Grown Men Playing with Toys

Steve and Erik
  • 5.0 (6)
  • GAMES

Join us as two best friends (strategic, stoic “Erik” and observant, energetic “Steve”) discuss topics and experiences that surround their world of Warhammer gaming. Our goal is to balance sharing stories about our funniest, most frustrating, or straight up craziest Warhammer experiences (Steve’s goal) with deep, analytical thinking about the game and why it’s so enjoyable (Erik’s goal).  Beyond that, it’s an excuse for two friends to talk and share how the lessons learned playing with our toy soldiers have enriched our lives and deepened our friendship.  

  1. 23 - He's a Peacock. You Gotta Let Him Fly!

    1D AGO

    23 - He's a Peacock. You Gotta Let Him Fly!

    Send us a text Join Erik and Steve from the "Grown Men Playing With Toys" podcast as they dive into an entertaining and detailed discussion about Warhammer models with wings. The episode features a "wing tier list", where Steve passionately evaluates models from various factions based on their aesthetic appeal and painting potential. From angelic figures to terrifying demons, this episode has it all. Whether you're a painting enthusiast or just love Warhammer, this episode offers a fun look into the world of model aesthetics. The Final Tier List Content Mentioned in this Episode: Chaos Primarch Cool or Not Cool Erik's Winged Daemon Princes Erik's Fulgrim Check out our blog for more content: https://gmpwt.blog/ Engage with us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/gmpwt25?igsh=NThkeHpmdXp3MXdv&utm_source=qr

    1h 15m
  2. 22 - One is a Genius, the Other’s Insane

    JAN 29

    22 - One is a Genius, the Other’s Insane

    Send us a text Join Erik and Steve from the "Grown Men Playing With Toys" podcast as they dive into the ongoing debate within the Warhammer 40K community about "competitive" versus "casual" play. They discuss the two stereotypes and why they don't think they adequately describe the beauty and complexity that is Warhammer 40K. They highlight their own experiences blending competitive and narrative elements in games, emphasize the value of different play styles, and encourage transparency as a way of creating a positive, inclusive environment in the hobby. Lastly, the episode explores how to articulate expectations and find common ground to ensure enjoyable gaming experiences for both players. Content Mentioned in this Episode: WarpHammer: "Casual 40K" versus "Competitive 40K" Check out our blog for more content: https://gmpwt.blog/ Engage with us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/gmpwt25?igsh=NThkeHpmdXp3MXdv&utm_source=qr

    59 min
  3. 21 - Death By Snu Snu

    JAN 21

    21 - Death By Snu Snu

    Send us a text Join Erik and Steve from the "Grown Men Playing With Toys" podcast as they discuss how to deal with the potentially overwhelming influx of new detachments and model releases in Warhammer 40K recently. Erik shares his mixed feelings about the recent surge in game updates, expressing both excitement and a sense of being overwhelmed. The guys then discuss how they prioritize new model purchases and new detachment choices, how they balance staying competitive without burning out, and explore strategies to manage this "good problem" within the hobby.  Content Used for Determining Prioritization: Art of War 40K - January 2026 Update Art of War 40K - 500 Worlds Space Marines Art of War 40K - 500 Worlds Necrons Court of the Phoenician Serpents Brood Rage-Cursed Onslaught Poorhammer New Models and Detachments Review Poorhammer December Balanced Dataslate Review Stat Check - Court of the Phoenician Stat Check - Rage-Cursed Onslaught Check out our blog for more content: https://gmpwt.blog/ Engage with us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/gmpwt25?igsh=NThkeHpmdXp3MXdv&utm_source=qr

    1h 5m
  4. 20 - Slaanesh's Pillars to 40K Success

    JAN 15

    20 - Slaanesh's Pillars to 40K Success

    Send us a text Join Erik and Steve from the "Grown Men Playing With Toys" podcast as they talk about their Warhammer 40K goals for 2026.  The guys will define a structure for how they are thinking of improving their Warhammer 40K gameplay. The episode explores six categories of:  Macro StrategyMicro StrategyFlexibilityTenacityPositivityTransparencyThey discuss how each category contributes to overall gameplay improvement and how to balance between them. Lastly, they share personal goals and practical tips, emphasizing a blend of strategic planning and enhancing the gaming experience for themselves and their opponents. Content Mentioned in this Episode: EC vs GK Battle Report Sam Pope 40K - Playing By Intent Sam Pope 40K - 2 Types of 40K IQ Check out our blog for more content: https://gmpwt.blog/ Engage with us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/gmpwt25?igsh=NThkeHpmdXp3MXdv&utm_source=qr

    1h 14m
  5. 19 - Guess Who's Back, Back Again, Nurgles Back, Tell a Friend

    JAN 10

    19 - Guess Who's Back, Back Again, Nurgles Back, Tell a Friend

    Send us a text Join Erik and Steve from the "Grown Men Playing With Toys" podcast as they discuss their recent Barn Hammer session, featuring a variety of Warhammer 40K armies and a pseudo crusade event that they put Cousin Josh through. The guys reflects on key takeaways and the significance of understanding win conditions for your army and the mission being played. They share details from multiple recent games where playing to the "win condition" influenced the outcome of the game and provide insights into how mission dynamics can influence game outcomes. Lastly, they explore the challenges of using niche or skew detachments and how they may be "bad" because of hard to mitigate "lose conditions". Content Mentioned in this Episode: I Taught My Peacock to Write a List - Part 1 I Taught My Peacock to Write a List - Part 2 Leagues of Votann vs CSM Battle Report   Chaos Knights vs Custodes Battle Report Grey Knights Brotherhood Strike vs Orks War Horde Battle Report Gauntlet Storyline, Mission Details, and Lists Mentioned in the Episode Check out our blog for more content: https://gmpwt.blog/ Engage with us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/gmpwt25?igsh=NThkeHpmdXp3MXdv&utm_source=qr

    58 min
  6. 18 - Barn Hammer Prep, Dwarves Come Up A Bit Short

    12/24/2025

    18 - Barn Hammer Prep, Dwarves Come Up A Bit Short

    Send us a text Join Erik and Steve from the "Grown Men Playing With Toys" podcast as they reflect on a recent practice game featuring the Leagues of Votann list crafted in prior episodes. The guys delve into a holistic after-action discussion, analyze what worked vs what didn't, and share other lessons learned from the game. They talk about the need to make in-game adjustments based on what the primary mission and/or secondary objectives are and how to do that effectively. Lastly, the episode wraps up with the guys litmus testing their framework for "OP" against some of the more impactful moments of this game to see if it still applies. Content Mentioned in this Episode: I Taught My Peacock to Write a List - Part 1 I Taught My Peacock to Write a List - Part 2 Leagues of Votann vs CSM Battle Report   Check out our blog for more content: https://gmpwt.blog/ Engage with us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/gmpwt25?igsh=NThkeHpmdXp3MXdv&utm_source=qr

    1h 12m
  7. 17 - The Nerfing Eye of Sauron

    12/17/2025

    17 - The Nerfing Eye of Sauron

    Send us a text Join Erik and Steve from the "Grown Men Playing With Toys" podcast as they dive into how they define "overpowered" (or OP) units in Warhammer 40K. The guys will establish rough criteria for how they differentiate OP vs powerful /splashy but not OP vs "The Highway to the Danger Zone" units in the game. They will then analyze the December 2025 Balance Dataslate updates and test their definition against multiple units from the armies they play to see if they correctly predicted what would attract the "Nerfing Eye of Sauron". Lastly, their discussion also covers the potential fixes for overpowered combos, the importance of maintaining faction identity while applying nerfs, and how to be aware of when "those who nerf" may be watching you for the next dataslate.  Content Mentioned in this Episode: Art of War 40K Dataslate Review Vanguard Tactics Dataslate Review  Stat Check Dataslate Review Poorhammer Dataslate Review Erik's Battle Reports   Check out our blog for more content: https://gmpwt.blog/ Engage with us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/gmpwt25?igsh=NThkeHpmdXp3MXdv&utm_source=qr

    1h 27m
  8. 16 - I Taught My Peacock to Write a List - Part 2

    12/12/2025

    16 - I Taught My Peacock to Write a List - Part 2

    Send us a text Join Erik and Steve from the "Grown Men Playing with Toys" podcast as they dive into the importance of marrying the optimization of a list to different play styles. After receiving listener feedback, the guys discuss the importance of building lists that align with personal gameplay preferences, whether aggressive or defensive, and how that impacts list optimization.  They'll once again use Steve's Leagues of Votann list as an example and, in addition, the guys will go through a set of options on how to spend the recent Balance Dataslate and Munitorum Field Manual points updates.   Lastly, they'll conclude by emphasizing the values of having confidence in one's play strategy and list working together. Content Mentioned in this Episode: I Taught My Peacock to Write a List - Part 1 Defining Different Playstyles in 40K I Taught My Gorilla to Paint Erik's Battle Reports   Check out our blog for more content: https://gmpwt.blog/ Engage with us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/gmpwt25?igsh=NThkeHpmdXp3MXdv&utm_source=qr

    1h 8m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Join us as two best friends (strategic, stoic “Erik” and observant, energetic “Steve”) discuss topics and experiences that surround their world of Warhammer gaming. Our goal is to balance sharing stories about our funniest, most frustrating, or straight up craziest Warhammer experiences (Steve’s goal) with deep, analytical thinking about the game and why it’s so enjoyable (Erik’s goal).  Beyond that, it’s an excuse for two friends to talk and share how the lessons learned playing with our toy soldiers have enriched our lives and deepened our friendship.  

Information

  • Creator
    Steve and Erik
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Grown Men Playing with Toys
  • Show Website
    Grown Men Playing with Toys