Key issues: enjoyment of the game - losing a hard fought battle is much more fun & rewarding than winning a 'walkover'. Finding a period that fires your imagination. The social aspect of getting a group of like minded people around the table for the banter. Most of the other things will grow with experience - scale/figs/painting/ rules. On rules though; there are a huge number out there, some good, some OK, some just rubbish - some of the old rule sets are far superior to many of the more recently written ones (lets face it, B/Action is cr@p at armoured combat when compared to even the old AIRFIX armoured rules). Don't dismiss old rules, just because they are 'old'. Try various sets & find one that suits you.
Donald Featherstone , Charles Grant and Peter Young got me interested in wargames. My main bug bear is complicated rules, my Bolt Action experience was that it got more and more complicated, which caused my previous group to make our own, keeping games simple , great video Lee
Another great episode Lee!! Only addition I would put on the list of tips is… Go Straight to 6mm!! The greatest of all scales!! The One, True Scale and everyone knows that lol
@MiniatureAdventuresTV A lapse, but, Lee, I think you are a good ambassador for the intelligent wargamer's scale of choice. It was good to read recently that Baccus are having to adjust to a significant number of new customers. 😀
7:00 - about 30-40 years ago, I made battle maps for my battles, mostly DBM but some others as well. I still have them stashed in some ring binder somewhere.
This is without a doubt the most wondrously crackers hobby a grown man can have. And historical wargaming more so 🤣. Welcome and best of luck with the 100 years war project. Are you sharing pictures of your work anywhere?
@@MiniatureAdventuresTV Thank you! Yes, I like what I've seen and heard about folks in the hobby so far. I'm hoping to perhaps upload some videos on youtube of them, more as a sort of vlog/painting diary, as I finish each regiment/unit. I realise that I've only really just bought loads of some suitable models so far. I also realise I'm not really the best painter ever, probably more utilitarian than anything. But, thanks very much on the welcome.
Great episode, Lee, and some top advice. I'd have to say that completing one project before moving on to the next would be one of my suggestions, and certainly something that I wish I was better at!! 😊
As part of your painting point, invest in enough and bright lighting for the painting table. Painting is great fun by itself, but trying to do so in poor lighting is frustrating and will not produce the best results. More generally, thank you for another interesting video. These have become part of my early Sunday morning routine here in Michigan, USA as I come into consciousness with that first mug of coffee. D&D. I've wanted to get back into that for several years. The classic game at the table with other gamers.
An excellent bit of advice. I steadily increased my lighting over the years, from a single desk lamp when I started to three big daylight lamps with a combined brightness that can give me a suntan.
There were no skirmish games such as is today when I started wargaming. It was paint a unit and join in then build an army. It worked. What works for a skirmish game doesn't work for an army based game. Obviously, my thoughts are based on St Charles (Grant), patron Saint of wargamers. Painting the figures, whatever the colours used, is important for the look of the thing. You can grow into knowledge as you play and read the books. I've seen people still using red and blue for their armies. It's their game so I'm not complaining. Another point would be to buy terrain pieces as you build your army (armies) to fit your period. Trees and hills are most important followed by rivers, and fields of various kinds.
The trick, I find, is to buy minis that are useful for both skirmish and army-level games. That way you can fight skirmish games while building up your forces for bigger battles. Another tip is to build small battalions at first and expand them later when you have a battleworthy force. Nothing more disheartening than painting 36-near identical figures to build your first units. Break that down into 9-man or 12-man battalions and you have a whole brigade ready in the same time!
I really disliked the "Only painted armies" rule :/ I totally agree it looks better to have fully painted armies, but honestly I think this could prevent people using their minis for a while...
There are two degrees of “painted units”: 1. Completed artistic masterpieces that will take months or even years to paint. 2. Units painted to an acceptable “tabletop standard”. I try to get my units painted to level 2, with the intention of one day “upgrading” them level 1, usually on a unit-by-unit basis.
@@jefthing - Well, guess I was lucky. I’ve met one or two lifelong friends at clubs. But generally you’re right: most of the frogs when you kiss them, remain frogs.
I’d let new players plan with unpainted miniatures having fallen into the trap of only playing with painted minis many times I’ve not finished painting two armies before the rules have either fallen out of favour or been replaced by a new edition (yes GW we are talking about you ).
Control, reasonable, not getting carried away? What hobby are you talking about haha, just kidding. My recommendation is: even though you your inspiration is recreating a large really interesting battle (e.g. D-Day), start with something smaller but similar. Your first models are always going to be your worst. Practice with different miniatures that you can get some games with and wont care if they look rough around the edges.
Id tell them not to get into miniature wargaming. Id tell them go to hex and counter wargames and just paint miniatures they like the look of for the hobby.
New wargamer? Are sure you want to get into the hobby??? Lee there is no law that says you have to answer the phone, just let it ring!! If it is important they will ring back later.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
I only have one rule. Play the game and have fun, winning and losing is irrelevant to playing and having fun with friends.
I couldn't agree more. In this case it REALLY is the taking part that matters
Key issues: enjoyment of the game - losing a hard fought battle is much more fun & rewarding than winning a 'walkover'. Finding a period that fires your imagination. The social aspect of getting a group of like minded people around the table for the banter. Most of the other things will grow with experience - scale/figs/painting/ rules.
On rules though; there are a huge number out there, some good, some OK, some just rubbish - some of the old rule sets are far superior to many of the more recently written ones (lets face it, B/Action is cr@p at armoured combat when compared to even the old AIRFIX armoured rules). Don't dismiss old rules, just because they are 'old'. Try various sets & find one that suits you.
Donald Featherstone , Charles Grant and Peter Young got me interested in wargames. My main bug bear is complicated rules, my Bolt Action experience was that it got more and more complicated, which caused my previous group to make our own, keeping games simple , great video Lee
Another great episode Lee!! Only addition I would put on the list of tips is… Go Straight to 6mm!! The greatest of all scales!! The One, True Scale and everyone knows that lol
...and the cheapest! (Gamers from Yorkshire appreciate lots of stuff for not many pennies)
LOL...I'm letting the scale down by not including it on my list! Shame on me 🤣. Of course go 6mm should be on there.
@MiniatureAdventuresTV A lapse, but, Lee, I think you are a good ambassador for the intelligent wargamer's scale of choice. It was good to read recently that Baccus are having to adjust to a significant number of new customers. 😀
7:00 - about 30-40 years ago, I made battle maps for my battles, mostly DBM but some others as well. I still have them stashed in some ring binder somewhere.
This is all wonderful advice. I've recently started getting into historicals and am current working my way through painting a 100 Years War army.
This is without a doubt the most wondrously crackers hobby a grown man can have. And historical wargaming more so 🤣. Welcome and best of luck with the 100 years war project. Are you sharing pictures of your work anywhere?
@@MiniatureAdventuresTV Thank you! Yes, I like what I've seen and heard about folks in the hobby so far. I'm hoping to perhaps upload some videos on youtube of them, more as a sort of vlog/painting diary, as I finish each regiment/unit. I realise that I've only really just bought loads of some suitable models so far. I also realise I'm not really the best painter ever, probably more utilitarian than anything. But, thanks very much on the welcome.
Great episode, Lee, and some top advice. I'd have to say that completing one project before moving on to the next would be one of my suggestions, and certainly something that I wish I was better at!! 😊
We'd all like to be better at that! 🤣
As part of your painting point, invest in enough and bright lighting for the painting table. Painting is great fun by itself, but trying to do so in poor lighting is frustrating and will not produce the best results. More generally, thank you for another interesting video. These have become part of my early Sunday morning routine here in Michigan, USA as I come into consciousness with that first mug of coffee. D&D. I've wanted to get back into that for several years. The classic game at the table with other gamers.
An excellent bit of advice. I steadily increased my lighting over the years, from a single desk lamp when I started to three big daylight lamps with a combined brightness that can give me a suntan.
@@MiniatureAdventuresTV Not necessarily a bad thing during winters in the UK.
Good video. I would reinforce the starting small and then PLAYING! It's what I DON'T do... 🙂
Watching films and documentaries about your chosen period of history can help as well.
Great tip. Thanks :)
Another great video Lee . And a good 10 tips. Looking forward to next week's one😊
Glad you enjoyed it
You forgot to tell them to keep buying minis no matter how many they have that aren't painted! It's crucial!
It's almost a requirement 😂
There were no skirmish games such as is today when I started wargaming. It was paint a unit and join in then build an army. It worked. What works for a skirmish game doesn't work for an army based game. Obviously, my thoughts are based on St Charles (Grant), patron Saint of wargamers. Painting the figures, whatever the colours used, is important for the look of the thing. You can grow into knowledge as you play and read the books. I've seen people still using red and blue for their armies. It's their game so I'm not complaining.
Another point would be to buy terrain pieces as you build your army (armies) to fit your period. Trees and hills are most important followed by rivers, and fields of various kinds.
Good advice 👍
The trick, I find, is to buy minis that are useful for both skirmish and army-level games. That way you can fight skirmish games while building up your forces for bigger battles.
Another tip is to build small battalions at first and expand them later when you have a battleworthy force. Nothing more disheartening than painting 36-near identical figures to build your first units. Break that down into 9-man or 12-man battalions and you have a whole brigade ready in the same time!
I really disliked the "Only painted armies" rule :/ I totally agree it looks better to have fully painted armies, but honestly I think this could prevent people using their minis for a while...
There are two degrees of “painted units”:
1. Completed artistic masterpieces that will take months or even years to paint.
2. Units painted to an acceptable “tabletop standard”.
I try to get my units painted to level 2, with the intention of one day “upgrading” them level 1, usually on a unit-by-unit basis.
Joining a local club can put you off the hobby for life.
Every club is different. Some are pretty awful, that’s true. But you only have to meet one likeminded player to make it all worthwhile.
@ Yes, you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find that prince. Sadly, with wargamers, you will find it’s Prince Andrew.
@@jefthing - Well, guess I was lucky. I’ve met one or two lifelong friends at clubs. But generally you’re right: most of the frogs when you kiss them, remain frogs.
I’d let new players plan with unpainted miniatures having fallen into the trap of only playing with painted minis many times I’ve not finished painting two armies before the rules have either fallen out of favour or been replaced by a new edition (yes GW we are talking about you ).
I have noticed a lot of Napoleonic’s about recently.
It seems to be having a boost from various quarters.
Control, reasonable, not getting carried away? What hobby are you talking about haha, just kidding.
My recommendation is: even though you your inspiration is recreating a large really interesting battle (e.g. D-Day), start with something smaller but similar. Your first models are always going to be your worst. Practice with different miniatures that you can get some games with and wont care if they look rough around the edges.
Excellent advice
Id tell them not to get into miniature wargaming. Id tell them go to hex and counter wargames and just paint miniatures they like the look of for the hobby.
New wargamer? Are sure you want to get into the hobby??? Lee there is no law that says you have to answer the phone, just let it ring!! If it is important they will ring back later.
Some good tips. With points 9 and 10 we are already deep into the hobby. Both of them are important to all of us!
Well done, Sir. 🫡
Thanks! 👍