Tabletop Tommies

Ben is back for Episode 97! This week we're looking back at the Bolt Action Welsh Nationals in Cardiff, discussing the event, standout armies, the evolving tournament meta and some of the biggest talking points from the weekend. We also dive into Campaign Mode in Bolt Action; how it changes the game, why narrative play deserves more attention, and ideas for getting more from your gaming group. Also, we explore how AI can help Bolt Action players, from creating campaign content and scenarios to generating army backgrounds, mission ideas and hobby inspiration. Whether you're a competitive tournament player or a narrative enthusiast, there's something here for every Bolt Action fan.
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Jonny and Phil unpack Warlord’s new Armies of the Commonwealth book, a standalone V3 supplement covering Australia, Canada, East Africa Command, India, New Zealand and South Africa. They explain how each nation’s special rules and unique units work, and how the generic Commonwealth roster ties it all together.
Highlights include Australian infiltrators and fanatical defenders, Canadian stubbornness and vehicle upgrades, East Africa’s local-area tactics and camel riders, India’s Gurkha and mountain options, New Zealand’s steadfast infantry and Maoris, plus South Africa’s vehicle bonuses. The hosts discuss playstyles, modeling tips and tournament implications in a breezy, tactical overview.
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Jonny and Phil review the South Coast GT weekend: venue praise, the 1,000‑point pack, mission choices, and how the tables and timing worked. Phil also announces the details of English Open (Warfare, 14–15 November, 1066 points, thematic lists) and explains booking details and incentives.
The episode covers competitive meta takeaways — Japan’s strong showing, the value of veteran troops and dice count, the role of armour and flamethrowers, and tips on listbuilding — and finishes with results and awards, including the top placings and community shoutouts.
Links: 🏆 English Open at Warfare 2026 🎟️ Tickets: https://wargamesreading.co.uk/product/warfare-2026-bolt-action/ 📅 English Open Facebook Event 🚧 Coming soon! 🥇 South Coast GT Results & Standings https://www.tommies.to/scgt 📊 BABS Rankings & Results https://www.tommies.to/babs 🇬🇧 Tommies Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/tabltoptommies 🎲 Competent Wargaming Events https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586156015717 📖 CWE Organised Play Guide for Bolt Action https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1yCTdyx9eZAkDBYzDcYjZU3BNxfB_J3Xx?usp=sharing 🏢 The Warp https://www.facebook.com/IntoTheWarp 🗺️ Tommies Tournament Missions https://www.tommies.to/missionsWant to support the channel? Why not use one of our affiliate links:
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Jonny is joined by some Bolt Action Legends who also happen to be WTC Captains: Paul Wickens (Team Wales), Bo Mortensen (Team Denmark) and Phil Crowcroft — to break down the World Team Championship: format, list building, and the new extra-list options. They discuss mission balance (objectives, kill points, movement, and controversial Fog of War/sticky Timely), terrain quality, team selection methods (BABS/ELO and captain picks), prep strategies and playtesting, and captain tools like Paul's the famous binder. Key drama includes tight finishes, time-management problems (unfinished activations and the chess clock debate), dice luck stories, shared-dice etiquette, and close results that left teams celebrating successes and learning lessons for next year.
Links: English Open at Warfare 2026: https://wargamesreading.co.uk/product/warfare-2026-bolt-action/ Bo's Channel:  ⁨@boltactiontutorialsbybomor3846⁩  BABS: https://www.tommies.to/babs TT Missions: https://www.tommies.to/missions Bo' Commander's Compendium: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1ASg9jJeGZpV4C_hZnXNHRoZneesSpNwQ
 
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Wayland Games: https://affiliates.waylandgames.co.uk/1240.html Warlord Games: https://r.warlordgames.com/aff/?TABLETOPTOMMIES
 
You can also support our endeavour to produce Bolt Action content on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TabletopTommies
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Nick and the Jonny walk through the new Italian army book, highlighting national characteristics, key unit choices, and notable upgrades — from vehicle rerolls and fieldcraft Alpini to flamethrower engineers and versatile transports.
The episode balances historical flavor with practical list-building, discusses late-war subfactions, and offers takeaways for competitive and thematic players alike.
 
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Legendary UK tournament player Gary joins Tabletop Tommies to explain how the Bolt Action British Championship works, the four key tournaments involved, and how the championship has changed this year.
He also shares concise Bolt Action advice to help players improve their tournament results covering everything from army selection, unit choices, and deployment tricks, to in-game mindset.
 
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Jonny breaks down the latest FAQ and errata from Warlord Games for Bolt Action, covering rulebook clarifications and army-specific changes. Highlights include spotter and forward observer updates, vehicle shooting arc rulings, banner visibility, and notable unit tweaks for British, Soviet, and Japanese forces.
He also critiques odd Banzai rules and points out inconsistencies between different FAQ sections, finishing with his take on what this means for gameplay and future updates.
 
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Tabletop Tommies explores Warlord Games' new Armies of Imperial Japan book with long-time Japan player Ben. They breakdown national rules, unit upgrades, and rule changes like Banzai, plus new unit choices from paratroopers to flamethrower teams.
The hosts tier and analyze standout units, discuss competitive potential and list-building strategies, and highlight the rules players should watch for when testing the book in tournaments.
 
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Jonny and Michael break down the Armies of the Soviet Union book for Bolt Action V3, covering national rules, standout units, artillery, and vehicles. They highlight strong competitive options, useful niche choices, and weaker traps. The episode offers practical list-building tips, thematic ideas, and event-ready advice for newer and experienced players.
 
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TOs Jonny & Phil chat with player Charley to review the English Open: table quality, mission variety, and the impact of fog-of-war deployments. They discuss how diverse themed tables changed tactics, the mix of nations played, and memorable themed lists like Inglourious Basterds and SAS entries.
The episode also covers awards and winners — best theme, best tables, sporting prizes, and the top finishers — plus shout-outs to organizers, volunteers, and sponsors who made the event possible.
 
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