What do you think!? Are you happy with the youtube content you are seeing?

Hey thanks for the shout out! Humbled to be a part of such a talented and enthusiastic bunch of creators. This was a great look at Warhammer. I come mostly from D&D and fantasy minis, so it's been interesting to come fresh to Warhammer to learn about all the rule systems, lore and minis.

One thing that I love about your content is how you push artistic creativity from color theme to building contrast. Definitely stepped up my paint game thanks to you!

It's so refreshing to see NOT just Warhammer stuff all the time but other figures and how different painters approach the subject, I love Bestarium and Cobra Mode 3D prints and it's a shame those gorgeous figures are upstaged by another painting tutorial about space marines. I'd really love to see more videos about painting larger scale display quality figures, that would be wonderful! *Onwards and upwards!*

Unfortunately it seems this is happening across the board on KZfaq now. It *seems* like the algorithm only cares about extremely popular content now. If it's very popular, it gets thrown everywhere. If it's slightly less popular? It gets buried. I am seeing this with gaming content too. It's very sad.

I feel like Marco Frisoni really opened my eyes to this a few years ago when he started to paint with oils. For so long, miniature painting has had this mentality that they were re-inventing the painting wheel and Marco made me realise that art has literally been around for centuries so why not use all the techniques and information already available and utilise it in our hobby. Games Workshop has had the monopoly of thought and process in the miniature world for so long, they made people think they invented the whole subject. I think the way Games Workshop have marketed limited techniques on their customer base to sell their average paints originally opened the hobby to be more accessible but now there is more competition, their failings become more apparent with comparision. On the flip side, not everyone is into painting and/or has the time to dedicate to the craft as it can take a while to become proficient depending on what you are aiming for. Games Workshop will always try to keep their niche market as a closed circle. From the inside, it looks like you have everything you need, but from the outside, there is a whole world of art and creativity out there to be explored

The quality of this video's take cannot be overstated.

The diversity I've encountered by branching out and watching other creators has taught me so much in the past year: new techniques, new styles of painting, even new ways of thinking about why we're doing this at all! I'm grateful that folks like you take time to share your thoughts about how GW affects the hobby, for good and ill.

Thank you for saying this! I'm about to start posting my own mini painting and terrain video but don't touch anything GW. I know it is a bad business idea on my part to not include GW content but I want to be part of bringing other game systems to light. Like you I am inspired by influences outside of just traditional mini painting. I bring graphic design and art influences as well as from doing model trains growing up. I hope that we can try to change the perception that you need to use warhammer and other GW products/systems to succede on youtube.

Thanks for the mention! Great topic. This is so true and not just for KZfaq, but most platforms. Warhammer always brings in more visibility. As much as I love Warhammer, I don't want to only see that or tailor my content around it.

Great video Lyla! Needing to frame everything around GW can be super frustrating, it really is a shame that its the best way for consistent clicks

I agree with you and totally feel the same way - making a video and NOT making it related to Warhammer is a bad business decision at this point. It's not all bad though, I think that Warhammer still opens the doors for many people that will be interested in painting other brands as well!

This hits me right in the feels. Trying to get YT to understand I want painting not WH seems impossible. But I get content creators are trapped, many have commented as much. I love your channel and your art history early content was right up my street and had me hooked. I’m trying to paint board game minis mostly and looking for other interesting miniatures to expand my options. This video is great thanks for recommending some small creators. Also this confirms my thinking about jumping on your patreon.

It makes me feel so much better to hear you say you don't play mini wargames, either. I really want to get deeper into painting minis, but I just don't have the time or a sustained interest for playing the games. I just like art and want to paint! Great to see that someone who's become so accomplished can come from the same perspective, even if you get stuck pushing GW content too much!

This was such a fantastic video Lyla! You're absolutely right that warhammer just dominates the niche in terms of views, but there are lots of amazing creators out there and I'm so happy I reguarly dig through search to find them haha. Also thanks so much for the shoutout!!

Hey Lyla, one of the things I enjoy about your channel is that you want to use art history and techniques of some of the great artists. If you were to show me the difference between Baroque, Impressionism, and surrealism, you'd probably try by showing me a portrait, or a landscape, in each style. A Space Marine happens to be the miniature equivalent of a bowl of fruit. We all know what an apple looks like. Most art classes have taught us how to draw one through shading a sphere, but how would Dali and Van Gogh do it? There's your opportunity! I don't play any mini war games. I have painted MANY of the same models for board games and that repetition allowed me to experiment, compare like to like, and grow. You gotta keep yourself sane when painting 20 goblins, right? That's the perfect time to say "I'm going to use of the ideas Lyla shared." You're crushing it here on KZfaq doing it your way. Keep it up! But, maybe these suggestions will help you feel less opposed to doing some GW content.

I love the lore and world of Warhammer, but I much prefer the painting side of the hobby and have been looking for more display pieces to paint. I love watching your videos on techniques and how to slowly improve my painting, especially anything not involving a GW model :D

I am always looking for tutorials and techniques. And I would really like to see more from you about producing vibrant colors on minis

Great video Lyla! Thanks so much for bringing this up. Every bit of content I consider making always starts with an argument inside my head over whether interesting to me also equals interesting to KZfaq.

I agree so hard with this. I want cool minis to paint that are not like 35€ for a mini barely bigger than a normal unit, but I just don't want to 3d print it because I don't enjoy resin 3d printing. I wish youtube would shove me new models from other brands like it does with games workshop

Lyla, you're doing such a good thing. Shout outs to indie projects and creators with yet small audience is genuinely kind and so nice of you. It's so sick and sad that youtube is dominated by merciless and unfair algorithms, and not all creators happen to born equal according to them. I wish you all of luck at fighting with them and breaking them down! The True Art should win.

🤗Hi. The closest I come to 'miniature painting' are 1/35 scale military figures to go with my model tanks & other WW-II vehicles. Still, I've watched several 'technique' videos and found some of the info helpful. Some things like underpainting are as easily applied to my hobby as yours - personally, I'm voting for more technique videos, especially ones aimed at beginners in the miniature painting field. Hang in there and do your thing, it's art and the world can always use more art - even miniature art....

With my painting, (I used to work for GW a VERY long time ago) so I did their painting style for work, my own was somewhat sparser, then I did minimalist style paining, and have now drifted into a more impressionistic style over the last few years.

This video is assuming that all the views going to Warhammer content would be evenly distributed amongst the more niche topics but I feel like a lot of it simply wouldn't exist. Unique, unusual art is universally difficult to market - it's difficult for people to search for things they haven't seen before. Keep doing what you're doing Lyla, every so often make a video and don't worry about views/revenue. Actors and directors will make some films for money and use that to fund their passion projects, which are usually much more interesting.

This was well said!! I am an avid 3D printer/painter of D&D miniatures and it's getting harder and harder to find content for that genre specifically. Everything I search for was created some time ago. And yup...i play them often...I have no interest in warhammer but those artists that paint them do have great techniques that I apply to the models I choose to paint. Again, thanks for saying what needed to be said! I love your channel and your tips!

Thanks for the playlist loop technique! I have 3 different computers at work with nothing better to do then help some great content makers. Studson is my new fix for fun while Model Mayhem has been a mainstay since I started with Gunpla then came to miniatures. You are my favorite breath of fresh air of course!

Thank you for this video, and for shouting out other content creators! The very limited amount of painting I do is on board game minis (though admittedly, one of those games is Warhammer Underworlds Nightvault!). And where can I find chicken-flavoured opiates for "my cat"?

Hi Lyla, I recently found your channel and after a couple of tutorials I subbed. The reason, I used to play 40k and Warhammer 20 yrs ago and I have quite a collection of GW models. Old school metal ones. Coming back to the hobby after the family have grown up I decided to get into 3D printing for the purpose of painting what I want and not just jumping back on the GW wagon. Self printed minis is such a diverse area that I'm now printing and painting minis that I would never have thought of. Your channel is a ray of independent light in a GW dominated you tube, long may you continue and your tips for an old painter like me are going to be fun to try and master and for that, I thank you 👍

What you mention in this vid is why I sub. I'm a scale modeler (military stuff), and dabble in dnd and have picked up more than a few lessons by watching your content. Keep it up, big fan of your work

I agree with you that Warhammer is a mixed blessing. I started out with Ral Partha miniatures and loved painting them. But my hobby shop soon got into Warhammer and soon stopped carrying other lines. Anytime I want to find miniatures to paint or build I have less choices due to Warhammer being the standard. Personally I like the weird and strange ideas other companies used to have as they opened the hobby in new directions. But with the holy Warhammer holding court over all it's impossible to go far outside of this universe. I feel there is a lot more to the miniature wargaming and painting hobby but, until Games Workshop stops being the focus, there won't be much growth.

This is what I like about your channel and why I'm subscribed. You produced painting tutorial videos that I can follow, you feature a range of models that showcase different creators, and you have intelligent discussion about issues facing the community (and proposed action). The tone is supportive, positive, and educative, and I'm sorry you need to 'play the game' for the algorithms (although I completely understand). Finding tutorials for non-GW models is challenging (I mean good production quality with an articulate host who knows how to instruct), so please keep creating. As far as I'm concerned, you're not only filling a niche - you are completely owning it.

I think part of the problem is that most people who play D&D, such as myself, aren't into painting minis. I started buying prepainted minis from Wizkids, and then I noticed they look like they were painted by a three year old with arthritis. So I watch people who paint Warhammer to learn to paint my 3D printed models, because most of the Wizkids sculpts are also terrible, and I have even bought some Warhammer models to use in D&D. I think D&D must be as if not more popular than Warhammer, so that can't be the problem. I think the majority of people playing D&D aren't into painting minis, at least not compared to Warhammer, which has painting armies built into it.

Wonderful job on Death. Those models of the 4 Horsemen look quite nice. I am always happy to view your (and other creators' content) regardless of GW. I mostly paint and look for ideas for deluxifying board games and RPG models.

I don’t care about Warhammer, I paint for me, I use the colors I want, the contrast I want, literally everything, Warhammer is for a select group, not bad by any means just not everyone.

I love how popular wargaming content creators feel like they need to "educate" other hobbyists watching KZfaq about non GW games like they are going to change the world.

This is actually really coincidental timing... I was just searching for videos about fantasy miniature painting last night because I was tired of looking at warhammer models all the time haha.

I miss the tutorial for sure.. and honestly, I could care less about warhammer... I only paint them because some of the models look cool, that's it for me. I paint what I want to paint. I didn't get into the hobby because I played the game so honestly I wish you could paint more of the different miniatures out there. It would be epic. Hopefully things change... it's hard to get sheeple to change their habits in our cookie cutter world. Thanks for sharing! Love your content!

I’ve been building 1/48 aircraft models since I was 7 or 8. I am now pushing 50. I don’t do the war hammer thing, but channels like yours really helps my overall painting skills.

The Wahammer Effect as it were can be annoying in other game systems as well. While I'm glad to see more people joining the Battletech community for example, the Warhammer guys also drive me with how much they end up trying to make us change the way we play to facilitate a more 40K like experience

thank you for having the courage to look out for your patrons / viewers first. the content does seem very single tracked over the last few months. the variability of content is controlled. You and other like you are being coerced into providing content for the masses. Conspiracy theories for monopolies abound. So much for diversity via algorithms. I consider myself a neophyte in this hobby. I paint with trepidation. Varied content help stir my imagination. And the tutorials are, without question, the main reason I watch the KZfaq videos.

Great video and message! I am a relatively new KZfaq-Creator and can already feel the dominance of Warhammer and GamesWorkshop when it comes to visibility of content. And thanks for showing my channel logo at 6:07 ☺

I’m hoping to start the switch from painting models for games (which I don’t play very often) to display pieces and dioramas, so content on 3d printed parts for displays, for instance, would suit me more than another video on new Warhammer stuff. That said, Warhammer will always be my first geek love so I’ll never completely wean myself off it.

As an aspiring Content Creator, I will do my best not to fall into the trap of WARHAMMER ALWAYS! I like multiple hobbies, and don't want to get sucked into one particular game and system.

It's not even warhammer is everwhere...it's warhammer 40k is everywhere. Not even their entire line, 40k MASSIVELY overshadows the entire mini world.

Wow, now that you point this out, it's very noticeable. Looking back at my searches, there are a lot of "How to paint specific model X" and not so much "How do I glaze?" or "How do I edge highlight red?". You are 100% right that modern search algorithms key into previous searches and return more relevant search results based on those previous searches. If I look for a lot of "How to paint Space Marine", then when I type in "How to glaze with acrylic paint", it'll return videos about glazing Space Marines. Unfortunately, I don't think it's going to change because new painters are typing in "How to paint a blue Space Marine with contrast paint" and not "how to use glazes to paint a model", which might be what they wanted in the first place. More experienced painters/hobbyists might be trying to branch out and try new things, but will be hampered by their previous searches and the searches made by others. Anyways... thanks for making the non-GW content! I like it, and find it interesting. I hope others do to, and use your channel as a stepping off point to other non-GW hobby content. There is so much more out there then what GW marketing would like you to think...

I really appreciate this video and it definitely resonates with me. I have been painting miniatures for years, and the only Warhammer I've ever painted was for commission. I love learning new techniques, understanding art history, lighting, and painting theory, but I watch all the big great WH creators because of the techniques and information found in those Warhammer-centric videos (i.e. Vince Venturella). But, people like yourself definitely are a breath of fresh air in this hobby, and I appreciate you. Thanks for all you do!

imho, the one who is ruinning the content creation in youtube is youtube itself and its algorithm, how it demands click baiting titles, specific thumbnails, same themed videos, etc... I hope someday YT stops treating content creators so badly; you people don't deserve this.

I feel like you nailed it when you talked about the market. By using GW or Warhammer, creators can get people who may not care about the hobby (building/painting), but care about the lore, books, video games, upcoming Amazon series, and table top game. This could be pumping up the viewership numbers to include people searching for things outside the niche miniature painting community. I think it would be interesting to see a media agency do market research into finding out how many people specifically look for miniature painting (GW specific, or not), versus, people who look for GW things, but are not actually looking for the miniature painting part of their products.

Please keep doing what you’re doing, and I’m sure we’ll keep watching and learning. Thank you!

3:50 I too don't play war games at all. I play board games. I got started in mini painting when Power Rangers Heroes of the Grid came out. It was my childhood in a box. Then CMON came out with Marvel United and I've been hooked on that as well. I just paint the games that I enjoy or want to play the most. Warhammer is not my cup of tea, but I understand why people post videos of it all the time on youtube. To be honest Lyla, I love your videos that talk about techniques. I've learned a ton from what you show off and explain in your videos. I don't care what you paint, just keep up with all of your awesome videos!

Thanks for this video. I’m not a D&D guy or a Warhammer guy. I don’t know what the hell they’re talking about. I subscribed to your channel, Vince V, Ninjon, and others because you’re all brilliant at painting figures and willing to share your thoughts and knowledge. If you’re new at this like me the learning curve is a bitch. I’ve also expanded my interest, thanks to you. Some of the figures you’ve done and the companies products you shown us I would never have known about without you. I know how hard you work to bring us content and I’m grateful. And I love your cats.

I do love Warhammer, but I also watch all kinds of painting/modeling/terrain content. I watch train people like Luke Towan and Kathy Millat, D&D creators like RP Archive and Wyloch, and many more. There's a lot of great content out there that's not Warhammer related, but the techniques can be applied to anything... :)

This is a great video and spot on comment. I'm a newbie painter of board game miniatures, so I usually search out specific techniques or tutorials on painting for specific board games. Your channel is one I have watched many times, but I am subscribing now. Thank you.

Lyla! I can't believe I only just caught wind of this! I guess I got messed up by two issues: 1) I had no idea there was a mentions tab in YT Studio 😅 2) I was already following your advice and not clicking vids with WARHAMMMMSSSSS titles... 😂 Such a super generous thing of you to do, pointing people in the direction of smaller creators. Thank you! And yeah, I hope there will always be a niche for folk like me who just want to paint little things and talk about colours. Build it and they will [maybe depending on whether the algorithm smiles upon you] come!

Thanks for the shoutout!

I remember when playing D&D mid 80's at school yes I had the red box which brings back so many memories. Once I left school I used to just paint for my own enjoyment then 40k came along and yes I did start buying some of those figures but not the game, then X amount of years later I am now looking at getting back into painting my own miniatures. I just searched miniature painting tonight and your video was at the top however that may be because I am already following your channel which by the way is fantastic. It is true though every other video was Warhammer of some description which is a shame as there is so much variety of types of painting which I have been overadored by the quality across so many channels but can be hard to find sometimes. Thank you for your inspiration.

Thank you!! I have often thought the same thing. I search out more videos that address board game miniatures, because that is my interest. There are so few. I'm not a DnD or Warhammer player, but I love my BG minis and have been wanting to get the courage to paint them. I love classical painting techniques and wonder if you ever use chiaroscuro from an up-light source? All of the light sources from the videos I've watched seem to be from above or at a 45-degree angle at most. What would you think about a stark uplight on your Horsemen minis? Am I off-base? Thank you for your content!

0:28 I'll pull you up here. GW makes terrible games, but great models. Horribly overpriced models, but great ones. The rules part of their games is rubbish. I've been wargaming for 50 years now (yeah, I'm old and grey), and without a doubt the rules for 40k are the biggest pile of steaming mess I've ever seen. I've played in a variety of settings, from 6mm modern, to 15 mm ancient, 1/72 WW2, to 25mm sci-fi, and all the rules were so, so much better written, and didn't need the near constant modifications and rebalancing. I've written rules for a variety of games companies too, and had them tested hard, but GW just seems to throw stuff at the wind and see if it sticks. One thing I loved about virtually every other genre is that models could be sourced from a variety of suppliers. Don't like a particular model? Buy the kit from a different company! The rules were detached from the companies making the models. Even GW was like this once, even encouraging you to scratchbuild things. The last vestige of that I saw was the Ork 4th Edition codex. My boys and their friends complain that models are so much more monopose now, and the codex reflects what's in the box these days, limiting wargear options. If GW keeps this up, more and more people will just invest in a 3D printer. I did a few months ago, and while it's been a learning curve all of its own, being able to make parts for models for just a few cents is brilliant. My terrain looks better too now (the mushroom forest came out awesome!), and I have models I could only dream about having before. Totally understand why YT'ers make GW centered content. It brings in the views. I'd love to see more comparison videos. "Hey look at this model! It's half the price of this similar GW model, and looks better. Watch me paint it!" Still, it's hard to bite the litigious hand that indirectly feeds you.

Great Vid! I personally ran out of GW models I was interested in painting and find such a wide variety of ideas on Etsy for a fraction of the price of the cheapest GW kit. And the lore behind them aren't just about some gritty religious space war waged by angry looking men in what has to be terrible smelling armor that's nearly the same on each model. Not to mention that just playing most GW games is cost prohibitive to many people. 3d models can offer a higher level of detail and aren't held back by injection moldings physical limitations. Keep up the great work!

Couldn't agree more! I don't play Warhammer and prefer not to give GW my money, so this video was/is exceedingly relevant to me. I paint models from Massive Darkness and Enigma, Privateer Press & Wizkids on occasion, and a plethora of 3-D printed models (I have a guy in Tyler, TX I frequently order from via eBay), because it's for me learning more about art and how to create what I see in my mind in general more than anything else. Some of my favorite KZfaqrs include Don Suratos, Sorastro, and Banda Inku, who don't normally paint Warhammer stuff and produce quality content in general. I enjoy your videos because I like hearing you expound in general whether it's on art or matters like this. But yes, Warhammer is something I really couldn't care less about more often than not.

Coming from the indie RPG space, what you're describing is basically the exact situation between tabletop RPGs and Dungeons & Dragons. Even though Kids on Brooms (for example) might get a nod from Polygon, nobody except niche gamers will play it. GW dominates the wargaming and miniatures space in the same way: D&D is simply synonymous with tabletop roleplaying games and Warhammer is synonymous with painting little space mans. So, I hear what you're saying completely. It's true that Warhammer is becoming its own entity entirely, in the same way that D&D essentially is (I mean there won't be a Wanderhome movie, right?). But remember that indie...*everything* is always going to lurk beneath the surface, so will indie miniatures, indie wargames, indie paint producers, and all the affiliated content creators. We have to find what we love, settle into our niche, and tell as many people as possible that, yes, there games that are not Warhammer just like there are cafes that are not Starbucks or metal bands that aren't Metallica...which is exactly what you've done! High five!

Hey thanks for the shoutout. Great video, the struggle is so real with content in videos. I mean don’t get me wrong, I like GW stuff, but I’ve been putting off a Star Wars Legion video for over a year because guess what, it’s not GW. Keep up the great work :)

As someone who enjoyed this hobby since the 90s and does not play Warhammer or any mini games anymore, the fact that most of your vids are NOT about warhammer is a huge bonus for me. I would love to learn more about other more niche studios and their products and while I enjoy the occasional warhammer mini I find Games Workshop's decisions and pricing of their product really offputting(and we already said they were too expensive in the early 90s).

Love the Carravagio shoutout. That dude has some WILD paintings.

Lyla!!! Awesome ummm.... rant (?) I paint historical miniatures, almost exclusively Napoleonics. Occasionally big prestige figures but primarily 28mm ( maybe 500) and 15mm (about 5500 of them) The gain I get from tutorials like yours are manifold: technique, new products, ancillaries like basing and terrain. I thought about doing a few tutorials but non-warhammers go nowhere (poor Christie B at WSS, awesome artist, great presenter but no algorithm boost 🤦‍♂🤦‍♂ ) Great job! Like you I only paint, I DO NOT do the games. Keep up the great work!

That is one amazing masterpiece, see you next time.

I realize I'm in the minority of viewers but I don't care about Warhammer. I don't own a skirmish game or play D&D or other RPGs. I play board games with minis. That means I seek out painting tutorials wherever they may be. I'm curious about batch painting (which is unsexy) but I care about improving with new techniques so have high quality paint jobs on the unique sculpts of my games. For example, Cthulhu: Death May Die's many cultists get the batch paint treatment while Cthulhu himself gets my full focus. So if you want to paint more D&D relevant minis, I'm cool with that. Also, in your last video, I loved the advice to simply "steal" from top painters techniques. You used a Space Marine as the basis on how to achieve best results and that's informative. I can apply that to my stuff. So I'm not against Warhammer as content but honestly: there's a million fucking videos on how to paint Space Marines. Fanboys should have learned by now. But I enjoy tutorials and take from it what I find useful: even if it's Starcraft knockoff minis. Also, passion for a project matters. Personality matters. What makes you a favorite of mine is that you're talented, creative and also express your challenges in a relatable way. Have fun, continue to be creative and curious!

I wish people would watch more videos about not the warhammers sometimes. But I also like painting little robot lunch box boys. Mostly in blue because that makes the warhammers obsessed people upset, but that makes me happy sometimes hahaha

I'm not into wargaming but I do enjoy miniature painting. What I really dislike about GW is that they had such amazing paints(charadon granite, I miss you so much) and nowadays have a great range of paints as well bottled in the worst possible containers. I've long moved all my GW paints to drop bottles but it is for sure a waste of plastic; regarding this issue, I´ve used the empty GW bottles in combination with tack as handlers but that does not solve the problem. As everithing out there it is a matter of choice, I think digital modelling and 3D printing will have a great rise in the coming years and with that we'll have more variety and more sources to get miniatures (both in wargaming scales and artistic scales). Right now major brands like Kimera, Aradia, FeR and the likes are getting more and more great figures made this way. Personally, I prefer a nice sculpt like those of Pedro Fernández or Karol Rudyk but I know this style will prevail eventually. Maybe in some years we'll be able to buy a Forgewolrd Thunderhawk STL file (pre-supported of course) with only one print allowed for only $499🤣

I found your channel via a YT suggestion. I haven't painted a mini since 1993 and am just getting back into the hobby. I wondered how to find non-wh content (WH: Fantasy Role Play was the only GW game I ever played - so it is only tangentially related to my interests). Thank you for the suggestions in this video, it gives me a lot of different content creators to check out!

I’m not a war gamer at all, just a model maker. Looking for figure painting and it’s warhammer warhammer warhammer. But it did bring me here and your tips and tricks have been awesome so thank you ☺️

Hi Lyla, I just subscribed to your channel after finding it last week. I've been painting figures since the late 1950's. mostly from military plastic kits. But my reason for this comment is to let you know that there a ways to convert figures if you don't like their costumes or lack of same. I usually work with the 1/35 scale figures as well as up to 120MM.Anyway clothing can be made with gift wrap tissue, paper towel pieces, lead or brass sheeting, as well as Miliput, A+B epoxy putty, Fimo or Sculpey. I have so much info to share, but I'll keep this short. Love your channel and thank you. Avaloch93

Is "Games Workshop" a plague on the hobby is a complex question. As someone who has been into miniatures and gaming for over 40 years (yes that long) I have seen almost everything. The bad sides of GW are - 1: A lack of "games design innovation" in it's rules (they all use the same mechanic and its very broken . ..throw away the single D6 for everything it's 16.5% fidelity use a D20 as that is 5% fidelity and reduce the number of times rolled ie change the statistics) and constant rules revisions just to sell more books, not for the reasons of game improvement. 2: overpriced miniatures, tools and materials, and a lot of the tools they do sell are to be honest cheap rubbish....go compare GW branded plastic cutters with Tamiya ones! Ok so what's good - 1: figure/model designs- the figures do mostly fit together we'll, multipart figures means you don't have 20 identical miniatures to paint (which is boring) and the designs that are made are interesting to paint. 2: inovation with premixed "glaze" paints....yes contrast it is good for getting lots of figures on the table for beginners which is a good thing.....however it's hugely overpriced for what it is is the problem and you can now get similar paints from other manufacturers far cheaper than contrast....but to give GW a thumbs up for pushing the idea .

I have had to make the deliberate choice to stop clicking on Warhammer mini videos, because once I do that's all the recommendation engine will throw at me.

You are exactly right. Good for you for pointing this out. The KZfaq algorithms are a black magic science and if you are a new creator and you focus on topics outside of the mainstream you are doomed to virtually no views. I watch channels like yours to learn painting tips, not because it's about a particular type of model or game. My Channel is about developing a different type of world, model railways. It's still modelling. My first layout was based around medieval buildings scaled down from wargaming structures. You guessed it, because it wasn't standard model railways that layout did terribly on KZfaq. And because I focus on mostly English train models I'm virtually ignored in Australia. One other thing I've noticed is that my videos seem to be restrained to Australia, Southeast Asia and India. KZfaq seems to be putting my videos in a box, only published in these areas. Local zoning? Certainly looks that way. So the English audience I'm aiming at don't see my videos it seems. Thanks KZfaq. So much could be better for new creators like myself. Sadly I think that nothing will change and all the efforts to create content done by channels like mine will be lost in the virtual world and ignored by the algorithms that should be helping us. Good luck with your channel. Mon

I don't think it's all doom and gloom (not that that's what this video is all about) Yes, it's definitely an oroboros. 40K is THE most popular and recognizable brand, and a one-word-phrase to search for that will find you miniature content - so more people will be searching for Warhammer content, which in turn makes sense for content creators to generate content about warhammer to rope in that crowd, thus keeping warhammer the most popul... et cetera. Saying that, personally, I've found _many_ great youtube channels that deal with kitbashing/scratch-building from getting interested in Warhammer. And larger miniature-painting/wargaming creators end up creating their own games, learning/teaching 3D printing, dabbling in absurd techniques... I think a lot of creators managed to glow up thanks to Warhammer, but aren't necessarily limited to JUST warhammer, even if it's a constant in their content output. There's also something to be said for the applicability of a lot of the 40K videos - since every space marine model is basically the same (don't @ me, GW), seeing how different creators tackle the same model is really good for contrasting/comparing/isolating their technique in a way that can be a little harder if people were painting 20 different techniques on 20 different miniatures. If... if that makes sense.

I generally do not care about the miniature because techniques can be applied to any mini, regardless if made by GW or self-printed. Honestly I care more about the creator. If they are passionate, fun and/or relaxing to watch I subscribe. There are some likeable creators who not rely on GW miniatures (only)

Absolutely necessary topic to bring up. Thanks Lyla, keep up the amazing work!

I feel like the actual problem is KZfaqs algorithms. Yes, GW content clearly drives bigger numbers but KZfaq filtering people almost exclusively towards only those popular creators is the issue. I can't imagine that Warhammer content has pulled fans of general mini-painting away from non-GW videos but KZfaq sure would do that nor can I imagine a world where the popularity of Warhammer has done anything but get SO many people into the mini painting world in the first place. This is all basically re-stating a lot of stuff you said in the video, I know that Good video!

Techniques still seem popular to me, you need them no matter what you paint. I'm not understanding I guess. I only paint WH and that's what I'm interested in. I'd love other brands to get on GW's level in terms of quality. I think that's the best solution to all this. WOTC has the money, they should invest in it.

I'm pretty new to the mini painting hobby, and I have ZERO interest in Warhammer. In fact, I will skip videos if they seem warhammer-centric, unless it's one of my favorite content creators (like Lyla is). There are literally decades worth of space marine videos on KZfaq. And when a new GW thing comes out EVERYBODY does a video with or about it. Ugh.

I'm old enough to remember a time when GW had actual competitors and it irks me when people refer to miniature painting and/or wargaming as "the Warhammer hobby". My entry to was Warzone and I was only vaguely aware of WFRP and Wh40k until Dawn of War came out. I'm glad that the landscape is changing again, there are more games than ever and even classics like Battletech, Warzone and Chronopia have returned from the undeath!

thanks for this video, i had more time painting mini than play and mainly non gw stuff, with the rise of contrast and speedpaint, it's easier to have good looking minis without expertise or time, so paint more stuff! and it's still possible to improve after a speed painted "base", will look the content you recommend

I don't think the situation is quite as dire as you portray it. Yes, the big channels all use exclusively GW models - mostly because those bring in the views. But I also feel like Ninjon, Miniac, Vince, and Marco Frisoni all still give tutorial/guide content all the time. And I think it's been a while since Angel Giraldez and Jose Davinci have painted anything Warhammer related - if indeed ever. I think a lot of creators just opt to use the GW models as a base, because it is the biggest game in town, so a lot of people will gravitate towards those models. It's a good way to get the most amount of views. But while you will then luck out on Bust and 75mm detail work, teaching pretty much everything and anything else is still possible with GW models. Giants and Ogres are big enough that you can create complex skintones, and practice tattoo work that would just as well translate to 75mm and busts. There's enough metal on knights and titans and primarchs to get 75mm NMM guides in. Vehicles for weathering and chipping and burns and battle damage that can be utilized in display pieces too - not to the same level as Nightshift does with his tanks and historical dioramas, but still the basics. I don't play either, but I think the tutorial and guide content has suffered from the GamesWorkshopification of model selections quite as bad as this video makes it seem.

i've stopped watching many hobby content creators from the inevitable adding too warhammer content. good that you tackle it with full disclosure.

I'm pretty sure I found your channel originally because of the Warhammer tags, titles, watching other miniature painters (who are all using those tags too), etc. I'm so glad for it because watching your channel has made me a better painter. I also really vibe with the less-Warhammer..."movement?" I've really enjoyed seeing creators in this space push for more non-GW stuff lately, be it @tabletopminions, @Miniac (in his latest video he talked about doing a full month of non-GW content which sounds great!), or @DiscourseMiniatures. I'm excited to see what you paint this year, regardless of brand!

Hi Lyla! I have made an abo now - because of this video! I am not into Warhammer or 40k (except owning a Space Hulk, a Blackthorne Fortress and a Space Crusade box)... I like to paint Infinity miniatures (which rules better fit to my gaming style and which miniatures I personally like the most) and others. The Warhammer in the title does not attract me. If you need the using to get more viewers, please use it, but I personally appreciate it whenever you show how to paint non-GW minis. And that is not an "oh I hate them" - it is just a "I like other minis more". And personally - I would think about creating a neutral title, brand or logo for mini painting and gaming that all content creators share to throw it into the YT algorithm.

I feel that same frustration. I've never really been a warhammer guy and most of what I see just isn't the kind of subject matter I want to sculpt or paint anyway. I will also say that it's worth giving some of the smaller channels a follow. I've found a bunch just by looking for videos on sculpting. Arga Miniatures is definitely worth a follow, he sculpts and paints some pretty cool figures from scratch.

I love Warhammer, although I would like a lot more of other games and different styled models. There is so much out there to see and honestly deserves more limelight then they are getting at the moment. 2 amazing channels which are pretty small and I watch fairly regularly for their style and alternate game convos is 'Indie Invasion' and 'Hobby Hermit'. They have a lot to talk about and are more then willing to discuss different aspects of the hobby as well as Warhammer.

Warhammer has standardised guidelines. May I suggest adding size after miniature. Instead of the classic 32mm search miniature and odd size like 54 mm 47mm etc. Love your videos

I totally agree that Warhammer/games workshop needs to be separate from the miniatures painting hobby. I haven't played a game by GW since like 2006-2007? But with the algorithm, if I am looking for a painting technique for miniatures i generally have to type "painting fur Warhammer" so I don't get inundated with folks painting fur for like oil paintings or portraits. Thank you for bringing this topic up

Honestly, I try to skip the warhammer stuff since I'm not really interested in it. It's all about the D&D miniatures for me so I'm happy to watch videos on that and I'm happy to see you want to do what I want to see you do.

As someone who is trying to post more of their miniature painting online, I've found that other folks post almost solely Warhammer. But, I play mostly D&D/Pathfinder/Call of Cuthlu and I don't want to just post Skaven...even if I love my little ratfolk dearly.

I dont think Warhammer as a game can be blamed here. On the contrary it should be thanked, especially in the coming years. I gaurantee with it being brought to the public eye worldwide (amazon series) its going to create more revenue for people such as yourself and bring more people to the hobby at large. It's a doorway and people(creators) are jumping on the warhammer thing with the attention it has garnered across many demographics. Some people want fast results to be gaming, some find they enjoy the painting and the hobby at large so start deep dives on youtube for creators. GW are known for not being very involved amongst the community and keeping people/creators at arms length. It is what it is and creators use keywords to attract attention to their channels. As you say its somewhat a niche, a demographic, a tool at this point. Its as much a resource as it is a crutch on both ends viewer and creator. I think whats most important is that creators stay authentic to themselves and create what they want and enjoy whilst occasionally using whats at hand to gain more traction like you have here posing a question to the audience and utilising the click baity horror, lest they corner themselves. People may be quick to click dramatic or well known titles when bored but its the creators personality and their content as a whole that people stick around and sub for not the titles. Having a whale tabletop game amongst the flock can be utilised too and i think thats what it is. GW and warhammer have great reach and pr, history/lore with miniatures and paint easy to access all over. They have years on most other games and again great availability. They're a Whale. :)

This is exactly the video I needed. I am just discovering the art of miniature painting and I've been lamenting the ubiquity of Warhammer and wargaming as a whole, which I'm not really interested in. Love the exposure of different niches within the mini painting domain.

Hey Lyla, I appreciate being included in this, thanks! Personally I think the problem is more with how KZfaq works, but Games Workshop certainly does not help with all the problems and toxicity creators have to deal with. Para Bellum Wargames come to mind when I think of miniature companies that are better to work with, both as a member of the community, and someone who makes content.

Your tutorials are some of the most effective for teaching me, and yes I paint games workshop models, but I also paint AMG miniatures and catalyst game labs miniatures and all your techniques have improved my painting so yeah I'll keep subscribed and watching your content to continue to improve, and like you have said I rewatch things too to get better

Warhammer is its own hobby. Yes, I started with W40K 24 years ago but it took me years to consider playing other wargames. It's an awesome setting that absorbs you with videogames, books, channels... And now a series! There are a ton of interesting wargames out there, and if it wasn't because I quit I would have missed them. Btw, thanks for sharing this awesome KS... I'll sure consider it!!!

Love the video

I have found this is typical of any artistic medium. The most popular and dominating medium will always stifle creativity as everyone jumps on the wagon and wants to be part of that success. I have found it far better when approaching any art platform to do what YOU want to do. You will begin to grow a far more receptive audience who will retain genuine interest in your work. During my time as a musician I have constantly been pressured to do what is popular/what gets the views or success but I never caved and eventually have found a great deal of reoccuring interest in my own approach and promoting my own interests over the years. So yea - you do you as it is far more interesting and promotes art!