The Meeples & Miniatures Podcast

Show 40 of Meeples & Miniatures – the podcast about Miniature Wargames & Strategy Boardgames – is now available to download.   The show features the usual mix of gaming news and comment.   During the show, I chat about A Touch of Evil, the new horror boardgame from Flying Frog Productions, as well as giving an in-depth review of the historical miniatures rules Basic Impetus & Impetus, from Dadi & Piombo 00:00    Intro 05:45    Gaming News 21:35    Rumblings – A Touch of Evil, Uncharted Seas 23:30    Charity Appeal – Combat Stress 25:20    Competition 30:10    In-depth review – Basic Impetus/Impetus 73:25    Closing Comments   This Week in Wargaming Podcast Future War Commander Hasslefree Miniatures Ambush Alley T.O.G. Entertainment A Touch Of Evil Uncharted Seas Impetus  

The show features the usual mix of gaming news and comments. For my featured rules review, I’m travelling back to the Wild West to review Gutshot, from Hawgleg Publishing.   As an added bonus, the show also features details of a competition to win one of two copies of the Gutshot rules. 00:00    Intro 03:25    Rumblings – Gaming news & views 21:35    Gaming News 38:35    Wargames Rules Review – Gutshot 71:00    Competition 73:30    Closing Comments  

I’m now back from Summer holiday, and return with a show that is rather topical, as it takes a first look at gaming inspired by movies, taking it’s influence from the recently released Hellboy II: The Golden Army   For my rules review, I look at the supernatural skirmish rules Occult Wars, from Stealthy Spider Publishing.   All this, plus the usual gaming news and comment. 00:00    Intro 04:55    Rumblings – Gaming news & views 21:05    Gaming Hellboy 28:45    Wargames Rules Review – Occult Wars 64:00    Closing comments  

This is the last show before my summer hiatus, so it’s a bumper one.   I take an in-depth look at not one, but two games this time.   First of all, I look at a new game from Crosscut Games – Galactic Emperor – a game of political and military conquest in the far off reaches of space.   Following on from that, I also review Secrets of the Third Reich – the new Weird War II game from West Wind Productions.  This along with the usual gaming news, plus a look back at the Manorcon Boardgames convention. 00:00    Intro 02:45    Rumblings – Gaming news & views 13:25    Manorcon Report 30:00    Boardgame Review – Galatic Emperor 84:55    Wargames Rules Review – Secrets of the Third Reich 135:00 Closing comments   Manorcon Galactic Emperor Secrets of the Third Reich West Wind Productions Skirmish Campaigns Song of Blades & Heroes Points Calculator Aritzan Designs Painting Guides Two Hour Wargames - Warrior Heroes Tannhauser Dawn of War II trailer  

In this episode, I continue my series about getting started in Miniature Wargaming, by looking at hybrid games – games that use Miniatures but which may not be considered to be fully fledged wargames.   My review this time is of the Skirmish Wargame Patrol: WWII, from Pacific Sky Games. This is a game which allows you to recreate the day-to-day activities of a World War II Infantry squad in a campaign setting   All this, plus the usual discussion of news items, games, rules and miniatures – plus some listener feedback.       00:00    Intro 04:00    Rumblings – Gaming news & views 32:30    Rules Review: Patrol WWII 53:30    Getting Started in Miniature Wargaming: Hybrid Games 85:45    Mailbag – Listener Feedback 95:20    Closing comments

In this edition of the show, I start a new series about getting started in Miniature Wargaming, and look at some of the questions you might ask before embarking in the hobby. I briefly discuss the ethics of gaming certain conflicts, and there is the usual chat about games, rules and miniatures that I’ve been playing with, reading and painting over the past few weeks.   My review this time is of the boardgame Duel in the Dark – a game which recreates the British night bombing campaign of 1943 over Germany. 00:00 Intro 06:45 Rumblings – Gaming news & views 37:35 – Is it ever wrong to game certain conflicts? 44:00 – Game Review: Duel in the Dark 93:00 – Getting Started in Miniature Wargaming 110:00 – Closing comments   Duel in the Dark Scotia Grendel - Collectair Miniatures Navwar - 1:300 Scale Aircraft Ambush Alley Games Rebel Miniatures - Operation Dark Star Uncharted Seas  

The recent half term holiday has seen two gaming shows in the UK – Partizan and UK Games Expo. In this episode,  I talk about the games and the new releases I saw at Partizan, and then take an in-depth look at the UK Games Expo – including several interviews with designers of new games released at the show.   Finally, I announce the winner of the Polemos Napoleonic competition. 00:00 – Intro 02:50 – Partizan Wargames Show 14:55 – Polemos Competition Result 17:35 – UK Games Expo 21:30 – Interview with Gary Dicken from Ragnar Brothers 32:10 – Interview with Dean Conrad of Ludorum Games 52:20 – Interview with Alan Paull of Surprised Stare Games 61:00 – Interview with Mike Raabe of Wattsalpoag 67:00 – Interview with Andy Cooper of West Wind Productions 73:40 – Interview with Martin Wallace 81:45 – UK Games Expo – the wrap up 96:20 – Closing Comments   Partizan Flashing Blade Miniatures Peter Pig UK Games Expo Ragnar Brothers Ludorum Games Surprised Stare Games Wattsalpoag West Wind Productions Warfrog Games

In this show, I chat about various games I’ve been playing over the past few weeks, things that have caught my interest, plus I review two card games.   Subjects and games covered include 15mm Modern figures, Gaming on VASSAL, Sharp Practice, Impetus, Last Night On Earth: Growing Hunger, Unspeakable Words and Mausen. Enjoy the Show! 00:00  - Intro 06:00 – 15mm Modern Figures 10:30 – Gaming Talk – VASSAL, Sharp Practice, Impetus and Last Night On Earth – Growing Hunger 33:45 – Competition 36:30 – Game Reviews : Unspeakable Words & Mausen 56:00 – Closing Comments  

In this part of the show I take an in-depth look at the strategy boardgame Shogun, in which players take the role of one of several Daimyo seeking ultimate power in Sengoku period Japan.   Following on from this, I review the scenario book “Day of the Ranger? from Ambush Alley Games, which allows you to take part in various events surrounding Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu in 1993.   As well as reviewing the scenario book, I also discuss what other resources you might want to have a look at for this operation, and also what miniatures you may want to use if you were playing the scenarios. 00:00 – Intro 01:30 – ‘Shogun’ – an in-depth look at this strategy boardgame 41:15 – ‘Day of the Ranger’ – a review of the new scenario book from Ambush Alley Games, along with ideas for miniatures to use and additional resources. 72:00 – Closing comments   Shogun @ Boardgamegeek Ambush Alley Games The Assault Group Britannia Minaitures MoFo  

Episode 32 of ‘Meeples & Miniatures’ is now available for download.   Actually, Part 1 of the show is now available. I’ve recorded lots of material for this show, so much so that I’ve had to split the show into two parts.   In Part 1 (available now) I chat about the recent Society of Ancients Battle Day, and some of my preparations leading up to it.   I also talk about my current search for a set of rules to game Ancients with, which includes a mini-review of ‘Field of Glory’ and my initial thoughts on Warmaster Ancients and Basic Impetus.   Coming in Part 2 (available later this week) will be in depth reviews of the Boardgame ‘Shogun’ and the Wargames Scenario pack ‘Day of the Ranger’ 00:00 – Intro 03:55 – Competition 07:40 - Wargames Journal – Welcome back! 10:00 – Society of Ancients Battle Day 40:10 – Field of Glory ‘mini-review’ 52:15 – Chat about Warmaster Ancients & Basic Impetus 65:15 – Closing Comments Wargames Journal Society of Ancients Field of Glory Warmaster Ancients Basic Impetus  

In this show, I take a look into the world of Napoleonic wargaming, as I review the Polemos Napoleonic rules, written by Chris Grice and published by Baccus. In addition, I review the Range of Baccus 6mm Napoleonic figures, and also discuss what commercial terrain is available for gaming this period in 6mm. Finally, there is a new prize competition to enter, in which you can win a copy of the Polemos Napoleonic rules.   00:00 Intro 02:45 – Rumblings: Gaming news 10:55 – Rules Review: Polemos Napoleonic 54:12 – Competition 56:55 – Figure Review – Baccus 6mm Napoleonic 70:40 – Terrain Review: 6mm Terrain for Napoleonic battles 82:40 – Closing Comments   Baccus Miniatures Timecast Models S&A Scenics

In this episode, I mainly discuss my recent trip to the Hammerhead games show - including an overview of the Command Horizon ruleset. For my review this time, I'm looking at the Dr Who Micro-universe CMG. Finally, I discuss my initial thoughts on painting 6mm figures, along with paint and brushes. Show Notes: 04.45 - Rumblings: Gaming news 18.35 - Hammerhead Report 35.10 - Review: Dr Who Micro-universe 46.55 - Painting: Musings about painting 6mm figures, paint and brushes. 55.25 - Closing comments Hope you enjoy the show.

The latest episode of Meeples & Miniatures is now available for download.   In this show, I look at the new expansion for Battlelore – Scottish Wars. I also review the boardgame Ca$h & Gun$ and it’s first expansion Yakuzas.

This show has a distinctly wargaming flavour to it, as I concentrate on wargaming rules reviews and chatting about miniatures.   In particular, I’m looking at skirmish gaming in large scale – 40mm to be exact – and specifically gaming in the late 18th and early 19th Century, incorporating the American War of Independence, the French Indian War and the Napoleonic War.   I review the rules Black Powder Battles in depth, plus I look at some other, free (or at least very cheap), skirmish rules that you may want to consider for this period.   Finally, I look at the broad range of 40mm figures that are available, whether it be Napoleonics from the likes of Sash & Saber or Perry Miniatures, French Indian War from HLBS or American War of Independence from Front Rank Figurines, to name but a few.  

This show is a bit of a compromise, as I’ve been struggling for time in the past week or so to finish editing my reviews (serves me right for babbling on so much!) and if I was to wait until all the material I’ve recorded for this show has been edited, it would be another week before the podcast would be out.   Therefore, I’ve decided to produce a show with the material I’ve got so far. This means that this show is somewhat lite on wargaming content, as the main material I have left out are the rules and figure reviews. However, don’t depair! These reviews will be produced in their own show in a week or so.   So, what can you expect to find in today’s show?   A chat about the current performance of my Romans in a Commands & Colors: Ancients campaign.Reviews of the boardgames Masons and Cloud 9.The highlights of some of the latest monthly Wargames publications.Listener feedback.

Episode 26 of ‘Meeples & Miniatures’ – the podcast about Miniature Wargaming and Strategy Boardgames – is now available for download.   This show is my ‘Game Review Of 2007’, in which I discuss my favourite Boardgames, Wargames and Figure ranges of last year.   I also look forward to 2008, and talk about a slight change in direction for the podcast.

In this show, I present the second part of an interview that I recently recorded with Kev & Sally White of Hasslefree Miniatures.   I also announce the results of a couple of competitions.   Enjoy the show!     Show Timings   00:00 - Intro 03:35 - Rumblings 07:35 - Interview with Hasslefree Miniatures - Part II 54:16 - Competition Results 60:21 – Closing comments  

In this show, I present the first part on an interview that I recently recorded with Kev & Sally White of Hasslefree Miniatures. In this part of the interview, we chat about Kev’s sculpting background, how Hasslefree got started, the ‘Hasslefree philosophy’ and White Metal. I also do a ‘mini review’ of Litko Areosystems gaming tokens. Show Timings 00:00 - Intro 04:27 - Rumblings – Chat about recent gaming (Commands & Colors: Ancients, Schotten Totten, FFG 'Dust', Chain Reaction 2, Revell 'Star Wars' AT-AT) 11:00 - A review of gaming accessories from Litko Areosystems 17:45 - Interview with Hasslefree Miniatures - Part I 66:34 - Competition reminders 70:42 – Closing comments Enjoy the show!

In this episode I review the boardgames ‘Kingdoms’ and ‘Space Hulk’, launch the Meeples & Miniatures Guild at BoardGameGeek and there are details of 2 competitions, plus the results of the Six Gun Sound competition.   00:00 - Intro  05:45 - Rumblings – Chat about recent gaming  10:30 - Boardgame Ballyhoo: Reiner Knizia's Kingdoms  21:25 - Competition – SGSBOG rules  23:30 - Boardgame Ballyhoo: Space Hulk  53:20 – Feedback  60:00 – Closing comments   Enjoy the show!

In this show, I chat about the games I played on Halloween, and a couple of other games that have caught my eye. I review the games: Doctor Who Uno BGFW Scenario & Terrain Packs Songs of Blades and Heroes and I look at gaming with plastic & paper miniatures. Finally, there is some listener feedback.   Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro 01:45 - Rumblings – Scimitar Gaming Group @ Halloween 11:19 - Boardgame Ballyhoo: Doctor Who Uno, Battleground Fantasy Warfare Scenario and Terrain Packs 28:17 - Rules Ruminations – review of Songs of Blades & Heroes 47:54 - Competition – SGSBOG rules 49:18 – Miniature Musings – Talking about Paper and Plastic Miniatures 63:00 – Feedback 73:20 – Closing comments Enjoy the show!