State of the tabletop wargaming world at the moment?

[Pancreasboy]

Hey there all. I’m Ross Franks, long-time gamer, painter, modeler, 3D graphic designer known as Pancreasboy. I've been out of the gaming world for a while and I want to see what's being played these days, their positive and negative aspects and if my 3D design skills can contribute in any way.


To do that I’ve created this questionnaire that should only take 5-10 minutes and I'll release the results in the future.


https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1...JHbVLDAFppfGZXOPMAT3MntQ/viewform?usp=sf_link


Looking forward to your comments.

 

[ClockworkOrange]

Hi what with you being a new member etc I’m a little reluctant to click the link etc and share any personal details - maybe get know the peeps here first?

I’ve removed the link for now.

 

[Biggle_Bear]

Welcome back to the hobby. What kind of things are you interested in knowing? Then we could have a discussion instead. Much more fun that way.

 

[Stoof]

For what it's worth the survey was legit.

There's a lot being played here at the moment - Lots of Necromunda and various versions of 40k of course, but also Bolt Action, D&D, Five Parsecs From Home, Stargrave, Frostgrave and so forth.

Positive aspects... they're fun, they're social (even Five Parsecs, as we enjoy the battle reports), we like building weird and wonderful stuff.
Negative aspects... anything GW is horrendously expensive these days, and I stabbed myself in the thumb with a pin vice drill yesterday and it really hurt.

Your questionaire asked about any gaps in the 3D design/printing market. One I've found is accoutrements to buildings. 3D printing a whole building or buying a building kit is expensive and wasteful when most of it can be made from cereal packets. What I was looking for was strips of crenellations that would be time consuming to make by hand, but great fodder for 3D printing. Crenellations of different styles, gargoyles, the logs that stick out of the walls of desert huts, different styles of door & window frame you could stick on rather than having to do a whole building.

That and cost effective pin markers for Bolt Action (little explosions on bases in my mind).

 

[ClockworkOrange]

@Stoof still got the link? I’ll add it back

 

[Stoof]

@Stoof still got the link? I’ll add it back

Afraid not.

It's essentially:

What era/setting of wargames do you play?
What scale?
What do you like about wargaming?
What don't you like about wargaming?
What technology do you use (apps etc)?
Where do you play?
What kind of events do you attend?
How often do you play?
Do you have/buy/download 3D printed/printable models?
What would you like to see more of?

That kind of thing.

 

[TopsyKretts]

I got gaps for loads of products, not only 3d printed. Like objective markers specific to certain games. Like Kill Team always need 4" diameter with inner 2" diameter. I've managed to find one, but otherwise very little support. Counters! More specifically double sided counters. Why let half the counter go to waste? Wounds (1/2 blood drops), victory points (1/2 or 1/5), activated/not activated, many such things. There are a few counters available to buy, but they can be ridiculously expensive if you need more than 5-6 of them. Then it's quite difficult some times to find alternative minis for much of the GW range. Like a warband of Blood Letters? Female beastmen for underworlds. Alternative female minis for most stuff really.

 

[spafe]

I've put the link back

 

[ClockworkOrange]

My sentiment still stands about getting to know us first before going in for the market testing, the Trolls a 3rd date kinda guy

 

[NoOneII.]

that explains the consistency of phenotypes in the troll's family!

 

[Punktaku]

That doesn’t mesh with the Troll rumors I keep hearing….

 

[Biggle_Bear]

What era/setting of wargames do you play?
I'm mostly partial scifi
What scale?
generic warhammer scale is my favourite. 28mm right? But I am trying out 10mm to fit in my cramped living space full of (children's) toys and my wife's teaching business. I just don't have the space for a decent amount of 28mm scale scenery.
What do you like about wargaming?
The story telling aided by the tangible models.
What don't you like about wargaming?
Expense, space and the still present stigmatisation
What technology do you use (apps etc)?
none. Can't afford it. I am interested in "tabletop simulator" but have to update my computer. Tried roll20.net but had a couple of bad experiences.
Where do you play?
Only at tribemeet. I had a gaming group that met at my home before the pandemic but we didn't play wargames.
What kind of events do you attend?
Only tribemeets. I want to attend Spiel but it has never worked out
How often do you play?
Practically never these days
Do you have/buy/download 3D printed/printable models?
No but I've warmed up to the idea
What would you like to see more of?
Custom 3d prints are awesome. I like small numbers of very characterful models, so designing miniatures online and getting them printed is appealing

 

[MusingWarboss]

One I've found is accoutrements to buildings

That’s one area I’d love to use a 3D printer for (when I get one). Whether it’s scratch built or MDF scenery that needs set dressing it’d be nice to have a vent, or door, or bulkhead lamp or terminal etc. for use without having to sacrifice a kit from elsewhere or buy in a resin set.

The other use is replacing lost components from classic Miniatures. Like arms.

I know lots of stuff like that can come from resin casters but it’s be nice just to whip up a batch rather than having to order, then wait for delivery.

 

[ClockworkOrange]

The Troll can attest to this being awesome - need a part for something make it in TinkerCAD or find a suitable free STL online and 3D print it, takes scratch building to the next level.

 

[rustedchrome]

What I was looking for was strips of crenelations that would be time consuming to make by hand, but great fodder for 3D printing. Crenelations of different styles, gargoyles, the logs that stick out of the walls of desert huts, different styles of door & window frame you could stick on rather than having to do a whole building.

What Stoof said! All those little bits that can take a card building to the next level.

Doors and doorways, flat wall accoutrements, window surrounds, security cameras, lights, floor and wall panels, computer terminals. Stuff you can add to existing structures.

 

[TopsyKretts]

Surprised to see the range of shelf products available in my local hobby store. Some companies already do a lot of similar stuff. Various bits for terrain building, a lot of fantasy/medieval stuff like barrels, ruins, banners, wall-mounted torches, wooden chairs, tables ++. I think most of it was for DnD or some other game I haven't heard of before. It even came pre-primed so ready to be painted straight out of the box. Some of their minis however was smaller scale than 28mm/32mm, but most of the terrain pieces was either made for larger scale or looked fine for other scales.

 

[Pancreasboy]

No worries guys, sorry if I felt like I was treading on toes, that wasn't my aim, but more a general feel for what's happening at the moment and if there's anyway I can help out with my skills. But there's been some great ideas put out, I'll definitely keep them in mind!

So thanks for those who have given feedback so far, if you haven't used the Questionnaire yet feel free to give it a go when you can.

 

[Pacific]

What era/setting of wargames do you play?
At the moment ancients, WW2, sci-fi (Necromunda, Epic, Fallout), Fantasy (A Song of Ice and Fire, Bloodbowl)
What scale?
A mix: Everything from small 68mm for Epic/Adeptus Titanicus, 15mm WW2 and 28/32mm for other games.
What do you like about wargaming?
The painting/modelling, social aspect of playing friends, crushing my enemies and hearing the lamentation of their women.
What don't you like about wargaming?
Price barriers, people being shot down on social media for daring to complain about the former.
What technology do you use (apps etc)?
Some apps depending on the game (ASOIAF's official app is really good). I make blog/webpages for campaigns with friends.
Where do you play?
Since CV19 mostly at home or friend's houses
What kind of events do you attend?
Just social/friendly games. In the past have regularly gone to tournaments, Salute etc.
How often do you play?
Once a month if I am lucky
Do you have/buy/download 3D printed/printable models?
Yes - I have bought a few prints but don't own a printer myself.
What would you like to see more of?
More use of modern tech for world building, player-driven narratives, blurring of physical and virtual games. Think there is a lot of potential there that has not really been exploited.

Hope that was the kind of thing you were after!

 

[Kitcar]

Above covers more than I could. Just as one simple question that almost any table top gamer will support:

"Are you ready to head down the rabbit hole?"

 

[Pancreasboy]

Hey there all, as promised here’s the results to the questionnaire I provided recently, here on my Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/twistedpancreasgames (or if you sent me your email address you should have received it already, check your junk mail).

Thanks to over 580 responses (and more people are still contributing) I’m looking to start with something that was fairly in demand, ie humour, modularity and quick games, that will be great to casually invite new players into the hobby and also give veteran gamers a bit of a beer and pretzel game.

Feel free to follow future updates here https://www.facebook.com/groups/twistedpancreasgames

Keep in mind I will also be creating some popular scenery files for other games as well at the same time.

So thanks again for all your help again and hopefully I can provide you all with some exciting and useful items for your wargaming!

Game on!