tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56995819914392418472024-03-19T00:12:35.485-04:00Gaming with the GnomiesViscount Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06321378504021606574noreply@blogger.comBlogger4749125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699581991439241847.post-32183773644968922822024-03-18T20:37:00.001-04:002024-03-18T20:37:06.305-04:00(Kickstarter) Firefight at the Research Station by Things from the Basement<p> Things from the Basement has launched their most recent laser-cut MDF sci-fi buildings: <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tftb/firefight-at-the-research-station?ref=discovery_category_newest?ref=discovery_category_newest">Firefight at the Research Station</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/043/390/093/f6363f312e4aae8419ef78fe4a6ca0ce_original.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=680&fit=max&v=1702659594&gif-q=50&q=92&s=74c26dadd7423b00680597877a01fdf4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="680" height="300" src="https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/043/390/093/f6363f312e4aae8419ef78fe4a6ca0ce_original.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=680&fit=max&v=1702659594&gif-q=50&q=92&s=74c26dadd7423b00680597877a01fdf4" width="400" /></a></div>Things from the Basement has teamed up with Trench Coat Minis to cross-promote the new buildings, as well as Trench Coat's Trilaterum minis rules and figures.Viscount Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06321378504021606574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699581991439241847.post-54133228347088904552024-03-17T10:02:00.001-04:002024-03-17T10:02:45.484-04:00Let's Talk About Henning<p>So, fun fact: My sister and her Canadian husband got married a little over 11 years ago in a civil service up in Boston, but their post-ceremony celebration that evening also had George Takei (oh my...) at the same bar. </p><p>That summer, they had a get-together up in Boston with all the family and friends from far and wide. The last activity we did the Sunday before we returned home was a visit 311 Broadway in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Why, you might ask?</p><p>I get the distinction of having my most famous relative headlining a Supreme Court case, <i>Jacobson vs Massachusetts, </i>a case where the Justices ruled compulsory vaccinations were constitutional because<a href="https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/197/11/"> "the police power of the state may be allowed to constrain individual liberties through reasonable regulations when required to protect public safety</a>."</p><p>So just to clear the air, Henning Jacobson, was not some wild anti-vaxxer by today's standards, or even the early 20th Century. After two horrible experiences with the antiquated 19th century vaccinations in routine circumstances that left family members dead or maimed in both Sweden and the United States, and decided to hold his ground when Cambridge instituted compulsory vaccination 1902 during an outbreak in the community. His case through the judicial process was paid for by prominent anti-vaxxers for the day. </p><p>In hindsight, the new manufacturing process and administration of the vaccine at the turn of the century had been completely changed, with miniscule reactions compared to the prior methods, but to quote George W. Bush, "Fool me twice, won't be fooled again." I'll also note that no family member who has taken the modern versions of the vaccine has come down with any reactions in the last 120+ years. (I'm almost disappointed that smallpox was removed from the in processing inoculations for US Military between 1983 and 2002, so I didn't get it when I was in the military. I'll gladly take it today, if needed, though I might pass if it still involved a live virus.) Very similar to the last few years of COVID, a mixture of traumatic anecdotal experience (there weren't sufficient medical records to justify an exception, even if one would be accepted.) </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsh7H_6xtAw-PFnkhF6ekUiP76nFNDbkEVrsPGB6JIIkEzMUwvoh9sbIBZ3Lsv-Bfemn6C_6vJTQ9Apbb0dVUuzU5ggebA-Y_vCtpRe2hSFAbw4cAJ2FpD14H9c00U2ufZ5afawZnMiF_cS7fV1Qeqgv7lS36MlejXAeT-t6AO1BAde95vfCm5wL6yJvft/s960/1014011_10151592257694506_1296181388_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="704" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsh7H_6xtAw-PFnkhF6ekUiP76nFNDbkEVrsPGB6JIIkEzMUwvoh9sbIBZ3Lsv-Bfemn6C_6vJTQ9Apbb0dVUuzU5ggebA-Y_vCtpRe2hSFAbw4cAJ2FpD14H9c00U2ufZ5afawZnMiF_cS7fV1Qeqgv7lS36MlejXAeT-t6AO1BAde95vfCm5wL6yJvft/s320/1014011_10151592257694506_1296181388_n.jpg" width="235" /></a></p><p>One of the other points of consideration I'd hope he did consider was his profession and its impact to the public. As a pastor of a Swedish Lutheran church with a sizable congregation, I see a matter of personal and public safety to consider, although I add that there was nary a mention from the pulpit that researchers could find, and only a scant few amongst all ethnicities in the city objected. </p><p>So why do I rant on about my Great-Great-Grandfather Henning, smallpox, and the like? Because the congregation he presided over, the church he helped build was at 311 Broadway in Cambrige. </p><p>When we visited, the church, now Faith Lutheran, as a grand old church with massive beams and fabulous woodworking built by Swedish immigrants. Like most mainline Protestants churches, it's original congregation fled the city and a much smaller and diverse group took up their mantle. </p><p>I've got to admit that when I introduced myself I still got a bit of the rock-star treatment. I even got to meet an elderly woman who was actually baptized by him before he retired... and somehow had his old church desk in her house! However with small little ones and a 5+ hour drive home, I couldn't take full advantage of the hospitality, just a chance to take some pictures, see some artifacts with ancestral ties and meet some very nice people. </p><p>I had not found an opportunity to revisit the church in the following years, and as of Easter 2023, that opportunity was now impossible. </p><p>Sometime after the Easter services last week, a fire started in the church. All those magnificent beams? All that fantastic woodwork covered in thick layers of varnish and lacquer? Now it was all fuel for a fearsome multiple-alarm blaze. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEQj9TvsU95h__0Kf79lA0O433H_WIaVr8-Az3_dpbMmTdSA5PXum8E3SXiaYR0CzE0l6AiFNwYCQJcnLftL_fxVdNXklk8Rxt39fXLXT7HCaPlzB__GdHq1Jdjc8BayNq2iPlbgaimb2Ckjbb7Kg_TDGr5qygnYrwvLh1UWXGOdPRtYx1kSM5EVO7nAZ/s2048/432441633_10106364816373871_5537736059214059267_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEQj9TvsU95h__0Kf79lA0O433H_WIaVr8-Az3_dpbMmTdSA5PXum8E3SXiaYR0CzE0l6AiFNwYCQJcnLftL_fxVdNXklk8Rxt39fXLXT7HCaPlzB__GdHq1Jdjc8BayNq2iPlbgaimb2Ckjbb7Kg_TDGr5qygnYrwvLh1UWXGOdPRtYx1kSM5EVO7nAZ/s320/432441633_10106364816373871_5537736059214059267_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div>The congregation has been worshipping at different sites, thanks to the grace and generosity of other denominations in Cambridge. </div><div><br /></div>Recently, the current Pastor <a href="https://youtu.be/gKElXCgDN84?si=BSahClTdF8MAMGFN">posted a video on Youtube</a>, stating that the church was going to need to be torn down in the future, and reaching out for ideas as to uses for the property in the future. It's not going to be as grand, but here's hoping they rebuild into something that has multiple uses in serving God in the community. <div><br /></div><div>When we returned home from our trip, I wrote a social media post mentioning how awesome it was that something my ancestor helped build and nurture might be something strong enough for one of my kids' grandkids could see one day. Nothing lasts forever, and for most things, much shorter than they deserve. <p></p></div>Viscount Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06321378504021606574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699581991439241847.post-8702692949654069542024-03-15T04:07:00.000-04:002024-03-15T04:07:17.727-04:00Preorders Now Open For Arena of Blood by Wiley Games <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Wiley Games has just opened up pre-orders for their latest game, <a href="https://wiley-games.myshopify.com/products/arena-of-blood-printed">Arena of Blood</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://wiley-games.myshopify.com/cdn/shop/files/Screenshot2024-02-29at10.42.42AM_470x.png?v=1709664347" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="470" height="400" src="https://wiley-games.myshopify.com/cdn/shop/files/Screenshot2024-02-29at10.42.42AM_470x.png?v=1709664347" width="280" /></a></div><br />Contrary to my initial thoughts, Arena of Blood is not part of the Fistful of Lead product line. Rather it's a new game, albeit with some familiarity.<div><br /></div><div>In Arena of Blood, you are the proud owner of a gladiator school, with a stable of gladiators, all with different fighting techniques and abilities. Careful use of your fighters is crucial. Each gladiator has strengths and weaknesses. <br /><br />Pit your gladiators against your rivals in the Arena of Blood! Matches are quick. Play a whole tournament in an evening! </div><div><br /></div><div>If this doesn't scream Thursday night convention fare, to compliment the Friday night Gnome Joust and Saturday night Gnome Game, I don't know what does. Better yet, this sounds like perfect Sunday morning fare. </div>Viscount Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06321378504021606574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699581991439241847.post-82352370849377952952024-03-14T01:16:00.049-04:002024-03-14T01:16:00.205-04:00The Mike Lung Gallery #88 - The Adventures of Bernard and Cindy Part One<p>We continue to post some old All Things Zombie (ATZ) scenarios friend of the blog and Award-Winning GM Mike Lung played almost a decade ago... with LEGOs. There's rumors that he was bitten by a LEGO zombie and started up the games again...</p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Chiller; font-size: 26.0pt; line-height: 106%;">The
Adventures of Bernard and Cindy<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;">Bernard
and his kid sister Cindy were alone in the woods. Something terrible had happened back at their
camp. When they returned from a hike.
The camp site was covered in blood and gore, and their parents were gone. Screams of terror could be heard from nearby
campers and dark shapes shambled in the woods.
Realizing their camper wasn’t safe, Bernard grabbed his father’s pistol
and Cindy picked up her baseball bat before dashing into the woods to find
safety and help. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-sg9nDlNUbwSUuSU9y1robUwwjF1JuB36qZatOBmHLFEMtA7MQeoVaRlAJBJUMXe2xbK2CsAVUDbruKw2eyCWck8XTrypny5cWCJY0-QKedfoCxK5UIvMXXtl2E7VAFTbirsOyfa2RMHUEj2ON7Vc4xlBrBZSEwGpYWviQc8E61XDN6bwRqy-MyhkILFQ/s1430/Picture31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="891" data-original-width="1430" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-sg9nDlNUbwSUuSU9y1robUwwjF1JuB36qZatOBmHLFEMtA7MQeoVaRlAJBJUMXe2xbK2CsAVUDbruKw2eyCWck8XTrypny5cWCJY0-QKedfoCxK5UIvMXXtl2E7VAFTbirsOyfa2RMHUEj2ON7Vc4xlBrBZSEwGpYWviQc8E61XDN6bwRqy-MyhkILFQ/s320/Picture31.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;">After
a long terrifying day in the woods, Sally complained that she was too hungry
and tired to go further. Just then they
stumbled into a clearing and saw a parked utility truck with its flashers on. Nearby was another camper. “Sally, maybe there is someone here who can
help us!” But then they saw the bodies
strewn about the grounds. A distant moan
and then another alerted them to the danger.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2LTRLcKagXIDBVTQNa0-unz2wuwpMm-PGnl0SYxP592lLM5wfOxqpHG-bjeqWcwtJ6wwpYIg_2g8oXPZ7mvIGAnJ8Cgu6Z-KjZcLBmKl-_li3QZeC2riecsTSGHZVr1TVGTefXr-83tOe_ile1GoBeKQUXFi7P7x8itQfy8CN84C5HzrtEDImEMJxgZh/s975/Picture32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="975" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2LTRLcKagXIDBVTQNa0-unz2wuwpMm-PGnl0SYxP592lLM5wfOxqpHG-bjeqWcwtJ6wwpYIg_2g8oXPZ7mvIGAnJ8Cgu6Z-KjZcLBmKl-_li3QZeC2riecsTSGHZVr1TVGTefXr-83tOe_ile1GoBeKQUXFi7P7x8itQfy8CN84C5HzrtEDImEMJxgZh/s320/Picture32.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;">More
moans erupted behind them. They were
surrounded!<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZZEsMUsCAY_EeKqHnYiizNGwKDUjV5eCTKV_0YN1obbT2wLtTHNQ_So23jfJh1xQoYM5VOL4EQACiTlir0_JhDRrCpMjJHS8kouQ9bA8x-8Gw1cQkspafcIk7NPYPvRk6jCiGYnC3g7SlPMkQM-FmTINFnbfh8bhAs2ZoS8syTgjO4mN3V4vk0hp4sOO/s1430/Picture33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="1430" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZZEsMUsCAY_EeKqHnYiizNGwKDUjV5eCTKV_0YN1obbT2wLtTHNQ_So23jfJh1xQoYM5VOL4EQACiTlir0_JhDRrCpMjJHS8kouQ9bA8x-8Gw1cQkspafcIk7NPYPvRk6jCiGYnC3g7SlPMkQM-FmTINFnbfh8bhAs2ZoS8syTgjO4mN3V4vk0hp4sOO/s320/Picture33.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8myKrRp_rSFOGKM9fsaExt02mjqVS6Y8vcJJ3SjEJiFDUjiatOX2nYbAZ0m3GA_eVYk_ZXu0zB7qc-5wtxpsaRZbUviNOI0VjRhGcODR9xIECQ6VYAVvo8OTdpKCgulYJW74Hv1edZ7LOio_rkOoOuMOFJKKa5F9AC8pCFIhv5N4q0Bd5_a1otK9OQun7/s975/Picture34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="975" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8myKrRp_rSFOGKM9fsaExt02mjqVS6Y8vcJJ3SjEJiFDUjiatOX2nYbAZ0m3GA_eVYk_ZXu0zB7qc-5wtxpsaRZbUviNOI0VjRhGcODR9xIECQ6VYAVvo8OTdpKCgulYJW74Hv1edZ7LOio_rkOoOuMOFJKKa5F9AC8pCFIhv5N4q0Bd5_a1otK9OQun7/s320/Picture34.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal">They had no choice but to fight. Shaking with fear, Bernard raised his
father’s gun. “Blam! Blam!,” he shot the
ghoul that had once been Ollie. It fell to the ground but was still moving. <o:p></o:p></p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0aKAY8wZQ73T1XQOTEBQ5-W0GS-g-tRtxqgSVxkSV_QNZEBNu2FxfbjsHS0gAzDZ_1nyF1O8FE-RS-tAZMRkbxghjLdTOKhxqmd9nLvuj9VqVEJHMaCB0T3FyklCbNUbyeYIPLxrVerjL_RHzN3PkJBMHrV2v_DjWIlLe60JOkT6FkpmKiVSUysy2Q0u4/s975/Picture35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="953" data-original-width="975" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0aKAY8wZQ73T1XQOTEBQ5-W0GS-g-tRtxqgSVxkSV_QNZEBNu2FxfbjsHS0gAzDZ_1nyF1O8FE-RS-tAZMRkbxghjLdTOKhxqmd9nLvuj9VqVEJHMaCB0T3FyklCbNUbyeYIPLxrVerjL_RHzN3PkJBMHrV2v_DjWIlLe60JOkT6FkpmKiVSUysy2Q0u4/s320/Picture35.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal">“Blam!” Not taking any chance, Bernard fired another round
into its head.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwWXGqaxxtQeK-8lnjGvUpg3wr-OHtx4m46LwHqDGl51pxmQn1OKHWSdPKF4A2It3vpGZRoWdtZ186kfY3MksSB54_cbYEZD2flC6Oxr14Tg2xYE_rpL6nO_UwnxbYGlhkT8K3f9foGR11-DN9aHLMXz0O_TgseyU6NvrbRWdnaHE0z4Tvpiv17DWvx9y/s975/Picture36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="975" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwWXGqaxxtQeK-8lnjGvUpg3wr-OHtx4m46LwHqDGl51pxmQn1OKHWSdPKF4A2It3vpGZRoWdtZ186kfY3MksSB54_cbYEZD2flC6Oxr14Tg2xYE_rpL6nO_UwnxbYGlhkT8K3f9foGR11-DN9aHLMXz0O_TgseyU6NvrbRWdnaHE0z4Tvpiv17DWvx9y/s320/Picture36.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal">Desperately, they raced to the utility truck and searched it
for something that could help. Stan
picked up a hatched to help defend himself.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YFdVbUcuBCn8WbssdrObbQEjvNr9blil4OibyE35rR6od6Y7ry0eI7bc7f1s_CMjFQj4NBJoEKQyvRV0fYvUOdH2bgMCziGTtJwFLyRYZ20TZhUAsNvpDjQIQWKoo1GrAhqWnh920v44i1rK1dDflW2P98e4StjtPe7l98xm18CoE7kVpavFg4BRJEKv/s975/Picture37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="975" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YFdVbUcuBCn8WbssdrObbQEjvNr9blil4OibyE35rR6od6Y7ry0eI7bc7f1s_CMjFQj4NBJoEKQyvRV0fYvUOdH2bgMCziGTtJwFLyRYZ20TZhUAsNvpDjQIQWKoo1GrAhqWnh920v44i1rK1dDflW2P98e4StjtPe7l98xm18CoE7kVpavFg4BRJEKv/s320/Picture37.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal">“Bernard! We need to
get out of here!” Sally screamed interrupting
Bernards search as more zombies approached.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuyzSc8r0y_NbzgXjveTUAcbSqpTDen8l0bFV-iN4mUF_JK5UasBKMyOGXpLf0Lybhcb4Wvy_rq1aNLzvKrLPeIPfb2qEbzL8SpsiKqTuuORyTKAGd3dMQgcuNdc0W-qnRtHTkEVcXBZhG_qw_6Y0Kr2fXKmB1mAQ1xSBeZc081iwssaUfYFigP_0b2La/s975/Picture38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="975" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuyzSc8r0y_NbzgXjveTUAcbSqpTDen8l0bFV-iN4mUF_JK5UasBKMyOGXpLf0Lybhcb4Wvy_rq1aNLzvKrLPeIPfb2qEbzL8SpsiKqTuuORyTKAGd3dMQgcuNdc0W-qnRtHTkEVcXBZhG_qw_6Y0Kr2fXKmB1mAQ1xSBeZc081iwssaUfYFigP_0b2La/s320/Picture38.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal">They retreated to the edge of the woods where Bernard took
careful aim at the oncoming horde.
“Blam! Blam!” Two zombies
dropped.<o:p></o:p></p></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48CWE-E6WfWP7xSCmVTxEyVOtWb9Q6PUHvZiQn00xMqdifN3Ce4Qz1E0IdChxLbdHG7Dy8PY5NinTrhDQAPmWGcVipljlKolFwxmMGAqf0EXHppwteQQyUM8qrKeTHSXnkbnwAvxylJjI40MPOIbtd-K4L30D9go99bhRUyONnW0iUCKMg8ib2DR_CzqY/s1015/Picture39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1015" data-original-width="935" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48CWE-E6WfWP7xSCmVTxEyVOtWb9Q6PUHvZiQn00xMqdifN3Ce4Qz1E0IdChxLbdHG7Dy8PY5NinTrhDQAPmWGcVipljlKolFwxmMGAqf0EXHppwteQQyUM8qrKeTHSXnkbnwAvxylJjI40MPOIbtd-K4L30D9go99bhRUyONnW0iUCKMg8ib2DR_CzqY/s320/Picture39.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyD9NEbod5MrMHAJWTRv5ma1pKnJCUxcSOmCeZ24yWwegLAYIZ6Oi755-Sla_ProPBCpm2BDgQ6Lx4a5TBVC6yldPnX00VSY9NmHnxmKKY6jZ_dSBAd_bhGrVdlMVbovfLk_qoSyklyy6IhvMEY8NkG_3CJKta3u96yNtXVAbJSetllwrxwXtCEM0Xy5Y/s896/Picture40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="841" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyD9NEbod5MrMHAJWTRv5ma1pKnJCUxcSOmCeZ24yWwegLAYIZ6Oi755-Sla_ProPBCpm2BDgQ6Lx4a5TBVC6yldPnX00VSY9NmHnxmKKY6jZ_dSBAd_bhGrVdlMVbovfLk_qoSyklyy6IhvMEY8NkG_3CJKta3u96yNtXVAbJSetllwrxwXtCEM0Xy5Y/s320/Picture40.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal">End of Part I<o:p></o:p></p></div><br /><p></p>Viscount Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06321378504021606574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699581991439241847.post-82812556617907470852024-03-13T06:00:00.001-04:002024-03-13T06:00:00.241-04:00New Finds at the Dollar Store<p>It's been awhile since I drop by one of my many local Dollar Tree. I avoided the temptation of mass-produced Easter candy, but did find some awesome finds in the adjacent </p><p>I did find two new houses for the gnome village, that I hadn't seen on the shelves. The purple one is from the Garden Fairy Spring Mushroom house line, the white and blue from the Garden Fairy Spring Flower house line. I am starting to get picky with these ones ,because a number of them have doors that are simply too small, even for the mouslings I play with. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfMaY2mXdBkhWAdWxH79ueIgYchEkQxVEE4S87DvfjYyuGVglfrwslXk4pNLfiKetBqXaJnqz81bnzV3YU3NKQ1DY1AbiD8MMUO4YErhLX97LDVPQ_-BBlZEqgFapZfuHU655lO7qTZ5mLGQetV67ySCRcXJg0RX-6cGPfaZfekD_W8UDEGxzqCJcfhSA/s640/IMG_3435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfMaY2mXdBkhWAdWxH79ueIgYchEkQxVEE4S87DvfjYyuGVglfrwslXk4pNLfiKetBqXaJnqz81bnzV3YU3NKQ1DY1AbiD8MMUO4YErhLX97LDVPQ_-BBlZEqgFapZfuHU655lO7qTZ5mLGQetV67ySCRcXJg0RX-6cGPfaZfekD_W8UDEGxzqCJcfhSA/s320/IMG_3435.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The find I'm really excited about are the Easter erasers of rabbits. Eight sturdy rubber rabbits for $1.25? I picked up 24 rabbits without blinking. They're definitely making an appearance for the Easter game this year. The only drawback I'm seeing is that they're erasers, and pretty effective ones. They are picking up marks already, so I'll experiment with sealant once I figure out how to mount them. <p></p>Viscount Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06321378504021606574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699581991439241847.post-43867887422791127872024-03-12T06:00:00.315-04:002024-03-12T06:00:00.135-04:00(Gamma World) This is Not a Test #23 - Manchi<p><b>Our heroes, the De Facto Explorers, have returned home to Riverbend</b></p><p><b>=================</b></p><p><b>Sneaky Pete:</b> A mutated weasel scout. Pete's telepathy and night vision take a backseat when he whips out his electrical powers. Recovering from his injuries from the Glow near Ulmin.</p><p><b>Sonny Helianthus: </b>a sentient sunflower artifact examiner with Restorationist ties. </p><p><b>Slitheran Wurmtail (aka Squiggles):</b> a mutated earthworm scout, in impromptu power armor, looking for trouble, and finding it often.</p><p><b>Lathar Bracken: </b>A pure-strain human from River Bend. He's got the muscle, the face, and a mount for most encounters. Lathar's trusty beast of burden, No Name, travels wherever he does. Looking for trouble in all the right places. Recent jousting champion of Fair-Town and has been awarded... a peacock.</p><p><b>Ramsay Kallax:</b> Mutated Ram from the far-off KIA Academy with a predilection for ancient treasures... and the occasional head-butt. </p><div>================</div><p>It had only been a few days, and nothing had befallen them during their trip to Fair-Town, but to the De Facto Explorers, Riverbend was a sight for sore eyes.</p><p>Sneaky Pete returned to his riverside burrow for a long nap. </p><p>Ramsay found a stall in the stable to stretch out and rest. </p><p>Lathar returned to the home of Mrs Bracken, his mother, for pancakes and mothering.</p><p><i>"My big boy won an award!"</i></p><p>Squiggles searched for a safe location. His rendezous with Ubenda in Fair-Town had proven productive. He was with children and looking for place to let them hatch. Farmer Yulius' farm was as good a place as any, and by the latrine was as safe a place for self-reliant offspring that he could think of. </p><p>Sonny was on the far side of the farm, pulling in his flimsy books from the bug-mart into his shed next to a garden. He doffed his frockcoat and planted in the garden with a mid-80's issue of <i>Boy's Life</i>. </p><p>The next day, Squiggles woke up and emerged from his shed to a trees filled with blackbirds. Most were crows, and most of their attention was in the area of the privy. The worm dashed over, howling like a banshee, firing flintlocks into the trees to scatter the birds. </p><p><i>"Not my babies!!!!"</i></p><p>The birds flews off. Except for a few cursory scratches in the ground, the unhatched eggs were still buried deep enough to avoid unwonted chaos.</p><p>Back in town, Lathar's mom just made pancakes for the two of them. While he tried to go into more detail about the joust, his mother was more worried about the future.</p><p><i>"With your father not here, I need grandbabies. I'm going to get palpitations before that, I fear."</i></p><p>Lathar gave his mom a peck on the cheek, and ran off towards Pete's followed by Sonny and Squiggles. The pair heard the gunshots and upon their arrival, Squiggles was pacing the yard. </p><p><i>"If you see any birds, get rid of them, please..."</i></p><p><i>"Okay... Is there a reason the birds are even more your mortal enemy than any other day."</i></p><p>"<i>Of course! My babies!!!"</i></p><p><i>"Waitwhat... Congratulations!"</i></p><p><i>"Yeah, proud Dad... or Mom..."</i></p><p>Sonny was not in his shed. So they headed into town.</p><p>Earlier in the morning, Sonny had dragged his red wagon of books and traveled to Ascension Hall. </p><p>The acolyte who opened the door looked puzzled, <i>"What is that?"</i></p><p>Sonny depanned his response, <i>"Chauncey, this... is knowledge..."</i></p><p>Chauncey led Sonny to Justinian's office, <i>"Once he comes back from breakfast, he wants to talk to you."</i></p><p>Sonny waited for a bit for a Justinian to return, an armload of bread for his acolytes. </p><p><i>"Where were you guys," </i>Justinian asked with a mouthful of bread.</p><p><i>"Fair-Town."</i></p><p><i>"Oh"</i></p><p><i>"Is there a problem?"</i></p><p><i>"No, Fair-Town is a fine place, just not where we normally look for knowledge."</i></p><p><i>"That's where I got the wagon full of knowledge that's sitting in the foyer."</i></p><p><i>"The one that could be pulled by a tiny horse?"</i></p><p><i>"Indeed, a lot of survival knowledge. Kind of martial knowledge we try to avoid, but its quite interesting."</i></p><p><i>"There so flimsy"</i></p><p><i>"I got them for a fair price."</i></p><p><i>"Sounds good, you guys aren't soldiers, you can do what you like, but something came up."</i></p><p>Justinian continued, "<i>Have you guys seen the falling stars the last couple of nights."</i></p><p><i>"No...."</i></p><p><i>"I happened upon a visitor yesterday morning, the Hisser of Huush from across the river. There's more than that one enclave of them across the river near the ruins of Level A and beyond. The last few nights , one of their larger villages was getting hit with multiples objects from the heavens. Not major damage to any buildings, but the objects have struck a number of Hissers, killed a few as well. It's a phenomena that's not happening in any other village, and with clean water and a formerly safe location, that wary about running away. They begged for help. They're willing to pay for help, this village of Notex, well above Level A, but on the opposite side of the river."</i></p><p><i>"So we're doing diplomatic work?"</i></p><p><i>"If it's no you, who? I'm not sending Chauncey up there."</i></p><p>Sonny left Ascension Hall and hunted down the other Explorers to fill them in on the mission.</p><p>After hunting down the boys, then finding Ramsey, the group went about resupplying and finding the members of the White Hand that could help.</p><div style="text-align: left;">All three healers were actually in town, tripling the amount of smoke and incense inside their shack.</div><p>Seraphina, the plant expert, did not use her normal "bag of tricks" on Sonny. Rather she used a series of sucralose wraps with something called chakras to get the sunflower as close to tip-top shape as possible.</p><p>The young male healer, was very confused by Lathar's injuries. Lather was very patient, <i>"I'll self-administer the electricity damage around my bum." </i></p><p><i>"Thank you for that, it's my medical opinion, that the scarring damage around your bum will not completely heal."</i></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>"BUH-CAW!!!"</b></span></p><p><i>"What the hell was that?"</i></p><p><i>"That's just Chambray, my peacock."</i></p><p>Squiggles was leaning up against the wall, opposite a make-shift privacy screen,<i> "You named the peacock, Chambray? What the hell?"</i></p><p>With that, Lathar grabbed some bird feed from the dry goods store, and the crew returned to Lathar's mom's place for lunch and some experiments between Lathar and Sonny improving black powder weapons.</p><p>The Explorers stayed one more night in town before investigating the Hisser issue. After an early evening, everyone returned to their homes to be ready to depart around dawn.</p><p>Lathar wasn't as inebriated as before, but he was ready for his mother's tirade.</p><p><i>"Mother, look at everything I've gained, and yet you complain about grandkids. "</i></p><p><b style="font-size: large;">"BUH-CAW!!!"</b></p><p><i> Look at Chambray, look at No Name, these are my companions and friends...."</i> *THUD*</p><p>Lathar lifted his head from the floor, <i>"And I have met some other Pure Strain humans, a leader of her own people. And next time, when I go to Fair-Town, I will actually talk to her."</i> *DOUBLE THUD*</p><p>Squiggles found himself being chased by a large, black bird. He was running through the woods, but stumbled. The bird jumped upon his exposed chest and started pecking at him. </p><p>Squiggles woke up from his nightmare to a dozen inch-long versions of him, trying to wake him up. </p><p><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Father, Father, Help, Quick"</span></b></p><p>He emerged from his shed to find his eggs had hatched.... and the black birds had returned.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLnhACcjcsqV1fcmibJumlQGqRTgmsVNyiBExl5DheuNH4knyWAsygwKj86byTzTxliROh0HvJ_Bv3xMYug_a5k3h67MAqtOEfvluwj-3-82yorSSNC5z_Qh_VvSA5wz30HFohff0KUdUv1ioRSHyoGW9uz6AFJ9ANAAngHs65cm7PNF8VMZunDovyA/s512/JGzhMihfKQxRNgbU5aSh--2--qvl12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLnhACcjcsqV1fcmibJumlQGqRTgmsVNyiBExl5DheuNH4knyWAsygwKj86byTzTxliROh0HvJ_Bv3xMYug_a5k3h67MAqtOEfvluwj-3-82yorSSNC5z_Qh_VvSA5wz30HFohff0KUdUv1ioRSHyoGW9uz6AFJ9ANAAngHs65cm7PNF8VMZunDovyA/s320/JGzhMihfKQxRNgbU5aSh--2--qvl12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Dozens of little white worms with arms and legs were running to and fro, the blackbirds trying to feast upon as many as their could be. <div><br /></div><div>Using his flintlocks, he killed two birds and scared off a number of others, before running around like a madman to shoo the rest and secure the surviving three dozens offspring. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Papa, Mama... save us."</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>The ones that had awoken Squiggles called to him, </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Father, can we stay inside your building."</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>"My shed is your shed. And I will protect you. Call me.... Manchi"</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Squiggles secured his spawn in his shed, overturning some of the soil to give them easier access. With that he heard the eldest, "Inexplicable" soothe his siblings, showing great resourceful a two hour-old worm.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">"We'll be alright in the shed. The big bird will not get us, and we'll definitely be safe from the little ones. They only do the big bird's bidding. He like their Bird God." </span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>With that, Squiggles shut the door, latched it, and walked to his friends preparing for their mission.</div><div><p><b><span style="color: red;">GM Notes: All my knowledge for Squiggles and his offspring were based off of <a href="https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/691673/information-note-worms.pdf">Welsh Ministry of Natural Resources</a>. As Lathar pondered the sheer army that Squiggles had created, worries of recreating the Clone Wars storyline were announced. </span></b></p>Next: #24 - Podogs Down by the River</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Viscount Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06321378504021606574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699581991439241847.post-49572292654732339762024-03-11T06:00:00.014-04:002024-03-11T06:00:00.132-04:00(Kickstarter) 28mm Space Dwarves by Warblade Miniatures<p>Why do all the cool Space Dwarf Kickstarters come from the UK?</p><p>Warblade Miniatures has launch a campaign for their <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/warblademiniatures/28mm-space-dwarves?ref=discovery_category_newest?ref=discovery_category_newest">28mm Space Dwarves</a>, as well as add-ons for their sci-fi Scavengers, Cultists, and "Wolf Pelts" .</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/044/239/843/aea6be93daec0b205e56b6d16661f3a9_original.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=680&fit=max&v=1709660669&gif-q=50&lossless=true&s=038a8ac31c4669d33ef79a58e452be08" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="680" height="400" src="https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/044/239/843/aea6be93daec0b205e56b6d16661f3a9_original.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=680&fit=max&v=1709660669&gif-q=50&lossless=true&s=038a8ac31c4669d33ef79a58e452be08" width="400" /></a></div>What makes this set of 10 figures more fun than others? <div><br /></div><div>Two Words: Jump Packs! Self-tossing dwarves!</div>Viscount Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06321378504021606574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699581991439241847.post-63921042732387952372024-03-08T03:33:00.000-05:002024-03-08T03:33:00.128-05:00Space Dwarf Biker Gang 2 Now Available Through Macrocosm<p>I thought Macrocosm was due to launch another Kickstarter to drain my wallet. They were nice, though, and only released Space Dwarf Biker Gang 2</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.macrocosm.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Space_Biker_Dwarves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="308" data-original-width="800" height="154" src="https://www.macrocosm.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Space_Biker_Dwarves.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The five figures are £15.00, UK Shipping.<form action="https://www.macrocosm.co.uk/product/space-dwarf-biker-gang-set-2/" class="cart" enctype="multipart/form-data" method="post" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 24px 0px 39px !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="quantity" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 3px !important; border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px 20px 0px 0px !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 100px !important;"></div></form><p><br /></p>Viscount Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06321378504021606574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699581991439241847.post-28933222823276838572024-03-07T06:00:00.001-05:002024-03-07T06:00:00.443-05:00The Mike Lung Gallery #87 - The Adventure of Ollie<p> It's been quite some time since we've had a post dedicated to friend of the blog and Gaming with the Gnomies correspondent, award-winning GM Mike Lung, but Mike has given us some updates that are perfect to fill in the lack of Cold Wars commentary in March. </p><p>Ten years ago, Mike sent me the first two games of All Things Zombie (ATZ) using LEGO. Those games can be found <a href="https://gamingwiththegnomies.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-mike-lung-gallery-24-adventures-of.html">here</a> and <a href="https://gamingwiththegnomies.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-mike-lung-gallery-25-adventures-of.html">here</a>. Mike was nice enough to forward the rest of the games from back then, so today, I present The Adventures of Ollie.</p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Chiller; font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 106%;">The
Adventures of Ollie<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Ollie had spent the day repairing the lines after the recent
violent storm. Late in the afternoon he
received a call from one of his colleagues back in town telling him that
everyone in the town had gone crazy.
People were getting murdered in the streets! At first, he thought it was a joke. But then,
his cell phone stopped working. None of
his calls were going through. Now scared
and not knowing what to do, he pulled up by a campsite hoping the campers knew
more. <o:p></o:p></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPg7m1J1RxjI7w4n3-V1ZVmRasAENa3Rnx5cjyagByiM3Ma11aWgrkIpGUj7xRmTGs4Jtm8oXhojXQAoDn8f_h0vECeiT8slxEI35SF5cR_6cagNVKIjmn8B8OhOi0b_rEO-8L57XmaaCwi1elZDrWZJfZaaOE5Cbhce8UjSKOUfgg7EARN1LM7AjtWAvy/s1421/Picture1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1398" data-original-width="1421" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPg7m1J1RxjI7w4n3-V1ZVmRasAENa3Rnx5cjyagByiM3Ma11aWgrkIpGUj7xRmTGs4Jtm8oXhojXQAoDn8f_h0vECeiT8slxEI35SF5cR_6cagNVKIjmn8B8OhOi0b_rEO-8L57XmaaCwi1elZDrWZJfZaaOE5Cbhce8UjSKOUfgg7EARN1LM7AjtWAvy/s320/Picture1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePr4BRoinH55rxgaiGGkbbuU2hN5on7WCHrjuNWfYYlmlskqF1aQmE2FtXVnIrzqzlPxAywRY1GQ-C8NecD4YZzKZZ-GcxtK78tg8jO7WxmdAxyY-lvLdnhJZjFcZGkE0XM23cPAKNOv0mi97tZ_k6ASUWj_KnmvprIP4LMI6xwN3SEKHDsuOwVHi98XI/s510/Picture2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="510" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePr4BRoinH55rxgaiGGkbbuU2hN5on7WCHrjuNWfYYlmlskqF1aQmE2FtXVnIrzqzlPxAywRY1GQ-C8NecD4YZzKZZ-GcxtK78tg8jO7WxmdAxyY-lvLdnhJZjFcZGkE0XM23cPAKNOv0mi97tZ_k6ASUWj_KnmvprIP4LMI6xwN3SEKHDsuOwVHi98XI/s320/Picture2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal">The camper<o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">Ollie getting out of the truck. Being scared, he wasn’t taking any chances, so he pulled out his pistol that he kept under the front seat and also took a
crowbar just in case he needed to break his way into the camper. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UAnFXM7w2SfhXprPeRmFwdmNEi5WpML6nC1fn1DIEEgaAAVFrZNPzltX9MXjKsigRSLBCF4EEXckF02k3wansfo_tfrfL8UL8yPjJ8erGXi3X9WF4Sp11nR_g3Zstr12HX16bWRHE6oLZa1QzrCUUVoeP16wa95t9FAyFifkGCa3oHPAB57kF-GUYeME/s1060/Picture3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="1060" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UAnFXM7w2SfhXprPeRmFwdmNEi5WpML6nC1fn1DIEEgaAAVFrZNPzltX9MXjKsigRSLBCF4EEXckF02k3wansfo_tfrfL8UL8yPjJ8erGXi3X9WF4Sp11nR_g3Zstr12HX16bWRHE6oLZa1QzrCUUVoeP16wa95t9FAyFifkGCa3oHPAB57kF-GUYeME/s320/Picture3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Suddenly, a man or what had once been a man, appeared out of
the trees.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZUidOAq8im4zYQKOBhPNyv2enzdBM2R3gxiOt0dC7kh87xve-gZDACicU0fIRkVA40F1zULClKKUNRZjBzJkCG5VLthseHdoAXn1mNliP4YI9Kp83FaLukQT03pOMQ0IWMJcLfPKy0haDzB2jqZEOXrx89eAzXyBFBVarOtpq0MeXQIL1AwivBm8hCNG/s423/Picture4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="397" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZUidOAq8im4zYQKOBhPNyv2enzdBM2R3gxiOt0dC7kh87xve-gZDACicU0fIRkVA40F1zULClKKUNRZjBzJkCG5VLthseHdoAXn1mNliP4YI9Kp83FaLukQT03pOMQ0IWMJcLfPKy0haDzB2jqZEOXrx89eAzXyBFBVarOtpq0MeXQIL1AwivBm8hCNG/s320/Picture4.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">The man approached menacingly towards Ollie.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4wrloijFPzC48tARPfpOrWHMzNHR_AR3Pp7MPrdG0a4j5k5XSu5KpUdHIIlGc1ZEHJT0mOIFHuBlvEDwlhNc0Vp1DZHswQgLD8J3tPevkOtiKT-ujSrogkG0pOeZ2VljJmoBe46pZMX2UEyuPifpEWeb4xXWkZz0ZLc5PqhZWIHaixznawrWwXv34CaS/s1010/Picture5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1010" data-original-width="726" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4wrloijFPzC48tARPfpOrWHMzNHR_AR3Pp7MPrdG0a4j5k5XSu5KpUdHIIlGc1ZEHJT0mOIFHuBlvEDwlhNc0Vp1DZHswQgLD8J3tPevkOtiKT-ujSrogkG0pOeZ2VljJmoBe46pZMX2UEyuPifpEWeb4xXWkZz0ZLc5PqhZWIHaixznawrWwXv34CaS/s320/Picture5.jpg" width="230" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Remembering what his friend had said, Ollie pleaded with the
man to stop. But he kept coming. Then, Ollie panicked and shot him. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">At first Ollie thought he had killed the man. But then the man sat back up and growled!<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_33lCOzclLrpF63EOmb_wFgu3reDg5Fkg0RCPUf5KUC9wFlaZAtMqAkAlCvWwhuRmk6S59Aiq4-nID3OFSFoKUUQckHBn3p2KyrJjJ8cGKiit0nGd_BO_uQ-E7r3KidvphS9f7vmbfMekzgMmEg6cIzsnyEIa_8GZEZtskn29w9RelhFnXGA5xmdb-g1/s449/Picture7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="449" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_33lCOzclLrpF63EOmb_wFgu3reDg5Fkg0RCPUf5KUC9wFlaZAtMqAkAlCvWwhuRmk6S59Aiq4-nID3OFSFoKUUQckHBn3p2KyrJjJ8cGKiit0nGd_BO_uQ-E7r3KidvphS9f7vmbfMekzgMmEg6cIzsnyEIa_8GZEZtskn29w9RelhFnXGA5xmdb-g1/s320/Picture7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Ollie fired his gun again and again, but the man kept coming after him! Ollie fled from the man.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TsXdABYCxRLvEbsNX6J2NvMgoNq8pYkJwxeP45BooeJH10WThZONCsW0MENJMKndtPG92A3hcEmVsW0BCnjCppdOQBww3_JIAotDXUh4Fyse8GszgpVcc3mHla06Fr8aSlbIykpfo1uC1MZVdjn_6xNABD9MktYgH1AeFHIjtCWlLePPIzeeGTLe_fE5/s957/Picture10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="695" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TsXdABYCxRLvEbsNX6J2NvMgoNq8pYkJwxeP45BooeJH10WThZONCsW0MENJMKndtPG92A3hcEmVsW0BCnjCppdOQBww3_JIAotDXUh4Fyse8GszgpVcc3mHla06Fr8aSlbIykpfo1uC1MZVdjn_6xNABD9MktYgH1AeFHIjtCWlLePPIzeeGTLe_fE5/s320/Picture10.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">With one last parting shot, Ollie hit the man in the head,
and he seemed to be down for good. But
then, two more people appeared out of the woods.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HtF16J2wh4GLCmYeaeujpbF3T9gieGgBacllEh00dqBWE2QMGUGMsQNd6NRf4qpPFZH02euVlXWkYmC-6pfD6F7ElSNh25FAcpE8Z8katrrJPMx5TvJN6q86NzHDreeSpzxYbOwlQrnBRp8rWGwJm-Exf7nHTVPdpK_xllQa5faVlwykUed_r0qLTilQ/s1111/Picture11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="863" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HtF16J2wh4GLCmYeaeujpbF3T9gieGgBacllEh00dqBWE2QMGUGMsQNd6NRf4qpPFZH02euVlXWkYmC-6pfD6F7ElSNh25FAcpE8Z8katrrJPMx5TvJN6q86NzHDreeSpzxYbOwlQrnBRp8rWGwJm-Exf7nHTVPdpK_xllQa5faVlwykUed_r0qLTilQ/s320/Picture11.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">They were crazy, too!
So, he shot at them! <o:p></o:p>But they kept on coming!
“BRAAAINS” they moaned as they stumble forward.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORUIGH75bizNhXWdnESnmUdrmke7xYmrLO0qe_h1gshf116VRTH5Clf10FRI9zAm4zVP3OfeA7LZzBW6wEDNJq1tFGGwyFvyEhEyYilbnWECzjfCBY0SSJTo2d3ekwaRF1J_ZX3I3WCy-32hBlQT09uf_gUb-VNmhPmstvmEokpzLOxAg4s5vMs5LGXaj/s827/Picture22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="827" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORUIGH75bizNhXWdnESnmUdrmke7xYmrLO0qe_h1gshf116VRTH5Clf10FRI9zAm4zVP3OfeA7LZzBW6wEDNJq1tFGGwyFvyEhEyYilbnWECzjfCBY0SSJTo2d3ekwaRF1J_ZX3I3WCy-32hBlQT09uf_gUb-VNmhPmstvmEokpzLOxAg4s5vMs5LGXaj/s320/Picture22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">The things were getting too close. Ollie took his crowbar and bashed their
brains!<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTCchybD1q7se163tqiIJLZYheljOi09Ekj4W7dPigJrmcEuJ7Xi3u1PYYk40p8acyuY095yaPMSz87-YtL6X54jyBncClLiIYKXI12nb3Xllil4fk2KvkItGKmVCd9vCZQe6VCt8-ZWAfyg-arq13Ja-7F0Fe1W7K7h_142HX_Bn4ZALm7yl9r0fRhLa/s997/Picture23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="997" data-original-width="833" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTCchybD1q7se163tqiIJLZYheljOi09Ekj4W7dPigJrmcEuJ7Xi3u1PYYk40p8acyuY095yaPMSz87-YtL6X54jyBncClLiIYKXI12nb3Xllil4fk2KvkItGKmVCd9vCZQe6VCt8-ZWAfyg-arq13Ja-7F0Fe1W7K7h_142HX_Bn4ZALm7yl9r0fRhLa/s320/Picture23.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Another appeared! This time Ollie was more accurate with his gun.<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZ542RKY0sW0dkfObF1xYxNHnVzFjtSA-XSVjsegidNZ-iK9tJhDqOBHiZdu2jjZ7F2DE3mzjMBjVANgaERhV7CHO16uTqsLMbuyqJRXxvmJ3WCo9gpZuiQ4nOdhR5Ok653_TQL269ZTXnGfMpFvECgT412hbxXav2HE5efmO5JPN_gtm1jheWAPE1PEz/s842/Picture25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="621" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZ542RKY0sW0dkfObF1xYxNHnVzFjtSA-XSVjsegidNZ-iK9tJhDqOBHiZdu2jjZ7F2DE3mzjMBjVANgaERhV7CHO16uTqsLMbuyqJRXxvmJ3WCo9gpZuiQ4nOdhR5Ok653_TQL269ZTXnGfMpFvECgT412hbxXav2HE5efmO5JPN_gtm1jheWAPE1PEz/s320/Picture25.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGQgNoHrceNNDWrRISUABgHiX41YrpjwPAOYjQWnJG2ueQ8FOHq0u7rMS4z38YEgjXkxvBjFvrm0tDlDLbkXOsSXqAsNqkpGGTO0AYVFYcgPJFvjM-jBsdE1Joggem1lkLgxsM4fjTgeJNLuPJ-1F1_A4vPAYVYHnbVBLOMN8cI0Zw13w6jPuadx-ZVwA/s1430/Picture26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1016" data-original-width="1430" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGQgNoHrceNNDWrRISUABgHiX41YrpjwPAOYjQWnJG2ueQ8FOHq0u7rMS4z38YEgjXkxvBjFvrm0tDlDLbkXOsSXqAsNqkpGGTO0AYVFYcgPJFvjM-jBsdE1Joggem1lkLgxsM4fjTgeJNLuPJ-1F1_A4vPAYVYHnbVBLOMN8cI0Zw13w6jPuadx-ZVwA/s320/Picture26.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal">The carnage was horrible<o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">Still more poured out of the woods! <o:p></o:p>There are just too many!
Ollie is knocked to the ground.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-IZfptUOf0kE_8sGzQcwhEZ4pTxsPXXPCADe-vB0XL0ziok98aZlaZFYmrstF5ARVMND3xZnMpsSIAB9Y-BwULmmcIfpWiZ1i-yZhbQZ3vi64dCIQwCyVxzigJPuiKnTlo_QFhT0QTKS6CGS6E3m-6pEuc-11prx3CdTTjeVDqrYrhSqG0vHdzs_12Qrz/s1103/Picture28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1103" data-original-width="748" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-IZfptUOf0kE_8sGzQcwhEZ4pTxsPXXPCADe-vB0XL0ziok98aZlaZFYmrstF5ARVMND3xZnMpsSIAB9Y-BwULmmcIfpWiZ1i-yZhbQZ3vi64dCIQwCyVxzigJPuiKnTlo_QFhT0QTKS6CGS6E3m-6pEuc-11prx3CdTTjeVDqrYrhSqG0vHdzs_12Qrz/s320/Picture28.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Momentarily, he pushes one away and regains his footing. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgaIqMmZ2iVfcyChS4CbEK19RjvrbhAvEdgX_XIouSGA_LR-eU2Rjohx6FNceIvl7TSKVL-aau9dId0pqYpWcLa5hd5BILjDbWuoAtG92CJvoqeuxvaeHN7FBuwufZJGAY7-CXG6D0Ruh9Li1Clx4gWz3vQUtZtCebOzDcYDaIg9P1vH_Gc3yP1OAd1687/s671/Picture29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="671" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgaIqMmZ2iVfcyChS4CbEK19RjvrbhAvEdgX_XIouSGA_LR-eU2Rjohx6FNceIvl7TSKVL-aau9dId0pqYpWcLa5hd5BILjDbWuoAtG92CJvoqeuxvaeHN7FBuwufZJGAY7-CXG6D0Ruh9Li1Clx4gWz3vQUtZtCebOzDcYDaIg9P1vH_Gc3yP1OAd1687/s320/Picture29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">But he can’t escape his horrible fate.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlm2DePEd8RkUo5bESEoCsvLBvn7mjQloJ_wVLUyzHB4jrS78fImt73ZPtFezjfUvheCE8GjYfYaqOH9xx3Bmf9Y7AsOqD1ZXe09qU5yw1gKWplIKDUW8XjCYuaf2Yx64gGZe8ugGl6jnIicT-y9xIAi51Wy1oV9xNHj62UCj8tUsY8zU1ZLZlswxh5zCN/s1162/Picture30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1162" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlm2DePEd8RkUo5bESEoCsvLBvn7mjQloJ_wVLUyzHB4jrS78fImt73ZPtFezjfUvheCE8GjYfYaqOH9xx3Bmf9Y7AsOqD1ZXe09qU5yw1gKWplIKDUW8XjCYuaf2Yx64gGZe8ugGl6jnIicT-y9xIAi51Wy1oV9xNHj62UCj8tUsY8zU1ZLZlswxh5zCN/s320/Picture30.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Chiller; font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 106%;">The End<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Viscount Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06321378504021606574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699581991439241847.post-55395699669552513562024-03-06T08:02:00.000-05:002024-03-06T08:02:33.733-05:00The Lost Universe by... NASA?<p> We've already seen some interesting ideas from fast food, and I think the National Park Service also did something on a smaller scale, but a wouldn't expect a scenario produced by NASA.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAwd-Wwu4TlZnEedSeEXI3H9AGRkkJbv8OpcLB7LHewKRRwHV_v_009BBNlc1uYvxXaxcQnzlYI2jViH3R04elELFnVJIGID17YiKMxNFeftQeFqMNjYpJE3WCaFLVoLCXbY3SYvudBf_Ll01DsNGoUBbyqLB2ysSa1rk5wIwW8VdogiRjV0TqVwB0-8ZJ/s773/Screenshot%202024-03-06%20024746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="773" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAwd-Wwu4TlZnEedSeEXI3H9AGRkkJbv8OpcLB7LHewKRRwHV_v_009BBNlc1uYvxXaxcQnzlYI2jViH3R04elELFnVJIGID17YiKMxNFeftQeFqMNjYpJE3WCaFLVoLCXbY3SYvudBf_Ll01DsNGoUBbyqLB2ysSa1rk5wIwW8VdogiRjV0TqVwB0-8ZJ/s320/Screenshot%202024-03-06%20024746.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/lost-universe-book-2024-march-v1.pdf">The Lost Universe </a>is a fantasy role-playing adventure for 4 -7 characters, level 7-10. Sure there's a rogue planet, a space telescope, and full three appendices on astronomy, vacuum based energy, and space telescopes, but it appears to be a working adventure.</p>Viscount Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06321378504021606574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699581991439241847.post-36327186422580212092024-03-05T04:17:00.001-05:002024-03-12T08:05:57.475-04:00(Gamma World) This is Not a Test #22 - Leaving Fair-Town <p> <b>Our heroes, the De Facto Explorers, after a successful joust in Fair-Town, are ready to celebrate.</b></p><p><b>=================</b></p><p><b>Sneaky Pete:</b> A mutated weasel scout. Pete's telepathy and night vision take a backseat when he whips out his electrical powers. Recovering from his injuries from the Glow near Ulmin.</p><p><b>Sonny Helianthus: </b>a sentient sunflower artifact examiner with Restorationist ties. </p><p><b>Slitheran Wurmtail (aka Squiggles):</b> a mutated earthworm scout, in impromptu power armor, looking for trouble, and finding it often.</p><p><b>Lathar Bracken: </b>A pure-strain human from River Bend. He's got the muscle, the face, and a mount for most encounters. Lathar's trusty beast of burden, No Name, travels wherever he does. Looking for trouble in all the right places. </p><p><b>Ramsay Kallax:</b> Mutated Ram from the far-off KIA Academy with a predilection for ancient treasures... and the occasional head-butt. </p><div>================</div><div><br /></div><div>There was much rejoicing on the Queen's jousting field, as Lathar won the joust. He was presented his prize money, as well as a large peacock. Lathar tried to place the bird atop his helmet, but it jumped down at first opportunity.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4jeFq5_4hEDqIXFBJ8LmKJJBeSCCU5hTWR7QCzzCtH6ULD3SaiXZz756egwj4CkojR-MX_hs7iXqpTXluHAXLai8bVez480dQ7zvwRpLECUfoPPbyq9asmR3UaIaR78-R9hsokbqgRYuRel54vpg0vIdFZBIF5Ymshv6jQhDdUWuu58nB25EI-_tlQ/s320/image_2023_05_02T03_00_27_937Z.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="320" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4jeFq5_4hEDqIXFBJ8LmKJJBeSCCU5hTWR7QCzzCtH6ULD3SaiXZz756egwj4CkojR-MX_hs7iXqpTXluHAXLai8bVez480dQ7zvwRpLECUfoPPbyq9asmR3UaIaR78-R9hsokbqgRYuRel54vpg0vIdFZBIF5Ymshv6jQhDdUWuu58nB25EI-_tlQ/s320/image_2023_05_02T03_00_27_937Z.png" width="320" /></a></div><i>"I think you need to earn it's trust,</i>" Pete told Lathar.<div><br /></div><div>The crowds quickly dispersed, and the cleaning crews began their overnight work.</div><div><br /></div><div>Moving over to the side, they cleared out all the remaining grog from a nearby vendor and went over the spoils: the prize money, the peacock, and almost 800 domars from Pete's side action the entire tournament. With a belly full of alcohol they simply leaned up against the jousting rail, talking about their various crafting skills to improve weapons. </div><div><br /></div><div>When the Opossum cleaners came to clean out the stalls, Pete realized a missed opportunity.</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"Hey, Lathar, weren't you supposed to reach out to talk to Lady Vespara? Sonny wanted to learn about her land, beyond the Glow?"</i></div><div><br /></div><div><i>"Beyond the Glow might be a stretch, but we could at least share maps and some knowledge,"</i> Sonny chimed in.</div><div><br /></div><div>Pete seemed impatient, <i>"Where are we off to next?" </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"Home, I hope. Gotta get all these books back to Riverbend." </i>Sonny assured him.</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Pete prodded further, <i>"Maybe we should find a peacock place?"</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Lathar was confused, <i>"A peacock place?" </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"Yeah, like a peacock farm?"</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"What are you talking about???"</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>"<i>You know a place where the peacock can live out his days. And when he dies, I can eat him."</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"Why are you eating my peacock???"</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"Not right now, Lathar, but I've never eaten a peacock, I'm interested to see how it tastes.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"Sure, and I'm interested in seeing how weasel tastes, but I'm not slathering you up with butter."</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>With that the crew finally left the darkened jousting field.</div><div><br /></div><div>Drunk and tired, they still decided to stop by a few establishments along the way to the Triple Comfort Inn. </div><div><br /></div><div>Entering the Smooth Spoon, Lathar was instantly recognized and a drink magically appeared.</div><div><br /></div><div>Some cheers, some toasts, and a good time was had by all. Even Squiggles and Sonny shared some odd fermented dirt. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sonny harshed the mellow of the bar, inquiring about what was beyond the Glow. No specifics could be provided, but everyone thought it was short, painful death. </div><div><br /></div><div>Pete changed the subjects and talked about Lady Vespara. She never stayed in town with her entourage, but immediately left from the downriver gate. Despite being a haughty Pure-Strain human, she was not averse to purchasing things from non-human merchants. </div><div><br /></div><div>Lathar, bought two large growlers of ale and motioned towards the party, <i>"Let's look for Vespara."</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>The team wandered out of the Smooth Spoon and headed for the downriver gate. They attracted a few hangers on that Pete kept a drunken and paranoid eye. Wil and Ron, two humans, seemed like fans, and Kilgore, another joust contestant. </div><div><br /></div><div>As they neared the gate, the carts and displays of the vendors thinned out, but were replaced by ramshackle tent communities wherever there was open space. The visitors to the Fair appeared to spend the night in town, before returning home from the festivities. Some were forced to camp beyond the walls, if they did not claim a spot first.</div><div><br /></div><div>The guardsmen milled about the campsites, with the occasional one venturing on the walls. </div><div><br /></div><div>Wil was still pummeling Lathar with technical questions about particular joust passes. Lathar gave a passing answer, Wil picked up the queues, and turned to Ramsey for details.</div><div><br /></div><div>Pete turned to there entourage, "<i>Hey are there other jousts in other towns. Do you guys do a circuit?"</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Ron perked up, <i>"Dude, I was going to be one of those guys, like Lady Vespara and Arachne. Got a couple quality seconds in the smaller jousts here in town, but never made the jump to pro. If I had gone pro, I would have just followed the others, probably downriver. I can't remember the last time somebody came from upriver, that's why I know Lathar's got some skill."</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Lathar's disposition perked up again, after hearing those words. </div><div><br /></div><div>A guard noticed the group wandering through the encampment. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>"Sorry fellow lifeforms, campsites are CLOSED. Hope you have a room elsewhere."</i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/2015930/rs_1024x759-151030121607-634-john-candy-national-lampoons.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="800" height="148" src="https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/2015930/rs_1024x759-151030121607-634-john-candy-national-lampoons.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Lathar replied, <i>"No worries, my good man. We're looking for Queen..."</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"Lady"</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"Lady Vespara.</i>"<br /><i><br /></i></div><div>The guard, who could easily have a hidden mutation or two, eyed Lathar, <i>"Of course YOU would."</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Undeterred Lathar extended a growler. <i>"Sure, I'm also know to share beer. Where's she hiding?"</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"They never stay overnight in town, they exit the gate right after the joust and have a campsite somewhere into the woods."</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>The group decided that wandering the woods for some Pure Strains who reeked of Knight of Genetic Purity. They shared their beer with the guards and some of the campers, regaled tales, and as the last drops were poured, Lathar led them all in improvisational song, and the short, stubborn men of Boulderyard provided "prok-on-stick" to all. </div><div><br /></div><div>As they partied, the group learned that their were dozens of villages off of the small streams leading to the River, outside of their normal Silent Cliff, Windgulf, Ivymore, and the Boulderyard were just a smattering of names that entered Sonny's ears, and he tried to imagine where they would sit on his map. </div><div><br /></div><div>As the guards put giant wooden bar across the gate, the group bid their new friends adieu and walked back to the Triple Comfort Inn unmolested. </div><div><br /></div><div>As the group prepared to leave in the morning, a great commotion rose from the streets. Staring downriver, a huge flying creature, far beyond the town walls was flapping its wings as it ascended into the sky. Binoculars, spyglasses, and weasel eyes focused on the giant bird, with multiple people riding on its back. </div><div><br /></div><div>Squiggles ran back inside the inn until the creature was out of sight. This wasn't the first time he had seen a giant bird of prey in recent memory. He spied such a beast back at Koto Dam (see Episode #12), and another sighting was just not a positive affirmation in his life.</div><div><br /></div><div>After coaxing Squiggles back to the open-air, Pete suggested visiting the Wrong Celery to talk about mead with Duncan.</div><div><br /></div><div>They entered the Wrong Celery and Duncan let out a roaring laugh.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">"Thanks for finally bringing in the proper clientele. He buys a single drink, and you are now friends of the Green."</span></i></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>After some discussions, Sonny came to a stunning realization, <i>"Waitaminute, all of you guys have been here before me? What the hell guys!"</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Drinks were poured and discussions started, but Duncan's attitude soured, he extended a branch. <i><b><span style="color: #38761d;">"Who brought that thing in here? That thing is dangerous to my clientele, get it out of here!"</span></b></i></div><div><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div>Seeing the peacock was the source of Duncan's displeasure, Lathar took it outside and tied it up next to No Name.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Explorers and Duncan went into negotiations over the remaining casks of mead. After agreeing on a price, Clark the dishwasher and a few plant patrons, rolled out two large kegs. </div><div><br /></div><div>Squiggles took the last sips of his coffee, <i>"I guess we're buying a cart..."</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Lathar walked out and jumped on No Name. A few passers-by were commenting on the peacock beside No Name.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>"That thing's awesome! I wonder what tiny knight rode that in the joust last night!"</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Awhile later, Lathar returned, a sizable cart attached to his mount. </div><div><br /></div><div>With the kegs loaded, the team departed for River Bend. For the first time, they noticed additional traffic on the road, and as they came to small streams, these people turned into the wilderness following small trails. Halfway on their return trip, they were on their own. </div><div><br /></div><div>They arrived back at the gate to Riverbend to a familiar face, Loman.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>"Took you guys long enough to get ba.... what the hell is that?"</i><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Sonny glanced in the direction of Loman's outstretched finger, <i>"Oh, that 's just Stinky Pete."</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"No, you flowering ninny, the bird!!!"</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"It's a peacock!" </i>Lathar proudly proclaimed.</div><div><br /></div><div>"<i>Is it edible?"</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"Not for today."</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"Alright... hey flower... Sonny... Justinian is looking for you. Something's up. Hey what did you name the pea-cock?"</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"I'll have a name next time we run into each other...."</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Next: <a href="https://gamingwiththegnomies.blogspot.com/2024/03/gamma-world-this-is-not-test-23-manchi.html">#23 - Manchi</a></div>Viscount Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06321378504021606574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699581991439241847.post-2331562046531458362024-03-04T21:00:00.000-05:002024-03-04T21:00:00.257-05:00Happy International GM Day!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSj6WFFVOLzWdaRXxxeBmdI_WQJNCRHzaroFe23fqLHs12pbXZLL9nfXbkj_fycxbkXzcpOkMQ_TRVI5vOQPgMYzCdS9A9TOtPeJaHzEHgfYG47GKWqF1xW7gLuxXgbCphAyBNtv_UsO9Ji-ykcx13QN7iIZbibNrAKb2dplDU_GYaIKmQU_0QzXE4iw/s677/IMG_1494%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="523" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSj6WFFVOLzWdaRXxxeBmdI_WQJNCRHzaroFe23fqLHs12pbXZLL9nfXbkj_fycxbkXzcpOkMQ_TRVI5vOQPgMYzCdS9A9TOtPeJaHzEHgfYG47GKWqF1xW7gLuxXgbCphAyBNtv_UsO9Ji-ykcx13QN7iIZbibNrAKb2dplDU_GYaIKmQU_0QzXE4iw/s320/IMG_1494%5B1%5D.JPG" width="247" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Viscount Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06321378504021606574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699581991439241847.post-27661448489003585262024-03-04T06:00:00.001-05:002024-03-04T06:00:00.141-05:00(GNOME WARS) House on the Hille, or "Sikh and Destroy"<p>It was a weekend to hang out with daughter #1, Maja. Most of the time was an evening at the Wilkes-Barre Hight School production of Grease that her friend had a part in and a meal at Maja's favorite Thai restaurant, but there was enough time to get some gnomes moving on the table in the apartment. </p><p>Alternative Armies recently released a new scenario for their <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0371/5545/files/house_onthe_hille_scenario_flq.pdf?v=1708448308">Flintloque</a> rules and figures. While I never got into Napoleonic Fantasy, I'm always intrigued by how they would work for Gnome Wars. </p><p>This is that story:</p><p>After the early engagements of the Wishing Well War (WWW), the first "modern" war of the gnomes, but before the forests were razed and replaced with trenches, it was every unit for themselves. Many of the Sikh units jumped sides when supplies, ammunition, and money disappeared. Many went rogue, or "Independent" and scavenged what they could until a side decided to hire them, or they could find a way home. </p><p>It was also during this time that the German industrial war machine's mechanical prowess was so dominant, that it actually poisoned the forest. Some of the oil and chemicals leeched into the soil, killing many trees. Much ran off into streams and rivers, making the water undrinkable, but enough worked further below the surface, poisoning aquifers and ruining wells that had been essential for the survival of the troops. The search for clean water was a focus during this part of the war.</p><p>The 17th Independent Sikhs found a pure well in a farmstead deep in the forest. Historians are unsure what happened to the seven gnome farmers living there, but rumors still persist that one gnome, a mute, managed to escape and were more than Happy to tell the Swiss what had occurred. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiE8VJ9TBMgAS_dzx9J190BogNyagU1yUmzSXfhgFA5cCubOeyvxl2Pc7Ms8xHXynRAqg9pz3VRIBSsRcxmrj_MJ3jCJql-ekdIb1sxbJCbwhOOWC9HoQpwg6FqO8azEYvb79l53fWDnpgQEhbinN06V1tEUjr7pY_UqntwcCql6Qrrhh2SY3i_BKKpeii/s640/IMG_3405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiE8VJ9TBMgAS_dzx9J190BogNyagU1yUmzSXfhgFA5cCubOeyvxl2Pc7Ms8xHXynRAqg9pz3VRIBSsRcxmrj_MJ3jCJql-ekdIb1sxbJCbwhOOWC9HoQpwg6FqO8azEYvb79l53fWDnpgQEhbinN06V1tEUjr7pY_UqntwcCql6Qrrhh2SY3i_BKKpeii/s320/IMG_3405.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div>Portions of the 1st Swiss Reserve and the 9th Swiss Rangers were dispatched to disrupt the Sikh occupation quite violently and secure the clean water supply. </div><div><br /></div><div>Goals:</div><div>17th Independent Sikhs: So long as one figure is alive within 10" of the well pump, the Sikhs win. </div><div><br /></div><div>1st Swiss Reserve: Seize control of the well pump with more than 50% of troops. If standing (non-wounded/killed) troops levels drop to 50% or below, the unit routs.</div><div><br /></div><div>9th Swiss Rangers: Seize control of the well pump with more than 75% of troops. If standing (non-wounded/killed) troops levels drop to 75% or below, the unit routs.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Swiss do include one Swiss Bernard Medic in each unit, and the Sikhs don't use medics, so adjusted the original objective to include fallen comrades before the medic phase. </div><div><br /></div><div>Extra Rule #1: the Swiss can traverse the harvested field (no cover) or use the full field of wheat (no line of sight to fire). However, any figure activated in the wheat field will roll a die. On odds, they may proceed as normal, but on evens, they stop and enjoy a hidden respite for one turn. This effect only happens once per figure, and when/if it occurs, the figure no longer rolls if they remain in the field.</div><div><br /></div><div>Extra Rule #2: Maximum move on the hill is 6". Figures may move 6" and still fire.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Sikhs were still searching the grounds, using the well pump, when the rangers surprised them at the same time the Swiss emerged from behind haystacks. They scrambled to secure cover and form a line to defend against both attacks. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5wNVNIGLE9rS_euYh6wIb7ZaWKw94raSKQhJe8JVross5sMnqQdlWX-lhdW6LP-j8i8luT_Vz1lVGc_17m5-YpVURTP8GUG44QipAtbJosHqrXgAiOQP6Axi8ofGmpBxUhzRweVOJRISffufNFpHUaxQSVM81WA7Xx1QwkFVRyUbPqAPDUIxpTq9fjFN/s640/IMG_3406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5wNVNIGLE9rS_euYh6wIb7ZaWKw94raSKQhJe8JVross5sMnqQdlWX-lhdW6LP-j8i8luT_Vz1lVGc_17m5-YpVURTP8GUG44QipAtbJosHqrXgAiOQP6Axi8ofGmpBxUhzRweVOJRISffufNFpHUaxQSVM81WA7Xx1QwkFVRyUbPqAPDUIxpTq9fjFN/s320/IMG_3406.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 9th Rangers had snuck in through the woods, but were quite disorganized, trying coordinate the attack. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLgGi-kVHTkLXnoVti-2OGm6MREJaZJK-Mk2XNQVHWCINgqpEv9AK7CG-AaYqsNWdOSQOsybmol8XK7Ai-mxYFiXHKPR43R7_NDvxhvkGLp94mvrRG8M2_YcQ_9AUhGAQnKfRc76VIBHQp3VeGyQBg0xjZmxETLop6pxq7_0QNkjlffJBChJCKy0AdP9E/s640/IMG_3407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLgGi-kVHTkLXnoVti-2OGm6MREJaZJK-Mk2XNQVHWCINgqpEv9AK7CG-AaYqsNWdOSQOsybmol8XK7Ai-mxYFiXHKPR43R7_NDvxhvkGLp94mvrRG8M2_YcQ_9AUhGAQnKfRc76VIBHQp3VeGyQBg0xjZmxETLop6pxq7_0QNkjlffJBChJCKy0AdP9E/s320/IMG_3407.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Swiss Reserves split up, the Captain taking a group across the barren field, while the Sergeant led his group under the cover of the wheat field. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9uCNOWT6YaDhEnDszhJPEIXk6r6xqENI7Gft-a_4zgtT2LPg-MiofNoIBRKBbEcGaAWTFyHvOkkuPHnV2rlbL1P56xY63TPf4-VvmEC7Dv-wBoxLPhF3ibkU8VUNFuhI3CCQVbwmzBpD5UPnRxJqvrysUMXMhgebsjWPz6zsOXe1U9-ILLmFFuTEYIxVg/s640/IMG_3408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9uCNOWT6YaDhEnDszhJPEIXk6r6xqENI7Gft-a_4zgtT2LPg-MiofNoIBRKBbEcGaAWTFyHvOkkuPHnV2rlbL1P56xY63TPf4-VvmEC7Dv-wBoxLPhF3ibkU8VUNFuhI3CCQVbwmzBpD5UPnRxJqvrysUMXMhgebsjWPz6zsOXe1U9-ILLmFFuTEYIxVg/s320/IMG_3408.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Sikhs inflicted the first casualties on the Rangers, wounding a few that were too close to the edge of the tree line. But as they reloaded, the dreaded Limburger Greandier threw their stinky cheese with precision, knocking the one Sikh out of line, and sending him scrambling away. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsaRquX-FOnlWj9DDAsQvS7DhfnCsR9udAbNDfbrGAvTyjbjVdJ3r2Ack8Pk1nBdkbnn4F0-QjFYMpiaEaInX5VpM6rQoAhX4-wtAtMidC2gC3ee4TbZ-sCF_f1row07L661kQRbUAJA6ZKHWOz6cltG07BJes0Lx_pFuZTd1Jlyl9MTwk7WC_teS1O9P/s640/IMG_3409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsaRquX-FOnlWj9DDAsQvS7DhfnCsR9udAbNDfbrGAvTyjbjVdJ3r2Ack8Pk1nBdkbnn4F0-QjFYMpiaEaInX5VpM6rQoAhX4-wtAtMidC2gC3ee4TbZ-sCF_f1row07L661kQRbUAJA6ZKHWOz6cltG07BJes0Lx_pFuZTd1Jlyl9MTwk7WC_teS1O9P/s320/IMG_3409.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not one, but TWO cheese attacks sends the Sikh running.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Sikhs holding the line against the Reserves were crack shots from a distance against the ones charging across the open field. The volley fire, and the lead scouts in the wheat field freezing up at the sounds of gunfire,put the rest of the unit in peril. <div><br /></div><div>For the Sikhs against the Rangers, they finally got a clear shot and volley fired.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjta0lYBvYeyD-y0AZ99vNIDJNRbxTdVGxlgwIdhc3wyWcItDRQRbhbl4tmC5GPfmRCLXnqEOAwnlvqotAxH3dZolBzAf0L0o-XuVEOfhj6Gb885BVkBQtLF4eJbGXDb-wKeyo8QHM6TzxPc1r_sj3BDt3GfCs0crkr5eVMw99chrOmd3gFrnQa9wE2-UgY/s640/IMG_3411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjta0lYBvYeyD-y0AZ99vNIDJNRbxTdVGxlgwIdhc3wyWcItDRQRbhbl4tmC5GPfmRCLXnqEOAwnlvqotAxH3dZolBzAf0L0o-XuVEOfhj6Gb885BVkBQtLF4eJbGXDb-wKeyo8QHM6TzxPc1r_sj3BDt3GfCs0crkr5eVMw99chrOmd3gFrnQa9wE2-UgY/s320/IMG_3411.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>The +1 for volley fire was negated by the woods, so they still only needed a 3+ each to hit. This was catastrophic </div><div><br /></div><div>The Rangers threw a larger volley of cheese at the Sikhs, disentigrating the line, finally firing at the scattering Sikhs and moving in. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xTGfPW0u-DLktldqCgHVZEE3XNJWbELXUtxHGm-D3uCxmWSY7GykW8wYkgcJLa2HSb4nHrPvOnqrbCvF8efdnFYf_9TqJSQOX9CxlYPXDQD22o88LTHNrV5CDSJ-AmycyLnjlWHiioQHZLZygb9ZwlzIG8Vpa2OnTAXp2bcVK06PRfVZwOoDHIUtk6Zs/s640/IMG_3413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xTGfPW0u-DLktldqCgHVZEE3XNJWbELXUtxHGm-D3uCxmWSY7GykW8wYkgcJLa2HSb4nHrPvOnqrbCvF8efdnFYf_9TqJSQOX9CxlYPXDQD22o88LTHNrV5CDSJ-AmycyLnjlWHiioQHZLZygb9ZwlzIG8Vpa2OnTAXp2bcVK06PRfVZwOoDHIUtk6Zs/s320/IMG_3413.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Swiss St Bernard for the Reserves managed to recover two the wounded in the field. The Sikhs continued their focus on the Reserves as they took shelter behind a nearby mushroom house on fire.</div><div><br /></div><div>All the Reserves traversing the wheat field eventaully felt the urge to simply hide for a moment, while their comrades were barely surviving a hail of bullets. One shot even got the good Captain, and he could not be saved. </div><div><br /></div><div>As the wheat field Reserves finally emerged, they quickly killed two Sikhs, disrupting their line and volley fire, forcing the at least two to find a new defensive position behind a cart. The two Sikhs behind the hay bales did manage to kill two Reservists, which forced the surviving Sergeant to consider retreat (six of eight possible casulties). <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqeNgKUMbkjjP79TgfMMdoYfwCjkqROuGcn2aGJtSvXyPj32AaFjqATlk0X0lDrynr2p-7Wj1gkjlYAscZwwZ57sy6XgIZL7EEkX-vmAnDyENvGvWghHQfIvYe44ozwChC92r06_kID50HPQA8W0ulrwtPfWSWSDBr31dd-cfxr__bMKaVOV7nbXrEaXD/s640/IMG_3414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqeNgKUMbkjjP79TgfMMdoYfwCjkqROuGcn2aGJtSvXyPj32AaFjqATlk0X0lDrynr2p-7Wj1gkjlYAscZwwZ57sy6XgIZL7EEkX-vmAnDyENvGvWghHQfIvYe44ozwChC92r06_kID50HPQA8W0ulrwtPfWSWSDBr31dd-cfxr__bMKaVOV7nbXrEaXD/s320/IMG_3414.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>On the next critical turn, the remaining Sikhs came in last in initiative. The Rangers mopped up their scattering Sikhs while the charging Reservists dispatched their enemies at the hay bales. </div><div><br /></div><div>The last two survivors retreated to their last stand, the well pump, an mixed group of Swiss engaged them in viscous hand-to-hand. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGtBzVxoUg0A23S-Vdqe7cgdfIy57amtnTFcpNVzIPmBQ-_R6mkRDtemNo7jv7KS_snN_XZpkTEYJwKY4cZJ_41L-2JNvzCJAqhC3EpPOrAOSX73q8gGbAw9wSkQdtbjp5umtFpTh93eDCdIHNHxWFoq8kadQ5zgcpMAMlyZ6iQmzxP5-9ZSJxwbkm_Tp/s640/IMG_3415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGtBzVxoUg0A23S-Vdqe7cgdfIy57amtnTFcpNVzIPmBQ-_R6mkRDtemNo7jv7KS_snN_XZpkTEYJwKY4cZJ_41L-2JNvzCJAqhC3EpPOrAOSX73q8gGbAw9wSkQdtbjp5umtFpTh93eDCdIHNHxWFoq8kadQ5zgcpMAMlyZ6iQmzxP5-9ZSJxwbkm_Tp/s320/IMG_3415.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Outnumbered 5-to-2, one of the Sikhs quickly stabbed two Swiss, but he Sergeant attacking from the rear doomed them. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMIuFz9oAYX7widgDG8Lc8Iit4PNiitf2KNfe2OufacjgBehqzixS9BxrRzphvFRlAmzLTHGrK6gv8-WI0R7yb88kk0KzZvnFnqw7aFWxYyd6Q9fi9akcRl1V95jcErIgyg7eufkpUTkRDak0MEZRYt54wE6raotQHhnwTVX4VZZ0zMAtwS4YD2e8l1Vc/s640/IMG_3416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMIuFz9oAYX7widgDG8Lc8Iit4PNiitf2KNfe2OufacjgBehqzixS9BxrRzphvFRlAmzLTHGrK6gv8-WI0R7yb88kk0KzZvnFnqw7aFWxYyd6Q9fi9akcRl1V95jcErIgyg7eufkpUTkRDak0MEZRYt54wE6raotQHhnwTVX4VZZ0zMAtwS4YD2e8l1Vc/s320/IMG_3416.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I shall name this well after my first daughter, Aquafina!</td></tr></tbody></table>With a slightly smaller hill, and a set-up using the stuff I could grab first, the scenario works. I would move the woods back a bit and remove the Swiss medics for a manic game. I may also return to the scenario to see how Swiss tunneling would affect it. <br /><p>As I peruse the Gnome Wars rules, there are no special rules for the Sikh Officer figure that was available. Treat the Sikh Officer as a regular Sikh. They do not have to roll for morale, so his presence in the unit appears to be merely perfunctory. </p></div>Viscount Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06321378504021606574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699581991439241847.post-33885411218492779912024-03-03T03:53:00.003-05:002024-03-03T03:53:24.085-05:00Mandatory Basketball Rant - Winter 2023-24 - Part Four<p> There are some residual events that have yet to be resolved, but with the AAU teams starting practice for the younger teams this Tuesday, it's time for the final Winter "School Ball" report.</p><p><b>Local Rec League Team: </b>I still stand by my policy that at least two grades of the K-2 divisions should have had their end of season foul-shooting contest and pizza party the weekend earlier. Running the events Friday evening and two back-to-back Saturday afternoon was mentally draining. Our only salvation was the Freshmen girls who formed the base of our Jr Ref program. With them keeping score and corralling the kids, it moved quite smoothly. We will use this method for next year. </p><p>With those out of the way, and a ton of practice space open at the one elementary school, we were met with the dreaded event: the school play... at that school. It not only eliminated the practice time we just opened up, but cancelled practices for older ages, with little alternative times available (unless you want your 8-10 year olds practicing rec ball until 9:30pm. Most of these parents don't want their kids up past 8, so we had some complaints. </p><p>No sooner than we finished that week, but for the first time in a decade of being part of this league, the schools shut down for Saturday. While the snowstorm was quite legit, and it was meant to cancel school practices, it also shut down our rental of the gyms. The snowfall interfered with the semi-final weekend, and after previous years when teams play a gauntlet of up to four games to win the championship (NOT my idea), the rest of the board finally did could, and coordinated that weekend as weeknight games running Tuesday-Friday. I was surprised how positive a reaction we received from that, and outside of some parents in the first game of the week, things went quite well. </p><p>Championship Saturday conflicted with my parental responsibilities, namely transporting my own kids to practices, so I only caught the tail end of the 3/4 Girls game and all of the messy gloriousness of the 3/4 Boys. </p><p>I openly admit I'm biased in favor of the girls' divisions at all times. The games at the end of the season tend to be more exciting and the drama usually remains on the court and not through the adults. </p><p>This year's 3/4 Boys championship may have been a comedy of errors for three quarters, but a five-point run to end regulation in a 16-16 tie, set up a DOUBLE overtime that was worth delaying the next championship game. With no score in the first overtime, and a defensive struggle starting the second, we luckily had enough board members on site to address an omission in the league rules. Rules only mention a four minute overtime with a two-minute second overtime, but there was no mention of a third overtime, and shots were simply not falling. </p><p>As time ticked down we agreed to deviate from state rules and adopt an AAU-esque one minute overtime for each overtime past the second, and most importantly, SUDDEN DEATH wins!</p><p>We didn't need the new rules implemented, thankfully, because with 16 seconds left a player on the Celtics was fouled and hit the first of six foul shots taken in the period. The Warriors inbounded the ball, made some passes, and with 3 seconds left, their player was fouled! Fortunately for the Celtics that two shots missed and they secured the victory. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2V3g6sUhAhExOQSi8Kum6ujLeuDX-28n7z3SXr7TiSCvxeIl3dYAIHJaVe7QbP_PyjLyDnsXGoMCLzuIodngszd1vw9itfN1t7jTiCJ-7CjVYMo97hFwP9wL0PES0P6lgQTPRrWj2ti8YW-UUe0_g3TgE5BVNYZhmtLdzK0urTXLNnNdQll4tyL60Je-/s720/428692113_793785106128780_5996799701825135161_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2V3g6sUhAhExOQSi8Kum6ujLeuDX-28n7z3SXr7TiSCvxeIl3dYAIHJaVe7QbP_PyjLyDnsXGoMCLzuIodngszd1vw9itfN1t7jTiCJ-7CjVYMo97hFwP9wL0PES0P6lgQTPRrWj2ti8YW-UUe0_g3TgE5BVNYZhmtLdzK0urTXLNnNdQll4tyL60Je-/s320/428692113_793785106128780_5996799701825135161_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lesson from the 2023-24 season? Practice your foul shots.</td></tr></tbody></table><b>Local Rec League Travel Team: </b>Did have a tournament last weekend, but with parental duties and the championships I didn't get a chance to see them, record stats, or even see how they did. They are avoiding the big tournament this weekend, and travelling out to Berwick for hopefully different competition next weekend. They have been part of a Sunday afternoon camp series hosted by the Freshman coach, and attendance has been pretty good.<div><br /></div><div><b>7th/8th Grade:</b> Their seasons are mercifully over, but it has been reassuring to see some of the girls attend the Varsity games, including some road games. It will be interesting to see where many of the 8th graders handle the summer league and roster placements for next year. <br /><div><br /></div><div><b>Freshman:</b> When I swing by the camp today, I'll talk to the coach about a few things, but I do want to confirm that these girls, with an 18-1 record, won their respective Division, if not the Conference outright. It's a plaque that will never be placed in a display case in the high school, but it's a matter of pride.</div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of a matter of pride, and it might be better suited for the AAU posts, but Millie was nominated for an International Travel Team to play in Italy and Austria in June. Getting nominated and recognized was a great honor, and if anyone has the the $8,500 for a 10-day tour and tournament for her and a parental figure (her mom) to go, I'll be happy to expedite passports. <br /><div><p><b>Varsity/JV:</b> Varsity missed out on a week of games for the tournament conference championships by one game (it's only a four team tourney). The did come back from the layoff to win the first round of the district playoff (the first time they won a game during districts in six years!), but after beating them by 23 in December (and Maja getting significant clean-up time), they only won by 5 with the Varsity starters in the whole game. </p><p>That led to a game against the #1 seed, Scranton, who has state potential, and a 6'2" Freshman center with 10 Division 1 offers already. </p><p>For the first 28 minutes, the game was a tight back-and-forth game with six lead changes. Unfortunately in the last four minutes, they were destroyed by three or four stupid mistakes, and Scranton hit their foul shots late to secure a 55-45 game. </p><p>Despite the loss, the district provides three seeds to the state tournament, so a play-in game against their rival, Dallas was scheduled, the same team that kicked them out of the Conference playoffs eligibility. For the third time this year, Dallas proved victorious. </p><p>Outside of Maja's playing time in a December game, I didn't mention her in any games these past three months because... she didn't play. The Varsity coach stuck with the main seven on the Varsity roster, despite numerous times a player was shooting themselves in the foot during the game, or the lack of substitution rotation wiped out some players physically. I will point out that my child wouldn't be the next to come off the bench in most circumstances, but the teams that are moving on to states in most school classifications are playing nine girls well before mop-up time, even if some are only getting 2-3 minutes total. </p><p>I'll be honest, the last three weeks has not been beneficial to most of the JV players, who were simply brought to provide bench energy. Maja has been one of the lucky ones, given a task to beat down the taller girls in practice. I don't know how a 5'7" white girl pretends to be a 6'2" black girl with colleges breathing down her neck, but the coaches were happy and the girl had only scored four in the first 28 minutes of the Scranton game (8 total by the end). </p><p><br /></p></div></div></div>Viscount Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06321378504021606574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699581991439241847.post-64165813055892328522024-03-01T19:27:00.000-05:002024-03-01T19:27:00.401-05:00(Kickstarter) Ladies That Lunch... and Hate Nazis 28mm White Metal Figures<p> Tec Scene has launched a Kickstarter for <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tecscene/28mm-ladies-that-lunch?ref=discovery_category_newest">Ladies That Lunch... and Hate Nazis </a>, a small collection of 28mm White Metal British armed females for the homefront. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/044/197/078/fdfbeabd20557da31f63c3047ffaeade_original.jpeg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=680&fit=max&v=1709324890&gif-q=50&q=92&s=1d4b268ce2fbba73708b2fb02370154a" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="329" data-original-width="680" height="194" src="https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/044/197/078/fdfbeabd20557da31f63c3047ffaeade_original.jpeg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=680&fit=max&v=1709324890&gif-q=50&q=92&s=1d4b268ce2fbba73708b2fb02370154a" width="400" /></a></div>The nine-figure base set is £16 ($21), with an add-on of a Lewis-Gun for £4.Viscount Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06321378504021606574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699581991439241847.post-86359790246409743222024-02-28T14:10:00.005-05:002024-02-28T14:10:46.097-05:00(Kickstarter) Beneath the Mountains of Madness 28mm Pulp Skirmish for 7TV<p> In a month that had a deluge of ZineQuest campaigns and more mediocre STL files that you could shake a stick at, it's nice to see the month end on some nice physical miniatures.</p><p>Crooked Dice Game Design has launched a Kickstarter for <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/c87-3/beneath-the-mountains-of-madness-28mm-pulp-skirmish-for-7tv?ref=ksr_email_mktg_auto_user_new_project_from_creator_youve_backed">Beneath the Mountains of Madness</a>, a 28mm pulp skirmish supplement for 7TV.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/044/081/282/0efb4c28c51cb2c3001a1269b4caa0f3_original.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=680&fit=max&v=1708524813&gif-q=50&q=92&s=3b18488f4360cad7addcc854d64e9705" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="680" height="126" src="https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/044/081/282/0efb4c28c51cb2c3001a1269b4caa0f3_original.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=680&fit=max&v=1708524813&gif-q=50&q=92&s=3b18488f4360cad7addcc854d64e9705" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The campaign is to fund 30 28mm miniatures, resin terrain and MDF terrain. </p><p>From the Kickstarter:<br /><i>Players can play a cast of heroic Occult and Science Reserve agents and scientists or the demented Nazi servants of Hitler himself and their mutated allies. See terrifying aliens wake from their millennial slumber! Gasp in awe at the vile machinations of the Nazis! Tremble in fear at the unhuman battles that raged on the primordial Earth! Will our heroes be victorious or will the Nazi jackboot stamp forever down on the free world! </i></p><p>And any campaign that offers a U-Boat can't be all that bad...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/044/000/977/15f6dab314d16c55139ad3fa7447ca77_original.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=680&fit=max&v=1707905068&gif-q=50&q=92&s=7b3b771ef5fcd9647d048e0c1ffff601" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="680" height="106" src="https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/044/000/977/15f6dab314d16c55139ad3fa7447ca77_original.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=680&fit=max&v=1707905068&gif-q=50&q=92&s=7b3b771ef5fcd9647d048e0c1ffff601" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>... and as is becoming the norm, digital files are available.</p>Viscount Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06321378504021606574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699581991439241847.post-39205391051573241562024-02-27T04:52:00.001-05:002024-03-05T04:18:17.822-05:00(Gamma World) This is Not a Test #21 - Gelatin Man Has Honor<p> <b>Our heroes, the De Facto Explorers, after sufficient rest, are ready for the joust at Fair-Town!</b></p><p><b>=================</b></p><p><b>Sneaky Pete:</b> A mutated weasel scout. Pete's telepathy and night vision take a backseat when he whips out his electrical powers. Recovering from his injuries from the Glow near Ulmin.</p><p><b>Sonny Helianthus: </b>a sentient sunflower artifact examiner with Restorationist ties. </p><p><b>Slitheran Wurmtail (aka Squiggles):</b> a mutated earthworm scout, in impromptu power armor, looking for trouble, and finding it often.</p><p><b>Lathar Bracken: </b>A pure-strain human from River Bend. He's got the muscle, the face, and a mount for most encounters. Lathar's trusty beast of burden, No Name, travels wherever he does. Looking for trouble in all the right places. </p><p><b>Ramsay Kallax:</b> Mutated Ram from the far-off KIA Academy with a predilection for ancient treasures... and the occasional head-butt. </p><div>================</div><div><br /></div><div>The sun set, and the tournament staff lit many torches to set the pitch alight. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_RH3_XRAqQyADwuAB-5_oqBZIWbjJQ1ZqkqpjpQZfkZ-f5iKo9Wgb1l-umxAzOu0oOv76yCN2pO5xUg3ELlaBeyhDfR723sSbH8Qz0FWGgattsHLxezK5eyVdsZsaNq3L7aN9sdemqlIMfXlzU8F-GmUncsRCObD9YhR5fh5-CQ8PqXe2gk5PAN1VA/s454/Screenshot%202023-05-12%20235807.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="454" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_RH3_XRAqQyADwuAB-5_oqBZIWbjJQ1ZqkqpjpQZfkZ-f5iKo9Wgb1l-umxAzOu0oOv76yCN2pO5xUg3ELlaBeyhDfR723sSbH8Qz0FWGgattsHLxezK5eyVdsZsaNq3L7aN9sdemqlIMfXlzU8F-GmUncsRCObD9YhR5fh5-CQ8PqXe2gk5PAN1VA/s320/Screenshot%202023-05-12%20235807.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">As Squiggles and Lathar prepped their equipment, and required pre-joust speeches, Pete and Sonny worked the crowd the bookies, looking for gambling action. </div><div><br /></div><div>The trumpets sounded and the riders for the other semi-final began, between Sir Zaxar and Lady Vespara. Zaxar was an altered human, a regular attendee and occasional winner of the joust. His hodge-podge of armor was covered with an odd, gelatinous glaze that he appeared to be exuding. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFbrobeEu00LS1XcjpGQ2yLxXyZXB9oru8r8UZSTndu5TFsBNSToAN2poXGV75tVpm2Bob_65NCMGiAWCqVawbo7M8NZNNaxrNAuvvImFLCMjMuPA8H3TJqNYkeb_0wguW4jGhuQcX2I5o5r2pyTHlOwnBG4LZOmTpV4rxS_WRsHGroxSEdVNFTo0vw/s505/Screenshot%202023-05-13%20000634.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="285" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFbrobeEu00LS1XcjpGQ2yLxXyZXB9oru8r8UZSTndu5TFsBNSToAN2poXGV75tVpm2Bob_65NCMGiAWCqVawbo7M8NZNNaxrNAuvvImFLCMjMuPA8H3TJqNYkeb_0wguW4jGhuQcX2I5o5r2pyTHlOwnBG4LZOmTpV4rxS_WRsHGroxSEdVNFTo0vw/s320/Screenshot%202023-05-13%20000634.jpg" width="181" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zaxar</td></tr></tbody></table>Vespara was a regal-looking pure-strain woman with a full female entourage. She had much lighter armor, but was was quite intricate. Her group had traveled from the far-off Western Lands, where the river ends.<div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWIuNJbR0Fj9lpZ4gU4OP0aiZWXdJwFuBbd0rieg_peuU4TCH1wOY65HpXllgO0jrK3s8fvL85oNc33j3nRcKuLaDOiu3lrr8VW3xwwqJT2MC9FANgMOJTFRFuRkWlZ7IlTsXqNC3JT-GzX6bRxoY_PFmml7ijJfN6Az5PCEiXS8S2xIetVvnEnufTQ/s494/Screenshot%202023-05-13%20001032.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="494" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWIuNJbR0Fj9lpZ4gU4OP0aiZWXdJwFuBbd0rieg_peuU4TCH1wOY65HpXllgO0jrK3s8fvL85oNc33j3nRcKuLaDOiu3lrr8VW3xwwqJT2MC9FANgMOJTFRFuRkWlZ7IlTsXqNC3JT-GzX6bRxoY_PFmml7ijJfN6Az5PCEiXS8S2xIetVvnEnufTQ/s320/Screenshot%202023-05-13%20001032.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lady Vespara</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Their first pass had light blows and shattered lances. <i>1-1</i></div><div><br /></div><div>The second pass, Zaxar struck a solid blow that almost knocked Vespara off her mount. <i>3-1 Zaxar.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>The third pass looked like a full charge at the mark, but Vespara appeared to pull up with some injury. Zaxar slowed his mount and landed a glancing blow that the judges would consider a point. <i>Zaxar wins, 4-1. </i></div><div><br /></div><div>Lathar ran over to the the injured female, asking if he could be of assistance. Her team declined, but Lathar was surprised by the amount of blood that came out as they tried to remove her armor. Lathar was quite taken aback and may have let out a yelp.</div><div><br /></div><div>Zaxar rode over, saw Vespara's wounds, and without asking placed his hand on his foe. The bleeding was staunched, but the open wound remained. He promptly rode away from snears and yelling from Vespara's team. </div><div><br /></div><div>Lathar regained his demeanor, as Vespara was being loaded onto a litter, <i>"Don't worry m'lady.... I will defeat that slimeball in the championship to defend your honor."</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Vespara stared at him with a blank stare, "<i>Thank you, kind sir, although I hope you don't get a splinter grabbing your lance, less you faint from your injury."</i></div><div><br /></div><div>After the pitch was cleaned off the second half of the semi-finals. Sir Squiggles versus Lathar.</div><div><br /></div><div>Squiggles formally presented himself to the Queen and the crowd:</div><div><i><b>Ladies and gentlemen, fellow knights and noble guests, </b></i><div><i><b>I, Squiggles, the mutant knight with the strength of fifteen worms,</b></i></div><div><i><b>stand before you today to address an issue </b></i></div><div><i><b>that has been the subject of much speculation </b></i></div><div><i><b>and gossip in the court.<br /><br />Yes, it is true that I have recently</b></i></div><div><i><b> consummated a relationship with another worm. </b></i></div><div><i><b>And while some of you may scoff or sneer at such a thing,</b></i></div><div><i><b> I say to you that love knows no boundaries, </b></i></div><div><i><b>and that true strength comes not just from</b></i></div><div><i><b>one's physical abilities, but from the strength of one's heart.<br /><br />And make no mistake, my heart beats </b></i></div><div><i><b>strong and true for my beloved worm. </b></i></div><div><i><b>Together, we have overcome many obstacles</b></i></div><div><i><b> and faced down many challenges, </b></i></div><div><i><b>both on the battlefield </b></i></div><div><i><b>and in the face of those </b></i></div><div><i><b>who would judge us for our love.<br /><br />But let me be clear: </b></i></div><div><i><b>this love has not weakened me in any way. </b></i></div><div><i><b>Rather, it has only made me stronger, </b></i></div><div><i><b>more determined, and more focused </b></i></div><div><i><b>on the task at hand. </b></i></div><div><i><b>And that task, of course,</b></i></div><div><i><b> is to emerge victorious in the upcoming joust.<br /><br />For I am not just any knight. </b></i></div><div><i><b>I am Squiggles, the mutant knight </b></i></div><div><i><b>with the strength of fifteen worms. </b></i></div><div><i><b>And with my beloved worm by my side, </b></i></div><div><i><b>I will ride into battle with a heart full of love </b></i></div><div><i><b>and a spirit that cannot be broken.<br /><br />So let the naysayers sneer </b></i></div><div><i><b>and let the doubters doubt. </b></i></div><div><i><b>For I know that I am strong,</b></i></div><div><i><b>and that my love only makes me stronger. </b></i></div><div><i><b>And when I emerge victorious from the joust,</b></i></div><div><i><b>they will know it too. Thank you.</b></i><br /><br />It was obvious that Sonny had helped with the worms speech. It was also sadly obvious that Squiggle's tryst, Ubenda, was nowhere to be seen. <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsIEG18sZ9ugiQvkuW-2x6B5eJj8I9y5WUKrtEs-8JdU7xIaI-5wNN-VzaE3WzSHP1SmAYgj1C187GLhw-L9MO9j_N7Ipc95JTrIsLAxTHAJx0ePGDwVO3ebRmLVU-wouW4Tp7poi5N6OTn1tonJ57Wl1CDe5w8V6RVMP0vOeFV7xAoa0aOlLoBKygA/s1889/desktop-wallpaper-earthworm-jim-mega-drive-jim-minhoca.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1889" data-original-width="850" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsIEG18sZ9ugiQvkuW-2x6B5eJj8I9y5WUKrtEs-8JdU7xIaI-5wNN-VzaE3WzSHP1SmAYgj1C187GLhw-L9MO9j_N7Ipc95JTrIsLAxTHAJx0ePGDwVO3ebRmLVU-wouW4Tp7poi5N6OTn1tonJ57Wl1CDe5w8V6RVMP0vOeFV7xAoa0aOlLoBKygA/s320/desktop-wallpaper-earthworm-jim-mega-drive-jim-minhoca.jpg" width="144" /></a></div><br />Lather's personal recitation followed suit:<div><div><i><b>Harken, all ye noble knights and ladies fair,</b></i></div><div><i><b>And lend thy ears unto my humble prayer,</b></i></div><div><i><b>For I, Lathar, doth stand before thee now,</b></i></div><div><i><b>A warrior brave, with righteousness endowed.</b></i></div><div><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div><i><b>I ride into the joust with lance held high,</b></i></div><div><i><b>Defender of the weak, who in peril lie.</b></i></div><div><i><b>My cause is just, my heart pure and true,</b></i></div><div><i><b>And I'll not rest until my quest is through.</b></i></div><div><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div><i><b>The secrets of the Ancients I seek to unveil,</b></i></div><div><i><b>For I am certain they shall never fail</b></i></div><div><i><b>To provide the answers we all seek,</b></i></div><div><i><b>And help us to live in a world less bleak.</b></i></div><div><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div><i><b>But in the meantime, I'll joust with skill and might,</b></i></div><div><i><b>To defend the honor of all who fight.</b></i></div><div><i><b>My armor gleams, my steed is swift,</b></i></div><div><i><b>And I'll strike true, to give my foes short shrift.</b></i></div></div><div><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3mwGR1yx1jqX7IKaO_Mg7_LrhPM3q0OSNkP6jgF4l7ysY2RkgyMCWFKKWnKryLfEQKFfXVzkcTyFEy-Sza2bTjHsvnz_WfVw_6AWhWq0SN-1KQ2XeXtaE8bRDe5sNbJNZJkoGXDogpY1VoweW8sc1Pw_XCZwy5sQcPZGiHWoRQfihlptXrgk2NQZuw/s629/GW-Ansa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="527" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3mwGR1yx1jqX7IKaO_Mg7_LrhPM3q0OSNkP6jgF4l7ysY2RkgyMCWFKKWnKryLfEQKFfXVzkcTyFEy-Sza2bTjHsvnz_WfVw_6AWhWq0SN-1KQ2XeXtaE8bRDe5sNbJNZJkoGXDogpY1VoweW8sc1Pw_XCZwy5sQcPZGiHWoRQfihlptXrgk2NQZuw/s320/GW-Ansa.jpg" width="268" /></a></div></i><br />Pete collected his winning bets, and paid off the side-bets on Squiggles. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sonny walked over to his worm-friend. </div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"Quite impressive, my friend."</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"Uh, thanks. Do you see Ubenda anywhere?"</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"Sorry, buddy."</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>A figure in in hooded robe emerged from the crowd, Pulling the hood back only a bit, it presented a collected of pussy willows in the shape of a beard.</div><br /><b><i>Hark, fellow knights and fair maidens, </i></b></div><div><b><i>For I present to you, Zaxar, </i></b></div><div><b><i>the gravity-shaping mutant, </i></b></div><div><b><i>to claim my victory in the jousting competition.<br /><br />His abilities to manipulate gravity </i></b></div><div><b><i>may seem strange and unusual, </i></b></div><div><b><i>But do not let that fool you, </i></b></div><div><b><i>for he is a masterful jouster, </i></b></div><div><b><i>skilled and powerful. </i></b></div><div><b><i>With a slimy and gelatinous texture, </i></b></div><div><b><i>and the scent of ozone in the air, </i></b></div><div><b><i>he is a member of the elite Gravity Shapers,</i></b></div><div><b><i>the finest of warriors, rare.<br /><br />His customized armor has been crafted </i></b></div><div><b><i>with the utmost care, </i></b></div><div><b><i>To enhance his gravity manipulation,</i></b></div><div><b><i> so beware. </i></b></div><div><b><i>With my lance, he controls</i></b></div><div><b><i>the speed and direction of my strike, </i></b></div><div><b><i>Giving him edge over all others in the jousting fight.<br /><br />His mutated horse, with six muscular legs, </i></b></div><div><b><i>is a sight to behold, </i></b></div><div><b><i>With his riding skills, he rides</i></b></div><div><b><i>in perfect harmony, strong and bold.</i></b></div><div><b><i> Together, they are a force to be reckoned with, </i></b></div><div><b><i>a team supreme, </i></b></div><div><b><i>And their victory in the jousting tournament, a foregone dream.<br /><br />So let us ride into the arena, </i></b></div><div><b><i>with heads held high and hearts ablaze, </i></b></div><div><b><i>For this day, they shall prove our mettle </i></b></div><div><b><i>and earn our rightful praise. </i></b></div><div><b><i>With the power of gravity at his command, </i></b></div><div><b><i>and riding skills honed to perfection,</i></b></div><div><b><i>Zaxar, shall emerge as the champion of this jousting competition.</i></b><div><br /></div><div>The barbarian boy from Riverbend penned another speech:<br /><br /><b><i>Hear ye, hear ye, </i></b></div><div><b><i>my fellow warriors and fair ladies fair, </i></b></div><div><b><i>I, Lathar, stand before you </i></b></div><div><b><i>with my trusty steed and lance in air.</i></b></div><div><b><i> For I am not just a mere champion, </i></b></div><div><b><i>but a defender of all, </i></b></div><div><b><i>And I seek the secrets of the Ancients, </i></b></div><div><b><i>for the good of us all.<br /><br />With a heart of courage </i></b></div><div><b><i>and a mind of steel, </i></b></div><div><b><i>I charge into the joust, </i></b></div><div><b><i>ready to do battle and reveal </i></b></div><div><b><i>The strength and honor of a true knight, </i></b></div><div><b><i>And to prove that I am worthy of the fight.<br /><br />But let it be known, </i></b></div><div><b><i>that I am not just a warrior, but a lover too, </i></b></div><div><b><i>With a heart that beats for the ladies, strong and true. </i></b></div><div><b><i>For I know that in this world of chaos and strife, </i></b></div><div><b><i>Love and compassion can bring hope to life.<br /><br />So let us ride into the tournament </i></b></div><div><b><i>with valor and grace, </i></b></div><div><b><i>For the honor of all is what we fight to embrace. </i></b></div><div><b><i>And if the gods should favor me with victory this day,</i></b></div><div><b><i>I shall share my winnings,</i></b></div><div><b><i>and give to those in need without delay.</i></b></div><div><b><i><br />So let us ride, with courage and might, </i></b></div><div><b><i>And let us honor the Ancients and their secrets, </i></b></div><div><b><i>with all our might. </i></b></div><div><b><i>For in this moment, we are warriors of Fair-Town,</i></b></div><div><b><i>Defenders of all, and bearers </i></b></div><div><b><i>of honor, courage, and gold.</i></b></div><div><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div>First pass was solid, but nothing extraordinary. <i>1-1 Tie.</i> The crowd began to boo, expecting a much better performance in the championship.</div><div><br /></div><div>Second pass was full for fury, perfect angle and Lathar struck Zaxar's shield. <i> 3-3 tie.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Third pass was much like the second, with both riders desperately teetering on their mounts. <i>5-5. </i> OVERTIME!!!!! The crowd was finally back into it. </div><div><br /></div><div>The fourth pass was full of tentativeness with only minor blows. <i>6-6.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>The fifth round was to be considered first strike wins. Zaxar got the jump on Lathar, but Lathar changed up speed on No Name, forcing Zaxar to miss his strike!!! Lathar retuned the attack with a textbook blow. </div><div><br /></div><div>Lathar of Riverbend wins,<i> 7-6!</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Lathar rejoiced with his friends, save Pete, who was busy collecting the group's winning bets. </div><div><br /></div><div>Lathar collected his prize money, had a moment with the Queen, and was formally awarded a true prize, from the Forests of Nightmares.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4jeFq5_4hEDqIXFBJ8LmKJJBeSCCU5hTWR7QCzzCtH6ULD3SaiXZz756egwj4CkojR-MX_hs7iXqpTXluHAXLai8bVez480dQ7zvwRpLECUfoPPbyq9asmR3UaIaR78-R9hsokbqgRYuRel54vpg0vIdFZBIF5Ymshv6jQhDdUWuu58nB25EI-_tlQ/s540/image_2023_05_02T03_00_27_937Z.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="540" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4jeFq5_4hEDqIXFBJ8LmKJJBeSCCU5hTWR7QCzzCtH6ULD3SaiXZz756egwj4CkojR-MX_hs7iXqpTXluHAXLai8bVez480dQ7zvwRpLECUfoPPbyq9asmR3UaIaR78-R9hsokbqgRYuRel54vpg0vIdFZBIF5Ymshv6jQhDdUWuu58nB25EI-_tlQ/s320/image_2023_05_02T03_00_27_937Z.png" width="320" /></a></div></i><br /><b><span style="color: red;">GM Notes: The joust was my first introduction to Chat GPT, as I used it for the jousting speeches, starting with "create a pre-joust speech for a mutant knight named Squiggles, who has the strength of 15 worms, and has recently consumated a relationship with another worm. " Lathar's speeches required a little more work, oddly. Nothing could be read with the voice of Paul Bettany. </span></b></div><br /></div><div>Next:<a href="https://gamingwiththegnomies.blogspot.com/2024/03/gamma-world-this-is-not-test-22-leaving.html"> #22 - Leaving Fair-Town</a></div></div></div>Viscount Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06321378504021606574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699581991439241847.post-78512196257055054372024-02-26T06:29:00.000-05:002024-02-26T06:29:01.310-05:00Another Month of Gaming (March 2024)<p>The tail end of winter brings out a minimal number of new releases. </p><p>Issue #289 of Game Trade Magazine is available at your FLGS, or online in PDF form <a href="https://alliance-games.com/downloads/289.pdf">here</a>.</p><p><br /></p><div><b><u>ViscountEric's Gaming Want List</u></b></div><div>Nothing, </div><div><b><u><br />ViscountEric's Money-Is-No-Object Want List</u></b></div><div>Nothing</div><div><br /><b><u>The Imaginary Store List (The Pegleg Gnome)</u></b></div><div><b>Adam's Apple Games</b></div><div>Agree to Disagree .................................................................... $25.00</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Alley Cat Games</b></div><div>Tinberblox Storm ..................................................................... $15.99</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Catalyst Lab Games</b></div><div>Shadowrun RPG: Falling Point ................................................ $49.99</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Cubicle 7</b></div><div>Doctor Who RPG: A Stitch in Time Campaign Book ............. $34.99</div><div>Doctor Who RPG: The Thirteenth Doctor Sourcebook .......... $44.99</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Devir Americas</b></div><div>Salton Sea .................................................... $39.99</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Dragonfly Investments</b></div><div>Space Puppies ............................................. $23.00</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Floodgate Games</b></div><div>Everything Ever .......................................... $19.95</div><div><br /></div><div><b>GMT</b></div><div>Bayonets & Tomahawks .............................. $64.00</div><div>France 40 2nd Edition .................................. $55.00</div><div>For the People 25th Anniversary ................. $69.00</div><div>Rebel Fury: Six Battles from Chancellorsville and Chickamauga ..... $58.00</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Konami Digital Entertainment</b></div><div>Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of Destruction Boosters</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Looney Labs</b></div><div>Chrononauts: The Rest of Row E Expansion ................................. $5.00</div><div>Jinxx ................................................................ $22.00</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Paizo Publishing</b></div><div>Pathfinder RPG: Howl of the Wild ............................................. $64.99</div><div>Pathfinder RPG: AP Wardens of Wildwood 2 - Severed at the Root ................. $29.99</div><div>Pathfinder RPG: Flip-Mat: Treasure Trove ................................ $19.99</div><div>Starfinder RPG: AP Mechageddon! HC ..................................... $59.99</div><div>Starfinder RPG: Flip Mat - Corporate Office ............................. $19.99</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Rainbow Rabbits Games</b></div><div>Rainbow Bunny Bop ........................................ $10.00</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Ravensburger</b></div><div>Disney Lorcana TCG: Into the Inklands Boosters</div><div>Disney Lorcana TCG: Into the Inklands Starters</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Red Raven Games</b></div><div>Isle of Night ...................................................... $20.00</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Steve Jackson Games</b></div><div>Car Wars Two-Player Starter Set Orange/Purple 6th Edition ................. $39.95</div><div>Express (The Railroad Game) ........................... $24.95</div><div>Munchkin: Pony Express Expansion ................. $11.95</div>Viscount Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06321378504021606574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699581991439241847.post-9958096070505302522024-02-25T01:24:00.003-05:002024-02-25T01:24:20.893-05:00(Kickstarter) #ZineQuest2024 - Bad Trips by Panoply Press<p> When you need an impromptu adventure, turn to a road trip and used on the scenarios in <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/567527496/bad-trips-zine-quest?ref=discovery_category_newest">Bad Trips.</a></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/043/808/529/81ed028d791623b4ad0752d731b2fb41_original.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=680&fit=max&v=1706388788&gif-q=50&q=92&s=f633b480fcf1bfb32458c8ee6d9bbd41" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="680" height="400" src="https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/043/808/529/81ed028d791623b4ad0752d731b2fb41_original.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=680&fit=max&v=1706388788&gif-q=50&q=92&s=f633b480fcf1bfb32458c8ee6d9bbd41" width="353" /></a></div><p></p><br />From the Kickstarter<br /><i>Bad Trips is an independently-published supplement compatible with Michael Sands's Monster of the Week, published by Evil Hat Productions. It's a collection of 10 ready-to-use mysteries, starring cryptids and urban legends from all across America. There's an emphasis on readability and ease of use, perfect for one shots and fast-paced gameplay. Gone are the days of you memorizing 8 page backstories and dozens of NPC names -- each Bad Trips mystery clocks in at just a few pages, including evocative art, monster stats, NPCs, and locations. Check out a free sneak preview below to see what it's all about!</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Despite a backlog of Illuminati University adventures, these seem certainly doable for an IOU game. $10 for pdf. $20 + $5 S&H for hard copy.</div>Viscount Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06321378504021606574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699581991439241847.post-15465679520341100792024-02-21T06:00:00.017-05:002024-02-21T06:00:00.249-05:00Sci-Fi Paper Stand-Ups<p> As I'm diving back into Planet 28, it was nice to rediscover paper stand-ups available to print out over at <a href="https://talesfromfarpoint.blogspot.com/p/planet-28-papertech.html">Tales From Farpoint</a>. In a game where there can be a variety of figures outside your classic wargaming troop types, paper stand-ups might win awards, but they are great for home games.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--vi9yAA2uDA/X-cmflA9E_I/AAAAAAAALAc/ljdya_5pEOgIxcKFB_XGKEzAqVBWW0CNACK4BGAYYCw/s888/tales-header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="888" height="120" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--vi9yAA2uDA/X-cmflA9E_I/AAAAAAAALAc/ljdya_5pEOgIxcKFB_XGKEzAqVBWW0CNACK4BGAYYCw/w400-h120/tales-header.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The blog also offer useable stand-ups for <a href="https://talesfromfarpoint.blogspot.com/p/papertech.html">Kryomek</a> and <a href="https://talesfromfarpoint.blogspot.com/p/battletech-papertech.html">Battletech</a>, perfectly usable for Planet 28, or any other sci-fi game.</p>Viscount Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06321378504021606574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699581991439241847.post-7544998654717529822024-02-20T06:00:00.172-05:002024-02-27T04:53:40.263-05:00(Gamma World) This is Not a Test #20 - The Joust! <p> <b>Our heroes, the De Facto Explorers, after sufficient rest, are ready to explore Fair-Town!</b></p><p><b>=================</b></p><p><b>Sneaky Pete:</b> A mutated weasel scout. Pete's telepathy and night vision take a backseat when he whips out his electrical powers. Recovering from his injuries from the Glow near Ulmin.</p><p><b>Sonny Helianthus: </b>a sentient sunflower artifact examiner with Restorationist ties. </p><p><b>Slitheran Wurmtail (aka Squiggles):</b> a mutated earthworm scout, in impromptu power armor, looking for trouble, and finding it often.</p><p><b>Lathar Bracken: </b>A pure-strain human from River Bend. He's got the muscle, the face, and a mount for most encounters. Lathar's trusty beast of burden, No Name, travels wherever he does. Looking for trouble in all the right places. </p><p><b>Ramsay Kallax:</b> Mutated Ram from the far-off KIA Academy with a predilection for ancient treasures... and the occasional head-butt. </p><div>================</div><div>Most of the De Facto Explorers spent the morning of the Queen's Day wandering the massed chaos of the throngs of visitors, and dozens of exotic vendors filling the streets. Street entertainers amused the walking crowds, while staged performances entertained those with tired legs. The group was introduced to oversized turkey legs and the concept of food... on a stick.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOaG4aiNd_ejc64r_MZX560b1xqY5qpA-mjoYY3YfTxcMaLOrz0KOaNjVniFzw5DGWlml4aXZPtQC8Arnfye4M7OCCbZ4NdrR-XHeppEpAtI675NvC5ERMmNMkWC_8wX1g__VrX1O0D4CIeGpf_lTYT4FFb1ycF2fy1AeuSZUGqVlJb6z9qqD0kvOQZg/s512/ficWG3zevD9MV2mzT51k--3--bp02k.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOaG4aiNd_ejc64r_MZX560b1xqY5qpA-mjoYY3YfTxcMaLOrz0KOaNjVniFzw5DGWlml4aXZPtQC8Arnfye4M7OCCbZ4NdrR-XHeppEpAtI675NvC5ERMmNMkWC_8wX1g__VrX1O0D4CIeGpf_lTYT4FFb1ycF2fy1AeuSZUGqVlJb6z9qqD0kvOQZg/s320/ficWG3zevD9MV2mzT51k--3--bp02k.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Before lunch, the ran into a very happy and content Squiggles. </div><div><br /></div><div>"Where'd you run off to this morning?"</div><div><br /></div><div><i>"I had a date with my frie....lady... comp....I met up with Ubenda and she didn't reject me at all. We did it! "</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"Did what?"</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"You know"</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"No I don't."</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"C'mon. Me... happy face... "</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"Waitaminute. Worms do that do?" </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"I think so, overwise we were doing things all wrong."</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Pete stopped them, "<i>I <b>DON'T</b> want to hear any details."</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Conversation turned to Ramsey's interest in participating in the joust and trying to convince Lathar to use him as a steed.</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Squiggles was confused, <i>"I didn't know if you had any interest in entering."</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Lathar corrected him, <i>"I'm already entered.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"Oh, are you a top of a bottom."</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"A top. I'm riding No Name."</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"Oh. Ok, I guess I can joust. Let me grab some equipment and sign-up, Ramsey!"</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Immediately after lunch, the brackets for the joust were posted, and Pete began setting bets, through the local bookies, and through himself. He expanded into the other martial contests, the pie-eating contest, and even the art show, but only managed to break even with those. He was in his element.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sonny was not amused by the various contests, but his visit to Fair-Town was already a success. He had obtained the parts he needed from the Bug-Mart, and was contently reading one of the flimsy books, covering all about fishing techniques, some exotic locations, and a picture of some death machine of the Ancients. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCqA0lek6lFGMiArj16bE0cNVVg9uFciWC5SQS3TXXGemoDltgKAQuZVnvNZ5ZxuOpL_HuCab-8UzfzWm1HEX3xx9h5GFgEwgJKPYUhI0cwuMkpQI6AHAQWkgopES2NK0KTyJwYJgeZz7ityaeRej88O8PI_OoiOqWU1Ua_4dpfZ8uzkHP7D3M6fbwA/s716/image_2023_04_25T01_40_54_880Z.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="689" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCqA0lek6lFGMiArj16bE0cNVVg9uFciWC5SQS3TXXGemoDltgKAQuZVnvNZ5ZxuOpL_HuCab-8UzfzWm1HEX3xx9h5GFgEwgJKPYUhI0cwuMkpQI6AHAQWkgopES2NK0KTyJwYJgeZz7ityaeRej88O8PI_OoiOqWU1Ua_4dpfZ8uzkHP7D3M6fbwA/s320/image_2023_04_25T01_40_54_880Z.png" width="308" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They may have seen something like this on the way to Jainus.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Squiggles prepped his new equipment, while Ramsay ran off to get fitted for a worm-sized saddle.<br /><div><br /></div><div>The last event before the joust was to begin was some sort of throwing competition. A giant stone ball was placed in the field adjacent to the jousting arena. Most locals and over-enthused tourists could barely budge it. While a few managed to heft the rock and throw it a few feet, the most successful ones used some sort of mental mutation to lift the rock. Some had it hover inches off the ground and they pushed it, with great effort, a few yards. The last participant, Booker Verendolt, made a throwing motion with his right arm, and the stone flew into the air, and kept flying, over the treeline. The crowd roared with approval. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWii3aGzEJRhpvZZOfdcmSIJeLabP6Q7ZKW4MpRhM9f_O_so8x7KMjeDBFMKTv2ULk8nWndGhoMgoH6int6jmz7LOQ3VPUGUiiX4gsuD_1Tg3AK-4WZ-i7PrMVFPeRCxijR2suHpTj6qWs70GAOC1YL1vA4zP3FL41fJSiFL4rFHo-3psivWtp6zRvoQ/s512/xB72FmI2yFwW2bI2OVnE--2--lxw0e.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWii3aGzEJRhpvZZOfdcmSIJeLabP6Q7ZKW4MpRhM9f_O_so8x7KMjeDBFMKTv2ULk8nWndGhoMgoH6int6jmz7LOQ3VPUGUiiX4gsuD_1Tg3AK-4WZ-i7PrMVFPeRCxijR2suHpTj6qWs70GAOC1YL1vA4zP3FL41fJSiFL4rFHo-3psivWtp6zRvoQ/s320/xB72FmI2yFwW2bI2OVnE--2--lxw0e.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Booker Verendolt - Boomerang Telekinetic</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Except the winner was not happy. Only Sonny was able to read Booker's lips while he was shaking his head.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>"It's going to come back... hard"</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Sonny yelled at his buddies to take cover. </div><div><br /></div><div>The stone reappeared over of the distant tree line, but while it returned, it also broke up into almost a dozen smaller rocks. They peppered the grounds, injuring a few, none serious, and causing general chaos. It was later determined that Booker was disqualified for his stunt. No word was made of the actual winner.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Even amongst the injured and concerned, news of the Queen's arrival traveled through the crowds. Her carriage meandered through the streets, leading to the jousting arena. There, she disembarked her carriage and ascended her throne in the center of the crowd.</div></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnvXDw8XNAxLiw3gHXbdpzf4ZglsXG7UCe2WZJX0AkMIUpgPuNefPZoYbQp3bokfqpLu1IuqmlL92Vh5kSNabi3FjXTiPf3iZrCd591P4SuWICtP7bMTLl5f36Xx25wSlwXbeBw5wEgigGaiyep2n0xaPdXwiLmCfDV_BIOAwFpXHG8FqySAdF_AHEMQ/s512/image_2023_04_25T02_28_19_580Z.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnvXDw8XNAxLiw3gHXbdpzf4ZglsXG7UCe2WZJX0AkMIUpgPuNefPZoYbQp3bokfqpLu1IuqmlL92Vh5kSNabi3FjXTiPf3iZrCd591P4SuWICtP7bMTLl5f36Xx25wSlwXbeBw5wEgigGaiyep2n0xaPdXwiLmCfDV_BIOAwFpXHG8FqySAdF_AHEMQ/s320/image_2023_04_25T02_28_19_580Z.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Queen of Fair-Town</td></tr></tbody></table><div>ALL HAIL THE QUEEN! ALL HAIL THE QUEEN!</div><div><br /></div><div>A brightly garbed man stood in front of her, "Your Highness... the joust is all yours. Would you like to commence?"</div><div><br /></div><div>The Queen yipped in approval. </div><div><br /></div><div>The early rounds were rather unexciting, with the experience "Lords and Ladies" getting paired with local lightweights. </div><div><br /></div><div>Lathar was the first of the crew to mount up. Across from him was a fair-skinned woman in scantily armor, riding a giant spider. Arachne the Dark was an experienced jouster, but she was surprised that the barbarian used the same experienced battle techniques, notably using his mount's antlers to strike the spider. The spider emitted some sort of electrical discharge, shocking Lathar and No-Name. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzlv9T_N0_PQuTQ7Bt_r7pyxdazucCoMpMeeQVmD50P9bq1aNk0xc_vHBuCteBzKqjUOUEX6uS32-ThHqDe83JjrZmO5VslqXR0ozr07d0Js7arCkFg3peyPHPj6LUC28auUDlYzEAuXmBse2TDkRat4zSafHV2l77MZFpKC46IYi61lv0wofHtOnPQ/s512/oDgxynmaf14umjqjZ9y9--2--cs0mv.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzlv9T_N0_PQuTQ7Bt_r7pyxdazucCoMpMeeQVmD50P9bq1aNk0xc_vHBuCteBzKqjUOUEX6uS32-ThHqDe83JjrZmO5VslqXR0ozr07d0Js7arCkFg3peyPHPj6LUC28auUDlYzEAuXmBse2TDkRat4zSafHV2l77MZFpKC46IYi61lv0wofHtOnPQ/s320/oDgxynmaf14umjqjZ9y9--2--cs0mv.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lady Arachne</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>The Queen barked in approval.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lathar 1, Arachne 1.</div><div><br /></div><div>On the second pass, Lathar continued the coordinated mount attack, as did Arachne. The attack from both jousters were quite sloppy and ineffective. </div><div><br /></div><div>Lathar 1, Arachne 1.</div><div><br /></div><div>As the riders prepped for the third pass, craftsmen ran onto the jousting pitch and inserted wood through the top of the beam, blocking attacks from below the rail. Most mounts looked like it would take a great deal of cajoling to get them to attack a third time.</div><div><br /></div><div>Third pass, Lathar landed a strong blow, while Arachne appeared quite weakened.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lathar 3, Arachne 1. Lathar advances.</div><div><br /></div><div>Squiggles and Ramsey's first round matched him up with a human riding a rakoxen.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0rm5EoEKc-09KEJyQi9GlweyfHSJcfbKgzANjyRQowTEvYFosavgMkqvPAEbgB84ynqCfn0hfLK7Jt_j8BrEGE6pBU1GIbckYcslKtoDO1x_Lo41lEbJ2LXaWDWKMJeZCFOc6VOKf9pWZIudEWkyYxIwZMkNn7Rl4eEgWF17z6dMIjWrGbOIEJLRAw/s608/Screenshot%202023-05-04%20230438.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="608" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0rm5EoEKc-09KEJyQi9GlweyfHSJcfbKgzANjyRQowTEvYFosavgMkqvPAEbgB84ynqCfn0hfLK7Jt_j8BrEGE6pBU1GIbckYcslKtoDO1x_Lo41lEbJ2LXaWDWKMJeZCFOc6VOKf9pWZIudEWkyYxIwZMkNn7Rl4eEgWF17z6dMIjWrGbOIEJLRAw/s320/Screenshot%202023-05-04%20230438.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rakoxen</td></tr></tbody></table>Neither Ramsay nor the Rakoxen were quite agile, nor were they fast, yet Squiggles was holding on for dear life, barely able to lift the lance. At the last moment, the lance swung up and hit the human square in the throat, unhorsing him. <div><br /></div><div>Squiggles wins!</div><div><br /></div><div>The rounds continued and Lathar retuned to another wannabe knight of the realm. Another three rounds, resulting in the competitor dropping their lance, and Lathar advancing to the semi-finals.</div><div><br /></div><div>Squiggles and Ramsay met a less colorful knight, and promptly unhorsed them, although with less lethal results. </div><div><br /></div><div>Pete had done quite well with his betting, but came upon a conundrum. Starting at the great jousting bracket beside the Queen, he saw the semi-final pairing for the next round. </div><div><br /></div><div>After a dinner break, the final rounds of the joust would be lit by torchlight.</div><div><br /></div><div>"Sir Lathar of Riverbend" vs. "The Defiler of Worm Virginity" Sir Slitheran Wurmtail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: red;">GM Notes: I forgot how big Boy's Life was in the 80's. I had Steve pick a number, and I came upon the June 1983 issue, the Summer Fishing Issue. We literally used "To Cry a Joust" for joust mechanics, adding a melee attack on d20 for bonuses.</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Next: <a href="https://gamingwiththegnomies.blogspot.com/2024/02/gamma-world-this-is-not-test-21-gelatin.html">#21 - Gelatin Man Has Honor!</a></div></div>Viscount Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06321378504021606574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699581991439241847.post-59163332223479766762024-02-18T06:00:00.027-05:002024-02-18T06:00:00.161-05:00(Kickstarter) EPIC WARPATH by Mantic<p> After some fanfare on the internet that I've noticed, Mantic has finally launched their Kickstarter for <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/manticgames/warpath-the-game-of-epic-scale-sci-fi-warfare?ref=discovery_category_newest">EPIC WARPATH</a>, for large scale battles in their Warpath Sci-Fi universe. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGnKAgKDbLpjrgjvOLHekviGOT-DEazh42ioSWStGK5Ss9M_aDSDVbBlARfG_9aedTw_V-84ct-ASBMGUOTfcAel4CLSuF8CTMJqwPzTmar_G9w0jza1N0DR98lhBcMV9Ay3lZptrscpIh96SBTxDsxd_W8Cwcq2zIURj3G96juUYDP63KxnISrFapwgrb/s597/Screenshot%202024-02-15%20111425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="597" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGnKAgKDbLpjrgjvOLHekviGOT-DEazh42ioSWStGK5Ss9M_aDSDVbBlARfG_9aedTw_V-84ct-ASBMGUOTfcAel4CLSuF8CTMJqwPzTmar_G9w0jza1N0DR98lhBcMV9Ay3lZptrscpIh96SBTxDsxd_W8Cwcq2zIURj3G96juUYDP63KxnISrFapwgrb/s320/Screenshot%202024-02-15%20111425.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>It appears they're using scaled-down figures from traditional Warpath with new designs and sculpts for the larger weapons suitable for this scale. Scale is stated at 12mm for the Enforcer infantry figures, with scaled down versions for vehicles. I still this gets lumped in the "Sci-Fi 6mm" category, where everything is wildly oversized compared to traditional micro-armor, but most 6mm buildings would still seem to fit. </p><p>With the Forge Fathers one of the four factions offered with this release, it may be in my future to look into the heavy weapons/vehicles for a future of Gnomish Space Marine epic-scale.</p><p>Speaking of future, the game is scheduled for delivery in March 2025. </p>Viscount Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06321378504021606574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699581991439241847.post-72682523564514491502024-02-17T06:00:00.024-05:002024-02-17T06:00:00.384-05:00(Kickstarter) Louisbourg 1758 by Old School Wargames<p>Even with #ZineQuest and a deluge of STL file campaigns going on, there are still some interesting crowdfunding for traditional games going on. </p><p><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1040417273/louisbourg-1758?ref=discovery_category_newest">Louisbourg 1758 </a>is a two player block game covering the siege of Louisbourg. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/043/754/957/87a6d1e25584f1e803c0c0b68b2ad13e_original.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=680&fit=max&v=1705970382&gif-q=50&q=92&s=b32e95c2182d045da604f56452bd7ed3" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="680" height="225" src="https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/043/754/957/87a6d1e25584f1e803c0c0b68b2ad13e_original.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=680&fit=max&v=1705970382&gif-q=50&q=92&s=b32e95c2182d045da604f56452bd7ed3" width="400" /></a></div>From the Kickstarter:<div><i>Louisbourg 1758 is a two player game on the campaign to take the fortress. One side commands the British while the other commands the French. The object of the game for the British player is to occupy the fortress of Louisbourg with their army or occupy Louisbourg harbor with their ships. The French goal is to prevent the British from achieving their objectives by the end of the game.</i></div><div><i><br /></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/043/754/963/6b93965827bf0baaca031ed82ba55734_original.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=680&fit=max&v=1705970412&gif-q=50&q=92&s=00a4b8d7126994db371a959bd93662f6" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="680" height="309" src="https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/043/754/963/6b93965827bf0baaca031ed82ba55734_original.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=680&fit=max&v=1705970412&gif-q=50&q=92&s=00a4b8d7126994db371a959bd93662f6" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/043/754/970/7e740077d67a0630fcd81e7ad6bbfaac_original.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=680&fit=max&v=1705970488&gif-q=50&q=92&s=4316e16312756d2593787f7b2d1f5dea" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="680" height="225" src="https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/043/754/970/7e740077d67a0630fcd81e7ad6bbfaac_original.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=680&fit=max&v=1705970488&gif-q=50&q=92&s=4316e16312756d2593787f7b2d1f5dea" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Viscount Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06321378504021606574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699581991439241847.post-9965965102562650182024-02-16T12:34:00.002-05:002024-02-16T12:34:39.832-05:00(Kickstarter) #ZineQuest2024 - FÄNGELSEHÅLA by Dieku Games<p><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/diekugames/fang?ref=discovery&term=fangelsehala"> FÄNGELSEHÅLA</a> (Swedish for "Dungeon") is a minimalist RPG that reads like an instruction manual to a popular blue and yellow Scandinavian chain.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/043/894/131/595d7123cc53cf28721662a51a169f12_original.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=680&fit=max&v=1707075830&gif-q=50&q=92&s=7bb5f321d9c69a4523795b051327f3b2" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="680" height="282" src="https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/043/894/131/595d7123cc53cf28721662a51a169f12_original.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=680&fit=max&v=1707075830&gif-q=50&q=92&s=7bb5f321d9c69a4523795b051327f3b2" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>From the Kickstarter:<i><br /><br />We are inviting you to play an epic adventure with the elegance of the instructions from everybody's favorite furniture store!<br /><br />This tabletop role-playing game takes a minimalist approach, offering an immersive experience without the complexity. Forget thick rulebooks and intricate character sheets – FÄNG is as easy to grasp as connecting the dots in an instruction manual. <br /><br />Designed for new players and one-shots that allow you to embark on quests with mechanics so straightforward that you can be up and running in minutes. </i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>PDFs are $8US and physical copies start at $15US.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks to friend of the blog, srbirkner, for the suggestion, and forcing me to re-evaluate the game. </div>Viscount Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06321378504021606574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699581991439241847.post-11346664303184171142024-02-16T02:20:00.054-05:002024-02-16T12:39:57.399-05:00(Painting) Sofa King Old!<p>With the constant barrage of triple-header basketball over, a return to the painting table, and a few ideas for Historicon get things finally moving. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignVJYuIopkJQCzg9DrbDnuDQ_nLvHOKEY6hjWk35uD7kOA_x-rQsdEJt7eeJuJH8lfPzfNe0oNgYxxyBm2btEEeDcGalieTBlOE56EnJHQ6VP7D1G9Bv5dXYv58Cx-JfAxJ9M1Exly9-Xgxii_qX1unqjZ08mmaxlk9_xIeXbRrgOmjuTegUd704M8QWM/s640/IMG_3358.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignVJYuIopkJQCzg9DrbDnuDQ_nLvHOKEY6hjWk35uD7kOA_x-rQsdEJt7eeJuJH8lfPzfNe0oNgYxxyBm2btEEeDcGalieTBlOE56EnJHQ6VP7D1G9Bv5dXYv58Cx-JfAxJ9M1Exly9-Xgxii_qX1unqjZ08mmaxlk9_xIeXbRrgOmjuTegUd704M8QWM/s320/IMG_3358.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I'm not sure where I got the old couch from, although the same place I got the <a href="https://gamingwiththegnomies.blogspot.com/2023/10/painting-military-supplies-and-ordinance.html">bombs and jerry cans </a>from wouldn't be a bad guess. Fun thing about cloth furniture, sometime the dark spots are on the spots that normally get drybrushed, and vice-versa. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjSq9ROinBxujWbTqI9m4YIWVo2TFaruWDB_McPWypRWHQAbZmp2_EMt3KBaJoBTA0dFfQ3LC-YSHVQ5Jgh-XL-grz6rWC3J7YJ95KnLgeW7TQLsSu1YtVetz1lBb-qlDXlLRaE1JNiODCew_apz83wVa5p9fdYA5IYOJHU987HSYDdTMzN0MCvWRAfNP/s640/IMG_3361.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="343" data-original-width="640" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjSq9ROinBxujWbTqI9m4YIWVo2TFaruWDB_McPWypRWHQAbZmp2_EMt3KBaJoBTA0dFfQ3LC-YSHVQ5Jgh-XL-grz6rWC3J7YJ95KnLgeW7TQLsSu1YtVetz1lBb-qlDXlLRaE1JNiODCew_apz83wVa5p9fdYA5IYOJHU987HSYDdTMzN0MCvWRAfNP/s320/IMG_3361.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>These mushrooms came from a recent flurry of purchases from <a href="https://gamingwiththegnomies.blogspot.com/2024/02/gnome-centric-releases-from-dollar-tree.html">Dollar Tree.</a> I've swung by a number of different Dollar Trees since, and they've not been part of the inventory at any of them. The blue are pink flowers are from <a href="https://hugeminis.com/shop/miniature-basing-tufts/">Huge Minis</a>, the yellows are Army Painter.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOQ348fXg1xtPNALmrOp7qjYN7_y85-FUcNjU63zQB4rHXFbmYC1DkvSTGXlWlMYqAi_mx6t_PALbI-rjVNE7K-7k3J0RVKbOT2NEaqb6LugIu6T3I2g2T6rmjwvXRWpsmZPUQN83HiG8fFmGjUgRGOl-POJ-21o7MQblPUqEUfy1iGJTyw9XOtF7d2fy/s640/IMG_3359.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOQ348fXg1xtPNALmrOp7qjYN7_y85-FUcNjU63zQB4rHXFbmYC1DkvSTGXlWlMYqAi_mx6t_PALbI-rjVNE7K-7k3J0RVKbOT2NEaqb6LugIu6T3I2g2T6rmjwvXRWpsmZPUQN83HiG8fFmGjUgRGOl-POJ-21o7MQblPUqEUfy1iGJTyw9XOtF7d2fy/s320/IMG_3359.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9B3MFG1FThiIFjLfbh_PnwDyTwXEZHF53WebsRfhiPxnBt6DqA2XKpFwir7ql3Eq6aynOOghfxhRyrgwcDmwiJGU6UWwwBN-HcaPw_eNGinzdqZD7g8-PNIp1yIFnI20LWot6n_BKb_DE5-oAtEHi9DaUKREpSj00A5mHOwW5zc5QnPCjOaI66_zZ0rnj/s640/IMG_3360.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9B3MFG1FThiIFjLfbh_PnwDyTwXEZHF53WebsRfhiPxnBt6DqA2XKpFwir7ql3Eq6aynOOghfxhRyrgwcDmwiJGU6UWwwBN-HcaPw_eNGinzdqZD7g8-PNIp1yIFnI20LWot6n_BKb_DE5-oAtEHi9DaUKREpSj00A5mHOwW5zc5QnPCjOaI66_zZ0rnj/s320/IMG_3360.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The new fairy/gnome buildings have been a bit more fragile, and when one of them fell, it immediately showed up on the table as a repair project. Too many pieces shattered on the ground, so it needed to become a damaged building.</p><p>The chicken is part of a chicken coop pack including the coop, and the chicken, and a gnome. A little Seraphim Sepia gives parts of it depth, basing it up makes it a new objective marker!</p><p><b>Project 350: </b>(494) 321/173. from 483 (316/167) at the end of last year. The backlog of #ZineQuest2024 posts holds up the scheduled post number, and there's still a number of unfinished #CharacterCreationChallenge for 2024 that I need to simply finish and start 2025 waaaaay early. </p>Viscount Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06321378504021606574noreply@blogger.com0