Miniature Wargaming Labs

In this episode Brian and I discuss what is an entry level game, or a game for beginners. The rule we decide on is that how long does it take for the game to be fun. Listen as we delve into other criteria.

Product Highlight: Army Painters new Gamemaster line of foam, spray cans, and hot wire cutter.

Horizon scan: I am looking forward to buying Funky Skull Games new Funky pop models while Brian is interested in Nic Evan's new Kickstarter Super Tiny Giant Battles.

Brian and I discuss whether new editions and expansions are a good thing for miniature wargames. While they can be annoying, especially when they come out at a high tempo, without them it seems games will fade away due to a perceived lack of support.

In this episode I talk to Discourse about their hobby journey and explain how someone can get into playing Batman Miniatures Game by Knight Models. BMG is a simple skirmish-level game to learn, but hard to master; and, the sculpts are beautiful.

Discourse Miniatures has a YouTube channel with some excellent explanatory videos and battle reports. If you want to try the game out before you commit BMG can be found on Table Top Simulator.

We interview Jon "the Pusher" Russell of Warlord Games infamy about how to get into playing Bolt Action. With the release of a USMC starter set for the Bolt Action Pacific Theater we are excited about the new focus on this neglected topic.

Of course since we had him on we could not miss on the opportunity to talk about the product lines in the Warlord Games family, such as Black Powder Epic, SPQR, and Mythic Americas. I am personally looking forward to the Mythic line touching the neglected aspects of South East Asian and African mythology.

In this episode we talk about the fear of missing out. And in the miniature wargaming world this comes in the form of missing opportunities for price deals and missing opportunities for access to specific miniatures. While the miniature wargaming world is not as bad as the Collectible Card Game world this fear of missing out is most often an artificial creation of a vendor to extract money from consumers.

Hobby: Brian takes on his Ork horde army for Warhammer 40K while I tackle the terrain from Pariah Nexus. This is one where you have to get used to painting the same thing over and over.

Horizon Scan: We both are looking forward to Stargrave, while I am interested in seeing if I can kit bash the Stargrave alien set with Great Escape Games upcoming plastic Cowboy minis.

In this episode we bring Ed from the Northeastern Heights of Albuquerque to talk about he got started in miniature wargaming and progressed from X-Wing to Battletech and now Marvel: Crisis Protocol.

Product Spotlight: Ed gives his take on the three new squadron expansions for X-Wing.

Horizon Scan: Ed looks forward to new releases in X-Wing and the release of Wave 2 of the Battletech Kickstarter, while I discuss my interest in the Cyberpunk RED kickstarter.

We turn back to Bob from Nevada to ask about his Watrloo wargaming day and to find out how one gets started in Napoleonic wargaming.

In this premier of our Store Spotlight series we are going to cover Ettin Games Albuquerque. That is my FLGS and it is where Brian works so I get a chance to ask him about the intention behind how the store is laid out, the retail space allocated, and what the pans are for transitioning out of Covid. We make a special point about talking about microwaving food and clean bathrooms as these are the little things to making sure you create a friendly environment for all types of gamers.

On the Hobby Table: Brian works on his home-brew Mario Kart Gaslands game while I found more Necromunda terrain while working on my Pariah Nexus box.

Product Spotlight: Brian talks about Space Weirdos which is an homage to Kill Team but with a simpler rule set.

Horizon Scan: Brian is planning on grabbing the Games Workshop Broken Realms expansion for his Death armies, while I am thinking of wading back into the Kickstarter bog with Cyberpunk RED and Anthalonica Wargaming.

In this episode we cover:

Product Spotlight: Games Workshops Kill Team Expansion Pariah Nexus which is not for everyone

Main Feature: When do you know to walk away for a game. It is a long discussion, and mostly a gripe session. But, essentially if a game does not spark joy in you walk away.

Horizon scan: Brian talks about looking forward to new Ork models, and James decides to pass on the Piety and Pain release to focus on Necromunda. We both agree that Steam Forged Games latest release of cat and dog minis will fit nicely into our game of Frostgrave.

As part of our remit to explore the aspects of serious warmers we kick off our spotlight series by interviewing Bob from Nevada a long time wargamer. How long has he been wargaming? Long enough to have an original Chainmail rulebook signed by Gary Gyax. He also worked for Real Partha for a short time as an overnight shift caster.

One of his favorite aspects of wargaming is making terrain and boards. So follow us down the trail of discussing rules writing, game design, and where to keep 30,000 miniatures.