Battleshed Diaries

Tuesday 31 March 2015

Careful as a naked man climbin' a barbed wire fence



This weekend, I mostly participated, in a very relaxed and agreeable three-way game of Dead Man's Hand at my local club, Livingston Battleground. I'd planned to transport all four boards that make up my DMH town, Obsession, over to the club, but with the wind and rain forecast for a bit of a hoolie I decided - to the disappointment of some of my fellow gamers - not to risk damaging the terrain boards in transit on this occasion. However, one of the other club members did bring down a box of his 4Ground buildings and fences (thanks IC!). I contributed a barn and more fences and Arabianknight provided the crates, a key element of this game.

Sunday 29 March 2015

Outlander



As an occasional aside, I'll highlight other aspects my interests or activities away from the tabletop that have caught my attention recently. So I'll start with the easiest platform.  TV drama.

If you're looking for an  easy going, standard romantic/light adventure romp...then Outlander isn't for you!
While on a second honeymoon in Scotland with her husband after World War II, army nurse Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe) steps through an ancient standing stone circle and awakes in 1743, where Scottish rebels save her from an assault by a royal army captain who happens to be her husband's ancestor, only to take her further into the Scottish highlands.

Intriguing storyline, adult themes, script and direction that refreshingly allows room for some broodingly effective and powerful episodes such as 'The Garrison Commander'. It portrays a sincere attempt at historical accuracy, without consciously indulging in cliché. Effective sound scape too, and - above all - enhanced by being filmed in the real Scotland!

It's a slow burner from the start, but wow, it rewards! I wasn't aware of the books by Dianna Gabaldon but will now investigate. Definitely filed under the 'Guilty Pleasure' section! I watched it via Amazone Prime, UK. [RATING 18]

Wednesday 25 March 2015

Dawn patrol




After a few weeks gaming down at Arabianknight's bunker it was the turn of the Battleshed to host our week night fix and satisfy Arabianknight's current 'tank mania' with a Cooperative game of Hell Hath NoFury.

Tuesday 24 March 2015

Dead Man's Hand free resources



For those new or interested in playing Dead Man's Hand, there are some excellent free download resources over at the Great Escape Games site, including updated errata, markers, building signage, sample pages from the books and, in particular, some excellent Quick Reference Sheets.

Thursday 19 March 2015

Don't squat with your spurs on


The Old Mine
A very much welcome return to Dead Man's Hand yesterday. It's been many, many months since I last played. Actually, I think my Lawmen last had an outing back in July 2015, whilst I was on holiday in Crete with the family!

Thursday 12 March 2015

Ratty rumble - Fightin Fungi rules playest #2



It's been a long few weeks without any gaming due to work commitments, however I finally managed to get my fix with more SoBH rule play-testing with my regular gaming buddy, Arabianknight. Indeed, soon after my return from working away I had the paints back out and quickly resumed with my In Her Majesty's Name production line, with nine miniatures completed already for Lord Curr's Q Division - Extraordinary Affairs. It's all coming along nicely and I hope to get the first pictures up in the new few weeks.