Cult Of Games XLBS: Where To Start With Our Hobby Piles & XLBS In A Post-Lockdown World?
July 11, 2021 by brennon
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Happy Sunday
Happy Sunday,
will we hear whispers today? if so there is nothing better than whisper Gerry and The Greatest Movie ever made.
yes, i do collect warzone and eggs, trays of eggs to run through, you never know when a chase will commence and you need trays of eggs
@brennon see I knew there was a sucker.. I mean collector of warzone
The original figures were nice I thought
Happy Sunday!
The best place to be post-lockdown is locked away in your own hobby space, doing hobby and hiding from the next C-19 variant… Emerging only occasionally to pit your models against an opponent. Or so it feels sometimes… or is that my plan for retirement? I can’t recall, I’ll have to ask the voices in one of those screens that’s been my life for 15 months.
Voices? Screens? Have you been talking to the tapestries again?
Woot! Actually in for the bronze medal (maybe). I say kitbashing is a good idea. I also put forth the idea of base building as intricately as possible. Its a subject I’ve got a vested interest in admittedly but thematic environment building for display pieces really might give people a slow build and creative moment to throw things onto a plinth (much to the rage of Lloyd).
I got a heap of my primaris stuff primed thanks to this guys,
and yesterdays show saw me finish my Mailfaux crew off.
I have no idea what I’d like to see in these, as I don’t really pay much attention. Much like when I put a film on. It really is just background noise while I build or paint stuff.
Last night this popped up in my you tube feed which was weird and maybe a bit of a coincidence
https://youtu.be/5NC8QqTzMgc
To be honest, I’m of two minds about the after pandemic life. Sometimes I really miss everyone kind of being in the same room and seeing them riff off each other in real time. I sort of miss John being in his studio instead of what sounds like a farm. I do get it though obviously you record both the weekender and the xlbs at the same time so your either going to be in the studio or not. It’s up to you. I do miss the occasional hobby night thing those were sort of fun.
Happy Sunday and Happy birthday to Free hope you guys have a grand time. I recently discovered a show on Netflix called Love Death and Robots that’s I recommend for everyone. It’s all animation with episodes lasting at most 20mins but usually shorter with no connection between stories. If you haven’t given it a look and enjoy just a good story done well I’d go over and take a peek. Speaking of Lando, and I had not checked this myself, but I was told that there’s an odd thing in Empire Strikes Back where Lando is wearing Han Solos Clothes. So as my Kitten has me up and about early on a Sunday and I was feeling geeky I found this https://insidethemagic.net/2021/04/lando-in-hans-clothes-ne1/
Amazing and lovely work Captain Skyhawk and all of you with well deserved golden buttons this week you talented bunch of people you. I really prefer this set up of video, I always felt Ben was a little left out due to the one way feed and we love Ben. I do understand you have a remodelled studio to use but I really like this more at home
approach. More guests would be grand but I really enjoy you guys shooting the breeze and let’s face it you could get another 300 shows just going through what’s on Gerrys shelves. A painting session would be a good watch but I find when I’ve watched such things elsewhere your watching people paint over a tabletop and there’s a lack of up
close shots showing technique. Anyway Happy Sunday All hope everyone has a great week ahead.
Thank you! Had a lovely weekend, thank you!
Will give Love Death and Robots a go for sure! 🙂
Glad you guys had a lovely time especially with the year everyone has had ?
Love Death and Robots is great for fans of animation and writing. I’ve been told Netflix upload the episodes in a different order to people’s account which is fine as they are all stand alone. I think my favourite is All Through the Night as it’s just wacky. Enjoy.
It’s the XLBS Show………..Happy Sunday Fellow CoGs!…………..Happy Birthday FREE!
Love seeing the Burrows and Badgers again on the show. The Mrs was very happy to see these, thanks @brennon
Oh NO………..I feel for for you @avernon I hate it when I miss place stuff. But really hurts when its the Moonstone minis! (we’ll light a hobby candle for you to possibly remember where they are)
Oh gawd, I have some many things that have been put on hold that I haven’t gotten back to.
Well DONE to this week’s Golden Button Winners!
hummm……………I’d have to think on it for a bit as to what if anything I’d like to see changed. I do know I miss seeing the crew in the Studio, but I see the desire to broadcast from home. Maybe twenty minutes stuck into every XLBS of a campaign gaming video. Like a continuing tabletop battle or such, but just give us a little of the session each weekend. You’d only have to shoot one game each month and then edit it up into chunks. “Tune in next Week for the continuing struggle. Will Gerry ever please the Dice Gods, will Warren stay on task and not introduce Aliens, or is this Ben or Free’s chance to prove they’re tog dog with the dice?” … I don’t know, it’s just an idea……
ps….MOONSTONE would be my choice for the continuing SAGA! 🙂
Always love a chance to talk about Burrows & Badgers
SO EXCITED TO MOONSTONE WITH GERRY! hehe
First up, here’s wishing a belated Happy Birthday to Free!
Second, I like the current way both the Weekender and XLBS are done. To me, it somehow feels more inclusive (with Ben not left out in the cold like in days of old) and since more of us have had to spend more of our work/family and hobby time via Zoom, etc. it’s almost like it’s more relatable. We (the viewers) are more likely to find ourselves in your company via the media of Zoom than in person, and so it feels almost more achievably real or feasible.
Lastly, since it was the exposure to the XLBS via a backstage free week that convinced me to sub-up and become a full-time CoG, the XLBS has always been my fave spot of the week. I think it’s because it has more of a “no-holds-barred” feel than the weekender that makes it seem like a bunch of friends sitting in a pub/around a gaming table, shooting the breeze regarding the stuff we care about. I’m happy to see anything included that doesn’t break that illusion and I think the idea of “here’s how I’d do it” or “how would you attempt this?” segments would fit in quite well. I also wouldn’t worry about repeating yourselves or running out of topics to cover. Things in our hobby change so much over time (or even just fall in/out of fashion) and our community comes/goes/grows, that I think Gerry will run out of things to paint first.
@brennon Could you not use the Warzone stuff for 40k or Star Wars?
I have a habit of trying to buy armies to match the games I’m playing. I know that anything can be used with anything but something inside me just doesn’t like doing that haha
Good to see I’m not the only one that feels that way! ??
I’ve always wanted to see more community involvement with the Weekenders. In a day and age of Skype, MS Teams, etc having people drop in from around the world is easy.
If you want topics to discuss, what about campaigns and how to keep them interesting? There are hundreds of scenarios that people could be playing in narrative play yet they tend to stick to ‘what’s in the book’.
As for discussions comparing different systems in a similar genre….. I’d never say ‘No’ to that!
Happy Birthday Free!
Businesses all over the world are trying to solve the “hybrid meeting” problem. They work really well when everyone is in person, we’ve proved it works really well with everyone virtual, but when you start blending the two it gets really suboptimal. You guys could have told them that 5 years ago!
So I wouldn’t be too upset to see the virtual format remain, definitely for XLBS, and maybe even the main weekender too. I did enjoy the studio show, but there is nothing stopping you filming polished segments in the studio throughout the week and then cutting them in, keeping the freeform discussion as virtual. Ben’s been an absolute trooper making “Ben on the telly” work, but it has been so much better (conversation wise) over the last year. You could always get some on-brand backdrops for everyone to professionalise it a bit.
So my suggestion would be to use as much filmed content as is practical on the main weekender, with the conversation, links and segues virtual (unless everyone happens to be in Riverside), and have XLBS pretty much like it is with maybe a little more structure, maybe incorporating some of the ideas mentioned.
Happy Sunday
Yay it’s the XLBS Show. Happy birthday to you Free.
Mmm Beaver hunters? sounds good.
I think I have some airfix WW2 lying about that were probably bought between 1972 to 1975 that need painting still
Ooh great project winner’s.
I think we need a battle report between the Snatch lord and the Abbot of Beaver.
Ooh fantastic show guy’s, so free is the OTT Agony Aunt?
Dear Free.
I definitely prefer the current format of the weekender and XLBS. As others have said Ben always seemed forgotten as much as you guys tried your best to keep the conversation inclusive. The studio stuff was always good and wouldn’t mind seeing it return as segments within the main show and keeping the chat over zoom (or whatever you guys are using)
Happy birthday Free..where are you moving to?
Afternoon all. Ben Pantheon hasn’t been out all that long has it? 5 years ish I’d of thought, but I’m also aware I could be massively underestimating how long I’ve had it in a state of barely used non completion too . . . It’s always amusing to me when some people are shocked by how long projects or models can remain dormant, Free pretty much hit the nail on the head as to why though. Hobby distraction, and hobby butterflies, there’s always something that’s new to us demanding our attention. I have stuff that’s older but to give a recent rediscovery as an example of hobby distraction, I’ve juat found an old phone box, and was shocked upon looking inside. I’ve moved several times this last decade, things sadly get lost or left behind every so often. The contents of this box for example I was sure were long gone. 15 years ago I started a mordheim project, a plague cart, though not content leaving it as it was I felt the need for it to be pulled by a steam tank . . .. well, no idea of where on earth the cart went I was shocked to discover an almost complete Steam tank in that box(mid conversion, I was scraping heraldry off with a knife . . .). Also if this doesn’t give you an idea of age the tank is all metal pieces. So the new plan having been amazed by the rediscovery is to clean it up (battle damage?) And assemble it to it’s original purpose (scratch bashing whatever parts are sadly missing), so no doubt it’ll be found in another 15 years and I’ll be just as surprised at this good fortune . . .
Happy Sunday.
Congratulations to the Golden Button winners, 3 very nice projects.
Those Burrows and Badgers miniatures looks so tempting. I’m very tempted on getting that book and some minis.
I’m excited to watch more Moonstone let’s plays, they are always a good laugh.
It would be cool seeming some experimental hobby happenings on the show, I’m also in favour on having guest presenters in now and then. I remember Sundancer in an episode sometime last year.
Happy birthday to Free. Hope you had an enjoyable day.
Lando in “Guy owns two pairs of trousers” shocker!!!!1!!One!
Happy Sund… BEN?!
CAKE! Happy Birthday.
28? Jebus @free I’ve got Metal Band patches that are older then you XD
02:45 The badgers are back in Town!
06:46 So if the beasts are the humans, and the bugs are the beast… where are the tiny bug-humans!?!
13:20 In mother Russia faith come to you
16:00 B&B – Heavy Metal!
19:13 The dungeon and doggies look like a pack of chocolate…
22:30 Napping is a hobby? oO
25:00 Insert magnets here
28:30 Update time!
33:30 “Safely put away” Instant horror!
38:15 Star Wars: Legion…. still not Epic Scale yet.
42:00 Oathmark for the studio….
43:20 I hate to break it to you @free but I think many of us grognarts have a lot of minis older then you 😉
45:00 “Make someone play…” “tie them to the desk”… dark @brennon is dark 😉
46:30 with arms long enough *everything* is within arms reach
48:00 Bellydancers!
52:00 BUTTMONSTER!
56:00 Bronze boy.
1:00:00 28 mag… shouldn’t they be renamed 32 with all the scale creep? 😉
1:02:00 Yoga with the CoGs… that sounds like an idea
1:05:00 Speaking of scale…. what scale is Billion Suns?
1:06:30 Saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagaaaaaaaaaaa
1:08:30 you could also invite people from the OTTers/CoGs. Do something like the “hobby stream” G’Wullu does but only as a recording?
1:11:45 “looking over….” STEALING IDEAS! 😉
1:14:45 something something something….
Noice!
Also I do miss the old format and I still think it is possible to give Ben a video feed from the recording…
But then again. So many options! SO MANY!
Will think about this.
nope, he can’t see what we’re seeing and allow us to record. Hence him having to guess.
Happy Sunday to all! Happy Birthday Free! You have been a delightful addition to the OTT family. Stunning work from GB winners. I can see how some at OTT would prefer a in person Weekender. It would be more professional and crisp. It goes out to a wider audience that may not know you guys as well. As for the XLBS, the at home format is grand. I love it. After all we are paying for the privilege to be in your “Zoom” meeting. I would like mini Gerry cans or B&B Campaign play through with Ben. “How I Paint” with Free, Trains!!! with Loyd 🙂 etc.
If you used a system/software like Microsoft teams, you could invite. community members to join for painting and hobby evening sessions. A bit like Warren does on the discord radio show. That way we get to see what OTT team are up to but also what some of the community members are doing. Also by having community members join, you won’t need ex amount of OTT staff involved every week. So during busy periods you could probably get away with one or two OTT members and more community folk.
we can even do it with Zoom, which allows easier recording, the issue is time zones and timing. If we’re recording on Thursday at 2pm GMT for 2-3 hours it changes who is available. But I’d definitely love to see more people on talking balls with us
Yeah, it definitely mix things up a bit and would allow to free up team members during busy periods. One possible idea to test if it would work might be a hobby evening session, just sit paint and chat.
I really hope that you will keep the Pandemic, “wall of zoom”, format. Really does get the best input from everyone, and allows you to integrate guests.
Lloyd discovered your project, I think it was the inclusion of Poles in it. if you move slowly you may not frighten him off
?
(… commences to creep forward like Elma Fudd hunting Bugs Bunny…)
I think Polish Winged Hussars get to everyone eventually. Just saw some interesting 3D sculpts from an outfit called Highland Miniatures. Obviously aimed at the Warhammer Old World crowd but pretty amazing looking.
I think I prefer the current Weekender and XLBS format to the pre-pandemic one. The set was impressive but only served as a backdrop. In the current iteration Gerry seems to be able to reach around his room and find the exact thing he needs several times an episode. If you do go back to using the studio you would have to find a better way of integrating Ben and Free. I don’t think we could go back to the old one-way video approach.
that’s the other big issue is getting two video feeds in, it could even come down to one or the other but not both. It is vexxing.
Yeah Gerry would have to run home to grab the item in question if you all go back to studio and Ben will need to brush up on his acting skills again. The pandemic version is much better lol
Missed the B&B kickstarter… will need to pick up that Badger when it becomes available. Love XBLS and seeing what everyone is up too. I can live vicariously through you, while I’m stuck at work lol. All I need from the show is a walkthrough on Warrens ‘finished’ dungeon! ;D
On the topic of what to do with XLBS. I like the idea of evolving the show every now and again, change helps promote creativity. I see no advantage in going back to a studio based show for XLBS. I like the reviews of your personal hobby (although some better close cameras for each of you would be a blessing) and the Golden Buttons. It would be nice to see some of the WIP projects featured too, so we know what is good and what we might want to follow if we haven’t had time to trawl the system ourselves. Not everyone gets to see the unofficial hobby hangout. I sit and work on my hobby with you guys on the screen above my painting table so if you did a real-time hobby activity section that would be cool but nothing that would require a live interaction as I tune in when I’ve got time and not even always on a Sunday. Example gameplays, rules comparisons and even miniature range comparisons are also cool ideas. I’m never that fussed about the debate section so perhaps only have those when there is something shiny or contentious to discuss. For example, the new Kill Team with both new Orks and IG models is clearly going to arouse interest and I’d be interested to hear your thoughts in the show.
Belated birthday wishes for @free, hope the god of Shiny brought you lots of beautiful stuff.
Whilst I do miss the studio XLBS, there was a tendency for conversations to get quite singular, whereas the current format seems to allow everyone a chance to voice their opinions (and not just poor @brennon waiting for an opportunity to talk when the guys in the studio remember he’s there!)
For me I’d keep the current format but maybe have someone in the studio if there’s a game, or an item of hobby to show everyone.
New ideas, I don’t really have any but I’d like to see more of John’s live painting streams where he wanders off into the history/story behind what he’s painting. I’d like to see some more board game related items maybe a basic how to play for some of the core games people should own. The one thing I’d be interested in is how and why you build your army/skirmish lists. I’d be very interested in understanding what special rules you like for each particular game that adds the flavour you’re after. Not Alpha strike stuff, just what makes it an enjoyable list for you.
Content suggestions. I enjoy the unofficial hobby hangout, it’s probably a bit x-rated for front stage, but it is great for feedback and seeing more than just the golden buttons. You could do an official hobby hangout. (but maybe not on the XLBS now I think about it.) I appreciate that this can take quite a bit of time and not something to commit to weekly, but I did enjoy the official hobby hangout from back in the day, perhaps you did it monthly or at random times as a bit of a change.
Another hobby challenge beyond spring clean would be nice. Gerry has been ploughing through projects since some deadlines have been thrown his way and feel another challenge would help me in the same way.
I like the XLBS as it is, but I like the idea of occasional guests. The idea of all painting one mini, or all having some kitbash fun is a great idea.
I always enjoyed the speed painting challenge at Salute, so perhaps an hour long live speed painting challenge for a team of 3 or 4 of you could be funny and the community could vote on the winner (not important but at least it’s interactive). I know picking a time, with a world wide audience, is always a pain but I think it’s do-able.
The idea of more RPG content from the team sounds great, but perhaps from a slightly different angle… degenesis perhaps ;-).
I know there was a focus on design and helping people with their designs and I would love to see one of us (me actually) bring the bones of a game and get feedback to help flesh it out into a well presented set of rules. (My idea Cult of 11 card game needs a shot in the arm.)
Not Dragons Den, but Elf’s Den, because they don’t want to throw cash and rob your IP, they just want to throw ideas and help cobble it together ready for Christmas.
Chat soon. Luv from Dug.
HAppy Birthday Free!!
I too collect warzone! I am happy to release you from your models Ben @brennon
Love the looser, more ad hoc format, must say that Free is a breath of fresh air
I for one have to say I have been waiting for things to get back to normal. While I have enjoyed the shows during “the event” I have been really waiting for the day when they are back to the studio, there is something lost of the banter and nuance of when you are interacting in person. There is also a lot of the appeal lost as well, there is a lot to be said about production levels, watching people talk from their bedrooms and basements is not nearly as appealing. I would never think of canceling my membership, but for perceived value this format seems much lower. The kinds of things you did while in studio, showing new products in person , warren meets mat…etc have been sorely missing
I like the “relaxed” @ home format XLBS has been using. Ben’s been much more involved, with Skype, and I love the….give me a minute there’s something on the shelf I can show you aspect.
As for ideas for content, my FLGS does a themed painting challenge each month. Think “leader” “conversion” “winter” etc…..doesn’t matter what the game system is or if it’s to play or display. Gives everyone a common motivator and could be cool to see how you guys tackle it differently. Could incorporate people finding off beat miniature (a bit like indy of the week) but also success and failures with modelling/painting techniques with feedback from each other.
Happy belated birthday Free!
I’ve really enjoyed the XLBS with everyone at home. Almost everyone has their hobby space within reaching distance, and it adds a level of intimacy – personal hobby projects, not linked necessarily to the day to day work; basically something a lot more than just general hobby chat. As Ben said, it does feel more like sitting in on a chat at the pub/local club.
I like the idea of some kitbash challenges, which can be extended out to the community to join in via the project system etc.
You could do a build and paint/hobby along
whoop whoop looking forward to getting slaughtered on saturday….
happy birthday @free hope you had a great day
I actually miss the studio shows. There’s a different vibe when people are face to face. I’d like to see 50/50 or hybrid of the two
watching the xlbs at 0.5 speed is now my new favourite thing. everyone is drunk!!!
Hi, thanks for checking out my rabble, much appreciated. I’d like to see some good old nostalgia, with a look at the golden age of GW covering games like Necromunda, Man o War, Fantasy Battles 4th Ed, Epic etc. Maybe looking at the ranges of minis, talking about the game systems, box sets and art. You could look at the brilliance of classic Jes Goodwin sculpts, paint some up perhaps.
All the sort of thing I like to tune into while I’m modelling and painting.
What I’d really love to watch is a series where you guys play through a game like Advanced Heroquest or Warhammer Quest. One of the classics. Could be done via streaming I think.
Cheers
Thank you for the Golden Button guys and the wonderful comments on my Minotaurs space marine.
Really kind of you 🙂