More Weird WW1

Part 4 has been uploaded now - I love the barrage balloons!

http://steelonsand.blogspot.com/2009/03/weird-wwi-1919-part-4.html

Wotan Review

"JohnCS" has posted a review (and some nice pics) of Brigade's WOTAN class Land Ironclad for the Imperial German Army:

http://www.brigademodels.co.uk/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=711

Thanks John!

Land Ironclads: Weird WW1

One of the most satisfactory things I am finding about being a co-author for a set of wargaming rules (apart from the obvious enjoyment of them by players, that is) is to see people use them for completely different purpose than when you we them.

The blog "SteelonSandBlog" has developed a 'Weird World War 1" angle for Land Ironclads and done a lovely job.

http://steelonsand.blogspot.com/search/label/Land%20Ironclads

and to go with these models, the following scenario has been contrived. We look forward to more!

Land Dreadnoughts: Weird War 1919

It is 1919.

The Archduke Franz Ferdinand sits stolidly on the throne of Hungary, dismissing the attempt to assassinate him five years previously in Sarajevo as the "backfiring of a horseless carriage".
The war that failed to materialise in 1914 still simmers below the surface, with the Entente Cordiale sinking fast, as world-wide recession and colonial ambition strain the ties of peace between the Great Powers.

The Ottoman Empire is now not the only 'sick man of Europe'; all mankind is struggling to cope with the Influenza Pandemic, which has at least put paid to the recent Martian attempt to invade the Earth.

The likely arrival of other races of Alien origin has triggered a belated and somewhat haphazard arms race; military budgets starved of funds are now receiving greater priority, and technological innovation is driven by the need to gain supremacy over the other competing Powers, as much as to defend the Earth from further intrusions from Outer Space.

This is the Dawn of the Age of the Land Dreadnought:

The fight for global supremacy has begun!

Essential VSF gaming background

As you may know, I am a big believer is background music while playing. The more in theme this is with what you are playing, the better. Here are some great wavs for your VSF games!

http://www.moviesoundclips.net/sound.php?id=20

Brigade releases Russian Land Ironclads

Re-enact the northern half of the 1899 Invasion of Britain with our new range of Russian Land Ironclads, from the mighty Alexsandr land dreadnoughts to the diminutive Yelizaveta war tractors.

Awesome! Just look at the lovely articulated Alexsandr class Ironclad.

http://www.brigademodels.co.uk/Frames/SaluteReleases.html

Brigade releases Olympians

...just in time for Salute 09. Check them out here:

http://www.brigademodels.co.uk/Frames/SaluteReleases.html

My other Blog

I thought I might make a confession: Ive been playing a lot of non-VSF stuff lately.

Mea Culpa.

I was contemplating converting this Blog into a more generic one, so that I might talk about some of the other gaming stuff I do and models I make. After asking for some advice, I ended up creating a new blog for the 'other stuff'.

And so, I invite you to visit my gaming "Man Cave":
http://tasmancave.blogspot.com/

Anarchist Aeronef unleashed!

Dampf has unveiled his latest creation: a scratch-built Anarchist Aeronef christened Ragnarok (in honour of the SFSFW fanzine)

Read all about her here: http://dampfpanzerwagon.blogspot.com/

Fantastic work Tony, she looks beautifully sinister! Now to mobilise a squadron in response!

Vice-Admiral Sir Archibald Berkeley Milne, RN

Admiral Milne was an upper-class "social" officer, a friend of British Queen Alexandra, who fondly referred to him as "Arky-Barky." Milne had no wartime experience, and his previous title had been Flag Officer, Royal Yachts.

One of his classic remarks was "they don't pay me to think, they pay me to be an Admiral."

Milne was also proud of the fact that he "never disobeyed an order and never used his discretion."

http://www.worldwar1.com/sfgb.htm

Sincere Condolences

The White Wine Sauce Team would like to express their sincere condolences to our friend David for his recent loss.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you mate.

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.