The wheel has turned once more - time to decide the best without dunking on the rest! It's the Three-Year Anniversary Nichee Awards Episode! Join us as we discuss which games we liked the most - and why - and get lost in nostalgic reverie. Supplemental episode art provided by friend of the show Karol Blaky, previously seen illustrating our Xenos Ra…

The pod leads a platoon of green army men to glorious death in Combat Storm 2nd Edition, a miniature warfare game for actual plastic soldiers by Strategy Wave Studios. Find Combat Storm rules here: https://combatstorm.com/products/combat-storm-2nd-edition-digital-edition Find the companion post here: ⁠https://www.barreldrill.com/full-spectrum-domin…

The pod catches scurvy the old-fashioned way in Blood & Plunder, a 28mm historical skirmish game where the action is on land, sea, and/or boat! Developed by Firelock Games. Find Blood & Plunder rules here: https://www.firelockgames.com/product/blood-plunder-rulebook-pdf/ Find the companion post here: https://www.barreldrill.com/blood-plunder-review…

The pod tries to use their SAGA dice in Full Spectrum Dominance, a "combined arms wargame for small scales" by Giacomo "The Lazy Forger" Pantalone and Federico Valsecchi. Find Full Spectrum Dominance rules here: https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-full-spectrum-dominance-rulebook-262512 Find the companion post here: ⁠https://www.barreldri…

The pod clan scrounges up some dough for AEK-971 season pass in The Battlefield: Miniature Modern Warfare, Brent Spivey's game that mushes together multiplayer FPS and RTS. Find The Battlefield: Miniature Modern Warfare rules here: https://www.wargamevault.com/product/102355/The-Battlefield%3A-Miniature-Modern-Warfare Find the companion post here: …

The pod prepares to ambush a patrol of GEV APCs in Stargrunt II, a science fiction combat game from Jon Tuffley, Ground Zero Games. Find Stargrunt II rules here: https://downloads.groundzerogames.co.uk/sgii.pdfFind the companion post here: https://www.barreldrill.com/stargrunt-2-review/ Support Fortified Niche on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fo…

The pod welds a DShK to the roof of a Prius for a race in Gaslands: Refueled, the tabletop miniature wargame of post-apocalyptic vehicular mayhem by Mike Hutchinson. Find Gaslands: Refueled rules here: https://www.ospreypublishing.com/us/gaslands-refuelled-9781472838834/Find the companion post here: https://www.barreldrill.com/gaslands-refueled-rev…

The pod rallies honest men for a good and well-paying cause in Force of Virtue, a miniatures skirmish game for the 15th century. Find Force of Virtue rules here: https://masterstrokegames.com/product/pdf-rulebook/Find the companion post here: https://www.barreldrill.com/force-of-virtue-review/ Support Fortified Niche on Patreon: https://www.patreon…

The lil'-hex-and-chit-pod-that-could relents to fan pressure and reviews Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital, a VIDEO GAME adaptation of the squad-level classic! Find Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1149940/Lock_n_Load_Tactical_Digital_Core_Game/Find the companion post here: https://www.barreldrill.com/lock-n-load-t…

The pod relies on varmint rifles and pipe bombs to fight monsters in When Nightmares Come, "an investigative wargame of supernatural horror" by Patrick Todoroff. Copy provided by Osprey! Find When Nightmares Come rules here: https://www.ospreypublishing.com/us/when-nightmares-come-9781472860040/Find the companion post here: https://www.barreldrill.…

The pod command group ranks their flanks and conquers the other old world in The 9th Age, a game of fantasy battles. Find The 9th Age rules here: https://www.the-ninth-age.com/download/fantasy-battles/Find the companion post here: https://www.barreldrill.com/the-9th-age-review/ Support Fortified Niche on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fortifiedni…

The pod tries to hack a drone and get eaten by an alien in Mars: Code Aurora, a sci-fi skirmish wargame by Studio 6201. Find Mars: Code Aurora rules here:https://www.marscodeaurora.com/en/the-game/Find the companion post here: https://www.barreldrill.com/mars-code-aurora-fortified-niche-playtest/ Support Fortified Niche on Patreon: https://www.patr…

In this highly-irregular episode, the pod looks at what miniature games are coming out in 2024 and measures their own tentative hype levels. Some of the indies we talked about: Hypersteel Nightmare: https://discord.gg/xKXs7jHF World of Wrestling: https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/2779523/wow-world-wrestling/page/1 Firelock 198X: https://twitter.com/…

The pod uses "We Obey" to get their hearthguards to charge the Four Horsemen in SAGA: Age of Magic by Studio Tomahawk! Find SAGA: Age of Magic rules here:https://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/SRB24_Age_of_Magic_Supplement--product--5849.htmlFind the companion post here: https://www.barreldrill.com/saga-age-of-magic-review/ Support Fortified Niche on Patr…

The pod boys astrally project themselves into a metal album cover to play Magnagothica: Maleghast, a skirmish war-game by KSBD's/Lancer's own Tom Bloom. Find Magnagothica: Maleghast rules here:https://tombloom.itch.io/magnagothica-maleghastFind the companion post here: https://www.barreldrill.com/magnagothica-maleghast-review Support Fortified Nich…

The pod runs through the jungle, jumps three floors down into the water and guns down a Yuttaraptor while in The Drowned Earth, a post-apocalyptic skirmish game by Olmec Games. Find The Drowned Earth rules here: https://thedrownedearth.com Find the companion post here: https://www.barreldrill.com/the-drowned-earth-review/ Support Fortified Niche on…

The pod witch slings some spells over the top and at the Hun in A War Transformed, a WW1 meets the occult skirmish wargame by Frederick Silburn-Slater. The copy came free from Osprey! Find the A War Transformed rules here: https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/war-transformed-9781472856258/ Find the companion post here: https://www.barreldrill.com/a-…

The pod finally muster their ward to upload the right episode with Never Mind the Billhooks Deluxe, a small battle/large skirmish ruleset by Andy Callan for refighting the War of the Roses and similar conflicts! Find the Never Mind the Billhooks Deluxe rules here: https://www.nevermindthebillhooks.com Read the accompanying blog post: https://www.ba…

EDIT: now with the actual Nichees episode!!! It's the two-year anniversary of Fortified Niche - this can only mean more Nichees awards! Of all the games the crew played in the last 12 months, which were the best? Join us on this trip down the show segment-inspired categories of the Nichee awards! Support Fortified Niche on Patreon: https://www.patr…

The pod rallies their gang of technofreaks for the hunt in The Doomed, an apocalyptic monster-hunting skirmish wargame by Chris McDowall. The copy came free from Osprey! Find the The Doomed rules here: https://ospreypublishing.com/us/doomed-9781472854254/ Support Fortified Niche on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fortifiedniche Follow the creators…

The podcast's past comes to haunt them as Will Rahman-Daultrey steps out of the shadows to talk about Forbidden Psalm, Dread Nights and career choices that lead to making games about doomed worlds. Follow Will on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saintimp/ Find his works: https://www.forbiddenpsalm.com Follow the creators of Fortified Niche on s…

The pod crew is mortified after discovering that panzerschokolade contains no chocolate in What a Tanker!, a light WW2 tank skirmish game from TooFatLardies. Find the What a Tanker! rules here: https://toofatlardies.co.uk/product-category/what-a-tanker/ Read the review supplement here: https://www.barreldrill.com/what-a-tanker/ Support Fortified Ni…

The pod realizes all their money was lost due to having three thieves in their warband in Dread Nights, a miniature skirmish game of hunting Victorian horrors, straight from the creators of Forbidden Psalm. Find the Dread Nights rules here: https://www.forbiddenpsalm.com/dread-nights Read the review supplement here: https://www.barreldrill.com/drea…

The pod-generals learn the entirely wrong lesson about modern warfare in Eagles of Empire, a skirmish wargame about the Franco-Prussian War. Find the Eagles of Empires rules here: https://www.eaglesofempire.com/product-page/eoe-skirmish-rules-drillbook-i-basic-rules-infantry Read the review supplement here: https://www.barreldrill.com/eagles-of-emp…

Ivan Sorensen of Nordic Weasel Games revealed the secrets of random movement distances to JcDent shortly before taking Modipheus by storm. Real Niche-heads will remember that we reviewed his Five Men at Kursk game a looong time ago! Find the Ivan's thoughts on game design here: https://nordicweasel.posthaven.com Get Nordic Weasel games here: https:…

The pod crew faces aliens horrors in the service of Majestic 13, a solo/co-op skirmish miniature wargame from Snarling Badger Studios. Find the Majestic 13 rules here: https://www.snarlingbadger.com/majestic13 Read the review supplement here: https://www.barreldrill.com/majestic-13-fortified-niche-playtest/ Support Fortified Niche on Patreon: https…

The pod hosts lead their ragged congregation to fight for the shrine of Verrotwood, a cultist skirmish game by Mike Crutchett. Find the Verrotwood rules here: https://www.wargamevault.com/product/425504/Verrotwood Read the review supplement here: https://www.barreldrill.com/verrotwood-fortified-niche/ Support Fortified Niche on Patreon: https://www…

The podcrew is pleasantly surprised when their corporate team building even turns out to be BelloLudi, a historical wargame(s?) by Peter von Dop. Find the BelloLudi rules here: https://www.belloludi.nl Read the review supplement here: https://www.barreldrill.com/belloludi-fortified-niche/ Support Fortified Niche on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/…

Cassa moves infinite distance in a straight line to interview Brent Spiwey, an indie game creator behind Rogue Planet, Techno Bowl and a few titles we haven't reviewed - yet! Find the Brent Spiwey's games here: https://bombshell-games.com Support Fortified Niche on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fortifiedniche Follow the creators of Fortified Nic…

Podcasters go rooting for mysterious night rocks in Moonstone, the fairytale miniature skirmish game by Goblin King Games. Find the Moonstone rules here: https://moonstonethegame.com/downloads.html Read the blog post here: https://www.barreldrill.com/moonstone-fortified-niche/ Follow the creators of Fortified Niche on social media! JcDent: Barrel D…

Don't let the detector van catch you watching the adventures of Cassa and JcDent on 7TV 2nd Edition, the miniature skirmish game of British spy TV shows by Crooked Dice Game Design Studio. Find the 7TV rules here: https://crooked-dice.co.uk/rules/7tv-2nd-edition/7tv-2nd-edition-downloads/ Read the blog post here: https://www.barreldrill.com/7tv-2nd…

The pod crew layers flak armor under power armor for that sweet 3+ save in Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, a promising new game from Rick Priestley and Games Workshop. Find the Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader rules here: Read our BBS here: https://www.barreldrill.com/warhammer-40000-rogue-trader/ Support Fortified Niche on Patreon: https://www.patre…

Put your wizard on a ram and round up some goblins, it's time to face Thud & Blunder, a fantasy skirmish wargame from The Ministry of Gentlemanly Warfare. Find the Thud & Blunder rules here: https://theministryofgentlemanlywarfare.wordpress.com/thud-blunder/ Read the blog post here: https://www.barreldrill.com/thud-and-blunder-review/ Support Forti…

For the first time in Fortified Niche history, the pod makes an interview! JcDent, podcast host, talks to David Phipps, the driving force behind the wildly-good Pulp Alley rules, about game design, inspirations, and the dirtiest word of all - balance. Listen to the Pulp Alley episode here: https://anchor.fm/fortified-niche/episodes/21---Pulp-Alley-…

The podcast becomes the franchise owner of the Kittens in Techno Bowl, a retro console throwback American Football game by Brent Spivey! Find the Techno Bowl rules here: https://bombshell-games.com/techno-bowl/ Read the blog post here: https://www.barreldrill.com/techno-bowl/ The TTS module we used: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetail…

The podcast duo discovers they have a shared health pool in Rogue Planet, a skirmish game of whatever space adventure you'd like by Brent Spivey! Find the Rogue Planet rules here: https://bombshell-games.com/rogue-planet/ Read the blog post here: https://www.barreldrill.com/rogue-planet-review/ Follow the creators of Fortified Niche on social media…

In the gothic gloom of the distant tomorrow, there is only a return to Grimdark Future, the rules light sci-fi miniature wargame we covered in episode #1 sans any playtesting! Find everything you need to play Grimdark Future here: https://onepagerules.com/portfolio/grimdark-future/ Read the blog post here: https://www.barreldrill.com/grimdark-futur…

Lead the disparate forces of mankind (or gorillas) against gothic space robots that are turning entire systems into bitcoin farms in AT-43, the sci-fi mass-battle wargame from twice-bankrupt Rackham. Yes, we reviewed a dead game! Find fan-maintained AT-43 resources here: https://www.orderofgamers.com/games/at-43/ Follow the creators of Fortified Ni…

Our demon warlord is rounding up some Greys and mounting guns on technicals to withstand the assault of Xenos Rampant, the setting-agnostic sci-wargame from the minds of Daniel Mercey and Richard Cowen! Find Xenos Rampant here: https://ospreypublishing.com/us/xenos-rampant-9781472852342/ Read the blog post about Xenos Rampant here: https://www.barr…

The pod boys don't have a Patreon, so they can't afford more than two bullets in Punkapocalyptic, a post-apocalyptic skirmish wargame by Bad Roll Games! Find Punkapocalyptic here: https://www.badrollgames.com/en/downloads/rules/ Read the blog post about Punkapocalyptic here: https://www.barreldrill.com/punkapocalytic-fortified-niche/ Follow the cre…

In space, no one can hear you breach, bang and clear in Space Station Zero, a cooperative space dungeon delver from Snarling Badger Studios! Find Space Station Zero here: https://www.snarlingbadger.com/spacestationzero Read the blog post about Space Station Zero here: https://www.barreldrill.com/space-station-zero-review/ Follow the creators of For…

For the one-year anniversary episode of Fortified Niche, the pod-lads sit down to talk about the most amazing pieces of game design they encountered over the 365 days of podcasting about indie wargames. Did your favorite game make the cut? Follow the creators of Fortified Niche on social media! JcDent: Barrel Drill blog T-shirt store Cassa: Instagr…

The pod crew don leather jackets and load sawn-off shotguns to test out This is Not a Test, a post-nuclear skirmish wargame from Worlds End Publishing! Find This is Not a Test here: https://worldsendpublishing.com/products/this-is-not-a-test-official-rulebook-pdf Follow the creators of Fortified Niche on social media! JcDent: Barrel Drill blog T-sh…

Time to give those Frenchies/Brits/Colonials a proper thrashing in Muskets & Tomahawks second edition from Studio Tomahawk! Find Muskets & Tomahawks here: http://www.studio-tomahawk.com/en/mousquets-et-tomahawks/ Read the blog post about Muskets & Tomahawks here: https://www.barreldrill.com/muskets-tomahawks-2e/ Build yourself a Muskets & Tomahawks…

Open up your HiRealMeetBobBeFrank app and swipe right on that mercenary contract in Reality's Edge by Joseph McGuire and published by Osprey. But don't forget to update your antivirus or someone may hack your knife! Find Reality's Edge here: https://ospreypublishing.com/reality-039-s-edge Read the blog post about Reality's Edge here: https://www.ba…

Attention, all Nicheneers! Steel your nerves as our fortified duo faces the challenges of Pulp Alley - set by Phipps and Daughter themselves! Will this spell doom for our rebellious reviewers? Will they prevail - and keep their two fists? Only on today's episode of Fortified Niche! Find Pulp Alley here: http://pulpalley.com Read the blog post about…

Both summer heat and the Covid pox tried to stop the lads from reviewing Infamy, Infamy!, an excellent large skirmish game by TooFatLardies for refighting the wars between Rome and the Gauls, the British, etc.! Find Infamy, Infamy! here: https://toofatlardies.co.uk/product-category/infamy-infamy/ Read the blog post about Infamy, Infamy! here: https…

The podcasters command their unstoppable hordes of T-55As in Cold War Commander 2nd Edition, a fairly groggy game of modern warfare that actually plays really smoothly! Find Cold War Commander 2nd Edition here: https://www.pendraken.co.uk/ncwc-2-rules-ncold-war-commander-2-rulebook-6949-p.asp Read the blog post about Cold War Commander 2nd Edition …

After drawing the Fortified Niche card, Player 1 selects a regiment of podcasters to carry out Conquest: The Last Argument of Kings, a rank-and-flank game where mercenary crossbowmen are shooting at unit of clone spearmen. Find Conquest: The Last Argument of Kings here: https://www.para-bellum.com/getting-started/ Read the blog post about Conquest:…

The world's greatest detective gets nailed with an RPG as we play Batman Miniature Game, a good skirmish game featuring DC Comics' finest street-level heroes, villains, and mooks. Find Batman Miniature Game here: https://www.knightmodels.com/en/batman-miniature-game/ Read the blog post about Batman Miniature Game here: https://www.barreldrill.com/b…