The AoS starter Box “Storm Strike” is a great intro to Age of Sigmar Miniature War game. Core rules, push fit colored models, Book with background (called fluff, for you newbies), and Battle plans that teach the game, step by step. Ruler, Dice, warscroll cards, paper battle mat, uses box as terrain...... AND very cheap in price. Can’t go wrong with this if AoS is in your interest!
Great list Andy! I've had burrows and badgers sat on my shelf for about two years now. It's a fab rules and I think it could be a good project to pick up with my 8 year old daughter who is getting interested in minis painting.
Hey Craig - I think it’s the perfect project for you and your daughter. The animal theme is much more younger player friendly than futuristic sci fi apocalypse!
great video im really pleased to see that your channel has grown i haven’t watched miniature hobby videos in a year or so due to various reasons. it’s good to see you’re doing well
I liked your list I would like to add Frostgrave, and its sister games Ghost Archipelago and Rangers of Shadow Deep. I do love the bring your own minis game and this is one of the best. Great video and thanks for the listen.
Dungeons and Dragons Miniatures (DDM), the DnD skirmish is the best game for beginners, is easy, and its a lot like magic and DnD combat, so, many people may have a solid background before getting started, the app is easy to use, the rules are around 30 pages and extra stuff is just printed on the cards, you can play it with any miniatures and terrain you already have for DnD table, so... its one of the best options, and since cards are digital, you can use any miniature you have, reducing cost and the need of several brand new miniatures just for the game.
Hey there, one thing immediately stood out to me about your video which is greatly appreciated is its games you have ACTUALLY played! The majority of other videos are just people reading the back of the box and talking about how cool it sounds 😅
@@BlackJackLegacy i appreciate you being genuine since I have been trying to get some friends and family into some miniature games. Although it's not a wargame, Mansions of Madness has been a hit with most people I've shown it to. Regardless, you got yourself a new sub!
Great suggestions. I need to get my hands onto some of these! Might I suggest a Mad Max skirmish style game called Gaslands? It’s probably one of the cheapest tabletop games out there. The rule book is $20 and you play it with Hot wheels or Matchbox cars. That means each new unit is only $1! I have 5 minute battle reports on my channel if you are interested in checking it out.
Have you played Song of Blades and Heroes? An exceptionally accessible gateway game with simple but tactically interesting mechanics. Minis are agnostic so can be anything you have to hand. The system has been tweaked to a variety of settings
I knew all out war would be there, I love that game, Gangs of Rome is pretty simple and fun the starter has all the minis you need but you do have to paint them up and build the terrain and it is historical, good video as always
Underworlds is good if you play casual with friends. The aggressive competitive environment makes players buy too many packs to get random cards. The more packs you have the better chances to win tournaments. This happened in my area.
So I would say following games are great for beginners: Battletech Alpha Strike OnepageRules - free short rules for 40K, Fantasy and few others Also there are a whole load of rule sets published by Osprey games that can use any miniatures from other systems, all you need to buy is the book: Horizon Wars (mechs) Reality's Edge (cyberpunk) Frostgrave (fantasy)
Thanks for watching and commenting. Personally I disagree that games which are rules only and you can use any minis you like are good for “complete beginners”. If you have no experience at all (who this list was aimed at) then you have no minis, probably no hobby experience and they can find it overwhelming to say you can use anything. They’re a great way to use the minis you amass over time but as a beginner being able to buy a box and play. Does that make sense?
@@BlackJackLegacy That does make sense and sounds very reasonable. If you have no miniatures then the Osprey books aren't the best place to start. However, if say you have some board games with miniatures say something like Blood Rage (which isn't a skirmish game) then OnePageRules or Osprey stuff would be a good place to start. If you want a skirmish boxed game for beginners then Osprey's Wildlands and Judge Dredd Helter Skelter are complete all in one games with minis. They make more sense for complete beginners with no miniatures.
Hey Ken - It’s really nice but by no means “beginner friendly” or priced as an easy entry. I think you need to be a fan already before that kind of money becomes even a consideration.
It may be worth picking up the other Necromunda box if you can find it or maybe kill team. Give it a couple of months and Corvus Belli will be releasing Infinity: Code One. A much simpler ruleset for Infinity which is less dystopian and more manga centric.
@@thickasmud I'm REALLY looking forward to Code One. I love the _Infinity_ universe, but I'm not really interested in the full scale game. We have *Aristeia!* which is a great game, but it's own thing (it's a Hero Shooter/MOBA inspired skirmish game). I do wonder if Code One will be like a mid point between WarCry and full scale Warhammer/Infinity. Though i would mind if it was a bit closer to WarCry, so I could justify multiple small skirmish bands.
I am a longtime fan of historical miniature war-gaming with an interest in massed armies, primarily the black-powder periods. A constant member of HMGS, attending all three of the usual conventions on the East Coast; their closure this year was heart breaking. The discussions concerning cost of figures, travel and other paraphernalia in the covid era have an impact on everyone. The possibility of having a digital environment available, when travel isn’t feasible, means miniature games can be played at anytime by multiple people. There is an opportunity for simulated figure war-gaming available that some may not be aware of. D and D players are aware of it, regular board game players are, and so is the Lock and Load company. They have moved many of their board games to this environment as free offerings. They are even looking at mini-conventions for the games. This is the Tabletop Simulator available on the Steam network. It is exactly that and people can set up any game there emulating a regular table. There are a variety of 2D and 3D games available created by users, including the Star Wars series, but no massed historical war-gaming so far. This could be an excellent environment for HMGS, or the UK equivalent, to explore. If 3D figures for historical games are primarily designed in computers anyway, that should be a simple addition and so should rule sets. I would think this is an easy way for companies to create an appeal for the gaming public to want their products in both digital and physical forms.
You raise a valid point however the issue is a financial one on the side of the companies and a social one on the side of the players. Miniature gamers are well aware of tabletop simulator and Tabletopia and many have been using them through lockdown however the interface is a little clunky for miniatures games, the learning curve to use the game for miniatures games isn’t that easy and games can take much much longer to play. If digital gaming is the only option then actual video games end up being a much easier way to hangout online with friends for the most part. From a companies point of view they don’t make any money doing this - it might be a way to keep folks engaged when physical play isn’t an option however their business is about selling miniatures and they already have a tough time competing with video and digital gaming. The biggest hurdle for me is the interface of TTS for miniatures gaming - if it was better to use more folks would use it however if it was good maybe we’d see sales of miniatures drop to a point where folks no longer need them.
Never played either Burrows and Badgers or Underworlds.. hope to give them a go soon! Really good summary and I agree that All out war is definitely a great entry point in miniature gaming.
Thanks Marco. There’s some great games out there but if you’ve no hobby experience in building models and need a “game in a box” to try it out these are great options.
two tabletop miniature games that are no longer active from CMON. Wrath of Kings and Dark Ages. once assembled, character cards, d10 dice, a tape and a terrain map, optionally with terrains tiles that you can print-cut out. Dark ages uses d20 instead of d10, but otherwise...quick and ready to go. SFG has Guild balls and Godtears, also quite good. RUclips has a few gameplays, all considerably pocket safe compare to most prestige games like 40k , Warmachines and Infinity like...which are heavier mechanics.
Good list. I didn't even know that All Out War was still around. Good to know! I almost got into it when it first dropped as my FLGS had a huge display of it. If I wasn't such a damn X-Wing junkie at the time I probably would have, lol. That being said, my go to for easy rules is GrimDark Future Firefight from One Page Rules. Since it's a bring-your-own-minis kind of rule set, I can see why it wouldn't belong on your list, even though a majority of the rules are free and the full book is only $5.
BattleTech has a couple of starter boxes to play as well, and a 4v4 is a normal game. Only 8 mini's to paint, and that is if you even bother with 3D mini's. 2D standup picture mini's is all we ever used. I would even suggest the starter rules for BattleTech Alpha Strike. AS is the simplified version of the game that has all of the game stats that fit on a business card.
Great to see Burrows & Badgers on the list. I've been very tempted by the new SW Legion set for the past few months, might pick it up once I've finished with KoW. Definitely agree with All Out War, such a fun and easy to game to play.
Separatists or Republic or you want both ( I am/have already collected the OT factions and wouldnt mind doing the Droids but couldn't justify trying to buy for 4 factions ,the missus would kill me ...
@@krjr1982 Ah well it does make a great game ( easy enough to learn and pick up ,but with a good dose of badly quoted star wars lines one of the most fun war games I have ever played ..
Saga! Saga saga saga saga. I have gotten 4 people into minis with this game and it's perfect. Warbands are smaller so they aren't too overwhelming while still being a good size to feel epic during actual battles. The combat flows very smoothly and is fast paced, the rules are simple since everyone has the same stats, but there's enough diversity with army abilities, and finally everyone loves vikings, and those who don't love crusaders
As always, I love your videos and vibe, Andy! I would also like to recommend WH 40K: Combat Arena. Man, how we love this game at home! It's criminally underrated, IMHO. The minis are really easy to build, like in WH: Underworlds, requiring only a pair of clips. It's a standalone game, and unlike Underworlds (which I sell to buy this one), you do have cards but without the deck-building hassle, and moreover, it can be played with up to 4 players. Technically 5, if you meddle a bit with some rules. It has d6, minis, board, and cards, with awesome lore, design and characters. What more can we ask for? Oh, yes, for it to not be a limited release. Keep it awesome!
Maybe not on a market yet, but I encourage to take a look on upcoming reboot of Chronopia. Not only legendary game is back, but as usually kick forward all of the wargames. Solo Rules, rules for odd number of Players, Battle Royale, PvP all that in Dark Fantasy Universe.
You can recommend Fallout Wasteland Warfare, Dust 1947 and Gaslands. Dust 1947 is more easy to play than many of the games you presented on this video. You can play it on a grid terrain or free. It has an app to make the army list and inventory. A 50 point game can last 30-45 minutes.The only problem units are pricy. Gasland is cool because you can use Hot wheels, any miniature or toy car you want. If you have a 3d printer you can find a lot of free stuff to print. Walking Dead is good, but you need to buy too many sets to get the missions. You can buy the missions printed or in pdf, but Fallout WW has most of the missions for free to download. In Fallout WW you can play it solo/cooperative/player vs player. You can download and print in pdf most of the missions, items and the character cards for free. The only cards you have to buy are the A.I. cards for solo/cooperative gaming. The campaign rulebook you can get in the 2 player starter box or buy the pdf. If you have a 3d printer Modiphius sells some 3d files of many of the units and scenics.
I did this same list a while ago as I mentioned in the video and Gaslands was in the original list however I don’t really class it as a full miniatures game in this sense due to not having any minis really. Still a good game though. Dust you mention I’ve never played so couldn’t recommend it however as you say it’s quite pricey. Again I’ve not played Fallout WW either so again can’t recommend it myself. The walking dead you don’t need to buy mission packs as you can make any missions up you like. There’s loads of community made ones and you then only need to buy expansions when you feel like spending more. They’re completely optional. Also you mentioned 3D printing a lot - that’s not really what a beginner to miniature gaming is looking for really - they just want to try something to see if they like it.
King of War Vanguard is great too. And you can proxy with minis you already have. And you got me interested in the Walking Dead game... i was a fan of the first season.
I think Vanguard is a great game however at the time of making this there was no starter set and I think the minis aren’t the easiest to put together for complete beginners - still a great game however.
All great suggestions! Im surprised that Dust 1947 wasn't included. If you haven't heard of it, you should definitely check it out! Painted minis. Fast ruleset to learn & a lotta fun to play! Cheers! :)
The most recent BattleTech box set is cheap in comparison, it comes with everything you might ever need to play as well as several miniatures that don't need building, rules that you can build up to (start at the simplistic quickstart then work your way up to more in-depth rules), and it even comes with a skirmish quickstart rulebook for simplified grid-less play that you can later upgrade to complex large-scale battles through a separate purchase.
I will keep this list in mind to advise the for beginners, or in case i want to try something new in hobby, I agree 100% about the Walking Dead All Out War game!
Blood Red Skies wil be getting a new starterset soon-ish based on Midway pitching Japanese Zero's against American Wildcats. Also they're going to gradually ditch all their metal planes and replacing them with resin. I also suspect well be seeing large bombers and transports in the near future. Don't forget Airstrike will be out next month wich is a full rulebook with extra scenario's, strafing runs, bombing runs and rules for using torpedoes alongside the rules for using jets such as the Messerschmit Me-262 and the first jets used in the Korean wars. If you're more into the whole naval thing then Cruel Seas is a nice option allthough putting the ships together might be a little challenging as they don't come with instructions, luckily you can find a lot of support for this online. Since it's launch new ships have come out in plastic, resin or metal for a nice variety of nations. Cruel Seas will also get its first supplement named Close quarters intruducing new scenarios, new optional detailed rules for planes and subs and 2 new fleets: the Finnish and the Yugoslavic Partisans. If that wasn't enough we'll be seeing new ships for all the nations over the coming months. Does this makes you happy? :-p
I've managed to track down the Warcry starter set for only £90. I wouldn't have ordered it if it wasn't for you recently saying that the starter set is really all that a player needs.
I really like the game but the minis aren’t the easiest to build due to some older sculpts and no instructions. Great game and straight forward rules but let down for complete beginners by the minis in the starter set.
A great list! Of the 5 I’ve only played Blood Red Skies and Walking Dead: All Out War, but know of the others as good infection vectors into the hobby. Being a Mantic Games advocate (unofficially) I was drawn to them for easy to learn, yet deep rule sets, with lots of customisation, so AOW gets a big thumbs up from me 👍🏻
I don't think Mantic print the Walking dead anymore :( Also, since you like Mantic games, can you explain the difference between "Firefight" and "Deadzone" ? They look very similar and I thik they are in the same universe too, but I don't know which one I should start as a beginner. I'm also considering buying Frostgrave and or Stargrave, since I can use whatever I want to them, this is also a huge plus.
The Walking Dead licence agreement has ended so Mantic don’t produce that anymore - you’re correct. Deadzone is a skirmish game played with only small number of minis where as Firefight is more of an army scale with more minis on a bigger playing surface. The rules are different as Deadzone uses cubes for movement whereas Firefight uses a tape measure for distance. You can however use the same minis from Deadzone in Firefight as you’re right they’re set in the same universe. Starting out Deadzone is a great option and if you enjoy it and add to your collection you can scale up your games to play Firefight
You should check out One Page Rules, free rules for both Grimdark Future, and Age of Fantasy, both systems allow for any miniature to be used, and the website also has get you by printable paper models. Hands down the easiest and cheapest entry point. Also, their games are simple enough to enjoy and offer a great gaming experience.
Nice list and had some games I’ve never heard of which I always like hearing about. Have you played unmatched? That would be my number 1. Super easy rules and a fun and unique minis game. As far if someone new wanting to get into a competitive mini game underworlds imo is the best way to go especially now with how good beastgrave has been with making warbands good right out of the box and without having to own it all.
Generally I class miniatures games as games where miniatures are the main part of the game. Pathfinder is a Role Playing Game which may use miniatures or may not. I’d it gets your attention a however - how bad can it be!
Cheers mate! Nice to have a dedicated area I don’t have to keep moving lights and cameras around. Means I can leave painting stuff out now instead of having to clear away to film.
@@BlackJackLegacy it’s complexity is what makes it attractive. Granted underworlds is what I have started with, having come from a card game background. But infinity is the only bigger scale game that immediately took my interest and managed to be cost appropriate with all the free rules, profiles/lists in the army app, updates, lack of unit rotation, power creep and requirement of a hundred other accessories.
I think if you’ve never played a miniatures game before Infinity would put most folks off with the metal models, small parts, relatively complex rules and amount of terrain needed. If someone is introducing you to the game that’s a little different but as a first game to just give miniature gaming a try I think there’s more accessible options. It’s a great game though - I just wouldn’t class it as a beginner entry level game.
@@tropicalwargaming688 I’ve reviewed it - might be for newer player who want to play Infinity but wouldn’t say complete beginners to war gaming. Good game though.
I would also add Battletech, why? First, it has multiple rule levels, so if a new player has experience in wargaming, you can start with the standard rules for mechs or any of the other units if that person is more into tanks and infantry, air combat, space combat or naval combat. If that person is a complete newbie you can just go for the introductory rules for Mechs. And there's also Alpha Strike, it simplifies a lot of things at the expense of detail, but it's faster. And even an RPG, so there's a lot for all kinds of players, the RPG players, the wargaming newbies, the veterans, the gun nuts that love to make their war machines unique and everything in between. And after that you can scale it up to even full scale wars. Second, the box set of the game features single piece plastic minis for the most iconic mechs like the Battlemaster or Shadow Hawk and it's not insanely expensive. Third, the lore, Battletech is a massive universe with a fairly interesting story and plenty of factions with different ideals and goals and more than enough material to satisfy anyone. And lastly, even if that new player likes the universe, but not necessarily the tabletop game, well, there's also novels and quite a few videogames.
Ryu Mascorro - thanks for the response. Battle tech is not a game I’ve ever played or know a lot about so always appreciate getting recommendations from others too.
Yes, wings of glory. It's the genesis of the x wing g game, before it got bogged down in rules creep. I did get a job based on my ability to teach 1st Ed X-wing,and WoG is even easier. Used to teach it at a game night at a local bar.
All true but I still don’t consider these grey beginners games for folks who’ve never played a miniatures game before. As I mentioned in the video ease of getting playing ASAP is a consideration. As much as I love Mantic’s games very few even come with assembly instructions.
Quick update--The "Champions of Dreadfane" box you showed as available for Warhammer Underworlds is NOT the full-but-streamlined game that used to be sold through Barnes and Noble. Instead, it's a smaller box that includes JUST the two warbands of miniatures--one Nighthaunt, one Stormcast--and their cards, for play in the full Underworlds: Beastgrave game. It doesn't include tokens, dice, or boards in its current format.
I have a game called bottalions that was designed for kids - it's simple, it's surprisingly fun, but better with more copies combined together. It was kickstarter-exclusive, but if you ask nicely they might provide you with the .stl files, so you can 3d print the game yourself.
Begin from 6-10mm games, they are much simpler and cheaper to prepare. Warmaster, Epic, Dropzone commander, Blitzkrieg commander, Warbands, Kings of war with 10mm miniatures, DBA, HotT, etc.
You should really look at the Warmachine/Hordes game from privateer press. At 40 bucks a starter, it is a easy, cost effective game you can play with just a starter for each player. It needs not a lot of figures, and the rules are easy.
i have been looking into god tear last couple of day's. Haven't ordered it yet because i already have so many games ( warhammer underworld first 2 sets + expansion, star wars legion, almost everything from the walking dead all out war and ASOIAF miniatures game + loads of expansions and starter sets) Crisis protocol is to expensive, it looks cool but alot of money for the expansions is keeping me from buying it.
For me its about the best game of 2020 already. I love it and wont say no to a game, anywhere anytime. There is some pro's and some con's however. If you go by the starterset, you wont have a lot of fun, and you basically need both starters or 1 starter and 2 champions extra, but best played with 3v3 champions. (2 starters and 2 champ boxes is the cheapest option)
@@miniaturepainting but the thing that's holding me back is my collection of games aswel hehe i own 596 boardgames (full games not including expansions) with around 10 games simular to this list. Do i really need one more is the question :D
Check out Heroes Among Us. It’s a superhero skirmisher with quick to learn rules and you use any miniature you want (I rebase heroclix). Its on available on wargamevault.com
I'd like to hear more about some of these games Andy, maybe a video on e.g. burrows and badgers or legion? There's not many youtubers showcasing these games and they look good.
A game that will be getting tons of support and that will easily convert board gamers to war gamers is Funkoverse. The appeal is obvious and the rules/tactics are easy to learn so even younger children can play it. Also, I assume you haven't played Rangers of Shadowdeep? It's a fantastic game by the guy who invented Frostgrave that can be played solo or with other players. It is Co-op and therefore a good beginner game as you're not fighting against someone that may have a better grasp of the rules. On top of that, you can use any minis that you like...so it can be as cheap or expensive as your budget allows.
However that doesn’t take into consideration how easy it is to get it to the table. If you need to build minis etc that may put off total beginners. Or maybe it costs £150 - that may put off total beginners. That’s the point of this list.
Nice video. :-) I've always thought Twilight Creations' Zombies!!! line of games was good starter fare. Especially for folks coming out of a board game background.
Darn RUclips on your phone not giving me an edit function lol! An interesting list but most of them come with a pretty big price tag attached for someone who could only be curious. Obviously it depends what they're drawn to but I'd be inclined as an alternative option would be to go Song of Blades and Heroes/any of Ganesha games catalogue. Alternatively Pulp Alley is brilliant because it's one of the few games that is not necessarily all violence focused, check out their RUclips channel for loads of play throughs. Finally games like Battle Lore or others in that line give you a good feeling of a wargame without a big leap, the games of Two Hour Wargames/Rebel Minis have innovative solo/coop and verses rules built in so can give a joint learning/gaming experience and in terms of toys then everything less than 28mm is going to be much cheaper. Obviously all this depends on what draws the person to the hobby but just throwing my 2p in 👍😄🎲. Keep up the good work.
Hey dancingpoplant - I created this list as something a complete beginner may use and I think the problem is that when starting out some of the lesser known games are either very difficult to source, they're difficult to find players for but more importantly the sheer breadth of options of which minis to buy can be overwhelming. Cost wise, all of the games I've listed have a low entry point and whilst you could spend more on them later (as with any game) you're not breaking the bank to give them a try. I think the games you mentioned are great however I don't see them as complete beginner entry points - more of the games you begin to explore when you know the miniature gaming hobby is something you're going to enjoy. Hope that makes sense.
Ok this may seem like a stupid question , but why no affiliate link? Seems like a missed opportunity with you recommending games and not having a link to there purchase with you getting a small cut. Great video by the way with some great recommendations ( I am a big fan of legion , a simple but still enough depth to make for fun battles or narrative based sessions ,but then I have a tendency to resin print and home brew characters that FFG has not released yet lol so I never minded the slow start they had.
Not a stupid question at all mate. RUclips have been hitting a lot of channels with strikes for having affiliate links in video descriptions so sadly not worth the hassle. I share my Element Games affiliate links elsewhere but RUclips don’t make it easy!
To me, measuring to move is the big thing that makes new players wary about trying tabletop miniatures games. Don't ask me why, but it isn't an appealing mechanic for some reason. I am in a huge board game group where I live, and that is the one thing they all balk at when I try to introduce a tabletop war game to them. It is always, "it isn't one of those ruler games, is it" when I ask to show someone. That is why I agree completely on Warhammer Underworlds. Also, if it wasn't for the models being difficult to build, my vote for my far the easiest gameplay wise would be Deadzone Second Edition, or Mars Attacks: The Miniatures Game from Mantic. The movement is so easy, and very interesting, and the rules are very simple. Like I said, it is just a shame that the models can be difficult, although if you are showing someone the game, they won't have to build anything because you will already have it. Because of that, Deadzone would actually be my number 1.
just get blood bowl its pretty much easy to get into in fact its the more fun when people don't know the rules correctly and don't try and work out every single percentage and just go for it we found this out in a one min per turn league you've no time to think so just take your moves based on what you think you should do in the last few weeks a new starter set came out with new rules but nothing is wrong with the old starter set
LOT OF GOOD GAMES missing from this list. Personally, I would have included miniature agnostic games that let one use any miniature model you want without having to build models. All you need are some miniatures for a warband, dice, ruler, whatever you want to use for tokens, and the rulebooks. For the following games, you can easily just use D&D or Pathfinder miniatures, or even utilize miniatures from boardgames that you may have on hand like Zombicide. Frostgrave Fantasy Wargames in the Frozen City, Last Days: Zombie Apocalypse: A Game of Survival Horror, Realitity's Edge: Cybepunk Skirmish Rules, Scrappers: Post Apocalyptic Skirmish Wargames, Rangers of Shadow Deep, Oathmark: Battles of the Lost Age, Elder Scrolls Call to Arms. Dust 1947 is another great tabletop skirmish game for beginners, ready to play out of the box. Also, A Song of Ice and FIre Miniature Game for an excellant rank and file game. Both of these are on the more expensive spectrum, but if you want to go ultra cheap, Runewars: Miniature Game Core Set for $30 off Amazon is the way to go.
Someone else mentioned miniature agnostic hames and the reason I didn’t include them is because as a complete beginner (who this is aimed at) you won’t have any minis to use and actually it’s quite daunting to say “use anything”. That’s why the list is more “games in a box” staters.
Thanks mate. I mentioned Tanks in the original video and didn’t quite make my top 5 however it was the difficult nature of assembling the Infinity minis that made it less beginner friendly in my eyes.
what sends most players packing in regards to miniature gaming, is the cost... i know tons of people who would love to play but wonnt or cant pay the prices a decent army would cost. add to that the fact that at least in the area where i live most players are trying to be the "coolest" so no one will play with you without painted minis..painting them yourself without experience will ruins your first armies and you sunk even more money,... buying them painted or pay someone to paint them for you and it gets even more expensive... at least thats the problem where i live
"The Fantasy Trip"...Just download Steve jackson´s Melee. it`s free, it`s fun, the pdf comes with the figures in squares to paste on cardboard and hexmaps. If you like that you can get the second game, wizard. it is another standalone game that introduces magic and new rules and mixes with MELEE to form a complete package.... There are also Death Test 1 and 2, these are pre-programed adventues with scenarios to play alone (or with a friend) without a GM...... that you can also take forward by getting "Into the labyrinth", a role playin system that uses the same chips, maps, rules and expands and adapts them into a regular RPG that requires a GM. . I really can`t think of a more complete package at a lower price. get onboard now that there are modern editions that keep the same feeling and art style, they are really gorgeous in a vintage way. Loogs a bit dated and vintage and that might detract some people, so make sure you have someone to play with and get those pdf files from the designer`s site or bgg. Buiding it yourself is a joy cause it is an easy build. Important to note: the game has few stats to keep track of and characters are created for each game in a matter of minutes, for the skirmish games and for the rpg and adventure modes. This makes the game perfect for individual isolated short scenarios or campaigns more than multiple scenarios and leveling a lot cause a point in a stat means quite a lot. Give this a go.
I don't necessarily disagree with your choice, other than the GW product, because screw those guys. You should check out some options with less proprietary miniatures requirements. Frsotgrave, Rangers of Shadowdeep and Ghost Archipelago are great miniature skirmish games. The core rule books are about $20 and while they do have game specific minis available you can play with any minis you have. Any of the products from Ganesha Games are great for first time miniatures gamers. They have quick and easy rules just about any genre you can think up and the core rule books cost about $8 each on Drive Thru. Any miniature game from Osprey has been quite fun and none of them have core rules that cost more than $30 with most coming in around $15 to $20. And you can dip a toe into games like Gaslands which makes use of Matchbox cars. There are also mecha based options like MektonZ or Battletech. And in the same general price range as Legion you could look at several Modiphius products like Star Trek Adventures, or Fallout: Wasteland Warfare. Personally I like to get people into the hobby at the lowest possible price point. Even X-Wing can get a little spendy considering some ships now seem to be extremely rare and expensive on the secondary market.
Hey SpaceRanger42 - I didn't include any games that don't have a proprietary minis as I honestly don't think they're a good place for brand new, never played before beginners to start. I think a starter box or 2 player set with everything you need is a great starting point and then from their you'll expand into things like Frostgrave etc. I did mention that cost was a consideration so I kept things relatively low in cost and in the original video i made a while back ruclips.net/video/6k0dsddJz8M/видео.html I mentioned Gaslands and Tanks which are super cheap.
Since you mentioned it mate I’ve been looking into it. Haven’t played it so didn’t make this list however I love the look of it. My only reservation seems to be it’s not easy to pick up in the U.K.
Re the Burrows & Badgers map: if you're going to make that little effort, I don't see why you wouldn't just say that it's set in an alternate universe Britain.
Wow, no mention of Battletech? They have a $20 starter set with easy to get into rules, two single piece plastic mecha, and then some card board ones to flesh out your lance of mechs, a double sided battle mate that has hex grids on it so that it is easy for someone to transition from board games to it. There is also another box (A game of armored combat) that is $50 with more plastic mechs. Still all one piece and they are all distinctly shamed so that even unpainted they will not be confused for one another. The second box also has some expanded rules with a couple more mechanics, but you can use all of these mechs can be used with the simplified rules from the beginner box. Catalyst Games also keeps up with support and recently released more mechs, all one piece. There are some older mechs out there in metal that come in multiple parts and those can be tricky, but most of the newer stuff is all one piece.
Others have mentioned this too but the reason it isn’t in the list is I haven’t played it so can’t recommend it. It’s not something you hear about much in the U.K. so I think it’s more loved by US based players generally.
I don’t think Kill Team is a great first step into war gaming for a complete beginner. I think whilst the starter set is good value (or at least the first one certainly was!) it’s a lot to spend on your first steps and the rules are a little more complex than other games I’d recommend for beginners. Also having to clip out the models and build them with list building in mind just makes it less of a complete beginner entry to an entry for someone who has a little more experience in tabletop games. That’s why I didn’t include it but it’s still a great game.
Thanks Chris - I think they’re great starter sets but those minis are not for first time hobbyists in my opinion. Just too fiddly with small parts but great for folks with a little more experience.
don't forgive the ease of building issue. Loki's horns. I need not say more. They are like jumping beans and are lying somewhere on my basement floor perfectly camouflaged, never to be found. Now Loki has kinda horns which are nowhere near as good as the original
Anything by Games Workshop is terrible. Over-priced, unbalanced, and too simplistic for theprice. The models are lovely. If You are just painting, fine. For actually good games, no. Terrible.
Kill Team, in my opinion, is not a great game for complete beginners to miniatures games. There are other games which are much more accessible to play.
The AoS starter Box “Storm Strike” is a great intro to Age of Sigmar Miniature War game. Core rules, push fit colored models, Book with background (called fluff, for you newbies), and Battle plans that teach the game, step by step. Ruler, Dice, warscroll cards, paper battle mat, uses box as terrain...... AND very cheap in price. Can’t go wrong with this if AoS is in your interest!
Great list Andy! I've had burrows and badgers sat on my shelf for about two years now. It's a fab rules and I think it could be a good project to pick up with my 8 year old daughter who is getting interested in minis painting.
Hey Craig - I think it’s the perfect project for you and your daughter. The animal theme is much more younger player friendly than futuristic sci fi apocalypse!
What about Gaslands?
great video im really pleased to see that your channel has grown i haven’t watched miniature hobby videos in a year or so due to various reasons. it’s good to see you’re doing well
I liked your list I would like to add Frostgrave, and its sister games Ghost Archipelago and Rangers of Shadow Deep. I do love the bring your own minis game and this is one of the best. Great video and thanks for the listen.
You’re welcome - thanks for the suggestion and fir watching
I was going to suggest these along with fallout wasteland warfare and core space.
Dungeons and Dragons Miniatures (DDM), the DnD skirmish is the best game for beginners, is easy, and its a lot like magic and DnD combat, so, many people may have a solid background before getting started, the app is easy to use, the rules are around 30 pages and extra stuff is just printed on the cards, you can play it with any miniatures and terrain you already have for DnD table, so... its one of the best options, and since cards are digital, you can use any miniature you have, reducing cost and the need of several brand new miniatures just for the game.
Hey there, one thing immediately stood out to me about your video which is greatly appreciated is its games you have ACTUALLY played! The majority of other videos are just people reading the back of the box and talking about how cool it sounds 😅
Thank you. It was important to me to only give my opinion about things I have experience of.
@@BlackJackLegacy i appreciate you being genuine since I have been trying to get some friends and family into some miniature games. Although it's not a wargame, Mansions of Madness has been a hit with most people I've shown it to. Regardless, you got yourself a new sub!
Fallout Wasteland Warfare is my new go to skirmish game, loving it.
I have this game and is great.
Great suggestions. I need to get my hands onto some of these! Might I suggest a Mad Max skirmish style game called Gaslands? It’s probably one of the cheapest tabletop games out there. The rule book is $20 and you play it with Hot wheels or Matchbox cars. That means each new unit is only $1! I have 5 minute battle reports on my channel if you are interested in checking it out.
Have you played Song of Blades and Heroes?
An exceptionally accessible gateway game with simple but tactically interesting mechanics.
Minis are agnostic so can be anything you have to hand. The system has been tweaked to a variety of settings
I’ve not played it but know of it’s existence! Now I have a good collection of minis it’s probably worth checking out now.
I knew all out war would be there, I love that game, Gangs of Rome is pretty simple and fun the starter has all the minis you need but you do have to paint them up and build the terrain and it is historical, good video as always
10/10 video, gave me a lot to search for : )
Kudos for giving attention to lesser-known games. Malifaux, Godtear, Aristeia, Guild Ball, and Bushido are great games.
Underworlds is good if you play casual with friends. The aggressive competitive environment makes players buy too many packs to get random cards. The more packs you have the better chances to win tournaments. This happened in my area.
The competitive environment killed the game in my area.
I was pulling out my old Star Wars miniatures, and had forgotten that Legion is a thing now. Need to look into that.
So I would say following games are great for beginners:
Battletech Alpha Strike
OnepageRules - free short rules for 40K, Fantasy and few others
Also there are a whole load of rule sets published by Osprey games that can use any miniatures from other systems, all you need to buy is the book:
Horizon Wars (mechs)
Reality's Edge (cyberpunk)
Frostgrave (fantasy)
Thanks for watching and commenting. Personally I disagree that games which are rules only and you can use any minis you like are good for “complete beginners”. If you have no experience at all (who this list was aimed at) then you have no minis, probably no hobby experience and they can find it overwhelming to say you can use anything.
They’re a great way to use the minis you amass over time but as a beginner being able to buy a box and play. Does that make sense?
@@BlackJackLegacy That does make sense and sounds very reasonable. If you have no miniatures then the Osprey books aren't the best place to start.
However, if say you have some board games with miniatures say something like Blood Rage (which isn't a skirmish game) then OnePageRules or Osprey stuff would be a good place to start.
If you want a skirmish boxed game for beginners then Osprey's Wildlands and Judge Dredd Helter Skelter are complete all in one games with minis. They make more sense for complete beginners with no miniatures.
I was going to get that Nercomunda box until I saw the price!
Hey Ken - It’s really nice but by no means “beginner friendly” or priced as an easy entry. I think you need to be a fan already before that kind of money becomes even a consideration.
@@BlackJackLegacy Can you recommend any good beginner games in then same style (dystopian future world skirmish game) that might scratch my itch?
It may be worth picking up the other Necromunda box if you can find it or maybe kill team. Give it a couple of months and Corvus Belli will be releasing Infinity: Code One. A much simpler ruleset for Infinity which is less dystopian and more manga centric.
@@thickasmud I did consider Kill Team but the narrative style of play is what drew me towards Necromunda
@@thickasmud I'm REALLY looking forward to Code One. I love the _Infinity_ universe, but I'm not really interested in the full scale game. We have *Aristeia!* which is a great game, but it's own thing (it's a Hero Shooter/MOBA inspired skirmish game).
I do wonder if Code One will be like a mid point between WarCry and full scale Warhammer/Infinity. Though i would mind if it was a bit closer to WarCry, so I could justify multiple small skirmish bands.
I am a longtime fan of historical miniature war-gaming with an interest in massed armies, primarily the black-powder periods. A constant member of HMGS, attending all three of the usual conventions on the East Coast; their closure this year was heart breaking.
The discussions concerning cost of figures, travel and other paraphernalia in the covid era have an impact on everyone. The possibility of having a digital environment available, when travel isn’t feasible, means miniature games can be played at anytime by multiple people.
There is an opportunity for simulated figure war-gaming available that some may not be aware of. D and D players are aware of it, regular board game players are, and so is the Lock and Load company. They have moved many of their board games to this environment as free offerings. They are even looking at mini-conventions for the games.
This is the Tabletop Simulator available on the Steam network. It is exactly that and people can set up any game there emulating a regular table. There are a variety of 2D and 3D games available created by users, including the Star Wars series, but no massed historical war-gaming so far. This could be an excellent environment for HMGS, or the UK equivalent, to explore.
If 3D figures for historical games are primarily designed in computers anyway, that should be a simple addition and so should rule sets. I would think this is an easy way for companies to create an appeal for the gaming public to want their products in both digital and physical forms.
You raise a valid point however the issue is a financial one on the side of the companies and a social one on the side of the players.
Miniature gamers are well aware of tabletop simulator and Tabletopia and many have been using them through lockdown however the interface is a little clunky for miniatures games, the learning curve to use the game for miniatures games isn’t that easy and games can take much much longer to play. If digital gaming is the only option then actual video games end up being a much easier way to hangout online with friends for the most part.
From a companies point of view they don’t make any money doing this - it might be a way to keep folks engaged when physical play isn’t an option however their business is about selling miniatures and they already have a tough time competing with video and digital gaming.
The biggest hurdle for me is the interface of TTS for miniatures gaming - if it was better to use more folks would use it however if it was good maybe we’d see sales of miniatures drop to a point where folks no longer need them.
Never played either Burrows and Badgers or Underworlds.. hope to give them a go soon! Really good summary and I agree that All out war is definitely a great entry point in miniature gaming.
Thanks Marco. There’s some great games out there but if you’ve no hobby experience in building models and need a “game in a box” to try it out these are great options.
two tabletop miniature games that are no longer active from CMON. Wrath of Kings and Dark Ages.
once assembled, character cards, d10 dice, a tape and a terrain map, optionally with terrains tiles that you can print-cut out. Dark ages uses d20 instead of d10, but otherwise...quick and ready to go.
SFG has Guild balls and Godtears, also quite good. RUclips has a few gameplays, all considerably pocket safe compare to most prestige games like 40k , Warmachines and Infinity like...which are heavier mechanics.
Good list. I didn't even know that All Out War was still around. Good to know! I almost got into it when it first dropped as my FLGS had a huge display of it. If I wasn't such a damn X-Wing junkie at the time I probably would have, lol. That being said, my go to for easy rules is GrimDark Future Firefight from One Page Rules. Since it's a bring-your-own-minis kind of rule set, I can see why it wouldn't belong on your list, even though a majority of the rules are free and the full book is only $5.
BattleTech has a couple of starter boxes to play as well, and a 4v4 is a normal game. Only 8 mini's to paint, and that is if you even bother with 3D mini's. 2D standup picture mini's is all we ever used. I would even suggest the starter rules for BattleTech Alpha Strike. AS is the simplified version of the game that has all of the game stats that fit on a business card.
Great to see Burrows & Badgers on the list. I've been very tempted by the new SW Legion set for the past few months, might pick it up once I've finished with KoW. Definitely agree with All Out War, such a fun and easy to game to play.
Separatists or Republic or you want both ( I am/have already collected the OT factions and wouldnt mind doing the Droids but couldn't justify trying to buy for 4 factions ,the missus would kill me ...
@@soulfirez4270 it would be both for me, I don't have any gaming groups near me, so all of my gaming relies a lot on my kids to play the games with.
@@krjr1982 Ah well it does make a great game ( easy enough to learn and pick up ,but with a good dose of badly quoted star wars lines one of the most fun war games I have ever played ..
Saga! Saga saga saga saga. I have gotten 4 people into minis with this game and it's perfect. Warbands are smaller so they aren't too overwhelming while still being a good size to feel epic during actual battles. The combat flows very smoothly and is fast paced, the rules are simple since everyone has the same stats, but there's enough diversity with army abilities, and finally everyone loves vikings, and those who don't love crusaders
As always, I love your videos and vibe, Andy!
I would also like to recommend WH 40K: Combat Arena. Man, how we love this game at home! It's criminally underrated, IMHO.
The minis are really easy to build, like in WH: Underworlds, requiring only a pair of clips. It's a standalone game, and unlike Underworlds (which I sell to buy this one), you do have cards but without the deck-building hassle, and moreover, it can be played with up to 4 players. Technically 5, if you meddle a bit with some rules.
It has d6, minis, board, and cards, with awesome lore, design and characters. What more can we ask for? Oh, yes, for it to not be a limited release.
Keep it awesome!
Wait the Combat arena is limited? They look so cool and with less parts and tokens than WH:underworld
Maybe not on a market yet, but I encourage to take a look on upcoming reboot of Chronopia. Not only legendary game is back, but as usually kick forward all of the wargames. Solo Rules, rules for odd number of Players, Battle Royale, PvP all that in Dark Fantasy Universe.
You can recommend Fallout Wasteland Warfare, Dust 1947 and Gaslands.
Dust 1947 is more easy to play than many of the games you presented on this video. You can play it on a grid terrain or free. It has an app to make the army list and inventory. A 50 point game can last 30-45 minutes.The only problem units are pricy.
Gasland is cool because you can use Hot wheels, any miniature or toy car you want. If you have a 3d printer you can find a lot of free stuff to print.
Walking Dead is good, but you need to buy too many sets to get the missions. You can buy the missions printed or in pdf, but Fallout WW has most of the missions for free to download.
In Fallout WW you can play it solo/cooperative/player vs player. You can download and print in pdf most of the missions, items and the character cards for free. The only cards you have to buy are the A.I. cards for solo/cooperative gaming. The campaign rulebook you can get in the 2 player starter box or buy the pdf. If you have a 3d printer Modiphius sells some 3d files of many of the units and scenics.
I did this same list a while ago as I mentioned in the video and Gaslands was in the original list however I don’t really class it as a full miniatures game in this sense due to not having any minis really. Still a good game though.
Dust you mention I’ve never played so couldn’t recommend it however as you say it’s quite pricey. Again I’ve not played Fallout WW either so again can’t recommend it myself.
The walking dead you don’t need to buy mission packs as you can make any missions up you like. There’s loads of community made ones and you then only need to buy expansions when you feel like spending more. They’re completely optional.
Also you mentioned 3D printing a lot - that’s not really what a beginner to miniature gaming is looking for really - they just want to try something to see if they like it.
One of my ALL TIME war games with miniatures is Chess. Even better is Knightmare Chess - think Magic + Chess. It's awesome!
King of War Vanguard is great too. And you can proxy with minis you already have. And you got me interested in the Walking Dead game... i was a fan of the first season.
I think Vanguard is a great game however at the time of making this there was no starter set and I think the minis aren’t the easiest to put together for complete beginners - still a great game however.
All great suggestions! Im surprised that Dust 1947 wasn't included. If you haven't heard of it, you should definitely check it out! Painted minis. Fast ruleset to learn & a lotta fun to play! Cheers! :)
Burrows and badgers is amazing, I highly recommend it
I'll be dedicating my live stream on Monday to this very game!
BlackJack Legacy awesome I will check it out :)
The most recent BattleTech box set is cheap in comparison, it comes with everything you might ever need to play as well as several miniatures that don't need building, rules that you can build up to (start at the simplistic quickstart then work your way up to more in-depth rules), and it even comes with a skirmish quickstart rulebook for simplified grid-less play that you can later upgrade to complex large-scale battles through a separate purchase.
It sounds great. I’ve never played Battletech so that’s why it wasn’t included. Maybe in the 2021 list? 👍🏼
@@BlackJackLegacy For your consideration! 👍
I'd add either Deadzone or Vanguard to the list of honourable mentions. Both very easy to pick up and play, especially Deadzone.
I will keep this list in mind to advise the for beginners, or in case i want to try something new in hobby, I agree 100% about the Walking Dead All Out War game!
Great video. I can recommend Wings of Glory as a good game for newcomers.
Thanks! Isnt Wings of Glory very similar to X-Wing?
BlackJack Legacy, yes. Wings of Glory, originally released as Wings of War, is the original game using those mechanics that were borrowed for X-Wing.
Blood Red Skies wil be getting a new starterset soon-ish based on Midway pitching Japanese Zero's against American Wildcats. Also they're going to gradually ditch all their metal planes and replacing them with resin.
I also suspect well be seeing large bombers and transports in the near future.
Don't forget Airstrike will be out next month wich is a full rulebook with extra scenario's, strafing runs, bombing runs and rules for using torpedoes alongside the rules for using jets such as the Messerschmit Me-262 and the first jets used in the Korean wars.
If you're more into the whole naval thing then Cruel Seas is a nice option allthough putting the ships together might be a little challenging as they don't come with instructions, luckily you can find a lot of support for this online.
Since it's launch new ships have come out in plastic, resin or metal for a nice variety of nations.
Cruel Seas will also get its first supplement named Close quarters intruducing new scenarios, new optional detailed rules for planes and subs and 2 new fleets: the Finnish and the Yugoslavic Partisans.
If that wasn't enough we'll be seeing new ships for all the nations over the coming months.
Does this makes you happy? :-p
I've managed to track down the Warcry starter set for only £90. I wouldn't have ordered it if it wasn't for you recently saying that the starter set is really all that a player needs.
It’s a great set and good value for what in there. You won’t be sorry Will.
What’s your thoughts on mantic’s dead zone?
I really like the game but the minis aren’t the easiest to build due to some older sculpts and no instructions. Great game and straight forward rules but let down for complete beginners by the minis in the starter set.
A great list! Of the 5 I’ve only played Blood Red Skies and Walking Dead: All Out War, but know of the others as good infection vectors into the hobby. Being a Mantic Games advocate (unofficially) I was drawn to them for easy to learn, yet deep rule sets, with lots of customisation, so AOW gets a big thumbs up from me 👍🏻
I don't think Mantic print the Walking dead anymore :(
Also, since you like Mantic games, can you explain the difference between "Firefight" and "Deadzone" ?
They look very similar and I thik they are in the same universe too, but I don't know which one I should start as a beginner.
I'm also considering buying Frostgrave and or Stargrave, since I can use whatever I want to them, this is also a huge plus.
The Walking Dead licence agreement has ended so Mantic don’t produce that anymore - you’re correct.
Deadzone is a skirmish game played with only small number of minis where as Firefight is more of an army scale with more minis on a bigger playing surface. The rules are different as Deadzone uses cubes for movement whereas Firefight uses a tape measure for distance. You can however use the same minis from Deadzone in Firefight as you’re right they’re set in the same universe.
Starting out Deadzone is a great option and if you enjoy it and add to your collection you can scale up your games to play Firefight
@@BlackJackLegacy Great! I was looking at their website and looks like Mantic don't ship to Brazil :(
Battletech armored command is a good choice for rompy stompy robots
You should check out One Page Rules, free rules for both Grimdark Future, and Age of Fantasy, both systems allow for any miniature to be used, and the website also has get you by printable paper models. Hands down the easiest and cheapest entry point.
Also, their games are simple enough to enjoy and offer a great gaming experience.
haha that was funny to see a picture of my burrow and badgers miniatures painted up pop up on screen :D
Well I looked for well painted stuff to use so I than you for your talented work!
Nice list and had some games I’ve never heard of which I always like hearing about. Have you played unmatched? That would be my number 1. Super easy rules and a fun and unique minis game. As far if someone new wanting to get into a competitive mini game underworlds imo is the best way to go especially now with how good beastgrave has been with making warbands good right out of the box and without having to own it all.
I would pitch Warcry and Riot Quest. I haven't played Monsterpocalypse, but from what I hear, it would be good as a starter.
I am new at this, so can anyone tell me if Pathfinder: Roleplaying Game falls in this category? 'Cause the game, very much, gets my attention.
Generally I class miniatures games as games where miniatures are the main part of the game. Pathfinder is a Role Playing Game which may use miniatures or may not. I’d it gets your attention a however - how bad can it be!
@@BlackJackLegacy Thank you for the info and for the very informative video.
Great list bud, nice to see B&B getting a shout out 👍
I’d have overlooked it too if it wasn’t for you so thanks mate.
Loving the new studio! Super professional man.
Cheers mate! Nice to have a dedicated area I don’t have to keep moving lights and cameras around. Means I can leave painting stuff out now instead of having to clear away to film.
Hi andy kings of war third edition how do you get the army list stats can photo copy them on your book
New to ur channel some good games there 👏
Infinity / Aristeia are both amazing.
I agree. I wouldn’t say Infinity is great for absolute beginners but Aristeia is a great shout.
@@BlackJackLegacy it’s complexity is what makes it attractive. Granted underworlds is what I have started with, having come from a card game background. But infinity is the only bigger scale game that immediately took my interest and managed to be cost appropriate with all the free rules, profiles/lists in the army app, updates, lack of unit rotation, power creep and requirement of a hundred other accessories.
I think if you’ve never played a miniatures game before Infinity would put most folks off with the metal models, small parts, relatively complex rules and amount of terrain needed. If someone is introducing you to the game that’s a little different but as a first game to just give miniature gaming a try I think there’s more accessible options. It’s a great game though - I just wouldn’t class it as a beginner entry level game.
@@BlackJackLegacy Code One suppose to be for new players.
@@tropicalwargaming688 I’ve reviewed it - might be for newer player who want to play Infinity but wouldn’t say complete beginners to war gaming. Good game though.
I would also add Battletech, why?
First, it has multiple rule levels, so if a new player has experience in wargaming, you can start with the standard rules for mechs or any of the other units if that person is more into tanks and infantry, air combat, space combat or naval combat.
If that person is a complete newbie you can just go for the introductory rules for Mechs.
And there's also Alpha Strike, it simplifies a lot of things at the expense of detail, but it's faster.
And even an RPG, so there's a lot for all kinds of players, the RPG players, the wargaming newbies, the veterans, the gun nuts that love to make their war machines unique and everything in between. And after that you can scale it up to even full scale wars.
Second, the box set of the game features single piece plastic minis for the most iconic mechs like the Battlemaster or Shadow Hawk and it's not insanely expensive.
Third, the lore, Battletech is a massive universe with a fairly interesting story and plenty of factions with different ideals and goals and more than enough material to satisfy anyone.
And lastly, even if that new player likes the universe, but not necessarily the tabletop game, well, there's also novels and quite a few videogames.
Ryu Mascorro - thanks for the response. Battle tech is not a game I’ve ever played or know a lot about so always appreciate getting recommendations from others too.
There is a problem you have not mentioned. Many minis have not been updated since the 1980s aesthetic. This could be a letdown to young players.
This is a fantastic analysis of the market currently!
Thank you very much. Do you have a favourite game that you’d add to the list?
Yes, wings of glory. It's the genesis of the x wing g game, before it got bogged down in rules creep. I did get a job based on my ability to teach 1st Ed X-wing,and WoG is even easier. Used to teach it at a game night at a local bar.
Thanks for the advice. There's some good games in there to look at.
You’re welcome fella! Too many good games get missed because of the big names.
Mantic Games do Warpath skirmish.
Ground Zero Games (GZG), do Stargrunt 2-squad combat, and Full Thrust (starship combat).
All true but I still don’t consider these grey beginners games for folks who’ve never played a miniatures game before. As I mentioned in the video ease of getting playing ASAP is a consideration. As much as I love Mantic’s games very few even come with assembly instructions.
Have you had a chance to play Aristeia? If so, what did you think of it?
Quick update--The "Champions of Dreadfane" box you showed as available for Warhammer Underworlds is NOT the full-but-streamlined game that used to be sold through Barnes and Noble. Instead, it's a smaller box that includes JUST the two warbands of miniatures--one Nighthaunt, one Stormcast--and their cards, for play in the full Underworlds: Beastgrave game. It doesn't include tokens, dice, or boards in its current format.
Thanks for the clarification.
I have a game called bottalions that was designed for kids - it's simple, it's surprisingly fun, but better with more copies combined together. It was kickstarter-exclusive, but if you ask nicely they might provide you with the .stl files, so you can 3d print the game yourself.
Sadly I dont have a 3d printer but thanks for the recommendation
@@BlackJackLegacy Actually, you might be able to find a local shop that'll do it for you. Just google "3d printing near me".
Begin from 6-10mm games, they are much simpler and cheaper to prepare. Warmaster, Epic, Dropzone commander, Blitzkrieg commander, Warbands, Kings of war with 10mm miniatures, DBA, HotT, etc.
You should really look at the Warmachine/Hordes game from privateer press. At 40 bucks a starter, it is a easy, cost effective game you can play with just a starter for each player. It needs not a lot of figures, and the rules are easy.
i have been looking into god tear last couple of day's. Haven't ordered it yet because i already have so many games ( warhammer underworld first 2 sets + expansion, star wars legion, almost everything from the walking dead all out war and ASOIAF miniatures game + loads of expansions and starter sets)
Crisis protocol is to expensive, it looks cool but alot of money for the expansions is keeping me from buying it.
Yeah that’s one of the reasons I’ve not picked it up yet. I’d love a demo of it however.
For me its about the best game of 2020 already. I love it and wont say no to a game, anywhere anytime. There is some pro's and some con's however. If you go by the starterset, you wont have a lot of fun, and you basically need both starters or 1 starter and 2 champions extra, but best played with 3v3 champions. (2 starters and 2 champ boxes is the cheapest option)
@@miniaturepainting yeah i can buy the 2 starters + 2 expansions for 117 euro, for what you get it's not that expensive.
@@miniaturepainting but the thing that's holding me back is my collection of games aswel hehe i own 596 boardgames (full games not including expansions) with around 10 games simular to this list. Do i really need one more is the question :D
@@smolle8906 YES
Check out Heroes Among Us. It’s a superhero skirmisher with quick to learn rules and you use any miniature you want (I rebase heroclix). Its on available on wargamevault.com
I'd like to hear more about some of these games Andy, maybe a video on e.g. burrows and badgers or legion? There's not many youtubers showcasing these games and they look good.
That’s my plan as I free up more time mate. There’s plenty of folks covering the big games so maybe I can add value with these 👍🏼
Tons of Legion videos on You Tube. There are even channels dedicated to just Legion.
Godtear is sweet! Give it a play! I actually wont paint up Godtear just to keep the entry level shock of miniature gaming low :).
I intend to mate. I don’t know anyone who has it to give a try but keep hearing how good it is. 👍🏼
Im going to throw it at boardgamers mostly. Keep it wargaming lite :).
Is wargame delivered any good ?
A game that will be getting tons of support and that will easily convert board gamers to war gamers is Funkoverse. The appeal is obvious and the rules/tactics are easy to learn so even younger children can play it. Also, I assume you haven't played Rangers of Shadowdeep? It's a fantastic game by the guy who invented Frostgrave that can be played solo or with other players. It is Co-op and therefore a good beginner game as you're not fighting against someone that may have a better grasp of the rules. On top of that, you can use any minis that you like...so it can be as cheap or expensive as your budget allows.
What has ths easiest + best rules???
However that doesn’t take into consideration how easy it is to get it to the table. If you need to build minis etc that may put off total beginners. Or maybe it costs £150 - that may put off total beginners. That’s the point of this list.
Great video 👍
Thanks Henry 👊🏼
Nice video. :-) I've always thought Twilight Creations' Zombies!!! line of games was good starter fare. Especially for folks coming out of a board game background.
Thanks Andy, I shall go and purchase these immediately! :>)
Haha - the subliminal messaging is working well!
Darn RUclips on your phone not giving me an edit function lol!
An interesting list but most of them come with a pretty big price tag attached for someone who could only be curious.
Obviously it depends what they're drawn to but I'd be inclined as an alternative option would be to go Song of Blades and Heroes/any of Ganesha games catalogue. Alternatively Pulp Alley is brilliant because it's one of the few games that is not necessarily all violence focused, check out their RUclips channel for loads of play throughs. Finally games like Battle Lore or others in that line give you a good feeling of a wargame without a big leap, the games of Two Hour Wargames/Rebel Minis have innovative solo/coop and verses rules built in so can give a joint learning/gaming experience and in terms of toys then everything less than 28mm is going to be much cheaper.
Obviously all this depends on what draws the person to the hobby but just throwing my 2p in 👍😄🎲.
Keep up the good work.
Hey dancingpoplant - I created this list as something a complete beginner may use and I think the problem is that when starting out some of the lesser known games are either very difficult to source, they're difficult to find players for but more importantly the sheer breadth of options of which minis to buy can be overwhelming.
Cost wise, all of the games I've listed have a low entry point and whilst you could spend more on them later (as with any game) you're not breaking the bank to give them a try.
I think the games you mentioned are great however I don't see them as complete beginner entry points - more of the games you begin to explore when you know the miniature gaming hobby is something you're going to enjoy. Hope that makes sense.
is "miniature wargaming" also a "board game"? or are they totally separate category?
Ok this may seem like a stupid question , but why no affiliate link? Seems like a missed opportunity with you recommending games and not having a link to there purchase with you getting a small cut. Great video by the way with some great recommendations ( I am a big fan of legion , a simple but still enough depth to make for fun battles or narrative based sessions ,but then I have a tendency to resin print and home brew characters that FFG has not released yet lol so I never minded the slow start they had.
Not a stupid question at all mate. RUclips have been hitting a lot of channels with strikes for having affiliate links in video descriptions so sadly not worth the hassle. I share my Element Games affiliate links elsewhere but RUclips don’t make it easy!
@@BlackJackLegacy Ah ok ,sorry didnt realize they had gone that ,um counter productive with there content creators .
To me, measuring to move is the big thing that makes new players wary about trying tabletop miniatures games. Don't ask me why, but it isn't an appealing mechanic for some reason. I am in a huge board game group where I live, and that is the one thing they all balk at when I try to introduce a tabletop war game to them. It is always, "it isn't one of those ruler games, is it" when I ask to show someone. That is why I agree completely on Warhammer Underworlds. Also, if it wasn't for the models being difficult to build, my vote for my far the easiest gameplay wise would be Deadzone Second Edition, or Mars Attacks: The Miniatures Game from Mantic. The movement is so easy, and very interesting, and the rules are very simple. Like I said, it is just a shame that the models can be difficult, although if you are showing someone the game, they won't have to build anything because you will already have it. Because of that, Deadzone would actually be my number 1.
just get blood bowl its pretty much easy to get into
in fact its the more fun when people don't know the rules correctly and don't try and work out every single percentage and just go for it
we found this out in a one min per turn league you've no time to think so just take your moves based on what you think you should do
in the last few weeks a new starter set came out with new rules but nothing is wrong with the old starter set
Time for a 2023 update :D
"However" however seems to be his favorite word...
It’s better than “erm” 😉
LOT OF GOOD GAMES missing from this list. Personally, I would have included miniature agnostic games that let one use any miniature model you want without having to build models. All you need are some miniatures for a warband, dice, ruler, whatever you want to use for tokens, and the rulebooks. For the following games, you can easily just use D&D or Pathfinder miniatures, or even utilize miniatures from boardgames that you may have on hand like Zombicide.
Frostgrave Fantasy Wargames in the Frozen City, Last Days: Zombie Apocalypse: A Game of Survival Horror, Realitity's Edge: Cybepunk Skirmish Rules, Scrappers: Post Apocalyptic Skirmish Wargames, Rangers of Shadow Deep, Oathmark: Battles of the Lost Age, Elder Scrolls Call to Arms.
Dust 1947 is another great tabletop skirmish game for beginners, ready to play out of the box. Also, A Song of Ice and FIre Miniature Game for an excellant rank and file game. Both of these are on the more expensive spectrum, but if you want to go ultra cheap, Runewars: Miniature Game Core Set for $30 off Amazon is the way to go.
Someone else mentioned miniature agnostic hames and the reason I didn’t include them is because as a complete beginner (who this is aimed at) you won’t have any minis to use and actually it’s quite daunting to say “use anything”. That’s why the list is more “games in a box” staters.
good vid, tanks is good, and infinity!!!
Thanks mate. I mentioned Tanks in the original video and didn’t quite make my top 5 however it was the difficult nature of assembling the Infinity minis that made it less beginner friendly in my eyes.
what sends most players packing in regards to miniature gaming, is the cost... i know tons of people who would love to play but wonnt or cant pay the prices a decent army would cost.
add to that the fact that at least in the area where i live most players are trying to be the "coolest" so no one will play with you without painted minis..painting them yourself without experience will ruins your first armies and you sunk even more money,... buying them painted or pay someone to paint them for you and it gets even more expensive...
at least thats the problem where i live
nice job bud :)
"The Fantasy Trip"...Just download Steve jackson´s Melee. it`s free, it`s fun, the pdf comes with the figures in squares to paste on cardboard and hexmaps. If you like that you can get the second game, wizard. it is another standalone game that introduces magic and new rules and mixes with MELEE to form a complete package.... There are also Death Test 1 and 2, these are pre-programed adventues with scenarios to play alone (or with a friend) without a GM...... that you can also take forward by getting "Into the labyrinth", a role playin system that uses the same chips, maps, rules and expands and adapts them into a regular RPG that requires a GM. . I really can`t think of a more complete package at a lower price. get onboard now that there are modern editions that keep the same feeling and art style, they are really gorgeous in a vintage way.
Loogs a bit dated and vintage and that might detract some people, so make sure you have someone to play with and get those pdf files from the designer`s site or bgg. Buiding it yourself is a joy cause it is an easy build.
Important to note: the game has few stats to keep track of and characters are created for each game in a matter of minutes, for the skirmish games and for the rpg and adventure modes. This makes the game perfect for individual isolated short scenarios or campaigns more than multiple scenarios and leveling a lot cause a point in a stat means quite a lot.
Give this a go.
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA the miniatures game is amazing and well made and easy to play.
www.aresgames.eu/games/battlestar-galactica-starship-battles-line
I don't necessarily disagree with your choice, other than the GW product, because screw those guys. You should check out some options with less proprietary miniatures requirements. Frsotgrave, Rangers of Shadowdeep and Ghost Archipelago are great miniature skirmish games. The core rule books are about $20 and while they do have game specific minis available you can play with any minis you have. Any of the products from Ganesha Games are great for first time miniatures gamers. They have quick and easy rules just about any genre you can think up and the core rule books cost about $8 each on Drive Thru. Any miniature game from Osprey has been quite fun and none of them have core rules that cost more than $30 with most coming in around $15 to $20. And you can dip a toe into games like Gaslands which makes use of Matchbox cars. There are also mecha based options like MektonZ or Battletech. And in the same general price range as Legion you could look at several Modiphius products like Star Trek Adventures, or Fallout: Wasteland Warfare. Personally I like to get people into the hobby at the lowest possible price point. Even X-Wing can get a little spendy considering some ships now seem to be extremely rare and expensive on the secondary market.
Hey SpaceRanger42 - I didn't include any games that don't have a proprietary minis as I honestly don't think they're a good place for brand new, never played before beginners to start. I think a starter box or 2 player set with everything you need is a great starting point and then from their you'll expand into things like Frostgrave etc.
I did mention that cost was a consideration so I kept things relatively low in cost and in the original video i made a while back ruclips.net/video/6k0dsddJz8M/видео.html I mentioned Gaslands and Tanks which are super cheap.
Warhammer 40k apocalypse is the best beginner game cost and rule wise c:
Relicblade, Relicblade, Relicblade
Since you mentioned it mate I’ve been looking into it. Haven’t played it so didn’t make this list however I love the look of it. My only reservation seems to be it’s not easy to pick up in the U.K.
Re the Burrows & Badgers map: if you're going to make that little effort, I don't see why you wouldn't just say that it's set in an alternate universe Britain.
Wow, no mention of Battletech? They have a $20 starter set with easy to get into rules, two single piece plastic mecha, and then some card board ones to flesh out your lance of mechs, a double sided battle mate that has hex grids on it so that it is easy for someone to transition from board games to it.
There is also another box (A game of armored combat) that is $50 with more plastic mechs. Still all one piece and they are all distinctly shamed so that even unpainted they will not be confused for one another. The second box also has some expanded rules with a couple more mechanics, but you can use all of these mechs can be used with the simplified rules from the beginner box. Catalyst Games also keeps up with support and recently released more mechs, all one piece. There are some older mechs out there in metal that come in multiple parts and those can be tricky, but most of the newer stuff is all one piece.
Others have mentioned this too but the reason it isn’t in the list is I haven’t played it so can’t recommend it. It’s not something you hear about much in the U.K. so I think it’s more loved by US based players generally.
Surprised Kill Team wasn't mentioned, at least for an honorable mention at the end...
I don’t think Kill Team is a great first step into war gaming for a complete beginner. I think whilst the starter set is good value (or at least the first one certainly was!) it’s a lot to spend on your first steps and the rules are a little more complex than other games I’d recommend for beginners. Also having to clip out the models and build them with list building in mind just makes it less of a complete beginner entry to an entry for someone who has a little more experience in tabletop games. That’s why I didn’t include it but it’s still a great game.
“Warkin Dead” is that a pun of “The Walking Dead”?
When you're from Newcastle its always the Warkin Dead!
Ahh yes a fellow geordie, never thought I’d see another.
At least on the internet
Good list, I'm surprised you didn't mention one of the Infinity starters.
Thanks Chris - I think they’re great starter sets but those minis are not for first time hobbyists in my opinion. Just too fiddly with small parts but great for folks with a little more experience.
@@BlackJackLegacy You know, that's fair. They were a pain to assemble until I started using poster tack.
If they were single piece like Aristeia I’d probably have included it.
don't forgive the ease of building issue. Loki's horns. I need not say more. They are like jumping beans and are lying somewhere on my basement floor perfectly camouflaged, never to be found. Now Loki has kinda horns which are nowhere near as good as the original
Honestly just start the game you're attracted to. If that is warhammer it's warhammer. If that's warcry it's warcry.
love your videos but this one felt too fast and clinical
Sorry buddy - May need to slow it down in future but this was more scripted to make sure I didn’t miss what I wanted to say 👍🏼
Zombicide!!!!
Here for the accent.
Marvel Crisis Protocol minis are just bad. Especially if you compare them to GW minis. The difference is staggering.
Infinity N4 😉
Not sure its complete beginner friendly ;)
I am well lost
Anything by Games Workshop is terrible. Over-priced, unbalanced, and too simplistic for theprice. The models are lovely. If You are just painting, fine. For actually good games, no. Terrible.
KILL TEAM!
Kill Team, in my opinion, is not a great game for complete beginners to miniatures games. There are other games which are much more accessible to play.