Armies First, or Rules First?

What comes first when starting a new historical wargaming project: the rules or the armies?

It's a simple question that sparked an interesting line of thought on my channel after viewer Terry Warden asked whether most historical wargamers choose a ruleset first and then build their armies to match, or collect and paint their armies before looking for suitable rules. The more I thought about it, the more I realised that there isn't a single answer and that different hobbyists approach new projects in very different ways.

In this week's video, I explore three common approaches to starting a historical wargaming project. Some gamers begin with a set of rules. They want to know exactly how armies are organised, how many miniatures they need, and what basing system will be required before buying a single figure. Others take the opposite route, collecting and painting the armies that inspire them before worrying about how they will be used on the tabletop. Then there are gamers like me, who usually start with a particular historical period and scale before asking what rules are available.

Along the way, I discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each approach, the importance of basing decisions, the influence of local gaming clubs, and why enthusiasm for a particular period often outweighs careful planning. I also consider whether there is such a thing as a "normal" way to start a historical army collection, or whether the diversity of approaches reflects the broad appeal of the historical wargaming hobby itself.