Tabletop Wargames Versus Video Games?

Everyone has their own preferences, but Atom explains why he likes wargaming better than video gaming, and why it's still around in this advanced day and age.
Follow Tabletop Minions on Twitter: / tabletopminions
Like Tabletop Minions on Facebook: / tabletopminions
Check out the website: www.tabletopmin...
Chat, ask questions, and communicate with Atom
Also check out the Wargamers Consortium network:
www.wgconsortiu...

[@kurukblackflame]

For me it's also the spectacle-seeing two large and well painted armies out on a miniature field of battle can be an impressive sight.

[@firespiter2917]

same for me

[@tabletopminions]

+Peter Anckorn Absolutely. That's another reason I love to paint so much, as I don't want to be the guy with the unpainted army, ruining the spectacle. Thanks for watching!

[@surfingmoose]

The aesthetics of table, terrain, and the minis do it for me also. I'm personally not into napoleanics but have sat and watched a game with well painted minis and great looking terrain. There is a shop locally here in Vancouver where you cannot play with unpainted minis. I'm not the biggest fan of that rule but do understand why the owner has implemented it.

[@DawnHub666]

i totally understand only painted miniatures rule - it looks terrible, and ruins the immersive feeling

[@LJW1912]

I think it's more impressive because you know the amount of time that was spent just to get that one game together

[@StygianBeach]

Video games are the future? I remember hearing things like that in the 90's. What is most funny is Tabletop games and video games have coexisted together peacefully since Pong. They scratch different itches, so (budget aside) there is always room for both.

[@tabletopminions]

I agree. Thanks for watching!

[@chrispygingerpie]

I played my first game of 40k since I was a kid last night, it was amazingly fun! I enjoyed it more than my usual PC games. I didn't realise I would like the hobby side so much! I put a whole Death Masque Box together in two days so I could play yesterday :D

[@tabletopminions]

+ChrispyGingerPie Nice! Glad you're getting back into it. Thanks for watching!

[@chrispygingerpie]

Cheers!

[@bethanythedford9226]

For me it’s about physically touching the characters i’m playing the game with, you can’t feel the characters in video games, also the sight of two massive armies of painted miniature models facing each other on a battlefield just looks cool like out of the movies

[@Captain0Rex]

I like both video & tabletop games. Enjoy them for what they both offer me. Video games can at least fill in the void of the lack of wargaming I can get in owing to my remote location. Wargaming can at least boost my creative spark more so than video games. :) Great video, Atom!

[@tabletopminions]

+Captain0Rex Glad you enjoyed it. I like both too, but I prefer tabletop more. Thanks for watching!

[@Joeyal123]

I recently got back into table top historical gaming and its a breath of fresh air from video games.

[@tabletopminions]

+Joeyal123 I'm glad you're enjoying it. Thanks for watching!

[@vrapbrap]

One great thing in anything tabletop is the emergent "gameplay" and the stories that pop up. I enjoy listening to peoples stories about D&D, various wargames and such. When people get excited and tell stories about battles and how some special units of theirs did something great against all odds. Or how this one particular unit of theirs always has bad luck and gets killed even when the odds are on his side etc, its just nice to listen to. Now videogames do offer this too, but very few offer it at the same level as tabletop stuff does. Videogames are my main thing, but tabletop stuff really does offer a level of interactivity and storytelling that 90% of videogames cannot.

[@redgreenbluehex]

totally agreed.

[@tabletopminions]

+ProjectiluvOP Very true. I generally have more stories from tabletop gaming than from video gaming. Thanks for watching!

[@balazszsigmond826]

However, a bunch of friends used to play Dawn of War before they met me, and they made a space marine chapter called Hot Guns. Whoever chose to play with the color scheme won. If the computer chose the scheme randomly, it just killed them for some reason, even on easy difficulty, through some fickle stroke of luck... There are a few stories regarding videogames. Just not as many memorable ones.

[@Jane_Jackson]

Video games are good when you want some quick fun without all that much time investment, but can also bring together people, very far apart through the magic of the internet (I've played Planetside 2 with me, a brit, an austrian and an american). Tabletop is there when you can sink the time into it, and can be more fun because it gives you FAR more control than pretty much any video games; speaking of 40k, you get to choose which army, what's in that army, what weapons they use, how the models are modelled, painted, exactly where they move, as well as where you can socialise.

[@tabletopminions]

+Jane Jackson The distance thing is certainly much better in video games. There's just not a good way to play tabletop wargames online yet. Vassal is okay, but still not the same to me. Thanks for watching!

[@XarfaiEngel]

Great points! To add something that is really important to me: I like the aspect of physically moving my models around instead of having to point and click with a mouse. Or the feeling of rolling 50 dice - when will you ever get that in a video game? That might also have to do with my day-to-day life - when your pretty much always in front of a computer for work or school or whatever, it's nice to interact with someting physical for a change.

[@tabletopminions]

+XarfaiEngel I have to admit, though: there are some tabletop games that make me think, "This would be much better as a video game." It's usually spaceship combat tabletop games, I think. Thanks for watching!

[@nova3k]

I really only have time for one hobby, and I have chosen the tabletop hobby for pretty much all the reasons above. Trying to explain the games is definitely an alien concept to people, but I love it and will be hard pressed to leave it. Great video, Adam.

[@tabletopminions]

Explaining it can be difficult, I agree. But I still love it. Thanks for watching!

[@CrunchGrunt]

Historical Wargamers have a built in rebuttal. "We're studying history!" But the truth for me, is exactly the same as Atom. Research, modeling, painting, creative therapy and sharing quality fun times with friends.

[@tabletopminions]

It's the best, I think. Thanks for watching!

[@HemanKwayne]

I am new to the hobby and I had my first game at the store the other day. It was a 3v3 in a cool cityscape and I made friends with all five other players, it was great! I loved that before the game we were 6 strangers but afterwards we were friends

[@leeroyjenkins552]

I've seen that face a lot because my coworkers play video games with me, but they just don't understand my acrylic addiction

[@tabletopminions]

+Leeroy Jenkins Not everyone understands it, and that's okay. Thanks for watching!

[@silverhawk923]

I'm on the verge of moving from console gaming to more tabletop games. And honestly it feels like I'm upgrading

[@tabletopminions]

+Silver Hawk I would certainly agree with you. Thanks for watching!

[@SleepyHollowRestoredMikeJohns]

The whole "Hobby Hero thing" is what for me keeps me grounded in this hobby! Spending time with "like minded people" is for me awesome!

[@tabletopminions]

I agree with you. Thanks for watching!

[@Unehru]

few of youtubers deserve to keep the video speed as normal... you defo are one of them.

[@tabletopminions]

I appreciate it, that's high praise. Thanks for watching!

[@ninjabuddy1]

I literally am only here for painting but I hope someday I can play a war game at least once so when somebody asks about my plans for the weekend I can say "I'm going to push some plastic soldiers around a table"

[@JHB141]

i like the fact that tabletop and board gaming the in the real world chips away at the monolith of internet anonimity that has become so pervasive in younger folks.

[@tabletopminions]

Learning some social interaction is important. Thanks for watching!

[@Sigismund697]

a bit of an outsider perspective to this. I love WH, ever since I got into it like 2 years ago, but GW has zero presence in my country making it impossible for me to get any form of minis, books or stuff so the only way I've been able to enjoy WH is through videogames. and well that's kinda the deal if, videogames allow people to get into the setting that should be good so that if they have the resources and can get into tabletop as well that's great otherwise you should be happy that more people get into this thing you like even if they don't play the main product

[@ronraducanu9633]

I am a product of the 1st Edition AD&D pen and paper game. I would LOVE to get into Tabletop Gaming, but lack one important element. Time. I paint and collect, but at 43 with a very busy career and young family, I can't fit anything like that into my schedule, yet. That being said, I've been playing World of Warcraft since launch. Twelve years ago. The thing I like about it at this point in my life is, I can pop on anytime I want, play for as long as I like or as little as I have time for, and it's in my house. I've met some incredible people along the way and still keep in touch with them. I am hoping that eventually I can get more into the Gaming aspect of this hobby, but I'd rather hang with the kids for now. Soon they won't want to have anything to do with the old man, and I'll have lots more time, LOL.

[@tabletopminions]

Yes, children can really get in the way of a proper gaming lifestyle. Thanks for watching!

[@andrewmarkowski308]

I was born into age of computers and when I discovered that there were things like miniature wargames I immediately said "Friendship ended with video games. Now tobletop gaming is my best friend!".

[@marcwittkowski5146]

Love the Lebowski- reference, love your way of presenting, love the points you brought across in this. Thanks for your great content.

[@tabletopminions]

I'm glad you enjoy it. Thanks for watching!

[@johndee6558]

I totally agree. I went down to my local GW shop. Had a few games and met two new people.

[@tabletopminions]

+john Dee Glad to hear it. Thanks for watching!

[@Tremadog102]

I think one of the computer games I was glad to see go digital was Blood Bowl. The ability to play without fear of getting rules wrong or forgetting to do something in your turn makes the experience more pleasant. I do prefer to collect my armies and paint them but I know that it felt great to see a Space Marine wearing my DIY chapter livery in the Space Marine multiplayer game.

[@tabletopminions]

For me, there are certain tabletop game experiences that seem like they'd be better and easier on a video game. Mostly space combat games, I think. Thanks for watching!

[@BrickworksDK]

What I really miss with computer games is the social aspect. Playing tabletop / board games allows me to get out of the house, meet other people, play games, and generally just have fun. Hard to do that when you're stuck in a chair in front of a monitor.

[@tabletopminions]

+Allan Johansen Very, very true. Thanks for watching!

[@jcpouzols]

That Big Lebowski line rolled so easily off your tongue! As always, great video. I especially agree on the social aspect of tabletop games, be they wargames, board games or RPGs. But the ability to make something with your own hands and mind (whether it's house rules in wargaming or preparing an adventure for DnD) is, for me, the best thing hands down.

[@tensei_alter]

The proper response to being asked why you're doing something so out of time is to ask: "Why are you doing something so archaic as speaking to me in person? send me a slack message instead"

[@Megaspaceycasey]

I like multiplayer video games to connect with friends over long distance, I like tabletop to connect with friends (and make new ones) locally

[@lucubus8403]

Making your own campaign, story, maps (boards and terrain), making friends is the best part of wargaming.

[@tabletopminions]

You're absolutely right. Thanks for watching!

[@Inquisitortrain]

Excellent topic. There are also the tangible gains from a physical hobby. Like, one can put all their modeling achievements on a shelf, and show a constructive accumulation of fine artifacts, as opposed to logging on to read off stat numbers and hoping someone notices your cool gear when you are zipping around within a game environment. I thought this was going to be about balancing video game time with table-top game time, which many people I know struggle with, but espousing the "hobby" above the electronic indulgence; fine by me.

[@tabletopminions]

I enjoy building stuff in Minecraft, but I agree: it's pretty hard to show it to anyone. Now, in the rare times when I play that game anymore, I rarely build and rather just explore. Thanks for watching!

[@robertcanavan8488]

I've had that awkward conversation so many times. It usually ends with them asking 'why?' Being honest, I tend to avoid bringing it up with people who don't play wargames. Great video and a very interesting topic :)

[@tabletopminions]

Sometimes, it's best not to bring it up. Thanks for watching!

[@Oxydus1]

I like the hobby and the craft, like you said, for me it is also terapeutical to build, paint, to see it taking shape and form, that keeps me focused, helps me being able to be focused, helps release and lower anxiety levels... The game itself, i suck at it... i don´t mind :D

[@tabletopminions]

I agree. I find the painting aspect to be a great stress reliever. Thanks for watching!

[@neilmoulden5323]

A friend of mine has 3D printed his whole army. It's a 20mm Soviet 1980's army.

[@tabletopminions]

+Neil Moulden That sounds expensive, unless the army is pretty small. Thanks for watching!

[@neilmoulden5323]

I just think he's really into 3D printing.

[@jules_paints_40k29]

Found that i have pretty much stopped playing my ps4 now and as a result my painting has gotten alot better and i'm more happy with the results .

[@tabletopminions]

+Julian Savery Nice, glad to hear it. Thanks for watching!

[@edwardwindsor2516]

I think there's so much more satisfaction in sitting down, assembling some kits and painting them than the level of fulfillment you get in video games.

[@kirkbrownell6676]

obligatory I met my wife on a video game post

[@tabletopminions]

It certainly happens. I met me wife (for the very first time) at Gen Con. Years later, we re-met in a bar. And she plays video games, so there's some relevance. Thanks for watching!

[@CitadelArchive]

I've been playing some video games lately and its definitely been cutting into my hobby time. I met my wife playing an mmo but for the past few years we've mostly been playing tabletop games. I think there is room for both but I would say that qualitatively tabletop gaming provides better opportunity to interact with other people.

[@tabletopminions]

+Hooves of Doom Certainly much more interaction. Thanks for watching!

[@ShawnEnge]

I enjoy both video games (computer) as well as wargames. I enjoy the wargames for the social aspect of it, meeting people, the painting (showing off) and the tactile feelings of moving them around and rolling dice. While there is a huge online community I don't feel the same connection as when I am at my local store playing with my peers, though.

[@tabletopminions]

Many people (myself included) prefer in-person interaction. Thanks for watching!

[@Rhinopotamus]

I normally explain it like DnD, but controlling an Army. I love both video games, MMOs(WoW, GW2, ESO0, RPG(Fallout, Skyrim), RTS(Total War {TW:Warhammer is fricken amazing, and got me into the hobby}, Warcraft II-III, Starcraft, CoH) ect. I am really happy with my Army, it's a great hobby, and am excited to finish it and start playing. My friends who play in my home state use a lot of unique units. Like Beastmen running a giant spider.

[@tabletopminions]

Got people riding giant spiders would be pretty awesome. Thanks for watching!

[@hoovillian9293]

Great videos . Thank you for putting the work in on them

[@SaturmornCarvilli]

I think you are right about that look. I find it odd how most people don't take issue to with the war part but the seemingly anachronistic elements of miniatures gaming. It like sure you love music, but we have better devices to play it on than the phonograph. You make some really good points as well. I think that control you talk about is something I find very important with tabletop games that you just can't easily get with other forms of gaming. You get to setup the map (set out the terrain), choose the forces that will battle (and even how they will look), and even how they are going to battle (both the game mechanics and each force's objective). I never even considered that as a reason why I like tabletop gaming over video gaming these days.

[@tabletopminions]

I'm not a control freak per se, but there are plenty of times I wish I could change certain things in video games. Thanks for watching!

[@leakycheese]

Plus, if you buy a miniature and there is a fault with it or you decide you don't want it the consumer law is much more in your favour to return and refund than if you try the same with a computer game. Table top wargames seem hugely popular at the moment, the choice is amazing compared to when I started out in the 80's. Thanks for the video!

[@tabletopminions]

+leakycheese I've heard that's true. Thanks for watching!

[@MrHP25]

I just love Sci Fi and Fantasy games no matter what the format. Sometimes I'll find influence from one game leak into the other. Video games often provide me with inspiration for terrain projects, and sometimes I'll try to recreate a favorite character from a tabletop game in a video game.

[@tabletopminions]

I've taken plenty of screen shots of Fallout ruined buildings for future terrain projects. Thanks for watching!

[@VictorQues]

I Love the hobby aspect, this is why I love miniature games.

[@tabletopminions]

Same here. Thanks for watching!

[@hobbybro3902]

I started out playing tabletop games first with Squad Leader and Feudal, after high school finding opponents were difficult during my military service years. Enter computers Atari 800XL and the good SSI games on computer, then on eventually to Panzer General, operational Art of War, Battlefront Gettysburg, Waterloo. Like you Uncle Atom I’d favor single player. Now that I’m no longer a nomad and situated I’m getting back into the tabletop, however I still like the computer gaming aspect.

[@fluffhead7892]

I think that the physical social aspect of war gaming is one of the best parts. There is no anonymity in wargaming either, so its a very enjoyable game. Also people are always themselves in a gaming store, nobody is faking it in that type of nerdy/whatever you wanna call it environment.

[@tabletopminions]

I enjoy the social aspect the most, I think. Thanks for watching!

[@kurtkyre]

I am a former WoW player, and the thing that I found was that I would be playing a great deal by myself, when there were hundreds of other guild members around that I might join in with, but for the fact that they were all greatly more well equipped, with all of this epic level gear that they got from these massive raids. The point is, that I'm terrible at those things which limited my involvement, and after a time I realized that I was clickclickclicking away and really accomplishing nothing. I like using my hands to make things, so my time online slowly became less and less until I eventually decided to cancel everything and delete all of my games on my computer. I am much happier for it.

[@tabletopminions]

+Kurt Kier Im glad you're happier about it. It's not for everyone, but it's great. Thanks for watching!

[@barretmusselman9977]

I do agree with everything you said tho for me also one thing I like about tabletop gaming is that it doesn't require a screen to stare at. As I do like and play video games, mostly single player, co-op and retro games also I watch youtube and have a smart phone, and watch movies and my work computer, these things all require staring a a screen or display of some sort so its just nice to get away from them for awhile as so much of my life is staring at a screen.

[@tabletopminions]

It's true, I stare at screens all day in my day job, so it's nice to get away from that and paint and play with real three-dimensional objects. Thanks for watching!

[@marks6928]

"well, that's just, like, your opinion, man". Kudos for the Big Lebowski reference.

[@dudelucius4727]

did you quote the dude? you just made my day

[@tabletopminions]

+HasHimo Bakima Glad to help. Thanks for watching!

[@wilderun04]

I do love playing video games, but the physical hobby of tabletop wargaming is so much more satisfying. When I spend an afternoon putting together or painting a squad, I have a tangible result that I can appreciate (potentially for the rest of my life). When I spend an afternoon building houses and collecting resources in Minecraft... that's it. I have nothing tangible to show for my efforts. It's all locked in the hard drive of my console and could be deleted within a moment.

[@tabletopminions]

I agree. The tangible aspect is a big deal to me, too. Thanks for watching!

[@terrainmancer6272]

Great insight and clarification on the hobby!

[@tabletopminions]

+Terrain Mancer I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for watching!

[@troyreeves8775]

As a lifelong videogamer (47 yrs old now). I've recently found I'm becoming no longer interest in video games. It just lacks a tactile feel that seems to exist in wargamming. I haven't jumped off the cliff into the hobby just yet but I'm definitely interested. Glad I found your channel. It might be time for some Age of Sigmar.

[@tabletopminions]

+Troy Reeves There's lots of great ways to get into Age of Sigmar, especially the Start Collecting boxes or the starter sets. Have fun, and thanks for watching!

[@Kargos79]

I really do miss the social and crafting aspects or real honest to goodness table top gaming. But, life can interfere with a hobby, sadly. And when a group "busts up" Ah life

[@tabletopminions]

+Kargos79 It's true, when friends move away, it can be difficult. Or, it can be seen as a new opportunity to meet new potential friends. Thanks for watching!

[@Kargos79]

Thanks for giving us something to watch!! And yes, sometimes it can be a good thing when life changes and groups break up... Especially when a group is playing Warhammer escalation. I buy a big tank someone else buys a bigger tank and the next thing you know there are full titan legions on the table >.

[@PhazeKnight74]

I like both but the feeling of making something and then playing with it is so great. I feel like a wargamer is more like a game dev than just a player; They can make/tweak/play the game at the same time.

[@tabletopminions]

+PhazeKnight74 Good way to look at it. Thanks for watching!

[@theasherroseman]

I’m only thirteen but I gawk at the people who go home and rush thru their homework only to play fortnite for hours on end. I very much prefer wargaming. It actually teaches you something!!

[@thatoneradicalizedprussian225]

How did you get started? I'm 17 and too poor to do anything🤔🤔

[@Tymachos]

My main aspect I prefer tabletop over video games is, that the models are real. The heroes created in computer games only exist there. You can't bring them into the real world. That's something that often had made me sad. You spent, for example, hundreds of hours with your beloved and well experienced hero in Skyrim, and when you turn off the computer, he is gone. But my miniatures exist in the real world. After a nice battle, they are still there. And even if they die on the fields of glory, they are still there.

[@nathanh5073]

Very interesting video. I Totally agree even though I do play video games from time to time. Keep up the great work

[@tabletopminions]

I do, too. Only pretty much just single player, it seems. Thanks for watching!

[@voidjord234]

I am turning 47 this November and after a almost 20 years absence of the tabletop game I decided to hop back on the train, Mordheim for me it is. And apart from your Pro vids, this video has lots of important advices ... sadly I must admit. Keep up the good work.

[@scottbeil2646]

Atom once again, you are right! The hobby as well as the social are huge parts of the gaming experience and I believe the main reason that tabletop is on the rise. Let's look at why, first the hobby. As you said you build and paint your army but not only that you get to customize said army. The terrain you use, once again you get to build and paint. Now let's talk about the game itself, the layout of the table the scenario all custom to how you want to play. Then there is the social aspect of it, strengthening friendships meeting and making new friends. To my mind doing tabletop war gaming is a near perfect hobby forthese reasons.

[@tabletopminions]

+Scott Beil Not everyone agrees with us, but that's okay. They're still welcome to join in once they figure it out. Thanks for watching!

[@TheSeekingOne]

The last phrase sums it all up perfectly. Since my childhood days I always was very much into both the modelling craft AND all kinds of logical/tactical tabletop games. So, when I first saw Warhammer I was instantly hooked - and one of the key reasons for that was that it offered the great opportunity to have both those aspects tied together into one gaming experience. And, of course, those aspects of control and social interaction... While thinking how to better phrase this comment I just realised that all those things tied together make a massive tabletop wargame like 40k feel... big. It feels like something that you can imbue with a part of your own personality, so to speak. Something that is good not only for killing a few hours of free time, but that can be used as means to express oneself. That is very much unlike video games - or even classic board games for that matter - that kind of have you lead a set of faceless (or at least pre-set) pieces along a preset path, leaving you little freedom to do anything your own way. As a result they kind of come and go leaving no real trace whatsoever. But board games at least make you interact with people, while video games don't do even that. Now, there are a few video games that do give you a lot of freedom of expression - Skyrim would be a prime example of that sort. Those invariably tend to be the most addictive. However, they still have that tendency to disappear without trace, leaving you wondering: just why did I have to spend those 100+ hours of my free time on that thing again?! I guess this might sound a bit weird - but all in all, it feels like when you're doing a big tabletop wargame/hobby you're kind of still living your life in the process, in the same way as you live it when you're doing your main job, go in for sports, build relationships, etc. While when you're playing a video game, you're mostly just killing time. Thanks for a great video! Insightful, as ever :)

[@tabletopminions]

+TheSeekingOne I think you're the insightful one. Thanks for watching!

[@stevemartinez9549]

LOL! THIS is SO fantastic! I had to share on my FB page and on my FB gaming group!

[@tabletopminions]

Thanks for doing it, it always helps when people share the videos. I appreciate it, and thanks for watching!

[@Perqqq]

There is one big thing about video games that tabletop (sadly) will never be able to do - real-time gameplay :P

[@tabletopminions]

+PerqTV I'm okay with that, honestly. Thanks for watching!

[@wesscherle4193]

I got out of playing video games to play warhammer 40k and I am never going back

[@tabletopminions]

I'm glad you're enjoying it. I rarely play video games these days, myself. Thanks for watching!

[@Alefiend]

Great video. +1 Internet for invoking The Dude.

[@tabletopminions]

Sweet, Internet points! Thanks for watching!

[@Lancegrim]

Hmm i was a computer nerd before i got into tabletops. And i have the luck to combine both. I love playing slow sim games like anno, or other games where i have breaks while waiting on mates, matches ect. During this time i can paint infront of my monitor and my desk looks like a mess. Unfortunatly i cant do much playing in tabletop, i mostly do painting for myself. i live very outside... to the next gw store i have to drive about 50miles, and 50 back again plus have to pay around 10€ for parking. And there is no independent hobby store anywhere near me. But for me painting is relaxing, i love trying out new basing techniques, thinking about colour shemes planning my armies ect ect. Short Story short: I love doing both and it works perfect in harmony. Sorry for the bad english :)

[@tabletopminions]

+Lancegrim I'm glad it's working out for you. And your English is fine. Thanks for watching!

[@Zinvchan]

Just found your channel. It is fantastic. Commenting on this video due to what was said about playing table top games. I wish that I could achieve any type of enjoyment from this type of gaming. It was stated in the video that, you can go to your local spot and play, meet people, have all kinds of fun. Both times I've tried to get into this hobby here is how it goes. Buy product, go to local spot. I would talk to people about the hobby, playing, etc. Then I would either get ignored or receive no help on any aspect of the hobby. I would give anything to meet people who were not such jerks or elitists. Aside from that great channel I will defiantly sub. ^_^

[@tabletopminions]

Well, I hope to be able to fix that problem some day. I'm glad you like the videos, though. Thanks for watching!

[@DonCurrywurst]

Well, I like both. I even play multiplayer games, but preferably with friends. But if I have the chance, I will nearly always go for a board game evening or a tabletop wargame.

[@tabletopminions]

+LordGriebenschmalz I like single player video games (or co-op games I can play with my wife) but they do certainly cut into hobby time. Thanks for watching!

[@Ge4rsofWar]

Honestly every single video you make gives me soooo much motivation / enthusiasm to pick up my brushes and start painting! Great video Uncle Atom!

[@tabletopminions]

+Onur Ciftcibasi I'm really glad I'm able to help. Thanks for watching!

[@califax512]

Uncle Atom, philosophy is great, but will we see the airbrush tutorial in near future? :D

[@tabletopminions]

+califax512 At some point, I suppose. Tutorials are a lot harder to make. Thanks for watching!

[@nickrice3078]

I related to your comments about hobbying being therapeutic and centering. Maybe you could do a video on The Zen of Hobby?

[@tabletopminions]

+Nick Rice Not a bad idea. Thanks for watching!

[@elgeniomaestro]

The answer is simple: sure The experience of any tabletop game is way different than a single player videogame, an online videogame or a lan party

[@surfingmoose]

Great commentary. I've tried to get my nephew into tabletop wargames. He did not like it because he was comparing it his computer games and found it slow. He can spend all day online playing whatever, having a great time, socializing with his "crew", but I don't get it. I guess different strokes. He'll brag about a headshot from 200 yards in one of his games and I'll not be impressed and say so. But... when talking to my gaming buddies about dice rolling, we have stories we and can go on for hours about it. Story of note is when I required 3 sixes while rolling 50+ dice and only rolled a single 6. I quit the game in disgust and walked away, I was stunned, so was my opponent. It didn't end the game when I walked away because it was multiplayer game, 8 of us to be exact. I truly like the social aspect of tabletop games and do feel you treat people differently when f2f than someone on the other end of a line.

[@tabletopminions]

+Surfing Moose Once I was at a shop and a player needed to roll something crazy to fail (like three 1s on three dice) otherwise he was basically guaranteed to win the game. He threw his three dice and got three 1s. Everyone watching exploded, and he calmly picked up those three dice, walked outside the shop, walked across the street and the little park area and threw those dice in the river. Thanks for watching!

[@surfingmoose]

Don't know if you've done a vid on stories like these but would be amusing to watch and read the comments. Was at a monthly gaming night in a large hall when I heard someone yell, "Heads up Incoming!", then watched a handful of dice clear the hall from one end to another. One more with me. My dice rolling can be atrocious and on average I believe bad. Was having a horrific game of WFB with a new set of mini chessex dice I was thoroughly stomped on by the 3rd round and conceded with only my lord and one unit of warriors left on the table, everything else routed. I put all the dice back into their nice little case and walked over to a garbage bin and threw them inside muttering "Cursed dice". The upside was my opponent patted me on the back and said it had to be done.

[@carlbergstrom2627]

I agree with the 'fix a rule' part. I play Pen and Paper RPGs for the same reason, control. However, with the reference to 3D printing, I would say that it is still at a point that would not be cost effective. To design and print a custom figure would cost a lot! Where as taking an existing figure and adding/replacing parts from other models is, and will be for some time, the more cost effective method of custom figure. But ten twenty years, who knows.

[@tabletopminions]

I look forward to 3D printing. I'm hoping to be able to produce my own terrain soon. Thanks for watching!

[@pitxu]

I like wargamers better because of more complex rules and social aspect, but I almost never play them because there is no community in my area. I wish there would be that on some videogames one day, even if there are few games and people playing like that, so I could play and talk with people like uncle atom, for example, who live an ocean away from me. I hope projects like tabletopia have a success and we have that one day.

[@tabletopminions]

+Pitxu I've not heard of Tabletopia, I'll have to look into it. Thanks for watching!

[@michaelhalbert9264]

I remember DMing a game with a dwarf who worshipped an elf god and carried a trident--unheard of but I like it. Good Vid

[@thilistine]

Spot on why we won't see war gaming replaced with video games.

[@tabletopminions]

+Michael Olds I hope so. Thanks for watching!

[@RageAgainstTheDice]

I get that look at work all of the time. :)

[@Boggerdansken]

One big difference between computer gaming and tabletop wargaming: The phrase good game actually means something.

[@tabletopminions]

+Boggerdansken I think I know what you mean. Thanks for watching!

[@Boggerdansken]

Tabletop Minions It's a pleasure to watch your channel :)

[@Belgianbanshee]

Wargames and wargaming board games have always been my first choice. Online games can often be so toxic/stupid/bugged that I will always look fondly towards tabletop gaming.

[@tabletopminions]

+Wim Nelis Same here. Thanks for watching!

[@malteschaper3782]

While I agree with most of your points, I would like to add that I prefer video games when it comes to competitive gaming: You can test new strats, build new units, experiment and the rules are almost constantly and frequently updated to iron out overpowered stuff. That's why I use my Wargaming for games that are strong on creativity and storytelling and my video games when (if) I want to play competitively.

[@Da40kOrks]

Other then the occasional Candy Crush, I've just flat-out stopped playing video games. Even 40k and Star Trek games can't hold my interest for very long. It is a matter of time and money. There are only so many hours in a day and I would rather spend my free time on hobby work then playing a video game. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to play with fully painted armies. Then there is money. Playing video games takes a lot of money - even for the games themselves much less hardware. I can't afford both miniatures and video games. so miniatures always wins.

[@automatedminer7158]

Orkses haff no time fer gamin', dey'z too buzy krumpin' eadz!

[@MetalGear0987]

well buying models of games workshop costs as much as having a top tier gaming pc + tons of games ;D saw once a ork t-shirt where he was snorting something white and said : drugs are cheaper than miniatures .

[@tabletopminions]

+Da40kOrks I generally agree, I would usually rather spend time hobbling in the basement than playing games. Sometimes, I get in a slump and I go play video games for awhile until I get my hobby motivation back, but it's becoming rarer these days. Thanks for watching!

[@joshmccarthy9605]

Big Lewbowski quote. Nice! I suck at games, video, tabletop, whatever, but for me the hobby portion and the social interaction is what keeps coming back to tabletop. There are only so many times I can be screamed at about my mother sexual proclivities before I want to put the game controller down.

[@tabletopminions]

Exactly the same here. I'll bet most of those kids don't even *know* my mother. Thanks for watching!

[@zandosdwarf-king]

While tabletop games have a nice advantage of meeting people face to face, video games have a nice advantage of beign able to play with everyone at the planet.

[@tabletopminions]

+Zandos Dwarf-King That's certainly true. On the other hand, the anonymity can certainly cause some problems. Thanks for watching!

[@jasperoorthuys2393]

Wholeheartedly agree!

[@tabletopminions]

+Jasper Oorthuys Glad to hear it. Thanks for watching!

[@ozoghuston2093]

Great video! I don't play (Warhammer 40k) much, but I've been looking at getting into tournaments. Where do you think I should start?

[@tabletopminions]

+Ozog Huston I guess you'd need to look at local stores to see if they run tournaments. I don't do tournaments, so I'm not really sure where'd you'd look. Thanks for watching!

[@AlmGandi]

The best thing about it is that yo have something, not like some achievment or digital items. You have your own figures you can change the colors to your liking or convert them to something you like. It is something real not something completly useless.

[@morzorkatvfm]

There's very few skills to learn through video games aside from decision making so I don't find it as worth while anymore. Wargaming on the other hand teaches you real life skills, in particular art.

[@tabletopminions]

+DefinitelyNotLancer That's a cool way to look at it. Thanks for watching!

[@constancio_joao]

Hello , great video , I love the content of your channel. I would like to ask for advice on one of the parties addressed in the video, which is about the community I live in Brazil and I with a small group of friends are trying to create a club , since very little people know about wargaming in general is hard to bring new people, and I would like to ask for advice on this, how to approach people and call them , how to convert people and generate a community. In addition to simplified ways to explain what the hobby and tips or important things to improve our club. Thank you.

[@tabletopminions]

That's a good question. Without gaming stores to run demos in, it becomes much more difficult to attract new players. If you have game stores nearby, I'd start there. Thanks for watching!

[@rodline9027]

Great video. Very interesting to hear your thoughts. I love video games, but there is a unique appeal to table top games.

[@tabletopminions]

+Rod Line I'm not saying that anyone's wrong for liking what they like. I'm just saying how I like it. Thanks for watching!

[@sockMonster241]

Any thoughts on VR or AR Wargaming? Quar: The Battle for Gate 18 is sort of an interesting fusion between tabletop and PC gaming. If you get a chance, look it up, it's pretty cool.

[@tabletopminions]

+Sc Far I did look it up, and it's based off of an interesting current tabletop wargame. I wish I knew someone with a Vive so I could try it out. Thanks for watching!

[@cwoyce]

For me, whenever I am playing a video game I always feel like im not doing anything. Like sitting on the couch for 3-4 hours beating up on bad guys doesnt do much for me. Like I didnt put any work into the game. I bought it, or someone loaned it to me. But when I'm playing 40K I get the satisfaction of not only am I playing a cool game but it's also that I have invested a good amount of time into my army and that is cool to me. I have also given up explaining to people what I do, you either get it or you don't.

[@tabletopminions]

It can be a difficult concept, I agree. But we get it. Thanks for watching!

[@andrewtheone7]

i love both video games and table top games, tbh most game developers take immense inspiration from Table top games. If we play table top or pong or vr were all essentially gamers, love gaming all of it

[@bretmcdowall2224]

The stigma is so weird. Painting is cool, so is being crafty. Sci-fi battles are cool, as well as gaming and video games being mainstream. But mix them all together in tabletop miniature form and everyone becomes the guy who shouts NERDS! from Revenge of the Nerds.

[@tabletopminions]

His name was Ogre. Knowing that might make me a bigger nerd. Thanks for watching!

[@MKalavera111]

After spending more than 20 years of my life in video games, I decided to start with real, miniature wargaming at the age of 32, as I like the assambling, painting, terrain buliding and social aspects of it so much. It can cover alot of differen't hobby branches and you can even do it with your kids. Still, video games have a strong advantage in the rule implementation, as they are standartized and you learn them while playing. This is necessary for alle e-sport games or tournaments even if the pure fun vanishes in exchange for the strong competition aspect. The fact that you dont need to read many rule books is very attractive for most people. A good example is 40 K which represent wargaming for most non-wargamers, but as soon as they share an interest, they are scared by the huge amount of rules and rulebooks. Also some people simply don't like to paint (which is a shame) and so won't invest money in it. For a long time, modding communities in the video game community did also offer a strong opportunity to learn many skills, which were in my case useful for my job (programming, image processing, hexcode cheating etc.). Still this aspect doesn't count anymore as most of the video gamers are only interested in casual games on mobile devices and become more and more passive consumers instead of active players. Skyrim and Total War might be some of the last games which alow "total conversions" of the game and therby create new rules and game content. I think that tabletop games are something very different from pc wargames like the "total war" series. Both offer tactical depth and clashes of huge armies, but as it was mentioned in the video, you will play most of your games alone infront of a screen whithout any haptical or verbal feedback. Also the focus in these video games is layed on the grafical aspects/effects as well as entertainment ( good animations, sounds, etc.). Anyhow, impressions from computer games can help to support your offline tabletop game and let you dive deeper into your wargame hobby. In my case, I stopped playing video games, as they excite me to much instead of bring me down after a long working day and I don't get alot of fun out of them. Paint and assembling miniatures or even creating terrain just brings me great joy. The strength of tabletop wargaming lays in its calm beauty, diversity and full creativity aspect which can not be reflected in the same way by a video game.

[@tabletopminions]

I think video games can certainly be art, but I agree that tabletop games have a little something else, at least, that attracts me to them. Thanks for watching!

[@MKalavera111]

Thats true but as most of your followers i prefer tabletop games over video games due to the various aspects covering the range from crafting, painting up to terrain building, rule variation and background creation. This distinguishs it so much from computer games, especially from console titles. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us as always.

[@neue01]

Love the Ramones pa-chow shirt!!!

[@mancman-bu4kz]

Tbh I only just got back into actual 40k because lad saw some stuff and he wanted experience it... at moment I'm loving building and painting my army but there are some fantastic 40k video games. I have few. Eg. The old school Warhammer quest games. Warhammer blood bowl 2. Warhammer inquisitor. Space hulk tactics. Vermin tide games chaos bane and space marine. Sometimes few friends come over and we play games and paint (usually when kid free lol)

[@robertgillespie7066]

Tabletop simulator too, True future of war gaming.

[@LazyVideosGAME]

And then Tabletop Simulator happened.

[@tabletopminions]

+LazyVideosGAME I've heard of it, but never really seen it. I should look into it. Thanks for watching!

[@merlin6707]

Replayablity is another big plus. Sure you can play video games over again, but you know how it's going to end. I can fight the same player with the same army and have a different outcome everytime, tweak the army list here, adapt your strategy there, bless your dice more often and there you have it, a new game.

[@tabletopminions]

Very true. Especially the 'blessing your dice' part. Thanks for watching!