Cowboys and Hobbits

The AWC Lord of the Rings club couldn't let Adepticon pass without showcasing The Hobbit SBG game by running some demo games.  Although the new movie and game release haven't generated the gaming interest I'd hoped we still had a nice crowd of players each day.

A big thank you to Tyler and Kyle for running the demo table on Saturday and Sunday.  As well as a big thanks for all those who helped preparing the miniatures and terrain (Chris B, Tyler, Kyle, Chris T. and Tim).

 

I also really wanted to run an Old West game using the Legends of the Old West rules and featuring some of the old west models from our miniature range at Gorgon Studios. I had big plans for a mini-campaign style game involving 4 posses and two different scenarios played in series.  Unfortunately, I had one registration total and that person never showed up.  But getting it all setup wasn't a total loss as two of the "Edley boys" and their cousin came over and played. Next year I may try a night game as I think a Saturday morning game conflicted with to many other events and tournaments.

 

The really disappointing thing for me was that I had a wonderful piece of terrain commissioned by my friend Jeremy over at Wyrd Hobby Services that we never had the chance to use.  Rest assured, this will definitely be used the next time I run a game.

 





We interrupt this regulalry scheduled blog.....

.....to bring you an important message about an awesome Kickstarter project:


ROBOTECH RPG TACTICS! (click here to see more about this project)


I had a chance to play a demo of this at Adepticon and the company was also giving away a free Zentradi figure each day in the vendor hall.  As if they didn't already have me at "Robotech", the coolest sci-fi/anime/soap opera a 12 year old had ever seen, the free fig and the fun demo was enough.

Myself and a friend are in on this and set to get tons of bonus stuff thanks to the overwhelming support they have gotten on kickstarter.  Yet, with 5 more days left there are still plenty of chances to join in.  Not only are the models and background great but if you get in at the right level (Battle Cry and above) you will be getting a ton of great stuff at an incredible price.

And now, back to your regularly scheduled blog posts.

Adepticon: Lord of the Rings

With the release of the Hobbit SBG rulebook last winter our small group of LotR players had a shot of new excitement about the game we love.  I'll leave to analyses of GW and it's sale strategies to others but let me say I'm just happy to still be able to play the game and use the models I have as the new stuff is a bit rich for my blood.

The original plan was to have Brent Sinclair run his "March to Mount Doom" event on Thursday night, the Team Tournament on Friday and some Hobbit demos on Saturday and Sunday.  All these events either came very close to selling out or sold out and had spots added so I was very pleased with that.  We were also fortunate to get some new Hobbit product thanks to the Adepticon sponsor team and the wonderful retailers that support the convention (not GW, but lots of OTHER retailers).

Here is the cast of characters who turned out for the Team Tournament on Saturday.

 

Below are some shots of the armies and players from that day.  It was an awesome event to run and I want to thank all of the attendees for making it such a great day.

 

 

 



Custer's Last Stand

April is always a crazy time of year for me between work, family and gaming conventions.  So, now that I have a chance to recupperate I thought I'd share some highlights from the awesome game convention that is Adepticon.

First up, with Adepticon moving to a Thursday start I decided to use that as an opportunity to do some gaming, since I wasn't scheduled to run anything until Friday.  The one downside to this convention is that there is so much to do and not enough time to do it in, although that's not really a bad thing is it?  Couple that with helping to run events or setup and there is even less time to play.  My contribution is small but others do far more than me and I need to point out the extraordinary efforts some of the organizers and staff go to to make Adepticon what it is.  A big thanks to the organizers and staff that spend countless, often thankless hours, prior to and during Adepticon to make it happen.  It's only thanks to those dedicated volunteers that Adepticon is the great convention it is.

Enough of the Adepticon love fest then.....

I had the chance to sign up for "The Battle of Little Bighorn" game put on by a great guy and friend, Merle Delinger.  I've seen him run this the past couple of years and I've always wanted to play in it.

Merle uses the Old West rules and Blood on the Plains supplement for this game.  It involves several Native American contigents, one led by Crazy Horse and two Federal Cavalry contingents.  One of these is deployed on table and led by George Custer himself.  The other is all mounted releif force that arrives later as a reserve.

I decided I was feeling anti-government so chose to play as the Native Americans.  It was a fun game and all five of us playing had a great time.  Even though the reserve force game on first turn we managed to hold them up while Crazy Horse surrounded and finished off Custer. A victory for our side!

Concerning Hobbits

Thanks to the kindness of Brent Sinclair, organizer of Bilbo's Birthday Bash (B3), the Adepticon Lord of the Rings tournament attendees will be getting a one of a kind model for free when they enter at least one Lord of the Rings tournament at Adepticon 2013.  Below is a painted version of the model that will be given away (unpainted of course) to attendees.

This model was sculpted by Dave Fredericks of Majestic Bear Miniatures.  You can find out more about Adepticon and register for a Lord of the Rings tournament at the adepticon.org site.

A Shot of Southern Comfort

Over the past couple of weeks I've been inspired to delve into my American Civil War project that I'm working on as part of The Guns of April group.  Due to the machinations of one our members who will go unnamed, we were gently persuaded to do Gettysburg. Since I was the least opposed to painting the "bad guys" I ended up as one of the Confederate commanders.  Yet, on the positive side, I was tasked with painting the overall command stand with none other than Robert E. Lee (You'll have to wait for this one).  Plus, I love bluegrass music so I've been getting my southern groove on while I paint these guys.

 

 

You can follow the full details of this project and all our contributors at The Guns of April Blog.

 

 

 



2012 Hobby Resolutions: EPIC FAIL

I knew when I posted it last year at this time that in all likelihood my hobby resolutions for the year would be hard to follow through on.  Well, turns out I was right in assuming that as I only accomplished 3 of me 2012 hobby resolutions.  Below is the list from 2012 and I've indicated those items I accomplished. 

For 2012 I have several painting and hobby projects to complete:

• Paint one unit of 2/24th British Line Infantry for the Guns of April Napoleonic project for Adepticon (COMPLETED)
• Paint a unit of Gorgon Studios Etruscans for the Little Wars Charity auction (FAIL)
• Paint Fallaschirmjager and Panzer additions for my Flames of War forces (FAIL)
• Build and paint my FOW terrain for home use (FAIL)
• Paint a Lord of the Rings Harad army for Bilbo's Bash (FAIL)
• Paint at least one unit of Etruscans for the Gorgon Studios army (I'm setting the bar low) (COMPLETED)
• Play LotR and FOW more regularly (COMPLETED for LotR at least)
• Play in a FOW tournament (FAIL)

3 for 8 is not great but not the worst I guess.  I think I'm most happy that I got some more LotR gaming in and my biggest disappointment is not much FOW gaming.

So, for 2013, let's see if I can get a least a 4 for 8 or better.  Without further ado, here is my hobby resolutions for 2013.

• Paint a Confederate Brigade (130+ figs) for the Guns of April ACW project for Adepticon
• Finish my Fallschirmjager additions for FOW
• Finish my FOW terrain
• Play more FOW games
• Play in a FOW tournament
• Paint two new 600 point LotR armies
• Paint 1000 points for the Badab War project
• Play some 40k games

To start the new year I thought I'd share my most recent Badab War model for my 1000 point project.  This model is actually part of a planned Kill Zone team but I hope to make it part of my larger 40k Imperial Guard army.  I kept with the white and blue color scheme of the IG I started and after finishing realized I had secretly channeled my inner Star Wars geek by replicating an AT-AT.