Variance Hammer
@variancehammer.bsky.social
Writer for variancehammer.com and goonhammer.com. Co-host of Lost to the Nails and the Plastic Pressgang Podcast. Fan of the Horus Heresy, Adeptus Titanicus and myriad historicals. Avid terrain enthusiast. He/him/his
Reposted by Variance Hammer
This is a little series that seems to be kicking off over at Goonhammer that we are going to keep our eyes on!
BattleTech: Metals for the MechCommander Who Has Everything!
Check it out and let einherjarvalk know we sent you!
www.goonhammer.com/b...
#BattleTech
BattleTech: Metals for the MechCommander Who Has Everything!
Check it out and let einherjarvalk know we sent you!
www.goonhammer.com/b...
#BattleTech
January 18, 2026 at 5:00 PM
This is a little series that seems to be kicking off over at Goonhammer that we are going to keep our eyes on!
BattleTech: Metals for the MechCommander Who Has Everything!
Check it out and let einherjarvalk know we sent you!
www.goonhammer.com/b...
#BattleTech
BattleTech: Metals for the MechCommander Who Has Everything!
Check it out and let einherjarvalk know we sent you!
www.goonhammer.com/b...
#BattleTech
Reposted by Variance Hammer
reject modernity return to web 1.0
January 18, 2026 at 3:31 AM
reject modernity return to web 1.0
Reposted by Variance Hammer
I have some bad news. One, if you need to use ChatGPT for your graduate application letter, you are not ready for graduate school.
Two, no, not "everyone is doing it" and those who don't do it aren't "losing out." ChatGPT is not an advantage.
Two, no, not "everyone is doing it" and those who don't do it aren't "losing out." ChatGPT is not an advantage.
An impressive number of graduate applications this year used the phrase “curiosity-driven approach” 🤔
January 17, 2026 at 10:46 PM
I have some bad news. One, if you need to use ChatGPT for your graduate application letter, you are not ready for graduate school.
Two, no, not "everyone is doing it" and those who don't do it aren't "losing out." ChatGPT is not an advantage.
Two, no, not "everyone is doing it" and those who don't do it aren't "losing out." ChatGPT is not an advantage.
Reposted by Variance Hammer
This is the kind of shit that would make you completely outside the bounds of any ancient society, the gods bestow generational curses for violating hospitality
A few days ago, Fox News was whining about ICE agents getting heckled at a Mexican restaurant in Minneapolis.
Meanwhile, in the town of Willmar, ICE agents had lunch at a Mexican restaurant, waited until it closed, then confronted and arrested three workers as they left.
Meanwhile, in the town of Willmar, ICE agents had lunch at a Mexican restaurant, waited until it closed, then confronted and arrested three workers as they left.
ICE agents ate at a Minnesota Mexican restaurant before arresting staff
Immigration law enforcement agents reportedly followed employees out of the restaurant after they closed for the evening
www.independent.co.uk
January 18, 2026 at 2:14 AM
This is the kind of shit that would make you completely outside the bounds of any ancient society, the gods bestow generational curses for violating hospitality
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If you are in Seattle, please go patronize this store because this is amazing content/promo 😂 (laughing to keep from crying, and I do kind of low-key want that orange spider plant I have never seen that before)
Source: www.instagram.com/reel/DTQrTqZ...
Source: www.instagram.com/reel/DTQrTqZ...
January 17, 2026 at 1:33 AM
If you are in Seattle, please go patronize this store because this is amazing content/promo 😂 (laughing to keep from crying, and I do kind of low-key want that orange spider plant I have never seen that before)
Source: www.instagram.com/reel/DTQrTqZ...
Source: www.instagram.com/reel/DTQrTqZ...
Reposted by Variance Hammer
The Adeptus Custladies have finally arrived in Warhammer 40K.
The Female Custodes Kit Is the Coolest Thing GW Has Done in Years
The Adeptus Custladies have finally arrived in Warhammer 40K.
www.goonhammer.com
January 17, 2026 at 11:01 AM
The Adeptus Custladies have finally arrived in Warhammer 40K.
Reposted by Variance Hammer
Some of you have forgotten that only three years ago you were perfectly capable of writing a text, writing an email, telling a bedtime story to a child, and it should worry you that powerful companies have convinced us we can’t do things we’ve been doing since the dawn of time.
December 23, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Some of you have forgotten that only three years ago you were perfectly capable of writing a text, writing an email, telling a bedtime story to a child, and it should worry you that powerful companies have convinced us we can’t do things we’ve been doing since the dawn of time.
Reposted by Variance Hammer
Two years and over at @goonhammer.com we‘re still saying everyone is welcome in historical wargaming, with the exception of Nazis and misogynist fucks.
www.goonhammer.com/goonhammer-h...
www.goonhammer.com/goonhammer-h...
Goonhammer Historicals: Historicals in Modernity
We’re going to take a break from our usual Historicals content this week and channel Admiral Cosme Damian de Churruca. This article is about nailing our colours to the mast to stand up to def…
www.goonhammer.com
January 8, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Two years and over at @goonhammer.com we‘re still saying everyone is welcome in historical wargaming, with the exception of Nazis and misogynist fucks.
www.goonhammer.com/goonhammer-h...
www.goonhammer.com/goonhammer-h...
Some of us are, sadly, quite well aware. Watching my country voluntarily become a pariah among western democracies is heartbreaking.
January 15, 2026 at 10:21 AM
Some of us are, sadly, quite well aware. Watching my country voluntarily become a pariah among western democracies is heartbreaking.
Reposted by Variance Hammer
Something that really frustrates me when games like this crop up is that their defenders almost always jump to a generic "history is harsh, historical games tackle tough subjects" defense.
I already said I don't think topics are always off limits in my second post.
That's not what this is about.
I already said I don't think topics are always off limits in my second post.
That's not what this is about.
While I love my niche stupid hobby of historical board gaming, sometimes it does just make me want to scream. Take the latest example, a board game about the Irish Potato Famine where you get to compete with friends to see who survives best (?)
www.kickstarter.com/projects/com...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/com...
The Great Hunger
Easy-to-learn, card-driven game, rich with historical detail; explores 19th-century Irish expansion, blight, famine, & emigration. 2-5P
www.kickstarter.com
January 14, 2026 at 11:56 AM
Something that really frustrates me when games like this crop up is that their defenders almost always jump to a generic "history is harsh, historical games tackle tough subjects" defense.
I already said I don't think topics are always off limits in my second post.
That's not what this is about.
I already said I don't think topics are always off limits in my second post.
That's not what this is about.
Reposted by Variance Hammer
WW2 British Vehicle Markings Deciphered - a thread 🧵
Using the Tank Museum's Comet as an example, we can see the following:
1 - Arm of Service Flash
2 - Bridge Classification
3 - Formation Insignia
4 - Serial Number
5 - Tactical Sign
6 - Vehicle Name
All explained in turn below...
[1/10]
Using the Tank Museum's Comet as an example, we can see the following:
1 - Arm of Service Flash
2 - Bridge Classification
3 - Formation Insignia
4 - Serial Number
5 - Tactical Sign
6 - Vehicle Name
All explained in turn below...
[1/10]
November 26, 2024 at 11:23 AM
WW2 British Vehicle Markings Deciphered - a thread 🧵
Using the Tank Museum's Comet as an example, we can see the following:
1 - Arm of Service Flash
2 - Bridge Classification
3 - Formation Insignia
4 - Serial Number
5 - Tactical Sign
6 - Vehicle Name
All explained in turn below...
[1/10]
Using the Tank Museum's Comet as an example, we can see the following:
1 - Arm of Service Flash
2 - Bridge Classification
3 - Formation Insignia
4 - Serial Number
5 - Tactical Sign
6 - Vehicle Name
All explained in turn below...
[1/10]
Reposted by Variance Hammer
Not sure how you can rationalize still maintaining a regular presence over there!
Some Grok users, mostly men, began to demand to see bruising on the bodies of the women, and for blood to be added to the images. Requests to show women tied up and gagged were instantly granted.
‘Add blood, forced smile’:
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
‘Add blood, forced smile’:
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
‘Add blood, forced smile’: how Grok’s nudification tool went viral
The ‘put her in a bikini’ trend rapidly evolved into hundreds of thousands of requests to strip clothes from photos of women, horrifying those targeted
www.theguardian.com
January 11, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Not sure how you can rationalize still maintaining a regular presence over there!
Reposted by Variance Hammer
This is also John Stallard, by the way. Source: www.goonhammer.com/goonhammer-h...
January 8, 2026 at 5:12 PM
This is also John Stallard, by the way. Source: www.goonhammer.com/goonhammer-h...
Reposted by Variance Hammer
One unfortunate feature of the cultural dominance of Warhammer 40k in miniaturing is that so many talented sculptors in the 3D printing scene are just churning out 40k stuff with the serial numbers filed off. Entirely understandable in terms of business, but sad nevertheless.
January 9, 2026 at 8:48 AM
One unfortunate feature of the cultural dominance of Warhammer 40k in miniaturing is that so many talented sculptors in the 3D printing scene are just churning out 40k stuff with the serial numbers filed off. Entirely understandable in terms of business, but sad nevertheless.
Reposted by Variance Hammer
Well, I'm done supporting Warlord Games. Comically, I had just an hour ago recommended them on Discord as a great source of single sprues.
January 8, 2026 at 6:04 PM
Well, I'm done supporting Warlord Games. Comically, I had just an hour ago recommended them on Discord as a great source of single sprues.
Reposted by Variance Hammer
Ugly desk shot - but currently painting a bunch of Scots and @badsquiddogames.bsky.social shieldmaidens. Creating a 6 point shieldmaiden warband for SAGA for my 10yo daughter, who basically only wants to play as women miniatures, lol. She's a girl who plays historical wargames with me
January 8, 2026 at 6:13 PM
Ugly desk shot - but currently painting a bunch of Scots and @badsquiddogames.bsky.social shieldmaidens. Creating a 6 point shieldmaiden warband for SAGA for my 10yo daughter, who basically only wants to play as women miniatures, lol. She's a girl who plays historical wargames with me
Reposted by Variance Hammer
I just read that there's no women into historical wargaming, and then noticed I AM FADING AWAY HELP I KNEW I DIDNT EXIST avenge meeeeeeee
a black and white drawing of two hands reaching out towards each other with the words we are fading above them
Alt: a black and white drawing of two hands reaching out towards each other with the words we are fading above them
media.tenor.com
January 8, 2026 at 12:10 PM
I just read that there's no women into historical wargaming, and then noticed I AM FADING AWAY HELP I KNEW I DIDNT EXIST avenge meeeeeeee
Reposted by Variance Hammer
I dunno, man. It just feels as though even allowing for the fact that your product could feasibly be of interest to women has the potential to open up an entirely new customer base, rather than being antagonistic toward the very idea. I've never run a company so maybe there's cooties on that money.
January 8, 2026 at 3:04 PM
I dunno, man. It just feels as though even allowing for the fact that your product could feasibly be of interest to women has the potential to open up an entirely new customer base, rather than being antagonistic toward the very idea. I've never run a company so maybe there's cooties on that money.
Reposted by Variance Hammer
Reposted by Variance Hammer
I spent an excessive number of years moderating a gaming forum and I learned a great deal about community spaces and cultivation, whether I wanted to or not. I have critical advice for anyone who runs a game store or gaming convention. Please share this thread with people who run those things.
January 6, 2026 at 8:09 PM
I spent an excessive number of years moderating a gaming forum and I learned a great deal about community spaces and cultivation, whether I wanted to or not. I have critical advice for anyone who runs a game store or gaming convention. Please share this thread with people who run those things.
Reposted by Variance Hammer
@skankstank64
·
Mar 27, 2024
yfw plane/train autism existed in ancient greece but it was with ships instead
·
Mar 27, 2024
yfw plane/train autism existed in ancient greece but it was with ships instead
March 30, 2025 at 12:08 PM
@skankstank64
·
Mar 27, 2024
yfw plane/train autism existed in ancient greece but it was with ships instead
·
Mar 27, 2024
yfw plane/train autism existed in ancient greece but it was with ships instead
Reposted by Variance Hammer
what people perceive as rightwing anti-intellectualism and anti-expertise trends are 100% seeping into the overly-online-left in the form of whatever this is and the related ‘if stories are about a topic or character they are endorsing that and if you try to analyze it you are also endorsing it”
January 4, 2026 at 1:57 PM
what people perceive as rightwing anti-intellectualism and anti-expertise trends are 100% seeping into the overly-online-left in the form of whatever this is and the related ‘if stories are about a topic or character they are endorsing that and if you try to analyze it you are also endorsing it”
New year, new Lost to the Nails Hobby Bingo Card, full of the usual level of in-jokes from an infrequently recorded podcast, and a large number of squares amenable to "Okay, but hear me out..." levels of self-justification.A
January 3, 2026 at 11:25 AM
New year, new Lost to the Nails Hobby Bingo Card, full of the usual level of in-jokes from an infrequently recorded podcast, and a large number of squares amenable to "Okay, but hear me out..." levels of self-justification.A
Reposted by Variance Hammer
i can't describe for you the weirdness of visiting one of the (relatively few) parts of the world that has a high background level of regard and gratitude for the U.S.A. It feels like stepping into a mirror universe.
January 2, 2026 at 7:49 PM
i can't describe for you the weirdness of visiting one of the (relatively few) parts of the world that has a high background level of regard and gratitude for the U.S.A. It feels like stepping into a mirror universe.
What was the last movie or TV show you watched in 2025?
January 1, 2026 at 10:23 AM
What was the last movie or TV show you watched in 2025?