You know how sometimes you're scrolling through hobby content and something just makes you want to throw your brush across the room? Yeah, we get that too. So here's the deal - once a month, we're going to have a proper place to talk about whatever's winding us up in the hobby world.

Consider it therapy, but with more paint fumes.

Something's been bugging us about recent codex releases, and it's not the rules or points costs. It's covers.

The World Eaters codex kicked off what feels like a concerning trend - generic, flat artwork that looks more like placeholder concepts than the final product. But we thought, yeah, bad covers happen right?

Then the Black Templars codex showed up. And it was worse. And we are talking not only about design: the armour is really weird, BT heraldry is off, and there is a Marine (which looks like wearing terminator armour), running with… shovel. Yeah, it is crozius, but looks like a holy shovel.

Now they announced Leagues of Votann, and there is something off with the cover as well.

We get it. Not every cover can be the jaw-dropping masterpiece that was the original 3rd or 4th edition designs we still drool over. But when you're dropping cash on a book you'll reference constantly and display proudly on your shelf, shouldn't it at least look like something you'd want to show off?

Maybe it's budget constraints or tight deadlines, but whatever's happening behind the scenes needs fixing.

CMON's having a rough year. Like, really rough. We're talking $3 million in losses, stock trading suspended, and they're selling off their biggest franchises just to stay afloat. Zombicide went to Asmodee in June, while Blood Rage, Rising Sun, and Ankh all got sold to Tabletop Tycoon.

That's like watching someone sell their prized collection piece by piece, with a gun pointed at the head.

CMON isn't alone in this mess. Final Frontier Games declared bankruptcy in April, leaving over 8,000 backers hanging with $1.4 million in unfulfilled Kickstarters. Holy Grail Games folded back in 2023 after a logistics nightmare with Bollore that saw games shipped to wrong customers and stock held hostage in warehouses. RAFM Miniatures closed after 50 years because metal costs got too crazy to handle. Even Ninja Division went under owing millions on Super Dungeon Explore campaigns that backers funded way back in 2016.

The root cause? US tariffs.

These were set on Chinese imports hitting 145% in April before dropping to 30% during a temporary "truce." Since 90% of tabletop games are made in China, that's not just expensive - it's business-ending. A $100,000 container suddenly costs $245,000. Nobody can absorb that kind of hit, especially when most publishers already work on razor-thin margins.

What does this mean for the hobby?

Probably fewer small publishers, higher prices, and the bigger companies like Asmodee and Games Workshop grabbing more market share. It's rough watching studios that gave us some genuinely cool games get crushed by trade policy and supply chain chaos that's completely outside their control.

The silver lining? The stuff that survives this mess will probably be built to last. And hey, at least we know our painted armies will hold their value while everything else is going sideways.

Hopefully.

A flood of recent announcements brings exciting times for Warcrow players, but there is a significant fly in the Warcrow ointment right now. Let’s break it down:

The biggest reveal is a cinematic trailer for the "Song of the Dormant" battle pack, which introduces two new factions: the knightly Feudom and the demonic Scions of Yaldabaoth. In addition, new models for Hegemony of Embersig and The Sÿenann were previewed at the Interplanetario event. For those ready to start a new army now, the Sÿenann Action Pack is officially available in stores.

Here's the thing though - Warcrow's still using SioCast manufacturing, and the community reaction remains... mixed at best. People keep hoping for nice detail you get from traditional resin or injection plastic, but SioCast has its limitations. Interestingly, we're starting to see more Unicool resin elements on Warcrow minis, which suggests Corvus Belli knows there's room for improvement in alternative materials.

Warmachine gets a mystical makeover with new Khador's Old Umbrey Core Expansion. It centers around Kapitan Maksim Azlanov, who wields a sword meant for warjacks, and his bonded creature The Starved, a rune-etched horror driven by insatiable hunger.

The set includes a solid mix of infantry, solos, and support units perfect for mid-sized games. And it's a refreshing departure from the mechanized warfare that defines most Warmachine factions.

Good to see Steamforged Games continuing to push creative boundaries with Warmachine since taking over the license.

They're clearly committed to expanding the game's universe in meaningful ways rather than just rehashing old content. Speaking of their commitment to quality, we've been getting some of their Warmachine terrain pieces as STL files lately and they're awesome. After printing these came out detailed, functional, and built to last.

So, fingers crossed for Warmachine, let them cook.

Atomic Mass Games just dropped their August pre-order lineup for Shatterpoint, and here is what's coming into SW skirmish game.

The headliner is "This Is Rogue One" squad pack featuring Jyn Erso leading the charge with Chirrut Îmwe, Baze Malbus, and Bodhi Rook. What's cool here is that Jyn finally completes the Rogue One collection - since Cassian and K-2SO already have their own pack, you can now field the entire crew together.

"Terror From Below" brings the aquatic Mon Cala arc with Riff Tamson and Nossor Ri and Aqua Droids - apparently the biggest single miniatures in the game so far.

Clone Wars fans also get "Delta Squad, Form Up" with all four Republic Commandos from the classic video game: Boss, Fixer, Scorch, and Sev. We call it “Nostalgia Pack”.

The "I Am No Jedi" duel pack gives us Ahsoka Tano (as Fulcrum version) facing off against Darth Vader (Fallen Master variant), recreating that brutal Rebels confrontation. This Vader works as a Secondary character, so you can pair him with other big villains.

Plus there's the Outer Rim Outpost terrain pack, because if you played shatterpoint, you know that terrain takes a huge role in that system.

Pre-orders are live now through August and September. If you've been waiting for more variety beyond core box heroes, we've got you covered for these upcoming releases.

Atomic Mass Games is finally addressing Legion's biggest barrier to entry with proper starter sets hitting shelves this fall. Two waves are dropping: Age of Rebellion armies land September 19, while Clone Wars forces arrive October 17.

Each starter packs 35+ miniatures plus everything needed for 600-point games - rules, dice, tokens, the works - for just $95/£84.99. Compare that to 40k's Combat Patrol boxes at $170/£100 that need separate rulebooks and barely scratch a full army. These Legion starters actually give you 60% of a complete force right out of the gate.

After years of Legion being the "expensive Star Wars game," these starters finally make it accessible. If you've been eyeing those clone armies but waiting for a reasonable entry point, that's the best moment ever.

Warlord Games is finally giving the Brits their due with a comprehensive release for Bolt Action 3rd Edition. The Armies of Great Britain book drops July 31st alongside a whole winter warfare collection that's been a long time coming.

The 112-page Armies of Great Britain supplement gives you everything needed to field proper British forces - unit profiles, national rules, and enough historical context to settle those "would they really have done that?" arguments at the table.

Pre-orders are live now for the July 31st release. If you've been waiting to build that proper British army in 3rd edition, this got everything sorted.

And thats for now folks! 

I hope you liked our Newsletter 2.0, packed with news and our first steps into journalism. If you want to join the conversation and put your own two cent's at it (or to give your honest opinion about our work) feel free to respond to that e-mail.

See you next month!