The Meelas

Episode 22 of The Meelas starts by discussing Spearhead Studios’ newly announced Martyrdom, the historical sandbox wargame with Chapter Master Valrak among the team. We take a look at what we’ve seen so far: the First Crusade setting, the miniatures, the presentation and the mixture of familiar wargaming ideas being brought together into something new. Which naturally leads us to a terrible idea....

This week on The Meelas, we venture into the Veil of the Twisted Sands. Created here in the UAE by Mirage Studios, Veil of the Twisted Sands is a 5E-compatible Arabian fantasy TTRPG setting blending the history, folklore and culture of the Middle East with cosmic horror, eldritch threats and a world already scarred by catastrophe. We’re joined at the Meelas by Mirage Studios’ Jawad, Zaahir and Fab...

Blood Bowl takes the Warhammer world, gives it some sportsball, and somehow strategy, risk management and extreme sporting violence has become one of Games Workshop’s most enduring and beloved games. This week on The Meelas, Simon and Ibrahim take a proper deep dive into Blood Bowl after three games at the Meelas kicked off our involvement in the Emirates Blood Bowl League. We talk High Elves vs K...

What actually makes a great game of Warhammer? In Episode 19 of The Meelas, an Abu Dhabi Wargaming Podcast, Simon and Ibrahim work through everything that happens around the dice rolls: arranging games, coming prepared, setting expectations, dealing with bad luck, how seriously to take winning, rules knowledge, gotchas, take-backs, disputes, analysis paralysis, tabletop banter and how to become th...

This week Tylor joins Simon and Ibrahim to tell the story of how a completely unnecessary Forge World Knight Lancer purchase turned into finding our Abu Dhabi wargaming community, a regular seat at the Meelas and a rapidly growing Sons of Horus army. Also: 2nd Ed 40K, Infinity, Middle-earth, Black Seas, Heresy list building and why there are no trade secrets in wargaming.

One of us grew up with Warhammer 40,000 Second Edition. The other started in Eighth. Why are both of us now drawn towards older editions? In Episode 17 of The Meelas, we ask what Oldhammer and Midhammer ("Retro-K") are actually trying to recreate. Is it the rules, miniatures, painting style or atmosphere? Is it the faction-specific mechanics, narrative freedom and glorious unpredictability? Can mo...

Which tools genuinely make miniature wargaming easier? In Episode 16 of The Meelas, Simon and Ibrahim are joined by Andrew to pool the group’s collective hobby knowledge. We cover the tools, products and little discoveries that have changed how we buy, build, paint, play and store our miniatures. That includes buying second-hand models, stripping paint, GodHand clippers, Tamiya cement, metal prime...

What makes a good Warhammer homebrew, and when does something you've created start to take on a life of its own? This episode, Simon and Ibrahim discuss our Warhammer 40,000 Second Edition campaign, The Hollow Star of Kadavah, beginning in a place you might not expect. We also return to the homebrew discussion from our previous episode after the Warhammer community gave us plenty of ideas of their...

This episode, Simon and Ibrahim explore the many places hobby inspiration can come from, including miniatures, faction lore, box art, painting techniques, real-world history, music and other hobbyists’ armies. We discuss how those influences become a coherent force, when inspiration turns into imitation and what happens when an ambitious painting scheme does not work as planned. Then we put the id...

In Episode 13 of The Meelas, Ibrahim has committed to a Warriors of Chaos army for Warhammer: The Old World despite never having played a rank-and-flank game. We discuss what makes a new army feel like a viable project, why local players matter and when excitement risks becoming another box left on the shelf. We also talk about introducing people to niche systems such as Infinity and Dropfleet Com...

In Episode 12 of The Meelas Podcast, we launch our new narrative campaign for Warhammer 40,000 Second Edition: The Hollow Star of Kadavah. Once an Aeldari Maiden World, Kadavah is now an unremarkable Imperial colony. When an archaeological expedition uncovers a sealed chamber beneath its surface, a mysterious signal is broadcast across the galaxy. Different factions receive different visions of th...

How do you stay connected to the Warhammer hobby when you are away from your models, gaming table and regular group? With Simon away and Ibrahim holding the fort at the Meelas, Episode 11 is a shorter virtual edition exploring all the ways we keep hobbying when we cannot actually play. From army lists, lore and campaign planning to podcasts, social media inspiration and resisting the temptation to...

The Meelas reaches Episode 10! This week, Simon and Ibrahim ask what makes a great starter box. Is it the models, the rules, the discount or what the box gives you next? We compare the latest Warhammer 40,000, Old World and Necromunda releases with Dark Imperium, classic Warhammer Fantasy boxes, Blood Bowl, Infinity and more. We debate push-fit miniatures, whether one faction can sell an entire bo...

Simon and Ibrahim play their first game of Warhammer 40,000 11th Edition, pitting the Death Guard Maggot Lords against Amenhotekh’s Necron Guard in Combat Patrol. How easy was the new edition to learn? Did the armies feel distinctive? Did the missions, terrain and combat create an engaging battle? Most importantly, did playing 11th Edition make us want to play it again? This is our honest first ex...

After a week filled with Necromunda and Blood Bowl, Simon and Ibrahim ask whether smaller games offer more fun and memorable moments than their mass-battle counterparts. Do fewer models create more meaningful decisions and stronger attachments to individual miniatures? Are skirmish games really cheaper and easier to start? How important are painted terrain, great opponents and the community surrou...

This week on The Meelas, Simon and Ibrahim talk hobby burnout: what it is, how to spot it and how to keep wargaming fun when painting, playing, buying and keeping up all start to feel like homework. Plus the usual updates from the Meelas table, what’s being painted, what’s being played and how community can help keep us connected to the hobby we love.

In this episode Simon, Ibrahim and Adam remember the legendary John Blanche and discuss the launch of the Meelas Blanchitsu Challenge, a community painting project honouring his enormous influence on Warhammer, Grimdark art and the visual identity of the hobby. The episode explores why his work still defines so much of Warhammer’s atmosphere, and then dives into Warhammer 40,000 Second Edition and...

In Episode 5 of The Meelas Podcast, Abu Dhabi’s wargaming podcast, Simon, Ibrahim and Adam talk through a packed two weeks of tabletop gaming at the Meelas, including BattleTech, Blood Bowl, Dropfleet Commander, Horus Heresy, Infinity, Space Crusade and Warhammer 40,000 2nd Edition. We also cover what’s on the hobby table, from Cawdor and Iron Hands to Space Wolves, Lamenters and Eldar, before div...

Simon and Ibrahim are off this week, but wanted to wish Eid Mubarak to all listeners of The Meelas!

Simon and Ibrahim are joined by hobby newcomer Ahmed look at how the Meelas can help you get started in the wargaming hobby, as well as talking Infinity, Warhammer 40k, Horus Heresy, Oldhammer, and much more. Plus, we round up the latest Meelas session and our hobby plans. Come and find us on Instagram at AD.Wargaming

Simon, Ibrahim and Suhail dive into how to get started in wargaming in the UAE in 2026 and compare it to the before-times, as well as talking Warhammer 40k, Horus Heresy, Infinity, and much more. Plus we round up latest Meelas sessions and hobby news. Come and find us on Instagram at AD.Wargaming

Simon and Ibrahim chat about Wargaming and the latest Meelas sessions. Our main topic of conversation is around The Horus Heresy, by Warhammer. Come and find us on Instagram at AD.Wargaming

Simon and Ibrahim introduce The Meelas Podcast and chat about Wargaming and RPGs. Our main topic of conversation is around Infinity, by Corvus Belli. Come and find us on Instagram at AD.Wargaming