New Edition of RAVENFEAST!

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A new version of the rules I've been using for the "Battle of Trollford" convention games is here! They're based on the no longer available “ONE PAGE FANTASY SKIRMISH” by John David Slor, but reshaped for Viking saga skirmishing with several additions: morale, shield walls, different ranges for missile weapons, extra wounds, basing suggestions and "death worthy of a song". And, yes, they're FREE!

http://home.dejazzd.com/broadsword/Feasting_Ravens/FR_OPFS_PAGES/FR_OPFS_House_Rules_Page01_Files/Raven%20Feast%201_1.pdf

RAVENFEST is meant for clashes of warbands; about 20 figures per player. A short list of example stats are given and may be completely ignored, as rules for creating stats for your figures are included. Fantasy elements are also there, but optional. The basic game has been distilled down to only 2 pages.

Lord Thunderous!

"LORDS OF DARKNESS!"
*Vfvfvfvfvfvfvfvfvfv*

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An in-production and readily available figure from Reaper Miniatures #02233 - Dantrag of Heimdall, sculpted by Sandra Garrity http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/02233/sku-down/02233.

This was one of the unwanted figures of an lot won on an online auction. You'll notice that it was painted before the whole reason the lot was bid upon to begin with. It's not a bad figure - actually, it's quite good. Sandra Garrity always delivers, and the whole Arnohld as Conan vibe works. But the sword blade was broken off. A day or three in purple stuff can get rid of a bad paint job, but bits broken off means more planning. Another sword? An Axe? A mace? Couldn't decide. And it would have sat in a little drawer for thirty years but for Doctor Merkury running a playtest for his science-fantasy skirmish project: "Age of Saints"!

How about a barbarian of darkness with a plasma sword; a sort of anti-Thundarr? Heaven knows I've been looking for a 25/28mm figure of Thundarr the Barbarian since AD1980. (Yes, I know it's available in 15mm.) But what to use for the blade? Chopping up a Star Wars figure wouldn't work because of the rubbery material and the transparent blade might fog over or melt once it gets hit by the dip. Transparent plastic rod could work, but the same problems might occur and may not hold up to stresses of gaming. I paint playing pieces, not inmates for dioramas. Having spent the past few months building flight stands for ships used in SUNDER THE STARS, an idea struck: piano wire! It's small, light, on hand, and drawn from steel. The blade of that plasma sword will outlive all of us. Just had to remember to file down the "pointy end" so it's dull and harmless, cut off the old crossguard and glue a small bit of plastic tube above the grip.

Figure mounted on a 25mm diameter wooden disk.

Painting: Primed white, then hit the exposed flesh with beige red. Inside the mouth was black and the teeth were white. Fur and hair were black, then drybrushed with German grey. Bindings for the leggings were German grey. Eyes were white with black dots. Belt, circlet and bracer were yellow ocher, then bronze. Jewel in circlet was white, then metallic red.

The blade was the tricky part. Neon paint? Not that I haven't gamed under black lights before, but that was the '70's. Just paint it red? Then it would look like a red boken, not a plasma blade. Decided to paint it with red ink, then wash away the middle half of the blade with a paintbrush dipped in water. Most of the ink came away, but the color in the tiny depressions stayed. Cool! As close to Jack Kirby as I was going to get! A bit more red ink towards the tip and grip, and finished! The rest of the sword was yellow ocher, then bronze.

The base was covered with a slurry of ballast, sand, PVA glue and water before priming and painted with medium gray. The facing lozenge was white, then red ink, yellow ocher, then bronze, and outlined with black.

The entire figure was then dipped with a concoction of polyurethane clear gloss varnish and Tudor, except for the blade. That was covered with plain polyurethane clear gloss varnish. The base was flocked with patches of PVA glue, static grass and flock. Finally, the entire figure was sprayed with clear matte.

Suitable for Gamma World, Mutant Future, Metamorphosis Alpha, or any other Post Apocalyptic/Science Fiction game.

See more of my painting here: http://ravenfeast.deviantart.com/gallery/

Movie Review/Public Service: Conan (2011)

Viewed, most decidedly, in NOT-3D*.

Short review - Even though it was in color and in focus: don't. Just don't. I really wanted to like this movie, but couldn't. If you absolutely must see it, wait until it hits the $1 overnight rental or your public library.

The new Conan movie has been treated as something completely divorced from Arnohld's CONAN THE BARBARIAN (1982) and CONAN THE DESTROYER (1984)**, and it was a very messy separation. It's a whole new Conan: a re-imaging of an interpretation AND a rebooting, too. Admittedly, a franchise piece tends to give the audience old enough to remember the earlier incarnations certain expectations. The Wild Wild West (1999) took fond memories of the 60's television show and had the fresh prince trample them to death. I won't even discuss AVATAR: The Last Airbender (2010).

Nothing against Jason Momoa, Stephen Lang, Rachel Nichols, Ron Perlman, Rose McGowan and the rest of the cast as they did the best they could with what little the writers gave them. A wealth of Robert E. Howard's original works, fifty years of pastiches, comics, and even 3 of its own TV shows (two animated, one live-action), and this is the best they could come up with? The music wasn't even memorable.

Though filmed in Bulgaria, the computer generated landscapes were more Azeroth than Hyborian. As were the weapons. As was the armor. Sigh. Does Blizzard get a cut?

Instead of groaning on about this, I'll just list some of the thoughts that were going through my head while watching this movie.

... born in a shieldwall...

Ron Pearlman! Cool! Like the beard.

Rubber-baby made out of buggy bumpers!

The Last of the Mohicans takes a very strange turn.

Remember all these faces, kids, 'cause they're all gonna die - one at a time and in great pain!

Hey! It's Kahl Ronon!

Boobies!

More computer generated blood than mankind was meant to endure!

Eight elephant drive! How much more green can you get in a SUV?

It's the little brother of the octopus monster from Pirates of the Caribbean!

We waited 30 years for this?

I can't imagine how 3D would improve this theatrical experience. Maybe scratch-n-sniff.


Update: It finally hit me. The story was basically DEATH RIDES A HORSE, minus Lee Van Cleef's character, with Hyborian swordsmen and wizards instead of wild West gunfighters. DRaH was a great little movie, and still has the most vindictive gunfight in film history!


So, in conclusion: don't.


*Like 8-tracks and pet rocks, this too shall pass. Unless 3D evolves to a point where it doesn't require glasses, stops inflicting headaches on the paying public to create its illusions, no longer requires a premium and, dare I say, some worthwhile programming, it shall remain a novelty that doesn't justify the added expense or aggravation.

**I would add a snarky comment about CtD, but what can be said here that hasn't been said everywhere else in the past 29 years?

Weird War 2: German Powered Armor

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And another in-production and readily available figure! This time from Northstar Military Figures - Projekt X: PX1007 - Power Armour Soldat http://www.northstarfigures.com/prod.php?prod=3597.

Figure is 1/48th scale, but, as it's powered armor, being ever so slightly bigger doesn't matter. Mounted on a 25mm round plastic base.

Painting: Decided to go with formal black instead of pea-dot camo. Primed black, then painted black. Some of the exposed mechanisms were gunmetal. Hellhound red for trim and silver for the sigils. Lime green for the lenses in the helmet and any exposed gauges. The machine gun was German grey, then gunmetal, and the stock was dark brown, then mahogany. The black parts were then lightly drybrushed with German grey. The base was puttied flat before priming, then painted flat earth. The facing lozenge was red outlined with black.

The entire figure was then dipped in polyurethane clear gloss varnish. The base was flocked with patches of PVA glue and flock and static grass. Finally, the entire figure was sprayed with clear matte.

Suitable for Weird War 2, Pulp Super Science, Gamma World, Mutant Future, Metamorphosis Alpha, or any other Post Apocalyptic/Science Fiction game. Paint it Afrika Korps yellow for PA, and white to repel the 1947 expedition of Admiral Byrd and 4,000 well-armed friends into Neuschwabenland.

See more of my painting here: http://ravenfeast.deviantart.com/gallery/


Post Script ~

Finally saw the CAPTAIN AMERICA movie. Good time was had and the DVD is definitely going into the collection! (Take that endorsement as you will, considering that a copy of Soul Cinema's BLACULA and SCREAM, BLACULA, SCREAM double feature DVD was purchased, today. Only 5 bucks at le Mart du Kay!) But, was I the only one who felt the urge to watch SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW afterward?

Observation - Rebellious Youth

Each new generation of youth tries to upset its predecessors by dressing inappropriately, behaving unacceptably and listening to music they claim as their own. The current trend of relaxing dress codes means that no one has the need to fear being under-dressed for any occasion. The totalitarian enforcement of political correctness and universal acceptance allows even the most egregious faux pas to be met with, at worst, strained tolerance. With the advent of digital media, “old” music no longer fades into obscurity, but may be retained throughout the life of the listener. Soon the youth of the world, in a fit of desperation, may only have one avenue of rebellion: practicing behavior learned from American situational comedies of the 1950’s while clad in dinner jackets and cocktail dresses with Mel Tormé playing softly in the background.

SUNDER THE STARS: 3rd Playtest!

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This was the third playtest for SUNDER THE STARS held two weeks ago at Comic Store West with the Army Group York miniature wargaming group. In play were optional terrain items - a large planet, three gas clouds (-1 to hit per hex) and two each of dust clouds (-2 to hit per hex) and asteroid fields (-2 to hit per hex AND a chance of colliding with something unpleasant). Zach had brought some handmade terrain to liven up my rather flat paper terrain with the pertinent rules printed on them to speed play. We had three hours, so the optional shield setting rules were dispensed with as the rules needed to be taught and the game played to conclusion by closing time.

A new group of players had chosen the same old adversaries: the Grand Terran Imperium vs. the League of the Star Wolves. Yes, the Wedgians and the Vikings were at it again! No love for the Buggians?

For the Wedgians ~ 50 points of ships for each player.

Commodore Tony - Battleship, Medium Cruiser and 2 Frigates.

Captain Dieter - Medium Cruiser, 2 Destroyers and 2 Frigates.


For the Vikings ~ 50 points of ships for each player.

Jarl Zach - Battleship, Medium Cruiser and 2 Frigates.

Shipmaster Thomas - Medium Cruiser, 2 Destroyers and 2 Frigates.


The teams rolled off and the Vikings had to set up first. They divided their forces for any eventuality. The Wedgians then deployed their fleet - all to one side and away from the Viking battleship!



By the end of the first turn, the Wedgians had sunk a Viking cruiser and frigate, while Shipmaster Thomas dispatched one Wedgian cruiser, a frigate and damaged another frigate. Both sides attacked then tried to take advantage of available cover. Jarl Zack's forces were too far away to aid his sword-brother.



The Wedgians had dispatched a Viking destroyer and frigate while Shipmaster Thomas sank a Wedgian frigate and had bloodied both of their destroyers and another frigate. Fear not, brave Thomas! Your Jarl had not forsaken you!



Well, maybe there was a little forsaking. With Shipmaster Thomas' last destroyer out of the way, Commodore Tony sent his battleship to deal with the smaller units of Jarl Zack's remaining fleet while the surviving elements of both his and Captain Dieter's forces hunted the Viking battleship - which meant they had to abandon the "Dray Maneuver" and left the cover of the gas clouds for open felt.



VENGEANCE! The Wedgian battleship was sunk and their cruiser heavily damaged in the storm of direct fire and homing weapons from the remains of the Viking fleet! Jarl Zack's flagship withstood withering Wedgian attacks without a scratch! For the sake of Wedgians with delicate constitutions, any further images shall be withheld. The Vikings swept the skies of the remaining enemy vessels.

Two hours and fifteen minutes from setup and teaching the rules to the end of the game, with time left for a leisurely breakdown and after-game kibitzing.

Tony and Dieter took advantage of deploying after their opponents by concentrating their forces against one enemy group and making use of available cover. Thomas had a desperate fight to delay the Wedgians long enough to allow Zack's forces - and his battleship - to get to where the action was. Dieter used the planet to shield one of his destroyers from Zack's ships while getting clear shots at Thomas. Had Zack's battleship been farther away, it would have been a very different game.

Terrain did not slow the game down noticeably and was sufficiently thick in some cases to prevent attacks altogether. The players had to include the terrain effects in their decisions on movement and firing. The weapon ranges seemed to be working, as well. The last thing I wanted is a "push all the figures into the middle of the table and roll lots of dice" or a "just sit there and shoot at everything" game.

Tony has expressed a desire to buy a fleet and has cursed me for it. Zach has instructed me to bring SUNDER THE STARS as backup game when attending Monday nights. I think they liked it. Development shall continue.


The game mat and ships used for the Grand Terran Imperium are from the Terran Federation range, part of the Galactic Knights line produced by Monday Knight Productions.

The ships used for the League of the Star Wolves are available from Ravenstar Studios.

Additional shots of both sets of ships may be seen here: Starship Size Comparison.

       Wins/Losses
Wedgians: 1/2
Buggians: 1/0
Vikings:  1/1

99 kEn of the Wastelands!

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This Barb-B needed her kEn.

Yet another in-production and readily available figure? My reputation is ruined! This time from Reaper Miniatures, Chronoscope 50138: ALF 24, Robot Assistant http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/robot/sku-down/50138.

Ditched the lippy base and mounted the figure on a proper 25mm round plastic base.

Had to do something with all the leftover silver paint/purple ink mix, so...

Painting: Primed white, then hit the main surfaces with silver paint/purple ink mix and the exposed, inner workings with gunmetal. The base was covered with a slurry of ballast, sand, PVA glue and water before priming and painted with medium gray. The facing lozenge was silver paint/purple ink mix outlined with gunmetal. The entire figure was then dipped with a concoction of polyurethane clear gloss varnish and Ebony. The base was flocked with patches of PVA glue and pink flock used for detailing the upholstery of model cars. Finally, the entire figure was sprayed with clear matte.

Suitable for Gamma World, Mutant Future, Metamorphosis Alpha, or any other Post Apocalyptic/Science Fiction game.

See more of my painting here: http://ravenfeast.deviantart.com/gallery/

SUNDER THE STARS: 2nd Playtest!

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This was the second playtest for SUNDER THE STARS held 3 weeks ago. In play were the optional terrain items - a large planet, small moon and various gas clouds - and the optional shield settings - double front, double back and maximum. There were 4 players: Bryan, Rob, Jason and Ricardo, with this humble narrator as referee. The players formed two teams, selecting one member of each team as "commander", and each player had 50 points of ships command.


Fleet commander Rob and future Hero of Terra (posthumously) Bryan each took a taskforce from The Grand Terran Imperium, consisting of one medium cruiser, two destroyers and two frigates.


Jarl Jason and shipmaster Ricardo took their forces from The League of the Star Wolves: one medium cruiser, two destroyers and two frigates for Ricardo and a battleship, one medium cruiser and two frigates for Jason.



The table was set up lengthwise, allowing plenty of room for maneuvering before hostilities could commence. The moon and planet did not figure into their tactics as both were at the extreme ends of the table. In the game they were impassible areas that spell instant annihilation for any spacecraft that entered their space/hex.

Both sides took advantage of the optional shield settings and locked them on double front. That doubled the shield value against all attacks from the front 180°, but defending against attacks from the rear would not get the benefit of shields in the defense rolls.



The gas clouds, however, had been embraced by Commodore Rob. Get used to seeing his ships there. They impart a -1 to hit modifier for every hex/2" fired through.
:[Ricardo shows off his hyper-dimensional jazz hands.]:



Commodore Rob also employed a unique tactic for his flagship: hiding way back, out of harm's way holding the ship in tactical reserve.
:[Hyper-dimensional jazz hands does have a price. It took weeks for Ricardo's fingers to return to their natural color]:



Jarl Jason and his staunch ally Ricardo continued their advance. Their missing frigate and two other ships with damage tracking dice told of their losses.



Bryan's force had been reduced to a cruiser and a destroyer, and Ricardo's forces had been whittled down to just a cruiser, while Jarl Jason's remaining battleship and cruiser try to attack Rob's forces still hiding in the gas cloud. Please note the location of Rob's flagship. To the left. No, farther. All the way over there.



Ricardo's cruiser was not long for this battle.



All the while, Commodore Rob's flagship was doing donuts in its very own private gas cloud. Understandably, Jarl Jason was taunting him mercilessly to come out and fight him. As this was not a dark ages infantry battle, Rob ignored him.



Ricardo had been slain! Long will they sing his saga into the night. Jarl Jason swung his remaining ships around the gas cloud to minimize its interference. Meanwhile, pizza had been delivered to Rob's flagship.



Jason's cruiser got behind Bryan's cruiser and took advantage of its double front shield setting. Bryan is down to a destroyer. Having finished his pizza, Rob's flagship barrels forward to see what all the hubbub was about.



Sacrificing his cruiser, Jarl Jason managed to sink the remaining Wedgian destroyers and one of the frigates. This shall be the final blow to defend the Star Wolves' way of life!



Or not. In a blaze of direct fire and homing weapons, the flagship of Jarl Jason was sunk. With the skies cleared of opponents, Commodore Rob dictated a quick eulogy for Captain Bryan to be sent to his surviving family.

Observations:

The optional shield setting rules worked as expected, but will lengthen the game by about 50%. Four players with 50 points of ships each should take about two hours - this took almost three. The players liked the option, but agreed it made for longer games.

I thought that terrain would also greatly lengthen the game, but later playtests disproved this.

Point defense will have a smaller area of effect when in terrain that grants a cover bonus like gas clouds, dust clouds and asteroid fields.

The use of tactical reserves and exploiting any available cover are perfectly valid and both can effect the outcome of a battle. Ignore them at your peril.

SUNDER THE STARS is still doing what is asked of it, so development will continue.

The game mat and ships used for the Grand Terran Imperium are from the Terran Federation range, part of the Galactic Knights line produced by Monday Knight Productions.

The ships used for the League of the Star Wolves are available from Ravenstar Studios.

Additional shots of both sets of ships may be seen here: Starship Size Comparison.

       Wins/Losses
Wedgians: 1/1
Buggians: 1/0
Vikings:  0/1