Thursday, November 19, 2009
My first batch of 15mm soldiers is ready
Yesterday I finished basing and varnishing my first set of 15mm soldiers. Most of these were constructed from my convention purchases, namely Rebel Miniatures EF Infantry bodies with Scourge heads. The conversions went quickly, but I have to remember not to pick them up by their heads, ever... the remaining seven figures were the EF Infantry Sergeant, painted as a medic, a droid made from a Scourge Heavy Weapon body and an EF Infantry helmet, four mercenary cyborgs (red-inked Scourge Heavy Weapon troopers), and a Dog Soldier(RAFM Warhounds of Sirius).
The whole set turned out rather well, I even managed to stick on the magnetic bases. So what can I use these for? Beamstrike will get used in a small skirmish sometime next week, with the Coalition Dead Lads as the protagonists. Once I buy some bases and rubber steel stick-ons I've got a fair start on an ASQL Human Imperial army: 4 squads of Stormtroopers, though I still need to purchase at least one AFV for them. Maybe after Christmas.
The whole set turned out rather well, I even managed to stick on the magnetic bases. So what can I use these for? Beamstrike will get used in a small skirmish sometime next week, with the Coalition Dead Lads as the protagonists. Once I buy some bases and rubber steel stick-ons I've got a fair start on an ASQL Human Imperial army: 4 squads of Stormtroopers, though I still need to purchase at least one AFV for them. Maybe after Christmas.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Fall-in! '09 Part 2
After an excellent dinner of philly cheesesteak pizza at Dino's it was on to the next round of gaming.
My game wasn't here, but I needed something to do during the hour beforehand.
The evening game was titled "The Kepi to Morocco" and used the Sword in Africa (variant of The Sword and the Flame). TSATF is a semi-skirmish game with a 1:10 figure scale. All of the various 28mm figures were individually based, fired individually, and used damage resolution charts that adjudicated damage based on unit type and formation.
Fire Combat uses multiple d20s, movement uses a number of d6s depending on formation (open order, square) and unit types, and melee is a simultaneous affair that lasts until all participants are dead, victorious, or run away. Unit activation alternates depending on a card draw (red for French, black for Arabs), with each portion of the turn sequence (Movement, Fire Combat, and Melee) being resolved in turn. The natives are able to hide themselves in all manner of terrain. Scouts can be detached from formations to spot hidden ambushers.
I really enjoyed the game; it reminded me a lot of 3rd edition 40k but without the numerous special rules, statlines, and wound markers. Unfortunately the Legionnaires spread themselves too thin and as a result were very vulnerable to the millions of camels hiding behind every rock.
The quiet before the storm. No natives in site.
Massed Legionnaires and their native allies. The front three Legionnaire formations were mine. Two of them were rendered non-entities by their wounded.
The Arabs are massing their troops so they can hide?
The French were pretty thin on the ground at this point, but at least we knew where the Arab foot troops were. There was one last, huge, swirling melee, but the pic was really fuzzy.
My game wasn't here, but I needed something to do during the hour beforehand.
Fire Combat uses multiple d20s, movement uses a number of d6s depending on formation (open order, square) and unit types, and melee is a simultaneous affair that lasts until all participants are dead, victorious, or run away. Unit activation alternates depending on a card draw (red for French, black for Arabs), with each portion of the turn sequence (Movement, Fire Combat, and Melee) being resolved in turn. The natives are able to hide themselves in all manner of terrain. Scouts can be detached from formations to spot hidden ambushers.
I really enjoyed the game; it reminded me a lot of 3rd edition 40k but without the numerous special rules, statlines, and wound markers. Unfortunately the Legionnaires spread themselves too thin and as a result were very vulnerable to the millions of camels hiding behind every rock.
The quiet before the storm. No natives in site.
Massed Legionnaires and their native allies. The front three Legionnaire formations were mine. Two of them were rendered non-entities by their wounded.
The Arabs are massing their troops so they can hide?
The French were pretty thin on the ground at this point, but at least we knew where the Arab foot troops were. There was one last, huge, swirling melee, but the pic was really fuzzy.
Routine Inspection
An understrength Coalition Squad makes an arrest in alien territory.
"This is a routine Coalition inspection, please turn over any illegal arms caches you might have in your possession."
Up on the roof... a SAM and Dead Lad are watching for an ambush.
Someone's in for a surprise.
Fall-in! '09 Part 1
I attended Fall-in! this weekend, thanks to my lovely wife agreeing to go. This was my first purely gaming convention, and it was a blast.
We arrived too late Friday to get any games in, but I did get to look around the exhibition hall. Truly impressive; even Dragon-Con didn't have as much swag, and they had around 20,000 people last time I went (vs. the 2,000 or so at Fall-in!). I picked up a Rebel Miniatures combat flatbed, Scourge and Scourge Heavy Weapons, and some EF infantry; I later did some head swaps between the Scourge and EF infantry to get my Coalition Dead Lads. Iron Wind Metals was selling Battletech bitz by the ounce, so I loaded up on 6mm scale turrets, many of which will grace my landship if I ever get around to buying it. I also picked up a handful of GHQ tanks and a Crossfire rulebook, so I should be ready for our Crossfire campaign shortly. Litko's 15mm bases have also proved useful.
After a quick auto tour of the Gettysburg battlefield I was ready to jump into my first game, Cowboy Wars out West, unfortunately it was canceled. Instead I went to an Old Glory-sponsored game in which the Earp Clan and friends took on some cowboys, using the Desperado skirmish system (percentage-based). I took command of Virgil and Wyatt Earp, but things went poorly for our side. I had initially deployed Virgil and his rifle in a sniper's position, but unfortunately none of the cowboys ventured into the street. His brother faired worse; Indian Charlie unloaded three rounds into his back, and he was shot through the heart. We all were given resin outhouses due to our foul dice rolls. Old Glory was showcasing their western buildings and their new pre-made table sections (2' x 2' painted, sculpted, and flocked at $115 for a box of three).
The set-up.
The characters and their cards are all laid out.
A better view of the town and surrounding countryside. I absolutely love those rocky outcropping tiles.
The carnage is well under way, and Virgil is hiding in an alley between the buildings in the lower right corner.
We arrived too late Friday to get any games in, but I did get to look around the exhibition hall. Truly impressive; even Dragon-Con didn't have as much swag, and they had around 20,000 people last time I went (vs. the 2,000 or so at Fall-in!). I picked up a Rebel Miniatures combat flatbed, Scourge and Scourge Heavy Weapons, and some EF infantry; I later did some head swaps between the Scourge and EF infantry to get my Coalition Dead Lads. Iron Wind Metals was selling Battletech bitz by the ounce, so I loaded up on 6mm scale turrets, many of which will grace my landship if I ever get around to buying it. I also picked up a handful of GHQ tanks and a Crossfire rulebook, so I should be ready for our Crossfire campaign shortly. Litko's 15mm bases have also proved useful.
After a quick auto tour of the Gettysburg battlefield I was ready to jump into my first game, Cowboy Wars out West, unfortunately it was canceled. Instead I went to an Old Glory-sponsored game in which the Earp Clan and friends took on some cowboys, using the Desperado skirmish system (percentage-based). I took command of Virgil and Wyatt Earp, but things went poorly for our side. I had initially deployed Virgil and his rifle in a sniper's position, but unfortunately none of the cowboys ventured into the street. His brother faired worse; Indian Charlie unloaded three rounds into his back, and he was shot through the heart. We all were given resin outhouses due to our foul dice rolls. Old Glory was showcasing their western buildings and their new pre-made table sections (2' x 2' painted, sculpted, and flocked at $115 for a box of three).
The set-up.
The characters and their cards are all laid out.
A better view of the town and surrounding countryside. I absolutely love those rocky outcropping tiles.
The carnage is well under way, and Virgil is hiding in an alley between the buildings in the lower right corner.
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