something is wrong with me

One of the top rules of gaming: you play what your group is playing. Yes, you can try to sell them on your favorite(s) to win them over, but when something catches on, you eventually ride the wave. It's all about the playing, after all.

Originally, I said that I would play Flames of War only when I could use rebased Monsterpocalypse figs as kaiju as my army. But again, over time, I have slid on this restriction, and I find myself reading through the rules seriously, and thinking about what faction I'd like to select.*


And nonetheless, I'll just be reading along, and it'l pop into my head, you know, you could totally do a WW2 version of Cobra Command. And it'd be awesome. I mean, part of the selling point of 15mm is that vehicles and terrain are easier, right? And you have to admit, a line of HISS tanks would be intimidating! Etc., etc.


I just can't help myself. This is why I wasn't cut out for historicals.




* - My amigo Imam has offered to loan me a Brit army to run, which is tempting.

interregnum

Another lull between games, so more rambling.

My esteemed opponent Maurice put up his version of the battle report I posted a couple weeks back. The contrast between the two is quite telling. I will never be 'the rules guy.' It's just not my thing. I game for the backstory, 'the fluff,' the narrative of the battle. I quite often get tripped up by what modifiers I should be using for which stat, and what have you. Luckily, I have some patient opponents to play against. And thusly my battle reports will trend toward a couple decent pictures, and some brief anecdotes about what happened. That is just how my tastes (and attention span) runs.

The big news,. I suppose, is that we've decided against hitting Gen Con this year. Just a general lack of enthusiasm combined with the companies that we're into either not showing up, or nothing doing anything terribly exciting. Instead, it looks like we will be hitting Historicon, as that's a shorter trip, and hopefully a more fruitful one. We're also looking at getting a table at the flea market, which would let me unload some minis I no longer need, and get a few bucks (to spend on new minis I don't need, heh.)

Amusing side note: one way to make me feel better about laying out the cash for my gaming vacations turns out to be going shopping with my wife for her camping adventures. As she notes, she spends ahead of time for her trips, whereas I spend the bulk of my cash while I am there. It's a fair cop.

Have been keeping busy working on 15mm scifi terrain using odds and ends I have picked up over the years. One building for my theoretical mining colony/spaceport is assembled and ready for basing, another is halfway there. Also working on some tiles and crowd templates for The Department and Blasters & Bulkheads. The goal for those is 'cheap and versatile,' and I think I am most of the way there. Pics when they're ready for primetime.

Gruntz: EHTC vs. Kontrol

 

Never known for their reluctance to act, the Kontrol Battalions reacted quickly to reports of a East Hyadum Trading Company camp planetside. Their grip on the rim colonies would only be maintained through determination with a heavy dose of fear, and a cold application of violence was more often than not the most efficient answer.

The initial push to the westward flank of the EHTC encampment was met with... some resistance. Rushing to close the gap to the artillery, the Luchs truck was blasted with authority, leaving the troops and sergeant inside to march the rest of the distance, past the solar farm on the hilltop. The fearsome Sponkhound tank rounded the corner to press the advantage.

Meanwhile, another squad marched east, knowing if they could claim the ruined temple it would be a moral victory to show the locals who's in charge.

Reports are scattered, but things didn't turn out well for Kontrol that day. The artillery was neutralized by the short distances, but fierce opposition backed up by a hidden Merka tank (!) and a returning scout walker neutralizing the already neutralized squad moving on the temple. The Merka vs. Sponkhound debate was brutal, but on its last legs (tracks?) the Merka won the terrible exchange. Casualties were heavy on both sides. As always, the Kontrol troops battled to the last, but the EHTC took the prize and held their ground, providing the locals hope to escape the grip of Kontrol.

(The East Hyadum Trading Company were represented by Micropanzer infantry and the Rebel Merka. Artillery piece was from the Mechwarrior clix. Scenario was 'borrowed' from Flames of War, with some adaptations. Only a handful of rules mistakes were made.)

 In memoriam: that squad that didn't get anything accomplished.