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.

Phalanx Wargames Show Report with Photos

The St Helens Spartans put on Phalanx each year around the same time in June.
And it is usually just two weeks before Gauntlet our own Club Show.

And being local and well attended, its a regular on our show list to make.

So off we trudged at just after half past eight in the morning, down the motorway.
Over the bridge and along a bit.

Got to the a show, booked my bits into the Bring and Buy, and then went for a walk around.
£3 entry.

And the bring and buy is 10% without any "per sheet charge".

The morning was busy. And the bring and buy was heaving till about 11.30am when it quietened down a bit. The spartans run the best bring and buy I know, so despite my failing to sell much, it was run well and I felt confident to leave things on there.

Sadly, I learned that poor Andy Lyon from Ainsty Castings had had his stock stolen from his van, at his home the night before. Including painted figures, and display pieces. See here.
He had bravely decided to come with what he was able to put to gather and it was humbling to see several people buying things they may well have held off buying, to try and help out a little. He has a cracking range of resin scenery.

So here are the photos of the show, taken late in the day, so the numbers look way worse than they were. But hopefully you can see the games that were run;

A random shot of the hall.

It was busier than it looks. I took these late in the day.

A good mix of traders I felt this year. Like it.

Sorry didn't catch the details on this game.

e-Collectica Games, running a demo of a new boardgame

The very popular Dr Who game I believe. A regular at shows but the game always differs slightly. A game for all ages.

Very large scale Cowboys game.

A nicely done display and table. Liked it alot.

A big layout and lovely scenery. Very british civil war I believe.

This board had good atmosphere. Enjoy it.

I think the only let down was the pure grey road surfaccing, some cobbles some break up etc would have been nice.

But still a very very impressive partificaption game.

I hope those vehicles come up behind are friendly..!

Somehow the telephone box, just set this scene nicely.

I liked the terraced housing.

The Battle of Amphipolis. Lovely miniatures and wall.

The game was well advanced by the time I approached with the camera. Looks good though.

Nice figures and painting. Infact standard was good for all tables.

A VBCW game by MAWS members, put on last minute. Simple but effective.

Great 40K orc conversions from the St Helen Spartans MAWS, display table Not played with, but nice table. Good use of Mr Potato head and some kinder eggs! 

Display table I believe by St Helens Spartans.

Loved the Orc 40K planes.

Orc dino riders with missiles.. scary!

Large table. Battle of Edge hill with black powder. Looked impressive.

Edge hill.

Edgehill battle table. Some close ups on the cavalry.

Pikes at the ready.

Centre area stand off.

I though the unit labels were a nice touch.

A nice set of figures.

The game seemed to be going very well and was busy.

The East Lancs association game. Very busy indeed.

A local St Helens Fools and Heroes LARP Group Table. Nice show of props but needed more easily viewable info.

The other side of the East Lancs Wargamers Assoc board.

Critical Mass Demo tables. Like the sci-fi tres.

Not a big fan of the Critical Mass rules system, but some of the figures are nice. And I believe they are now selling these tree stumps as resin casts for their alien trees.  

The scenery and figure scemes really looked good.

Cammoflage that nearly works. :)

Critical mass figures. Some nice pieces in the range.

Hmm not sure which game this was. Sorry. Poor memory.

Lance and Longbow Table, behind the players.. Will with his shiny head, beating someone for a change! I think.

"Look I am winning" or its his Paul Daniels impression. Actually he was loosing, but apparently he was "supposed to loose!"  

Hmm thats a lot of Pike. Oh my.

Will about to roll.. not sure if he won in the end or not. Had to leave early.

Warlord Games, Operation Squad rules gaming table. Figures and scenery looked nice.

Warlord games table, from the german side.

Warlord games table again. I suspect the "mix" of models was more for show than, actual represent an average game.

So, at about 3pm I had to head off. So collected my bring and buy stuff and headed home. Sadly did not sell as much as I want. But did get some Deathwatch RPG books and some resin scenery pieces.

Was a good day. Despite horrid weather. Felt very sorry for Andy Lyon, standing red-eyed and obviously worn out at his stand, but admired his determination to show up and still trade after such a horrid event. I hope his stuff turns up and they catch the thieving scumbags!

So once more. Many thanks to the St Helens Spartans for putting on a great show. I managed to get 80 plus flyers for Gauntlet put out too. We are only just down the road, so if you are reading this and made Phalanx, please give some thought to coming along to Gauntlet (7th & 8th of July).