tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25561269037641050502024-03-06T04:27:26.274+00:00Colgar6 and the Infinite Legion of Toy SoldiersColgar6http://www.blogger.com/profile/07636662295301222390noreply@blogger.comBlogger571125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556126903764105050.post-35199309590152758152023-10-29T16:33:00.001+00:002023-10-29T16:37:41.950+00:00Zomtober 2023, Week 5<p style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2023/10/zomtober-2023-week-4.html"><== Go here for Week 4</a></i></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Introduction</h2><p>It's the last week of Zomtober, at least for 2023. As is required by the rules of that competition, I've completed another model - or rather two models. My self-imposed extra goal is to finish figures for both a zombie and a survivor, then present the pair as a "duel". The idea is that readers can then speculate on the likely outcome 😁.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Logan vs Old Man Zombie (OMZ)</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJw0CyOGdZSODK74yDmfc5QyZ47nrkWvzhdeaBTlEICVwiNAfkfDIR4Ro8FdbsRmEf-q3B2WCPHohyphenhyphenwQRKvlBoLB3jI5pUbM894eFV5ie1lGmb4uxRLI2lxfNRLhcdkx6m2-qm7iP2IQMYRYopQ5O6wVRsFAbl9cBJx4vQvI2lNb-zhkX_PqoYgh75suI/s1076/DSC02314.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="1076" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJw0CyOGdZSODK74yDmfc5QyZ47nrkWvzhdeaBTlEICVwiNAfkfDIR4Ro8FdbsRmEf-q3B2WCPHohyphenhyphenwQRKvlBoLB3jI5pUbM894eFV5ie1lGmb4uxRLI2lxfNRLhcdkx6m2-qm7iP2IQMYRYopQ5O6wVRsFAbl9cBJx4vQvI2lNb-zhkX_PqoYgh75suI/s320/DSC02314.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">This week sees Logan facing off against "Old Man" zombie (OMZ for short). Logan is a fairly average-looking man, wearing an (army surplus?) sweater and a woolen hat. He's wielding a very big tyre iron, so maybe he's a driver for some large vehicle (truck? tractor? excavator?). Or perhaps it's a piece of plumbing instead - a bent pipe with a connector on the end of it? Either way, it looks solid and heavy - as long as Logan keeps his grip then it ought to do some real damage when wielded.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The model of Logan comes from Offensive Miniatures "modern rioters" range; the traffic cone on his base is from the same pack.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2T14OtRknBeROG0ulZp0DXi41Ee-fXrM_OvMYFsUtXC0KF6nYHn1QegnMu5FGAfhwz-q6rBo0sexexP4o71RpyN_fbRG_ygviTDchAsx2XfzRzgfCesi4bwA9G5OCpYAyYiLv01U_UEK-ae64tCj4VSeXuPDFCOfP3dXcAlEGBBFJMwjqZrD5baQR3N1/s1287/DSC02317.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="1287" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2T14OtRknBeROG0ulZp0DXi41Ee-fXrM_OvMYFsUtXC0KF6nYHn1QegnMu5FGAfhwz-q6rBo0sexexP4o71RpyN_fbRG_ygviTDchAsx2XfzRzgfCesi4bwA9G5OCpYAyYiLv01U_UEK-ae64tCj4VSeXuPDFCOfP3dXcAlEGBBFJMwjqZrD5baQR3N1/s320/DSC02317.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">OMZ is a straight build of a Studio Miniatures plastic zombie. As such, he's not especially animated; swaying or shambling rather than anything else. In fact, he's the epitome of the "crowd filler", back-rank zombie - there's nothing much to distinguish him from the rest of the horde.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPxZJf4ex2gUA_xv_CWTsnuz14-yPWBcs9Ierpp7TpPDuLSN2bNDEjdaZnK7DLf9kMuh1Dny7EiK8mF7rQNZi0N10isAMV6BCxheiMVZRYMHpsfIFnq3jVMdd5i66SzK4Q0ySarl3AVFuEQ75249YZ7fjd1xn5oJX7w6bLGI0rygzm7qURGV10Vq3FOyj/s1055/DSC02322.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1055" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPxZJf4ex2gUA_xv_CWTsnuz14-yPWBcs9Ierpp7TpPDuLSN2bNDEjdaZnK7DLf9kMuh1Dny7EiK8mF7rQNZi0N10isAMV6BCxheiMVZRYMHpsfIFnq3jVMdd5i66SzK4Q0ySarl3AVFuEQ75249YZ7fjd1xn5oJX7w6bLGI0rygzm7qURGV10Vq3FOyj/s320/DSC02322.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>I'm going to be blunt: I think that this week's models are some of the most generic, bland figures I've painted in a while. Neither of them is especially exciting, though I have tried to add a bit of interest by placing the traffic cone on Logan's base and by painting a slightly more complex jacket on OMZ. Still, neither model is especially memorable.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h1><p>The eternal question is this: what happens next?</p><p>In my opinion, Logan is healthy, alert and armed, while OMZ doesn't look especially threatening. I'd say that Logan is probably about to pulp the zombie's skull and carry on with the rest of his day as if the encounter had never happened?</p><p>On the other hand, what about that traffic cone? Was Logan carrying it - and forced to drop it in order to defend himself? If so then for what purpose? Either way, Logan had better be careful not to step backwards as he makes his swing. Tripping over such an obstacle would put him at a considerable disadvantage and could give OMZ the opening needed for the zombie to bite the man.</p>Colgar6http://www.blogger.com/profile/07636662295301222390noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556126903764105050.post-9557357841558138902023-10-21T14:19:00.003+01:002023-10-29T16:35:35.709+00:00Zomtober 2023, Week 4<p style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2023/10/zomtober-2023-week-3.html"><== Week 3 is this way</a></i></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Introduction</h1><p style="text-align: left;">Right, so Zomtober 2023 is in progress and my self-appointed goal for this event is to finish off one survivor and one zombie model each week, presenting them as a 'duel' on the Sunday. This week it's going to be a day early because I'll be busy all day on Sunday - so here's a Saturday duel instead!</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Alicia vs. "Shirley Temple" Zombie (STZ)</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">h<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtYP5IO6SlOVt-H_H4PKq69PHlzDlfR-Vu1s2ZHN7RDPDiJaXpldI1g-cEHb-YH4M-fI-19aspW3umUYIisywBDGwfbDsTWTffrZ-nkTej9SYi_RNx2kQ0yOwMt5vLCbYxKESdzkVFxTCU04_QPOneQbnEYOe7vT_U9rbtnYskibgIAMmixg_lAMuEyIx/s947/DSC02270.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="947" data-original-width="904" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtYP5IO6SlOVt-H_H4PKq69PHlzDlfR-Vu1s2ZHN7RDPDiJaXpldI1g-cEHb-YH4M-fI-19aspW3umUYIisywBDGwfbDsTWTffrZ-nkTej9SYi_RNx2kQ0yOwMt5vLCbYxKESdzkVFxTCU04_QPOneQbnEYOe7vT_U9rbtnYskibgIAMmixg_lAMuEyIx/s320/DSC02270.JPG" width="305" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">My pairing this week sees "Alicia" facing off against "Shirley Temple" zombie? I've given the zombie this name because of her flowing golden locks and short stature - she has a (slight!) resemblance to the famous child actress. STZ has lost one hand and at least part of her clothing, though her tartan miniskirt seems to have survived. She's also carrying some shopping bags; I imagine that these are an indicator of the last thing she was doing before becoming infected.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOYu5sM_vUITqWXa9T8Y_5OLuHrIbCViHDxKsrmyXyRY2fi_YpaO_e9jOh5ks5tuh105LWopNm3jgg41KdPAhqVBp4mMI8c4lcN2FbeTzaeSpletieHxpFq045Rcm4dm3TF7dOo7ItHC56apr7ZQL1b9ijOaZh6oycfeEwsJ31C63CiVCK0Pg-2u_PGW9/s1233/DSC02273.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="1233" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOYu5sM_vUITqWXa9T8Y_5OLuHrIbCViHDxKsrmyXyRY2fi_YpaO_e9jOh5ks5tuh105LWopNm3jgg41KdPAhqVBp4mMI8c4lcN2FbeTzaeSpletieHxpFq045Rcm4dm3TF7dOo7ItHC56apr7ZQL1b9ijOaZh6oycfeEwsJ31C63CiVCK0Pg-2u_PGW9/w400-h279/DSC02273.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Alicia looks like a fit, healthy woman, perhaps in her 30s or 40s. She's dressed in decent, comfortable clothes and seems completely at ease with the situation - or perhaps she is day-dreaming and hasn't noticed the zombie approaching? Alicia also has a pistol, though she hasn't raised it yet.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDjMRuowhMrBySBMaT92UXb9xMg8_YxifrLjF2_R8rNONJ5fUwZYEGuLKQeCPbsll7Uu6NjoNpRbNy84dapao3w2n_GF6h4YjlfFJ8JACG4JmhoYuPY8V9VhhUG5IJy8HeCoNWiFEzBBDzZh6-RavuI8TpEuMFJKrzXgE3abe7e3aUMRyCVbQdqeC06EF/s1042/DSC02277.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="1013" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDjMRuowhMrBySBMaT92UXb9xMg8_YxifrLjF2_R8rNONJ5fUwZYEGuLKQeCPbsll7Uu6NjoNpRbNy84dapao3w2n_GF6h4YjlfFJ8JACG4JmhoYuPY8V9VhhUG5IJy8HeCoNWiFEzBBDzZh6-RavuI8TpEuMFJKrzXgE3abe7e3aUMRyCVbQdqeC06EF/s320/DSC02277.JPG" width="311" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">This picture from behind shows just how ragged is STZ's top. It (and the missing right hand) suggest a significant trauma in her recent past. Is that - and her waif-like frame - a significant disadvantage if it comes to a physical struggle?</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCyWOG0NYlATy70yvDm_VFcHQgVkgSrfCaVpU_UVIxPfjavJ-mNEjDsUFae_h_yoyDVI0oCPvnn89ZicFzMsPCGsbIx9YgMmglWLsOsl7BPQw0D_6Bk10o5PBwRpgwXu4yfTqimR1VNEaJD-ZngQ1Jl3lsjQ1m93hMBLYKH-K7QLUrLwqC2giyUXbxk6g/s921/DSC02279.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="921" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCyWOG0NYlATy70yvDm_VFcHQgVkgSrfCaVpU_UVIxPfjavJ-mNEjDsUFae_h_yoyDVI0oCPvnn89ZicFzMsPCGsbIx9YgMmglWLsOsl7BPQw0D_6Bk10o5PBwRpgwXu4yfTqimR1VNEaJD-ZngQ1Jl3lsjQ1m93hMBLYKH-K7QLUrLwqC2giyUXbxk6g/w400-h279/DSC02279.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Both models are straight builds from old, Wargames Factory sets - the Female Survivors and Zombie Vixens (sic!) kits. Although that company is long gone, I believe Warlord Games own the moulds now and still produce the sprues.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiAW50tof6_AaYq7AicAI_1Cj38soYl_WO6ix3wJaYuhfP2zl2Jw6GWdk1IpNaRDCkmHPquYtaZXUIIC5AfN6R99i5mcE2IAxlEJN4OgK8DwFN2hAl8uS0wP_dBmDEfXyZjpUCUNYxh5HXECgSggxNYrxiNrTFYBxxb0MYRlcWlavCDZAjzF3FwbOAE6r/s950/DSC02282.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="817" data-original-width="950" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiAW50tof6_AaYq7AicAI_1Cj38soYl_WO6ix3wJaYuhfP2zl2Jw6GWdk1IpNaRDCkmHPquYtaZXUIIC5AfN6R99i5mcE2IAxlEJN4OgK8DwFN2hAl8uS0wP_dBmDEfXyZjpUCUNYxh5HXECgSggxNYrxiNrTFYBxxb0MYRlcWlavCDZAjzF3FwbOAE6r/s320/DSC02282.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">What happens next? Is Alicia just sizing up the situation, ready to shoot or run as appropriate? Or has she been caught unawares, in the middle of an unrelated train of thought? Will the lack of a right hand (and the use of her left hand to hold shopping bags) hinder STZ's attack? Indeed, will STZ even attack Alicia - the zombie seems to be heading in slightly the wrong direction? If Alicia freezes on the spot, will STZ fail to notice her and just carry on down the street?</p><p style="text-align: left;">As always, I'd be delighted to hear your thoughts on the matter!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2023/10/zomtober-2023-week-5.html">Follow this for week 5 ==></a></i></p>Colgar6http://www.blogger.com/profile/07636662295301222390noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556126903764105050.post-19498858950242375042023-10-15T16:28:00.002+01:002023-10-29T16:36:31.548+00:00Zomtober 2023, Week 3<p style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2023/10/zomtober-2023-week-2.html"><== Go back to last week's duel</a></i></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Introduction</h1><p style="text-align: left;">Another week, another duel! At least, that's how I'm marking Zomtober - by finishing some survivor and zombie models. It's customary for me to present a pair of such models and ask my readers: what happens next? Here you go...</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Marion vs Emaciated Female Zombie (EFZ)</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwo68OUerwDW4GrwDExA8_WCuyc_tsnrL0-rQac3nSOvJotJ89PuOh56nZqY1Y7ZjisOi9WkErwbB5EZp9Pfo0xlj0X4lWSKvAzpf2XMw_lVIaG7v-7Dc6NKaEtB9vcxEpF0NSm0_YTdtDOT2-tx5z9iaIixCjShF2uHmhDjc3VdMtrseMaQOS92Id-MTY/s1532/DSC02226.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="1532" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwo68OUerwDW4GrwDExA8_WCuyc_tsnrL0-rQac3nSOvJotJ89PuOh56nZqY1Y7ZjisOi9WkErwbB5EZp9Pfo0xlj0X4lWSKvAzpf2XMw_lVIaG7v-7Dc6NKaEtB9vcxEpF0NSm0_YTdtDOT2-tx5z9iaIixCjShF2uHmhDjc3VdMtrseMaQOS92Id-MTY/s320/DSC02226.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">This week's survivor is called Marion. She's a sporty-looking woman with a modern compound bow, but it seems that she has very little other equipment: only a single arrow and no knife or other reserve weapon. She is also lacking a bracer or even thick clothes to protect her arm, so I imagine she'll end up with a bad burn from the bowstring when she does release the arrow.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eNlKkoOPmiE_eOErTTpa8Ql4Eh9lvq-DgikYJBitW5O0UVtDFgKL4EPpWPLhFiyftFeKm2RKsxYxnQ-Ezz5r3T4PKW8sOAOmLAj91m4FFEV-IKXNtNe0X9PeHli_sr8yTk5oGbvW-rsRXPfLHm4sm31ESRy-MqoE69s4uts1oCm7U4ukm16M_2aYqGie/s1320/DSC02228.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="1320" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eNlKkoOPmiE_eOErTTpa8Ql4Eh9lvq-DgikYJBitW5O0UVtDFgKL4EPpWPLhFiyftFeKm2RKsxYxnQ-Ezz5r3T4PKW8sOAOmLAj91m4FFEV-IKXNtNe0X9PeHli_sr8yTk5oGbvW-rsRXPfLHm4sm31ESRy-MqoE69s4uts1oCm7U4ukm16M_2aYqGie/s320/DSC02228.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">It seems slightly unfair to call this zombie "emaciated", but I chose that title on account of her upraised arm. At the very least, this looks quite thin, even to the point of being withered. Does EFZ have any strength in that hand, or is it too weak to be useful? The rest of her appears to be fairly sturdy, if now somewhat damaged.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Like Marion, EFZ appears to be dressed for some athletic activity, or partly so. Maybe she was changing before or after exercise when she was turned into a zombie?</p><p style="text-align: left;">So, what's the scene? Were these two both at the same sports club when the plague struck? Or are they total strangers; just a chance encounter in the street?</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTeMA9kxNeTSCW1yiOHhkVZVV4h3QVRpiGbtJ_TO2zoYSmQjSR92R4SSJ_Ard3uiaQAg3kz0YsqtSKaWtvqoOrCHPXXOafX_DM93zxiizXzwvwugQmHwdj08r5iC14BwmaO9vlMSLxNEwxgeHT2m1jh5X8TzsxeB11jwQ9PUL1n1SjmWOO9lSywlARGSK/s1262/DSC02233.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1029" data-original-width="1262" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTeMA9kxNeTSCW1yiOHhkVZVV4h3QVRpiGbtJ_TO2zoYSmQjSR92R4SSJ_Ard3uiaQAg3kz0YsqtSKaWtvqoOrCHPXXOafX_DM93zxiizXzwvwugQmHwdj08r5iC14BwmaO9vlMSLxNEwxgeHT2m1jh5X8TzsxeB11jwQ9PUL1n1SjmWOO9lSywlARGSK/s320/DSC02233.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Both Marion and EMZ are straight builds of old Wargames Factory models - respectively from the Female Survivors and Zombie Vixens kits. I'm quite pleased with how they both look. They're nothing very complex; just nice, simple figures.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDApBmFpogByEp33Y303BbEuXAjf0h3UEXEr13HuAZex3og_sqF_jKfeDQtHzkyjxRumAsU5z6NGDuPWfK9ELHdvPLR_0JzUXk6fwTTifzgn3bSc7aLg1vXrgku1pQ7nVi8-1w9sl9ej_PkfFNraR7IrHsDW6qZu4Xd9V-pTc3oOYGZ9KMMPom7F14zoj8/s1383/DSC02236.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="1383" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDApBmFpogByEp33Y303BbEuXAjf0h3UEXEr13HuAZex3og_sqF_jKfeDQtHzkyjxRumAsU5z6NGDuPWfK9ELHdvPLR_0JzUXk6fwTTifzgn3bSc7aLg1vXrgku1pQ7nVi8-1w9sl9ej_PkfFNraR7IrHsDW6qZu4Xd9V-pTc3oOYGZ9KMMPom7F14zoj8/s320/DSC02236.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">The only minor quibble I'd have is that the female zombies kit from Wargames Factory had far too many very thin arms. This is especially irritating when the bodies from that kit are reasonably well-proportioned (for healthy, good-looking young women, at least. Not much diversity of body shapes here!)</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h1><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dWCCuXmZ5obrDPgOaDrp_RFawBrqkdpgkOenDNUAwtaaG7EyPOl_T00sgxO04WFgsfy_wh3fWfqXVsdHYUGjlopJK3fVHHNjQjvGQIZp05wICKZM-eEanTd42nSoKYnrhUQ2Smsg6L4VeNnK_v3KbK0BCF-afStaHFjNPVdX2vh72dH5K06X7vSAlC7h/s1233/DSC02230.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1233" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dWCCuXmZ5obrDPgOaDrp_RFawBrqkdpgkOenDNUAwtaaG7EyPOl_T00sgxO04WFgsfy_wh3fWfqXVsdHYUGjlopJK3fVHHNjQjvGQIZp05wICKZM-eEanTd42nSoKYnrhUQ2Smsg6L4VeNnK_v3KbK0BCF-afStaHFjNPVdX2vh72dH5K06X7vSAlC7h/s320/DSC02230.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;">What happens next?</p><p style="text-align: left;">On the one hand:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Marion has a weapon which is probably very effective</li><li>She seems to be able to wield it</li><li>She hasn't been taken by surprise.</li></ul><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">On the other hand:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>It looks as if she's aiming high (perhaps going for a riskier head shot?)</li><li>I do wonder if she really knows how to use the bow properly (lack of a bracer, spare arrows and not drawing quite to the chin - as is modern practice in Western archery).</li></ul><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">If Marion hits her target then it should finish the zombie off, no question. But if she misses then does EFZ have enough strength in her outstretched arm to grapple with the survivor? Or is this relevant - does the zombie need anything other than teeth?</p><p style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2023/10/zomtober-2023-week-4.html">Forward to Week 4! ==></a></i></p>Colgar6http://www.blogger.com/profile/07636662295301222390noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556126903764105050.post-70668059316987482052023-10-08T16:12:00.002+01:002023-10-15T16:56:53.104+01:00Zomtober 2023, Week 2<p style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2021/10/zomtober-2021-week-5.html"><== Go here for the previous Zomtober article</a></i></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Introduction</h1><p style="text-align: left;">It's been a while since I last did a Zomtober post - I missed the whole of 2022 as well as the first week of 2023. But here we are again!</p><p style="text-align: left;">As before, I'm presenting the initial stage of a duel or encounter between a zombie and a survivor. The important question is "what happens next"? There's no "right" answer, just use your imagination (but try to stay within the bounds of possibility 😀).</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Harvey vs Dead Average Zombie</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOOgijU2EDzh64j1UCVwteFOlbhIgd6W-RhaIA6fCym5DWMNMW4fquq1Yfgovr60F8H4RgQy1OIGPx0fGV4MC8Q4l28TMZjVrfm-faMGpSY_kxtYJvj0O4QP9VQXS0bBjXI3ZpHA11CDea1E5H9Pfm8bnIwDRoGxNeCyO4QR6ZQDKyZRMg1SdlIt5x834/s1689/DSC02201.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1689" data-original-width="1499" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOOgijU2EDzh64j1UCVwteFOlbhIgd6W-RhaIA6fCym5DWMNMW4fquq1Yfgovr60F8H4RgQy1OIGPx0fGV4MC8Q4l28TMZjVrfm-faMGpSY_kxtYJvj0O4QP9VQXS0bBjXI3ZpHA11CDea1E5H9Pfm8bnIwDRoGxNeCyO4QR6ZQDKyZRMg1SdlIt5x834/s320/DSC02201.JPG" width="284" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">This week's survivor is called "Harvey". He's well-armed, with twin automatic pistols - though he appears to be waving these in the air as if trying to scare off the zombie rather than destroying it. Maybe Harvey has been taken by surprise - he is twisting his body in a manner that might suggest being off balance?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmMKhu5_9sdT7rD-ERJqBJJn1q9Qew2DuImP3Ljae1A6yLqGb7VWftR3xpGRkszBlanSUy7V55oJxU8Bn8N_CKWnpXyDJYUzpu7faTbkz57cMrHMvc5WCF0ZOgM9hF5VNFV1VJM7EajEVnn4g6fysoFMJnDgfINQshYBT1WzXNwDUHYjccIakIxIGtWGw/s1469/DSC02206.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1212" data-original-width="1469" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmMKhu5_9sdT7rD-ERJqBJJn1q9Qew2DuImP3Ljae1A6yLqGb7VWftR3xpGRkszBlanSUy7V55oJxU8Bn8N_CKWnpXyDJYUzpu7faTbkz57cMrHMvc5WCF0ZOgM9hF5VNFV1VJM7EajEVnn4g6fysoFMJnDgfINQshYBT1WzXNwDUHYjccIakIxIGtWGw/s320/DSC02206.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">I've designated this week's zombie as "Dead Average Zombie" ("DAZ" for short). DAZ is really quite unremarkable. He's not particularly animated or rotten, though he does seem to have lost most of his shirt somehow.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizuCWgiq5lrfdFy57C0N1A8J3eOaSLkaVocMvoe8ZgxC1btGGrqFdBLivykfDDQqDanC3yiHHwARH8FzSIYAfVZbjwY94UQUs0qhKxFlVO0Yx3dosTI0K2yZhyphenhyphenvmUOOZmpYsk1Ie900CArpOBUNNehHuUPZHZyMaDus9RmHpJb9wo3e0B0dNEjagq2hzlB/s1220/DSC02212.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1187" data-original-width="1220" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizuCWgiq5lrfdFy57C0N1A8J3eOaSLkaVocMvoe8ZgxC1btGGrqFdBLivykfDDQqDanC3yiHHwARH8FzSIYAfVZbjwY94UQUs0qhKxFlVO0Yx3dosTI0K2yZhyphenhyphenvmUOOZmpYsk1Ie900CArpOBUNNehHuUPZHZyMaDus9RmHpJb9wo3e0B0dNEjagq2hzlB/s320/DSC02212.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Harvey is a straight build from the old Wargames Factory "Apocalypse Survivors" kit. I'm not completely happy with my choice of parts for him, though. In particular, the baseball cap doesn't really go with the shirt-and-tie body. Hmm, maybe I should have given him a cowboy hat?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPqLFzgJoUDXCRQZX49RH2wXEfk_3F8WTXpkaG53_P8evD82-jQvsBj37P5jUySeiAHhjw0u7wOKlK_WCE7yJm5pcC9O9lrry_KJTEA-l-pELrW4_oIIt1haDMpd6K4x35D6LY2HYsn8FF4ZarsD87UcMRn6tbRxdvFc-W7I_RgfeMhf83oKtVEIdCDi5/s1524/DSC02197.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="1524" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPqLFzgJoUDXCRQZX49RH2wXEfk_3F8WTXpkaG53_P8evD82-jQvsBj37P5jUySeiAHhjw0u7wOKlK_WCE7yJm5pcC9O9lrry_KJTEA-l-pELrW4_oIIt1haDMpd6K4x35D6LY2HYsn8FF4ZarsD87UcMRn6tbRxdvFc-W7I_RgfeMhf83oKtVEIdCDi5/s320/DSC02197.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">DAZ is a simple build from the Studio Miniatures zombie sprue. As such, he's not particularly animated, but would be good filler for a crowd scene.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h1><p style="text-align: left;">So, what happens next? Is Harvey merely readying his weapons to blow the zombie away? Or is he firing into the air as an intimidation tactic (which probably wouldn't work)? If the latter, will he realise his mistake in time to take another, more fruitful course of action? After all, DAZ doesn't look particularly fast-moving or tricky to deal with.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2023/10/zomtober-2023-week-3.html">Look ahead to next week's entry ==></a></i></p>Colgar6http://www.blogger.com/profile/07636662295301222390noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556126903764105050.post-35026876513372448792023-08-30T20:05:00.000+01:002023-08-30T20:05:02.977+01:00Away Team Red: Romulans<h1 style="text-align: left;">Introduction</h1><p style="text-align: left;">Those who know me well will know that I have something of a fondness for Star Trek. I've published a number of articles previously about my "not Trek" starships and the games of Full Thrust in which they have been used. There are reasonably good sources of such models from a wide variety of sources.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Until recently, there has been a scarcity of figure models, suitable for use in games set on board a ship or as part of an away team on a planet's surface. There have been some that would proxy for Federation crew, but very little for other races.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Well, not any more! There's a range of 3D-printable designs called "Away Team Red" that I've only discovered in the last 6 months or so, even if they have been around for a bit longer than this. Physical specimens are available from a number of suppliers on hosts such as etsy.com .</p><p style="text-align: left;">The Away Team Red collection is obviously designed by someone who loves and respects Star Trek, especially the original series. If I've understood correctly, the sculptor goes by the handle of Lost Heresy Miniatures.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The range includes several alien races (including a "not Gorn" set - something of a holy grail for me!) as well as a considerable number of "not Federation" crew and a few monsters. Excellent!</p><p style="text-align: left;">After that long preamble, here are some Romulans!</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Aquilons</h1><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Firstly, they're not "Romulans" - the designer calls them "Aquilons". Well, well.</li><li>There are two variants of the 10-model Aquilon set: one with helmets and one without. I have the bare-headed figures.</li><li>The 10 models in the set include an obvious leader, but many of the rest are equipped with long guns. Ideally I would have preferred a more diverse group, with some figures using equipment (scanners, comms...) rather than brandishing weapons. But you get what you get.</li><li>I've converted several of the crew in small ways, though this was not easy. They're printed in a very hard, very brittle resin and the only way to cut this was with a razor saw. Of necessity, my conversions have been limited to swapping the occasional hand (plus what it's holding) or shortening the weapons to make them pistols rather than rifles.</li><li>These models are slightly larger than 28mm - maybe 30mm? They're close enough for me to mix and match with other manufacturers, especially for other races.</li></ul><p></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">The Crew</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCG9Np5LXvpBy9JEodcVnda32OUYlMrwHQSq2CTxYrrf5FonEDrE2R2f970Ke2vLrHyHjrrhfH-7-z5oF4AdCILFVbQ9kkTA9G3f3f_ni68Uebq-LizS_By5DGUVy1dzQ_r8Xm3xQvh2OKy0t1BHTJWiAcHguny5SriXtXMrb00xd6fpySUWlr_8Cpt4e/s2134/DSC02167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1022" data-original-width="2134" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCG9Np5LXvpBy9JEodcVnda32OUYlMrwHQSq2CTxYrrf5FonEDrE2R2f970Ke2vLrHyHjrrhfH-7-z5oF4AdCILFVbQ9kkTA9G3f3f_ni68Uebq-LizS_By5DGUVy1dzQ_r8Xm3xQvh2OKy0t1BHTJWiAcHguny5SriXtXMrb00xd6fpySUWlr_8Cpt4e/w640-h306/DSC02167.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">I painted the first four figures with coloured sashes; I suppose I'm thinking of these as officers or specialists.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtNte78nTLrwDZDXg_rU5OvS-XeOcVGPayiC6RUbGL8nCofMgcQiPDX1_rdjYfbRzkH8USa5m3NclUqsnrheKsaoFcwlgjSMX7n7WBXmH3rup_RfZTdnm36WYTgUei030XJbEOA5RaFG4wIkX1WHfYqmPPVUmlTfSxDUGE0z4W8ULEZfXMTIGh0cpbgaF/s2122/DSC02174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1137" data-original-width="2122" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtNte78nTLrwDZDXg_rU5OvS-XeOcVGPayiC6RUbGL8nCofMgcQiPDX1_rdjYfbRzkH8USa5m3NclUqsnrheKsaoFcwlgjSMX7n7WBXmH3rup_RfZTdnm36WYTgUei030XJbEOA5RaFG4wIkX1WHfYqmPPVUmlTfSxDUGE0z4W8ULEZfXMTIGh0cpbgaF/w640-h342/DSC02174.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p><i>Tomeet</i> is obviously the captain and I imagine that <i>Rukan</i> is his second-in-command (since he's got the same colour of sash, albeit a lesser form). The other two could be science, engineering, comms, medical or any other specialties I desire.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSij2foSTiTYr_YoqxXSHgLILzY4LOyDlxm__a2fGbvOfvNpoQFOCGSu5Y8yZJBci2P9jClj80XKZZxSE8Q4CyIW5byVpj442pRKHIzUFoRqV_x9yTDhDYdzBHqL6bLrUSqUN3kFTP5LfmONCyqXZErPhyRfcM3yjHXrsd5Qrn5KZQHuX3Nz9Db8V4IB7/s2345/DSC02161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1630" data-original-width="2345" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSij2foSTiTYr_YoqxXSHgLILzY4LOyDlxm__a2fGbvOfvNpoQFOCGSu5Y8yZJBci2P9jClj80XKZZxSE8Q4CyIW5byVpj442pRKHIzUFoRqV_x9yTDhDYdzBHqL6bLrUSqUN3kFTP5LfmONCyqXZErPhyRfcM3yjHXrsd5Qrn5KZQHuX3Nz9Db8V4IB7/w400-h278/DSC02161.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">The next pair are in the "rank and file" uniform, with standard black sashes. However, they're carrying pistols. Perhaps they are ensigns - does the Romulan empire have such things?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vEFgmhc7VLHYrCtAC3iL0YwjyHp0qJAZVzuvIFZHSB_RTXfCyUESuImZi53ujvpcqI56iFqdTwpJGw6vnBFudPB7NbqcsGeRQ-Fsacx4TgKAnW8s8kWFfd2hAw1KBQtatGbEA3fhQFy6B7KzewJPmreeCnJ65333hSk96JcyBtpNE9Z3RicmlZQQ05QB/s1362/DSC02166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1362" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vEFgmhc7VLHYrCtAC3iL0YwjyHp0qJAZVzuvIFZHSB_RTXfCyUESuImZi53ujvpcqI56iFqdTwpJGw6vnBFudPB7NbqcsGeRQ-Fsacx4TgKAnW8s8kWFfd2hAw1KBQtatGbEA3fhQFy6B7KzewJPmreeCnJ65333hSk96JcyBtpNE9Z3RicmlZQQ05QB/s320/DSC02166.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></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/AVvXsEgzF5Tm_MS5yL652mmxeHmPZ8x-2baJ7K9ru6WURN0dUHQsbe7flzU1FKuSD7MQBTPdYPnfMIy_Xn6ImO1bMIu1q4OFbusJGjiyrYyoF4P9J2_F2K2lJoMjah6a9lSxkJlIVE7hTihM4hu9ARsbP1C05my2i-TdXnP4Xh53kNtJvo_VbFwHQhwYUXIDJdHc/s2474/DSC02151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="2474" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzF5Tm_MS5yL652mmxeHmPZ8x-2baJ7K9ru6WURN0dUHQsbe7flzU1FKuSD7MQBTPdYPnfMIy_Xn6ImO1bMIu1q4OFbusJGjiyrYyoF4P9J2_F2K2lJoMjah6a9lSxkJlIVE7hTihM4hu9ARsbP1C05my2i-TdXnP4Xh53kNtJvo_VbFwHQhwYUXIDJdHc/w640-h262/DSC02151.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Am I alone in thinking that the 3rd model's face looks like Leonard Nimoy/Spock?</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">Finally, we have the goon squad, security, mooks or whatever else you wish to call them. I'm thinking that these are the equivalent of the Federation's "red shirts" - un-named characters whose chance of surviving an episode is low.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLSVWP9-Hkw1V5JVpKSqqlF371LjWmJd08TM9OwzKrV0EFTzG61N33rHOhFL4wuCWPfxnyZL_xJ4lSKY5HCqMrSnpO29PzyEoH7Iz8xVG8udBLmChWZ-wl_06qw_EuurD8K2MUZdjpljqcMLww4f2D2VHDHK_QCQZruoni6_ahOBAlEbrdYwF8h1IO_9m/s2865/DSC02157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1328" data-original-width="2865" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLSVWP9-Hkw1V5JVpKSqqlF371LjWmJd08TM9OwzKrV0EFTzG61N33rHOhFL4wuCWPfxnyZL_xJ4lSKY5HCqMrSnpO29PzyEoH7Iz8xVG8udBLmChWZ-wl_06qw_EuurD8K2MUZdjpljqcMLww4f2D2VHDHK_QCQZruoni6_ahOBAlEbrdYwF8h1IO_9m/w640-h296/DSC02157.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">...except that I <i>did</i> give them names. Does that create a paradox and break the universe?</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTJOpzzx__2IKXzVDrbmMG2HJDqGHRbwpwUpekYhydPtuJ96VhLcIwKxB9ppPtWJTLpQtG4AkLvhINJgXa3c1ACCx6SEq2zEwYdYxuc_o8Z6DZMSMvBI77HjrzwgnBIiyYnKxS-dgBEkdF7QSVvRH9qGtmkU5y4_Ay1f_wOCS5_lmphHzayRrOcxxvPl_/s2595/DSC02176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="2595" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTJOpzzx__2IKXzVDrbmMG2HJDqGHRbwpwUpekYhydPtuJ96VhLcIwKxB9ppPtWJTLpQtG4AkLvhINJgXa3c1ACCx6SEq2zEwYdYxuc_o8Z6DZMSMvBI77HjrzwgnBIiyYnKxS-dgBEkdF7QSVvRH9qGtmkU5y4_Ay1f_wOCS5_lmphHzayRrOcxxvPl_/w640-h280/DSC02176.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Finally, here is the entire bunch all together. Romulans aren't inherently evil; they're just very secretive and have their own honour code. That should be plenty to bring them into conflict with my other Trek-like forces!</p><p><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h1><p>These are excellent models! They're on the chunky side, but that gives them a lot of strength and they should resist handling damage well. The hard resin does make it difficult to convert them, but that's too bad.</p><p>These aren't the first "Away Team Red" models I have bought - and I don't think they'll be the last, either.</p>Colgar6http://www.blogger.com/profile/07636662295301222390noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556126903764105050.post-63614885826931916772023-08-25T21:04:00.008+01:002023-08-25T21:04:59.739+01:00Mortal Gods: Who's in the House?<h1 style="text-align: left;">Introduction</h1><p>I've had a copy of the <i>Mortal Gods</i> rules as well as the <i>Mythic</i> expansion for quite a long time now, but have not done much with them. Until now, that is: recently I dug out these rules and my Ancient Greek models and played a game at my local club (Helensburgh Alternative Hobby Association, or HAHA for short).</p><p>I enjoyed that game so much that I decided to buy some more models, group bases &c. and to host another game at the club. This time I recorded some of the action, so you can read about it as well.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Scenario</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfdBejpc9LQBIdrpxtkNZaGLt8Ct754KVUet6_m7dzPfvTDteoYDBbK5m6WHpS_TyT9FeG9vMVyFVF81x4TysMBVi65BCCDgn_S8GOvQoFAY31jvpL9oJtCEH6T-Ea3ldiPFJyYmvPc6OdmKE0ZcaEOD9aKU80ZZ_rfA01ox9n7jCacSptgaJlZsMiUTH/s4978/DSC02110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2116" data-original-width="4978" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfdBejpc9LQBIdrpxtkNZaGLt8Ct754KVUet6_m7dzPfvTDteoYDBbK5m6WHpS_TyT9FeG9vMVyFVF81x4TysMBVi65BCCDgn_S8GOvQoFAY31jvpL9oJtCEH6T-Ea3ldiPFJyYmvPc6OdmKE0ZcaEOD9aKU80ZZ_rfA01ox9n7jCacSptgaJlZsMiUTH/w640-h272/DSC02110.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">I pitted forces of <span style="color: #cc0000;">Hades </span>(on the left, mostly skeletons and necromancers, but with a phalanx of temple guard) against <span style="color: #4040ff;">Heroes </span>(on the right, led by Jason and Heracles, with a few minor names heroes and an odd assortment of warriors). Each side came to about 660 points and was split into two allied contingents, so that we could accommodate two players per side.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The scenario was simple: there are 5 objective markers around the table. Each of these is controlled by whichever side has the largest number of models within 3"; whichever force controls most objectives at the end of the game wins.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I did add one twist: a <span style="color: #38761d;">Cyclops </span>inhabits one of the three central terrain features and would appear at the end of turn 1. It would be controlled by a 5th player. What I didn't tell the others at the start was that should this be slain then <i>another</i> cyclops would appear; once again it would appear randomly from one of the three central features.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">The Game</h1><p style="text-align: left;">So, how did it go? Turn one was spent mostly with each player moving their forces forwards.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMq9yoHmCNmW-80m0GBjdsizCR0Ts_111K3za7BJbcNX0RUxyoP5ESBmM2pAOD_eQUcesedE5zZgfCxVDutOSW-4pRPY4ceSOLnUjbTormgAPnKGNBk4MmZFlOLjwiA7ZjwjB8jzPLb2t8Cp3NBR8NsB5dGKCviuCMhCnEJeVLwOkkbDsm4zxqKOBWJEl/s4350/DSC02113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2332" data-original-width="4350" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMq9yoHmCNmW-80m0GBjdsizCR0Ts_111K3za7BJbcNX0RUxyoP5ESBmM2pAOD_eQUcesedE5zZgfCxVDutOSW-4pRPY4ceSOLnUjbTormgAPnKGNBk4MmZFlOLjwiA7ZjwjB8jzPLb2t8Cp3NBR8NsB5dGKCviuCMhCnEJeVLwOkkbDsm4zxqKOBWJEl/w400-h215/DSC02113.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">At the end of turn one, the cyclops appeared from the house, right in front of three Greek <span style="color: #0b5394;">heroes</span>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2J6k5Nx8B0tpXOBIjjSWRdTBf85ACM1312L20pc7pCGJ7UcMfBsiP3zH5vcyLQ1DkQRjgxUrBM5VwyR1-B-wE2IlQadfI_L6kx-LTWticoVVqs-HaQok5c45n6SyJaYuW09KuGsl9zzcYXUHO392MUdsn0XuDMph76v7_PmxeNg8mVzN4LZcGqZzM0ni/s4305/DSC02116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3524" data-original-width="4305" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2J6k5Nx8B0tpXOBIjjSWRdTBf85ACM1312L20pc7pCGJ7UcMfBsiP3zH5vcyLQ1DkQRjgxUrBM5VwyR1-B-wE2IlQadfI_L6kx-LTWticoVVqs-HaQok5c45n6SyJaYuW09KuGsl9zzcYXUHO392MUdsn0XuDMph76v7_PmxeNg8mVzN4LZcGqZzM0ni/s320/DSC02116.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">The <span style="color: #6aa84f;">monster </span>reacted before any of the humans: it tossed a large boulder at <span style="color: #3d85c6;">Jason</span>. The missile overshot the hero, but landed right in the middle of a group of approaching <span style="color: #3d85c6;">peltasts</span>, flattening most of them!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFP-kna5dXk0kMZPfxwE119odouZPTpS5qtaTHofgNMkLHUcKgDSgfSTRC6sP4PirgDYae5T2bSURcI0pw8AplLjI-j1XyUcR3LaNlhIUIj3Rzp_IMSJz9ZE1itWl_Wr89hTinRcgu26Qucly-JAE17jHoteQ9FkmiFhq7Fe-1Shyzs7pDtMC33RaIISiM/s4156/DSC02123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3370" data-original-width="4156" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFP-kna5dXk0kMZPfxwE119odouZPTpS5qtaTHofgNMkLHUcKgDSgfSTRC6sP4PirgDYae5T2bSURcI0pw8AplLjI-j1XyUcR3LaNlhIUIj3Rzp_IMSJz9ZE1itWl_Wr89hTinRcgu26Qucly-JAE17jHoteQ9FkmiFhq7Fe-1Shyzs7pDtMC33RaIISiM/w640-h518/DSC02123.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Atalanta </span>shot the cyclops full of arrows, before <span style="color: #0b5394;">Herakles </span>and the other heroes finished if off. Almost immediately, <i>another </i><span style="color: #38761d;">cyclops </span>appeared at exactly the same position</p><p>After this, the heroic side became a bit fixated on monster hunting! Most of their forces converged on the second <span style="color: #38761d;">cyclops</span>, leaving very little to face off against the onrushing <span style="color: #cc0000;">skeletons</span>.</p><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtbNS4XY8meqSt6GJseZuXLbMIJdJ2wEVRU5GdqLQHdMIN4_M9uFaXqFgivfVb--G251sk49qFRVs2D08GMi8Hc91eQ3kF-Us0PN1GKF6i-FsSJCaE_w1mEg3SvUE5Y03xhN7asa_11tj_Fcyf696Gt2PjVS6vAMx9xx6bdgExbWqD5Ul9pgsojiHYSi3/s2778/DSC02125a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2096" data-original-width="2778" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtbNS4XY8meqSt6GJseZuXLbMIJdJ2wEVRU5GdqLQHdMIN4_M9uFaXqFgivfVb--G251sk49qFRVs2D08GMi8Hc91eQ3kF-Us0PN1GKF6i-FsSJCaE_w1mEg3SvUE5Y03xhN7asa_11tj_Fcyf696Gt2PjVS6vAMx9xx6bdgExbWqD5Ul9pgsojiHYSi3/w400-h301/DSC02125a.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Again, <span style="color: #0b5394;">Atalanta </span>wounded the creature, but not enough to knock it out. With a bellow of rage, the cyclops charged, injuring her and a nearby <span style="color: #0b5394;">unarmoured hoplite</span>, before <span style="color: #0b5394;">Meleagros </span>stabbed it from behind and felled the brute.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5ScQy_BrTn44xUQqQ5vLqSv_w_qRWWkpVbD33rXOcCVbx5H4KD9PPOTtyWN1bp8Fs1UMg0vNQ-3PmbtxB5-jd9kzywZGGKxBF99_AAHiJeBFOGcc3qelEUczdSXXYl6TcnqqZpROYiBIa3tlQWLzBcwXvH7P9lrSWDgL9yJqrDNZHNZwzbyuQwhWTNf5/s3444/DSC02133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3382" data-original-width="3444" height="628" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5ScQy_BrTn44xUQqQ5vLqSv_w_qRWWkpVbD33rXOcCVbx5H4KD9PPOTtyWN1bp8Fs1UMg0vNQ-3PmbtxB5-jd9kzywZGGKxBF99_AAHiJeBFOGcc3qelEUczdSXXYl6TcnqqZpROYiBIa3tlQWLzBcwXvH7P9lrSWDgL9yJqrDNZHNZwzbyuQwhWTNf5/w640-h628/DSC02133.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Whilst this side-show was happening, <span style="color: #0b5394;">Hylas </span>was the only Greek hero left to stem the <span style="color: #cc0000;">undead </span>tide. He held his own to start with and even destroyed some <span style="color: #cc0000;">skeletons</span>, but eventually he was overcome and killed.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIOP1mYufWc-34l3zbgc0i_yNO4aTuIK21ESvzXyap5zOC06MfCQnopeP6H8bF1wHjt9SXyRxlxl25f2GfRSLtKZ-YZlWZx8iGe2GFhv1I4ONsfCrF8bbeh4aN73rZUuvHvURHpTNGooBf_7Dy1y0fgj1CUkQMYPxg_KZ06VRJns0B8B_55llwNFSnsk0T/s3209/DSC02136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2872" data-original-width="3209" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIOP1mYufWc-34l3zbgc0i_yNO4aTuIK21ESvzXyap5zOC06MfCQnopeP6H8bF1wHjt9SXyRxlxl25f2GfRSLtKZ-YZlWZx8iGe2GFhv1I4ONsfCrF8bbeh4aN73rZUuvHvURHpTNGooBf_7Dy1y0fgj1CUkQMYPxg_KZ06VRJns0B8B_55llwNFSnsk0T/w400-h358/DSC02136.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">The <span style="color: #0b5394;">heroes </span>then caught an incredibly lucky break: At the start of a turn <span style="color: #cc0000;">Hades </span>drew one of the worst possible omen cards for the undead side. Why was this so bad? Well, all the <span style="color: #cc0000;">skeleton </span>groups have just a single die for Courage rolls, thus giving each one only a 50:50 chance of moving in the intended direction.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Predictably, much of the turn was spent with the <span style="color: #cc0000;">skeletons </span>milling about, whilst the <span style="color: #0b5394;">heroes </span>tried to reposition to a slightly better location.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbiA4LlRfkRVWg_A0QxCIrp7abAnm0TgpJgEWUP84OT51o9jTyp4vm4D1u8VVvkQvag670M9KBOJltBPLRmFwqWoL-7oagx0MtnIazXBtP9cQbPy-0SEGgP4fxqHnTQuj4CshPi04VeU45rxUSpDDZFonTK6LPW2uSRGXG77WWUvtc7f97v0a-Ztfvr3t/s3346/DSC02140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2851" data-original-width="3346" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbiA4LlRfkRVWg_A0QxCIrp7abAnm0TgpJgEWUP84OT51o9jTyp4vm4D1u8VVvkQvag670M9KBOJltBPLRmFwqWoL-7oagx0MtnIazXBtP9cQbPy-0SEGgP4fxqHnTQuj4CshPi04VeU45rxUSpDDZFonTK6LPW2uSRGXG77WWUvtc7f97v0a-Ztfvr3t/w400-h341/DSC02140.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Then, something unexpected happened. <span style="color: #0b5394;">Meleagros </span>attacked a <span style="color: #cc0000;">skeleton </span>group, wiped them out and scored a critical hit in doing so. This is extremely easy against <span style="color: #cc0000;">skeletons </span>with a base Resistance of 1; the <span style="color: #0b5394;">hero </span>rolled 5 or 6 attack dice and only needed to inflict 2 damage on the unarmoured group to score a crit - and that would then entitle him to another action (which could be used to make another attack). Rinse and repeat...</p><p style="text-align: left;">By the time that <span style="color: #0b5394;">Meleagros </span>had run out of <span style="color: #cc0000;">skeletons </span>near enough to attack, he had destroyed two entire groups of them and badly injured a dark <span style="color: #cc0000;">temple guard</span> in (if I remember right) 3 follow-on attacks.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHreJJ-RdRlBej3BmrhIky4lfgxJNpA5ANUdskirsPDbmNIIIjoJxhDGjA7gd5evj2yGOPognKzHc6aV6V0bGCSRS7vV07HluEUogr40Mjfu35l7-6nk9Ej92w9HEu_QEy3zG1K8SNqM_NMUjeqhAoscDOUBqOY5xkmEVHNuw5lbvSReYUmdHqxgBHNZBA/s5152/DSC02142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHreJJ-RdRlBej3BmrhIky4lfgxJNpA5ANUdskirsPDbmNIIIjoJxhDGjA7gd5evj2yGOPognKzHc6aV6V0bGCSRS7vV07HluEUogr40Mjfu35l7-6nk9Ej92w9HEu_QEy3zG1K8SNqM_NMUjeqhAoscDOUBqOY5xkmEVHNuw5lbvSReYUmdHqxgBHNZBA/w640-h480/DSC02142.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">The same thing then happened in the centre of the table. <span style="color: #0b5394;">Herakles</span>, driven to grief by the loss of <span style="color: #0b5394;">Hylas</span>, went on the rampage and destroyed everything within reach. Badly wounded, he was only stopped by failing a Fear test to charge a <span style="color: #cc0000;">Neukadaimon </span>(sp?), else the damage would have been much greater.</p><p style="text-align: left;">At this point, the forces of <span style="color: #cc0000;">Hades </span>were considerably shaken and thought they had lost the game. However, in a quick reversal their <span style="color: #cc0000;">priests </span>then summoned more groups of <span style="color: #cc0000;">skeletons </span>- and dropped these right beside three of the objectives! The game ended before the <span style="color: #0b5394;">heroes </span>could respond to that (presumably by rampaging through these new groups as well).</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4ylVuZyF-vrYuexHzs-Z9SDOtakOrLsgc1bcC8LmoWt6nCtgxQYJurbr7rd4Np9yNbfTDB74x3Yi64miA1y1GAojxgmM3W4hS10NhvVsxeogiHK9d1BU4fDYKrhoQaTRRsd_vgvdTima-0aXIq0DYbgsUa_0EKWLnlgKhpIbk2p-NYOmIqZdLB4QQTP-/s3902/DSC02146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3345" data-original-width="3902" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4ylVuZyF-vrYuexHzs-Z9SDOtakOrLsgc1bcC8LmoWt6nCtgxQYJurbr7rd4Np9yNbfTDB74x3Yi64miA1y1GAojxgmM3W4hS10NhvVsxeogiHK9d1BU4fDYKrhoQaTRRsd_vgvdTima-0aXIq0DYbgsUa_0EKWLnlgKhpIbk2p-NYOmIqZdLB4QQTP-/w640-h548/DSC02146.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">At the conclusion of play, the <span style="color: #0b5394;">heroes </span>controlled 2 of the objectives (one isn't visible in this picture). However, the last-minute summoning of more <span style="color: #cc0000;">skeletons </span>meant that <span style="color: #cc0000;">Hades </span>now controlled 3 objectives, thus making them the winner, by the narrowest of margins!</p><p><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h1><p style="text-align: left;">Well, that was fun! The <span style="color: #0b5394;">heroes </span>became a bit distracted by the <span style="color: #38761d;">cyclops </span>(both of them) and devoted the efforts of <i>four </i>named <span style="color: #0b5394;">heroes </span>to fighting the creatures. They killed the creatures with relative ease, but this concentration of force left them short-handed elsewhere and I think they would have been overrun by the dark forces if it had not been for two things:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>The very unfortunate <i>Siren Song</i> omen; it affected the <span style="color: #cc0000;">skeletons </span><i>far</i> more than it would have affected pretty much any other force.</li><li>The rules for critical hits. Once we realised that even a mid-level hero (like <span style="color: #0b5394;">Meleagros</span>) could run amok through multiple bases of <span style="color: #cc0000;">skeletons </span>in a single action, we were scouring the rules to see if we had made a mistake. But (a) critical damage occurs on double the base resistance [so, 2 points of damage], (b) a critical entitles the model to another action, (c) that bonus action may be an attack and (d) there's no limit on how many times this can be repeated. Am I wrong about this?</li></ol><p style="text-align: left;">As it was, the late game saw the <span style="color: #cc0000;">skeletons </span>decimated, but a last minute summoning after the <span style="color: #0b5394;">heroes </span>had used all their actions for the turn and couldn't respond saw fresh <span style="color: #cc0000;">skeletons </span>swarm over the objectives and win the game. Truly a lot of emotional swings!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Man of the Match</b>: probably <span style="color: #0b5394;">Meleagros</span>, in my opinion. He struck the killing blow against the second <span style="color: #38761d;">cyclops </span>(after <span style="color: #0b5394;">Atalanta </span>had weakened it) and then went berserk against <span style="color: #cc0000;">skeletons</span>, destroying a considerable number. For a not-quite-top-rank hero, that's impressive!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Most Useless</b>: I think the phalanx of dark <span style="color: #cc0000;">temple guard</span> was very disappointing. It looked impressive, but hardly moved during the game, never fought anything and never contested any objectives. A waste!</p><div><br /></div><p></p>Colgar6http://www.blogger.com/profile/07636662295301222390noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556126903764105050.post-43271785516807845032023-05-16T18:28:00.000+01:002023-05-16T18:28:36.515+01:00Carronade 2023: We Came, We Saw, We Played Games<h1 style="text-align: left;"> Introduction</h1><p style="text-align: left;">My son (A.) and I have been going to the Carronade show in Falkirk every year since 2015 - at least, in years when the show wasn't cancelled due to Covid lockdowns and the like. It's always been a good day for me; this year was no exception. As always on my blog, this is a personal account of our experiences rather than any attempt to describe the entire event. It's mainly for my own memories, though if others find my writing entertaining then that's good too!</p><p style="text-align: left;">My preferred mode of transport to Falkirk is by train. It takes longer than driving from home (Helensburgh) once the walks to and from various stations are taken into account, but it's so much more relaxing. The exercise is also better for me! This Saturday was a beautiful day for walking - warm and dry.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">The Venue</h2><p style="text-align: left;">Carronade is a big show (not <i>huge</i>, but definitely big enough for a day out). It's held in a school building, where the show is spread over 5 different halls. One of these is reserved for the flea market (bring & buy) and another is mainly for the painting competition.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The other three halls (pictured below) are full of games and traders:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBi40bz9IOW6OOo4pVla13pizbir06yU7cMB2Fnzc9GlVU9Vvb_hSr_7kLGcPAHEYCE5xSsSPp-bv9A5Q4WRSf7UWe9CCdx1L6iKXG8XGcFccV-uqZvc2GddRrXOmCQ8WjvPz81bXtnbwp0riN_-ObcIqltviWfWrdEmy3gGZvtLvWsYw2hERfiEXQ2w/s5148/DSC01996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2602" data-original-width="5148" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBi40bz9IOW6OOo4pVla13pizbir06yU7cMB2Fnzc9GlVU9Vvb_hSr_7kLGcPAHEYCE5xSsSPp-bv9A5Q4WRSf7UWe9CCdx1L6iKXG8XGcFccV-uqZvc2GddRrXOmCQ8WjvPz81bXtnbwp0riN_-ObcIqltviWfWrdEmy3gGZvtLvWsYw2hERfiEXQ2w/w640-h325/DSC01996.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrBzl8GgE802My8h5e4gTCXp9h-PbWxtCdpm-aBQUJQRy4ak_R7W0Em6c2BpkgftPnnH08w6kZdY6YoLvIwBtjAk4MHQS38WZPYb_YG7DxksrbLy62FOF6YvFQiyYwbNOttxlQXnkzdBW5Mm-SAJjUBya7N8mowEj0qgb6--c19Tcj9a7yZtvbNPbCg/s3856/DSC01999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3856" data-original-width="3803" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrBzl8GgE802My8h5e4gTCXp9h-PbWxtCdpm-aBQUJQRy4ak_R7W0Em6c2BpkgftPnnH08w6kZdY6YoLvIwBtjAk4MHQS38WZPYb_YG7DxksrbLy62FOF6YvFQiyYwbNOttxlQXnkzdBW5Mm-SAJjUBya7N8mowEj0qgb6--c19Tcj9a7yZtvbNPbCg/w632-h640/DSC01999.JPG" width="632" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDT6Xew41BxBTc9u84dtr59QWKfMZ_BO2Ptysk--sorW5aPEK5EzwHNiH4xx9rEPf9qVwiFyc10y87JYpcwIIAAcALI-3BXylYuqQsp6QXcYlvUBHk7KD5R2tqu-IxB1gEArRDV9PuX_kwdzztwwbmBPAnWsV9paGgpnMaEXLRu9fD7H3gpSlTB4nlcQ/s5152/DSC02013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDT6Xew41BxBTc9u84dtr59QWKfMZ_BO2Ptysk--sorW5aPEK5EzwHNiH4xx9rEPf9qVwiFyc10y87JYpcwIIAAcALI-3BXylYuqQsp6QXcYlvUBHk7KD5R2tqu-IxB1gEArRDV9PuX_kwdzztwwbmBPAnWsV9paGgpnMaEXLRu9fD7H3gpSlTB4nlcQ/w640-h480/DSC02013.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">We spent time wandering around looking at the demonstration games, joining in various participation games, browsing trade stands and meeting various friends.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Also, we sampled some of the various participation games that were on offer.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Game 1: Xtreme G Racing (Glasgow Games Group)</h2><p style="text-align: left;">Glasgow Games Group put on a home brew sci-fi racing game involving various jet bikes. Apparently, the main design principle was to make a miniature game which felt somewhat like playing Mario Kart.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I'm not really able to judge how well that objective may have been achieved (I've heard of the console game, but I've never played it). However, the Xtreme G Racing game was a good game in itself, with simple rules that still managed to offer tactical choices to the players. Silly but fun!</p><p style="text-align: left;">So, here's how our race went:</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/AVvXsEgo-AohOFiVDWNlN_X0H8RJyXP7WUyha6beR5XDbIIPq8HQ1kEFl4fWEBYN9LRLQWmmthGkDpoQfAwOHdcF3olZ7foix4r6WjLvoEdcMauLGEVLzuzoT3MOFJxEjnPdfLbLXTJPWQqBUwuyyfXzWJ1QB0P3PRXoBMZeoRKSV_qUIioQDziVzrQ3k0FoCg/s4820/DSC01988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1975" data-original-width="4820" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-AohOFiVDWNlN_X0H8RJyXP7WUyha6beR5XDbIIPq8HQ1kEFl4fWEBYN9LRLQWmmthGkDpoQfAwOHdcF3olZ7foix4r6WjLvoEdcMauLGEVLzuzoT3MOFJxEjnPdfLbLXTJPWQqBUwuyyfXzWJ1QB0P3PRXoBMZeoRKSV_qUIioQDziVzrQ3k0FoCg/w400-h164/DSC01988.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't have a jet bike, but rather drove a yellow mono-wheel. They all have the same abilities anyway...</td></tr></tbody></table><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/AVvXsEgvMdGYAiyfAlOmzjgoiec5nZuIv9atxPArBA-7EVLTi3lm3bVVq15F6q5I4cdKj8ll_W8tzbxqexZcai-xlgObuGgrft1fqMpxV23QZV8W9R-762d3r_Bd1bP8A_sSfkIFAh6DHKLSCit7sCEZHjJw6j3PZj8wyo8C992m02P0kLz-S9lA5bh1h76RBQ/s5147/DSC01992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2577" data-original-width="5147" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMdGYAiyfAlOmzjgoiec5nZuIv9atxPArBA-7EVLTi3lm3bVVq15F6q5I4cdKj8ll_W8tzbxqexZcai-xlgObuGgrft1fqMpxV23QZV8W9R-762d3r_Bd1bP8A_sSfkIFAh6DHKLSCit7sCEZHjJw6j3PZj8wyo8C992m02P0kLz-S9lA5bh1h76RBQ/w640-h320/DSC01992.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the first lap (of two), I was well in the lead 😀</td></tr></tbody></table><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/AVvXsEiRrD-uxIjBHp7rbiGpItoKKAnXpZ7M4bEsUIBesbyB7OH7d0XgCS13CQYyEqlStzjYQj1c7RVdFzK9z3kHwKYo7OgB6UjNl0d2lMwiPojUFc-dC5nwqlGLAgZ7PL2UsnkR6K5CVSksF3xGQecWse0oYDmY95ObkziwIC_N_8Svh5i6ula8z_zEDwk21Q/s5152/DSC01993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2718" data-original-width="5152" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrD-uxIjBHp7rbiGpItoKKAnXpZ7M4bEsUIBesbyB7OH7d0XgCS13CQYyEqlStzjYQj1c7RVdFzK9z3kHwKYo7OgB6UjNl0d2lMwiPojUFc-dC5nwqlGLAgZ7PL2UsnkR6K5CVSksF3xGQecWse0oYDmY95ObkziwIC_N_8Svh5i6ula8z_zEDwk21Q/w400-h211/DSC01993.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...but when the leaders crossed the finish line (a tie between blue and red), I was nowhere to be seen. What happened?</td></tr></tbody></table><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/AVvXsEhUZ0RjlROVwLDiAhc516GzNVvRK5fuEp4E-UKSYGIy3KrwTsxLxSp451o3pbsq-EGOD4UXgu4Zvf5p97-MJ2is0nXrrNlwqGsEIrD_JNQuEcoF3_m4VyOkhrIsKOpbYIkrKKYuK7fypQu2Ds9TwFOCXl7OToV8_UWnRQVefyVJGYvrz5-DI8DHBRG-Tw/s3830/DSC01994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3830" data-original-width="3807" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZ0RjlROVwLDiAhc516GzNVvRK5fuEp4E-UKSYGIy3KrwTsxLxSp451o3pbsq-EGOD4UXgu4Zvf5p97-MJ2is0nXrrNlwqGsEIrD_JNQuEcoF3_m4VyOkhrIsKOpbYIkrKKYuK7fypQu2Ds9TwFOCXl7OToV8_UWnRQVefyVJGYvrz5-DI8DHBRG-Tw/s320/DSC01994.JPG" width="318" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was a massive pile up on the last lap; most of us were thoroughly caught up in it. I misjudged the distance remaining and thought I had time to go into the pits. This was a big mistake and I came in a distant last 😖. Oh, well...</td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="text-align: left;">Game 2: Moonstone</h2><p style="text-align: left;">Now <i>this</i> is something unusual! I thought I knew a bit about gaming and had at least <i>heard about</i> most games. However, Moonstone has passed me by - until now.</p><p style="text-align: left;">So, it's a "whimsical fantasy" skirmish game. Bands of creatures (goblins, humans, gnomes, other...) search for buried treasure (moonstones) and have to finish before dawn (i.e. there's a time limit). The models are definitely whimsical, the abilities are interesting and the combat system is done via cards that depict fencing moves. So far, so good.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Here's what happened in our game:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>A's (human) sniper tried to shoot at me. He misjudged badly and his musket blew up. Injured, he decided to retreat.</li><li>One of my characters ("Grubb"? Not pictured) found and dug up a shallow moonstone. He then ran off the board with it, thus securing me one victory point.</li><li>My goblin-mounted-on-a-pug found two moonstones that were fairly well buried. However, it turns out that the dog was an <i>enthusiastic</i> digger, so I retrieved both items quite easily.</li></ul><div><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYu7Sqg8pupQxZGbUok_j465sjEGSh_4DZjhT5qInVHtx0qLNrabcABhzdpfA5_6tL9B89PWZFnhVp99chaj7lweyeJhH4NeYFSrcnpmI95rt-A0tfu8UZGcAaxQYuhyACkFoR6SMbKX18yNTmlPiajCzuiZni2mrWn98fLsf3Y5nPTN1DXW6ieXvb3A/s4537/DSC02005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3187" data-original-width="4537" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYu7Sqg8pupQxZGbUok_j465sjEGSh_4DZjhT5qInVHtx0qLNrabcABhzdpfA5_6tL9B89PWZFnhVp99chaj7lweyeJhH4NeYFSrcnpmI95rt-A0tfu8UZGcAaxQYuhyACkFoR6SMbKX18yNTmlPiajCzuiZni2mrWn98fLsf3Y5nPTN1DXW6ieXvb3A/w400-h281/DSC02005.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>However</i>, A's knight ("Baron something von Fancyhat") saw this and decided that stealing my finds would be easier than discovering his own. My pug+goblin was no match for this human in a fight and was <i>slaughtered</i>.</li><li>In revenge, my <i>vicious midget</i> then appeared out of nowhere and did some real damage to the Baron with his signature attack (hint: it involves stabbing <i>upwards</i>). This left the Baron barely alive - but he counter-attacked and <i>obliterated</i> my little creature. At this point I was beginning to really dislike the man...</li></ul><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zIwJWA4y1PpP5QcRN88jNbFJF3bJWTOIjJPycbgL2lypIDvD3sZS6Z-GhdGtp_z3X4ZITK93h0AWcDmmJtcc6Lzkt-S5cPqWJcxEX3q04GVHOcuNuzf0lyzrha8uP_vI-aaMB91H_dUjIaPLCWEyByvRRnEfD4QDkxwdgTl1okxef-MmKByXe7khuw/s4811/DSC02006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2187" data-original-width="4811" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zIwJWA4y1PpP5QcRN88jNbFJF3bJWTOIjJPycbgL2lypIDvD3sZS6Z-GhdGtp_z3X4ZITK93h0AWcDmmJtcc6Lzkt-S5cPqWJcxEX3q04GVHOcuNuzf0lyzrha8uP_vI-aaMB91H_dUjIaPLCWEyByvRRnEfD4QDkxwdgTl1okxef-MmKByXe7khuw/w400-h181/DSC02006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>In an ignominious move, my beaky goblin wizard approached Baron von Fancyhat and slew him with a noxious fart (yes, you read that right! Whimsical fantasy? You decide...).</li><li>This last goblin then grabbed one of the dropped moonstones and legged it before daybreak.</li></ul><p style="text-align: left;">Final score: 2 moonstones to the goblins, 1 to the humans (I can't remember which human character had picked this up). This was definitely a most interesting and unusual game, both for the subject matter and also for some of the game mechanisms.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Game 3: 02:00</h2><p style="text-align: left;">Now here's a game that seems to be everywhere at the moment! 02:00 is a game pitting British commandos against German garrisons in night-time raids (I imagine that other forces can be used as well). As such, it places a high emphasis on stealth and spotting; I was very curious to see what mechanisms were used for these aspects and how well they worked.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnyypE1nQ_d_nhSL-FSyDcSkM9N6Ebt19v6bQ7oIMnzEJPz178FcBvqrJWgQr028atyKcYgDRJnA3s1Y-XoZDRD9vwbMmcn9n2cqh-PIyqkkZ0hn5uX9wFudhI2eb4hXpztsuDKNsv_5TiVbt8Yv5gBKQq5ZsXSbOTqh_ASle3qNVERAjOmPJLiOccg/s4470/DSC02008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2905" data-original-width="4470" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnyypE1nQ_d_nhSL-FSyDcSkM9N6Ebt19v6bQ7oIMnzEJPz178FcBvqrJWgQr028atyKcYgDRJnA3s1Y-XoZDRD9vwbMmcn9n2cqh-PIyqkkZ0hn5uX9wFudhI2eb4hXpztsuDKNsv_5TiVbt8Yv5gBKQq5ZsXSbOTqh_ASle3qNVERAjOmPJLiOccg/w400-h260/DSC02008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">In our game, a small band of British special forces had to cross the board and escape off the other side. We would win if at least two of our men achieved this. That didn't sound too hard!</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfilCGOa5cpqyEp5HDdvRMzO6RiSq72-UFGtK3f-N-es9d8pB3GqDU4ipmkcZb9PEu5IWedN0WP-ISaDj2HwDhssi-_hxlcsF3XzWywInHByHvpGIf_7Jc-3wdFGT9o9zY2piZrgnqhEW4tGBHMgahBwVAYmG7PF7KPxK7Eag9yWrXVijJpmbxpuOdjg/s5152/DSC02010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfilCGOa5cpqyEp5HDdvRMzO6RiSq72-UFGtK3f-N-es9d8pB3GqDU4ipmkcZb9PEu5IWedN0WP-ISaDj2HwDhssi-_hxlcsF3XzWywInHByHvpGIf_7Jc-3wdFGT9o9zY2piZrgnqhEW4tGBHMgahBwVAYmG7PF7KPxK7Eag9yWrXVijJpmbxpuOdjg/w640-h480/DSC02010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">To this end, we crept along the hedgerows, ignoring the sleepy cattle.</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWiSJwdrE104kLnQnLsXuqOYxEL7Tkg9gD0OiVdSeBm52gXqUPuF_DhqkgFjOeUb8isR0YVJ468m9za3vRx1nL4XqvECHw8uC4Gi3eUxtugdnHcvKjX8_6xj195979txKFMy4KO50s6FHyUENMaiER4QW75-X3Pel-Kx_gR20cJuQDvmIyPn-5dfLPvg/s5133/DSC02011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3144" data-original-width="5133" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWiSJwdrE104kLnQnLsXuqOYxEL7Tkg9gD0OiVdSeBm52gXqUPuF_DhqkgFjOeUb8isR0YVJ468m9za3vRx1nL4XqvECHw8uC4Gi3eUxtugdnHcvKjX8_6xj195979txKFMy4KO50s6FHyUENMaiER4QW75-X3Pel-Kx_gR20cJuQDvmIyPn-5dfLPvg/w640-h392/DSC02011.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">However, I hadn't reckoned with the German officer. He was a bit keen, to put it mildly! This jackbooted thug personally spotted and shot 3 of my 4 troopers - my last squaddie was traumatised to the point where he couldn't resist a sentry and was (probably) taken prisoner.</p><p style="text-align: left;">In this last picture, you can just see my British officer running off the board (top left), fully expecting that his men were right behind him! At least <i>he </i>escaped, though to be honest I think he deserved to be cashiered for his exceptionally poor leadership.</p><p style="text-align: left;">What of the rules, then? Well, although the game looked fantastic, the assistant on my side of the table wasn't really comfortable or familiar with them. The game host (on the other side of the table) was hoarse from having talked most of the game - and was overloaded with questions from both sides and from passers by. Overall, I came away feeling that I still don't really know how the rules work. A missed opportunity?</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Game 4: Dead Man's Hand</h2><p style="text-align: left;">Dead Man's Hand is a set of rules that seems to be very popular, possibly even to the point of dominating the "Old West" style of games. Since I play such games myself - if only occasionally - I was interested to see what this rule set could offer.</p><p style="text-align: left;">As might be expected from the name, playing cards are an integral part of the game. In this case, these serve two functions: determining the order in which models activate and also providing a hand of "event" cards that each player can use at an appropriate moment.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Here's the game we played:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7sp3t7L2yFGjiUwKT-5XJJcQJdG8GLDEVkih9qm7_aMdTJeaXGGiAix3KzDw8UZe3xoHWj3JYO7pMeUMhehIpqBgvmuxa3MsAoDxBXYZCipdzzc174TfKN34vhcosKNSPjDBe2R3OtohrsuAWMe96stOQ6TqI32tPMLXvjvRytLKknZSvxogGPoU0hA/s4583/DSC02014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3233" data-original-width="4583" height="453" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7sp3t7L2yFGjiUwKT-5XJJcQJdG8GLDEVkih9qm7_aMdTJeaXGGiAix3KzDw8UZe3xoHWj3JYO7pMeUMhehIpqBgvmuxa3MsAoDxBXYZCipdzzc174TfKN34vhcosKNSPjDBe2R3OtohrsuAWMe96stOQ6TqI32tPMLXvjvRytLKknZSvxogGPoU0hA/w640-h453/DSC02014.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">I took a large group of desperadoes (Mexican bandit types), whilst my son commanded a similar number of outlaws or cowboys.</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEici5oXzBuqjQUeA0_g4cVATX0hOnCB8GONw6SEVlT4Tw627GpkXA9VdOwDW3OXlKp4WrfiDz-buuEsmn-_vJOhuPtPUmrLwa5o8MenB-wMJClG3cjyE7QsmO8mwRHbdUOenG_iRtSPJ3LnmSUQDP6LMoXTazPBSLdEclvIo4MWrYigrOrf5wsJ2H3gMA/s5152/DSC02017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3618" data-original-width="5152" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEici5oXzBuqjQUeA0_g4cVATX0hOnCB8GONw6SEVlT4Tw627GpkXA9VdOwDW3OXlKp4WrfiDz-buuEsmn-_vJOhuPtPUmrLwa5o8MenB-wMJClG3cjyE7QsmO8mwRHbdUOenG_iRtSPJ3LnmSUQDP6LMoXTazPBSLdEclvIo4MWrYigrOrf5wsJ2H3gMA/w640-h450/DSC02017.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">My leader was cut down (almost my only casualty), but in return my desperadoes incapacitated over half of the opposition in only two or three turns. At that point, the enemy leader rolled really low on a nerve test and all his remaining figures ran away.</p><p style="text-align: left;">My thoughts on this game: the figures and scenery were perfectly good and set the scene nicely. I'm not so sure about the rules, though:</p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>The cards used for activation order were almost entirely random, so there wasn't much decision-making around them (unlike, for example, the way that cards are used in <i>A Fistful of Lead</i>).</li><li>The "event cards" didn't make much difference. Maybe that was because we were unfamiliar with them (the text was very small and quite dense) and we didn't use many.</li><li>I'm really not that keen on shots essentially taking "hit points" off models. A single shot does (usually) 1 point or (occasionally) 2 points. For reference, an average gunman can take 4 hits; a leader can take 5. So it's not possible to kill an opponent with a single shot.<br />This seems so odd that I'm wondering if I've understood the rules at all.</li></ol><div>In summary, I was left cold by the game we played. Is this because we didn't really understand the rules? Or is it because Dead Man's Hand just isn't my kind of game? Perhaps this was another missed opportunity to learn about a set of rules which sound very interesting.</div><p></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Loot</h2>Yes, there was some shopping - both small pre-orders and some impulse buying. Here goes:<p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNW-T7kYOVZTEmN7dZw9WHLWEgrZpNsNtLt48huhkpnb1sR9rsGRI076QvNzF90UpWZ5HauwHgMeGfEOs5lP2e7ZQ7aqTYREll_eGLW8yPPVImldpb7TQCbZzpKSUydPv8ArgGm-G_8GGe4iS40PbuuOHL5CajU75nCbFHaQfR8rpl2mslskyJ26If7w/s3200/DSC02021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3200" data-original-width="2919" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNW-T7kYOVZTEmN7dZw9WHLWEgrZpNsNtLt48huhkpnb1sR9rsGRI076QvNzF90UpWZ5HauwHgMeGfEOs5lP2e7ZQ7aqTYREll_eGLW8yPPVImldpb7TQCbZzpKSUydPv8ArgGm-G_8GGe4iS40PbuuOHL5CajU75nCbFHaQfR8rpl2mslskyJ26If7w/w584-h640/DSC02021.JPG" width="584" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">In no particular order:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Dodos. Just because.</li><li>Centaurs - more Greek Myth classics.</li><li>Japanese cart crew, to flesh out my "samurai" village scenes.</li><li><i>What a Tanker</i> - seems like a fun set of rules and I wanted to take a proper look.</li><li>Sarissa's "Guide to Laser Cut MDF Kits". Should be an interesting read.</li><li>An Old West building. Actually I wanted the saloon, but Warbases didn't have the extra floors (with balcony) at the show - so I treated myself to a different model instead.</li><li>Dice, paint brushes, bases.</li></ul><p></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Summary</h2><div>This was a really good day. The weather was nice for walking to the venue, the traders had (mostly) what I wanted and there were plenty of participation games (too many for us to play in all of them!). I'm not sure what else I could have wanted!</div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Colgar6http://www.blogger.com/profile/07636662295301222390noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556126903764105050.post-64526506343526549992022-08-13T08:20:00.001+01:002022-08-13T08:20:28.804+01:00Claymore 2022: Good enough!<h1 style="text-align: left;"> Introduction</h1><p style="text-align: left;">There haven't been many wargame shows over the last 3 years. Here in Scotland, they have been slow to restart, with Carronade (Falkirk) as the only major show to happen in 2021. This year (2022), it looks as if Claymore (Edinburgh) will be the only big show. Oh, well - better one show than none at all.</p><p style="text-align: left;">This post is about our experiences at Claymore 2022. It's a very personal account and as such is a record of our experiences and activities. If you were expecting a full description of the entire show then you might be disappointed.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Travel</h1><p style="text-align: left;">As usual, we had to drive some 2 hours to reach the venue. It's not a good location for public transport, especially if one is starting from outside Edinburgh itself. We (well, I - as the driver) did get slightly lost in north-east Edinburgh on the final approach, but this was soon corrected and only cost us a few minutes. My excuse is that it has been several years since my last visit to Claymore and I had forgotten one of the last turns. Oh, well - no great damage.</p><p style="text-align: left;">One difference from before was that this time we had a party of three: myself, my son A. and a friend N. from the Helensburgh games club (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/helensburghalternativehobby">HAHA</a>).</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Game 1: Tank Golf!</h1><p style="text-align: left;">Before we had even finished an initial tour of all the halls in which the show was taking place, we were grabbed by a group who invited us to play a quick & simple game of tank golf (?!).</p><p style="text-align: left;">The serious part of this is that during the Japanese invasion of Singapore (in World War 2), some of the fighting took place on & around a (British) golf course. Our hosts had a wealth of information on the area. This included pointing out which areas had now been redeveloped as a highway, where undisturbed graves were thought to be located and so on. All very serious stuff.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Then the game: each of us was given command of a Japanese tank. The object was to drive it from the tee to the green within the fewest possible moves. Apparently, this hole was a par 5, so anything under 5 moves would earn bonus points.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Oh, while we were doing this, we could shoot at entrenched British infantry - and they might shoot back with Boyes anti-tank rifles and a 2pdr anti-tank gun.</p><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/AVvXsEiWoKdx-lqoWWn-Kyolct9LR8rkptvAt2kcY_O9CF4cdMQXKxZjo6YOg4_e8VUByYaA_Khstr9GBsjSAcRFTTis55PZh1TJ66DN4Up7Bc97x2JEWzjn8o-e-DxAV60T3E74mPzcxtiMPSLOhzcHbWcPFApsm_s4fwNkeS6L-zu2RKpFrIlzlKCw_GIsYg/s4525/DSC01698.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3304" data-original-width="4525" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoKdx-lqoWWn-Kyolct9LR8rkptvAt2kcY_O9CF4cdMQXKxZjo6YOg4_e8VUByYaA_Khstr9GBsjSAcRFTTis55PZh1TJ66DN4Up7Bc97x2JEWzjn8o-e-DxAV60T3E74mPzcxtiMPSLOhzcHbWcPFApsm_s4fwNkeS6L-zu2RKpFrIlzlKCw_GIsYg/w400-h293/DSC01698.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4 tanks lined up, ready to start (as there were 3 of us, one vehicle wasn't used). I had the one on the extreme left, with the white dice)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><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/AVvXsEjhLt_DottF-ObzKY4-iPcnHMOJ7lUMcxlQ6XCSdvQ6fsL7C5p5JWp9owHsyhB4ZkbHxx3A6i8_ddUDuKBezf5HD7_cqkRuIT6u02UOEVCrLtC7oF2C92ZPEfW2piW5K4LL64hzdGeM5YeGSWFh7uiJpEhAwYCy5_18sHniPqeggMtLBrEsBmvV76DQsg/s4886/DSC01703.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2909" data-original-width="4886" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLt_DottF-ObzKY4-iPcnHMOJ7lUMcxlQ6XCSdvQ6fsL7C5p5JWp9owHsyhB4ZkbHxx3A6i8_ddUDuKBezf5HD7_cqkRuIT6u02UOEVCrLtC7oF2C92ZPEfW2piW5K4LL64hzdGeM5YeGSWFh7uiJpEhAwYCy5_18sHniPqeggMtLBrEsBmvV76DQsg/w400-h239/DSC01703.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After 4 turns, I made it to the flag. Since this was one under par, I scored a birdie. Also, I managed to shoot one of the ATRs, scoring a bonus point.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">This was a quick and simple game with a very engaged set of hosts. The only think I would say against it is that the movement was completely random; as players we didn't really have any decisions to make (well, we chose which target to try to shoot - but that was almost irrelevant in determining the overall outcome). It would have been nice if we could have chosen which gear to use, or the direction to head, or even whether to observe from the hatch or button up. I think the organisers missed a trick here, though it was still a fun little diversion.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Game 2: Test of Resolve</h1><p style="text-align: left;">Just before lunch (and the timing might <i>just</i> have affected my son's concentration 😄), we joined in another game. This was set during the Wars of the Roses and played with the Test of Resolve rules (under development? Already published? I'm not clear on this). Again, the organisers were very keen and incredibly thorough on their topic.</p><p style="text-align: left;">So, we played an ambush. My son and a stranger took a column of evil Yorkist loyalists who were advancing along a road. N. and I took 2 commands of noble Lancastrian rebels who were hiding in the nearby woods in ambush.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></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/AVvXsEgek-d3y0R54Q20o9nILTUH0fbJZrXpC61sDCRcWhSGowznMn8V5I4Q915zfGN_Qt-UIurjtFX1WAYOaK24fg9RWuzf09iY9j3FQTQsVFaLWWLvFSRAzo81a6Gbo6AwohyJjkuShXjcPvwgLT2fV3T-k_hPBkj7SGQMUTFFFIZe2n6dbn_fX0BL8r9h9g/s4521/DSC01706.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3270" data-original-width="4521" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgek-d3y0R54Q20o9nILTUH0fbJZrXpC61sDCRcWhSGowznMn8V5I4Q915zfGN_Qt-UIurjtFX1WAYOaK24fg9RWuzf09iY9j3FQTQsVFaLWWLvFSRAzo81a6Gbo6AwohyJjkuShXjcPvwgLT2fV3T-k_hPBkj7SGQMUTFFFIZe2n6dbn_fX0BL8r9h9g/w400-h289/DSC01706.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Lancastrians waiting to ambush from the woods at the bottom. Unwary Yorkists keep to the road.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></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/AVvXsEgCldW35Lri-dAPsOCknlfGua9_7EE8unR5Q0txeiWPjA66HiDGstnW6vgI4rcaDtfma2PPE6Z1Hw56EgubdG6r1F1XIR4rutRhLxdDtmsWOCHgfSkX8oMkvoRMcvdXdFVIVjAGrQlpfRve93PqnrUM7tsVmJA0tA0TQaGdLJ1u8n1_QzHCAio7MS0DOw/s5152/DSC01708.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCldW35Lri-dAPsOCknlfGua9_7EE8unR5Q0txeiWPjA66HiDGstnW6vgI4rcaDtfma2PPE6Z1Hw56EgubdG6r1F1XIR4rutRhLxdDtmsWOCHgfSkX8oMkvoRMcvdXdFVIVjAGrQlpfRve93PqnrUM7tsVmJA0tA0TQaGdLJ1u8n1_QzHCAio7MS0DOw/w400-h300/DSC01708.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trap is sprung a bit too early, as the Yorkist scouts see me waiting.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></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/AVvXsEiaOApqVB4UxQrpPjVCl6h7xiLwr_PHO2O9zSVPLQzNhJpk3gp3l5Nhfx2qQo4fyvdUWsXOwVyp27K57y230LjTTAe9metM-ba1Ei3ebzezxfEC5OlGlCGDxKawwNe93pm8fTXp5qBYe57QCP5-O58jhu5PvJLPLYj89fSSfnnMBO4uaW8B0gLisQNwcg/s3923/DSC01715.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2914" data-original-width="3923" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOApqVB4UxQrpPjVCl6h7xiLwr_PHO2O9zSVPLQzNhJpk3gp3l5Nhfx2qQo4fyvdUWsXOwVyp27K57y230LjTTAe9metM-ba1Ei3ebzezxfEC5OlGlCGDxKawwNe93pm8fTXp5qBYe57QCP5-O58jhu5PvJLPLYj89fSSfnnMBO4uaW8B0gLisQNwcg/s320/DSC01715.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Battle is joined! Initially, damage seems light, but entire commands can disintegrate very suddenly. This happened to the other part of the Lancastrian command as it charged from the far wood - though at least they did take some of the enemy with them.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></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/AVvXsEg1K73NGUn5qFKmZk-SgJ4G9FaS5oQUHM2rAvL3CbdJYIBs2xzusbbC2S0SPBQMwxb3pDpSKODtSsHls33UPnMZRg7zMqdkIxrMpBIpbbksJRbvNDIazWtB5VhqOmppzVu86AdA8xseVaxyBJlHZBDCEwLbNp1ezlYlP-RonJsQ1olKEWNU4DcCGluawQ/s2997/DSC01719.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2365" data-original-width="2997" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1K73NGUn5qFKmZk-SgJ4G9FaS5oQUHM2rAvL3CbdJYIBs2xzusbbC2S0SPBQMwxb3pDpSKODtSsHls33UPnMZRg7zMqdkIxrMpBIpbbksJRbvNDIazWtB5VhqOmppzVu86AdA8xseVaxyBJlHZBDCEwLbNp1ezlYlP-RonJsQ1olKEWNU4DcCGluawQ/s320/DSC01719.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeling somewhat desperate, with slightly inferior troops and outnumbered by about 3:2, I staked everything on a swift charge. Miraculously, I crashed through and scattered my son's advancing Yorkists with minimal damage to myself. That left just one enemy battle to go. They put up a stiffer fight, but my remaining troops finally managed to rout them and the field was ours!</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">I feel a bit conflicted by this game:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>On the one hand, I wanted to like it. If nothing else, the enthusiasm and background knowledge of the presenters requires some form of reward.</li><li>On the other hand, the movement abilities of the troops seemed a bit stilted, morale seemed to be accounted for twice (once by individual unit status and again by a pile of tokens for each command) and the combat results seemed very unpredictable (anything from no real effect to complete disintegration - situation and troop quality seemed to play only a very minor part).</li></ul><div>My experience was only very brief, of course - and late medieval civil war is not really one of my main interests. I'd suggest that anyone with a real desire to play games in this period should find out more and make up their own minds.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Eye Candy</h2><p style="text-align: left;">There were some very pretty display games at the show. This one particularly caught my eye: it's a samurai-era naval battle:</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/AVvXsEh4Dh5Osda__Rg-oBN5SAbpkIuPu7nQ_1g_vgs8AC1q3MGFuplYC7cPtn2LmkMy3CAj3uEJkrsjBpKlBHjrfjI9Ijg6S7jZ5AJuS-3T93bqCoG8LWZErRNaAJ3utZbcUNhHP5dV-7jNnDPADpdbcXc96ageW6hG9Et72yZXZ-BPE-vvGFw7dxO3MfV9xw/s5152/DSC01720.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Dh5Osda__Rg-oBN5SAbpkIuPu7nQ_1g_vgs8AC1q3MGFuplYC7cPtn2LmkMy3CAj3uEJkrsjBpKlBHjrfjI9Ijg6S7jZ5AJuS-3T93bqCoG8LWZErRNaAJ3utZbcUNhHP5dV-7jNnDPADpdbcXc96ageW6hG9Et72yZXZ-BPE-vvGFw7dxO3MfV9xw/w400-h300/DSC01720.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I believe that all the ship models are made by Scheltrum, though I could have misheard that.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></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/AVvXsEhSRo9qw-zv27ZDDS39M8pBHib-24Uozrv-zZ9R_Sz2FkBy-F-qKE8p3iUohm5jDJ2RCv9WBAPLAXnHGurmpqMueb7Zes22VYItZns2kF5YjnSyKDJIddt3buiLvpajAsNiptDV8YW1MbMJVkDX_tLlD5l5zoGXl1OIFI6mZ28DIBxEuuX-mLf12Of21w/s5152/DSC01723.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRo9qw-zv27ZDDS39M8pBHib-24Uozrv-zZ9R_Sz2FkBy-F-qKE8p3iUohm5jDJ2RCv9WBAPLAXnHGurmpqMueb7Zes22VYItZns2kF5YjnSyKDJIddt3buiLvpajAsNiptDV8YW1MbMJVkDX_tLlD5l5zoGXl1OIFI6mZ28DIBxEuuX-mLf12Of21w/w640-h480/DSC01723.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a random picture of the Sports Hall (i.e the smaller-sized part of the venue). The larger part of the show was in the entrance hall - but I didn't take pictures of that. The layout in both is the same: games in the middle and traders around all the sides.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Game 3: Imjin River</h2><p style="text-align: left;">Once again, we found a game with a very knowledgeable and dedicated host (there seems to be a pattern here! Although I find it odd that this state of affairs should remarkable; engaged & competent game organisers ought to be the normal state of affairs at shows).</p><p style="text-align: left;">Our final game was a recreation of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Imjin_River">battle of Imjin River</a>, from the Korean war. So, Chinese hordes are sweeping over the border and are only 20 miles from Seoul. Can the vastly-outnumbered U.N. forces (in the shape of the British Gloucestershire regiment) delay them enough for a proper defense to be organised?</p><p style="text-align: left;">This game was notable for at least two things:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>The terrain was <i>superb</i>! The boards were topographically accurate, having been built from maps of the actual location. I was even told that the vertical scale was correctly proportioned - this land is <i>really</i> rugged.</li><li>The game wasn't reset for each group of players. Rather, we picked up the situation from where it had been left by earlier players. I was told that our finishing situation would be recorded and set up as the start point for the <i>next</i> show which the game would visit (Partizan? I probably didn't remember this correctly). The entire battle would thus play out over several sessions throughout the show season.</li></ol><div>So, the U.N. forces have a lot of firepower (artillery and aircraft), but the Chinese have <i>stupendous </i>numbers of troops...</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><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/AVvXsEg9LkkxruVMVXx3RfHrNcuNgHAKqSQYf2tRmKPhGGTgMLFYDnHtzDa4ykgbW6Btugn0mjSsOjkWsAmhbJn1LFsR3llY_w5KgP1uuD9d9HVhxYJrJu9wwnCUTZCFjspXWL9qiYLEORyhsCWFFvORaxJjclIhUAFiYetMYyXWhwn0or7z_y7_4Nbcts9Oeg/s5139/DSC01727.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3831" data-original-width="5139" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LkkxruVMVXx3RfHrNcuNgHAKqSQYf2tRmKPhGGTgMLFYDnHtzDa4ykgbW6Btugn0mjSsOjkWsAmhbJn1LFsR3llY_w5KgP1uuD9d9HVhxYJrJu9wwnCUTZCFjspXWL9qiYLEORyhsCWFFvORaxJjclIhUAFiYetMYyXWhwn0or7z_y7_4Nbcts9Oeg/w400-h299/DSC01727.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the time we picked up the game, the Gloucesters had just received orders to pull back several of their battered companies (which had weathered intense attacks all through the previous night).</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></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/AVvXsEieQ7JwfZvamoJABF65lLb7PfqkFYidSA-g9yQfR5yoF1N6daCJ2Vt9Mg3ZpukfXdd-cjJIEBa5GkrSAjveD8XzCarNRSWzhaKy9hMhZCvm5DSTpCx0KiYB9Tggq-ghdXDTceQoTEtDTV47bAtHs7_5pG87QoUASg_XdzreTXDBUyZu2TRg-b1GcfoKPg/s4788/DSC01735.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3481" data-original-width="4788" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQ7JwfZvamoJABF65lLb7PfqkFYidSA-g9yQfR5yoF1N6daCJ2Vt9Mg3ZpukfXdd-cjJIEBa5GkrSAjveD8XzCarNRSWzhaKy9hMhZCvm5DSTpCx0KiYB9Tggq-ghdXDTceQoTEtDTV47bAtHs7_5pG87QoUASg_XdzreTXDBUyZu2TRg-b1GcfoKPg/w400-h291/DSC01735.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was really scary leaving our tranches on the previous hill tops in order to run across the plains back to our supports. Each red disk is a Chinese <i>battalion </i>(or regiment or something like that). Our pale blue disks are <i>companies</i>.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></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/AVvXsEiva10pn5HwfoYiy_R_Bby8lI_fpOXqWkbVFbZljPEDNRevsYE3H7KcMZE7jbkE-2ouU3bMrj1dwihft9kWq99raeWTD0gXe4cLGzlKUPjN68FpURvKltwM4yufETkBQwkyGVSAMvn48lqD8b5vTREkjPKAmlTVohZccbtARxNoCeC8SGjYXHs-0Yrw1w/s3969/DSC01740.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3158" data-original-width="3969" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiva10pn5HwfoYiy_R_Bby8lI_fpOXqWkbVFbZljPEDNRevsYE3H7KcMZE7jbkE-2ouU3bMrj1dwihft9kWq99raeWTD0gXe4cLGzlKUPjN68FpURvKltwM4yufETkBQwkyGVSAMvn48lqD8b5vTREkjPKAmlTVohZccbtARxNoCeC8SGjYXHs-0Yrw1w/w400-h319/DSC01740.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Air power and superior command & control are great! We didn't lose any of our units at all (though 'A' company in particular was roughly handled and had very few stands left by the end). Note that <i>another</i> Chinese army is now crossing the river and heading towards the U.N. positions.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">So, this was a very intense game. From the U.N. perspective, the communist attacks felt completely relentless. Even when we wiped out a Chinese unit there would always be another one along soon after. I imagine that N. (who took the Chinese) must have felt frustrated, as almost all his strongest attacks melted away under the withering U.N. firepower. But when a communist attack did make it through, when the artillery & aircraft were occupied elsewhere and the Gloucesters were in open ground, significant damage was caused.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I don't know what rules were used - whether they were commercial or home brew. However, we all picked up the important points very quickly and they seemed to give realistic results.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The only criticism I would raise is that there were a lot of small markers for various levels of damage, ambush status and the like. These didn't always stay with the correct stand of figures, especially when models were balanced on steep hillsides. A better solution would have been to integrate the markers more closely with the stands, either by swapping out models for "damaged" ones, or by giving each stand magnetised markers, posts for "damage rings" or some other mechanism for recording status.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Overall, this was a very impressive and enjoyable game, about a significant historical event.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h1><p style="text-align: left;">This last game took us up to departure time. I haven't mentioned our wanderings around the trade stands (there was plenty of that), or a couple of visits to the Bring-and-Buy room (the first time it was absolutely mobbed; later on not quite so busy).</p><p style="text-align: left;">Travel home was easy enough, taking almost exactly 2 hours of driving. At least we had plenty to talk about! Overall, it was a good show for me. One good game, two acceptable ones and a certain amount of talk and shopping.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Ah, yes - the loot:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLMrTs4gFS5nVLVzvwEZCI7XbiI_44kRZjFExCwbKfmxDe_8gJzcIJrRtR3YSODpJv84ZaojLOtDLBmQ-fIna4z2gVnTp0B6JeV_mcrILrjVJw5RLvQNch5U1dIyPjV35eA2rf-abNIB4fs9BecM1MaL9vB3fDyxDkIM75venY6Ibz2d5BZg7DRpJrQ/s3811/DSC01744.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3291" data-original-width="3811" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLMrTs4gFS5nVLVzvwEZCI7XbiI_44kRZjFExCwbKfmxDe_8gJzcIJrRtR3YSODpJv84ZaojLOtDLBmQ-fIna4z2gVnTp0B6JeV_mcrILrjVJw5RLvQNch5U1dIyPjV35eA2rf-abNIB4fs9BecM1MaL9vB3fDyxDkIM75venY6Ibz2d5BZg7DRpJrQ/w640-h552/DSC01744.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">So, in no particular order:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Some new sets of rules. Not that I really intend to play them, but just because I'm curious.</li><li>A box of Living Dead Peasants. These are probably destined to become <i>Mindless</i> in my Viking-themed undead army for SAGA: Age of Magic.</li><li>Matt varnish. I use a fair amount of this stuff and courier deliveries suck, so I try to buy it in person at any shows I visit.</li><li>More Perry Samurai. Although technically these are peasants, probably destined to join my scruffy force of bandits.</li><li>More prehistoric goodness from Stone Axe Miniatures, as supplied by <a href="https://irongatescenery.co.uk/">Iron Gate Scenery</a>. This time I have a Megaloceros family (giant Irish Elk) and some goats (generic small grazers).</li><li>Finally, a Club biscuit - my prize for winning the Tank Golf game.</li></ul><p></p>Colgar6http://www.blogger.com/profile/07636662295301222390noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556126903764105050.post-521238884197215302022-02-28T21:17:00.000+00:002022-02-28T21:17:09.369+00:00HAHA SAGA Escalation League - 5<h1 style="text-align: left;">Introduction</h1><p>Over 2 years ago, the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/helensburghalternativehobby">Helensburgh Alternative Hobby Association</a> (HAHA) set out to run an escalation league for SAGA. We managed the first two of our planned monthly meetings, in January and February 2020 - then Covid-19 struck. Since then we have been through lockdowns, isolations and other inconveniences, but as of a few months ago we re-started our event. This is a momentous post, because WE FINALLY COMPLETED THE LEAGUE!</p><p>For descriptions of the league rules and the five planned events, see here:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2020/01/haha-saga-escalation-league-1.html">Starter for Ten</a></b> (January 2020)</li><li><b><a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2020/03/haha-saga-escalation-league-2.html">Twin Power</a></b> (February 2020)</li><li><a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2021/10/haha-saga-escalation-league-3.html"><b>Long Live the Peasants!</b></a> (October 2021)</li><li><b><a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2021/11/haha-saga-escalation-league-4.html">Bonus Round</a></b> (November 2021)</li><li><b>Armageddon</b> (now, this article, February 2022)</li></ul><p></p><p>The plan was always for a climactic, every-man-for-himself battle at the end of the league. In this, each player would field the entire 4-point SAGA warband that he (or she) had collected over the duration of the campaign. Although we started with seven or eight players, due to the lengthy delays we only finished with four. The others had all moved away from the area and were unable to continue participating. I hope they are still enjoying SAGA as much as they did in the first two events, wherever they are now!</p><p><br /></p><p></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Armageddon</h1><p></p><p>Usefully, the SAGA "Book of Battles" has a scenario for exactly the kind of grand, chaotic game we had envisioned: it's called "Battle Royale"! This scenario has an alternating placement anywhere on the table. Victory conditions revolve around Survival Points and successful charges.</p><p>We read the rules slightly incorrectly and gave the VP only for a charge which caused more casualties than were received, rather than any charge that made contact. In the end this wouldn't have made any real difference to the results, though.</p><p><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Deployment</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtpOFH9yYzCJD14uVTUTjvt-3D7aiVeAQ1PRaPvihhGUt2QQRGknRryIG03_OsjBuo2zuBhN4YSuTQMN2xBgzufTg50GivPpSYflRYjVszEEFgTcK017yc4YmlXa0-16IqmDEMrSQ8Hyt0YFc_FVFsnzXH_uhfV4hTtbybkG6e_v1k-gFNWMHhi5_eJQ=s4803" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3259" data-original-width="4803" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtpOFH9yYzCJD14uVTUTjvt-3D7aiVeAQ1PRaPvihhGUt2QQRGknRryIG03_OsjBuo2zuBhN4YSuTQMN2xBgzufTg50GivPpSYflRYjVszEEFgTcK017yc4YmlXa0-16IqmDEMrSQ8Hyt0YFc_FVFsnzXH_uhfV4hTtbybkG6e_v1k-gFNWMHhi5_eJQ=w640-h434" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Initial placement was quite simple: the <span style="color: red;">Skraelings </span>filled the marsh and the wood with bowmen, planning to move all their warriors onto the hill (and not appreciating that the gentle hill gave no defensive bonuses at all). The <span style="color: #6aa84f;">Anglo Saxons</span>, <span style="color: #3d85c6;">Normans </span>and <span style="color: #999999;">Crusaders </span>mostly kept to themselves and deliberately didn't interleave with their enemies.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Fighting</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidsFNJ-iI3Ce85ftwF5YUYuXW2OuFhzd9PrCXs4xRzHTnjRYfjq602h661plkYbYeGk2SI_fkKJiXZWul65Xddi390RAr_MxInPhye6SPiS673Zr4Wtp8Jyd8D3zX0f7sqgnJ44kwcy6aLNIJOtB-tIUW7mYpSgxqE61yHeePu2xzCyfXNBCyxcI-HlQ=s3016" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="3016" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidsFNJ-iI3Ce85ftwF5YUYuXW2OuFhzd9PrCXs4xRzHTnjRYfjq602h661plkYbYeGk2SI_fkKJiXZWul65Xddi390RAr_MxInPhye6SPiS673Zr4Wtp8Jyd8D3zX0f7sqgnJ44kwcy6aLNIJOtB-tIUW7mYpSgxqE61yHeePu2xzCyfXNBCyxcI-HlQ=w400-h328" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Much of the action in our game revolved around the foreground hill. Although the <span style="color: red;">Skraelings </span>climbed it, they were then sandwiched and harried by both the <span style="color: #999999;">Crusaders</span>' and the <span style="color: #6aa84f;">Anglo Saxons</span>' elite troops. <span style="color: red;">Skraelings </span>don't do too well when defending and their forces just melted away.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifMJyi_J78W7exlM6DvUW9omynOiZKwc5mr_3P0S0MfOv3fSTIeJSJ48c1saKwolYpTlqK5HKro3nXwd-gsSQV1twR_Jvutt7qIlg48mrb2QMz2yeOeeljgjRcVviSRcjXhwTjquJMjr1bIRtg6qCsVGO89umtrIvp4-9sst47iOVZKBi7QvOs4Syt3w=s2199" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2085" data-original-width="2199" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifMJyi_J78W7exlM6DvUW9omynOiZKwc5mr_3P0S0MfOv3fSTIeJSJ48c1saKwolYpTlqK5HKro3nXwd-gsSQV1twR_Jvutt7qIlg48mrb2QMz2yeOeeljgjRcVviSRcjXhwTjquJMjr1bIRtg6qCsVGO89umtrIvp4-9sst47iOVZKBi7QvOs4Syt3w=w400-h379" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">The other early action was between the <span style="color: #999999;">Crusaders</span>' crossbowmen and the <span style="color: #3d85c6;">Normans</span>' spearmen. The crossbows proved deadly, both at range and in melee (though by the time the melee occurred, there weren't too many spearmen left!)</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0k9a9ScykghoJsPV3UBEf7Hg2F15Yae-Kmj_JAFh5BKwFJktWEZjZufo0AsRR-yf-I-4qw_Zh5F9TrrPGjp9zhIaHQSPH2CjyQ4petHdivENYf8VDqp7x0-jOgIqwNS33xh56EwrdLZul8Lk2IIqyZtNuQWBSMolPKqcCR075Tzia-qWp4lrt1muAiw=s4370" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3714" data-original-width="4370" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0k9a9ScykghoJsPV3UBEf7Hg2F15Yae-Kmj_JAFh5BKwFJktWEZjZufo0AsRR-yf-I-4qw_Zh5F9TrrPGjp9zhIaHQSPH2CjyQ4petHdivENYf8VDqp7x0-jOgIqwNS33xh56EwrdLZul8Lk2IIqyZtNuQWBSMolPKqcCR075Tzia-qWp4lrt1muAiw=w640-h544" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Little action occurred elsewhere, except that the <span style="color: #3d85c6;">Norman </span>archers' <i>volley fire</i> was a constant, if minor irritant to anyone in range.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOYZiqED-Q0SkQsxSYXhU8muy6tjGjHGsQyV_Cr55K0FvyE7l8NSlt1JhXQSJueI3M8OnHRfsGah_bPM4NVOwjLwfL-9W3qEMWw1aq6WiQrFwxkrqHjZONr8zHkPsKegxIa4jnWg_naRxX26kwCGfdAmhuQh0hCEDW3-x8hsTjlW6ijRPVIiygzTjHxA=s3337" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2733" data-original-width="3337" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOYZiqED-Q0SkQsxSYXhU8muy6tjGjHGsQyV_Cr55K0FvyE7l8NSlt1JhXQSJueI3M8OnHRfsGah_bPM4NVOwjLwfL-9W3qEMWw1aq6WiQrFwxkrqHjZONr8zHkPsKegxIa4jnWg_naRxX26kwCGfdAmhuQh0hCEDW3-x8hsTjlW6ijRPVIiygzTjHxA=w400-h328" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Finally, the <span style="color: #3d85c6;">Norman </span>knights decided that they'd find out how squishy the nearby <span style="color: red;">Skraelings </span>were. It turns out that the swamp didn't slow down the knights enough to save the archers and yes - the <span style="color: red;">Skraeling </span>levy were <i>exceptionally</i> squishy.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfllyV_pllkbrMJ4Jlt6G8Y-tW1dnCxu359NCwrv2XaBbcHC8jHgWVUvVTO6kbAvWozMqudW9LVW5bWfW4xPfQle8MWaqt8jOaHimDZy4-vbxC22qSeNwKqU8BCuNR-wZURpabrDQRhE9vlYHes0y_zZKONr5ouXjMSuNJhdXwe3xMLY9QIbgBRMhD0w=s4044" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3321" data-original-width="4044" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfllyV_pllkbrMJ4Jlt6G8Y-tW1dnCxu359NCwrv2XaBbcHC8jHgWVUvVTO6kbAvWozMqudW9LVW5bWfW4xPfQle8MWaqt8jOaHimDZy4-vbxC22qSeNwKqU8BCuNR-wZURpabrDQRhE9vlYHes0y_zZKONr5ouXjMSuNJhdXwe3xMLY9QIbgBRMhD0w=w400-h329" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">The game ended after fierce fighting left the <span style="color: #999999;">Crusader </span>warlord as "King of the Hill". He had triumphed over all opposition, including all the <span style="color: red;">Skraeling </span>warriors, their warlord, the <span style="color: #6aa84f;">Anglo Saxon</span> chief and all of <i>his </i>hearthguard. He did have a little help in doing this, but the <span style="color: #999999;">Crusader </span>lord had been all but unstoppable!</p><p><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Results</h1><div>For this particular battle:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The <span style="color: #999999;">Crusaders </span>scored an impressive 17 survival points. Much of that was due to successful charges, though many of their units still existed at the end of the game - albeit sorely reduced. For such a clear victory, they score the maximum 3 league points!</li><li>The <span style="color: #04ff00;">Anglo Saxons</span> and the <span style="color: #3d85c6;">Normans </span>scored 11 and 12 survival points respectively. Mostly this came down to the units they had left, rather than scoring for charges. Decent second places, so both are awarded 2 league points.</li><li>The <span style="color: red;">Skraelings </span>were hammered by everyone else (though the others all swore that there was no conspiracy against them!). They gained a mere 2 survival points for the single unit of levy hiding in the forest. At least the league rules grant 1 league point for just showing up, so their sacrifice had some purpose...</li></ul><div><br /></div></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">The HAHA Escalation League Conclusion</h1><div>After all the points have been added up, the standings are as follows:</div><div><br /></div><div><table style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><tbody><tr><th></th><th>January 2020<br /><i><span style="color: #666666;">Starter for ten</span></i></th><th>February 2020<br /><i><span style="color: #666666;">Powers of two</span></i></th><th><strike>March 2020<br /></strike>October 2021<br /><i><span style="color: #666666;">Long live the peasants!</span></i></th><th><strike>April 2020<br /></strike>November 2021<br /><i><span style="color: #666666;">Bonus round</span></i></th><th><strike>May 2020<br /></strike>February 2022<br /><i><span style="color: #666666;">Armageddon</span></i></th><th>TOTAL</th></tr><tr style="background-color: #e0ffe0;"><td><span style="color: #783f04;">Byzantines</span></td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">(damaged)</td><td align="center">(absent)</td><td align="center">(retired)</td><td align="center">2</td></tr><tr><td><span style="color: #783f04;">Anglo Saxons</span></td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">12</td></tr><tr style="background-color: #e0ffe0;"><td><span style="color: #783f04;">Normans</span></td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">(absent)</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">6</td></tr><tr><td><span style="color: #783f04;">Jomsvikings</span></td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">(retired)</td><td align="center">(retired)</td><td align="center">(retired)</td><td align="center">3</td></tr><tr style="background-color: #e0ffe0;"><td><span style="color: #783f04;">Anglo Danes</span></td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">(absent)</td><td align="center">(retired)</td><td align="center">(retired)</td><td align="center">(retired)</td><td align="center">3</td></tr><tr><td><span style="color: #783f04;">Skraelings</span></td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">9</td></tr><tr style="background-color: #e0ffe0;"><td><span style="color: #783f04;">Crusaders</span></td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">9<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">Congratulations are due to the <span style="color: #6aa84f;">Anglo Saxons</span>, who won 3 of the 5 rounds outright and thus achieved an unassailable number of league points. They are the champions!</p><p style="text-align: left;">It's been a long campaign, but we finally got there. I'm immensely pleased that we completed the schedule, whilst at the same time I'm saddened that it took so long and that we lost so many participants along the way (again, not due to lack of interest, but rather because "real life" got in the way).</p><p style="text-align: left;">Would I do something like this again? Certainly I would - like a flash!</p></div>Colgar6http://www.blogger.com/profile/07636662295301222390noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556126903764105050.post-34519909571844038812022-01-28T19:50:00.004+00:002022-01-28T19:50:54.340+00:00Frostgrave: the Giant<h1 style="text-align: left;"> Introduction</h1><p>Among my purchases at <a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2021/09/carronade-2021-at-last.html">Carronade 2021</a> was a model giant; part of the Reaper "Bones" range. I stated at the time that I intended to paint him up for use in games of Frostgrave. Well, I finished this model a few weeks ago and have finally managed to find enough time & enthusiasm to post a quick article, so here he is!</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">The Frost Giant</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5rkrdLDABJXOpkReX0qkO4uHzbqXe-c3fhNjTSyivBONIvDE_Cp4fJmqnd-n7zw0QgNa7PYdpF8cQVzdUhZcGl66D8g7gqAiBluNVYDEq2cmQzupbVRh9eWc_Qnb-wukbDADsxjgT4qY9Olr25wj3KEyq-scZyD09xlUBACddCzuQwY9H1jbBzDayEw=s2363" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2349" data-original-width="2363" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5rkrdLDABJXOpkReX0qkO4uHzbqXe-c3fhNjTSyivBONIvDE_Cp4fJmqnd-n7zw0QgNa7PYdpF8cQVzdUhZcGl66D8g7gqAiBluNVYDEq2cmQzupbVRh9eWc_Qnb-wukbDADsxjgT4qY9Olr25wj3KEyq-scZyD09xlUBACddCzuQwY9H1jbBzDayEw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">I suppose I could have painted this model in human flesh tones - probably as a pale Caucasian rather than anything else. However, I really wanted to mark him out as something different - a creature firmly rooted in the icy wastes. To emphasis this, I chose a cold, pale blue for the skin and an even paler blue for his extensive beard and hair.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhM5YGyz3DTCZ1zLgK2_pyQoZYtDQYEIqZ5FCSWXsAPQmfCcF5v_jq4eLCy3YMs85tlgIbHsg_BnTtowmDHxOYfBwDk5YNJFXt8XAyEGX9mnMwih87FAT282EOhJet-160wZSyuYkYqBMYmDyHr0KAU2Hzrv8cjJEdDQGnkcRkfBhfEzNrjg4ozDPtqyw=s2031" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2031" data-original-width="1752" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhM5YGyz3DTCZ1zLgK2_pyQoZYtDQYEIqZ5FCSWXsAPQmfCcF5v_jq4eLCy3YMs85tlgIbHsg_BnTtowmDHxOYfBwDk5YNJFXt8XAyEGX9mnMwih87FAT282EOhJet-160wZSyuYkYqBMYmDyHr0KAU2Hzrv8cjJEdDQGnkcRkfBhfEzNrjg4ozDPtqyw=s320" width="276" /></a></div><p>As a warm contrast (and to avoid iron), I used gold, brass and bronze for the metal parts of the giant's armour and weapons. The non-metallic parts of his equipment are a dark grey.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMzpT8F462mU5kmhxh9W76wftWaENrUz4yDTuZn-j7C6OQ2ydvUzQc2JA8DLucPA_DuhHTC82PGE9JV9lKT8R8yZKrwOYa4GA0v_L2tOS3WC4XUrWbaVH5ueNa72-mbPBfYLEnPjjCWqIPUYwEAbUWyIK5VqYAOxMJXQlEnsq4ltXcJYeydfQD4zLjqA=s2089" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2089" data-original-width="1726" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMzpT8F462mU5kmhxh9W76wftWaENrUz4yDTuZn-j7C6OQ2ydvUzQc2JA8DLucPA_DuhHTC82PGE9JV9lKT8R8yZKrwOYa4GA0v_L2tOS3WC4XUrWbaVH5ueNa72-mbPBfYLEnPjjCWqIPUYwEAbUWyIK5VqYAOxMJXQlEnsq4ltXcJYeydfQD4zLjqA=s320" width="264" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Finally, the furs he wears around his shoulders and boots are also very pale. I think the paint I used for the middle highlight (i.e. the one which adds most of the colour) was called "linen" or something like that. Whatever it's name, it is a very pale brown with just the slightest hint of green in it.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgONegAXy2je0bufo2FhclKz7jB5jmNgV6uMt4P1ksHk6gJWMc1q4AW57ANonx6ROtZe5FzNYpeCorfIQuAee3Gocd9WtoOGke9rh415XBuK-N5u9j0XLTz5P66JjaCm_vozklJjiU6d4XVD4Dc1VLyS7J4X2fguZq1zfJWdQAGMxcw7nxZadPqp7D7SQ=s2014" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2014" data-original-width="1766" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgONegAXy2je0bufo2FhclKz7jB5jmNgV6uMt4P1ksHk6gJWMc1q4AW57ANonx6ROtZe5FzNYpeCorfIQuAee3Gocd9WtoOGke9rh415XBuK-N5u9j0XLTz5P66JjaCm_vozklJjiU6d4XVD4Dc1VLyS7J4X2fguZq1zfJWdQAGMxcw7nxZadPqp7D7SQ=s320" width="281" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">So, just how "giant" is this model (I hesitate to call it a <i>miniature</i>, because it really isn't - at least when compared to most of my other figures)? Well, here's a photograph of the frost giant alongside a 28mm human.</p><p style="text-align: left;">As you can see, he's maybe 2.5 or 3 times taller than a man; also this giant is very solidly built. I'm really glad that this is a plastic (PVC?) model, as if he were metal then the figure's weight would be substantial!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h1><p style="text-align: left;">I've wanted to have a frost giant in my collection for some time. Well, now I've got one! The model was relatively cheap and (I think) painted up nicely, with only a slight bend in the shaft of his axe to hint at the soft plastic material. He'll do nicely!</p>Colgar6http://www.blogger.com/profile/07636662295301222390noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556126903764105050.post-7967255838404912922022-01-03T16:32:00.002+00:002022-03-13T08:26:08.887+00:00Japanese pirates: Scheltrum Miniatures' Wako<h1 style="text-align: left;"> Introduction</h1><p>For some years now, I have been searching for more Sengoku-era Japanese bandits with which to populate my games of <i>Test of Honour</i>. Some models are available from the usual suspects (such as Perry Miniatures, Warlord Games & Footsore Miniatures), but I want more variety.</p><p>Scheltrum are a long-established model manufacturer in Scotland. They have a wide range of figures for some fairly unusual genres - but they really don't do the internet at all. Eventually, I managed to track down this elusive company at last year's <a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2021/09/carronade-2021-at-last.html">Carronade show</a> in Falkirk, where they had a large stall.</p><p>I was curious about Scheltrum's Wako models - feudal Japanese pirates - and so I purchased one of the several available packs. I thought that these would be suitable for use as generic bandits. Read on to find out whether I was right!</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">First Impressions</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinVu4xULZXM0m4UOsNlt_wQL4YaUtQf78pSTeZPkkYxaHyXygkY_S3XZmVt1oYkrKMdoOnmP3_Moo4gdI7G8VvPJuRbSEcF4khDUuv2y3b-_OAT5AnBdy2fmQV1GfORGKYhFYNiZdAc8ybo0FTl29mw-wUYHWYM-1ilbq_tY10zH2FrTSxvJGJfvbpIA=s2632" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2632" data-original-width="2529" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinVu4xULZXM0m4UOsNlt_wQL4YaUtQf78pSTeZPkkYxaHyXygkY_S3XZmVt1oYkrKMdoOnmP3_Moo4gdI7G8VvPJuRbSEcF4khDUuv2y3b-_OAT5AnBdy2fmQV1GfORGKYhFYNiZdAc8ybo0FTl29mw-wUYHWYM-1ilbq_tY10zH2FrTSxvJGJfvbpIA=s320" width="307" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUwxdtU4HUGVKawwoFc4coKu6qXYXrp1-Z6NlP6-KtwLpEMa8rLo-SCGsw60vaxqghVR4LOL0CGvyewIH4PWD_FeTOjPVY6Dp3KwhYnvzm6czDTIw-rNuQHlH0uT5kE9a0BZlLS8rJDYhgW0gHCkEnAFRc6UcuticZxNHAAWyKjWtRBhDZ2PAv56BNJQ=s2887" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1801" data-original-width="2887" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUwxdtU4HUGVKawwoFc4coKu6qXYXrp1-Z6NlP6-KtwLpEMa8rLo-SCGsw60vaxqghVR4LOL0CGvyewIH4PWD_FeTOjPVY6Dp3KwhYnvzm6czDTIw-rNuQHlH0uT5kE9a0BZlLS8rJDYhgW0gHCkEnAFRc6UcuticZxNHAAWyKjWtRBhDZ2PAv56BNJQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">There were 8 models in the pack I had bought. Two of these were unique and three were pairs of duplicated figures. Six of the eight had open hands for weapons, whilst one pair of figures were moulded with exceptionally large swords. Other than the separate weapons, the models were just a single piece.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The supplied weapons were all spears with a variety of lengths. Some of the longer poles had attachments just below the head; I'm guessing that these were "fire lances" - primitive gunpowder weapons.</p><p style="text-align: left;">A few of the figures had noticeable amounts of flash on them, but this was easy to remove (and quite soft metal as well).</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Finished Figures</h1><p style="text-align: left;">It took a while to paint all my Wako. In the end, I replaced a fair number of the weapons with spare spears and swords from another manufacturer (AW Miniatures, if I remember correctly?). This was because I didn't wish to have my bandits armed with fire lances, even though the supplied weapons were perfectly acceptable parts in all other respects..</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/a/AVvXsEiMc-wlmy71SDsPdViAkymt-CBL9Bu4Pwe5zT4-NqL7gwLK4FcsG0fS9OS6IdfdoimAfPcu7JxX93rVHlAMOyRwSi-XWVOVuO6w9NoZXb9Jj_6Youn-d-kpZeiL2kNukTmOiWCHNRWC4GgkAE1S9TTZgCmakqqHk5SRrADCPpoYeCOMMonMKRHsSxW90g=s2618" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1563" data-original-width="2618" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMc-wlmy71SDsPdViAkymt-CBL9Bu4Pwe5zT4-NqL7gwLK4FcsG0fS9OS6IdfdoimAfPcu7JxX93rVHlAMOyRwSi-XWVOVuO6w9NoZXb9Jj_6Youn-d-kpZeiL2kNukTmOiWCHNRWC4GgkAE1S9TTZgCmakqqHk5SRrADCPpoYeCOMMonMKRHsSxW90g=w640-h382" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entire set. What a bunch of ruffians!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><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/a/AVvXsEhVKODHV35mj8_mFiAR3_g0sPOx1lyt42pLi48u24tv4AHsdCy7Tm8bVu5uOrr6R7QPu1X9fSm0C4MrY5Xmzp7o6iZ2fBvp6oefYih3BWlOwM4Ir4mNV3AVIjLWjKXGheiwSdu9VxU3woS-kRyBvExl7jirneHBclzYAudOJOfMUV8wD6aMtfmYg2whcA=s1837" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1837" data-original-width="1519" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVKODHV35mj8_mFiAR3_g0sPOx1lyt42pLi48u24tv4AHsdCy7Tm8bVu5uOrr6R7QPu1X9fSm0C4MrY5Xmzp7o6iZ2fBvp6oefYih3BWlOwM4Ir4mNV3AVIjLWjKXGheiwSdu9VxU3woS-kRyBvExl7jirneHBclzYAudOJOfMUV8wD6aMtfmYg2whcA=s320" width="265" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two figures with "half helmet" (not sure how else to describe this?). The sword (from AW Miniatures) looks a little odd, perhaps - but I didn't want to make them both into spearmen.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><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/a/AVvXsEiBA8p_md64SA2A3o51yD4HeRcGDaDxgWUjwF1J1SKfzVcReP5DxVu-0w59SElm3xJxis1LND7TI93HphyucdS9nchebcU1tnsNr990uuCoCDTDB5IdKEjOyhEtG08C-qrtbkM7xQLTC3p1UgkVr7HJVptG1haVN0f7AH7TCviR2rFKIwrGycLbS1Kctg=s1756" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1184" data-original-width="1756" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBA8p_md64SA2A3o51yD4HeRcGDaDxgWUjwF1J1SKfzVcReP5DxVu-0w59SElm3xJxis1LND7TI93HphyucdS9nchebcU1tnsNr990uuCoCDTDB5IdKEjOyhEtG08C-qrtbkM7xQLTC3p1UgkVr7HJVptG1haVN0f7AH7TCviR2rFKIwrGycLbS1Kctg=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pair of swordsmen from the Wako pack. I've converted the one on the right by removing the sword and replacing it with a spear. In my mind, these both look a bit odd, as the remaining sword is <i>huge</i> and the overarm spear thrust is not something I associate with Japanese/samurai fighting styles.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><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/a/AVvXsEh78VX5WxkuYF0yWx4Ku4i6vguVrRnjUAf7CE0F7kyJ0crXjSTPUHnKYABy77gYeQ27w4c74MTX_Iobl2As5pgukiDygUIVRWvxmYDuU7mzvYbbUWuMOXQlfiP8qkaG39RASzQTn0l8aw6_opq0cay17Tk1_K2-Ffq7APPHBZ3N4VqDrg_Xi95TnmawcQ=s2039" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="2039" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh78VX5WxkuYF0yWx4Ku4i6vguVrRnjUAf7CE0F7kyJ0crXjSTPUHnKYABy77gYeQ27w4c74MTX_Iobl2As5pgukiDygUIVRWvxmYDuU7mzvYbbUWuMOXQlfiP8qkaG39RASzQTn0l8aw6_opq0cay17Tk1_K2-Ffq7APPHBZ3N4VqDrg_Xi95TnmawcQ=w400-h199" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two bandits with spears, headbands and partial armour. Good, serviceable figures.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><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/a/AVvXsEjO9Jk29FX0uOK3YLqlccxrAKqpXCpXp4f8K4N5wADE-zpXdUFiwgOXq7rdbarstkdtv2LZbwZzeqWCG1w_8IFUeow6I9YpcqL2HMA5n-6OVWAfwlvwYCm52SHKp1Uc1zS9tAXeXZlszBrDAs4gvn06DIYq4USU8-5eKtk05RhhagcJdJPNSAWhSYMqlg=s1872" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="1872" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjO9Jk29FX0uOK3YLqlccxrAKqpXCpXp4f8K4N5wADE-zpXdUFiwgOXq7rdbarstkdtv2LZbwZzeqWCG1w_8IFUeow6I9YpcqL2HMA5n-6OVWAfwlvwYCm52SHKp1Uc1zS9tAXeXZlszBrDAs4gvn06DIYq4USU8-5eKtk05RhhagcJdJPNSAWhSYMqlg=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The two unique models from the pack:<br />The left-hand figure - with the hat - would work fine with either a spear or (as shown) a naginata.<br />The right-hand figure is perhaps the most generic model in the set: there's nothing about him that makes me think of Sengoku-period Japan (maybe the hair style?).</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h1><p>There is a distinct lack of information about Scheltrum's products available! Hopefully, this article goes some small way towards fixing that. Note that their Wako range has several other packs as well; these have greater or lesser amounts of armour, I believe. Indeed, one model even has a Spanish-style helmet, presumably looted from some unfortunate sailor!</p><p>The style of these models is definitely a generation or two behind the best available today. I've already mentioned a bit of flash on the castings; as well as that the figures are anatomically a bit exaggerated (the heads & hands are big, for starters). Add to that the soft metal and it all screams "old fashioned".</p><p>Having said that, I think they are perfectly acceptable crowd-fillers. These models will help to bulk out the back ranks of my bandit warband and add some welcome variety to such motley crews. I will most certainly use them in my games.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Addendum</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZO4rgHuBEj21KkCnv0wi1RmI7LlvTrtBAdhNS1-OBUkn5D0UDUhifZgsZX2YI9R2boMu0DO9TNiVwQsDKq5v90xIOf8wEp0QDJlsPwG1gezXeoNrtvCu4708kd4Kjp8AagjKOdTcymx5obOze-kLNwRASMafYVB8kvfDqYxoBLsrI6GvWrWt2HqxWoQ=s1029" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1029" data-original-width="705" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZO4rgHuBEj21KkCnv0wi1RmI7LlvTrtBAdhNS1-OBUkn5D0UDUhifZgsZX2YI9R2boMu0DO9TNiVwQsDKq5v90xIOf8wEp0QDJlsPwG1gezXeoNrtvCu4708kd4Kjp8AagjKOdTcymx5obOze-kLNwRASMafYVB8kvfDqYxoBLsrI6GvWrWt2HqxWoQ=w438-h640" width="438" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Because there seems to be some interest in contacting Scheltrum, I have scanned the part of their catalogue that has contact details. I cannot vouch for the accuracy of any of the forms of communication printed there; all I can say is that this comes from a paper catalogue which was handed to me in person at the Carronade show in late 2021.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Note: I do know that they have (at the time of writing) <i>no</i> website. There is an old website name floating around for Scheltrum, but it seems to have been abandoned for a long time.</p><div><br /></div><p><br /></p>Colgar6http://www.blogger.com/profile/07636662295301222390noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556126903764105050.post-21992902188726010992021-12-24T13:16:00.000+00:002021-12-24T13:16:15.086+00:00Santa versus the Hooligans<h1 style="text-align: left;"> Introduction</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjz0OT813U_3lShBzHQHgR3Xx0iiwUunNIx79pBex5GabLEgI0zJw8NrpKqcDRVMBiG7l5uMpyi9SvFsr279prQ4o6hW2FccfW09kW9In3btIz3m1x3ND34U0frZzQ9elwQa1w6q1kbPCYgqirNE6ATfFmKcvXWVtWppcYYDgy_qA40RYlnRc_tEoHYg=s5152" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3025" data-original-width="5152" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjz0OT813U_3lShBzHQHgR3Xx0iiwUunNIx79pBex5GabLEgI0zJw8NrpKqcDRVMBiG7l5uMpyi9SvFsr279prQ4o6hW2FccfW09kW9In3btIz3m1x3ND34U0frZzQ9elwQa1w6q1kbPCYgqirNE6ATfFmKcvXWVtWppcYYDgy_qA40RYlnRc_tEoHYg=w640-h376" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Many times over the life of this blog, I have run a Christmas-themed game of <i>Hordes of the Things</i>. All of these can be found using this link: <a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/search/label/Santa">https://colgar6.blogspot.com/search/label/Santa</a> .</p><p style="text-align: left;">The annual holiday game didn't happen last year (global pandemic, don't ya know!), but we're back in 2021 with a new battle. This time, Santa's home is under threat from tribes of goblins and their associated wolves & trolls. He has allied with a barbarian tribe (probably through promises of extreme feasting and loot, I imagine!) to defend against this threat.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">The Forces</h1><p style="text-align: left;">Each of the 4 bands was an independent 24AP army for <i>Hordes of the Things</i>. The forces of destruction (two goblin armies) were controlled by my friend Steve, whilst the bringers of light and happiness were led by myself and my son. I took the barbarians, whilst my son took Santa. He (my son, not Santa!) had just received a vaccine booster shot the day before and hadn't slept well overnight. This might go part way towards explaining some of the outcomes in the game!</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Santa's Army</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLSOtekr93NukJqLG4SGnPYzHCRsa_UM5FRxR_QdKOFM6tWeVY9BgSFhrzHH6qJi9J1dgHc34XV0lo_mxK2yv98s64hwXgD2RuFXqB95NlcqR0kKM3vpXDCmoQz_D8dttZ_YwhBlxK0W6GDxvSncT6wRDi6WbgBc-XxaXQ8IzTk4afLpoKLbrVc3Je2g=s4790" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2018" data-original-width="4790" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLSOtekr93NukJqLG4SGnPYzHCRsa_UM5FRxR_QdKOFM6tWeVY9BgSFhrzHH6qJi9J1dgHc34XV0lo_mxK2yv98s64hwXgD2RuFXqB95NlcqR0kKM3vpXDCmoQz_D8dttZ_YwhBlxK0W6GDxvSncT6wRDi6WbgBc-XxaXQ8IzTk4afLpoKLbrVc3Je2g=w640-h270" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Santa's force is a mixture of elves, toy soldiers, fierce ice bears and hordes of snowmen. It is described in more detail here: <a href="http://colgar6.blogspot.com/2013/12/hott-santas-army.html">http://colgar6.blogspot.com/2013/12/hott-santas-army.html</a> .</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">The Barbarians</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg06I1Uw-ou3sorq2Wd1brsmMqyfnqkYKxtbIb5YY2U9lddNTAj1DWQlSnNk8LzJAQrR3a985xNTNgn-FauOmE9jzsglAD0qzwRgf9c4x0OPuNWtADb5Aq8neNF4wC9PCPUe9MI6xUSMq1NZr8s-SrUFTTu3eSeFGPgg_7irgjH2sUfYvBNPHCAko5sIA=s5019" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2288" data-original-width="5019" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg06I1Uw-ou3sorq2Wd1brsmMqyfnqkYKxtbIb5YY2U9lddNTAj1DWQlSnNk8LzJAQrR3a985xNTNgn-FauOmE9jzsglAD0qzwRgf9c4x0OPuNWtADb5Aq8neNF4wC9PCPUe9MI6xUSMq1NZr8s-SrUFTTu3eSeFGPgg_7irgjH2sUfYvBNPHCAko5sIA=w640-h292" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">My barbarians have a lot of foot warband elements (as might be expected), some archers, some hard-charging panther-mounted knights and a general mounted on a woolly rhino.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">The Goblin Raiders</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjslXFdHtyyAe-OekfiheXZJwAzJJhXpJlJN4DMqJBaXRycWTZ-Wvm9nLXRNWslcczMd4GeKVdIeqjThMe4qLXL68Ih7ZoFKUf0tdZEQv29-XlVtFbHZLmE4XLDPymtMpTb5QKbyij2WLFAVjfh8xk7RC_axn5OmzvD8L9dCt7fsXizxDPs8w8nUjI6ww=s4207" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1868" data-original-width="4207" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjslXFdHtyyAe-OekfiheXZJwAzJJhXpJlJN4DMqJBaXRycWTZ-Wvm9nLXRNWslcczMd4GeKVdIeqjThMe4qLXL68Ih7ZoFKUf0tdZEQv29-XlVtFbHZLmE4XLDPymtMpTb5QKbyij2WLFAVjfh8xk7RC_axn5OmzvD8L9dCt7fsXizxDPs8w8nUjI6ww=w640-h284" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Facing the barbarians we had a goblin force consisting of 2 trolls, hordes of goblins and a large number of wolf riders. Also, the woods are full of (unridden) wolves.</p><p style="text-align: left;">[<i>Side note: this force looks like more than 24AP to me. Oh, well - mistakes may have been made, but if so then it didn't affect the end result, as you will see</i>].</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">The Goblin Hooligans</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrUX70MZpwafibwsr-Vv-N637VTExoAtUhtKetv8ACq127gPBq4uHdoQFj1XB_NroYqV7aIfKHweDVOVOifHIFptRI1gjxXQpJ9sy506lXWOjhFa6yH1VbS6DrGUo8M2IAbFf82gertPpVv94GAz8uSwrPgGFDvIftzwwMJlj_MVOj3G95kGFrrgwvUg=s3762" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2132" data-original-width="3762" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrUX70MZpwafibwsr-Vv-N637VTExoAtUhtKetv8ACq127gPBq4uHdoQFj1XB_NroYqV7aIfKHweDVOVOifHIFptRI1gjxXQpJ9sy506lXWOjhFa6yH1VbS6DrGUo8M2IAbFf82gertPpVv94GAz8uSwrPgGFDvIftzwwMJlj_MVOj3G95kGFrrgwvUg=w640-h362" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">The goblin force facing Santa also had two trolls. It was lead by some greater goblin warbands and had <i>huge</i> numbers of lesser goblins. Even when deployed, these vandals pushed over the signpost which led to the North Pole, thus earning the title "the hooligans".</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">The Battle</h1><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/a/AVvXsEjrqXv7JMMx0cmtjvxFy1zwiWcjjOSKA95b0P6FqATY0CX413hDquKE3pcdttSGFGvRJ9UQkQXwmKfajoxJ8svEAX94K0e6tCx7h1h_jhRsCqJwiRUydGzOSfq-vplqAEmf08MZ0AQizJS2mz6PF6nDyczvJ5eIJ1FeBTqoAM79eRNVtwWi1LyXZRorzw=s5038" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3021" data-original-width="5038" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrqXv7JMMx0cmtjvxFy1zwiWcjjOSKA95b0P6FqATY0CX413hDquKE3pcdttSGFGvRJ9UQkQXwmKfajoxJ8svEAX94K0e6tCx7h1h_jhRsCqJwiRUydGzOSfq-vplqAEmf08MZ0AQizJS2mz6PF6nDyczvJ5eIJ1FeBTqoAM79eRNVtwWi1LyXZRorzw=w640-h384" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of Santa's army ran forwards as fast as they could. The sleigh flew past the goblin lines and circled overhead, impervious to all. On the other flank, the barbarians advanced cautiously, not wanting to fight in the wolf-infested forest.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></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/a/AVvXsEiYupII-DLeWGuyP04_NB8iWqje8MkLOkBTB2x7aowFp9Bwkj2qpae05SzxY0PxuQErJLkYEHq8IWWF7rMKSe2mdvVcLKaQRoVENdDNLF67AUB6Jt00k6z7qzWR-TJXJF6e2AlG9Vh4WHbTWhUB2UDz6WNm70KnAR30vYXK3SECGK0uug58e5HkZJCvUQ=s4988" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3100" data-original-width="4988" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYupII-DLeWGuyP04_NB8iWqje8MkLOkBTB2x7aowFp9Bwkj2qpae05SzxY0PxuQErJLkYEHq8IWWF7rMKSe2mdvVcLKaQRoVENdDNLF67AUB6Jt00k6z7qzWR-TJXJF6e2AlG9Vh4WHbTWhUB2UDz6WNm70KnAR30vYXK3SECGK0uug58e5HkZJCvUQ=w640-h398" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In return, the goblin warbands and trolls charged off their hill. They caught the elves before they could shoot and annihilated them. On the far flank, the ice bears tore through hordes of lesser goblins - but there were always more of the nasty little creatures joining the back ranks.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></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/a/AVvXsEj-rXkbytfOHF3ctmlv3rYkEXP7hIXvHxQFgiTBirm5bVY6--tjayGjrooh7ZvZqEWdvCizFQG2r8BIZv8Pm5nYcqCHoeuCErmqdI6WKQbJVUvRIWj13eNuomgtkRKZSEz-zHrQ1abTTTeni0NKXAv9pkYNR66xIRGXwABOIkw1H0X2LhswbY4WJvE84A=s4075" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2919" data-original-width="4075" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-rXkbytfOHF3ctmlv3rYkEXP7hIXvHxQFgiTBirm5bVY6--tjayGjrooh7ZvZqEWdvCizFQG2r8BIZv8Pm5nYcqCHoeuCErmqdI6WKQbJVUvRIWj13eNuomgtkRKZSEz-zHrQ1abTTTeni0NKXAv9pkYNR66xIRGXwABOIkw1H0X2LhswbY4WJvE84A=w400-h286" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa's snowmen had a minor moment of success when they flanked, outnumbered and swarmed a troll, but this didn't make up for the losses they were taking.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></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/a/AVvXsEiiCLJ5lUUKlHzW5eLoAe0SCUvO-JtiMDmMTbZjnbPvFgJfLq3C_doPGSsQNx-5nl5yaCqkhEjOc7g6bUm2No-klxyPD-MdWcoB0WuLnrA9CQ39wZQvGUBkqugcKgrnCmTEN1Gb8NTVXctF9EzLwqjR2wT9TXjz-m6C3dId9hxe5eSC5V5kGdnu5OsPaw=s4900" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2919" data-original-width="4900" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiCLJ5lUUKlHzW5eLoAe0SCUvO-JtiMDmMTbZjnbPvFgJfLq3C_doPGSsQNx-5nl5yaCqkhEjOc7g6bUm2No-klxyPD-MdWcoB0WuLnrA9CQ39wZQvGUBkqugcKgrnCmTEN1Gb8NTVXctF9EzLwqjR2wT9TXjz-m6C3dId9hxe5eSC5V5kGdnu5OsPaw=w640-h382" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally, Santa in his sleigh descended and attacked some of the goblin warband. Whilst he was very successful against a small part of the goblin host, their general and remaining troll made a run for Santa's cottage! Desperately, the barbarians attempted to (a) prevent the <i>other </i>goblin army from interfering and (b) move some troops sideways to support Santa. However, this level of coordination was just too much for their hairy, unwashed brains...</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></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/a/AVvXsEhz-Wl_DuXRKhYOqVOXxigFRP4clOcbUihgiceP1HOU6frpu9IjP55aGWBBpYcNdPVUtqmlP5Oxr-gLp2U8lpDTzsFGa5saxBU72B4QVC9WLVkNCq3-4Ui2AbG81FQJk1DLBZ_-MWiKkGQeNH_ApZrwifi61RW-Sz0Lbi_jiKBnLh_7H8r7DFui5-7MFA=s4199" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3206" data-original-width="4199" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhz-Wl_DuXRKhYOqVOXxigFRP4clOcbUihgiceP1HOU6frpu9IjP55aGWBBpYcNdPVUtqmlP5Oxr-gLp2U8lpDTzsFGa5saxBU72B4QVC9WLVkNCq3-4Ui2AbG81FQJk1DLBZ_-MWiKkGQeNH_ApZrwifi61RW-Sz0Lbi_jiKBnLh_7H8r7DFui5-7MFA=w400-h305" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa overran his first opponents and flew towards the troll (which had just wiped out Santa's artillery with contemptuous ease). Nearby, the goblin general eliminated all the snowmen who had been respawned in front of the cottage.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></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/a/AVvXsEjHSYSxmnGn9KLhhstxPFt39Ka6VW_7cIbxL54tsrto8Tqzmnw0FpRhYgZEGRyOak4CpHBz96C6PULmotWgxzF0HlAUd4NW-8cH7ZIqNb3yWc4jT1GdtW5YzHpmhHsczr7vP_x-wgNzgishJGN17Q-EusjwHK0dnJPN5rHbWe2mlgCAsYy63rIC9teXuw=s4101" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2517" data-original-width="4101" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHSYSxmnGn9KLhhstxPFt39Ka6VW_7cIbxL54tsrto8Tqzmnw0FpRhYgZEGRyOak4CpHBz96C6PULmotWgxzF0HlAUd4NW-8cH7ZIqNb3yWc4jT1GdtW5YzHpmhHsczr7vP_x-wgNzgishJGN17Q-EusjwHK0dnJPN5rHbWe2mlgCAsYy63rIC9teXuw=w400-h245" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With a shout of triumph, the goblin hooligan's big boss broke into Santa's home. They pushed over the signpost, cut down the trees, smashed the crockery and ransacked the place (opening all the presents and leaving torn wrappings <i>everywhere</i>). Oh, dear!</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></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/a/AVvXsEg-pkOaAoJ5ZoPw_PgrXwq2H7TmeMeQPUWDyTfD3vBDgrnnL1pyrv-gUCIVr6nEGP_ktisbmjSV9NU0rJp9MbY-j2UBDZz81Xsazy6_ZzBXzrLzMtv4QZBub8YpbvWIBHaEhWmSobV5LJJB44b_mzLIfUo22_MlFsh7GjCyuLxvj3UzQQGQukaMhT_wQg=s5112" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3652" data-original-width="5112" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-pkOaAoJ5ZoPw_PgrXwq2H7TmeMeQPUWDyTfD3vBDgrnnL1pyrv-gUCIVr6nEGP_ktisbmjSV9NU0rJp9MbY-j2UBDZz81Xsazy6_ZzBXzrLzMtv4QZBub8YpbvWIBHaEhWmSobV5LJJB44b_mzLIfUo22_MlFsh7GjCyuLxvj3UzQQGQukaMhT_wQg=w640-h458" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meanwhile, the ice bears continued to torment the goblin hordes, but just couldn't make headway against the ever-replenishing numbers. The barbarian knights were cut off and destroyed, though their woolly rhino just kept ploughing forwards, pushing back whatever got in its way. Finally, Santa was left arguing with a large, smelly troll about the proper meaning of Christmas. Game over!</td></tr></tbody></table><h1 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h1><p style="text-align: left;">Well, that was an abrupt ending!</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The goblins timed their run for the cottage perfectly. Santa simply couldn't catch all of them on his own and they breezed through the second echelon stuff that was left to guard the objective.</li><li>Santa sacrificed some of his troops early in charging forwards; the shooters might have been better employed waiting for the enemy to come to them instead.</li><li>The ice bears were bogged down fighting with vast hordes of goblins. Even though they were generally winning each round of combat the bears had a <i>long</i> way to go before they could push the little monsters off the table.</li><li>The barbarians were mesmerised by the wood full of wolves; fearful of a flank attack if they tried to skirt around it and not confident of their chances if they attacked the forest head on.</li><li>When the barbarians eventually tried to redeploy, it was too complicated and too late. All they did was sacrifice their mounted troops for no real gain.</li></ul><p style="text-align: left;">So, a well-deserved victory to the goblin hooligans. Let's hope that isn't an omen for Christmas 2021!</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all my readers!</span></h3><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Colgar6http://www.blogger.com/profile/07636662295301222390noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556126903764105050.post-54464299563069877132021-11-21T11:39:00.002+00:002022-02-28T21:18:05.244+00:00HAHA SAGA Escalation League - 4<h1 style="text-align: left;">Introduction</h1><div><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2021/10/haha-saga-escalation-league-3.html"><== View part 3 here</a></span></i></div><p style="text-align: left;">We've now reached the fourth session for our SAGA Escalation league at the HAHA games club. This is the bonus round and here's how it was described in the original manifesto:</p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Each participant will bring 1 extra item, to be judged on theme and painting quality. This could be any of the following, or indeed anything else that fits:</i></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i><span id="docs-internal-guid-17c147c2-7fff-2481-732e-ebffb5838718"></span></i></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Noto Sans Symbols", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 1.9pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>a piece of scenery (Celtic cross, Viking longboat, Dark Age house, wood, marsh…)</i></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Noto Sans Symbols", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 1.9pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>extra – but not “regular” - figures for the warband (a bard, champion, mercenary group…)</i></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Noto Sans Symbols", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 1.9pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>game accessories (objective or fatigue markers: ox carts, groups of civilians, broken shields & wounded warriors, livestock, sacks/chests of loot…)</i></span></p></li></ul><p style="text-align: left;">On the night, only 3 participants were able to enter an item, though all the members of the club (including the non-SAGA gamers) were encouraged to vote. Let's see how they did:</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Skraelings</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MgmfodmVG_YmQFS_7WH2_YDQR6VNtp4urMUcoldOEJ3jiwbwa367Hzyn8NDBDtVcbcetyYc5Xv5jQZWXUn644XaNNRiijb0in_wv6MF82IUXSkXzO9IakNWDNhwrIuko-Hqa093hfWeN/s1233/DSC01327.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1233" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MgmfodmVG_YmQFS_7WH2_YDQR6VNtp4urMUcoldOEJ3jiwbwa367Hzyn8NDBDtVcbcetyYc5Xv5jQZWXUn644XaNNRiijb0in_wv6MF82IUXSkXzO9IakNWDNhwrIuko-Hqa093hfWeN/w400-h325/DSC01327.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">The Skraelings chose to bring some civilians (though this might be hard to define in a tribal society!): a couple of fishermen in a canoe. This piece is probably best thought of as a scenic accent, though I suppose it could be used as an objective or game marker.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Anglo Saxons</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIofbkAdp4GZiDrk2mJ87UslcenZNt6819iZXnaRKzUGVngun8hF7pMo52yTQ4JeJNUQ1TX9M_ameLoMnIRsBiTnh9q1qFZecNweeVe1JZCmxE2qOkIuHZwmIGsNDiKS1O74VArQ7EslV/s2177/DSC01329.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2177" data-original-width="1861" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIofbkAdp4GZiDrk2mJ87UslcenZNt6819iZXnaRKzUGVngun8hF7pMo52yTQ4JeJNUQ1TX9M_ameLoMnIRsBiTnh9q1qFZecNweeVe1JZCmxE2qOkIuHZwmIGsNDiKS1O74VArQ7EslV/w548-h640/DSC01329.JPG" width="548" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">The Anglo Saxons brought a hut, along with the blacksmith who lives in it. Seems like a very useful piece of scenery to me.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Crusaders</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrX4BIfaedTGu4VsyiAvChtE_iQ6dkw5ueY2SPBPJtqiOHA1Oamv3kye7UICwfnrV7Gv-y7GLbuBqbAsJYkkH48wICNUaykxgzv7gEqWWl-XaWenwMt91hyiksO6GZ6kaDup5EwJ7dcJpU/s1025/DSC01330.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="1025" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrX4BIfaedTGu4VsyiAvChtE_iQ6dkw5ueY2SPBPJtqiOHA1Oamv3kye7UICwfnrV7Gv-y7GLbuBqbAsJYkkH48wICNUaykxgzv7gEqWWl-XaWenwMt91hyiksO6GZ6kaDup5EwJ7dcJpU/w400-h272/DSC01330.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">For the Crusaders, a warrior priest was added to their ranks. A minor hero is surely going to help them in their fights against all the infidels!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h1><p style="text-align: left;">As you can see from the votes cast (attached to each picture), the club members liked the Anglo Saxon hut a great deal; it scored more votes than the other two entries put together! So we award a further 3 points to them for this excellent entry, 2 points to the runner up and 1 point for all other submissions.</p><p style="text-align: left;">After that, the standings now look like this:</p><table style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><tbody><tr><th></th><th>January 2020<br /><i><span style="color: #666666;">Starter for ten</span></i></th><th>February 2020<br /><i><span style="color: #666666;">Powers of two</span></i></th><th><strike>March 2020<br /></strike>October 2021<br /><i><span style="color: #666666;">Long live the peasants!</span></i></th><th><strike>April 2020<br /></strike>November 2021<br /><i><span style="color: #666666;">Bonus round</span></i></th><th><strike>May 2020<br /></strike>December 2021<br /><i><span style="color: #666666;">Armageddon</span></i></th><th>TOTAL</th></tr><tr style="background-color: #e0ffe0;"><td><span style="color: #783f04;">Byzantines</span></td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">(damaged)</td><td align="center">(absent)</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center">2</td></tr><tr><td><span style="color: #783f04;">Anglo Saxons</span></td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center">10</td></tr><tr style="background-color: #e0ffe0;"><td><span style="color: #783f04;">Normans</span></td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">(absent)</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center">4</td></tr><tr><td><span style="color: #783f04;">Jomsvikings</span></td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">(retired)</td><td align="center">(retired)</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center">3</td></tr><tr style="background-color: #e0ffe0;"><td><span style="color: #783f04;">Anglo Danes</span></td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">(absent)</td><td align="center">(retired)</td><td align="center">(retired)</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center">3</td></tr><tr><td><span style="color: #783f04;">Skraelings</span></td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center">8</td></tr><tr style="background-color: #e0ffe0;"><td><span style="color: #783f04;">Crusaders</span></td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center">6</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">So, onward! There's only 1 one more round to go, after which all finishers should have a 4 point SAGA army and a bonus "extra" item.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2022/02/haha-saga-escalation-league-5.html">On to the final round ==></a></i></p>Colgar6http://www.blogger.com/profile/07636662295301222390noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556126903764105050.post-27942337077400855132021-11-14T15:34:00.002+00:002021-11-14T15:34:37.068+00:006mm: Irregular vs Heroics & Ros<h1 style="text-align: left;">Introduction</h1><p style="text-align: left;">I have a fair-sized collection of 6mm Napoleonic figures. However, there are never quite enough to form the truly grand armies I'd like for a large game. In particular, I don't have too many French.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Virtually all of my 6mm forces are made up of models from Heroics & Ros. However, I don't believe that H&R Napoleonics are currently available, though hopefully they will be re-issued sometime soon.</p><p style="text-align: left;">So if I wish to extend my army, what are the options? There are other "6mm" manufacturers such as Bacchus and Adler, but I've always understood that these were rather larger (perhaps more like 8mm tall?) and stylistically rather different. <i>Please note that this last opinion is based on hearsay and rumour rather than personal experience; if it is in any way incorrect then I apologise profusely!</i></p><p style="text-align: left;">The other maker of "true" 6mm figures of which I am aware is Irregular Miniatures. They've been around <i>forever </i>and have a reputation for cheap, but possibly less well-detailed models. But at least their 6mm Napoleonics are still in production!</p><p style="text-align: left;">I thought it worth buying a battalion of infantry from Irregular to find out whether or not they are compatible with my H&R. Here we go...</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Irregular Miniatures</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGuDdwQf1qYtUhocpXb4rr7hSFd-try0VWyexEdaIQ4z0eHu2MBOFTxdu703W87TuhhAAamKqVpC_85WAD9cxdP686rjUqHj7SjRVBbyW1CQJ4FOOnwr3TrlnnRjW3S_apfTrakUqO1OX/s2340/DSC01258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="989" data-original-width="2340" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGuDdwQf1qYtUhocpXb4rr7hSFd-try0VWyexEdaIQ4z0eHu2MBOFTxdu703W87TuhhAAamKqVpC_85WAD9cxdP686rjUqHj7SjRVBbyW1CQJ4FOOnwr3TrlnnRjW3S_apfTrakUqO1OX/w400-h169/DSC01258.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">My standard Napoleonic line infantry "battalions" are 4 bases, each with 3 ranks of 10 figures. Models from Irregular Miniatures are available in a number of different form factors - including blocks of 3 ranks of infantry. However, I went for the standard 6-man strips for my unit.</p><p style="text-align: left;">This battalion is therefore composed of 19 x French Line infantry strips, plus 1 x French Line infantry command. Because I only wanted 10 figures per rank on each base, I needed to cut apart some of the 6-figure strips into 2-man and 4-man parts. This wasn't too hard, though it was a minor nuisance.</p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilnMqlWommVzdO6tlejpPmWq-SX9-EoMnMOAJIsdXqKIxVaNrx37zon3A6J0IWueVUVT7A9iqHVWR1LG7fqbH0UC06d4ErYTO9Y3RguP7Hg7HVxrYAoe9Zsm5Lqvfp-UTLQBZAvATLBtr2/s3523/DSC01262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="3523" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilnMqlWommVzdO6tlejpPmWq-SX9-EoMnMOAJIsdXqKIxVaNrx37zon3A6J0IWueVUVT7A9iqHVWR1LG7fqbH0UC06d4ErYTO9Y3RguP7Hg7HVxrYAoe9Zsm5Lqvfp-UTLQBZAvATLBtr2/w640-h138/DSC01262.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">From the rear, it is clear that these French are not wearing backpacks. That's slightly odd, but probably not too important.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Painting the Irregular figures was a little more difficult than I remember being the case for H&R. Maybe I'm just older, more tired or have less good eyesight than before? Or maybe these models haven't got the fairly-obvious detail of the H&R ones. Still, I think they turned out all right.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Heroics & Ros</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRbx9kwR_hyq93OH19WsApZIVJCuYUB58gNABja1ZlF9awhrA46dddopyx6FJu1r2Zm-fN-45AcN5wvg_Vb264CrdlUeIdxoj2eNXfZd4iq750uZM4G5uC0onk0bYBPQrbhPQ2VaOWWLi/s2556/DSC01264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1038" data-original-width="2556" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRbx9kwR_hyq93OH19WsApZIVJCuYUB58gNABja1ZlF9awhrA46dddopyx6FJu1r2Zm-fN-45AcN5wvg_Vb264CrdlUeIdxoj2eNXfZd4iq750uZM4G5uC0onk0bYBPQrbhPQ2VaOWWLi/w400-h163/DSC01264.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">As this is a comparison article, here are some of my existing Heroics & Ros figures. The only real differences I can spot are that the H&R have shouldered their muskets on the left, whereas the Irregular are using their <i>right</i> shoulders for this and that the Irregular command figures have a moulded, semi-furled standard; the H&R just have a small square of flat metal. Also, as mentioned above, the H&R are wearing backpacks; the Irregular are not.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOJB3E2NFTp4_vlMFrZyfWBZifW1iX3MhTE2i3m24cW6oMs2fFbH-Mys7noQJ2SrRa44YCZAcBNxdQrhAjp-_3pPw0czJ6jY0SO8La4HyPe0oa7Wtwn1VPDW3DITDWA1Hr3ReqccC0ypC/s4233/DSC01270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="4233" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOJB3E2NFTp4_vlMFrZyfWBZifW1iX3MhTE2i3m24cW6oMs2fFbH-Mys7noQJ2SrRa44YCZAcBNxdQrhAjp-_3pPw0czJ6jY0SO8La4HyPe0oa7Wtwn1VPDW3DITDWA1Hr3ReqccC0ypC/w640-h112/DSC01270.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">From the back, you can also see that I've changed the style of the unit's nameplate for my newest models. The 93rd Line have my older, all-white nameplates, without any specific battalion identifier.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfUJw-cT2Sk9Q2HUnqVIIfrkimxcUEUVQCS42CUiSd7eM4hi8IPiJT2L2cnW25kFykRkv5zs4j_uEGe9oUc-v7-MocBuFu1qY-4YQL33lclRZ3OialYNUvMOE-8LtQDzhL7cmrUtZ20YA/s4114/DSC01275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="4114" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfUJw-cT2Sk9Q2HUnqVIIfrkimxcUEUVQCS42CUiSd7eM4hi8IPiJT2L2cnW25kFykRkv5zs4j_uEGe9oUc-v7-MocBuFu1qY-4YQL33lclRZ3OialYNUvMOE-8LtQDzhL7cmrUtZ20YA/w640-h114/DSC01275.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">OK, can you guess which unit is Irregular and which is H&R in this picture? At first glance, without peering too closely at the image?</p><p style="text-align: left;">If you thought that the Irregular were on the right and the H&R on the left then you were correct. But my view is that there isn't a lot of difference between them and I'll be very happy to mix units from these two manufacturers together in the same army. In the end it comes down to which models are easier to obtain.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Of course, I've only tested infantry here. The cavalry models might well vary rather more between the two producers.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Colgar6http://www.blogger.com/profile/07636662295301222390noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556126903764105050.post-16569948999363382512021-10-31T16:37:00.003+00:002023-10-08T16:14:56.764+01:00Zomtober 2021, Week 5<p style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2021/10/zomtober-2021-week-4.html"><== For week 4, go this way</a></i></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Introduction</h1><div>You lucky people! There are 5 Sundays in October this year, so that means you get to see 5 Zomtober posts from me. Here's the article detailing my efforts for this fifth week.</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">"B" vs Fairly Average Zombie</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tdYY0amTN81ZbMLOhWGBE_N8Bc5nFd8tDLmk_F3DnicIOFMdvmOgeEq1VcDZQeNdNuafK0_FMvoLauzPV__1AN9e3nx7lsBL6S76OL6r6O23DbCdcasSz7KpSWHyotfoeCZk5zV-KNnV/s1567/DSC01169.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1055" data-original-width="1567" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tdYY0amTN81ZbMLOhWGBE_N8Bc5nFd8tDLmk_F3DnicIOFMdvmOgeEq1VcDZQeNdNuafK0_FMvoLauzPV__1AN9e3nx7lsBL6S76OL6r6O23DbCdcasSz7KpSWHyotfoeCZk5zV-KNnV/s320/DSC01169.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Here we have an encounter between "B" ( a member of my occasional "Men in Blue" quasi-governmental organisation) and a fairly average zombie (who will be referred to as "FAZ" for short).</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLucGmM8abtjmvf942tJ1_tm0OsJDmPic7HGpsOSz1pmdt2Qgrj9EK0vvsEd2oC7bnHAqYfj1hK1D6iSMcxlbwDeXRK5ZGJEKRxzBW4GpEvCpuT2hNnazVg-lgT5VGebBWepQ0D-YDtU_5/s1263/DSC01172.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1263" data-original-width="1179" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLucGmM8abtjmvf942tJ1_tm0OsJDmPic7HGpsOSz1pmdt2Qgrj9EK0vvsEd2oC7bnHAqYfj1hK1D6iSMcxlbwDeXRK5ZGJEKRxzBW4GpEvCpuT2hNnazVg-lgT5VGebBWepQ0D-YDtU_5/s320/DSC01172.JPG" width="299" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">"B" has an assault rifle in one hand and that ought to stand him in good stead. However, he has a magazine in the other hand. Is he in the middle of reloading and about to insert fresh ammunition into the gun? Has he removed the magazine because his weapon is jammed and he's trying to clear the blockage? Or is there some other reason for the magazine in his hand?</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbR14rj5pYLL3uzOoIEfoJZziIpPdJcf6j_wJXSGn3mx0D1dU9Q0GaUEfJk6mawy95f7OoDefg3I5ZInN9VmUFVB21qXZNEllCvBnsp1ZuGrdBKi9Z4v1-_rRaLDTnDGbsYsc-Y_k-R_Z/s1509/DSC01174.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="1509" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbR14rj5pYLL3uzOoIEfoJZziIpPdJcf6j_wJXSGn3mx0D1dU9Q0GaUEfJk6mawy95f7OoDefg3I5ZInN9VmUFVB21qXZNEllCvBnsp1ZuGrdBKi9Z4v1-_rRaLDTnDGbsYsc-Y_k-R_Z/s320/DSC01174.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Whatever the reason, "B" seems to have been taken by surprise. Although FAZ doesn't look especially threatening (for a zombie!), I imagine that he's still quite capable of inflicting a nasty bite..</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8K3BWrJBCr5uP9KbhyphenhyphenW4I169KvKta7YS7_VYohMMSUVdOE9OM0iKKgSj1IA6Ni56-ZG-hLJroKzcn6mbmWbmcKXu9vS_Vn6ZZJDQIWHqN1EnEmYQLyvHundlNlTm53bGeIuVEEp1Co8O0/s1289/DSC01177.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="1289" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8K3BWrJBCr5uP9KbhyphenhyphenW4I169KvKta7YS7_VYohMMSUVdOE9OM0iKKgSj1IA6Ni56-ZG-hLJroKzcn6mbmWbmcKXu9vS_Vn6ZZJDQIWHqN1EnEmYQLyvHundlNlTm53bGeIuVEEp1Co8O0/s320/DSC01177.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">"B" was built from the old Wargames Atlantic "Apocalypse Survivors: the Men" kit. Although the original supplier is long gone, I believe that this has just been relaunched as part of Warlord Games' "Project Z" range.</p><p style="text-align: left;">FAZ is a mixture of parts. Most of him comes from Studio Miniatures' plastic zombie frame, but the arm with the briefcase is from one of the old Wargames Atlantic kits (I cannot remember which one).</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h2><p style="text-align: left;">As always, it's up to my readers to decide what happens next? Will B reload his gun in time to blow the zombie's head off? Or, failing that, will he quickly reverse the gun and use it as a club to beat FAZ down? Or is the element of surprise in FAZ's favor: will the zed close and bite B before the man can react?</p><p style="text-align: left;">What do you think?</p><p style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2023/10/zomtober-2023-week-2.html">The next Zomtober post is here ==></a></i></p>Colgar6http://www.blogger.com/profile/07636662295301222390noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556126903764105050.post-36363767960026093482021-10-30T16:40:00.001+01:002021-10-30T16:40:42.154+01:00Mystery Inc and the Spooky Forest!<h2 style="text-align: left;"> Introduction</h2><p style="text-align: left;">It's the end of October and I haven't put on a Halloween game for 2 years (global pandemic, you know...). Since my local club is now meeting again, it is time for a special event!</p><p style="text-align: left;">This year, I arranged a 4-player game using the <a href="https://www.ganeshagames.net/product_info.php?products_id=15">Fear and Faith</a> rules from Ganesha Games. These are a version of the popular Song of Blades and heroes engine, adapted for horror (Gothic through to modern). Without further ado, on to the report...</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">The Forces</h2><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Mystery Inc</span></h3><p style="text-align: left;">These characters shouldn't need much introduction, I think. Their stats are taken directly from the "not Mystery Inc" characters in the <a href="https://www.ganeshagames.net/product_info.php?cPath=1_8&products_id=16">Kooky Teenage Monster Hunters</a> supplement to Fear and Faith:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Fred </b>(bold leader)</li><li><b>Daphne</b> (fashionable monster bait)</li><li><b>Velma</b> (intelligent scientist)</li><li><b>Shaggy</b> (hairy dropout)</li><li><b>Scooby Doo</b> (cowardly, greedy hound)</li></ul><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Girl Guide Camp</span></h3><div>For reasons best known to themselves, the girl guides have camped in the middle of a gloomy, swampy forest. They have several extremely competent ex-guides along as camp helpers and a surprisingly large assortment of weaponry. Maybe this is preparation for their "Monster Hunting" badge?</div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Brown Owl</b> (<i>"spiritual" leader, assault rifle</i>)</li><li><b>April </b>(<i>hockey stick, confident</i>)</li><li><b>May </b>(<i>machine pistol, confident</i>)</li><li><b>Sarah </b>(ex-guide with<i> crossbow </i>and <i>smart mouth</i>)</li><li><b>Ann </b>(useless adult helper, <i>screamer</i>)</li><li><b>Barbara </b>(another ex-guide<i>, the chosen one, sword, hero</i>)</li></ul><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">The Ghosts</span></h3><div>So, the gloomy forest is haunted. Who saw that coming?</div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Night Wraith</b> (<i>fearful, immaterial, warlock</i>)</li><li>2 x <b>Reaper Ghost</b> (<i>fearful, immaterial, teleport</i>)</li><li>2 x <b>Banshee</b> (<i>haunt, immaterial, morose</i>)</li></ul><p style="text-align: left;">Note that these characters cannot harm any humans in combat (because they are immaterial), although the warlock can cast damaging spells. Instead, they use <i>Fear</i> to try to scare away the humans.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Equally, they are immune to physical attacks from the good side (though <span style="color: #0b5394;">Fred </span>& <span style="color: #0b5394;">Velma </span>both have the <i>conviction</i> ability and <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Brown Owl </span>can lead a "<i>spiritual prayer" - </i>some form of girl guide chant, I imagine - both of which could destroy such spectres).</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;">The Children of the Fields</span></h3><div>It seems that the curse of the forest has spread to nearby farmland as well. A sinister individual has animated a number of terrors and brought them to aid in chasing off the humans.</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Mister Wurzel </b>(<i>hard to kill, warlock</i>) Note that I couldn't find the model I wished to use for this character and had to make do with a ratman instead. It's still somewhat appropriate, I think.</li><li>6 x <b>Scarecrow </b>(<i>mindless, zombie, short move</i>)</li><li>4 x bases of <b>Rat Swarm</b> (<i>mindless, zombie, swarm</i>)</li></ul><div>Being mostly zombies, this force is slow, but very hard to destroy. You can knock them down all you like; they'll just get back up again. Mostly.</div><h1 style="text-align: left;">The Scenario</h1></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Setup</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIRs-3XauYRjUa92z6AjpY7qx4EoU6NPJnxfy-vvautTNC8a-DYWHcA2fS4icrtRrZ2U1ntI0ucB5Yp940wKPy3Mga1eiTWDOIZ0lCR6G6EFzbCkVG1MxM34HWbWCRUdDtv6Tsq3bggCY/s2048/DSC01086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1696" data-original-width="2048" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIRs-3XauYRjUa92z6AjpY7qx4EoU6NPJnxfy-vvautTNC8a-DYWHcA2fS4icrtRrZ2U1ntI0ucB5Yp940wKPy3Mga1eiTWDOIZ0lCR6G6EFzbCkVG1MxM34HWbWCRUdDtv6Tsq3bggCY/s320/DSC01086.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Setup is simple:</div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The humans set up at the camp in the middle of the table.</li><li>The monsters set up around any edge(s) they choose. Note that the 2 <span style="color: #b45f06;">banshees </span>have the <i>haunt</i> special rule which ties them to a particular locality. They were set up at the centre of their chosen haunted area instead (this could be anywhere on the table, as long as the haunted area didn't cover any of the campsite).</li></ul><h3 style="text-align: left;">Winning & Losing</h3><p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are 6 objectives scattered around the table, all in different directions from the centre.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBvFZNAP2L0tlPpK5FrfTrWVAwR3DE4sSTQ0fMAudaQVF01voqc7nkY6aiO0XRzU8NO3BxHbI4ciQTTZYEYbZwQFFBsjX4WUpGqXqu9qzdz58Lcsn1q7YzMSCVdESXVP4mHS9vXuRm_8T/s2048/DSC01083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1511" data-original-width="2048" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBvFZNAP2L0tlPpK5FrfTrWVAwR3DE4sSTQ0fMAudaQVF01voqc7nkY6aiO0XRzU8NO3BxHbI4ciQTTZYEYbZwQFFBsjX4WUpGqXqu9qzdz58Lcsn1q7YzMSCVdESXVP4mHS9vXuRm_8T/w640-h472/DSC01083.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">It takes a (human) character one action to investigate an objective:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>3 of these objectives are <i>false leads</i> and (once discovered) play no further part in the game.</li><li>The other 3 objectives are <i>clues.</i></li></ul>The humans win by picking up all the clues and then having the clue-holders meet together (in the centre?) to work out how to stop the monsters permanently (i.e by revealing the hidden projectors, taking off the villain's rubber mask, performing an exorcism or whatever...).<p></p><p style="text-align: left;">The monsters win by knocking out or scaring off all the humans.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">The Game</h2></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1aaG2C2SlraOOI6pk9GRNjS95BwczDvw2i8B2NNw1S8mmgyrMUNF1vVdUwaWOMQfmtkzJmfajSeCRBPQxy24AK_mSOcRcXCWeWMTXznF7bcW4rv7x3dLJvyqVC5zoM2HHRNYr02WMCeA/s2552/DSC01105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1232" data-original-width="2552" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1aaG2C2SlraOOI6pk9GRNjS95BwczDvw2i8B2NNw1S8mmgyrMUNF1vVdUwaWOMQfmtkzJmfajSeCRBPQxy24AK_mSOcRcXCWeWMTXznF7bcW4rv7x3dLJvyqVC5zoM2HHRNYr02WMCeA/w640-h309/DSC01105.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Mystery Inc were very active right from the start. They split up and looked for clues:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #0b5394;">Shaggy </span>and <span style="color: #0b5394;">Scooby </span>went straight for the picnic objective, had a look and decided it was important. Thereafter they mostly bumbled around aimlessly, getting in other people's way.</li><li><span style="color: #0b5394;">Velma </span>approached the shallow grave objective. Initially she was put off by the nearby <span style="color: #b45f06;">banshee</span>, but when <span style="color: #0b5394;">Fred </span>arrived to help they saw it off with ease. Sadly for them, the "shallow grave" turned out to be only some disturbed ground and a fallen branch that looked a bit like a cross.</li><li><span style="color: #0b5394;">Daphne</span> wandered through the foggy forest, looking for the lost cat objective (but becoming a bit lost herself, it seemed)</li></ul><div><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAVVyuNPlMZssrBW5XskqIh24Eg4uIuTTlFL3EyoYVG_L39eZTx32LYecBzb_JE7ArNYHXLjnWGsbEY0eGhRT4sfRv9N5aF1k7pXJnRwm_COjUC2hR29TIQ7MVbBmIWFTS_gkbazc38qh/s2048/DSC01102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1685" data-original-width="2048" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAVVyuNPlMZssrBW5XskqIh24Eg4uIuTTlFL3EyoYVG_L39eZTx32LYecBzb_JE7ArNYHXLjnWGsbEY0eGhRT4sfRv9N5aF1k7pXJnRwm_COjUC2hR29TIQ7MVbBmIWFTS_gkbazc38qh/w640-h526/DSC01102.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">The <span style="color: #2b00fe;">girl guides</span> also scattered in every direction:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>There was sporadic gunfire as <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Brown Owl</span> opened up on the shambling <span style="color: red;">scarecrows</span>, but without much effect. She did eventually manage to destroy one with a well-placed burst.</li><li><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Barbara </span>(the chosen one) ambushed <span style="color: red;">Mister Wurzel</span>. The warlock was hard-pressed to defend himself, but just managed to stay alive for now.</li></ul><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfVPvgduD_Jr7L4QBFL4JPU6fT7fVi7t-Tt_Sp0RX_x-gSondVgq318G8rylSlV8n5h308zjHek_PaWx_PF6qMqA-1ubiYbHGnvTDb-1IFuoG2q7uK-yOB5stcFcJ93Stk-djhkJ-s5FO/s2048/DSC01109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1328" data-original-width="2048" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfVPvgduD_Jr7L4QBFL4JPU6fT7fVi7t-Tt_Sp0RX_x-gSondVgq318G8rylSlV8n5h308zjHek_PaWx_PF6qMqA-1ubiYbHGnvTDb-1IFuoG2q7uK-yOB5stcFcJ93Stk-djhkJ-s5FO/s320/DSC01109.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Ann </span>rushed too and fro, encountering the second <span style="color: #b45f06;">banshee</span> several times. She probably thought there were such creatures everywhere; I don't think <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Ann </span>realised that she was running in circles and meeting the same monster each time. The end result of this was several debilitating rolls on the <i>Insanity</i> table and a lot of screaming from the terrified human.</li></ul><div><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RxygVTHDSNDBaaQX7mAW-8cCnryStV5JvWfgAVoJnmhc19QNvResy5bsZeaM3Dxjbi1DcO2wFTJYqe8ZaUoZK9BDfUGqCRHc01pY_sW1wvYZBxRfn0o_PgeUdq8pBVOa3uJtvdq6FPja/s2048/DSC01114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1527" data-original-width="2048" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RxygVTHDSNDBaaQX7mAW-8cCnryStV5JvWfgAVoJnmhc19QNvResy5bsZeaM3Dxjbi1DcO2wFTJYqe8ZaUoZK9BDfUGqCRHc01pY_sW1wvYZBxRfn0o_PgeUdq8pBVOa3uJtvdq6FPja/w400-h299/DSC01114.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">The fight between <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Barbara </span>and <span style="color: red;">Mister Wurzel </span>grew as other models from both sides approached. Most significantly, the <span style="color: #b45f06;">Night Wraith</span> joined <span style="color: red;">Mister Wurzel</span> and between them the two warlocks threw curse after curse at the chosen one. However, neither transfix spells nor lightning bolts had any effect; <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Barbara </span>just shrugged them all off.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BKC90FFL58rxIcRZ8oYCOzG-hRsbDKq4hbHv4HNXDA8AuoRsrYygtQO6DQyhZLYacfSY4YzV9McPDUYJUS6TlOToEWWWRMS4EascHeB-Om3Zm-jsGXKAUJ58SLGQUuxsN0HEVKN64kgU/s2048/DSC01117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1480" data-original-width="2048" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BKC90FFL58rxIcRZ8oYCOzG-hRsbDKq4hbHv4HNXDA8AuoRsrYygtQO6DQyhZLYacfSY4YzV9McPDUYJUS6TlOToEWWWRMS4EascHeB-Om3Zm-jsGXKAUJ58SLGQUuxsN0HEVKN64kgU/w400-h289/DSC01117.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Daphne </span>finally managed to grab the lost cat, though only when <span style="color: #2b00fe;">April</span> came to help. It was a real <i>clue</i>, so Mystery Inc had now found two of the three necessary items to solve the puzzle!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQ4ifEHNLYV-X0jQFwbtEIJTHZfUV8pGaHQf5UqDVwZ6JIpW3OHGLGq5Kgg-paDAcMeCe8NdqdUrFPYrsam27BXcLBYPPO_Puo3UMzxpuYzPIRPYjMocPLTesWj-vvR7_qaUvt6nFpWkz/s2048/DSC01127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1657" data-original-width="2048" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQ4ifEHNLYV-X0jQFwbtEIJTHZfUV8pGaHQf5UqDVwZ6JIpW3OHGLGq5Kgg-paDAcMeCe8NdqdUrFPYrsam27BXcLBYPPO_Puo3UMzxpuYzPIRPYjMocPLTesWj-vvR7_qaUvt6nFpWkz/w640-h518/DSC01127.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">On the whole, the monsters were finding it hard to move their followers. The <span style="color: red;">scarecrows </span>were unmotivated and <i>slow</i>, but one of the <span style="color: #b45f06;">ghosts </span>suffered a <i>teleport</i> disaster; it ended up in the far corner of the table.</p><p style="text-align: left;">At least the <span style="color: red;">rat swarms</span> were finally on the move, read to invade the campsite.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmmRURV2kNCocOnKu4-Ef6q-jiIBdsyc4VssXwnwbCqT8o4MQdduAx5v-7x8q4HAwM78zvxdheR-ZLkU_-E5n-KogqdIVJYFgjbJdKJZ4CuYy74swPAHSEZZqxrg9K63Ks5a5DfDcky29/s2048/DSC01138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1642" data-original-width="2048" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmmRURV2kNCocOnKu4-Ef6q-jiIBdsyc4VssXwnwbCqT8o4MQdduAx5v-7x8q4HAwM78zvxdheR-ZLkU_-E5n-KogqdIVJYFgjbJdKJZ4CuYy74swPAHSEZZqxrg9K63Ks5a5DfDcky29/w400-h321/DSC01138.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Seeing the danger, <span style="color: #0b5394;">Fred</span> and <span style="color: #0b5394;">Daphne </span>rushed over and attacked the rodent horde. It turns out that the rats weren't as tough as might have been thought; they were easily scattered (<i>i.e. "knocked down"</i>). Before they could regroup, the humans destroyed half of the swarm (and yes, Daphne's <i>killer heels</i> <b>did</b> exactly that).</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdVz5qXvcnddTU2jRUQQY1bwqwgQYs0Ws-Qs1cexUAgJjopp009SeezSp205TcHT-w5B2JWdNPIgytwC-L_YttEWlAwek2kSXfpayxx42nv_eJsmiPbj9Zv3J_QNA0Wm_RgT0TxyrdtvG/s2048/DSC01143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="2048" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdVz5qXvcnddTU2jRUQQY1bwqwgQYs0Ws-Qs1cexUAgJjopp009SeezSp205TcHT-w5B2JWdNPIgytwC-L_YttEWlAwek2kSXfpayxx42nv_eJsmiPbj9Zv3J_QNA0Wm_RgT0TxyrdtvG/w400-h234/DSC01143.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Meanwhile, <span style="color: #0b5394;">Velma </span>had been left a bit shaky after encountering the second <span style="color: #b45f06;">banshee </span>(i.e. one roll on the <i>Insanity</i> table). Despite this, she rallied, stepped forward and disproved the apparition through the force of science - whereupon it vanished for good.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjil9EwIgGx_B54O3-qXict_JPcmAUP-bLvo6TveIvgoRvshFN49ClIcK4cHlZsOdVxvKBXpSobTvRiLgNkA1Ei3FjIsfOhGVD8yZyqtTUVmWl4IA_dHThmaDfLy5ij_2-P3d8ygMeJ1Ysn/s2048/DSC01147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1644" data-original-width="2048" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjil9EwIgGx_B54O3-qXict_JPcmAUP-bLvo6TveIvgoRvshFN49ClIcK4cHlZsOdVxvKBXpSobTvRiLgNkA1Ei3FjIsfOhGVD8yZyqtTUVmWl4IA_dHThmaDfLy5ij_2-P3d8ygMeJ1Ysn/w400-h321/DSC01147.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">In their milling around, <span style="color: #0b5394;">Scooby </span>and <span style="color: #0b5394;">Shaggy</span> had become separated. The former now found himself beside <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Sarah</span>, manfully (<i>womanfully</i> and <i>dogfully</i>?) fighting a pair of <span style="color: red;">scarecrows</span>. To everyone's amazement, <span style="color: #0b5394;">Scooby </span>knocked down his opponent and then destroyed it. Personally, I think he caught his leg in the <span style="color: red;">scarecrow</span>'s clothing and then ripped it apart as he turned to flee...</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5rZ1RcLKke1tvwN5W6SFiH7ICy3JLUddqqQOHmSq0nPkCq8aw3_YZ6TPTgz9rsFGtkhQ18l4oT-HEHYqmnNPLdu59uOkyRGmeKpRY2GgqdxKEy9rpT3EsmXW8q-55jHeK4BplOMP1zNU/s2048/DSC01149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1582" data-original-width="2048" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5rZ1RcLKke1tvwN5W6SFiH7ICy3JLUddqqQOHmSq0nPkCq8aw3_YZ6TPTgz9rsFGtkhQ18l4oT-HEHYqmnNPLdu59uOkyRGmeKpRY2GgqdxKEy9rpT3EsmXW8q-55jHeK4BplOMP1zNU/w640-h494/DSC01149.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">In the long-running fight near the swamp, <span style="color: #2b00fe;">May </span>had been transfixed by a stray spell. The poor little girl was rooted to the spot, unable to move for fear of the <span style="color: #b45f06;">Night Wraith</span>.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Things seemed to be looking up for the humans though: the chosen one finally chopped the head off <span style="color: red;">Mister Wurzel</span>, sending the heap of ragged clothes tumbling to the ground, dead.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxYIpB-lfxmGohbM2pZRkQi_C7IRYCYMXUwrfgfuxUJGUA_yxWHkUpafSv2-Pom67FJuzlYbxnEMi-VrOPclnmkZp8liCxj3ZKHuyRZC6586S-Zsi9D1lB3en6lfVbhyphenhyphenQBD14LOMPDzpe/s2048/DSC01152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1834" data-original-width="2048" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxYIpB-lfxmGohbM2pZRkQi_C7IRYCYMXUwrfgfuxUJGUA_yxWHkUpafSv2-Pom67FJuzlYbxnEMi-VrOPclnmkZp8liCxj3ZKHuyRZC6586S-Zsi9D1lB3en6lfVbhyphenhyphenQBD14LOMPDzpe/w400-h359/DSC01152.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">...or was he dead? <span style="color: red;">Mister Wurzel</span> rose from the mist, as whole as before (that's the <i>hard to kill</i> ability; it was triggered almost immediately by a nearby <span style="color: #b45f06;">ghost</span> scaring <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Brown Owl</span> just out of picture).</p><p style="text-align: left;">The sight was too much for <span style="color: #2b00fe;">May</span>; she collapsed in a faint and was out of the game. Even <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Barbara </span>stumbled back in shock and tripped over a tree root.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvqXajIPVdHImlmzoc6TdKbxOqEsqkKTFtHOwHw9vY3qnO914Uo0jpTC9ZIPqD2f3nOd0o3UCYulmAoDMywHF4Y3q7ZmxTs5cF4dF6fEg-uzCjAeubYNbnDbjCPCSFr284zyADUeEk4T4/s2048/DSC01167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1888" data-original-width="2048" height="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvqXajIPVdHImlmzoc6TdKbxOqEsqkKTFtHOwHw9vY3qnO914Uo0jpTC9ZIPqD2f3nOd0o3UCYulmAoDMywHF4Y3q7ZmxTs5cF4dF6fEg-uzCjAeubYNbnDbjCPCSFr284zyADUeEk4T4/w640-h590/DSC01167.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">However, this was too little, too late for the monster side. Having destroyed the guardian <span style="color: #b45f06;">banshee</span>, <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Velma </span>recovered the ancient sword clue. In the last turn of the game (because we had to pack up), she ran for the campfire where <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Scooby </span>and <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Daphne </span>were waiting with the other two clues. She needed three move actions to make it in a single turn, but only rolled two successes and came up a little bit short.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h2><p style="text-align: left;">So, who won? If we had time for another turn, it was almost certain that <span style="color: #0b5394;">Velma </span>would have made it into the centre, thus completing all the clues and winning the game. There was really nothing the monsters could have done to stop her.</p><p style="text-align: left;">In the end, both monster forces (the ghosts and the scarecrows & rats) had lost about half their models. Against this, the humans only lost <span style="color: #2b00fe;">May</span>, though <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Ann </span>was pretty much a gibbering wreck and even <span style="color: #0b5394;">Velma </span>was feeling a bit "wobbly". Can the monsters claim a moral victory for delaying the humans so much that time ran out? Perhaps, perhaps not.</p><p style="text-align: left;">This scenario was designed to make the humans split up; it worked admirably in that respect.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I'm also pleased with the force compositions. In particular, the ghosts were intended to be an unconventional threat, using fear as their main effect. This seemed more appropriate than physical violence in a "Scooby Doo" game. I think it all worked very well in the end.</p><p style="text-align: left;">See you next Halloween!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Colgar6http://www.blogger.com/profile/07636662295301222390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556126903764105050.post-6350299984256395972021-10-24T11:06:00.002+01:002021-10-31T16:40:33.576+00:00Zomtober 2021, Week 4<p style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2021/10/zomtober-2021-week-3.html"><== Week 3 is back this way</a></i></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Introduction</h1><p style="text-align: left;">Another October Sunday, another Zomtober duel - you should understand the format by now, I hope...</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Stewie vs Cart Guide Zombie</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0cxOEq6QpHGj_Nsv1DTFsPacg5qbvvKqpixpeE0zCj2t06Gw6zL3N4rcJ3exWqZWjqmVdIKkdIlhxcr-I8oIphgruWf4oeCfWdx0ON0vQjivRVPRjTllNZSiTWr2M3iswB13d4I0C-NF/s1863/DSC01025.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1325" data-original-width="1863" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0cxOEq6QpHGj_Nsv1DTFsPacg5qbvvKqpixpeE0zCj2t06Gw6zL3N4rcJ3exWqZWjqmVdIKkdIlhxcr-I8oIphgruWf4oeCfWdx0ON0vQjivRVPRjTllNZSiTWr2M3iswB13d4I0C-NF/s320/DSC01025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Today's encounter is between Stewie and "Girl Guide zombie with cart" ("GGZC" hereafter), On the face of it, Stewie looks like a soldier but in my mind he is an "urban militiaman". In other words, a self-appointed guardian of truth, justice and apple pie (as long as these concepts don't clash with his own prejudices).</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnK8A6YCs4Cc8Fmhllnyma-L9ltQoGm6VLjb3M8jKBo-pQPp3l9RmJ3ifBZyZjIFNZm7VX0FXWENFqy7q8C_pmUmM0ULow8CHca75nNM1UnC3yQ2u3il4Hg6zqx-aTWjviITsVAAPnsOt/s1607/DSC01029.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1444" data-original-width="1607" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnK8A6YCs4Cc8Fmhllnyma-L9ltQoGm6VLjb3M8jKBo-pQPp3l9RmJ3ifBZyZjIFNZm7VX0FXWENFqy7q8C_pmUmM0ULow8CHca75nNM1UnC3yQ2u3il4Hg6zqx-aTWjviITsVAAPnsOt/s320/DSC01029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">I think that Stewie has come onto the streets, heavily armed, intending to face off against communists, hippies or some other existential threat. Instead he has come across a rather pathetic, sick little girl - who is dragging a toy cart full of unsold packets of biscuits and a few body parts.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKGffmMExyLIMTt0IGQgsRMq0aNUIjwpYy7fEHK0slZR0xV20CwWzPfyIHNiva_rHxBMyAcNHvWBJWXe0n24YR-yLbP5mjKGPpcU7-s0lwSjm1livQfjHOfRhXbs0gzG8057EmZVXjN0L/s1788/DSC01034.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1788" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKGffmMExyLIMTt0IGQgsRMq0aNUIjwpYy7fEHK0slZR0xV20CwWzPfyIHNiva_rHxBMyAcNHvWBJWXe0n24YR-yLbP5mjKGPpcU7-s0lwSjm1livQfjHOfRhXbs0gzG8057EmZVXjN0L/s320/DSC01034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">In this situation, Stewie is confused. He's staring vacantly into the distance (I assume - it's hard to tell when he's wearing dark shades) and trying to work out what is the right thing to do. Meanwhile, the zombie is inching ever closer to him.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpOicRkZIR42Q8zOtVhz8Li7RWQYSfYW9JnSCW7jkXp9oAK1GAqyW_jTEPhyphenhyphenhUs6BAfXCAs9gKj7f33oWeGoLHuhhsIBuc4s17J8lXRNoZU2r-9hARrXU94nNmURhrKx_DbW7ZU2VvQaD/s1594/DSC01037.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1377" data-original-width="1594" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpOicRkZIR42Q8zOtVhz8Li7RWQYSfYW9JnSCW7jkXp9oAK1GAqyW_jTEPhyphenhyphenhUs6BAfXCAs9gKj7f33oWeGoLHuhhsIBuc4s17J8lXRNoZU2r-9hARrXU94nNmURhrKx_DbW7ZU2VvQaD/s320/DSC01037.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">The model for Stewie is one of the figures from Wargames Foundry's <a href="https://www.wargamesfoundry.com/products/sv054-backstreet-militia">Backstreet Militia</a> pack. He is mounted on an Escenorama resin base (I've <i>almost </i>finished the large pack of these I bought cheap several years ago).</p><p style="text-align: left;">GGZC is from a range of figures currently sold by <a href="https://www.dragon-bait-minis.com/shop/miniatures/sculptors/david-soderquist/scout-girl-zombie-hunters/">Dragon Bait Miniatures</a> (though I'm almost positive that I obtained mine from somewhere else, probably quite a long time ago). She's fixed on a simple disk base that has then been covered in sand & painted.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h2><p style="text-align: left;">I've laid out my thoughts on this encounter above, but somehow it doesn't seem totally convincing. The zombie is well enough, but what about Stewie? He's just standing there as if nothing was happening. Is he all right? Maybe he's listening to a radio earpiece and has forgotten to look down? Maybe his shades are so dark that he cannot see properly? Please, help me out here!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2021/10/zomtober-2021-week-5.html">If you're interested in Week 5 then go this way ==></a></i></p>Colgar6http://www.blogger.com/profile/07636662295301222390noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556126903764105050.post-59706646033557344932021-10-23T19:53:00.001+01:002021-11-21T11:41:06.283+00:00HAHA SAGA Escalation League - 3<h1 style="text-align: left;">Introduction</h1><p style="text-align: left;">Back in December 2019, a group of us at the Helensburgh Alternative Hobby Association (HAHA) planned out an escalation league for SAGA. Each month we would bring along a warlord and 1 more point of troops and fight a battle. The original rules for the league are set out here: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/14S0Q0bgucDa91P3xVDtD4eLKDXtZQ_Zo/view?usp=sharing">escalation-league.docx</a></p><p style="text-align: left;">We only managed 2 sessions before covid struck and everything went on hold. You can read about these here:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2020/01/haha-saga-escalation-league-1.html">Escalation league week 1</a></li><li><a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2020/03/haha-saga-escalation-league-2.html">Escalation league week 2</a></li></ol><p style="text-align: left;">Well, this is a month of many "first in a long time" events. We were able to restart the league and play round 3, finally.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">The Setup</h1><p style="text-align: left;">As per the schedule, each player brought along a SAGA warband consisting of their warlord and 3 points of troops - at least one point of which was <i>not</i> hearthguard.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I had been hoping to arrange a pair of 3-player every-man-for-himself matches for the evening, but with the numbers we had this wasn't possible. Of the original 7 participants, 2 have moved away from the area in the past 19 months. One of the remaining armies (the Byzantines) was involved in a terrible shelf-collapse accident on the morning of the club meeting and was therefore unavailable. I really hope it can be restored in due course...</p><p style="text-align: left;">That left 4 players. We (well, I) decided that we would play a 4-way every-man-for-himself match. The scenario was simple: each player would enter on a different edge of a 4 foot square table. In the centre was an objective.</p><p style="text-align: left;">If any player <i>started</i> their turn as the only force in contact with the objective then they would win the match. Obviously, this means they would have had to move that unit into position on their <i>previous</i> turn, thus allowing all the other players a chance to respond! We limited this automatic win to turn 3 or after, to prevent any cavalry-heavy force from dashing in before all the infantry warbands had marched any great distance.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">The Game</h1><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/AVvXsEhjsQY4byx-OIO5g763ZJDZtTprRR0xKhRNHRv66Jq6S-42uqpDckmfnVIvzC9N7-Z6-Nt9JE_-RK7f38BHBwpYiGCCpsPNgY8v4n6lOUlPu_FK8csUY2kzvx6CFRXmZVSmPAMmkzWobySz/s2048/DSC00989.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1187" data-original-width="2048" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjsQY4byx-OIO5g763ZJDZtTprRR0xKhRNHRv66Jq6S-42uqpDckmfnVIvzC9N7-Z6-Nt9JE_-RK7f38BHBwpYiGCCpsPNgY8v4n6lOUlPu_FK8csUY2kzvx6CFRXmZVSmPAMmkzWobySz/w640-h370/DSC00989.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <span style="color: #40ff00;">Saxons</span>, <span style="color: #999999;">Crusaders </span>and <span style="color: #cc0000;">Skraelings</span> all advanced early on, whilst the <span style="color: #741b47;">Normans </span>spent their time building up abilities and shooting long range volleys of archery.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><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/AVvXsEgdM6aqczlELE-Ul4zoYNJsfA30CYB9_PCAEI3U8c3301W-TZYUDswuMHUk9XmNNczfg-go3cWhysWXSeU9Bd0mXAotnYCAgAeLeJCCBuUL-Ea7_0zMywtWClSIqAT1bKhyphenhyphenm4VpDuNUkY3N/s2048/DSC00993.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1702" data-original-width="2048" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdM6aqczlELE-Ul4zoYNJsfA30CYB9_PCAEI3U8c3301W-TZYUDswuMHUk9XmNNczfg-go3cWhysWXSeU9Bd0mXAotnYCAgAeLeJCCBuUL-Ea7_0zMywtWClSIqAT1bKhyphenhyphenm4VpDuNUkY3N/w400-h333/DSC00993.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fighting started between the <span style="color: #40ff00;">Saxons </span>and the <span style="color: #999999;">Crusaders</span>. Whilst this was distracting them, the <span style="color: #cc0000;">Skraeling </span>"beaver totem" warriors raced through the woods and hurled javelins into one group of <span style="color: #999999;">Crusader </span>reinforcements.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><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/AVvXsEi_4rf_Fg8uAx0oLLu8Pq_2XqJdgVzHBsC9aW9_an6e7nU8OZpYvjPo6dzoZuckPae76wlQB_-KM3IbDUF40y8VA6gEUhERIlCVoG83alXGNJ2dXIhUtVFRCHBuNACsJG0x5e6BbzjIQBA6/s2048/DSC00994.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1306" data-original-width="2048" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4rf_Fg8uAx0oLLu8Pq_2XqJdgVzHBsC9aW9_an6e7nU8OZpYvjPo6dzoZuckPae76wlQB_-KM3IbDUF40y8VA6gEUhERIlCVoG83alXGNJ2dXIhUtVFRCHBuNACsJG0x5e6BbzjIQBA6/w400-h255/DSC00994.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then the <span style="color: #741b47;">Normans </span>joined in. A savage charge of knights almost destroyed one unit of <span style="color: #40ff00;">Saxon </span>hearthguard.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><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/AVvXsEjTu4WPgoL-jXyoqsJpNRSlUt7YlMTL2s9FJIAjS5nvRofqMnSJOh7CgExHqly4vCK8JEPM8UizQuc9re9TbjPGmtr0EENgkLC38uuGbYe60_DLLJlbQR7mz-w8U72aKyqtRky2d2dlY5Bh/s2048/DSC00999.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1268" data-original-width="2048" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTu4WPgoL-jXyoqsJpNRSlUt7YlMTL2s9FJIAjS5nvRofqMnSJOh7CgExHqly4vCK8JEPM8UizQuc9re9TbjPGmtr0EENgkLC38uuGbYe60_DLLJlbQR7mz-w8U72aKyqtRky2d2dlY5Bh/w640-h396/DSC00999.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After a couple of turns, the <span style="color: #999999;">Crusaders </span>and <span style="color: #40ff00;">Saxons </span>had taken heavy losses (though oddly enough, the <span style="color: #40ff00;">Saxons </span>hadn't lost a unit - instead all of their units were reduced to just one or two figures)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><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/AVvXsEhfLx22OFXXoE9QRngy7CIAigiODLgl-BwUjiqP48EFvSoZGqYhgWB7GjXQHtw7zvFi_w5D7Yjujrr3UEhcO_AvaBRhFGf9pLRm8GLCmh2uGxkFiuMrJ5qYZ9h6j4bbBQyMX3UF02u4mMJv/s5152/DSC01005.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLx22OFXXoE9QRngy7CIAigiODLgl-BwUjiqP48EFvSoZGqYhgWB7GjXQHtw7zvFi_w5D7Yjujrr3UEhcO_AvaBRhFGf9pLRm8GLCmh2uGxkFiuMrJ5qYZ9h6j4bbBQyMX3UF02u4mMJv/w400-h300/DSC01005.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This left the <span style="color: #741b47;">Normans </span>free to attempt the objective. Initial attempts by the <span style="color: #cc0000;">Skraeling </span>"beavers" to dislodge them were repulsed bloodily.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><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/AVvXsEjnUqA3aIJ9ENNOnISLkeEy1oiclMacBaLz02se6sp0KextcFKUtKE5NIJ6U8lontI10u-AUG6aMtpqDan8LT1qu-4TEJowwluGdGBChmQeySo5qQLapOyWmxTmhCctvzhr-pVyYD6kOeC2/s5152/DSC01011.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUqA3aIJ9ENNOnISLkeEy1oiclMacBaLz02se6sp0KextcFKUtKE5NIJ6U8lontI10u-AUG6aMtpqDan8LT1qu-4TEJowwluGdGBChmQeySo5qQLapOyWmxTmhCctvzhr-pVyYD6kOeC2/w640-h480/DSC01011.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...but the other unit of <span style="color: #cc0000;">Skraeling </span>warriors (the "pumas") wiped out the nearest <span style="color: #741b47;">Norman </span>knights and sent their warlord recoiling, thoroughly exhausted.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><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/AVvXsEhoqo5GnXKZCwW9sXz_Q4vTEzsH4_Cdt4yETY19ja1_23sixnnUBQZveLZkUMz5cRJnfmAdg1E0uH77FawxmenRKLYeds5GuZo7HI1rhYQcIbMw8Pk9EwEkXAVVa4QT59KeQRNe49aqAMhi/s2048/DSC01016.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1667" data-original-width="2048" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqo5GnXKZCwW9sXz_Q4vTEzsH4_Cdt4yETY19ja1_23sixnnUBQZveLZkUMz5cRJnfmAdg1E0uH77FawxmenRKLYeds5GuZo7HI1rhYQcIbMw8Pk9EwEkXAVVa4QT59KeQRNe49aqAMhi/w400-h325/DSC01016.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now we came to an interesting issue that I hadn't forseen when I set up the scenario: the <i>Warlord's Pride</i> rule. Put simply, a warlord <i>must</i> attack another warlord if able. In this case, the <span style="color: #999999;">Crusader </span>general saw the <span style="color: #40ff00;">Saxon </span>chief and went for him, ignoring the possibly more significant targets who were actually on the objective. The heavily-boosted <span style="color: #999999;">Crusader </span>overpowered his foe, but was considerably tired from the fight.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></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/AVvXsEhk1thtw0Qg9RVUTZEizAPtSSE7H3HpxqNdTomx0zD5Xw4NoydvDMgoWWls-T-3dBvtSXco647aqsIIAJn-PP7ndMK176hT40p99xACuYiX9UVywhy59VapkewMeVHQ9mYT34AO1wJ-KIHx/s2048/DSC01020.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1404" data-original-width="2048" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1thtw0Qg9RVUTZEizAPtSSE7H3HpxqNdTomx0zD5Xw4NoydvDMgoWWls-T-3dBvtSXco647aqsIIAJn-PP7ndMK176hT40p99xACuYiX9UVywhy59VapkewMeVHQ9mYT34AO1wJ-KIHx/w640-h438/DSC01020.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <span style="color: #741b47;">Norman </span>commander then saw the <span style="color: #cc0000;">Skraeling </span>chief and somehow mustered up enough energy to attack him (I think he used a battle board ability to throw off a fatigue and charge all in one go). Both captains went down in a mutual knockout.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></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/AVvXsEgkxAl4bEhVc6LJh_dYfGjTiz1dZH6Rj5-wfwnUUmsVK8_YszfRupGuetVP9t5jP3ftq1xEKBKho2nH1f5LLGVfIMuP66TMRVFf6l72N9Kh16EK-Ks4GIroAZ7HOVDXCmN8u7G42RdnQMwC/s2048/DSC01022.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1639" data-original-width="2048" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxAl4bEhVc6LJh_dYfGjTiz1dZH6Rj5-wfwnUUmsVK8_YszfRupGuetVP9t5jP3ftq1xEKBKho2nH1f5LLGVfIMuP66TMRVFf6l72N9Kh16EK-Ks4GIroAZ7HOVDXCmN8u7G42RdnQMwC/w640-h512/DSC01022.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This left the <span style="color: #999999;">Crusaders </span>as the only faction with a leader. He charged the <span style="color: #cc0000;">Skraeling </span>pumas - but because of his earlier fatigue the battle was a close one. Once more, both sides fought to mutual destruction.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></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/AVvXsEinJDVBHmRt5623W-EPs1c7Ccy_Xhhb1fkPeAtz3AVshFQ4VFYrdnkXp7rH1-HyrTU29EsQGN9z8-qF8aaHLqIHJsVc3JPzGTe7W908PlByw5rwAuJXWh_tc46dJuOzNUHDTcNLEwBfmdgx/s2048/DSC01023.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1324" data-original-width="2048" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJDVBHmRt5623W-EPs1c7Ccy_Xhhb1fkPeAtz3AVshFQ4VFYrdnkXp7rH1-HyrTU29EsQGN9z8-qF8aaHLqIHJsVc3JPzGTe7W908PlByw5rwAuJXWh_tc46dJuOzNUHDTcNLEwBfmdgx/w640-h414/DSC01023.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By this time there were very few warriors left, although some levy archers hung about the outer fringes. The one remaining <span style="color: #cc0000;">Skraeling </span>beaver made it to the objective. The last <span style="color: #40ff00;">Saxon </span>(a hearthguard) couldn't quite reach it. That left the advancing <span style="color: #999999;">Crusader </span>crossbowmen as the only force which might dislodge the <span style="color: #cc0000;">Skraelings</span>. They shot at him, scoring 3 hits. 2 of these were cancelled by the <i>agility </i>ability, leaving one hit to save on a 4, 5 or 6 - for the game. The <span style="color: #cc0000;">Skraeling </span>made the saving roll and victory was theirs!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h1><div>Well, that was bloody! The <span style="color: #cc0000;">Skraelings</span>, <span style="color: #741b47;">Normans </span>and <span style="color: #999999;">Crusaders </span>still had all of their archers or crossbows left, but virtually all the other figures had been removed. Indeed, the <span style="color: #40ff00;">Saxon </span>band was reduced to a single model. It makes me wonder, with all the leaders out of action, if any of the rank-and-file understood <i>why</i> they were fighting over a big rock in the middle of the board!</div><div><br /></div><div>After round 3 the standings of the HAHA escalation league are this:</div><div><br /></div><div><table style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><tbody><tr><th></th><th>January 2020<br /><i><span style="color: #666666;">Starter for ten</span></i></th><th>February 2020<br /><i><span style="color: #666666;">Powers of two</span></i></th><th><strike>March 2020<br /></strike>October 2021<br /><i><span style="color: #666666;">Long live the peasants!</span></i></th><th><strike>April 2020<br /></strike>November 2021<br /><i><span style="color: #666666;">Bonus round</span></i></th><th><strike>May 2020<br /></strike>December 2021<br /><i><span style="color: #666666;">Armageddon</span></i></th><th>TOTAL</th></tr><tr style="background-color: #e0ffe0;"><td><span style="color: #783f04;">Byzantines</span></td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">(damaged)</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center"></td><td align="center">2</td></tr><tr><td><span style="color: #783f04;">Anglo Saxons</span></td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center"></td><td align="center">7</td></tr><tr style="background-color: #e0ffe0;"><td><span style="color: #783f04;">Normans</span></td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center"></td><td align="center">4</td></tr><tr><td><span style="color: #783f04;">Jomsvikings</span></td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">(retired)</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center"></td><td align="center">3</td></tr><tr style="background-color: #e0ffe0;"><td><span style="color: #783f04;">Anglo Danes</span></td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">(absent)</td><td align="center">(retired)</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center"></td><td align="center">3</td></tr><tr><td><span style="color: #783f04;">Skraelings</span></td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center"></td><td align="center">6</td></tr><tr style="background-color: #e0ffe0;"><td><span style="color: #783f04;">Crusaders</span></td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center"></td><td align="center">5</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2021/11/haha-saga-escalation-league-4.html">Part 4 is this way ==></a></i></span></div><br />Colgar6http://www.blogger.com/profile/07636662295301222390noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556126903764105050.post-24970435239899560022021-10-20T17:11:00.002+01:002021-10-20T17:11:20.605+01:00Ambush Markers for 28mm Figures<h1 style="text-align: left;"> Introduction</h1><p style="text-align: left;">Games such as <i>Paleo Diet: Eat or be Eaten</i> allow models to go into hiding, in order to spring out later and ambush some passing prey. This supposes that the local geography is sufficiently covered with enough small cover that can be used for such a purpose, but I'm very happy to accept such an assumption. After all, most real-world landscapes aren't flat and featureless.<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdd8PcgvIlI6P0bzdyWfegpsjlDCHEeRb5VjyLPyRXdajhVp5IHrO7Q_t2bpKRUV6HQt_EYI0vNr1qnTZi1Th_RzJjNmlkVW9mmo3z2e7lgajZfHzv8aprxYybmajD0eKioauikzxibJfr/s1886/DSC00962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1886" data-original-width="1801" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdd8PcgvIlI6P0bzdyWfegpsjlDCHEeRb5VjyLPyRXdajhVp5IHrO7Q_t2bpKRUV6HQt_EYI0vNr1qnTZi1Th_RzJjNmlkVW9mmo3z2e7lgajZfHzv8aprxYybmajD0eKioauikzxibJfr/w191-h200/DSC00962.JPG" width="191" /></a></div><p>If you are anything like me then your default mechanism to mark a figure's status is to place a coloured token beside the model, or perhaps on the model's "character card", if it has one. This has several issues, though:</p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>It's not very pretty. Tokens like this are completely functional and after all, what is the point of playing games with miniatures unless the visual aspect is a major part? Otherwise, just use cardboard counters for everything.</li><li>The token can be confusing if several models are close together (with which figure does <i>this</i> token belong?), or - if placed off-table on some "stat card" - they can be forgotten in the heat of the moment.</li></ol><h1 style="text-align: left;">An Alternate Ambush Marker</h1><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbrz0o1lNEb5aiNLHdq6CwtBUJyce0NXEv3r-O3H_VCv-Gfp_oN-oPhrYHrqWPTK6yQjj6y-uvKCb6mOPV4-WmP_y3KeysqRoG_OlYg0yJhZVnLZ6JRGXYngM_dFs2RKV122dPLO4oC87/s1563/DSC00965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1232" data-original-width="1563" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbrz0o1lNEb5aiNLHdq6CwtBUJyce0NXEv3r-O3H_VCv-Gfp_oN-oPhrYHrqWPTK6yQjj6y-uvKCb6mOPV4-WmP_y3KeysqRoG_OlYg0yJhZVnLZ6JRGXYngM_dFs2RKV122dPLO4oC87/w200-h158/DSC00965.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">So, at almost no expense, I've been experimenting with a different way of showing that a figure is hiding in cover. It seems obvious in hindsight: I've created some vegetation-based markers. You really cannot see <i>Talut the hunter</i> hiding in the picture above, can you?</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">How To...</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVp0xYDDokQdINQrysYVK5IJdeJlEJmqUibBqCzLEOaedr7ZFg9vYR9YnWj-r0uA8arXDxQvWTcDv7oEEtkiLIsnXRSzsNOxL6cYBfb9aQp5gwIocs0AdnUqvlVzAPEWYbhwHW9JA7ydEt/s1810/DSC00972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1351" data-original-width="1810" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVp0xYDDokQdINQrysYVK5IJdeJlEJmqUibBqCzLEOaedr7ZFg9vYR9YnWj-r0uA8arXDxQvWTcDv7oEEtkiLIsnXRSzsNOxL6cYBfb9aQp5gwIocs0AdnUqvlVzAPEWYbhwHW9JA7ydEt/s320/DSC00972.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">How did I create this marvel of illusion? Well, I started with a 3D-printed "base ring". I cannot remember for certain, but I might have bought mine here: <a href="https://protechmodels.co.uk/products/base-convertor-25mm-to-32mm-gw-sityle">https://protechmodels.co.uk/products/base-convertor-25mm-to-32mm-gw-sityle</a> . I'm sure that other makes and models exist, though do remember to check the sizing is suitable for your figures!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEist61YntmNGVG1NzXltKUpvP-Qi43pXitdJ-JFTYmD7q8YNg-yx-8xETn_VEjMcTV7Vl-vTJlcZVa67fMNW7JgxAq3Fqg4E5_-tSDRTVOwjft5ylrE8rjn-wj7hYAglfjRX5jKU6zaQ4DL/s2048/DSC00977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1354" data-original-width="2048" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEist61YntmNGVG1NzXltKUpvP-Qi43pXitdJ-JFTYmD7q8YNg-yx-8xETn_VEjMcTV7Vl-vTJlcZVa67fMNW7JgxAq3Fqg4E5_-tSDRTVOwjft5ylrE8rjn-wj7hYAglfjRX5jKU6zaQ4DL/s320/DSC00977.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Normally these are intended to "enlarge" an existing figure without requiring it to be rebased, though the rings can also be coloured or painted and used to identify different factions. This latter would be especially useful if you have a civil war going on, or are playing a game with novices who cannot tell that <i>this</i> particular soldier belongs to tribe A whilst <i>that</i> almost-identical figure is loyal to tribe B.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUFAon0WVDqs_NbLLQP1B9Q3LcWA7ODdhTgGxyqsRdZ_UG68P5AbtxUv7113h2mfnyfG0QZIzX9OD6-6IoptV9updQgeoYEpiHAqJ-GsYlTDZPl9sLCweeP8KCSEPfw4WhK8ubkwVABhK/s2048/DSC00968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="2048" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUFAon0WVDqs_NbLLQP1B9Q3LcWA7ODdhTgGxyqsRdZ_UG68P5AbtxUv7113h2mfnyfG0QZIzX9OD6-6IoptV9updQgeoYEpiHAqJ-GsYlTDZPl9sLCweeP8KCSEPfw4WhK8ubkwVABhK/w400-h219/DSC00968.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>However, here's another way they can be used:</p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Cut the ring in half (i.e. into 2 semicircles).</li><li>Carve away any "shelf" which would sit under the figure's base (in the photo of the ring above, that's the "hexagon" inner part).</li><li>Paint in the colour of dirt, then stick a mixture of vegetation on to the top of the half ring (especially tall grasses and small shrubs.</li></ol><div>When you wish to show that a figure is lurking, just place one of these semi-circles around the model's base.</div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h1><p style="text-align: left;">This project may seem blindingly obvious, but I assure you it took me some time to come up with the idea. Maybe I'm slow or something? Once conceived, it took very little time or money to build these markers.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I suppose that the same concept could be used to create other status markers as well. For example, I could imagine how I might design "on fire", "frozen" or "tangled" markers, if I needed them. Mind you, I don't think these would stack very well; they wouldn't really work if your model was hiding, on fire, tangled <i>and</i> frozen all at the same time!</p><p></p>Colgar6http://www.blogger.com/profile/07636662295301222390noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556126903764105050.post-44804319095237527702021-10-17T15:31:00.002+01:002021-10-24T11:07:21.548+01:00Zomtober 2021, Week 3<p style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2021/10/zomtober-2021-week-2.html"><== Back to Week 2</a></i></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Introduction</h1><p style="text-align: left;">It is another October Sunday, so it's time for a Zomtober post! By this time, I imagine all my readers know the drill...</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">May vs Bible-Waving Zombie</h1><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWUZA9Q5sqxOOumgXsEJfS3_m7bk_LISOFjap147vEfMYvHYUNnqYJieTG4W-GIqIr1uTQXJ0srlzsMWYd33lYtyvPm99R82tSGEc6z1VNQMGn2qfUK4WrFLCAhRuzqlY4ymmmz8Cn60Y/s1757/DSC00944.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1347" data-original-width="1757" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWUZA9Q5sqxOOumgXsEJfS3_m7bk_LISOFjap147vEfMYvHYUNnqYJieTG4W-GIqIr1uTQXJ0srlzsMWYd33lYtyvPm99R82tSGEc6z1VNQMGn2qfUK4WrFLCAhRuzqlY4ymmmz8Cn60Y/s320/DSC00944.JPG" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">Here's a confrontation between May, a small Girl Guide (Girl Scout in some parts of the world) and a fairly ordinary adult zombie. I'll call him "bible-waving zombie" (BWZ for short), since the book he has in his hand is just about the only thing to make him distinct from any others of the walking dead.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mQUzjvotzjm6yuJEiJch8TUPnbdln-4MHY-1JcJW5JApabzhyphenhyphentYXwMuEQUCmndFZE6iNypWtIBx5Wp84a0tDhjoKznLn0Fa_MiNvGC4N5mVtBxDPL2VGjFELdta5VBIpJvXo3NCXZAHE/s1572/DSC00945.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1563" data-original-width="1572" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mQUzjvotzjm6yuJEiJch8TUPnbdln-4MHY-1JcJW5JApabzhyphenhyphentYXwMuEQUCmndFZE6iNypWtIBx5Wp84a0tDhjoKznLn0Fa_MiNvGC4N5mVtBxDPL2VGjFELdta5VBIpJvXo3NCXZAHE/s320/DSC00945.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>BWZ is constructed from a Studio Miniatures plastic body and head. From memory, I took the arms out of a different kit; probably one of the old Wargames Factory ones. He's a fairly plain "lurcher", though he carries a fairly large bible in one hand. It's not obvious how he came by this item, but he seems intent on using it as a makeshift club. Or maybe BWZ has simply forgotten that the item is in his hand?</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOsvEKrWGWQYwOzT3LdHYvAxZLD78Yn3ExgW65aai8AToP0QfaoM6Y0py8VaLT4QlzwFvmRZls-CcUxJnLQShtyyMaHWRV0kF-yCxrm-TUdMX5TFBnu58KiWnuhXXgFDu8kkxvH4vi7Wj/s2048/DSC00948.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="2048" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOsvEKrWGWQYwOzT3LdHYvAxZLD78Yn3ExgW65aai8AToP0QfaoM6Y0py8VaLT4QlzwFvmRZls-CcUxJnLQShtyyMaHWRV0kF-yCxrm-TUdMX5TFBnu58KiWnuhXXgFDu8kkxvH4vi7Wj/s320/DSC00948.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">May is, I think, a bit unusual for a Girl Guide. She has acquired a firearm from somewhere - I think it looks like a silenced machine pistol. She's bracing the gun in both hands and appears to be aiming appropriately. However, just in case the zombie escapes her initial attention, May also has a knife in a sheath attached to her belt. Indeed, she seems to be living up to the Girl Guides' motto: "Be Prepared"!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6utqwIcFAqNkm6hm1axsbxf3TXBX-4nsNV1BZnTH3fFVp9q4fg7N23UdKSEbvHnuWfqhPYniWerP6bMsXzcvYxtcU0TCTaf4ETlsYFn0vgTLLHfaRZc5DrKfQgUM8AOQgNBnbxB41WSMG/s1832/DSC00951.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1669" data-original-width="1832" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6utqwIcFAqNkm6hm1axsbxf3TXBX-4nsNV1BZnTH3fFVp9q4fg7N23UdKSEbvHnuWfqhPYniWerP6bMsXzcvYxtcU0TCTaf4ETlsYFn0vgTLLHfaRZc5DrKfQgUM8AOQgNBnbxB41WSMG/s320/DSC00951.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Just to show that she hasn't left all childish things behind, May is wearing her favourite purple and blue satchel - the one with the pink unicorn design on the back.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBpl0lxsHLDCeVftSVUE4OQ1T5Il3h3PrAytNlCglZV5gyX49jxngmouULq1e1nyyLfg8n2It-qYJ8-0g5lQRaAUpJRbAj6YyMpwSX4o5h1OX5beJP_BifaBYwoJAPDtpgUYwCDvL-rDM/s1743/DSC00954.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1435" data-original-width="1743" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBpl0lxsHLDCeVftSVUE4OQ1T5Il3h3PrAytNlCglZV5gyX49jxngmouULq1e1nyyLfg8n2It-qYJ8-0g5lQRaAUpJRbAj6YyMpwSX4o5h1OX5beJP_BifaBYwoJAPDtpgUYwCDvL-rDM/s320/DSC00954.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">So, does the zombie have a chance? Is May completely in charge of this situation? Usually when I pose one of my Zomtober duels the outcome is in doubt, or at the very least an argument can be made for either side to be victorious (or neither, which is quite a popular choice!). However, this pairing seems to be much more one-sided. Or is it?</p><p style="text-align: left;">What do you think?</p><p style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2021/10/zomtober-2021-week-4.html">For week 4, follow me! ==></a></i></p>Colgar6http://www.blogger.com/profile/07636662295301222390noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556126903764105050.post-31799647521284755132021-10-14T15:52:00.000+01:002021-10-14T15:52:38.441+01:00Pulp Alley: Forbidden City (Perilous Island, Game 9)<h1 style="text-align: left;">Introduction</h1><p>It has been nearly 2 years since the last installment of our <i>Perilous Island</i> campaign. You all know why this delay has occurred: Covid 19. Well, I'm pleased to say that things are opening back up where we live and this has permitted us to meet up again and play another episode.</p><p>For those who cannot remember anything about the campaign at all, I suggest you start at the beginning: <a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2016/12/perilous-island-1-tarzan-and-lady.html">Tarzan and the Lady</a>.</p><p>If you just need a quick catch-up on the last episode then it is here: <a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2019/12/pulp-alley-blood-sacrifice-perilous.html">Blood Sacrifice!</a></p><p>Otherwise, continue reading here for the next part in this thrilling tale!</p><p><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">The Scenario</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbJpdRCrx8VG-ImODxDwORt81bbJBdjP4z0DIv5Hcuszkv5U4ukL8WfPVWcEZNxW3iitmZ1zYdCM1K5IXR7-mq3Jlj8olxXrSpzjclLY8hdiAOc1UPcbb6_EnD64tdtsXHjWGya-rFLSJ/s2048/DSC00779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1376" data-original-width="2048" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbJpdRCrx8VG-ImODxDwORt81bbJBdjP4z0DIv5Hcuszkv5U4ukL8WfPVWcEZNxW3iitmZ1zYdCM1K5IXR7-mq3Jlj8olxXrSpzjclLY8hdiAOc1UPcbb6_EnD64tdtsXHjWGya-rFLSJ/w640-h430/DSC00779.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">In their search for Lord Darrow (the missing archaeologist), the leagues have followed the trail of clues (or each other!) across Perilous Island. Now they have reached the entrance to the Forbidden City - the semi-derelict city of the ancient Enocheans.</p><p style="text-align: left;">All the signs tell them that they must enter the city, but there are several problems:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Firstly the gate can only be opened by performing a complex ritual on three separate altars <i>simultaneously.</i></li><li>Secondly, the gate is guarded by a huge, animated bronze statue. How will our adventurers cope with this?</li><li>Thirdly, the scenario only lasts 6 turns before the ground shakes, meteors and lightning crash down and the tunnel entrance is reduced to rubble!</li></ul><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">The Leagues</h1><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Snake Cult</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRBQ19LBnI6rIn4lEArBgxn3g9GXrlXbpXFEOppDiX_Tr7teJfbrTb971SYVKH9BhBVsfl4qNBAp1j_XcshQQjvoGE4I40FX6XMUu00J1_sTtwuKwRAXz7lerM57_MffwVS9dW1BcQWKX/s3032/DSC00781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1038" data-original-width="3032" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRBQ19LBnI6rIn4lEArBgxn3g9GXrlXbpXFEOppDiX_Tr7teJfbrTb971SYVKH9BhBVsfl4qNBAp1j_XcshQQjvoGE4I40FX6XMUu00J1_sTtwuKwRAXz7lerM57_MffwVS9dW1BcQWKX/w640-h221/DSC00781.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;">In the red corner, we have <span style="color: red;">Al Masudi</span> and his giant pet snake, followed by various devotees. Since the last game, he has spent some experience points to gain the <i>Commander</i> skill, which gives him even more level-2 followers. One of these is a cheetah (<span style="color: red;">Al Masudi</span> has a fondness for exotic animals, as can be seen in several earlier episodes of this campaign), whilst the other is another marksman.</p><p style="text-align: left;">In addition to the regular crowd, the cult has obtained the services of a local Nghai hunter, just for this mission (he's the guy dressed in the red fez. I was running out of suitable models as we were playing away from home and I hadn't anticipated the need for quite so many native models).</p><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Tarzan's Jungle Alliance</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYpPcSHEZCF5MIHAwcpHfY92yUb3dtSnLjLABb8o9NA4cUXI5cS3rAMK5cXwy-belS8LvErTfvtcn-rES3UGT3Hhk_cwGgZ_57LjjWHvNOyf8gzdMStrotErM2pY_-KAIDOjnJO2gjPNu/s2048/DSC00783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1754" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYpPcSHEZCF5MIHAwcpHfY92yUb3dtSnLjLABb8o9NA4cUXI5cS3rAMK5cXwy-belS8LvErTfvtcn-rES3UGT3Hhk_cwGgZ_57LjjWHvNOyf8gzdMStrotErM2pY_-KAIDOjnJO2gjPNu/w343-h400/DSC00783.JPG" width="343" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;">Marked by green are <span style="color: #38761d;">Tarzan</span>, <span style="color: #38761d;">Koko</span> the gorilla and various simians (small apes). Again, <span style="color: #38761d;">Tarzan </span>has expanded his roster a little by virtue of experience or reputation (I forget exactly which) and there are more simians than previously.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Tarzan </span><i>also</i> has a Nghai hunter in his party and in addition to this he has Lady Elaine Darrow, the missing archaeologist's daughter. She seems to think that this party has the best chance of tracking down her lost father, at least for now.</p><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Sir Henry's Safari</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKe4KM28-_H0Y_77PQ__RpO6SL6Fj3y9j5wfrYIkafklTgYKxccASQZalbQTAzUZ1bwqroCMXILnNQ42Qktmak3cF7xN_qZS9oxjOHb5ywNwVMOI-eHSvXL2ouW4GYctMa4ky8CJd2Be9/s2048/DSC00784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1977" data-original-width="2048" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKe4KM28-_H0Y_77PQ__RpO6SL6Fj3y9j5wfrYIkafklTgYKxccASQZalbQTAzUZ1bwqroCMXILnNQ42Qktmak3cF7xN_qZS9oxjOHb5ywNwVMOI-eHSvXL2ouW4GYctMa4ky8CJd2Be9/w400-h386/DSC00784.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, in blue, we have <span style="color: #0b5394;">Sir Henry</span>, <span style="color: #0b5394;">Alain Quartermain</span>, <span style="color: #0b5394;">Captain Goode</span> and a bunch of ascaris, plus <span style="color: #0b5394;">Lady Constance</span> (<span style="color: #0b5394;">Sir Henry</span>'s niece, I believe). As with the leagues above, <span style="color: #0b5394;">Sir Henry</span> has an extra ascari follower and he <i>also</i> has a Nghai hunter attached to his party. [<i>I was astonished to find out that </i><i style="text-decoration-line: underline;">all</i> <i>the leagues had made friends with the Nghai; they must be a very trusting tribe</i>].</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Opposition</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPX1Qf_4pPGCPq5HJzgoe62R5lrl8Z97Vv9YYgkFuRdeDv4Cy3HckigdSYXqmP2EW-FSzty1SqVFtam55o7U4_iel7uylks0lKkFZYcxabJlsU8D1qNodYgfhPE5L2RsS-3YVIGBsNDLC/s1577/DSC00788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1577" data-original-width="1449" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPX1Qf_4pPGCPq5HJzgoe62R5lrl8Z97Vv9YYgkFuRdeDv4Cy3HckigdSYXqmP2EW-FSzty1SqVFtam55o7U4_iel7uylks0lKkFZYcxabJlsU8D1qNodYgfhPE5L2RsS-3YVIGBsNDLC/s320/DSC00788.JPG" width="294" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The table is set up with 2 types of danger:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The <span style="color: #bf9000;">Golden Guardian</span> is a giant, mechanical man. He will try to protect the gate from all who seek to pass. Whether this is because they haven't got the correct identification or whether the guardian has malfunctioned after eons of wear and tear is left to the reader.</li><li>There are a couple of nests of <span style="color: #bf9000;">giant waspquitos</span> near the gate. Initially there is just a single lookout insect at each location, but they move in a semi-random manner towards the closest player model. If they contact a figure then that contact is perilous and <i>another </i>wasp exits the nest to take up the lookout position.</li></ul></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn One</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2OlbnXr3P35R2i_xKGI5ZVqus73w7dbulDW4NBOpF3pPlWJQlfU3Q-7TvVxA9sZ50O5Nxm0EIX7FEsItYWFgb9-iIS8sp45jjqV7o2F0q-dOFDwMJ1wOkKOYkjQCwKYWIWQ-bZtVxm0a/s2768/DSC00791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="2768" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2OlbnXr3P35R2i_xKGI5ZVqus73w7dbulDW4NBOpF3pPlWJQlfU3Q-7TvVxA9sZ50O5Nxm0EIX7FEsItYWFgb9-iIS8sp45jjqV7o2F0q-dOFDwMJ1wOkKOYkjQCwKYWIWQ-bZtVxm0a/w400-h164/DSC00791.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Out of the initial hands dealt to 3 players, we had <i>three</i> "Play Immediately" cards. This is quite unusual, though something like it has happened before in one of our other games (<a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2019/08/pulp-alley-swamp-of-terror-perilous.html">Swamp of Terror</a>). Still, it looked as if the winner of the scenario would gain some extra resources in addition to the glory of being top!</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8O0EZ002pBlgfzZQpCao9lGDHRTlugwbhLpy0o7vt_7f3X_IbzKDLGCNXH4m6rlGaXgikevlWydObph1xJj5as7_7E6EFxuRfXvA-nxQQ9pNad59W2IEjHCJvaDEDiJEKnTC0m519IYs/s2048/DSC00798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1466" data-original-width="2048" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8O0EZ002pBlgfzZQpCao9lGDHRTlugwbhLpy0o7vt_7f3X_IbzKDLGCNXH4m6rlGaXgikevlWydObph1xJj5as7_7E6EFxuRfXvA-nxQQ9pNad59W2IEjHCJvaDEDiJEKnTC0m519IYs/w640-h458/DSC00798.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Predictably, the leagues moved towards the gate in turn 1. There were a few variations in this, though:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>All three players moved their main character towards the altar nearest to them.</li><li>Since <span style="color: #38761d;">Tarzan </span>didn't need to run this turn, he spent an action to exercise his new <i>Summon</i> skill. A couple of <span style="color: #38761d;">baboon swarms</span> answered his ululating call.</li><li>The <span style="color: #0b5394;">Safari </span>moved several <span style="color: #0b5394;">ascaris </span>onto the top of the nearest cliff. This server 2 purposes: they were relatively close to the gate and might be able to rush it when (if!) it opened and also they had good visibility to much of the table (i.e. they could shoot things!)</li></ul><div><br /></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXL3Nr6azqzuiwVb8QXQhH2pXsuURWwz2P3mRnjDGVXg2R0FnFu27tT6oCCQRHR5Qgv8zQh6p_y1nJ_xVqdnJR9SPqCB3N-5KrNaAWbUu6x6727yS2Y9N3xyH5e1S4UOpo3aOAf-CHrhu/s2048/DSC00803.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1372" data-original-width="2048" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXL3Nr6azqzuiwVb8QXQhH2pXsuURWwz2P3mRnjDGVXg2R0FnFu27tT6oCCQRHR5Qgv8zQh6p_y1nJ_xVqdnJR9SPqCB3N-5KrNaAWbUu6x6727yS2Y9N3xyH5e1S4UOpo3aOAf-CHrhu/w400-h268/DSC00803.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Maybe the <span style="color: #0b5394;">ascaris </span>were a bit too close to the gate, though? The <span style="color: #bf9000;">guardian </span>rumbled over and stomped one of them into the ground. First blood to the monster!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn Two</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYORjrnCpikyjkVI0z11XR08PtGsX1nHnrFqpOPFy0_JggAvYnMyROsCsIyc7PNYNsnicqvOOpJGCqZoPvO45c5MiLEuy0jEqAdPWAAjtLiplMXcatutvO5SK3mu4wbl-CfZ1xc-U5F4k/s3065/DSC00804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="3065" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYORjrnCpikyjkVI0z11XR08PtGsX1nHnrFqpOPFy0_JggAvYnMyROsCsIyc7PNYNsnicqvOOpJGCqZoPvO45c5MiLEuy0jEqAdPWAAjtLiplMXcatutvO5SK3mu4wbl-CfZ1xc-U5F4k/w400-h134/DSC00804.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><i>Another</i> "Play Immediately" card was drawn. The stakes were rising quite high for this game!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglloxqPFmN_S-QiHP8dBaCUh7GPRFBBxpk-Q5061aq8mVfmeJTKxNMrpJN-C4ZJ-YN2PNgJsG6h1MJHIlJt7AxjmcnHkYvMm66xX_Hk870SW5h47x0MTnUodA0sr75J5ChjYivz_SR2hHh/s2048/DSC00807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1508" data-original-width="2048" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglloxqPFmN_S-QiHP8dBaCUh7GPRFBBxpk-Q5061aq8mVfmeJTKxNMrpJN-C4ZJ-YN2PNgJsG6h1MJHIlJt7AxjmcnHkYvMm66xX_Hk870SW5h47x0MTnUodA0sr75J5ChjYivz_SR2hHh/w640-h472/DSC00807.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">The <span style="color: red;">cultists </span>all formed a line as they marched forwards. In a spoiling move, <span style="color: #38761d;">Koko </span>the gorilla ran to the tail end and roared [<i>he has the <u>Shock</u> skill</i>]. This manoeuvre was intended to scare some of the lesser cult members into the farther wasp's nest at the top of the picture, where they would be stung to death. It was partially successful in that several <span style="color: red;">cultists </span>(including their highly-strung <span style="color: red;">cheetah</span>) were indeed startled by the sudden commotion and they did all pile forwards into the wasp's nest - but the wasps failed to injure anyone. Oh well...</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEVufp4PpaOesmTpjs0TXIq2j8LrcP6V8j6B6r3z_CpoMcHE-ivRmxE7WXl4GhjzbRxkYdbN1ZZbXmSABERglNn645SVSFhL3K4sku3r4nBsKGAdq9bz3awhx0Schx9pcKd9igi6DW-n2/s2048/DSC00813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1624" data-original-width="2048" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEVufp4PpaOesmTpjs0TXIq2j8LrcP6V8j6B6r3z_CpoMcHE-ivRmxE7WXl4GhjzbRxkYdbN1ZZbXmSABERglNn645SVSFhL3K4sku3r4nBsKGAdq9bz3awhx0Schx9pcKd9igi6DW-n2/w640-h508/DSC00813.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">The rest of the turn played out like this:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #38761d;">Tarzan </span>activated his altar with ease.</li><li><span style="color: red;">Al Masoudi</span> also activated an altar. This was all going swimmingly.</li><li><span style="color: #0b5394;">Sir Henry</span> decided to throw a spanner in the works by refusing to attempt his part of the ceremony this turn.</li><li>Various <span style="color: red;">cultists </span>and <span style="color: #0b5394;">ascaris </span>engaged in firefights from the opposite sides of a small rock. Many bullets were expended, but all of them pinged and whined off the cover without doing much damage.</li><li>The <span style="color: #0b5394;">ascaris </span>on the cliff pinned down the <span style="color: red;">cultists </span>in the wasps nest, though once again the amount of cover prevented any injuries.</li></ol><p></p><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9tW1Bs471St68iJLag030fynAsvi5embg1HoivLtUntnrVwQ6yQWSjerTq189zn2jFkttT4B0XqkEYZJ15UNCsVRQ9zmwj7ltMwWjqMRmtSI45bCod0-KPc6xtL_bO2RO8_IWvgG9aAs/s2048/DSC00815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1726" data-original-width="2048" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9tW1Bs471St68iJLag030fynAsvi5embg1HoivLtUntnrVwQ6yQWSjerTq189zn2jFkttT4B0XqkEYZJ15UNCsVRQ9zmwj7ltMwWjqMRmtSI45bCod0-KPc6xtL_bO2RO8_IWvgG9aAs/w400-h338/DSC00815.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">This time, the <span style="color: #bf9000;">guardian </span>strode towards <span style="color: #38761d;">Hurkey </span>(one of <span style="color: #38761d;">Tarzan</span>'s followers). It didn't quite reach the monkey so it shot beams of searing light at him instead. The little animal dodged aside nimbly and avoided any harm [<i>against the odds, mind</i>].</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn Three</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQGwZKWxbUCuGkrEhiTkbpmLVGBQT-AvTowNPZ7QIQGvgG8GyQhY5RxL2jSQDiT_IqQ4-oXrCCAVMMpwsyHpJdtTVjU7t1vttptHVNDX7eUp6xjsLkoslS0tqvk8tsHvZf1WihJ1mnOHK/s2048/DSC00818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1744" data-original-width="2048" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQGwZKWxbUCuGkrEhiTkbpmLVGBQT-AvTowNPZ7QIQGvgG8GyQhY5RxL2jSQDiT_IqQ4-oXrCCAVMMpwsyHpJdtTVjU7t1vttptHVNDX7eUp6xjsLkoslS0tqvk8tsHvZf1WihJ1mnOHK/w400-h341/DSC00818.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Sensing that everyone was somewhat annoyed with him for his spoiling tactics, <span style="color: #0b5394;">Sir Henry</span> quickly lit the fire at his altar. He then played <b>Buy Some Time</b> to extend the scenario to 7 turns. Well, that should be enough, right?</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwZG8-yXs_SxpN-OVh-FBzRh2yMyZTnooRvloSau3up_Css2yApNOK6ARXhhqkfmRqxTjBpTh3VNqa_n8sMkPTmKBlDSVEKB4VRQHUI2yVsiekkRqDh2TPg1z9fEoj9s04cLSVonFIflC/s2048/DSC00819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1649" data-original-width="2048" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwZG8-yXs_SxpN-OVh-FBzRh2yMyZTnooRvloSau3up_Css2yApNOK6ARXhhqkfmRqxTjBpTh3VNqa_n8sMkPTmKBlDSVEKB4VRQHUI2yVsiekkRqDh2TPg1z9fEoj9s04cLSVonFIflC/w400-h323/DSC00819.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Having scared half the <span style="color: red;">cultists </span>last turn, <span style="color: #38761d;">Koko </span>returned to investigate the grave (<i>minor plot point</i>). He used a <b>Secret Path</b> to avoid the increasing number of wasps that had now emerged from their nest [<i>perhaps he swaggered in a hypnotic manner that made the wasps drowsy? Or he managed to convince them that he really didn't have any jam sandwiches? Who knows the ways of a gorilla?</i>].</p><p style="text-align: left;">Without being pestered by the giant bugs, it was relatively easy for <span style="color: #38761d;">Koko </span>to collect evidence of the demise of yet another member of the ill-fated Darrow expedition.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7L4MrcgIaQY9IE48vC98_KtWRyCJotZiL6GZ8mpVtx54BkZn60wT2PSYoiMOBHIu_0jUP6nsnu6FjyPsWwE1jPVxnpd5jTljHfImDmUrNcz5zKhAl2BK9SoR06kfmSS-OVQ5xi11BjiQ/s2048/DSC00824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1765" data-original-width="2048" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7L4MrcgIaQY9IE48vC98_KtWRyCJotZiL6GZ8mpVtx54BkZn60wT2PSYoiMOBHIu_0jUP6nsnu6FjyPsWwE1jPVxnpd5jTljHfImDmUrNcz5zKhAl2BK9SoR06kfmSS-OVQ5xi11BjiQ/w400-h345/DSC00824.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">In past games, the <span style="color: red;">cult's giant snake</span> has dispatched a number of monkeys with ease and it was no surprise when it slithered forwards and engulfed another one. However, this time the simians fought back!</p><p style="text-align: left;">First, in an act of desperation, <span style="color: #38761d;">Caesar </span>took on the <span style="color: red;">serpent </span>and - amazingly - landed a hit on the monster without receiving any injury himself. Encouraged by this, <span style="color: #38761d;">Kobo </span>ran in to the fight and landed a couple of blows. This turned out to be on a vital spot (<b>Lucky Strike</b> card) and suddenly <span style="color: #38761d;">Kobo</span>'s decent 2 hits turned into an unstoppable 4 hits. Both <span style="color: #38761d;">simians </span>pummeled the <span style="color: red;">snake </span>with rocks and sticks and bit & tore at it until the creature stopped moving! [T<i>he snake lost 2 successive fights, failed all its health checks and then fluffed the necessary recovery roll at the end of the turn. This was the Day of the Monkeys!</i>].</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1nfpNfqWbcYlAgVnjQVJWmZYwLBfv-lDjVXWMvcmbiRs7QrT2nFpr1SbtkF_dl-ng6qDSaMUkWb-wFcm806s_sKLCHp2AU0O38RCszVICm0W07j9yGbC5Q3v0kt9dxxHc041MpA95eFR/s2048/DSC00830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1433" data-original-width="2048" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1nfpNfqWbcYlAgVnjQVJWmZYwLBfv-lDjVXWMvcmbiRs7QrT2nFpr1SbtkF_dl-ng6qDSaMUkWb-wFcm806s_sKLCHp2AU0O38RCszVICm0W07j9yGbC5Q3v0kt9dxxHc041MpA95eFR/w640-h448/DSC00830.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Of course, the <span style="color: #38761d;">simians </span>have <i>another</i> nemesis: the <span style="color: red;">cultist grenadier</span> is very fond of blowing up small, furry animals. He threw a bomb into the melee and the explosion caught <span style="color: #38761d;">Caesar </span>by surprise, tossing the monkey aside like a rag doll. Oh, well...</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvfk0IFxM_69D4tcDbanlGzXpkRoVmMGqJonQcU_eFmmqmnJ3NqtqFcF548B44ZHNi_J7rTNpoAOaYf0RSv7rxWOtv1JhwkTwMMuYmoRKRBsRKFp8KQO2GZwXB1OM_4Lcv723af9h3mg-/s2048/DSC00835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1718" data-original-width="2048" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvfk0IFxM_69D4tcDbanlGzXpkRoVmMGqJonQcU_eFmmqmnJ3NqtqFcF548B44ZHNi_J7rTNpoAOaYf0RSv7rxWOtv1JhwkTwMMuYmoRKRBsRKFp8KQO2GZwXB1OM_4Lcv723af9h3mg-/w640-h536/DSC00835.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Otherwise, in turn three:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #0b5394;">Sir Henry</span> performed his part of the ceremony flawlessly.</li><li><span style="color: red;">Al Masoudi</span> attempted to light a fire on <i>his </i>altar and failed! Worse than that, he injured himself in doing this. None of the other cultists were free to aid him, either.</li><li><span style="color: #38761d;">Tarzan</span>, noting that the ceremony was already lost for this turn, didn't bother to attempt his part. Instead he used <b>Summon </b>to call more <span style="color: #38761d;">swarms of jungle creatures</span> [<i>more <span style="color: #38761d;">baboons </span>- some had been lost in skirmishes with <span style="color: red;">Saeed</span>, the cult's brawling specialist, and some<span style="color: #38761d;"> snake swarms</span> as well. Note that all of these swarms had the same capabilities, even if the model was represented by baboons or snakes</i>].</li></ol><div><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhveDZdQZ_0sKIc29ZDirQ1TU8ZrfBHfASyw_dJLo_IAu5iU6vmnumxEUAeopXpwbv7i8wYxUfthsz-gNf0OOj9h_3w7WDIuwseu-kvkTeH8CXwjMNQTDYcfJGB5jknknWFZRu9J2Ri4lZD/s2048/DSC00837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1477" data-original-width="2048" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhveDZdQZ_0sKIc29ZDirQ1TU8ZrfBHfASyw_dJLo_IAu5iU6vmnumxEUAeopXpwbv7i8wYxUfthsz-gNf0OOj9h_3w7WDIuwseu-kvkTeH8CXwjMNQTDYcfJGB5jknknWFZRu9J2Ri4lZD/w400-h289/DSC00837.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Hurkey </span>continued to dance around the metal <span style="color: #bf9000;">guardian</span>. The huge, living statue made multiple attempts to crush the presumptuous beast, but once again the monkey dodged aside [<i>truly, this was heroic stuff from little <span style="color: #38761d;">Hurkey</span>!</i>].</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn Four</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU15yUuzTOcRLkM3m6FPqvz9x5Xha1X0T0i7OomHwBk09wh6xhFGb2vXORG9B8tDq4iZaFF9mVkOHLItBF7DxuZuxmhv9rh4iV4V3V9inho-ZaaWDdI9WKx63vlwlNFrpxbmYHww6e0TaX/s2048/DSC00856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1789" data-original-width="2048" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU15yUuzTOcRLkM3m6FPqvz9x5Xha1X0T0i7OomHwBk09wh6xhFGb2vXORG9B8tDq4iZaFF9mVkOHLItBF7DxuZuxmhv9rh4iV4V3V9inho-ZaaWDdI9WKx63vlwlNFrpxbmYHww6e0TaX/w640-h560/DSC00856.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #38761d;">Tarzan </span>lit the fire on his altar [<i>again? These flames just wouldn't stay alight; they went cold at the end of every turn</i>].</li><li><span style="color: red;">Al Masoudi</span> lit the fire on <i>his</i> alter.</li><li><span style="color: #0b5394;">Sir Henry</span> couldn't strike a light to ignite his altar. In desperation, both <span style="color: #0b5394;">Alain Quartermain</span> and an <span style="color: #0b5394;">ascari </span>tried to help him out, but neither of them managed either.</li><li>Various minor league members ran around the field screaming, followed by the ever-growing number of angry <span style="color: #bf9000;">wasps </span>[<i>these were all attempts to lead the wasps into someone else's "territory", usually with only partial success</i>]</li></ol><div>So, once again the gate-opening ceremony failed. It's only turn 4, though - there should be enough time yet, shouldn't there?</div><div><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mK0JhMkf7IVZrtN06T7qOB0Q0KbS5olq_gFzNfP3607CSV_DJvKpRtKG4vCc5hxVS6CiQsSbfnrB99l1IKXC30sV3j3CeVYJtx4KrP9VAMHt-40enx82zvqkFqX5pv_gQk-jr3m6gqFK/s2048/DSC00870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1675" data-original-width="2048" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mK0JhMkf7IVZrtN06T7qOB0Q0KbS5olq_gFzNfP3607CSV_DJvKpRtKG4vCc5hxVS6CiQsSbfnrB99l1IKXC30sV3j3CeVYJtx4KrP9VAMHt-40enx82zvqkFqX5pv_gQk-jr3m6gqFK/w400-h328/DSC00870.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>This time, the <span style="color: #bf9000;">guardian </span>pulverised an unwary <span style="color: red;">cultist</span>.<p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Turn Five</h1><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhdSaL48limJ873Wc4OKoIOjyM9kNADO-rIdef_KZwEbflpAIXI3NmfPKnCrquOLEoGT5NUVSp6lbp_wFBGn62J0Izq8Lu4KfrsAIqysn24pGj8GOf6NfNaBe7R6nYCMMDWXwezhsdv4u/s2048/DSC00876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1549" data-original-width="2048" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhdSaL48limJ873Wc4OKoIOjyM9kNADO-rIdef_KZwEbflpAIXI3NmfPKnCrquOLEoGT5NUVSp6lbp_wFBGn62J0Izq8Lu4KfrsAIqysn24pGj8GOf6NfNaBe7R6nYCMMDWXwezhsdv4u/s320/DSC00876.JPG" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">OK, let's try again. <span style="color: #0b5394;">Sir Henry</span> and his cohorts tried to light a fire on the altar, again without any success. There were massive groans of despair from <i>all</i> the players at this!</p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPYC3VNPpTvYQyaaw87_LlHseiDUu9kGKP10oqlyRHGK4Ve48XRa3P27MpL4jyDlQFXQ_6hdf2OH9xyX3eTH_MDMHpNiwNqUFD0k97VXP1rdnav4sKqLlOwliVERFpOKCd69HKDm07_WA/s2048/DSC00880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1591" data-original-width="2048" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPYC3VNPpTvYQyaaw87_LlHseiDUu9kGKP10oqlyRHGK4Ve48XRa3P27MpL4jyDlQFXQ_6hdf2OH9xyX3eTH_MDMHpNiwNqUFD0k97VXP1rdnav4sKqLlOwliVERFpOKCd69HKDm07_WA/w640-h498/DSC00880.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Again, <span style="color: #38761d;">Tarzan </span>didn't waste time in attempting the already-failed ceremony, but instead summoned more <span style="color: #38761d;">jungle swarms</span>.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Much squabbling was done by various minor league members, which served mainly to rouse even more <span style="color: #bf9000;">wasps</span>.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqnya72M-n2s4jyOpkYoVz-Oemjh2khq8uMN9kzgIKYIi0MMkufgHBMD_SMniI6SG7IwP1v10p-h2YHTA21wrQWgj4vz5Mn3Ftp5Lo18GUgZAzZsfa4ModZDOzkn-BXhlk-v9VkD8j4gt/s2048/DSC00882.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqnya72M-n2s4jyOpkYoVz-Oemjh2khq8uMN9kzgIKYIi0MMkufgHBMD_SMniI6SG7IwP1v10p-h2YHTA21wrQWgj4vz5Mn3Ftp5Lo18GUgZAzZsfa4ModZDOzkn-BXhlk-v9VkD8j4gt/w400-h300/DSC00882.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Seeing no need to attempt <i>his</i> part in the ritual either, <span style="color: red;">Al Masoudi </span>left his altar and attacked the <span style="color: #38761d;">gorilla </span>[who was busy trying to pull the arms off the cult's <span style="color: red;">Nghai hunter</span>].</p><p style="text-align: left;">It seems as if the cult leader had bitten off more than he could choose, though: <span style="color: #38761d;">Koko </span>won the fight and then used his <b>Savage</b> skill to fight again - winning that too. <span style="color: red;">Al Masoudi</span> was left battered and down in the dirt!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyAczaQ9RO8UwUNjRqY7ylwdM4sSly_JoPcZyWhTZ6-5oFyLrnkRwaQARpUyOQwlgCVIneoRd9WnbhiXGQd1i37BGsmGJdyEOG4d8p1i11nb9Z7imU_T98U6fAl9OAaZsCkj-VNNYjR0L/s2048/DSC00891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1688" data-original-width="2048" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyAczaQ9RO8UwUNjRqY7ylwdM4sSly_JoPcZyWhTZ6-5oFyLrnkRwaQARpUyOQwlgCVIneoRd9WnbhiXGQd1i37BGsmGJdyEOG4d8p1i11nb9Z7imU_T98U6fAl9OAaZsCkj-VNNYjR0L/w400-h330/DSC00891.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">The <span style="color: #bf9000;">guardian </span>continued to pick off one model per turn. This time one of <span style="color: #38761d;">Tarzan</span>'s many swarms was the closest model to the gate and therefore the focus of the behemoth's wrath.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn Six</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgRaWF7nkKmd7KIQE9b4k2eiv6akxdFfNjT5JJCDW9yuYHgsPfBluqa4TkoHQf43zN0fiD3HhfcKbFmTQ7_akihABxWKRViJTz_7FeyCwjg52NaFUZBexmQiFe_S5pyvGfpRpgwhhvoQl/s2048/DSC00895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1553" data-original-width="2048" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgRaWF7nkKmd7KIQE9b4k2eiv6akxdFfNjT5JJCDW9yuYHgsPfBluqa4TkoHQf43zN0fiD3HhfcKbFmTQ7_akihABxWKRViJTz_7FeyCwjg52NaFUZBexmQiFe_S5pyvGfpRpgwhhvoQl/s320/DSC00895.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">OK, this is getting desperate now - can <i>nobody</i> open the gate?</p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Tarzan </span>was first to attempt the ritual this turn, but this time <i>he</i> failed it. <span style="color: #38761d;">Lady Elaine</span>, having retrieved the ancient sword [<i>minor plot point</i>] came to assist despite being pestered by <span style="color: #0b5394;">Captain Goode</span> and a <span style="color: #bf9000;">giant wasp</span>. She couldn't light the fire either.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC25sweH9o2O34TZgwf6yDct5NVwF1V8p8zbjSj230PEE7E9-gTiusf3ia6EfFokEdhyphenhyphenc3ZWfEcudjMAoCXLwVbLxnXFhhblffsWKZ4ivi1s6XEThu2FDm0QObOim5DkDVoX5XANPcfK43/s2048/DSC00904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2043" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC25sweH9o2O34TZgwf6yDct5NVwF1V8p8zbjSj230PEE7E9-gTiusf3ia6EfFokEdhyphenhyphenc3ZWfEcudjMAoCXLwVbLxnXFhhblffsWKZ4ivi1s6XEThu2FDm0QObOim5DkDVoX5XANPcfK43/w638-h640/DSC00904.JPG" width="638" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Since the ritual was already compromised, the rest of the ever-diminishing crowd of characters squabbled among themselves and tried to avoid the attentions of the ever-growing number of <span style="color: #bf9000;">giant waspquitos</span>.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDNsMfvBPSObgR1HEZjlIUKiOdhSMgyzQRqQcQlND8GM-s9pU9YBIWjbnYaKnxsFYbXFx4qa7UiqYWoixIzp2dPWfw0aR-UB4GUT9F-FH7h-VY1mcxNLtyWpkvFh47sUa1tpanLtUutoX/s2048/DSC00903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1623" data-original-width="2048" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDNsMfvBPSObgR1HEZjlIUKiOdhSMgyzQRqQcQlND8GM-s9pU9YBIWjbnYaKnxsFYbXFx4qa7UiqYWoixIzp2dPWfw0aR-UB4GUT9F-FH7h-VY1mcxNLtyWpkvFh47sUa1tpanLtUutoX/w400-h318/DSC00903.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>One <span style="color: red;">cultist </span>couldn't take the strain any more and made a break for the still-closed gate. He screamed at it to open [<i>perhaps "open sesame" or some such phrase?</i>], but the doorway remained stubbornly shut. Then the <span style="color: #bf9000;">guardian </span>picked him up and crushed him to death.</p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn Seven (extra time)</h2><p style="text-align: left;">Do you remember that <span style="color: #0b5394;">Sir Henry</span> had played a <b>Buy Some Time</b> card much earlier? That event caused the game to extend into a seventh turn - but this would absolutely be the last turn possible. Could the remaining leagues sort out their differences and force the gate open? Even if they did complete the ritual and the portal opened, would it be in time for anyone to enter the Forbidden City? Let's find out...</p><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzoJKjHggENYQPzd2KEce8iJvZiMhZrMe0XLF3BRGs2vP5LVJPlvSrhJ8ZjO4w-yYHA8EHmthS-k9NrXT7GYDrTqhcvGZii7QWlbtzBLEl19S7Tu1pOBZ0CIEXiIxrU96VGBWdh3_5-jMJ/s2048/DSC00909.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1787" data-original-width="2048" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzoJKjHggENYQPzd2KEce8iJvZiMhZrMe0XLF3BRGs2vP5LVJPlvSrhJ8ZjO4w-yYHA8EHmthS-k9NrXT7GYDrTqhcvGZii7QWlbtzBLEl19S7Tu1pOBZ0CIEXiIxrU96VGBWdh3_5-jMJ/w400-h349/DSC00909.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">First to go was <span style="color: #0b5394;">Sir Henry</span>. He lit the fire on his alter without too much trouble.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkObsrqk9Ort6EwKhZ7GKHOaNFDbPqCiuTDTm-N2QJg2WQLgTVLwxdJTqcQsuxGaYiOcaHYov5w-F5gTUMdNoL8xOjA8ko9zh4kEFDfbQAWZE_zJeg8Oe30r_5xbYuQ3sJOQcmK46gZjc/s2048/DSC00910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1479" data-original-width="2048" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkObsrqk9Ort6EwKhZ7GKHOaNFDbPqCiuTDTm-N2QJg2WQLgTVLwxdJTqcQsuxGaYiOcaHYov5w-F5gTUMdNoL8xOjA8ko9zh4kEFDfbQAWZE_zJeg8Oe30r_5xbYuQ3sJOQcmK46gZjc/w400-h289/DSC00910.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Next up was <span style="color: red;">Al Masoudi</span>. He had recovered consciousness after the beating he took from <span style="color: #38761d;">Koko</span>, but was far from at his best. Even so, the cultist leader dragged his battered body over to the nearby altar and completed his part in the ritual, under the watchful eye of the gorilla.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZYUSN6rLy5ElUrtbaFcYr12aPV5n-X3xK5tAdX8XKpUPQjMb8YG2sLRVdIdItoyigzWyIsvGeqwBElzqRTr0FMJkBYlbWPHRWDpTewRFTKTIfOeOBvlQ_SOFENXkIf3E3ciurok42S0B/s2048/DSC00913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1671" data-original-width="2048" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZYUSN6rLy5ElUrtbaFcYr12aPV5n-X3xK5tAdX8XKpUPQjMb8YG2sLRVdIdItoyigzWyIsvGeqwBElzqRTr0FMJkBYlbWPHRWDpTewRFTKTIfOeOBvlQ_SOFENXkIf3E3ciurok42S0B/w400-h326/DSC00913.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Could <span style="color: #38761d;">Tarzan </span>finish the ceremony and cause the gate top open? He could - he did! With the last altar alight, the gateway to the ancient city groaned and creaked as the barrier withdrew. The path was now open!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpy2elAEZTaykoExSEC1L-iMuRTX0n7eJMPSRQNw5MBIvcgiihjdRzKjjdTcMS81BFHjvACaNNlIpwiHtCTUUMmqv12aWtNajlElq0bzxbuTfbtZbDW7Y_dQQRbEfFmm079lKKEFX825vR/s2048/DSC00916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1676" data-original-width="2048" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpy2elAEZTaykoExSEC1L-iMuRTX0n7eJMPSRQNw5MBIvcgiihjdRzKjjdTcMS81BFHjvACaNNlIpwiHtCTUUMmqv12aWtNajlElq0bzxbuTfbtZbDW7Y_dQQRbEfFmm079lKKEFX825vR/s320/DSC00916.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Now for the difficult part - was <i>anyone</i> close enough to make use of this success?</p><p style="text-align: left;">The cult's <span style="color: red;">cheetah </span>darted like lightning, raced past the <span style="color: #bf9000;">guardian </span>before it could react and vanished into the dark tunnel.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_EXkr-MWhPR0hyphenhyphenXSeRu_1AdFN4D2eAhn5ss7s1E8DYEqkwoEWGiF9kawDgKgJpzUxqLYrVS_a0bOMCDPDK6J3eF3TjW4IWTFLA1eJMsRQU_ne9tUr76srNl2eboyJQfxReZ-WmLO2jDd/s2048/DSC00919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="2048" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_EXkr-MWhPR0hyphenhyphenXSeRu_1AdFN4D2eAhn5ss7s1E8DYEqkwoEWGiF9kawDgKgJpzUxqLYrVS_a0bOMCDPDK6J3eF3TjW4IWTFLA1eJMsRQU_ne9tUr76srNl2eboyJQfxReZ-WmLO2jDd/w400-h241/DSC00919.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Behind the big cat, the two <span style="color: #0b5394;">ascaris </span>from the cliff top came huffing and puffing along. They just made it into the doorway as well before the ground shook and started to split apart. All the other characters were forced to beat a hasty retreat as an earthquake split the ground, demolishing the entrance and burying the <span style="color: #bf9000;">guardian </span>in a newly-formed crevasse.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Victory</h2><p style="text-align: left;">Who won? Well it's something of a technicality, since everyone had fun and since all the leagues can progress. Still, for the record:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #38761d;">Tarzan </span>and his followers had 3 minor plot points (the altar, the grave investigated by <span style="color: #38761d;">Koko </span>and the ancient sword picked up by <span style="color: #38761d;">Lady Elaine</span>) and therefore scores <b>3VP</b>.</li><li>The <span style="color: #0b5394;">Safari </span>held 1 minor plot point (their altar). Although <span style="color: #0b5394;">Captain Goode</span> had taken the <i>pile of skulls</i> minor plot point early in the game, he was knocked down later in the game and lost this. So, just <b>1VP</b>.</li><li>The <span style="color: red;">Cult </span>also achieved an altar plot point, but didn't even attempt any others. I think they were so focused on escaping through the portal that they weren't interested in such distractions. Again, just <b>1VP</b>.</li></ul><div>Nobody went after the <span style="color: #bf9000;">Guardian </span>- the major plot point. Even <span style="color: #0b5394;">Sir Henry</span>, who seems to like facing off against huge monsters, decided early on that this construct was nigh impossible to injure. Indeed, all the players rapidly figured out that the guardian could only attack (and defeat) at most one character per turn,. The rather callous tactic employed was then to present it with a new minion to squash once per turn and otherwise try not to provoke it too much.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h2><p>Well, that went down to the wire, in extra time! By the end <i>all</i> the players were rooting for each other's heroes as they struggled to light the altars and complete the gate-opening ritual. They barely did it, but a few characters managed to get through before the gateway was closed forever.</p><p>These few who entered will allow the rest of the leagues to proceed to the next scenario. Mind you, those characters who didn't go through the gate [<i>i.e. almost everyone!</i>] will be delayed and won't join the next game until its turn 2. Presumably the <span style="color: red;">cheetah </span>and two <span style="color: #0b5394;">ascaris </span>lower ropes over the wall, switch off the city's defensive mechanisms, find another way in or otherwise use their presence <i>in</i> the city to help those who are left<i> outside.</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBxz_hloiC_ALLOSqbeSJZ2GR7kwUOe-pH9k_L-ml9bgdp4vsDp-ETYo4CWjwUFlpGpl3QTWhyphenhyphenAYrNVex6yAFKNm6fp5QE789haoxaEBSzKVl7RvnME3LaIZnjx7NnNzOcGyti1Jc_bXc/s2048/DSC00914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="2048" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBxz_hloiC_ALLOSqbeSJZ2GR7kwUOe-pH9k_L-ml9bgdp4vsDp-ETYo4CWjwUFlpGpl3QTWhyphenhyphenAYrNVex6yAFKNm6fp5QE789haoxaEBSzKVl7RvnME3LaIZnjx7NnNzOcGyti1Jc_bXc/s320/DSC00914.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>The <span style="color: #bf9000;">wasps </span>were interesting. We made up their behaviour on the fly and that wasn't great - the rules for deploying and moving them were poorly defined. Still, we worked around this and by the end they had changed from being a minor nuisance to a considerable irritant. Which is how it <i>should</i> be for such creatures, I think.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Man of the Match</h3><div>I'm really not sure how to decide this, as none of the characters performed <i>exceptionally</i> above their expected behaviour. Possible candidates:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The cult's <span style="color: red;">cheetah</span>, which was knocked down a number of times. Each time, it just got back up quietly and continued doing its master's bidding. Nothing dramatic, though it was first through the collapsing gate.</li><li><span style="color: #38761d;">Tarzan's simians</span>. As a group, these tend to be picked off quickly by other leagues or by hazards. In this game they did a bit better. Although they all succumbed in the end, <span style="color: #38761d;">Hurkey </span>evaded the <span style="color: #bf9000;">guardian</span>'s attacks for 2 turns and <span style="color: #38761d;">Caesar </span>& <span style="color: #38761d;">Kobo </span>turned on the <span style="color: red;">giant snake</span> and beat it senseless.</li><li><span style="color: #38761d;">Koko </span>the gorilla. He frightened half the cult so that they ran into a wasps' nest, he beat the cult leader senseless and he tied the arms of a Nghai hunter into knots. And dug up a shallow grave.</li></ul><h3 style="text-align: left;">Most Useless</h3></div><p style="text-align: left;">Again, I don't think there are any truly obvious candidates for this title. Still, here are a few suggestions:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The <span style="color: red;">cult's snake</span>. Normally this thing is a monster; it goes where it pleases and does what it likes. Today it was stopped early in the game by a couple of monkeys.</li><li>All the league's leaders. Each of them failed to light their altar in a different turn, thus causing the ritual to fail time after time until it was almost too late.</li><li><span style="color: #38761d;">Tarzan's swarms</span>. Although they looked impressively numerous, they had little impact since <span style="color: #38761d;">Tarzan </span>quickly ran out of Fate cards to play for them and without this boost they were easily seen off.</li></ul><p></p></div></div>Colgar6http://www.blogger.com/profile/07636662295301222390noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556126903764105050.post-7975035249706627042021-10-10T13:55:00.007+01:002021-10-17T15:32:50.569+01:00Zomtober 2021, Week 2<h1 style="text-align: left;">Introduction</h1><div><i><a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2021/10/zomtober-2021-week-1.html"><== Week 1 is here</a></i></div><p>Another Sunday in October; it must mean I need to produce another Zomtober post. My usual format is to suggest a duel between two of my recently-painted models. I see no reason to break with this tradition of mine, so here we go...</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">April vs Smart Casual Zombie</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpiBL_6gNm0yUejOT5Jv23GSVlgI46cVwlPnUoGaYFEjFvVU-fWbO9IxMElOMU_AFBw7Apsiio7XaGeX5nR6DiJTioPMBTpRDNcnTvrLpP1r8TTT7QFBt8aYhILUnM8cTHZx0NubbvB3F/s2018/DSC00924.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1568" data-original-width="2018" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpiBL_6gNm0yUejOT5Jv23GSVlgI46cVwlPnUoGaYFEjFvVU-fWbO9IxMElOMU_AFBw7Apsiio7XaGeX5nR6DiJTioPMBTpRDNcnTvrLpP1r8TTT7QFBt8aYhILUnM8cTHZx0NubbvB3F/s320/DSC00924.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Today's confrontation is between April, a girl guide/girl scout (depending on which side of the Atlantic dominates your use of the English language) and "smart casual zombie" (hereafter <i>SCZ</i>).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9Oj65JoN2WmTiMZNuSW8-NYV7y8MSKjx7Jx6tTOOReZdNXosb0L4m__FNlrnLR4GCoM0fR4eso5ZCgnMt8d27Avme3jIXAyn0iONlR3H8l9LIiSLBjaQWIllUO3fzHWGzKvMBqAUQzUC/s1306/DSC00928.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1228" data-original-width="1306" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9Oj65JoN2WmTiMZNuSW8-NYV7y8MSKjx7Jx6tTOOReZdNXosb0L4m__FNlrnLR4GCoM0fR4eso5ZCgnMt8d27Avme3jIXAyn0iONlR3H8l9LIiSLBjaQWIllUO3fzHWGzKvMBqAUQzUC/s320/DSC00928.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">April is young and small, but she does seem to be well-prepared. She has a hockey stick for offense, a helmet for defense and a backpack for supplies. It's not completely obvious, but I think there's a molotov cocktail sticking out of the corner of her pack, so April has a backup weapon if she chooses. Mind you, firebombs are often regarded as having poor performance against zombies, so maybe April is showing a little inexperience here?</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxr21P7c_XOXKcGzKWwnWDWoeylTa7yxC0ThuNdj3VKx7etMvDVRVYp3Piko6zdG-cRvuCckUrmlVqzj-ZpU9-r_IH8Ao8Z-FIXvMOczLGLeQkdoXYIPqOguEsii0z8pDw7YDdUn0Q4L5s/s1664/DSC00931.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1475" data-original-width="1664" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxr21P7c_XOXKcGzKWwnWDWoeylTa7yxC0ThuNdj3VKx7etMvDVRVYp3Piko6zdG-cRvuCckUrmlVqzj-ZpU9-r_IH8Ao8Z-FIXvMOczLGLeQkdoXYIPqOguEsii0z8pDw7YDdUn0Q4L5s/s320/DSC00931.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">SCZ was a smartly-dressed young woman, but as a zombie she has suffered a bit. She's lost a shoe (which probably isn't much of an issue for her now), is missing part of one arm and has a bad scalp wound. Does this damage lessen the threat from the zombie? I don't know.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltXx0mlQTfS_e0E1NHyAqFq-3QWqiCJCF59PkWkXKxPx6GuuVWsN9j2a15VXIrbA8Ci78T4SNSl54cJLfUX_HgF4gQN4RRjz3Tejm7rgeJUH0DiqErgOV0cZ-9hiM-NtHPnmUOPEhIKFB/s1647/DSC00933.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1372" data-original-width="1647" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltXx0mlQTfS_e0E1NHyAqFq-3QWqiCJCF59PkWkXKxPx6GuuVWsN9j2a15VXIrbA8Ci78T4SNSl54cJLfUX_HgF4gQN4RRjz3Tejm7rgeJUH0DiqErgOV0cZ-9hiM-NtHPnmUOPEhIKFB/s320/DSC00933.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><i>April</i> is another of the set of Girl Scouts that I mentioned in last week's episode. She's a metal model and possibly my favourite of the entire pack.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKX5bWzoXQidns7eNidneFfLiwl3Z6NKo2_pGUoRT9YhiDupFrZlnDffmtpuEBhjEJt7_kjiKnt3F1UiicsirqpjllujpvhqsBUzMlAy9JwgCB1eyiYjafwlYkHMBo1OjVIuSUn2k5yhQ/s1453/DSC00936.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1312" data-original-width="1453" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKX5bWzoXQidns7eNidneFfLiwl3Z6NKo2_pGUoRT9YhiDupFrZlnDffmtpuEBhjEJt7_kjiKnt3F1UiicsirqpjllujpvhqsBUzMlAy9JwgCB1eyiYjafwlYkHMBo1OjVIuSUn2k5yhQ/s320/DSC00936.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">SCZ is built from the old Wargames Factory "Zombie Vixens" set. I still have maybe enough parts to build one third of the figures in this set, so it should keep me going for a while yet.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h2><p>So, as ever, what happens next? April has a look of gritted determination and seems to be determined to attack SCZ. Is her plan to hook the zombie's legs from under it with the hockey stick and then bash its head with the same? Or is she just trying to fend off the zombie, perhaps so that she can run past it? Or maybe the helmet has fallen over her eyes and she hasn't even seen the zombie?</p><p>If fit and healthy, I think that SCZ would be more than a match for April, however confident the little girl might feel. But the zombie is somewhat damaged. Does this alter the balance here - and if so then by how much?</p><p>Please share your thoughts in the comments section below. We need to know how this ends!</p><p><i><a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2021/10/zomtober-2021-week-3.html">Here is week 3 ==></a></i></p>Colgar6http://www.blogger.com/profile/07636662295301222390noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556126903764105050.post-48967566080925404072021-10-03T15:51:00.003+01:002021-10-10T13:58:08.640+01:00Zomtober 2021, Week 1<p style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2020/10/zomtober-2020-week-4.html">[<== This way for Zomtober 2020]</a></i></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Introduction</h1><p>Would you believe that I have been participating in Zomtober for 9 years now? At least, this is the 9th year in which I will have put up such a series of posts. Indeed, I'm not even sure that anyone else is participating in this event any more. Still, it gives me a sense of purpose and I enjoy these articles.</p><p>The Zomtober format is simple: publish a picture of at least one recently-painted zombie or survivor model every Sunday in October. Just to show that you are making progress in painting all those miniatures which would otherwise be unloved and neglected.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Martha vs Girl Guide Zombie</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXRkPUz45HTtJvRfOXmQSD-gXtVG26s6MdJCCrlzMOeCORjiW3sMZKl1ettb4DYqsrTny8EIbegcJZKvJbOiEsCGyNnqu94CdbxZPxFuQD2Qc-e3bEC-cpR6RKxSJVt4HciQ3Af9XrjuA/s2026/DSC00762+-+Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1382" data-original-width="2026" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXRkPUz45HTtJvRfOXmQSD-gXtVG26s6MdJCCrlzMOeCORjiW3sMZKl1ettb4DYqsrTny8EIbegcJZKvJbOiEsCGyNnqu94CdbxZPxFuQD2Qc-e3bEC-cpR6RKxSJVt4HciQ3Af9XrjuA/s320/DSC00762+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">To make it a bit more exciting, my own usual format for a Zomtober article is to present a duel between one survivor and one zombie. The reader's task is to decide "what happens next?"</p><p style="text-align: left;">This week, we have a face-off between "Martha" and an unfortunate Girl Guide zombie (hereafter "GGZ"). [<i>I am not sure, but what we call Girl Guides in the UK may be known as Girl Scouts in the USA?</i>]</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURmzGhCu3OrPF8UzMlBrKwMEvt4irTkLh8vw9XU5SPjn1XofmCzzN4csxUOy_F3RJQ3FR69dbLsGw5D_Dk27Q98yfKueVQLZth31TQzXDZLzTo06YIKjDG-0MWjheSSOuEKKELhHuKnS4/s1713/DSC00764.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1281" data-original-width="1713" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURmzGhCu3OrPF8UzMlBrKwMEvt4irTkLh8vw9XU5SPjn1XofmCzzN4csxUOy_F3RJQ3FR69dbLsGw5D_Dk27Q98yfKueVQLZth31TQzXDZLzTo06YIKjDG-0MWjheSSOuEKKELhHuKnS4/s320/DSC00764.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Martha is heavily armed; she is wielding a machine pistol in each hand. She also appears to be shooting sideways whilst running past GGZ.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWDH27DEidnWSiVE1kW-pbsBPYG5_gUlpH1D8WMevwRjvKlxhjrVthyphenhyphen3hMhXrVzuCwSF6AoiD_j_XrUicAoVoVQ4D1G3mK0J3kn3quki4srjZ-nipDh-RcE2_eXMmyi4TRI30fC_7zegJ/s1585/DSC00766.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1585" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWDH27DEidnWSiVE1kW-pbsBPYG5_gUlpH1D8WMevwRjvKlxhjrVthyphenhyphen3hMhXrVzuCwSF6AoiD_j_XrUicAoVoVQ4D1G3mK0J3kn3quki4srjZ-nipDh-RcE2_eXMmyi4TRI30fC_7zegJ/s320/DSC00766.JPG" width="303" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">It may be easier to see in some of the pictures than others, but GGZ is holding a couple of boxes of what I assume are cookies (<i>because Girl Scouts are associated with selling cookies in the USA, right?</i>)</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9dYSQmlcneEbrCjQtlj_pp4u3zGLK8Tkxvt9kPTg7WN9UABgjTst6y-FiKAkQNmKWjGdwf9iqMEJTxps2E77F0KBnIFeQfCDjXDXBaOpmLc9FjnQMzggercZbz0KC1iwomeOaqvirS-_0/s2000/DSC00769.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1311" data-original-width="2000" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9dYSQmlcneEbrCjQtlj_pp4u3zGLK8Tkxvt9kPTg7WN9UABgjTst6y-FiKAkQNmKWjGdwf9iqMEJTxps2E77F0KBnIFeQfCDjXDXBaOpmLc9FjnQMzggercZbz0KC1iwomeOaqvirS-_0/w400-h263/DSC00769.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Both models are based using my simple "sand and drybrush" technique. In each case, I've added a hint of road markings to the tarmac, to break up the monotony. I suppose I could have used some litter, autumn leaves or something like an oil stain for the same purpose - but road markings are cheap and easy to paint.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbb2x-2GsdboLa7ciuUAQhiL0HwKt7Ep0Q6iefZh3i6kqB9rRowJzsJxU1481Sng7G5-RwtOugdSnyM50tVUrl0GVka-4WlLxq3CORoj7B6nI1NTvfeIeAdSKYBOprqjr1GAfDJDQI3oq/s1735/DSC00771.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1523" data-original-width="1735" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbb2x-2GsdboLa7ciuUAQhiL0HwKt7Ep0Q6iefZh3i6kqB9rRowJzsJxU1481Sng7G5-RwtOugdSnyM50tVUrl0GVka-4WlLxq3CORoj7B6nI1NTvfeIeAdSKYBOprqjr1GAfDJDQI3oq/s320/DSC00771.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Martha is a plastic model, made up from the old Wargames Factory "Apocalypse Survivors: The Women" kit. I'm not sure how she is dressed, as the moulding on the model isn't entirely obvious. However, I've interpreted her clothing as a white vest and some kind of black corset, with a loose, chunky belt around her waist. It seems like a slightly odd outfit in which to survive the apocalypse, but I suppose that it works for her?</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKQOuLQ4fNXrL7w-ZlkdTln8wwxqantWr8wljm4gZajkJ-8iEVOcOdUOMtzaKPjflDd5_sPqr3ILiSAmjn6wmZo3RCLUSpliNlrKfQ3Xz5rlNi4_c-1whBZixTaQTglD1oEwiUBOums6H/s1696/DSC00773.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1255" data-original-width="1696" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKQOuLQ4fNXrL7w-ZlkdTln8wwxqantWr8wljm4gZajkJ-8iEVOcOdUOMtzaKPjflDd5_sPqr3ILiSAmjn6wmZo3RCLUSpliNlrKfQ3Xz5rlNi4_c-1whBZixTaQTglD1oEwiUBOums6H/s320/DSC00773.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">GGZ is a metal model, one of a set still available from <a href="https://www.dragon-bait-minis.com/shop/miniatures/sculptors/david-soderquist/scout-girl-zombie-hunters/">Dragon Bait Miniatures</a>. Mind you, I'm fairly certain that I didn't buy my packet from them, so I think the figures must have been distributed more widely at some point; I've had these models (unpainted) for quite some time. Expect to see more from the same set later in Zomtober 2021!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h1><p style="text-align: left;">So, what happens next?</p><p style="text-align: left;">My own view is that Martha won't manage to shoot GGZ because she is firing whilst running - and shooting off to her side at that! I cannot imagine that her aim is any good under these conditions. In addition, she seems to be mistaking the height of her opponent and is probably going to fire high.</p><p style="text-align: left;">On the other hand, GGZ doesn't look especially strong or fast. I suspect that Martha can just keep running and be past the zombie without much risk.</p><p style="text-align: left;">But why is Martha pointing her <i>other</i> gun as well? And why is she running in the first place? Is there some other threat just out of the picture, either to Martha's other side or behind her - or both? Is GGZ merely one obstacle of many between Martha and safety?</p><p style="text-align: left;">Suggestions, please?</p><p style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2021/10/zomtober-2021-week-2.html">Follow this link for week 2 ==></a></i></p><p><br /></p>Colgar6http://www.blogger.com/profile/07636662295301222390noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556126903764105050.post-57439804208626950242021-09-26T16:58:00.001+01:002021-09-26T16:58:20.865+01:00Carronade 2021: At Last<h1 style="text-align: left;"> Introduction</h1><p style="text-align: left;">So, there haven't been any wargames shows in my part of the world since the coronavirus pandemic struck here in March 2020, some 18 months ago. Indeed, I suspect that the last show I attended was Edinburgh's <a href="https://colgar6.blogspot.com/2019/08/claymore-2019-hot-work.html">Claymore in August 2019</a>; that's more than 2 years ago! I've really been missing such events.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Normally, Falkirk's Carronade show would be held in May, but this year (2021) it was postponed until the end of September. For much of the summer I - and, I imagine, others - were waiting to see if there would be further restrictions which might cancel the show. Well, there weren't, the show did go ahead and we did attend. Here's how my day went.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Travel</h1><p style="text-align: left;">Unusually, my son and I drove to Falkirk rather than taking a train. This was because my wife and daughter were due to attend a dance competition only a few minutes drive away from Falkirk (the first time <i>they</i> had done such an event in almost 2 years as well). I'm a bit rusty with driving long distances, not having done much of that for a while, but it was uneventful. Neither weather nor other human beings caused us any difficulties.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">The Show</h1><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/AVvXsEgIPb3ri51mayVtfwZQWrqTRxPw6kmzii_0AmX4ulw-jsZNETU0BqvjbbQoqd50d653x-gnXQVg6h3XQjVxQRfL3yMJdf9e-4aq5SJr9jMt_8YRPN5ZXXmMTQbNT4ZU0LMyXzZ6S9zb6kPc/s2048/DSC00686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1388" data-original-width="2048" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPb3ri51mayVtfwZQWrqTRxPw6kmzii_0AmX4ulw-jsZNETU0BqvjbbQoqd50d653x-gnXQVg6h3XQjVxQRfL3yMJdf9e-4aq5SJr9jMt_8YRPN5ZXXmMTQbNT4ZU0LMyXzZ6S9zb6kPc/w640-h434/DSC00686.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the 3 (4?) halls in use for Carronade 2021</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">Carronade 2021 did feel a bit different to previous such events. For starters, there was the distancing within the entrance queue and the collection of contact details by the show organisers. Mask-wearing was compulsory, at least whilst moving around (there's some debate about whether it is really permitted to remove masks when sitting at a table indoors for any purpose other than eating). Adherence to this regime seemed pretty much universal and uncontroversial.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Other than masks, the main effect of virus precautions on the show seemed to be fewer public participation games than I would normally expect. I haven't compared the advertised numbers from various years; it just felt to me that these were more sparse than usual.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Sink the Prinz Eugen</h1><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/AVvXsEj7ke6-7j_Xal0MQaIXzbgMuWJ_ZcPF176YGnaL5mVujnRlILmTQyH-U1YycYyAqxVcNt1CUJjja3J9CZps1xJ_xLGFMKyPnaRQl-Muh9H6XflPmrzSC25QY37jHF5LVY-xMg8ijAwaUuw4/s2048/DSC00676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1629" data-original-width="2048" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ke6-7j_Xal0MQaIXzbgMuWJ_ZcPF176YGnaL5mVujnRlILmTQyH-U1YycYyAqxVcNt1CUJjja3J9CZps1xJ_xLGFMKyPnaRQl-Muh9H6XflPmrzSC25QY37jHF5LVY-xMg8ijAwaUuw4/w400-h319/DSC00676.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norfolk and Suffolk (left) open fire on Prinz Eugen (right)</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">My son and I did play in one participation game: we took part in an alternative version of the Battle of the Denmark Strait. In this entirely plausible scenario, while the capital ships HMS Hood and HMS Prince of Wales were engaging the German battleship Bismark, the shadowing cruisers HMS Norfolk and HMS Suffolk engaged her consort, the Prinz Eugen.</p><p style="text-align: left;">So, it's 2 Royal Navy heavy cruisers against one slightly larger German heavy cruiser. This isn't really a battle that the Prinz Eugen can afford to take part in, let alone have much hope of winning - so the German's victory condition is simply to escape.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqm1Dtr3wgl_r07hvu3PsbdzkSFy0FqYwzNsx_cxmb8YtqRsV5QViFk2ejrQhZTTXTkYXMDL3iLBy3-CnEvY9GeqzFHrScfNF5OVRAijGk0Mj-yZ8mf6e9r6Y7GLsoZt30krA1V97muJ9M/s2048/DSC00679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1404" data-original-width="2048" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqm1Dtr3wgl_r07hvu3PsbdzkSFy0FqYwzNsx_cxmb8YtqRsV5QViFk2ejrQhZTTXTkYXMDL3iLBy3-CnEvY9GeqzFHrScfNF5OVRAijGk0Mj-yZ8mf6e9r6Y7GLsoZt30krA1V97muJ9M/w400-h274/DSC00679.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">My son and I each took one of the British cruisers. We were using (I think) Warlord's "Victory at Sea" rules. It soon became apparent that winning initiative for the turn made a big difference; my son won the roll-off <i>every time</i>. While the German cruiser did land some hits on the Royal Navy ships, the game ended abruptly when HMS Suffolk landed a crashing salvo of 8" shells on the enemy ship, followed up with 2 torpedo hits (despite the Prinz Eugen only presenting a small stern target). This blew the German to pieces, so we went away victorious!</p><p style="text-align: left;">I'm a bit dubious about these rules, mind: it felt a bit as if we were dog-fighting with heavy cruisers and I don't think that's really how it would have happened. Still, our experience of the game was only 20 minutes or so.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Demonstration Tables</h1><p style="text-align: left;">A few large tables caught my eye and we spent some time examining all the details. Unfortunately, I was carrying a new camera and it seems either highly sensitive to shaking hands or else its automatic focus isn't so good. A number of the pictures I took are heavily blurred and unusable. Hmm.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Still, here are some images...</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEykkQE2akt_NqmPDIZ9HicY-kvd_R29i7VwsvvPSdteI4OdI9XSt9yMMVGAxU4m6fxkkUbKHehkDulbsPbtjPK5rScaVOv098_8SUKd_HMFsyT3ZaFQwNdh2y8Xvtd8R4r6pNg-Oyu30Y/s5152/DSC00680.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEykkQE2akt_NqmPDIZ9HicY-kvd_R29i7VwsvvPSdteI4OdI9XSt9yMMVGAxU4m6fxkkUbKHehkDulbsPbtjPK5rScaVOv098_8SUKd_HMFsyT3ZaFQwNdh2y8Xvtd8R4r6pNg-Oyu30Y/w640-h480/DSC00680.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">At first, I thought this was some form of Pulp setup, mainly because of the jungle ruins and the smoking volcano. But no - it seems to have been a WW2 amphibious landing. Still, it was pretty and had a lot of nice details.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-y8NgKTLQn32Q3HpgNoHwCSdQ10lpPQQUridvmfRTnpphqlO7XPp8ZIElIWiVn_oNqZO864f5vsX-XL9BMNGsWmAh637DdGLyQHPRX1szUqy97o10NPlS95B-6PIUW8B6Q31V-V4QiXz/s2048/DSC00682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1604" data-original-width="2048" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-y8NgKTLQn32Q3HpgNoHwCSdQ10lpPQQUridvmfRTnpphqlO7XPp8ZIElIWiVn_oNqZO864f5vsX-XL9BMNGsWmAh637DdGLyQHPRX1szUqy97o10NPlS95B-6PIUW8B6Q31V-V4QiXz/w400-h314/DSC00682.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">The table had some impressively large, overgrown temples & statues in the jungle...</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bAf9dEQ6rnGPTn18Cj-Z16rQomSTYm3AAZsciaSgCgRlAlMP-9MOY-z48sMR7px-kXGZqDcfeGOle_90s5WPyiz_ntRh9mw5kYmkh8JaNS21GonTKQmyb2BEwZFDAGNVaGu74Mppk45P/s5152/DSC00683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bAf9dEQ6rnGPTn18Cj-Z16rQomSTYm3AAZsciaSgCgRlAlMP-9MOY-z48sMR7px-kXGZqDcfeGOle_90s5WPyiz_ntRh9mw5kYmkh8JaNS21GonTKQmyb2BEwZFDAGNVaGu74Mppk45P/s320/DSC00683.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">...as well as a decent set of rice fields. These are very similar in style to my own versions, though larger, deeper and more numerous. Note to self: I need more paddy fields!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0_CvsdQgdMWKiPN3CeNWSvbBiAUuuj9EM7a11yYOOZdJ_JG-NXeAtzOplJRYbIQI5YsQ_i6jr23sMBM3QnyadgneaBlKp-mtguBJ6Q-suuPAULLsf1JHHfiZG-p0OUhcChxoqDEoC7ur/s5152/DSC00689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0_CvsdQgdMWKiPN3CeNWSvbBiAUuuj9EM7a11yYOOZdJ_JG-NXeAtzOplJRYbIQI5YsQ_i6jr23sMBM3QnyadgneaBlKp-mtguBJ6Q-suuPAULLsf1JHHfiZG-p0OUhcChxoqDEoC7ur/w400-h300/DSC00689.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">The other table that really caught my attention was the <i>Congo Bill</i> adventure. I understood that this was more than a standard game of <i>Congo</i>. It had many pulp features such as a maiden sacrifice and giant gorilla, but in addition to this the organisers were gleeful in telling us about the Cthulu-esque monstrosities that they had planned!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8fH-JJmGMSF4xGSUQx9XlG5iOYPtEz6C-DmS2005MiRtIZLRbwbrVhUeawRiVgB5noy24eIWXSPSBdazpWGVbLcs_GZiyMLStQKObpDk6OKw1mcK0vTwLsyuINZBD2zGhAklXItS_-Gt/s2048/DSC00691.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1355" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8fH-JJmGMSF4xGSUQx9XlG5iOYPtEz6C-DmS2005MiRtIZLRbwbrVhUeawRiVgB5noy24eIWXSPSBdazpWGVbLcs_GZiyMLStQKObpDk6OKw1mcK0vTwLsyuINZBD2zGhAklXItS_-Gt/w640-h424/DSC00691.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">I didn't manage a really good shot of the whole table, but this slightly blurred version will have to do. As well as all the explorers, there was a group of nuns/missionaries, large amounts of wildlife and (of course) copious natives. This was all very much to my taste.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Painting Competition</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKnjwoweAFZyB9A7-LVJmfPh7xCgspNJan36oHztd7fVjpEYB9shI8-VxH8pSoUj24G5ICf7fGmUrq-E9qFOULuatZtRoQ7_aEe8ZttqdnZOoWNGU4YNpkUwPpDkPAbRAOSqtUp472-NW/s2048/DSC00694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1727" data-original-width="2048" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKnjwoweAFZyB9A7-LVJmfPh7xCgspNJan36oHztd7fVjpEYB9shI8-VxH8pSoUj24G5ICf7fGmUrq-E9qFOULuatZtRoQ7_aEe8ZttqdnZOoWNGU4YNpkUwPpDkPAbRAOSqtUp472-NW/s320/DSC00694.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">I always take a look at the entries to the painting competition at a show, but I don't think I've ever mentioned this in a report before. This time, the model above caught my eye. I don't remember seeing it ever before, though my son wondered if it was a 3D printed piece rather than a "regular" commercial model. Either way, I thought it was beautifully done!</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Loot</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKy-INbavL7XnQ1oBwGm2F4Qg78i5YfumGE08gFeoxSUJ1bikqoZ3dXfXfUxrB7qeA0EJvBlLGB2ZqK5XMgHqFx7-yFtAjFBRkYXTiPGwnv6x1faLHqde9IcuKHuqKyGB42zyliq8biQ0H/s2048/DSC00699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2048" height="533" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKy-INbavL7XnQ1oBwGm2F4Qg78i5YfumGE08gFeoxSUJ1bikqoZ3dXfXfUxrB7qeA0EJvBlLGB2ZqK5XMgHqFx7-yFtAjFBRkYXTiPGwnv6x1faLHqde9IcuKHuqKyGB42zyliq8biQ0H/w640-h533/DSC00699.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">I hadn't expected to buy much at the show (I'm trying to cut down on new projects, for a start!), so I was surprised at just how much I found when I opened my bag on my return home. From bottom left, going roughly clockwise:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>A pack of My Little Pony stickers/posters/whatever, for my daughter. No, really.</li><li>2 3D-printed Short Sunderland flying boats (given free for taking part in the <i>Sink the Prinz Eugen</i> game).</li><li>A Kings of War sea serpent (I think) for my son.</li><li>A couple of prehistoric terrain pieces (some snares and a tannery) from <a href="https://irongatescenery.co.uk/product-category/scenery/prehistoric/">Iron Gate Scenery</a>. This is a relatively new company, but one which I will be watching with interest, I think.<br />Sadly they didn't bring any of their mammoths to the show, though the painted examples looked a little smaller than the other mammoths in my collection.</li><li>Perry Miniatures Sohei musketmen: after a recent game of <i>Test of Honour</i>, we realised that my Japanese warrior monks need more firepower.</li><li>A Reaper Bones <i>frost giant</i>, destined to be used for <i>Frostgrave</i>.</li><li>Some dark blue paint</li><li>20x40mm MDF bases for more 6mm Napoleonics.</li><li>A packet of Scheltrum Miniatures' <i>Wako</i> (i.e. Japanese pirates). More on these another time, I think.</li><li>Another addition to my <i>Nightfolk </i>warband (also for Frostgrave, though I don't believe I've ever described them in public).</li><li>Finally, a couple of the now-standard MDF entrance tickets. Interestingly, these are labelled as "<i>Carronade 2020</i>", even though the show was held in late 2021.</li></ul><h1 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h1><p style="text-align: left;">It's good to be back at shows! We (or at least, I) caught up with friends and bought more than perhaps I should. We played a game (more would have been nice) and even the drive home again wasn't particularly difficult or stressful. More, please!</p><p></p>Colgar6http://www.blogger.com/profile/07636662295301222390noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556126903764105050.post-38954269249634919492021-09-21T19:48:00.000+01:002021-09-21T19:48:03.248+01:00Batrep: The Treasure of Toyokawa<h1 style="text-align: left;"> Introduction</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGr-1Gpp2-OgD2YPfkou_KyVudcwb-PJGKb7tEB1R96Igmxumj-uG6M1LatsckbkNtlvTtpFzW9azE_QZknV-_vCQ_Zk_QhHgc7cQqQCdXBTIWcTcRbfqtd9TjeQmnxMoZw56-b9_Z5p1J/s2048/DSC00619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1273" data-original-width="2048" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGr-1Gpp2-OgD2YPfkou_KyVudcwb-PJGKb7tEB1R96Igmxumj-uG6M1LatsckbkNtlvTtpFzW9azE_QZknV-_vCQ_Zk_QhHgc7cQqQCdXBTIWcTcRbfqtd9TjeQmnxMoZw56-b9_Z5p1J/w640-h398/DSC00619.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;">In the small village of Toyokawa, in Hida province, there are rumours that a local merchant has been avoiding taxes by hiding a large part of his wealth. The local samurai lord, <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Ekei </span>of the <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Oda </span>clan, has set out to investigate this and seize any treasure he can find. In this he is joined by the <span style="color: #3d85c6;">ronin Tadashi</span>, a disgraced distant cousin who is trying to regain some honour in order to be accepted back into decent society.</p><p style="text-align: left;">However, the story of hidden riches has also reached the ears of a local <span style="color: #ffa400;">Sohei </span>monastery. The abbot has gathered a few followers and has joined (reluctantly) with a bunch of mercenary <span style="color: red;">ninjas </span>in order to search the village himself.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">The Setup</h2><p style="text-align: left;">This was a 4 player game of <i>Test of Honour</i>, with two of the players being new to the rules. To keep it simple, each player had 18 point forces. In practice this meant that each force had 1 major hero, 1 minor hero and a greater or lesser number of assorted followers.</p><p style="text-align: left;">There are 5 treasure counters hidden around the village. Each of these can only be discovered by a successful test of wits. Once revealed, 2 of the 5 tokens are false leads and are worthless.</p><p style="text-align: left;">This leaves 3 genuine treasures. The winner is the faction which carries any two of these back over their base line, or the remaining side if all of one force are wiped out. There is no turn limit.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">The Game</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fynocwLVZyRZr2HBJ5RIFYEu93thMt78Q6APQy2hw-s0CQpxUikk7kPVu7tKaqOInSN27DbbRsXGyy0ABGfzsmV6uPpVSns3MdXzqarrZle1R6_eNP1br_obyAXG6d6zgfLr7uwfh4QE/s2048/DSC00632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1338" data-original-width="2048" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fynocwLVZyRZr2HBJ5RIFYEu93thMt78Q6APQy2hw-s0CQpxUikk7kPVu7tKaqOInSN27DbbRsXGyy0ABGfzsmV6uPpVSns3MdXzqarrZle1R6_eNP1br_obyAXG6d6zgfLr7uwfh4QE/w640-h418/DSC00632.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">As the followers on each side advanced cautiously, <span style="color: #3d85c6;">Tadashi </span>raced past the shrine, intending to search the hand cart. He was confronted by the <span style="color: #cc0000;">Ninja Master</span> and although they exchanged blows, no damage was done at first.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATnheytAK3HVM7wpBu6LL62nbmGutEKFyOb_65DXvcF6Y_hMmcbxi40LW6CRYca12_mfLEGdQzlOdKiKYQANxTgjQqJXT47T6pmMnzo9SuJVuN5pACGpj4HCl2YZ-nzuHu0SiyrOG4qNy/s2048/DSC00637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1533" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATnheytAK3HVM7wpBu6LL62nbmGutEKFyOb_65DXvcF6Y_hMmcbxi40LW6CRYca12_mfLEGdQzlOdKiKYQANxTgjQqJXT47T6pmMnzo9SuJVuN5pACGpj4HCl2YZ-nzuHu0SiyrOG4qNy/w400-h300/DSC00637.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Meanwhile, at the other end of the village, <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Ekei </span>searched the merchant's garden. Buried under the radishes, he found a small box which clinked when he shook it. It seemed as if the stories were true. It was just as well for the merchant that he and his family had fled, otherwise <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Ekei </span>would have had his head for this trickery!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkiP1YM-88xienteVvkaiC5X0-L-MdPVP7cf-YkUXnq8uXumdZwZDE133tDL6o5-DTeX9xfTuK8LC9f31UAuGmLXwTLBFiczCNz643pEpH4jhzXeuHxDmTtclP8bBoe-P3ZWF79-eFmgY/s2048/DSC00638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1525" data-original-width="2048" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkiP1YM-88xienteVvkaiC5X0-L-MdPVP7cf-YkUXnq8uXumdZwZDE133tDL6o5-DTeX9xfTuK8LC9f31UAuGmLXwTLBFiczCNz643pEpH4jhzXeuHxDmTtclP8bBoe-P3ZWF79-eFmgY/w640-h476/DSC00638.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Feeling outmatched, <span style="color: #3d85c6;">Tadashi </span><strike>ran away</strike> re-positioned strategically, but the <span style="color: red;">Ninja Master</span> pursued him anyway and cut him down. One of the other bandits did try to aid his leader, but his attempt to leap over the rice fields to reach the fight failed spectacularly and he ended up stretched out full length in the mud.</p><p style="text-align: left;">At the same time, the <span style="color: #ffa400;">Sohei Abbot</span> ran over the bridge and cut down Tadashi's <span style="color: #3d85c6;">lieutenant</span>. This was a calamity for the ronin/bandit player!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZs7byhiyzlVLuuJvsUD-m7vIxS4lAaszXSgx8u-RE2CxmhaloSg6_VQcDAeVVlgun_td40OJdq5nQ8jrQGugGt1lKdjP50-hqHCNwIaurbWiau__MEumbXdd3MRmaSz-5IvJBMjgElc9/s2048/DSC00643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1491" data-original-width="2048" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZs7byhiyzlVLuuJvsUD-m7vIxS4lAaszXSgx8u-RE2CxmhaloSg6_VQcDAeVVlgun_td40OJdq5nQ8jrQGugGt1lKdjP50-hqHCNwIaurbWiau__MEumbXdd3MRmaSz-5IvJBMjgElc9/w640-h466/DSC00643.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #7f6000;">In revenge, the </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Oda samurai archer</span><span style="color: #7f6000;"> drew his bow and shot at the </span><span style="color: red;">Ninja Master</span><span style="color: #7f6000;">. His aim was true and the arrow struck the black-clad figure in a vital spot, sending him to his death.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Then we realised that the </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Oda </span><span style="color: #7f6000;">figure had already taken all of his permitted actions for the turn and couldn't have made this play. We reset: no arrow was shot and the </span><span style="color: red;">Ninja Master</span><span style="color: #7f6000;"> was unharmed. It was all a daydream.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8M-oVKbozTR6BLlHAxh7yTsFjCL8Y_TwHEmqDouChCljufs5Oew8QdjuUTlfE2OvYLL9veDOsCLJQnHgEDuGr6srX4aBdOHhlrtK0RnkjRcXOmDRDI_66cto6iuW2FEu-yMoeA-_TdBtp/s2048/DSC00645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1509" data-original-width="2048" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8M-oVKbozTR6BLlHAxh7yTsFjCL8Y_TwHEmqDouChCljufs5Oew8QdjuUTlfE2OvYLL9veDOsCLJQnHgEDuGr6srX4aBdOHhlrtK0RnkjRcXOmDRDI_66cto6iuW2FEu-yMoeA-_TdBtp/w640-h472/DSC00645.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">With a dazzling display of martial prowess, the Sohei Abbot continued to rampage through the now-leaderless bandits, cutting down several and causing many others to flee.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi473moBWML4PtDYtrol4M-ROeYJqJ77q8CTj_DPPNaftwVaypLxmZ9VSrBA20Za1mC8LRLAWOHnnXKGDVQ6L_EH5nTJ6APOjJD-H6dM7EBEbvrsbKok0y8Re6hl5kyD8qp4F0M_DhZFvKa/s2048/DSC00646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1634" data-original-width="2048" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi473moBWML4PtDYtrol4M-ROeYJqJ77q8CTj_DPPNaftwVaypLxmZ9VSrBA20Za1mC8LRLAWOHnnXKGDVQ6L_EH5nTJ6APOjJD-H6dM7EBEbvrsbKok0y8Re6hl5kyD8qp4F0M_DhZFvKa/w640-h510/DSC00646.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Back in the merchant's house, <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Ekei </span>carried on with his search for treasure. It was taking too long, though - he could hear the sounds of struggle growing louder as his followers in the street outside clashed with the advancing <span style="color: #ffa400;">Sohei</span>.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38htSb3UajGSMohFXQ40xbgOaDke_4XS0-uRY-r2GzLCd4nve4-29J-xdYfgSy3DSww7IsGtsLIXlEf3FpEPXTgGvtOhGCFLT7s9JYsDH9Hg3JpVz3z7ESx-nuntjPWYGLhQBf9tHWTPr/s2048/DSC00649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1603" data-original-width="2048" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38htSb3UajGSMohFXQ40xbgOaDke_4XS0-uRY-r2GzLCd4nve4-29J-xdYfgSy3DSww7IsGtsLIXlEf3FpEPXTgGvtOhGCFLT7s9JYsDH9Hg3JpVz3z7ESx-nuntjPWYGLhQBf9tHWTPr/w640-h500/DSC00649.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">While the <span style="color: #ffa400;">Sohei Abbot</span> continued to terrorise the <span style="color: #3d85c6;">bandit </span>commoners, the <span style="color: red;">Ninja Master</span> decided to investigate the bullock cart. After screwing up his face in disgust he searched through piles of dung and found ... nothing! [<i>In other words, he uncovered one of the "fake" treasure tokens</i>].</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUfcdMKC6qi9gPF4aRGb7cpZnIJ57LDJhAPjqhMLDfV3d7dcPTjbBZVMYFOxaMS98luxNdWjtBVei_UdASqUyAw1SHWuLiHutJO03OE_mKGDwSEM4YaDyHWII5QvOg4-tsGfNotd3gvpz/s2048/DSC00656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1759" data-original-width="2048" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUfcdMKC6qi9gPF4aRGb7cpZnIJ57LDJhAPjqhMLDfV3d7dcPTjbBZVMYFOxaMS98luxNdWjtBVei_UdASqUyAw1SHWuLiHutJO03OE_mKGDwSEM4YaDyHWII5QvOg4-tsGfNotd3gvpz/w640-h550/DSC00656.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Finally, after much effort, <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Ekei</span>'s efforts were rewarded and he found a small pouch of precious items [<i>so that's 2 treasures. All he has to do is run off the board and the <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Oda</span>/<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Ronin </span>alliance wins the game.</i>].</p><p style="text-align: left;">However, escaping might be a problem. Ransacking the merchant's house had taken several turns and now enemies filled the street, waiting for the <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Oda </span>lord to show his face.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Ekei </span>took the initiative and charged out, straight at the <span style="color: #ffa400;">Sohei Abbot</span>. Such was the ferocity of his assault that the monk was driven back, step by step. However, <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Ekei </span>still couldn't risk slipping around his enemy; the gap between the abbot and the his other foes was too uncertain.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaibpNBobbIeRwliRbMudXvwo3rnqI7SmiM1GVjJVdPONG8kHxDFXzJRcp0hwgel1OndWH0DIP6m-d8FTO_xpvooXZ8B4U3IW_O5BagFu-OG13JeyBlA0cm6KjMIrcXm-I1QhgoH5I3VP/s2048/DSC00663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1829" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaibpNBobbIeRwliRbMudXvwo3rnqI7SmiM1GVjJVdPONG8kHxDFXzJRcp0hwgel1OndWH0DIP6m-d8FTO_xpvooXZ8B4U3IW_O5BagFu-OG13JeyBlA0cm6KjMIrcXm-I1QhgoH5I3VP/w358-h400/DSC00663.JPG" width="358" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Outnumbered like this, the end was not long in coming. As <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Ekei </span>fought furiously with the <span style="color: #ffa400;">Abbot</span>, the<span style="color: #ffa400;"> Sohei lieutenant</span> charged him from behind and cut him down. There was no realistic chance that the remaining <span style="color: #3d85c6;">bandits</span> or<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Oda spearmen</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span>could challenge the <span style="color: #ffa400;">Sohei </span>and <span style="color: red;">Ninja </span>heroes, so the game was conceded by <span style="color: #2b00fe;">blue</span>/<span style="color: #3d85c6;">blue</span>. In any case, we had reached our real-world time limit and needed to pack up.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h1><p style="text-align: left;">Well, that could have gone differently at any one of a number of points!</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The loss of both the <span style="color: #3d85c6;">Ronin/bandit</span> leaders relatively early was a terrible disaster.</li><li><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Ekei </span>did find 2 treasures, but took too long in doing this. If he had just been luckier with his searches then he would have had time to escape. Probably.</li><li>The <span style="color: #ffa400;">Sohei Abbot</span> was death incarnate. He strolled along main street as if he owned the place, cutting down all who stood in his way. Mostly peasants, mind you.</li><li>The <span style="color: red;">Ninja Master</span> survived a near-death experience from the <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Oda archer</span>. If this had really happened then it would certainly have changed the balance of the game considerably!</li><li>The <span style="color: #ffa400;">Sohei </span>drew huge numbers of Fate tokens and ended up with a lot of skill cards in play. In contrast, the <span style="color: red;">Ninjas </span>didn't draw a single one.</li></ul><div>...but these are all "ifs" and "might have been". The only real question is this: did the players enjoy themselves? I can only speak for myself: I thought it was a very entertaining evening!</div><p></p>Colgar6http://www.blogger.com/profile/07636662295301222390noreply@blogger.com4