Gaming With the Gnomies... in Japanese

Just one of those amusing looks at the blog's stats.... someone our there was translating the blog into Japanese to read it.  

Not surprised there is not direct translation for Gnomies.....

#RPGaDay is Back for 2020!

COVID-19 has halted most of the positive large-scale RPG experiences for the year. 

Barring anything especially heinous, it will not stop RPGaDay2020!

RPGaDay is an annual event in August where the organizers prepare thirty one daily questions for gamers around the world to answer and share amongst the community.  Some blog, some vlog, some just answer via their social media of choice.  It's a rollicking good time, I usually discover a new blog or three to follow,

For the seventh year I'm hoping for something a bit more structured than last year's one-word topics, like "scary", "obscure", or "door."  While there were some great posts on the topic, a good number of responses reverted back to year one very vanilla answers akin to a lot of the "What is your favorite *insert genre here* RPG.  I felt like last year was a down year for the project, both in topics and participation (there definitely was a drop in views versus year over year).   No matter how the set-up is for topics, I'm prepping my blog with 33 new drafts for placeholders (1 to post the list of topics, 31 individual days, and a review of the even on September 1st.) 

Here's hoping to continued expansion of online RPGing gives the topics and participation the boost the even most certainly deserves.

You Should Be Painting!

Yeah, yeah, the world is slowly opening up now, the sun is shining, the world is warmer.

But darnnit, you, me, the whole world should still be painting.

The painting bench beckons, but between the Spring projects moving to Summer projects, an uptick of work, and the last push of the kid's schoolwork.

And let's not mention that we successfully opened the pool,  Priorities are shifting.

When I've gotten time, it's been focused on the RPG part of the blog.  Lost Dispatches is almost complete.  The campaign stories I wanted to write about are finished, so I'm down to the tying up some loose story ends that using Elsderth as the medium has created. 

Once that is completed, I'll need to turn to the actual play for our online Star Wars game.  I'm recording the game sessions on Roll20 and are slowing listening to and writing up the sessions. 

The biggest decision I need to make is when these Star Wars write-ups go live.  Thanks to the Lost Dispatches going monstrous, and other D&D actual plays scheduled to follow up after that, the earliest time I might start publishing them on Tuesdays might be Star Wars Day... next year.  I'm pondering starting posting these on Thursdays, but I'm trying to figure out when to start.  Any input is appreciated.

The project journal has been dusted off!

I stopped using this when I got promoted in early 2019.  The big book was stowed away and I relied on a monthly sheet using a series of boxes for what I considered projects that were necessary and do-able. It felt like there was a little more progress, but with cleaning out the old office stuff for the home office, the journal is on the adjacent shelf and I'll try a four-week trial and adjust for the future.

This four week trial will focus on: 

• Finishing Lost Dispatches, including the character index. 
• Writing up the Star Wars d6 Actual Plays.
• More Mousling Savage Showdown
• Planet 28 testing for a review - Units are written up with some of the optional rules.

• Gnome Wars:  Swiss Rabbits and the magical delight of Canadian Bermuda.
• Painting:  All the Dangerous Dames got based, but the focus turns to Halflings and Hounds.
• FATHER'S DAY 2020 

Teasers for Legions of Steel 2.0 Minis

With the Pledge Manager up and running for Classic Legions of Steel Minis, it's that lull in the Kickstarter where Raybox Games can focus on the next project: a relaunch of Legions of Steel.

All of the old figures will still work in the new rules, but Raybox Games is moving the timeline 70 years into the future.  The invasion by the Machines thwarted, the war still goes on the perimeter of space, distant, and largely forgotten.  But seventy years allows for some tremendous advances in tech on both sides of the war. 

The new Nightmare definitely is evolving away from the 'false' Terminator/Skelebot comparison they've been stuck with for thirty years, perhaps a little Giger-esque?  With all the suppression fire I've seen these guys do, I'm still wondering where all the ammo for the Deadbolt Launchers is stored.

 The new UNE NCO in the latest version of the Paladin PBA.

No helmet?  That's bad leadership there, although he is rocking the Zorg from the Fifth Element vibe.

Standard UNE Trooper in Paladin PBA. 

While the Nightmares run away from sci-fi stereotype, the UNE weapons designers might have played a little HALO, and I don't blame them.  Tougher, more flexible armor and weapons that evoke tactical sweeps rather than "ROCK AND ROLL!!!!"  What would you expect actual weapons evolution to look like, giant shoulder pads and purity seals?

Time for a Little Paranoia

Today I've had three people respond in Paranoia terms. 

Friend Computer knows my needs.

The Mike Lung Gallery #72 - Burrows and Badgers

(Dog is from Oathsworn and the other two are from Darksword).

Lost Dispatches of Feraso #78 - The Castle of the Moors

24th of HexDec 1050 - Village of Eding, Kingdom of Crosedes
In all my time here, I found my cottage to be centrally located but away from the bustle of the village.

After tonight's pre-dawn raid on the village by lizardmen, I'm even more grateful.  Despite the early hour and plenty of deception, the attack never got close to my home.  Most of the town was safe, and that allowed us to gather our forces and repel the creatures.

36th of HexDec 1050 - Village of Eding, Kingdom of Crosedes
It's not every day that a plot to burn your village to the ground is uncovered, and I'm not quite sure how to take it.  I'm also not sure how to properly embrace the concept of a pretentious magic-user, a half-orc caravan guard, and a teenage cutpurse are now the heroes of Eding!

I wrote much about the wizard Cesmir, and the half-orc Zoog, from their quick escapade, rescuing four-year-old Hob Gadling from the dreaded Nightwood, but I may have underestimated the young Iris.

I haven't been able to uncover much about her, just the stereotypical talking points.  Sixteen years old, raised in Omsjik, father abandoned the family when she was young and she's been forced to take matters into her own hands for, I figure, at least six years.  Somehow, she's managed to maintain as cheerful a disposition as her countenance, but don't let that fool you.  While she's not some cold-blooded killer, she's far more ingenious and intuitive than she lets on.

Iris

After their glorious rescue and encounter with the Witch, the trio tried to plan out their next adventure.   They had already done a good job canvassing the locals for tricks, tips, and legends of the area before the lizardmen attacks, so this reinforced their focus.

They had already uncovered the ruins of ancient villages, temple ruins, and even some fortifications. 

Three days after leaving the village they returned, battered all to hell, but victorious... with proof of the plots against Eding!

They did encounter some lizardmen, not the giant terrifying lizardmen behemoths that attacked the town.  Following the trail of the smaller lizard "folk" they uncovered a castle, partially sunk in the swamp. A stone structure with four towers.

They encountered more lizardmen living in this castle, but the leaders of this effort could easily be called dragon men! They varied between six and seven foot tall.  Some were armored, some were more civilian in nature, but all of them had large wings out their backs.

The trio brought back proof of these creatures' armor and treasure, they may have also breached a few doors holding back massive amounts of water.  This forced them to flee the castle, as it sank further into the swamp.

8th of SepDec 1050 - Village of Eding, Kingdom of Crosedes
It happened by sheer coincidence but noted scholar Richomer Spade arrived in Eding from Omsjik, to secretly visit the blacksmith's younger sister Berthlenda.  One would even call it fate  that a pile of Dragonman artifacts were there for him to review.

Within minutes, the plot to make repeated attacks on the village had been translated, and again, the trio were lauded as heroes... and a few more patrols were required to venture near the swamp.

DM Notes:  #spoilers Nightwood and the Keep get resused often in games.  Nightwood and the Castle were the first two adventures I wrote entirely on the new word processor (with full sized amber screen!)

Other parts took place during this mini-campaign, but as a largely forgotten game, I'm happy enough I remember what I do. 

The castle was right out of DMGR2 - The Castle Guide.

Of course, I set up this adventure with Grenadier minis as an excuse to break out the Dragonmen minis I owned.  It was a sweet success in my book.

Now available in the US through Badger Games

Next:  #79 - The Witch's Bidding

Patrolled by Gnomes

The Old Hermit on the Hill Ain't Got Nothin' on This

Even the Sith Social Distance

The Trooper - Charge of the Light Brigade

A Resistance Roll to Prevent Fetch, Please

Leveraging Commercial Games in Military Education

Part of me wanted to write this whole opening paragraph about how the first sign of a society returning back to normal from some disaster is how the arts and general intelligentsia return, but that's a lie.  Since day one, numerous groups and organizations have actively provided concerts, virtual museum tours, and other events online for the betterment of the community, as well as self-preservation.

That all being said, I had my heart grow three sizes when someone posted about Georgetown University Wargaming Society  (GUWS) sponsoring an online lecture via Zoom.

Leveraging Commercial Games in Military Education was a two-hour lecture conducted by Mr James Sterrett, Chief of the Simulation Education Division in the Directorate of Simulation Education of U.S. Army University/Command & General Staff College.

First off, outside of the tedium of getting things set-up, it was a first Zoom meeting and as an audience member, it went perfectly.  Outside of the seamless mobile application, this is all technology I've seen and occasionally used for at least the last 15+ years.  Guess the push to online participation is like the first Model T to make it to Dogpatch.  Hopefully future uses will continue to work as smoothly as this one.

The one issue I've learned to expect/appreciate from the HMGS War College is that experts are not always great speakers and some of our hobby historians are short on material, but great on presentation.  I was absolutely delighted that neither situation came up here.  Mr Sterrett is accustomed to lecturing to, and working with mid-level Commissioned Officers from the United States Army, its sister branches, as well as international officers, so he could easily keep the attention of a mixed audience of military and civilians while going over the plethora of information provided.

I don't plan on teaching military history, strategy, and tactics in a military setting, commissioned or enlisted, but as I assist with the HMGS Teacher's Program, this was an abundance of tips and tricks, pitfalls to avoid, and engaging anecdotes of using various games, analog and computer, over the years.

Apparently GUWS does this weekly, and the topics are pretty awesome.  I heartily recommend checking out future events.

EDIT: The lecture has been posted to Youtube!

The Mike Lung Gallery #71 - What To My Wondering Eyes Did Appear

Mike's sharing snippets of his madness.  Perhaps the Bumble played too rough in his reindeer games.

Gen Con 2020 Canceled

Gen Con 2020 has been canceled, event organizers announced Tuesday in an open letter to supporters.

"It is with a heavy heart that we must announce the cancellation of Gen Con 2020 this August in Indianapolis," the statement said. "The safety and health of our attendees, exhibitors, and staff are of the utmost importance to us, and we cannot in good conscience host a gathering of thousands while doing so could threaten the health of so many."

Excerpt from the Indy Star

(Update): We all knew it was going to happen, even with the improving conditions in the hardest hit spots in the country.   Gen Con is normally a petri dish of viruses that make up the dreaded con crud.  On a healthy year, it might be a good idea for the Indiana Department of Health to track attendees and see what everybody has coming in and contracts going out of Indy.

The good news is it appears that the organizers have come to terms with a contract extension for the sight for two additional years.

Lost Dispatches of Feraso #77 - Rescue in the Nightwood Forest

22nd of HepDec 1050 - Village of Eding, Kingdom of Crosedes
By the time we finally returned from our thorough search of the river valley upstream, young Hob had finally been recovered, not by the other sergeant downriver, not by the women in town, and certainly not by my band of men.

Somehow Hob had gotten across the river and wandered into the dread Nightwood Forest!

In an action I have never seen in my time in the village, as the militiamen had already left the village, the witch emerged from her hut along the river!

She cursed those that remained to search for Hob in town.  She cursed those who left town to search even louder. 

She had seen Hob traverse the river and wander into the Nightwood itself!  If any wiser souls than the idiots wandering the road would care to venture into the midnight dark forest and find him, well, let's just say the witch promised no grand reward, but they would be the last ones she would curse when she grew tired of all you feeble mortals.

Three individuals stepped forward:

Cesmir, a pompous, but capable magic-user that wandered into town two weeks ago, looking for adventure.  If I had remembered he was still in the village, I would have accused him of kidnapping the boy for some tawdry ritual.

Zoog, a stalwart caravan guard I've seen visit Eding many times.

And the biggest surprise, to the shame of many competent sellswords and "alleged" retired adventurers was young Iris, a teenager with deft hands and a penchant for helping the less fortunate villagers through her ill-gotten gains.

They quickly acquired a few additional pieces of gear from the village, crossed the river and entered the Nightwood.  Two days later they emerged from the dark forest with a happy little boy in tow.

The tales they told at the Blue Wizard afterward were just believable enough.  There were attacks by trolls that did not fear sunlight for turning them to stone, for barely any penetrated the canopy.  A small tribe of kobolds had caught Hob and appeared to be preparing him for the next meal before they quietly rescued him.  The smoke from the Goblin City of G'ba was only noticeable if you scaled the tallest trees and broke through the treeline.

Now, the attacks of Rodents of Unusual Size, so big that one grabbed young Hob and put him in a special sack inside his mouth, probably to save him to eat later, those I don't believe.  They might as well be flying in the ether,

The witch was true to her word and did little to hex or bless anyone in the village, but this little adventure made the trio instant heroes, and thanks to Hob's father, it met with the approval of Lord Athelstane.

Still, I have yet to find Caton to inquire how he knew something like this was happening.  And although it was never my intention to search the Nightwood with my petty cadre of militiamen, the hint to travel upriver must have something to do with the witch.

GM Notes: Rescue from Nightwood Forest was the first adventure I ran after I returned home from Basic and AIT.  Simple premise, a bit railroady, with two or three stops before the sleeping kobold camp and the chance to rescue the young boy.  

And the off-hand reference to the ROUS is, in fact, a Giant Space Hamster from Volume 7 of the Monstrous Compendium.

Besides a *spoiler* test run to re-use this adventure for another campaign, I appreciate Cesmir the wizard appearing in the game, if for no other reason than using his cool name as the founding father of Crosedes (absolutely no relation).  

Next: #78 The Castle of the Moors

Virtual Mepacon

Over the last year, the staff at Mepacon has had to wildly adapt to situations.  First was the loss of their downtown Scranton hotel due to general hotel incompetence.  That forced them to find a site last second, and the far roomier Mountain Laurel Resort was the result.

Thanks to the wonders of COVID-19, Mepacon had to cancel their first con dates in April, rescheduled for this past weekend, and despite slowly improving conditions, were forced to cancel that and set up an online version of the event.

Disclaimer:  I'm a guy who's quite content with Roll20  and the more "old-fogey" versions of social media.  I have a Twitch account for the instances I can watch the Happy Jacks RPG Podcast records live (last time I did that was over a year ago), and I set up a Discord account to look around.  

With ever-evolving family stuff and yardwork for the weeknend, I didn't partake in any games, my usual prowling grounds of the auction and dealers hall weren't available (although some vendors appear to have con-related promotions I could take advantage of), I can report that the first online-only iteration of the con was a success. 

Sure, Discord looks like AOL message board and ICQ had a love child circa 1997.  I have programs from work that I wish to set on fire daily that are more intuitive and are more display-friendly.   However, once you figured out how everything was set up, one could investigate the open games and get the necessary information to register and play.

Some games used the Discord server, others used Roll20 and Fantasy Grounds.  Online board games seemed to available with their own platform (I'm learning about that now).  Heck, in the waning hours of the con on Sunday, I found a Mepacon Digital Coloring and a Roblox group, which my kids could have jumped into.

I relegated my time between Twitch and Facebook Live with scheduled discussions between con staff, the vendors, games designers, and other folks in the hobby.  It was nice to see some familiar faces and learn a new story about a convention director wearing a bunny suit, and holding a sledgehammer.

I doubt the story inspired this figure, but you never know...

From the DartFrog06mm Blog

Previously, I was never a big panel guy outside of Ken and Robin on site or the five minutes from Comic-Con, but the numerous little panels talking with one of their vendor (and sponsors of the con), the big problems of a con, and the general convention wrap-up were all very entertaining.   I would definitely jump into more of these in digital or face-to-face settings.  Heck, if they need a pseudo-grognard for a panel, I'm sure I can deal with hearing myself speak about the whipper-snappers with the d20 OGL rolling dice on my lawn, err.... I mean dice tray.  THAC0 Baby!

I'm really hoping the possible doom-and-gloom of the Fall doesn't come to fruition and we can all meet face-to-face in White Haven, November 6th-8th.  However, if we can't, I'll be willing to completely book my time away from the family to look myself in the office and game.  Better

With that being said, the two biggest tidbits from all the convention staff's live streaming event?

• Mepacon is working on another online event for July 11, 2020, to supplement, not replace the face-to-face conventions. More info to come.
• This con was supposed to be the announcement of a one-day convention, co-organized by The Portal in Bethelehem, with help from the folks at Mepacon.  This untitled convention (perhaps I missed that) is tentatively scheduled for August 22nd at the Lehigh Valley Hotel off US 22 and PA 512 (the old Holiday Inn, then Best Western for the old-timers).  Definitely more info on this as it becomes available.

Cthulhu vs Mice - The Game!

Sometimes a piece of art inspires.

This one terrifies me, and creates a new project to my never-ending list.

The origins of the artwork (at least for the purposes of re-posting elsewhere on social media) appears to be a blog from Japan.  I originally discovered it under a "Mice versus Cthulhu."  Subsequent searches in the English-speaking world agree that these are Cats (of Uthar) saving the world... again.

But what if they were mice... and we could gamify it. 

With birthday money still holding steady, thanks to the Big 'Rona, I'm tempted to place an order for Eureka's Warrior Mice and draw up something a bit less Lovecraftian and more "Fun!"

I'm picturing something very OGRE-esque that's more a game of mutual annihilation.  The closer the mice spearman are, the more damage they'll inflict, but likewise, the more likely they'll be consumed.  There might even be a prime distance to attack from that's advantageous for the mice, but once a game, Mr Cephalopod himself can emerge out of the water and wreck havoc. 

Four players (plus Cthulhu), as kid friendly as suicidal mice attacking a Great Old One might be.  Perhaps and evil cult of mice trying to finish the ritual?  Sounds like more Mepacon than an HMGS con, but the plush Cthulhu in the office literally screaming at me.  I may have failed a SAN check.

Only thing missing are the mounted leaders.  Eureka USA doesn't stock them currently, so I'd either need crazy S&H from Down Under, or to catch the few remaining at an HMGS con without COVID-19. 

Ideas? Thoughts?  Improvements?  Let me know! 

(Kickstarter) This Very Ground: 28mm French & Indian Wars Miniatures by Brigade Games

The latest Kickstarter campaign from Brigade Games is This Very Ground, 28mm miniatures for the French & Indian Wars.

Gnome Sweet Gnome

We would have been home today from our cruise, had COVID not ruined the fun for public socializing for the entire world. 

Both my wife and myself work within different facets of healthcare, so we're still confident with the cruise industry, so we've rescheduled it for the first week of May, 2021.  

Here's hoping we return to a shred of normalcy.

(Kickstarter) Shantytown II: Up River by Miniature Building Authority

Miniature Building Authority is adding on their the Shantytown line with a Kickstarter for Shantytown II: Up River.

I may have missed this with Shantytown I, but the buildings are unpainted resin.  The buildings can come painted at an additional charge.

Pledge levels escalate quickly with $25 for the waterside shanty above (an extra $20 for painted), all the way to $420 for an unpainted medium set, $620 for one with everything new unpainted, and $1,200 for both Shantytown I & II unpainted.

Everything for this Kickstarter appears to be US based for production.

Shipping and Handling is extra and  calculated after the Kickstarter is finished.

FREE RPG DAY Rescheduled for July 25th

Another casualty of COVID-19:  Free RPG Day will now take place Saturday, July 25, 2020.

Check out www.freerpgday.com for more details.

(Painting) Archaeology in the Zombie Apocalypse.

A little bit of venting before the stuff I accomplished....

I am so sick and tired of the people too scared to leave their homes for a loaf of bread, as well as all the people demanding to be able to get massages, haircuts, pedicures, and participate in Jell-o wrestling in a bar RIGHT THIS SECOND (all while wearing a mask and proper social distancing).  

Working from home beats the chaos and uncertainty of the grocery and restaurant workers, but between ensuring the kids are up, breathing, and logging on to online schoolwork (I guarantee you none of the kids' teachers have taken more than the mandatory classes on online learning... and it shows), but in no way has it created more time for me to get fun stuff done.  

Combine COVID issue with all April Showers showing up on the last day of April, overwhelming the sump pumps, my wife setting up a home gym down there the second it was warm, the dryer going kaput, and trying find some normalcy in yard chores, my painting/gaming productivity isn't anything like I wanted it to be...

When I snagged the Star Wars d6 30th Anniversary Slipcase on clearance from MiniaturesMarket, I tacked on a few Reaper Bones to winnow down my want list.  I had plans on a great diorama showcasing them, but between the above rant and distractions on the painting bench, I have a different concept.

Archaeology in the Zombie Apocalypse:

The woman with the M-60 is just a generic figure out of Brigade Games' Post-Apocalyptic line.  Not the type of figure I normally buy, but I think I grabbed this off the shelf as to fill out a sales promotion at the Brigade table for Cold Wars. There's an odd Linda Hamilton/Daisy Duke vibe coming from this one.

BG-APC127 Girl with MG

The mini-obelisk and lion's head wall hanging are from one of Windsword's Sands of Egypt decoration sets that are no longer available.  Both were attempts to see how my addiction to GW's Seraphim Sepia continues to affect my painting.

 The mini-obelisk looks good.  There's another animal head in the package, and after working with this one, I'll go back to the multiple dry-brush layers.

I ordered two of the rafts made in Reaper Black Bones.  Both are smaller than my craft/popsicle stick creations in the past, but they will comfortably fit 2-3 normal figures, depending on basing.

A cart made in Reaper Black Bones. The crate and barrel that come with it will be part up the next wave of painting.

Blogging Update:

• Virtual Mepacon is later today.  I'll try to log on and play something. 
• Writing up some actual Gnome Wars articles.  Working from home instead of going on a cruise this week has severely affected my relaxing writing projects, as well as a "Best of" listening tour of Ken and Robin Talk About Stuff.  
• Another Mousling game is prepped and ready to go, hopefully this morning, to celebrate Mepacon.
• Our Star Wars d6 online game survived its second session on a cliffhanger already.  The vast archive of SW info online makes the feel of the game a lot different than the ones in the 90s.  

Next up and the paint bench:  The bench had a backlog from before my online order, but the remaining Reaper Bones are up, with all my other new stuff moving to the head of the line.  The 7 Dwarves from Macrocosm are cleaned, based, and primed, and I'm still staring at a giant box of the Dangerous Dames from Pulp Figures, plus a plethora of bits and pieces I found cleaning out the office.

(Kickstarter) Steve Jackson Games Summer 2020 T-Shirt Collection

Are a you a fan of Steve Jackson Games?  Have you exhausted all the t-shirt options in Warehouse 23?  Does your fanbase need to see you in more GURPS t-shirts?

Then you're in luck!  Steve Jackson has just launched the Summer 2020 T-Shirt Collection via Kickstarter.

World Domination Has Never Been So Apathetic

Sarge and His Men Aren't Doing Proper Recon Anymore...

Historicon 2020 CANCELLED

Late Monday, HMGS sent out the word that due to the complications of COVID-19, Historicon would be cancelled.  All monies submitted by vendors will be refunded.  Room bookings with the on-site hotel will be released.

After barely getting Cold Wars in under the radar of the ban on large gatherings, even the most positive people with the most positive circumstances were giving the convention a coin flip's chance of occurring. 

They were nearing built in and self-imposed contractual deadlines with the facilities, and despite Lancaster County's high number of infections, "the curve" was being lowered and working towards a decline in daily numbers.  Despite the high numbers overall (comparable with my county of Luzerne), the fact that other counties had been moved into "Yellow phase"  (non-essential businesses could reopen with precaution, curbside food-service and masking remain, bars/barbers/hair and nail salons remain closed) showed some progress. 

Complete conjecture (and political at that):  With a week or two to go before making a final decision, the statistical feats necessary to allow Lancaster County to host mass gathering of hundreds, much less thousands, of people, was near impossible.   And to make matters worse, many of the nearby counties that in the same category Lancaster "went rogue," claiming that they will not enforce or pursue penalty over non-essential businesses opening. 

Most HMGS Board Members/Convention Staff/Volunteers are from out-of-state, and to see surrounding counties defy the Governor's orders most certainly affected their decision to cancel with some time left.  The late-entry of Lancaster County joining them most certainly put the final nail in the coffin.

We'll see how things go by the time we reach Fall-In! in October.  COVID might be making a comeback in the fall, and Valley Forge is in Montgomery County, one of the hot spots surrounding Philadelphia. 

After reviewing the State of Maryland's data, I wholeheartedly can't wait for Cold Wars in Ocean City next year. 

Lost Dispatches of Feraso #76 - Look the Other Way

10 HepDec 1050 - Village of Eding, Kingdom of Crosedes
(or three years later, for those keeping track at home....)

Another day, another couple silver made selling with carved coins commemorating Eding.  My craftsmanship is much better than last year's attempt.  I just can't imagine peopel dedicating this much time for such a intricate trade, only to be paid a measley sum in return. Thank Akana for the nest egg I kept.

10 HepDec 1050 - Village of Eding, Kingdom of Crosedes
Thank Akana that I keep rank of sergeant in the milita despite all Captain Lacaray's attempts to promote me.  I do not wish any additional authority on men, other than to lead them on patrols, and that is sometimes too much for me.  Barrack Tenslow looks poised to finally take some authority and I'll push for him to be promoted to another sergeant.

10 HepDec 1050 - Village of Eding, Kingdom of Crosedes
I ran into my friend Caton,  still single and mingling, but he's been missing the past few days.

"I'll let you in on a secret," he told me.  "When things go bad and the militia's called, take your men upriver to search.  Just... trust me."

19 HepDec 1050 - Village of Eding, Kingdom of Crosedes
I expected the worst,  but not the report of the missing children.

Hob Gadling has taken on the worst traits of his mother and father.  With that, he was reported missing.

Four-year old children don't end up missing, they end up dead.

Hob's father Bernard, is the sergeant-in-arms for Lord Athelstane, so we need to at least go through the motions.

Women search the village, I volunteered Barrack Tenslow and myself to lead a squad to search upriver, and another sergeant was sent downriver.

For a militia mission, it has been one of the more relaxing missions.  We wandered around the manors, skipped a few stones, and when the runners I sent back returned with young Hob still undiscovered, we set up camp not far from traveled further into the halfling village of Lowdale.

20th of HepDec 1050 - Halfling Village of Elmshire
Still no sign of Hob, and I have full doubts most teenagers could make the walk to the third halfling village, much less a youngster.

The only discovery I found was a fabulous desk made by the furniture maker Merovec Puddinfoot of Elmshire.  He'll deliver it next week to avoid any other improprieties.

My shopping was interrupted by a gruff old half-orc name Ozark.  He was the emissary of some other foolish position for the mayor/sheriff of the village, the single named Tanqueman.  I was intrigued by this one named halfling, shouldn't they all have odd surnames like Berryfart, Tacotuesday, or Baconbelly, but alas, the half-orc told us to patrol the lands of Lord Athelstane.  If any random human their size came wandering into the village unawares, they would ship them right back to Eding.   We pitched camp down the road and tomorrow we will force march our way back to Eding.

Next: #77 The Rescue in Nightwood Forest

The Legions of Steel Pledge Manager is UP!

After a successful Kickstarter, the classic Legions of Steel line moves to the Pledge Manager to process S&H, add figures, and use up the $11 in free credit us early pledges earned. 

Those late to the party can still get in at the discounted rates.

First time using Gamefound for a pledge manager.  It certainly works, appears to be user friendly, but its wonky in some ways that mirror a project I'm working on at my job.   It should be a breeze to process my pledge, once I make my mind up, but whether it's intuitiveness or idiot-proofing, something needs a bit of polishing.

Speaking of polishing, you might want to polish some gold doubloons.  Remember, dear fans of the game, that the old figures are being cast new, in metal, from RAFM... and all prices are in Canadian dollars.... Current conversion rate is C$1.00 is worth US$0.71, so ten bucks Canadian is only costing the American folks $7.10.   I knew that this math was something I'd have to get over to order things a la carte. 

UNE Assault Troopers are C$24.00 apiece, just over US$17.00!   Only slightly bragging, but that makes the purchase Award-Winning GM Mike Lung made for me at Cold Wars 2017 a downright bargain (flea market buys usually are).

Canadian metal and craftsmanship does not come cheap. 

And those Behemoths in the back aren't cheap either! 

 I will dither around the various packages, but it looks like one or two each of the non-standard Nightmares and an extra trooper or two....

Happy Birthday Maja... *NOT* on a Boat!

Barring a new crazy pandemic, we're on a boat!

It's our standard vacation cruise, same itinerary, nothing particularly cool history or gaming-wise, but noooo, somebody couldn't wait for bat jerky or something within the wilds of a foreign county, and now 2020 has been swallowed up by COVID-19.  Even at my most positive, I knew our cruise was a 50/50 shot at best. and we're still pondering getting a refund or rescheduling.  May was the perfect time of year for all of us schedule-wise and all the available options interfere with work or basketball.

*Sigh*

Amidst all this chaos,  it's also Miss Maja's 11th birthday today, not on said boat.  Our family gaming has suffered with the onset of her crazy basketball schedule, her voracious appetite for reading... and mashed potatoes, plus her own phone has turned her into a teenager a little earlier than we'd like, but she's also one of the sweetest, knowledgeable people I know.   Riverdale young adult readers one week, books on Nazi Germany and the Holocaust next, it's always going to be a cerebral adventure with this one.

From Historicon last year....

Happy Mothers Day!

Another Month of Gaming (May '20)

It took a little while, but Alliance Games' Game Trade Magazine #243 is finally out and for the second month in a row, the entire issue is available in pdf for free.

By mid- week I was thinking they were going to scrap a month for the first time in 20+ years, thanks to COVID, work from home restrictions, and the fact that many game manufacturers were running on skeleton crews, much less the idea that for more than half of the US population, game shops are real low on the list of "essential businesses," especially with open gaming areas violating public gathering limits on a weeknight, much less during a weekend Magic tournament.

I, for one, welcome this continuation of normalcy, albeit a short bit late.  If we can get to the point where I can (a) get a haircut for my emerging white-fro (b) sit at the counter of  diner for breakfast and (c) not have anyone go into PTSD to moment someone coughs or sneezes a half mile away, I'll perform a happy dance.  Until then, here's the new gaming solicitations that I think are awesome...

ViscountEric's Want List
Paizo Publishing
Starfinder RPG:  Core Rulebook (Pocket Edition) ........................ $19.99
You know what?  For twenty bucks, I'll bite.

ViscountEric's Money-Is-No-Object Want List
Goodman Games
Original Adventures Reincarnated #4 - The Lost City .................. $49.99
The new material does sound tempting....




The Imaginary Store List (The Pegleg Gnome)
25th Century Games
Jurassic Parts ................................................. $29.99

Asmodee 
I'll double check prior posts, but Asmodee getting into the TCG/CCG storage market (with so/so pricing) and the horribly overpriced Marvel: Crisis Protocol sets, I'm back to my usual negative outlook towards the company. 

Avalanche Press
Panzer Grenadier: Leyte 1944 ................................... $29.99
Second World War at Sea: Tropical Storm ................ $34.99

Capstone Games
Ride the Rails ............................................................. $39.99

Catan Studios
Catan: 25th Anniversary Edition ............................... $80.00
I gasped at the price, but with Anniversary Edition upgrades, PLUS the upgrade for 5-6 players, it's in ihe right price range.

Dolphin Hat Games
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza ....................................... $10.00

Fantasy Flight Games
Legends of the Five Ring RPG: Celestial Realms HC ........................ $39.95
Legends of the Five Ring RPG: Trail of Shadows HC ........................ $14.95
Legends of the Five Ring RPG: Wheel of Judgement ......................... $19.95
Star Wars Legion: Arc Troopers .......................................................... $34.95
Star Wars Legion: BX-Series Droid Commanders .............................. $34.95
Star Wars Legion: Cad Bane ................................................................ $14.95
Star Wars Legion: Clan Wren ...............................................................$34.95
Star Wars Legion: Inferno Squad ......................................................... $34.95
Star Wars Legion: Padme Amidala ...................................................... $14.95

Good Games Publishing
Fluttering Souls .................................................. $12.99

Konami Digital Entertainment
Legendary Duelists Season 1 Box Display
Sacred Beasts Structure Decks
Toon Chaos Boosters

Mantic Entertainment
Halpi's Rift Campaign Book .............................. $29.99
Terraincrate: Battle Damaged House ................. $29.99
Terraincrate: Debris ........................................... $29.99
Terraincrate: Ruins ............................................  $79.99
Terraincrate: Checkpoint Tango ......................... $29.99
Terraincrate: Village Church .............................. $29.99

Paizo Publishing
Pathfinder RPG: Advanced Player's Guide Hardcover ....................................... $49.99
Special Edition also coming out at $69.99
Pathfinder RPG: AP Agents of Edgewatch 1 - Devil at the Dreaming Palace .... $24.99
Pathfinder RPG: Flip Tiles - Urban Slums Expansion ........................................ $19.99
Pathfinder RPG: Lost Omens Legends HC ......................................................... $34.99
Starfinder RPG: AP The Threefold Conspiracy 6 - Puppets Without Strings .... $22.99
Starfinder RPG: Flip-Mat: Desert World ............................................................ $14.99
Starfinder RPG: Starship Operations Manual HC ............................................... $39.99

Pokemon USA
Sword & Shield Rebel Clash Boosters
Sword & Shield Rebel Clash Theme Decks

Steve Jackson Games
Munchkin: 40k - Cults and Cogs ..................................... $19.95

Weta Workshop
The Hobbit An Unexpected Party Boardgame ................... PI
My policy on these reviews is to avoid the "PI" (Please Inquire) price categories.  These items may have a set MSRP, but the discount structure to your FLGS is actually a set wholesale cost, usually far less attractive than the traditional tiered discount structure.  My experience on the retail side is two decades distant, but I remember wincing when I looked things up in the retailer edition.  Definitely items I reserved as special order only.  The discount difference was enough that I rarely could justify shelf copies of anything.  That being said, the game seems amusing, if it was under $40.  *SPOILERS* Online pre-orders are ranging from $29.99 to $39.99 prior to S&H

Wizards of the Coast
D&D: Mythic Odysseys of Theros HC ............................ $49.95
Alternate Cover available at same price.

Magic: The Gathering - Jumpstart Boosters.
I'm intrigued by this concept:
Jumpstart takes the best parts of limited and constructed Magic and fuses them into a dynamic, innovative play experience. Grab two boosters, shuffle them together, and youre ready to go! Each Jumpstart booster includes 20 cards. All 20 cards fit a theme, and most themes have multiple variations, enough to make 121 possible 20-card lists inside any given pack. Lands are included, so two packs are all you need to start battling.

Scooby Doo! Betrayal at Mystery Mansion .....................................  $34.99
At this rate, I can't wait for Hanna-Barbera Diplomacy.

WizKids
Marvel Heroclix: Battlegrounds - Avengers vs Masters of Evil ....... $34.99
Starfinder Battles - Starter Pack - Heroes ......................................... $34.99
Transformer Deep Cuts: Unpainted - Soundwave ............................ $ 4.99
Starfinder Battles - Starter Pack - Monsters ...................................... $34.99

(Risus) The Great Hall of COVIDiots

It was a disaster at Bigg Melon Market, but the day was young.

The Channel 27 Action News Van arrived an hour later.  Smoke was coming out of the Bigg Melon and the adjacent liquor store.  Reporter Wendy Montoya's report focused on unknown attacks on the community's senior citizen population, how some rioted in their Jazzies at the local liquor store, and how a batch of complimentary sushi at Bigg Melon, a new prepared food product at the market, may have caused some deadly food poisoning.

The cameraman spent most of his time focusing on a group of old veterans, panting, gasping for air, barely able to walk.  While these were the accused rioters at the liquor store, the cameraman picked up a fact the local Emmy award-winning Wendy didn't.  These same men were emerging from the market when they pulled up.  They had just made it to the handicapped spots when they went live.  They could barely walk, much less riot.!

Terry Decimal, quintessential customer service guy and new meat department guy, had given the vets a rousing speech to loot and riot, except Jeff, their IT guy at the market had stolen many of the scooter batteries to power a device to electrocute all the snakes running lose.  Most of the vets with power to their scooters were blocked in by the disabled ones.

Terry had gone over to the liquor store alone and went all Fight Club on them.  He alone was responsible for all the damage (and lots of missing booze).

And the other seniors getting food poisoning on complimentary sushi was understandable, as Steve the produce guy had picked up all the electrocuted snakes to avoid a county inspection demerit and started up a makeshift sushi stand to distract the remaining seniors.

Fast forward four weeks...

Steve and Jeff were at Home Depot, filling out job applications, due to their subsequent firings.  Terry and Shawn were there for moral support and to get chain link fencing and razor wire for around the bacon at the market.

Things were fine, until a ruckus was occurring near the front of the store.   Some man, looking like a deranged Santa Claus in an undershirt and shorts, was pushing a cart full of Valspar paint samples he was fashioning into origami, yelling at nearby customers about the Corona hoax, the deep state, and how he just wanted to go back to work.

Shawn first realized that the Valspar samples came from Lowes and told Terry and his great customer service skills  (4) to dissolve the tension.

Problem was, Terry went a rational route, and the man was not in the mood for "Fake News."  He pushed Terry away and reached into his cart for an odd piece of headgear....

The Helm of Covfefe

Everyone was still in shock by the scenario, so the many fashioned his paint swatch-origami into samurai armor...

Out of the surrounding customers emerged three supporters of the COVIDiot, a ninja (no mask), Gritty from the Philadelphia Flyers, and a greased-up male swimsuit model... America flag Speedo... no mask.

The fight was so ridiculous that Shawn just wanted to go to Lowe's.   -Ninja stars, last season's fashions, Gritty throwing grill parts, and the old man shooting lasers and misinformation out of the helm.

Most of the melee took place near the front entrance, but by the end, the devastation carried across the entire front of the store.  The ninja fled, the male model got the front of his Speedo caught between two shopping carts, and Gritty caught the business end of a zero-turn riding motor.

The head COVIDiot was tougher to defeat, but such a versatile man like Terry Decimal is always prepared.

I don't know what was worse, the fact that he had saved the severed snakeheads from the Bigg Melon sushi disaster, or that he had them on his person weeks later and wanted to poison Mr. Pool Noodle with them.

He failed at poisoning him, but in the struggle, two of them were jammed in the opening of the pool noodles, blocking all the Stupid Energy(TM) from coming out and he mentally imploded.

Only words of wisdom pre-credits came from Steve, "When one door closes, another door opens.  He was a great man, but a horrible cabinet maker!"

These Could Be Used for All the COVID-19 Protest Scenarios

The Weekend Reschedules to August

Comicon, Origins, Salute, and just about everyone other convention, all cancelled, reschedules and virtual experience notwithstanding.

GenCon stands as one of the only giant conventions still happening.  On the opposite, the quasi-mini- convention referred to as The Weekend was still scheduled for June.

Was being the word to focus on.  Even The Weekend Crew, which is a pretty conservative, albeit older, bunch, the lurking horror which was COVID-19, and the restrictions placed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, forced them to reschedule to the weekend of August 13-15, 2020, still at the Comfort Suites in Carlisle, PA.

Everything, including the kick-off dinner, appear to going on as planned.

The Cisco Kid Approves of Knuckleduster Miniatures

Sometimes social media creates the right exposure.

Discovered this on one of my Facebook groups:

Posted by Bill Hahner on the Pulp Miniatures Gaming  Facebook group.  Absolutely outstanding!

With all the cool Western, these blazin' good minis might convince me to saddle up some cash to Knuckleduster Miniatures, once they reopen from the COVID orders.

Sheriff Blazer

The Chaco Kid

And to make my day even better, pick up Mangus while you're at it.

He is merely pawn in game of life....

It makes sense that Knuckleduster also made the Orc Amigos

The Orc Amigos