40K last Saturday

I had a nice little Warhammer 40K game last weekend at Natural 20. I brought out 1500 points of Space Marines, my opponent brought Guard. It was a nice way to spend an afternoon.

Game accessory round-up

There are a couple of gaming accessories that I've discovered (that most people discovered a long time ago) that look like they can do a really good job of making my games a little cooler.

1: Dungeon Tiles (Wizards of the Coast)/Game Mastery Map Packs (Paizo): Most of my players are perfectly content with using a grid map with wet-erase markers. People have liked me pulling out the Dungeon Tiles recently. I don't think they pull away from the imaginative role-playing at all. They're not indispensable, but they definitely add to the minis experience.

The Dungeon Tiles are nice and affordable (about 10 bucks a pack). The sets mix-and-match pretty well, so I've had some nice dungeon layouts with them. Its nice using the outdoor tiles as well, instead of drawing out wooded areas on the battle-mat.

The map packs just look neat. I only have two sets: a tournament field, and a graveyard. They look nice, but have to fit together, puzzle-like, to set the entire scene (buildings are divided up between several tiles, for example). They're a little more specific than the dungeon tiles, and you end up spending more for less (compared to the Dungeon Tiles), but they look nice, and have very specific set-dressing.

2: Chronoscope miniatures (Reaper): I like subtle genre-mixing in my games. My sci-fi games have a little cyberpunk-feel to them. My fantasy incorporates horror. The Chronoscope minis are a collection of minis sculpted to resemble either specific time-period characters (like 19th century British soldiers or 20th century James Bond types) or genre-mixed characters (like, my favorite, a dwarfish dude with a sword, leather-cap and gatling gun). I haven't painted any up yet, but they'll be next on the list after my 40K army.

HEY EVERYONE, WAKE UP!

Okay, everyone...don't panic. I've come to a decision.

Space Marines will be my first 40K army.

Okay, you can go back to sleep now.

Teaching historical swordsmanship classes at an SCA event this weekend

I'm teaching 3 classes this upcoming weekend at the East Kingdom University in the Barony of Iron Bog:

Wards and Attacks for Italian Rapier

English Culture and Italian Fighting

Gentleman's Quarrel:Dueling Across Europe

Go to http://eastkingdom.org/event-detail.html?eid=1617 for more information on the event (such as directions, cost, etc.).

Weekend gaming thoughts

Spent yesterday at my friendly local gaming store. I picked up the new Warhammer 40K boxed set (I'll be opening that sometime this week to start painting). I also got to play Dust, a board game that plays a little like a bastard child of Risk and Axis and Allies. Great fun.

I've been spending my Saturday's down at Natural 20 in Westmont. The nice thing has been that I've gotten to play games I'd never thought of playing before. Last week, I watched a game of AT-43(sci-fi minis combat), the week before, it was some other board game...great fun.

I've led a pretty insular life when it comes to gaming. I used to be very uptight about finding small groups to play with. Now, I really enjoy hanging out in a store, playing anything new that anyone recommends. I think that's why I enjoy playing Warhammer, too...I like the idea of just bringing an army to a store, and playing anyone who's up for a game.

I own so many games, its ridiculous. I recently had the revelation: if I'm not careful, I'll never actually get to play any of these. So now, I'm making an effort to play the stuff I have o9n my shelves. It may sound elementary, but with a collection like mine, you can kind of forget that they're supposed to be taken out and played and enjoyed.

The Last Prophecy of Porter the Grimm: some background for my Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay game

Porter served most of his life as a monk in the Order of Sigmar, tending to the monastery’s herb garden, and living a simple, cloistered life. Things changed for him when the visions started. He began to foresee terrible events, such as attacks by Chaos into particular villages, murders of prominent nobles, and natural disasters. The clergy tolerated this for a time, until two things happened. One, the scribe at the monestary began to transcribe and illuminate his prophecies. Two, his last prophecy involved the Emperor himself. The Inquisition quickly and quietly tried Porter the Grimm and the scribe (known only as Colemann), and ordered them put to death, and the copies of the prophecies burnt. Colemann was taken from his cell late at night, and hung. Porter was nowhere to be found.

Porter escaped to the foothills of the Grey Mountains, and lived out the rest of his life as a hermit. He traded with a small household of dwarves on occasion, trading his visions and dreams for food and company. Orcs eventually killed Porter in the night, but the dwarves carried word about the Prophet of the Hills into the Empire.

In recent times, the Last Prophecy of Porter the Grimm has turned up again. A printed version of his prophecies about the last days of the Emperor has made its way around Altdorf. The Church is not pleased, and is doing everything in its power to find the underground printing-press that is making these, and destroying every copy they can find.

Warhammer Progress

Progress on my Warhammer Fantasy Battles army:

Since last week:

I've assembled a unit of Bretonnian men-at-arms, painted them, and based them.

I've primed ten Bretonnian knights/mounted men-at-arms.

I've finished painting 3 Bretonnian knights.

I've painted my first piece of Warhammer terrain (a gatehouse that my son got me for my birthday).

I have a total of about a hundred and seven Bretonnian models. All but eight are fully painted. I'll start the trebuchet this weekend. I've yet to assemble the dwarves and night goblins I have in the box.

My wife is taking pictures of the collection now, as I write.

I also picked up the new 40K rulebook on Saturday, and am trying to decide between Tau, Imperial Guard, and Space Marines. Any suggestions?