Would you watch a Batrep channel done mostly in TTS?

[Tawnis]

So, I've been playing around with the idea of starting a 40k channel for a couple years now. Been messing with editing software, contemplating camera equipment (Holy feth that's expensive!) and deciding on the direction I'd like to take it in. 

 

One of the things that I love about most game systems that I play in is when I can build weird and obscure lists and making them at least somewhat viable. I did this a lot back when I played MTG semi-competitively and have been having a lot of recent success with Kroot in competitive 40k. The thing is, I don't just want my channel to just be Kroot and the bits of other armies that I've managed to paint 2k points worth of as that will only last for so long and not really be anything that hasn't been done before. So for the last year, I've been shopping around the secondary market making trades and getting good deals where I can, but even so, most of the niche armies that I've been trying to build for the channel are still at best only half complete and by the time 11th rolls around, they might not even be playable armies anymore.

 

So I got to thinking about using TTS to supplement these armies while I work to build them for the actual table and it's really allowed my to stretch my list building creativity and come up with some crazy theme lists that I think would be pretty fun to see played. Some things I've been thinking of are:
- Full Null Maiden's Vigil (Essentially max SOS riding around in a bunch of Rhinos.) 
- Guard Auxiliary (Abhumans and Cavalry) 
- Tyrand Warrior Spam (Going full max Warriors in the Grotsmas detachment.) 
- Tau Recon Cadre (Ghostkeels, Pathdinders, Stealthsuits, Pirahnas and Marksmen) 
- Necron Anihilation Legions (Destroyers and Flayed Ones) 
- Orks Speed Freaks (Lots of Warbikers, Deffkoptas, and all the variations of the racecars) 

 

It could also allow for games with models that are damned near impossible to get anymore, like running Canoptek Court with a bunch of Tomb Sentinels and Acanthrites. 

 

Beyond that, once I get more comfortable in TTS, it would great to make some larger scale and unique maps for narrative campaigns too. 

 

Anyhow, one I hit on the idea, the possibilities seemed really expansive and interesting, and I do still plan to supplement them with actual games on the tabletop with my creative physical armies that are finished like my Kroot and Agents of the Imperium lists. 

 

What I did notice though is that even with TTS being out for a while now, no one really has done batreps on youtube through them so I figured I'd pop this in here to test the waters and see if there was interest in this kind of content. 

[The Lost Son]

Sorry, what is TTS been out of the wider wargaming loop for a while especially computer based 

[Tawnis]

53 minutes ago, The Lost Son said:

Sorry, what is TTS been out of the wider wargaming loop for a while especially computer based 

 

TTS is short for Table Top Simulator. It's basically makes a 3D digital recreation of pretty much any board or tabletop game. 

 

The benefits are that you can play with all the armies and units so long as someone has made a 3D model of them, and that from a time standpoint, it's much easier to organize games within a busy schedule. The downsides tend to be the lack of flair that comes with people's personalized armies and having two people actually playing a game across from each other, as well as some of the tools being a little finicky sometimes. 

[Moonstalker]

I think the appeal of bat reps 100% comes down to production value.  Good minis are a value add, bad minis are a value minus.  TTS minis?  They're... functional.  So IMO, to get any kind of success or draw with TTS battle reports, you need to be bringing high production value in everything else.  Good BGM, good graphics (easy to follow army lists, scoring, etc. displayed on screen when appropriate), good narration and banter between opponents, good audio quality, etc.

 

If you want to try and turn TTS into a positive instead of just a negative, I think you need to push the aspects of TTS that you don't get on tabletop.  Script some explosions when vehicles are destroyed.  Make really good looking maps, adjust the lighting of the table and include environmental effects (snow, rain, fog, whatever).  Make the skybox planet appropriate.

 

It's possible there may be lurking legal issues that keep people from doing TTS bat reps.  Various models may be kinda dodgy legally, being 3d scans of GW models or things ripped from video games (like DoW, Tacticus, or Space Marine).  Batreps with those may just be asking for you or the mod pack you are using to get a naughty notice from GW's lawyers.  Maybe.