AJM Nerdcore

Because of Warner Bros. copyright claims, I don’t earn any money from my Lord of the Rings videos where I include snippets from the movies. I make them because they’re fun, and because I love talking about Tolkien with you lot! In the Lord of the Rings films, the Army of the Dead pours off the ships at Minas Tirith and wins the battle. In Tolkien’s book, that never happens. So who actually saved Gondor? And why do I think Tolkien’s version is better? This is part 2 of my Tolkien Halloween series. This time it’s the ghosts and the dead of Middle-earth. I cover the Witch-king of Angmar and the two people nobody expected to bring him down, plus the Barrow-downs chapter Peter Jackson left out. It ends at the Dead Marshes, a place Tolkien himself linked to what he saw at the Battle of the Somme in 1916. I watched the films before I ever read the books, so I’ve got a lot of love for both. Which version of the Army of the Dead do you prefer? Tell me in the comments. Watch part 1 first (spiders, werewolves, vampires and a Dark Lord who started out as a cat):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNa5CF-neAI TIMESTAMPS0:00 Intro1:03 The Witch-king, Éowyn, Merry and Macbeth16:40 Sauron the Necromancer19:25 The Barrow-wights24:59 The Army of the Dead30:54 The Dead Marshes and the Somme38:56 Conclusions READ TOLKIEN’S OWN WORDSLetter to W. H. Auden, 1955. His footnote about Macbeth and the Ents is at the end:https://www.tolkienestate.com/letters/letter-to-the-poet-w-h-auden-7-jun-1955/Letter 226, to L. W. Forster, 1960. This is where he connects the Dead Marshes to the Somme:https://tolkienguide.com/guide/letters/602Macbeth, Act 4 Scene 1, the “none of woman born” prophecy:https://www.folger.edu/explore/shakespeares-works/macbeth/read/4/1/John Garth’s timeline of Tolkien on the Somme:https://johngarth.co.uk/php/somme_chronology.php BOOKS I USEDThe Lord of the Rings (including the appendices)The HobbitThe Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien (Revised and Expanded Edition)Tolkien and the Great War by John GarthThe Road to Middle-earth by Tom Shippey MORE TOLKIEN FROM MEEvery Tolkien Halloween Monster, Explained (part 1):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNa5CF-neAITevildo, the evil cat who became Sauron:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYQClFIAdmUThe hills that inspired Tolkien’s Shire:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myb9PTIxhk4 #lordoftherings #tolkien #lotr #returnoftheking #witchking #tolkienlore #middleearth #jrrtolkien Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owfpMdXprvI Read the write-up on SUBPLOT: https://subplot.tv/a/ajm_nerdcore/owfpMdXprvI AJM Nerdcore is part of the Digital Fox Talent creator network: digitalfoxtalent.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone’s playing Nagash in Total War: Warhammer III right now. But before he was a giant skeleton in a very silly hat, he was a prince who buried his own brother alive. I first read about him in Nagash the Sorcerer years ago, after the Vampire Wars books got me into Warhammer, and he’s stuck with me ever since. This is Part 1 of his story. We go from a jealous prince in Warhammer’s version of ancient Egypt, to the man who invented necromancy, to the spell that wiped out an entire civilisation. You’ll also find out why the Tomb Kings are their own faction, and why even the Skaven thought he’d gone too far. Part 2 covers how he came back, picked a fight with Sigmar and ended up an actual god of death. Who’s the next Warhammer character you want me to cover? Tell me in the comments. TIMESTAMPS0:00 - Intro1:21 - Part 1: Why he matters2:10 - Part 2: The short version2:52 - Part 3: The jealous older brother4:52 - Part 4: Beetles, warpstone and a fortress6:32 - Part 5: The spell that killed a civilisation8:10 - Part 6: If you want the full story9:13 - Conclusions OFFICIAL TRAILERS FEATUREDLords of the End Times cinematic trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH9VdFvHiO8Lords of the End Times announce trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPIpN9OKKR4Lords of the End Times launch trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Vo6_l8UwGQNeferata and the Vampire Counts update: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNq3hGYDBGITotal War: Warhammer 2 Tomb Kings trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpWqKme-g_4 USEFUL LINKSThe Rise of Nagash by Mike Lee (all three Nagash novels): https://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/rise-of-nagash-ebook.htmlGames Workshop’s 40 Years of Warhammer: Nagash: https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/p8laXf2J/40-years-of-warhammer-nagash-becomes-the-supreme-lord-of-the-undead/Nagash on Lexicanum: https://whfb.lexicanum.com/wiki/NagashTotal War: Warhammer III Nagash DLC on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3589650/Total_War_WARHAMMER_III__Nagash__Lords_of_the_End_Times/ PART 2 coming soon #warhammer #nagash #totalwarwarhammer3 #warhammerlore #warhammerfantasy Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u30qvGVrgSo Read the write-up on SUBPLOT: https://subplot.tv/a/ajm_nerdcore/u30qvGVrgSo AJM Nerdcore is part of the Digital Fox Talent creator network: digitalfoxtalent.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Tolkien story to fall asleep to. I read The Choices of Master Samwise from The Two Towers, along with the letters Tolkien wrote while he was writing it in 1944. This one's a bit different for the channel. I've been enjoying "lore to fall asleep to" videos, so I've made one. Get comfy, turn the lights down, and tell me in the comments if you'd like more like this. With The Rings of Power coming back for season three, there's more Lord of the Rings on our screens than ever, and I think that's great. But I keep wondering whether we're getting any closer to understanding the man who created it. So I've taken one chapter, the last chapter of The Two Towers, and followed it through Tolkien's letters. Sam thinks Frodo is dead and has to decide, on his own, whether to carry on. Tolkien wrote it in May 1944, in the middle of a war, while his son Christopher was training with the RAF in South Africa. The first time he read it aloud, to C.S. Lewis, Lewis cried. Along the way I talk about:- the letters Tolkien sent Christopher while he was writing the chapter- the morning he read it to C.S. Lewis- Letter 131, where Tolkien says Sam rises to "supreme heroism" at this exact moment- the ordinary soldiers Tolkien said Sam was largely based on, and the school friends he lost in the First World War- Frodo's failure at Mount Doom, mercy, and the scene Tolkien called the most tragic in the whole story- Faramir, Charles Williams, and what the battles in The Lord of the Rings are actually for- why all of this is so hard to film, and how Peter Jackson's films handled Sam's choice THE READINGS, IN ORDERThe Two Towers, "The Choices of Master Samwise" (Book IV, chapter 10)The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 66, to Christopher Tolkien, 6 May 1944The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 131, to Milton Waldman, 1951 (two passages)The Lord of the Rings, Foreword to the Second EditionThe Two Towers, "The Window on the West" (Book IV, chapter 5)The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 93, to Christopher Tolkien, 24 December 1944 ALSO MENTIONEDThe Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letters 5, 70, 72, 191, 246 and 267 - the letter numbers are the same in every edition of The Letters, including the 2023 one.The Two Towers, "The Stairs of Cirith Ungol" (Book IV, chapter 8)The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Shadow of the Past" (Book I, chapter 2) READ THE LETTERS YOURSELFLetter 131, to Milton Waldman:https://www.tolkienestate.com/letters/letter-to-milton-waldman-publisher-1951/Letter 246, to Eileen Elgar:https://www.tolkienestate.com/letters/letter-to-eileen-elgar-september-1963/John Garth on Sam Gamgee and Tolkien's batmen:https://www.theonering.net/torwp/2014/02/26/87195-sam-gamgee-and-tolkiens-batmen WATCH NEXTYou Need to Worry About Tolkien. Here's Why.https://youtu.be/Zg-24YWjtEE?si=WS0vSjd8HEGFq09hEvery Tolkien Halloween Monster, Explainedhttps://youtu.be/VNa5CF-neAI?si=IxuT3-2TMRKRiBy_Reasons NOT to Paint With Me, Demonstrated Live on Samwise Gamgeehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbQZDPP2CeoTolkien Tours playlisthttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLewL5YSeuzLF_Ry-mWfmymD-wUEw42C7j #tolkien #lordoftherings #loretofallasleepto #samwisegamgee AJM Nerdcore is part of the Digital Fox Talent creator network: digitalfoxtalent.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is where I buy all my games 👇🛒 Alex’s Eneba Store: https://ene.ba/Alex⚔️ Best Warhammer Deals: https://ene.ba/Alex-Warhammer🎁 Cheapest Gift Cards: https://ene.ba/Alex-Giftcards Promo codes to save even more 👇GETTINGHOT: 9% off games, gift cards & subsLUCKY7: 7% off games, gift cards & subs 💸 SNAKZY 📱 Play games. Earn rewards. Cash out→ https://snakzy.me/ajmnerdcore Where to start with Warhammer 40K lore: the five things I wish I’d known when I was new to 40K. Maybe you came in through Space Marine 2, Dawn of War, Total War or the Henry Cavill news. You opened a wiki and ended up reading about a civil war from ten thousand years ago, and a bloke who’s been sat on a golden chair for most of it. This is the short version. I got into Warhammer through the Vampire Wars books when I was 19, then found the Blood Angels and Dante. Even so, it took me a while to realise how dark the Imperium really is. The five lessons:Why there are no good guys in 40K, in Games Workshop’s own wordsWho the Emperor of Mankind is, and how the man who banned religion ended up worshipped as a godWhat the Warp is, and the four Chaos Gods: Khorne, Nurgle, Tzeentch and SlaaneshThe Horus Heresy, and why Horus reminds me of MorgothThe Aeldari, Necrons, Orks, T’au and Tyranids, and the faction I’d look up first At the end I explain why you don’t need to start with the Horus Heresy books, and which book I’d read first if you love the Blood Angels. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Intro02:37 - Lesson 1: There Are No Good Guys03:53 - Lesson 2: The Emperor of Mankind05:52 - Lesson 3: The Warp and Chaos07:42 - Lesson 4: The Horus Heresy09:30 - Lesson 5: Humanity has company10:57 - where to start WATCH NEXT: You Don’t Need To Play Warhammer To Love It: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMXHsrk4y68 Things You Need To Know Before Cavill’s Warhammer Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4OO_fG4jEI Subscribe for more Warhammer lore for beginners: https://www.youtube.com/@AJM_nerdcore?sub_confirmation=1 BOOKS I MENTION: Dante by Guy Haley (Black Library): https://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/dante-ebook.html Vampire Wars, The von Carstein Trilogy by Steven Savile: https://blacklibrary.com/all-products/vampire-wars-von-carstein-trilogy-ebook.html Horus Rising by Dan Abnett, once you know what 40K looks like: https://www.blacklibrary.com/authors/dan-abnett/horus-rising.html FOOTAGE CREDITS: Official trailers and cinematics from the Warhammer, Warhammer 40,000, PlayStation, Dawn of War IV, Digic Pictures, IGN and GameSpot channels: Space Marine 2, Dawn of War IV, Total War: Warhammer 40,000, Darktide, Rogue Trader, The Horus Heresy, Angels of Death, Adepta Sororitas: Penitence, and the 8th, 9th, 10th and Armageddon edition cinematics. Lore artwork from Warhammer 40k Lexicanum: https://wh40k.lexicanum.com #warhammer40k #40klore #warhammer Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE3kCaTysrc Read the write-up on SUBPLOT: https://subplot.tv/a/ajm_nerdcore/RE3kCaTysrc AJM Nerdcore is part of the Digital Fox Talent creator network: digitalfoxtalent.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is where i buy all my games 👇🛒 Alex’s Eneba Store: https://ene.ba/Alex⚔️ Best Warhammer Deals: https://ene.ba/Alex-Warhammer🎁 Cheapest Gift Cards: https://ene.ba/Alex-Giftcards Promo codes to save even more 👇GETTINGHOT: 9% off games, gift cards & subsLUCKY7: 7% off games, gift cards & subs 💸 SNAKZY 📱 Play games. Earn rewards. Cash out→ https://snakzy.me/ajmnerdcore Every Halloween monster in Tolkien’s world, explained. Giant spiders, werewolves, vampires, and a Dark Lord who started out as a cat. Before he wrote Shelob, a young J.R.R. Tolkien was bitten by a tarantula in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Decades later, The Silmarillion, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings were full of monsters. In this Halloween special I go through the creepiest creatures in Middle-earth, the myths and folklore behind them, and what Tolkien said about them in his own letters. In this video:🐈 Why Sauron started life as Tevildo, Prince of Cats🕷️ How Ungoliant drank the light of the Two Trees and nearly ate Morgoth🕸️ Where Shelob’s name comes from, and what “attercop” really means🐺 The Isle of Werewolves, Finrod’s promise, and why Huan is the best dog in Middle-earth🦇 How Sauron turned into a vampire, and the bat-winged Thuringwethil🐈‍⬛ Queen Berúthiel and her ten spy cats Plus the slightly questionable bedtime story that got me into the books when I was ten. This is part 1 of 2. Part 2 covers the Witch-king, the Barrow-wights, the Army of the Dead and the Dead Marshes - COMING SOON Which of Tolkien’s monsters scares you the most? Tell me in the comments. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Intro1:08 Tolkien’s tarantula bite2:39 Sauron was a cat7:17 Spiders: Ungoliant, Shelob and Mirkwood17:15 Werewolves: Finrod, Huan and Carcharoth26:55 Vampires: Sauron and Thuringwethil35:54 Queen Berúthiel’s cats41:13 Conclusions READ TOLKIEN’S OWN WORDS: Letter to W. H. Auden, 7 June 1955 (spiders, the tarantula and Berúthiel’s cats):https://www.tolkienestate.com/letters/letter-to-the-poet-w-h-auden-7-jun-1955/ Letter to Christopher Tolkien, 11 July 1972 (Edith and Lúthien):https://www.tolkienestate.com/letters/christopher-tolkien-11-july-1972/ The Binding of Fenrir, the Norse myth behind the wolf and the hand:https://norse-mythology.org/tales/the-binding-of-fenrir/ BOOKS I USED: The SilmarillionThe HobbitThe Lord of the RingsUnfinished TalesBeren and LúthienThe Book of Lost Tales, Part TwoThe Lays of BeleriandThe Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien (Revised and Expanded Edition)J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography by Humphrey Carpenter MORE TOLKIEN FROM ME: I Explored Tolkien’s World Without Paying A Penny:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nbrcDM5-Bw Is This the Best Tolkien Event in Britain?:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tqyvNUCaG0 Tolkien Tours playlist:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLewL5YSeuzLF_Ry-mWfmymD-wUEw42C7j #tolkien #halloween #lordoftherings #silmarillion #sauron #shelob #lotr #jrrtolkien AJM Nerdcore is part of the Digital Fox Talent creator network: digitalfoxtalent.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is where I buy all my games 👇🛒 Alex's Eneba Store: https://ene.ba/Alex⚔️ Best Warhammer Deals: https://ene.ba/Alex-Warhammer🎁 Cheapest Gift Cards: https://ene.ba/Alex-Giftcards Promo codes to save even more 👇GETTINGHOT: 9% off games, gift cards & subsLUCKY7: 7% off games, gift cards & subs 💸 SNAKZY 📱 Play games. Earn rewards. Cash out→ https://snakzy.me/ajmnerdcore I painted an ork for Cryptic Cabin's Orctober challenge, and this year he's moved to Vice City in time for GTA 6. Last year Cryptic Cabin sent me their Orctober challenge and my first ever ork ended up painted like a can of Monster Energy. I called him Monster. This year GTA 6 is nearly here, my brain has basically moved to Vice City already, and the ork came with me. This isn't a tutorial. It's a short, chilled sit-down. If you're new to painting, take this as your sign that nobody is checking whether you did it "properly". Paint the thing that makes you grin. If you could drop an ork into any video game world, which one would you pick, and what would you call him? Tell me in the comments. THANK YOU @CrypticCabin MORE FROM ME: You Don't Need To Play Warhammer To Love It: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMXHsrk4y68 Warhammer 40K Painting Slump? How I Got Back Into It: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rkNjqvDcm0 Reasons NOT to Paint With Me, Demonstrated Live on Samwise Gamgee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbQZDPP2Ceo #orctober #GTA6 #miniaturepainting #vicecity #minipainting #orks #paintingminiatures Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7A4FzGZWeJ0 Read the write-up on SUBPLOT: https://subplot.tv/a/ajm_nerdcore/7A4FzGZWeJ0 AJM Nerdcore is part of the Digital Fox Talent creator network: digitalfoxtalent.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is where i buy all my games 👇🛒 Alex's Eneba Store: https://ene.ba/Alex⚔️ Best Warhammer Deals: https://ene.ba/Alex-Warhammer🎁 Cheapest Gift Cards: https://ene.ba/Alex-Giftcards Promo codes to save even more 👇GETTINGHOT: 9% off games, gift cards & subsLUCKY7: 7% off games, gift cards & subs 💸 SNAKZY 📱 Play games. Earn rewards. Cash out→ https://snakzy.me/ajmnerdcore 5 new solo board games from SPIEL Essen 2026 that I'd buy straight away if I could afford to go. SPIEL Essen 2026 runs 22 to 25 October in Germany. It's the biggest board game fair in the world, and hundreds of new games launch there in one weekend. I went through the new releases looking for solo board games: three built only for one player, and two multiplayer games that play properly solo. The five games:1. Familiar Feat by Friedemann Friese, the designer of Friday2. 7th Seal from Devir3. Pasteles by Scott Almes, the designer of Tiny Epic4. Buried Memories from Aporta Games5. Fragments: Solara from IELLO and Pegasus For each one I cover how it plays, what people who've played it are saying, and roughly what it costs in pounds. Every game on the list is under £35. At the end I pick the one I'd bring home and the one I'm least sure about. These aren't reviews. I haven't played any of them yet. This is my Essen 2026 solo wishlist, plus why Thousand Year Old Vampire changed how I think about playing board games on my own. TIMESTAMPS0:00 SPIEL Essen 2026: 5 solo games I'd buy0:35 Eneba: where I buy my games1:43 Why I play solo board games3:40 Thousand Year Old Vampire and what makes a good solo game5:32 Familiar Feat: Friedemann Friese's new solo deck builder7:22 7th Seal: solo dice game where you steal dice from demons8:56 Pasteles: Scott Almes' solo bakery puzzle game10:21 Buried Memories: push your luck where the box is the dig site11:46 Fragments: Solara: a point and click adventure in cardboard13:13 Which solo game I'd buy first at Essen THE GAMES Familiar Feat (Deep Print Games): https://www.deep-print-games.com/spiele/familiar-feat/ Familiar Feat Essen preorder: https://www.deep-print-games.com/spiele/essen-spiel-pre-order-familiar-feat-english/7th Seal (Devir): https://devirgames.com/7th-seal Pasteles (Salt & Pepper Games): https://saltandpeppergames.es/en/blogs/blog/nuevo-lanzamiento-pasteles Buried Memories on BoardGameGeek: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/473933/buried-memories Buried Memories Essen early access (IPA): https://ipa-gameshop.com/en/family-games/3003-buried-memories.html Fragments: Solara (IELLO): https://iellogames.com/games/fragments-solara/ Fragments: Solara (Pegasus): https://pegasus.de/en/Fragments-Solara/57265G MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO Thousand Year Old Vampire: https://timhutchings.itch.io/tyovSPIEL Essen 2026 tickets and opening hours: https://spiel-essen.de/en/visit/tickets-opening-hours Essen 2026 game list on BoardGameGeek: https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/364968/essen-2026 7th Seal first impressions on r/soloboardgaming: https://www.reddit.com/r/soloboardgaming/comments/1vfo82z/7th_seal_first_impressions/ Fragments: Solara review (Brettspielministerium, German): https://brettspielministerium.de/2026/09/30/fragments-solara/ Buried Memories designer diary: https://boardgamegeek.com/blog/1/blogpost/190521/designer-diary-buried-memories-creating-from-chaos Going to SPIEL Essen this year? Tell me what's on your list, because I've almost certainly missed something. And which of these five should I try to get hold of first? 🔔 Subscribe for more board game, Warhammer and D&D videos for people who want the hobby without the gatekeeping. #soloboardgames #spielessen #essen2026 #boardgames #TTRPG #boardgamenews #tabletopgames #soloboardgaming Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM6ZEt_6NHA Read the write-up on SUBPLOT: https://subplot.tv/a/ajm_nerdcore/mM6ZEt_6NHA AJM Nerdcore is part of the Digital Fox Talent creator network: digitalfoxtalent.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is where i buy all my games 👇🛒 Alex's Eneba Store: https://ene.ba/Alex⚔️ Best Warhammer Deals: https://ene.ba/Alex-Warhammer🎁 Cheapest Gift Cards: https://ene.ba/Alex-Giftcards Promo codes to save even more 👇GETTINGHOT: 9% off games, gift cards & subsLUCKY7: 7% off games, gift cards & subs 💸 SNAKZY 📱 Play games. Earn rewards. Cash out→ https://snakzy.me/ajmnerdcore Games Workshop just revealed the Warhammer 40k Christmas Battleforces for 2026, and the Blood Angels box is getting torn to pieces online. I actually collect Blood Angels. So I sat down for an honest chat about it. The Blood Angels Battleforce, the Angelus Assault Force, has 11 models in it:Commander DanteA Blood Angels Chaplain with Jump PackA Death Company Brutalis Dreadnought3 Sanguinary Guard5 Death Company Marines with Jump Packs It has the lowest points value of the seven Christmas boxes, and the Chaplain is the older kit. Some of the criticism is fair. I just don't think the box is as bad as everyone is making out. This isn't a breakdown of every box. It's a chat about why the Warhammer community feels so negative right now, and why that matters if you're new to Warhammer 40k and thinking about asking for one of these for Christmas. In this video I talk about:- My second-hand Blood Angels army from eBay (SHOCK!)- My badly painted Death Company, and why they're still my favourite squad- The Christmas Dreadnought I built with a leg on backwards- What I'd change about the Blood Angels box- Why 11 models might be a good thing if you've got a full-time job and a pile of unpainted models- What I'd tell a friend who wants to buy one The seven Warhammer 40k Christmas Battleforces are:Space Marines: Indomitus Task ForceBlood Angels: Angelus Assault ForceSpace Wolves: Champions of FenrisChaos Space Marines: Cult of DestructionChaos Knights: Helhunt LanceOrks: Armoured BlitzmobNecrons: Disciples of the Nekrosor Which box are you getting? And how big is your pile of unpainted models right now? Tell me in the comments. If you're new to Warhammer, please join in. You don't need to know everything to have an opinion. THE CHRISTMAS BATTLEFORCESWarhammer Community reveal of all seven boxes: https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/17yaxs02/new-battleforce-boxes-revealed-for-warhammer-40000/Wargamer's value breakdown of every box: https://www.wargamer.com/warhammer-40k/battleforces-christmas-2026Frontline Gaming's overview of each army: https://frontlinegaming.org/2026/10/19/warhammer-40k-battleforce-boxes-2026-revealed-alongside-new-river-of-bones-lore/ NEW TO WARHAMMER 40K?Combat Patrol: Blood Angels, a smaller box built to get you playing: https://www.warhammer.com/en-WW/shop/combat-patrol-blood-angels-2024The Cost to Start Warhammer 40K in 2026 (No Surprises): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sLlaFA-DWYIf I Started Warhammer TODAY, I'd Buy This Box First: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jI_6Gk2eVo MORE FROM MEWhen You Love 40K… But Can't Keep Up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnmbY05qSmcYou Don't Need To Play Warhammer To Love It: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMXHsrk4y68Warhammer 40K Painting Slump? How I Got Back Into It: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rkNjqvDcm0Reasons NOT to Paint With Me, Demonstrated Live on Samwise Gamgee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbQZDPP2Ceo #warhammer40k #bloodangels #warhammer #christmasbattleforce #battleforce #gamesworkshop #warhammercommunity #miniaturepainting #spacemarines #40k Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3lJm-LAOPU Read the write-up on SUBPLOT: https://subplot.tv/a/ajm_nerdcore/u3lJm-LAOPU AJM Nerdcore is part of the Digital Fox Talent creator network: digitalfoxtalent.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is where i buy all my games 👇🛒 Alex’s Eneba Store: https://ene.ba/Alex⚔️ Best Warhammer Deals: https://ene.ba/Alex-Warhammer🎁 Cheapest Gift Cards: https://ene.ba/Alex-Giftcards Promo codes to save even more 👇GETTINGHOT: 9% off games, gift cards & subsLUCKY7: 7% off games, gift cards & subs 💸 SNAKZY 📱 Play games. Earn rewards. Cash out→ https://snakzy.me/ajmnerdcore Warhammer 40K lore is the reason I fell for this hobby, years before I painted a single model. Someone on Reddit described 40K as a future where there’s only war, full of enormous, impractically armoured muscle-heads killing each other forever. Then they asked why anyone would find that interesting. This video is my answer. I got into Warhammer backwards. I was 19, at university, I liked vampires, and someone in Games Workshop handed me the Vampire Wars books. That led to the Blood Angels, then to Dante, and that was it. I talk through the four things that keep me hooked on the lore. The tragedy of Sanguinius and Dante, the Orks being the only faction having a nice time, ten thousand years of history, and why the war is really just the backdrop. I also share the one small moment in Dante that changed what I thought 40K was, and the book I’d tell you to read first if you’re curious. You don’t need an army, a rulebook or a spreadsheet. If something in this universe speaks to you, you’re already part of it. Which book or character got you into 40K? Or if you’re still on the outside looking in, what’s put you off? Let me know in the comments. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro1:03 - The Reddit post2:15 - How I got in (backwards)3:51 - The tragedy5:56 - It knows it’s ridiculous7:55 - The scale and history8:51 - The war is the backdrop10:05 - What I’d say back12:55 - Where to start13:47 - Outro WHERE TO START: Dante by Guy Haley (Black Library): https://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/dante-ebook.html Dante audiobook: https://www.blacklibrary.com/authors/guy-haley/dante-mp3.html Vampire Wars, The von Carstein Trilogy by Steven Savile: https://blacklibrary.com/all-products/vampire-wars-von-carstein-trilogy-ebook.html Darkness in the Blood by Guy Haley: https://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/darkness-in-the-blood-ebook-2020.html Horus Rising by Dan Abnett, for when you’re ready for the Heresy: https://www.blacklibrary.com/authors/dan-abnett/horus-rising.html MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO: The Reddit post that started it: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskFeminists/comments/1w6i5nb/do_any_of_you_find_warhammer_even_remotely/ My Orctober video with Monster the Ork: https://youtu.be/2UBjcaHWyxg?si=HjarCUaWprcxhDAc Games Workshop on the Imperium being satire (Wargamer): https://www.wargamer.com/warhammer-40k/imperium-satire-statement #warhammer #warhammer40k #40klore #bloodangels #blacklibrary #dante #orks #warhammercommunity #grimdark Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMXHsrk4y68 Read the write-up on SUBPLOT: https://subplot.tv/a/ajm_nerdcore/CMXHsrk4y68 AJM Nerdcore is part of the Digital Fox Talent creator network: digitalfoxtalent.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is where i buy all my games 👇🛒 Alex’s Eneba Store: https://ene.ba/Alex⚔️ Best Warhammer Deals: https://ene.ba/Alex-Warhammer🎁 Cheapest Gift Cards: https://ene.ba/Alex-Giftcards Promo codes to save even more 👇GETTINGHOT: 9% off games, gift cards & subsLUCKY7: 7% off games, gift cards & subs 💸 SNAKZY 📱 Play games. Earn rewards. Cash out→ https://snakzy.me/ajmnerdcore Star Wars Galactic Racer is sitting at 88 on Metacritic on PS5 from 68 critic reviews, and players have given it 8.4. That makes it the best reviewed new Star Wars game since Knights of the Old Republic in 2003. It’s made by Fuse Games, a studio set up by ex-Criterion developers, the people behind Burnout and Need for Speed. Star Wars has apparently died about fourteen times now. So why is everyone suddenly excited about a racing game? In this Star Wars Galactic Racer review I talk about why being a Star Wars fan started to feel like hard work, why the podracing hype is really about being ten years old in 1999, and why this isn’t really a podracing game at all. I also get into old Sebulba’s playable memories, why KOTOR is still my favourite game ever, what happens when Burnout developers get handed the Star Wars toy box, and the one decision I can’t believe they made. There’s no split-screen. I’ve played it for a week now, so there’s a full review of how it actually plays, not just what the critics said. Did you play Episode I Racer back in the day? Who did you pick? Did you ever actually beat Sebulba? And if you’ve bought Galactic Racer, is it worth the fifty quid? Let me know in the comments. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - The best Star Wars game since KOTOR0:42 - Sponsor (Eneba)1:50 - Why a KOTOR fan is paying attention2:57 - Star Wars is dead (again)4:01 - Why being a Star Wars fan got exhausting5:44 - 1999, the N64 and the podrace7:49 - It’s not really a podracing game8:26 - Old Sebulba9:16 - Small stakes, a bigger galaxy11:34 - My review after a week of playing15:37 - Everyone’s excited about the same thing16:02 - Not dead, just tired16:27 - Please don’t make nine podracing shows17:23 - Conclusions THE SCORES Metacritic (88 on PS5, 86 on Xbox, 84 on PC): https://www.metacritic.com/game/star-wars-galactic-racer/ OpenCritic (87, with 96% of critics recommending it): https://opencritic.com/game/20501/star-wars-galactic-racer GamesRadar on it beating every Battlefront game: https://www.gamesradar.com/games/racing/star-wars-galactic-racer-metacritic-score-makes-it-one-of-the-best-rated-star-wars-games-of-all-time-beating-every-battlefront-title/ THE GAME Official site: https://starwarsgalacticracer.com/ Official reveal trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9J3Y1ypDMc Official story trailer with old Sebulba: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je9SLyqRtc0 Gameplay trailer with podracing and Ben Quadinaros: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDBc-kbL-Ic UK prices (£49.99 Standard, £64.99 Deluxe): https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/star-wars-galactic-racer-deluxe-edition/9p5x1sgxhthw THE STUDIO Fuse Games, set up by ex-Criterion leaders: https://gamespress.com/Announcing-FUSE-GAMES-Former-Criterion-Games-leaders-unite-to-create-n Why there’s no split-screen: https://traxion.gg/why-star-wars-galactic-racer-wont-support-split-screen-multiplayer/ THE CLASSICS Star Wars Episode I Racer (1999) on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/808910/ Knights of the Old Republic (2003) on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/32370/ Sebulba on the Star Wars Databank: https://www.starwars.com/databank/sebulba Ben Quadinaros on the Star Wars Databank: https://www.starwars.com/databank/ben-quadinaros #starwars #galacticracer #starwarsgalacticracer #podracing #kotor #phantommenace #episode1racer #starwarsgames #sebulba Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VBSsYo2TtY Read the write-up on SUBPLOT: https://subplot.tv/a/ajm_nerdcore/-VBSsYo2TtY AJM Nerdcore is part of the Digital Fox Talent creator network: digitalfoxtalent.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is where i buy all my games 👇🛒 Alex's Eneba Store: https://ene.ba/Alex⚔️ Best Warhammer Deals: https://ene.ba/Alex-Warhammer🎁 Cheapest Gift Cards: https://ene.ba/Alex-Giftcards Promo codes to save even more 👇GETTINGHOT: 9% off games, gift cards & subsLUCKY7: 7% off games, gift cards & subs 💸 SNAKZY 📱 Play games. Earn rewards. Cash out→ https://snakzy.me/ajmnerdcore A 1978 Kenner Luke Skywalker figure is going under the hammer at Vectis in Thornaby on 15 October, and it's expected to fetch up to £20,000. The reason is a tiny bit of yellow plastic: the double-telescoping lightsaber. I own Luke's lightsaber (well, a £250 Padawan Outpost replica), so I went down the rabbit hole. I cover how the original prop started life as a camera flash handle from a London shop, why the blue lightsaber was really Anakin's, and why Luke's green one only exists because the blue blade kept vanishing against the Tatooine sky. Then it's the toys. Kenner sold kids an empty box for Christmas 1977, gave the first Luke, Vader and Obi-Wan figures a saber that snapped if you looked at it, and quickly swapped it for a simpler one. The ones that survived are now worth thousands, and the record for a double-telescoping Luke is $161,457.60. I also emailed Vectis with a few questions, and I've put together a simple three-step test so you can check your own old Star Wars figures before anything goes in the skip. I'll post the hammer price once the auction's done, so keep an eye on my feed. What's still sitting in your loft? Tell me in the comments. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - A £20,000 Luke Skywalker in Thornaby1:09 - My Luke lightsaber and the camera it came from2:06 - The blue lightsaber was never Luke's3:22 - Blue or green?4:05 - My childhood Star Wars "collection"4:39 - Christmas 1977: Kenner sold an empty box5:54 - The design mistake worth a fortune7:04 - I emailed Vectis7:43 - The £20,000 Luke up close8:26 - The $161,457 record9:22 - Would I sell it?10:30 - The Don't Chuck It Out test11:21 - Go and check your loft THE AUCTION Vectis Star Wars auctions (lot 623, 15 October): https://www.vectis.co.uk/departments/star-wars-auctions The news story: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/rare-star-wars-luke-skywalker-161919433.html CHECK YOUR OWN FIGURES Standard vs double-telescoping saber, with an animated comparison: https://galacticcollector.com/fig/Luke-Skywalker Double-telescoping lightsaber guide (Star Wars Collectors Archive): https://theswca.com/lexicon/dt.html Antiques Roadshow values a double-telescoping Darth Vader: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/appraisals/1978-kenner-darth-vader-with-double-telescoping-lightsaber/ THE RECORD SALES $161,457 Luke, the record for a production action figure: https://www.si.com/collectibles/new-record-for-most-expensive-production-toys-ever-sold More on the $161k Luke: https://www.cllct.com/sports-collectibles/auctions/rare-luke-skywalker-toy-expected-to-sell-for-six-figures The 2022 Luke that sold for $100,252: https://journalofantiques.com/columns/gavels-n-paddles/luke-skywalker-figure-100252-lcg-auctions/ THE LORE How the lightsaber was made from camera parts: https://petapixel.com/2011/07/11/star-wars-lightsabers-were-originally-made-from-camera-parts/ Return of the Jedi deleted scene, Luke builds his lightsaber: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1Ms7echpVk Mark Hamill on the cut Force Awakens opening: https://screenrant.com/star-wars-7-force-awakens-opening-sequence-lightsaber/ Kenner's 1977 Early Bird Certificate advert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvYUjtowo5A MY LIGHTSABER Padawan Outpost Thin Neck Luke: https://padawanoutpost.com/en-us/products/thin-neck-saber-model-luke #starwars #lukeskywalker #vintagestarwars #kenner #lightsaber #starwarscollector #toycollecting AJM Nerdcore is represented by Digital Fox Talent. Brand partnerships: digitalfoxtalent.com/brands/creators/ajm-nerdcore Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSwaLyEhbzo Read the write-up on SUBPLOT: https://subplot.tv/a/ajm_nerdcore/oSwaLyEhbzo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is where i buy all my games 👇🛒 Alex's Eneba Store: https://ene.ba/Alex⚔️ Best Warhammer Deals: https://ene.ba/Alex-Warhammer🎁 Cheapest Gift Cards: https://ene.ba/Alex-Giftcards Promo codes to save even more 👇GETTINGHOT: 9% off games, gift cards & subsLUCKY7: 7% off games, gift cards & subs 💸 SNAKZY 📱 Play games. Earn rewards. Cash out→ https://snakzy.me/ajmnerdcore Do you still love Warhammer 40k but feel like you're always one release behind? You're not the only one. I came into 40k by buying somebody else's Blood Angels army off eBay, and I'm still stripping and repainting it one squad at a time. Lately I've noticed a lot of creators and long-time fans stepping back from Warhammer, so I went through Reddit threads, comment sections and Games Workshop's own numbers to work out why. In this video I look at the three things wearing people out: how fast 11th edition releases are coming, the September price rise and the $420 limited edition Space Marine codex, and the classic units like the Tactical Squad and Dreadnought heading to Legends. I also give Games Workshop some credit, because plenty of people are enjoying 11th edition. Then I share what I'm doing with my own army, and the one rule that got me painting again. What was your first 40k army, and are you still playing it? Tell me in the comments. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Do you feel one release behind?2:01 - Who's burnt out on Warhammer3:36 - 11th edition is moving too fast5:09 - Price rises and the $420 codex6:49 - Legends and the old-school look8:46 - To be fair to Games Workshop9:40 - What I'm doing with my army11:06 - What was your first army? CREATORS FEATURED @MidwinterMinis : I think I'm done with Warhammer 40khttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRtdui9Qdo0 REDDIT POSTS FEATURED Is it hobby burnout? Trying to find the love again: https://www.reddit.com/r/Warhammer40k/comments/1wew9wh/is_it_hobby_burnout_trying_to_find_the_love_again/ Current verdict on 11th edition?:https://www.reddit.com/r/Warhammer40k/comments/1w9zln3/current_verdict_on_11th_edition/ I hope 40k doesn't get any new factions this edition:https://www.reddit.com/r/Warhammer40k/comments/1wfo09n/i_hope_40k_doesnt_get_any_new_factions_this/ Raptors Hammerfall Bunker... just in time to get sent to Legends:https://www.reddit.com/r/Warhammer40k/comments/1wo2wpm/raptors_hammerfall_bunker_just_in_time_to_get/ USEFUL LINKS Games Workshop annual report 2025-26: https://assets.ctfassets.net/ost7hseic9hc/1C4g3JYVr04ZCkPb39ygIA/93055850ed01cc1fa1da261e29a57fa5/Accounts_2025-26_FINAL_v2.pdf 11th edition reveal: https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/ctdexme4/warhammer-40000-the-new-edition-is-revealed-at-adepticon-preview-2026/ What's in the Armageddon box: https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/x2allqya/warhammer-40000-armageddon-whats-in-the-box/ Tone Pro, the 150 new paints: https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/mewx9x8r/the-big-autumn-preview-paint-better/ September 2026 price rises: https://www.inhobby.gg/news/games-workshop-price-increase-2026/ The $420 Space Marine codex: https://spikeybits.com/40k-hobbyists-upset-over-new-400-codex-prices/ The six-month army cycle (Spikey Bits): https://spikeybits.com/why-warhammer-40k-is-so-expensive-the-six-month-army-cycle/ Space Marine units moving to Legends: https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/bbnskauh/big-space-marines-news/ Your current codex still works in 11th: https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/95fucn12/building-an-army-in-the-new-edition-of-warhammer-40000/ GamesRadar's 11th edition review: https://www.gamesradar.com/tabletop-gaming/this-is-the-most-balanced-start-to-a-warhammer-40k-edition-that-i-can-remember-but-theres-still-room-for-improvement/ Combat Patrol: https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/topics/combat-patrol/ WATCH NEXT My Blood Angels vs T'au battle report: https://youtu.be/CayeQ9OBTFY My Combat Patrol video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jI_6Gk2eVo #warhammer40k #warhammer #bloodangels #miniaturepainting #tabletopgaming AJM Nerdcore is represented by Digital Fox Talent. Brand partnerships: digitalfoxtalent.com/brands/creators/ajm-nerdcore Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnmbY05qSmc Read the write-up on SUBPLOT: https://subplot.tv/a/ajm_nerdcore/QnmbY05qSmc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is where i buy all my games 👇🛒 Alex's Eneba Store: https://ene.ba/Alex⚔️ Best Warhammer Deals: https://ene.ba/Alex-Warhammer🎁 Cheapest Gift Cards: https://ene.ba/Alex-Giftcards Promo codes to save even more 👇GETTINGHOT: 9% off games, gift cards & subsLUCKY7: 7% off games, gift cards & subs 💸 SNAKZY 📱 Play games. Earn rewards. Cash out→ https://snakzy.me/ajmnerdcore Warhammer Tone Pro looks like magic when pro painters use it. So what happens when normal painters try Games Workshop's new paints, and do beginners actually need them? I'm not a pro painter. I'm repainting a second-hand Blood Angels army one squad at a time, and I own seventeen slightly different reds, so I know exactly how paint FOMO works. When Games Workshop let normal people try Tone Pro in stores, I went through what they found. The thick coats that really did level themselves out. The new white that still needed three coats over black. The self-confessed average painter who wasn't sold, and the people who loved it. Then I get to the question most new painters are asking: do you need to swap your Citadel paints for Tone Pro? I look at what the 1 to 5 numbered tones get right for beginners, what the paint won't fix, and the one question I'd ask before spending any money on new paint. A beginner walks into a Warhammer store tomorrow. Would you point them at Tone Pro? Tell me in the comments. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Do normal painters need Tone Pro?1:12 - What Warhammer Tone Pro is (150 paints, 5 tones)2:43 - The self-levelling thick coat test3:55 - Pro painters vs the rest of us (meet Dave)5:31 - What normal painters found at the store demos7:14 - Paint FOMO and the Tone Pro launch8:38 - Do beginners need Tone Pro?10:27 - What I'd actually buy11:17 - Would you recommend Tone Pro? CREATORS FEATUREDThank you to everyone whose work I talk about. TheChirurgeon (Robert Jones), Tabletop Battles: the "goopy" thick coat testhttps://www.tabletopbattles.com/thechirurgeons-road-through-2026-part-40-testing-new-tone-pro-paints TheChirurgeon and Rich "Cronch" Nutter, Tabletop Battles: full Tone Pro reviewhttps://www.tabletopbattles.com/tabletop-battles-reviews-warhammer-tone-pro-paints @Ninjon (Jon Ninas)Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG7ErJtvi7Z4OiXSuAeKdZgJon 'Ninjon' Ninas Tries Warhammer Tone Pro Paints: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ2yWocOyfQ Aleksandra Cvetanovski, @CraftworldStudio Channel: https://www.youtube.com/craftworldstudioAleksandra Cvetanovski Tests Warhammer Tone Pro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_eRoeAU7Rg Marko Miladinović, @CraftworldStudio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markomiladinovic127/Marko tries his artistic style with Tone Pro: https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/eqc84lj0/marko-miladinovic-tries-his-artistic-style-with-warhammer-tone-pro/ @Warhipster (Josh Hill)Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@WarhipsterJosh 'Warhipster' Hill Tests Warhammer Tone Pro Paints: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d3ICh2Z1bI @DuncanRhodesDRPA https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuRNH2cb6VwsZbzILptDVIA REDDIT POSTS FEATUREDNew Tone Pro paints demo findings:https://www.reddit.com/r/minipainting/comments/1wqprfv/new_tone_pro_paints_demo_findings/ Test model from the Tone Pro demo:https://www.reddit.com/r/minipainting/comments/1wr1irc/my_test_model_from_the_tone_pro_demo/ Tone Pro initial thoughts:https://www.reddit.com/r/Warhammer40k/comments/1wr0isz/tone_pro_initial_thoughts/ Tone pro in store test:https://www.reddit.com/r/Warhammer40k/comments/1wqszb8/tone_pro_in_store_test/ The "used without skill" comment:https://www.reddit.com/r/Warhammer40k/comments/1woj02i/underpainting_technique_teacher_aleksandra/ USEFUL LINKS: Games Workshop's Tone Pro announcement: https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/mewx9x8r/the-big-autumn-preview-paint-better/ Tone Pro pre-order preview (Warhammer Community): https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/13drg5hr/sunday-preview-warhammer-tone-pro/ Citadel Colour is now Warhammer Colour (your old paints still work): https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/okgv4njl/citadel-colour-is-becoming-warhammer-colour/ #warhammer #tonepro #minipainting #warhammer40k #miniaturepainting AJM Nerdcore is represented by Digital Fox Talent. Brand partnerships: digitalfoxtalent.com/brands/creators/ajm-nerdcore Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phrn0UojvQc Read the write-up on SUBPLOT: https://subplot.tv/a/ajm_nerdcore/phrn0UojvQc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is where I buy all my games 👇🛒 Alex's Eneba Store — https://ene.ba/Alex⚔️ Best Warhammer Deals — https://ene.ba/Alex-Warhammer🎁 Cheapest Gift Cards — https://ene.ba/Alex-Giftcards Promo codes to save even more 👇GETTINGHOT — 9% off games, gift cards & subsLUCKY7 — 7% off games, gift cards & subs 💸 SNAKZY — Play games, earn rewards, cash out → https://snakzy.me/ajmnerdcore Five Warhammer alternatives, all picked by you in the comments. Some cost a fraction of a Warhammer army, some need about ten models, and one involves Hot Wheels cars with guns glued on. I cover Frostgrave, Trench Crusade, Gaslands, Malifaux and Moonstone: what each one costs to start, what the miniatures are like, and which kind of Warhammer player will get the most out of it. None of them are here to beat Warhammer. Each one wins a different category, and at the end I tell you the one I would put my own money on. If you have ever asked what else is out there for a Warhammer fan, this is the video. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Why I Looked Beyond Warhammer1:28 How I Picked These 5 Games2:33 Frostgrave: The Cheap Fantasy Skirmish Game4:43 Trench Crusade: The Grimdark Alternative For 40K Fans7:50 Gaslands: Hot Wheels Wargaming On A Tiny Budget9:45 Malifaux: The Card Driven Skirmish Game11:44 Moonstone: The Indie Pick I Actually Bought14:58 My Final Pick And Which One You Should Try 🔗 LINKS FROM THE VIDEO Frostgrave (Osprey Games) — https://www.ospreypublishing.com/us/frostgrave-second-edition-9781472834683/ Trench Crusade — https://www.trenchcrusade.com/ Gaslands: Refuelled (Osprey Games) — https://www.ospreypublishing.com/us/gaslands-refuelled-9781472838834/ Malifaux Fourth Edition (Wyrd Games) — https://www.wyrd-games.net/malifaux-fourth-edition Moonstone (Goblin King Games) — https://www.moonstonethegame.com/ Moonstone starter sets — https://shop.moonstonethegame.com/ My Warhammer cost breakdown — https://youtu.be/9sLlaFA-DWY?si=pkYoSiepJFctxQUS 🎬 FOOTAGE CREDITS "Let's Play! - Frostgrave 2nd Edition by Osprey Games"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46ankYNBe2E "Trench Crusade Kickstarter Announcement Trailer"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51p3K7FEpcQ "Let's Play! - Gaslands by Osprey Games"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sq6mC0RBAjs "Moonstone the Game - What is it? An Introduction & Painted Model Showcase"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1uuJv9uPWI Which one would you try first? If I have missed a smaller game that deserves a spot, tell me in the comments and I will cover it. 🔔 Subscribe for more Warhammer and tabletop videos made for people who want the hobby without the gatekeeping. #warhammeralternatives #warhammer #miniaturewargaming #tabletopgaming #frostgrave AJM Nerdcore is represented by Digital Fox Talent. Brand partnerships: digitalfoxtalent.com/brands/creators/ajm-nerdcore Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05IZN1bzAgc Read the write-up on SUBPLOT: https://subplot.tv/a/ajm_nerdcore/05IZN1bzAgc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is where I buy all my games 👇 🛒 Alex's Eneba Store: https://ene.ba/Alex ⚔️ Best Warhammer Deals: https://ene.ba/Alex-Warhammer 🎁 Cheapest Gift Cards: https://ene.ba/Alex-Giftcards Promo codes to save even more 👇 GETTINGHOT: 9% off games, gift cards and subs LUCKY7: 7% off games, gift cards and subs 💸 SNAKZY, play games, earn rewards, cash out: https://snakzy.me/ajmnerdcore Dungeons & Dragons has a new Netflix show on the way, and Hasbro is going through one of its messiest years yet. This is part three of the series, and it's where the actual drama lives. Netflix just announced a new D&D show, Ravenloft, centred on the vampire Strahd, right after their other D&D series got cancelled in development. Meanwhile at Wizards of the Coast, the president has stepped down, several videogames have been cancelled, and tens of millions of dollars have been written off. I go through what's actually going on with the Netflix show, the real story behind Sigil, D&D's own virtual tabletop, and why one employee's quote about it bothered me more than anything else in this whole story. Then I give my honest verdict on whether any of it should actually change how you feel about playing. No, it doesn't. Hasbro can make as many corporate decisions as it likes, none of it touches what happens when you sit down with your mates and roll some dice. This is the final part of the series that started with the Warlock videogame, so if you haven't seen Part 1 or Part 2 yet, I'd start there. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Why I Don't Fully Trust Hasbro Anymore2:09 - The Cancelled D&D Netflix Show And The Ravenloft Replacement6:04 - What's Actually Going Wrong At Wizards Of The Coast11:29 - Does Any Of This Change Whether You Should Play D&D LINKS TO SUPPORT WHAT'S COVERED: Ravenloft series announcement: https://nerdist.com/article/netflix-d... Netflix cancels the Forgotten Realms series: https://thewertzone.blogspot.com/2026... Curse of Strahd, the source material: https://marketplace.dndbeyond.com/adv...The Witcher on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/80189685 The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/80148535 Fan reaction piece on the romance angle: https://www.fandompulse.com/p/netflix... PC Gamer's optimistic take on Ravenloft: https://www.pcgamer.com/movies-tv/d-a... John Hight stepping down as Wizards president: https://gamesbeat.com/john-hight-is-s... Hasbro's $56M videogame writedown: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/busines... Wizards cancels Giant Skull's D&D action game: https://www.gematsu.com/2026/05/wizar... The Sigil VTT story in full: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/hasbro-... Chris Cocks on generative AI and D&D: https://www.wargamer.com/dnd/hasbro-c... Wizards' tabletop is canon policy, explained: https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dun... Warlock official gameplay trailer:    • Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons - Official Gam...   Heroes of the Borderlands, the beginner starter set: https://www.dndbeyond.com/en/heroes Watch Part 1 of this series:    • This Studio Already Got D&D Wrong Once   Watch Part 2 of this series:    • Can This D&D Game Work WITHOUT Any Dice Rolls   Three videos, a cancelled show, a new one, an executive reshuffle, and enough corporate language to put anyone off their dinner. None of it changes whether Dungeons & Dragons is worth playing. It just changes how much I trust the company behind it. Subscribe for more honest, no-gatekeeping takes on getting into D&D, Warhammer, Star Wars and LOTR as an adult. #dnd #dungeonsanddragons #hasbro #wizardsofthecoast #ravenloft AJM Nerdcore is represented by Digital Fox Talent. Brand partnerships: digitalfoxtalent.com/brands/creators/ajm-nerdcore Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oOqhQf0tNY Read the write-up on SUBPLOT: https://subplot.tv/a/ajm_nerdcore/3oOqhQf0tNY Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is where I buy all my games 👇🛒 Alex's Eneba Store: https://ene.ba/Alex⚔️ Best Warhammer Deals: https://ene.ba/Alex-Warhammer🎁 Cheapest Gift Cards: https://ene.ba/Alex-Giftcards Promo codes to save even more 👇GETTINGHOT: 9% off games, gift cards & subsLUCKY7: 7% off games, gift cards & subs 💸 SNAKZY, play games, earn rewards, cash out: https://snakzy.me/ajmnerdcore Why Ocarina of Time is still my favourite Zelda nearly thirty years later, and why the remake this November has me properly nervous. I was about ten when I first played it, three days at a time on a rented N64 copy from Blockbuster after a decent school report. This video is everything that game did to me the first time round: Hyrule Field feeling like Middle-earth, the ReDeads and Wallmasters I still haven't forgiven Nintendo for, the Water Temple with no walkthrough except a cousin who wouldn't let you forget it, and the music that takes me back to my actual childhood bedroom rather than anywhere in Hyrule. It's also about why "that's just nostalgia" isn't the cop-out people think it is, and why I'm more nervous about the Ocarina of Time remake than excited. Nintendo are about to show me exactly what Hyrule looks like, and I've spent thirty years remembering a completely different one. If you had your own first Hyrule, whatever game that actually was for you, I think you'll recognise every bit of this. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Intro: Why I'd Wipe Ocarina of Time From My Memory Just to Play It Again1:26 - Growing Up With It: School, Blockbuster & The Rules of Dial-Up Internet3:02 - Hyrule Field: Why It Felt Like Middle-earth at Ten Years Old3:42 - The Music: Gerudo Valley, Saria's Song & The Title Screen That Isn't About Hyrule4:19 - The Water Temple: No Walkthroughs, Just The Iron Boots5:08 - The Time Skip: Pulling The Master Sword & Becoming Adult Link5:49 - Defending The Nostalgia: Why "It's Just Nostalgia" Doesn't Hold Up6:59 - It's Not Just Nostalgia: What World of Warcraft & Warhammer Prove7:40 - The Remake: Why I'm Nervous About November 20268:56 - Outro: You Only Get One First Hyrule LINKS: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Switch 2 remake), official Nintendo page: https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/... Official Reveal Trailer — The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct:    • The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – The...   Full 40th Anniversary Direct (new Hyrule Field gameplay starts at 25:09):    • The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direc...   What's your own "first Hyrule"? Doesn't have to be Zelda, drop the game below and I'll read every one of them. 🔔 If you like videos that take nerd nostalgia seriously instead of just laughing at it, subscribe. #zelda #ocarinaoftime #n64 #nintendo64 #thelegendofzelda #retrogaming #nostalgia AJM Nerdcore is represented by Digital Fox Talent. Brand partnerships: digitalfoxtalent.com/brands/creators/ajm-nerdcore Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX5toUXrj5E Read the write-up on SUBPLOT: https://subplot.tv/a/ajm_nerdcore/qX5toUXrj5E Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You asked, so I made lembas bread from a real Tolkien cookbook, and it's exactly why you should never cook with me. A bunch of you in the community asked me to try cooking lembas, the Elvish waybread that keeps the Fellowship going all the way from Lothlórien, so here we are. I grabbed Recipes from the World of Tolkien: Inspired by the Legends, picked the lembas recipe, and tried to follow it like a normal, calm, organised adult. I am not a normal, calm, organised adult. I have ADHD and a very loose relationship with measuring things, so expect tangents, missing ingredients, a kitchen that slowly descends into chaos, and me getting distracted by Tolkien lore at every possible moment. This is a proper informal vlog, no script, no plan, just me, a cookbook, and some questionable decisions. Does it actually taste like something an Elf would hand you before a long journey? Or is one small bite enough to fill the stomach of a grown man for all the wrong reasons? Watch to find out. If you haven't seen it yet, this is the sequel nobody needed to Why You Should NEVER Paint With Me, my Hobbit Day Samwise disaster. Same energy, more flour. Thank you to everyone who suggested this one. Keep the requests coming, because apparently I'll do anything if enough of you ask. THE BOOK I USED 📖 Recipes from the World of Tolkien: Inspired by the Legends: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Recipes-Worl... This is where I buy all my games 👇 🛒 Alex's Eneba Store: https://ene.ba/Alex ⚔️ Best Warhammer Deals: https://ene.ba/Alex-Warhammer 🎁 Cheapest Gift Cards: https://ene.ba/Alex-Giftcards Promo codes to save even more 👇 GETTINGHOT: 9% off games, gift cards and subs LUCKY7: 7% off games, gift cards and subs 💸 SNAKZY, play games, earn rewards, cash out: https://snakzy.me/ajmnerdcore What should I cook from Middle-earth next? Second breakfast? Rabbit stew with Sam's taters? Drop your requests below and the most-liked one might be next. 🔔 If you like watching me attempt nerd hobbies with enthusiasm and very little skill, subscribe. #lembas #lordoftherings #tolkien #middleearth #LOTR #Vlog AJM Nerdcore is represented by Digital Fox Talent. Brand partnerships: digitalfoxtalent.com/brands/creators/ajm-nerdcore Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc63Tifkmlc Read the write-up on SUBPLOT: https://subplot.tv/a/ajm_nerdcore/jc63Tifkmlc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part 1 if you missed it:    • This Studio Already Got D&D Wrong Once   Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons is secretly built on forty years of real D&D lore, and I go through all of it. This is part two of the series. Last time I covered what the game actually is and how split the reaction's been. This time I get into how it actually plays, whether Tasha and Darkon hold up as real D&D lore, and my honest verdict on whether this is a good way into the hobby if you've never played D&D before. There's a surprising amount of real Dungeons & Dragons buried in this game. Tasha isn't a character made up for the trailer, she's Iggwilv, one of D&D's oldest villains, going back to Gary Gygax in the 1970s. Darkon and the Ravenloft setting come from the actual tabletop lore too. I go through why that matters, how the combat and magic system feels to play as someone who runs a level 9 Hexblade Warlock at their own table, and whether playing this actually counts as playing D&D. Short answer on that last one: no, but it might be the best doorway into the world of D&D you'll find right now. There's also a setup for part three at the end, because tailoring everything for newcomers comes at a cost for the people who've been playing for years, and that's tangled up in some properly rough news out of Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Intro - Can A Video Game Still Feel Like D&D?1:03 - Part 1 - How Warlock Actually Plays As A Warlock3:57 - Part 2 - The Real D&D Lore Hiding Inside This Game9:03 - Part 3 - Is This Actually A Good Way Into D&D?11:54 - Conclusion - Why Longtime D&D Fans Should Pay Attention LINKS TO SUPPORT WHAT'S COVERED Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons, Steam page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/37... Invoke Studios, official site: https://invoke-studios.com Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance, Metacritic: https://www.metacritic.com/game/dunge... Iggwilv, the Witch Queen: https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wi... Baba Yaga in D&D lore: https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wi... Gary Gygax, D&D's co-creator: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Gygax Tasha's Hideous Laughter, the actual spell: https://www.dndbeyond.com/spells/2619... Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, the source book: https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/tce Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft, the source book: https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/vrgtr D&D Beyond, the Warlock class page: https://www.dndbeyond.com/classes/war... Baldur's Gate 3, Steam page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/10... Wizards' tabletop is canon policy, explained: https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dun... Heroes of the Borderlands, the beginner starter set: https://www.dndbeyond.com/en/heroes Phandelver and Below, the current Mines of Phandelver: https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd... John Hight stepping down as Wizards president: https://gamesbeat.com/john-hight-is-s... Hasbro's $56M videogame writedown: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/busines... The Sigil VTT story in full: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/hasbro-... This is where I buy all my games 👇 🛒 Alex's Eneba Store: https://ene.ba/Alex ⚔️ Best Warhammer Deals: https://ene.ba/Alex-Warhammer 🎁 Cheapest Gift Cards: https://ene.ba/Alex-Giftcards Promo codes to save even more 👇 GETTINGHOT: 9% off games, gift cards and subs LUCKY7: 7% off games, gift cards and subs 💸 SNAKZY, play games, earn rewards, cash out: https://snakzy.me/ajmnerdcore If you've never played D&D and this is the first thing that's made you curious, get Heroes of the Borderlands, grab a few mates, and just play it. That's exactly what it's there for. Subscribe for part three, where I get into the D&D Netflix show and what's actually going on at Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro right now. #dnd #warlock #dungeonsanddragons #tabletoprpg #dndlore AJM Nerdcore is represented by Digital Fox Talent. Brand partnerships: digitalfoxtalent.com/brands/creators/ajm-nerdcore Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCHumy-tLb0 Read the write-up on SUBPLOT: https://subplot.tv/a/ajm_nerdcore/gCHumy-tLb0 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is where I buy all my games 👇 🛒 Alex's Eneba Store — https://ene.ba/Alex⚔️ Best Warhammer Deals — https://ene.ba/Alex-Warhammer🎁 Cheapest Gift Cards — https://ene.ba/Alex-Giftcards Promo codes to save even more 👇 GETTINGHOT — 9% off games, gift cards & subsLUCKY7 — 7% off games, gift cards & subs 💸 SNAKZY, play games, earn rewards, cash out — https://snakzy.me/ajmnerdcore Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons picked up more Steam wishlists than almost anything else at Gamescom 2026 - including nearly everyone's tipped Witcher 3 DLC. Turns out it's built entirely around Warlocks, which is exactly what I play at my own table - level 9 Hexblade, for anyone counting. This one covers what the game actually is, the studio's slightly rocky history, and why the internet's already arguing about whether it even counts as real Dungeons & Dragons. Three-part series this time. Part 2's where it gets personal - the actual gameplay, how much of this is real D&D lore versus made up for the game (there's a patron reveal that caught me properly off guard), and my honest verdict on whether it's worth it if you've never played D&D before. Part 3's the Netflix Ravenloft show and the actual mess currently going on at Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 — Intro — Can A Game With No Dice Or Table Still Be D&D?1:43 — Part 1 — The D&D Game That Broke Gamescom's Wishlist Charts6:19 — Part 2 — Is Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons Actually Real D&D? LINKS Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons, Steam page — https://store.steampowered.com/app/37... Gamescom 2026 wishlist numbers — https://wccftech.com/gamescom-2026-wa... Invoke Studios, official site — https://invokestudios.com/ Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance (Invoke's last D&D game), Metacritic — https://www.metacritic.com/game/dunge... GameSpot on the "is this even D&D" debate — https://www.gamespot.com/articles/war... Cast confirmation (Tricia Helfer & Maggie Robertson) — https://www.gamesradar.com/games/open... Tasha's Cauldron of Everything (the real source book) — https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd... Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft (the real source book) — https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd... Split reaction so far: "this looks brilliant" vs "that's not Dungeons & Dragons." Which side are you on? Let me know below — I'll be reading these before I record Part 2. 🔔 Subscribe for the rest of this series, and for more honest, no-gatekeeping takes on getting into D&D, Warhammer, Star Wars and LOTR as an adult. #dnd #warlock #dungeonsanddragons #tabletoprpg #fantasy AJM Nerdcore is represented by Digital Fox Talent. Brand partnerships: digitalfoxtalent.com/brands/creators/ajm-nerdcore Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwR5hFdCZys Read the write-up on SUBPLOT: https://subplot.tv/a/ajm_nerdcore/YwR5hFdCZys Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I painted a Samwise Gamgee figure for Hobbit Day with zero plan, and it's exactly why you shouldn't paint with me. I am not calm. I am not collected. I am not whimsical. I have ADHD, zero chill, and apparently a lot to prove, so for Hobbit Day I decided to build, prime, and paint a Samwise Gamgee figure completely unscripted, uncut, and unfiltered - and it is exactly the chaos you'd expect. We start in my kitchen with a croissant (golden syrup and cheese, no I will not be taking questions) and a White Monster. From there: opening the box, assembling him, taking him out to the garden to prime - where I couldn't find anything to balance him on, so he got primed standing on one of my dogs' old bones, as one does. Then the "painting setup," which is generously described as horrendous and barely in focus. You will be able to tell I am a total noob within about four seconds. That's the point. To end things properly (and calmly...ish), I read the final chapter of The Fellowship of the Ring - focusing on Sam, the one member of the Fellowship who is somehow the opposite of me in every way: patient, steady, whimsical. A good reminder of what I'm aiming for, even if today's video is proof I'm not there yet. Every clip is exactly as filmed. No cuts, no edits, no plan — just the honest, chaotic reality of trying to make art with an ADHD brain, for Hobbit Day. This is where I buy all my games 👇🛒 Alex's Eneba Store — https://ene.ba/Alex⚔️ Best Warhammer Deals — https://ene.ba/Alex-Warhammer🎁 Cheapest Gift Cards — https://ene.ba/Alex-Giftcards Promo codes to save even more 👇GETTINGHOT — 9% off games, gift cards & subsLUCKY7 — 7% off games, gift cards & subs 💸 SNAKZY — Play games, earn rewards, cash out → https://snakzy.me/ajmnerdcore Tell me the worst you've ever botched a hobby project - the more chaotic, the better. I need to know I'm not alone here. If you want more of this - real, honest, occasionally disastrous attempts at nerd hobbies, no pretending I know what I'm doing — subscribe. #hobbitday #samwisegamgee #lordoftherings #tolkien #fellowshipofthering #ADHD #miniaturepainting #unscriptedvideo AJM Nerdcore is represented by Digital Fox Talent. Brand partnerships: digitalfoxtalent.com/brands/creators/ajm-nerdcore Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbQZDPP2Ceo Read the write-up on SUBPLOT: https://subplot.tv/a/ajm_nerdcore/TbQZDPP2Ceo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices