Marvel Crisis Protocol - Intro

Marvel Crisis Protocol is a fun character-driven skirmish game with simple enough rules that are enhanced by the individual characters from the Marvel Universe. Even if there are different versions of the same character, they will have enough differences that alter their playstyle and change their usability, depending on the X and X's determined for the game's scenarios. Like Malifaux, Batman, and other modern miniature games winning happens for those who play the scenarios better than their opponent.

Although the game dice can be very swingy, and I'm not talking Spider-Man here, they are generally equally swingy. This feels like a comic book game and the great thing is that if both players are familiar with the rules and make decisions quickly enough you can play a game in one hour and set up for another one with ease. You can even mix and match heroes and villain models, with some restrictions. The low model counts are a good thing about this game: bring ten models ten team tactic cards, and three each of the two kinds of Crisis cards. I like this game a lot.

Here are some pictures of games I have played from the ten last year and seven this year. 

I have only painted two models for this game (Iron Man original starter and new starter box) and intend to paint more. After realizing that I was behind in getting models painted a friend pointed me to an ad on FB for already painted models. I did the math and the time it saved me was worth it. Here is my total collection of painted models.

The factions I am striving to finish now are Spider-Foes and Agents of SHIELD. Many other games compete for my time so we will see how far I get this year.

The first thing I painted was the measuring sticks. For those unfamiliar with the game the numbered ones are for range and articulated ones are for movement.

A great resource is Jarvis' Protocol which has lots of detailed images of model, team, and crisis cards as well as factions. There is also the Atomic Mass resources which include many useful items including the free rulebook.

Batman Miniature Game in 2024 - 3rd Edition

I have dusted off my old models and playing the Batman Miniature Game again, from Knight Models. I bought a large amount of metal 1st edition Batman Miniatures from a game store that was having a clearance of them in May of 2017, because of SKU problems and supply chain issues. By the time I painted enough models and got together some terrain together it was February of 2018 before I had my first game. Other games took priority because a new 3rd edition came out that wasn't supporting their older models, so my pile of miniatures lay in the dark. You can see my posts for the game here.

Then early January hit and a friend connected me with someone who wanted to play this game. Honestly I was hesitant because I thought I would have to buy my models all over again and wasn't impressed by the 3rd edition rules on a first read-through. After looking through the recent revision I gave it a go and connected with the person who was interested.

He had the models for the new starter set, above, based on the Robert Patterson "The Batman" film. The models were nicely done and there were fan made and company approved starter scenarios to learn the game. They were cleverly done so that each basic rule built on the other such that after five scenarios, available at the bottom of their downloads page of their Batman Blog site here, you were playing a full game. That website is where you can also find character cards for the models in the box set, rules, encounter cards, faction cards, objective cards and a whole lot more, all for free. And a shocker...along with the fan made scenario cards are many of the cards for older models! The free app Knight Models has is the best way to make a crew and to check abilities models may have.

After the five scenarios I was back to playing this game. I also picked up a few more models, mostly ones that filled in gaps and multi-faction models, as well as the new starter box. Besides the five scenarios we played ten games this year and believe we have figured out the rules. A warning: some rules are scattered throughout the rulebook. I am working on a cheat sheet, with page numbers in the rulebook, that will make it easier to check rules and waste less time. I have some updating to do but the current version is here.

It is also fortunate that I have been increasing my modern era terrain options because I have started into Marvel Crisis Protocol. Still have more terrain to build and paint, but that should not take long.

Below are more pictures from the game we have played this year. Be ready for more posts on this game in 2025. Enjoy!

Battletech Alpha Strike in 2024

After seven games of Alpha Strike in 2024 I am still very happy with this game. I played Battletech from when it came out in the mid-80's until the mid-90's, but much prefer this scaled down ruleset so that we can use lances of mechs and vehicles and finish in the same amount of time. My friend and I have altered some rules: divided ranges so the gradients are +1 each stage, use d12s with one different coloured skill die, and a few more minor tweaks including from the group at Death From Above. Here are some pictures from some games over the last year. As you can see, my friend has great terrain!

We are looking froward to more Battletech: Alpha Strike in 2025 with the new wave of miniatures, thanks to the kickstarter.

Pendragon Starter Box

The Pendragon starter set has been an excellent way to introduce yourself to this interesting world of knights and chivalry. Produced by Chaosium it was originally created by Greg Stafford in 1985 he carried it through many editions. This is the sixth edition of rules. 

Over one solo session and six group sessions with two friends we completed the adventures in the book. The rule system is straightforward and is firmly set in the age of chivalry. Women can also be played in this setting. The passion and trait system mean that the more you act a certain way the more likely you will become extreme in that passion or trait over years of play. This could mean that your knight becomes known for being energetic and forgiving, but also selfish and cowardly. We all liked this game and want to continue with it. I have purchased the full core rulebook and the Grey Knight adventure book and will read them thoroughly over the coming months.

This game is also played as a generational one, meaning that each adventure happens during a year then after gaining experience you age and carry on. Over the years you can marry (with your lord's permission), gain an estate, have to run it, sire children, train them, then pass away and start roleplaying one of your children. Although previous editions have much more detailed rules for all sorts of things, but are available here, there has been no new printed ones yet.

Shab-Al-Hiri Roach RPG

 From the Bully Pulpit Games website: The Shab-al-Hiri Roach is a dark comedy of manners, lampooning academia and asking players to answer a difficult question – are you willing to swallow a soul-eating telepathic insect bent on destroying human civilization?

No?

Even if it will get you tenure?

A fast paced and hilarious game, The Shab-al-Hiri Roach requires no Game Master and can be played in a single evening. If you enjoy crazed one-upmanship, furious stake-setting, and chanting guttural commands in Sumerian, The Roach would like to have a word with you.

It is October of 1923 and each player is a professor (assistant or full) at Pemberton university. Once everyone makes their characters, which does not take long, six scenes are played out which take place over the course of a semester. During the game each player has to have a strong positive reaction with the player on their left and a negative one with the player on their right. 

There are three NPCs in each scene, that can be played by the players, and new NPCs can be introduced by the players as the scene progresses. Before each scene each player draws a card that has an opportunity (must use if not ridden by the roach) and a command (cannot use if not roach ridden) or it may be a roach-ridden card. Being roach-ridden enables the player to roll more dice and players can voluntarily declare they are becoming roach-ridden. Players also talk about the NPCs and how the scene is to be framed. 

Whomever the player in the spotlight is decides on which players and NPC characters are involved, and bets reputation points on the scene. Other players can bet one reputation and enter the scene with other NPCs. The scene is played out and, once concluded, sides are determined. Each participating player rolls dice according to the relevant skill for the scene, with roach ridden characters rolling more dice. The winning faction gets the stakes they put up and narrates the result of the role as a conclusion to the scene. The other scenes are played out similarly until the end of the final scene when each player gets to narrate their final outcome after the Gamma Gamma Gamma Christmas ball at Pemberton. The player with the most reputation, and without being roach-ridden, gets tenure and wins.

One might think the players should embrace being roach-ridden to have better rolls and win the game, but those who are roach-ridden cannot win. There are two ways to rid yourself of the roach, resisting and shedding, both of which have consequences. If everyone is roach-ridden at the end of the game the players secretly vote on who was the most craven of them and they win.

This game is a great refresh in between RPG campaigns since it can be played through in one evening. It is also a great game for conventions and short meetups since few supplies are needed.

This game is by Jason Morningstar whom is quite renown in independent roleplaying circles, in particular for his Fiasco RPG. As with many independent RPGs this game, and his others, focus on social interaction to enhance the player's experience. 

It is currently out of print, but available on Drive Thru RPG and itch.io. There are downloads available from Bully Pulpit's public downloads section for character sheets, handouts, and such. It also has two expansions, Overlord (WW2 D-Day landings), and Darker (set in Oxford).

Horizon Wars: Midnight Dark

Horizon Wars: Midnight Dark is a miniature agnostic skirmish ruleset that can be used for any small scale miniatures. The setting is near to far future and although there is a written history Mr Robey Jenkins said that people are free to come up with your own background and the reason why there is conflict. I really liked the original Horizon Wars rules and also the licensed Hardwar rules made by Strato Minis. Here was the review I did for the first edition of Horizon Wars.

    So using any miniature you want is one of the big draws for me. People who have been playing miniatures for a while probably have some small scale miniatures for a game that doesn't get played very much anymore. Games like Games Workshop 40k Epic or Battlefleet Gothic, Spartan Games' Dystopian Wars/Firestorm Armada/Planetfall, Gear Kreig/Heavy Gear, Dropzone Commander, Battletech, All Quiet on the Martian Front, Wizards collectable Axis and Allies minis...the list goes on. Even Lego! The Horizon Wars: Midnight Dark rules works well from 2mm up to 15mm. There are also three small scale miniatures coming out from three big companies: GW Legion Imperialis, Mantic Epic Warpath, and Warcradle Dystopian Wars. In the pictures below are a few that I have in that scale and some that are space combat based.

    I've primarily used my old Wizkids Mechwarrior plastic miniatures to use with the Horizon Wars system. They are a perfect scale, around 12mm, and provide variety. I also bought a lot of them on clearance from several online warehouse stores about 15 years ago. Repainting them is also easy to do. Some examples of my United Faction are Infantry, Vehicles/Special Units, and Mechs/Aircraft. Most of the different units I have painted for my United faction are shown in the picture below.

There are still only four stats for each unit: Agility (A), Defense (D), Firepower (F), and Movement (M). You can still react to enemy model actions, which is one of the highlights of this game for me as it adds to tactical decision-making both for the initiator and the potential reactor. 

Weapons still have unlimited range and still used d12s. Range is measured, agility stat added, and cover level added to get the target number. Attacker rolls d12s equal their Firepower stat, target rolls dice equal to their Defense stat and removes attacker's dice for each one that matches, attacker combines remaining as they wish to equal or exceed the target number, and every group of dice that equal or exceed is a hit. Target allocates hits to their stats as they see fit as damage and the same hits are allocated to fatigue, reducing that unit's effectiveness. There is more, like taking a recover action to reduce damage (not fatigue), but you get the basics.

This new edition of the game also cleans up parts of the original rules and adds some interesting changes:

    -New fatigue mechanic linked to damage taken, order tokens that cannot be placed, and units getting exhausted. 

    -Reduced the amount of critical results when rolling a 12 result to only one. 

    -Upgrades have been expanded and updated.

    -Air units, missions, and solo play rules have been updated.

    -New leadership, hero, defense, utility, and mech pilot upgrades.

    -New unit quality upgrades (green, untested, veteran, elite).

    -More, more, more!

    Another great thing about the game is cost. Once you get the rulebook you can start with cardstock paper chits, dollar store toys and blocks, used toys, or whatever you have around. Then you can pick up miniatures cheaply as you go to replace or expand your army. 

I recommend getting this new edition and trying out Horizon Wars: Midnight Dark. It is available from Wargames Vault here.

Hollow Waifs

Hollow Waifs are distance dealing models that can help the Amalgam faction. When Leviticus is killed he can come back by replacing a Hollow Waif model anywhere on the board. 

Primed black. Model on right's dress painted Skorne Red, drybrushed Khador Red Base, and lightly drybrushed mix Khador Red Base and TTCombat Phantom Ivory. Black parts of each model painted Thamar Black and drybrushed Coal Black.

Boots painted TTCombat Laser Cut Brown and drybrushed Hairbended Brown. Skin painted Khardic Fles, drybrushed Midlund Flesh, and lightly drybrushed Ryn Flesh. 

Base made with Basius Steampunk plate. Painted dollarstore black. Bricks painted Skorne Red, drybrushed Khador Red Base. Metal parts painted Pig Iron and drybrushed Quicksilver. Entire model and base washed with GW Agrax Earthshade. Outer rim painted Mouldy Ochre and name written with Prismacolour black.

Rusty Alice

 Rusty Alice is a solid henchman for Leviticus: ranged, melee, and a damage dealing aura for models that get too close.

Primed black. Pants and shirt Trollblood Base, drybrushed Underbely Blue, and lightly drybrushed mix of Underbelly Blue and Matt White. Jacket and hair painted Thamar Black and drybrushed Coal Black. Skin painted Khardic Flesh, drybrushed Midlund Flesh, and lightly drybrushed Ryn Flesh.

Boots and leather bits painted TTCombat Lasercut Brown and drybrushed TTCombat Hairbender Brown. Vest and boot ribbons painted Sanguine Highlight. Buttons and shiny doodads painted TTCombat Platinum Star Metal. Gun and armour painted TTCombat Folded Steel and highlighted with TTCombat Supernova Chrome.

Base made with Basius Steampunk plate. Painted dollarstore black. Rough painted Gun Corps Brown, drybrushed Rucksack Tan, and lightly drybrushed mix of Rucksack Tan and TTCombat Phantom Ivory. Metal parts painted Pig Iron and hughlighted Quicksilver. Entire model and base washed with GW Agrax Earthshade. Outer rim painted Mouldy Ochre and name written with Prismacolour black.

Leviticus

 Leviticus is the Amalgam master in the Outcast faction. His gang's ability to unmake enemy models nearby and his personal ability to come back into play inn place of a Hollow Waif makes his playstyle different than others in the Malifaux miniature skirmish game.

Primed black. Trenchcoat was basecoated Trollblood Base, drybrushed Underbelly Blue, and lightly drybrushed a mix of Underbelly Blue and Armypainter Matt White. Pants painted Thamar Black and drybrushed Coal Black. Hair painted Bastion Grey then drybrushed mix of Underbelly Blue and Trollblood Highlight. Left Arm metal bits painted Blighted Gold and highlighted Solid Gold. Skin painted Khardic Flesh, drybrushed Midlund Flesh, and lightly drybrushed Ryn Flesh.

Straps painted with TTCombat Lasercut Brown, drybrushed TTCombat Hairbender Brown, and highlighted Signora Brown. Steel looking items painted TTCombat Folded Steel and highlighted Supernova Chrome then a touch of TTCombat Platinum Star Metal on some parts. Blood packs on the back painted TTCombat Viscera Red and touched up with TTCombat Sports Car Red. 

Base made with Basius Steampunk plate. Painted dollarstore black. Rough painted Gun Corps Brown, drybrushed Rucksack Tan, and lightly drybrushed mix of Rucksack Tan and TTCombat Phantom Ivory. Metal parts painted Pig Iron and hughlighted Quicksilver. Entire model and base washed with GW Agrax Earthshade. Outer rim painted Mouldy Ochre and name written with Prismacolour black.

This is the first painted model finished this year but I started it a year and a half ago and took it out once in a while. One of my resolutions is to paint more and not get too caught up in perfection. I just want to get more painted models on the table that look good at arms length.

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.

Microscope RPG

 The Microscope roleplaying game, as it says on the frount, is a fractal game of epic histories. Over several sessions, different characters of different times and places take part in a shared universe and setting, The group are the ones that create this history. Things can be created or destroyed and sessions can take place anywhere along the timeline as long as what was played out in the games before remain true. As sessions continue the whys and wherefores of what led to events already played and how they affect the overall history are revealed. 

It all starts with the big picture in a single sentence, like "Mankind leaves a sick Earth to travel to the stars". It should be something that can be told over many sessions at multiple points of history. It then needs a beginning period point and end period point for the big picture. Using the previous example they could be "Mankind makes new life among the stars" to "Humanity stagnates isolated and alone". Players then agree if these periods are light or dark but sometimes they are self explanatory like the example. Then each player adds one ingredient and bans one ingredients to the overall story palette. During the telling of the entire history you can use an added ingredient but never a banned ingredient. These ingredients, added or banned, give some focus to the story and sometimes never come up in play. Each player then adds a period anywhere in the timeline (light or dark) and an event under a previously made period. This is the setup for the history.

For each game session one player is picked to be the lens, and it should rotate amongst the group. They declare the focus of the session and creates a new period, new event, or scene. The next player does the same until it comes back to the lens who creates another new period, new event, or scene under an event. 

The player who created a scene starts with a specific question, like "Is the Alliance willing to sacrifice the colony on Sigma VII to beat the invaders even though the colonists will be slaughtered?", "Why does the teacher lie to their students about who founded the colony?", or "Why is the captain secretly planning to blow up their ship, with everyone onboard, in the middle of the Victory Day celebration of the very war they were decorated for fighting in?". The players then add characters, some of which are played by the players and some by anyone. With this the scene is roleplayed. Once done, the person to the side of the player who declared the scene gives a legacy that will be added to the event.

Although each session can have interpersonal conflict but everyone is there to make a story. The results of the decisions should provide a fascinating look at what the group commonly creates. It also gives powerful abilities for each player to change the direction of the history while encouraging the other players to also change it. Even if something happens that not everyone likes, it can be temporary when it is their turn to choose a time in the history to explore. There is even the option to drill down to certain shorter histories within the larger one. 

I really like the concept of this game and can make for fantastic opportunities for great stories that will be told well into the future. Although I have not played it yet I like it and recommend it.