Dreadnought Mk IV

Continuing their Iron Grip range, Isotx have unveiled the Rahmos Airforce's Dreadnought Mk IV Class, and awesome she is!

DREADNOUGHT MARK IV CLASS

One of the most powerful and dangerous classes of airship in the world is the massive Dreadnought class. Built from the ground up to be the most effective battlewagon available, the Dreadnought Mk IV is only outsized by the brand new Carrier and a few individual vessels such as the Majestic. The pinnacle of line-o-battle warship technology, the Dreadnought Mk IV lies on the verge of a naval revolution. While it keeps its main armament in its broadside batteries of 8” and 10” guns, its effective firepower is multiplied several times over by the addition of newer, larger guns in higher mobility mounts – eight 12” guns, four per side, are housed in armored wide-angle casemates, and two 14” guns are contained in an armored gun turret amidships, facing forward. Powerful and accurate, these larger guns are capable of dealing devastating damage at long range, often before enemy ships can close within broadside range. With the advent of more powerful heavier-than-air planes, the Dreadnought was built with antiaircraft protection in mind, and the ship is studded with 5”, 3”, 40mm and 20mm rapid-fire cannons. The firepower unleashed by the antiaircraft battery makes it almost immune to enemy fighters, and extremely dangerous to larger bombers. Two aerial torpedo launchers give the ship some very heavy alternative firepower in medium range encounters. Triple drive screws give the airship a respectable top speed, and the huge numbers of ducted lift fans make it capable of gaining altitude more quickly than any other large ship of its type. No other single warship from any rival nation can match the Dreadnought in combat capability.

“Raked prow and cannons proud, she plies the skies, great majesty endowed. Propellers spin, machinery loud as the Dreadnought soars and conquers the clouds” – from Ode to the Dreadnought.

http://www.isotx.com/index.php?view=4816

They also have some new, VSF style artwork here:

http://www.isotx.com/index.php?view=4448&pg=1

http://www.isotx.com/index.php?view=5115

Thanks to Tom for sending me these links!

Tooth and Claw Review

You may recall my post earlier this week on the new VSF hunting rules called "Tooth and Claw" by Chris Peers:
http://pauljamesog.blogspot.com/2007/11/new-prehistoric-animal-hunting-rules.html



Jim at the Lead Adventure forums has posted a review of these rules . He writes:


Here's a quick review of the Tooth and Claw rules, bearing in mind I haven't actually played any games with them yet.

The rules are in glossy colour format throughout although the rulebook is quite slim, more like a magazine supplement in fact. There are 31 pages of text and a large double spread centre section featuring a game in progress. The last couple of pages are adverts for WI, Dee Zee and Copplestone which seems a waste of space.

The contents page on the inside front cover is a welcome addition if you're familiar with Chris Peers rules! There are 10 chapters covering introduction to the game, setting up, crreating characters, sequence of play, positioning of animals, human movement, spotting and shooting, animal attacks, animal statistics and scenrios plus a page of alternative settings at the back.

The rules are written in the usual extended prose 'narrative' style favoured by the author which can make finding specific rule references a bit hit and miss. However, they do read well and are clearly explained, with some nice photos and contemporary drawings to add colour.

The mechanics are very similar (if not virtually identical) to Saurian Safari although there are a few nice touches such as personal traits for characters e.g. nerves of steel, rules for gunbearers, stalk movement, snap shooting and so on. The game sequence follows the familiar rolls for animals to appear, rolls to determine priority of movement, rolls for spotting and shooting plus effects of hits and animal reactions. These are largely the same as Saurian Safari including misfires, reloading etc.

The animals are well covered and include a wide(ish) range of Ice Age / Prehistoric beasties. If you have a look at the DZ miniatures range you won't be surprised to find them all featues in the rules, together with a few additions such as Terror Birds, giant gorilla type things etc. There's plenty of variety and the reaction tables give a nice randomising effect when it comes to their behaviour.

As expected there are a few things missing, most notably a QRF (although I suspect someone will produce one sooner or later).

One thing I noticed was that there are also no rules for terrain affecting movement e.g. snow, swamp, etc or for vehicles of any kind, unlike Saurian Safari.

Overall, a set of rules with some good familiar features which should help speed play but perhaps a little too glossy at the expense of innovation. Worth getting if you haven't tried to play Saurian Safari or as a change from your usual hunting party v. dinosaurs scenarios.

Jim

Thanks very much for the reveiw Jim!


The Lead Adventure thread is located here: http://forum.backofbeyond.de/viewtopic.php?p=35881#35881

EDIT

After this review was posted, I asked Jim :
"It would seem to me that those of us who already own Saurian Safari wouldnt be gettibng much new material, except perhaps for some of the characters' persoanl traits section. Is that about it? "


He said:

I think that if you're after something different then T+C isn't it.

On the other hand, the mechanics of the game are not entirely the same as SS so might provide a clearer and more focussed alternative e.g.the rules for placement of animals seem to be much more detailed withless left up to the umpire to decide.

With regard to the animals themselves the biggest difference from SS is the use or a Priority stat for each creature which determines it's order of movement. I'm not sure but I think this might be a Mammalian Mayhem system?

The other characteristics are Flight (used in the initial positoningof the animals to ensure they aren't too close to hunters), Movement, Strength and Attacks. I'm sure that these could be worked out for theSS dinosaurs and vice versa. Each creature also has it's own notes which determine it's reactions, behaviour etc.

There are some useful rules for the different types of creatures including gore and toss attacks for Jumbos and Rhinos, which could be crossed over into Saurian Safari too. This would add a lot more detailto the game which is either a good or bad thing I guess.

Jim

Thanks again Jim!

Christmas Sale at Brigade Models

Time to stock up on all those lovely Nefs you know you want!

This year we're doing something different for our Xmas offer. From now until the end of December, we're offering a sliding scale of discounts based on the size of your order - so the more you spend, the higher the discount that you'll receive.

• if your order is between £30 and £60*, you'll get 10% off
• between £60 and £100, you'll get 15% off
• between £100 and £200, you'll get 20% off
• if by any chance you get over £200, you'll get massive 25% off
  

That's all there is to it - so get shopping !

http://www.brigademodels.co.uk:80/Frames/Xmas.html

Skull Island

All these recent posts on Dino hunts have got me thinking about planning some expeditions over the Christmas break.

In doing my readings at the library of the International League of Esteemed Leviathan Hunters, I came across some intriguing accounts of adventuring on the mysterious Skull Island.

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~abeattie/dbasum2005/SkullislOne.htm

There is also a Yahoo group dedicated to gaming on the island of Kong: http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/LostWorldandKongGamers/?yguid=1163161

SMS Rhein/Mosel - German Monitors

...are paper models which are free to download from paper Shipwright:

http://www.papershipwright.co.uk/ps13/details.shtml

One of these would be handy for my Hunt for the Great White Pleasiosaur!

Evil Plan Generator

At last - an evil genius "cunning plan" generator!
I have been waiting for this for some time...

http://www.darksites.com/evilplan.php

Adventures in Jimland

Adventures in Jimland is a fast paced, not very serious set of rules for hunting in deepest Darkest Africa and primarily uses a card system to generate encounters. Gamers take the role of Explorers who can be supported by a number of soldiers, Askikirs and Beraers (depending on how much money you have).

http://nagssociety.com/resources/Jimland/Jimland.htm

Use them as is, or with only a slight tweak, they could work well in the Land that Time Forgot. Either way, the "Reports from Jimland" are an amusing read. Oh yes, and its free!

There is also a Jimland scrapbook here, showing some adventures using 15mm figs
http://www.circagames.com/Resources/IECE_Jimland.html

Dinosaur Movie Trailers

Conveniently in tune with the recent "big game" theme at WWS, Prehistoric Pulp has posted some YouTube clips of some great old Dinosaur movies including The Land that Time Forgot, Gwangi and The Lost World.

http://prehistoricpulp.blogspot.com/2007/10/classic-dinosaur-movie-trailers.html

Enjoy!

Redcoat Painting Guide

The Wargames Illustrated website has a great guide on how to paint your redcoats to ensure that they look their finest while campaigning for Her Majesty.

Its written specifically for the Sudan but fits for any overseas British troop deplyments throughout the Empire, on Mars and beyond!

http://www.wargamesillustrated.net/gallery/download/Sudan%201883%20-%2085.pdf

NEW Prehistoric animal hunting rules

Tooth And Claw is a complete set of miniature wargame rules for the most civilised past-time of hunting extinct prehistoric mammals, by Chris Peers (author of Saurian Safari and Mammalian Mayhem)

Inspired mainly by the re-release of the splendid Dee Zee Miniatures models (though it does cater for a range of other creatures not so far included in this range),Tooth And Claw offers an exciting and challenging evening's entertainment. It uses fairly conventional skirmish wargame mechanisms to enable players to take on the roles of Stone Age tribesmen or Victorian big game hunters as they go in pursuit of some of the most dangerous creatures of all time - the monsters of the early Age of Mammals and the giants of the Ice Age.

All the players in Tooth And Claw take on the role of hunters, with the animals being controlled automatically. A game of this type lends itself perfectly to one-off scenarios, which can be played either solo or with a group of players. Players can either co-operate or compete against each other, according to their temperament or how you set things up.

The rulebook is 36 pages and fully illustrated in full colour throughout.

Available from all good hobby shops and www.wargamesillustrated.net from around 22nd November.

http://www.wargamesillustrated.net/newsitem.asp?id=175

Calm in a time of crises!

I love this clip, from Monty Python's Meaning of Life.

Note how calm the Officers are in a time of crisis, how loyal their soldiers are, and how much they drink before breakfast!

Trip to the Moon

A fascinating 1911 artist's concept of Astronef travel!

Dinosaur Revolver!

In response to my Dinosaur Gun post yesterday, I was sent this by one of the guys at the brass goggles forum. Its a Dinosaur handgun - the Pfeifer-Zeliska .600 Nitro Express Magnum.

And just check out this ammunition -more bearers will be required for the baggage I suggest

(shown in actual size)

Good show indeed, but hardly usable by the Ladies methinks...

Dinosaur Guns!

Searcy Enterprises, a smaller California double rifle builder has produced 0.600 calibre Nitro Express double hunting weapons ideal for use in hunting ultimate game! http://www.african-hunter.com/a_pair_of_dinosaur_doubles.htm

Things in Jars

Next to oil smeared mechanisms and steam exhausts, nothing (to me) says VSF more than creepy things in jars.. .

Here are some creepy cryptozoologcal specimens, necropathic spectregraph, and a Bio-aetheric correction device
http://www.manydeadthings.tk/

More stuff in jars here, including "how to" instructions for making your own for your laboratory:
http://aranamuerta.com/2007/02/20/witch-kitchen-jars/