The latest from the painting front, and the family-gaming intersect!

Ok,
The third squad of Slammers is done. Gotta get the platoon HQ done, but that's a small thing, along with the dismounted vehicle crew and the recon section in skimmers. Then it's onward and upward, I'm either tempted to do the Terminator humans and/or the USCMC for my Aliens stuff. It's a conundrum..not to mention my 20mm really does deserve some attention.

Also, wanted to mention our 5th meeting of DC Gamers is June 12th at Victory Comics. I hope by now interested parties know where this is. If not, I'll simply direct you to read the appropriate blog entry here.

In other news, DC Gamers has a potential new member. My stepfather. He's retiring from the Army and as newly retired folks are wont to do...he's driving mom a bit nuts (Mom, I know you and Lou are reading this...I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but it's true). So, I figured, get him gaming and around people. Mom, I'm going to say this now, he gets back into the hobby? I am not responsible for the following:

Packages from England or elsewhere being more secret than what he used to work on, the garage being turned into a workspace and enough lead and resin to be investigated by the EPA, not to mention the ever present "Hey, I can make terrain/scratchbuild/something clever out of this!"

It'll be good for him, honest. I think...All else fails, you and my wife can commiserate. If she doesn't get you reading TMP first...and really being horrified. Just kidding.

But really, it'll be good all around, I think. And look at it this way..if he's out late...you'll know without a doubt where he is! Which considering I am not as young as I used to be...and that whole real life thing, is NOWHERE near as often as it used to be. And to be honest Battletech is probably the only game I play where things go on for that long. And how often, dear reader, do I write about that anymore?

Met some fellows from TMP...and I can finally put names and faces to them!

Went downtown last night (what am I saying, I LIVE THERE...it's a running theme), where I met Jovian1 and Gallowglas from TMP and we ate at Fuddruckers (No jokes about the name please). We had planned on Chinese...but due to my startling lack of a sense of direction..I got us lost. Oh yeah, I can just imagine what would happened with a map and a compass....

We had a good discussion, some of which I won't relate...as it's not my place to, but the parts about GG's views on gaming realism, or lack thereof (he clearly lies in the "at the end of the day, it's a freaking game" school, as do I), were especially illuminating. Too often, I think we're wrapped up in the crunchy bits or nits of the hobby and we just don't think hard enough about the fact that our entertainment happens to be derived from somebody's moment of sheer terror. I'm not having a change of heart about the hobby, far from it, but I feel by doing the prep work right...any fun that is had in a modern or WWII game, can be, if done with reverence for the subject matter, a sort of memorial to those that did the actual deed. Research is your friend in this hobby, and though many historians disagree with me, I find eyewitnesses are a useful part of that. Thanks for reminding me, Gallowglas. And Jovian1 and Gallowglas pointed out a few truths that are of use to anyone thinking of running "cops and robbers" games.

In other news, I am discovering the joys of Kneadite. And are they many...Damn why didn't I buy this sooner! This stuff rocks...I'm just learning it's uses...and who knows...I really would like to learn how to sculpt. Maybe I'll just sculpt those long sought after 20mm Philippine Army folks for Baatan myself. I may not get them any other way...So, if you have any places I can learn the ways of the Kneadite Force, as it were, point them out so I can learn them and get better.

Gamer Drama, how much is self-inflicted?

The term Gamer Drama comes from my wife. But yeah, it's there, whether it's the group that acts like six year olds that makes you embarrassed to know them, or the internet forum where people take jokes out of context, or worse yet, make insane accusations?
Yeah, we've been there.

But is it all really necessary? Is this being part of a passionate hobby full of people who do get interested in topics great and small? We're a small hobby demographically. And, if the statistics I keep hearing are any guide, then we're not getting any younger either. And that's the sad part. Must we as a hobby turn on each other because of issues great and small? Look, I'm guilty too. There are games where it's "wind him up and let him go." But, I am trying, maybe it's the wisdom one begins to get in their 30s as one realizes, this hobby has good and bad..but must we let our experience with the bad be the deciding factors in our treatment of each other?

This isn't a "let's all get along" speech. That'll never happen, and if it did, we wouldn't have much to game. The fact really is this: We're too small a hobby to let grudges carry on for long. Don't like a game or somebody in particular? Don't game it or don't play with that person. It's a hard lesson to learn, and it can leave you lonelier in the end. But at least you have your respect. Or, as my wife puts it.."arguing on the internet is like winning the Special Olympics..you might win, but you're still retarded." Perhaps that's not the most PC way to make the point, but I like it blunt myself.

And what the hell is this hate specifically for one website or another? A twisted form of marketing? Don't like a website? Don't go there. Sorry but this one just mystifies me. Isn't the internet the limitless frontier? Lately all I've been seeing is a lot of "this town ain't big enough for the both of us."

I know, two posts in two days!

Lots to say. I worked on some posters for my Twilight 2000 buildings...man I wish those railroad buildings were a mite cheaper! I put them up on the Guild under the Terrain section.

As for other news, I have some 1/76 and 1/72 scale German WWII kits up for grabs. Recent purchase that had some items that were redundant to my needs. Lemme know via the blog or PM on TMP if you're interested!

I am also getting my hands on some interesting rules sets...may I say Troops, Weapons & Tactics is a darn nice rules set, and one I may play or use as an adjunct to Force on Force WWII rules. Too Fat Lardies did a nice job with it.

A word about process driven versus effect driven. I've played process driven rules, and until recently, it was seen as THE way to do skirmish rules. Honestly? I am glad there is a movement away from that to more effect driven sets like Ambush Alley, DH/CF7B, TW & T. Honestly, I agree with the sentiment, even if you have nice kit...if your troops stink, the kit is no damn good.

Thanks to all who have visited! I appreciate the traffic!

Wow, I made the TMP news headlines!

I didn't think this would happen, who knows, perhaps this will get more people reading the blog...and playing Ambush Alley!

Check it all out here