This morning I’ve been reading a well-written post by Sevy over on the Tiny Painted Heroes blog on the topic of “Why Does Everything Suck?” The post largely deals with hobby content on YouTube, and the majority of comments are by people in our little gang – go read the post now if you haven’t yet – then come back here! I also attempted to add a comment but WordPress decided to eat both my comment and then my attempt to rewrite it. So I’m turning it into a little bonus post here.
I personally watch a lot of YouTube. Like, a LOT. When I’m pottering around on my PC – which is a lot of the time, I’ve often got a video running on my second monitor. I watch stuff from a wide variety of content types, but the relevent stuff for this post is the gaming hobby stuff, so I’m just going to discuss that here.
The thing I find with YouTube specifically, is that it’s actually pretty easy to curate your feed. Despite how annoying it is to hear it from every content creator all of the time, clicking like and even a subscribe not only helps their channels, but it also means you’re more likely to be fed more of their stuff as well as stuff YT thinks is like their stuff – which doesn’t mean “they liked a Star Wars Legion video – feed them Warhammer” – the algorithm also looks at what people who liked that video also liked. So yes, you’ll obviously still inevitably get Warhammer fed to you, but you’ll also get more stuff of whatever niche you’ve been looking at.
So in order to cull the stuff you’re not enjoying, a thumbs-down – especially without watching the whole thing apparently works well. Another thing that helps a lot is something that appears to only work when using YouTube on a computer web browser – the “Don’t Recommend Channel” button found via the “three dots” menu.
Below you’ll find some great channels worth your time to at least check out. Some often have a GW focus but a lot are for other games or wider. This is aside from the “painting tutorial” channels like Duncan, Sorastro, Vince Venturella and Sonic Sledgehammer (which can have interesting videos as well, but aren’t really in the “hobby news/discussion” genre – or hobby-adjacent modelling channels like Night Shift.
So while TPH definitely isn’t wrong that there’s a ton of negative content out there farming angry clicks (because that’s how making money on social media works) – I’m not going to bother doing a name-and-shame here of negative channels or the ones that piss me off – they’re easy to find and this post is wanting to be a bit more positive here –
Here’s a bunch of links here that you might find interesting to dip in and out of and hopefully improve some YouTube feeds out there. Obviously not an exhaustive list, and while you’ve probably heard of a couple of these channels, they’re mostly smaller and/or niche channels that deal with more than GW/Warhammer (not Auspex, though!) I’m sure I’ve even missed a bunch of channels I personally enjoy here:
https://www.youtube.com/@The.Game.Cave.
https://www.youtube.com/@MSPaints
https://www.youtube.com/@Miniscape-wh40k
https://www.youtube.com/@OldenDemon
https://www.youtube.com/@SnipeandWib
https://www.youtube.com/@PeachyTips
https://www.youtube.com/@EonsOfBattle
https://www.youtube.com/@AllMiniaturesGreatandSmall
https://www.youtube.com/@graysquadrongaming8670
https://www.youtube.com/@ArbitorIan
https://www.youtube.com/@GuerrillaMiniatureGames
https://www.youtube.com/@LittleWarsTV
https://www.youtube.com/@ModellingforAdvantage
https://www.youtube.com/@auspextactics
https://www.youtube.com/@tabletopminions
https://www.youtube.com/@TheLegionCantina
https://www.youtube.com/@Crabbok
https://www.youtube.com/@Ninjon
https://www.youtube.com/@stahly_taleofpainters
Anyway, check out some of the channels above and see if any interest you and hopefully some of them can help to improve your hobby feed!
Did I miss any positive hobby channels that you guys recommend? If so, feel free to drop them in the comments and I’ll potentially check them out myself.
Azazel's Bitz Box. 
Nicer list, I think I’ve watched or subscribed to over half, now to go check out the others!
LikeLiked by 3 people
*nice* list, dang fat fingers!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Cheers Eric – hope you find something you like there!
LikeLiked by 1 person
To be honest I don’t really watch a massive amount on youtube, but thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 3 people
No worries Dave. Except for when it’s quiet early in the morning, I’ve always got either YouTube or Music happening in the background. Watching Generation Tech right now, which you might be interested in as you’re also a Star Wars fan. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great suggestions on that list! I’d also recommend Midwinter Minis, Eric’s Hobby Workshop, Rogue Hobbies, and Jordan Sorcery. Quality videos and definitely in the “informative and positive takes” column instead of ragebaiting and incessant moaning.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Mikko! I’ve seen a few of those, just not enough to have added them in here but perhaps I’ll have to check them out again. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks like a useful list for people! 🙂 I think I am that one person in the world who does not bother with YouTube!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Haha no worries John. I imagine YouTube use is heavily demographic based. I’d probably not be in the YT demo except for being as involved in tech as I am. I haven’t used my TV for watching television since last year’s AFL Grand Final in September!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a strong list. I watch a few of these from time to time, like Ash and Uncle Atom, both of which are very good. I’ve got two suggestions for channels that I think are based in your country that I like. Esoteric Order of Gamers and Wellywood Wargaming. The first has nice reviews and unboxings and the second is great for Necromunda. I don’t even play or paint Necromunda but watching this channel makes me want to!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks mate – I haven’t heard of either of those channels. A couple more for me to have a look into!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks VERY much for the shout-out Azazel! Some of those on your list are favorites of mine too (Carl Walmsley, Tabletop Minions, Little Wars TV). Some of my other favorites include:
Big Lee = https://www.youtube.com/@MiniatureAdventuresTV
Medieval Wargamer = https://www.youtube.com/@MedievalWargamer
We Wargame = https://www.youtube.com/@We_Wargame
Anvil of Doom = https://www.youtube.com/@anvilofdoomminiatures
Drive Thru Games (mostly board games, some minis) = https://www.youtube.com/@DriveThruReview/videos
Fantasy Skirmisher (fantasy board games & minis) = https://www.youtube.com/@thefantasyskirmisher3894
Mark’s Game Room = https://www.youtube.com/@MarksGameRoom/videos
Fair Weather Man (HeroQuest minis & stuff) = https://www.youtube.com/@TheFair-WeatherMan/videos
Jordan Sorcery (old school GW) = https://www.youtube.com/@jordansorcery
Much of my other stuff is strictly board game or game design related, so I won’t mention that here.
LikeLiked by 2 people
No problem at all mate – this post would never have happened without yours promting me (and WordPress being broken).
I’ve only heard of Jordan out of those, but only seen his videos a couple of times and so he wasn’t one that came to mind – will have to look at a few more as well as checking out the rest of your list!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice article mate. Sonic sledgehammer is a nice fella and runs a good channel. Eric’s hobby workshop and dicey tactics are other great channels. Like you I watch a lot of YouTube’s. If it’s not movies (which there are a ton of free cool one on YT) it’s hobby stuff or docos or cabin building, or homesteading etc.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cheers, IRO. I mentioned Sonic in the tutorial category and I agree he’s pretty good. I’ve seen a couple of Eric videos but not that many – he’s kinda in the “ones I forgot” category. I’ve not heard of Dicey Tactics – will check them out!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good work posting positivity! I’m not a bit consumer of YouTube but I certainly appreciate those doing it out of love and enthusiasm rather than clickbaiting with negativity.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks AB. YouTube, streaming & my existing CDs ripped into an MP3 collection has completely replaced TV/radio for me at this point. There’s always some interesting podcast or music whatever to listen to for me that doesn’t require active watching so I can work on my PC, paint or whatever else.
Right now I’ve got Curve live in London 1992 in the background on my 2nd monitor. The video looks like it was shot on a potato, but the audio still sounds good!
LikeLike