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10 Best Things of 2021
It’s the end of the year–in fact, I’m writing this so late in the day that it’s already the end of the year for much of the wargamers who visit this site–I hope 2022 is going great to all my European, Asian and Australian readers!
I wanted to quickly–this won’t be a long article–go through some of my favorite things of 2021, a year that has had a lot of crap. But if you can look past all the negative things about 2021, there was a lot to celebrate.
10. Favorite Miniature of 2021
I have already posted an article that showed all of my hobby progress as I have gone through Hobby Streak that got me from a small US Marine to the large Karazai the Scarred. It’s really hard to pic a favorite miniature that I painted, but I’m going to have to go with the Dankhold Troggoth. Not the most complicated that I ever painted, and no amazing techniques, but it was a model that was immensely satisfying–one that looks better than the sum of its parts. I’m really pleased with this guy.
9. Favorite Rule Set of 2021
My favorite ruleset of 2021 is not a new ruleset by any means, but the one that I really sunk my teeth into and the one that made me wish I had six months to kitbash some amazing armies for it. (I did a few models, and I played with proxies so I could review it) but that game is Sludge War. It has wonderful opportunities for conversion, but I love it for the mechanics, particularly the presence of the Gore tokens that litter the field and make a game called Sludge as grimy and gross as you can get.
8. Favorite Hobby Moment of 2021
My favorite hobby moment of 2021 was playing Bolt Action Tank War with my 12 year old son. I was the Germans and he was the United States. He’s got some learning disabilities and needs a lot of help, so the fact that he–on his own–absolutely routed me was terrific. I was left with a solitary Tiger with a broken turret, and he came up on the sides of me with his fully working Shermans and pounded the daylights out of me until I finally died.
7. Favorite Painting YouTube Channel of 2021
My favorite painting YouTube channel isn’t even a hard decision: It’s Sonic Sledgehammer. Everything that he paints makes me think “I want to paint that!” and his calm, joking, self-deprecating demeanor is truly a breath of fresh air when so many other painting YouTube channels shout “Don’t Be a NOOB!” and “You’re Painting All Wrong!” Sonic Sledgehammer’s videos are enjoyable–there is always some new and unusual thing to paint, be it 3D printed, indie, or the occasional Games Workshop model. Big points for Troy at Sonic Sledgehammer.
6. Favorite Lore YouTube Channel of 2021
When I am heads down painting and need something to listen to in the background there is no one better than Baldermort. I think that it’s the writer in me that loves it so much, because Baldermort’s videos are so much more than just recitations of lore–they’re excellent pieces of literature with stunning audiobook-quality performance. I am astounded that the Black Library hasn’t snatched him up to come write for them. (Maybe they have tried and he turned them down.)
5. Favorite Gaming YouTube Channel of 2021
It’s a smaller channel, but I get such a kick out of Modeling for Advantage. They do a lot of different stuff on the show, from battle reports to unboxings to sit and chat livestreams. They bring on interesting guests, they’ve gone to visit hobby places (like a recent visit to Warlord Games). They just seem like the type of guys you would want to hang around with. And I love that they have such a historical bend to them–they’ll occasionally dip a toe into Games Workshop but very very rarely. Really an excellent channel. Go support them.
4. Favorite Completed Army of 2021
Despite completing 648 miniatures in 2021, I only completed a few armies. I would be tempted to say that my new Idoneth Deepkin army is my favorite, because the new models are absolutely joy to paint. But I’ve voiced my displeasure many times with the Namarti. I think to make a full army of Idoneth that I would actually enjoy I would need all Akhelian Guard as battleline. And that would be very spammy. But I’d like it.
Anyway, the army that I am most proud of this year are the Rock Badgers, a homebrew successor chapter to the Space Wolves. I love their color scheme, and I love the lore that I wrote for them (which you can read here) and I love that they incorporate the Death Korps of Krieg as well as Genestealer Cults vehicles. It was fun kitbashing and I think they look pretty good.
3. Favorite Wargame Explorer Article I Wrote of 2021
My favorite Wargame Explorer article is also the longest Wargame Explorer article that I’ve ever written, coming in at more than 7,000 words. It’s the What Warhammer 40k Army Should I Play? article, which required an awful lot of research and weighing of options and reading rules. And then adding in the fact that I wanted to ALSO pick the best unit of each Warhammer 40k army–that just made the whole thing harder. But I’m thrilled with the result, and with the reception it’s been getting.
2. Favorite Debacle of 2021
2021 was nothing if it was not debacles. And I am a tabloid junkie who loves some good gossip and tends to stick my nose in where it doesn’t belong. But I’m going to talk about a debacle that I found fascinating but which happened before I started this website in May: the Cursed City debacle. I wanted Cursed City SO BAD, and I actually got a copy, and then, by weird circumstances, had to go on an urgent road trip where I lived in a hotel for a week. I took Cursed City along with me and about twenty paints and two brushes, and had a delightful time painting the box.
And then it turned into a disaster, and I felt bad, and was no longer interested in a game that was not going to be supported, and happily sold my painted models and box to a friend.
1. Favorite Hobby Thing of 2021
My favorite hobby thing of 2021 is that I finally took the plunge, starting May 2, 2021, into writing about wargaming as a major pursuit. I didn’t expect anything like the response I’ve been getting, which is truly astounding. I am so grateful for everyone who helped me, for everyone who agreed to an interview request when this channel was tiny, and to everyone who is joining in the community. I couldn’t do it without you.
