Blooming Ekk! - Only three weeks go! Arrhhhhh..

Ok, the realisation has just dawned on me.. err.. its three weeks to go now.

Yes, Gauntlet 2012 - Our clubs show is only three weeks away.. scary!

In the past I have put on big games. And that has usually involved a rabbid painting rush and mad last minute secenery painting to get the game done even painting thing on the friday night before.

This year, due to one reason or another, I have not embarked upon such. Mainly due to other life concerns.. so this year, I am rolling out a Dungeon Bash. Good old fashioned, bash the monsters and grab the treasure. Partly because I like games like that. Partly because it means I can roll out my large collection of Dwarven Forge in a big layout for a couple of days.

So.. having made that decision. I need to design the dungeon.. (hmm or at least the plot and story for the players). It has to be simple as its a turn up and play game. So I am toying with going with basic D20 RPG. Six stats, a handful of skills, an AC and hit points as I want.

My other option is to use Bladestorm by ICE. But that is a bit more complicated and more a skirmish battle system, which is fine if you have the time to invest. But I do like the system. Hmm choices, choices.. The gaming system and plot aside. I also need to get some stuff to fill the dungeon with. I have a fair few figures from the D&D prepainted plastics miniatures range, so they should give me enough things to populate most of it and give each player a representative figure.

Its then a case of filling in rooms with furniture etc. I have bought a couple of packs of scenery pieces, barrels etc here and there from various makers such as Ainsty castings and some off ebay, in the past, but they will need painting. So it looks like it could once more be a mad rush to get things painted again! Oh joy.. at some point I will remind my self why I do this every year and swear I won't next year and so on an so forth..

So here are a few shots from various places on the web of some larger layouts. Hoping to do something long these lines, but of course not an exact copy..

From - http://www.wethegamerz.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/gallery_layout_dungeon.jpg

From - http://www.the-back-row.com/media/blogs/TBR/dwarvenforge.jpeg

From - http://www.dwarvenforge.info/bibliothequeimages/IMG_3944.jpg

Hmm.. looking at those photos, I really better get some planning done soon. :)

There are some more photos of lovely layouts here too:

http://www.dwarvenforge.info/bibliothequeimages/selection/selection.htm

Ainsty Castings - Theft from his van. Keep an eye out for it please!

Hi Folks and followers.
Andy Lyons (Ainsty Castings) , had his hire van broken into just before phalanx and a serious quantity of stock stolen.

I put a post on TMP here.
This was also posted on another  forum.
"While preparing for his weekend shows, Andy Lyon of Ainsty's van was robbed:
All my boxes of show stock are gone, all my display models and figures are gone and all my boxed pieces for on the bottom of the racks are gone. Two racks of blistered minis are gone too.
"It has a substantial retail value plus is about a years worth of stock that he's built up.
"If anyone sees boxed Ainsty stuff, Crooked Dice and Rogue Miniatures blisters being sold on the cheap let me (or Andy direct) know.
"I painted up most of the CD display figures for him and Paul V2 the Rogues… so if you see any of those on eBay shout out."
Spread the word. The people who did this shouldn't get away with it."

I was made aware of the theft at Phalanx and spoke briefly with Andy. Some of the items are in blisters and in large really useful boxes. Some of the items are painted.

I took a series of photos (see below) of some of his painted pieces he had stolen back in 2011 at the Derby show. Here are some of my un-posted photos and some from that report.

If my readers see any of these up for sale please let Andy know asap.

WMMS Show 2012 - The boats were just being painted



WMMS Show 2012



WMMS Show - The painted figures had been added too.

Hopefully the stuff might turn up if the thieves dump it, realising it is not high value electrical goods etc, unless they knew what they were stealing. In that case, it could hard to shift, as putting the painted figures aside, the volume of ainsty castings taken is almost a half or more of a years castings for Andy, so no one will have this quantity sitting on their shop shelves.