom, and My Palette of Excellence
30:02–33:38 Part 8: Brass Decisions and My Warhammer Origin Story
33:38–36:43 Part 9: Gold Trim, Nail Art Cheating, Zero Regrets
36:43–41:29 Part 10: Edge Highlighting, Wrong Legs, Personal Growth
41:29–42:19 Part 11: The Nearly Finished Darth Thicculous Reveal
42:19–43:52 Conclusion: Why I’m Still Here and Why My Wallet Isn’t

Next up I’ve got a game day coming with @salty_gaminguk and yes, I’ll be recording the whole thing so you can watch my dice betray me in real time.

Accounts mentioned in this video:

@ThePaintingCoach
@salty_gaminguk
@eldarexarch
@ladykhaine1021

Keywords: Warhammer 40k, Blood Angels, Ballistus Dreadnought, Dreadnought painting, Warhammer painting beginner, Nuln Oil, Citadel paints, Warhammer lore, Black Library, Dawn of War, Games Workshop, miniature painting, hobby vlog, Warhammer community, battle reports

#warhammer #warhammer40k #paintingwarhammer #bloodangels #warhammercommunity

AJM Nerdcore is represented by Digital Fox Talent. Brand partnerships: digitalfoxtalent.com/brands/creators/ajm-nerdcore

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Timestamps:
0:00 – Ah yes, another bad decision for my wallet
1:06 – Christmas miracles and confused relatives
4:31 – The Redemptor: angry fridge with legs
8:53 – Ballistus: the long-range problem remover
10:04 – Meta talk: why this thing currently slaps
11:31 – Final thoughts from inside a walking coffin

In this video I cover:
• What a Dreadnought is in Warhammer 40k
• Ballistus vs Redemptor Dreadnoughts
• Why Ballistus Dreadnoughts are strong in 10th edition
• Leviathan box Ballistus overview
• Long-range Space Marine fire support and list building thoughts

If you’ve run the Ballistus Dreadnought in your games, let me know how it performed for you. Do you rate it, hate it, or spiritually identify as an ancient, grumpy hero in a metal coffin? Comments very welcome.

#warhammer #warhammer40k #warhammerlore #warhammercommunity #paintingwarhammer #warhammer40000 #dreadnought

AJM Nerdcore is represented by Digital Fox Talent. Brand partnerships: digitalfoxtalent.com/brands/creators/ajm-nerdcore

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Let's look at the real Vecna from Dungeons & Dragons lore, not the Stranger Things version. I explore who Vecna actually is, where he comes from in Greyhawk, how he became a lich and later a god, and why his name fits Henry Creel so well. If you’re interested in D&D history, Vecna: Eve of Ruin, liches, archvillains, or high-level campaigns, you’re in the right place.

I break down Vecna’s origins, his missing Hand and Eye, Kas the Bloody-Handed, his multiple deaths and upgrades, and whether you can actually kill him for good. Short answer: not really. Long answer is in the video.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Intro: The Other Vecna, Not That One
0:40 – Part 1: A Hand, an Eye, and Absolutely No Context
2:55 – Part 2: Orphaned, Annoyed, and Already Planning Revenge
5:19 – Part 3: Conquering First, Existential Crisis Later
7:37 – Part 4: Give Your Lieutenant a Cursed Sword, What Could Go Wrong
10:09 – Part 5: Failed Godhood Attempts and Other Tuesday Activities
12:28 – Part 6: Now He’s a Concept With Trust Issues
14:39 – Part 7: Can You Kill Vecna, Asking for Several Parties
16:52 – Conclusions: Why the Name Fits and Why We’re All in Trouble

If you’re searching for: who is Vecna, D&D Vecna explained, Vecna Eve of Ruin, Eye and Hand of Vecna, Kas the Betrayer, lich god, Greyhawk lore, or Stranger Things Vecna origins, this video covers it.

‪@Netflix‬ ‪@strangerthings‬ ‪@DNDWizards‬

#dnd #dungeonsanddragons #vecna #netflix #strangerthings #ttrpg #dnd5e #wizardsofthecoast

AJM Nerdcore is represented by Digital Fox Talent. Brand partnerships: digitalfoxtalent.com/brands/creators/ajm-nerdcore

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Trigger warning: This video contains discussion of mental health struggles, grief and loss, loneliness, estrangement and difficult family dynamics, identity and LGBTQ+ experiences, and financial stress. If any of that feels like too much today, please skip sections using the timestamps or come back when you’re ready.

Christmas can be brilliant for some people. For others, it’s pressure, noise, grief, masking, and trying to keep it together when you’re already running on empty. In this video, I share a practical Christmas survival guide built from your messages and advice, with scripts, boundaries, and low-effort coping tools for getting through the day. Whether you’re neurodiverse, grieving, estranged, broke, queer, single, travelling, or just exhausted, my aim is to help you feel a bit less alone and a bit more equipped.

Timestamps
0:00 – Intro
2:23 – Part 1: When Your Mental Health Is Struggling (and You Don’t Know How to Explain That)
8:32 – Part 2: Coping When You’re Neurodiverse
12:16 – Part 3: Being the “Anomaly" (LGBTQ+, trans, estranged, misunderstood)
15:52 – Part 4: When You’ve Lost Someone
24:06 – Part 5: When You’re Alone at Christmas (and Everyone Else Seems Very Busy)
32:20 – Part 6: When You Don’t Like (or Are Estranged From) Your Family
35:41 – Part 7: When You Have to Travel (and It’s Already Too Much)
37:41 – Part 8: When Money Is Tight (and Christmas Is Very Loud About It)
40:04 – Part 9: When You’re Single (and Christmas Has Opinions About That)
43:18 – Conclusions

If you’ve got your own survival tactic, share it in the comments so someone else can borrow it today. If you’re just here trying to get through the day, that counts too.

Algorithm phrases to hope this finds the right people:
Christmas mental health, Christmas loneliness, grief at Christmas, neurodiverse Christmas, autistic Christmas coping, ADHD holiday overwhelm, estranged family Christmas, LGBTQ+ Christmas, trans family holidays, coping with loss, solo Christmas ideas, Christmas on a budget, being single at Christmas, holiday survival guide.

#chirstmas #mentalhealth #survivalguide #community

AJM Nerdcore is represented by Digital Fox Talent. Brand partnerships: digitalfoxtalent.com/brands/creators/ajm-nerdcore

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Can a new Star Wars RPG actually make me care again? After years of disappointment, abandoned remakes, and endless discourse, a surprise announcement at The Game Awards has left me feeling something I genuinely didn’t expect: cautious optimism.

In this video, I talk honestly about my complicated relationship with Star Wars, why Knights of the Old Republic still matters so much, and whether Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic could finally bring meaningful storytelling, player choice, and proper RPG design back to the galaxy far, far away. I also want to hear where you stand with Star Wars right now, so this one’s very much a conversation.

Timestamps
0:00 – Can Star Wars Hurt Me Again? (An Introduction I Didn’t Rehearse)
3:47 – KOTOR, Trauma, and Why I Still Care
7:33 – The Old Republic Was Never This Philosophical
9:17 – Baldur’s Gate 3 Has Changed Everything
11:14 – Shoes On, By the Door: Final Thoughts

If you’re interested in Star Wars games, narrative RPGs, KOTOR, Baldur’s Gate 3, or whether Star Wars can still tell meaningful stories, this one’s for you. Drop your thoughts, disagreements, and hot takes in the comments - let’s actually talk about it.

#starwars #fateoftheoldrepublic #starwarsfan #kotor #knightsoftheoldrepublic #disney

AJM Nerdcore is represented by Digital Fox Talent. Brand partnerships: digitalfoxtalent.com/brands/creators/ajm-nerdcore

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Let's have a look at Welcome to the Hellfire Club, the new Stranger Things–themed Dungeons & Dragons starter set for 5.5E. From retro nostalgia and emotional damage courtesy of Eddie Munson, to whether this box is actually a good place to start playing D&D, I crack it open and give you the honest verdict. Is this a genuinely solid beginner box, or just a very pretty nostalgia trap for your shelf?

If you’re a Stranger Things fan, a lapsed D&D player, or someone who’s always said “yeah, I should probably try D&D one day”, this might be exactly what Wizards of the Coast had in mind.

Timestamps
0:00 – Rolling for Nostalgia (and Emotional Damage)
1:36 – The Box Is Cooler Than It Has Any Right to Be
3:07 – Can This Stop My Family Playing Charades?
4:58 – Why Vecna Is Absolutely Not Starter-Set Friendly
7:35 – Cards, Characters, and Things I’m Definitely Stealing as a DM
11:24 – Four Adventures, Too Many Rats, and Eddie From Beyond the Screen
13:33 – Final Verdict: Worth Playing or Just Shelf Candy?

Let me know in the comments whether you’d run this at your table… or if you’d still rather listen to Uncle Graham guess Escape by Rupert Holmes again.

‪@DNDWizards‬ ‪@strangerthings‬

#dnd #dnd5e #strangerthings #eddiemunson #dungeonsanddragons #beginnerfriendly #dndforbeginners #ttrpg

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It is time we talk about EXODUS, the upcoming sci-fi action RPG from ex-BioWare developers that’s built around time dilation, impossible choices, and some truly alarming space politics. I break down what EXODUS actually is, how The Archimedes Engine sets up its universe, why time dilation matters both narratively and mechanically, and what I learned from speaking directly with the developers ahead of The Game Awards.

We talk hard sci-fi, relativistic travel, emotionally devastating consequences, and the Mara Yama – a faction that firmly lives at the grimdark end of the spectrum. If you’re interested in BioWare-style storytelling, deep lore, choice and consequence, or sci-fi that takes its science seriously, this is for you.

Timestamps

0:00 – Intro: I Promise This Isn’t Another Warhammer Lore Rant
1:40 – What Is EXODUS and Why Are There Punching Space Bears
5:57 – The Archimedes Engine: The Book That Could Stop a Door
10:13 – Time Dilation or How Physics Ruins Everyone’s Life
13:46 – I Asked the Devs a Very Sensible Question (I Did Not)
17:39 – Warlocks, Charisma, and Letting the Intrusive Thoughts Win
20:39 – Influences, Interstellar Posters, and Emotionally Hostile Science
26:38 – Conclusion: Grimdark Space, Bad Decisions, and Why I’m All In

‪@EXODUSGameOfficial‬ ‪@WarlockTheGame‬

#exodus #bioware #matthewmcconaughey #warlock #gaming #gamingnews #scifi #gamer #masseffect #wizardsofthecoast

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