Another Month of Gaming (Aug '19)

Game Trade Magazine is at GenCon this week, giving out copies of their recent issue #234.

If you're not making it to Indianapolis, you should be able to snag a copy at your FLGS, or download a copy of the pdf here.

ViscountEric's Personal Want List
ALC Studio
My Little Pony: Tails of Equestria - Ogres & Oubliettes .............. $30.00

Osprey Publishing
Last Days: Zombie Apocalypse - Seasons ............................................ $30.00

Reaper Miniatures
Bergamot, Halfling Scout (RPR 44037)................ $3.49
Raft (RPR 44051) ..................................................$3.49

Wizkids
My Little Pony Unpainted Minis

Mane Six available at this solicitation.  $4.99 each

ViscountEric's Money-Is-No-Object Want List

The Imaginary Store List (The Pegleg Gnome)
9th Level Games
Meeple Party ........................................................... $39.99

ALC Studio
Jim Henson's Labyrinth: The Adventure Game ...... $45.00

Alderac Entertainment Group
Cat Lady Deluxe Edition .......................................... $29.99

Arcane Wonders
Architectura .............................................................. $19.99
Dragonscales ............................................................ $59.99

Asmodee Editions
Arkham Noir: Case #1 - The Witch Cult Murders...... $19.99
Cupcake Empire .......................................................... $49.99
Fertility ........................................................................ $49.99
Ninja Squad ................................................................. $39.99

Atlas Games
Over the Edge: Welcome to the Island Adventure Anthology ...... $29.95

Avalanche Press
Great War at Sea:  US Navy Plan Red ......................... $24.99

Bandai
Godzilla Card Game .................................................... $49.99

Cheapass Games
Tinkerturf Sci-Fi Terrain  ............................................ $24.99 - $49.99

Cheapass appears to be helping with getting out Tinkerturf mdf sci-fi buildings out to the distributors.  

Cubicle 7
Warhammer Fantasy RPG: Enemy Within Vol 2 - Death on the Reik ... $34.99

Fantasy Flight Games
Arkham Horror - 3rd Edition - Dead of Night Expansion ........................ $29.95
Legend of the Five Rings:  The Eternal Knot HC ..................................... $14.95
Star Wars Imperial Assault - Raid Map - Malastarian Outpost

Gale Force Nine
D&D Baldur's Gate - Descent into Avernus DM Screen ........................... $14.99

Greater Than Games
Scythe: Modular Board ................................................................. $25.00

Green Ronin Publising
Modern Age RPG: Companion ..................................................... $32.95

Jon Brazer Enterprises
(5e) Deadly Delves Along Came a Spider .................................... $14.95

Konami Entertainment
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG: Fists of the Gadgets Boosters
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG: Rising Rampage Special Edition

Looney Labs
Are You a Robot - Bundle of Five ................................................. $10.00
2 Bucks apiece... going the old-school Cheapass Route.

Make Believe Games
Revolutionairies RPG ................................................... $29.99
Toxicity RPG ................................................................ $24.99

Modiphius
Black Void RPG .................................................. $50.00
Black Void RPG: Arbiter's Screen ....................... $20.00
Black Void RPG: Those Who Would Be Gods ..... $20.00
Fallout Wasteland Warfare RPG ............................ $32.00
John Carter of Mars: Character & Token Deck ..... $20.00
John Carter of Mars: Landscape Art Location Deck.... $26.00

Mongoose Publishing
Acute Paranoia Box Set ............................................. $49.99
Paranoia RPG: The Ram Deck .................................. $14.99
Paranoia RPG: Perfectly Safe Gear ........................... $14.99
Paranoia RPG: Truth or Dare ..................................... $19.99
Traveller RPG: Elemental Class Cruisers Blueprints ........ $69.99
Traveller RPG: Naval Adventure 1 - Shakedown Cruise .. $14.99

Monte Cook Games
Cypher System RPG 2nd Edition Rulebook ................ $69.99
Cypher System RPG: 2nd Edition Character Portfolio .. $19.99

Nerdburger Games
Capers RPG ........................................... $35.00
Die Laughing RPG ................................ $20.00
Murders & Acquisitions ........................ $30.00

Onyx Path Publishing
Fetch Quest ............................................ $34.99

Osprey Publishing
Bolt Action: Campaign Mariana & Palau Islands .............. $30.00
Frostgrave: Perilous Dark ................................................... $25.00
Gaslands Post Apoc Mayhem - Refueled ..........................  $30.00

Paizo Publishing
Combat Tiers: Extension Pack ........................................ $9.99
Pathfinder RPG: AP Age of Ashes Part 2 - Cult of Cinders ................ $24.99
Pathfinder RPG: AP Age of Ashes Part 3 - Tomorrow Must Burn ....... $24.99
Pathfinder RPG: AP Age of Ashes Part 4 - Fire of the Haunted City ... $24.99
Pathfinder RPG: Criticial Fumble Deck .......................................... $12.99
Pathfinder RPG: Flip Tiles - Bigger Flooded Dungeon ................... $19.99
Pathfinder RPG:  Flip Tiles - Darklands Starter Set .......................  $34.99
Pathfinder RPG:  Lost Omens Character Guide HC ......................   $34.99
Starfinder RPG: AP - Attack of the Swarm 3 - Huskworld ...........   $22.99
Starfinder RPG: Pawns - Dawn of Flame Collection ...................... $24.99

Pelgrane Press
13th Age RPG: Shards of the Broken Sky ........................ $34.95

Peryton Publishing
Wobble RPG:  Transdimensional Role-Playing ................ $19.99

Rogue Games
Fairyland RPG .................................................................... $29.95

R.Talsorian Games
It appears the full catalog of R.Talsorian is now available through Alliance.  None of the items listed had a release date, so I don't know what to assume for their printing status.

Steve Jackson Games
Munchkin Mighty Monsters ................................................ $9.95
Munchkin Steampunk: Girl Genius .................................... $21.95
Z Shot ......................................................... $19.95

Wizards of the Coast
D&D Dungeon Mayhem Battle for Baldur's Gate ............... $9.95
D&D BALDUR’S GATE - DESCENT INTO AVERNUS  .... $49.95

Alternate Cover available at same price.

D&D BALDUR’S GATE - DESCENT INTO AVERNUS Dice... $24.95

D&D D&D vs Rick and Morty Tabletop RPG .............................. $29.95

D&D RPG: Essentials Kit .............................................................. $24.99

Wizkids

Marvel Heroclix: Deep Cuts Unpainted Miniatures

$4.99 each

Castle Barracks .............................................. $49.99

Gas Station ..................................................... $59.99

Wardlings Volume 4

$7.99 each

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(Kickstarter) GWAR vs Time!

Yeah, not going to sugar-coat this one for those who are interested.

There's a gaming Kickstarter for GWAR.

GWAR vs Time! is a deckbuilding game featuring your favorite characters, items, and locations, as well as a few enemies.

Sixty bucks for the game before shipping.

I have no other words....

(355/130)

Lost Dispatches of Feraso #38 - Six Adventurers and a Royal Funeral

8th of the Month of HexDec in the Imperial Year of 1023

The Bishopric of Nitrava, Kingdom of Ras-Prythax

To His Lordship, the Viscount Wilfrick of Verbobonc,

Long live Krugraf Mykul! May the gods shower kindness and blessings upon his soul as it sways through the aether!

Long live Krugraf Arnulf! May his new reign be spoken of for generations to come!

Although I was quite vocal while I was with you, I must again extend my thanks to you for your graciousness to include myself and the Order of Merit in your entourage to escort you to Feraso City for the funeral of our dearly departed Krugraf.

That being said, I must be honest that I have zero faith in the abilities of of Theuderic the Seconds's bastard son successfully making decisions on a privy, much less the Royal Throne of Ras-Prythax.  I pray to Akana that he is either surprisingly wise or purposefully ignorant to avoid interfering with dominions such as yours which support and fund the Empire without question.

After a year and a half since you bequeathed the village of Feldkurton and the extended environs to me to form the Dominion of Greyhawk, I have tried to be that surprisingly wise and let the locals and the administrators handle the day to day operations.

A year and a half and even my own family still residing in the area have not realized that I was once Elsderth Millbottom, a son only valuable enough to make tax debts (and himself) disappear with an undetermined stint of indentured servitude... or outright slavery.

The winter was rather mild, and with the help of your minister's aide, aka "The inspectors," planting went off without a hiccup.

When I wasn't trying to tour my domain, through mud reminiscent of Nevskia, I spent many hours inside Greyhawk Manor, reading, writing, going over reports with the Rolf HouseKarl, the Commander of the barracks, as well as research with my good friend Andrei Krasimir, magic-user of the extraordinary.

He scoured the village and a better portion of the Viscounty, looking for any books on magic, the arcane, and legends great and small, and I was his sounding board for every idea that crossed his page.

Our dwarf friend, Morag Mountainhammer, quickly grew tired of simple country living, and spend a few months on the Gnomelands of Kron, to the southwest of Greyhawk.  There was still very little to do there, but the drinks were better, and the gnomes happily accepted him as part of the community, something Feldkurton is not famous for.

Celeste returned to Nuxom Keep in the Kingdom of Crosedes, about a week after my ceremony.  I have not heard anything of her since.

Our friend Alwin Warmark, is happily running the judicial system as the main Totenlinden of Amberstoll.  I received his return correspondence from my letters just prior to the death of Krugraf.

While awaiting the overwrought pomp and circumstance of the Krugraf's funeral, Morag, Andrei and myself decided to satisfy our wanderlust with a trip into eastern Ras-Prythax.  We assumed  Commander HouseKarl could fill in for some of the mundane governmental duties... until after hearing the plan, he demanded he be part of the trip.

Commander Rolf HouseKarl is not your average barracks commander

And with that, we sent notice that Lieutenant Folcard should be handling all necessary duties upon our returns.

Before we departed Feraso City, we fell in the good graces of another cleric of Akana, Brother Eligius Moray, Guardian of the Faith.  I would never disparage the faith of our kingdom in public, but I believe Eligius might be too beholden to the Law portion of Akana's domain.  Still, he is the quite powerful, so if his fervent devotion keeps us alive, I can certainly live with it.

Brother Eligius Moray

As we are leaving the Bishopric of Ntirava and into the relatively obscure lands of Eastern Ras-Prythax, we hired the services of a local guide, Simon Balasz.  He's a bit peculiar in his dress, his hair, and his ways, but he speaks the local dialects of Prythax perfect, and is far more competent a fighter than I am.

Simon

As we sit in the Ugly Prince Tavern, enjoying some beverages in the heart of Akana-controlled Nitrava, I'm reminded of the historical significance to the new Krugraf.  The was immediately followed by our tour of the palace of Feraso City, on your inquiries about the line of succession from the 1st Ferasean Empire to the 2nd, and I advised you to keep such truth seeking questions out of our complimentary tour.

As I still have time to kill before we depart for Eastern Ras-Prythax, it's only fair to provide you with the research I've conducted during my relaxing evenings of governing Greyhawk.  I will provide you with that information in my next letter.

Yours in Perpetual Service,

Sir Elsderth, Lord of Greyhawk
SageSword of the The Order of Merit
Wielder of the Legendary Betrayer.
Defiler of the Temple of Tiamat.
Freigraff Vagabundieren of the Totenlinden Amberstollll

DM Notes: The Krugraf is dead, long live the new Krugraf!   It's been a year and a half since Elsderth and the Order of Merit have ventured off, and after handling the affair of his new domain of Greyhawk, he's chomping at the bit.  

As history will label both as part of the "True Pretender" Kings with Galmar Barbarian Warlord blood intermixed  a claim to the ancient throne of the Emporer of Feraso, Mykul I will be far more progressive than the others, simply because he may have tolerated corruption, but he acted upon preventing its spread in his short five year reigh.  Arnulf is best described as a  a country club kid without any refinement or discipline.  He's old enough to legitimately rule, but the illegitimate son of Mykul's father may have cause, but no support to rule over the next 22 years.

Next: #39:  A History Lesson

The Mike Lung Gallery #64 - More Palaeo Diet

Attached is a pic of the ever-growing tribe of Neaderfowls. 3 done and 9 more conversions to go to complete the tribe. In the pic, you can also see a new nemesis that has invaded the Neaderfowls' breeding ground...Floris Occulites. Perhaps there is an interdimensional gate nearby!

A few more pics from Mike regarding with Palaeo Diet project, specifically Neaderfowls and Gnomo Sapiens!

Also, a couple of Gnomosapien tribe pics after Chief Umak's first hunt after playing a game of Palaeo Diet. The tribe managed to kill a "Manny", but it was a really botched hunt and couple tribesmen were killed by the mammoth before they brought it down. Umak's leadership was certainly questionable and his own behavior during the hunt was less than noble. So afterwards, there was a fight for a new leader. But Umak thumped the would-be usurper in quick order. So that settled that. He is still chief. But some of his disgruntled tribe did slip away and form a new tribe under the leadership of Braun...more on him later.

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Raybox Games: The Fine Purveyor of Legions of Steel (and More)!

I've made mention a few times on this blog that some of the original creators of Legions of Steel are looking to relaunch the game via Kickstarter in the near future.

The future got another step closer with the recent announcement that the relaunch of LOS, Inferno, and Stalingrad will be under the flag of Raybox Games. 

The web site is in its infancy, but it does have a spot of Pax Galactica, a new card-based starship combat game, as well as a link to request playtesting information.

*One quick note:  While someone will mention that the website itself calls Stalingrad a new game, I have a copy of the mid-90's playtest rules from Global Games somewhere in my collection.  To me, it's just part of the assumed lineup.*

(Kickstarter) Twelve Hundred Words by Taylor Smith

It's not my usual demographic, but I'm kinda groovin' on the whole tiny rpgs/zine format for new games, especially for RPGs.

Probably the copy of Girl Underground that arrived in my mailbox last weekend.

Taylor Smith has launced a Kickstarter for Twelve Hundred Words, five Tiny RPGs representing the author's autobiographical experience with mental health.

In Taylor's own words off of the Kickstarter:
Twelve Hundred Words is a series of five tiny tabletop RPGs; each one is exactly two hundred words and then all the other words in this 12-page zine add up to exactly the titular value. Despite their particular length, these games were not submitted to the 200 Word RPG challenge. You see, I was too anxious to pick which two of the five I had written to submit and then the deadline came and went. These games represent, in the abstract, my experiences with having OCD and Anxiety.

The five games included are:

• You Have Many Thoughts, and Your Thoughts Beget More Thoughtswherein your inspirations, goals, and anxieties spiral out of your control.
• Upon Thy Bardsong wherein action and conflict are resolved with singing.
• Deceiviest wherein you lie to others and to yourself.
• Love, Foundational wherein you can only act on love and its ties.
• All A Game wherein anything and everything can be made into a game.

Mercedes "Cibby" Acosta provides beautiful and rich illustrations that frame each game, employing subtle symbolism and drawing from personal experience. All the art you see on this page was created by Cibby and is included in Twelve Hundred Words.

The writing is done, the artwork is already done, it just needs to go to print, and ten bucks for the pdf and a hardcopy (plus US Shipping) is the the type of Kickstarter I want to back right now. 

The List for #RPGaDay2019 Is Up!

#RPGaDay is back for a sixth year and the infographic is up.

Not just a organized list of questions, but a fun hex-based graphic using the "one-word" inspiration.

Blog, vlog, post on social media, whatever to want to do to participate, just make sure to use #RPGaDay2019 to tag it to the greater experience.

And for those who couldn't navigate the 24-mile per hex map of the Gran Duchy of Karameikos that the graphic kind of resembles, here's the old-fashioned list of words:

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The Mike Lung Gallery #63 - A Very Special Palaeo Diet

Our intrepid Gaming with the Gnomies correspondent (and, of course, AWARD WINNING GM) Mike Lung has successfully combined to odd tastes:  Ganesha Games' Palaeo Diet and Occulite figures from Eagle-Gryphon games. 

Together, they make a very relatable, if slightly odd game. 

.

I’m about to play Palaeo Diet using the occulites. I’m just got everything ready to play a game. Here are some pregame pics. The first game will be a band of 5 occulites trying to kill at least one of the big Froghemoths. In my world, Froghemoths (D&D plastic figures) are an extremely large and dangerous ambush predator that tend to hide in deep pools to ambush unsuspecting occulites and other passing fauna.  

However, annually as the long winter approaches, they leave their pools and migrate to a distant breeding ground. While doing this, they sometimes form into small herds. Also, they are so compelled to make it to the breeding grounds that they tend to focus on the journey instead of hunting prey. This is when they are vulnerable to themselves being hunted by bands of occulites. 

While hunting the is still extremely dangerous, one Froghemoth kill could go a long way in feeding a band of occulites through an entire winter. For my Palaeo Diet games, I’m treating occulites similar to cavemen and the Froghemoths like mammoths.

The next is an occulite fending off an attack from an oo-tug (Reaper Filth Monster aka., D&D Otyugh). Similar to the Froghemoths, oo-guts are not in the official Occulite game. But I'm using them as an Apex Predator for my Palaeo Diet games.

The other picture is a Wymbrix (frog) and a Nymplet (Dragonfly ) which I converted/made. Both are fauna from the actual Occulite game

[This] is just a size comparison of the occulites to Gnomosapiens and Neaderfowls.

Lost Dispatches of Feraso #37 - The Lords of Greyhawk

Town of Feldkurton, Barony of Korbon, Viscounty of Verbobonc, Kingdom of Ras-Prythax


16th of Undec, Year 1022

His Honor, Freigraff Alwin Warmark, Totenlinden of the Barony of Amberstoll, Weissmach.

Quite a great deal has occurred in the short time since I dispatched the last letter to you via courier.

The mid-winter weather has proven amicable with our procession with Viscount Wilfrick, his entourage of staff and a few of the Verbobonc Lancers, myself, and our friends, to my hometown of Feldkurton.

I had not been in Feldkurton for but a few days in the last twelve years of my life, since my father essentially sold my apprenticeship as a scribe to Baron Augustus of Korbon to cancel a minor debt of unpaid taxes.

To be honest, I never even got a moment to retrieve any letters from the Viscount that were stowed away... before my mailing address changed to the Imperial Palace in Feraso City.

The quiet outskirts of Feldkurton

Word of our arrival had reached town ahead of us, so quite a fair crowd had assembled in the town square when we finally rode in.

While most of us dismounted to stretch our legs, Viscount Wilfrick stayed on his warhorse, Terror, and publicly called for the Mayor, as well as the Captain of the garrison.

When the men arrived, Wilfrick demanded to speak on a number of issues.

He commended the Captain, a rather sophisticated Northman name Rolf Housekarl, for assisting the Viscount's agents for exposing the greed and corruption, especially toward the local farmers.

By Viscount Decree, he removed the Mayor, a tiny and sniveling fellow named Fosterspell Andersen... promptly praised the virtues of myself and the Order of Merit, and before I properly realized it, knighted me on the spot and stunned everyone in attendance by granting my the land title for all of Feldkurton!

The Viscount believed the theft and deception around the granaries was a direct result of the poor decision of Baron Augustus, and to spite the man, he carved Feldkurton and the nearby environs out of his Barony and gifted them to me.... this new Dominion... of Greyhawk.

After the shocked applause of the crowd, and the a less-than-awe-inspiring speech by yours truly, we traveled to the outskirts of town.  The agents of the Viscount had seized the manor of Colvin Festeburt, the chief criminal in the scandal.  It currently housed the garrison and the agriculture inspectors, but according the Viscount, the inspectors were moving into town and I could move into the proper living quarters... with any and all of my friends.  I was Sir Elsderth, after all, Lord of Greyhawk.

I only had a few short moment alone with the Viscount, but he assured me that his decisions were well planned out, a proper reward for my efforts, and the garrison and state offices were quite capable of administrating the Domain in the even any bout of wanderlust strikes my fancy again.

It's quite surreal, suddenly becoming the ruler of a hometown you hated, as much as none of the inhabitants remember you.   While I suffer some paranoia that Baron Augustus with seek me out in revenge, he's quite overwhelmed and incompetent to focus on a former scribe in his employ.

In the day since I was knighted and granted this land, the inspectors have done most of the administrative work, and Captain Housekarl has been patient with me.

Celeste bid us farewell this morning, leaving Andrei Krasimir, our wizard and social maven, along with Murag Mountainahmmer and his dwarven inclinations to celebrate my good fortune in Greyhwak Manor

Your friend, always,

Sir Elsderth, Lord of Greyhawk
SageSword of the The Order of Merit
Wielder of the Legendary Betrayer.
Defiler of the Temple of Tiamat.
Freigraff Vagabundieren of the Totenlinden Amberstoll

DM Notes:  Elsderth has received his just rewards, becoming Lord of the Dominion of Greyhawk.  The dominion is financed entirely by the Viscount, to ensure the incompetence of the Baron of Korbon wouldn't run off onto him.  

Festeburt's Manor is another item properly stolen from the Hall of the Mountain King.   It's been a great resource for this climatic, but still filler, piece of the story.

Celeste's story here has come to an end.  She has done her best clearing her own good name for its affiliation with Talanth Blackash, and it seems the proper time to return to Crosedes and spread the good news of Akana.  

Next: #38 - A Funeral

(Indiegogo) OGRE Miniatures Set 3

Steve Jackson Games games has shifted gears and set up their third crowdfunding campaign for OGRE Miniatures over at Indiegogo.

OGRE Miniatures Set 3 will be for two more cybertanks:  the Doppelsondner and the Mk VI.

I'm unfamiliar with physical "perks" via Indiegogo, so I don't know if shipping is included with the donation.  If it is, then the opportunity to pick up a few of the recent crowdfuding products (OGRE Battlefields and the Battle Box looks much sweeter.

(364/126)

The Spoils of Historicon 2019

Finally, a proper listing of the spoils from Historicon!

The flea market netted me only those two desert cliffs.  Sturdy and light, I probably should have bought more from them.

Huge minis:  Flocking and grass

Reaper Bones: All the Chronoscope figures that were on my want list, less the Antarctic Explorer.

Last Day - Osprey's entry in the Zombie Apocalypse minis game.  Purchased due to the demands of Miss Maja.

And just in case Zombie games don't catch on, Pulp Alley's Tomb of the Serpent campaign, plus the card deck.  The cards are very nice, but not too useful, in my short-sighted opinion.... going with the horror deck seems to have been a better route.

A free Viet Nam figure from the Phalanx Consortium

A mariachi band from Badger Games.

Some of the recent releases from Brigade Games Post-Apocalyptic line.

... and three free gnomes from the Hobby U (Thanks Jim!)  Two are Maja's projects, but I'll take the third for my Nauvoo Legion (which may be my infamous German Schutztruppe for the next year.

(Kickstarter) The Gingerbread Gang

It's Christmas in July on Kickstarter with War in Christmas Village launching The Gingerbread Gang campaign.

(Kickstarter) BattleTech: Clan Invasion

Wanna make Kickstarter go crazy and you're not Reaper?

Be Catalyst Game Labs and a launch a campaign for BattleTech Clan Invasion.

This has a lot of moving parts.  Lots of stretch goals, upgrades, and swap-outs.

I won't even attempt to go through all the cool stuff they've added, but there are multiple stars of retooled Clan mechs and lances of Inner Sphere.  "Redesigned" is too extreme a term for what they're doing with 3-D rendering, and brings up the time that many of the classic mechs were completely redesigned to avoid the the true strongest threat in the universe: lawyers.

There are many cool items already in the campaign, but the neatest for me would be the all seven battlefields of the Battle of Tukayyid as a set ($30), each double-sided map in a deluxe neoprene battlemat ($30 each).

If you're finally going to do things right, you might as well go crazy.

March of 2020 appears to be the planned released of the majority of the product.

(Kickstarter) Magical Kitties Save the Day

Darn you Ken and Robin Talk About Stuff and you're amusing read ads!

Thanks to them, I've been waiting for Atlas Games to launch their most recent Kickstarter:  Magical Kitties Save the Day!

Every Magical Kitty has a human. Every human has a Problem. In Magical Kitties Save the Day, you need to use your magical powers to solve problems and save the day!

A family friendly-rpg about cats?  That hits my family's demographic.

PDF available? ... or $25 for the basic game (plus $8 S&H).  Sounds good.

August 2020 delivery date?  I worried for a moment, until I remembered that that's a year to fulfill after the campaign ends.    But I want to play it NOW!

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The Mike Lung Gallery #62 - Hogwallow at Historicon

I know I just posted these pictures but scant days ago in my Historicon AAR, but it's only fitting that Award-Winning GM Mike Lung Hogwallow Western game gets its own post.  

Compared to this, Mike's next project is downright primitive... almost Stone Age... and coming soon!

The HAWKS Armies for Kids Game at Historicon 2019

As I made mention in our Historicon 2019 Day-Trip AAR, Maja got to participate in the HAWKS Armies for Kids event.  

With my phone battery living a shorter and shorter life (I did take a LOT of pictures), I couldn't grab any pictures, but dedicated HAWKS member Col Buck Surdu (Ret) grabbed a few pictures and posted them on Buck's Blog.  

From Buck's Blog and a host of HAWKS related blogs.

Directly from Buck's Blog:
The idea is that hopefully these kids go home and start playing games with their buddies. The kids at the convention come with their parents, so in many ways we are preaching to the converted; however, we hope that these kids go home and introduce their little buddies to wargaming.

This resonates with me, as Maja is now showing anyone the cool new figures she got AND rules to play with them.  This might be the hefty nudge I've been waiting for to allow her to consider gaming something fun to do with her friends, rather than a daddy-daughter activity.

Colonel Surdu and the rest of the HAWKS had a rough go at the convention, between parking issues and getting the corner of a darker and louder ballroom, but I implore them to take some time off (heck take a Historicon off for the project), but do not abandon the Armies for Kids program.  I had been talking to parents during that session, who knew about the program and had been unable to get their children.  If I wasn't running my own game, perhaps I could have recruited that empty sixth slot could have been filled.  *Insert comment about no-shows at convention here*

Afterwards, I found another shot from Scrum in Miniature

I've been trying to get Maja into this game for four years or so, but scheduling large and small interfered, and when it didn't the game was sold out.  I was shocked, SHOCKED I say, when at least one slot was available as of July 2nd and jumped at the opportunity.  I also didn't tell her a thing about the game before she arrived, so she was genuinely happy and appreciative to learn her good fortune.

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Lost Dispatches of Feraso #36 - Lunch with the Viscount

Verbobonc City, Viscounty of Verbobonc, Kingdom of Ras-Prythax

10th of Undec, Year 1022

His Honor, Freigraff Alwin Warmark, Totenlinden of the Barony of Amberstoll, Weissmach.

After what felt like an eternity, we all finally arrived to Verbobonc City!

I was a bit miffed when I came to announce myself to the Viscount, and some unknown manservant told us to come back tomorrow, but the wait was worth it.  We were greeted for our lunchtime arrival the next day with colorful streamers and pennants.  A small feast was laid out for us, and the Viscount arrived with his lovely daughter, Helena.

The Viscount's personality is the same as it was, but his visage has certainly aged quite a bit since the last time I had the pleasure of speaking with him.  He's still quite the storyteller, but the smallest distraction forced him to lose his place in the tale.

I believe his daughter is quite aware of this more recent decline, Helena is the only child of Wilfrick, and as a non-adventuring noble-lady of twenty years, has been fighting arranged marriages for quite some time.  However, recent visits by petty noblemen, prince's sons, and even a wealthy merchant or two have created a stir among the locals and Wilfrick's court.

Despite Helena's upbringing and respectable education at the Lyceum in Hydincall, it is near impossible for Wilfrick to name her the next Viscountess of Verbobonc.  If a marriage between her and one of the few qualified suitors can not be made, Wilfrick will name an heir from his nieces and  nephews.

Currently there are three contenders among Helena's cousins; Sir Eger who commands the Verbobonc Guard (NOT the Lancers), Lady Graham  a warrior-priest of Akana currently "crusading" against the orcs of Milosic, and Lady Graysteel who is a famed adventuress currently fighting the pirates of Tripolis in the far off Mer Med.  Graysteel is a favorite among the masses, but Eger is a fine soldier, already married, and his wife is expecting their first child in the next few months.

I had gotten through all of the correspondence the Viscount had sent to me, so I was quite up-to-date with current events, but to keep you abreast of the situations in Ras-Prythax:

The Elemental Temple has been cleared, razed where possible, and magically secured where it could not be destroyed.  Viscount Wilfrick himself escorted a contingent of the Verbobonc Lancers, although even he admitted to me that the presentation was all for show.

Viscount Wilfrick, returning triumphantly from the Temple of Elemental Evil

The Viscount has also re-established ties with local woodsmen and rangers to better patrol the Gnarly Wood and advise his troops of any precarious activity.

The issues with magic failing so long ago with the storms prior to our arrival at Betend?  Things appear to have returned to normal, metaphysically speaking.  There are some new cults that have popped up, worshiping specific traits of the arcane practice, whereas the god Yotia, covers all things wizardly and magically.   One of the cults is name Midnight, the woman who was accompanying Talanth Blackash and company while they were in Schattenwurf.  It could be a coincidence, but Blackash has been a coincidental black mark with all our journeys.

Wrymnalian bounty hunters have been turned back, thanks to the increase patrols on the River Road.  I still don't recommend you return to Wyrmnal to visit any loved ones or acquaintances.

On a more personal note for me, the Viscount invited the Order to escort him to my hometown of Feldkurton.  His inspectors and agents had uncovered some corruption and he had planned on rewarding the inspectors for uncovering the crimes and a rag-tag local barracks for stepping above the rampant crooked locals and arresting the locals responsible for events occurring.  The Viscount informed me that my family remaining in town were not part of the conspiracy, he was taken aback when I mumbled something about arresting them anyway, out of pure spite.

Over the next two days, we're to find tailors and bedeck ourselves in finer clothing.  I'm quite confident that the Order of Merit may be given a certain amount of recognition.  If anything is awarded to us, I will make sure that your prize or share is quickly sent to Amberstoll.

There are two moments of sorrow that I much relay to you, my friend.  First, I was made aware of the death of Torben Mikkelsen, the seneschal for the Viscount, and a staunch ally of yours truly, even during my first days as a scribe.

Secondly, Celeste took me aside and informed me of her decision to leave the Order of Merit and return to Crosedes after our trip to Feldkurton.  She has proven to be a valuable ally and friend, despite her previous relationships.  She was certainly no bloodthirsty holy man like Freigraff Warmark, but few men share your bloodlust, Alwin.

Your Friend,

Elsderth Greyhawk

DM Notes: Our interlude continues as Elsderth finally reaches Verbobonc.  My style of writing matches my GM styles as things need not resolve, but evolve.  

Most of the data about the Viscount and his extended family was directly stolen (and then modified to my non-Greyhawk campaign) from Hall of the Mountain King.  The death of a few leaders will have an impact on the world (and our letter writer), and one day Viscount Wilfrick will no longer be the recipient of this correspondence. Not campaign canon, but it matters to Elsderth, so it matters to me.

Next: #37 Greyhawk in Feldkurton.

Our Historicon 2019 Saturday Day-Trip

It's late, but it's a good time to load up the pictures from the day-trip visit to Historicon I took Saturday, with my ten-year old daughter, Maja.

Of course, the biggest story leading up to the con was it's inaugural run at the Lancaster County Convention Center.

The verdict is in:

I might cover a snafu or two later on, but I'm just wondering why we didn't go there sooner.  I'm sure earlier iterations of the convention staff/board didn't want to handle some of the logistical issues with vendors/GMs/Wally's Basement, but in the end it ran with few vocal issues. 

And it's sooooo freakin' nice. 

So, at 6:30am in the morrning, we loaded up in the car and departed for Lancaster.

Since PA-72 dumped up right onto Prince St for the Steinman Park Garage, we didn't need to change our normal drive down.  However, we did finally stop at Heisey's Diner for the first time ever and grabbed breakfast.   Way too pleasant, way too inexpensive for the portion of food you ordered. 

When we arrived at the Parking Garage around 9:30, we basically got a spot right next to the Level 2 stairs/elevator, walked up a reasonable hill, picked up our badges, swag bag, and parking validation in the matter of seconds.

The entrance, a little later in the day

The main walkway covering registration, the entrances to Freedom A (tournaments), Freedom B (vendor hall), and the wonders of Wally's Basement. 

 I had been warned that the days of heat exhaustion and heart palpitations wandering over the Host's property were gone, as the convention center has a vertical footprint.

After a quick wandering, we hiked up the stairs to the top of Montgomery House for a War College lecture “Historical Gaming in the School Classroom: A How to Guide from both the Teacher and Student Perspective."  A teacher at the Hackley School in Tarrytown, New York , Jared Fishman has spent the last decade using gaming in the classroom, particularity wargaming.

Jared Fishman (center) with his student, Dillon Schaevitz

It was a well-needed rah-rah session, and for all intents and purposes, it should be one.  Wargaming in Education is a focus on the Board of Directors for HMGS and would be nice to see them focus on developing high school wargamers of all shapes and sizes.

After the presentation, Maja and I found the elevator to take us back downstairs, and we further descended onto Wally's Basement.   The tables had adequate space, but the irregular shape of the room created poor spots to set up a table.

 We then walked around Freedom Hall.  The Convention staff  split the room, half for tournaments and a few other games, half for the vendor hall.

The great dividing line.

Got through two vendors with an impatient Maja before we encountered our major snafu of the convention.   In the convention book, Hobby University was slotted in some of the side rooms near the main ballroom on the 3rd floor.  Try as I might, there were no open doors in that section, nor signs pointing me in the right direction.   

Siege of Paris

Finally, upon reaching some volunteers, I also spied a map on an easel, correctly pointing out that Hobby U was on the 4th Floor

With a little extra exercise hopping up the (temporarily) broken elevator, we were only Jim Stanton's class, "How to paint a 2-footer". 

Maja slaving away

Despite my orienteering problems, Hobby U was well-attended, so much so, that I believe the free mini paint-and-take had no space to occur, at least where I could not see them.

A well-attended "How to Make a Swamp/Water Feature" class.

The tournament/overflow game side of Freedom Hall

Another view of Freedom Hall 

After the class, we wandered down to see Mike Lung as he set up his "Showdown at Hogwallow Creek" game using a western variant of Gnome Wars.  

Truth be told I found another western that had a far more elaborate board in the gaming hall on 2, but they didn't have jackalopes, orc cowboys, Mexican Tequila Worm Banditos, or angry cactus gods.

Mike already had a full event and wasn't looking for GM-allied troublemakers to start the game, so we left the site for Maja's thoroughly researched lunch options in downtown Lancaster.

Battletech

Max's Eatery was right around the corner from the convention center and covered two of Maja's key food groups:  Cheeseburgers and milkshakes.  

There is a happy girl

I can use that palm tree as terrain, dagnabbit!

I found it to be a hipster take on a 50's diner... if the diner had a liquor license. The milkshakes were perfect, the food pricey but great portions, and while the service felt a little slow, (a) we came in just after the lunch rush cleared out (b) the air conditioning kept us happy, and (c) despite slower service, the staff was pleasant and attentive.

 After lunch we ran back to the car to replenish our supplies and chill, while getting our phones recharged.  Then it was back to the con for round two of the flea market and the a full and proper assault on the vendor hall.

We also got to revisit Hogwallow as the horse poop was hitting the windmill.

By 6, I was up in the Heritage Hall, commandeering tables for my event, The Historicon Gnome Joust.

Over thirty players participated, and in the end it was Carol versus Nate T for the championship. It was quite fitting, as Nate had knocked her into the loser's bracket in the first round, and she clawed her way back.  Nate even demanded double elimination, so Carol had to beat him twice to win.

So she did it.

Congrats Carol!  And thanks to the other Stout Gnomes for keeping things moving, especially with so many first-time participants.

The Miniature Building Authority Middle-East/Jungle Board #1

The Miniature Building Authority Middle-East/Jungle Board #2

The Miniature Building Authority Middle-East/Jungle Board #3

The Miniature Building Authority Middle-East/Jungle Board #4

The Miniature Building Authority Middle-East/Jungle Board #5

The astute reader may have noted the use of "I" for working the Gnome Joust.  Where did I leave Maja?  Well, when I got here registered for the convention, just prior to the July 4th holiday, I realized their were openings for an event I've been trying to get her in for years.  When we arrived I just told her I had signed her up for a game run by the HAWKS, and she would report in the far right corner of the their hall at 7pm.

Of course, the game I signed her up for was The HAWKS Armies for Kids game, this year with Medieval theme.

My only picture of Maja playing in the game, I'm sure the HAWKS will have their official ones up soon enough.  

I had only gotten a quick text from her during the game, "There's only boys in this game :-( "

My response had to be quick, due to the joust, "Kick their butts."

By the time, I could scurry down and check on her, someone's cavalry had rampaged through her army, but she was still in good spirits.

"Daddy, we get to take home some of these figures."

Boy, that was an understatement.

Not only do the participants get two painted armies, plus the paper terrain, plus the ground cloth, plus a copy or two of Big Battles for Little Hands, but they still got another box and bag full of extra unpainted figures and swag.

A huge shout-out to the HAWKS for always organizing this, as well as everyone who donates to the cause.

If they needed any proof that this endeavor is worth it, as we drove out of Lancaster that evening, Maja said two things that touched me

"Daddy, this was really the best day ever."

and

"Daddy, do you think I can run a game with my figures at the next convention?"

I guess the allowance money is going toward 25mm Medievals.

The "other" Western game in the other hall #1

The "other" Western game in the other hall #2

The "other" Western game in the other hall #3

So, after just a day at Historicon, how does the new location really stack up:

The Lancaster County Convention Center and its staff the Palace at Versailles when compared to the host.  Tons of lighting, natural and man-made.  Lots of space (save the club room, which got a little tighter mid-day with all the tables.  Easy access all about, and the Vendor Hall and Wally's Basement are super convenient for the shoppers, at least.

On-site food, snacks, and beverages seemed acceptable.  The staff (or magical fairies) did their job.  Bathrooms were phenomenal (only at mid-day at the height of the convention, did I walk into one and get a whiff of what the Host's bathrooms smelled like ... at 9am... on Friday morning.

The elevators were slow and the escalators had some intermittent problems throughout the day, but that's the price to pay for hosting a convention in a vertical arrangement.

And can we rename Freedom Hall "The Tennis Barn" just for old time's sake?

Parking:  I gotta admit, I screwed up the parking validation at the machine in the garage, but a couple bucks for a day trip is a steal compared to other venues in other cities. 

On a similar note, the loading zones for the dealers, flea market, and of course, the GMs went far too smoothly for a first year convention.  Of course, I did hear of singular issues that arose, but Convention Director Joby Miller, the Board of Directors, and the small horde of underappreciated volunteers did their best under the circumstances.

Unfortunately that means the bar is set insanely high for next year.

Vendor Hall:  Outside the need for some extra security, I suppose, to guard half of Freedom Hall while the tournaments were still running, the arrangement looked great.  Temperature control AND natural lighting was great.  Maja took advantage of the little tables and chairs by the windows while I finished shopping.

Yes, those are Cobra HISS tanks....

Wally's Basement:  The flea market was in a decent location (with an accessible bathroom nearby).  Insert the usual complaints prices/the bargains disappear in 15 minutes.  I picked up two pieces of terrain simply because the people weren't packing up with almost an hour to go.  I don't mean the casual getting every ready to carry back to the car, I mean hurricane mandatory evacuation speed.

The SWAG:   I might do an extra post to include a picture, but I did a good job getting individual items off my want list. 

• Badger Games:  Mariachi Band
• Brigade Games:  More of the recent Post-Apoc figures, plus Maja's demand:  a copy of Last Days.  I guess we're playing zombie games.... on top of her Medieval stuff.
• Crucible Crush:  Pulp Alley Tomb of the Serpent Scenario and Action Deck
• Dragon's Horde: Cleared off all the Reaper Bones Chronoscope figures I had on my want list, save one, which was taken by the customer before me.
• HUGE Minis:  Some more flocking accessories, plus an awesome conversation with the owner.  I hope he comes back for other HMGS cons
• And the two pieces of terrain (desert cliffs) from the flea market.  

And of course, I can't forget poor Maja, who brought home her HAWKS armies, plus three gnomes from the painting class.  

Even if it was a very long day (we got home at 12:30am), I could agree with Maja.  It may as well have been the best day ever.  

Regardless, we will add downtown Lancaster for a family day-trip itinerary.

(367/119)