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I think that if you want to extend the life of your paintjob, varnishing is the smart choice. If you have been gaming with the same pieces for 10+ years, you will most certainly have wear and tear on your minis. I'm not talking about improper handling, but rather the effect of normal use. Paint gets worn of points like tips (weapons, banner, toes, etc) first. If you transpost minis, you really need to consider varnish. Gaming is the handling, and all handling affects paint.

One coat vallejo spray gloss, wait 24 hours, one coat vallejo spray matte. If fear of frosting is troubling you, test spray before your sealing session for environmental conditions.

Havok210 wrote:I am a Testor's guy myself. Gloss cote first for protection, dullcote to take the shine off.

+1

I usually highlight a little "over the top" knowing that the 'cote will take the edge off the paint.

Krylon or Rustoleum clear Matte spray or artists brush-on matte varnish.

Most batch lots get the spray, but when the weather isn't good for spraying or for small jobs I'll use the brush on. Also, if I overspray and it gets shiny, brushing on a bit helps to cut the shine.

All the above products are quite cheap and very protective. However, as I dip almost all my figs (dip is super-protective) my main concern with varnish/sealer is cutting the shine of the dip rather than any protective properties.

Vallejo matte, satin, and gloss garnishes are awesome