Punning With the Gnomies, Yo!

(Kickstarter) Rodent Rangers RPG

Jacob S Kellogg has launched a Kickstarter for Rodent Rangers: A family-friendly RPG inspired by classic cartoons of mousey adventures!

From the Kickstarter:
Rodent Rangers is set in the modern world, with mice (and other small critters) living right under the noses of oblivious humans. While humans continue under the delusion that theirs is the only civilization, mice live happily in the walls, basements and sewers of human cities, furnishing themselves with the scavenged scraps of the humans' materials and tech.

The organization known as the Rodent Rangers is headquartered in the basement of the American Red Cross building in Washington, D.C. From there, teams of agents with a variety of skill sets are sent all over the globe on missions to help others, whether by rescuing lost or stranded civilians, bringing supplies to disaster sites, recovering stolen relics, or unraveling mysteries.

Where No Gnome Has Gone Before...

Left without comment, because I can't think of one....  

Apathy of the New Releases (Oct '18)

Another month, another month of new game releases!  Issue #224 of Game Trade Magazine should be at stores now, or you can download the pdf here.

ViscountEric's Want List
Shinobi
My Little Pony: Tales of Equestria: Judge Not By the Cover ..... $24.99

My Money-Is-No-Object Want List
Kenzer & Company
Hackmaster: Gamemaster Guide SC ............................................... $39.99

The Imaginary Store List  (The Pegleg Gnome)
Antarctic Press
Ninja High School Card Game ........................................................... PI

Asmodee
Wooly Wars ....................................................................................... $24.99

Atlas Games
Cogs and Commissars ....................................................................... $24.95

Avalanche Press 
Jutland: Battle Analysis ..................................................................... $19.99

Catalyst Game Labs
Shadowrun RPG: Street Lethal .......................................................... $49.99

Catan Studios
A Game of Thrones Catan:  Brotherhood of the Watch 5-6 Player Expansion .... $49.95

Chaosium
The Leaves of a Necronomicon ......................................................... $17.99
Miskatonic University: The Restricted Collection ............................. $24.99
Runequest RPG: Roleplaying in Glorantha Core Rulebook .............. $54.95
Runequest RPG: Roleplaying in Glorantha Deluxe Slipcase ............ $119.95
Runequest RPG: Glorantha Bestiary .................................................. $39.95
Runequest RPG: GM Screen Pack ..................................................... $29.95

Chronicle Books
Star Wars: Women of the Galaxy HC .............................................. $29.95

Days of Wonder
The River ...................................................... $39.99

Evil Hat Productions
Fate Core RPG: Tachyon Squadron HC ......................................... $25.00
Uprising: The Dystopian Universe RPG HC .................................. $39.99

Fantasy Flight Games
Arkham Horror - 3rd Edition - Core Set .......................................... $64.95
Discover: Lands Unknown ..............................................................  $59.95
Legend of the Five Rings RPG: Emerald Empire HC .....................  $49.95
Star Wars: Legion - Chewbacca Operative Expansion ....................  $12.95
Star Wars: Legion - Wookie Warriors Unit Expansion ....................  $24.95
Star Wars RPG:  Rise of the Separatists HC ....................................  $39.95
Star Wars X-Wing: 2nd Ed  - First Order Conversion Kit ...............  $29.95
Star Wars X-Wing: 2nd Ed  - Mining Guild Tie Expansion Kit.......  $19.95
Star Wars X-Wing: 2nd Ed  - First Order Maneuver Dial Upgrade..  $ 9.95
Star Wars X-Wing: 2nd Ed  - Resistance Maneuver Dial Upgrade ..  $ 9.95
Star Wars X-Wing: 2nd Ed  - Resistance Conversion Kit ................ $29.95
Star Wars X-Wing: 2nd Ed  - T-70 X-Wing Expansion Pack ..........  $19.95
Star Wars X-Wing: 2nd Ed  - Rz-2 A-Wing Expansion Pack ..........  $19.95
Star Wars X-Wing: 2nd Ed  - Tie/FO Fighter Expansion Pack ........  $19.95
Star Wars Destiny: Across the Galaxy Booster Packs

Konami Entertainment
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG: Hidden Summoners Boosters
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG: Soul Fusion Special Edition Box Display
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG: Speed Dueling Starter Deck Display
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG: Zombie Horde Structure Deck Display

Mantic Entertainment
Kings of War: Clash of Kings 2019................................................ $24.99
Terraincrate: GMs Dungeon Starter Set ......................................... $99.99

Mattel
Apples to Apples 15th Appleversary Edition ................................. PI

Nocturnal Media
Clash of Steel ............................................................................... $14.99

Paizo Publishing
Pathfinder RPG: AP Return of the Runelords Part 5- City Outside of Time .. $24.99
Pathfinder RPG: Campaign Setting: Faiths of Golarion  ............. $22.99
Pathfinder RPG: Flip Tiles Urban Starter Set .............................. $34.99
Pathfinder RPG: Flip Mat Classics - Pirate Ship ......................... $13.99
Starfinder RPG: AP Signal of Screams 2 - Penumbra Protocol ... $22.99
Starfinder RPG: Critical Hit Deck ................................................ $10.99

Palladium Books
Rifts Antarctica ........................................................................ $22.99
Rifts Bestiary North America Vol One .................................... $26.99
Rifts Bestiary North America Vol Two .................................... $26.99
Rifts Chaos Earth: Psychic Scream .......................................... $17.99

Playroom Entertainment
Killer Bunnies Quest Pumpkin Spice Booster ......................... PI

Pokemon
Pokemon TCG 2018 World Champion Deck Display

Starling Games
Everdell .................................................................................. $60.00

Ulisses-Spiele
Character Talents and Psychic Powers Card Pack ................. $14.99
Combat Complications Deck ................................................. $19.99
40K Wrath and Glory Tokens................................................. $19.99

Wizards of the Coast
D&D: Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica .................................. $49.95
D&D: Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica Dice ......................... $24.95
D&D: Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica Map Pack ................  $24.95

Wizkids
D&D Fantasy Minis: Icons of the Realms - The Falling Star Ship ..... $249.99

D&D Black Dragon Trophy Plaque ................................................... $320.00
Marvel Heroclix Tri-Sentinel Colossal .............................................. $ 24.99
Plus lots of D&D, Pathfinder, and Deep Cuts pre-primed figures.

Z-Man Games
Pandemic 10th Anniversary Edition ................................................. $99.99

Lost Dispatches of Feraso #1 - A Letter of Introduction

13th of the Month of SepDec in the Imperial Year of 1020, the Reign of Krugraf Mykul I of Ras-Prythax

To His Lordship, the Viscount Wilfrick of Verbobonc,

My name is Elsderth Millbottom, originally of Feldkurton.  I am the third son and fifth child of second Miller of Feldkurton, Thomas Millbottom.

With my elder brothers interest in the fortunes and future of the family business, my father considered my existence extemporaneous.    At an early age he searched out reasons to take advantage of my existence.

My father owed taxes to the Baron, and in return for forgiveness of those, as was the custom, he sent me off to Verbobonc to work off the debt in indentured servitude. My ability with numbers and my literacy superior to all the rest of my family combined, I was copying letters and common documents in the Baron's dungeons at the age of fifteen.  Instead of becoming a carpenter or a smith, I received an indentured apprenticeship as a scribe.  The Baron provided everything, although all of it was meager.

For the better part of my obligation, I remained in the imprisoned with the collective of ink stained pages performing the same menial administrative tasks.  After eight years I left those dank confines to the Office of your Seneschal, Torben Mikkelsen.

I discovered  -  I had the opportunity not only to read the letters being received from your subjects across the realm, but also the responses, the back and forth flow of written conversation. Having never been given a chance to even write my family in the first eight years, this became my duty, but also my joy.

I hope I'm not overextending the grace Your Lordship has provided me with my written ramblings here, but in the very few direct encounters with me, I hope I exemplified the professionalism and devotion you required of my minor position.

A few months ago, the requirements established by my father were completed, and I granted my freedom.  With no jobs available within the castle and short period to find employment in Verbobonc City.  Even one largely protected from the back alleys of Verbobonc, even I could recognize the few opportunities were undercutting the wages for my skills.  I dread turning to a life of crime like some scalawag or highway robber to keep alive.

But upon my final day in the castle, My Lordship provided an opportunity to go on the highways through a different method.  With my meager belongings, plus some of my used writing equipment, I prepared to depart, but Torben stopped me with a great surprise.

He presented me with sizable bag of gold, representing the gratitude of the Viscount for my service.  It represented half of the money I would have earned in the position as a scribe.

With the funds, I've been able to better outfit myself for travel, including purchasing a simple riding horse with good gait and strong legs.  I call her Marigold.

During one of the few conversations Your Lordship has graced me with during my tenure, you expressed displeasure with  the trickle of true news funneling through your court.  With my new-found freedom, it seemed foolish not to relay an unfiltered view of the edges of your domain.  Be it marauders, taxes, trade rumors, or even the price of grain, I would be honored to provide you with whatever information I come across.

I humbly implore you to at least humor the prospect of my pledge of service to your noble rank.  If such an arrangement appears beneficial to Your Lordship, Torben is aware as to how to contact me with any additional information.

Your Servant,

Elsderth Millbottom of Feldkurton.

=======================================
13 SepDec 1020 -

To the Esteemed Gentleman, Torben Mikkelsen, Seneschal of Verbobonc,

I have enclosed the letter to the Viscount detailing the arrangement you and I previously discussed just prior to my departure.  If you deem it appropriate, I would appreciate an opportunity for him to review and make a decision on the prospect.

Unless I notify you of any change, any correspondence declining or stopping the endeavor should be sent by courier to the village of Feldkurton.  The courier need only travel to the ruins of the Millsbottom, my family's previous business, and place a lone copper piece in the gap beneath the last remaining piece of the millstone.  Upon receipt, I shall continue to chronicle my journey, but terminate any and all correspondence to be delivered to the Viscount.

Your Servant

-Elsderth

Next: #2  Meet Elsderth Millbottom

Duke Seifried (1935-2018)

It was reported over the weekend the "Duke" Seifried passed away.

"Uncle Duke" was one of the titans of wargaming.  For a "younger" fellow at Origins '95 in Philly, his Northwest Frontier "extravaganzas" attracted people like me and dozens more to dip a toe and dive headfirst into historicals.  

I had the pleasure of playing in two of his games during his Diamond Jubilee celebration at Historicon back in 2010.  Dozens of his games were on display to play (and purchase).

Here's his obitiuary, as posted by HMGS this weekend:

Bruce “Duke” Seifried, Janesville, WI was born on August 19, 1935, baptized on April 11, 1936, and confirmed January, 1947, at Christ Episcopal Church, Dayton, OH. He left us to play in the heavenly jazz band on Saturday, September 29, 2018, after a courageous nine and a half year battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). Duke graduated from Urbana High School in Urbana, Ohio, and from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in 1957 with advanced business studies from the American Management Association in Chicago.

Duke is best known for his work in designing and fabricating inter-active museum displays of historical and fantastical subjects that may also be played out as a game. He has termed these "Extravaganzas” and there are forty six of them finding homes throughout the world and in a number of our American States. They are comprised of terrain, structures and hundreds of authentic figurines mostly an inch down to 5/8’s of an inch tall with all elements in scale. (This work may be observed at: DukePix.SmugMug.com) His work is prized by collectors and gamers alike with major collections in Monaco (1/3rd), also in: Australia, Bahrain, Italy, New Zealand & throughout the United States. In December 2017, a book, “Duke Seifried and the Development of American Miniature Wargaming” was published, edited by John Curry, UK,and Jim Getz, Ohio.

Duke was not just a pioneer in the miniatures wargaming hobby, he was one of the key founders. Without his creativity, talent, and energy the hobby and its associated businesses would not be what they are today. During his life Duke received many awards for his contributions: Historical Miniatures Gaming Society (HMGS) Scruby Award for lifetime achievement; charter member of the HMGS Legion of Honor for distinguished service to the hobby; Commander of the Legion of Honor at the time of his death; Game Master Lifetime Achievement Award (HMGS) and renaming of the Game Master of the Year Award to The Duke Seifried Game Master of the Year Award (HMGS); the Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) Hall of Fame; Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design Origins Award (note that “Adventure Gaming” was a phrase coined by Duke). Perhaps Duke’s greatest honor from the wargaming world is that he was known to all as “Uncle Duke,” a sign of their genuine affection and respect for him.

His other interest was jazz. Duke was primarily a jazz guitarist, arranger and string bass player. In recent years his credits include serving for many years with the Jack Farina Big Band, Jazz for Jesus and a computer-driven solo element (COOL JAZZ) featuring special arrangements he wrote as backgrounds and performed over as a single (thanks to techy friend, Dan Mackey). He played string bass for a number of churches he and his wife, Annette, attended. He also played for the Bert Blain American Heart Walk for 15 years. While living in Ohio, he performed with many combos and some well-known names.

Duke was involved with a number of vocations throughout the years: WLW-D Television, Kircher/Helton/Collette Advertising, Dynamic Displays, Custom Cast-Der Kriegspielers, Heritage USA, (both serving the tin soldier market), TSR (Dungeons & Dragons), Creative Concepts and Dry Foam Carpet Cleaning.

He is predeceased by his parents Opal (Willman) and William Seifried, Dayton, Ohio. He is survived by his wife & best friend of 26 years, Annette Baker. His first wife, Ruth Nungesser Seifried (deceased) was the mother of his children, including: Shari (Ron) Gross, Bruce Seifried, Jonathan (Cary) Seifried, Laura Illanes, Samantha Seifried-Sipowicz and Shelly (Jim) Sawyers. There are also two adopted boys: Daniel Seifried and Benjamin Seifried. There are thirteen grandchildren. He is further survived by his sister, Mary Seifried, sister-in-law, Alice Gilbertson, along with step-children Jeff (Gaynell) Instefjord, Eric (Lyn) Instefjord, Kent (Lori) Instefjord and Lisa (Russ) Armstrong; also six step-grandchildren & two step-great grandchildren. He leaves behind many musician & adventure/wargaming friends. Duke donated his body to the UW-Wisconsin Medical School, particularly to research Pulmonary Fibrosis in hopes of one day finding a cure. Memorials may be made to the Building Fund at Hope Lutheran Church in Milton, WI located at 335 Dairyland Drive, 53563, The Building Fund for the Southern Wisconsin Humane Society located at 222 S. Arch St, Janesville, WI 53548. Jazz for Jesus will play at the memorial service to be held at Hope Lutheran Church in Milton, WI at a later date. No Flowers, please.

We are most grateful to Agrace Hospice, Kathy and Bob of Mercy Home Care, Dr. Jane Anderson, Mercy Clinic South, Dr. Jay Tuck, Mercy Lung Center and dear friends, Wayne and Diane Wiley, Gary and Belem Regan and Phil Moore for their constant concern and helpfulness, and Pastor Collette Gould for her many visits. We would also like to thank our friends for the many supportive emails and phone calls over the past few weeks.

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.