by Let me tell you a story that will make die-hard IRL wargamers shudder. Grab your garlic and holy water, because we’re diving into Tabletop Simulator: is it an enemy or an ally? We have the pleasure of sharing insights from heavy hitters in the wargaming scene: Pierre Oh from the channel Nexus75, Wallou from Wallou Miniature, and Heavy from French Wargame Studio.
TTS? What kind of sorcery is this?
Tabletop Simulator (TTS) is a board game simulation software that offers an online gaming experience in a realistic 3D environment. Beyond a selection of classics like chess, checkers, and poker, it provides incredible flexibility through customization.
Users can play games created by the community. Thanks to its physics engine, every game piece can be moved, stacked, or thrown, mimicking the physical interactions of a real tabletop session.
As you might have guessed, there are mods available to play wargames such as Star Wars: Legion, A Song of Ice and Fire, Marvel Crisis Protocol, and many others.
No need to leave the house, haul your gaming mat, or worry about carefully packing away your miniatures. If we stop there, it’s all upside—but it’s not quite that simple, and you’re about to find out why.
Does TTS help promote wargaming, or is it a potential rival ?
I’ve handed the floor to our three guests, asking them one question: Does TTS help promote wargaming, or is it a potential rival?
Nexus75 : Promote it? Maybe not, but it is a great tool for testing games before buying them and for trying out army lists. Above all, it allows players who live far apart to play together. For me, TTS isn’t the enemy of tabletop gaming; it’s a solution, an alternative, but it shouldn’t be the end goal.
I don’t think it’s enough on its own. It lets you discover, test, and play with friends occasionally, but TTS should eventually step aside in favor of the actual game and physical meetups.
Wallou : I don’t play TTS myself and I don’t think I ever will. In my view, it’s an excellent supplement for high-level competitive players and great for isolated players who lack a local gaming community. However, I love the hobby too much to switch to a video game.
I love having my painted minis on the table and sharing a social moment with friends, whether in a casual or competitive setting. I’d say it depends on the person—it’s a complementary tool for some (competitors and isolated players). I don’t think it can truly compete with sitting across a table from your friends.
Heavy : Personally, I don’t use TTS; I prefer the physical game. Nevertheless, regarding the competitive scene—Warhammer 40K for example—the use of TTS makes a massive difference.
It’s become an arms race, which I find a bit unfortunate. There’s less of that patient process of finding synergy between a general and a unit. It used to take a long time to develop a competitive list or meta; now, it takes a few hours.
We have to be realistic: someone who only plays physically is at a disadvantage compared to a player training on TTS. Between travel time, setting up the table, deploying the army, and measuring every move, an IRL player will get one game in a day, while on TTS, they can easily chain 3 or 4 sessions.
But it’s also a networking tool for players. Plus, let’s face it: wargaming is becoming an expensive hobby, which can deter newcomers. That’s why TTS is a good software—it grows the community. Someone who enjoys a game will eventually want the miniatures and will likely start painting.
I also recommend checking out this interview with Nostrus (2021-2022 SWL French Vice-Champion) where he discusses his experience with TTS:
Wargaming is fun, and it’s about friends
AlanAnas: When the idea for this article first came to me, I’ll admit I had doubts. Was it a mistake to even mention “Virtual Wargaming“? I don’t think so. We will always have a need for something that isn’t an illusion—something real. Something we can see, touch, and the actual human contact that comes with it.
Otherwise, as a huge Star Wars fan, playing Battlefront 2 would be enough for me. But it isn’t. The joy of taking the time to assemble, paint, and field your miniatures in a game is incomparable to a “video game.”
TTS is not easy to use for the uninitiated. Regardless of which wargame you play, it already takes time and dedication to learn the rules; learning the software adds an extra hurdle.
As you can see, the general consensus here is the same: TTS is a tool—a helping hand for those afraid to enter an unknown world and spend money on a hobby that might not suit them in the end.
It’s also a weapon of mass destruction for competitive-minded players.
Unfortunately, not everyone is lucky enough to live in an area with a local club or many players. TTS helps avoid the frustration of not being able to regularly get your minis on the table or test your army lists.
TTS Tutorials
Below you will find a list of YouTube tutorials to help you play your favorite wargames on Tabletop Simulator.
First, you’ll need to purchase and download Tabletop Simulator on Steam. Use the Workshop tab and search for the name of the game (or its acronym) to find the extension.
Pro tip: To import your armies directly into the game and avoid the tedious process of selecting units and upgrades one by one, you can use sites like TableTop Admiral for Legion, ASOIAF Stats for A Song of Ice and Fire, and Jarvis’ Protocol for Marvel Crisis Protocol to create your lists. Simply copy the resulting file/code and paste it into your TTS session.
- Star Wars Legion: PART 1 and PART 2
- A Song of Ice and Fire: ASOIAF TTS
- Marvel Crisis Protocol: Join the dedicated English Discord directly
TTS Discord Groups
Here are a few Discord links to find players on Tabletop Simulator.
- Star Wars Legion (This Discord already has a TTS section)
- A Song Of Ice And Fire
- Marvel Crisis Protocol (This Discord already has a TTS section)
Thank You!!!
A big thank you to Pierre Oh, Wallou, and Heavy for their availability, their kindness, and for taking the time to answer our questions.
Written by :
AlanAnas, A Song of Ice and Fire editor
A big Star Wars fan, it was natural that I fell for Star Wars: Legion (how could you not enjoy blasting clones with an AAT tank cannon?), but my revelation came with A Song of Ice and Fire, a game not only about armies clashing but also about the intrigues behind the battles!
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