Mike Hutchinson Talks Hobgoblin, Chess 28, & the Rule of Carnage

Mike Hutchinson Talks Hobgoblin, Chess 28, & the Rule of Carnage

Author: Bedroom Battlefields May 24, 2024 Duration: 56:00

It’s embarrassing to think that the Tabletop Miniature Hobby Podcast has hit 80+ episodes without having Mike Hutchinson on. That said, it was well worth the wait, and the timing was definitely right, with lots of cool new projects in the pipeline.

Mike’s hobby origin story, as well as his thoughts on Gaslands and A Billion Suns, have been well-covered elsewhere. For an excellent fix on that front, I’ll point you to two episodes of the Paint All The Minis podcast (here and here).

And, speaking of podcasts, Mike co-hosts a superb show of his own with game designer pal Glenn Ford. Rule of Carnage is essential listening (or viewing!) for anyone in this hobby. It’s a true masterclass on games design, and has led to the pair writing an academic textbook on the subject, too!

Mike’s rank-and-flank fantasy battle game Hobgoblin is the Box Office topic right now, and I took the opportunity to learn more about it before my inevitable purchase. He’s also been tinkering with Chess under the “Chess 28” banner and has created a new open-source ruleset called Flagstone.

Mike runs a Patreon to help support his income now that he’s gone full-time into game design. It’s brilliant news for our hobby that Mike’s brain can be put to work around the clock now, so be sure to help keep the jar topped up with fluid.


Remember those afternoons spent hunched over a desk, a tiny brush in hand, trying to get the eyes just right on a Citadel miniature? Maybe your gateway was the grim darkness of Warhammer 40k, the dungeon-crawling of HeroQuest, or the claustrophobic corridors of Space Hulk. For many, life eventually pulled them away from those bedroom battlefields, only to draw them back decades later with a newfound appreciation and a whole new world of games to explore. That’s the shared journey at the heart of Tabletop Miniature Hobby Podcast. Hosted by Bedroom Battlefields, these conversations feel like catching up with old friends who never stopped thinking about the hobby. You’ll hear genuine discussions that dig into the tactile joy of painting an army, the strategic nuances of games like Frostgrave or Kings of War, and the simple pleasure of collecting miniatures that spark your imagination. It’s a space for those who understand that this pastime is more than a game; it’s a creative outlet, a historical deep-dive, and a social connector. Each episode explores the layers of the hobby, from brush techniques and kitbashing to campaign stories and rule debates, all with the warmth of shared nostalgia and a keen eye on the exciting present and future of tabletop gaming. This podcast is for the returning veteran and the curious newcomer alike, offering a welcoming audio companion for your next painting session or drive to the game store.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Tabletop Miniature Hobby Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Sci-Fi Skirmishes, & Arena Combat With One Mini Each [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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There's much to catch up on after so many great conversations on the podcast, recently. Here's an attempt to do just that: Voice question of the month - will you be playing Warhammer: The Old World?A game of Brutal Quest…
Joe McCullough: Go Deeper With Your Hobby [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:33
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Man O' War and Playing Remote Games [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:14
Chris Snyder joins me to talk about his two favourite topics - Man O' War and remote gaming. Special thanks to Warbases for sponsoring this episode.
The Bittersweet Act of Opening a Blister Pack [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:39
I'm joined by another lovely member of our Discord community, David of the 5thHammer Youtube channel. On this episode, we discuss his hobby origin story, opening old blister packs, and the art of having patience.
Painting Eyes, Passing the Torch, & the Slow Hobbyist Manifesto [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:35
Cam's another positive member of the Bedroom Battlefields Discord Community, and he joins me for a chat about his hobby origins, being a good steward of the hobby, and his love of Man'O'War.Also mentioned on this episode…
Painting One Miniature a Week [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:49
Jamie, AKA Kazdok from our Discord community joins us to talk about his hobby origin story, writing his game Of Knights & Quests, and the simple tactic of painting one miniature a week.
Collecting More Scenarios, as Opposed to More Rulesets [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:10
Mark's back for a wee chat about various hobby topics, including:Survey: What's been your game of 2023?Hobby goals, resolutions, and hopes for 2024Collecting more scenarios, as opposed to more rulesets Sci-fi Skirmish Sc…
Setting Sail With Mantic's Armada [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:56
Mark and I chat over a range of hobby topics, including ImagiNations, painting 15mm, Space Weirdos, and getting into Mantic's naval combat game Armada. I also talked about a recent narrative scenario I've been planning f…
Q&A With Jervis & Rick, via The Oldhammer Fiction Podcast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:51
We recently published written Q&As with Jervis Johnson and Rick Priestley on BedroomBattlefields.com. Lewis from the excellent Oldhammer Fiction Podcast was kind enough to record them for me, meaning you can now enjoy th…

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