(Painting) Hultr Half-Track from Mantic

The Gnomish Space Marines project continues to develop, even if individual manpower is a slow process.

Squat support weapons of all sort are known for being bombastic and simply ridiculous, especially when looking at Epic-scale armies.  The GSM surely have some crazy planetary defense force-level equipment, but in smaller, or even day-to-day operations, they need sturdy, reliable vehicles.  

Enter on the workhouses of the GSM, the Hultr Half-Track (GSM re-branding forthcoming).

The Hultr is a support vehicle for the Forge Fathers from Mantic's Warpath Universe.  
 

I managed to acquire my first one with reasonable discount, and in a rare eBay moment nowadays, found three more at dirt cheap prices.  There will be variants forthcoming.  

Straight out of the box, the model is relatively simply to assemble.  Each vehicle comes with the option for a Twin Hailstorm Autocannon (think suppressive fire/anti-personnel) or a Magma Cannon (anti-armor).  While I believe it's meant to be interchangeable, the autocannon is secure, and I have plans for the extra weapons, very retro-nostalgic plans.

There's some initial inspiration from sample Land Raider artwork for the Imperial Guard 7th Regiment "The Lucky Sevens."  I simply like the red tracks and if that allowed me to avoid the hyper-realistic treads I see elsewhere, thank goodness.  

For the main body I used a Vallejo Russian Green,  Americana Honey Brown for the accents, and a mixture of reds for the treads 

The half-track is my second attempt at battle damage using sponge and the results are okay, but it also created some fun fluff.  

The armor plating that's stark white is a regular occurrence in the GSM universe.  Vehicles like this are a dime a dozen, so spare parts are plentiful, as are pieces of armor.  Whether forged on-planet, or delivered in bulk, the armor is simply primed white and put in storage.  With so many paint schemes on vehicles, the pieces are used to replace compromised armor on the vehicles, but there's no guarantee the matching paint job can happen the same day.  I don't picture this resulting into a late-model white Honda with a blue door and black front bumper, but vehicles could have primed plates, freshly-painted plates, as well as plenty of battle damage.

The Hultr with some Battle Valor Space Dwarves (in progress)

With a Space Marine (and Space Dwarf) for scale 

Overall, I'm very satisfied with the Hultr as a model.  It was a easy to assemble, there were no flaws to the pieces outside general prep, and once a good primer and base coat was laid down, a breeze to paint.  I don't know if I'd drop $100 full retail for the four I procured, but I certainly would have picked up a second at online retail rates to bolster my forces (no one local seems to carry Mantic).  I'll give the model 4 out of 5 gnomes.  I'll be on the lookout for the Forge Fathers bigger vehicles, like the Sturmhammer Battle Tank, or the Drakkar APC.

(Painting) Unsearchable Horror

In world where a dozen figures take me months to complete, it's usual for me to paint up a figure in 24-hours, but here we are.

Fun fact for once, I have no idea what this figure is!  A little Cthulhu, a little sci-fi.  Is that a vest it's wearing or a hood that's part of the body?  I did rebase the figure, but there were no obvious markings underneath.  

And the most fun, a Google image search is pulling of the color palette, so a lot so subtle goblin and Chaos minis.  

Any help in uncovering the origins of the figures would be appreciated.  I assume it came in some at one of the HMGS flea markets.  

Size comparison with Gydran and Battle Valor bounty hunters.

(Kickstarter) Halfling Spacemen in 28mm

Simon Bell has launched a Kickstarter for 28mm Halfling Spacemen .

Figures will be available in metal and resin.  

(Painting) Rocketman!

The normal non-COVID world is getting a little crazy, so I'll post what I can get, with some hope that something else can get painted from the painting queue before the end of the month.  

After painting Kim Jong-Un "appropriately," it was time to paint up a second one more befitting to his nickname, "Rocketman!" 

KJU with RPG from Brigade Games

Next Up:  More Space Dwarves, Forge Father halftracks, and a slew of individual figures. 

Project 350: Maintained identically 508 (333/175) from 508 (333/175)

I adore my project manager I set up on Google Drive, but my enthusiasm overwhelms practicality and basic reality.  Like every human, certain cues can cook the creative juices in a different direction, and a trip cleaning the painting bench can stoke the fires of a pretty cluttered painting queue.  A lot of the projects are getting completed, but we're looking at Christmas 2021 release dates to be posted.

And it doesn't help that Bernie Sanders is re-igniting my Spice Girls Espionage RPG ideas that I put on the back burner until Summer.

I already had Old Spice in the game, and Pumpkin Spice, even Turmeric!

Another Month of Gaming (Feb '21)

The casual reader of this monthly post going over the new releases, as be Alliance Game Distribution, might ask, "Viscount Eric, why don't you list everything/omit some things in your imaginary store list.  It's quite simple.

• No Price - The "PI" (Please Inquire) in Game Trade usually means a smaller price discount and sometimes significant less profit than other items.  For books, it usually means special orders only.  PI is also used for some companies for things like CCG sleeves and accessories.  I remember the gnashing of teeth and wringing of hands when the first Ultra Pro Deck Protectors came out and were a huge outlay for minimal profit.  Nowadays the complaining is too many options and excess inventory (or single packs and no opportunity to reorder.)
• Things with prices are just ridiculous.  Twenty dollar single 25mm figures, $80 board games that tell nothing in the description, $12 plain old dice bags are not worthy my minimal promotion.   
• I don't stock everything in my imaginary store.  It's imaginary, not limitless!  I've reviewed pre-orders as a casual hobbyist for decades, and although the only money I stand to lose is mine on a pre-order, I've watched enough lines get promoted in solicitation and collapse within weeks.  I'd rather order an extra copy of a book, or more Magic boosters.  Than hundreds into an unproven line without a clear plan of promotion.  

The pdf of Game Trade Magazine #252 is now available here.

ViscountEric's Want List

Nothing

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

Osprey Publishing

Stargrave ............................................... $35.00

The Imaginary Store List (The Pegleg Gnome)

9th Level Games

Business Wizards ..................................................... $14.99

Arc Dream Publishing

Delta Green RPG: Lover in the Ice .......................... $14.99

The Army Painter

Gamemaster: Dungeons & Caverns Core Set ........... $99.99

Gamemaster: Hot Wire Foam Cutter ......................... $19.99

Gamemaster: XPS Scenery Foam Booster Pack ....... $19.99

Asmadi Games

Good Puppies ............................................................ $16.00

Battlefield Press

Savage Worlds: Pulp Fantastic .................................. $50.00

This isn't the only book from Battlefield that's fifty bucks, but having been introduced to Savage Worlds with the Explorer's Edition, I cringe at overpriced books when the cheap introductory book and some variation was more than sufficient. 

Robotech RPG: Into the Void - Sentinels and Shadow Chronicle Saga (Savage Worlds) .... $50.00

Robotech RPG: Macross Revised (Savage Worlds) ................. $50.00

Robotech RPG: Return to Earth - Masters and a New Generation Saga Expansion ............. $50.00

Catalyst Game Labs

Shadowrun RPG:   6th Edition Mobile Grimoire Spell Cards ................ $14.99

Chessex Manufacturing

Transluscent d6 Pink/White Dice ............................. 12mm(36)  $9.98   

Transluscent d6 Pink/White Dice ............................. 16mm(12)  $6.98

Cubicle 7

Warhammer Fantasy RPG: Archives of the Empire Vol 1 .................. $34.99

Warhammer Fantasy RPG: Middenheim City of the White Wolf ....... $39.99

Draco Studios

War for Chicken Island ........................................... $72.00

FASA Games

Earthdawn: Legends of Barsaive - Haven Volume 1 ........................... $39.99

Gallant Knight Games

For Coin & Blood RPG 2e HC ................................ $29.99

Tattered Magicks RPG ............................................. $19.99

Tiny Taverns RPG HC ............................................. $29.99

Tiny Supers RPG: Fallen Justice ............................. $18.99

Gamelyn Games

Tiny Epic Pirates ..................................................... $30.00

Curse of the Amdiak Expansion ............................. $15.00

Coins ........................................................................ $15.00

Game Mat ................................................................ $30.00

Player Mat Sets ........................................................ $25.00

Tiny Epic Skull Dice Set ......................................... $10.00

Global Games

BESM: Dramatic Personae ..................................... $34.95

BESM: Extras ......................................................... $34.95

BESM: 2D Animinis ..............................................  $ 9.95

BESM: Tokyo Sidekick .......................................... $ 9.95

Goodman Games

DCC Dice Set  .............................................................. $29.99 each

DCC Judges Screen - Thick ......................................... $19.99

Green Ronin Publishing

Mutants & Masterminds - Time Travelers Codex ........... $39.95

Konami Digital Entertainment

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG: Ancient Guardians Boosters 

Kyoudai Games

Tinyd6 RPG: Thunderscape ..................................... $24.99

Tiny Supers: Tiny Legacies ...................................... $15.99

Legendary Games

Pathfinder: Cold Mountain ...................................... $15.99

Pathfinder: Legendary Planet - The Assimilation Strain ......... $14.99

Starfinder: Arcforge Campaign Setting - What Lies Beyond ....... $24.99

Mongoose Publishing

Paranoia: Disaster Deck ....................... $15.99

Paranoia: Mind the Gap ....................... $19.99

Paranoia: Extinction Class Incident Responses ........... $24.99

Paranoia: Mission Book - The Whole Blame .............. $19.99

Paranoia: Refurbished Stuff ......................................... $19.99

Paranoia: The R&D Experimental Equipment Release Form Pad .......... $11.99

Paranoia: The Research & Design Box Set ................. $59.99

Paranoia: Thriftylist Card Deck .............. $14.99

Traveller: Shadows of Sindal .................. $44.99

Traveller: Sword Worlds ......................... $44.99

Paizo Publishing

Pathfinder RPG: Advanced Players Guide Pocket Edition ........ $24.99

Pathfinder RPG: Bestiary 3 Pocket Edition ................................ $24.99

Pathfinder RPG: AP Fists of the Ruby Phoenix 1- Despair on Danger Island ........... $24.99

Pathfinder RPG: Flip-Mat - Shipwrecks ..................................... $14.99

Pathfinder RPG: Potions and Talsimans Deck ............................ $22.99

Starfinder RPG: Pawns - Alien Archive 4 Pawn Box ................. $34.99

Starfinder RPG: AP Fly Free or Die Part 6 - The Gilded Cage ... $22.99

Starfinder RPG: Flip-Tiles Alien Planet Moonscape Expansion . $19.99

Pokemon USA

Sword & Shield Battle Styles Boosters 

Reaper Miniatures

Another release from the Bones 4 Kickstarter, including an eight dollar griffon, an eight dollar wyvern, and everyone's favorite, a Pig & Cart!

Teeturtles

Happy Little Dinosaurs

Happy Little Dinosaurs 5-6 Player Expansion

Happy Little Dinosaurs Perils of Puberty Expansion

Llamas Unleashed: Farmed and Dangerous

Wizkids

Marvel Dice Masters: Fantastic Four vs. Galactus .......................... $29.99

Marvel Dice Masters: House of X Draft Pack.

D&D Fantasy Miniatures - Icons of the Realm - Orcus Demon Lord  ........................ $79.99

(BECMI) Adventures in Gulluvia #8 - Waffle Day

22 Mai 534, The Tomb of Zoltar, Outside of Mere, Barony of Gulluvia
Hugo Swam 'Pas knew he had the pummeling due him by Slothina for abandoning the party in their hour of need, but things were quickly patched over, once he regained consciousness.  It was also quite miraculous that no one in the Inn thought to ask Slothina (the only conscious survivor) how they escaped!

​Father Joseph arrived from the temple to heal Beulah and Bodo free of charge. Beulah woke up, was held back from pummeling Hugo, ate some waffles on Waffle Day, then spent some time with her family, including the whore of a sister, Silence BerryBottom.

​Bodo stayed at the inn, chewed on a piece of bread and one lone waffle, then slowly drank his disturbing memories away with grog.

​Slothina stopped by Mayor Clarence's home, who was partaking in pancakes, she offered the gong from the temple to be used as a warning device for the village, Clarence approved. Clarence also mentioned a lot of people frightened by rumors of kobolds or lizardmen poised to attack, but no one could give any details. Kobolds would be surprising but probable. Lizard Men weren't native to this part of the barony and would be a huge problem. Slothina successfully installed the gong in the church unassisted, testing it twice. Slothina also went home to visit her father, Ned Hoppel, who was already drunk at 10am... She did her chores and headed back to the inn.

​After being ridiculed by two caravan guards who couldn't defend their caravan, Hugo wandered the hedgerow maze to visit his old teacher of the mystic arcane, Clifford Loprete. Loprete made milk toast and sat with his "finest" student about the goings on in town. He knew nothing of the ancient temple or tombs to the southeast of town, and seemed unimpressed with their previous assault on kobolds in Gygar's Castle.

​Hugo bid farewell, returned to the inn, took more abuse from the ex-caravan guards and "convinced" them to help solve the impending doom of the kobold invasion that may or may not happen. The guards, Jenkins and Leroy, agreed for a 50% share of any coin acquired.

Leroy, of Leroy and Jenkins fame....

Next: #9 - Returning to Peaceful Death

Happy Australia Day

I am Once Again Asking to Cast Fireball....

A week after the inauguration, the world is not much better, but the most of us have united by our laughter and appreciation of the Bernie Sanders memes.

I'll post about two of the memes.  Today I give you the direct gaming homage. 

Great picture, fantastic table, odd little goblets,.. but whoever set-up the initial picture has no idea of how a custom GM-screen works.  It's great that somebody had a copy of T1-4: Temple of Elemental Evil, but seriously, what convoluted campaign are you running that you need the Moathouse and the Level 4 of the Temple dungeon in your screen at the same time?  

I do have to admit that the wooden GM screen looks pretty classy, even it it's bulkier than my days carrying around all the 1st Edition AD&D books to a friend's house, by bike.  

Last time I saw one that nice, it was part of a color sketch of Knights of the Dinner Table and the limited-edition SteamHack GM Screen.  

The Christmas That Keeps on Giving

Thanks to COVID, the cuts at the Postal Service, and additional COVID-related staffing issues at the Postal Service, this holiday season has been a series of one delay after another.  On Monday, we received three different packages from three different companies.  All were Christmas presents ordered PRIOR to Black Friday.  At least Amazon has the decency to cancel an order at the last second, rather than leave us hanging.  

Also caught up in the USPS nightmare was my sister's big box o' presents to the family.  Priority Mail from Philadelphia to Wilkes-Barre?  $18 and TWO WEEKS delivery time.  

The good news is that the wait was worth it.  Everyone loved their items, and I was colored intrigued 

Field Notes produces a whole range of handy little memo and note books.  The graph and dot-graph paper books are intriguing enough, but I received sets of their 5e Gaming Journals.  

Knowing my forte, I immediately opened up the Game Master Journal.  Within the 64-page journal are pre-printed pages for campaign conception, deities, local Kingdoms, adventure recaps, and general scheming.   The Burning Trogs Redux has been calling to me recently, and one journal I will use to review and consolidate all my notes, if indeed, things ever get off the ground.  The second journal?  I'll stash that away for another concept...

In a world of online gaming and Roll20 character sheets, the concept of a 5e Character Journal is somewhat lost, but as a hand-held history of everything from concept to creation to level-by-level documentation (if you dig that stuff.), to pages and pages of space for notes and character development.

And yes, there's two pages for a character sheet data.  It's pretty sweet.  

I also received a set of field notes own pencil line, an a pair of of the dot-graph note books, great for dungeons, maps, or setting up your own.  Character sheet for a game other than 5e.  

Now if I can only get my sister (and brother-in-law's) gifts to the post office.   Like I've said for the last ten months, it's been a long year.

(Kickstarter) Bloody Peasants by Midlam Miniatures

 Midlam Miniatures has another solid Kickstarter launched, Bloody Peasants.

This collection has 12 human and 12 halfling farmers for $76US.  Pledge levels range from specific figures to the full set of 24. 

Small Talk at Rorke's Drift

 

(Painting) Deseret Nauvoo Legion for Gnome Wars

I have been working on the Nauvoo Legion for the better part of eternity.  Finally, the unit is done!  

What's more depressing is that the reason for their entire existence, an appropriate opponent for the California Imperial Guard, has been around for over six years.  

Brigade Games Gnome Wars Southern Americans Standard Bearer

The Nauvoo Legion is one of the proud former militias turned full-time defenders of the Theocracy of Deseret.  Inspiration came from this picture of the actual Nauvoo Legion of Illinois.  

The history of the actual Nauvoo Legion can be found here.

Brigade Games Gnome Wars Southern Americans Bugler

If there are future additions to the Nauvoo, it would be artillery and the much-missing Doctor.  They are in a bin of unpainted gnomes, but absolutely no ETA on those even hitting the painting bench queue.

The officer and NCO were painted earlier and can be found here and here. 

To create the Nauvoo Legion, I used the following paints (All Americana unless noted otherwise).
Uniform- Base: Butterscotch. Hat: Neutral Gray.   Wash: Citadel Seraphim Sepia.

Highlights - True Red, Lamp Black, Lt Cinnamon.

Skin - Howard Hues Ruddy Flesh.

What's Next?   After sealing all the figures, I earned myself a moment of calm reflection, and a quick game of "What's the next project that will take forever?" A quick clean-up and inventory of everything revealed the backlog I've accumulated thanks to purchases over the last year.  

(Edit: After writing this up, one of the kittens knocked over/drank the left over paint water.  Joy)

Part of my project management to keep my scattered brain organized was to set up monthly goals on a Google Doc.  Thus far, it's been a great tool for pacing myself (even if three of the five remaining projects for January are overdue projects from December).  

A keen eye can see a company of the Forge Fathers half-tracks from Mantic.  Got a good deal on them and I only want to try to finish one in the new few weeks.  Outside of that, February and March have me painting one unit/squad/pack of Gnomish Space Marines (the boxes on the far right are all PACKED with Space Dwarves), paint up at least one non-GSM figure, and touch-up/fix/repaint at least one figure that needs it (those are lined up under the center of the paint rack, opposite the Armory mug.  

If that's not enough, the boxes next to Space Dwarves are all the other projects, many in plastic,  Zulus for Season 4 of the Pulp Game,  Frostgrave Women Warriors, because, why not,  sixty zombies, and that ramen box is chock full of Legions of Steel figures that need to be stripped.

And I completely forgot about the Fantasian Quad Unit for Legions of Steel that is hiding under that dollar store tank, much less the terrain projects I want to do, or the shoeboxes chock full of unpainted lead on my shelves.  

I also owe the blog a Gnome Wars History of Deseret, although I doubt it will be as much fun as Imperial Republic of California.  There's also a few "Gnome Life" sidebars I need to write-up.  

Project 350:  In a topic known as "Stuff only ViscountEric cares about," the blog is at 508 (333 drafts /175 scheduled posts), down from 510 (339/171) last week.  I'm finishing up last week's Star War Actual Play, while trying not to set up placeholder drafts for the new story arc they just started. That's the whole reason the Campaign Notes are an unpublished page, so I can add notes, pics, and miscellany there and add to the working posts when needed.  

With just over a week remaining in the month my project management has been ho-hum for January. Out of 15 "projects" I laid out on my Google Doc, 5 are completed, 3 are in process, 2 have not been started, and I effectively cancelled 5 of them in error.  This month I focused on compiling, and possibly completing the final Actual Play for my World of Georic campaigns: The Burning Trogs Redux.  It should be six simple episodes, but the thumb drive I had the information on was missing from the office.  Not finding it, I decided to mark the work-to-be-done cancelled and plug it into a future.  Of course, the family had a dash of cleaning and in my scrubbing of the office, discovered it... and realized I already pulled the raw story and write-ups onto the blog drafts.  

Cold Wars 2021 Cancelled!

 It's the worst kept secret in wargaming, but it was finally announced this morning that Cold Wars 2021 in Ocean City, Maryland was officially cancelled.  

While HMGS was more than willing to institute the necessary changes to enforce social distancing, including restricting max players to games to three and spreading out dealer space, the continued high rate of infections, plus the probable economic hit to the dealers was just too much.  It was the right decision, just one I was hoping for a different resolution. 

Of course, this means my convention shopping list goes online! 

Gnomish Toll Roads

Historically, Gnomes are not a traveling lot. While a certain percentage of the population succumbs to the Wanderlust, and travels to and fro, many are bound to return back to their villages andnever travel beyond a neighboring village, again.  Some gnomes barely travel to the neighboring village, so is their fate.

Despite this lack of a drive to travel on a regular basis, Gnomes build roads.  The original focus of their  roads were to connect neighboring villages, or to ease the travel to a destination (mine, quarry, teddy bear picnic patch).  Subsequent Wanderlusts forced the early repair and eventual improvement on many stretches, creating rudimentary road systems stretching across entire nations.  

Most construction and maintenance is the responsibility of the locals. However not all road wear-and-tear is the result of local (or wandering) Gnomes.  The Gnome World is full of other sentient beings (mice, rats, ducks, frogs, turtles, and teddy bears to name a few), who take advantage of Gnome industriousness.  

When there are no locals, or the maintenance is laborious (thanks to non-Gnome traffic) or hazardous (not every inch of the Gnome World is civilized), tolls may be set up to offset the costs.

Two mouslings take advantage of a simple toll booth, for safe passage through the dark forest.

Toll roads tend to be broad, limited-access trails.  There tends to be few villages in between destinations dominating the toll roads, and the Road Masters prevent unauthorized trails to be blazed.  There are usually alternative roads for the neighboring villagers to take, but they are much smaller, less maintained, and a bit treacherous for caravans or military forces to move through.  

Toll roads are exclusively for overland travel.  The Swiss are known for constructing huge travels through mountains to ease the burdens of mountain passes.  These tunnels then charge exorbitant tolls on all but the smallest of groups (individuals and families pay a nominal fee) to cover the expense of the construction.  Most merchants and large groups are still willing to pay the toll, because the tunnels will take days off of travel, and considerable wear and tear on vehicles and pack animals.  Due to the elevated nature of the construction, much of the maintenance of these roads is dedicated to government forces, the Swiss Ministry of the Interior, for example, although military forces have been used to speed up projects. 

In most nations, military maneuvers focus on the use of toll roads for quick travel, usually at a greatly reduced rate (if any).  Obviously, invading armies exempt themselves from tolls, although the Road Masters who don't immediately flee are known to engage the enemy with sabotage or other guerrilla tactics.  

Looking for the Chaos to Stop

While the last ten months have vacillated between chaos, terror, and just plain old uncertainty, the last four-plus years in the United States haven't exactly been sunshine and jellybeans, either. 

I've given gamified my opinion of the exiting President early on, and I stand by my stats.   His parody figure, available at Brigade Games allowed for some interesting plot development in Season Three of our Pulp Campaign.  One of my few regrets is not getting more of the political figures painted up and used over these last few years.  "Sleepy Joe" showed up on the website recently without any fanfare, but he will get used in multiple games.

Thankfully, the post-election mess has been minimal to the average American (save the Capitol casualties, and the further beating to death of common sense.)  It's been awhile since we ran a game in our COVID-themed campaign, but there are some obvious themes and characters I'd like to re-visit.  

I'd like to think that, with the removal of the chief instigator from center stage, and the chastisement of other political figures, we might return to a bit of the government involving collaboration and compromise, producing results neither ideological wing will be happy with, but will allow for government and society to operate sufficiently to so somewhat effective. 

Then again, 2021 Crazy Bingo Card might rival 2020's.  We'll have to wait and see, all the while masking, washing our hands, and playing lots of online games.

(BECMI) Adventures in Gulluvia #7 - After Hugo Left

DM Notes:  With Hugo's cowardly betrayal, and the surprise appearance of Slothina with two unconscious comrades the following morning, it is right and proper for me to provide the story I gave Slothina's player, Nate before the next session.  I've only made a few edits, keeping with Slothina's speaking/writing/thinking style.

21 Mai 534, The Tomb of Zoltar, Outside of Mere, Barony of Gulluvia

So, you were going around in circles in the woods, trying desperately to get back to Mere before the pursuing kobolds got smart.

Hugo shot up out of the treeline to find the right way back home, he spun around a few times and shot off like a rocket, leaving Slothina, Bodo, and Beulah in the woods with the kobolds circling.

The kobolds made one attempt to attack. From three sides, about a dozen creatures poured out of the woods towards your position.

Beulah was already hurt, and went down easy. (She might have already been knocked unconscious, I do forget). Bodo killed a couple of the creatures, before falling back to near you and your spinning maul. One or two kobolds tasted your weapon before they were crushed by it.

Tiring, Slothina's good eye could see more kobolds encroaching your last stand. Things were certainly not good.

Then a loud roar echoed through the forest. The kobolds took a few steps back in surprise, but mere seconds later, a giant boar came crashing through the forest. It plowed through a large group of kobolds, sending blood and body parts flying. The remaining kobolds attempted to flee but the boar was unusually fast, chasing each one down before trampling them to death. We the last guttural gasps of the dying kobolds, Slothina found some wits and tried to strap the wounded Beulah to the litter you had made for the treasure, all the while trying to push off a nearly catatonic Bodo (the bloodshed was quite severe).

The boar came back to your spot, agitated, blood soaked, and still looking for more... With a maul in your hand and your friends behind you, you stared down the beast, possibly even speaking/shouting/yelling at it.

After a few tense moments, the boar quizzically turned its head to the side, like a dog, straightened up, turned around, and sauntered off into the darkness.

With that, Slothina gathered Beulah and put her and the gong and dragged her back to town. Bodo was alive, but he seemed terrified, not saying a word and clinging as tightly around Slothina's leg as he could.

But almost none of that was revealed to Hugo, or the townsfolk. She arrived at the inn, after looking for a healer at the church, and the plight of the halflings directed the attention to their well-being... no one directly asked Slothina what happened out there after Hugo cowardly ditched them, and Slothina knew proper manners were to keep quiet until asked... anyway... it was Waffle Day at the inn!

More DM Notes:  The best part.  I wrote this up for an interesting plot twist, and Slothina never told a soul.... as of yet.

Next: #8 - Waffle Day!!!

“I Need a Hero” Synced to The Mandalorian Episode 16 Ending

I didn’t think I needed this today, but I did.  

Needless to say, *******SPOILERS******

(Painting) The Hivers Gang

This week I completed a group of rogue gangers for my Gnomish Space Marine army/campaign.  Last week, I introduced Cawdor and Van Saar, today we add Escher and the Delaque Brothers.   I don't know where I might have gotten the inspiration to paint these guys from.

These Gnomish thugs are the Digger Corps Slayer Squad, now available at Macrocosm Miniatures.  Macrocosm's Sci-Fi Dwarves Command Squad Kickstarter is in the middle of its campaign and has successfully funded.

Escher, the Gang Leader

I did have a damaged pickaxe on Escher, hence the weird, intentionally unbalanced sword.

The Delaque Brothers, Blackie and Blondie

While I foresee some sci-fi games with these fellows using Pulp Alley or Savage Worlds, I'd really like to get things moving in Planet 28.  All the rules and supplements can fit in a half-inch binder (single sided) and still have a ton of room for unit rosters.  I was going to stat out the bunch, but I'll save that for another post down the road.  The best part, in reviewing the unit creation rules, I quickly created stats and point costs for weapons they're wielding (re: hand flamers), but are not listed in the equipment, because they actively encourage  and explain customization.  Point costs aren't this cryptic system I was plagued with, that only seemed to correspond with the monetary cost of the figure.

...and Cawdor and Van Saar from last week.

Project 350: I needed to relearn basic addition after these last few weeks.  We've dropped considerably 510 (339/171) from 526 (349/167), a significant drop, even before my math failure.  I cleaned up some of the old backlog.  I consolidated some of the far-future planned Pulp campaigns into one draft, especially after realizing all the links to the Lead Adventure Forums had changed.  Hopefully there will be a moderate snowstorm yet this winter where I can take some time and go through things and find the updated links.  I also cleaned out some pending artwork on the blog drafts and my phone and scheduled some new posts.  Most is in the far-off future, and this is currently a bit of a dry spell for scheduled posts actually posting. 

• January (16 days left)  6 posts scheduled
• February                      6 posts
• March                          8 posts

For a blog that averages just over a post a day, it just means I need to focus on planned games and projects, with a hopeful dose of Kickstarters and amusing gaming news that pique my interests.

NEXT:  Now that I'm caught up with last month's GSM project, I've only got three projects for the second half of January.

1. This month's Gnomish Space Marine Project
2. Finish up the 10 figures left in the Navuoo Legion
3. Finish a Hultr Half-Track from Mantic.  I've picked up four of these guys in the past month.

... and then there's those infernal games I need to play.

The Auction for Pieces of Roadside America Has Begun

Roadside America was a piece of true Americana, positioned right off the roadside of the both the US, then the Interstate Highway Systems.  The idea of a huge miniature village might not have originated with the attraction, and other bawdier sites may have taken a former claim of largest miniature display (usually in *scoff* HO scale), but the twinkle in my eyes as a kid and as an adult when I walked around the display never diminished.  

Sure, it was dated, sure the twice-an-hour tribute to (Christian) America might feel a bit forced in today's climate, but at the time it was created it was a heartfelt gesture.  

Thanks to an every-changing world, a family business desperately looking for a buyer, and COVID being the nail in the coffin, Roadside America closed it's doors.  Now, the bittersweet portion of the process has begun, the auctioning off of many pieces of the attraction, from hex signs, to pieces of the display, to the large Amish folks sitting outside to greet you.  

The online auction ends on January 23rd, and with nine days left when I wrote this, while many items could be considered priceless to fans, there are not steals anymore. Many of the hand-crafted buildings are up to $200-300 bids already. Perusing the lots, one doesn't realize just how many bridges crisscrossed the display, almost all them scratchbuilt out of wood.

Definitely worth more than the $2,600 bid at the time of this post, but how to re-use if properly?

Marine Corps to Break Ground on Wargaming Center

One of the benefits of this lovely quarantine has been discovering the Georgetown University Wargaming Society's online presentations.  The topics focus primarily on the history of wargames, the theory of wargame design,  and the application of wargames in practical elements.  It's definitely not your usual "The Horses of Napoleon's Women" offered as seminars at regional conventions.  

With that prefaced, I understood all that would be involved with the United States Marine Corps breaking ground on a state-of-art wargaming center near their headquarters this year, but the giddy gamer in me giggled with the concept of a "100,000-square-foot facility is expected to house more than a dozen wargames each year, including two large-scale, 250-person exercises."

This is not rows and rows of Marine leadership playing Catan 40k, or cracking open a stack of old Avalon Hill games (although it could, and  the picture in article, reproduced below does show Memoir '44?).  Rather, an impressive mixture of traditional wargaming styles, specially-designed training exercises,, as well as digital/virtual immersion. 

(Cpl. Timothy Hernandez/Marine Corps)

Once the facility is completed, if they would ever let non-instructor civilians an opportunity to visit, tour, or possibly observe operations, I would jump in my car in a minute to drive down to Quantico, Virginia.

(BECMI) Adventures in Gulluvia #6 -The Tomb of Peaceful Death

21 Mai 534, Tomb of Zoltar, Outside of the Village of Mere, Barony of Gulluvia
The party sneaked through a narrow passageway and still managed to waylay the first kobold guards.  They worked through a few communal prayer rooms, until the passageway they took dumped them into a large room with a high, vaulted ceiling.

In the center of the room was a giant barricade of trash, rocks, even pieces of furniture and wagons blocking access to the other side.  Beulah did find another narrow path between the barricade and far wall, that allowed them to see a number of kobolds, slowly torturing a human.

Assuming the sneaky attack would work again, they sprung into action, but everyone was surprised when the one kobold breathed a cone of fire straight at them.

Properly deterred, they squeezed back to the other side, a few kobolds in hot pursuit, still, other kobolds climbed the barricade began peppering the heroes with arrows.

The group fled down another passage, Hugo Swam 'Pas leading the retreat.  Unfortunately, he set off a number of defensive traps that sprung onto his allies following him.

Our heroes found the exit back to the forest and began their return trip back to the village. Unfortunately, no one had any skills navigating the woods, and they became hopelessly lost, heavily perused by kobolds, and if matters weren't bad enough, it was getting quite dark.

As darkness enveloped the woods, the kobolds surrounded their quarry. Hugo whipped out his Flying Broom of the Mountain Lord, said "I'll go get help!" and flew through the forest canopy and into the night sky.

22 Mai 534, Village of Mere, Barony of Gulluvia
Hugo Swam 'Pas woke up in his comfy bed in his small home.  He washed up, donned some new clothes, and headed to Ye Olde Falling Spoon for a hearty breakfast.  It was waffle day, after all.

With a hearty plate of waffles, heaped with syrup, butter, and preserves, Hugo dug into his meal.  Halfway through, the sunlight from the open front door was blocked out by a hulking figure.  It was pulling a litter full of treasure with a body of a halfling atop it.  Besides the figure was a familiar halfling, Bodo Billabong, except he seemed very nervous, almost shivering in fear, moving only when his large guardian moved.

Hugo could only swallow one more bit of his waffles before uttering an "Oh, crap."  and everything going dark as he got absolutely pummeled by an angry Slothina.

Next:  #7 - What Happened After Hugo Left

(Risus) Krug the Pug, Alien Psychic Manipulator

Most intelligence agencies on Earth that deal with aliens will only admit to one Remoolian residing on the planet.  Only the highest ranking directors in one or two the elite organizations that one their greatest failures is tracking a second Remoolian, Krug the Pug

Unlike the loyal Remoolian, that even assists Earth's defenses from time to time, Krug has brazenly eluded the proper authorities, choosing his targets wisely and keeping a power base that stays under the radar.  

He's been in operation for decades.  Arriving close to 50 years ago, Krug has developed type of psychic mind control ability.  It is unsure whether this power has been nurtured from his own brain, or is mechanically created with one of the many mind control devices throughout the galaxies.  

Krug focuses on developing human "pets" that can care for him in his Pug disguise, and provide him access to some from of power.  Most of these pets have either been in the entertainment industry, or were in the upper echelon of the social strata.  

Tracing his journey, his travels in the 70's and 80's involved old money, technocrats, and Hollywood filmakers, most notably a cameo in the sci-fi movie Dune.  

The last known "pet" of his was Alister Burke, an notable gay opera conductor in the Seattle with many social and celebrity connections ,who was under the Remoolian's control from as early as 2003 until his death in 2010.  Rumors have suggested that Krug has left Earth sometime in the last decade, but all trails have ended up cold.  

To better control his "pets" Krug has actively encouraged them to seek counseling and thereapy, and attends the sessions under the pretense or a service animal, even before such a concept was not commonly acceptable.  Through his pets sessions, he's come to understand that he is a narcissist and upon accepting his limitations, and working to improve himself, has prevented himself from spoiling a a number of plans. 

Krug the Pug

Rogue Remoolian with Psychic Powers (6)

Narcissistic yet Calculated Power Monger (3)

Middle-Aged Alien with a Bum Hip Portraying an Elderly Pug (2)

Fickle Kibble Aficionado (1) 

How Did I Omit This?

We finally took our Christmas tree down this weekend.  Ornaments are packed away, garland discarded, and all the gifts finally out of the living room.  

Taking up my bag of items which had been shoved under the tree, I realized I missed the biggest themed item of my gifts.  

Here's hoping they've actually restocked the place when I descend upon the local store.

Operation: Checkmate

The concept of teaching Maja chess has gone far better than I can ever imagine. Her requests to play are always at the wrong time, but like Uno, these are quick games. Maja hasn't beat me yet, but she has caught me embarrassingly unawares (Losing my Queen on turn 4? Ridiculous!)  Her enthusiasm has been infectious and in a world where dear old Dad isn't sharing the passion with her new-found interests in Harry Potter and Anime, chess is that little bit of bonding time we still need.

Still unsure if I'm permanently tracking Chess games under my games played system. I normally avoid mass-produced and traditional games, my line in the sand is usually Uno or Apples to Apples, not Life or Sorry. If I do track it, I'll follow my logic I did for Magic back in the day: All games at one location (home, store, convention) for the day constitutes playing once, however, each tournament played in would constitute a separate "play." Since Maja hasn't gotten around to taking the chess board with her wherever she goes, and we're nowhere near tournaments, that's not an issue yet.

(Kickstarter) Sci-Fi Dwarves Command Squad by Macrocosm

It's fitting that the my rewards from the last Macrocosm Kickstarter arrived at my home yesterday, as their newest campaign was launched this morning.

This time, Macrocosm is offering a simpler campaign for their Sci-Fi Dwarves Command Squad.  

The Command Squad

There are only two pledge levels, £15 ($21) for the Command Squad and £60 ($82) for "1 of everything" including 1 Command Squad, 1 Thunder Squad, 1 Trooper Squad, 2 Special Weapon Troopers, 1 Commissar, 1 Bezerker, plus 1 random trooper to make it an even 20. 

Special Weapon Troopers ($6 add-on)

Thunder Squad (£20 add-on)

The Troopers (£15 add-on)

(Painting) Introducing the Hivers

The first week of the new year is complete, and I may actually be alive.  I've properly rested, I've recovered from some secondary infections, I've laughed a lot, and even shoveled some heart attack snow without any issues. 

I can also chalk up painting miniatures, even though the full squad isn't quite ready yet.  

In the Gnomish Space Marine universe, not all Gnomes/Space Dwarves are part of the military establishment.  Others run the seedier corners of life, where things can be far crueler than any battlefields.  Sure, these gangs have been pressed into GSM service from time to time, but the individuals are just too violence-prone for the military.  

Let me introduce two members of the Hivers gang, Cawdor and Van Saar

These are two the five miniatures in the Digger Corps Slayer Squad, now available at Macrocosm Miniatures

You can probably guess the theme for the other three, who, like by Nauvoo Legion for Gnome Wars, are *that* close to completion.  I think I need a weekend alone, medical clearance for a beer or two, and the post-holiday resumption of my favorite podcasts to just clear the table

Project 350:  516 (349/167) up from 510 (346/164).  A new wave of holiday jpgs have been added to future holiday posts.  Star War Actual Plays are essentially caught up, with just a few details to review next session.  I've misplaced my thumb drive that pulled off my old hard drive full of Burning Trogs Redux material, so that project may be shelved TBD. Heck, I've even gotten some reading done on my long-overdue book review.  

Next: The last three gangers, the Nauvoo Legion, and a formidable armor platoon in 32mm

The Mike Lung Project #79 - More Range Hares of Shadows Deep

More pics of the set up. The hares will start around the well which is the center of the board. They will then have to find the various clues scattered on the board while being besieged by the pumpkin zombies and crawlers.