Top 5 Guides for New Hobbyists

 Hello folks,

This time around I am going to share my top 5 recommended guides for those just getting into the hobby. These are all videos discussing the very basics of the miniature wargaming hobby, so if you are an experienced hobbyist, these may not be for you. Still, read on, as there may be new knowledge you did not know that could be useful to you.

Please note: these videos are in no particular order, as I think they are all fantastic guides in their own way.

5. Goobertown Hobbies Painting Fundamentals

Great guide for painting, done by the Bob Ross of miniatures.

We are starting with this video by Goobertown Hobbies. In this guide, the viewer is shown how to do the basic techniques of miniature painting in a step-by-step, easily digestible guide. The viewer is shown, using a limited palette of paints, how to paint a set of fantasy miniatures to a nice, tabletop-ready standard.

4. Tabletop Time Complete Guide

Painting with a touch of comedy.

This guide, by Tabletop Time, is a good source of information on how to paint miniatures using the basic GW Intercessors + Paint Set. It shows how even with only a few paints you can make some miniatures to put on the games table. 

3. Black Magic Craft Miniature Basics

Great for the grimdark.

From a terrain maestro to a painting prodigy, this guy has a variety of talents to share. In this video, he shows how to paint a swordsman in a simple scheme with easy techniques. 10/10 would learn from again.

2. Squidar Miniatures - Things I wish I knew

Tips from a master.

This video is great for hobbyists looking to avoid some mistakes or pitfalls that are commonly made by new painters. This video goes in-depth about things you can use, tools you need, and general hobby techniques.

1. Midwinter Minis - Build and Paint Your First Warhammer Models

Step-by-step goodness.

This video is a great step-by-step guide for the entire building and painting process, going into detail about what techniques to do, how you do them, and what you need, using two people's first models as examples. The methods shown in this video are easy, achievable, and produce a good looking model in a simple, quick process.

And there you go! Five videos perfect for beginners to the hobby. These videos, and their related channels, are the perfect places to start for those interested in the miniature wargaming hobby.

Happy painting,

FP01

T5 Orks are a thing now.

You saw the title, folks. Orks are going up a point of toughness. 

   

This may not seem like much, but as stated in this Warhammer Community Article, all greenskins, including grots, are going up a point of toughness.  While this may not seem huge at first, that extra point could cause big waves in your games of Warhammer 40 000. 

First of all is that most infantry weapons will be wounding Orks on 5s. Even boltguns, arguably one of the best base infantry weapons in the game, will be wounding at the same rate as the lasgun, affectionately known as the "flashlight." 

This means that most armies will not have an effective way of combating the 30-strong units of Ork Boyz, outside of heavy weapons, which frankly are not that spread out in units outside of vehicles and a handful of dedicated heavy weapon squads (like Devastators or Dark Reapers). This means that there isn't a good way to avoid a mob of Orks overrunning your midfield objective holders and hacking them away with their -1 AP choppas (That's another new thing. Not too bad for Marines but other armies might be in trouble). 

I think that extra point of toughness makes the Orks of 9th edition much more powerful than they were previously, to the point of brokenness. I am not looking forward to dealing with this sort of thing. Alas, we can only wait and see what GW does with the Orks when their Codex releases.

Happy painting,

FP01

The List

Hello folks,

This post is going to hop onto the low-effort bandwagon and bless you with the most stupendous type of post: a list.

Now, this list will be of a well covered subject, that of my top 5 favourite and top 5 least favourite Warhammer miniatures, current or otherwise. So, lets get on with things.

Number 5 Best: The Emperor's Champion

Knights in SPAAAAACE!

This model exemplifies the fact that older sculpts can still look great in the modern day. At over 20 years old, this sculpt still keeps its heroic silhouette and imposing look, with sharp details and great pose. 

Number 5 Worst: Primaris Invader ATV

Go-cart... in space?

In contrast to the champion, this model... is bad. The technical detail is fine, but honestly, the Invader looks like it would be invading the racetracks of Mario Cart instead of the far future. Also, and call me out if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure having a minigun right over your head would not make for good steering conditions. Just saying.

Number 4 Best: Skullgrinder

Add some music from your favourite FPS game here.

Ok, when your model looks like a boss from Doom, you know you are doing something right. This hammer-wielding maniac shows how much the pose affects the quality of a miniature. He is posed mid-charge, swinging his hammer to knock his enemy into next Friday. I would not want to be on this guy's hit list.

Number 4 Worst: Chaos Marauders 

Gotta admit, these guys need an update.

These models... aren't that great. They are old, which means that they are lacking in detail, so they don't look as good as newer models that you could buy instead. Their faces are wonky, the arm connections don't look natural at all, and they are tiny compared to newer miniatures. While not the worst, these guys are pretty bad off.

Number 3 Best: Celestant-Prime

Yes, that is a meteor launching staff.

Remember when I said The Emperor's Champion had a heroic silhouette? Well the Celestant-Prime turns that to 11. Descending from the heavens with wings and a cloak of magical energy, this model makes a presence on the tabletop. 

Number 3 Worst: Varghulf Courtier

The Netflix adaptation of Batman.

This model is bad. It looks like what would happen if you gave a 4 year old a vampire, teddy bear, twigs, and play-dough and left them alone for a few hours. The pose is weird, the face is atrocious,  and he inexplicably has fur, which goes against the design language of his faction. All in all, very, very bad.

Number 2 Best: Be'lakor, The Dark Master

Scary.

If the Celestant-Prime has a heroic silhouette, Be'lakor has one of evil. Standing tall, wings spread, sword out, he exudes menace. There is lots of fine detail, which includes chains, blades, and a fancy sculpted base that adds to the framing of this monster.

Number 2 Worst: Scyla Anfigrimm

And I thought the current version was bad...

I don't think I need to explain this one. This version of Scyla radiates derp energy. No menace at all for what is supposed to be an uncontrollable monster. The guy has buckteeth for pete's sake! This sculpt is sad.

Now for the top two. These are my single most liked and hated miniatures of all the Warhammer ranges. These are, in my only slightly biased opinion, the greatest and worst miniatures in Games Workshop's catalogue. They are...

Number 1 Best: Sassy Nurgling

The cutest plague deamon around.

Yes, this one model is my favourite in all of Games Workshop's ranges. No, you cannot change my mind. If you disagree with my opinion, there is an alternative here.

And finally:

Number 1 Worst: Multi-Melta Servitor

The chap in the back, not the one with a claw.

A face not even a mother could love. Need I say more?

And that concludes my top 5 favourite and least favourite miniatures in the Games Workshop ranges. This was a fun list to make, as finding the silly looking old miniatures, and some hidden gems, was rather enjoyable. However, this list has added a few things to my painting bucket list (read: more things to distract me from my ongoing projects).

Happy painting,

FP01