The Bridge Guards: A Post-Game Podcast Chat

July 14, 2022August 3, 2022 wilburLeave a comment

We’re no strangers to Rangers of Shadow Deep on the Tabletop Miniature Hobby Podcast. If you’ve followed along so far, you’ll have heard our campaign progress as we played through the Deserted Village and Infected Trees scenarios that made up Mission One.

Gnoll’s House Party: The lads prepare to toast some marshmallows around the campfire

Now it was time to kick off Mission Two (The Beacon Tower) with its first scenario, The Bridge Guards. Here, we see the introduction of the Gnolls, and those were a mixture of beastmen and goblins on our tabletop.

The gnolls were guarding a bridge (hence the aptly named scenario) over a fast-flowing and very cold river, which we needed to get across on our way to Tor Varden.

The stage is set

I took Joe McCullough’s “wooden blocks” advice on this scenario. The table had to be strewn with rocks, boulders, and general cover – the idea being that the Rangers have the element of surprise (at least, until one of my guys manages to blow our cover pretty early on!).

A Vinny the Vulture-eye view of the table

I even used these blocks to build the bridge itself. Sure, it doesn’t look ultra-realistic, but suspension of disbelief quickly kicks in the minute the first dice is rolled.

The well-guarded bridge

We upped the challenge level by adding in a “Gnoll Lord”, who basically took the stat line of an ogre. We also gave ourselves some extra backup with the addition of ‘Goatsy’ – and he had a very interesting afternoon indeed!

Goatsy: Will we ever see his like again?

Keeping the Joe McCulloch theme of this episode, I also wanted to chat about a book I recently bought and read through – Frostgrave supplement Perilous Dark. This excellent solo/co-op guide combines pre-written scenarios with a lot of how-to advice on creating your own scenarios and campaigns of this nature. Big thanks to friend of the show Mark on our Discord channel for the heads up about it!

More Photos From The Bridge Guards

This episode is sponsored by Midlam Miniatures. Three of the miniatures used in this scenario were bought from Midlam – Goatsy, Boarus, and the big lizardy lad playing the role of the Gnoll Sergeant on the bridge. You can see pics of the Kraken Cult, Grim Reaper, and Headless Lady miniatures mentioned in my post about Populating a Lovecraftian Dungeon.

Harald Half-Orc. Boarus, and Vinny

Fun Gus, Grubb, and Count Gunther

Quite literally the bridge guards. Note that the Gnoll sergeant is too tough for clothes.

One last shot before all Hell broke loose.

Remember, we have similar reports from the Deserted Village and Infected Trees scenarios on the Tabletop Miniature Hobby Podcast, too.

A big thanks to Midlam Miniatures for sponsoring this episode!

Tabletop Scotland 2022, & The Importance of In-Person Events

June 30, 2022August 3, 2022 wilburLeave a comment

Tabletop Scotland 2022 is an event that takes place over the weekend of the 27th and 28th of August 2022. The venue is Dewars Centre in Perth.

tabletop Scotland showcases card, board, and RPG games for all. — *A few keen cosplayers make their way through the door at a previous Tabletop Scotland event.*

The show promises something for everyone, whether you’re a hobby veteran or completely new to it all. You’ll find card games, board games, and roleplaying games all represented, and there are plenty of opportunities to pick up some new miniatures and terrain for your collection.

On this episode, I’m joined by John who’s one of the organisers of Tabletop Scotland. We talk about the birth of the event, its history, and what’s in store for 2022.

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If you’re not based in Scotland though, or simply can’t make it along to the event, then this episode is still worth your while. We also talk about the importance of “real life” and in-person hobby stuff. Podcasts, online communities, and remote gaming are all brilliant in their own ways. But the hobby is a tangible one, and, as John puts it, we are social beings. So no matter where you are in the world, remember there are always opportunities to find local gamers to play against.

We also had a chat about John’s hobby background. He’s the first guest on the show that’s openly said he hates painting miniatures and will do anything to avoid it (whilst still managing to field fully painted armies). This shines a light on the depth and value of the tabletop miniature hobby, and gives an example that you don’t need to do everything. Just pick out the bits you like, and enjoy them.

Horus Heresy was also on the agenda, because, why wouldn’t it be? John’s the proud owner of the old card game version and has played it regularly for the past 30 years. He sounds excited to dive into the new one, too.

If this is your first time listening to the podcast, then thanks for giving it a shot. Remember to check out our full list of episodes right here.

Finally, we have a new Discord channel for the show. It’d be great to see you in there, if you’re so inclined.

You’re a Dead Ringer for Krell, Mate

June 9, 2022August 3, 2022 wilburLeave a comment

I decided to give my old Krell, a bit of TLC. Mainly, because I’d bought an undead chaos warrior from Diehard Miniatures – one of my favourite Oldhammer miniature companies. I thought he might’ve been made as a bit of a homage to the original Lord of the Undead.

Vulcan the Chaos Reiver was another Diehard purchase.

‘Goatsy’ was a Midlam Miniature. I’m going to add him to our Rangers of Shadow Deep party.

This wee armoured goblin champion was from Midlam, too.

Then back to Diehard, we have Pandora the Chaos Reiver.

A vulture for Rangers of Shadow Deep, courtesy of North Star Military Figures.

That’s what I’ve been up to recently, anyway. I talked more about the painting of these on a recent episode of the Tabletop Miniature Hobby Podcast, so be sure to take a listen if podcasts are your thing!

Space Crusade for the Commodore 64

April 21, 2022August 3, 2022 wilburLeave a comment

I found an old copy of Space Crusade for the Commodore 64 up in the attic a while back. This was alongside some other long-forgotten finds like my childhood Space Wolves, Lizardmen, and Undead armies. Oh, and some Monster in My Pocket.

Space Crusade was an 8-bit dip into the Grim Darkness of the far future. I initially thought it was a digital version of Space Hulk, but now I see that Crusade was actually a board game in its own right. Would it be fair to call it a more simplistic and accessible version, given that it was co-produced with Milton Bradley of HeroQuest fame?

To be honest, I don’t have a huge amount of memories of playing this. And, given that I was very much into both Games Workshop and Commodore 64 games at the same time, I wonder if that means that it just… wasn’t very good.

I did enjoy this Space Crusade review on YouTube by Nostalgia Nerd, though. Cracking music on the game.

It must’ve been the turn-based mechanic that put me off, though. I’ve just never enjoyed that way of doing if I’m playing a computer game.

So as much as I enjoyed another wee look at the box and gameplay, here, I’d still rather play Golden Axe, I reckon. Now that was a game!

How to Find Local Gamers: The Miniature Hobbyist’s Six Tip Guide

April 13, 2022August 3, 2022 wilburLeave a comment

“How to find local gamers” is probably the biggest problem facing the modern-day miniature hobby enthusiast. Very few of us are looking for a game every night, or even every week. But let’s face it, we’d all probably like to play at least a handful more games each year.

Chaotic warband: How to find local gamers — *Those weird guys down your local club or store.*

On this episode of the Tabletop Miniature Hobby Podcast, I’m teaming up with Dan of Paint All The Minis to try and help you get more games in.

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How to Find Local Gamers

Dan and I found there to be six ways to find local gamers to play miniature games against (and with). We go into depth on each in this episode, but at a glance, here they are:

Convert a Friend: Is there someone you already know who might enjoy a game of something. Dan likes to test the water with an out-the-box game like Space Hulk. I think Song of Blades & Heroes works well for this.

Play Solo: Do you need to find local gamers to play against? Not necessarily. Solo wargaming exploded in popularity during the pandemic, and Rangers of Shadow Deep is one of the best games around.

Your Local Club or Store: Sounds like a no-brainer, but here’s a place where you’ll definitely find local gamers.

Apps & Tech: GameFor was a handy app where you could find gamers in your area. It isn’t available at the moment, but it’s apparently on its way back. Dan also recommends Tabletop Simulator which is the best online substitute for an in-person game.

Posters or Flyers: Is there a local community centre or library in your area? Then why not stick something up on their noticeboard. Better yet, order a few thousand leaflets and pop them through every door in your neighbourhood!

Social Media: The low-hanging fruit option. The games you like probably have communities on platforms like Facebook and Reddit. So why not just ask if there’s anyone nearby?

Checkpoint Miniatures for Necromunda & Near Future

April 9, 2022April 21, 2026 wilbur

I’ve actually got through quite a few miniatures since my last painting update and photo dump. The latest batch are all from Checkpoint Miniatures, one of my favourite Oldhammer-style miniature companies.

These Near Future Mercenaries would fit right into a game of Necromunda.

The Zombie Grey Aliens are a part of my Undead Stargrave Crew.

Fed Troopers – Terran Federation Security Troopers armed with automatic weapons.

Future trench warfare figures. Loosely based on World War I troops but with a near-future twist.

The mercs are led by this “Detective for Hire”. If I remember correctly, he came as a generous freebie miniature with my order from Checkpoint.

More mercs.

I liked painting these guys. They had a good variety, without being over the top.

The other (more uniformed) squads were fun too though, and I got through them quickly, without opening many paint pots at all.

Anyway, there you have it. Thanks very much for taking the time to have a look. And whilst you’re here, why not check out the Tabletop Miniature Hobby Podcast, too? It’s like Citadel Contrast Paint for your ears.

Does that sound like a good thing or a bad thing? I’m not quite sure…

Joe McCullough on Creativity, Inspiration, & Gnolls

March 24, 2022January 4, 2024 wilburLeave a comment

We talk about Joe McCullough’s games a lot on this podcast. Sometimes, we even talk to him. This episode is one of those times. Join us as we explore the inspiration and creative process behind games like Frostgrave, Stargrave, and Rangers of Shadow Deep.

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I also asked Joe the question “why all those gnolls?”

Also mentioned on this episode:

The Infected Trees (Ruins!): A Post-Game Podcast Chat

March 3, 2022August 3, 2022 wilbur2 Comments

Rangers of Shadow Deep gets a lot of love on the Tabletop Miniature Hobby Podcast. We’ve previously done episodes looking through the main rulebook, speaking to creator Joe McCullough, and playing the very first scenario The Deserted Village. Now it’s time to take on the next one – The Infected Trees. Except I’ve actually no tree terrain in my collection, so let’s just go with “infected ruins” instead!

The party are ready to head into the spider-infested ruins.

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Cotton wool balls to represent cocoons. The red Battlemasters dice are the nests.

The old drunk was rescued in the previous mission. He didn’t survive this one.

The sort of view Vinny the Vulture had when he flew around contributing absolutely nothing.

What’s next for this motley crew? They’re off to Tor Varden.

Be sure to check out the other episodes of the Tabletop Miniature Hobby Podcast. Elsewhere we look through the Rangers of Shadow Deep rulebook, speak to creator Joe McCullough, and talk about playing through The Deserted Village.

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Does the Hobby Still Appeal to Enough Young People?

February 25, 2022August 3, 2022 wilburLeave a comment

Hobby-enthusiast Mark Smith joins me on the latest episode of the Tabletop Miniature Hobby Podcast. This week, we’re talking about how to get more kids into the hobby. Did we peak in the 90s? Are there simply too many other “immediate” distractions out there now for miniature painting and gaming to compete with? This was a really interesting conversation to have and, though the title might sound pessimistic, there are still lots of things to be positive about.

By the way – as a bit of a nostalgia trip, be sure to check out my childhood Space Wolves, Lizardmen, and Undead armies.

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We cover a lot of ground on this episode, but some of the topics of discussion include:

The impact of that HeroQuest advert

We ponder whether Games Workshop is still serious about marketing towards young people? And if they are or were – are they the right people to be championing the hobby to da yoof?

Would it be better if young folks were introduced to the hobby via clubs, groups, or mentors? After all, a company like Games Workshop’s ultimate aim is to make money, and most kids have little or none of that.

We pose the question of why there seems to be so many world-class miniature painters posting work online these days, and if this could potentially be offputting to beginners.

We also talk about the benefits and appeals of analogue hobbies, the rise of video games, and the wonders of monopose miniatures.

For anyone looking to introduce their kids to an accessible miniatures game too, I thoroughly recommend Song of Blades & Heroes. And bonus points if you make your warband out of Monster in My Pocket figures!

I also hawk the usual links for the Miniature Hobbyist Survey and the Worst Patreon Ever.

Baccus 6mm & the Joys of Six

February 16, 2022August 3, 2022 wilburLeave a comment

“You’re looking through the wrong end of the telescope”, says Peter Berry of Baccus 6mm – “6mm figures aren’t tiny, 28mm figures are very very big”.

A couple of my Baccus 6mm units — *The two units here are from Baccus 6mm, the buildings are from Total Battle Miniatures, and the trees, I made myself*.

On this episode of the Tabletop Miniature Hobby Podcast, we’re exploring the world of wargaming in the 6mm scale. This is a great conversation highlighting the many joys of six. Peter is keen to point out that this isn’t a case of one scale OR another (most of us love 28mm first and foremost, after all), but using the right tool for the right job.

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It almost goes without saying, but, the smaller the scale of your troops, the bigger a battle you can have. I’ll bet many listeners to this show will have first-hand experience of that, too. Do you remember navigating multi-based squads of Eldar and Orks through the cardboard skyscrapers of Space Marine in your youth?

There are other practical appeals of 6mm. You can buy an entire army for less than £50, paint it up in a day or two, and store it in a shoebox. People might find the thought of painting these miniatures intimidating but as Peter advises, you should try to “paint the unit, not the man”. He has some painting guides on the Baccus 6mm website, too.

Also on this episode

We talk about the solo and co-op game that is Pony Wars.
6mm is popular with historical wargamers, but Perfect Six, Microworld, and Rapier have great fantasy ranges.
The Joys of Six is a 6mm wargaming event that takes place in Sheffield each summer.

Oh and I talk about the worst Patreon campaign in podcasting, too. This won’t be used to improve the show, nor will it include any rewards. Don’t worry though, I won’t bang on about it all the time, either 😉