Variance Hammer
@variancehammer.bsky.social
Writer for variancehammer.com and goonhammer.com. Co-host of Lost to the Nails and the Plastic Pressgang Podcast. Fan of the Horus Heresy, Adeptus Titanicus and myriad historicals. Avid terrain enthusiast. He/him/his
Reposted by Variance Hammer
I might write something up about this on the blog but this is about (and hints at) big things, namely that every physical space is also a social space. The materiality of the surroundings shape sociality and vice versa. I hammered on this in my diss and recent Analog Game Studies article.
Contributor CJ Shearwood examines how the UK wargaming landscape has transformed in recent decades, and the clear connections to austerity politics.
Austerity Killed Narrative Wargaming (And, Statistically, Your Nan)
How politics impacts play.
www.rascal.news
December 18, 2025 at 8:30 PM
I might write something up about this on the blog but this is about (and hints at) big things, namely that every physical space is also a social space. The materiality of the surroundings shape sociality and vice versa. I hammered on this in my diss and recent Analog Game Studies article.
Reposted by Variance Hammer
A wargaming table is not a wargaming table when it's not in use by players. Maybe it's an empty room: the lights go out, you leave, it's inert. A dining room table is a wargaming table when you play on it, whereupon the entire social arrangement of that space shifts, until it reverts back.
December 18, 2025 at 8:32 PM
A wargaming table is not a wargaming table when it's not in use by players. Maybe it's an empty room: the lights go out, you leave, it's inert. A dining room table is a wargaming table when you play on it, whereupon the entire social arrangement of that space shifts, until it reverts back.
Reposted by Variance Hammer
Basically, a table is never just a table, a room is never just a room, etc. Alexandra Kviat gave a brilliant presentation at the first Generation Analog about this. She interviewed female boardgamers about their experiences in various settings: club, cafe, store.
December 18, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Basically, a table is never just a table, a room is never just a room, etc. Alexandra Kviat gave a brilliant presentation at the first Generation Analog about this. She interviewed female boardgamers about their experiences in various settings: club, cafe, store.
Reposted by Variance Hammer
There was a moment in the mid-2000s where I considered leveraging my tabletop games writing career into video games writing and every day I am more and more glad that I Did Not Do That.
December 19, 2025 at 6:17 AM
There was a moment in the mid-2000s where I considered leveraging my tabletop games writing career into video games writing and every day I am more and more glad that I Did Not Do That.
Reposted by Variance Hammer
Step back into the golden age of wargaming as we explore the fascinating history of SPI (Simulations Publications, Inc.), one of the most influential publishers in tabletop gaming. This is part 1 of its history! #spi #spigames
youtu.be/KqF95h9-Tm8
youtu.be/KqF95h9-Tm8
December 18, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Step back into the golden age of wargaming as we explore the fascinating history of SPI (Simulations Publications, Inc.), one of the most influential publishers in tabletop gaming. This is part 1 of its history! #spi #spigames
youtu.be/KqF95h9-Tm8
youtu.be/KqF95h9-Tm8
Show me how your 2025 went
December 17, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Show me how your 2025 went
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And with one post, they convinced me to uninstall Firefox. Bye bye. #noAI
blog.mozilla.org/en/mozilla/l...
blog.mozilla.org/en/mozilla/l...
Mozilla’s next chapter: Building the world’s most trusted software company | The Mozilla Blog
Today, I step into the role of CEO of Mozilla Corporation. It is a privilege to lead an organization with a long history of standing up for people and buil
blog.mozilla.org
December 16, 2025 at 9:57 PM
And with one post, they convinced me to uninstall Firefox. Bye bye. #noAI
blog.mozilla.org/en/mozilla/l...
blog.mozilla.org/en/mozilla/l...
Reposted by Variance Hammer
I will, one day, make this a thing. Grimdark Victorian gang wars amidst folk horrors from another age.
#nerdlings #wargaming
#nerdlings #wargaming
December 15, 2025 at 7:48 PM
I will, one day, make this a thing. Grimdark Victorian gang wars amidst folk horrors from another age.
#nerdlings #wargaming
#nerdlings #wargaming
Reposted by Variance Hammer
This is like paying the guys that robbed your house to also burn it down.
Disney is making a $1 billion investment in OpenAI and will let the AI platform use its characters to make social-media videos.
Disney to Invest $1 Billion in OpenAI, License Characters for Use in ChatGPT, Sora
The three-year licensing deal will let users generate videos of more than 200 Disney, Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar characters.
on.wsj.com
December 11, 2025 at 5:14 PM
This is like paying the guys that robbed your house to also burn it down.
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Everyone hug your pets for me. Fuck 2025.
December 7, 2025 at 4:22 AM
Everyone hug your pets for me. Fuck 2025.
Scale modeling reference books:
The fucking Nazis: Early War German Tanks, Panzer 1 and 2, Mid-War German Tanks, Late War German Tanks, German Tanks in Winter, German Tanks at Stalingrad, German Tanks at Kursk.
The U.S.: Shermans I suppose.
Britain: *crickets*
The fucking Nazis: Early War German Tanks, Panzer 1 and 2, Mid-War German Tanks, Late War German Tanks, German Tanks in Winter, German Tanks at Stalingrad, German Tanks at Kursk.
The U.S.: Shermans I suppose.
Britain: *crickets*
December 4, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Scale modeling reference books:
The fucking Nazis: Early War German Tanks, Panzer 1 and 2, Mid-War German Tanks, Late War German Tanks, German Tanks in Winter, German Tanks at Stalingrad, German Tanks at Kursk.
The U.S.: Shermans I suppose.
Britain: *crickets*
The fucking Nazis: Early War German Tanks, Panzer 1 and 2, Mid-War German Tanks, Late War German Tanks, German Tanks in Winter, German Tanks at Stalingrad, German Tanks at Kursk.
The U.S.: Shermans I suppose.
Britain: *crickets*
Reposted by Variance Hammer
annual reminder that Spotify is shit and you should subscribe to a real service that actually pays artists and doesn't double down on supporting the gestapo
oh also Peter Thiel is a major shareholder 🤮
oh also Peter Thiel is a major shareholder 🤮
December 3, 2025 at 4:28 PM
annual reminder that Spotify is shit and you should subscribe to a real service that actually pays artists and doesn't double down on supporting the gestapo
oh also Peter Thiel is a major shareholder 🤮
oh also Peter Thiel is a major shareholder 🤮
Reposted by Variance Hammer
If you're a miniatures painter & are interested in a community of painters & tools for your hobby journey check out our Black Friday discount of 20% off annual memberships thru 12/05 with code: BWUHOLIDAY2025 Join now & take part in the 2026 Hobby Pledge!
#WarhammerCommunity
#Warhammer
#Miniatures
#WarhammerCommunity
#Warhammer
#Miniatures
Brush Wielders Union | Patreon
creating a community of minis gamers playing fully painted!
www.patreon.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:53 PM
If you're a miniatures painter & are interested in a community of painters & tools for your hobby journey check out our Black Friday discount of 20% off annual memberships thru 12/05 with code: BWUHOLIDAY2025 Join now & take part in the 2026 Hobby Pledge!
#WarhammerCommunity
#Warhammer
#Miniatures
#WarhammerCommunity
#Warhammer
#Miniatures
Reposted by Variance Hammer
Recommendations welcome: best source for 15mm livestock for Horse & Musket/European setting.
Channeling my Lean/Kubrick tendencies for extra detail on my tabletop, as well as some suitable logistics presence too for army camps. Inspired by @battlegames.bsky.social & his Borg/Grenouisse sheep! 🐑🦆🐖🐄🐐
Channeling my Lean/Kubrick tendencies for extra detail on my tabletop, as well as some suitable logistics presence too for army camps. Inspired by @battlegames.bsky.social & his Borg/Grenouisse sheep! 🐑🦆🐖🐄🐐
November 30, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Recommendations welcome: best source for 15mm livestock for Horse & Musket/European setting.
Channeling my Lean/Kubrick tendencies for extra detail on my tabletop, as well as some suitable logistics presence too for army camps. Inspired by @battlegames.bsky.social & his Borg/Grenouisse sheep! 🐑🦆🐖🐄🐐
Channeling my Lean/Kubrick tendencies for extra detail on my tabletop, as well as some suitable logistics presence too for army camps. Inspired by @battlegames.bsky.social & his Borg/Grenouisse sheep! 🐑🦆🐖🐄🐐
Reposted by Variance Hammer
I'm a member of this and if you're a miniature painter in need of a good, supportive community you might want to be, too.
If you're a miniatures painter & are interested in a community of painters & tools for your hobby journey check out our Black Friday discount of 20% off annual memberships thru 12/05 with code: BWUHOLIDAY2025 Join now & take part in the 2026 Hobby Pledge!
#WarhammerCommunity
#Warhammer
#Miniatures
#WarhammerCommunity
#Warhammer
#Miniatures
Brush Wielders Union | Patreon
creating a community of minis gamers playing fully painted!
www.patreon.com
November 29, 2025 at 9:13 PM
I'm a member of this and if you're a miniature painter in need of a good, supportive community you might want to be, too.
Reposted by Variance Hammer
Haarlemmerhout, where Hannie Schaft, Truus Oversteegen and Freddie Oversteegen would take nazis to "liquidate" them. An honour to be in the same woods, with our little homages. It was so moving to literally follow the footsteps, I'll remember thus forever.
November 29, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Haarlemmerhout, where Hannie Schaft, Truus Oversteegen and Freddie Oversteegen would take nazis to "liquidate" them. An honour to be in the same woods, with our little homages. It was so moving to literally follow the footsteps, I'll remember thus forever.
Deleted previous post as, in my late night posting, I accidentally cast "Summon Greater Bot Swarm".
November 26, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Deleted previous post as, in my late night posting, I accidentally cast "Summon Greater Bot Swarm".
Weird hill I'm going to die on: Calling the period of warfare that was the height of pike and shot and really the end of heavy cavalry "The ECW Period" is like calling Napoleon marching on Moscow "The War of 1812 Period".
November 25, 2025 at 3:41 AM
Weird hill I'm going to die on: Calling the period of warfare that was the height of pike and shot and really the end of heavy cavalry "The ECW Period" is like calling Napoleon marching on Moscow "The War of 1812 Period".
Reposted by Variance Hammer
I'm reading "Broken Eagles, Napoleon and His German Allies in the 1813 Campaign " by John Gill.
Starts with a good, thorough overview before diving into each contingent.
Ney really should never have been given independent commands.
#Napoleon #wargaming #NapoleonicHistory
Starts with a good, thorough overview before diving into each contingent.
Ney really should never have been given independent commands.
#Napoleon #wargaming #NapoleonicHistory
November 19, 2025 at 3:14 PM
I'm reading "Broken Eagles, Napoleon and His German Allies in the 1813 Campaign " by John Gill.
Starts with a good, thorough overview before diving into each contingent.
Ney really should never have been given independent commands.
#Napoleon #wargaming #NapoleonicHistory
Starts with a good, thorough overview before diving into each contingent.
Ney really should never have been given independent commands.
#Napoleon #wargaming #NapoleonicHistory
Reposted by Variance Hammer
she’s a 10 but Excel thinks she’s October
November 13, 2025 at 8:08 AM
she’s a 10 but Excel thinks she’s October
Reposted by Variance Hammer
TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS!!! 🏳️⚧️✨
June 4, 2025 at 7:05 PM
TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS!!! 🏳️⚧️✨
Reposted by Variance Hammer
Unironically, this is the energy the 40K competitive community should aspire to.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWdg...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWdg...
Stephen Bunting WALK ON (Titanium) - World Darts Championship 2025 Semi Final
YouTube video by DoubleDarts
www.youtube.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:41 AM
Unironically, this is the energy the 40K competitive community should aspire to.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWdg...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWdg...