Jun 14th, 2021 by Precinct Omega
I got to chat to Jake Thornton, renowned tabletop game designer whose credits include Lost Patrol, Dreadball, Dwarf King's Hold and many others. We discuss his career journey, experience of working inside Games Workshop and the transition to freelancer.
This episode is also available as a video on YouTube if you are compelled to see our faces.
Jun 8th, 2021 by Precinct Omega
Not sure what happened to my scheduled release, because I definitely did it. Anyway, apologies that this episode is a day late.
News topics this week include:
Manufaktura (no link for you!)
But the big feature for this week's episode is an hour-long conversation with Ben Calvert-Lee, digital sculptor extraordinaire and also long-time collaborator with GCT Studios. Ben shares his journey into the industry, his thoughts about the dynamic between traditional and digital sculpting media and insights into the evolution and operations of GCT Studios.
May 31st, 2021 by Precinct Omega
I take apart the question of armour - both personal and vehicle armour, and with a look at both historical and futuristic warfare - and how game designers frequently miss opportunities to embed the realities of armour into their game designs.
This week, I have attempted to record a video version of the podcast, which will be posted on YouTube. This is just the audio and you will lose very little from just listening to the audio, but I do refer sporadically to to the fact that I'm now speaking to a camera. Just FYI.
May 24th, 2021 by Precinct Omega
When a microenterprise wants to create something new, how do they do it? In the modern age, crowdfunding has become a core part of the business plan of any small creative business, and in the tabletop industry, Kickstarter is the colossus.
I use this episode to try to take apart the alternative options, look at what kinds of businesses are going to want to use what kind of approach and, ultimately, try to decide whether Kickstarter is right for Precinct Omega.
May 17th, 2021 by Precinct Omega
Another unscripted ramble through my brain, as I talk about my personal experience of CQB (spoiler: none) and how my understanding of it is informed by my studies and training. I have a bit of a go at mostly Warhammer 40,000 but also Infinity the Game for how they handle CQB, and obviously talk about how my games do it better (YMMV).
But seriously, I articulate four take-aways for anyone wanting to write CQB into a miniatures wargame which I think are important and which I think most miniatures wargames overlook.
May 10th, 2021 by Precinct Omega
A short episode, this week, because I'm taking it a bit easy. Back to normal service next week. But as (a) I'm taking it easy, and (b) it's 12 months since I started this series of weekly podcasting, I thought it would be a good opportunity to review the stats of the last 12 months and talk about my hopes and plans for the next year.
There's still news, though, with new releases from:
May 3rd, 2021 by Precinct Omega
I met up with Alex Handley of Aotrs Shipyard to discuss his work designing an enormous range of spaceship miniatures as 3D sculpts, and his experience of getting them to retail through third-party printing services.
Apr 26th, 2021 by Precinct Omega
This week I look at some interesting news from:
I take a look at the events surrounding the release and recent news regarding their Warhammer Quest: Cursed City boxed game, and then - as ever - turn it back on the industry to look at how different business models affect how companies communicate with their customers... And how customers "communicate" with the companies.
Apr 19th, 2021 by Precinct Omega
Shooting is a critical part of most tabletop miniatures wargames, but it is frequently given woefully little consideration by designers who think in narrow terms about the experiences of the soldiers they represent. Players, too, often think purely in terms of "hit" or "miss", without engaging creatively with the imaginative space of the tabletop.
In this episode, I think about what designers can do to more effectively communicate the experience of shooting and range combat, be it with historical, modern or science fiction weapons.
Apr 12th, 2021 by Precinct Omega
I take at look at:
Bad Squiddo Games
North Star Military Figures
Wyrd Games
Avatars of War
Antenociti's Workshop
DGS Games
All of these business have faced or are facing challenges to their market relevance, either through personal circumstances, shifts in the market, technological drift or commercial miscalculation. And each has addressed or is addressing these challenges in different ways. I take a look at different approaches small businesses have taken and consider what Precinct Omega and other businesses in the industry can learn from their example.
