Dreadball Training Match, Eclipse and some Kickstarters

Had the usual Monday night games night this week and pulled out a group favorite (and as my youngest daughter insists on me mentioning her game) Eclipse. Set in the future after a intergalactic war it pits up to 6 factions rebuilding their strengths and exploring a now unfamiliar galaxy. The game runs over 9 turns with several rounds per turns with players taking as many actions as there empire can afford (based on controlled planets vs system maintenance, actions costs). It ended this week early due to my kids bedtimes but we managed to squeeze in 5 turns before I had to call it for them. After a tally of victory points I had managed to pull off a 3 VP win (mostly thanks to the Terran's 2:1 trade ratio and some lucky combat VP draws).

Tuesday morning saw me heading to my Uncles to run him and my brother through a demo game of Dreadball. Unfortunately on the way over my brother got a call from his work and ended up going in to cover the other butcher that had managed to put a knife through his thumb. So I ended up playing against my Uncle. My Veer-myn team vs his Corp team. It was quite a good game with plenty of scoring on both sides.... but my rats got tired. 3 rushes of incomplete passes or just plain misses and some favorable scattering for my Uncle results in a rush 14 landslide to the Corporation. Had a good time though and have recruited another coach for the upcoming 2014 inaugural Lucid Cup League.

Also for anyone interested I've jumped on to another couple of Kickstarters

Games and Gears Battle Boards - injection molded hard plastic modular 2' x 2' terrain boards with a few different thematic options. I've upgraded my pledge to the x 4 early bird and added for some of the grid sheets for Deadzone and dust tactics, the dice and gaming tray bundle and the 10mm card building scenery. I'm keeping an eye out for the carry case they're working on which will be coming from Battlefoam as of last update. 

Zombie Miniatures - some rather nice Zombie and survivor minis with some urban themed terrain. They've got some themed bonus zombies for pledging before Christmas eve or following and sharing on facebook, twitter etc. I've jumped in at the Decomposition reward tier giving my 2 packs of the 12 zombies and 1 of the 5 survivors, it's running till Jan 10th and they're currently reassessing stretch goals and looking at seeding a few extra minis through them.

That's all for this week. Doesn't look like I'll be getting a game in next week, but my Deadzone package is on time at the moment for a Monday delivery so I'm thinking an unboxing post will be the call for next week :)

Finally Dreadball Ultimate :)

My mates and I have been playing a fair bit of Dreadball since I bought it last year, so it seemed to make sense to make my wife and kids buy me a copy of Dreadball Ultimate and a few other bits and pieces from Mantic for my birthday. After sitting on the shelf for the last month thanks to a variety of work-related reasons we finally too it down and played it's inaugural match.

Six teams and two balls on a pitch with 3 halves.... what more could you want.

We made it through 3 rounds before Trent managed to pull off a landslide victory with his Corp team. Possibly heavily assisted by my Veer-Myns inability to connect that final vital pass to the striker in the zone each turn and Toby's fixation in beating.... "attempting" to beat my strikers to the ground with his Orx I should say. Grant's Robot team managed 2 points with his 1st ever use of striker form and my daughter Arwen's Female Corp team managed to pick up a 2 pointer tho they later lost a point from Trent's use of her goal for his 3 point victory shot. My wife's Forge Fathers unfortunately didn't quite make it out of there zone having possibly started a little too far back in the zone for they're stumpy little legs.

It makes for a interesting match though, trying to keep track of 2 balls and 5 opponents, but I feel it'll become a semi regular on games night from here on out.

Here's a couple of shots from the night

Also if anyone's looking for a couple of different tabletop options this kickstarter might be worth a look in.

5 different design options with 6 different 2'x2' tiles in each (although some are still locked), comes pre-painted and with a variety of add-on options. Free postage to a decent amount of countries as well.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/554355176/games-and-gears-battle-boards

Unfortunately the Flodden game as been postponed but still hopeful I'll get atleast one more larger miniatures game in before Christmas

WIP Hills and Scots for upcoming Flodden Game

Just a brief update this week.

My Uncle is hosting a Flodden game on the 7th December with myself and my brother as the Scots vs a few of his mates commanding the English.

We started playing around a bit (to be fair he'd already done most of the starting) to organize some hills for the game using lining from hanging baskets.

We'll be finishing them off this week, strengthening the material with some paper mache and/or some chicken wire.

And just a sample of the Scottish troops and nobles

Update 19/11/13

Long time no post. I've been pounding my head against the wall for 6 solid weeks now thanks to work. It's looking like things might actually be settling down to the usual Christmas time mess so I may actually have a usable amount of spare time again.

But rest assured in the minutes I've had spare I have not been idle, I've still managed 3 out of the proposed 6 weekly board game nights and been back to my weekly gaming days with my brother and my uncle, although they've been board game days as well lately (not that I'm complaining a games a games as far as I'm concerned).

Still I've got a few pics of some stuff I've been working on and the games I got in this week. Hopefully a mini game in the next week or two as well.

 Got all the figures I was missing for my Stargrunt NSL Platoon (based on the Panzergrenadier example in the rule book) I had two squads from when I was around 12 and fleshed it out to the full platoon the other day. It's in a semi painted and assembled state, but it's my current "front burner" project at the moment. The Eureka Miniature bags in the back are the power armoured soldiers waiting their turn to be assembled.

I've also been working slowly on some building to help fill my Bolt Action (or any other appropriate period) games. Pretty happy with the way they're progressing as I've never really had a go a terrain/buildings before.

 Also this week got in a game of "The Call of Cthulhu" LCG with my uncle. I really enjoyed it. Fairly simple to pick up, quick easy game play. Definitely going to be picking myself up a copy at some stage. We've also been playing "Kingsburg" for the last couple of weeks. Another one I'd highly recommend and will be picking up :).

 Games night was "Zombies!!!". Build as you go map, simple mechanics, many, many, many opportunities to make zombie groans both male and female. What more could you want. After a couple of near wins for myself, my eldest (almost 2 weeks a teenager now) managed to snag the "The Keys are still in it" card letting her move 10 spaces instead of rolling the D6, then proceeded to kill the 9 zombies between her and the helicopter to win the game and earn the nickname "Helicopter Torrent" which she doesn't seem to like yet, but I assume it'll grow on her....

Then tonight a family game. "Small World Underground". Think Risk without dice rolls and a limited troop pool. During the game you put your race into decline and get new ones as required gaining victory points depending on areas controlled and the race's innate abilities or matched powers. I thought I'd managed to grab the game with 101 vp only to have my youngest snatch it from me with 116.


I'm hoping to get a minis game or two in next week depending on work and everyone else's availability and with any luck at least get my 4 base squads finished up.

Bolt Action Game 18th September

After getting our Bolt Action armies from Warlord Games and my mate madly gluing together his infantry together in the space two nights the only thing left was to play a game.

Luckily he also did a made modelling session after I started making a few houses for the period which are in a state of...... nearing completion I would say is the diplomatic way of putting it. So we had a few buildings available.

I tried to set up a table with as much breaking up of LOS as possible and after playing I feel it wasn't too bad. (Photos via my phone again for this one so a bit dodgy quality wise)


A quick run through the rules for him, (and a refresher for me after my whooping one previous game) and we were off. We rolled up the "Top Secret" scenario, worked out roughly 550 points worth of army and took to the field. In this scenario every unit starts in reserve and an objective is placed in the centre of the table. To win you must grab the objective (usually plans in a Jeep or destroyed vehicle.... in our game an old termagant) and then take it off the board on your starting edge.

Turn one saw all my Germans entering the field except for my HQ which I choose to hold back. The Americans had similar luck although the Sherman crew refused to move forward failing their test abysmally, the mortar team was held back to see how the board developed.

US infantry firing on Germans

US HQ bites the dust

Turn two saw the beginning of the fire fight. One of the American infantry squads opened up on a German squad killing two men and pinning them down, but a poorly planned move saw the American HQ cut down by my other infantry squad. The US mortar team refused to enter the field and the Sherman having managed to pass the new test rolled onto the board and fired a shot well wide of my Marder. At this stage I had moved my Panzerschreck team up to the edge of the church for a risky dash to the objective.



Turn three and I draw the first die, opening the turn with a shot at the Sherman. And what should happen after my minute or so of mocking after his shot a me in the previous turn, but I manage to roll a one missing the damn thing by a mile. He then returns fire, scoring a massive penetration. The first roll setting it on the fire and the second blowing it up. The mortar team finally makes it onto the board. With the final dice seeing the way clear the Panzerschreck team makes it to the objective, bringing victory within my grasp despite my many casualties.


Turn four sees the chase begin, first die out is...... German and the Intel is a run move closer to my board edge. The Americans give chase, making full use of their no firing penalty while advancing rule. By the end of this turn leaving my poor squad behind the trees pinned and down to 4 men, but the hold there ground bravely distracting the US and managing to kill the US mortar team.



Turn five and again I get the first die, another run move and a hand off to the HQ waiting nearby seals a German victory. The second die a US die. After much checking a umming and ahhing it is finally conceded that my HQ is unassailable so the Americans vindictively open fire on the remain 4 men of the noble infantry squad killing them to the last man. The German HQ then falls back of the board securing the Intel and the game for me.

Ended up being a good game, not too much flicking of pages or any really tough calls on LOS or range. I'm hoping to get another game in before I head back to work.

Star Wars X-wing game 15th September 2013

It's been a while between games, but it's starting to look up.

Got a game of Bolt Action lined up with a mate for Wednesday and tonight I decided to pull out Star Wars X wing and teach my wife how to play. Now before you say anything no I did not have to force her she's been asking about it for a while now..... probably due to my out load musings about moving the funds around to purchase another couple of expansions for it.

We set up using the basic game (2 tie fighters and 1 x-wing) as well as two of the expansions I've purchased for my daughters (1 x-wing and 1 tie advanced). She opted to play the rebels, so I chose to represent the glorious empire (May Palpatine live forever).

You'll have to excuse the shoddy photos on this one, there from my phone rather than the camera but it was downstairs and it was just too far this time.

Now I have to stress I gave her the tip not to let me get behind her but after some interesting opening maneuvers on her part the game turned into a chase the x-wing scenario and only her amazing ability to roll dodges kept us going, tho she did perform a well timed korogran turn in the last turn vaporizing one of my fighters before being finished off by the remaining one.

She enjoyed herself and (As I'm a bit of a purist so I insist that spaceship noises must be made for moving, firing and explosions) took a light hearted approach to being demolished.

Update 25/08/13

It's been a busy couple of weeks without much chance for gaming unfortunately. I did manage to catch up for my 1st game of Bolt Action with my brother, but it was a fairly sparsely populated table terrain wise and considering he has only played a couple of games himself there was a slightly too much page turning for me to focus on setting up an appropriate A.A.R.. On that front though I have now convinced all my board gaming mates, now fully equipped with Dreadball teams that it was time to try something larger. We now have 1000 points of Germans, Americans, Russians and Japanese on the way over from Warlord Games, with two more still deciding on which country they want to go for.

Here's a few shots of our game

German Infantry Squad

My Marder III comes to the end of it's life

Panzerschreck team takes advantage of the new cover

On the Dreadball front I've finished painting my Veer-myn team "The Lab Rats" and in the few scratch matches we've had they are so far undefeated. We should  be starting the first league games in the next month.

I've started working on some buildings to help fill a table and begun painting a Marauder team for Dreadball.

Stargrunt 2 Game 7th August 2013

My Uncles upcoming holiday and my brother's last minute work call, meant a hasty re-assessment of the days game and put a time limit on this weeks game. We had decided on Stargrunt during the week, but had decided to change the scenario around slightly. What was to be an escort the "Insert Glorious Leader's Title Here" safely from the plane wreckage in gang infested territory, became a "Rescue" two scientists from Argus III and "Escort" them to the safety of the nearby Neu Swabian League fleet. Seeing as the last time we'd played a game of Stargrunt was when I was 12 (20 years ago...) we decided to keep the squad composition simple just taking the infantry squad set-up for NSL out of the back of the book for both factions, making them veterans and having rank 2 NCOs.

##*##*## Mission Briefing ##*##*##

It has come to our attention that the renowned anti-matter research team Dr s Newbody and Longfellow are currently on Argus III testing a new containment field. In view of the harsh environment on the desert planet and the current anti-war demonstration obviously directed at the UN's current harsh actions against our glorious nation we have decided to send your squad down to the planets surface to rescue the stranded scientists and bring them safely to our secure facilities back on Tau Ceti II.

Scanners have detected a force of local "Peacekeepers" heading towards the location to detain the researchers themselves, this must not occur.

You are authorised to use what ever force you deem necessary in protecting the scientists but are advised to keep civilian causalities to a minimum due to the presence of the Galactic News Service.

Turn one saw me rapidly moving my squad towards the main township to try for a quick lucky roll and escape off the board, however the anti war protesters and news crew quickly spotted me and began what was a never ending series of delays and road blocks for me this game. A few turns in had me searching 3 buildings with no successes and turn 4 ended with the press finally managing to come into contact with my squad and proceed to question me for 4 rounds, thanks to some terrible rolling on my part in regards to the supposed "slaughter" of "innocents" on Argus IV. This finally saw my Uncle's local force coming into the village and being attacked by the peaceful protesters as they shouted slogan's such as "Make love not war" and "Guns for Books man" all the while peacefully pelting them with cans, sticks, the odd cat... basically whatever was at hand.

 After several turns on searching with no results, one of the scientists was turned up by the local force. There squad leader deciding one anti-matter researcher in the hand was worth two in the protester infested shanty town, immediately headed for his edge of the board and the safety of his barracks. Sensing that searching peacefully was no longer an option the NSL squad commander stating that he'd "never even heard of Argus V before.... I mean IV, I've never been on a secret mission to Argus V" headed for a nearby rocky hilltop to set up to open fire on the retreating unit. Closely followed by the now incited new crew and calls of "Sir, Sir, Are you the infamous Christian the Butcher, Slaughterer of the farmers of Argus IV and Destroyer of the Argus V Icemen??"



Heedless of the protesters still resolutely and most assuredly peacefully assaulting the local troops the NSL squad opens fire on the enemy, killing there SAW trooper and wounding the trooper carrying the rocket launcher well enough to take him out for the game. The protesters shocked that some one would dare assault the targets of there peaceful barrage of filth and aluminium head toward the hilltop. A turn of being unhampered by the new crew allowed me one more round of useful fire resulting in the wounding of another trooper, but some incredible armour saves prevented the other two shots from killing the squad leader and winning me the game.

The last turns resulted in the protesters deciding that it was much nicer in town and my squad busily answer a string of questions with the phrase "No comment".

Not the result I was hoping for but was a rather enjoyable encounter. Once I got home I dug around through my childhood figures finding the remaining 10 or so unpainted NSL troopers for my non armoured portion of my platoon and quick search of the web to find Ground Zero Games still kicking although the main website is apparently currently down the store link suits my purposes for the moment.