The Nerd’s Tale is a wargaming blog that feels like swapping stories with a friend after game night. Written by Brian, an enthusiastic Kings of War player in Wisconsin, it chronicles his journey back into the hobby and the community he’s helping build. The blog’s focus is clear: Kings of War battles, local events, and the joys of miniature gaming. Brian’s voice comes through as friendly and a bit playful–you can tell he’s having fun with every post. It’s conversational and down-to-earth, often with a wink of humor, making you feel right at home in his corner of the wargaming world.
One of the best things about The Nerd’s Tale is how it showcases community-building in action. Brian isn’t just talking about games; he’s actively growing the Kings of War scene in Wisconsin. He’s organized leagues and tournaments and eagerly brings people together. In one post he recaps the Northwoods GT(a grand tournament he ran in Reedsburg) and shares how players from Wisconsin and neighboring states all had a blast. You can sense his pride in seeing everyone come together. He’s also helped launch an interstate doubles event with the Minnesota KoW club, showing how two communities can team up for even more fun. On top of that, Brian volunteers as a Mantic Pathfinder (a sort of official ambassador for the game), running demo games at local shops and conventions to invite new players. All this community effort shines through in the blog, giving it an inspiring, upbeat energy.
Beyond the community reports, the content is just as engaging when Brian dives into game strategy and hobby talk. He often writes about his beloved Ratkin army, sharing both victories and misadventures in a relatable way. A great example is the post “Cheeseboard Theory: 41 Slices of Processed Yellow Squares or 1 Quality Block of Swiss?” – a cheeky title for an experiment where he fielded an enormous horde of cheap rat troops to see if sheer numbers could beat an elite army. The write-up is funny and insightful: he admits the swarm was tough to handle and didn’t win every game, but it taught him clever tactics (and gave opponents a real puzzle to solve!). Brian isn’t afraid to be honest about what works or doesn’t; he’ll celebrate a crafty scenario win even if half his army got smashed, and laugh about lessons learned when things go awry. This mix of humor and analysis makes his battle reports and army discussions both entertaining and useful. He also sprinkles in occasional opinion pieces like “No More Tiers: My Unprofessional Opinion,” where he candidly argues against rigid faction rankings, showing his passion for fair, skill-driven play (which, while I agree with him on Kings being skill-driven, I disagree on his thoughts about ranking factions). Even when he’s ranting a little, it stays positive and thought-provoking, never veering into negativity.
Why will Data & Dicereaders enjoy The Nerd’s Tale? For one, it offers plenty of wargaming insight wrapped in an easygoing style. If you love strategy gaming and analysis, you’ll appreciate how Brian breaks down his games and army builds without ever feeling dry or technical. He talks through his thought process in casual language, so you pick up tips about list-building, unit tactics, or running events almost by osmosis while reading a story. Fans of hobby content will enjoy seeing how he tackles projects on a budget and juggles multiple armies – it’s motivational without being preachy. Moreover, the blog really celebrates the community aspect of our hobby, which is something many of us value (and has been discussed on CounterCharge–this is the infamous “Milwaukee Brian” aka “Squirmin Vermin”). Brian’s excitement about getting new players involved and creating welcoming gaming meetups is infectious. Reading his posts, you can’t help but imagine building something similar in your own local scene. The tone throughout is positive, grounded, and slightly whimsical, much like Data & Dice’s own style. One moment he’s cracking a joke about “squeaky rats,” and the next he’s sincerely thanking his friends for an awesome tournament weekend. That balance of lighthearted fun and genuine enthusiasm makes The Nerd’s Tale a refreshing read.
In the end, The Nerd’s Tale comes across as a genuine chronicle of one gamer’s adventures, both on the tabletop and in his community. It’s heartfelt, funny, and full of love for the game and the people who play it. I found myself smiling at Brian’s stories and feeling inspired by what he’s doing in Wisconsin’s Kings of War scene. If you’re into strategy gaming, wargaming analysis, or just enjoy a good hobby story, this blog is definitely worth checking out. It’s a friendly little corner of the internet that will likely leave you itching to roll some dice and maybe even build up your own community.
👉 Check it out here: The Nerd’s Tale
