The Meelas

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 box, how useful the contents need to be as your army grows and what our own ideal starter sets would contain.
Before that, there is plenty happening at the Meelas, including Necromunda, Blood Bowl and Halo: Flashpoint, alongside an exceptionally busy weekend around the hobby table.
What was your first starter box, and which one do you think did it best?

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 experience rather than a definitive review. We may not have loved this particular game, but we want to understand what we are missing and plan to try again at a larger scale.
Experienced 40K players, tell us what you think. What did we misunderstand, what changes at 1,000 or 2,000 points and what makes 11th Edition work for you?

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 surrounding a game?
We discuss Necromunda, Blood Bowl, Halo: Flashpoint, Infinity, Horus Heresy and second edition Warhammer 40,000 before inevitably talking ourselves into creating even more campaigns.
Tell us in the comments: do you prefer smaller skirmish games or enormous battles?

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 why older editions can create unforgettable gaming stories. Whether you are a UAE or GCC wargamer, an Oldhammer fan, a player of Necromunda or Horus Heresy player, or you're just curious about the strange magic of 1990s Warhammer, this episode is a tribute to the art, rules and stories that keep the hobby alive.

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 diving into our main topic: how do you choose a new army or faction? Is it rules, lore, nostalgia, aesthetics, centrepiece models or pure rule of cool? If you’re into Warhammer 40k, Horus Heresy, Infinity, BattleTech, Blood Bowl or tabletop wargaming in the UAE and GCC, come join us at the Meelas.
Find us on Instagram: @ad.wargaming

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