Sunday, February 17, 2013

Sorry no Photos

Well games day on Saturday was a little quite. 6 lads turned up for an enthusiastic fantasy role play. I set the tables but no miniatures to be seen. Ho hum. That being said I have a soft spot for fantasy roleplay, cutting my teeth on Rolemaster during the 80s and 90s. I still play Pathfinder with my lads and a couple of their mates, good game and with the DandD heritage it still feels like a good old fantasy hack and slash.

Mind you with a small turn out I was able to get some painting done. 16 X 15mm Late Roman Legionaires 8 X 15mm Archers for the Romans 6 X 15mm WOR Knights. Ah the joy of it all.

Saturday, February 9, 2013

KOW

Kings of War


Well I got involved with the Kickstarter and now have the rules, stacks of unpainted miniatures and a strong desire to get some of my celts out to smash some high elves hmmmmmmm? Yep the joys of Kings of War. My sonhas played it a couple of times but I have not as of yet. So this was my first outing.


Great game, no I am not saying this because of any link to the game or the cash I have spent. It really is a great game. I lost (no surprise there) but as the game of 1500 points unfolded the units did what I thought they should, you did not have to take miniatures off the units, it plays fast and furious, magic does not overpower the game, or shooting etc etc. Even big units of knights are not unstoppable. The basing of the celts did not matter too much, they were one miniature too big across but as you play in units and there is meant to be a 1 inch gap between units it all worked rather well.

 
Small troop sized units evaporate fast unless you get nice flank attacks and the ability to use humans, using any humans was a real bonus. I can see me even thinking about using this for Historical games too, a la Neldoreth and His Hours of Wolves website. Mind you the cancon games of Hail Caesar may put paid to this idea.
 
Thanks Mantic keep it up!

Why a local games club is good.


Well we set off on our gaming journey for 2013 with a decent gathering of like-minded souls. After the chaos that is CanCon a club night seems so civilized. Don’t get me wrong the gaming conventions are not be missed but for a good night in it is hard to beat a games night with your mates.



Well the 40 K game was rather good 4 marine players vs the Nids around 2500 points which is usually too much for a standard night and tonight it was no exception. Though the game did not really end before a few of the lads had to be picked up it still saw a pretty good victory to the marines. The tyranids did a lot of damage though.

So why Is it good to be part of a club? Well sadly we are about to lose two of our regular gamers. Both were big into 40K and one of them was dabbling with Warhammer Fantasy. Our older friend is off to Canberra for a job and decided to donate a nice selection of 40K buildings to the club which you can see on the table of the 40K game. These will be commonly found gracing our table in the future.
 
Our younger member leaving is heading into the army, so we wish them the best and a safe future, especially in the defence forces. Well how’s this for a nice offer. Said gamer, has donated all of his fantasy miniatures to club members. A nice small chaos warrior force and some dark elves, just enough to get a few more people up and running with WHF, thanks guys you are most kind. Try getting free armies when playing at home!

 
Another gaming club highlight was my first outing of Wings of War WWII with a bombing run against a small airfield. Well the game plays really fast, faster than the WWI game but has the same wonderful feel about it. No dice, nice planes, great cards, plays on a smallish table and well just plain fun. If you are a WWII aircraft fan then this might be just up your alley.
 
 
 
Other games, the usual magic the gathering hoard, two role playing games one based on Bushido/Runequest and the other Star Wars.
Bombing mission success

CanCon


Well another big CanCon. If you have not been to a game convention please go. There is always so much to see and do. You don’t have to spend a fortune on the miniatures though this is very possible. No me this year though! (got to be a first).

Highlight 1 Sold some stuff at the bring and buy!!!

Highlight 2 Sold some stuff with my son at the bring and buy.
 

Highlight 3 My son picks up the title of Orc Slayer by beating the orc armies he faces in the Warhammer Fantasy tournament, his first ever. Sadly it seems that Warhammer has become very much hero hammer yet again as tactics seemed to play second fiddle to shiny toys and magic! Regardless with over 100 competitors this is a rather good turn around compared to a few years back when less than 20 played.
Highlight 4 the Saga competition. I came dead last (dead get it) losing every game, my leader died three times and generally I was having a ball. I do really like this game. By the end of the day I was able to die knowing what I was doing wrong and now I feel confident taking the game into the club. What a good day.
Highlight 5   4 games of war of the roses in 28mm using a slightly modified Hail Caesar rules set run by Peter Rossetti and his band of Merry men.  We had treachery, prestige points, and the ability to hold royal titles similar to the old game King Maker which allowed us to field extra units. A swag of players on both side and much merriment as the dice swung back and forth. As a campaign was held with each game having a slight influence on the next you felt really involved all the time. I played a Lancastrian and at the end of my time had died in 3 out of four games in close combat, but we had won 3 out of the four games.
After 6 games in total (I missed the last two games playing Saga) the Yorkists proved to be the overall winners and claimed the crown by winning the final battle and the personal winner with the most prestige was a younger chap called Sean. What a blast and thanks heaps for running it Peter.
Highlight 6 Seeing Barry at the Wings of Glory tables teaching others how to play this fantastic game.
Highlight 7 catching up with Nic from Eureka, Dean from Olympian, Mick from Micks Metal Miniatures and Ian from War and Peace. This was the biggest CanCon I had ever been to and the traders sold well. Congrats to all at the Canberra Games Society for running such a good show.
Highlight 8 Best highlight of all playing WOR with my son.


January at the club


Well a Saga prematch (3rd game ever) prior to the CanCon outing over the long weekend. My son played well but sadly fell to the Viking hoard at 4 points. I am just starting to get the hang of the rules, and really looking forward to the competition at Can Con.
 
Contemplating victory.
 
Marine vs Space wolf Marine in 40K. the marines won.
High elf Vs Warriors of Chaos the Elves one! Yay good omen for CanCon.
 
 
Magic The gathering on a smaller scale.