Is This the Future of Tabletop Wargaming?

Augmented reality seems to be a big focus for the technology companies today, and we're already seeing it creep into our tabletop wargaming space. How much more will there be? Atom talks about it.

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[Bloodybeast]

Nobody:
Mobile apps: Lucky deal! your dice will have higher chance of rolling 6s for next 2h. Was $100, now only $10! Limited offer.

[cablesalad]

And while you're waiting for the Ork player to deploy his army, your battery runs out :-P

[kiblams]

This is an interesting one, though a wargamer will always crave the physical aspects of the game IMO. The Blood bowl video game is popular, but rather than taking players from the tabletop, I think we have seen more people inspired to play on the table. Great vid fella!

[xdevantx]

There is definitely room for both. Games like Hearthstone haven't really killed off the physical card games.

[EngineerJeff]

I like the idea that my painted model placed upon the table could be AR-ed up to where I could SEE the dakka or melee combat between it and another unit. Then again, what is imagination for at that point? Deep thoughts!

[TheRandomHero]

Personally I think VR will eventually become the go to place for table top gaming, imagine the arguments saved by being able to zoom down to the models perspective and check for line of sight!

[NIMMHATVRapBeats]

i always thought of this as.... STILL buy your models, receive a data card with them

then youre able to use them on your VR/AR things

[giantlobsterboy]

Oh, Uncle Atom, you are talking about Muggle wargaming for the artistically impaired.
Be careful playing these games with wookies. They tend to pull your arms out of your sockets when they lose.

[rickpierce]

Virtual painting: When you're not playing the game with a friend, fire up the app and paint your army how you want using essentially a 3D paintbucket to fill in objects and areas and a brush for details/customization.

[SorcererDave]

I don't think the physical aspect of the hobby is going anywhere to be honest. As you mentioned, there exists Tabletop Simulator 40k (which I've played quite a bit and enjoyed), which you don't need a VR headset to play, by the way - works just fine on a regular PC screen. However while you would think that a computer-based free version of 40k would inevitably do irreparable damage to the physical game, the opposite seems to be the case. People get into the game via tabletop simulator, and then inevitably go on to start buying physical models of their own, because that's ultimately where the soul of the hobby is.

What I can see happening, is AR being incorporated into the physical game, so for example you point your phone at the table, and you can see the number of wounds a model has floating above it, or have a model's stats display next to it when needed, that sort of thing. You could even have the dice-rolling process automated by the app to dramatically speed up the game. There are a lot of possibilities.

[Victor-skby]

Depends on your commitment to the hobby. Me, personally, if I want to play games on my phone, I'll do it in the comfort of my home. Tabletop games is meant for hobbyists that try their best to be social :P

[DriveThruReview]

I feel like the next step from this would be just playing on a completely virtual table that looks like a real table etc... etc... But, instead... online with my friends on the other side of the country. It could still simulate a "real-ish" table. I'd probably rather do that than stand around a table playing an AR minis game.... maybe. Both would be cool. But, you're just back into video gaming then.

[travismoss]

So here is an idea.

Instead of making a full A.R. game. you make an app that works in the same general way but replaces you tape measure and dice. all the stats for your army would be on the phone and would share the info with your opponent. You would still have models on the table but it would give you their movement and hit scores automatically. The hard part would be getting the software to recognize the models on the table, however im sure there are people out there who are smart enough to do it.

[sethgoodwin]

I would definitely like to see a game where it augments the plays and actions you make with the actual models you have. Like a system where you register your models and it knows what they do and has visuals for everything.

[Hunicron]

There are some things that already exist, not exactly but similar. One is tabletop simulator. its a perfect example. (Okay, I just got to the part where you talk about it...) In the future, I think AR will be more relevant than VR. On the tabletop, I think it won't replace the models, objects, but enhances them. Like the app recognizes the models and adds information, move distance, shooting range, health bar etc. Also could help telling the story like a dungeon master. One other think came to my mind. Its the Mansions of madness 2nd edition, its narrative and a really good combination of boardgame, miniatures and an app.
Ps. Good video as usual!

[santobell]

The merger of the two is what would interest me the most.
Having the physical models and figures, combined with AR to provide fog and atmosphere, stray weapons fire and sounds. With interactive options based on the AR ability to recognise the physical unit/tank/thing. You could even set up an AR camera for your tabletop board and have it display on a nearby screen or TV or Stream it online. You would have a much deeper experience.

[davidpiovesan]

As a married man with two kids, I enjoy my time when i get to sit down and paint my models. Then occasionally when the stars align me and the boys get together and setup, make war, shoot the shit and drink some wobbly pops.
The tactile element is what drew me in and is what will keep me interested.
If I ask my 20 something self years ago Id probably choose the AR/VR/VidGame route just cause it left me more time to do all the debauchery stuff.

[Errorzero]

I think your point of setup/teardown time is spot on... I have about 3000 miniatures that I'd love to play with, but I never have the free time to get my stuff packed, brought to the store, set up, play, pack it back up and go home... 8th has sped up the game play time, but having my tablet there and playing against someone would cut the time necessary in half.

[travelminipainter]

Ar could be very useful for two tabletop players with real miniatures playing each other over a virtual tabletop, when tey are separated by some distance. Would be kind of cool if the AR capabilities would pick up the models on the table and impose them over the other players tabletop... Would be an answer for a lot of the distances that oftentimes separate us.

[MattHolstein]

Way back, in the long long ago, circa 2007, I said that GW needs to license out an online tabletop video game platform. You would get a unique identifier code with your model(s) and would link to your account. You could then play friends or competitive but most importantly, imo, get a feel quickly on how units play and what army comps you like. In non-competition they could release 1000pt premade lists that trial players could try, which would, imo, bring MORE people into the hobby. They could generate additional income through micro transactions such as allowing people to drop a couple bucks to unlock in game only a unit or hero. This would allow both just straight video gamers and those that lean that way to spend money as well as linking the hobbyists with that side of it and securing future growth for the company. Also, another added benefit would be easy rules testing. Imagine a new edition with codices that were actually decent (says the jaded Chaos Daemons player).