New Year's Eve. Party Time. Excellent.

Although I don't track blog posts in a traditional calendar year setting, today marks the last day of the 1st Quarter of my gaming year.  Here are my Top Ten posts of the last three months.

1. (Savage Pulp) #3.9 Swedish Museum of Antiquities 
2. (Painting) Legion of Steel G1 Nightmares
3. (Gnome Wars) The Tree Demon of the Lower Sierras
4. (Painting) Figures within the Past Fortnite
5. (Painting) Gnomish Space Marine Light Mortar
6. (Painting) G-Series Nightmare Variants
7. New Year's Projects for 2020-21
8. Lost Dispatches of Feraso #99 - A Conversation with Mo
9. Twenty Questions About My Campaign - Gulluvia Edition
10. Lost Dispatches of Feraso #97 - Proposals and Adoptions

Without Conventions or giant Kickstarters to report on, I'm happy to see my painting and AARs getting decent views.  I'm particularly amused that the final episodes of my Lost Dispatches of Feraso, covering my high school D&D campaign from 1990-1992 and tying up some loose ends in other games 1993-2000, finally caught traction in the final weeks.  

#7 on the list were my projects for October 1, 2020 - September  30, 2021.  So far, so good. In fact, I started one the first entry into my Georic Gazetteer and it’s going to be awesome (and very massive.  The mapmaking alone might take me out.)

I'll just try to paint more figures and play more games.  Sounds so horrible. Let's do it!

Clurichaun Painted Up at Spoils of Wargames

 Spoils of Wargames has gotten some Gnome Wars figures painted during Pandemic.  Even better, they're Clurichaun!

Cavorting Gnomes

(Risus) Disco Hell '78

New York City,  July, 1978

Rolling blackouts plague the city, but lines are wrapped around the block to enter, a hip new discotheque, the Wheel of Fortune.

Three men are in line together: 

John McClane (John), a rookie NYPD cop, looking to blow off some steam.

John McClane

Hans Gruber (Hans), a rich German entrepreneur 

Hans Gruber - never young, never grows old

... and David Hasslehoff (Dave), actor  

A young David Hasselhoff, actor

Dave moseyed up to the doorman, a tall skinny dude with Farrah Fawcett hair.  He presented him a dollar.  

"It's going to cost more to get a word in...  It's five just for the cover."

An extra two dollars and some sweet talk and he disappeared into the building, leaving the other two behind.  

Hans grabbed John and went up to the doorman, quickly flashing a Sears credit card in his wallet.

"Health.. Inspector... Surprise Inspection with my assistant."  With the rolling of the bouncer's eyes, the duo entered the club. 

If Hans had been a health inspector, the overcrowded building would have initiated an immediate shutdown, but the crowd six rows deep around the bar was more intriguing.  

Dave had been inside long enough to try out the popular new drink, The Cement Slinger.  Served in an oversized wine glass, a concoction of liquor and fresh goat's milk was oddly pleasing and intoxicating. (Even if they could refrigerate it, the rolling blackouts couldn't guarantee quality.) 

When a fat drunkard crashed through the swinging doors behind the bar, everyone realized the fresh goat's milk came directly from a goat behind the bar!  Freed from the bar, the goat started cavorting through thedisco.    Hans, who grew up on an East German collectivist farm, sprung into action to wrangle the goat and prevent further health violations.  Unfortunately,  he could not overtake the Goat with a Piss-Poor Attitude (2).

The goat scurried up to a secure second floor where a illegal drug operation to cut cocaine operated,  street name Billy Goat Blow.

The operators didn't see the irony of the goat running wild through kilos of cocaine, so they opened fire on the creature.  The goat remained uninjured and the gun shots match the disco music 

A table finally opened, and the trio jumped at it, John grabbing someone else's Cement Slingers from another table 

Before they could enjoy the ladies (and cavorting goat), a thickly accent voice popped up.

"Helloooooo!!!!  Dose are our drinks, man! "

Behind them was a very short Hispanic man with dark hair and eyes, in an all-white suit with gold chains.  His two friends wore wife beaters, slacks, and sandals.

"Felipe Idaho has this table for the entire night, you horrible Germanic beast, get us fresh drinks.... and make sure they don't kill dat goat!"

Hans scurried away, pretending to grab extra drinks for the angry short man.  

Dave ran off in an opposite direction, becoming a dancing fool, attracting men, women, and even the goat.

The DJ was transitioning to a band, still disco, but with a bagpipe player.  I

Crowds grooving closer and closer to the band.  The lead singer, a shirtless Peter Frampton type wearing a ripped monastic robe, grabbed the goat from the crowd.  

Hans demanded the safety of the goat and rushed the stage.  The lead singer held the goat down on the ground and pulled out a sacrificial knife.

 

John,  kicked back another random Cement Slinger and with the rush of alcohol, took off his shoes and socks and moved forward towards the stage.

Dave heard the bleating goat, and having once attended an Alice Cooper concert, was intrigued by this performance art. 

Somehow everyone was shocked and surprised when the lead singer actually plunged the knife into the goat.  

Hans jumped on stage, grabbed a mic stand, and knocked out the French Horn player, smashing the glasses and beer bottles on stage, pausing John's advance

The goat was not quite dead yet, bleating and bleeding horribly, but all Hans could do was keep the band members from further desecrating the goat.

But the attempted sacrifice snapped something inside Dave's mind.  He pushed through the crowd to get up on stage and began smearing the arterial goat blood spray across himself.  

Felipo Idaho,  "I though that guy was health inspector, what's he doin' to that goat?"

John seemed clumsy, hitting every piece of broken glass as he ran across the stage, to run to a phone and call in reinforcements from the local precinct.  He asked for his friend Al, who was willing to dispatch some paddy wagons to deal with the cult activity and health code violations.

The lead singer finally laid a killing blow on the goat and turned his attention to the mic stand-swinging German.

 

*BAM*

*BAM*

 

*BAM*

The lead singer lay dead on the stage, his blood intermingling with the goat's.

David Hasselhoff turned his attention to the lead singer, and feasted on his flesh.  

Officer Al Powel, pulled up to the Wheel of Fortune Disco. Inside, he could see a portal to Hell forming inside. 

"It's going to be a loooong night."

Hans was on stage when the portal opened up, swallowing up the soulless disco fans.  Realizing there was no chance to start things, he tried to escape, but got caught in an all out brawl with Felipe Idaho, who was still waiting for his drinks.  

Dave seemed intrigued by the portal to Hell, entered a deal with the Devil for two long-running TV deals, one in the 80's, another in the 90's both maintaining the misogynistic standards of the 70's.

The others escaped with their lives.

GM Notes: This still makes more than the actual comic out of Tales of the Unexpected #192.  I can still use that plot to set up a Spirit of '77 one-shot. 

Another Month of Gaming (Jan '21)

We've reach a month of new gaming releases for 2021, and of course, all the stuff that arrived since the last issue of Game Trade Magazine.  The PDF of issue #251 can be found here.

ViscountEric's Must-Have Want List

Osprey Publishing

Frostgrave: The Red King ............................................................. $30.00

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

Gamelyn Games

It appears that Alliance is working with Gamelyn Games to distribute a number of games, but I'm most interested in their Tiny Epic line.  At $15-30 per box, they're great compact games, and I should be adding some to the collection.

The Imaginary Store List (The Pegleg Gnome)
25th Century Games
Christmas Lights Card Game 2nd Edition .......................................... $9.99
Perhaps we can blame COVID and problems shipping from China, but the January release date for a new edition of a Christmas game is perhaps the worst possible time.  

ARES GAMES
Battlestar Galactica: Additional Counter Set Expansion Pack .......................... $12.90
Battlestar Galactica: Faster than Light Expansion Pack ..................................... $19.90
Has anyone gotten any buzz on Battlestar Galatica? I've also heard zero buzz through my usual channels. Luckily, these things are relatively inexpensive, so if the imaginary store is pushing the game, these are a no-brainer to get.

Bandai

Dragon Ball Super Unison Warriors - Set 4 - Supreme Rivalry Boosters

Dragon Ball Super Unison Warriors - Set 4 - Supreme Rivalry Premium Pack

Catalyst Game Labs

Shadowrun RPG - Collapsing Now ............................... $44.99

Shadowrun RPG - High Rollers Dice Pack ................... $19.99

Chessex Manufacturing

I don't see release dates, so this might be a restock but they're soliciting a large run on their Borealis  Luimary Dice.  Multiple colors, available in 

12mm d6 blocks (36 dice) ...............................  $13.98

16mm d6 blocks (12 dice) ..............................  $9.98

Set of 10 d10s   (10 dice) ................................. $13.98

7-Die Polyhedral Set .......................................  $9.98

Cobblestone Games

Builders of Blankenburg ........................................... $60.00

Builders of Blankenburg Fields and Flocks Exp .....  $50.00

Cryptozoic Entertainment

Cryptkins Unleashed: Bigfoot ................................... $14.99

Cryptkins Unleashed: Mothman ................................ $14.99

Cryptkins Unleashed: Unicorn ................................... $14.99

Devir Americas

Red Cathedral .......................................................... $34.99

Dietz Foundation Games

Free at Last Civil Rights Board Game ..................... $50.00

Supercharged! ..........................................................  $35.00

Firelock Games

Blood and Plunder: Raise the Black 2-Player Starter Set

Blood and Plunder: Raise the Black Expansion Book

Blood and Plunder: Sailors (Plastic)

Blood and Plunder: Soldiers (Plastic)

Blood and Plunder: Sloop (Plastic)

GMT Games

1918-1919: Storm in the West ......................................... $49.00

Apocalypse Road ............................................................  $72.00

Caesar: Rome Vs Gaul ...................................................  $60.00

Goodman Games

DCC:  The Empire of the East ....................................... $29.99

Konami Digital Entertainment

Yu-Gi-Oh!  Ghosts from the Past Box Display 

Medieval Lords

Ten Suns ............................................... $30.00

Monte Cook Games

Ptolus:  City by the Spire ........................................... $149.99

5e and Cypher Editions

Paizo Publishing

Pathfinder RPG: Adventure - Malevolence ...................................................... $22.99

Pathfinder RPG: AP Abomination Vault 3 - Eyes of Empty Death .................. $24.99

Pathfinder RPG:  Bestiary 3 HC ....................................................................... $44.99

Pathfinder RPG:  Bestiary 3 Special Edition HC ............................................. $69.99

Pathfinder RPG:  Flip Mat: Malevolence ......................................................... $14.99

Pathfinder RPG:  Flip Tiles Wilderness Perils Expansion ...............................  $19.99

Pathfinder RPG:  Pawns  -Agents of Edgewatch Pawn Collection .................. $24.99

Starfinder RPG: AP - Fly Free or Die 5 - Crash & Burn .................................. $22.99

Starfinder RPG: Flip Mat - Solar Temple ......................................................... $14.99

Pokemon USA

Pokeman TCG: Alakazm V Box ................................... $12.00

Q-Workshop

Starfinder Devastation Ark Dice Set (7) ...................... $13.00

River Horse

Jim Henson's Labyrinth Ready, Steady, Worm! .......... $39.95

Steve Jackson Games

Munchkin Enhancers Expansion ................................ $ 9.95

Toy Vault

Pathfinder 1000-piece puzzle: Bestiary ...................... $24.99

Pathfinder 1000-piece puzzle: Core Rulebook ........... $24.99

Wizards of the Coast

Magic the Gathering CCG: Kaldheim

Boosters, Bundles, Commander Decks, Theme Boosters

Wizkids

D&D Adult Red Dragon Premium Figure ........................... $69.99

D&D Icewind Dale - 2D Frost Giant ................................... $14.99

D&D Icewind Dale - 2D Frost Giant Skeleton .................... $14.99

D&D Icewind Dale - 2D Young Adult White Dragon ........ $14.99

D&D Yawning Portal Premium Set .................................... $349.99

D&D Yawning Portal - Bars and Tables ............................   $49.99

D&D Yawning Portal - Beds and Bottles ...........................  $49.99

D&D Yawning Portal - Friendly Faces ............................... $39.99

And a whole lot more from the various D&D lines

Starfinder: Planets of Peril Bricks

Starfinder: Planets of Peril Docking Bay Premium Set ............. $59.99

Warlock Tiles 

Everything looks very nice... and nothing is under forty bucks.  Stocking this has the same general issues as Dwarven Forge over the years.

ViscountEric's 2020 Holiday Riches Report

(Edit: This is the third time in nine months that I'm reposting this entry.  For all my research, the words "holiday" and "swag" in the title has triggered some sort of bot traffic, which has guaranteed this to be the most viewed post of my 2020-21 gaming year.   Here's hoping a change in title keeps this off my Weekly Top 10 Blog Posts list, ten months later.  I mean, it wasn't a spectacular gaming haul like in years past.  I'd delete the post outright, but the non-gift stuff I mention makes me all nostalgic and should be kept for my posterity... until Google kills Blogger one day.)

Another Christmas is in the books, and I for one will complain.  With the pandemic, my own personal medical issues (more on that later), and the overall divided nature of the country, the concept of Christmas with just my wife and the girls wasn't the original Christmas we wanted, however, in hindsight, it was the Christmas we needed.

We snagged a LOT of deals on the kid's stuff, and both my wife and I were pretty blasé when it came to a wish list.  She gave me a short list (of which I was largely successful, and thanks to impeccable timing of my bout with COVID, I never assembled an Amazon wishlist, or a special order list for the FLGS that won't arrive until Christmas Eve, so my wife did the best she could.

The Swag: 

• Smart Ass by University Games: Can't argue with a trivia game with raucous interjection, even if it's not your turn.  It might also be a game my wife will actually try and play.
• "I'll be GNOME for Christmas" Kitchen Towel
• Assorted A-Treat Diet 20 oz bottles:  My passion for gaming was fueled by Mountain Dew, Doritos, and M&Ms on my family's dining room table, but my heart goes to A-Treat.  Located in Allentown, PA,  A-Treat is the local soda and certain flavors (Big Blue) fueled some zany antics in the 90's.  Despite their delivery range to supermarkets being over 30 miles from our house, my house went to the closest supermarket and purchased sixteen 20 oz bottles... of various diet products.  The Diet Orange Cream Soda is the closest in comparison to the full sugar version.
• Bicycle "Aurora" playing cards.  Self-bought with the big boss's Christmas gift card.  I like the card backs, but everything blends in on the faces, which would make them poor to use in a Savage Worlds game.  
• Llamas Unleashed.  Also from the boss' gift card.  From the same folks that brought you Unstable Unicorns.  I figured a few llamas can't be that bad, right?
• Oh yeah, my biggest gift was the office chair the rest of the swag is piled on.  A fat guy working from from home 8+ hours every day since March has not been kind to the furniture in our home office, and this chair is super solid, on wheels, and is super comfy.  

(Edit:  I will add two self-purchased stocking stuffers.  Space Dwarves packs #1 and #2 from Simtac for the Macho Women with Guns RPG were Bob Olley sculpts I grabbed off of eBay.  They arrived in the care of USPS on December 21st and arrived at my doorstep on New Year's Eve.) 

Basement:  We were one of the areas that got two feet of snow last week, and were blessed with 60 degree temps and two and half inches of rain over Christmas.  My streak of keeping a dry basement finally failed and I have multiple pumps desperately keeping up.  It even gently lapped at the ignition/motor for the furnace, leaving us without heat/hot water from 10am-6pm on Christmas Day.  Once the water drops, I have approval from the household financial officer for a full horsepower (or more) sump pump with battery back-up, cause the 1/2 we have installed and the 1/3 "mobile assistant" ain't cutting it on 100-year old storms... and we're getting those every other year now.  I think I'll need to replace two ill-placed cardboard boxes I left on the lowest shelf/footrest of the painting bench, but no damage to anything else. Once the water goes down enough, I shall trudge through it and grab the things I need for a very special Christmas game.

Health:  Our dear readers might remember my super-special episode with COVID.  I'm still cleared for work, did the mandatory face-to-face shopping for Christmas, but my endurance is still not there and that dreaded COVID cough seems to have returned this weekend.  Time to call the doctor, and hopefully it's an anti-biotic for some residual pneumonia.  

Maja, Chess, and Meatballs:  To counter all the dire news above, our traditional Swedish Smorgasbord was cut back considerably thanks to COVID and no guests, so we only made one batch of kjøttboller (Swedish Meatballs).  My eldest daughter, Maja, has been helping, and to the relief of a tired Dad, took over the reins of the process, allowing me only to chop onions and brown the meatballs.  The best part?  When I eat them, I have flashbacks to my grandmother's meatballs on Christmas Eve, many moons ago.  They're as close to perfect as I have seen in the last 25 years.   

I also took some time out to correct one fatherly sin.  I finally taught Maja chess.  Way back in July, during our trip to Wellsboro, I picked up a reasonable chess/checkers/backgammon set at Pop's Culture Shoppe.  Outside of the Knights' movements, she picked up everything fast, we paused the games to talk a lot about looking beyond the next move, and Dad still made plenty of unintended boneheaded moves to keep things interesting.  Besides being rusty, I was never a good chess player to begin with, but learning the game in my youth helped me comprehend wargaming and other non-hobby things later in life.  If it supplants Uno a few times this year, that would be great.

Project 350:  I was saving this until the end of the year, but since the post seems like a full disclosure:  year: 510 (346/164) from 513 (349/164).  Of course, I found five more holiday pics to add to my future/scheduled holidays (I already have posts set up for God Jul, Christmas Eve, and Christmas until 2026.) so that will cancel out the work posting this week, so it's a wash.  As the month/year winds down, I only have some Christmas games to play with the girls to play/write, one Star Wars Actual Play, and a book review, if I can get the time to read the last 50 pages.  We promise to do better next year.

(Painting) A Few More Navuoo Legion, Refurbs, and a Chest

Recovery from the great Corovid has extremely slow and steady.  Physical activity isn't causing potential damage, rather it's completely taxing.  Christmas shopping has been laughable, my normal sprints into stores to finish in a few hours has turned into multiple days... and multiple naps.

I've been able to do two tasks without collapsing: wrapping Christmas presents and painting miniatures.

After much whining and gnashing of teeth, I have five more of my mythical Nauvoo Legion of the Theocracy of Deseret for Gnome Wars completed!

Southern Americans NCO (Center)  and four riflemen.

I already have trouble finishing handfuls of figures, much less painting "large" (10+) units.  The figures are clean and are easy enough to paint, I just happen to get distracted easily. 

Lucky for me, this week's distractions were simply refurbishing some minis I picked up at an HMGS con flea market.  

A little shiny, but any excuse to rebase and use Huge Minis grass tufts is worth it.

In my putzing around the shelves of the Kriget Rum, I re-discovered the Mordheim box set I had.  Another flea market find, the sprues are picked clean of body parts, but all the accessories (and stuff for the buildings are there.  It was as good a time as any to assemble a chest and paint it up real quick.

Finally, let's repaint one more figure, another flea market find with a group of Western figs.  Some needed basing or a touch up.  This one appeared to be living in meat grinder and needed some significant work.

NEXT:  Ten more figures for the Nauvoo Legion (and a write-up, finally!), Gnomish Space Marine... Gangers, and there's enough vehicle parts to start a junkyard.  Plus my first attempt at stripping minis.  

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve!

The Weather is Fiendish This Holiday Season

God Jul 2020!

Deck the Halls With Thermal Detonators....

Digger Corps Returns to Macrocosm

Right at the onset of my hospitalization, I missed the announcement that the Digger Corps had return to Macrocosm Miniatures.

The Diggers (aka Space Dwarves) were part of a Macrocosm Kickstarter from five years ago.  The line was subsequently sold off to Sandstorm Minis (and another Kickstarter) until this month, when things returned to the Macrocosm website.  

Considering my current projects in the Gnomish Space Marine universe involve this figures, it would be nice to provide a valid and current link to purchase the mins.

Otterly Reprehensible Gameplay

 

(Gnome Wars) Unofficial Gingerbread Men Rules

Gingerbread Men  - Unofficial Rules for Gnome Wars by Mike Lung 

Gingerbread Men

Movement
 Maximum allowance for Gingy infantry is 12” per turn.
 Maximum allowance for Gingy Animal Cracker cavalry is 18” per turn. If charging, the receive
1d10 movement bonus.

Hand-to-Hand                          Figure Die for Melee
Unarmed Gingy Infantry                                     6 sided
Candycane Club infantry                                    8 sided
Gumdrop Throwers                                             6 sided
Mounted Licorice Lassomen                               8 sided. Special. See below.
Mounted Gingy with Hard Candy Stick Lances 10 sided
The player who initiates the H-to-H combat determines which figures engage which.
Figures must match 1-1 before matching them 2-1; you cannot have greater than 2-1.
Hand-to-Hand combat will occur when opposing Gnomes move within 2” of each other. All Gnomes
within 3” of the melee are ‘sucked in’ and will join the fight.

Gumdrop Hit Table
Distance Hit
Within 12”               4,5,6
Over obstacle              5,6
Into door/window          6
Gumdrop Thrower notes: Gumdrop Throwers can target one figure. The effect is immediate.

Mounted Licorice Lassomen
Some Gingies have mastered the use of licorice lassos which they use in melee while mounted. Instead
of charging into melee, the Lassomen fight in the following manner.
 If the Lassomen begin their turn within 6” of their opponent, they may throw their lassos at
their opponent in an attempt to snare their opponent. Roll 1d6. On a 4,5,6 the opponent is
tangle up. The Lassomen may then move their full move of 18” and drag their victims to death.
 Alternatively, the lassomen may move first and then attempt to lasso their opponent. Roll 1d6.
On a 4,5,6 the opponent is tangle up. During the Melee, other Gingy figures may engage the
capture opponent. If they do, their opponent fights with a -2 melee modifier.

Gumball Cannon
Some free Gingy communities have been known to arm themselves with Gumball Cannon. These huge
machines are dragged onto the battlefield by scores of gingies pulling licorice cables or pushing from
behind. The Gumball Cannon is activated by inserting a large disk that frees a huge spring like
contraption that is turned to add torque and power. The gumball is then released from its holding
chamber and shot out of a tube with great force bowling over enemies.

The Gumball Cannon has a range of 36”. All shots must travel 36” in a straight-line unless they hit a
large hard object. If they hit a large hard object without traveling the full 36”, the gumball ricochets off
the object and continues to travel until its full 36” move is complete.

The gumball Cannon cannot move and fire in the same turn. However, it may be rotated up to 30
degrees and still fire.

To fire, lay out a 36” straight edge from the barrel of the cannon to its intended target. Then roll, 2d10
of different colors. Designate on as left and the other as right before rolling. Subtract the lower die
value from the value of the higher die. The difference is the number of inches the stick is moved in the
higher dice’s direction.

If the gumball ricochets, repeat the above only measuring the remaining untraveled distance.
Any figure along the 1” wide path of the gumball is killed. Figures in the path may make a 1d6 saving
throw to jump out of the way. 4,5,6 the figure successful avoids the gumball and is moved out of the
way.

Buildings or vehicles hit by the gumball are treated as they were hit by a Cannon.

Gumball Cannon Hit Table for Vehicles
Die Roll (1d20)                      Tank        Armored         Car Bike Tank
1-5                                      Destroyed    Destroyed         Destroyed
6-10                                    Damaged     Destroyed         Destroyed
11-15                                  Damaged     Destroyed         No effect
16-20                                  No effect      No effect          No effect

Special Rules
Liquid Death
 No Gingy unit may cross open water, milk or other liquid unprotected. They tend to dissolve
when wet. They may cross at bridges, stepping stones, or use boats as normal. 

 When confronted by an enemy spraying liquid (i.e., infamous Gnomish Milk Sprayers used for
crowd control), Gingies must make an immediate morale check rolling 2d6. On a roll of 7 or
better, the unit passes and may carry on as normal. On a roll of 6 or less, the Gingies run away in terror.

From Historicon 2013 - The Mike Lung Gallery #20, way back in the day...

Hinterland Minis Shuttering Its Door

A bit of sad news coming out of the COVID world.  Hinterlands Miniatures is stopping production of their eccentric female-Colonial lines and closing up for good. The vast majority of options are either no longer available, or may have been sold off to other interested parties.

(Kickstarter) Yippers and Squealers by RBJ Game Company

 There are still a ton of Kickstarters happening during this grand holiday season.  Not many are catching my eye, but when intrepid correspondent, friend of the blog, and AWARD WINNING Mike Lung tells me to a take another look at a campaign, I'm more than happy to do so.

I know the  RBJ Game Company best their Pig-Faced Orc Kickstarter, and their expanding that line with their new Yippers and Squealers - Dog-Face Kobolds and Pig-Faced Goblins.

Every part of my logic agrees that in a world of Pig-Faced Orcs, the goblins are miniature versions (but are they just pot-belly orcs?).  

My biggest problem with the dog-face kobolds (and I only believe in dog-faced kobolds in D&D) is that the little terriers are too cute to be kobolds.    Kobolds can be viscous or adorable, but only in a lovable mutt category.  

The Mike Lung Gallery #78 - The Pre-Doom That Came to Red Linden

This Halloween, I started playing some Range Hares of Shadow Deep games starting with the first introductory scenario and then going forward. Of course, I changed the story plot and setting to fit the Range Hares. The first scenario was called the Abandoned Village…but it is now the Doom that Came to Red Linden! I’ve just finished setting it up.  For fun, attached are some pre-game pics.

The Range Hares of Shadows Deep

 

Pumpkin Zombies

Pumpkin Crawlers

Two Quick Beers of the Fall, With ViscountEric

Over the Summer, I took a turn for the worse, and things like beer were put up on the shelf for an indeterminate period of time.  

Medium-length story:  Doctors, specialists, and other medical professionals refuse to believe that I was a relatively healthy fat dude who succumbed to gallstone-related pancreatitis, not damning myself to a lifetime of Type II Diabetes.   I completely weaned myself off of insulin at two months, and am losing weight at a slow, controlled rate so I can remove myself from medications probably sometime next year.  

The one thing I have been able to return to with my improving health is the occasional beer, and not a second too late, as my wife overwhelmed me with six packs to celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary. 

My beer scale is a five-point system, and it's pretty peculiar.  The minimum acceptable beer that I'll purchase is a Yuengling Lager.  That rates a 2 out to 5.  Ones are relegated to passable mass-produced full brews.  Mass-produced light beers are in the negatives.  

My Top Five are almost guaranteed not to be on anyone else's list.

1. Stegmaier Bock circa 2010
2. Stegmaier Holiday circa 2010 (aged in the dark cold fridge for 3 years)
3. Rogue Morimoto Ale circa 2013
4. Troeg's Mad Elf circa 2014
5. Troeg's Mad Elf circa 2018

I'm a Bock/Stout/mainline IPA guy who learned early in my childhood (yes childhood) that I'd rather enjoy one good beer than drink a case of cheap stuff that tastes like crap.  

On that note, let's see how my wife did with at least two of the Fall beers.

Maple Mistress is an Imperial Ale with just a dash of Maple Syrup.  It has the initial heavy taste, but the maple completely cuts off the aftertaste.  I initially thought this would be sickeningly sweet, but I ended up being left wanting more.    (2.5/5.0)

Leinenkugel Harvest Patch Shandy is the Fall variety of Shandy, but despite the lone pumpkin and orange color on the label, it's simply a tasty Weiss cut with some honey.  It goes down smooth and is a nice, serviceable beer compared to my normal heavy fare.  (3.5/5.0) 

(BECMI) Adventures in Gulluvia #4 - Gygar's Castle... for the Mountain Lord!

15 Mai 534, Village of Mere, Barony of Gulluvia
Another day in the bar, another crazy scheme by local magic-user and general know-it-all, Hugo Swam'Pas. They had obtained a fairly recent, but partially ruined map in the Mines of Mentzer, and it appeared to lead to the old Gygar's Castle, or at least that's what this map called it.

As kids in the village, everyone just called it, "the old castle."  It was a couple of hours outside of town and the most dangerous thing anyone ever faced was a twisted ankle or broken arm, losing your footing in the ruins.  But this was much more recent than those forays.  Hugo argued it was worth the trip up there to check it out.

His three companions, Slothina Hoppler, and the halflings Beula Cragmuffin and Bodo Billabong agreed.

16 Mai 534, Gygar's Castle
The hike up to the castle was uneventful, but Hugo noticed something amiss.  The regular overgrown forest appeared to have been cleared out at some point.  The older trees they played on to climb the walls had be cut down years ago, and at least 25 yards around the castle walls had been kept barren.  The giant double-doors for the gate, which were free swinging... with enough force, were shut and appeared to be locked.

Spying through a crumbling portion of the wall, they were shocked to see the courtyard cleared, save some of the larger boulders, and a lazy contingent of small dog-men relaxing by the main doors to the castle.

"Kobolds..." Hugo muttered, "I hate 'em.  We need a plan."

One of the outer doors for the gate lay off to the side of the path towards the castle.  Everyone agreed that using that door as cover, and using Bodo's bow, they could work their way across the courtyard.

Of course, when Slothina lifted the gate single-handedly, a giant, segmented, multi-legged beast of an insect with what looked like a thousand tentacles coming out of its mouth, launched itself from it's hole and attacked Bodo. 

It took a while to put the beast down, but Bodo lay on the ground unmoving, his eyes filled with fear.   Paralyzation is a terrifying thing, but Hugo surmised only time could cure his predicament.   Rightly so, the group hid amongst the tree line a bit and within time, Bodo regained with mobility.

The party reorganized and attempted their plan.   It would have worked well, too, if Hugo had not gotten cold feet halfway through the courtyard and ran back to the opening in the collapsed wall.  Without any help from the halflings, Slothina tossed the door atop the charging kobolds, pinning them to the ground, if not outright killing them.  The few remaining were quickly mopped up and Hugo rejoined the group with a reddened face and a surprisingly quiet mouth.

Unlike the normal "plundering dods," the group did a good job avoiding traps, only running into the remnants of the kobold garrison, plus an aerie of harpies that feasted upon Beulah... almost causing her demise.

They found some gold, a few jewels, and the stairs to the lower dungeons of the castle completely collapsed.

Hugo sent the others out the courtyard to check for any kobold reinforcements or patrols.  With a moment alone, he went back to a spot where he thought he had noticed a secret door, and as luck would have it, he was right.  On the other side of door was a small room full of wooden crates.  His measly strength was unable to to open any of them, but he was startled when a voice came from one of the boxes.

"Are you the Mountain Lord?"  It asked.

Hugo paused for a moment, then stuttered... "Y-y-yes!"

"Great! Your request "FOR THE MOUNTAIN LORD," is in the corner. "

Hugo pushed a few boxes aside and found a out-of-place straw broom propped up in the corner.  He took it, explaining to his fellow travelers that he need something...anything with a reach.

"I need something to keep monsters away.  Daggers don't always work, and I'm probably delicious."

The halflings shook their heads and everyone departed.

17 Mai 534, Village of Mere, Barony of Gulluvia
Upon returning to Mere, the loot was split up, and while the others checked in with their families, Hugo returned to his hovel and used his arcane knowledge to uncover the secrets of this simple broom.

A simple broom it was not, rather a Broom of Flying, with the activation words "For the Mountain Lord."

"We need to look into this Mountain Lord," Hugo thought out loud, "but I need to try to sucker out first!"

DM Notes: Are small group of adventurers successfully navigated the populated portion of Gygar's Castle out of the old Mentzer Red Box.  I may have toned the monster numbers down a bit, because four adventurers is not enough for Basic D&D. If the Broom of Flying didn't create so much drama, I would say I regret giving it to the group, particularly Hugo, but no one knows of a Mountain Lord in these parts.  And if he's a dwarf, that kind has been missing since the cleared out the gem mines and left overnight.   

Next: #5 - Two week off, then Hugo Flies.... and a Fire Sale Occurs!

The Return from COVID

Usually, this time of year, I'm swamped with work culminating on December 7th, followed by a deluge of other projects leading up to Christmas.  Thanks to the never-ending battle of work-from-home, there's never been an opportunity for a steady pause. 

Even before this last push, everyone was already exhausted, lingering coughs, congestion, and sneezing plaguing everything.   There was no surprise that my wife ultimately came down with a positive test for COVID-19.  It was a bit surprising to find me with a positive test as well.

For the first week of December, I handled things pretty well: multiple journeys to Employee Health, and lots of Day-Quill to self-medicate all the minor conditions.   Push finally came to shove, and the numerous symptoms could be treated, however, last Sunday morning found myself with difficulty breathing just for a 20-foot walk to the bathroom.  

Still, I left my house, walked to the ambulance, and got myself situated under my own power, which was my goal in the whole process.  With a guy my size, my age, my comorbidities, I had a window to go in under my own terms... or else end up dead.  

Another advantage I had was that I work on the non-clinical side of an integrated hospital system.  The first thought of calling out the "employee" card screams preferential treatment, but I can assure you, every employee got triple the thank you's and three statements/questions

(a) What can I do to make things better for myself?  The doctor told me to lay on my stomach, side, head, and I was using all my power to move.  Seconds and individual breaths count.

(b) What can I do to help the staff? "Get better," was the usual answer, but trying to coordinate a wired-filled trip to the bathroom and avoiding a demanding call-bell at the wrong time meant extra check-ins during off-peak time.  

(c) Was anybody else getting better?  Definitely going into HIPAA territory for this one, but I spent six days in the ICU.  The hospital has 25 ICU dedicated beds (with more expanding into other parts of the hospital.  Of those 25 beds, all COVID, only one patient was communicative of any sort (me).  The rest were heavily sedated, on vents or very close to it.  No one ever seemed to get better.  New patients were replacing the old (never confirmed. You could tell from the tone and phrasing of the staff.)

I strongly felt that I was the department mascot.  Somebody who did belong, but provided a little hope that people could get better.  It hurt, but I waved and smiled anytime someone passed by the windows of my super-reverse pressured glass room.  The positivity works both ways.

Super-early on.   

After days in the ICU, wave after wave of IV steroids and anti-virals,  I could actually start to breathe again, with only half the oxygen, then even less.  Late Friday night I was moved out of the ICU, and into a regular room, with regular oxygen and tubing.  By 2pm Saturday, I was in the car and heading home. 

Thankfully, oxygen levels are staying between 94-98%, I'm eating regularly, and only have a few days of steroids left to mess around with my body.  

The biggest residual issue: exhaustion.  It takes three days to recover from every day of being bed-ridden, and while I've walked the dogs and carried a small bit of laundry up the stairs, just standing in one spot produces the greatest amount of pain and fatigue.   

Another cool story to add to the insanity of 2020, eh?

A fun surprise at my door on Saturday were my rewards for the Wars of Ozz Kickstarter.  I stuck with the core rulebook and a few individual figures, and was immediately disappointed that I didn't order more!  Still pledging to reduce other parts of the lead pile first, but a post-holiday order to Old Glory is pegged on the calendar. 

Project 350:  513 (349 drafts /164 scheduled) from 519 (353/166).  There's still a boat-load of RPG actual plays I need to write-up, including our Star Wars "Life Day" game, but I also have posts ready to go all the way through Christmas Day.  Using some saved up gnome art for these COVID posts didn't hurt either.  Breaking 500 for the first time in a long time might happen before the end of the year, and if I'm feeling up to it, a Christmas game might be a reality.  For now, I'm just happy I'm still blogging.  Games will come back shortly.

Stay home, wash your hands, wear a mask! 

ATMA Spring Thraw 2021 Train Meet Already Cancelled.

 In preparation for a long winter, the Allentown Train Meet Associates (ATMA) has already announced the cancellation of the 2021 Spring Thaw Train Meet, February 27 & 28, 2021 at the Allentown Fairgrounds.  

Any previous financial transactions are being rolled into the the "First Frost" 2021 Meet in October/November/whenever possible.

Happy Hanukkah!

Eight crazy nights!  One for each episode of season one of The Mandalorian.....

Winter Gnome, COVID Gnome

The first measurable snow in on the ground here. There’s a bit more snow where I am vs the family abode.  I’m currently in a higher mountain at the local hospital in the ICU, half recovered from COVID. 

Back on Friday’s quick painting posting, I casually mentioned the positive test from Wednesday.  By Sunday morning I was still feeling ok, but the Pulse-Oximeter was pulling lower and lower O2 numbers, and this viruses doesn’t favor the procrastinator.  Off by ambulance to the hospital!

It took a few hours, but I was moved down to the ICU, where I’ve been staying at ever since.  Thanks to oxygen, antivirals, and steroids, it’s been a steady improvement since my admission.  Perfect timing from self-care.

I’m in a large regional trauma facility, retooled to take in more COVID patients that the other hospitals, hence a larger ICU, but I don’t share one trait with other patients.  I can actually hold conversations with staff, or my family.  Every one else is sedated, vented and strapped down, while varying  life saving procedures are being conducted. 

It’s too terrifying to ponder at times.

Stay home, wash your hands, wear a mask! 

 

(BECMI) Adventures in Gulluvia #3 - The Short Tale of Rusty

9 Mai 534, Village of Mere, Barony of Gulluvia
Hugo required another rest to recover, and lost the confidence of the fighter Conan.  However, the two halfling recruits, Beula Berrybottom and Bodo Billabong, were bored enough with Mere that they were willing to wait for some excitement. It was decided to return to the Mentzer Mine one last time to attempt of rescue Marleen Furribottom, but is was unanimous to avoid any other little green men in the underground hallways.

Giant rats pouring out of a cistern were a different story, and a similar result.

Hugo, not feeling at all confident, turned around and ran into a giant armadillo-like creature.  The creature disintegrated Slothina's chain mail by merely touching it. After a futile combat, in which only Beulah could strike a solid blow to it's underside, Bodo was able to tangle the creature with some rope.

Slothina named it Rusty and drug it through the dungeon, tossing the creature at some armed skeletons. The skeletons were largely unphased by Rusty, struck a grievous blow to Slothina, and Beulah was forced to pull her out of harm's way. It was time to regroup again, perhaps find even more hapless souls to help them. The silver from the goblins would keep them for a few more days until Hugo planned to reveal the scroll he had uncovered in Rusty's lair to the rest of them.

RIP: Rusty

Next: #4 - A Map.... to Gygar's Castle

House Cats Have Nothing on Real Wildlife

You Didn't See International Ninja Day Coming!

(Painting) Garindan Bounty Hunter, My Other Brother Darryl, and Some Ominous Results

After the holiday weekend, my time on the painting bench was going great.  I was anticipating getting one, possibly two big projects off the table, but alas, the second half of the week brought a major distraction. 

This sci-fi plague doctor/Star Wars Garindan is actually a Bounty Hunter from Battle Valor Games. (If the website is down, check out Battle Valor's eBay Store.)  It was a free add-on during their Sci-Fi Dwarf Miner Warrior Kickstarter

And the zombie apocalypse range expands with a crossbow wielding dude.

Bo from the Brigade Games Post-Apocalyptic line

Project 350: Maintaining  519 (753/166)  from 519 (355/164).  All the material that was pending or the holiday finally posted, but unfortunately, there's a whole new buttload of material... and it's scheduled to post next Thanksgiving.   With that act of two steps forwards, two steps back, the entire month of December had 16 pre-written posts as of the 1st.  With the regular posts that come along, plus just moderate success in my projects, and not only will things fill out nicely, but I may exceed to 444 posts I did back in 2017.  I guess COVID did keep my eye on the blog.

Speaking of COVID, that was the distracting news this week.  My wife and I had positive test results on Wednesday, and further developing symptoms through today.  Nothing to be worried for as of yet, and I'm cleared to continue to work from home. It sucks, even for those who consider it "just a flu."  

(Kickstarter) The Gnomes of Agaldurs Keep by Northumbrian Tin Soldier

Northumbrian Tin Soldier is at it again, this time with a Kickstarter campaign for The Gnomes of Agaldurs Keep

This Kickstarter expands upon the already existing gnome line and and adds a number of ornery toads with them.

All pledges also received a free pouch of dice and a pdf of a 5e adventure based on the the figures.

Another Month of Gaming (December '20)

The latest issue of Game Trade Magazine, Issue #250, is available at your FLGS, and in PDF form here.  Below are some of the choice items in this month's solicitations.

ViscountEric's Want List
Nothing


ViscountEric's Money-Is-No-Object Want List
Chaosium 
Call of Cthulhu: The Chilren of Fear - a 1920's Campaign Across Asia .............. $52.99

Legion Supplies

Not in the normal CCG card sleeve demographic, and even more leery when the MSRP aren't in the pre-solicitation, but "Police Box" and "Never Tell Me the Odds" sleeves would catch my eye at the FLGS.

Wizkids

DC Heroclix - Battlegrounds - Wonder Woman 80th Anniversary ................. $39.99

Heroclix came up on the radar again, and this looks like a fun way to reintroduce things to the girls.

The Imaginary Store List (The Pegleg Gnome)

Ankama

Dragon Parks ............................................................... $24.99

Arcane Wonders 

Land, Air, & Sea:  Revised Edition ............................. $14.99

The Army Painter

Warpaints: Metallic Colours Paint Set .......................  $27.99

Bandai

Dragon Ball Super: Unison Warriors Battle -Battle Evolution Boosters

Catalyst Game Lab

Shadowrun RPG: Assassin's Night ............................ $39.99

Shadowrun RPG: Street Wyrd ................................... $44.99

Shadowrun RPG: World Tarot Arcanist Edition  .....  $39.99

Creative Goods Companies

Playmat - Ganymede 14" x 24" ............................... $17.00

Playmat - Sol 14" x 24" ........................................... $17.00

And a host of Catan hats, t-shirt, glasses, and other accessories.

Cubicle 7

Warhammer Age of Sigmar Soulbound RPG - Starter Set .............. $29.99

Warhammer Fantasy RPG Enemy Within Collectors Edition - Vol 3: Power Behind the Throne ...................... $149.99

Dan Verseen Games

By Stealth and Sea ..................................................... $59.99

By Stealth and Sea Companion Book ........................ $19.99

Evil Hat Productions

Fate Core RPG:  Fate Condensed ................................ $8.00

Exploding Kittens

A Game of Cat and Mouth ............................................ PI

Poetry for Neanderthals ................................................ PI

Greater Than Games

Sentinel Comics RPG Rulebook ................................. $59.95

Sentinel Comics RPG GM Kit .................................... $39.95

There better be a buttload of continuous on-going value for a $40 GM Screen.

Horrible Guild

Unicorn Fever .............................................................. $39.95

Unicorn Fever: Royal Hooves ..................................... $19.95

Konami Digital Entertainment

Yu-Gi-Oh! Blazing Vortex Boosters

Yu-Gi-Oh! Freezing Chains Structure Decks

Looney Labs

Fantasy Fluxx .................................... $16.00

Mantic Entertainment

Game Token and Arc Template .................................... $39.99

Goblin Regiment ........................................................... $29.99

Kings of War - War in the Holds - 2 Player Starter ...... $99.99

Modiphius

Fallout figures are $27 for two???  I hope they're huge value play-wise.

Osprey Publishing

Jackals RPG ................................................................... $35.00

Bronze-Age Fantasy Role-playing?  If there weren't already options within a relative price point, I'd say Hell-as!

Paizo Publishing

Pathfinder RPG: AP Abomination Vaults 2 - Hands of the Devil ........................ $24.99

Pathfinder RPG: Flip Mat Classics - Red Light District ....................................... $14.99

Pathfinder RPG: Hero Point Deck  ........................................................................ $14.99

Pathfinder RPG: Lost Omens - Ancestry Guide HC ............................................. $34.99

Starfinder RPG: AP Fly Free or Die 4 - The White Glove Affair ......................... $22.99

Starfinder RPG: Flip Tiles - Alien Planet Starter Set ............................................ $34.99

Starfinder RPG: Pawns - The Devastation Ark Pawn Collection .......................... $19.99

Pegasus Spiele

Doodle Dungeon ............................................... $29.99

Q-Workshop

Dice Macabre Set .................................................... $19.00

Call of Cthulhu Abyssal/White Set ......................... $19.00

Call of Cthulhu Black/Magenta Set ........................ $19.00

Reaper Miniatures

Ves Deep Cup Airbrush .......................................... $199.99

Vex Basic Cup Airbrush ......................................... $199.99

Pirate Colors - Seas of Adventure .......................... $21.99

Pirate Colors - Seas of Horror ................................ $21.99

And a huge host of metal and Bones figures to boot!

Rio Grande Games

Blue Skies ......................................... $39.95

Trans-Siberian Railroad .................... $39.95

Steve Jackson Games

Hack & Slash ..................................... $19.95

Teeturtle

Unstable Unicorns: Adventures Expansion ..........PI

Ultra Pro International

Ultra-Pro is notorious for not providing pricing (usually = significantly lower margin for the retailer) but between the D&D Cover art used for play mats and the d20 Plush Dice Bags, there's enough options that an investment in this month's stuff might quickly come up roses.

Warlord Games

The Aztecs and Tribal Nations look aweseome, but.... the dread PI (Please Inqure) is there. 

WizKids

D&D Nolzur's Marvelous Unpainted Miniatures Wave 14

D&D Fantasy Minis - Icons of the Realms: Goblin Warband .......................... $24.99

D&D Fantasy Minis - Ten Towns Papercraft Set ............................................. $29.99

D&D Fantasy Minis - The Lodge Papercraft Set ............................................. $15.99

DC Heroclix -  Wonder Woman 80th Anniversary Booster Brick

DC Heroclix -  Wonder Woman 80th Anniversary Dice and Token Pack ....... $ 9.99

DC Heroclix -  Wonder Woman 80th Anniversary Play at Home Kit ............. $ 9.99

The usual pre-release figure is now available individually, for proper social distancing. 

Marvel Heroclix: Deep Cuts Unpainted Miniatures

Dr. Doom, Mr Fantastic, Silver Surfer, Johnny Storm, Invisible Woman, and The Thing.  $4.99 each.

Marvel Heroclix - Fantastic Four Future Foundation Boosters

Marvel Heroclix - Fantastic Four Future Foundation Dice and Token Set ............ $9.99

Marvel Heroclix - Fantastic Four Future Foundation Fast Forces ......................... $19.99

Marvel Heroclix - Fantastic Four Future Foundation Play at Home Kit ................ $ 9.99

Marvel Heroclix - X-Men House of X Play at Home Kit ....................................... $ 9.99

Magic the Gather Unpainted Miniature Wave 14

No Description of the figures in the wave at this time   $4.99-$14.99 each

Pathfinder Battles: Darklands Rising Booster 

Pathfinder Battles: Darklands Risisng Premium Set - Mengkare, Great Wyrm ......... $89.99

Pathfinder Deep Cuts Unpainted Minis Wave 14

Between $4.99-$29.99 each

Wizkids Deep Cuts Unpainted Minis, Wave 14

Dolphins, Hyenas, and Saber-Toothed Tiger.  $4.99 each

WWE Heroclix: Superstar Shake-up WWE Ring 2-Player Starter Set ..................... $39.99

Worthington Games

1944 Battle of the Bulge ....................................... $70.00

Cowboys II ............................................................ $85.00