Wednesday 26 August 2015

Tour of Darkness - 1st Game Review

So last night I played a quick throw down game to practice the combat system of Savage Worlds with Alex and Jon. First thoughts; really enjoyed the rules - right balance between rapidity of play and individuality of characters. Long range combat is slow (as it should be) and close range is deadly (especially M79 grenades).

However unless we were doing something really wrong, deviation for area weapons seems ridiculous; we had grenades deviate 18" long on a long throw so effectively a grenade was thrown 102 yards! And an RPG was fired at right angles to the intended target!

Also I need to make some quick play sheets - the index/contents aren't the best (or existent) in either book so much going back and forth was going on.

The session ended with Alex and Jon making their initial characters and discussions of other things to get and do. Buildings/terrain are priorities as is some vehicular support. It will take me some time but my aim is to eventually be able to field a platoon of US Grunts having optional supports of:
namv1
M113
namv2
Jeep
UH-1 Huey
M48 Patton
M50 Ontos
M728
Anything else I need? Next week I'll be running another game - another random mission probably but this time with some actual role playing and a test run with Alex and Jon's characters.

Monday 24 August 2015

Another Update

Lack of internet at home is really killing me on this and making it really difficult to post pictures - but I promise to get some after game tomorrow.

All the Frostgrave and all but a couple of NVA from my Vietnam models have been based and undercoated. Never really done 28mm models so any painting guides would be much appreciated!

Tomorrow, will hopefully be a practice game with a couple of the players to get used to the rules (without edges and hindrances). Models are unfinished but hey ho - they'll be done when campaign itself starts. May print off an M113 template to have a play with to - may have to buy one of these if turns out to be a bit of fun!

M113 Platoon (VUSBX07)
Flames of War M113 - Shame its 15mm!
Also for information for the players (and for anyone interested) I found a free version of the rules so people can get an idea of what is happening.

Thursday 20 August 2015

Tour of Darkness Intro

So I've got most of the basic models based and undercoated and have made a few plans for buildings. I have also started to put together the first mission plan as well as an idea of how I'm going to run the campaign.

As previously posted I'd like to re-highlight the outstanding response from Baker Company upon me having issues with some of their models - there was a response within minutes of me emailing them and a promise to replace the affected models.

The campaign plan is to base the initial few missions around a Squad sized formation with a load of new recruits. The player characters will all be newly recruited grunts who have just arrived in country and been attached to a seriously depleted formation. One player will play a newly raised 2nd Lt. who is attached to the squad to learn the ropes (due to the company having its full complement of officers and therefore being put in as a platoon CO).

So squad make up will initially be

2nd Lt (attached) - Player character

Sergeant - NPC
Rifleman - ?
Rifleman - ?
Grenadier - ?

Corporal - NPC
Rifleman - ?
Machine-Gunner - ?
Assistant Gunner - ?

May also have RTO or medic attached dependent on mission and support.

I am using the Savage Worlds gaming system for this campaign and taking my inspiration off Tim in Saskatoon, I will give extra bennies for characters giving backgrounds as well as official after mission reports and/or diary entries/letters home.

As soon as I get any of this I will post this. Any ideas or suggestions will be much appreciated.

Wednesday 19 August 2015

Quick Update

As discussed I've started on my 28mm Frostgrave and Tour of Darkness. All of the Frostgrave miniatures have been put together and most models have been based and undercoated.

However quick grumble for Vietnam. The first models I got were from the Assault Group and are brilliant, good level of detail, various poses and minimal flash which is easily flicked off. Only problem is lack of Civilians and Medics to range.

Fortunately (or so it appeared), Baker Company provide both of these so the gap was filled. The medics were decent - bit too much flash but easily removed and nice poses. Casualties that came with lacked detail but to be honest not a massive problem. However the civilians were dreadful! Really big pieces of flash as well as what looked like the 2 halves of the models were not matched up properly? Has anyone else had these problems with Baker Company?

It really seems a shame - as I said the Medics are really nice poses - and I'd like to potentially look at the Urban civilians but not if others have had these issues.

Anyhoo, grumble over, I'll finish basing and undercoating the last few models and get a few pictures up on here shortly.

Thursday 13 August 2015

Frostgrave Models

As I've said previously, I play boardgames with my girlfriend (she really likes Pandemic, Lords of Waterdeep, Carcassonne) but I've never really interested her in miniature gaming. Then last month I read in Wargames Illustrated about Frostgrave. And after irritating her until she read the article, she seemed genuinely excited.

So I took the plunge and ordered a few bits and pieces to flesh out our forces. Initially I ordered the rules, 3 wizard packs (Enchanter, Witch and Summoner) and the soldier pack to build up the warbands. I've not got any 28mm models so this was a first step and I had nothing already painted to fill out gaps unfortunately.

Even more unfortunately, upon this lot arriving, we went about putting together our lists only for JT to demand a warhound! So I may have "had to" order some more and in turn ordered the warhound/tracker pack, demons, wolves, constructs and snow leopard/ice toad pack.

So just a little to paint up. So far I've been fairly productively putting together warband members (whilst planning a Tour of Darkness campaign and watching Supernatural from the beginning - for inspiration).
Shooters (without heads)

Thieves

Infantrymen (without heads)

Men-at-arms/Knights 

Thugs

Barbarian

Treasure Hunter

Heads/Spare Arms/Other Equipment
Sorry for quality of pictures, wanted to get an idea of where I was up to but camera though otherwise. As I said before this is going at a reasonable pace and excited to play it.

Also if theres anyone in Lancaster area who wants to be involved in my Tour of Darkness Campaign let me know - I'll get pictures on here of these figures soon too.

Tuesday 11 August 2015

News of a Savage Nature

So for those in the know, I've just moved house - not been to the club in a while - but I'm back tonight. And finally have somewhere to paint! And arrange games.

First of all I've finally finished the commission I started a long time ago for a WW2 US Marine Regiment for Tarawa, really disappointed its taken so long but glad I can finally deliver it. Looking forward to games involving these in future.

For myself I  have three project running concurrently. Firstly I have fallen for Frostgrave hard! I've got a few wizards, the soldiers pack and the rules and these are starting to be put together. Its the first miniatures game I've been able to get the other half to be involved in so very excited to have some games of this.

Secondly, I have my ongoing 10mm WW2 collection growing and I'm determined to get my German Cavalry Division completed to play some early war games supporting Panzer thrusts or flexible defence through the Pripet Marshes.

And finally I have got more 28mm to paint in form of some US Grunts and Viet Cong/NVA to play Savage Worlds (/Tour of Darkness).
So, all exciting and I'll do my best to get WIP pictures on here ASAP!