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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

5 Parsecs from Home calls to me once again.

A box of The Expanse starship crew miniatures from Green Ronin and Wargames Atlantic.

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Got some BattleTech in today - armored formation vs. a full Clan Star. Tankers barely eeked out a win.

An armored column advancing in a game of BattleTech

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

Finished my first Dropfleet Commander squadron - the Medea-class Strike Carriers "Cassandra's Warning", "Circe's Guile" and "Arachne's Pride".

Three PHR frigates for Dropfleet Commander in a teal color scheme

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

I paint my Silver Bayonet monsters, etc. in a black and white scheme, both because it's very fast for producing lots of NPCs, etc., but also because it's got this nice visual effect of asking "Is any of this actually real?" This time, the Turkey Man by @badsquiddogames.bsky.social

"The Turkeyman" by Bad Squddo in black and white

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

Final dispensation of Escort Group B1. 185,000 tons of shipping lost, and a somewhat excessive 67 U-boats sunk.

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Somethingsomethingcompetitivemeta.jpg

A Shard of the Nightbringer with Marneus Calgar's head poorly photoshopped in.

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Post your contextless "Photoshops".

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

This is the result. Nearly 12,000 times, the answer is *Zero*. A minority of the time, but a slim minority. More likely than failing a single 3+ save.

A histogram depicting the number of named female custodians likely to be encountered at random.

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

New year, new Lost to the Nails Hobby Bingo Card, full of the usual level of in-jokes from an infrequently recorded podcast, and a large number of squares amenable to "Okay, but hear me out..." levels of self-justification.A

A hobby progress bingo card from the Lost to the Nails podcast.

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

Atlantic Sentinels. So far we’ve made two crossings, sunk three U-Boats, and lost two freighters.

A game display of a Uboat attack is a freighter

A game display of a heavily damaged Uboat

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

Spending a quiet night clipping counters. If anyone is keeping track, "Atlantic Sentinels" by Compass Games takes approximately 1.5 episodes of The Last Kingdom (a known standard unit of measurement).

Small pile of war-game counters and clipped corners.

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 07/12/2025

Everyone hug your pets for me. Fuck 2025.

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

A small moment of very niche nerdy joy. Blue Planet is my favorite RPG. When the new edition was Kickstarted, they had backer tier where you could name a feature on one of the maps. Much to my surprise, on the main, zoomed out map on the slipcover was my little contribution, "Barnum Trench."

The cover to the Blue Planet RPG slip cover

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

Finally got back to a computer with Lychee on it, so I could check my subscription status. I work with the same methods used for Generative AI in research work. There are responsible, reasonable ways to use this technology. Lychee Gen isn't it.

Canceled yearly subscription to Lychee Slicer.

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

So it didn't take home the top prize (but Silver!), but this piece is one of the best composed 40K dioramas I've ever seen. Searingly intimate, while also allowing your brain to fill in the larger battlefield. I'm in awe, and cannot get over it. assets.warhammer-community.com/goldendemon_...

A Death Korps of Krieg soldier comforts a dying Sister of Battle.

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

Della hates choosing between tennis balls, and will try to fit two in her mouth. Her mouth is not big enough for that. Through much trial and effort, she has found that she can lodge one in the back of her throat and hold another in her mouth. Her owners are…not thrilled with this development.

Della, a brown dog, with two tennis balls

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 09/08/2025

Finished my "Auspex Table" map for my club's upcoming Crusade campaign. Features the main hive city, plus a ruined spire for Kill Team hijinks, and a wrecked Cruiser for a local FLGS to have a mini campaign around.

A very, very bright green map of a 40K hive city.

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 13/07/2025

“Age of Midgard” - rank and flank AoS armies using the Midgard rules

Two armies opposite each other in a field

On the flank, a group of Minotaurs advance

020

Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

Weathered some Monster Fight Club shipping containers and did some transfer work as part of a project whose working title is "Mankind's Hubris".

Eight cyberpunk-themed shipping containers

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Tinkering with punching up some Monster Fight Club pre-colored shipping containers. This is just some metallic chipping and a coat of Ammo of Mig Starship Wash. Trying to decide if I want to push it further, or accept that sorta dirty is good enough for something I'm going to have to do like 50 of.

A battered green Zeta Industries shipping container.

030

Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

10. Best Gameplay This is one of those "define your terms" categories. But for me, CP2077 has a really great blend of intuitive mechanics, a bunch of different ways to play, and a really natural feel. Leaves me wishing for a truly open world CP mercenary game.

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

9. Saddest Gameplay Sequence The Death of Mordin Solus.

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

8. Best Soundtrack No One Lives Forever is a strong contender here. But I'm actually going to go for Heliborne. The way this game manages to make you *feel* like you're listening to Vietnam-era rock without actually *being* Vietnam-era rock is remarkable.

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

7. Favorite Game Couple? Morrigan and my City Elf Grey Warden. Terrible people saving an undeserving world.

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

5. Game character you feel you are most like (or wish you were). Umm...maybe Mordin Solus? Maybe. I don't really identify with video game characters.

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

3. A game that is underrated Future Cop: LAPD

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

1. Very first video game. First one I can remember at least - Duck Hunt.

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

She plowed through 11 Sea Guard. An Elven Prince gave his life trying to bring her down and let his forces advance. And then the dice spoke. A Bretonnian Duke, down to two wounds, tasked by the Lady herself, passed four Blessing saves...and then dealt a killing blow.

A corrupted Damsel attacks a unit of Sea Guard.

The heroic charge of a doomed Elven Prince.

A Bretonnian Duke assaults the corrupted shrine.

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

What they didn't know is that the shrine was already corrupted. What waited for them there was the "Crimson Maiden", the former Damsel of the shrine. They'd have to get through her first.

Player handouts, and a custom demon model and terrain.

A thriving little part of the Bretonnian countryside, save for the blood-soaked shrine in the middle.

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

I'm *really* proud of how are "What a Storm Trooper!" table came out.

A table with terrain for a desert-themed Star Wars game

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

Played a game of NATO Air Commander. Hits a little different in 2025 than it did when I bought it in 2018. Fun little solitaire game that can be played out in an evening or two, with some fun dynamics to the game system that I think give it some depth. Ended up winning after a close few turns.

A board for "NATO Air Commander", showing the initial phases of a Warsaw Pact attack into Germany

The board for NATO Air commander, now on Turn 6, showing NATO in dire straits, with Amsterdam and Strasbourg in danger of falling.

The board for NATO Air Commander on Turn 8, with NATO having mounted a large-scale counter attack.

The final board state for a game of NATO Air Commander. The Warsaw Pact has been completely pushed back to pre-war lines.

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

Action shot from a demo game of "What A Stormtrooper!", my club's adaptation of @toofatlardies.bsky.social "What a Cowboy!". Rapidly becoming our go-to demo game of choice.

Two storm troopers converge on a rebel taking cover behind some crates.

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

Played some learning games of Barons War today. Prelude to a Death & Taxes campaign.

Spearmen moving through a ruined village

Mounted sergeants gallop through a field

Two units of spearmen face each other down across a road

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

The start of a force for Baron's War. Models by Footsore.

Two metal archers from Footsore's Baron's War range.

Five Spearmen from the Footsore Baron's War range, painted in black and green livery.

020

Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

Peninsular War using Rebels & Patriots. Things start dicey with the Brits taking artillery fire and then things collapse for the French, swiftly losing several units to determined rifle fire and a charge from the British line infantry. Three straight morale failures later and the French break.

British infantry approach from the south of a small Spanish town, while the French occupy the north.

Members of the 95th Rifles take positions in a half-ruined villa.

French skirmishers are assaulted by a British line infantry unit.

The British secure the town while a French cannon covers the retreat.

020

Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

First game of the year, and some more Pikeman's Lament (before we take a pause from it for some upcoming projects). The Swedes attack a wagon column containing treasure, making off with two of the wagons before the timely arrival of some Imperial gallopers escorts the last to safety.

A line of Swedish raiders approach some objective markers, having caught the defenders unaware.

Swedish cavalry cover the withdrawing raiders, as a Imperial pike block advances toward them.

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

The Lost to the Nails listenership continues to be amazing. Second year of our Hobby Bingo Card, spearheaded by @maikeru.bsky.social

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Variance Hammer @variancehammer.bsky.social · 28/12/2024

Three person game of Pikeman’s Lament, as Spanish, Imperial and Swedish raiding parties all descend on the same town.

Swedish gallopers secure a crossroad by a burning church

Swedish forces secure a ruined manor while cavalry heads toward the flank, deeper in the village

Swedish dragoons dash toward a supply cache as Spanish infantry draw perilously close

A final charge by Swedish cavalry, hoping to break a unit of Imperial musketeers

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