(Painting) Married Zulu Impi by Warlord Games

 A funny thing happened on the way to the next campaign...

With no Cold Wars steering what needed to be painted, February was going to be a month of getting some significant lead (and plastic) off the painting table. 

We were going to start with a massive project (for me) that's curtailed the vaporware Season 4 of the "Egypt Game" I've run with the girls since they were little. The first episode requires 30 "Nubian" warriors for *spoilers*.  

A boxed set of Married Zulu Impi from Warlord fit the bill... and literally years have passed.  They got assembled, primed, and base coated, however each one was missing its left arm... so I could paint everything the same and glue the arms on at the end.  

This stayed this way until this month, where I lined them up on the painting bench, but the parts sprues to the side, and immediately discovered that none of the compatible left arms were attached to the sprue.

They are in a zip-lock bag, buried somewhere in the office.  

So I managed to assemble two the Zulus, and they will hang out with the Zulu Chief I painted eons ago. 

We're a little shinier than I wanted, and I shine detracts from the three layers of shading I did them, turning them far darker than I wanted. I strayed away from the suggested colors Pete the Wargamer suggested in his YouTube video on painting these guys.

Once I find 28 more left arms, I can take a crack at it again! 

In the Queue: The Zulus are still in a queue, as a search one box at a time for the missing bag o' arms.  Gnomes, Ducks, and Star Wars individual characters! 

Project 350: Maintaining exactly the same at 459 (295/164) from 459 (295/164).  I'm hoping the upcoming Cold Wars at Home will move the needle a bit.  

Hinterland Miniatures at Dragon Bait Are Up and Running!

 As I reported a few weeks ago, the right to the Hinterland Miniatures lines have been purchased by Dragon Bait Miniatures.  

I'm happy to announce that the Hinterland figures are back up on their website.

Off of an announcement from one of the Pulp groups they posted to : 

On a lighter note the entire Hinterland range will be available for back order November first at a tasty 15% discount for one month. More to follow .

Annual Holiday Swag Haul

I have survived Christmas, or most of it, at least.  Neither ice storm, nor deep freeze, nor rancid meat for Christmas Eve dinner slowed me down.  

The girls came over for dinner on Christmas Eve, and despite a quick swap of meat to make last-second meatballs, we ate, exchanged presents, and turned in early.

• Ticket to Ride - I was asked directly and I gave a direct response, especially nice since it's available just about everywhere.
• Trash Pandas - To follow Millie's logic, "A fun little game we can play when we come over."  Well done!
• My Reminiscences of East Africa by General von Lettow-Vorbeck - A filler item to guarantee free shipping for the kids' stuff, I had the girls gift it to me.  
• Gamma World 4th Edition - My printed copy from Drivethrurpg.com arrived just before Christmas.  The cover art is a bit fuzzy, but the interior is crystal-clear.
• Legion of Steel Bargain - Another personal purchase, but I threw a flippant $40 bid on an S1 Archfiend for Legions of Steel, and won.... at $9.99! I'm hoping I didn't pay for just a shrink-wrapped box, but I'm shocked no one else even threw in a bid to challenge it, especially from a smaller, but reputable account.

Do not mock the bachelor tree of might!

The Historicon 2021 Preliminary Events List is UP!

 After what felt like an eternity, a shred of hope emerges from the fury which is COVID-19. 

HMGS has released the Preliminary Events List (PEL) for Historicon 2021, November 11-14 at the Valley Forge Convention Center, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.  

Note 9/20/21:  HMGS just announced that as of now, masks will be required to attend the convention, regardless of vaccination status.

As I always do, I post the events that catch my eye.  The two Gnome events are in a bit larger font.

THURSDAY
T10:101 Mission in Wassissi - The Reverend Jenkin's Mission Thursday, 10:00 AM, 4 hrs, Players: 4, Location: Laurell: LA-7 GM: Graham Wilkinson Sponsor: None, Prize: None Period: Colonial, Scale: 28mm, Rules: CONGO - Adventures in the Heart of Africa Masks Required? Yes 

Description: The year is 1881 and Major McIntosh has arrived in British Wassissi where the drums speak of trouble as Arab raiders, supported by some local tribes, have erupted into the north of the territory and The fresh, young Major is charged with moving from his base on the eastern bank of the River Kambobo northwards to the remove the troublemakers. Scenario 1: Major McIntosh has reached the Reverend Jenkins Mission to await the arrival of HMS Tetse with additional supplies for the journey north. The local witch doctor Mwanganga feels threatened by the Reverend's "magic" medicines so has used his own 'powers' to stir up the local tribe into attacking the mission. What will the Major Do? Game 1 of 3. 

T10:125 VSF Race in the Old West — Theme Thursday, 10:00 AM, 2 hrs, Players: 12, Location: Adams: AD-2 GM: Jon Lundberg Sponsor: None, Prize: None Period: SciFi, Scale: 28mm, Rules: VSF Races Masks Required? No 

Description: A light opening game racing Victorian Sci Fi contraptions. This runs every con timed to end in time to make it to the dealer hall. Enjoy a fast paced and light hearted. Younger children should be accompanied by an adult.

T12:209 Escape from the Lake House Thursday, 12:00 PM, 3 hrs, Players: 4, Location: Laurell Foyer: LF-2 GM: Jim McWee Sponsor: None, Prize: None Period: Horror, Scale: 28mm, Rules: Don't Look Back Masks Required? No 

Description: The weather is great, drinks are flowing, and the tunes are blaring, what a perfect night at the lake...taking a break from the party your group goes for a stroll returning a short time later only to discover all the guests have been brutally murdered! The killer is out there, stalking you, your only hope is to escape in your friend's car but where are the keys!?!? Players under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

T14:235 Debacle at Makanda Thursday, 2:00 PM, 3 hrs, Players: 6, Location: Grand Ballroom: GB-11 GM: Kim Allman Sponsor: None, Prize: None Period: Colonial, Scale: 28mm, Rules: The Men Who Would Be Kings Masks Required? No 

Description: 17 August 1891; Tasked with quelling the Wahehe Rebellion, Colonel Emil Von Zelewski of the German East African colonial army marches into the Tanzanian interior destroying villages that support the rebels. Coming upon another village, the colonel gives the order to attack. Suddenly there is the pounding of war drums and a great shout of Wahehe warriors. Rules will be taught, and minor age players allowed with participating adult. The Men Who Would Be Kings is a fun, fast, easy to learn rule system for the Colonial Era. This is the first of a linked series of games that will be run during the convention tracking the events of the Wahehe Rebellion.

T19:432 Alien's vs Predators Thursday, 7:00 PM, 4 hrs, Players: 6, Location: Radnor: RD-1 GM: Bob Edoo & Del-Val Gamers Sponsor: None, Prize: None Period: SciFi, Scale: 28mm, Rules: Aliens vs Predators Masks Required? No 

Description: Come join in the worst nightmare, where humans are caught between the epic battle of Aliens vs Predators. Rules Taught.

T19:174 Sitting on the dock of the Bay Thursday, 7:00 PM, 4 hrs, Players: 12, Location: Grand Ballroom: GB-14 GM: Michael Konwinski Sponsor: 5 Guys and a Lawyer, Prize: None Period: Pulp, Scale: 28mm, Rules: Mad Dogs with Guns Masks Required? No 

Description: For you and your gang of fellow importers, your Ship has come in. Now, all you have to do is to unload, and transport the cargo to your Distribution facilities. Your competitors were not so lucky, and MAY want to relieve you of some of your good fortune.

T19:563 The Trenches of Onganjira (German South West Africa, 1904) Thursday, 7:00 PM, 4 hrs, Players: 6, Location: Buchanan: BU-4 GM: Roy Jones & NOVAG Sponsor: Recreational Conflict, Prize: None Period: Colonial, Scale: 25mm, Rules: Sword and the Flame (Modified) Masks Required? No 

Description: The German Main Column is trying to destroy Herero forces based in the valley of the Onganjira. The Hereros have blocked the valley at its narrowest section with a fortified trench line. As the Germans try to outflank the line, entrenched Hereros open fire and charge out! It's a melee and a gunfight at Onganjira. Bring your wits, plenty of ammo, and as much guts as you've got - this ain't gonna be no picnic, bud! From the scenario book "The Herero War". More at: https://www.hererowars.com. 

FRIDAY

F09:436 Wars of Ozz Friday, 9:00 AM, 4 hrs, Players: 6, Location: Franklin: FR-2 GM: Buck Surdu & HAWKS Sponsor: None, Prize: None Period: Fantasy, Scale: 28mm, Rules: Wars of Ozz Masks Required? No 

Description: Wars of Ozz is a black-powder, fantasy, massed battle game set in a post-apocalyptic world inspired by the Baum books. Enjoy the unique and dynamic mechanics of these exciting rules. Command brigades of Munchkins, Winkies, Gillikins, Nomes, Quadlings, or the Land of Harvest and enjoy these wonderful figures by Old Glory. Rules will be taught. Younger gamers welcome with a playing adult. 

F15:629 Gnome Wars: The Joust Friday, 3:00 PM, 2 hrs, Players: 30, Location: Maple/Juniper: MJ-1 GM: James Stanton & HMGS Next Gen Sponsor: Teachers Program, Prize: Gnomes! Period: Gnomes!, Scale: 28mm, Rules: Modified To Cry a Joust Masks Required? No

Description: Come and try your luck in the Gnome Joust. Rules Taught, Quick, Easy. FUN!!! No one under 14 without a playing adult. Players are encouraged to bring their own mount, but it is not required.

F19:325 Membership Meeting 

Friday, 7:00 PM, 2 hrs, Players: 50, Location: Magnolia: MG-1 GM: Joby Miller & HMGS Sponsor: None, Prize: None Period: Other, Scale: Other, Rules: Roberts Rules of Order Masks Required?

Description: 2021 Annual Historicon HMGS Membership Meeting. Open to all members.

F19:149 It Isn't Christmas Until Hans Gruber Falls from Nakatomi Tower 

Friday, 7:00 PM, 2 hrs, Players: 9, Location: Laurell: LA-6 GM: Jeffrey Wasileski Sponsor: Brigade Games & Cigar Box Battle Mats, Prize: Discount coupon Period: Modern, Scale: 28mm, Rules: Stargrave modified Masks Required? No 

Description: Based on everyone's favorite Christmas movie. NYC Policeman John McClane has flown to the coast, to have a few laughs, hoping to reunite with his estranged wife Holly. But his holiday plans are spoiled when exceptional thief Hans Gruber and his gang seize the Nakatomi Tower. Can John and Holly reunite despite rampaging terrorists, clueless LAPD, trigger-happy FBI agents, and obnoxious reporters?

F19:564 Ordeal at Owikokorero (German South West Africa, 1904) Friday, 7:00 PM, 4 hrs, Players: 6, Location: Buchanan: BU-4 GM: Roy Jones & NOVAG Sponsor: Recreational Conflict, Prize: None Period: Colonial, Scale: 25mm, Rules: Sword and the Flame (Modified) Masks Required? No

Description: It's a reconnaissance mission, but the Schutztruppen, machine gunners and Marines of the Recon Detachment are looking for a fight. So are Herero riflemen, expertly concealed in the bush. Can the Germans get in close, get their intel and get out alive, or will the Hereros annihilate the Recon Detachment? From the scenario book "The Herero War". More at: https://www.hererowars.com.

F19:468 The Siege of COVID Castle, November 1187 Friday, 7:00 PM, 4 hrs, Players: 6, Location: Maple/Juniper: MJ-1&2 GM: Mike Fatovic & HMGS Next Gen Sponsor: None, Prize: None Period: Medieval, Scale: 54mm, Rules: Tactica Siege Masks Required? No 

Description: After the surrender of Jerusalem by the Crusaders, a terrible outbreak of a plague started to take place, now occupied by the Saracens. Saladin has received word from one of his Imam's that a potion exists, as well as the wizard who developed it, and both are at the COVID Castle. Saladin must take the castle to save his kingdom. Will the Crusaders be able to hold the walls and keep control of the potion? You decide.

SATURDAY

S09:454 Sherlock Holmes & The Crime of the Century Saturday, 9:00 AM, 3 hrs, Players: 6, Location: Franklin: FR-4 GM: Sam Fuson & HAWKS Sponsor: None, Prize: None Period: Pulp, Scale: 28mm, Rules: GASLIGHT Masks Required? No 

Description: Holmes with Dr. Watson are overwhelmed by a flurry of crimes. Can you figure out the clues to make Law Enforcement win or do the criminals win the day? Mystery crime solving game, where clues come in many forms for both the Law and the Lawless. Lots of action, puzzles to solve. Fun for all!

S09:288 Wars of Ozz Saturday, 9:00 AM, 3 hrs, Players: 6, Location: Laurell: LA-13 GM: Scott Hansen Sponsor: None, Prize: None Period: Napoleonic, Scale: 28mm, Rules: Wars of Ozz Masks Required? No 

Description: We're off to fight the Wizard! Munchkins, Gillikens, Winkies and Quadlings battle in the land of Ozz. Rules by Buck Surdu, figures by Old Glory

10:312 Blood & Valor - Learn to Play Saturday, 10:00 AM, 2 hrs, Players: 4, Location: Liberty: LI-1 GM: Christopher Grau Sponsor: None, Prize: None Period: World War I, Scale: 28mm, Rules: Blood & Valor Masks Required? Yes 

Description: Come and learn to play Blood & Valor, a skirmish level game set during the conflicts of the Great War. Produced by Firelock Games, those familiar with Blood & Plunder will feel at home with this game's mechanics, but no prior game experience is required. 

S10:625 Invitation to Plunder Saturday, 10:00 AM, 4 hrs, Players: 8, Location: Radnor: RD-2 GM: Roland Young & Yellow Worm Gaming Society Sponsor: None, Prize: None Period: Fantasy, Scale: 28mm, Rules: Frostgrave Masks Required? No 

Description: News of a recently unearthed dungeon complex has made its way to several wizards guilds. As warbands scramble to the location in search of fame and fortune, one must wonder. Was such a discovery shared in earnest, or is there a more sinister reason for such a leak? There's only one way to find out. 

S13:287 Wars of Ozz Saturday, 1:00 PM, 3 hrs, Players: 6, Location: Laurell: LA-13 GM: Scott Hansen Sponsor: None, Prize: None Period: Napoleonic, Scale: 28mm, Rules: Wars of Ozz Masks Required? No 

Description: We're off to fight the Wizard! Munchkins, Gillikens, Winkies and Quadlings battle in the land of Ozz. Rules by Buck Surdu, figures by Old Glory 

S14:107 Chaos in Port Royal Saturday, 2:00 PM, 4 hrs, Players: 7, Location: Washington: WA-3 GM: victor hiris Sponsor: None, Prize: Winner receives a sloop from firelock games. Period: Age of Piracy, Scale: 28mm, Rules: blood and plunder Masks Required? No 

Description: The 7 factions of blood and plunder try to capture the pirate haven of Port Royal.

S14:458 Plastic Pirates Plunder Picnic Saturday, 2:00 PM, 2 hrs, Players: 8, Location: Franklin: FR-3 GM: Geoffrey Graff & HAWKS Sponsor: None, Prize: None Period: Age of Piracy, Scale: 40mm Legos, Rules: PlasticPirates Masks Required? No 

Description: Captain Ogle and his crew have been at sea for 3 months. All they have to eat is moldy bread and rancid meat. The lesser of two weevils? The town picnic is Saturday, and the Pirates are inviting themselves! We all know the mayhem that will occur. A game for the younger set, although reading will be useful. 

S14:504 Rorke's Drift, January 22nd, 1879 Saturday, 2:00 PM, 4 hrs, Players: 5, Location: Ross: RO-1 GM: Edward Harding & LARD America Sponsor: None, Prize: None Period: Colonial, Scale: 28mm, Rules: Sharpes Practice 2 Masks Required? No 

Description: As the British defenders can you repeat history and hold off the Zulu hoards or as the Zulus can you finish off the small British garrison and bring more glory to the Zulu nation

S17:490 HMGS Education Grant Program Overview 

Saturday, 5:00 PM, 1 hrs, Players: 20, Location: Maple/Juniper: MJ-4 GM: Jim Stanton & HMGS Next Gen Sponsor: None, Prize: None Period: Other, Scale: Other, Rules: Education Grant Policy Masks Required? No 

Description: Join us for a rundown of how the HMGS Education Grant Program works and what you need to do to apply for a grant. Teachers welcome

S19:464 For a Few Tusks More - A Congo Adventure Saturday, 7:00 PM, 3 hrs, Players: 6, Location: Franklin: FR-3 GM: Don Hogge & HAWKS Sponsor: None, Prize: None Period: Colonial, Scale: 28mm, Rules: Congo Masks Required? No 

Description: Who has not heard of the legendary Elephant Graveyard? That mystical place that beckons dying elephants to their final resting place. Apparently everyone has and they are all slugging their way through the Congo jungle to be the first to actually find its location; not to mention, claiming its riches for themselves. Is the graveyard a myth? Or is there some truth to the legends? There's only one way to find out. Kids under 14 welcome with an adult.

S19:486 Gnome Wars: The Battle of the Bees Saturday, 7:00 PM, 3 hrs, Players: 6, Location: Maple/Juniper: MJ-4 GM: Jim Stanton & HMGS Next Gen Sponsor: None, Prize: None Period: Gnomes, Scale: 28mm, Rules: Gnome Wars Masks Required? No 

Description: A combined force of Indian and British troops will attempt to drive the Germans from the rail station on the outskirts of Tanga. After landing on the beach, the Allies must approach Tanga through a wooded area that is home to some African Killer Bees. Let's hope loud noises don't startle them. Anyone bringing a painted 300-point Gnome unit from Brigade Games does not have to pre-register. No one under 14 without a playing adult. Father/son teams are encouraged. 

S19:527 Lt. George Patton shoots it out with Pancho Villa Saturday, 7:00 PM, 3 hrs, Players: 6, Location: Grand Ballroom: GB-7 GM: Mark Fastoso & Little Wars TV Sponsor: None, Prize: None Period: World War I, Scale: 28mm, Rules: Ruthless Masks Required? No 

Description: Second Lieutenant George S. Patton is a young, aggressive officer on Blackjack Pershing's Staff hunting for Pancho Villa. Ordered to lead a foraging expedition in three Dodge Touring Cars, Patton finds himself hot on the trail of one of Villa's senior leaders. After searching several farms Patton and his men engage them in a swirling gunfight.

S20:296 Roman Chariot Race Saturday, 8:00 PM, 4 hrs, Players: 12, Location: Harrisburg: HA-1 GM: William Chappell Sponsor: None, Prize: Laurel Wreath and Medal or Scepter Period: Ancients, Scale: 54mm, Rules: Roman Circus by Brian DeWitt Masks Required? Yes 

Description: Thrills, chills, and spills in the 1st Century equivalent of NASCAR, with attitude. Drive your chariot around a 12 foot track. Are you Ben Hur (Good)? or Messala (Bad)? There are no laws in the Hippodrome! See if you have what it takes to cross the finish line in your chariot. Only one person gets to wear the laurel wreath and walk away with the gold medal. The Best Roman gets the Scepter!

S20:180 Trench Wars: Mexico 1917--Can You Hear The Drums Fernando--An HMGS War College Game — Theme Saturday, 8:00 PM, 2 hrs, Players: 12, Location: Bar Foyer: BF-1 GM: Frank Luberti Sponsor: HMGS War College, Prize: None Period: World War I, Scale: 25mm, Rules: Trench Wars Masks Required? No 

Description: Mexico accepts the terms of the Zimmermann Telegram and enters the war against the U.S. Who does Germany send to help the Mexicans cross the Rio Grande: their hero from Africa, Paul Von Lettow Vorbeck and his askaris. Will a Zeppelin also show up? Come play and find out. A what if scenario featuring the Trench Wars rules. No charts, just a few dice and a ruler per player. Novices, children with adults, rules lawyers and GMs looking for revenge welcome. Parent/Child teams and fans of ABBA welcome.

Hinterland Minis Shuttering Its Door

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

(Kickstarter) Legions of Steel Core Miniatures by Raybox Games

After what felt like an eternity, the first Legions of Steel Kickstarter from Raybox Games is live!

That's roughly $42 American....

The first Kickstarter isn't releasing any new minis.  Rather, it's a chance to get the old 90's figures from the original lines to help finance the new edition of the boxed set.  

About $70 American.

Only Machines and UNE are available with the initial launch, but as the video mentioned the Pledge Manager will allow additional purchases of figures plus hopefully an expanded selection for Black Empire, Fantasians, Infrinites, and hopefully t-shirts and actual printed tiles with the latest designs.

S&H will be charged using the Pledge Manager.

Colonial Figures from Reviresco (Tin-Soldier.com)

 Despite some grumblings about a reduced tax return, with a very minor adjustment to my paycheck, the IRS processed everything lickety-split.  That allowed me to go all-in with the Steve Jackson Pocket Box Kickstarter  and a long-delayed order to Reviresco (tin-soldier.com) for some bulk colonials.

I've long been lured to the higher-priced, better quality figures in my long quest to build some Colonial skirmish units. Two or three bucks a figure is dirt cheap compared to their fantasy counterparts, but it adds up quickly when there are two units of twenty. 

Reviresco offers bulk troop packs for dirt cheap prices, so I decided to splurge on a unit pack of 28mm Senegalese Tirailleurs, a unit pack of 28mm British soldiers in Pith helmets, a 28mm Askari MG Team, a 25mm Armored car, and a 25mm cardstock kit for River Gunboat

I placed my order online and got it with a week.

The spoils for war (save the river gunboat)

The figures are better sculpted than I anticipated, however, scale surprised me. 

Knowing the armored car was specifically listed as 25mm, I knew it was going to be small, but I regularly use undersized Matchbox trucks, so I could accepted that.  It comes with a LOT of tiny pieces, but instructions are included!

I also had a preconceived notion that the 28mm figures to be undersized compared to the 28(30?)mm Brigade Games figures I already have.  The Sengalese are slightly smaller, but well within the acceptable range of a table full of figures. Flash and mold lines exist and are quite tolerable.

The British have to be mislabeled 25mm, because they are downright tiny, even when compared to my 25mm Grenadier fantasy figures!

British, Sengalese, Askari (Brigade Games), and another Sengalese for comparison.  Perhaps the British are just very small Welshmen?

The Askari MG team is similarily proportioned to the Sengalese, so I'm thinking it's an issue with that series of models. 

Despite the British midgets, I'm happy with the rest of my order. I did get downstairs last night for some painting in the first time in MONTHS, so after the backlog of Blue Martians and a super-special Cold Wars project, the Sengalese will be up on the painting block.  I probably will pick up a pack or two of the British Colonials through Brigade when I get to Lancaster.  

Next Year's Projects for 2018-2019

Like clockwork, my followers know that October 1st is the first day in my gaming calendar. It's time to assemble a rough framework of plans and projections for the next twelve months (Oct 2018 - Sep 2019).

I'm not going too crazy this year (I hope)...

Gnome Wars:  It was originally a Gnome Wars blog, but real life takes over, and this blog takes over all of my real life.   There are new articles to write in the pipeline, and a pile of Brigade Games lead to paint.  I just need more than holiday games to use them.

Lost Dispatches of Feraso... and Beyond:  With the Ballad of the Pigeon God complete, I'm slowly going further back into my homebrew campaign world of Georic and covering the original 1st edition games I ran in high school, filling in the gaps between them and the college that became the Pigeon God.  I won't guarantee weekly entries on Tuesdays, and they will be written in the form of dispatches of a new character, Elsderth Millbottom, has he travels the Kingdom of Ras-Prythax to enlighten the Viscount of Verbobonc on the news and gossip of the common folk.

After that completes its run, I've got a bunch of Adventures in Gulluvia already finished.  We might even take a break over Christmas and see something from our CoC: Medicine Hat College games.

My Girls:
The lack of time to have "Dad have" is already waning... here's what I'd like to see. 

• Helping me playtest My Little Ponies for Mepacon
• Helping me playtest Scavengers for my Mepacon "Octonauts" game
• Finishing out the Savage Worlds/Showdown "Pulp" game
• Playing a few more games of Magic with Maja.
• Back to basic painting that doesn't involve glitter or slime.

Everything else is gravy.

5e D&D: Monday nights is for gaming, and 5e is the king until further notice

More on Roll20:  I was doing well with the initial foray into Roll20.  When my adventures in Gulluvia game didn't fill in a cancellation, the Risus IOU game did, and now Medicine Hat.  Getting a second regularly scheduled game NOT on Mondays would be great.    

Face-to-Face:  If we don't do face to face Gulluvia D&D, let's return to Call of Cthulhu.  1926 is such an interesting year....

The Pipe Dreams:   Hackmaster on Roll20, more Samoa games, and a return to Mousageddon.  All doubtful, but I see their notes everytime I log into Blogger.

Conventions:  Partial Weekends at Fall-In!, Cold Wars, and both Mepacons (the hard life of hockey season tickets).  Wouldn't mind another day trip to Historicon, or something within driving distance.  

Painting:  

1. Gnomes, Gnomes, Gnomes:  I've got them, they should be painted.  I'll be alternating large projects between gnomes and whatever I'm working on.
2. The Armies of Transnitria:  Basing all my sci-fi painting (OGRE, Space Dwarves) of a version of the Soviet pseudo-nation, means I'll need to keep well stock in Green.

Purchase:  The Want List needs more of a purge than a shopping spree. A few other things stand out for the possible "next step" of my Pulp gaming. 

1. My Little Pony: Tails of Equestria.  Still going down this route.  
2. Revisco:  Bulk purchases for Askari's German Seabattalion, and Russian, and Schutztruppe. 
3. A river gun boat.  MBA, a model kit, doesn't matter.  

The Wicked Witch of the West at Toy Soldiers and Dining Room Battles

It is right and proper, from time to time, to proclaim my love and adoration for Neil at Toy Soldiers and Dining Room Battles.  I've gleefully borrowed so many cool ideas and scenarios over time.  It's one of a handful of blogs that I become nearly giddy when a new post comes up in my feed.

He's been assembling new adventuring companies for In Her Majesty's Name using the Reaper Wild West Oz figures and some ingenuity, and his take on the company of the Wicked Witch of the West is top notch.

I love his take on the Winkies, although I'm still tempted to use some Old Glory Voynuks for my take on the movie version. 

And of course, I'll add the links for both his Dorothy and the Wicked Witch on my original Hunting for Wizard of Oz Figures post from a number of years ago.  It's still one of the most consistently searched for posts every month, and if Neil can benefit from the traffic, then all the better.

Askari Miniatures are Dy-No-Mite!

I'm blinded by HMGS (East) bias.  In most circumstances, unless a vendor is East Coast, or at least part of the Big 3 HMGS convention circuit, I forget to follow up with their new releases.

Good thing TMP posted an ad from Askari Miniatures this past week.  I forgot who varied the stock is for some of my interests, and I'm rather interested in some of the new releases. 

Egyptian with Dynamite $2.50

Central Asian with Dyanmite

French Foreign Legion with Dynamite

Myths and Monsters of the Barbary Coast, by Pontoonier Miniatures

The good folks over at Badger Games have released the first figures for their Pontoonier Miniatures line, "Myths and Monsters of the Barbary Coast."

Sultan/Were-Lion

Initially meant to add a little exotic affair for US Marines to engage, the miniatures fit any time period from Middle Ages, right up to a very Pulp-ish 20th Century. 

Were-Croc

Their regular Barbary Pirate range is pretty cool as well.

Were-Hyenas

Evil Necromancer

(Painting) German East African Schutztruppe

It's done.  

After gnashing of teeth, wringing of hands, and inhalation of sealant fumes, my German Schutztruppe are done.

It's been forever since I placed an order for these from Pulp Figures

Three packs German Colonial Rifles (PGS15) and an accompanying pack of German Colonial Officers and NCOs (PGS16) later, and there are 20 Colonial Germans ready to wreck havoc on whatever I paint next.

With so many varieties and combinations of uniforms, I stuck with East African Südwester colors, although most WWI and "alt-history Pulp" Germans would be wearing tropical hats.  

They may see some action in the "Pulp Egypt" game.  If I've allowed gnomes, elves, and the supernatural in it, some German influence on the undefined map couldn't be that unusual.  

Worst case, they'll be incorrectly dressed Germans in a "what-if" Second Samoan Civil War Scenario where the Germans actually get active during the hostilities.  

I do have the two machine gun team to paint up, but their pretty far back in the queue.  

Next in the Queue:  The Arabs (Civilians and Revolt) take over the role of 800-pound gorilla on the painting bench, but I'd like to refurbish some dinged-up Samoans and possibly visit some 6mm powered infantry from the New Transnitrian Scientific Republic.

(Painting) Colonel Wolfgang von Klockenspiel

First off, I've received fan mail... from multiple sources!  There are multiple requests to return to the gnomes... or anything similar, for that matter.  I can assure everyone, pointy hats, stinky cheese, and perhaps a mouse or two will be making appearances soon.  I'm just trying to get through this backlog of D&D on my mind, and Colonial/Pulp figures on my painting bench.

Speaking of Pulp Figures, I got a whopping one figure done this week.  Colonel Klockenspiel made a half-finished appearance in the latest pulp game we played, and after great consternation (and an hour of piece and quiet in the basement for cleaning and painting), one of my Schutztruppe are finally finished. 

From Pulp Figures PGS 16 German Colonial Officers and NCOs

The other 19 that have taunted me from my painting bench are *so close* to being completed.  Largely hats, highlights, and details, and I would like nothing more than to move them off the queue, followed by the Eureka Arab Civilians, then the Arab Revolt figures...  Perhaps then I can work on the thirty other distractions on the bench... or the Aussie Gnome Kangaroo Cav (I finally have the right size bases).

Otherwise, it's been real world distractions, or my focus to finish the infernal Ballad of the Pigeon God.  The final episodes continue to splinter into so much extra material that what started as fifty and progressed passed sixty posts, is now scheduled to stop in September with #75.

And while recollecting a twenty year old campaign with half-decent prose is hard enough. the third to last episode is a "Where are they now" format for NPCs and lesser PCs that didn't make the cut the first time I wrapped up the campaign.  The problem is I continue to flesh out what happened over the next few decades before the Journey of Mutumbo kicked off.  I'm oddly surprised to say that some of my choices as GM and some of the PCs have caused interesting results I never noticed before.  *Spoilers:  Anybody who dies, stays dead*  Just that some choices people in positions of power make in the heat of the moment come to bite them in the behind years later (of campaign time). 

So, as my wife attends a wine festival, I'm going to hopefully finish yard work, take the kids to see Solo, and play some games on the back porch.

A man can dream

(Kickstarter) Acheson’s Kongo-Afrika

Acheson Creations LLC has teamed-up with Two Hour Wargames to bring their new Fortunes Won and Lost rule book to life on the game table.

Kongo-Afrika is 25-28mm accessories for adventures in Africa, including animals, river boats, and natives. There are a few sets available to save money, but for a $10US base pledge to cover shipping, everything can be done a la carte.

The WEEKEND Review

With strains of Loverboy jamming in my boss' car as we drove to the corporate offices on Monday, I was constantly reminded that this week, I was indeed working the The Weekend.

The Weekend is a small annual convention at the Continental Inn in Lancaster, PA, born out of the fiery chaos which was Historicon moving out of Lancaster.  Preferring a con in the heart of Amish country, and without the masses of volunteers and politics that keep HMGS cons afloat (or adrift, depending on your interpretation), organizer Otto Schmidt keeps it simple: a $20 donation to the cause gets you in, or simply stay at the Continental over the weekend, and get in for free.  It's a weekend of fun, camaraderie, and old dudes telling stories around the munchies pit.

No actual dealers, no memberships, no con t-shirts, no frills, and that's the way most con attendees like it, dagnabbit!

Thursday, we loaded the whole family in the van, and despite Construction Season being in full swing, arrived at the Continental in perfect time to grab my badge (and one for my eight-year old daughter Maja) and hit the pool.  Wednesday and Thursday, the early birds get to game in the "Card Room" and boardgames are usually broken out and general shenanigans occur.  However, with a wife and two little girls (6 and 8) with me, fatherhood trumps all.  In fact Thursday was pretty much a wash, as we swam, hit Golden Corral before all the buses arrived, and went back to the indoor pool until close.

Friday I let the other comatose bodies lie, grabbed the always solid breakfast buffet at The Continental's restaurant, and went downstairs.

I immediately gravitated towards Bob and Cleo Liebl's "And The Ladies Come Marching Home Again, Hurrah, Hurrah!" for two reasons.  For starters, it's a great set-up, but more importantly, it was the first time I could see and hold the Hinterland female figures I've had on my want list for some time.

I took command of the women, who were moments away from being beset upon my bandits, savages, slavers.  My relief was on the far side of the board looked like they were going to have an equally bad go with it.

Most con games are 10% strategy, 10% tactics, and 80% outrageous dice rolls, and for me, this was no exception. Insufficient buffers between my scouts and the main units, mixed with dervishes and wooly-bullies who were "wildly enthusiastic" to meet the British women led to me falling into square far too late to be effective.

The ladies, trying to maintain square before attempting to break out.

I would like to say for the sake of the AAR that my female cavalry remembered that they had horses to shatter the bandit flank and have a few survivors ride off into the desert "to be continued" but with my die rolling, it probably would have failed anyway.  Regardless, a great game, and I've never argued about free cookies at a game.

WW2

After my game, I ventured back to the room to get the whole run down from the girl's trip to "The Farm."  Their trip to see domesticated animals (and for Millie, age 6, 'Where Bacon Came From') was diverted as the site had a "Please Touch"  museum and the girls were quite occupied with that for 3+ hours.

ACW

Sandwiches from Wawa properly devoured, Maja said those words that melt a father's heart.

"Daddy, I want to go game."

Now, I believe The Weekend is not designed to be your child's first con experience.  The men are old, the conversation many times is blue, and the rules can vary from daunting to "anything but a six".  However, Otto has printed off a very conversational wargaming FAQ towards parents whose children wandered down to the ballroom and marveled at the toy soldiers.

The good news for the con attendees was that my eight-year old is an old pro at cons (she technically was at Historicon in Valley Forge, but her first badge-wearing event was Fall-In! 2015), so we fell into the Blood and Plunder pirate game getting set up by Mack Tuck and Ken Hall.

The pirates fare poorly in game one.

Two things I like about Blood and Plunder, from a Dad with a gamer in-training.  Another version of playing card initiative from how we use it was great, and as someone trying to introduce Song of Blades & Heroes into our household to try to use all the fantasy figures, she definitely picked using multiple activations/actions, as her Spanish militia stayed in their fortification and picked off pirates.

Maja's militia (lower left) 

After that, I took the kids to the pool, a late bite at IHOP/Sonic, I made a quick walk-through for late-night boardgaming, and like frat boys on the weekend, no one remembers when we really passed out.

The Hatfields vs the McCoys

Saturday was going to be  travel day for us, as the girls leave with relatives for the shore on Sunday.  A quick breakfast with Maja, a jaunt down to ballroom to show her the Hinterland figures (and cookies!), and some high-risk tetherball action by the playground and we were ready to go.

The L'Art de la Guerre Mid-Atlantic Regionals were held Saturday and Sunday

I consider the weekend to be a success, play some games, shoot the breeze, and perform fatherly duties in gaming and non-gaming capacities. Great games, no swag (the bring 'n buy table was filled with a lot of near retail items, or items meant for a real flea market or auction), and Maja learned she like Strawberry Kiwi Snapple.

If there's another Weekend next June, we shall be there!

(Edit:  For more commentary on the Weekend, and better yet, more pictures, check out Colonel Bill Gray's article here.)

Spanish-American War by 1898 Miniaturas

The Spanish-American War is one of those eras that I have great interest in, but little time or money. I've only picked up a single bag of US Infantry for the Samoa project, but after seeing these figures from 1898 Miniaturas, I'm going to be forced to review my situation.

The fantastic paint jobs certainly help, but the first thing I noticed was that the poses for the entire line were more dynamic than other companies'.  They're also quite affordable  (for reference, a Euro is about $1.12 US at the time of this post) and shipping and handling from Spain seems reasonable.

(Review) Lettow Vorbeck by Decision Games

It has been the bugbear of my blogging for months, but I'm happy to say that over this past weekend, I took some time to go over and play Lettow-Vorbeck: East Africa 1914-18, and gosh darn it, I'm disappointed in myself for not making time earlier.

Lettow-Vorbeck is a Mini-game Series game from Decision Games covering the Great War battles in East Africa from 1914 to 1918.  It's a mid-sized zip lock game with only four pages of rules, one sheet of chits and and 11" x 17" map to play on.

The rules system is from Decisions the Hand of Destiny series of rules and it looks ridiculously simple.  While the single stat on a unit's chit helps determine combat resolution, all other rules are affected by the campaign cards for each side.  Campaign cards are drawn each round an determine reinforcements, movement, and any other special situations which could completely screw up your plan of attack.

Combat focuses on two separate actions:  Tactical Advantage, then the combat resolution.  Tactical advantage is essentially an opposed die role, modified by troop status, terrain, etc.

Combat resolution is rolling a number of d6 equal to the units number.  Results of 4+ may panic some units (unable to attack if they had yet to go) or even eliminate them from the game.   As combat alternates between players one unit at a time, winning initiative allows the first player to attack with their more powerful units and knock the enemy out before they have a chance to counterattack.

With some actual time to sit back and relax, I broke out game and attempted a solitaire run through the scenario playing both the Germans, as well as the British and her Allies.  I had a little confusion as to the definition of turns (individual vs 2-player turns) and misread some pretty obvious rules, but that's player error, not writer/editor error.

In my solitaire run, halfway through the 14-turn game, the Germans were in control.  Most British units had been eliminated trying to take the coastal cities and I was wondering what went wrong.

Then the British finally drew back to back campaign cards bringing in their South African reinforcements, followed immediately by the Belgian Congo's introduction to the campaign.  By turn 12 the remaining Germans were surrounded on a mountain smack dab in the middle of the colony.

Overall I'm quite satisfied with the product.  I've never bought any Decision Games products before, and starting with a period piece I had decent familiarity with was a great way to go.

That being said, I would try other games in the Mini-games line.  There are two dozen of them, ranging in price from $9.95 to $12.95.

British reinforcements have finally arrived...

The alternative option I thought of was to use the game map to manage a miniatures campaign, moving the chits and resolving the combats with the miniatures ruleset of your choice.

I know, I'm not the first person in the world to think of that great crossover from chit-based wargames to historical miniatures, but easy to utilize maps of German East Africa aren't usually available in the same distributor catalog as Pathfinder books or Reaper minis.

Overall, in the Gaming with the Gnomies 5-Gnome Rating system, I'm going to give Lettow-Vorbeck 4.5 gnomes.

Plus a half....

Production and play value are exactly what I want in a thirteen dollar game,  My only wish is that a new generation of wargamers become editors of these lines because there are just certain things that a long-time chit wargamer just assumes as right and if I initially misinterpretted them, I worry what a gamer on an impulse buy does with them.  Yes, chit-based wargames aren't usually impulse buys at a FLGS, but $10-13 is pretty close to that demographic.

(Kickstarter) Venus 1888 Woman at War

Dragon Bait Miniatures has launched a Kickstarter for their Venus 1888 Woman at War 28mm line. 


When men are driven mad by the atmosphere of the second planet in the solar system, it's up to women to colonize it!

 The figures are pretty nice, but at $28 for a pack of five, they're prohibitively expensive when compared to something like Hinterland's Germans.


And the cavalry are simply ridiculous.

More Second Samoan Civil War Research at a Snail's Pace.

With the millions of little projects that are distracting me, plus some recent conversation on restarting the Gnome Wars Tanga Campaign, it would behoove me to not forget about Samoa. 

 

 

The online readings were originally scant, but correct.  Since I started the Second Samaoan Civil War, the editing on informational sites like Wikipedia has became atrocious.  Battle details are now confused, nationalities of participants switched around, and, for some time, the First and Second Civil Wars were combined to occur in 1889

 

I need to do a research vacation in an archive or a half-decent library.  It's a mess.

 

The Mike Lung Gallery #41 - The Venus-Congo Connection

Our intrepid correspondent, Mike Lung is busy slaving away finishing up the details of a massive gnome/mousling gonzo space game for Cold Wars.  I'll be linking to Jim Stanton's Gnome Wars and Stout Smurf blogs for any updates he posts.  After Cold Wars, I'll post the remainder.  To quote a Danish toy company, "Everything is Awesome!"

While that's going on, I figured I'd continue to clean out my e-mails of Mike's mad genius rambling, and post two attached pics of his Gnome War big game hunter he sculpted for personal use.

Western Imperialism, On and Off World
                                                        By Mike Lung

The discovery of these gates connecting the Earth to other worlds in our solar system would set off a new colonial scramble.  Earth colonies would, of course, gain even more importance as well. Belgians creating a Venusian colony via the Congo, England to Mars via Egypt, Italy to Mars via Somalia, US to Mars via Arizona and Venus via Panama, Germany to Venus via a U-boat accessible cave in the Antarctic, and etc. Mysterious plateaus in Mongolia and up the Amazon are unclaimed by major powers...could it kick off a new scramble or a new war?

Also, I had always thought that the gate to Venus via the Congo would be the perfect background for a CoC game and some miniatures skirmish games. Adventures arrive in Belgium Congo and sent via Steamer up the Congo to investigate or help put down unsettling native rebellions. On the surface, the native rebellions appear to be caused by the cruel inhuman rule of the Belgians and their rubber trade. However, these rebellions are particularly barbaric. Turns out it is much worse than it appears. There is a major zombie outbreak in the heart of the Congo…whole tribes are being consumed. Further investigation, shows that a zombie virus (Venusian Flu) is in the water supply. After battling zombies, deep ones (i.e., Creature of the Black Lagoon), and dinosaurs, the source of the water is discovered to come from a strange river valley entered via a chasm. The chasm is the remains of an Old One gate recently discovered a crazed Belgium scientist/explorer who tampered with gate and destroyed it along with himself! The destruction of the gate caused a huge earthquake and allowed Primordial Venus to bleed into the Congo. Depending on how it pans out, the Explorers could become Belgian heroes, the gate valley would be named after Explorers who discovered (rediscovered) it, and this could set off the Belgians' colonization of Venus. Of course, Venus is also the source of the deep ones strange gold…may be a good lead to why the characters are there in the first place. It could be that the explorers unknowingly cross through the ripped gate and leave Earth to have lots adventures on Venus among the Deep Ones, lizard men, primitive ape men, and dinosaurs. Lots of room to throw in Old Ones or Great Race of Yith and other friends. Why do the remote mountains valleys of Venus have Cavemen and Mammoths?...another gate back to Earth during the Pleistocene?!

This also can be used with colonization of Polynesia, Samoa, New Guinea, etc.  Does a gate exist to Venus exist on one of the Samoan islands, too?…is that why German, England, and the US all want to control this vital point so they all can gain a new entry point onto Venus? Are some Samoan tribes not as human as they appear…is there a deep one colony off the shore…I wonder what they would have to say about this intrusion?   A mere coaling station may not be worth the effort the powers are putting into the territory...

 

This concept works extremely well for a straight Call of Cthulhu campaign (I pray no one wants to wander into the jungles of the Congo after visiting Kenya in Masks, but I wouldn't be surprised), it gives yet another angle for moon (and other) colonizations that the Stout Gnomes will cover in their game at Cold Wars, and it allows a traditional Pulp Game to expand into the weird science of other worlds.  Sure, my game with the kids has had some undead, gnomes, an elf, a dinosaur, and a talking mouse with a bow, but we've yet to visit Martians.... and after all the trouble obtaining artifacts, perhaps Maja Millie the archaeologist needs a relaxing Polynesian vacation.  RAFM, where are my Deep Ones!!!