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.

[Gorgoff]

Hard pass from me. The graphics are terrible and the visuals of a batrep is one of the key selling factors for me. 

If I want to watch people playing a video game I'd watch one of the billions let's play channels. This way I have the special effects of those games and sound effects. ;)

 

I would massivly prefer to watch "The Kroot channel" where you make only games with your kroot army.

That would be immensly better. 

I say just go for it. Make some battle reports with your kroot,  get some experience in making those under your belt. 

And link them here. :)

Edited September 26 by Gorgoff

[Frogian]

the one thing i would say with doing it on TTS is that you can at least really spend your time talking through options, explaining why you are doing what you are doing tactically, why some other option is a bad one. too many bat reps are 'i did this then this, then it was the other persons turn and they moved these troops to here and charged these'. even if they explain why they are doing something, they often don't explain why they think its the best choice out over everything else. and this makes sense - they are concentrating on filming everything and getting the shots they need, and telling a narrative - but i think slower paced on TTS could let you do a real tactical deep dive. 

[Schurge]

Short answer: no.

Long answer: no - for me the primary appeal of batreps is seeing what people create. Cool tables, neat conversions, neat paint jobs. I've also enjoyed stop motion batreps in the past, I am thinking of one guy in particular who ended up stopping and selling his massive collection. His stuff wasn't amazingly painted, but I enjoyed watching his stories unfold and seeing what he would come up with. When I was an active player, the other primary appeal of batreps was to see my army being played. That said, I imagine that there could be an audience for something akin to TTS, but the amount of work it would likely need to have appeal probably wouldn't be worth it. I think getting a 3D painter and enlisting help in speed painting might be a better option for trying super obscure, one-off lists. Also, feel free to ignore me, everything new and amazing in this world came from people operating from their own internal conviction that their idea was good, and found a way to make it work. (And in this case making it work might be shifting the focus as @Frogian suggested. Tactica videos tend to be very low quality/no quality, visually. So there is a niche.)

[Urkh]

The few TTS battle reports I've seen on YouTube I've personally not enjoyed because it was too difficult to follow what was going on. If you're going to do it there, slowing down and making sure your audience knows what it's happening every moment is a must. 

[Orange Knight]

No chance. I watched one and hated it.

 

40k isn't a great spectator game to begin with, but what makes it better is seeing both the lovingly-assembled real armies, and the face to face human interaction. Take that away, and we have a slow and boring experience.

Some batreps online are fun to watch. Most tournament coverage is not. The camera facing the board from above just means you can't enjoy the models or see the player's faces. Tournament tables are also extremely boring most of the time.

 

"40k in 40 minutes" is probably the best video batrep style. I understand it's expensive and takes a lot to produce, however, so most will not and cannot emulate it or improve upon it.