Games we played over Christmas 2016

It has become something of a family tradition to play different and new boardgames over the Christmas period. 2106 was no exception.....

The first was Ultimate Werewolf, the edition with mobile phone interaction. We had three of four games on Christmas day whilst munching away at chocolates. We played it with eight adults and we all found it interesting. The best bit was when Nanna Flo (93) was the werewolf and had to move some of the card deck. we could all hear who was being directed to take an action and once we started - it was a simple matter of ALL pointing to Flo.

Codenames was a game that was bought for Gary last year, but this was the first time I had played it. I think my clue of chronometer and three was my best attempt as trying to win, others wanted to know why I had not said WATCH! Where's the fun in that?

Geistes is a game that Sue and I had seen demonstrated just before Christmas and we bought it thinking it would be fun.....

How wrong could I have been. I found it the most infuriating and frustrating game of the season, whilst everyone else thought it was great fun and continue to make fun of me as I just couldn't get the hang of shouting out when the book was on display and grabbing the item or card when it was not. I would expect anyone who knows this game to understand what I mean.

Great family fun for everyone except me.

Camel Up, another game that had been recommended to us just prior to Christmas. I think this was the highlight game of Christmas 2016 and I have no hesitation in recommending it to others. A great family game with loads of twists and turns 10 out of 10.

I found the production values of this game to be some of the very best I had ever come across. We only played two rounds, but I look forward to having a proper game; with four or five rounds and building up my winnings in the very near future.

Finally, I had two games of traditional Dungeons & Dragons with Holly and Gary. A real 'blast from the past' and although neither game was played to a full conclusion. It re-kindled some great nostalgic moments with my two (now grown up) children.

Tony

2017 - Looking Forward

In my previous post I talked about what had been the highlights for me in 2016. In this follow-up post I will be writing about my plans for 2017.

Firstly; Dampfpanzerwagon Guide No. 3 - Models for Wargamers. I have already written that the main content is finished, I am now in the process of having it proof read and formatted ready for publication which I hope will be ready for Alumwell WMMS in March. I am not expecting a Book Four. For the main reason that I have been commissioned to write for the Publisher Pen & Sword. The new book (and maybe even a series of books) will feature specifically themed books, for example Napoleonic Terrain and the first should be available within the year. In fact I have already started on the first two chapters.

Secondly; I have throughout 2016 been working on a whole series of 28mm/30mm Fantasy buildings and terrain which are planned to be cast in resin and available as a Kickstarter. At the moment the range includes over a dozen highly detailed models that will be useful for both traditional fantasy games and historical games. I have already seen some of the first and although I mastered them myself, I think they look fantastic (no-pun intended!) Expect more information and images very soon. The Kickstarter itself has no firm start date at this moment but I know that the plans are for a full launch around mid year. I will of course post links on the Blog once I have more details.

Thirdly; I will be exhibiting at The West Midlands Military Show, Alumwell, on Sunday March 12th. This will be my second time as an exhibitor and I look forward to showing off some of the more recent scratch-builds as well as launching the third book in the Dampfpanzerwagon Guide series - Models for Wargamers.

I would hope that I will be able to continue writing for Wargame magazines, but these maybe a little less frequent and my personal goal is to get back to painting figures, as I have missed sitting at my desk and painting miniatures.

Happy New Year.

Tony

2016 a personal review

Like many Bloggers, at this time of year I find myself looking back at 2016.

2016 has seen my hobby interests become more and more like a small business, with magazine articles and commissions taking up most of my modelling time and stock of Dampfpanzerwagon Guide No. 2 - More Wargame Terrain selling out (stock of Dampfpanzerwagon Guide No. 1 - Building Wargame Terrain sold out much earlier). Then I had to work on Book Three - Models for Wargamers which became a priority towards the end of the year, but is now being proof read (expect publication and release around Easter of 2017). I am hoping it will be ready for Alumwell on Sunday March 12th, and should have more details very soon.

Rob Alderman of Hysterical Games has got around to casting up some of the 'Wave Two' buildings for Panzerfauste - details appear on the Blog, but even more new models should be released in the New Year,

My main regret for 2016 is that I have not painted anywhere like enough figures, but as any regular reader or follower will know, terrain modelling is taking over my life! I also found that I read fewer books than in previous years, but this was (in part at least) made up for by the amount of magazines I have purchased and read.

I think my model making highlight was having two magazines (different magazines) each with an article written by me on the shelves of W H Smiths at the same time. I think I have become used to seeing my name in print, but to have two articles in two magazines at the same time was a little special. Similarly, the last issue of Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy had two articles in the same magazine. Another landmark.

Away-Days were a little sparse in 2016, but The visit to St Fagans was very special and I can see myself going back once the latest round of improvement work is finished. 2016 saw me attend just three shows, Alumwell, UK Games Expo and Scale Model World (all three are detailed on the Blog). I would have liked to have gone to more, maybe in 2017, I will get around to it.

My hobby purchases have also been less than previous years, but in truth, more than I can reasonably expect to paint in my 'free hobby time'. I actually found myself selling-on a number of items on e-bay and I can see this continuing in 2017.

For now, I would like to wish you a Happy New Year with a promise that there is more to come.

Tony

IPMS 2016 - the rest of the aircraft images

I have started this latest post with this stunning diorama of a F7U Cutlass crass landing on to an aircraft carrier. You can see the inspiration for the model by Googling Cutlass crash landing.

I particularly liked this display of What-If Russian aircraft.

Finishing with one of my all-time favourites - Fireball XL5

Tony

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you and all your family from me and mine.

Tony

The Splata for Pax Bochemannica S. P. Q.oRc

Image 'borrowed' from OITW

Thursday 22nd December and day 22 of this years Advent from Orcs in the Webbe. Another article written by me - this time a huge weapon of smash destruction inspired by a sketch from Max Coxhead. I present to you The Splata Mk II

For full details see this post. Or you can pop along to OITW to see the whole of this years Advent.

Happy Advent.

Tony

Piob-mhor - The Great Highland Bagpipes, Day 17 of OITW Advent 2016

Image 'borrowed' from Orcs in the Webbe

Saturday 17thth December and day 17 of the Orcs in the Webbe Advent Calendar 2016 is another short story written by me called Piob-mhor - The Great Highland Bagpipes.

For full details see this post.

And for details of the 2016 Advent calendar - a daily treat of free gifts from Craig Andrews, see this link.

I hope you enjoy the adventures of Merodach and his enchanted bagpipes.

Happy Advent.

Tony