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In this episode of the "Grown Men Playing With Toys" podcast, Erik and Steve discuss being intentional about monitoring the pace of a game of Warhamer 40K.  They share a framework for breaking pacing into two approaches—“tempo and trade”  versus “stage and push.  They then explore how codex rules and lore can nudge armies toward one style while sometimes creating traps or opportunities for the player to slip into autopilot play. They connect tempo awareness to list building, matchup selection for close practice games, and in-game adjustments when an opponent disrupts expected pacing.   They close by framing micro-strategy as a tempo tool and discussing some of their favorite micro tools related to game tempo.

Content Mentioned in this Episode:

Erik's Grey Knights vs Harlequins Battle Report

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In this episode of the "Grown Men Playing With Toys" podcast, Erik and Steve recap their recent Tabletop Simulator game of Warhammer 40K, where Steve took on Cousin Josh. They talk about how the matchup was setup as a "Steve faces the Boogeyman" where he would play against the current meta menace - Necrons C'Tan spam in Pantheon of Woe.  The guys summarize the game, talk about how Steve stayed composed during the game, and end with an "after action" of the game that names the over-performing and underperforming units from the game.

Check the lists being discussed and weigh in on matchups that you want to see HERE.

Content Mentioned in this Episode:

Tactical Tortoise - TTS Installation and Army Creation

Tactical Tortoise - TTS Tips and Tricks

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In this episode of the "Grown Men Playing With Toys" podcast, Erik and Steve delve into what constitutes a 'good game' in their Warhammer 40K sessions. They emphasize the importance of immersion, challenge, and long-term strategic value. Erik discusses his writers block with choosing "good" practice matchups for his various army lists, including Blood Angels, Emperor's Children, Harlequins, and Necrons.  Steve then helps him work through it as the guys brainstorm potential matchups to provide a balanced yet challenging experience. They also highlight the role that pre-game communication plays in ensuring that both players gain experience and enjoyment from the game.

Check the lists being discussed and weigh in on matchups that you want to see HERE.

Content Mentioned in this Episode:

Recent Chaos Daemons vs Shadowmark Talon game

Discussing Erik's 40K "Jenny"

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Join Erik and Steve from the "Grown Men Playing With Toys" podcast as they dive into an entertaining and detailed discussion about Warhammer models with wings. The episode features a "wing tier list", where Steve passionately evaluates models from various factions based on their aesthetic appeal and painting potential. From angelic figures to terrifying demons, this episode has it all. Whether you're a painting enthusiast or just love Warhammer, this episode offers a fun look into the world of model aesthetics.

The Final Tier List

Content Mentioned in this Episode:

Chaos Primarch Cool or Not Cool

Erik's Winged Daemon Princes

Erik's Fulgrim

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Join Erik and Steve from the "Grown Men Playing With Toys" podcast as they dive into the ongoing debate within the Warhammer 40K community about "competitive" versus "casual" play. They discuss the two stereotypes and why they don't think they adequately describe the beauty and complexity that is Warhammer 40K. They highlight their own experiences blending competitive and narrative elements in games, emphasize the value of different play styles, and encourage transparency as a way of creating a positive, inclusive environment in the hobby. Lastly, the episode explores how to articulate expectations and find common ground to ensure enjoyable gaming experiences for both players.

Content Mentioned in this Episode:

WarpHammer: "Casual 40K" versus "Competitive 40K"

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Join Erik and Steve from the "Grown Men Playing With Toys" podcast as they discuss how to deal with the potentially overwhelming influx of new detachments and model releases in Warhammer 40K recently. Erik shares his mixed feelings about the recent surge in game updates, expressing both excitement and a sense of being overwhelmed. The guys then discuss how they prioritize new model purchases and new detachment choices, how they balance staying competitive without burning out, and explore strategies to manage this "good problem" within the hobby. 

Content Used for Determining Prioritization:

Art of War 40K - January 2026 Update

Art of War 40K - 500 Worlds Space Marines

Art of War 40K - 500 Worlds Necrons

Court of the Phoenician

Serpents Brood

Rage-Cursed Onslaught

Poorhammer New Models and Detachments Review

Poorhammer December Balanced Dataslate Review

Stat Check - Court of the Phoenician

Stat Check - Rage-Cursed Onslaught

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Join Erik and Steve from the "Grown Men Playing With Toys" podcast as they talk about their Warhammer 40K goals for 2026.  The guys will define a structure for how they are thinking of improving their Warhammer 40K gameplay. The episode explores six categories of: 

1. Macro Strategy
2. Micro Strategy
3. Flexibility
4. Tenacity
5. Positivity
6. Transparency

They discuss how each category contributes to overall gameplay improvement and how to balance between them. Lastly, they share personal goals and practical tips, emphasizing a blend of strategic planning and enhancing the gaming experience for themselves and their opponents.

Content Mentioned in this Episode:

EC vs GK Battle Report

Sam Pope 40K - Playing By Intent

Sam Pope 40K - 2 Types of 40K IQ

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Join Erik and Steve from the "Grown Men Playing With Toys" podcast as they discuss their recent Barn Hammer session, featuring a variety of Warhammer 40K armies and a pseudo crusade event that they put Cousin Josh through. The guys reflects on key takeaways and the significance of understanding win conditions for your army and the mission being played. They share details from multiple recent games where playing to the "win condition" influenced the outcome of the game and provide insights into how mission dynamics can influence game outcomes. Lastly, they explore the challenges of using niche or skew detachments and how they may be "bad" because of hard to mitigate "lose conditions".

Content Mentioned in this Episode:

I Taught My Peacock to Write a List - Part 1

I Taught My Peacock to Write a List - Part 2

Leagues of Votann vs CSM Battle Report  

Chaos Knights vs Custodes Battle Report

Grey Knights Brotherhood Strike vs Orks War Horde Battle Report

Gauntlet Storyline, Mission Details, and Lists Mentioned in the Episode

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Join Erik and Steve from the "Grown Men Playing With Toys" podcast as they reflect on a recent practice game featuring the Leagues of Votann list crafted in prior episodes. The guys delve into a holistic after-action discussion, analyze what worked vs what didn't, and share other lessons learned from the game. They talk about the need to make in-game adjustments based on what the primary mission and/or secondary objectives are and how to do that effectively. Lastly, the episode wraps up with the guys litmus testing their framework for "OP" against some of the more impactful moments of this game to see if it still applies.

Content Mentioned in this Episode:

I Taught My Peacock to Write a List - Part 1

I Taught My Peacock to Write a List - Part 2

Leagues of Votann vs CSM Battle Report  

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Join Erik and Steve from the "Grown Men Playing With Toys" podcast as they dive into how they define "overpowered" (or OP) units in Warhammer 40K. The guys will establish rough criteria for how they differentiate OP vs powerful /splashy but not OP vs "The Highway to the Danger Zone" units in the game. They will then analyze the December 2025 Balance Dataslate updates and test their definition against multiple units from the armies they play to see if they correctly predicted what would attract the "Nerfing Eye of Sauron". Lastly, their discussion also covers the potential fixes for overpowered combos, the importance of maintaining faction identity while applying nerfs, and how to be aware of when "those who nerf" may be watching you for the next dataslate. 

Content Mentioned in this Episode:

Art of War 40K Dataslate Review

Vanguard Tactics Dataslate Review 

Stat Check Dataslate Review

Poorhammer Dataslate Review

Erik's Battle Reports  

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