Hobby Support Group: Recent Episodes
Tom and Andy
Join Andy and Tom, two friends who also happen to be middle aged lifelong gamers which play a lot of table top games with the odd dalliance into board games, card games , PRG'S and computer games but with a bias towards historical war gaming as they chat all things hobby related. We try to keep the chat positive and offer what each of us do to make the hobby as enjoyable as possible to us.
This week, Tom is joined by Ed and maybe crosses the Rubicon of tangents in an episode inspired by a recent viewing of Henry the 5th (1944)
The trilogy is complete.
This week, Ben joins Tom and the team complete their look back at Salute 2024.
This week Tom is over the moon to welcome back onto the show a true hobby hero of us all, Mr Charles Rowntree. We chat about the fate of the Korea board Charles built and then move onto the Rouge One themed board many of us marvelled at last year.
This week as a special break from the norm, Ed and Tom get all arty and chat about a truly amazing film about Napoleon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6504eRh5h6M
This week Tom is joined by Ben and we chat about narrative gaming during which Tom butchers a Tolkien song
This week Andy, Ed and Tom have a look at what we have learned about what we want from our hobby since the pandemic
This week, after months of promising it Tom finally got to sit down and chat with HSG'S 28mm 17th Century master hobbyist Andy F.O.G.H
This week, Ed talks to Arran Johnston, a historian and consultant curator at the Battle of Prestonpans (1745) Heritage Trust. Arron has been running an interactive “what if?” wargames campaign, refighting the 1745 Jacobite rising from the Battle of Prestonpans onwards. Arran has used an adapted version of the Black Powder rules system, with key decisions being made for the Jacobite forces by followers of the Battle of Prestonpans Museum facebook page. You can watch the whole campaign on youtube and there are more details on the Battle of Prestonpans Museum website: https://www.youtube.com/@Prestonpans1745https://www.facebook.com/Prestonpans1745 https://www.battleofprestonpans1745.org/the-what-if-campaign/
This week Ed chats with Chris McDowall , games designer and author of The Doomed, the new Apocalyptic Horror Hunting wargame soon to be published by Osprey.
It's episode 100 and to mark the milestone this week Alex from Storm of Steel Wargaming interviews Andy and Tom.
While not quite the Avengers or even the Autobots this week the whole HSG gang who live in London used that proximity to each other to sit in our respective living rooms and discus how our Ovellists are going so far this year.
This week Ed and Tom are joined once more by the wonderful Mr Peter Berry as we chat about Big Base Units and get all excited about Joy of Six 2023
Please keep all arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times, as it is time for Ed and Tom to take a wander around the gallery.
This week Andy and Tom chat all the hobby segments you know and hopefully like that make up our Hobby Updates
Heresy alert, this week Tom and Ed chat, heresy, or at least about Ed's recent trip up to warhammerfest in Manchester
This week Andy and Tom are joined by James Millar of Millers Miniatures to chat Epic Pike and Shotte and why we all like playing ECW / 30 years War
This week Andy, Ed and Tom chat about Warlords new Epic Pike and Shott range and reflect on our recent ECW Campaign and plans for its next round.
This week we set a new benchmark in what can go wrong during a podcast recording as Andy and Tom and joined by John from the South London Warlords as they chat about Salute
It's a battle report recorded live from the front as Tom and Ed fight the first English Civil war to a brutal and bloody conclusion.
Will the ladies man Mr Cromwell live to date again, will more illegitimate children have to be raised to the peerage to take command of Royalist forces?
Who will roll worse and what will happen to Ed's cannons as they attack the Star Fort? Listen and find out
It's time for perhaps the only regular audio described miniature painting gallery podcast for January
And we are back on schedule. This week Andy is back and joins Tom as they bring you the hobby news and updates from January.
This week, Tom is joined by Warren as they chat about the Hobby Support Group Terrain Group Build and the Hobby Budget concept which Warren has developed.
It's hobby update time as Ed joins Tom to bring you all up to date with what has been going on in the hobby
It's the Hobby Support Group Awards 2022
The winners are:
Hobby Company of the year
Bloody Miniatures
Hobby YouTube Channel of the year
Joint winners
7th Son & Storm of Steel
Best miniature released in 2022
Victrix British Heavy Dragoons 1812-1815
Best game released in 2022
Xeons Rampant
Best event / show in 2022
Joy of Six
Best terrain project unveiled in 2022
Charles Rountree’s Imjin River Board
Best terrain project unveiled in 2022
Runner Up
Geek Gaming Scenics Wargame board hidden on back of pictures frame
Hobby Support Group Hobbyist of the year
Warren Cann
Hobby Support Group Hobbyist of the year
Runner Up
Benjamin Still
Favourite guest on the show in 2022
Charles Rountree
Favourite guest on the show in 2022
Runner Up
Ed
Flowers Award
Luke APS
Andy and Tom are joined by Ed and Ben as we chat Ovelist 2022 and look at what we have planned for the next year.
If you like lists then this is an episode for you!
It's a special episode this week, it's the man behind the Warren Standard having a chat with Tom
This week Ed is here to chat with Tom as they discuss the second round of English Civil War Campaign they have started playing and what happens in a campaign when bad dice rolls are joined with some interesting tactical choices.
This week Ed and Tom chat with Richard Lloyd of Bloody Miniatures about all things English Civil war and a bit of 30 years war as well
It's hobby update time as Andy and Tom chat 6 weeks of hobby progress, hobby news, purchases and a whole load of other bits and bobs.
This week, Andy and Tom look over the work of the Hobby Support Group community in the Gallery
This week, Ed and Tom chat about a visit they made to Warfare 2022 and share some thoughts on wargaming shows in general.
This week Andy is away, but worry not, Ed is here to chat with Tom as they discuss the opening moves in the English Civil War Campaign they have started playing.
Andy and Tom take a look at this month's hobby progress from the hobby support group Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/398998471453025
This week Andy and Tom answer some listener questions.
Come and see us on Sunday the 16th at SELWEG
It's time for all the segments you know and love as Andy and Tom bring you the September hobby update
This week Andy and Tom chat about hobbying on a budget and ways in which we call all stretch our hobby budgets.
This week, Andy and Tom look over the work of the Hobby Support Group community in the Gallery
To see the minis we are talking about, check out the YouTube video - https://youtu.be/GYGa1SRaCb0
This week, Tom is joined by Ed and our friend Russel to chat about the recent Bring Out Your Lead event in Newark.
Please note, we had a few issues with the sound recording that only became apparent when editing the show, so there are a couple of places where we rejoin the conversation mid-sentence.
It's Episode 60!
This week, both Tom and Andy chat about what they have been up to in the hobby over the last month and have a gander at the wider hobby world
This week its one for the Ed Heads as Tom chats with Ed about Absolute Emperor, the new Napoleonic game on the scene.
This week, Tom sits down and chats with the amazing hobbyist Charles Rowntree about the awe-inspiring Imjin board he has built and is touring the UK's wargaming shows with. For some pictures of the board and to see more of Charles stunning work and to also learn more about the All Hell Let Loose rules system please check out Charles's blog at https://www.allhellletloose.co.uk
This week, Andy and Tom chat with Greg of Little Wars TV
If you don't already follow Little Wars TV, then please check them out.
https://www.littlewarstv.com
This week, both Tom and Andy chat about what they have been up to in the hobby over the last month and have a gander at the wider hobby world
This week Tom chats with Alex Sotheran from Storm of Steel Wargaming where we chat about many things and Tom is converted to the idea of playing WW1 on the western front.
Tom continues this week's chat with Ed, where they discuss The Pikeman’s Lament , a game they both like quite a lot.
Andy should be back next week but he too is a fan of the game.
This week, Tom and Ed chat about the recently concluded English Civil War Campaign they have been running at their club.
Freshly back from Sheffield, Andy and Tom discuss the brilliant event that was The Joy of 6.
What's better than a new epsiode of HSG, an episode dropping early.
This week Andy and Tom chat about all the hobby progress and news from the last month and then take a journey through the gallery.
This week Andy and Tom are joined by Ben and Ed to have a look at how, at the halfway point of the year our #Ovelists are going.
This week Andy and Tom give their monthly hobby update, chat about what they have been up to, hobby news and take a look at listeners work in the gallery.
This weeks episode is a meet the hobbysit and while Andy is away for half-term Tom chats with friend of the show and the person to talk to about Spanish Civil War, wargaming and history Mr Bob Maycock
In this episode, Andy and Tom answer some listener questions
If you would like us to answer your hobby questions then please join the Facebook group and post them for us to answer in a future episode
https://www.facebook.com/groups/398998471453025
Also if you enjoy the podcast please consider supporting us on Patreon.
https://www.patreon.com/hobbysupportgroup?fan_landing=true
As Andy continues “Operation trim down his hobby collection” this week he and Tom chat about what he should keep to hand for a 1000 point American army to play Bolt Action.
This week Andy and Tom give their monthly hobby update, chat about what they have been up to, hobby news and take a look at listeners work in the gallery.
This week Andy and Tom discuss not one, not two but three games they have recently tried and so now in their customary style give you an in-depth review of them.
Andy's back!
This week we chat about what our personal hobby life goals are and wax lyrical on what a hobbyist needs to do in order to earn that hobby cravat.
Today, in the first of an occasional series of episodes where we chat with the hobbyists that form part of Hobby Support Group, Tom chats with Ben Still about terrain.
This week Andy and Tom chat about what they have been up to in the hobby, have a look at the news including a new subsection, take a journey thought time and thought via the gallery and close out the show with an eye towards Aprils hobby goals.
Just a quick note to say that there is some background noise in parts of this episode, we are sorry and tried to clear the audio up as much as possible but a JCB digging up a road outside is quite hard to mask at times.
The pestilence has rendered Andy unable to play or record for the last couple of weeks, but valiantly Ed joins Tom to chat about a large game of Black Powder they played in 6mm.
This week Tom and Andy discus their thoughts on Campaigns in Wargames, Skirmish Games, RPGS and a host of other games. The pros, the cons, the pratfalls, common mistakes and boon that they can bring to your gaming.
This week Andy and Tom chat about what they have been up to in the hobby, games they played where Tom is joined by Ricky to chat about playing paper CCG'S online, tom and Andy give update on the latest massive game of Pike and Shotte and Andy details his first Bloodbowl league game then its hobby news and a drive around the gallery.
This week, Tom and Andy chat all things Bolt Action with Ste Ross of On Point HQ & PCP fame.
This week Andy and Tom chat about what they have been up to in the hobby this month, plus take a look at the hobby news, chat about Bloodbowl and then take a ganger and the gallery.
In this episode we chat with Peter Berry of Baccus about the many, many joys of 6 mm gaming including Pony Wars, O Group, Napoleonic’s, Ancients, The War of the Spanish Succession, The Great Northern War, English Civil War, The Thirty Years War and a lot more.
In short, we chat about a lot.
This week Tom and Andy discuss our thoughts on smaller scale gaming, 6 and 10mm mostly with a tangent into 2mm and 13mm for fans of a tangent.
Hobby Support Group Ep 33 – Listener Questions – Hobby Butterfly, when to get rid of a project and the plans we have for our personal collections in 2022.
In this episode we answer some listener questions
If you would like us to answer your hobby questions then please join the Facebook group and post them for us to answer in a future episode
https://www.facebook.com/groups/398998471453025
An extra special festive treat for you all, Andy reads you all Clement Clarke Moore's 'Twas The Night Before Christmas.
Hobby Support Group Ep 32 #Ovellist Round Table
Tom and Andy are joined by guests Ed and Ben to discuss our #Ovellists, both what we managed in 2021, the first year of the lists and our plans for 2022. Some bold hobby predictions were made, check back next year to see how we manged.
This week, Tom and Andy are joined by special guest Brent of Goobertown Hobbies
We chat painting, life of a full time hobby YouTuber and many more things.
If you don't already follow Brent's Youtube channel, you can find it here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOviJ8lr6PHli_PjCH0a-4g
Hobby Support Group Ep 30 – Hobby chat
In this episode we chat hobby progress, hobby purchases, have a wonder through the gallery and chat hobby news.
If you would like your hobby progress to be mentioned when we look through the gallery, then please join the Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/398998471453025
*This episode was recorded a few weeks ago, but we have not had time to drop it until now.
A special episode where Tom and Andy reflect on Salute 2021, what they saw, what they bought and their overall thoughts on the event.
In this episode we chat with Jasper Oorthuys, Editor in chief at Karwansaray Publishers, editor of Ancient Warfare magazine and known also for The Ancient Warfare Magazine Podcast along with Ancient Warfare answers and Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy among many other things.
A quick message with some details on how you can meet up with us at Salute on Saturday, November 13th 2021.
In this episode we chat with one of the founders of Warlord Games, Mr John Stallard. We discuss the success of Epic American Civil War, the just announced Epic Waterloo, future plans for the Epic range, all things Bolt Action including the inevitability of version 3 along with a heap of news on upcoming Warlord games releases and plans for the future.
Hobby Support Group Episode 27- English Civil War mass battle multiplayer game roundtable review.
Andy is on holiday this week, so Tom is joined by Ed and Ben as we discuss a huge 1000 figure+ 28mm game of Pike of Shotte seven of us played the previous week.
We also chat a lot about our thoughts and ideas for playing a mass multiplayer Napoleonic game at some point in 2022.
In this episode we chat hobby progress, hobby news, discuss what two games we would play if forced to and have a length chat about what it is that we like in a game. We also announce our 1000 download celebration competition where you can win a copy of Realm of Chaos - The lost and the damned. More info will be out soon about the competition so keep you eyes peeled on the Facebook group - Hobby Support Group
In this episode we chat hobby progress, hobby news, give our review on Stargrave, discuss if boardgame minis should be painted and have a chat with Ronnie Renton founder and CEO of Mantic Games.
In this episode we chat hobby progress, hobby news, have a decent chat about the Osprey game The Men Who Would be Kings and the merits of 15mm gaming and then chat all things War of the Roses gaming with Martin Brook of 7th Son and Plastic Crack Podcast fame.
In this episode we chat varnish, boozy orks the joy of painting horses and the first in a series on terrain.
Tom and Andy chat about a slow fortnight worth of hobby progress, discuss hobby purchases and a short review from tom on a new Matt Varnish he is using, discuss some bits of hobby news, answer a listener question about narrative gaming and chat about some of our basic thoughts on terrain.
Tom and Andy chat hobby progress, discuss hobby purchases, discuss some bits of hobby news, answer a listener question about narrative gaming and chat about playing Chain of Command for the first time.
Tom and Andy chat hobby progress, discuss hobby purchases, discuss some bits of hobby news, answer a host question about building a travel paint set and then take a look at what games we want to play during the later 3rdof 2021.
Tom and Andy chat hobby progress, discuss hobby purchases, discuss some bits of hobby news, have a chat about Keyforge (a card game they both play and really enjoy , answer a listener question about choosing which ruleset to buy and then take a look at the costs of the hobby and is it really a never-ending money pit or can you hobby on a budget.
Tom and Andy chat hobby progress, discuss hobby purchases, discuss some bits of hobby news, give a brief overview of the tournament they attend, answer a listener question about paint and then take a look at how to choose what games to play when you have an eclectic collection already or are looking to add more games to your hoard.
Tom and Andy chat hobby progress, discuss hobby purchases, discuss some bits of hobby news and then answer a listener question on looking at how to tackle a hobby backlog. After that they chat about a game of Bolt Action they played and reactions to rolling dice together for the fist time in 18 months.
Tom and Andy chat hobby progress, discuss hobby purchases, discuss some bits of hobby news and then answer a listener question on is historical wargaming moral. After that they then both build a Bolt Action army for the tournament they are going to in a few weeks.
Tom and Andy chat hobby progress or lack thereof in one of their cases, discuss hobby purchases, discuss the new Supply Drop army deal from Warlord among other hobby news and then have an extended interview with Henry Steele. Henry is a Golden Demon winner and runs Cult of Paint with Andy Wardle. Over the last few years Cult of Paint has helped hundreds of hobbyists improve their confidence and technique in miniatures painting.
https://www.cultofpaint.com
Tom and Andy chat hobby progress, discuss hobby purchases, talk a lot of hobby news, answer a listener question asking if we avoid anything that may spark us wanting to do a new army or project and then we both look back at what we have both achieved after over a year of lockdown life and if our thoughts or perspective on the hobby have changed because of it.
Tom and Andy chat hobby progress, discuss hobby purchases, talk hobby news, answer a listener question on why it’s bad to look at our to be painted pile as a pile of shame and for the main segment chat about a list of 10 things Andy has drawn up about what he loves about our hobby
Tom and Andy chat hobby progress, discuss hobby purchases, talk hobby news and for the main segment are joined by special guest Ricky, a blind gamer who is now partially sighted.
During the discission with Ricky several online resources are discussed which can be found here:
Nyctophobia
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/249505/nyctophobia
Dyslexic Character sheet
https://www.geeknative.com/70088/dd-character-sheets-for-players-with-dyslexia/
Neurodivergence and RP
https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/incd2020exhibit/chapter/the-power-of-play/
Deafness and RP
https://popcultureuncovered.com/2018/03/20/tabletop-tuesday-running-rpgs-with-the-deaf-and-hard-of-hearing/
Accessibility overview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2U8PlhdX6rI&t=2542s&ab_channel=Spice8Rack
* Correction to something we mention in Hobby News.
When we recorded this episode on 13/4/21 we were under the impression that Cursed City was going to be a general release game that was going to be part of GW’s on-going range. It seems that GW have changed their minds and it is now a limited release item, or will at least not be back in the webstore so if you want a copy, we suggest you visit your local shops and see if they have a copy in stock.
In Episode 14 we will discuss both the impact of Brexit and Covid on the hobby and the Fear of Missing out as a marketing strategy.
Tom Reviews two books this week in the regular series of book review bonus episodes
Malice Aforethought - A History of Booby Traps from the First World War to Vietnam
By Ian Jones MBE
And
GERMAN REPORT SERIES: GERMAN CAMPAIGN IN RUSSIA – PLANNING AND OPERATIONS 1940-1942
Both books can be bought from www.naval-military-press.com.
https://www.naval-military-press.com/product/malice-aforethoughta-history-of-booby-traps-from-the-first-world-war-to-vietnam/
https://www.naval-military-press.com/product/german-report-series-german-campaign-in-russia-planning-and-operations-1940-1942/
Tom and Andy chat hobby progress, discuss hobby purchases, answer a listener question, talk hobby news, and then as final part of the series looking at getting a new army on the table they chat about basing, storage and transportation of your minis.
This week’s Extra episode is a short conversation Andy and Tom had sparked by a conversation of the Hobby Support Group Facebook page in which listeners were taking about how they deal with the urge to buy more miniatures.
Apologies for a slight dip in audio quality, Tom’s mic gave out after 30 seconds of recording so we had to restart with a back up that in editing was found to be a bit iffy
Tom and Andy chat hobby progress, discuss hobby purchases and a conundrum Tom has, they plug the Facebook group, talk hobby news, and then as part of the series looking at getting a new army on the table they chat about building and painting an army from scratch as well as where to buy minis from.
Tom Reviews two books this week in the first of a regular series of book review bonus episodes
War in Japan 1467 -1615 by Stephen Turnbull and The Waterloo Archives Volume One Edited by Gareth Glover
Tom and Andy chat hobby progress, plug the Facebook group, discuss hobby purchases via a spreadsheet, plug the Facebook group, talk hobby news, plug the Facebook group and then start part of what will be a multi episode series looking at how they tackle a hobby project from initial idea to gaming with it away from home. In this first part they look at the planning and prep work done before buying any models for an army. They close the episode with a plug for the Facebook group and an update on some new book review episodes.
Tom concludes the background to the Wars of the Roses following the capture of King Edward IV in 1469 to the defeat of Lambert Simnel at the Battle of Stoke in 1487 which ended the War of the Roses and Perkin Warbeck's failed uprising of 1497 which saw the close to the Wars epilogue.
Tom and Andy are joined by their friend Ed as they chat about hobby progress , what's in the news, the appeal or lack thereof of Kickstarters and then chat about having hollowing on from Episode 8 now played a game of Black Powder via tabletop simulator.
And still the cliff hanger, have the Abyssal Dwarfs been painted?
THE BLADE OF AROZONE and more of Ed's work can be found at theartofjedwardscott.mystrikingly.com.
We also mention a couple of Youtube channels in the episode and they can be found here.
GooglyEyedSkull - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmAFv4RpWAz54j5XM67h04Q
Arbitor Ian- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHOFy9rDa1Zsvb39hYBBVpA
Tom gives some background to the Wars of the Roses following the death of Richard Duke of York in December 1460 to the capture of King Edward IV in 1469
Join Tom and Andy as they chat about hobby progress , whats in the news, the practicability of big box miniature board games and then chat with special guest JB about playing tabletop games online via Table Top Simulator.
And still the cliff hanger, have the Abyssal Dwarfs been painted?
Tom gives some background to the Wars of the Roses from 1387 to the death of Richard Duke of York in December 1460.
Its the War of the Roses Special.
But first have any Abyssal Dwarfs been painted ?
Join Tom and Andy as they chat about their hobby progress, a few news items and then take a dive into looking at playing games set during the War of the Roses.
Welcome to 2021.
Have the Abyssal Dwarfs been painted ?
Was a mountain of hobbying done over the holidays?
Join Tom and Andy as they chat about their hobby goals and plans for 2021 and learn how Andy has become a meme.
Its Christmas!
Have the Abyssal Dwarfs been painted or have the fueled Andy into yet more painting of other things?
Join Tom and Andy as after hobby progress and a rather short hobby news segment they chat about the getting a holiday gift for the hobbyist in your life. They also recommend some books and movies to keep you entertained during the festive period.
Did Andy achieve his painting commitment? Join Andy and Tom as they chat about hobby progress, the latest news and sales info and then have a bit of a moan and gripe.
Tom and Andy give some hobby progress update, Andy makes some bold painting commitments and then they chat about painting motivation and hobbying in Lockdown.
Andy and Tom chat about what they have been up to in the hobby, the latest book for Bolt Action and have a chat all about scale and the appeal of 6mm over 28mm.
Join Andy and Tom for this the first episode of Hobby Support Group where they chat about what they think the Hobby is.