Brexit

First of all, I voted in. And the fact that the UK has voted to leave both angers and scares me both for my own and my kids futures. But I'm not going to discuss my reasoning here - I'll just get angrier.

So what I am going to discuss is how I'm going to react. First of all I'm going to really stop procrastinating with life, this means more, more of everything.

1. Accountancy course - at least one evening a week spent on this (preferably more)
2. Increased painting - well more a clear out of my models - this will mean selling most of my old stuff which I'm never going to do anything with.
3. I have long wanted to emigrate or at least live out of the country for a year or 2. This is for me and my kids to experience the world. I've always delayed and thrown up reasons why I shouldn't - maybe finally I have something to push me.
4. More Fitness - so American Football, taking kids for runs etc
5. More Ink - by that I mean some ink.

In other news, does anyone have any good resources for uniform guides/recommended rulesets for 7 Years War? Got a start on a Prussian Force in 6mm for this.

Underpainting

So I had a couple of hours to myself this weekend and decided to review what minis I had. And all in all wasn't a bad time productivity wise.

My bicycle battalion got there texture added to their bases ready to be painted, and a few other early war cavalry support assets got undercoated. Also decided to undercoat my Carthaginian Army or at least bits of it before the spraycan ran out - this is a project I started over 5 years ago - woops! If I get on with this I might - might I say - get a Republican Roman Army to face them.

In other news I also wondered if anyone had any experience with RPGs in a box. I've got a few actual RPG sets but its really hard to get the continued interest in people to come along and play and really get into it. I also really want to play for once rather than DM. So suggestions and volunteers please!

Withdrawal Symptoms

So I've not been to Lancaster Wargames Club in quite a while now (apparently its surviving without me) and I'm starting to get withdrawal symptoms. I still think I've made the correct decision and American Football is really clicking with me (Outside Linebacker/Safety/Aceback) and my team (Morecambe Bay Storm) are coming together.

Despite this I still feel the pangs of missing battling it out on tabletop (Rome Total War only goes so far) and me and the missus seem to be playing less boardgames for whatever reason.

I had a look at my 28mm Vietnam stuff the other day but I've not got the energy to run a Tour of Darkness campaign and I don't have enough for a full company action.

So I'd like to play a WW2 game at mine - I have scenery, a table, a few ideas and models. This is an open invite to the people of Lancaster (UK) to come along and play a game which could turn into a linked campaign depending on how it goes.

If someone has early war Russians or indeed Poles - these guys want a run out.

More Distractions

So I did it - supported my local games store and purchased Agricola. Its a hefty boardgame and seems to have plenty of variation with different occupations, minor improvements in the 100s!! Having said that we had a run through last night (on the family mode) and it played reasonably easy - in fact almost too quick to seem to do enough.

Agricola

In some ways it plays a lot like Lords of Waterdeep in terms of resource management etc except with scoring held to the end. Will definitely be playing this again but with all the rules included and give you a real review.

However blog posts may take a back seat, not only is American Football going really well but we've just got Series 5 of Game of Thrones (yes I know that we are a series behind and) and it may take up a lot of our time (restarting from Series 2 to extend the experience).

2 Player Games

So as my previous post stated, having to scale back dramatically on things but hopefully will get painting back on go once things settle down. Anyhoo I have just purchased my copy of the most recent Tabletop Gaming Magazine (a really well edited piece of work). I haven't read through it all but one article I was very interested in was Top 10 games for 2 players as this is mostly what I do with the missus. The biggest problem I have with 2 player games is that obviously you can't have a defector and backstabbing - either its 1 on 1 or fully co-operative and I really enjoy these games (think Battlestar Galactica, Diplomacy, Game of Thrones).

The article has rekindled my interest in getting Agricola and JT seems interested so I might look for a set. In meanwhile these are my top 5 based on what I have, what I like and what JT will play (so Wargames are out):

Elder Sign setup

1. Elder Sign: A cooperative battle against an Ancient One. Yes its the diddy one, yes its a bit easy if you're just playing on basic settings, but its a lot of fun and really good if you've had a break from gaming to get back up to speed. Really want to get a few expansions to increase difficulty but its so good. Especially if you actually read the room descriptions and get into the mood of things. Fantasy Flight Games
2. Lords of Waterdeep: European style boardgames are the best. As long as you explain the concept that just because you're losing doesn't mean you're actually learning. I am all about getting a game as close as possible so I will usually try and play a slow game when playing these games with new gamers but there are so many different ways of playing for such a simple game. Again expansions add to the game to add yet another layer of depth. Also they're not just cubes - you're sending adventurer's off on missions. Role-playing non role-playing games makes everything better. Wizards of the Coast

Lords of Waterdeep

3. Carcassonne: The king of European Style games. I don't think I need to explain why this is here. For me a great intro game which (I'm sorry for offending) blows Settlers of Catan out of the water. Also MEEPLES!!! Z-Man Games

Carcassonne

4. Pandemic. Another great co-op game and one that can infuriate. Just when you think that you can close off a disease, another outbreak flares in Santiago (just about the most out of the way place in the world it seems). Really tempted to give the Legacy version a go. Z-Man Games

Outbreak - Pandemic.

5. Magic The Gathering. I have a confession. I love blue - Izzet all the way, and I love big blue creatures and interactive Dragons (Hypersoar Dragon anyone?). I know I'm an awful person. Sorry Day 9. Wizards of The Coast.

So there is my Top 5 games that can be played by 2. If you agree/disagree - got other recommendations let me know. I'm always up for trying more.