Return to Civilization

A busy and rather eclectic week of gaming. It started with a game of SAGA followed by a first play of Dragon Rampant. More SAGA followed by a quick game of Dead Man's Hand. Then a couple more first plays - Batman Miniatures Game and to close the week (and January), it was Civilization, the Board Game from Fantasy Flight. Rather lives up to my rather the pic 'n' mix attitude to gaming!

A night in downtown Gotham city

I'm Batman. I was hoping to get the chance to say that in the iconic low, raspy voice during another first play of the week. This time the forces of good and evil were battling to expand their territory on the mean streets of Gotham city - the Batman Miniature Game.

A brief encounter with a Dragon Rampant

A dip into fantasy army battles this week with my first play of the new ruleset on the block, Daniel Mersey's Dragon Rampant. Except there were no dragons. Or rampaging. There were knights who say 'Ni!' though.

The Escort

Macbeth, King of Scotland, in charge of the Baggage? There must be something tremendously valuable if the king himself is leading the escort. Gold, coin, exotic spices maybe? Possibly a supply of vintage wine traded with the Norman Exiles? Whatever it was, this was The Escort scenario for SAGA.

Age of Tyrants

An unusual diversion, for me at least, with my backing of yet another Kickstarter. Unusual because its 6mm Science Fiction! Yep, 6mm. It will be a challenge. I may need new glasses. Hopefully it'll be easier to paint, although painting at such a wee scale will no doubt prove to have its own challenges!

This is Age of Tyrants. Described as a Big Battle 6mm Scale Sci-Fi Tabletop Game designed for Company level battles and upwards.

The Mausoleum's secrets

Another week, another treasure hunting expedition in the icy ruins of Felstad. 

The Necromancer is feeling rather ebullient after the recent defeat of his Elementalist rival. He's now confidently leading his apprentice and followers into one of his ancestor's ancient mausoleums, reputed to be hoarding all sorts of treasures. And quite possibly, the Undead.

Obession in Falkirk

This week, I moseyed up to the Falkirk club, bringing along two of the terrain boards from my Old West town, Obsession, for a demonstration game or two of Dead Man's Hand.

Obsession boards 1 & 2 at the shiny (literally -look at that floor!) Falkirk club.

As a few of the club members had indicated interested in giving the game a try, I volunteered to moderate a few games by providing a couple of gangs and all the bits n' bobs to get them shootin'.

La Petite Guerre

The first new game played of 2016. And yet another system! 

This time it's North America during the second half of the 18th century, with the British Lt. Nathaniel Black leading his Rangers and Native Indian scouts ahead of the main British force, the New Jersey Blues, marching to capture a strategic ford. This is Muskets and Tomahawks.

The Eagle series: Cato and Macro

I recently completed the 14th book, Britannia, in the current Eagle series from Simon Scarrow. And what a thoroughly stirring historical adventures series it's been!

Slaughter in Felstad

A suitably wintry trudge down the hill this week for the first visit of the year to Sam Pate's new gaming den for a game of Frostgrave. I was soon unfastening the fleece jacket in the cosy environs of Samshed II and admiring his elaborate walled town set-up, ready for our game.

The passing of a genuine legend

Very sad and unexpected news today.

Good voyage, now you've left planet Earth, David Bowie.

A genuine legend. An innovative artist. A unique talent. 

You have been part of the soundtrack for so many people's lives, including my own. You will be genuinely missed.

Goodbye, Sir.

Preliminary Earth recon complete. Findings inconclusive.

An alien reconnaissance team landed in the Battleshed recently, but they soon returned to the monthership with some confusing intel.

Earlier this week, I resumed my regular Wednesday evening gaming after the Festive break with my good gaming buddy, Sam Pate, for our inaugural game of the much anticipated UFO Squad from Crossover Miniatures. As mentioned in a previous post, this rule set is inspired by the original X-COM video games using the Songs of... Ganesha games engine - which my reader will know both Sam and I are big fans of.  We're kinda Songs of Groupies! 

However, the Battleshed session this week ended after a lengthy discussion and no game.

Meanwhile, at a secret ancient test circuit...

Sporting news. The latest entry to the growing list of ancient chariot teams qualifying for the Optimus Maximus World Cup has been announced. The charioteers are currently going through their paces, rattling round a so far undisclosed circuit practising the placement of tactical devices such as caltrops, amphora full of olive oil and generally anything to thwart the opposition and please the Mob.

This Assyrian team, (Caesar Miniatures, 1/72), have joined the race list under the experimental 'Heavy Archer' class for the continuing play-test of the forthcoming rule-set Faustus Furius from Irregular Wars. 

It's probing time!

 

Aliens have landed. They are the archetypical Greys that according to their advance spokesperson on Earth, the self-titled protagonist from the movie, Paul, have been totally misrepresented and us earthlings have nothing to fear. As he explained to two, rather incredulous Brits on a geek trip to the USA:

Graeme Willy: You are an alien!

Paul: To you I am, yes.

Graeme Willy: Are you gonna probe us?

Paul:  Why does everyone always assume that? What am I doing? Am I harvesting farts? How much can I learn from an ass?

The sounds of a blender and mewing from the House on the Hill

Happy New Year! The Battleshed is back on-line! After a couple of weeks of festive wargaming stasis, things are getting back to normal. As mentioned in my previous post, my wargaming calendar (Kelly Brooks again this year!) for 2016 is looking pretty busy. I've a lot of painting to do, not to mention terrain and board building. So the heady fug of paint and glue will soon be brewing in the Battleshed!