Is There Such a Thing as "Too Soon" in Wargaming? In this video, I revisit a question from the Joy of Six 2025 panel: When is it too soon to wargame a historical or current conflict? It’s a topic that sits at the crossroads of ethics, storytelling, and historical accuracy in our hobby. From civilian casualties and sensitive subject matter to the level of public visibility, I explore why context and audience matter more than ever in how we represent the past on the tabletop.
Whether you see wargaming as entertainment, education, or a bit of both, we can’t ignore the tough questions. Should we include war crimes? What about modern conflicts still in the headlines? Is historical wargaming at risk of becoming too sanitised?
I also reflect on my experience at the Joy of Six show, including a surprise appearance on the discussion panel alongside Peter Berry, Per Broden, and Heretical Wargaming.
Join me for a thoughtful dive into how we balance respect, realism, and storytelling—and let me know where you draw the line.
Join me for a photo-packed look at the Joy of Six Wargames Show, the UK's premier event dedicated entirely to the amazing world of 6mm wargaming. This small but mighty show never fails to impress, and in this video, I’m sharing some of the most inspiring highlights from the day – from epic demo tables to beautifully painted armies and intricate terrain, all in glorious micro-scale.
The Joy of Six, held annually in Sheffield, is a true celebration of what 6mm wargaming has to offer. Whether it's Napoleonic battles, World War II action, or even sci-fi skirmishes, the level of detail and creativity on display is nothing short of incredible. In this photo review, I take you on a visual tour of the event, showcasing the best of the show and offering my thoughts on what makes this scale so special.
If you're into historical wargaming, love miniature painting, or just want to see what’s possible at 6mm, you’re in the right place.
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In this episode, “Battles on a Budget,” I dive into the practical strategies that let historical wargamers recreate epic battles—like Borodino, Gettysburg, or Leipzig—without breaking the bank. Inspired by a great chat with Ken Reilly (The Yarkshire Wargamer), we explore how to field massive armies affordably, using smart choices in scale, terrain, and technology. From 6mm and 10mm miniatures to STL files, paper soldiers, second-hand deals, and cost-effective rulesets like Black Powder, Altar of Freedom, and Megablitz, there are more ways than ever to make big battles accessible.
Whether you're new to the hobby or a veteran trying to stretch your budget, this video is packed with money-saving tips and creative ideas for getting the most spectacle for the least spend. I also share updates from the Joy of Six show in Sheffield—Europe’s top event for 6mm wargaming—and a hobby update on my recently finished Cossacks, complete with winter conversion tips using Vallejo Liquid Putty.
Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe if you enjoy grounded, practical advice for historical wargaming on a realistic budget.
Keywords: historical wargaming, budget wargaming, 6mm wargames, wargaming on a budget, big battles cheap, wargame terrain tips, Yarkshire Wargamer, miniature painting, Joy of Six, Black Powder rules.
This week, I revisit a topic that’s close to every miniature wargamer’s heart—even if we don’t always say it out loud: the dream of having a dedicated hobby space. A place where the clatter of dice and the faint whiff of acrylic paint mingle like incense in a temple to plastic and pewter. The idea came from @LorenzoFourth, who recently watched a nearly five-year-old video I made when I first unveiled my dedicated hobby room—what I rather dramatically dubbed the "Operations Room." He asked a simple question: “How is the Ops Room five years on?”
Well… it’s full. Gloriously, unashamedly full. But also far better organised, more functional, and—somehow—still evolving. I took the opportunity to rewatch that old video and laughed immediately. Not just at my younger, slimmer self, but at the optimism I once had about all the “spare” storage space. Spoiler: it’s gone. All those empty drawers and shelves filled up in no time at all.
Still, the bones of the room held up well. My metal storage cabinets have done sterling work, and the biggest upgrade has been the painting area—better lighting, real paint racks, and most importantly, a layout that doesn’t involve knocking over half the desk just to find a bottle of Burnt Umber. Of course, to install the racks, I had to relocate my Blandford books, which now live on some budget faux-leather shelves tucked into a corner.
Another win was finally adding an MDF topper to my old gaming table. It’s still not huge, but it’s 50% bigger and has made both hobbying and working from home much easier. Yes, I work from here too—this table has seen both dice and spreadsheets, and sometimes both at once. The lesson? Flexibility is key. Whatever space you have, whether it’s a spare room, shed, or attic nook, it’ll change. You’ll run out of space. You’ll find better storage. You’ll wish you’d bought more drawers. The trick is to tidy and reorganise regularly, or risk being buried under an avalanche of unpainted projects and terrain you forgot you built.
And while I joke about eyeing up my daughter’s room for “Operations Room Mk II,” I genuinely appreciate the space I have. Not everyone gets a whole room to themselves, and I never take mine for granted. Most importantly, having a dedicated space lets me focus. It’s where I film videos, paint miniatures, and momentarily escape real life. Without it, I doubt this channel would even exist.
So if you’ve got a corner to call your own, guard it well. And if you don’t, find one. Even the smallest space can become a sanctuary for the imagination. And thank you, Lorenzo, for the question that sparked all this. Now, your turn: what’s your hobby setup like?
