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.
27 August 2010
10 August 2010
Sierra Foxtrot One Five is BORN!
As submitted here:
Sierra Foxtrot One Five, a new fanzine for 15mm SF gamers, is looking for article submissions from you. Just about anything that could be of use to the 15mm Sci-Fi gamer will be accepted.
- Articles should be good, but pithy. Anything over 2-3K in length is going to probably be made a 2-parter.
- Pictures should be in .jpeg or .gif format.
- If you want to do art for us, realize we're doing a "hard-sf" look for the mag, we're getting away from the Gothic SF look of GW.
What kinds of articles are we looking for? AARs, Scenarios, reviews of figures, resin vehicles, terrain or just about anything of interest to the 15mm SF gamer. (We're especially looking for stuff that could be useful but a 15mm gamer might overlook). Interviews with figure manufacturers and rules writers (down in front Jon, CW and the gang at Rebel and Khurasan!).
All article submissions should be in .doc, .txt or .rtf format. Please send all submissions to jasonDOTweiserATgmailDOTcom
And thanks!
Sierra Foxtrot One Five, a new fanzine for 15mm SF gamers, is looking for article submissions from you. Just about anything that could be of use to the 15mm Sci-Fi gamer will be accepted.
- Articles should be good, but pithy. Anything over 2-3K in length is going to probably be made a 2-parter.
- Pictures should be in .jpeg or .gif format.
- If you want to do art for us, realize we're doing a "hard-sf" look for the mag, we're getting away from the Gothic SF look of GW.
What kinds of articles are we looking for? AARs, Scenarios, reviews of figures, resin vehicles, terrain or just about anything of interest to the 15mm SF gamer. (We're especially looking for stuff that could be useful but a 15mm gamer might overlook). Interviews with figure manufacturers and rules writers (down in front Jon, CW and the gang at Rebel and Khurasan!).
All article submissions should be in .doc, .txt or .rtf format. Please send all submissions to jasonDOTweiserATgmailDOTcom
And thanks!
04 August 2010
It's a go!
As I posted on TMP:
Ok folks,
Jage 111 and I have begun work, I've already penned an article, a scenario to be honest, and it's generic enough you can use it with any system.
What do we need from you? If you want to write, we're looking to put the first issue out sometime next month, after that, it'll be every three months to start. So, we need articles! Anything 15mm sci fi or stuff that can be used with 15mm sci fi is welcome. Please send it to me at:
JASONdotWEISERatGMAILdotNET
I'll get it to Jage, unless he's willing to give his email out here.
We'd especially love articles on world building and new backgrounds to game in, or how to adapt that favorite RPG or other game background to your beloved rules set.
We're also taking name submissions for the fanzine, names suggested thus far are:
"Miniature Droptrooper"
Obviously, we need a bit of help here. So, send your ideas about that too either via PM or email as mentioned earlier.
Thanks a bunch guys, and let's see if we can make this a success.
A link to the actual post is here:
TMP Post
Ok folks,
Jage 111 and I have begun work, I've already penned an article, a scenario to be honest, and it's generic enough you can use it with any system.
What do we need from you? If you want to write, we're looking to put the first issue out sometime next month, after that, it'll be every three months to start. So, we need articles! Anything 15mm sci fi or stuff that can be used with 15mm sci fi is welcome. Please send it to me at:
JASONdotWEISERatGMAILdotNET
I'll get it to Jage, unless he's willing to give his email out here.
We'd especially love articles on world building and new backgrounds to game in, or how to adapt that favorite RPG or other game background to your beloved rules set.
We're also taking name submissions for the fanzine, names suggested thus far are:
"Miniature Droptrooper"
Obviously, we need a bit of help here. So, send your ideas about that too either via PM or email as mentioned earlier.
Thanks a bunch guys, and let's see if we can make this a success.
A link to the actual post is here:
TMP Post
02 August 2010
15mm Sci-Fi Fanzine?
With the recent explosion of 15mm as a sci-fi scale, I've been pretty happy to report that it seems that the new releases are just getting harder and harder to track. What is vexing however, is that there isn't as much of a "one stop shop" or more indepth articles for those of us who appreciate the 15mm and it's sci-fi Renaissance.
Jage, a friend and fellow TMPer, has proposed a fanzine to fill in the blanks that Dropship Horizon or other's can't because blog entries aren't always able to be longer affairs like a fanzine can. I think this is a solid idea and I am certainly in favor of the idea. I think a quarterly format, of four issues per year in PDF format might work best, and I think for the most part, it's what one can get in terms of articles for now.
But the fact is, we really don't want to "step on toes" of the great bloggers like LSS and Dropship, to name a few. So, what say you, fellow 15mm gamer? I'd like to hear your take on the idea.
Jage, a friend and fellow TMPer, has proposed a fanzine to fill in the blanks that Dropship Horizon or other's can't because blog entries aren't always able to be longer affairs like a fanzine can. I think this is a solid idea and I am certainly in favor of the idea. I think a quarterly format, of four issues per year in PDF format might work best, and I think for the most part, it's what one can get in terms of articles for now.
But the fact is, we really don't want to "step on toes" of the great bloggers like LSS and Dropship, to name a few. So, what say you, fellow 15mm gamer? I'd like to hear your take on the idea.
01 August 2010
WW I this weekend
Well, gamed with the crew in Alexandria this weekend. And did we have fun! The game was set during the last German offensive in 1918. I played Germans mainly b/c of all the toys we got, tanks, flammenwerfer, mortars, Stosstruppen. Yeah, it was just too tempting.
I ended up commanding what soon became described as the pinning force while the other guys on my side moved up the left. Well, I got hammered. My tank was riddled with HMG fire and everybody died...but not before I got a breach in the wire. So, I pushed everybody through...only to watch only two of them make it to the British trench line in the end, and die in the melee.
On my left, the attack went alright, the British bunkers were suppressed, and the tanks kept stalling out (mine was the only one that was consistently moving...as it turned out). They got into the British trench line, and the A7V trundled through the British trench line(happily, our artillery had waxed the British Heavy Mortar that had been covering the sector with a lucky round). But, alas, the tank and one German survivor cowering in a captured bunker was all that was left of approximately a company's worth of Germans. Yep, typical WWI. I had a good time though. The mayhem was picturesque and the rules (Trench Wars), were simple buckets o' dice rules, which I happen to like.
I wanna thank Steve, Dave, Jason and Wyatt for a fun and engaging game. Here's to next month. The terrain and company is simply awesome.
And now, here's some pictures:
The bunker on the left that the Germans managed to take.
My forlorn Mk IV after being riddled with HMG fire.
A panoramic view of the field.
<
A closeup of my MK IV
The A7V that made it through the British trench line
Here I am about to make the fateful breach
Here's some of the British defenders.
I ended up commanding what soon became described as the pinning force while the other guys on my side moved up the left. Well, I got hammered. My tank was riddled with HMG fire and everybody died...but not before I got a breach in the wire. So, I pushed everybody through...only to watch only two of them make it to the British trench line in the end, and die in the melee.
On my left, the attack went alright, the British bunkers were suppressed, and the tanks kept stalling out (mine was the only one that was consistently moving...as it turned out). They got into the British trench line, and the A7V trundled through the British trench line(happily, our artillery had waxed the British Heavy Mortar that had been covering the sector with a lucky round). But, alas, the tank and one German survivor cowering in a captured bunker was all that was left of approximately a company's worth of Germans. Yep, typical WWI. I had a good time though. The mayhem was picturesque and the rules (Trench Wars), were simple buckets o' dice rules, which I happen to like.
I wanna thank Steve, Dave, Jason and Wyatt for a fun and engaging game. Here's to next month. The terrain and company is simply awesome.
And now, here's some pictures:
The bunker on the left that the Germans managed to take.
My forlorn Mk IV after being riddled with HMG fire.
A panoramic view of the field.
<
A closeup of my MK IV
The A7V that made it through the British trench line
Here I am about to make the fateful breach
Here's some of the British defenders.
26 July 2010
Two Game AARs and a lot of pictures!
Gane 1: A FFT AAR, Germany, 1987.
The game was a Czech and a Soviet Tank Regiment against a US Army Armored Cav Squadron. The game didn't last too long, even with Hinds in support (they were remarkably ineffective, one being shot down and the other doing little more than killing a Brad with an AT-6 shot).
The Soviets and Czechs advanced on a broad front on either side of the road running the length of the table (we played on a 4 x 4 ft space, it was the only table Jage and I could get at E and E that day). The Soviets did well initially, losing a battalion in exchange for killing most of a US Cav troop. A early T-80 does have a shot of killing an M1 front on. Not a great chance, but better than nothing.
The Czechs on the other hand? They basically melted away. Their T-72s were little more than target practice for the US M1s. Most of the Czech platoons ran away from failed QCs rather than dying outright, by the time the regiment tested, there was barely a battalion's worth of T-72s left.
The Russians kept on, and tried to flank the US position in the center, but lateral movement by the Americans on my flanks pretty much put paid to the Soviet advance. The game was over in three turns.
Here are some pics. Yes, Virginia, the Soviets need artillery. They really shouldn't leave home without it.
A really bad pic of the hapless Czechs!
A pregame pic of the Soviets
The Hind after it ate a Stinger (Hey, it's semi-historical!)
Game two was an FoF game set loosely in East Prussia in late 1944/early 1945. I let Jage use his newly painted Handschar (I said they were a late personnel draft that never got to the division). They were part of a weak platoon rearguard along with two understrength squads of regulars, and a small anti-tank team from the Volkssturm.
They faced a Soviet force of 7 T-34s (Mix of 76 and 85, I know it's not historical but I couldn't get all my 85's done in time!) Also, they were backed up by a platoon of Tank Riders, and some scouts in a Scout Car and on horse (I never used the latter, they'd have been cut down, as you'll see later).
I was playing the Soviets against my Stepfather Lou, and Jage again. Needless to say, I made a crucial mistake early, I played the Soviets cautious. To be fair, I was running the game more than I was playing tactical, but they beat me good. But let's describe the game. I moved up a T-34/76 on my left, and lost it to Panzerfaust fire from the Volkssturm, who promptly got the heck out of there. I didn't blame them with what was to come.
I brought in another T-34 and more Panzerfaust fire killed the crew. Two T-34s down and I tried a new tack, bringing in the scout car on the right, using some elevation to gain some cover. I forced the Handachar back with some machine gun fire and brought in the rest of the T-34s.
Here's where I made my mistake. Instead of rolling the T-34s right up on the woods and debussing next turn, accepting the risk, I debarked as soon as I got the vehicles into the woodline, and advanced the infantry over a bit of open space. I decreed all the Soviets had SMGs...and they paid for it...with the Germans cutting them down at ranges the Soviets couldn't do a thing about. Morale rolls began to tell, and soon the attack bogged down.
By this point, I'd gotten a few "1s" on my reaction rolls, and one FoW card I pulled was a very lucky "Fire, Fire" card. I used to promptly set the stone ruins on fire in the center. I began to get hope again and tried to get the infantry moving again, but the Handchar returned, and they cut down the remaining Soviets. To make matters worse? The Germans panzerfausted ANOTHER T-34. They only needed to kill one more and I was toast. Needless to say, this is when their reinforcements, a Mk IV and a JgPz IV showed up...and roasted another T-34. Game over. It was hard fought, and though the Germans took light casualties, they didn't get off scott free.
We had a lot of fun, and my stepfather had some good ideas for my storage sitrep and seemed to be interested in the hobby.
Anyhow, that's it for now. Here are some pics, Jage took some more, and those can be seen here
The Soviet high water mark
A shot of the Soviets before the game
The German VS anti-tank team.
The game was a Czech and a Soviet Tank Regiment against a US Army Armored Cav Squadron. The game didn't last too long, even with Hinds in support (they were remarkably ineffective, one being shot down and the other doing little more than killing a Brad with an AT-6 shot).
The Soviets and Czechs advanced on a broad front on either side of the road running the length of the table (we played on a 4 x 4 ft space, it was the only table Jage and I could get at E and E that day). The Soviets did well initially, losing a battalion in exchange for killing most of a US Cav troop. A early T-80 does have a shot of killing an M1 front on. Not a great chance, but better than nothing.
The Czechs on the other hand? They basically melted away. Their T-72s were little more than target practice for the US M1s. Most of the Czech platoons ran away from failed QCs rather than dying outright, by the time the regiment tested, there was barely a battalion's worth of T-72s left.
The Russians kept on, and tried to flank the US position in the center, but lateral movement by the Americans on my flanks pretty much put paid to the Soviet advance. The game was over in three turns.
Here are some pics. Yes, Virginia, the Soviets need artillery. They really shouldn't leave home without it.
A really bad pic of the hapless Czechs!
A pregame pic of the Soviets
The Hind after it ate a Stinger (Hey, it's semi-historical!)
Game two was an FoF game set loosely in East Prussia in late 1944/early 1945. I let Jage use his newly painted Handschar (I said they were a late personnel draft that never got to the division). They were part of a weak platoon rearguard along with two understrength squads of regulars, and a small anti-tank team from the Volkssturm.
They faced a Soviet force of 7 T-34s (Mix of 76 and 85, I know it's not historical but I couldn't get all my 85's done in time!) Also, they were backed up by a platoon of Tank Riders, and some scouts in a Scout Car and on horse (I never used the latter, they'd have been cut down, as you'll see later).
I was playing the Soviets against my Stepfather Lou, and Jage again. Needless to say, I made a crucial mistake early, I played the Soviets cautious. To be fair, I was running the game more than I was playing tactical, but they beat me good. But let's describe the game. I moved up a T-34/76 on my left, and lost it to Panzerfaust fire from the Volkssturm, who promptly got the heck out of there. I didn't blame them with what was to come.
I brought in another T-34 and more Panzerfaust fire killed the crew. Two T-34s down and I tried a new tack, bringing in the scout car on the right, using some elevation to gain some cover. I forced the Handachar back with some machine gun fire and brought in the rest of the T-34s.
Here's where I made my mistake. Instead of rolling the T-34s right up on the woods and debussing next turn, accepting the risk, I debarked as soon as I got the vehicles into the woodline, and advanced the infantry over a bit of open space. I decreed all the Soviets had SMGs...and they paid for it...with the Germans cutting them down at ranges the Soviets couldn't do a thing about. Morale rolls began to tell, and soon the attack bogged down.
By this point, I'd gotten a few "1s" on my reaction rolls, and one FoW card I pulled was a very lucky "Fire, Fire" card. I used to promptly set the stone ruins on fire in the center. I began to get hope again and tried to get the infantry moving again, but the Handchar returned, and they cut down the remaining Soviets. To make matters worse? The Germans panzerfausted ANOTHER T-34. They only needed to kill one more and I was toast. Needless to say, this is when their reinforcements, a Mk IV and a JgPz IV showed up...and roasted another T-34. Game over. It was hard fought, and though the Germans took light casualties, they didn't get off scott free.
We had a lot of fun, and my stepfather had some good ideas for my storage sitrep and seemed to be interested in the hobby.
Anyhow, that's it for now. Here are some pics, Jage took some more, and those can be seen here
The Soviet high water mark
A shot of the Soviets before the game
The German VS anti-tank team.
22 July 2010
T-34s, more books and some figures!
Well, my Syr Hobbes order came last week, lots of US and Brit SF, and some Russian half figures for my vehicles..this will be fun! And I split a second hand consignment of Battlefield 20mm with Jage. He got the Russians, the Handachar and Jungwitz Cossacks and half the FJ. I took the other half of the FJ, the misc packs (lots of half figures for tanks there!) and the winter SS for Bulge stuff.
I sprayed up using the FoW Soviet Tank Color (it's done by Army Painter and doubles as a primer coat, what can I say, it's expensive, but not bad as a time saver) some T-34/85s that had been sitting forlornly from when I purchased them as a set from somebody on TMP.
I did miss some spots, you always do when you spray in my experience. So, I asked about on TMP, the Guild and the AAG forums, and Piers was nice enough to tell me to try the Vallejo Russian Green, but also that the shades on it tend to differ a bit. No worries, the Soviet Army's paint stocks always had a bit of "play" in them, and once they're properly detailed and weathered, and then chipped? You won't notice a damned thing!
I also have some pics of another modern micro-armor game we ran. Americans v. Soviets. Soviets lost again, but they did pretty much bag most of a US Armored Cav troop for the loss of a battalion of T-80s. Yeah, the Soviets would consider that a fair exchange. The Czech Tank battalion with T-72s, well, they simply died like dogs, with the survivors (most of the regiment, surprisingly!) ran for the hills.
I like FFT, it's damned fast and well thought out, I really wish Ty would get 3 out before I am old enough to collect SSI! I am looking forward to the game I've got planned on Saturday, now I've just got to plan the actual scenario...It will be a bit bigger than stuff we've run before, but I think all will appreciate it!
As for book reading, finally finished Generation Kill, I liked it but it was a bit long on "We killed a lot of civilians", and short on "what the battalion was actually doing". Not saying it isn't a good bit of work, but I liked Not a Good Day to Die better. Also finished Tonight We Die as Men. Fine bit of work there. Ian Gardner did himself proud with the book, and the bit of research he did on the Douve river bridges on D-Day has corrected a long-standing error. I like that Mark Bando was involved in the book. He's also done a lot with the 101st and really showing the division was more than one company (again, no offense intended to the members of E/2/506th).
I also gave Jage my extra 2300 stuff and my older HS books. Hope he finds them useful. I sure did!
Well, that's all for now, pictures soon!
I sprayed up using the FoW Soviet Tank Color (it's done by Army Painter and doubles as a primer coat, what can I say, it's expensive, but not bad as a time saver) some T-34/85s that had been sitting forlornly from when I purchased them as a set from somebody on TMP.
I did miss some spots, you always do when you spray in my experience. So, I asked about on TMP, the Guild and the AAG forums, and Piers was nice enough to tell me to try the Vallejo Russian Green, but also that the shades on it tend to differ a bit. No worries, the Soviet Army's paint stocks always had a bit of "play" in them, and once they're properly detailed and weathered, and then chipped? You won't notice a damned thing!
I also have some pics of another modern micro-armor game we ran. Americans v. Soviets. Soviets lost again, but they did pretty much bag most of a US Armored Cav troop for the loss of a battalion of T-80s. Yeah, the Soviets would consider that a fair exchange. The Czech Tank battalion with T-72s, well, they simply died like dogs, with the survivors (most of the regiment, surprisingly!) ran for the hills.
I like FFT, it's damned fast and well thought out, I really wish Ty would get 3 out before I am old enough to collect SSI! I am looking forward to the game I've got planned on Saturday, now I've just got to plan the actual scenario...It will be a bit bigger than stuff we've run before, but I think all will appreciate it!
As for book reading, finally finished Generation Kill, I liked it but it was a bit long on "We killed a lot of civilians", and short on "what the battalion was actually doing". Not saying it isn't a good bit of work, but I liked Not a Good Day to Die better. Also finished Tonight We Die as Men. Fine bit of work there. Ian Gardner did himself proud with the book, and the bit of research he did on the Douve river bridges on D-Day has corrected a long-standing error. I like that Mark Bando was involved in the book. He's also done a lot with the 101st and really showing the division was more than one company (again, no offense intended to the members of E/2/506th).
I also gave Jage my extra 2300 stuff and my older HS books. Hope he finds them useful. I sure did!
Well, that's all for now, pictures soon!
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