More on the Battletech Alpha Strike Project

Kilo Company, 3/1st Robinson Rangers RCT, ca. 3056

   Shelton's Sweep Lance

         Leftenant Mackenzie Shelton, Skill 2, Phoenix Hawk PXH-3D

         Staff Sergeant Galit Foster, Skill 3, Dart DRT-4S

         Sergeant Danica Kemeny, Skill 3, Battle Hawk B-H-K305

         Sergeant Riku Ready, Skill 3, Commando COM-5S

    Ebner's Battle Lance

         Leftenant Thorben Ebner, Skill 3, Osprey OSP-1S

         Staff Sergeant Tomi Filpek, Skill 3, Phoenix Hawk PXH-3S

         Sergeant Kaja Fairburn, Skill 4, Dervish DV-7D

         Sergeant Dominik Lis, Skill 4, Vindicator VND-1SIC

     Peak's Fire Lance

         Hauptmann Jezebel Peak, Skill 3, Zeus ZEU-9S

         Leftenant Drysten Roche, Skill 3, Marauder MAD-3S

         Sergeant Major Alice Gibbs, Skill 4, Catapult CPLT-K2

         Staff Sergeant Fishel Baardsson, Skill 4, Quickdraw QKD-5M

The company, with skill costs, totaled out at 390 points according to the MUL.

Bios of Company Mechwarriors

Shelton’s Sweep Lance

Leftenant Mackenzie Shelton: Leftenant Shelton hails from Emporia, near Robinson in the Draconis March. Shelton grew up in a working class home, his mother and father both farmers, and knew little of the wars that racked the Successor States except for the occasional Combine deep raid. Shelton signed up with the AFFS as an infantryman in 3046, and served on the Clan front with the 5th Davion Guards, and was one of the few survivors of the debacle on La Grave, having a scarred face from an inferno round to prove it, along with a Fedcom Medal of Honor for leading the 12 men of his platoon through Jade Falcon lines to safety. He was a 21 year old PFC at the time. Shelton was selected for Battlemech training and attended a crash course at the Pandora College of Military Sciences until 3053, when he was selected for OCS after having graduated in the top 10% of his class. He was commissioned as a Leftenant in 3054 and was assigned to the 1st Robinson Rangers soon after to replace the previous lance commander who had died in a Steel Viper raid.

Shelton is a cautious fellow, he has seen the Clans up close and personal, and he knows their power. He won’t spend any lives or equipment he doesn’t have to, and he fights smart. He keeps up on the latest information on ‘Mech technology, as he is obsessed with closing the technological gap with the Clans, seeing that as the primary reason for their superiority on the battlefield. He is an average leader in the field, realizing he has a lot to learn from SSGT Foster.

Staff Sergeant Galit Foster: SSG Foster has been with the 1st Robinson for most of her military career, and has seen lance commanders come and go. Her family held a minor patent of nobility on Robinson itself, though she was the second child, and thus, unlikely to inherit. She is a graduate of the Robinson Battle Academy, Class of ’29 and saw some action during the tail end of the 4th Succession War. SSG Foster has a bit of a temper and doesn’t hesitate to demonstrate it when she is displeased. She does realize she is getting older and would like to move up to an open NCO position at battalion or regimental headquarters, but realizes the competition is tough for those slots. She is the lance’s “rock” in combat and is a very competent combat leader, having demonstrated it most recently during the last Steel Viper raid where the last lance commander was killed.

Sergeant Danica Kemeny: SGT Kemeny is a very optimistic person, who believes she is part of a great effort to stop the ravening efforts of the “rapacious clan menace” or whatever the current line of FedCom propaganda is these days. Kemeny hails from Kentares IV, growing up in a middle class family, he mother a schoolteacher, and her father a hovercar salesman. It surprised her family when she joined the Conroe Training Battalion as a chance to “do her part”. (Her father blamed the constant lessons about the Kentares Massacre in school). She was assigned to the Clovis DMM for several years, seeing action against several Combine raids until 3053, when she asked for a transfer to the 1st Robinson on their eve of departure for the Clan front. It is a decision she has never regretted. For all of her optimism, she is a placid, even tempered mechwarrior in combat and has proven to be a very talented light ‘mech pilot.

Sergeant Riku Ready: SGT Ready hails from Gibbs and as a Steiner ‘mechwarrior, he cannot believe he was “unfortunate” enough to be stuck with these “Davion plebeians”. The only good thing about all this is that he gets to kill those “proto-communists from the Periphery” (ie: The Clans). He is in total agreement about the “Clan menace” needing to be stopped, but he is a bit cautious when it comes to him personally doing the stopping. Born to middle class parents, he left the import/export business to sign up with the LCAF in 3050 when the call went out to stop the Clans. By the time Ready was ready to go to war two years later, the invasion had ended, and there was a dilemma on what to do with him. Riku spent another two years cooling his heels with the 15th Lyran Regulars, chasing pirates who were fleeing the Jade Falcons. But things changed in 3053 as a number of Davion units needed replacements due to recent casualties, he was selected (some think it was because of the fact Ready kept pestering his last company commander for a transfer to a unit on the Clan front) and arrived at the 1st Ranger’s cantonment on Kooken’s Pleasure Pit on January 2nd, 3054.

He is not a popular person in the company, but he is skilled, if he would just stop dedicating kills to Katrina and Melissa Steiner like he was on Solaris, then he would be even more popular.

Ebner’s Battle Lance

Leftenant Thorben Ebner: Leftenant Ebner is a recent product of the Pandora College of Military Science, class of 3050, and then was selected for OCS. Ebner has lost friends to the Clan invasion, and his signing up was a source of consternation to his middle class parents, who ran a successful tax attorney firm on Borghese.  To them, other people signed up, not him. But Leftenant Ebner had dreams of glory, nobility, and all that came with in his eyes. He has begun to see the truth behind the shiny medals now that he is in the real world, but he still has not lost that sense that somehow, he is the best thing that has happened to the 1st Robinson Rangers.  Happily for all concerned, he is actually a very good officer, so there is something to back up the boastful nature and he is careful with the lives of his men and women while in combat. Who knows, perhaps one day, he might be Marshal Ebner? His lance knows that on some level, the boasts are covering up a raft of insecurities about his professional abilities, so they tolerate it for now.

It doesn’t help his attitude that Ebner’s wealthy parents paid top dollar to have a rare Star League Osprey refitted and assigned to him as his ‘Mech. The trouble is, the damn thing draws all kinds of fire from enraged clanners, and tends to be a source of not so minor irritation to the rest of the lance.

Staff Sergeant Tomi Filipek: Staff Sergeant Filipek comes from a long line of police officers on David. She was not interested in continuing the family tradition of walking a beat in the planetary capitol and wanted to see the stars. Her cheery disposition, along with a few favors, got her a slot with the Kilbourne Training Battalion, and she graduated with distinction in 3039, just in time for Hanse Davion’s abortive invasion of the Combine, where Tomi first saw action with the 17th Avalon Hussars on An Ting, and won the Silver Sunburst for her actions there, but she lost a lot of friends by the time it was all over, and requested a transfer to the 1st Robinson, which was granted as soon as the cease-fire went into effect. She served with the 1st and was seen as a cheery, steady and competent presence in Kilo Company. It was for this reason, that she was made SSGT of the Battle Lance in 3050. She is a very skilled combat leader, and if Leftenant Ebner got himself killed in a bit of glory-seeking (which, thankfully for all concerned, hasn’t happened yet), SSGT Filpek could fight the lance very easily.

Sergeant Kaja Fairborn: Sergeant Fairborn is from a middle class family on New Valencia, with her mother as a technical writer for a small tech firm, and her father is a firefighter. A graduate of the Conroe Training Battalion, she graduated in the middle of her class, her class ranking would be higher if she wasn’t such a discipline problem in barracks. Kaja is at heart, a hedonist, and that nature has gotten her into a measure of trouble during her time with the 1st Robinson, and has ensured that she will probably never get promoted. Lately, the seeming unstoppable nature of the Clans has convinced her that the end of the Inner Sphere is at hand, and the time to “eat, drink, and be merry” is at hand. She thinks she personally hasn’t got a chance, but intends to fight as long as she can to make sure the Clans don’t reach Davion space, but wonders if that will make much of a difference. Her mindset is similar to many a German soldier in 1945, feeling trapped between duty and the reality of the situation. But, the fact is, the Federated Commonwealth is far from beaten, but Fairborn cannot be convinced otherwise.

Sergeant Dominik Lis: Sergeant Lis has, to say the least, a very odd background. He was found on the doorstep as a baby on an orphanage on Conroe, with a note attached to his bassinet stating that his mother was the last of a minor Capellan ‘mechwarrior family that had been killed during the war with Canopus. He grew up an orphan, not realizing that there was a minor trust being held for him when he reached 16, not the least of which was a Vindicator battlemech.

When Dominik aged out of the orphanage, he took his ‘Mech, and his trust, and hired an instructor to teach him what he needed to know to compete for a slot at the Robinson Battle Academy. His persistence, and his story paid off, but it is a decision that haunted Lis. He was hazed very badly at the Academy, including an incident that left a web of scars on his right arm, and Lis a very shy, withdrawn man.

Lis is quietly very grateful to the Federated Commonwealth, and is willing to fight to the death for her, but he is cautious with his ‘Mech, believing that were he to become dispossessed, he would not get another one due to his parentage.

Peak’s Fire Lance

Hauptmann Jezebel Peak: Captain Peak is a study in contrast in ranks. She was born to a working class family of general laborers on Conroe. She enlisted in the AFFC in 3046 and became part of a Manticore crew assigned to the 33rd Avalon Hussars.  She was picked out as a natural leader, and her pragmatic nature made her a smart, level headed NCO when she was selected for a tank commander position with the 33rd Avalon Hussars.  Her baptism of fire was against the Wolves on Suk II and she was the only survivor of her tank, let alone her platoon. She was badly wounded, spending the rest of the Clan Invasion in a hospital bed. It is something that torments her to this day and she lives for the chance to revenge the spirits of her men and women on the Clans. She is convinced that if she was more aggressive, more willing to close with the Clans, that her men and women would be alive today. Once she returned to active duty, she was selected for ‘Mech training and OCS, graduating first in her class in both. Her pragmatic nature made her a solid officer, but she became reckless when presented with Clan opponents. But, due to a dearth of qualified officers, she was assigned as a lance commander to the 1st Robinson. It wasn’t long before she was promoted to command Kilo Company after the previous commander was killed in a hovercar accident.

 Most of Captain Peak’s tactical solutions revolve around organizing an attack as soon as possible, but that approach can border on the reckless, and it is beginning to with Hauptmann Peak. She is on the whole, a competent leader, but the guilt she is trying to expunge, as well as the vengeance she seeks, may get her and more of her men and women killed.

Master Sergeant Fishel Baardsson: MSGT Baardsson comes from an odd background of his own. His was a prominent Rasalhague military family that had served the Draconis Combine for centuries. They were also Jewish, and secretly members of the SPA. When they were finally found out in 3020, the ISF showed no mercy, and a Davion merchant who owed Fishel’s father a favor got the young man to a cousin on Coventry, who got Fishel to some distant relatives on Robinson. In 3027, grateful to the Federated Suns for taking him in, and having been part of a military family in two realms (the Davion end of the family was a minor military family of some renown), managed to get a slot at the Sakhara Academy, where he graduated towards the top of his class.

Fishel was then posted to a series of March Militia units, before being assigned to the 1st Robinson in 3042, where he has remained ever since, being made Master Sergeant (and Kilo Company SNCO) in 3050, on the eve of the Clan Invasion. Fishel is also a devout Jew, and observes as much as he can, even when in the field. He sees the Clans as little more than misguided fools who have yet to discover God, but unlike Vorster with the Fox’s Teeth, doesn’t feel that he needs to make them aware of that, and thinks religion is about self-discovery. MSGT Baardsson is a man of refined tastes, and often takes in whatever cultural events he can attend, duty and religious demands notwithstanding. 

He is one of the few married men in the Company, having met his wife 15 years ago while on Mallory’s World. She is back there with his two children, on his insistence. He is a competent leader as well, and is a believer in bold, violent action, but unlike the Hauptmann, knows when it is time to call it a day.

Sergeant Drystan Roche: Sergeant Roche is a native of Wyatt, and how he wound up with a Davion line unit is to him, one of the vagaries of life in the Inner Sphere. Born into a family that made its money in a wildly successful cosmetics line, Roche was planning on taking over the family business. When the AFFC came knocking with draft papers in 3050, it knocked Roche’s whole world asunder. Happily, Roche had been trained on the family ‘Mech, and had been able to pay for the mech to be upgraded to the MAD-3S standard, as well as the best private training..when Roche reported six months later, the AFFC happily posted him to the Pandora CMS to polish his skills, and then he was reassigned to the 1st Robinson in 3055 as a replacement for a casualty.

Roche is a liberal minded person, and thinks little of all kinds of lifestyle choices, even if he personally, isn’t inclined to try them. He thinks the Clans could use a little exposure to life in the Inner Sphere, and that would set them straight on a lot of issues, so far, few have been willing to listen. He is even headed in combat, and has been helping run the family business from his duty posting, sending a flurry of ideas monthly via HPG.

Sergeant Alice Gibbs: Sergeant Gibbs is an old hand who is happy being a mechwarrior and nothing else. She likes only being responsible for herself and her aggressive nature suits her very well, even though her nature in combat is far more even handed. Her main problem is her hedonistic nature, which has gotten her in as much trouble as Sergeant Fairburn, they are often seen drinking and carousing together, even if Gibbs cannot always stand Fairburn’s gloomy nature when she is really drunk. Gibbs is level headed in combat, having a knack for being where she is needed. Gibbs has been shunted from unit to unit in her 25 year career with both the AFFS and AFFC, her homeworld of Layover being a memory, as she has not returned since she joined the Kilbourne Training Battalion in 3035. She says little about her family, except to say that they “got in the way of her fun”.

Her ‘Mech, a captured Kurita Catapult (K2 model) is the oldest ‘Mech in the unit, and no one has made any offers to upgrade Gibbs ride, figuring the Clans will either kill her off, or she will finally retire.

Much ado in the wargaming front...

It has been an active time wargaming wise thus far.

First, I ran my Russo-Polish 2018 micro armor game using FFT3 rules. The game ran well, though two small problems:

a) I forgot to get photos.

b) NLOS 3rd gen ATGM is really, really nasty. And the launchers are damned hard to deal with. The Poles are just proving on my gaming table that Spike-LR is truly the "Israeli Death Ray".

I am also coming along with a little project for Battlech Alpha Strike: It is a company of Robinson Rangers, ca. 3056. It is an eclectic group of mechs and I really am having fun with the project, though I will admit I am taking my time with it..but I do have some in progress pics to show off.

Also, in conjunction with the Russo-Polish project, I wanted to post this little future history....and see if it was worthy gaming fodder?

The Year is 2018

·         The Western nations of the EU have cut defense spending to dangerous levels, spending the money instead on increased social service transfer payments to a restive refugee population from Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Libya, Afghanistan, and Pakistan or oil and gas purchases from any quarter available, including an increasingly aggressive Russia. Arguments on what to ultimately do with said refugee population has left an East-West split in the EU that is ever widening, only through American and British efforts has NATO not split irrevocably.

·         The Mideast is in near meltdown. No central government is extant in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, or Lebanon, with the Islamic State having collapsed after the death of its titular leader in a US drone strike. Kurdistan has declared independence, revolution is in the air in Iran and Egypt. Saudi Arabia and the Gulf nations have become fanatical garrison states, closing their borders except at the oil ports. Egypt is in the throes of civil war. Pakistan is in chaos, in the wake of a botched military coup, and the Indians are weighing their military options. Israel stands alone as a beacon of civilization in the Mideast, but is under siege by a very desperate Palestinian population.

·         Russia’s population crisis is beginning to bite, with analysts stating that she will go from 165 million people in 2015, to 130 million by 2030. Russia is desperate for a population base to help weather the storm. With fuel prices what they are, the Russians finally have the money to settle old scores with their former Cold War “allies”.

·         Oil and gas prices are at an all-time high, with spot shortages in Europe and Asia, China is especially feeling the pinch, and she has been reduced to selling her American debt holdings back to the US in an effort to stabilize her economy. North Korea is in chaos, with a five sided civil war breaking out in 2017.

·         The US is weathering the storm, with an energy fueled recovery, and a Republican presidential victory in 2016 opening up both the Keystone pipeline and ANWAR, the US now has more than enough fuel for its domestic needs. The US has accelerated its disengagement from the Mideast,  (with the exception of its support for Israel) and has begun to focus more on Europe, with a resurgent Russia replacing China as America’s new strategic challenge. The US has begun a moderate defense buildup, which has only now begun to take shape.

·         In early 2017, Belorussia announces that it has concluded an agreement with Russia to reunify. Many observers call the treaty the Second Anchluss. Before long, major elements of the Russian military are on the Polish border.

·         While this is occurring, the Polish government announces the discovery of major shale deposits in the Carpathian Mountains, south of Krakow. The find is big, enough to meet most of Poland’s energy needs, and make Poland a net energy exporter in three years. Russia cannot abide by this, and Russo-Polish relations go into a death spiral.

·         Before long, the Russians accuse Poland of having designs on the Kaliningrad Oblast. This is a charge Poland denies vociferously. After the Russians stage an incident along the border to the Oblast, they then make threats to end the “Nazi cabal in Warsaw”. Poland mobilizes, and asks NATO for assistance. Except for concrete aid from the US and the UK (a USMC Battalion is airlanded in Warsaw and married up with its pre-positioned equipment within 24 hours of the Polish request, and a UK Airmobile Brigade lands at Krakow airport, more is arriving by the hour), the NATO allies make a lot of tough talk and halfhearted speeches about “Alliance Unity”. Germany and France go so far as to declare their neutrality in the conflict, but stating they are still willing to remain in NATO.

·         Three days later, after a Russian ultimatum runs out, the eastern Polish frontier lights up with the largest artillery barrage by the Russian Army since World War II. The Russian plan is simple, airmobile and airborne troops, backed by Spetsnaz, will seize all the major river crossings over the Bug, the Narew, the San, and most importantly, the Vistula. The Russians attempt to kill the Polish Prime Minister, and do kill quite a few members of Parliament, as well as the head of the Air Force in Spetsnaz raids. The Russian Air Force is playing hell with the roads and river traffic, delaying the Polish attempt to shift units from the West and South to the East. After that, some 15 Tank and Motor Rifle Brigades roll into Eastern Poland. The Russians have but one objective: Warsaw. All that Poland has to face the Russians is a few scratch brigades trading what space they have for time while the rest of the army shifts to the east.

·         In the rest of the world, Israel invades Syria to restore order after a warlord “accidentally” shells a kibbutz near the Golan. Iran invades Southern Iraq for much the same reasons, although they openly admit they want control of the long disputed Shat-al-Arab. In North Korea, a Chinese backed military coup partially succeeds, but winds up only controlling the Capitol, as the other Corps commanders in the North Korean People’s Army have their own ideas on who should be in charge, and a fratricidal 5 sided civil war breaks out, soon sparking Chinese and South Korean intervention, the two sides soon engaging in clashes as they both attempt to grab as much of North Korea’s arsenal of WMD before anyone else does.

·         Mexico after years of LIC between the government and the narcotraficantes, descends into civil war. When evidence of Russian arms and advisers show up in the hands of the “narcos”, the US intervenes.

·         The UN, ever a moribund organization, breaks up under the strain of at least three members of the permanent 5 in the Security Council shooting at each other in Poland.

I am back, and Historicon 2012

Well, I came, I saw, I shopped. Historicon 2012 has come and gone from Fredricksburg and I was impressed with the venue, to say the least.

Things I liked were:

1. Light. There was enough of it and my memories of the Host being lit so poorly you could mistake Japanese for Soviets in 15mm scale is a thing of the past, one hopes.

2. Space. The flea market could be leisurely walked through (comparatively) and we didn't even FILL the open gaming space. Expansion room is going to be available.

3. Staff. The staff were nice, helpful and they knew the answers to your questions.

4. Affordability. By gum, the food on premises was pretty affordable, and there was plenty of GOOD food on premises. 

5. Accessibility. The site was accessible from Amtrak (The cab ride cost me $7) and I didn't hear a bad word about MOST of the hotels (With the singular exception of the nearby Econo Lodge). 

Most of the complaints were minor:
1. Noise: Yes, it was an issue in the open gaming area and I think some skull sweat needs to be applied towards it for next year.

2. Signage: There needs to be better directions as to where things are. A venue I was looking for described as "being in the ballroom". It wasn't. That's ok, but that does need to be worked on.

3. Bathrooms: Simply put, I don't think the convention staff planned well for the bathroom needs for 3,000 middle aged men descending on the place for 4 days. I heard toilet paper became hard currency (joking). Let's just say it's an issue for me.

But all in all, I do prefer this venue to Lancaster. It's an expandable venue. The climate control was bearable, the venue was well lit and didn't smell like warmed over funeral parlor. HMGS can grow with this place. We cannot grow with the Host. It's that simple.

And some of the games that were put on looked fantastic. I didn't get into anything other than a Battletech grinder as I was only down for the day. I will put up photos later, but there was just a fantastic set of games and terrain out there.

I saw friends old and new, including some I thought I'd NEVER see again. Patrick, you fecking loon, you shoulda told me to buy Fireball Forward! (j/k).

Here's to next year, and me FINALLY running something at Historicon!

2nd Night Stalkers Battletech Mech Company for sale

Clearing out some of the extra CBT stuff I don't play with as much any more.

2nd Nightstalkers Company

Here's some better photos:

Kinda a dark day for hobby related news....

Well, I haven't been by in a while. Mainly due to some personal matters I'm not going to talk about except to say that's it's an illness in the family.

As for illness, I was cruising the Guild this morning and read a thread from
Jenny Howitt, daughter of Dave Howitt of Britannia Miniatures. I'll let Jenny's words break the news:

My name is Jenny Howitt, Dave Howitt's of Britannia Miniatures daughter, I've just registered to convey some unfortunate news. I'm afraid to say my Dad had a massive heart attack on Monday and is very ill in hospital.


As a result of this Britannia will cease trading for a few weeks. If anyboy has ordered I can assure you that all orders will be filled in due course.


Dad is very positive and in good spirits, thanks in advance for yur understanding.

This is some sad news, and I think we should all include Dave in our prayers, as well as see what as a community we can do to be helpful to the Howitt family.

UPDATE: The damage to Dave Howitt's heart was sadly, too much and he passed away this Saturday. Please include the Howitt family in your prayers today.

In other, more unpleasant news, though I don't do Battletech as much as I used to, I still cruise by the forums and I am involved in helping to run a strategic PBEM game. Therefore, I wasn't too happy to read this on the website link to the forums:

Due to a security breach the forums are being taken down indefinitely while the damage to the system is accessed. Because of the nature of this breach it is unlikely we will be restoring a backup of user accounts as it is impossible to know who's passwords and accounts have been compromised.


We are currently accessing our options and will get the forums back up in one form or another as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.


Jason M. Knight classicbattletech.com System Administrator

In other news, I am giving the Nook quite the workout as I master it's intricacies with PDFs..I can tell you smaller print is better. As you zoom in, it tends not to like larger print. I am right now engrossed in the Anthony Beevor work about Stalingrad, and it's giving me gaming ideas, not just for WWII.

I also have some writing projects in the fire, nothing major, and nothing I can discuss, but as soon as I can, I shall. Let's hope for better times for all concerned.

In closing, I am also out there, soliciting for SF 15's 3rd issue. Don't be shy, submit!

The latest

Well,
Things on the SF 15 front have been quiet, we just haven't gotten any article other than the one submission. If you're willing, please submit what you're writing to jason.weiser@gmail.com.

In other news, I had some health trouble recently, another seizure. I am alright, though it's more my back being hurt than anything else, as I wrenched the hell out of it. I'm on Dilantin for now and I *should* be alright as I have a neuro appointment next month.

In related news, I am looking to get rid of my copy of Left For Dead. I was playing it when I had aforementioned seizure. I just think, considering the circumstances, it's probably a good idea to get rid of it.

The ad on TMP for it is here:

I've gotten some more 20mm almost done, Soviet WWII Sailors this time, I'll have pictures up on the blog as soon as I can, they really were rather easy to paint, but I do confess that I think I finally have enough of the lads.

Finally, it looks as if Tomorrow's War is edging ever close to being released for sale. Even as a "pre-release" PDF version, I am enthusiastic about it to no end.

My Battletech strategic PBEM continues apace, me being promoted from Lyran player to co-Gm as the ref sure needed the help. It's more fun than I thought it would be.

That's it for now.

Taking the day off....and I think it will be good for me.

Well,
I updated a story I have been working on, nothing of interest to wargamers, but perhaps I'll post it here if there's requests? Also, been trying to get back into the painting groove, I think tomorrow and Saturday, I'll get some work done on the Hammers Infantry. Ought to be done by the end of the weekend. Of course, there will be pictures!!

Also, I am going to a 28mm Irish Rebellion game set during the Rising of '16 tomorrow. Never gamed that period before. I am looking forward to the game, and who knows, perhaps I'll meet some people to have over to Victory Comics from time to time? I guess if you put your mind to something, you can do it.

Other than that, I am involved in a Battletech Strategic Game that's helping a guy in Australia come up with the action for an alternate 4th Succession War. Ah, give me the days of Hanse and co! That was Battletech!

I might be offering up some 20mm stuff for trade/sale soon. I've gotten better Japanese sculpts and frankly, the Japanese I have aren't all that great, so out the door they will go. They're primed and based, so I should get something decent for them. There will probably be some Skytrex Modern Russians going with it. But I've got to get some time to go through it all.

So, that's it here, just wanted to make sure the blog don't get stale!

Some pictures from Saturday's Battletech Game!

The Stone Rhino before he got the PPC to the head!



Some of the Wobbies before the fighting commenced



Some of the Elementals who frustrated the designs of the WoB this day!



The Jade Falcon Executioner A who took a heavy toll of Blakists.

All 'Mechs were painted by Falcon Guard/Blackstone, with certain exceptions (the Stone Rhino and the Executioner, which are Dave Fanjoy pieces).

Yesterday's Classic Battletech Game.and a review of Victory Comics

Well, I did promise to mention this...and frankly dear reader, I should have written this sooner. The game was held at a relatively new establishment called Victory Comics. Do not let the name fool you, it's planning to do more, a lot more.

The location is about 1 1/2 to 2 miles from the East Falls Church Metro. The location's nice, parking isn't too bad, and the location itself is airy, well lit (extremely so much to our very happy surprise). The owner is a nice, no drama guy who trusts his staff and the staff is knowledgeable and one even sat down and gamed with us for a short time.

I am planning on holding a DC Gamer's meeting there either the 17th or the 24th of April and I'm thinking this will probably be a switch from the library. It's very close to the bus lines from the metro, and the store closes at 9, so getting out of there isn't going to cause very much in the way of drama. Snacks and soda are sold for VERY reasonable rates on site and there are a few very good places to eat, Elevation Burger being one I highly recommend.

Selection of hobby materials is limited, for now, but the store owner and staff both told me that they do plan to get more stock in, depending on what people play. In short, I rather like this place, and I do plan to return as often as I can manage to get out there. The place has something FOR everybody.

Anyway, here's the address and POC information:

Victory Comics
586 S. Washington Street
Falls Church, VA
(703)241-9393
Ask for Jeff, he's the Big Kahuna there and a really nice guy.

Here are some pics of the gaming area to give you an idea of just how nice this place is.





As for the Battletech game, well it was a surrounded Jade Falcon unit being set upon by some Wobbies. Things went bad for the Falcons the first couple of turns. We had our Ryoken hit by a 'Mech taser...not fun, and our Stone Rhino taking a Heavy PPC to the head, hell of a way to get one's portrait taken, eh! And we had a Night Gyr down with an Engine and a Gyro hit. Well, things turned around, first, Blackstone nailed one of the offending bad guys with a series of AC/20 rounds from a Hunchback IIC...Hunchbacks in the city...never fun to deal with. And Blackstone proved why..He had two AC/20 carriers (the Hunchback and a Executioner), a Star of Elementals, and 4 Tyr Hovers. The Manei Dominei we found out, for all of their C3 advantage, which is not a good thing to begin with, don't do well in cities. And Blackstone is an artist with light units.

As for me, after losing the Stone Rhino, and facing down 2 100 tonners (An Archangel piloted by Beirith himself) and a Titan II, and a Raptor II. I collapsed the position as best as I could. I was under pressure on the other flank where I was using the left hand lower corner of the woodland map with the wooded hills as best as I could, but even with the cover I had, the shots were telling. But, the Clanners rallied and killed a Wraith the old fashioned way by coring a torso. We also crippled the Raptor II by the time we called the game. All agreed, as much as the Wobbies had lost two lighter 'Mechs to our one (An assault), neither side could claim a win. Yeah, we were shot up, I had engine hits GALORE, but the Wobbies were sporting a lot of 'Mechs with head hits and had taken a lot of missile fire from Elementals.

I learned a few things yesterday:

1. ECM is vital when going Wobbie hunting, don't leave home without it.

2. Faster Wobbies need to die first, they're going to spot for the C3 network and then you get the missile/PPC/VPL/god knows what at close range.

3. Wobbies have a tough time in close terrain, they're faster, but they don't pack JJs as much in the heavier designs, I know, they're Omnis..but take a look in the 3075 TRO sometime. They're very tight designs for the tonnage because all the bennies that make them hard to kill are very, very bulky. More often than not, you'll have the firepower advantage. Lesson to Wobbie players? Don't go ANYWHERE alone, just like the horror movies.

4. Wobbies die like everyone else in cities, and Elementals, like cats, may have most people believing they work well alone, but they work better in pairs..and SRM-20 on Wobbie 'Mechs that don't for some reason, usually pack AMS? Yeah, Clan players STILL have options.

These were hard won lessons, and I expect to learn more as I play them..but the number one thing, they're tougher to kill than any 'Mech you'll ever face. Big guns are a must shooting Wobbies..even the light ones..Pulses are also good party favors.

Not much going on, but expect more soon!

Well, due to the fact I need new spectacles (and am getting them Tuesday), my painting schedule has taken a bit of a hiatus. But, I have made some forward progress on the 15mm Tanstaffl Free Legion I've been working on in 15mm, and I am rather happy with the lads, as soon as that's done, I plan on working on some other armies, probably some USCM types for Aliens...now if only somebody could tell me where I can get a decent 15mm analogue for the M577 APC? I'd be happy.

On the CBT front, I need to do finishing touches on the last of my 4th Donegal Guards company, then finish up a ELH company, and then? I dunno, there's a couple of lance and single sized units I'd like to build up, but for some reason, working on a generic Marik Company also sounds appealing. I think I have some interesting stuff to fill that out with.

Not much going on in 20mm right now, I barely have enough time to paint as it is...but I think things will improve shortly.

I also expect to post some reviews of some product I've managed to procure recently from Rebel, Top Gun and QRF.

A note to all who have supported this blog and my endeavors...THANKS!

Some new Battletech items!

Been a while, here's a 2nd Night Stalker company I finished over the weekend!

Season's greetings and a review of the new Plastic 'Mechs from Catalyst Games.

Well,
The long promised review is here. Sorry it took so long. But I have been busy with changes at work and a bit of the insanity associated with the holidays. But onto the review.

First off, I waited a month to get my order. When a website says "5-10 days to process an order", that's kind of what I expect. I didn't get a single email or explanation as to why the delay. And I sent two of them, but no matter, the items I sent for arrived.

So, onto the photos and product. The items (one assembled mech and one unassembled 'Mech per each design) came in small boxes and wrapped in cellophane bags, The plastic was gray and the same type of material IMHO that one's finding in the newer releases from Wargames Foundry and Valiant. Quality and sculpting was good, and the parts were easy to figure out, well, with one exception. The knee joints. I had to really futz with the damn things to get them to fit right. The good news was that when you consult the assembled version, you can figure it out, but seeing as how this was a proof of concept, and if this a success, other designs might be given the same treatment, one wonders if one might be well versed to include an instruction sheet?

Price was also something of an issue, but at $17.95 per two 'Mechs (works out to $8.98 a 'Mech), it doesn't sound like the cost is THAT much cheaper than the current prices for the lead 'Mechs currently in release.

Overall, considering the pricing, the minor assembly issues and the delivery delays, I give this 4 out of 5 stars.



Assembled Thor



Parts for Unassembled Thor



Assembled Loki (Best shot I could manage)



Parts for unassembled Loki

Merry Christmas, Happy Chaunkah and/or Happy Holidays to all, and a good 2010!

The switch to plastic, has technology improved? Is the day of the soft plastic figure over?

I'm going to speak on this because of my experience with the Valiant 20mm WWII line (they're closer to true 25mm IMHO, but that's my only complaint about these figures.) and the new plastic Battletech miniatures that have been released as a proof of concept from Catalyst Games. I am very intrigued by this development in the hobby with the advent of very high quality hard-plastic customizable miniatures for the rest of the hobby. The 40K crowd has done this for years, and I think that's where the prejudice against such things has come from. Personally, it's a development, in this era of rising commodities prices, that I can only approve of. It will also make the hobby more accessible as now teenagers can use their plastic modeling gear to work on their armies! Customizing their armies will become easier as well. For all of us conversion happy folks, this can only be a good thing.

I do wish the intermediate scales, aka 15mm, especially sci-fi got some of the same treatment. I do wonder how much cheaper this high impact plastic process is cheaper than the traditional resin and metal parts for vehicles is?

I do think the hard plastic trend for wargaming will continue, and I do think it might become the industry standard, as it looks as if the detail on these figures is captured better than the traditional soft plastic we see.

I do want to see what happens when my Battletech 'Mechs arrive. And I do promise a full review.

As for the Valiant, I found the figures to be an extremely easy build. The hard plastic took glue well, and with a little light scoring to the gluing surfaces with ye standard ol 11 blade, I couldn't have asked for an easier build. The figures scale well with the true 25s I still have left, not very many, but they're not going to fit in with either the 28mm lines on the market, or any 20mm lines I happen to be aware of. The details are excellent, and historically correct, frankly, I think the detail holds up better than on some lead I've seen out there. And, with typically 50-60 figures in a box, you can build a skirmish army in the scale with one box. So, if it's a bit pricey, it's worth it. I find that the amount of weapons and equipment found in the set are ample and in some case, more than ample, I've used some of the extra heads and gear to do some conversions with other figures and vehicles I have. Used in limited quantities, it all comes out in the wash. What flash there was, and there wasn't a lot, was easily removed with ol'number 11 and a measure of patience. My sanding was minimal and I don't recall that many, if any mold lines.

Alexandria CBT went well

God what a difference a gaming group makes.

The good:
-Company was excellent, not the "arrested development" of my last bunch. I don't mind bad jokes or tomfoolery..but when the humor stopping being funny sometime around junior high...Not the case here.

-Game was loose and yet dramatic and played to a conclusion by god!

-People left wanting to do it again!

The bad:

-Not much I can think of...

Never say Never I guess....

Well,
I was contacted by a new CBT group forming in the area, and get this, they asked me to join them..funny how that worked out. So, I'll give it a shot. Can't hurt, can it? I'm going to be getting a lot of historicals done soon as well..I have so much to do right now, it's not funny...

- Writing projects
- Putting together some kits and organizing my US force for Twilight 2000 Iran. Then, repainting my US Woodland BDU guys because frankly, I've found a better way, probably end up repainting most of my moderns.
- Painting up the remains of the WWII that needs to be done. There's a lot, but the armies are mostly done that I do have, with certain exceptions.
- Getting started on my Micro Armor moderns (getting more of that painted and done).
- Painting more 'Mechs (It seems I'll be putting them to use after all?)
- Finishing up more 15mm Sci-fi armies.
- Get the pics I took at Game Day up!

I think once I can get all this out of the way, life will be good.

SITREP..24 JUNE 2009

The good news is that the CBT stuff is mostly selling, or at least getting nibbles. Now all we have to do is get the Full Thrust stuff put up. For those inclined, the for sale post on here. I am very happy the exterminator's coming soon as I dearly want to get back to painting in earnest. I have a lot to do...and little time to do it.

I am also working on a side project of mine...sort of a unexpected fusion of the RDF Sourcebook from Twilight 2000 and Ambush Alley/Force on Force. It's called "Blood Upon the Risers" and it is going to be a free scenario pack by yours truly for said games set during the fighting between the 82nd Airborne Division and 1/75th and 2/75th Ranger Battalions against the Soviet 104th Guards Airborne Division in the area of Bandar-e-Khomeini between April and May of 1997. I think the name is apt, and I am using Google Maps to help me come up with the maps for the scenarios. I think it's a new and fun use for all those guys who have Americans wearing DCUs and Soviets for Afghanistan. Now, if somebody knows where a good source of Iranians in 20mm are (think Iran-Iraq war, I know about Lib Mins multi purpose line, and that's a good start, but the only guys he has with G3s are his incomplete West German line). It'll get done when I can, the main stumbling block being using CC3 to create the maps...it's a steep learning curve, but doable.

In other news, CLDecker and I are really embracing the Terminator theme, and I think the latest release of the rules may finally have terminators of the requisite toughness to sustain human fire. We'll see in the next playtest.

GZG is at it again, and they're so tempting me...especially the Ravager fellows as pictured on Dropship Horizon. I think I am going to get those and the Mantises I need for my Terminator flyers..now I just gotta work on John Connor's army. After I get the Tanstaffl Free Legion done I suppose.

It has begun

Well, I am selling some of the CBT and Full Thrust stuff off. Frankly. I'll probably wind up doing FT again sometime...now..it's just taking up space. As for CBT...I have kinda spilled enough ink over that, I'll just be glad to cull it a bit and put it away for a time. I need some time away. The game's going places I am not always cool with and I do not know if I can in good conscience, support it anymore. I appreciate the effort all parties are putting in, but I am simply not cool with a lot of what's gone on.

All in all, perhaps it's best I get some time away from it.

Another weekend done

It was all in all a productive weekend. I am working hard on my Twilight 2000 items and they're really coming together. I anticipate that I will be done with the US vehicles soon, and then it's on to working on my Soviets, getting them cleaned up and to a standard I like. I really am proud of the work I am putting in thus far, and so far, all seems to be going overly well. Also updated the AA terminator rules..upped the defense dice and played with the movement rates. I think this will work better and hopefully, there will be more playtests.

Also, played CBT this Saturday with my old group. I think as much as I wanted to support the GM of this event...and I really did, I made a mistake going to the event. The company was well, juvenile. It wasn't everyone, and some of the members of my old group, I genuinely enjoy their company...others..let's say they need a Dale Carnegie book or three (and I can't stand the guy, but some of his advice is sound). Also, CBT is losing interest for me..the game is falling into the "Ok, folks are losing interest, let's introduce a new army with all new wiz-bang toys orders of magnitude more powerful than than what's in the game already!" trap that 40K wrote the book on. Not good. Worse, folks are fretting about the battle value system as it was supposed to give "balanced games"..there's a myth if I ever heard one...no damn such thing. If you make things totally equal, you get nightmares like Iran-Iraq or World War I. Battletech, last I looked, was supposed to be about armored warfare, of concentrating all available assets at the point of decision and smashing the other guy! Now, it's nothing more than a fanboy arms race with the "faction-de-jour". And now, they're throwing around tons of nukes to do it. I point out the last time someone did that in another game I love...Megatraveller. Dave Nielsen said it best, "have the cataclysm, then game the aftermath". People don't like their sacred cows becoming hamburger, and worse yet..having the ending resolved with an inferior product (Down in front Mechwarrior! At least it keeps me in cheap 15mm VTOLs and 'Mechs).

I know this might not make me popular with some. Know what? Don't care. I am pretty convinced play balance is achieved by giving out realistic victory conditions that both sides have a decent chance of achieving, and an even handed ref who isn't looking to screw one side or the other. Like I said..if you're doing the Seelow Heights in 1945, and you're bitching that you've got a scratch force of rear-area types, cadets and HJ for your Germans, with a pair of Stug IIIs and a couple of PaK 40s, and you're expected to hold off a company(+) of Russian tanks...well, that's the way it was, and perhaps you're playing the wrong game. One victory condition is for the Russians to exit X amount of troops off the table in a VERY short amount of time..or to kill or capture ALL the Germans? Not so easy no matter HOW many troops you have. See, balance? The Germans, they have it easier...knock off X amount of Russians or have X amount of their force still alive. Balance is possible, and points/values IMO, aren't a magic solution!

Painting? Is it easier with Historicals?

Well, I got a lot of work done this week. I rebased and touched up some Soviets for WWII, and painted a few of them. I am getting enamored of the "Popsicle stick" method of painting figures. It's something I have had a long time coming. Funny thing is, having gotten back into painting historicals? I find it EASIER than painting CBT. Why? You might ask:

Exhibit A

Ok, now look at my second piece of evidence.

Exhibit B

Same unit, same time period, but the base reds are different, and so is the the black. Heck, in A, I'd be hard pressed to say that was BLACK if I didn't know what the colors were. And both exhibits are from Camospecs, the official paintscheme site for CBT. Yes, I know there are such things as faded paint, weathering and the like, but it's also the descriptions of said colors. Vallejo thankfully, can do a million colors approximating just about every uniform shade in history, but good luck matching shads of units from a future that probably won't happen!

By the way, kudos to Artizan Designs! Their camo guide is nothing short of fantastic. It, combined with my copious Osprey collection has made painting almost anything WWII a snap! No matter what scale WWII you paint, go take a look.