The Rulebook Trap: Fluff vs Substance

One of the interesting quirks of the tabletop wargaming hobby is that our rulebooks often serve two very different purposes at the same time. On the one hand, they’re instruction manuals that explain the mechanics of the game. On the other hand, they’re often part history book, part lore compendium, and sometimes even part art book designed to inspire players. That combination raises an interesting question: how much fluff should a wargame rulebook really contain

Today, my video explores the balance between background material and rules mechanics in tabletop wargaming rulebooks. Some gamers love diving into rich lore and historical explanations, while others just want to find the rules quickly and get miniatures onto the table. That tension between storytelling and practicality can shape the entire reading experience of a rulebook.

The discussion becomes even more interesting when you compare fantasy and science fiction games with historical wargames. In fictional settings, everything about the universe has been created by the authors, from the factions and technology to the basic assumptions about how the world works. Lore isn’t just decorative in those games; it helps players understand the setting itself. Without background material explaining the world, the motivations of its factions, and the nature of its technology or magic, the rules can feel disconnected from the setting.

Historical wargames approach the problem from the opposite direction. The setting already exists in the real world, and players have access to countless books, documentaries, and historical studies if they want to explore the period in more detail. That means rulebooks don’t necessarily need to carry the same burden of explaining the world. A little context can provide flavour and help explain design choices, but too much history can start to feel like unnecessary page filler when players already have other resources available.

Of course, the balance isn’t always easy to strike. Too much background material can make a rulebook difficult to navigate during a game, while too little flavour can leave the system feeling dry and mechanical. Somewhere between those extremes lies the sweet spot where rules clarity and thematic immersion support each other perfectly.

The Great Wargaming Food Controversy!

Food around the games table is one of those topics every tabletop wargamer has an opinion on, whether they’ve ever said it aloud or not. Some players swear that a mug of tea and a biscuit elevate the whole experience. Others treat their gaming boards like sacred relics where crumbs must never tread. This blog post accompanies my latest video, where I unpack the whole debate with a mix of humour, experience, and a strong appreciation for well-painted miniatures.

The heart of the conversation is etiquette. For some, snacks are part of the ritual of gaming — they help create a relaxed, social, welcoming atmosphere. Club nights especially tend to become snack-friendly zones, whether through convenience, tradition, or the fact that many are hosted in pubs where the line between “gaming table” and “bar table” is surprisingly thin. A pint and a packet of crisps during a late-night skirmish game is practically a cultural institution in some communities.

But others feel differently. They’ve witnessed spills, greasy fingerprints on tanks, salt scattered across lovingly built terrain, and entire units drowned under toppled drinks. For them, food anywhere near a board is a risk not worth taking. And they’re not wrong — a cup of coffee and a 300-hour painting project are a deeply incompatible pairing.

The setting matters too. Home games can be relaxed; club games depend on local customs; tournaments and conventions demand much stricter rules. No one wants a £500 display board ruined because someone wandered over with a sausage roll.

The video also touches on the playful idea of “tea-and-biscuit generals” and “pie-and-a-pint wargamers.” Do our snack choices reflect our gaming styles? Are these real archetypes or just affectionate myths we tell ourselves? There’s no definitive answer, but exploring these cultural quirks of the hobby is part of the fun.

If you enjoy the social side of the hobby, have strong feelings about crumbs near terrain, or just like hearing wargamers debate the slightly odd things that make our hobby unique, the video linked below is for you. Join the conversation and share your own food-and-wargaming stories — the good, the bad, and the gravy-based.

The Medway Gaming Festival 2024

Today I have been to the Medway Gaming Festival with my daughter. She didn't just come because it was Father's Day, our fandoms overlap significantly in the ven-diagram of geekdom, so we both had a great day at the festival. Like me, she also has a YouTube Channel (TheNerdyGoth) so I challenged her to a 'Short-off'! We both shot videos during our day out and published a Short mini-video of the event today (both went public at 17:00 today). The winner is the video with the most views by 8pm tomorrow night. Let the battle commence! 

The festival includes a selection of Tabletop Wargames, Roleplaying Games, Cosplay, Computer Games (modern and retro) and can only be described as a celebration of geek culture. Here are a few pictures form the day.

My Top 5 Wargaming Disasters

I've been wargaming for a long time, so I have quite a big back catalogue of wargame disasters. These are the sort of games where I made unforced errors leading to defeat or simply where the dice gods abandoned me (sometimes both!).