Join me for a full show report from The Other Partizan Wargames Show 2025, held at Newark Showground on Sunday, 12th October 2025. This video takes you through one of the UK’s premier tabletop wargaming events, featuring stunning demo games, detailed participation tables, and some of the best-painted miniatures and terrain you’ll see anywhere. Whether you’re into historical wargaming, miniature painting, or simply love seeing the creativity and craftsmanship of the hobby community, this video brings the atmosphere of Partizan right to your screen. If you couldn’t make it to the show, this is the next best thing — a visual tour of inspiration for hobbyists, painters, and gamers alike. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-OyOZpU-R7PNBOFwP4mu3g/join

Held at Newark Showground on Sunday, 12th October 2025, The Other Partizan once again proved why it’s regarded as one of the premier events in the UK wargaming calendar. Known for its outstanding presentation, creativity, and the sheer enthusiasm of exhibitors and visitors alike, Partizan has become a must-attend show for anyone interested in tabletop wargaming, historical miniatures, and the wider hobby scene. 🎥 Watch the full video here: In my latest YouTube video, I take you on a detailed tour of the event, showcasing some of the most impressive demo and participation games on display. From large-scale historical re-enactments to small skirmish setups, each table tells its own story — brought to life through expertly painted miniatures, beautifully built terrain, and the dedication of the hobbyists behind them.

The Other Partizan Wargames Show, 12th October 2025 at Newark Showground

Why do some tabletop battles drag on unrealistically while others end just as things get exciting? In real history, few armies ever fought to the last man — most collapsed when morale, fatigue, or leadership finally gave out. In this episode, we dive into what really keeps soldiers in the fight and how different historical wargames model that fragile balance between courage and collapse. We’ll look at three standout rulesets that handle morale in unique ways: • Chain of Command, where shock wears down units and force morale controls when the whole platoon gives up. • Test of Resolve, where resolve grinds away until an army becomes brittle and only one bad roll away from disaster. • Clash of Spears, where fatigue captures both exhaustion and fear as armies slowly unravel. Join me for a deep dive into how “morale” isn’t just one rule but the heart of every wargame that wants to feel truly historical. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-OyOZpU-R7PNBOFwP4mu3g/join

Most of us have played games that just go on too long. The last few turns feel like a slog, both sides hanging on by a thread but still fighting when, historically, any real army would have called it quits. In real battles, soldiers didn’t fight to the death. They broke when morale failed — when fatigue, fear, and chaos overcame training and leadership. That idea of what keeps soldiers in the fight sits at the heart of this week’s video, where I look at how different wargames handle morale, resolve, and fatigue. We often use “morale” as a catch-all term, but it really covers everything from discipline and leadership to exhaustion and shock. It’s the hidden mechanic behind every victory and every collapse. In Chain of Command, morale works on two levels. Units suffer shock as firefights wear them down, while the entire platoon has a Force Morale that drops as losses mount. When it hits zero, the fight’s over. It’s elegant and tense, making battles feel alive. Test of Resolve takes a broader view. Its English Civil War battles hinge on “resolve” — a measure of determination that slips steadily away. Early on, units can recover, but once the army’s resolve starts cracking, collapse comes fast. Meanwhile, Clash of Spears ties fatigue and morale together. Every action, from running to fighting, adds fatigue, but seeing comrades flee or die adds even more. The result is a wonderfully organic system where armies don’t shatter all at once — they slowly crumble, just like in history. Across these games, the message is clear: morale isn’t just a number, it’s the soul of the battle. Understanding how different designers approach it can change the way you see your tabletop wars. Watch the full video to explore how realism, psychology, and playability collide when wargamers try to capture that crucial question: what really keeps soldiers fighting?

Did you know the first wargame rulebook was published in 1780? Long before tabletop hobby shops, Johann Christian Ludwig Hellwig wrote Instructions for the Representation of Tactical Manoeuvres in 1780.

In this video, we take a deep dive into one of the biggest questions in the tabletop wargaming hobby right now: how do you spot the products that point the way toward the future? Not every game that dominates today will matter tomorrow. The real story lies in the weathervane products — those unique releases that quietly shift expectations and show us where the hobby is heading. We’ll explore Games Workshop’s skirmish titles like Kill Team and Warcry, Warlord Games’ Epic Battles series, the explosion of 3D printing subscription services, hybrid wargame-boardgames such as Marvel Crisis Protocol and Star Wars: Shatterpoint, and the rise of digital tools that now shape how we play. Each of these isn’t just a game in itself, but a signal — a clue about how wargaming might evolve over the next five to ten years. Whether you’re a historical wargamer, a miniature painter, or just curious about the future of the hobby, this discussion will give you plenty to think about. Are these signs of real long-term change, or just short-term trends? Watch the full video and let’s find out together. Join this channel to get access to extra videos and perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-OyOZpU-R7PNBOFwP4mu3g/join

The tabletop wargaming hobby is full of exciting variety right now. On one side, we’ve got the traditionalists who love the sight of two massive 28mm armies clashing across a six-by-four table. On the other, we’ve got innovations that are changing how people collect, paint, and play. The real question is, can we identify the “weathervane products” that point the way toward the future of the hobby? A weathervane product isn’t necessarily the biggest or most profitable release of the year. Instead, it’s the kind of product that shifts expectations, inspires imitation, and shows us which direction the wind is blowing. In my latest YouTube video, I take a closer look at several examples that I think are acting as true signposts for where wargaming is heading. Games Workshop’s skirmish titles like Kill Team and Warcry prove that accessibility and narrative-driven play are here to stay. Warlord Games’ Epic Battles line shows how even large-scale historical games are moving toward affordability and practicality. The rise of 3D printing subscription services decentralises production, allowing hobbyists to personalise their armies in ways that were unimaginable just a decade ago. Hybrid boardgame-wargames, such as Marvel Crisis Protocol and Star Wars: Shatterpoint, are attracting completely new audiences through popular IPs. And digital tools, from army builders to campaign apps, are transforming how players engage with the hobby on and off the table. These products don’t replace the old ways. Big armies, physical books, and traditional clubs are still thriving. But they do point toward a future where the hobby is more accessible, more diverse, and more flexible than ever before. So what do you think are the real weathervane products of today? Do you agree with my analysis, or do you see other trends leading the way? Watch the video and join the conversation.

Join the Posties Rejects in an epic tabletop miniatures wargame as The Rejects Strike Back: The Battle for Mos Eisley unfolds! Using the Star Wars Legion rules, three members of the group face off in a cinematic clash of heroes, stormtroopers, and smugglers across a custom-built 28mm battlefield. Filmed in the legendary Shed-o-War in Gravesend, this exciting game captures the spirit of Star Wars wargaming at its finest. Expect tense firefights, daring manoeuvres, and plenty of laughs as The Rejects bring Mos Eisley to life on the tabletop. Whether you’re a fan of miniature painting, terrain building, or narrative wargaming, this video is packed with inspiration for hobbyists and players alike. Perfect for Star Wars fans, Legion commanders, and tabletop gamers looking for gameplay, tactics, and hobby fun. Don’t miss this Star Wars Legion battle report—where every dice roll tells a story in the galaxy far, far away!

Did you know that Avalon Hill’s Tactics II was the first mass-market wargame? Published in 1958, it wasn’t a miniatures game but a hex-and-counter board game, created. It was revolutionary because it packaged wargaming for a wider audience, complete with a printed map, cardboard units, and standardized rules.

WWII tank battles were brutal, technical, and terrifying—but how do you bring that real-world complexity onto the tabletop? In this episode, we dive deep into one of historical wargaming’s biggest challenges: accurately representing tank armour in miniature wargames. From sloped glacis plates to “hull-down” positions, we examine how WWII armour evolved and how real tank crews used tactics to survive against deadly anti-tank weapons. Then we explore how popular rulesets like Flames of War, Rapid Fire!, What-a-Tanker! and Chain of Command handle the delicate balance of realism, abstraction, and fun. Should armour be modelled as a saving throw or should the game focus on the power of the gun? How do different systems handle front, side, and rear hits? And what’s lost—and gained—when simplifying battlefield physics for fast gameplay? This discussion is packed with hobby insight and historical context, and is ideal for anyone interested in WWII miniatures games, rules design, or just learning more about how tanks work in tabletop combat. Whether you're a painter, player, or history buff, this is for you. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-OyOZpU-R7PNBOFwP4mu3g/join

In WWII, tank warfare was deadly, complex, and evolving at a breakneck pace. From the lightly armoured early-war Panzer IIs to the hulking late-war Panthers and IS-2s, both offensive firepower and armour protection saw radical changes. Real tank crews didn’t just rely on thick armour—they used tactics like angling their vehicles, going hull-down behind terrain, or positioning to encourage glancing blows. But how do we, as wargamers, bring those layers of complexity into our miniature games? That’s exactly the question explored in my latest YouTube video. We look at how several major WWII wargames approach the representation of tank armour, including Flames of War, Rapid Fire!, What-a-Tanker! and Chain of Command. Each of these games takes a different stance on how armour is modelled—some use it as a “save,” others calculate penetration directly, and some abstract the whole process for the sake of fast, cinematic play. We also dive into the history behind real-world tank armour innovations, like sloped armour, side-skirts, and spaced plating. Understanding these developments can not only enrich our gameplay but deepen our appreciation for the tank crews who risked everything during the war. Whether you're a seasoned tabletop tactician or just starting out in historical gaming, this video offers a thoughtful and engaging look at how we recreate tank warfare on the tabletop. It’s packed with hobby discussion, rules comparisons, and respectful historical reflection.

The fictional Battle of Koschlitz 1757 saw my Austrians take on Steve’s Prussians in a tense Seven Years War clash packed with cavalry charges, musket volleys, and plenty of dice drama. The armies lined up in classic style, with infantry brigades supported by cavalry wings and artillery. From the very start, the cavalry stole the show. Charge met counter-charge across the field, but—against all odds—my Austrians managed to smash through the Prussian horse, sending units retreating and even hitting two in the rear to destroy them outright. Suddenly, the path behind Steve’s infantry began to open up. Meanwhile, the Prussians tried to make use of their superior drill, obliquing and shifting to threaten my flanks. It slowed their advance, but it also created dangerous gaps in their line. When musketry finally erupted, the dice betrayed Steve—his infantry faltered while mine held firm. With my cuirassiers rallying to swing behind his army and my centre ready to pour fire into exposed flanks, Steve conceded the field. It was one of those games where the dice gods clearly picked a side, but the battle was exciting, cinematic, and great fun to play. Join us for photos and highlights from this dramatic encounter!

Did you know that in the 1960s, wargamers had to make their own miniatures? Before the explosion of figure manufacturers in the ’70s and ’80s, many hobbyists cast lead soldiers at home using moulds they bought or made themselves.

Every tabletop wargamer knows the truth: dice aren’t random. They’re vindictive little cubes of treachery. Whether it’s losing an unlosable melee, failing the easiest morale check in history, or watching your proud cavalry rout like frightened goats, bad dice rolls have haunted our hobby for decades. In this video, I dive into the age-old curse of wargaming dice. From fiery executions and hammer justice, to toxic oven meltdowns and the ritual sacrifice of unlucky dice, I’ll share the hilarious — and sometimes painful — ways gamers have tried to cope with terrible rolls. Along the way, I’ll recount some of my own legendary disasters, from the infamous “Battle of Hal” to the day I accidentally ruined my wife’s Call of Cthulhu career with a single roll. If you’ve ever felt betrayed by your dice, laughed at your own misfortune, or just enjoyed swapping war stories with fellow hobbyists, this video is for you. Because in the end, the best wargaming tales aren’t the ones where everything goes right — they’re the ones where the dice betray us in spectacular, unforgettable fashion. @youtubecreators #YouTubePartnerPerks Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-OyOZpU-R7PNBOFwP4mu3g/join

Every wargamer has lived it. That fateful roll of the dice where probability takes a holiday and betrayal becomes inevitable. Whether you’re storming the beaches, charging with cavalry, or just trying to pass the simplest morale check in the world, those plastic cubes have a way of laughing at us when it matters most. In my latest video, I tackle the age-old truth: our dice hate us. This isn’t just superstition. It’s a lived experience, backed by decades of disasters. I’ll share some of the classic coping strategies gamers have used to deal with cursed dice — from fiery executions and hammer-smash justice, to melting them in ovens (toxic fumes optional) and my personal favourite: the ritual sacrifice. Because nothing says “behave” like destroying a bad die in full view of its brethren. But the real meat of the video is in the stories. My own dice disasters are legendary in our group, the Posties Rejects. I relive the infamous Battle of Hal, a catastrophe so bad it still makes my fellow gamers wince. I recall the time I accidentally ended my wife’s RPG career with one bad roll in Call of Cthulhu. And I share how my children discovered — the hard way — that the dice curse is hereditary. For miniature painters, tabletop generals, and anyone who loves the hobby, this video is part confessional, part comedy, and part therapy session. Because in the end, wargaming isn’t just about winning or losing. It’s about the stories we tell afterwards. And let’s be honest: the best stories are always the ones where the dice utterly betrayed us. So grab your dice bag, take a deep breath, and join me as we laugh (and cry) at the cruel, hilarious fate that unites every wargamer: rolling ones when it matters most.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

When you sit down to wargame a well-documented period like World War II or the Napoleonic Wars, you can lean on endless reference material. Uniforms, battlefield maps, after-action reports—they’re all out there, ready to be turned into tabletop scenarios. But when you step back further into history, into the shadowy world of the Late Bronze Age, the picture gets much hazier. And that haziness is exactly what makes the Trojan War such a fascinating challenge for miniature wargamers. Our main source for the war is Homer’s Iliad, written centuries after the supposed events. It’s a masterpiece of storytelling, but it was never meant to be a reliable battlefield report. Gods appear on the field, warriors pause to deliver grand speeches mid-combat, and armour shines with almost supernatural brilliance. Wonderful for poetry, less helpful when you’re designing an army list. Archaeology gives us another perspective. The site of Troy at Hisarlik shows layers of fortified cities, some destroyed violently. We find pottery, weapons, and walls that hint at real conflict. But the evidence is fragmented, and scholars still debate which, if any, corresponds to Homer’s Troy. For wargamers, this leaves us in a fascinating position. Do we focus on the archaeological record and try to reconstruct a plausible Late Bronze Age battle? Do we embrace the mythic elements, letting gods, Amazons, and epic heroes onto the table? Or do we, as many do, find a balance—grounding our armies in archaeology but borrowing themes and atmosphere from Homer? That’s the joy of tackling poorly documented periods. There’s no single right answer. Instead, there’s space for creativity, interpretation, and conversation within the hobby. One gamer’s Trojan War might be a siege campaign rooted in Hittite tactics. Another’s might be a skirmish of epic heroes shaped by the gods. Both are equally valid, and both keep the story alive. In this video, I dig into these challenges and opportunities, asking what it means to wargame a story that might be more myth than fact. If you’re a historical wargamer, a miniature painter, or just someone who enjoys hobby discussions, I think you’ll find plenty to spark your imagination.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

In this video, we head back to the Shed-o-War for another clash of medieval steel and arrows! The Posties Rejects gathered for a 28mm Wars of the Roses game, played out on a hot summer Sunday under the watchful eye of our host, Postie. The Battle of Whetstone was a fictional engagement set the day before the historic Battle of Barnet, one of the decisive moments of the Wars of the Roses. Both armies mustered their retinues of knights, men-at-arms, billmen, archers, and artillery, ready to fight for either York or Lancaster. With deployment decided by the roll of the dice, fortunes quickly shifted as the tabletop battlefield took shape. What followed was a tense and hard-fought wargame filled with tactical manoeuvres, archery duels, and brutal hand-to-hand fighting. Could the Yorkist king hold his ground, or would the Earl of Warwick and his Lancastrian host turn the tide before the real battle ever took place? This game shows off the drama and spectacle of 28mm historical wargaming at its best, complete with beautifully painted miniatures, a detailed battlefield, and plenty of banter from the Rejects. 

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

When I first began putting together my Russian army for our Retreat from Moscow project, I wasn’t expecting to fall down a historical rabbit hole. But while flipping through the Blandford uniform guide for the Retreat from Moscow, I was immediately hooked by the mention of the Kalmyks and Bashkirs. They looked like they’d galloped straight out of the Middle Ages and into Napoleon’s nightmare — mounted warriors in fur hats and brightly coloured robes, firing curved bows and launching hit-and-run raids on the retreating French. Needless to say, I immediately realised that a Kalmyk unit would be integrated into my Russian army at some point. Ray and I are loosely building toward a game based around the Battle of Berezina, and right there in the Russian Order of Battle was a Kalmyk cavalry regiment. It was the perfect excuse to bring these exotic, half-forgotten warriors into the heart of the drama — and maybe give my French opponent a few headaches on the tabletop. So who were the Kalmyks? They are Europe’s only Mongolic ethnic group, descendants of the Oirat-speaking Mongols who migrated westward from Central Asia across the centuries. By the early 17th century, they'd settled on the arid steppes between the Don and Volga Rivers and established the Kalmyk Khanate under Russian suzerainty. Their name for the Volga, Itil, meaning “pastures” in their archaic script, sums up their deep connection to the land and their nomadic lifestyle. Even under the Russian Empire, the Kalmyks continued to migrate seasonally, moving their herds and yurts across the vast steppe, although they gradually transitioned to more permanent settlements with wooden houses and Buddhist temples. By 1798, Tsar Paul I formally recognized the Don Kalmyks as part of the Don Cossack Host, granting them status and privileges in return for military service. To the soldiers of Napoleon’s Grande Armée, the Kalmyks must have looked like ghostly echoes of a much older enemy. These were men who rode like Mongols, dressed like Mongols, and fought like Mongols. Small in stature but fierce in reputation, they struck an intimidating figure with their flowing robes, shaggy fur hats, and flying topknots.  Their gear might have seemed outdated compared to the polished muskets and sabres of the European powers, but it was deadly effective. Their bows were masterpieces of steppe craftsmanship — horn-backed, wrapped in birch bark and horsehair to withstand the damp Russian winters. With sinew strings and expert marksmanship, these bows could launch arrows over 500 yards, well beyond the reach of a typical infantry musket. In battle, Kalmyk cavalry used their speed and agility to their advantage. One commonly reported tactic was to ride within 40 paces of the enemy, loose four arrows in quick succession — some riders even carried arrows between their teeth for faster reloading — and then finish the assault with a lance charge. It's the kind of asymmetric warfare that’s hard to model on the tabletop, but devastating when used right. The Kalmyks played a notable role in the chaos of Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow. Their hit-and-run tactics and deep knowledge of the land made them ideal for harassing the retreating French columns, preying on isolated units, baggage trains, and stragglers. There’s even a famous account from November 1812, when a wounded French general arrived at a hospital in Krasnoye with an arrow still lodged in his body — complete with a brightly coloured plume sticking from the shaft. The French soon nicknamed the Kalmyk “hell’s devils,” and it’s not hard to see why. Though often overlooked in popular accounts of the Napoleonic Wars, the Kalmyks were still in the saddle right to the bitter end. On March 30, 1814, Kalmyk cavalry rode into Paris alongside the rest of the Russian army. They even set up camp on the Champs-Élysées, where Parisians gathered to watch these exotic horsemen race and perform riding tricks — a living reminder that some of the Empire’s enemies came from far beyond the Prussian and Austrian heartlands. For wargamers, the Kalmyks offer something truly different in a Russian Napoleonic force. They’re light cavalry with a unique flavour — and perfect for those of us who like a little asymmetry in our games. Whether you're fielding them in a sprawling retreat scenario, a skirmish-level ambush, or just adding some spice to your cavalry wing, they’re guaranteed to get noticed. They also provide a chance to paint something visually striking: robes in rich colours, horsehair plumes, exotic tack and saddles — a refreshing change from the parade-ground greens and greys of most Napoleonic uniforms. And, of course, if you’re like me, there’s just something irresistible about including warriors in your army who feel like they’ve stepped out of a different era altogether — and still managed to ride all the way to Paris. These models are grom Gripping Beasts range of medieval Mongols, for a different era entirely, but still perfect for the 1812 campaign.