Space Weirdos - WHY I LIKE IT

A new show here on the channel: WHY I LIKE IT - where I'll talk about games, models, hobby tools and more and why I like them. And for the premiere: Space Weirdos by Garske Games!
Get Space Weirdos here: www.wargamevault.com/product/...
Vince Venturella and I made a game! Check out Reign in Hell - Demonic Skirmish Combat at www.reigninhellgame.com
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[@kiruppert]

The reason "Heartbreaker" specifically is used is because back during the early years of the hobby, people would compile their house-rules up into supplements as said in the video (Or even write their own whole games!), Maybe spend a few hundred dollars getting custom art made for it, spend hundreds or thousands of dollars getting copies printed, rent a booth at GenCon or something, and then they would sell only a few copies at best. The realization that nobody necessarily cared about this thing you had poured so much passion, effort and money into would inevitably break your heart.

[@funschool3331]

😭

[@roarkeengelhardt5344]

Thank you, this is what I come to comment sections for

[@chaoticevilspacewitch]

As someone who's long looked at wargames from the outside and thought "that sounds like fun but I don't want to memorize a library to play a GW game", this sounds awesome!

[@sheepking1]

Try One Page Rules as well, they even have paper minis you can print on their website.

[@NapGod]

Space Weirdos got my dad into wargaming with me. We're playing our first game of Bolt Action next weekend.

[@flowerknight4879]

I'm sure you won't see this comment, but I cannot express how much I like the idea of WHY I LIKE IT. This is the EXACT type of video that I hope you make. Make many of these, make them long so I can cozy up with some tea and learn something new

[@landonpaints]

Yes I agree!

[@ddis29]

+

[@tabletopminions]

I read all the comments, and I’m glad you like the format. Thanks for watching!

[@marcocardoso8745]

you took the words right out of my mouth. great idea for series, very much looking forward to the future installments

[@mattbrown5234]

@@tabletopminions Not sure if you go back to old videos, but another related thing I'd be interested to see is why you might pick one game over another. For instance, Planet 28, Space Weirdos, Stargrave, and maybe 5 Parsecs From Home all do similar things. Once you've covered the games you're planning to cover, wrap up with the strengths/weaknesses of each and who each game might be for.

[@Zarkil]

I love this! That was exactly the type of breakdown/overview that let's most people know if this is a game they want to try or not. Thank you and keep up the good work!

[@Bluemagedood]

Seconding this!

[@ogremark5]

I tried Space Weirdos based on your earlier recommendation Adam and I like it very much. It’s concise and does what it says - provide a game experience like old 40k without being overwritten and ill designed.

[@Jianju69]

40K without getting bogged down in rules and army lists (and without spending hundreds on books) sounds like a good time to me.

[@mallaurybolot458]

Is it similar to older editions in particular?

[@theanimaster]

Geezuschrist I was wondering how people are able to staple together ‘zines’ like that - that is LITERALLY the stapler I’ve been searching for all my life since I was putting together comics at age 6!!! Amazon, here I come, armed with keywords!!! Edit: ok, I had to cheat and use Google image recognition. It’s a Bostich Booklet Stapler!!

[@ImreRides]

I really love Space Weirdos! What I like the most is the fact that everything is resolved as opposed dice rolls. It's just really really fun to play against a good friend.

[@RodneySloan]

Looking forward to the one about A Song of Blades of Hereos. Dang, the Uncle Atom influence is strong.

[@ogremark5]

Song of Blades was good but we had even more fun with Ganesha’s Mutants and Death Ray Guns.

[@saulilietzen1288]

@@ogremark5 agree! MDRG is so much better. It feels like the form that 3 action engine should be used for 👌🏼👍🏻

[@1glenngary]

I agree with Flower Knight, I REALLY like the idea of a series on the positives of our hobby.

[@davydatwood3158]

Working through your back catalogue! I found you because of the Anvil Industries "WHY I LIKE IT" and I'm certainly enjoying the idea. This game sounds like it's someone trying to play 40K using Song of Blades and Heroes (ish) activation and movement with Stargrunt/Dirtside (ish) dice mechanics, all stripped down to fit in an ashcan (what the comics world calls that 5.5x8.5 format). That's honestly not a bad thing; SBH is a good, simple fantasy skirmish system and Stargrunt's dice mechanics are so solid I'm amazed they don't turn up in more places. (Though they did make it into the Terminator : Genesys liscenced game.)

[@AndrewGivens]

Fascinating you mentioning Stargrunt (and Dirtside) - although I never played either, I was a longtime player of Full Thrust and really appreciated that games' simplicity and lack of canon adherence requirement in order to collect a force together and just play. I could sense the FT similarity in Space Weirdos through what was being said here. Also, two or three games in an afternoon is a long-missed goal. Even the 'Grave series don't provide that (too much faffing around and dragged-out endgame scenarios of relentless chasing down kills it).

[@seankavanagh3742]

I like it! It has a kind of Stargrave, Reign In Hell, OPR kind of feel. They give you the frame work and let you do your own thing with it. Hobby Lego!

[@printandplaygamer7134]

Now do Planet 28! I checked out Space Weirdos after you first mentioned it some months ago, and you're right, it's a lot of fun. One of the best things about your channel is that you frequently mention indie games and products that I might not have heard about otherwise. I should mention that folks intending to publish their own game, based closely on an existing, copyrighted game, should be careful when doing so. It is true that game mechanics can't be copyrighted, but *presentations* of game mechanics can be. You're right that GW can't claim the exclusive ownership of the mechanic rolling high on a d6 to hit, but they can copyright the text in which they explain that rule in their rulebook. Another thing that you *can* copyright is a table, which is apparently--in the US, at least--a copyrightable presentation of non-copyrightable mechanics. That's why every old school retro-clone of D&D uses a slightly different values on its experience point tables--if they just copied the original tables from 0e or 1e D&D, they could be sued for copyright infringement. Matt Finch, author of the OSR retro-clone Swords and Wizardry and a real-life attorney, did a series of videos a few years ago about publishing under the Open Gaming License, the legal basis for the proliferation of non-Wizards of the Coast D&D material that's thrived over the past two decades. Though the series focuses on RPGs, the legal concepts it raises are relevant to indie wargame heartbreakers like Space Weirdos. The series is on the Matt Finch RPG Studio channel, and starts here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/joeyqX-Zh5p0Y7M

[@redviego6714]

Why I Like It (Comment Edition): Tabletop Minions - This man creates the content and talks about the topics we all wanna know about more! Always amazing!

[@noahdoyle6780]

Space Weirdos might scratch my 'Warcry in Space!' itch, that Kill Team didn't. Also, love the idea of the 'Why I Like It' series. We can all use some positivity in our hobby.

[@timothyyoung2962]

Space Weirdos is a fun little game. I checked it out after you had mentioned it during an episode. I used a few Stargrave and Rogue Star minis to make my own little band of galactic mercs ala Guardians of the Galaxy. My group has also used it for crazy old-school grimdark games more along the lines of original Rogue Trader and a post-apocalyptic game on a blasted-out planet long forgotten after an intergalactic war. I like games that let you use your imagination and make the game your own. That for me is a lot more fun than having everything just handed to you.

[@tmorton42]

Well 10 months later, we played our first games of space wierdos. A very good game system! This has now vaulted to the too of our play list. Thank you Uncle Atom, it was this video that brought the game to our attention.

[@eliotvivian]

This game is an absolute blast. Glad it’s getting some love.

[@KnarbMakes]

Great discussion. I had heard of Space Wierdos, but never really took a deep look at it before. Fun read, well worth the 5 bucks.

[@The_real_Marcoman]

The Space Weirdos cover reminds me so much on the 90s sci fi figures from Trash Bag Bunch. :D

[@toddslanga5262]

Love the series idea. Based on your recommendation (and the low price point) I bought Space Weirdos. It’s a wonderful little system! I absolutely love how easy it is to create a warband. Took me no time at all to create a Firefly crew and pit them against a bunch of old-school Cylons.

[@thekuan7002]

You weren't kidding when you said at the beginning about things we might not have heard of. I've never seen that staple contraption! I love the idea of WHY I LIKE IT!

[@marks6928]

Yes! Have been hoping you’d make a series like this for a while. Looking forward to more. Also, from a graphic design perspective, I enjoy that the texturing on the I in ‘LIKE’ and the I in ‘IT’ are different. Good show sir 👏

[@tabletopminions]

Thanks for noticing, I always try to make that stuff work properly. And thanks for watching!

[@KelvinEP24]

Love this series! I hope you can do a demo game with Garsky one day!

[@mythrando]

Hi Uncle Atom, I wanted to share that I haven't watched your videos in a while, and just came across this one and Zona Alfa.. It's drawn me back in and I will definitely be watching all of these that you put out. I thought you would like to know that it is drawing back in an old follower. Thank you for doing these!

[@euansmith3699]

1:54 Cuts to shot of Wargames' Vault, and the first thing my eye settled on was "Reign in Hell"; Uncle Atom's subliminal advertising game is strong 😍👍 Thanks for the review of Space Weirdos. Just the name itself is a major selling point. I like the way that the movement Stat functions.

[@CesarIsaacPerez]

Great series idea! I've bought a few games (including Space Weirdos) and stuff because you mentioned it and I thought it was my kind of thing. Can't wait to discover more!

[@sackofpeas2470]

This kind of reminds me of how Pulp Alley works, which I would recommend checking out if you haven't. They even have a new two player starter set which makes it even easier to jump into, as it comes with two teams of pulp characters.

[@mathieu4204]

Printing it as a booklet should be mandatory. You know how big games come in fancy boxes or shiny cover, this brings me back to the days of indy photocopied comics. Printed on Rockland colored paper would really make it pop. I'm tempted to print one on Golden Rod...

[@brianlamison1345]

I really dig this new series. Looking forward to more episodes,

[@Vexariongaming]

Hey Uncle Atom! Was watching this video and found the bit about the "zine" size interesting. I work in comercial print and that size is considered A5 (210mm×148mm). We make alot of books that size at work and i never realised that was an old fan scene thing too

[@danielb9274]

Hell yes punk rock zines! That’s awesome Adam! Zine culture was a huge part of punk rock prior to the internet. Love the reference! That’s why you are my favorite channel!

[@NathanLazyBear]

This is going to be sweet, I'd be interested in seeing some more of your work related to Space Weirdos, maybe a getting started, and forming a Tabletop Minions board game, just something to pull out and contained in a box, suggested builds and having more conversations about custom game systems.

[@rub-al-khali4265]

Thank you! I've never played any type of war tabletop games. BUT, I've been VERY interested. I love different types of minatures, but not all. I've been hesitant to commit to anyone type, but now I can mix match & not fully commit on $$$. Thank you so much for the info review!

[@JohnR1298]

I heard 'zeen' was short for 'Fanzine' because they were made by fans, for fans. You're welcome 👍😉😆 I'm off to look up Space Weirdos, thanks for the heads-up 😊

[@haxan6663]

Your chanel introduced me to Space Weirdos and it has become one of my favourite games. I often intend to play Kill Team and end up playing this or Star Breach instead. Love it!

[@1463sirmatt]

That NASA shirt is stellar

[@BlackDouglas1000]

I love its 70s/80s vibe...back when many game companies were using that format. Do you remember Starfleet Battles? I will be getting this to play through my own lore.

[@michaelsudsysutherland5353]

Opposed die rolls from D4 to D12... Sounds like a variation of the system I love about Stargrunt II, Force on Force/Tomorrow's War! Given the 'rules lite' nature Weirdos, I'm sure it leaves behind the weakness (runaway reaction system....) of Force on Force/Tomorrow's War (well, maybe not intenionally, as the designer may have not played those games). I will put this on my list of Independent publications to aquire.

[@brunoprosaiko5542]

This game is very cool. I got a chance to play it through Tabletop Simulator with a friend who lives far away and we enjoyed it a lot.

[@DkP_Dev]

This new series idea is awesome!

[@johnashley-smith4987]

Thanks for this video! A great launch to a new intermittent series! What I find so attractive about these type of games is the potential for pure fun, custom building each model to your warbands, making each model an individual, that you can entertain yourself with, creating back-stories for each model, rather than just another hapless bullet stopper! Looking forward to further installments in this series ...a great idea to show just how fun it can be, searching out alternatives to the big name games.

[@terrencemiltner1005]

Funny to be watching this after already buying, downloading, and reading the rules just before watching the how to play. Definitely bought after all the comments for the figs you are prepping for this game

[@comradesionnach]

I feel called out. I have a special stapler for such things.

[@femmecactus4630]

This is the first video I've seen of yours, you've sold me on both your channel and Space Weirdos. 10/10

[@tjleary]

love this format, more of these vids please! Would love if you could do a vid on similar ‘easy to get into’ tabletop games that would be good for playing with your partner/spouse!

[@ug1280]

Love the idea for this series! I’ve already learned about a number of games, products, techniques, etc., from your various videos but sometimes fairly brief mentions of things during your streams go by too quickly. Looking forward to learning why you like more things! Thanks!

[@tburns5943]

Amazing video! Space Weirdos here I come!

[@kylehough7336]

Glad you're covering this gem. Fantastic little system. It's third in my top five indie skirmish games!

[@Rondominas]

Loved this! Both the helpful breakdown of the game, as well as the game itself. Definitely gonna have to check it out myself.

[@Denim9330]

Heck yeah, this is my jam. I love the idea of you talking about indie rulesets and models/tools. Excellent format.

[@CourtneyVarner]

The way my ears perked up as someone that co-produced a zine in the early 2000s.

[@cavemanbum]

Thanks to Uncle Atom, I started playing Space Weirdos about a month ago, and I absolutely LOVE it. The game's designer is very active on his Discord channel, and the community is growing. There's also a fantastic warband builder app created by a fan of the game: spaceweirdo.netlify.app/ Space Weirdos has been a wonderful way to dust off my old miniatures and get them back on the table.

[@billdefranza4927]

Awesome start to a series that I already love. Thanks, unc!

[@johnweibel1128]

As an old "Kinkoid", I am sad to day, Kinko's died in 2004 when Federal Express bought them. I exited soon thereafter. It was clear we were then primarily a shipping company.

[@dennisbridges8971]

Love Space Weirdos and love the “Why I Like It” format

[@Xandrillus]

This was a great video! I really like the idea of changing dice types for modifiers. I will have to check this system out.

[@rondanuser1204]

LOVE Space Weirdos. Glad to see it getting more love. Found it by your previous video. Love the WHY I LIKE IT format.

[@pagumb]

Appreciate your thoughtful review.

[@andyball8707]

Awesome video! I really love this game and I’m glad it’s getting some recognition here. Looking forward to more in this vein :)

[@chadunruh]

Love this format! I'm looking forward to more like it.

[@artistpoet5253]

Ok...how TF did I miss this one?!

[@guitarbombdotcom]

Sounds really good, will have to give it a whirl. I started tabletop games when I was 12 in '84 and came back to it again recently, and most of the GW stuff is now beyond me terms of insane amount of poorly written rules, etc And so these indie-style rules really appeal to me, as that is what gaming was like whenI was a kid. Very little lore and fluff when I was a kid. D&D, Runequest and Call of Cthulhu had background, but I remember playing Warhammer 1st and 2nd edition, and they had very little at that point, and Rogue Trader was pretty much the same, but I had left the hobby around the time came out. I remember buying the book and box of plastic space marines, but by then I was more interested I guitars and girls, so it didn't really take off for me as a game.

[@samuelsanfratello4617]

Love the game! Also admiring your shirt! I live about an hour away from Cape Canaveral, NASA headquarters. It's a cool place to visit (in a nerdy kind of way)

[@mikefitzpatrick1375]

Well, I’ll be trying this. Love the new show format, I look forward to more!

[@Boodoosh69]

Cracking idea Uncle A :) might be worth having a few standard/template facts to present such as - number players, solo gaming, length of game, campaign options, Learn to play time etc could just be a table at the end of useful gaming facts Just realised that this only applies to games you like and not anything else so maybe not that relevant ;) Looking forward to seeing more episodes of what Uncle Atom likes :)

[@larryirish9498]

Bought! 😁 While I’ll be playing One Page Rules’ Grim DarkFuture this looks like a great game to introduce my wife to Miniatures wargaming. Many thanks for the suggestion!

[@randyjones5429]

Nice! Thanks for telling us about this one. I like the idea of this new series! Looking forward to future episodes. Went and bought the ruleset, qt that price it's a no brainer buy. Also for those of us with 3d printers, looks like you can get stls for tokens and measuring stick on thingiverse! Excited to try this one out.

[@ew1258]

Definitely a cool game. I found it by chance on Kickstarter. Attracted to it because of the solo play. Also zines are awesome! Made my first in high school decades ago. Got ideas for some more when time allows. Zines are still very popular. We even have a local coffee shop that has a zine collection room with literally 1000’s of them 🤘 Great video

[@tabletopminions]

That coffee shop sounds awesome. Thanks for watching!

[@nickkowalski5209]

Like the new format! Thanks for the video, I had no idea a wargame might be 13 pages thin, so that's refreshing.

[@sajberkg]

Just bought Space Weirdos because of this video! VERY cool!

[@Diertstarr]

This is exactly what I have been trying to figure / find out! I was thinking how could I do something like this, then BAM! I has been discovered! As a fan of Index Card RPG, I wanted a TTWG with the same simplicity as OnePageRules, but not with the Games Workshop stank. This is (*almost )it! I want to play Kill Team, but I also don't want to play the convoluted rules, and support GW, and I think you've found the answer. The name Space Weirdos doesn't do it justice. I know it's a zine, but it was a bit of a put-off..but the magic inside ... dammmmmmm Thanks for finding this! Love to see some battle reports.

[@Scooge420]

As a next generation punk, this video got me all giddy. Zines are still a thing, Venus for punk are harder and harder to find so the underground scene still uses these to share concert dates and locations. A lot of them are digital now but they get printed and handed out at shows still!

[@NightfireGamingYT]

I heard you talking about this on The Every Other Sunday Show and thought it sounded like fun. I'll have to go get it and try it out.

[@777bogey]

Really like this format. Would enjoy hearing your opinions on all of the smaller model count games you have played.

[@pbeccas]

Great idea for a series.

[@gfan1972]

Now this kind of post is what I can get behind, positive and unbiased! Keep em coming.

[@diehexenmaus185]

this sounds delightful, an absolute balm in its efficiency vs. the massive amount of granular rules in so many games.

[@Colorcrayons]

A good skirmish game with some bite made by an unknown designer? The 'zine was already pretty punk rock, but this is just getting to sublime levels of Tones on Tail now. Thanks for the recommend, and thanks for putting eyes on smaller yet notable stuff like this. Withput such word of mouth, games like a Song of Blades and Heroes, etc. would never see the light of day to be played by those of us searching for the perfect Goldilocks skirmish engine.

[@Anuduin]

Great job! I enjoy this type of video. Looking forward to seeing more.

[@luluspargo867]

Finally got round to buying the rules today, been on my to do list for a while since you started mentioning it. Looks great and I’m gonna try it out tonight. Thinking it’ll replace the Kill Team rules for me and then for any other random scifi gangs I end up buying in the future. 😊

[@user-xn4qy6ti9t]

Love your channel and what your doing for this hobby. I Dusted of my old boxes when I was moving them after not been using them for soo many years. Just for the reasons you've mentioned several times in different videos. In fact you've accomplished exactly what you've set up to do and got me hooked on miniature games again with all these skirmish games and small developers just like this one. As a matter of fact I felt stupid not even thought about historical skirmish before, like Ravenfeast and SAGA. I'm part viking in my spare time and board games is my main hobby and still I haven't thought about checking historical miniature games from that age. Facepalm What got me commenting on this particular video is those models you're showing 13:37. Those with the coats. Where are they from?

[@user-xn4qy6ti9t]

I just found out it was House Delaque, after watching another of your excelent inspiring videos.

[@stuarttempleton43]

I've had this game for a while and really like the look of it, although I've yet to play it. I have some early 90's 40K mini's I'm building into warbands first - one thing you didn't mention however, is that there's a separate little PDF with solo/co-op rules in it. Love the idea for the series, can't wait to see more. Kep up the good work and I'm looking forward to your new sci-fi game in the summer.

[@MyklCarlton]

Purchased! Along with some printable terrain and map pieces I've been meaning to pick up for a while.

[@Lex-Cypher]

Awesome. Thanks for the recommendation

[@AF-kj2zl]

Yes! I can't wait for more of these! There are so many fun games with great rules!

[@aidenwasson7489]

I love this idea of a series would love to read through comments and learn more of the hobby of miniatures

[@tomkelley2649]

Great video! Sounds like a cool game. I like that die type shift mechanic.

[@mattbrown5234]

This is a great idea for a series!

[@jack1701e]

This sounds interesting! I've been toying with the idea of a 'Dunmer inspired old metal Eldar model' warband and this would be a cool game to use them in. Like I was thinking to sell these old minis but I can't bring myself to.

[@Utreshimon]

I don't know about anyone else but I'd also like to hear about *your* space weirdos, in particular. As in your dudes for this game, and the setting you and your group are using.

[@corbx01]

I think this series is going to be called WHY I LIKE IT :)

[@Pino.1]

I'm going to love this series! Hey there, long time listener first time caller. I picked up 40k back in 2nd Edition days during my time in Seattle - now 25-30 years later my son and I are playing. But he is having a hard time getting his friends into the game because of the sheer amount of books and models. And when I talk to the dad's they correctly see books and models as dollars. Which is fine, but given my son is only just 16 and we have had to suffer through 2 new editions already games like these are wonderful A) on their own B) gateway drugs into the much larger GW universe. Anyway, love it and thanks for the review as well as the awesome channel. In the vein of, "What would you like to see more of?" with regard to this channel? My answer would be - "The stuff you are talking about." When you are painting I would like to see more off the model or the technique. Reviewing this game I would have enjoyed just a few more seconds/minutes on the board and terrain, for example. Not a ton, and certainly not if it means extra length. The duration of your videos is perfect for a busy dad who can catch a short break between meetings, during coffee break, waiting in carpool or what ever. Anyway, long time fan of you and the channel so whatever you are doing you are already doing well!! Again, thank you!

[@johnrekab3]

Space Weirdos sounds awesome! Can’t wait to play this! Thanks for the share!!

[@williamings773]

There are some weird companies that make d14 through d18. Would be fun to homebrew some bigger guns using some funky dice.

[@Ben_Mdws]

An excellent idea for a series.

[@sdkfz1812]

I enjoy your videos, but I particularly enjoyed this one. Looking forward to future installments.

[@ODonnchadhaBrian]

Dude! Excellent video. You have been mentioning this game for a while now and it was great to get a more in depth look at it. Also, this series looks like it could be hella interesting. Also also, TOPIC. You mentioned a mould line remover some time ago made by some woman from some place and I haven't been able to find the video again to see where to pick one up. A video on that would be much appreciated please.

[@tabletopminions]

The only fancy mold line remover I use is the one from Monument Hobbies - check their website. Thanks for watching!

[@ODonnchadhaBrian]

@@tabletopminions cool, thank you.

[@BananaPeelEuroTrash]

Ohh this looks so cool! It also reminds me a lot of the indie RPG-music label Heimet der Katastrophe. The aesthetics of their releases and the punk-ish DIY vibe would fit perfectly with home brew heartbreaks like this.

[@stephenrenwick8781]

Sounds interesting... I will go and checkmit out. Thanks for the video.