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Hey guys so i finally got around to picking up a decent camcorder, and want to start filming some batreps. Now I have a pretty large play group and we have almost every army/unit there is between us. I also have a custom gaming room, with a custom table built, and custom terrain. It all looks awesome, and figured I would try my hand at batreps. But I have a couple questions for you the viewers: You don't have to answer all the questions, and advice would be awesome.

1. Do you prefer Miniwargaming style, turn recap style, or just full recording style?
2. Do you like recorded audio or voice over audio better?
3. Do you prefer hand held in close shooting,or tripod mounted above field view?
4. What is a good length for a 1850 video batrep in your opinion?
5. Do you only want to see painted armies/terrain or is unpainted ok?
6. Are there anything you don't like seeing or is a pet peeve for you with video batreps?
7. Do you have any other tip/trick to make the videos great and something you would want to watch?

Thank Dakkanauts, I love this community.

1) I prefer MWG's style. Striking Scorpion is fun because it's a bit more of a narrative, but I feel he cuts a lot and just recaps. I like to see most of the action, minus moving every single model.

2) Always recorded. Voiced over just sounds fake and boring, and you lose a lot of the "What the gak!" moments.

3) Mix it up, but generally hand held is fine, as you should be moving between the players and the table.

4) Depends, but I would do about 45 minutes for your first try. Shoot long enough and learn what to cut out.

5) Unpainted is fine, but painted is generally more appealing.

6) Not really, other than flat out curb stomps. Try and match the armies at least some what i.e. no AA vs. all Flyers, no AT vs. Land Raiders, etc.

7) Mix up the missions, so some straight up kill points, some objectives. Also, try out Maelstrom. There doesn't seem to be a ton of Maelstrom out there, other than MWG. Also, practice, and be open to criticism. Also, have fun! It's supposed to be for fun, so feel to laugh, joke around, and be friendly. Not everyone loves the some thing, but these are my personal ideas.

1 - Turn recaps are my favourite. I don't need to see every dice rolled, or every Boy moved. Sped-up video is good too.

2 - I personally like voice-over reports, but sometimes recorded works too. I just don't like when every little thing is recorded (plus I don't care for videos with swearing).

3 - Either way is okay, but try to keep the camera as steady as possible. No one likes jerky, blurry videos.

4 - Forty-five minutes or less. I wouldn't watch anything longer, no matter the point level.

5 - Would definitely prefer painted models and terrain. The occasional piece or unit is alright, if the player is working on the painting.

6 - No videos longer than forty-five minutes, but that's just my own taste. I like it when games aren't a complete shutout, but I understand if it happens once or twice. And I wouldn't watch 30k batreps, but that's only because I don't play it, and don't know anything about it.

7 - If it's possible for you to give a few insights at some point during the batrep as to why you chose the units you did, that would be great.

My favourite batrep videos here have been the ones by SkaredCast and Frontline Gaming (especially Reecius).

1. Do you prefer Miniwargaming style, turn recap style, or just full recording style?

Turn recap in general. Miniwargaming style was awesome if you can keep it under 30min.

2. Do you like recorded audio or voice over audio better?

I like both. Votive over for commentary... Before during and after.

3. Do you prefer hand held in close shooting,or tripod mounted above field view?

No jiggling camera or rapid pans... Gives us vertigo.... Other than that, do you boo boo

4. What is a good length for a 1850 video batrep in your opinion?

20min is the upper end of attention spans.

5. Do you only want to see painted armies/terrain or is unpainted ok?

If you're gonna do a report from your freshly created secret lair why are you asking this... Yes painted

6. Are there anything you don't like seeing or is a pet peeve for you with video batreps?

Rapid pan. Jiggling camera. Fidgeting players with dice in their hands. Background noise.

7. Do you have any other tip/trick to make the videos great and something you would want to watch?

I'm wanting to try two cameras. Have a boom rigged so I can do overhead shots then I want to do "action shots".
Also a narrative is what I'm thinking like playing the game but have it actually tell a broader story. Perhaps the saga that will become the history of your gaming den?

1. Do you prefer Miniwargaming style, turn recap style, or just full recording style?
Turn recap is the best for me. I agree that I don't need to see every die roll or movement.

2. Do you like recorded audio or voice over audio better?
Recorded when the video is made. Sound better being in the moment of the game rather than talking over the action later.

3. Do you prefer hand held in close shooting,or tripod mounted above field view?
Hand held is better to me. Gets the viewer closer to the action.

4. What is a good length for a 1850 video batrep in your opinion?
I try to run mine for no more than 15 minutes. Some people might loose interest if the video is too long. (Yea, an hour to watch a batrep is too long,mho)

5. Do you only want to see painted armies/terrain or is unpainted ok?
This hobby is about assembling and painting too. Now I don't expect my opponent to be all painted but it does look cooler when all the pieces are.

6. Are there anything you don't like seeing or is a pet peeve for you with video batreps?
There is only one peeve for me. That is when people continually say "uhm" during a video. Hearing someone go through their list and saying "uhm" after every word gets annoying. Maybe it's just me.

7. Do you have any other tip/trick to make the videos great and something you would want to watch?
Keep up the spirit of fun while you're being recorded. Try not to sound bored. Make it interesting for the person watching.

Hope this helps and good luck with your batreps.

Thanks for all the help, I am thinking our first one will be recorded as a turn recap, and we shall go from there.

What do people feel about music? Should there be background music?

1. Do you prefer Miniwargaming style, turn recap style, or just full recording style?
both are fine, recap is easier to edit, so i suggest start with that
2. Do you like recorded audio or voice over audio better?
if there´s no dogs barking or children crying in backround (like at my friends house, that´s why i do voice over) either way
3. Do you prefer hand held in close shooting,or tripod mounted above field view?
hand held, i hate static camera
4. What is a good length for a 1850 video batrep in your opinion?
i´m thinking about max. 30min
5. Do you only want to see painted armies/terrain or is unpainted ok?
PAINTED
6. Are there anything you don't like seeing or is a pet peeve for you with video batreps?
keep the lists "un-cheesy", unless it´s like a special edition match or something
7. Do you have any other tip/trick to make the videos great and something you would want to watch?
nice armies, nice table, good editing and no motion sickness from the shaky camera

1. Do you prefer Miniwargaming style, turn recap style, or just full recording style?

Not a fan of Miniwargaming, the ones I've seen have been over an hour long. Turn recap or sped-up full recording (like SGTactics' bat reps) is my personal preference.

2. Do you like recorded audio or voice over audio better?

Depends on the sound quality. If there is a lot of background noise, music etc. during the filming, recorded audio can be annoying. There is often more enthusiasm and awareness of what's going on, jokes etc. during the actual battle, so I'm a bit divided on this.

3. Do you prefer hand held in close shooting,or tripod mounted above field view?

A bit of both? I like the view from above as it's easier to see exact positioning and to get an overview of the whole board, but close shooting is nice for showing off beautifully painted models and cases where true LOS matters in the game.

4. What is a good length for a 1850 video batrep in your opinion?

Between 20 and 45 minutes.

5. Do you only want to see painted armies/terrain or is unpainted ok?

I'm fine with unpainted. I'd rather see an unpainted army with great synergy being played well than a painted army that is poorly played.

6. Are there anything you don't like seeing or is a pet peeve for you with video batreps?

If the army lists aren't mentioned, or if the winner isn't declared. It's frustrating if " reallyclose game, it was fun" is the only comment. I just keep batreps on in the background while I paint, I don't want to note down maelstrom points for each player to know who won the game. I don't like too much house-ruling. Some things are necessary, but if people have really strange house rules regarding terrain, special rules or whatever, I'm not interested. I want to pick up some tricks for playing an army, not listen to a 10 minute explanation of why a local gaming group has decided that d-weapons or ruins should work differently than what is in the actual rules.

Overly weak lists and too much narrative. If I just want a story/narrative I'll pick up a book or turn on Netflix. I want to use BatReps to improve my game, as compensation for not getting to play as many games as I'd like to myself.

7. Do you have any other tip/trick to make the videos great and something you would want to watch?

I like a bit of tactical recapping, like how SkaredCast does in his Batreps. I enjoy playing semi-competitively, but don't get to play against every army on a regular basis, so this is a great way for me to pick up on tricks I can expect if I face armies I'm not used to playing. What Jy2 does in his written reports, going through mistakes made by himself and his opponent, is also neat, and I'm sure something similar would be easy to add at the end of a video batrep.

1. Do you prefer Miniwargaming style, turn recap style, or just full recording style?

Miniwargaming style is the best IMO, but also obviously it's very edit-intensive. Turn recap just isn't great, because for me the dice rolls can be very exciting.


2. Do you like recorded audio or voice over audio better?

Recorded.

3. Do you prefer hand held in close shooting,or tripod mounted above field view?

Handheld...people play this game to look at cool models, and on a tripod that's almost completely gone.

4. What is a good length for a 1850 video batrep in your opinion?

I know it's absurd, but I can easily watch over an hour. Anything beyond that might be pushing it.

5. Do you only want to see painted armies/terrain or is unpainted ok?

Painted is way better. Frontline Gaming can get away with unpainted models because they're always bringing crazy lists and they explain the tactics so thoroughly, but I wouldn't give a pass to other channels.

6. Are there anything you don't like seeing or is a pet peeve for you with video batreps?

People who complain excessively on camera or are clearly not having fun. Whenever StrikingScorpion botches a roll on camera he always laughs or says "oh dear!" or something, that's infinitely better.


7. Do you have any other tip/trick to make the videos great and something you would want to watch?

twinner wrote:

1. Do you prefer Miniwargaming style, turn recap style, or just full recording style?

Turn recaps. I do not need to watch you roll dice or watch you move individual units.

2. Do you like recorded audio or voice over audio better?

Do you think you have a voice other people don't find annoying, and can you actually manage running commentary without a lot of pauses, uuummms, or mistakes? If so, I prefer recorded audio. If not, edited voice over.

3. Do you prefer hand held in close shooting,or tripod mounted above field view?

An overhead still at the beginning of each phase would be nice but not strictly necessary. I want to see the models. A turn overview followed by in-close shots as you detail the action of the following turn.

4. What is a good length for a 1850 video batrep in your opinion?

If the camera work is good, the models and terrain are well-painted, and the commentary is easy to follow, I can go with about 45 minutes. If you're missing any of those elements, 15-30 minutes might be better when you're first starting out.

5. Do you only want to see painted armies/terrain or is unpainted ok?

Only painted stuff will hold my interest.

6. Are there anything you don't like seeing or is a pet peeve for you with video batreps?

Bad matchups and passionless narration. A bad matchup can be easily avoided by picking your forces in the open before the game. A person who talks like they're not having a good time is a big turn-off. Even if the dice gods have forsaken you, stay upbeat and stick it out until the bitter end!

7. Do you have any other tip/trick to make the videos great and something you would want to watch?

I like narrative games. A little bit of backstory worked into the commentary makes the battle more interesting. I can't stress how much nicely painted armies enhances my enjoyment. Unique army lists, special scenario rules, and themed lists are always fun to watch, too.

Good luck and when.you get one uploaded, come back and post a link so we can all get a good chuckle.

Background music is fine, but be careful it isn't too loud. Striking Scorpion has a bad habit of his music being as loud as his voice

 jreilly89 wrote:
Background music is fine, but be careful it isn't too loud. Striking Scorpion has a bad habit of his music being as loud as his voice

He's just singing his batreps.


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BTW, it might be awesome to make a grimdark saga batrep.