Where have all the Reserves gone?

In real battles, commanders lived and died by how they handled their reserves. Keeping fresh troops back for the right moment could turn defeat into victory. But on the tabletop? That art of patience seems to vanish. Most wargamers throw everything into the fight from the very first turn — every battalion advancing, every gun firing, and every cavalry squadron charging. So why do we rarely see players holding reserves in historical wargames?

In this video, I take a conversational look at the many reasons behind this curious phenomenon. From the way rule systems are designed to the psychology of the players and even the structure of a typical gaming evening, there are lots of small pressures that all push us toward full commitment. Many rules reward aggression, not restraint. Time constraints mean we’re trying to compress a full day’s battle into just a few hours. And most scenarios start with both armies already facing each other across a narrow table, leaving little room for strategic depth or delay.

There’s also something cultural at play. Over time, wargamers have developed habits and conventions about what a “normal” game looks like — and that often means everything gets used right away. After all, if you’ve spent hours painting your miniatures, why leave them sitting at the back while the rest of your force is fighting?

The video explores whether this tendency is a flaw or simply part of the hobby’s fun. Maybe we lose a touch of realism when we ignore reserves, but we gain fast-paced action, cinematic spectacle, and lots of dice rolling. Still, for those who enjoy experimenting with tactics, deliberately holding something back can add a new layer of strategy — and maybe even give you a taste of what real commanders faced on the battlefield.

NEVER paint your last miniature

Every wargamer, painter, or tabletop enthusiast knows that moment — you walk past a trade stand, spot a shiny new box of figures, and your rational brain simply shuts down. “I need that,” you tell yourself. “For the next project. For the collection. For... reasons.” And just like that, another addition joins your ever-growing Lead Mountain.

In my latest YouTube video, I take a humorous (and painfully honest) look at this very real phenomenon: Shinyitus. It’s that uncontrollable urge to start new projects, buy more miniatures than you’ll ever paint, and somehow justify it all as “essential hobby investment.”

From the ghosts of unfinished armies to the sacred rule of never painting your last miniature, the video dives into why so many of us can’t stop collecting — and why that might not be such a bad thing. For many of us, the mountain of unpainted figures isn’t a source of guilt; it’s a source of joy, potential, and motivation.

I share my own story of purging (and inevitably restocking) my collection, as well as the self-deprecating truth that no amount of maturity can cure Shinyitus. Whether you’re into historical wargames, fantasy battles, or just miniature painting, this is one video every hobbyist will relate to.

Watch the full episode, join the comments, and tell me: how bad is your case of Shinyitus?

RE-PLAY 2025 Show Report

I've just dropped my latest video, a show report covering our fantastic day at RE-PLAY 2025, the annual wargaming event hosted by the Milton Hundred Wargames Club and the Royal Engineers Museum in Gillingham, Kent. 

What truly sets the RE-PLAY show apart is its unique and incredible setting. As we discuss in the video, the games aren't simply on tables in an empty hall; they are meticulously placed amongst the museum’s jaw-dropping historical exhibits. Imagine setting up your dice and tape measure next to a piece of the Berlin Wall or a massive V2 rocket! This spectacular backdrop creates an electric atmosphere, combining the joy of tabletop wargames with the gravitas of genuine historical relics. It’s an immersion unlike any other and genuinely great for introducing the general public to the hobby.

Our focus for RE-PLAY 2025 was a deep-cut historical scenario: "The Attack on Hill 112," set during the brutal fighting in Normandy, July 1944. This fierce engagement was part of the wider British offensive, Operation Jupiter. Using the beloved Rapid Fire Reloaded rules, Reject Dan (running his first-ever show demo—a huge congratulations to him!) guided players through the assault. The British VIII Corps, spearheaded by the veteran 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division and supported by the heavy armour of the 31st Tank Brigade—including scary Churchill Crocodile flamethrower tanks—were tasked with seizing Hill 112. This seemingly innocuous ridge was, in reality, a critical fortress commanding the battlefield.

The game mechanics perfectly captured the tension of WWII wargaming. The British faced a difficult, costly climb against entrenched German Panzergrenadiers, who were using interlocking machine guns, concealed anti-tank weapons, and deadly Nebelwerfer rocket artillery to hold the line. The German orders were strict: hold until the inevitable counterattack arrived, featuring heavy armour like Tiger I and Panzer IV tanks.

While we were incredibly busy talking to both wargamers and the general public and running our own scenario (a testament to how engaging the show was!), I managed to grab ten minutes to dash around the hall. The photos and video snippets show the sheer variety of wargaming on display. This annual event, expertly organised with the Milton Hundred Wargames Club, always draws a wide range of clubs, showcasing everything from ancients and fantasy to modern skirmish games.

Paint Pen Comparison: Are they any good?

Every so often, a new hobby product comes along that gets a lot of attention, and lately, paint pens for miniatures seem to be everywhere. I decided to give them a fair try to see what all the fuss was about. This isn’t a sponsored video; I bought all three sets myself for an honest, unscientific comparison. The three types I tested were Army Painter Speed Paint Markers, AK Real Colour Markers, and AK Playmarkers. To keep things consistent, I applied all of them onto an old 28mm fantasy miniature that had been base-coated white. I wasn’t aiming for a masterpiece — just a sense of how they behave in real use.

Each brand had its own quirks. The Army Painter Speed Paint Markers offered the expected semi-transparent finish, but dried so quickly that the paint couldn’t settle into recesses as intended. The result? A slightly streaky, uneven look.

The AK Playmarkers use a brush-style nib made of nylon, which felt more natural to handle, but the paint itself was quite runny. Combined with the large nib, it made precise control difficult — not ideal for small-scale detail work.

Finally, the AK Real Colour Markers provided much stronger, opaque coverage. Unfortunately, the chunky felt nib made fine detail almost impossible, especially in tight areas of the miniature.

In short, while all three pens have interesting features, none of them felt like a real alternative to a standard paintbrush. The humble brush still offers far more control, subtlety, and versatility. Of course, this is just my personal first impression. My technique might not be the ideal way to use these pens, and I know some hobbyists swear by them. So, if you’ve tried any of these paint markers and found success, I’d love to hear from you!

Watch the full video for the side-by-side comparison and let me know your thoughts in the comments.