• Painting Update – 12th October 2020
    In the past week I have managed to complete my painting of the miniatures from the Shadowed Paths expansion to Journeys in Middle Earth by Fantsy Flight Games – I can now safely add the expansion into the app without any danger of an unpainted miniature appearing on our gaming board (The [...]

  • Painting Update – 5th October 2020
    I had a small slump in my painting output recently – essentially several days when I really didn’t feel like picking up a paint brush. Whilst I have been an advocate of trying to paint little and often, I think there are times when you just have to go with it and give yourself a break. [...]

  • Painting Update – 21st September 2020
    Following the completion of a couple of Saga Age of Magic armies, I decided to reward myself by painting the miniatures from the latest expansion to the Lords of the Rings: Journeys in Middle Earth expansion from Fantasy Flight Games – Shadowed Paths. Since I have painted all the miniatures [...]

  • Painting Update – 17th September 2020
    I actually finished this model a couple of weeks ago, but have had some issues taking a photo – this one is pretty bad, but the best I can do at the moment. Hopefully I can get a better one when I finally get to field the army on the table. This is the Emmasarius from the Ex-Illis range, [...]

  • Gaming in a pandemic – rediscovering RPGs
    As I mentioned in my previous post about my gaming experience during these strange days in which we have been living for the past few months, the lack of face-to-face gaming has led us down several different avenues as we have explored alternative ways of playing games together There is, of course, [...]

  • Painting Update – 23rd August 2020
    Only the one miniature painted in the last few days, but in my defence it is a big one… This is the Gargantuan Skeletal Dragon from the Pathfinder Battles range by Wizkids. It’s a plastic miniature that comes ready-primed, so that you can immediately get on with the business of [...]

  • Painting Update – 17th August 2020
    As I have mentioned before, one of the discovered benefits of the COVID pandemic has been our Saturday afternoon ‘Paint and Chat’ sessions. As well as getting the opportunity to socialise with friends, it also provides a regular window for progressing with projects that might otherwise [...]

  • Painting update – 4th August 2020
    Painting in the last few weeks has all been about the beastmen. Following the last update I have finished a further three units of these troops, which gives me 40 in total – not a bad output for me in five weeks. It wasn’t until I put these away in the box that I realised just how far I [...]

  • Gaming in a pandemic – Apps
    Since face-to-face gaming has been denied most of us in recent months we have had to find various alternatives. There are many available, including such platforms as VASSAL and Tabletop Simulator, with various people also coming up with inventive ways of using social media to stream live gaming. [...]

  • Painting update – 7th July 2020
    Following on from my last update I have managed to make steady, if not exactly speedy, progress on my second Saga: Age of Magic army – a Demonic warband. As I said in my last update, the main figures I am using for this are taken from the old computer-moderated tabletop wargames Ex-Illis. I [...]

  • Painting Update – w/e 19th June 2020
    My have managed to maintain my painting output in the last two or three weeks – nothing spectacular, but I have now finished my Undead army for Saga: Age of Magic by painting another 11 Zombies (it was 12, but I appear to have lost one somewhere!) so that my army can now feature a horde of 20 [...]

  • Lockdown painting update – May 2020
    It’s been a while since I shared anything hobby related. Many of us have taken advantage of some of the extra time we have found on our hands during this period of lockdown to make some progress on hobby projects. I have been no different, though my painting productivity has been through many [...]

  • Review – Twilight Struggle, Digital Edition
    The lockdown due to the COVID-19 virus has caused a certain amount of disruption to tabletop gaming, and has forced many people to look online for substitutes to their usual face-to-face gaming fayre. I have always been a fan of the Twilight Struggle boardgame from GMT Games, and backed the Digital [...]

  • Barons’ War 2 launches on Kickstarter
    Following on from the first Barons’ War Kickstarter, which ran in September 2019, Andy Hobday and Paul Hicks are back with a second project, which fills in many of the ‘gaps’ in the range of miniatures. The initial new planned packs include Crossbowmen, Levy and Foot Knights with [...]

Painting & Modelling

Battle Reports / Gaming Sessions

  • Review: I Ain’t Been Shot Mum (3rd Edition)
    Rating:  The third edition of I Ain’t Been Shot Mum has arrived from Too Fat Lardies with a bang, declaring itself ‘The Other World War II Miniatures Game’ and thus immediately addressing the elephant in the room of company level WWII rules that is Flames of War. And indeed, IABSM is [...]

  • Runewars Miniatures Game – Opening the box
    Thanks to bad planning, I wasn’t at home to receive my delivery of the Runewars Miniatures Game (RMG) when it was released on Thursday, and thanks to the Bank Holiday in the UK, I wasn’t actually able to pick up the parcel until Saturday, so I have been somewhat delayed in posting [...]

  • Review: Skirmish Sangin
    Rating: Skirmish Sangin (SS) is the latest release from Radio Dishdash, a New Zealand based company. The rules, as the title indicates, concentrates on small unit combat in Afghanistan. The game is designed to be played with 28mm figures on a 4’ square board, which represents an area of roughly [...]

  • Review: Chain of Command
    Rating: Chain of Command (CoC) is a platoon-level skirmish wargame from Too Fat Lardies. There are many platoon-level WWII rulesets on the market, each with its own particular take on how combat at this level should be represented. Some concentrate on the weapons being used, others on the men who [...]

  • Review: Classified
    Rating: Classified is the eighth scenario supplement for the Force on Force rules for modern warfare, which were published in 2011. It is once again published by Osprey Publishing. In many ways, this supplement takes Force-on-Force back to its original Ambush Alley roots, as it covers Special [...]

  • Review – Cigar Box Battle Plush Gaming Mats
    Rating: Cigar Box Battle produce a number of different styles of terrain mat (we interviewed Chris Ward and Cory Ring from the company in Episode 221 of the Podcast) One of the newest products they produce is the PLUSH fabric gaming mat. This was developed due to the rise in popularity of using [...]

  • Halo Ground Command – First Play
    A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to pop down to Spartan Games HQ outside of Shepton Mallet to play a couple of games of the new Halo Ground Command (HGC) game, plus have a chat with Spartan supremo Neil Fawcett. As luck would have it, we also met up with sometime Podcast host and good friend [...]

  • Review: The Chicago Way
    Rating: “You wanna know how to get Capone? They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. *That’s* the *Chicago* way! And that’s how you get Capone” Jimmy Malone, The Untouchables (1987) Back in 2013, Great Escape [...]

  • Review: For King & Parliament
    Rating: Being a British wargamer, I have often thought that I should take more interest in the wars that have shaped the island on which I live – let’s face it, there are numerous ones to choose from. The English Civil War has always seemed a challenging period of warfare – [...]

  • Review: The Campaign for Kharkov: October 1941
    Rating: This 48 page book, available as a PDF or an e-book, is a campaign supplement written by Chris Stoesen for the Chain of Command World War II Platoon level rules from Too Fat Lardies. It is worth noting that this supplement is not a complete game in itself, and you will need both a copy of [...]
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    ‘Saga’ review online
    Saga is the new, upcoming Dark Age skirmish game from Gripping Beast. Like many others, I saw this game at Salute,, and really liked what I saw. I actually got to play (and win!) a game at Partisan last Sunday. It really is an excellent game, and I will be chatting some more about this on the [...]

  • Review: Saga -Varjazi & Basileus
    Rating: Varjazi & Basileus represents the last of the current Dark Age supplements to be released by Gripping Beast at the current time. Whilst they are no doubt due to visit the Arthurian period at some time in the future, for now, these are the last factions. As such, this book not only comes [...]

  • Review: Daisho
    Rating: Daisho is a set of skirmish rules for warfare set in mythical Japan. The rules are written by Charles Murton and Craig Cartmell of The Ministry of Gentlemanly Warfare, who have also authored In Her Majesty’s Name and Blood Eagle, and were published in 2015. They are available as a 90 [...]

  • Review: Painting Wargames Figures – WWII in the Desert
    When gaming World War II, my first love has always been the European Theatre from D-Day until the end of the war. However, since the release of What A Tanker! from Too Far Lardies I have become more intrigued by the war in North Africa. There are some interesting battles to be fought in this [...]

  • Review: Fistful of Lead – Reloaded
    Rating: Fistful of Lead: Reloaded is a set of wargaming rules for ‘Gunfights in the Wild West’, published by Wiley Games. It was funded by a kickstarter project which was launched in November 2015, which had 132 backers and raised just over $8,000. Fistful of Lead (FoL) is a skirmish [...]

  • Review: Force On Force
    Rating:    Force on Force (FoF) are the new Wargames rules from Osprey Publishing. They are actually the second edition of the rules, the first edition being published in 2009 by Ambush Alley Games. This new edition of the rules is actually an amalgamation of the Force on Force first edition [...]

  • Oshiro Model Terrain – A review by Mike Hobbs
    People who know me well know that as well as being a keen wargamer I’m also a bit of a foodie, well let’s be honest working as a chef for 15 years gives a person a certain perspective into what’s good and bad about the food we eat. One of my greatest pleasures in life is getting up early on a [...]

  • Review: Lords of Waterdeep
    Rating: If you have ever played in a fantasy role-playing game you will recognise the scene: The party is in a tavern when they are approached by a stranger – the representative of some sponsor – who asks them if they are looking for work and then proposes that they be hired to escort a [...]
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    A Horse! My Kingdom for a horse!
    After a week’s break from gaming club (My son was performing in a concert last Wednesday evening) last night saw what was actually my first board game played face-to-face for several weeks. Having bought it a few weeks ago, I was really glad to get War of the Roses: Lancaster vs York to the [...]

  • Review – PMC 2460
    Rating: PMC 2460 is a set of hard sci-fi wargames rules from author Marcin Gerkowicz of Assault Publishing. PMC is an acronym for Private Military Companies – the rules are set in the27th century, where most wars are fought by hired mercenary armies; somewhat similar to the Hammer’s Slammer’s [...]

  • Review: Painting Wargames Figures – Early Imperial Romans
    Having recently played the forthcoming ‘Infamy, Infamy!‘ rules from Too Fat Lardies, it seems an opportune moment to take a look at a book which gives a detailed painting guide for Early Imperial Romans. Written by the same author as WWII In The Desert, Painting Wargaming Figures: [...]

  • Review – Thud & Blunder
    Rating: Thud & Blunder is a set of skirmish rules for warfare set in a land of high fantasy. The rules are written by Charles Murton and Craig Cartmell of The Ministry of Gentlemanly Warfare, who have also authored In Her Majesty’s Name, Daisho and Blood Eagle. They are available as [...]

  • Review: Test of Honour Ronin
    Rating:  The Ronin box set for Test of Honour was one of the wave one expansions for the game. The box set allows players to field a force comprising fully of masterless Samurai, led by a special character – Tadashi ‘The Dishonoured’. The box contains the aforementioned metal [...]

  • Review: Sarissa Precision 28mm Japan MDF terrain
    Rating: Sarissa Precision Ltd are a company that produce high quality MDF terrain in various scales at a mid-range price. This review is looking at their Japan range of buildings, which are useful for playing games in the Sengoku period – especially rules such as Test of Honour I have a [...]

  • Kill Team – First impressions
    I had the opportunity earlier this week to take a look at Kill Team – the new skirmish wargame from Games Workshop, set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe – when I went to Boards & Swords Hobbies in Derby. As you may be aware, whilst I used to be a fully paid-up member of the GW fan club, it [...]

  • Review: Pandemic – Reign of Cthulhu
    Rating: One of the (few) saving graces from attending Strategy Game Con last weekend was the fact that I got to play a couple of games of the new Pandemic game: Reign of Cthulhu. Reign of Cthulhu is a co-operative game for between two and four players. Players take the role of one of seven [...]

  • UFO Squad is now available
    Rating:  You may remember back in episode 146 of the podcast, I interviewed Rusti Gregory or Crossover Miniatures about his Kickstarter for a new game: UFO Squad. Well, I’m very pleased to say that these rules, and the associated figures, are now available to buy from the Crossover [...]

  • Unboxing Test of Honour – Core Box & Faction Boxes
    As you no doubt know by know, I have been in a state of excited anticipation ever since Warlord Games announced that they were releasing Test of Honour. Well, the time has come and everything has arrived – I ordered my copy from PE2 Collectibles, which meant that I didn’t get the Geisha [...]

  • Review: The King is Dead
    Rating: King Arthur is dead. In the aftermath of his death, the Scots, Welsh and Romano-British fight for the newly vacant throne of England whilst in the background, the shadow of a Saxon invasion looms. This is the introduction for The King is Dead – the first boardgame from Osprey Publishing, [...]

  • Review: Iron Cross
    Rating: Iron Cross is a new Company – Battalion level World War II game, written by Stuart McCorquodale, Darryl Morton and Mark Mainwaring and published by Great Escape Games. The first thing that struck me when I heard about this game was “why do we need another Company Level WWII Game?” [...]

  • Review: Battlegroup Rulebook
    Rating: The Battlegroup Rulebook is a new, small format book published to accompany the release of Battlegroup Overlord. These rules were previously released as an integral part of the Battlegroup Kursk book, but Iron Fist and Plastic Soldier have perhaps recognised that not everyone would want to [...]

  • Review: Battlegroup Overlord
    Rating: Battlegroup Overlord (BO) is the much anticipated second campaign volume to the Battlegroup Kursk WWII rules that were released last year by Ironfist Publishing. It is perhaps the book that many were expecting to see first, as 1944 Western Europe appears to be the most popular part of World [...]

  • Review: Bad Squiddo Games Onna-bugeisha
    Rating: Bad Squiddo Games have released the first three packs of what promises to be an expanding range of Onna-bugeisha miniatures for Feudal Japan. The first pack contains three miniatures wielding katanas and is priced at £10 at time of writing. The detailing on the figures is very crisp, which [...]

  • Review: Open Combat Sword Masters
    Rating: Open Combat is a set of warband skirmish rules designed to be played with any set of miniatures that the gamer has to hand, and is published by Second Thunder. The setting is pre-gunpowder, but can be historical or fantasy in nature – it’s completely up to the players what and [...]

  • Review: Sword and Spear
    Rating: Sword and Spear are a new set of wargames rules for gaming in the Ancient period, from the time of the Ancient Egyptians right through to Medieval Europe. They have been written by Mark Lewis, and the Second Edition is published by Great Escape Games. The rules are designed for armies made [...]

  • Review: Banzai
    Rating: Banzai: Age of the Country at War is a set of wargaming rules written by Robert Fellows and published by 2D6 Wargaming in 2016. This game is written to be used with 6mm miniatures using 60mm x 30mm basing, though it should work for any scale miniatures as long as the basing has a 2:1 ratio [...]

  • Review – Tremble Ye Tyrants
    Rating:  Tremble Ye Tyrants is the new fast-play Napoloenic Wargaming rules written by Chris Peers and distributed by North Star Military Figures. The rules are designed around the using 28mm figures, although they do use elements rather than individual figures. An infantry unit is defined as 4 [...]

  • Review: Muskets & Tomahawks
    Rating: Muskets & Tomahawks is the second set of wargames rules to be published in English by Studio Tomahawk, following the success of their previous rules: Saga. These rules, however, have been available in French for a while. The setting for these rules is somewhat unusual. I don’t think [...]

  • Review: Broken Legions
    Rating: Thus begins Broken Legions – another in the series of Wargames Rules from Osprey Publishing, written by Mark Latham. As you can already deduce, this is a fantasy skirmish wargame set in the time of the Roman Empire. Broken Legions is a ‘warband’ style of skirmish game, so [...]

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Painting Update – 12th October 2020

by Neil Shuck in Painting & Modelling

In the past week I have managed to complete my painting of the miniatures from the Shadowed Paths expansion to Journeys in Middle Earth by Fantsy Flight Games – I can [...]

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