End of 2024 and Looking Ahead to 2025

The year 2023 was varied for the amount of role playing, board, computer, and miniature games played. I am hoping to increase the amount of role playing and miniature games played, but time will tell.

For roleplaying my group finished the Pendragon starter box adventure in six sessions (two last year and four this one). My review of Pendragon is here for those who are interested (Hint: We really liked it and will be carrying on with another adventure). Twilight: 2000 first came out in 1984 and players are allied soldiers alive in Eastern Europe after WW3 and a limited nuclear exchange. They have to survive and get back to friendly lines. The original game seemed like it would be good , but as teenagers it just became fantasy with us controlling tanks and attack choppers blowing up stuff. The new version, by Free League Publishing, is set in 1998 and is much grittier and realistic. After five sessions, my character is recovering in a prison taken over by a cult leader as the other two players are trying not to get killed by a turncoat that knows and hates one of them. Intense!

For boardgames, a mighty eighty-seven were played. Games I most liked this year are marked by an asterisk (*). In order from most to least played are:

9: *Marvel Champions (3 Player)

7: *Heat

6: *7 Wonders Duel, Death My Die, No Thanks!

4: *Arcs, Biblios

3: Crib, *Terraforming Mars

2: *7 Wonders Duel: Middle Earth, 200, *Apiary, Daybreak, Five Crowns, Kollide, Pandemic: Hotzone NA, Play 9, Settlers of Catan, Undaunted: Normandy, Vendetta, Watergate

1: 7 Wonders, Andromeda's Edge, Campaign Trail, Carcassonne, Command and Colors: Napoleon, Freedom, Greece Lightning, King of Monster Island, Lord of the Rings Customizable Card Game, Lost Cities, *Mega Empires (Western Empires), *Mind MGMT, Splendor, Ticket to Ride: NY, Victory in the Pacific.

For solo boardgames, I just played two games of Campaign Trail.

For computer games, I just played one with a group, Terraforming Mars, and solo I played six games of Terraforming Mars.

For miniature games, I played thirty-one. The Batman Miniature Game was most played with ten games (see here for the year in review), seven of Battletech: Alpha Strike (year in review here), seven Marvel Crisis Protocol (year in review here), six Malifaux (year in review here), and one game of non-violent Gaslands (performance cars with one lap around a track).

I also read a lot of Battletech books this year, thanks to a Humble Bundle I participated in in 2023. It is interesting how many bore books you can read when flossing, brushing, and being out and about. I have been reading them in chronological order and they were: *Warrior Trilogy, Wolves on the Border, Heir to the Dragon; *Blood of Kerensky Trilogy; Legend of the Jade Phoenix-Way of the Clans.

For miniatures painted this year it was horrible. Only four Malifaux and two Batman Miniature Game figures. I have high ambitions this year: 

-Batman Miniature Game: The Batman Starter Box, all the Law Forces police, more Law Forces models, Organized Crime faction

-Battletech: Draconis Combine, Patchwork Guild Regulars, Generic Faction Vehicles and Fighters.

-Guildball: Two Union, Masons/Butchers/Fishermen remaining models, 

-Malifaux: Remaining Versatile models, Zipp crew, Ressurectionist versatile, Dr McMourning

-Marvel Crisis Protocol: Finish Spider Foes and Agents of SHIELD.

-Terrain: As much as I can!

Have a great 2025!

A Look Back at 2023 and Ahead to 2024

 Well I have been busy this year but not with painting models and terrain. Recently retired, I hoped that I would have more time and opportunity for playing games of all sorts. Unfortunately there were many things that needed to be done and things that popped up that needed doing. Fun was still had as the following will show.

A total of 51 boardgames were played, just under one boardgame a week. Something I always want to play more of. In order from most to least played are: Heat (9), Death May Die (6), Marvel Champions 3player (5), Crib (3), Dominion (3), Axis and Allies (2), Beyond the Black Tower (2), Carcassonne (2), Cascadia (2), Command and Colors: Ancients (2), Masters of the Universe (2), Kingdomino (2), Wingspan (2), Carcassonne 20th Anniversary edition, Carcassonne: Hunters and Gatherers, Eastern Empires, Red Storm Rising, Settlers of Catan, Splendor, Terraforming Mars, Thunder Road Vengeance, and Twilight Struggle.

Not many solo boardgames were played, only five, another thing I wish to change based on the amount of them I have that can be played solo. Cascadia (2), Heat, Marvel Champions (2).

Of the computer games I have, nine were played and all of them were Terraforming Mars (2 multiplayer and 7 solo). I really like this game and it handles the math so you don't forget anything.

For miniature games, thirty-two were played including a new one; Marvel Crisis Protocol (MCP). I will be posting more about that game in 2024, including painted miniatures. In order of most to least played are: Marvel Crisis Protocol; Avengers (7) and Cabal (3), Malifaux; Outcasts (9; Arik, Hannah Lovelace, Jack Daw (2), Parker Burroughs, Scion of the Void (2), Tara, Von Schill); Heroscape (7), Battletech: Alpha Strike (4); Dystopian Wars (4); Guildball: Morticians (3); Gaslands (2); Star Wats Legion (2); and Car Wars: Convoy Adventure.

For painting miniatures I did abysmally with 25-40mm scale (Guildball Gaffer and new and old Iron Man for MCP), but did well for other scales with 48 10mm scale (Planetfall Relthoza), 6mm scale (Battletech; 41 Federated Suns and 24 Patchwork Guild Mercenary company). Zero terrain painted was also unfortunate. Definitely want to paint more next year (Terrain, MCP, Battletech, Relthoza, Malifaux, Star Wars Legion). 

For physical games, three were played and they were all boules while my wife and I were camping.

Sadly, life happens and roleplaying games suffered. Sickness and requirements meant that many sessions had to be cancelled because of lack of players. Therefore only twelve sessions occurred. ten of them were for the Savage Worlds: Thrilling Tales setting and was great fun. Two sessions were with the Pendragon starter box and were run by myself. I also played through the solo adventure in the box to get more acquainted with the rules.

For gaming books read, there was the following read: The End: Dogs of War RPG supplement, Conspire RPG, Microscope RPG, Marvel Multiverse RPG, Pendragon RPG starter box, and Shab-al-Hiri roach RPG.

In summation I would like to play more games, and paint models, but with myself starting school for two semesters this year time will tell.

Lack of Game Posts in the last Six Months

Sorry for not posting anything in the last six months. Things have been busy with a trip to Spain and a new phase in my life in April...retirement. Therefore I have been cleaning up the house, basement, and downsizing as well as helping others. 

I have not been idle with my hobbies though, as I have been assembling and priming a lot of models before the rainy weather arrives. Clockwise from the upper left are models for: Malifaux, miscellaneous terrain, Flintstones Bedrock building playset, small scale ruins and everything scale terrain, Batman/Marvel Crisis Protocol terrain, Marvel Crisis Protocol models, Mantic modern terrain, Dollarama wooden steamroller, Guildball terrain set, and in the center Star Wars Legion terrain and models. I may not get them all done but I will take a good stab at it. These do not include the other models I have had primed for a while but are not for games I currently play or wish to play.

Models I have been painting are Malifaux Leviticus crew and Outcast variable models as well as Battletech Federated Suns and my Battletech mercenary company, The Patchwork Guild. Below is a sample of the progress.

I have also been reading miniature and roleplaying game books. Expect to see weekly posts on items as I finish them and the gaming books I have read.

Games of 2021 and a look to 2022

Another year done and still lots of isolation from friends for games. Things did get better in the latter half of the year but our household is still limiting access to only one friend each for my wife and I, as she works in the health field. 

Game Books Read: Only five game books read. This year I read Carnevale Miniature Game pocket rulebook, Dystopian Wars: Salty Seadog edition, Uncharted Seas Hardback Edition, Wraith: The Oblivion 20th anniversary edition and the Black Dog book for Wraith Charnel Houses of Europe-The Shoah.

Boardgames: This year I played 46 boardgames with more than one person. Some for the first time and some were old favorites and looking to play ones that I have purchased in the last two years but not played yet. They were, in order of most to least played, Terraforming Mars (12), Crokenole (9), Watergate (4), Carcassonne (2), Dominion (2), Kingdomino (2), Lost Cities (2), One Small Step (2), Ticket to Ride: NY (2), 7 Wonders Dual, Bayonets and Tomahawks, Crib, Godzilla: Toyko Clash, Guillotine, King Phillip's War, Men of Iron: Agincourt, and Spacecorp 2025-2300.

Of solo boardgames played, there were 13. From most to least played there was Ultra Tiny Epic Kingdoms (5), Terraforming Mars (3), Gaia Project (2), Caverna, Tiny Epic Galaxy, and Tiny Epic Western. 

Video Boardgames: Games played through a computer skyrocketed this year after our introduction to Steam. With other people, I played 104 of them. They were in order of most to least played Carcassonne (51), Splendor (14), Ticket to Ride: NA (10), Terraforming Mars (9), Dominion (7), Ticket to Ride: Europe (5), 1775 (3), Small World (3), Ticket to Ride France (3), Twilight Struggle (3), Ticket to Ride: Germany, Ticket to Ride: Nordic, and Ticket to Ride Switzerland.

Solo computer games was also prolific, with 90 played. In order of most to least played there was Terraforming Mars (65), 1775 (4), Splendor (4), Dominion (2), Love Letter (2), Ticket to Ride (2), Ticket to Ride France (2), Wingspan (2), Agricola: All Creatures Great and Small, Dominion, Root, Small World, Through the Ages, Ticket to Ride: Nordic, Twilight Struggle. I expect to play more due to the ongoing omicron COVID variant and whatever other mutation occurs. 

Miniature Games Played: Not many miniature games played. Only seven. Hope to change that next year if the new variant stops proliferating. Games played were Frostgrave, Guildball: Morticians, Hardwar, Mechwarrior: Alpha Strike, Middle Earth Strategy Game, Star Wars: Heroes of the Anturi Cluster (2).

Miniatures Painted/assembled: Well its been a little slow and it seems I did mostly small scale items: 225 Horizon Wars spaceships made from LEGO, 82 Enlightened Dystopian Wars models, 6 Uncharted Seas terrain and monster items, 94 Iron Dwarf models for Uncharted Seas, 36 small scale terrain. Only seven ~30mm scale terrain items were made. I definitely have to work on painting more large scale models in 2022 while keeping the pace of smaller scale models, in particular my Malifaux, Guildball, Batman, and Carnivale figures. Perhaps even finish off my Kings of War Grey Empire army.

End of 2020 and looking to 2021

 Well, 2020 has been a different year not only for life but the smaller simulations of life as well. Being distant from others and not having as much gameplaying time did mean more painting time though. Once we are vaccinated and safe it will enable me to put more models in play. 

I only played six RPG sessions: D&D 5E Out of the Abyss (when isolated with coworkers) and two D&D 5e and one It Came From the Late Late Show at the very start of 2020. It was hard not playing in my regular Monday night sessions and I look forward to them starting up again.

Five game books were read, all Osprey Game books: Frostgrave 2nd Edition, Gaslands Refueled, Men of Bronze, Poseidon's Warriors, and Rebels and Patriots. I have played a few Frostgrave games but the others will have to wait for calmer times.

A whopping 109 boardgames were played, mostly with my wife or when isolating with coworkers. I've also started playing online with Steam's Carcasonne and Ticket to Ride. Games I played the most were: 

KingDomino (19), Schotten Totten (8), Splendor (6), and Dominion Second Edition (5), Dominion (4), Ticket to Ride NA (4), Wingspan (4). Games I want to play more of are solo games (Terraforming Mars, Castles of Burgundy, Scythe, Navajo Wars, A Distant Soil, Labyrinth: The War on Terror, and more), solo and multiplayer games on Steam (Twilight Struggle and 1775), and games I bought but have not played in a group setting enough (Watergate, Brass and Birmingham, Twilight Struggle, Pericles, A Distant Soil, Castles of Burgany, and more).

Only 13 miniature games were played this year. They were: Frostgrave (3 and solo 2), Guildball: Morticians (3), Godtear (2), Horizon Wars, Malifaux, Mechwarrior: Alpha Strike. Miniatures painted were: 25-35mm scale [Terrain (188), Kings of War Grey Empire (125), Star Wars Legion (32 and one vehicle), Malifaux (20), Batman (6), Star Wars Legion Terrain (3)], and small scale [Plantetfall Aquans (78), Dyatopian Wars Prussia (80), Dystopian Wars Terrain (16), Terrain (13), Planetfall Terrain (6)]. Definitely want to play more miniature games of all kinds but until we are able to will keep on painting. 

Continue playing safely and have a happy 2021!

End of 2019 and beginning of 2020

So 2019 was an interesting year for games. There was a downswing of RPGs played but lots of board games.

The RPG played the most was a 5e alteration of the Pathfinder Legacy of Fire setting with 15 sessions played. Also dipped my toe into The Expanse with a 2 session intro game and one session of the very funny It came from the Late, Late, Late Show RPG with 1 session.

A whopping 112 games were played, many of them shorter length ones. Crib took the lead with 13 games played, then No Thanks! with 10, Schotten Totten with 9, Kingdomino 7, Ucher 5, and Wingspan 5. Other games were played 4 or less times. New games played that I want to play more were Battle at Rokugon, Battle of Five Armies, Betrayal At Bauldur's Gate, Everdell, Freedom, and Numbers.

The only game related book read was the Osprey Fighting Sail game book. I looked through my Wizkids ships and they are a perfect scale for this game. Even my wife is interested after she read the Partick O'Brian books this year.

For miniature games, 51 were played. They are: Battletech, Gaslands, 29 of Guildball (Brewers, Cooks, 11 Morticians, 15 Ratcatchers, Union), 6 of Horizon Wars, 7 of Malifaux (Asylum, Bandit,    -Freikorps, Half-Blood, 2 of Guilty, Mercenaries), a local ruleset called "Small Sci-Fi", 2 of Star Wars Legion, and 4 of an X-Wing Campaign.

I will be away here and there in 2020 so miniature and RPGs will be more limited. I do hope to paint and play more of Star Wars Legion, Guildball, Malifaux, Batman Miniature Game, and Gaslands. Also hope to paint up the dead game miniatures I have like Firestorm Armada, Dystopian Wars, and Uncharted Seas.

In 2019 I painted only 36 28-40mm scale models but a whopping 140ish 10mm scale models. 56 items of terrain for 28-40mm models and 22 items for 10mm models. I hope to paint more 28-40mm scale models and there are several that are close to completion.

End of 2018 and beginning of 2019

This year was quite the year of playing games.

To start I read only two game books, Malifaux: Broken Promises, which is the latest book for the Malifaux miniature game, and Horizon Wars, a 2mm to 10mm science fiction skirmish game that includes mechs and aircraft.

This year there were only 18 roleplaying games played and one megagame, down from 30 last year. Of the RPGs, nine were my own Star Wars force users adventure set during the Clone Wars (overview here), and the other nine was Blades in the Dark, a great heist style rpg where you are part of a gang in a dystopian world with no sun. The megagame was Watch the Skies were I played the Chinese defense minister for seven hours during an alien invasion (overview here). Looking forward to more Blades in the Dark, a new 5e D&D campaign, and I will be running a Star Wars: Edge of Empire adventure with the players making new characters.

For boardgames I played 102 of them, up from 75 last year. Most played was Pandemic Legacy (14), Dominion (11), Crib (8), Splendor (7), Azul (5), No Thanks! (5), and Lost Cities (5). New games played/have that I want to play more of are Virgin Queen, 7th Continent, This War of Mine, Betrayal at the House on the Hill, and Bios Genesis.

For miniature games, I played 86 of them, up from 51 last year. Guildball was the clear leader in most games played with 46. Malifaux (11), Gaslands (9 plus 3 demos), X-Wing Heroes of the Anturi Cluster campaign (8), Kings of War Armies of Men (4), X-Wing (2), Batman Miniature Game (1), Dystopian Wars (1), Star Wars WOTC (1) were the other games I played. I am looking forward to more games of Guildball, Gaslands, Kings of War, as well as the Batman Miniature game. Two new games that I will be playing in 2019 are Carnivale and Horizon Wars.

For painting miniatures, I have finished the following:
-30 for Batman (9 Brave and Bold, 7 Joker faction, 14 Free Agents)
-29 for Malifaux
-28 for Guildball (1 Mason, 21 Union/Solthecius, and 6 terrain)
-64 for Gaslands (16 terrain, 8 buggies, 4 bikes, 36 basic modifications to cars)
-18 Terrain pieces

I have also been participating in the Malifaux 3rd edition beta test but only through reading the changes because the local Malifaux players did not sign up. I can promise it will be quite the strong changes from crew selection and a tightening up of the rulebook.

Have a fun 2019! I sure did.

End of 2017 and a Look to 2018

This year was a good year for playing games and painting miniatures. I will probably have a change in the department I will be working for in 2018 so I may not get as much painting during the 30 minutes I allocate to lunch for little projects. Time will tell.

Game Books
Only read through three game books this past year: Malifaux Ripples of Fate, Adventures in Middle Earth Players Guide, and the Batman Miniature Game: 2nd Edition. Will attempt to read through more this year as I have a backlog but with running two games it will be mostly 5e and Fantasy Flight Star Wars books.

RPGs
Played thirty sessions of role-playing games. Most of the sessions (25) contimnued in a friend's 5e D&D game set in a late Roman-like time period set on Vancouver Island. I'm still playing a wizard, who harbours dark thoughts yet is courteous, who is part of a group to depose the evil emperor by freeing imprisoned gods from a forgotten empire. The basic rules are still free to download from the Wizards of the Coast website. We plan to continue this campaign for the foreseeable future.

The next most was the Fantasy Flight Star Wars: Edge of Empire setting (4 sessions). I played a Negotiator who was sold into slavery to protect her corporate boss' position. The character has raw talent but is a quick learner, and took the Marshall career to develop her combat abilities. We have cancelled this campaign as it was hard to do remotely with computer voice skyping. I also played one session of Star Wars: Saga edition as a one shot.

In 2018 I will be running a Fantasy Flight Star Wars campaign, starting with the Clone Wars with the PCs as force users and padawan. Also going to run the Storm King’s Thunder adventure book as a pickup game when there is not enough people who attend for the other 5e or Star Wars game.

Boardgame
I played only 75 war, board, and card games this year as many friends were occupied doing other things of more import. Games played the most were: Balloon Cup (4), Codenames (5), Crib (6), and Santorini (5).

Games I did not play much but were very impressed by and/or wish to play more (not excluding the above games) were: 878: Vikings, 1754: Age of Conquest, Freedom: Underground Railroad, Polis: Fight for the Hegemony, Sekigahara, and Terraforming Mars along with several games I have purchased but not played yet.

Computer Games
I played very very few computer games this year and anticipate that trend will continue. The only one I played was Plague Inc.

Miniatures
This year I played 51 miniature games, a slight drop from last year.

Guildball was again the most played game by myself to a total of 34, using my Mason and Fishermen teams. I hope to continue to play this excellent game next year. Even better, the rules, cards and standees are still free to download. Also painted eight of these models this year. Will continue to paint models in this line, including Granite and the complete Union lineup.

Malifaux was the second most game I played, with 13 total games. I mostly stuck with the Outcast faction with Von Schill, Misaki and Tara. I played Angel Eyes for two demonstration games at the LANtasy gaming convention. I expect and wish to play more in 2017. I have painted 27 of these models and will be continuing to paint more models of the Outcast faction, including the Jack Daw and Parker Burrows crews.

Besides these games, I played Dystopian Wars (1) and Kings of War (3). I am looking forward to playing and painting more Dystopian Wars, Firestorm Armada, Kings of War and the Batman Miniature Game.

I painted some more models for Dystopian Wars Prussia (24), Brittania (18), and Neutral (29) as well as nine Planetfall Aquan models. It was a shame that Spartan Games, the company that makes Dystopian Wars, Firestorm Armada, and Planetfall went bankrupt but Wayland Games has picked up the IP and is intending to continue to make models and new rules for these games. For Kings of War I painted 6 old GW Empire models as testers for a paint scheme. I also painted two models for the Batman Miniature game.

Terrain
I finished seven large and several small terrain pieces. I intend to paint many more in 2018. I was particularly impressed by the modern buildings I painted and put graffiti on.

End of 2016 and Beginning of 2017

This year was a great year for playing games and painting miniatures. As I won't be traveling for work this upcoming year, it should also be a productive and fun year to come.

RPGs
Played thirty-four sessions of role-playing games. Most of the (26 sessions) was for a friend's 5e D&D game set in a late Roman-like time period set on Vancouver Island. I'm still playing a wizard, who harbors dark thoughts yet is courteous, who is part of a group to depose the evil emperor by finding the remnants of a sword rumored to be able to kill him. What was found by her and the party was something else...imprisoned gods from a forgotten empire! The basic rules are still free to download from the Wizards of the Coast website too. I plan to continue this campaign for the foreseeable future.

The next most was the Fantasy Flight Star Wars: Edge of Empire setting (6 sessions). I play a Negotiator who was sold into slavery to protect her corporate boss' position. The character has raw talent but is a quick learner, and has already taken the Marshall as an extra career. Now I'm planning his comeuppance while doing jobs for other persons and groups.

I also played one session of  Savage Worlds - Rifts and Trail of Cthulhu (GUMSHOE Ruleset).

Boardgame
I played a whopping 139 board and card games this year, thanks to having my spouse conducting activities with friends the odd afternoon and weekend.

Games I played the most were Biblios, Codenames, Cribbage, Dominion, Grizzled, No Thanks!, Pandemic, and Pandemic: Legacy, Splendor.

Games I did not play much but were very impressed by and/or wish to play more (not exluding the above games) were: 1775: Rebellion, Codenames, Labyrinth: The War on Terror 2001-? (GMT), Mykerinos, Mysterium, Patchwork, Star Wars: Rebellion, Twilight Struggle, Wilderness War.

I also wish to play the games I own but have not played yet, which are a good handful.

Computer Games
I played very few computer games this year and anticipate that trend will continue. The only ones I played were Angry Birds: Star Wars and Dominion.

Miniatures
This year I played 58 miniature games.

Guildball was the most played game by myself, with half of the games played being demonstration games. For full games I used my Masons and Fishermen teams. I hope to find time to play more games next year. Even better, the rules, cards and standees are still free to download. Also painted eight of these models this year and two balls. Will continue to paint the season 2 Masons and Fishermen as well as season one and two Union models and perhaps Alchemists.

Malifaux was the second most game I played. Wrath and Tara were played the most with Angel Eyes and Victoria of Ashes being next. I expect and wish to play more in 2017. I have painted 68 of these models and redid one. I will be continuing to paint more models of the Outcast faction.

Besides these games, I played one or two games each of the following: Battletech: Alpha Strike, Dystopian Wars, Firestorm Armada, and Warmachine (Mercenaries). I painted a second starter box of the original battleforce for Prussia Land and Naval. I am looking forward to playing more Dystopian Wars and Firestorm Armada as well as Firestorm: Planetstrike.

One final game that I played once in December was Kings of War. I was very impressed by the rules and flavor of the armies rules. It has that kind of elegant simplicity that has convinced me to keep several of my Warhammer Fantasy armies (I was going to sell a bunch in 2017). The rules are free to download and the army lists are available at several websites. Mantic also makes their own models but not every selection in the army list is available from them but they encourage scratchbuilding. They have also recently made a historical armylist book that may enable myself to make armies for Peloponnesian War conflicts a reality.  As my Ratling (Skaven) models are mostly painted, I intent to play with them this year and work on my Armies of Men (Empire and Brettonian) to assemble and prime. Speedpainting will be used as I still wish to focus on my other game models.

Terrain
I finished several terrain pieces and intend to paint many more in 2017.

Beginnning of 2016

A new year and a new set of resolutions:

-Play boardgames I have bought but have not played yet or enough. Brass, Le Havre, Caylus, Tigris and Euphrates, Through the Ages, and A Few Acres of Snow.

-Paint and play more miniature games that I have. Malifaux, Guildball, Infinity, Firestorm Armada, Dystopian Wars...and maybe Carnivale. In that order. I want to take a break from Warmachine/Hordes.

-Make more terrain. I have lots and lots...and lots of supplies for scratchbuilding and its high time I used them.

-Spend more time at Interactivity Board Game Cafe. Its a great place to try new games and drink more delicious ice cream milkshakes.

-Sell things I do not play. Games Workshop armies, Warmachine armies, boardgames, and not very useful terrain.

End of 2015

Well it has been a great year for playing games and painting models, now that I'm home more. Here is a list of what i've played and how many times.

Role Playing Game Sessions played (2+hr chunks): 37
-Pendragon 5th Edition - 2
-D&D 5th Edition - 16 (Lost Mine of Phandelver)
-D&D 5th Edition - 4 (Princes of the Apocalypse)
-D&D 5th Edition - 13 (Amban Romanesque campaign)
-D&D 5th Edition (GM'd by me) - 2  (Lost mine of Phandelver)
-Star Wars: Age of Rebellion (GM'd by me) - 1

Board Games played: 82
-1775 - 2
-7 Wonders - 4
-7 Wonders Dual (2-Player)
-A Few Acres of Snow - 2
-Akrotiri
-Carcasonne - 2
-Carcasonne: Discovery
-Carcasonne: Wheel of Fortune - 2
-Caverna
-Citadels
-Combat Commander: Europe
-Dominion -9
-Eclipse
-Eldrich Horror
-Flea Circus - 3
-Forbidden Desert
-Glory to Rome
-Grizzled - 3
-Guillotine - 3
-King of New York
-King of Tokyo - 3
-Lost Cities - 3
-Love Letter: Batman Version - 2
-Memoir '44 - 2
-Mille Bornes - 2
-No Thanks! - 5
-Pandemic: Legacy
-Patchwork
-Relic
-Settlers of Catan -5
-Splendor - 13 (taught three times)
-Ticket to Ride: North America
-Ticket to Ride: Europe
-Twilight Struggle

Miniature Games Played: 45
-Warmachine
      Mercenaries
           Gorten Grundback -7
           Durgen Madhammer -5
           General Ossum - 6
-Infinity
      Combined Army
-Malifaux (taught twice)
      Guild
           Perdita Ortega - 3
           Francisco Ortega - 2
           Lucius -3
           Captain Dashel - 1
      Neverborn
           Barbaros - 1
           Mature Nephilium (Enforcer Brawl)
      Outcasts
           Viktoria of Blood -7
-Guildball (taught once)
           Butchers - 3
           Fishermen - 5
           Masons - 2

I've also put together 64 of the 25 to 32mm scale miniatures, 97 small scale miniatures, and 10+ peices of terrain.

Model, Terrain and Reading Blahs

I've been going through my models I no longer want, and posting them on UsedVictoria. This is so I can make room for making terrain because you need space to fill up space, otherwise you run out of space. I've also been spending time reading the Hugo nominees as a voting member of this years Worldcon convention. Although I've read a few really great works that I would not have otherwise, I have not been spending as much time assembling and painting models. Currently I'm grinding through Ogrun for my Warmachine Mercenary Rhulic army but it is slow going.

What has helped is sticking to my thirty minutes a day rule. No matter what project I'm working on, dedicating a little time means I can see progress. What has also helped is looking through a stack of Privateer Press's No Quarter Magazines for terrain ideas and how-to guides. I'm getting lots of ideas and thinking of making an index of the first fifty issues for easier reference when looking for an article or subject. Stay tuned for that.

Otherwise be patient for when I finish my Ogrun. They are getting really close.

2015 Gaming Resolutions

I was very successful in my painting schedule last year. This was because I set a reasonable and measurable goal and aided in no small part to painting at work during my lunch break. I'm planning another year of painting and have the following in the year 2015:

Privateer Press/Warmachine/Rhulic: I was able to assemble, prime and get the first of four steps done on all my Rhulic forces. I'm now concentrating on Gorten Gundback and some jacks to get playing. I'll finish the rest as the year progresses.

Malifaux/Guild: I want to purchase the plastic "Bound by Law" kit to make Lucius's totem as well as more models so I can field him more effectively. I also want to paint a few other Guild models like Perdita's avatar, the constructs, Pale Rider, Pathfinder and the Governor's Proxy.

Malifaux/Neverborn: Candy, Mr Tannen, Mr Graves and the Beckoners are all Mimics and add to Lucuis options as he is a mimic as well.

Malifaux/Mercenaries: I want to be able to complete the models that can be used as Mercenaries so I can use them with other gangs and factions. Its not required now but will pay off dividends for the future.

Infinity/Operation Icestorm Starter box: I'll assemble and paint the Pan Oceana and Nomad forces in the starter that I purchased last year.

Infinity/Haqquislam: I have a 400 point army assembled (expanded from the 300 point suggested list) and primed so I want to get these guys finished so I can expand on this faction and my Combined Army.

Spartan Games/Planetfall: This will be the Aquan forces that I got from the double starter a friend and I got.

Guildball: The kickstarter that I participated in should be in early this year and I will get the Masons and Brewers teams going this year.

Terrain: The only terrain I did last year was for Dystopian Wars. Now that I have Deadzone and Maki Container kickstarter terrain as well as lots of others that are collecting dust I need to get off my butt and make it.

I also want to set a goal of playing all the board games and role playing games I have purchased but not played yet. This is a little more problematic but achievable. There are Mouse Guard, Star Wars: Age of Rebellion, Durance, Apocalypse World, Diaspora, Dread and The Shab-al-Hiri Roach for RPGs. For Board Games there are leHavre, Caylus, Brass, Throgh the Ages, A Few Acres of Snow, Combat Commander: Europe and I have not finished a game of Twilight Struggle nor Paths of Glory yet and wish to.

I will of course be posting about the above as I complete/play them.

Everything Games and Gaming in Victoria

Last year I talked about all the game stores in Victoria and the new ones opening up (here and here). I was worried that the market would saturate and I would probably have been right ten or more years ago. It seems I am happily wrong.

I recently conducted  a demo of Malifaux at Everything Games (website and facebook) in Langford, a district in Victoria. It opened about seven months ago. Its a little out of the way for me but they have a huge gaming area.

I noticed a month and a bit ago that they started carrying Malifaux and when I mentioned that I could give some demos sometime they were enthusiastic. I conducted a demo game this past Sunday and will do so again this Sunday. They have been doing well and it has filled a large hole in the gaming scene on the Western part of Victoria. The owner is friendly, engaging and knowledgeable.

For eight gaming stores to be within an hour's drive from one another, it shows how gaming is becoming common and not a fringe hobby.

New 2014 Ork Codex...Mob Rule...and does it really matter

So I picked up the new Ork Codex and thinking about it and playing Orks again got me exited about dusting off my painted models and enthusiastic about putting together and painting new ones...but does it really matter with the new "Mob Rule"? Is it the same old Orks?

The 1999 codex rule Mob Rule, stated that if the the leadership check fails, another 2d6 was rolled and if the result was equal or less than the number of orks in the squad, they would pass. It also had a cool "mobbing up" rule where a fleeing Ork squad could combine with another squad within 6", with a leadership check of the falling back squad (only usable for foot troops).

The 2007 Codex had a similar rule where the number of Orks in the squad could be substituted for the leadership score. If they have 11 or more models then they are fearless.

The new 2014 codex Mob Rule is very very different in a horrible way. Firstly, non-character Orks have a leadership of 7. This fails 15 out of 36 times or almost 42% of the time. Even Nobz have this leadership value. Now if a squad fails a morale or pinning check, they have to roll on a new chart. You have a 50% chance of having a "Squabble" and inflicting a random number of hits randomly in your squad. Oh, and if you have fewer than 10 models you don't have to roll for random damage because you just fail the test. Then you have a 33% chance of "Breaking Heads", only applicable if you have a character, and you have the same result as "Squabble", random hits randomly (except the character) and failing if you have less than 10 models. The last 16.66% of the time, unless you are in close combat you fail. If you have a bosspole you can get a reroll unless you rolled a "Breaking Heads" result. Therefore it is skewing you to choose a character with a bosspole and taking lots of Orks in a squad if you want the same effect as the previous two codexes. They no longer gain immunity to leadership checks by having a big squad! Sure it still gives an opportunity to not flee after failing a check, but its so time consuming and counter to the last fifteen years of Orkiness, and that's not including what might be in the original army book more than two decades ago. So...does this rule really matter to me. Yes, these are not the same Orks. They are more cowardly. More timid.

Please allow me to ramble and rant a bit about the last five years of my experience with Games Workshop.

I enjoyed my first ever tabletop army, the Necrons. The models were cool looking and my paint job easy and functional. I also won as often as I lost but what really mattered was having a group of friends that also played and we played to have fun.

Then my friends were not as interested and I started playing at the local Games Workshop store, but playing less and less. The only factions I played were the Necrons, Orks and Chaos Space Marines. The Necrons I could win at fairly often. The Orks did not win that often but I had a blast with them which dropped as I left the store wondering if I wasn't competitive enough. The Chaos Space Marines were alright for winning and playing but my heart was not in them. By this time my switching forces to find the spark of enjoyment and victory meant I was not good with any army. My heart was not in the game.

The second last time I played was a Dark Angels force I bought cheap off a dude. I studied the army rules and took them to a local game convention, Gottacon. Because of my inability to hear over the noise and unfamiliarity with the army, I made mistakes and did not make it a fun time for my opponent. It left a sour taste in my mouth because I wanted to capture that sense of fun for everyone that myself and my friends had. It also made me worry as I had accumulated many armies that I had never played because people were selling them cheap. This added to the daunting nature of painting them and becomeing proficient with them. I had too much of something my heart was not into.

Then Warmachine came as a breath of fresh air. I then dropped interest in Warhammer 40k and Fantasy but kept getting models that looked cool or were cheap from others selling them. To me Warmachine was a game that required less time painting but a steeper learning curve. This was a challenge because it forced you to pay attention so I started playing my Warmachine Khador dudes once a week and my skillset grew. My Games Workshop models were left in the dust.

Then the new Necron Codex came out. A fellow who knew I had Necrons offered to try his Chaos Space Marine army out against it to see how the rules worked. I lost and we discussed how the many new Necron models could be used to beat his new models in his armies new codex. I also lost because I was unfamiliar with the new Necron army and the new 40k rules. I also was cheesed at the many many new models that were out when I had everything that was out before the new codex was published. I would have to buy more to be competitive and win. I did not want to buy more for a game I had not played for a year and might not play in another year.

That is when I knew that I was ready to stop playing Games Workshop's business game. The game of more, more, more. I started organizing the armies I didn't like, knew I would never play or find time to paint and sold them. That happened last August and since then I have made lots of money for purchasing other games, travel and treating my wife to a few luxury meals.

I was ready for the next round of selling armies in the next tier of meh when the new Space Marine codex came out and now the Ork codex has come out. I'm being held back for selling those armies and a few others. Why? Because they have things that I enjoy. They are fun. They can be converted or represent an aspect that I like. Space Marines and Orks are Space Marines and Orks. They don't change at their root. Sure the seventh edition rules favor shooting and the sixth preferred melee. The next edition will change things again. New codexes will always add, alter or delete models and units. Even for the Space Marines, whom are the epitomy of the tried and true, suddenly found new templates of weapons and vehicles for thier factories to produce. What the current GW buisiness model will not change is the fun I have putting models together and painting them. They certainly won't change the fun I had making my Ork 1920's Gangster squad, including a themed vehicle. But fun in putting together a model is not enough. That is where GW falters...the rules. GW makes great models but unbalanced and sucky rules.

That is where I'm going with this thought. I like putting together fun models and/or converting them. Of all the 40k armies, Orks are a hobbyists dream because anything goes. Therefore the Orks I'm keeping. To counter that, I'm keeping my Space Marines because I want to do a fourth company Ultramarine army. The Space Marines I consider straightforward and every classic model is identifyable and a known for what they can be used for. I'll still be able to convert some but they will be my order on the hobby table while Orks are my chaos. Other armies I'm keeping are Space Wolves (for the conversions), Traitor Mutant Imperial Guard (conversions) and Dark Eldar (for conversions and because they are the original versions that nobody wants to buy). For Fantasy I'm keeping Skaven (because they were a gift to me and excellent RPG miniatures), Dwarf (fun and conversions) and Orks&Goblins (conversions). The rest will go to make someone else happy.

I'll assemble, convert, paint and store the GW models that I do have, and take pictures for my blog. Playing, however, will only happen when Games Workshop stop being greedy for the shareholders and they make rules that are balanced as well as fun and challenging. Until then balanced games like Warmachine, Malifaux, and Infinity will be happily played by myself.

Gottacon 2014 - One Month to Go

I've been going to Gottacon since it started in 2009. This year its moving to the Victoria Convention Center behind the Fairmont Empress hotel, a Victoria landmark. Larger digs and more choices for great food! The convention will have gaming of all types: miniature, roleplaying, board, computer, and card. They will also have thier costume contest, burlesque show, gaming improv show and the silent auction.

This year I hope to play Malifaux, some role playing games and some board games. Get your tickets early!

Out of Town and Out of Touch

I will be out of town and out of blog communication (love those work firewalls) until the 20th of December.

Once back I will be posting about my Warmachine Cygnar Precusor Knights and UA, Warhammer Lost and the Damned, Terrain and other things. Stay tuned.

Interactivity and Curious Too Gamecentral! are Open

As posted earlier, two gamestores have opened in Victoria in the last 30 days. Interactivity and Curious Too Gamecentral!

Now I have to be honest, Interactivity has been in Victoria since the late 1990's. Its first location was a very small shop on Fort street on the outside of, then, the Eaton's Center. It then moved across the street until just over a month ago. It now is on 723 Yates street in a very much larger location. It has dedicated tables in the back for renting games to play and a very big wall of board games. They also sell very nice puzzles. I've been buying games from Jack, the owner, since it opened way back and his recommendations are solid. He also has open game nights Thursday and Sunday. He also hopes to get his Health license soon to sell coffee and sandwiches.

Curious Too Gamecentral! is located on 1319 Broad street, just down the block from thier comic and collectable store, and have a good selection of role playing, board and miniature games (Warmachine/Hordes, Malifaux and Flames of War). They have a small area in the back for playing these games and have a warmahordes journeyman's league starting very soon and hope to have more events. Andrew, the head manager, is great guy and can offer suggestions and hints.

Both stores can order what they do not have in stock.

Reconstruction Complete!

All links have been fixed and search words re-entered. Now onto more models, games and posts!

Links and Searches in Construction

When I portaged everything gaming related over from my Gollygeegosh blog, it did not port over my links and search words. Please be patient as I will be fixing this over the next week.