Are you Laughing Enough?

One of the fascinating things about tabletop gaming is that while we spend plenty of time discussing rules, tactics, painting, and history, we rarely talk about something that appears at almost every gaming table: humour. Whether you play roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons or historical miniature wargames, laughter seems to creep into the hobby in ways that are difficult to plan but impossible to ignore. In this video, I explore a simple but surprisingly interesting question: how important is humour in your games?

For many gaming groups, laughter is almost constant. In roleplaying games, it often arrives in the form of dramatic speeches gone slightly wrong, characters attempting absurd plans, or someone inevitably quoting a line from a film at exactly the right moment. Even the most serious dungeon crawl can suddenly derail into comedy when a spell misfires or a stealth attempt ends with a spectacular crash through a pile of armour.

But humour isn’t limited to roleplaying games. Anyone who has played miniature wargames for long enough knows that the dice have a sense of humour all of their own. The elite troops that refuse to move, the carefully planned ambush that collapses instantly, or the heroic cavalry charge that stops halfway because the command roll failed. Those moments might be frustrating in the moment, but they often become the stories that gaming groups remember and retell for years.

In the video I talk about how humour changes the atmosphere around the table. Laughter lowers the pressure, keeps games social and relaxed, and reminds us that the hobby is ultimately about spending time with friends. Even in competitive games, the shared experience of unpredictable dice and dramatic outcomes can turn potential frustration into memorable comedy.

There’s also an interesting balance to consider. Some groups thrive on constant jokes and banter, while others prefer a more serious and immersive style of play. Neither approach is wrong. Every gaming table develops its own personality over time, and humour often becomes part of the culture of that group. Running jokes, famous disasters, and legendary quotes become part of the shared mythology of the campaign or gaming club.

Perhaps the real magic of humour in tabletop gaming is that it transforms unexpected outcomes into great stories. The most memorable moments rarely come from perfect victories or flawless tactics. They come from the unpredictable chaos that happens when players, dice, and imagination collide.

That’s exactly what this video is about: the laughter, the ridiculous moments, and the strange way humour turns ordinary gaming sessions into stories that stick with us long after the miniatures have been packed away.

Why my YouTube Channel is a no politics zone

Why is my YouTube channel a “no politics zone”? And what does that choice have to do with the mental and physical health benefits of tabletop wargaming? In my latest video, I discuss a subject I’ve deliberately avoided since launching the channel in earnest back in 2020: modern politics in hobby spaces. While historical wargaming inevitably touches on political themes of the past, I’ve made a conscious decision to keep contemporary political debate off the channel. This video explains why.

At its heart, this is a discussion about protecting the hobby as a refuge. Many tabletop wargamers and miniature painters recognise the mental health benefits of sitting down at the painting desk or gaming table. The real world quiets. Stress levels drop. Focus sharpens. Creative energy replaces anxiety. But we don’t always stop to examine just how powerful that effect can be. In this video, I share a personal discovery that brought this into sharp focus: measurable drops in blood pressure during painting and hobby sessions. For someone managing hypertension, seeing those numbers move from elevated levels into the normal range during time spent painting miniatures was eye-opening. It reinforces something many of us intuitively know: this hobby is not just entertainment; it actively supports wellbeing.

I also discuss well-respected research into arts and craft hobbies, which found that miniature painting and similar creative activities can improve fine motor skills, enhance concentration, support problem-solving ability, reduce stress, and boost mood. There is even emerging evidence suggesting cognitively engaging hobbies may help build long-term mental resilience.

This is not about ignoring history or avoiding thoughtful discussion. I consider myself to be a very political person. I try to be well-informed, I follow the news and read articles by independent experts (not some shouty bloke on Facebook), I vote, and I care about the future. But that doesn't mean I feel I need to drag politics into every forum and space I inhabit. My Channel, this blog and my hobby room are a sanctuary from the never ending and exhausting ideological trench warfare of modern politics.

And the irony is that historical wargaming often encourages deep research into political contexts of the past. This can strengthen critical thinking skills. We learn to question sources without becoming conspiracy theorists. We discover that narratives are contested and appreciate a range of opinions. We see how propaganda works and how to look past it. That kind of historical literacy is very healthy, in my humble opinion. 

So, keeping politics out of the comments here and on my channel isn't about silencing debate. Rather, it’s about recognising the value of boundaries and protecting spaces that allow the hobby’s mental and physical health benefits to flourish.

Battle Chronicle: Playthrough

This week’s video is a full playthrough of The Barn at Dawn, the introductory scenario from Battle Chronicle: Retreat from Moscow, which is a cooperative Napoleonic skirmish game focused on survival, isolation, and hard decisions. Set during the catastrophic 1812 retreat, the game strips away grand tactics and sweeping manoeuvres. There are no lines of infantry trading volleys, no elegant battlefield choreography. Each miniature represents a single exhausted French straggler. These men are cut off, freezing, and desperately trying to escape enemy territory while Russian patrols close in.

The first scenario is played on a compact 2x2 table using six French figures and a reinforcement pool of twelve Russian line infantry. The Russians are controlled by an automated system. They do not “think” in the human sense; they follow simple behavioural rules based on distance and line of sight. Beyond that, they advance relentlessly. Reinforcements arrive twice per Russian turn, meaning the longer the French linger, the worse their situation becomes.

The tension in this game does not come from complex mechanics. It comes from decision-making under pressure. Each French character has three actions per turn: move, shoot, search, or fight. An aimed shot costs two actions. Loot can be discovered at designated points across the table, but searching takes time, and you do not have time. Food, firewood, and bandages may save a life later in the campaign, but stopping to search could mean being overrun.

This first game is intentionally simple. It introduces movement, survival, reinforcement mechanics, and the automated Russian response system. Later scenarios expand the table size, increase complexity, and introduce additional narrative twists. But even here, the pressure is palpable. Reinforcements recycle through the pool, so while only twelve Russians may be on the table at once, the French can face far more over the course of the game.

If you are interested in historical tabletop wargaming, Napoleonic miniatures, cooperative skirmish systems, or narrative campaign design, this playthrough demonstrates exactly how the rules function in practice. More importantly, it shows how a game can create tension through meaningful choices rather than mechanical complications.

Cavalier 2026 Show Report

The 2026 Cavalier Wargames Show in Tonbridge once again proved why it remains one of the most respected and enduring regional tabletop wargaming events in the UK. Held annually at the Angel Centre and hosted by the Tunbridge Wells Wargames Society, Cavalier has become a true “season opener” for many gamers across the South East, myself included.

After the long winter stretch between Warfare and February, Cavalier marks that moment when the show calendar properly comes back to life. It’s a chance to reconnect with fellow hobbyists, meet subscribers and friends, browse traders, and soak in some of the best demonstration and participation games the region has to offer. While it may not be as vast as some of the larger national conventions, Cavalier consistently delivers a high standard of presentation and organisation, making it a favourite among historical wargamers, miniature painters, and tabletop gaming enthusiasts alike.