Featherstone Naval rules released

The original classic is back - Huzzah indeed!

This book introduces wargamers to the fun of naval games. Using straightforward rules that reflect the period and encourage historical tactics, the rules in the book avoid the overly complex path that some later naval rules took.

This book contains over 15 sets of rules:

Tony Bath's Ancient Naval Rules
Summary of the Fletcher Pratt Naval Rules
Jack Scruby's Napoleonic Rules
Combined arms campaigns
Naval games for tactical training
Summary of the Fred Jane Naval Wargame
Discussion of operational choices

This revised edition includes:
A new set of coastal warfare rules for 1939-45 by David Manley
A new foreword by David Manley.

http://www.johncurryevents.co.uk/books/featherstonenaval/homepage.htm

Starmarda: Ironstars released

Majestic Twelve Games is proud to announce the release of Starmada: Iron Stars -- a "crossover" product linking together two of our most popular gaming systems.

http://www.mj12games.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=1774

CanCon report - the Defence of Melbourne 1887

Well, what an awesome weekend!

Australia Day long weekend is the time when CANCON is held, less than 5 km from my house.

And my two best mates came into town from Adelaide and Melbourne to enjoy it and we had a blast.

Saturday all day at CANCON playing games, then a full day at my place playing various games on Sunday. More on all this later.

The Defence of Melbourne 1887 participation game (using The Sword and the Flame rules) at CANCON was brilliant!

I've got a bunch of photos to clean up and I'll do a full write up shortly but I'll let these pics (from another CANCON attendee) give you some eye candy previews of the wonderful minis

http://gallery.me.com/sfinlay#100110

Even more Land Ironclads released

Huzzah!

Hey, we're on a roll here ... (a Jam and Cream one, for Brigade aficianados !)

Four more new Land Ironclad models this weekend ... well, contraptions anyway.

Both the Brits and Germans get a turreted Contraption (tank) and a troop carrier too.

Four new packs, all priced at £1.75 for eight models.

In addition, there's a battalion pack for each side - £13 for the British one and £13.50 for the Germans, reflecting the organisations in the rulebook.

See the website <http://www.brigademodels.co.uk/Frames/VLI/index.html> for more

Have a good weekend

Tony

Welcome news indeed chaps, but why does this happen right after I've made an order...again!

New Airships on the way from Spartan

Spartan and creating an "Airship Pirates" fleet for their Uncharted Seas fantasy naval wargame
(which I mentioned here: http://pauljamesog.blogspot.com/2008/10/vsf-ironclad-fleet.html )

They have released some WIP pics of thier first two Airship models:

The Sky Pirates, as opposed to normal pirates, tend to favour a slightly different approach to using captured ships of the other races.

Triumphant Return!

More posts to follow once the celebratory feasts are competed and local wenches stop throwing themselves at my feet (actually, that might not take too long...)

A Southern Expedition commences

Indeed, it may not be as far as the polar regions of Antartica, but I'm off South for a week or so on an other adventure! Most posts upon my triumphant return!

Trenches and Earthworks

Is a vile neighboring country raiding your border areas?

Are his Aeronef pounding your defenceless infantry regiments in the open?

Worried his spearhead of Land Ironclads will break through your defences too easily?

Maybe you need...trenches, the very latest thing in warfare!

Don't just deploy your men standing in neat lines looking magnificent as the enemy charge you- burrow down and stay out of his fire. OK, it might get your uniforms dirty and it isn't quite cricket but it works and your claret will stay a nice, cool drinkable temperature out of the sun - marvellous!

Conveniently, Kallistra have just released a new range of trenches and earthworks in 28mm scale which you can find here:

http://www.kallistra.co.uk/

Steam Dragon

Nothing quite screams VSF as much as a cog and piston driven mechical monstrosity created by an mad genius and which is guarding his evil lair. Luckily, Armourcast have just released one for your modelling and gaming pleasure!

From the mind of Lux, Armorcast is proud to introduce the Stream Dragon. This coal burning behemoth can rend with its mechano claws, chew threw an ironclad with its hydraulic jaws and incinerate the occupants with the built in flame thrower in the mouth. Run in terror when you hear the hiss of steam and shriek of iron!. This multi-part kit is cast in resin and pewter. US$75.

http://armorcast.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=1013

The Savage Empire

Written for the PC game, Worlds of Ultima, this PC hint gamebook is a treasure trove of Lost Valley/Skull Island/Dino Hunting idea goodness!

http://www.replacementdocs.com/download.php?view.6650

Aerial Torpedo Models?

I found these model space torpedos and missiles, made by Ninja magic.

Not that they are difficult to make (if one can be othered) but these would make excellent aerial torpedo models for Aeronef!

http://www.rattleheadgames.com/catalog/WithHostileIntent-CountersandMarkersProducts.html

General Wisdom

“I divide my officers into four classes;

the clever,

the lazy,

the industrious,

and the stupid.
Each officer possesses at least two of these qualities.”

- General Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord

.

"a German general who served for a period as Commander-in-Chief of the Reichswehr. He is famous for being an ardent opponent of Hitler and the Nazi regime"

.

from Wikipedia "
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_von_Hammerstein-Equord



Hmmm...which are your traits?

Dino games

Late last year, Walt at the Lost World Safari yahoo group posted this treasure trove of information:


I'm putting together a free supplement for dinosaur/prehistoric gaming, and as part of that I'm complied a list of RPGs and miniature games focused on theme. I thought I'd share it here. I should point out these are games where prehistoric beasts are a major element, just not filler. That means several games that do have dinosaurs, but only as occasional monsters, were left out.


Adventures in Jimland (MINI)
Jim WrightSelf-published /2003

Free miniatures game about 19th century African exploration. Dinosaurs abound, and players can specialize in paleontology. The rules can be downloaded at http://nagssociety.com/resources/Jimland/Jimland.htm

(Note I advertised these rules in a post here: http://pauljamesog.blogspot.com/2007/11/adventures-in-jimland.html)


Animal Archives: Prehistoric Animals (RPG)
Jesse Mohn and Aeryn RudelSkeleton Key Games/Blackdirge Publishing/2004

Short D20 bestiaries focusing on overlooked prehistoric animals.Blackdyrge's Templates: Primordial Beast (RPG)Aeryn RudelBlackdirge Publishing/2007D20 guide for turning ordinary animals into evolutionary throwbacks.

Cadillacs and Dinosaurs: The Roleplaying Game (RPG)
Frank A. Chadwick and Mark SchultzGame Designers Workshop/1991

Based on the comics by Mark Schultz, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs is set in a post-apocalyptic world where jungles grow over the ruins of civilizations and prehistoric animals rule the landscape. The game uses the same rules system as Twilight: 2000 and has interesting ideas for mounting wilderness expeditions.


The Complete Guide to T. rex (RPG)
Joseph GoodmanGoodman Games/2002

D20 supplement for roleplaying T. rexes as intelligent characters.


The Complete Guide to Velociraptors (RPG)
Joseph GoodmanGoodman Games/2002

D20 supplement for roleplaying raptors as intelligent creatures, mostly as Native American-types for the company's Broncosaurus Rex setting.


Dinosaur Planet: Broncosaurus Rex (RPG)
Joseph GoodmanGoodman Games/2002

D20 space western set on a planet populated by dinosaurs, some of which have human-like intelligence.


Dinosaur Planet: Broncosaurus Rex: Cretasus Adventure Guide (RPG)
Fred Bush, Joseph Goodman, and Mike RobertsGoodman Games

Adventures for the company's Broncosaurus rex setting.

Dinosaur Planet: Broncosaurus Rex: Dinosaurs That Never Were (RPG)
Gregory DetwilerGoodman Games

Bestiary of dinosaurs that may have evolved had they not died out 65 million years ago.


Eberron: Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (RPG)
Keith BakerWizards of the Coast/2004

Pulp fantasy setting where dinosaurs still roam in many parts of the world.

Forgotten Futures III: George E. Challenger's Mysterious World (RPG)
Marcus L. Rowland/Heliograph, Inc./1994Game setting based on the adventures of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's scientist-hero Professor Challenger, who discovered a lost world of dinosaurs in South America.

GURPS Dinosaurs (RPG)
Stephen DedmanSteve Jackson Games/1996

Perhaps the most comprehensive roleplaying supplement about dinosaurs so far written. Includes much material reprinted from GURPS Ice Age.


GURPS Ice Age (RPG)
Kirk Wilson TateSteve Jackson Games/1989

Guide to playing in caveman settings, from realistic Ice Age adventures to slapstick.


GURPS Lands Out of Time (RPG)
Steve Jackson Games/200

6PDF supplement for playing B-movie "lost world" adventures, complete with cold-blooded, tail-dragging dinosaurs.

Hollow Earth Expedition (RPG)
Jeff Combos et al.Exile Game Studio/2006

Indiana Jones meets Jurassic Park. Guidebook for playing 1930s pulp "lost world" adventures set inside the earth.


Hollow World: Dungeons & Dragons (RPG)
Aaron AllstonTSR/1990

Campaign setting for the original D&D set inside a hollow world populated with dinosaurs and lost civilizations. Basis for the SEGA Genesis game "Warriors of the Eternal Sun."

Inner-Earth (RPG)
Stephen S. LongHero Games/2000:

Hero System supplement for playing a hollow world adventure.


The Isle of Dread: Dungeons & Dragons (RPG)
David Cook and Tom MoldvayTSR/1981

D&D Adventure set on an island modeled after King Kong's home, Skull Island.


Isle of the Ape: World of Greyhawk (RPG)
Gary GygaxTSR/1985

Yet another Skull Island adventure set in the world of D&D, this one for higher-level adventures than The Isle of Dread.


The Jungles of Chult: Forgotten Realms (RPG)
James Lowder and Jean RabeTSR/1993Short supplement for Forgotten Realms setting describing Chult, a lost world where dinosaurs still roam. The setting is expanded in Lowder's novel, "The Ring of Winter."


Lands of Mystery: Justice, Inc. (RPG)
Aaron AllstonHero Games/1985

Perhaps the most comprehensive supplement ever written about putting together lost world adventures.


Lost Prehistorica (RPG)
Steven Cook and David WoodrumDark Quest Games/2004

D20 supplement for combining traditional D&D gameplay with the prehistoric lost worlds of pulp fiction.


Mammalian Mayhem (MINI)
Chris PeersHLBS Publishing/2000

Miniature safari hunting game with rules for hunting prehistoric mammals.


Primal Codex (RPG)
J.C. AlgerNetherland Games/2001
D20 supplement for playing in primitive settings.


Saurian Safari (MINI)
Chris PeersHLBS Publishing/2002

Rulebook for undertaking dinosaur hunting trips with a Victorian flare.

(Note I advertised these rules in a post here:
http://pauljamesog.blogspot.com/2006/12/lost-world-safari-tours_29.html)


The Savage Empire: Worlds of Ultima (RPG)
Origin Systems/1990Computer

RPG set in the Ultima universe but in a lost valley populated with prehistoric creatures and primitive tribes.


Space: 1889 (RPG) - Naturally!
Frank A. ChadwickGame Designers Workshop/1988

Alternate history game based on the premise that the inner planets of the solar system can all sustain life and are at different stages in biological evolution. Venus is a swamp-covered world filled with dinosaurs while life on Mercury is just starting to make the transition to land.


Sticks & Stones (MINI)
Rob LuskJeff Valent Studios/2008

A miniatures game based on the caveman-and-dinosaur movies of the 1950s and 1960s. Uses the Savage Worlds skirmish rules.


Thrilling Expeditions: Valley of the Thunder Lizard (MINI)
Richard A. Johnson et al.Rattrap Productions/2008

Supplement for .45 Adventure gaming system that allows gamers to play skirmish games in lost world settings. Comes with stat templates for several different prehistoric animals.


Thrilling Places (RPG)
Stephen S. LongHero Games/2006

Supplement for Pulp Hero describing several different locations for adventures to take place, two of them lost worlds.


Thrilling Tales: Dragon Island (RPG)
Walt CeichanowskiAdamant Entertainment/2005

Adventure from the D20 Thrilling Tales system with a giant pterodactyl taking the place of King Kong.


Tooth & Claw (RPG)
JaredSelf-published/2003

Simple rules system that allows players to play as dinosaurs instead of humans encountering dinosaurs.

(Note I advertised these rules in a post here:
http://pauljamesog.blogspot.com/2007/12/tooth-and-clawthe-rpg.html)


Tooth & Claw (MINI)
Chris PeersWargames Illustrated Publishing

A rules system for launching Victorian hunting with prehistoric mammals as the game.

(Note I advertised these rules in a post here:
http://pauljamesog.blogspot.com/2007/11/new-prehistoric-animal-hunting-rules.html)


Torg (RPG)
Greg Gorden and Bill SlavicsekWest End Games/1990

Alternate worlds setting with two worlds based on the lost world genre.


Transdimensional Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (RPG)
Erick WujcikPalladium Books

A roleplaying supplement for the TMNT series focusing on time travel and introducing a variety of prehistoric beasts.


Tusk and Tusk II (MINI)
Matthew HartleyIrregular Miniatures/1994 & 1995

Rules for hunting mammoths and other prehistoric creatures.

(Note I made a post about these rules here:
http://pauljamesog.blogspot.com/2008/11/tusk-pics-posted.html


Voyages Extraordinaire (MINI)
Matthew Hartley, Steve Blease and Mike BaumannWessex Games

Rules for playing pulp skirmish games against dinosaurs and other strange creatures.


Many thanks to Walt for his work in compiling this list and sharing it!

Jungle Terrain

Lovely stuff - what awaits our intrepid explorers in and around these ancient ruins....???
http://chicagoterrainfactory.wordpress.com/2008/04/16/quick-links-alkemy-jungle-board/

Aeronef Scenario

David (aka UnitRecon) from the WGVSF Yahoo group, has posted an Aeronef scenrio at his new SF website "Space Command".

Entitled "First battle at Bikini" it involves a standoff over a falled Asteroid between the dastardly French and an alliance comprised of the Japanese the heroic Australian Aero-Navy! Huzzah!

http://www.spacecommand.co.uk/aeronef/bikini1scenario.htm

Take the time to peruse the rest of this wonderful site - I think these guys play all the same games as me, and the images and graphics are wonderful.

Aerofauna

I somehow missed this while I was away last year.
Eli (of "I see lead people" blog fame) constructed these lovely aerofauna for his Aeronef campaign on Terra Secundus:

http://leadpeople.blogspot.com/2008/10/aerofauna-sightings.html


http://leadpeople.blogspot.com/2008/10/aerofauna-of-terra-secundus-part-one.html

Eli's monstrous Aerofauna creations

But not to stop there, Eli then inspired Tony (of "Dampf's modelling page" fame) to build his own, which you find find at his entries here:

http://dampfpanzerwagon.blogspot.com/2008/10/aerofauna.html

http://dampfpanzerwagon.blogspot.com/2008/11/aerofauna-part-two.html

Some of Tony's fantastic creations

Furthermore, more chaps have gone Aero and Astrofauna mad here:

http://vbir.blogspot.com/2008/11/fauna-of-mars-and-venus-part-second.html

http://vbir.blogspot.com/2008/10/fauna-and-flora-of-solar-system.html


Wonderous beasts!!! Well done chaps, most inspiring

15mm terrror birds

After much searching, I've finally discovered a source for terror birds in 15mm scale:

scroll down to the bottom here:

http://www.splinteredlightminis.com/miscellaneous.html

These will be just the thing to chase those intrepid explorers and hunters!

Valletta Cartography

A splendid chart of the home of Vanvlak Industries, just for Mssr V!

Zeppelins and Gasworks

This composite pic was generated to be used as a steampunk themed wallpaper, but I like it all the same as artwork.

http://steampunkwallpaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/gas-works.jpg

Desert Terrain Tutorials

Looking to replicate the barren wilderness of the Hindukush but dont know quite where to start? These tutorials will be of great assistance!


Firstly, the Jackson Gamers built this lovely Wadi Zoum-Zoum terrain for their fictional Sudan campaign:
http://www.angelfire.com/games3/jacksongames02/con_jim.htm

which you can see here in action:
http://www.angelfire.com/games3/jacksongamer/grn_nile2.htm


Then there is this online tutorial by Esair which is nice and simple to replicate:
http://www.esair.baueda.com/guides1.html

The Shastapsh Chronicles

Well I trust you all had a smashing New Year, with plenty of bubbly, claret, post, brandy and a local lovely tucked under each arm!
.
I just found this stiring blog, detailing a group's recent VSF campaign game on Mars, as well features on aspects of their characterization of Frank Chadwick's Space 1889 universe.
.

http://shastapshchronicles.blogspot.com/


.
I particularly like the Royal Gashant Corps (shown here on the right, pic from their blog site)- lovely stuff!