Back in the 1980s, when we were playing D&D, we would often paint a miniature (made of lead) of our character. I painted a thief, a fighter, and a wizard. Our regular DM had painted maybe 30–40 monsters... goblins, undead, and whatever else we needed.
It was fun. But concepts like washes, dry brushing, or contrast paints never even occurred to us. They were basically blobs of paint, and none of us had artistic skills. But it didn’t matter, it was part of the hobby and we loved it.
We mostly used miniatures to show marching order, which was much more of a thing in older editions of D&D and to show rough positioning in a battlefield. We didn’t use miniature rules for distance, grids, or exact movement. They were there for context and immersion, and honestly, just for fun.
I am not sure if I have them anymore, most likely in a shoebox in storage somewhere.
Warhammer
My renewed interest in miniatures really begins with Warhammer (WFRP) the TTRPG.
I’ve always loved the Warhammer setting. I played a few WFRP adventures back in the 1980s. The Enemy Within campaign is probably in the top five campaigns of all time, and it has been updated in recent years, I would love to play it again. I’m currently playing in an Old World game online with some blokes from the UK, (the new TTRPG by Cubicle 7) set in the Warhammer universe.
The Warhammer universe can be confusing, even for me, here is my brief lightly informed primer.
The Warhammer world I originally experienced through the role-playing game in the 1980s focused heavily on The Empire, especially the region known as Reikland. This is a gritty, medieval, Germanic-inspired realm. It shares some fantasy DNA with D&D (elves, dwarves, fighters, magic), but the tone is very different. Think more grime, dirt, corruption, and mud, less epic heroic fantasy and more dark, grounded medieval fantasy.
For me, it remains one of my two favorite fantasy settings, alongside Greyhawk.
The Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay game is currently published by Cubicle 7, though the Warhammer setting itself is owned and created by Games Workshop.
Games Workshop is best known for the miniature wargame side of Warhammer. Their current primary fantasy miniature line is Age of Sigmar, which is set in magical realms that evolved from the destruction of the original Warhammer world. It uses many of the same Chaos gods and some legacy characters, but the tone is far more mythic and heroic fantasy.
More recently (around 2024), Games Workshop revived the classic setting with Warhammer: The Old World and new miniature wargame. While Cubicle 7 has has released their new TTRPG for the setting (hardbacks come out later this year).
The Old World timeline takes place roughly 200 years before the more familiar Empire of the Reikland WFRP era. It represents an earlier, more politically fragmented version of the setting, which is fascinating from both a lore and storytelling standpoint.
It was the return of the Old World that really reignited my interest in the Warhammer universe. The setting, combined with new game mechanics (d10 dice pools), pulled me back in. At the same time, it made me curious about what Games Workshop was bringing to the tabletop miniature space.
And, as it turns out, that curiosity is what eventually pulled me into miniatures again.
Warhammer Stores
Living in Europe, Warhammer stores are everywhere. Paris, Lyon, Strasbourg, Bern, Madrid, Munich, Berlin, Brussels, sometimes multiple stores per city. Every time I visit a city, I see that black Warhammer sign. And if there isn’t one, there are usually several independent hobby retailers carrying Warhammer.
It sometimes feels more common to see a Warhammer store than some major fashion brands.
I Step Through the Warhammer Doors
The Old World release made me take a second look at the store. I noticed they were hosting a build / paint / play event, so I marked the date and decided to make a day of it.
Throughout the day, people came in to build, paint, and play. Surprisingly, several stylish couples arrived, along with a number of young women who looked like they would fit just as easily into Sandro or Massimo Dutti as a Warhammer store. But like me, they were excited to sit down, build, and paint.
It wasn’t the stereotypical crowd I expected and honestly, it was great to see.
Maybe Henry Cavill made it cool.
Maybe Europe is just different.
Probably a little of both.
Time to get to work.
I sat down along with the others, ready to build and pain.
Niko, my Warhammer guide for the day, had been playing for over 10 years, spoke German, French, and English, and had some seriously impressive sleeve tattoos. He walked me through my first real build. It looked like a paladin-type model, and we quickly painted it.
And honestly?
I was hooked immediately.
I hadn’t even played a game yet. I didn’t care. I just wanted to build and paint another one.
What kept flashing through my mind was being back in the 1980s, painting miniatures with my friends. Nostalgia is a powerful drug and I was fully hooked.
I went out for a quick lunch, then came back.
My First Model
I told Niko I wanted something more advanced. Something vampire or undead, something I’d expect to see in Barovia. Nasty vampire spawn. I also wanted to learn some more advanced techniques.
He helped me pick out a model - Abhorrant Archregent - and we took our time with the process:
- Cleaning mold lines and burrs
- Checking fit and finish
- Using a proper model holder
Then we primed and started working through color selection. I learned contrast painting, washing, dry brushing, basing, adding grass... the whole process.
My first real model from start to finish.
I loved it. Sure, it was a first attempt. Probably a little too green, maybe a bit heavy on the wash. But you know what? It was my first try, and I loved it. I had fun. And honestly, I felt genuinely proud of what I was able to build, paint, and learn in a single afternoon.
I asked if I could come back and build and paint more, or if this was just for special events. He told me I was welcome anytime.
He gave me a Warhammer Battle Honours book, stamped the back with what I had accomplished, which earned me a pouch to hold brushes. He also gave me two free miniatures and a Warhammer coin.
If every person working in retail was as helpful, friendly, and genuinely good at listening as Niko, businesses everywhere would be thriving. It was honestly refreshing to see someone passionate about their work and clearly enjoying helping people get into the hobby.
And that kind of experience sticks with you.
I’m absolutely planning to go back.
They have tons of miniatures that would fit perfectly into my D&D and low-fantasy TTRPG worlds. I’m not sure if I’ll fully get into gameplay, but if I do, it will likely stay at the skirmish level version of Warhammer, Warcry. I’m just not interested in painting full armies.
Other Miniatures?
When I got home, I started researching other miniature companies and found several makers producing medieval and low-fantasy ranges — which fits my aesthetic perfectly.
The one challenge of living in Europe is VAT, shipping costs, and sometimes tariffs when ordering from outside the EU. That makes Warhammer a very practical option. You can walk into a store, pick up a model, build, paint, and even play the same day. With how saturated the European landscape is with Warhammer retail and partner hobby stores, it’s incredibly accessible.
That said, there are some excellent miniature makers within Europe, so I do have options without dealing with heavy import costs. Fireforge (Italy)
For now, Warhammer is an easy entry point, but it’s nice knowing there are other ranges out there that match the low-fantasy, grounded medieval look I tend to gravitate toward.
VTT & Miniatures?
While I’m primarily a VTT player, I really do love the tactile side of miniatures. There’s something grounding about it. It’s nice to take time to listen to my favorite music, pour a glass of wine, and paint a miniature. A little peace and zen never hurts, and it lets my mind drift toward designing the next adventure.
Maybe miniature building and painting is inspiration.
Maybe it’s meditation.
Maybe it’s just polishing a memory from my youth.
Regardless, the building and painting side of the hobby is here to stay for me.
Living in remote Portugal while traveling through Europe probably means more Warhammer store visits and more miniature collecting and painting, even if I’m still mostly playing online.
One day, I’ll probably find a regular in-person group again.
But for now?
It might just be a personal, relaxing hobby.
And honestly, there’s nothing wrong with having a painted miniature sitting next to my screen while I play.
