Sunday, November 30, 2014

SATLOF 2014

Even with my "big announcement" regarding RPGaDay, the family's annual pilgrimage to SATLOF trumps everything.

SATLOF is the Saturday After Thanksgiving Leftover Feast, hosted by our friend Balls.  There must be at least 15 previous events, as it was well established institution before my wife came around, and this year marked her 10th straight SATLOF.

Really, any excuse to eat more food, drink some booze, and play some games is fine by me, but then we had to go and do something silly:  We all had kids.

We arrived around 6pm to a scene of tons of tiny feet scrambling about on the kitchen floor, playing with numerous toys.   Between kids and a few invitees cancellations, SATLOF was to be  an intimate affair.  A few of us finally figured out how to finagle the child gate on the top of the cellar steps and we descended into the booze/gaming area.

...oh yeah, Maja tagged along for the ride and cajoled everyone to play Zombie Dice.  Of course, she won.

Then we pushed her boundaries of game play with Dungeon Roll.  She picked up about 75% of the rules, and required only a few nudges to playing a competitive game.  I pulled out an 11th hour victory, going through 10 levels of the dungeon and 3 dragon attacks to eek out a victory over Balls.

Finally, Maja went over to Steve's bag o' games and pulled out Euphoria.  This was definitely over Maja's age bracket, but truth be told, it was over mine at times.  Very convoluted at times, but three of us could have won the end game at anytime with the right rolls.

For a traditional SATLOF it was way laid back.  I only snagged a single plate of food and actually scored some desert.  There was no legendary trashcan punch, only a few nice Ciders  and IPAs.  And my daughter was not only humored into the games, but accepted with open arms.  The best part was she behaved far better than even my high standards could actually imagine.   I doubt we're having Steve break out Euphoria again, but knowing my daughter, she'll want to play the game the gives you bliss.

RPGaDay for December

Back in August, someone on Twitter was supporting #RPGaDay in honor of GenCon.  Thirty-one different RPG questions over thirty-one days.

I had a million different things happening in August, so there was no way I was going to do full write-ups on my blog and Tweet for the program and not feel guilty that I missed the first nine days.

So now, I'm pleased to announce my attempt at all 31 days for December.   Of course, from day 10 on in August I tweeted my answers.  I'm assuming most of the answers are the same after four months,  but I'll be able to expand on a few specific entries. 

I'm also labelling these as part of my 12 Days program I do each year around Christmas. These posts will get a morning time and regular posts, such as painting or hobby news, will get posted in the afternoon.

Hopefully I'll steal another person's idea for holiday post-filler for next year.  *fingers crossed*.

 

Saturday, November 29, 2014

(IOU) Manna the Monkey

This week's Risus character is a monkey.  I mean, who doesn't want to play an adorable monkey... wearing a fez... and prefers kosher bananas?  That's Manna, who's been thwarted by her addiction to cable news numerous times, and developed a harsh fear of video games when she was nearly killed in the Dot Matrix.

Manna the Monkey
Adorable Jewish Monkey (5)
Cable News Addict (3)
Pacifist (2)
Yoga Trainee (1)

Equip: Fez

Fear/Hatred of Video Games

 

Thursday, November 27, 2014

(Repost) March of the Wooden Soldiers

First off, Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Even you Canadians that celebrate early can join in the festivities today.

As my workload increased and the days became shorter, I expected my kids to go ga-ga over Christmas stuff, and quite frankly, they're doing it in surprising moderation. 

But more than once we've been sitting around the kitchen table and when the subject of holidays come up, my eldest, Maja would say....

"Thanksgiving is the holiday the Pilgrims made.  We eat turkey, watch parades, and we all watch Daddy's special movie with the wooden soldiers."

Reaffirmation that I'm doing something right as a father.

While it was only two years ago that I assembled this, as you sit bloated in your easy chair, watching another blow-out, you can read up on assembling your own game based on March of the Wooden Soldiers.


Post Gorging Edit:  After watching a super excited Maja watch the movie this year, I realized that I neglected the Toyland Police Force, which I believe resemble Napoleonic soldiers with some garish movie flair.  I also realized that I need to start buying Toytown Soldiers from Eureka.   Finally, Zombie Dice is truly the great ice breaker. Now onto SATLOF on Saturday!

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

(Kickstarter) Samurai Dwarves

Forlorn Hope Games has launched a Kickstarter to expand their Samurai Dwarves range.

They already have six figures in the line and are looking to add at least 3 more minis, sculpted the stunty sculptor extraordinaire Bob Olley.

Here are existing six:



Forlorn Hope also makes Orc Samurai for an enemy.

The best part of the Kickstarter?   Everything is being shipped from the United Kingdom and worldwide shipping is included in the pledge level.


 

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Pre-Thanksgiving Update

Back to corralling the children and animals, and making the house presentable for my sister and brother-in-law when they swing down from Boston tomorrow night. 

I did make two small updates to the blog:
  • I did update the listing under Burning Trogs Rule! to include the last entry I made, plus placeholders for the next two adventures that have been outlined.
  • I finally entered links for all my IOU Characters using Risus that I've posted thus far.  
  • My copy of Car Wars is finally in my possession and it is all the old school complicated goodness that I remember.   
With my sister visiting Wednesday, I may have time Thursday for a kid's game, but I make no promises.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Mepacon Creature Feature

In my after action report from Mepacon, I forgot to mention that the theme of the con was Undead.   Telling that to Maja the Friday before the con produced a high-pitched squeal that nearly broke the windows.

Here's Maja in front with the other Undead/Horror costumers.  She threw on a skeleton costume that was 90% off at Target along with her headgear from being a "Creature" (aka Chorus member) in the Nuangola Grove Childrens Theatre Workshop production of A Monster Ate My Homework.


Don't know why Glinda the Good Witch was there, but the Oz books are terrifying to the Wicked Witches...

Sunday, November 23, 2014

(Kickstarter) Adventures in the Lost Lands 15mm Miniatures

I'm not a 15mm guy and I almost missed this campaign entirely, but after Maja enjoying her little safari, I can't help but make and 11th hour plug for Adventures in the Lost Lands.  

15mm means the figures don't need to uber-detailed, and the game boards can cover a huge area.






 

Saturday, November 22, 2014

(IOU) Wooly, The Magic Shepherd

Another one shot character, Wooly is just an odd interpretation of my friend, err.. Wooly.
 
Wooly, The Magic Shepherd
Wizardly shepherd of Whooping Ass (5)
A Sheep in Wolf's Clothing (4)
Bad Ass Mofo (3)
Swinging my staff like Barry Bond's midget cousin (1)

Equipment:  Shepherd's Crook of Whooping Ass

 

Friday, November 21, 2014

(Kickstarter) Masks of Nylarahotep Prop Set

It's hard enough to get my Call of Cthulhu group together to play Masks (i.e. My schedule is sheer hell), so I'm quite satisfied to zip a few photocopies off at work for the handouts I need.

If I was a classier fella, I might dole out a few clams for these custom Masks of Nylarahotep Custom Prop Set.


I can't tell you if $65 is a good price for the handouts, but I'm greatly amused by the four passport reproductions and appropriate visa stamps in the $175 pledge or even a classy looking Keeper screen on $225 that includes tables relevant to Masks.


 

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Apathy of the New Releases (Dec '14)

After a few months of some new releases in the core product lines stores usually stock, the winter doldrums kick in, and they hope the recent product can stem those long cold nights before the cool stuff starts trickling out in the Spring.

Now, that's not to say there weren't some cool things in this month's issue of Game Trade Magazine, but the majority of it is third-tier stuff that is wildly hit and miss in most stores.

Without further ado:

My Must Have List: 
Nothing

My Money is No Object List:
Catalyst Game Labs
Battletech Lance Packs (Assault, Pursuit, Battle) ............................................................ $19.99 each
Sure, they're plastic, but to get get mechs in ready to play sets is a great idea.

My Imaginary Store List:
4 Winds Fantasy Gaming
PATHFINDER RPG: HEROES OF THE MIDDLE KINGDOM............................................... $19.99

The Army Painter
Tool:  Tape Measure ..................................................................................................................... $5.99
It's going to be a whiney month...  Really?  I can go to Sears and get a full sized tape measure for that cost!  Oh well, I wouldn't categorize this as an impulse buy, but some customers have too much money and not enough sense.

Battlefield Press
Pulp Fantastic RPG .................................................................................. SC  $25.00   HC  $35.00
Every few months/years, another straight pulp game tries to make a foothold in the market and fails miserably.  Personally, I'd rather use the sometimes clunky BRP.

SAVAGE WORLDS RPG: GASLIGHT VICTORIAN FANTASY ............................. $24.95
SAVAGE WORLDS RPG: DOUBLE SPIRAL WAR .................................................. $24.95

Cubicle 7
DOCTOR WHO RPG: THE NINTH DOCTOR SOURCEBOOK HC .........................  $34.95

Evil Hat Productions
Designers and Dragons, 4 volumes (70's/80's/90's/00's) ................................................. $20.00each
I usually have problems with books on the history of gaming.  A FOUR VOLUME set is a brand new issue. 

FATE RPG: The Deck of Fate ......................................................................................... $14.95
FATE RPG: The Secrets of Cats ...................................................................................... $10.00

Fantasy Flight Games
Star Wars Armada ................................................................................................... $99.95
Star Wars Imperial Assault Chewbacca Ally Pack ................................................. $ 9.95
Star Wars Imperial Assault Han Solo Ally Pack ..................................................... $ 9.95
Star Wars Imperial Assault IG-88 Ally Pack ........................................................... $ 9.95
Star Wars Imperial Assault General Weiss Villan Pack ...........................................$ 9.95
Star Wars Imperial Assault Rebel Saboteurs Ally Pack ........................................... $  9.95
Star Wars Imperial Assault Rebel Trooper Ally Pack .............................................. $  9.95
Star Wars Imperial Assault Royal Guard Champion Villan Pack ............................ $  9.95
Star Wars Imperial Assault Dice Pack ...................................................................... $11.95

Gale Force Nine
Battlefield in a Box: Space Station Lasers ................................................................. $39.95

Goodman Games
DUNGEON CRAWL CLASSICS: #76.5 WELL OF THE WORM ...............................$9.99
DUNGEON CRAWL CLASSICS: #79.5 TOWER OF THE BLACK PEARL ..............$9.99
DUNGEON CRAWL CLASSICS: #85 THE MAKING OF THE GHOST KING .........$9.99
DUNGEON CRAWL CLASSICS: HOLIDAY MOD: THE OLD GODS RETURN .....$9.99
PATHFINDER RPG: MAXIMUM XCRAWL GM SCREEN  .......................................$9.99

KONAMI DIGITAL
Yu-Gi-Oh!  Secrets of Eternity Boosters

Last Stand Convertables
Dice Bags
PEASANT BERLAP 5 X7 ............................................$3.49
RANGER JUTE 5 X 7 MOSS GREEN .......................  $3.49
SATIN 4 X 6 ELEMENTAL FIRE ..............................  $2.49
SATIN 4 X 6 FAERY PINK   ....................................... $2.49
SATIN 4 X 6 GOBLIN GREEN .................................... $2.49
SATIN 4 X 6 MANTICORE BURGUNDY .................. $2.49
SATIN 4 X 6 UNICORN TAN ...................................... $2.49
SATIN 5 X 8 DRAGON PEWTER ..............................  $3.49
SORCERER JUTE 5 X 7 DRIED BLOOD ..................  $3.49
At these prices, can I be enthused and completely skeptical at the same time.  Those are great prices for dice bags... 25 years ago! A few to experiment seems proper, but I would triple check the quality before placing a bulk order... if a distributor would be able to, that is.

Mayfair Games
Murano ............................................................................ $60.00
Patchwork ........................................................................ $25.00

Modiphius
ACHTUNG! CTHULHU RPG: GUIDE TO NORTH AFRICA ...............................  $28.99
FATE RPG: ACHTUNG! CTHULHUGUIDE TO THE SECRET WAR .................  $64.99

Mongoose Publishing
Legend RPG:  Land of Ice and Stone ..........................................................................  $24.99
Traveller RPG: Book 11: Pirate ..................................................................................   $24.99
Traveller 2300: Atlas of the French Arm ....................................................................   $29.99

Osprey
Bolt Action: Ostfront .....................................................$29.95

Paizo Publishing
PATHFINDER TALES: FIRESOUL PAPERBACK ......................................................  $ 9.99
PATHFINDER CAMPAIGN SETTING: TOMBS OF GOLARION .............................. $19.99
PATHFINDER MAP PACK: RIVER SYSTEM .............................................................. $13.99
PATHFINDER ADV PATH GIANTSLAYER PART 1 - BATTLE BLOODMARCH HILL $22.99
PATHFINDER PLAYER COMPANION: MELEE TACTICS TOOLBOX ................... $12.99

Pinnacle Entertainment
SAVAGE WORLDS RPG: EAST TEXAS UNIVERSITY LIMITED EDITION HC .... $24.99
SAVAGE WORLDS RPG: EAST TEXAS UNIVERSITY - DEGREES OF HORROR LIMITED EDITION HC  .................................................................................................................... $24.99
SAVAGE WORLDS RPG: EAST TEXAS UNIVERSITY - GM SCREEN WITH CLASS RING ADVENTURE .................................................................................................................... $19.99
SAVAGE WORLDS RPG: EAST TEXAS UNIVERSITY MAPS
                                                              BUSINESS/LIBRARY ......................................... $14.99
                                                               CLASSROOM/OFF CAMPUS HOUSING ........ $14.99

REALITY BLURS
Tremulus RPG .................................................................... $40.00


REAPER MINIATURES
Giant Snake .......................................................................... $9.99

Steve Jackson Games
Munchkin: Kobolds Ate My Baby Booster Pack ................... $5.95
All hail King Torg!  Fnord!

Toy Vault
Princess Bride-opoly Board Game .......................................... $44.99

WizKids
Star Trek Attack Wing: Expansion Packs
            Federation USS Prometheus, Klingon Ning'tao, Ratosha  $14.99 each.
D&D Fantasy Miniatures: Icon of the Realms
Marvel Heroclix: Avengers Quick Start Kit                                    $ 4.99

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

I admit I like to cryptically blame or complain about work for my gaming woes.  When you work for an insurance companies Medicare division, the old folk's Annual Enrollment Period is certainly, as the kids put it, cray-cray.    Adding three more interim employees in my section to manage and a few more job duties simply creates more fun.

Unlike the rest of the world, my insanity actually ends in December.  Although I'm still on permanent overtime, my workload shifts from crisis management to clean-up and hopefully ramp-up for next year my mid-January.   So outside of a foray into the bowels of Target for Christmas shopping, I can start planning out gaming days.

Off the top of my head, I've got the following

  • Mepacon Spring 2015 - Yes, it's way far out, but I anticipate after a big announcement post Thanksgiving, I'll be proposing something new for the con, something my may make me take up the the sacred title of con staff/volunteer again.  More to come as things get clearer.
  • Cold Wars 2015 - Still going with the guys for my weekend away, but thinking about going as a civilian.   More to come on that as well...
  • SATLOF - Our groups annual Saturday After Thanksgiving Leftover Feast, a day a gluttony, alcohol, and games.  I've got a few options to volunteer (I'm so not a fan of Redneck Life and I've been far worse with my write-your-own cards in Apples to Apples than anything Cards Against Humanity can do.)
  • Gnome Wars - When I was talking with my friend Brian at Mepacon, he was interested to come up and game at Emerald Vale, so we may make commandeer a table for some Gnome Wars.  We have a lot of catching up to do with Tanga and Western Front Great Wars games.
  • Call of Cthulhu - January?  I'm hoping for some nice weather and a mother-in-law who loves her grandkids to pull this off, but Masks must advance.  I also have to catch up on the Actual Plays so comments like, "I wonder if anyone will like Nichols' new investigator" make much more sense.
  • Car Wars - Hopefully, my basic set is sitting in the office at Emerald Vale, so I might begin to ponder the Great GenCon Food Truck Rally.  I know I have six players at the mere mention of it. The questions of where, when, and who will back the board might need to be answered.
  • Magic - Booster drafts on Friday nights might be more workable than Sunday, depending on how the kids behave.
  • The Kids! - Zombie Dice, Jungle Hunts, and Astro-Surfian Gnome Action are in their forecast.  I've got two weeks of vacation piled up and a winter full of snow days to use them. 

Monday, November 17, 2014

Mepacon Fall 2014

I trekked up to Mepacon this weekend Ramada in Clark's Summit, and as always, a great time was had by all.

What popped up on the Ramada's sign after "Welcome to Mepacon"

Last Spring, I had taken my 4-year daughter to the con, and we had such a good time, that the words, "Daddy? I hope the whole family can come to the convention next year!"
 
So Saturday morning, the whole familia loaded up in the van and we got up to the hotel.   After grabbing badges, the kids (now 3 and 5)  immediately jumped into the coloring contest and I went through a pleasant gauntlet of greeting friends I only see at the con.
 
After that, we waltzed over to the Damon's Grill on the hotel grounds.  My wife and I relaxed to an appetizer lunch, while the children were ridiculously well-behaved except for playing with the volume controls on the table for the four projection TVs lining the walls.
 
We ran back to the van for the supplies for my Attack of the 50-Foot Princess game and headed back into the hotel ballroom to set-up.  Note to self:  carrying around plastic army guys and shoebox buildings is far superior to carry than  totes full of lead and MBA buildings. 
 
While checking the event wall to find my table assignment.  I was met with identical good news and bad news.  The good news:  I had a full table!  The bad news:  convention events and attendance swelled the past few years, and I was relegated to a tight role-playing table in the corner.  Between the location and the equally full table of D&D players inches away from me, two of my players decided to look for less cramped quarters, and hopefully we could put together a second session.
 
For the game, the objectives are simple:  The Princess must reach the tower at the other end of the board, the other players had to stop her.  While the the system and rolls were based off of my Toddler Interactive Adventure Resolution... Adventure (TIARA) system, this particular game owes alot to OGRE for damage and Battletech for hit resolution. 
Before she Let it Go as a queen, Elsa was a Princess
Our Princess for the encounter was a young Elsa.  Not only would she get stomp and smash/throw attacks, but every other round she could use her ice powers for a cone template that my daughter cut out of blue construction paper the morning of the con.
 
Each of the other players would control a Prince or Princess commanding a five-man squad, as well as either a tank, or an immobile howitzer. The squad's varied between gnomes from Gnome Wars and plastic army guys.
 
One Princess was set up as the last line of defense at the top of the tower....
 
This was the first time I had run this for players over 5 years of age, so I began to worry as the rolls failed to hit early on.  Elsa failed an easy roll to crush the tank and soldiers hiding in the auto repair shop, then her ice powers failed to freeze the fleeing soldiers!  Luck for her, the few shots that hit from the defenders hit her toughest part of her body, her legs (think OGRE).
 
My daughter hung around the table and I offered her a unit of Ice Goblins (blue gretchin) to help Elsa.  Two rounds into it, she ran off to paint a miniature, but kept moving the little guys around the flank and drew the attention of the young man running Prince Hans of the Southern Isles and his gnome detachment.   Following my rule zero: Anything fun is possible, I let him jump in a truck and attempt to run down the exposed goblins.    The gnomes ran over half of them, leaving them open to a goblin grenade attack.
 
All of them missed, plus I rolled 3 1's, which resulted in three scatter rolls.  All three scatter rolls landed at the feet of the goblins.
I forget my playing cards for initiative, so I used duplicates of Beer: The Card Game
 Back on Main Street, Elsa kicked a tank into Prince Hans' emplacement.  The Prince was looking for a place far less heroic to hide.   As Elsa contnued to wade through the defenses with only some significant damage from the other tanks, the young man with the gnomes began jumping and down.
 
Boy:  "Ooooh, oooh, I have an idea"
 
Me:  "What is it?"
 
Boy:  "The gnomes are going to break  a window, crush the glass, and put it into the fuel line.  I want to drive over to Elsa and let the truck explode next to her."
 
Me:  "Your new bedtime is now 8pm.  No DVR privileges ever, no matter what you parents say" 
 
But in the spirit of the game, I allowed it.   It took one turn to perform the task and each turn they drove they would need to make a roll to explode, each round getting cumulatively better odds.
 
They blew up with a 5 on their second turn of crushed glass adventure, blowing up the remains of the kicked tank from the earlier rounds.  Prince Hans was not pleased.
 
Elsa nears the objective
Elsa continued to outrun the defenses while blocking line of sight for the last immobile artillery piece on Main St.  She was battered, but the longe range tank shells only had hit all over and even concentrated fire might not fell the Princess.

But Rapunzel had a trick up her sleeve (or in her hair)... 

A hostage.

I've got a hair-dryer and I'm not afraid to use it!
This stalled Elsa and produced two ineffective attacks.  Just enough time for the town defenses to catch up.
At Princess Military Academy, every girl learns dancing, singing, and combined arms.
With the last tank shell, Elsa fell, three inches from her objective.  Rapunzel and her men cheered, but those cheers turned to screams of terror, as Olaf pushed them all off the tower.  It was a set-up all along! 
 
Rapunzel (far left) and Elsa are the royal casualties.

The remains of the town.
What nefarious plot does Olaf have, except WORLD DOMINATION (and warm hugs)?  Perhaps another con event is in the making...

After cleaning up, I went back to the family, who had each completed the official Zombie Hello Kitty picture for the coloring contest, and painting two minis, both of which I donated to the Painting event about six years ago. 

I tried my best to relieve my wife from herding the cats and caught with my friend Brian, who had only brough some of the more difficult beer-and-pretzel games to play, and caught up with my friend George who I don't believe I've seen in well over a decade.    It was as manly a time as a bunch of fathers with little girls could muster, watching them play with the remains of the game I had yet to pack up, while ALL of us were sipping on Capri Suns. 

As Hammer would say, Propper.

After letting the kids have a crack at the dice guess, my wife took the Millie, the 3-year old, out to the car for some sort of excursion.  This left me in lurch, as she possessed all of our cash, so we needed to borrow five bucks from Brian for the game raffle. Of course, my wife and Millie came back (with donuts!) two minutes after the raffle closed.  One of the tickets was a winner, but at that point the only choices left were older edition Warhammer books the school bus die from Zombie Dice.  I hoped that giving that to Brian and an IOU for lunch would cover us for now.

Watching Maja scan our raffle tickets looking for a winner was going to be the purest source of unbribled excitement.   Then they announced the winners of the coloring contest.  Maja won the contest at last Spring's con, but she relinquished it to... her sister Millie.  Upon hearing her name, Millie ran from her table at the back of the ballroom with the shower of happiness emanating from her smile, and the strength of a tractor trailer as she barrelled through the aisle of fat gamers.

Mepacon's Famous Everything Starts a Dollar Auction was verrrrrry productive for both the cons 15% take of each item, as well as numerous items that were auctioned off for a number of charities. 
Normally, Brian and myself are able to bottom feed a few items for a dollar two, but this year, the increased attenedance was so great, that even the worst gaming garbage imaginable was going for four or five dollars!  I also realized, as a father, I need to pay attention to my kids more, as they had absconded with my bidder card and tried (unsuccessfully) to snag a few items they wanted.

I had thrown in a few Call of Cthulu books into the auction that I had won at previous auctions, and we waited for the staff to complete to the transactions so I could get cash to get the girls a few things.

Our swag was minimal (and covered by the auction), second Erstwhile book of Brother Grimm Fairy Tales that Maja had already read twice at the dealer's table, two old con shirts (they were cheaper and in kid's sizes), and Zombie Dice, as well as Zombie Dice 2.

We drove home, put Millie to bed, and Maja and I played Zombie Dice before she went to her room, her final words, "Maybe next convention it can be just you and me, Daddy."

The big BIG news at the con was that they were moving for the Spring 2015 con.   The next con will be April 24-26 at the Hilton Scranton and Conference Center in Downtown Scranton.  There's a few logistical issues I'd like more info about (parking), but they are working with local stores and clubs to offer Magic and Games Workshop tournaments. 

After 15 years of cons, it may finally be time for prime time. 

Edit: all pictures of Elsa came from play Mike Sarno. 

Saturday, November 15, 2014

(IOU) Rabi Awab Najab

Rabi Awab Najab is another character who only made one appearance, in the first two sections of A Kringle in Time.  Since I can't find any fan art of Genie from Aladdin mixed with Ali G, I'll use the picture below for guidance.
 
Rabi Awab Najab
Amnesiatic Hip-Hop Genie (4)
Calvin Klein Underwear Model (3)
Fledgling Chef (2)
Frequent Wishing Well Coin Stealer (1)

Equipment:  Lamp is my bling.  With my amnesia, I totally mistake it for just a piece of jewelry.  I can only use genie powers if I am reminded that I am one.



Friday, November 14, 2014

Jungle Safari

It's been a long, slow Autumn for gaming.  Work and family functions have been eating into any available time, so much so that I can't get a good hour to set up and play a game with my kids.

The stars finally aligned this week as I needed to pick up the kids at dance while my wife ran off to her own dance class (Zumba).  After reheating leftovers and plotting what I needed to get done before Mepacon this weekend, I pulled out a few things, cleaned off the dining room table, and set up a caveman hunting game.

With a few Fisher-Price animals and some Melanesians from Pulp Figures, we created a world of oversized mammals... and the hungry people who wanted a snack. 

Using my Toddler Interactive Adventure Resolution... Adventure! (TIARA) that I've been tweaking since Maja was two, we set up two human hunting parties at opposite ends of the board.

Maja spying a giant leopard

The giant bunny was added later, and successfully eluded the hunters
Maja's Blue Team reached a giant kangaroo first, and the whole hunting party concept was thrown right out the window, "Daddy, can my guys try and take the the kangaroo home with us instead?"

The blue team scores some hits on the kangaroo...
Despite getting a few rolls to "capture" the creature, and the kangaroo fleeing very slowly on its escape roll, the hunters spied the giant bunny, and sprinted past the kangaroo to reach it!  Alas, the bunny was very quick and dashed off the board and out of harms way.

... but get distracted and try to capture the bunny!
On my end, the Yellow Team spooked a zebra and then rolled poorly against a giant leopard.  The leopard busted through the wall of men,  killing one in the process, before working its way the the hill on the table that was designated "safe."  Despite the two teams meeting, putting aside their differences, and working together to surround the jungle cat, the leopard escaped!

The combined parties try to circle the man-killing leopard, but it evades capture.
I'm amazed at how much three months of kindergarten has affected Maja's math skills.  She was rolling for movement on 2d6, measuring out the distance, and adding up her multiple d6s for combat like a magic-user casting fireball in D&D.   I think she'll be fine at the con

And in a week or so, I hope to expand the game to include a few bigger blokes..

Oh boy... next week?

Thursday, November 13, 2014

(Kickstarter) Old West Street Tiles by Six Squared Studios

Outside of my kids painting up some dollar store cowboys and Indians, I haven't had any interest in Western gaming for awhile. 

So why am I mentioning the Old West Stree Tiles Kickstarter by Six Squared Studios?

The two principles of Six Squared are part of the the Gnome Wars group I refer to in hushed tones as "The Canadians."  Their resin craters have gotten rave reviews in our circle and their 8-piece river set is a tempting add-on, depending on holiday shopping.

Wide Street Tiles

Narrow Street Tiles
Each set is $35 + $10 for North American shipping. 

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

The Kickstarters Trickle In...

For a man of finite funds and waning patience, Kickstarters continues annoy more than please me.   That's saying a lot, as I've gotten two of my rewards in the mail over the past week.

Tanner Jones and the Quest for the Monkey Stone delivered two months EARLY.  As much as I wanted to rip this apart and tear into it, it's resting atop a bookcase, ready to be given on Christmas Eve to the girls  With all the other garbage Santa is going to get them, something they're still excited to get from the parental units will avarice and selfishness of the season.



I also got Goodman Games' Age of Cthulhu 8: Starfall Over the Plateau of Leng Hardcover.  As much as I'm a fan of author Jon Hook, I do question the need for a hardcover of such a skinny book, and despite my growing interest in the Dreamlands, I'm not too thrilled by the scenario after the first read-through.  After normally giving out crumbs to the investigators, offering up a scenario where "*BOOM* you're in the Dreamlands" feels like a bit of a cop-out.  I have Machine King my reading list to see if their method of travel is treated differently.That being said, I'm quite pleased with the extras.  The handouts are top-notch, the extra scenario Trans-Atlantic Terror might be a perfect addition for my current group, and there are still more stretch goals due!

Of course after this arrives, I get yet another update from Reaper about Bones II.    The last container of product is finally leaving China, which means January by the time it travels the Pacific, clears customs, and they can inventory it before shipping out the rewards.  Of course, I didn't pick any of the normal pledges, which leaves me in Wave 10, which will probably arrive in late April.

I still have hope that the equally slow RAFM Call of Cthulhu campaign might actually arrive before Reaper's. 

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 25mm

With my daughter Maja's love of all things Wizard of Oz, I have done some research to put together a miniatures version of it, as well of Oz: Great and Powerful and the Legends of Oz cartoon that came out this Spring.  (Quick review:  Legends of Oz had the voice talent of a major production, but the plot and animation gave it a tiny step above direct-to-DVD.  My kids liked it, although I have developed an all-out hatred of all things Martin Short post-Three Amigos.)

So why a new post about The Wonderful Wizard of Oz?   Because that's the name of the actual book the classic movie is derived from.  I started reading Maja that as part of her new bedtime routine in the new house and I've discovered (a) it worked great and (b) the book is even more wildly different than I was led to believe.   I knew years ago that Dorothy wore silver slippers in the book, but that producers changed them to ruby in the movie to better use the "Power of TECHNICOLOR."   The rest, like Dorothy not meeting Glinda for the first time until the very end of the story, have been pretty recent revelations.

I'm not going to be obsessively comprehensive.  Please refer to my movie posts

Dorothy Gales of Kansas... and her little dog too!
Outside of the Post-Apocalyptic crowd, a suitable Dorothy figure has been one of my main difficulties.

Let's try the eldest girl in Reaper Miniature's Townsfolk Children 3233:
Possibly Tip, Billina, and Button Bright from the later books?
I've just got to figure out where they discovered the Dorothy figure from the Historicon 2014 game.

And remember, Dorothy's hair in the books is blonde, and she's definitely not as old Judy Garland's character in the movie.

For Toto, I would shoot a bit larger than the scale suggests, simply because the canine companion will be used and moved around a LOT.  I might suggest a Terrier from the Gnome Wars British Dog Handler:


I have seen some weiner dog medics on the Gnome Wars tables, and I'm afraid those guys are way too small for such an important character.  Might as well make it bigger.

Munchkinland

Despite the militarized element in the movie, the Munchkins are rather pacifistic.

I would recommend using the German Peasants from Gnome War.


The Good Witch of the North -
In the book, she is certainly NOT Glinda.  More akin to a fairy godmother than even a good witch.






The Wicked Witch
The Wicked Witch in the books is known for her magical golden cap, which she uses to summon the flying monkeys, her eyepatch and her magical telescopic sight.    This truly limits the available minis, so I'm going to say the heck with it.



Reaper 60178: Enora, Iconic Arcanist ($6.49)
She's small, the cloak could hide or be designed to look like the the golden cap, and a tiny bit of putty could give her an eye patch.  Not old and decrepit, but closer to the book than the movie version

The Cowardly Lion
In the book the Lion is most certainly a lion, not anthropomorphic creature like the movie.  The illustrations in the book had him ridiculously big when compared to the rest of the party, especially Dorothy.  That being said, a 40+mm figure or even a toy isn't out of the question.  The Celestial Lion from Reaper (#14133) appears to do the trick.



Wolves
Any old 25mm wolf minis should do, Nick Chopper is just going to kill them all anyway.

Stand of Bees
Instead of crafting a stand of bees, I would recommend creating a half-circle stand-up with bees drawn on it. 


Flying Monkeys
Eureka Miniatures are perfect for them, just use the feathery wings and not the leather ones.

Winkie
In this case, despite having a very Franco-Prussian fantasy vibe, I'm going to default to the movie version on the previous post use Old Glory Voynuk Infantry with Halberds

Hammerheads
The Hammerheads are an unusual race without many uses outside defending their hill.  This would be my second recommendation for a half-circle stand-up. 



Kalidahs
These supposedly brutal creatures are better off represented with a tiger with a bear/tiger paint scheme.



The Emerald City
Long bearded guard is pretty much the only martial presence in the book, outside the Winkie Guards.   Any help in finding a figure like this would be appreciated.


Giant Spider:
The Cowardly Lion kills the Giant Spider to become King of the Forest.  This Reaper one is available in its Bones material
Fighting Trees
Again, more Reaper

Glinda of Oz:

 
So I see nothing wrong with taking a figure like this Reaper Fairy mini, removing the wings and using some putty to scupt a dress right out of the 80's.

Reaper 2793:  Arianna Princess Fairy