Friday, 22 October 2010

Dinoriders now available from Eureka Miniatures

Definitely more pulp than VSF, but I want to spread the word for Nic at Eureka Miniatures.  Plus you could  convert them to Prussian Dinotruppen for service on Venus too!  These are the figs I had the pleasure using during the Jurassic Reich game at Little Wars back in May - great fun!
More pics at the Man Cave here:
http://tasmancave.blogspot.com/2010/06/jurassic-reich-detailed-report.html
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Jurassic Reich
Dateline - February 1943: the American push into North Africa is met with stiff opposition from Rommel's combat-hardened Afrika Korps. The official histories will tell of great numbers of inexperienced American troops fleeing Rommel’s panzers at Kasserine Pass, but those who were there know it took more than just a few tanks to strike such terror into the minds of so many young American soldiers. The truth was that they had to face a new horror - from another time. Squadrons of flying creatures - Pterodactyls! - armed with anti-tank weapons and bombs, had swooped down and relentlessly pursued the shocked Americans into the Atlas Mountains.




The Allied generals and their political masters were stunned. Where had these creatures come from? Stalin suspected an Anglo-American plot to deceive him created by those “degenerate capitalist tricksters in Hollywood”. Others simply refused to believe it. General Patton dismissed the Pterodactyls as the “Delusional rantings of a load of yellow bellies who need a good slapping!” - until two Pterodactyls strafed his car near Djedjelli. But in London the news struck a chord with British Intelligence who had been gradually piecing together the strange story of an ancient seven-sided archway (dubbed the 'Anubis Gate' because of the hieroglyphics that adorned it) that Napoleon's troops had uncovered in Egypt in 1801. Defying interpretation for almost a century and a half, the artifact had remained, almost forgotten, in a basement of the Louvre Museum. But within hours of the fall of Paris in 1940 a team from Himmler’s Ahnenerbe (the Nazi Occult Bureau) had arrived with a truck and they took the 'Anubis Gate' off to a secret location in Germany.


Jurassic Reich

Sometime during 1941 the Nazis discovered that when ‘energised’ the artifact became a time portal to the prehistoric past. They sent through armed expeditions looking for ancestral Aryan supermen, but they returned with captured dinosaurs. Keen to explore the possibilities further, expeditions were sent to establish research and training facilities back on Cretaceous earth (and thus safe from Allied bombing). By the end of 1942 the Nazis had trained a number of units: the Kriegsclaws – Dinonicus (deinonychus) mounted SS cavalry; and the Pterowaffen – pterodactyls deployed as air defence fighters or in ground attack roles.

After their successful introduction in Africa, Hitler ordered the deployment of dinotruppen across Europe – on the Eastern Front (forcing even Stalin to acknowledge their existence), in the Balkans, along the coastline of Normandy, and in the defence of the Italian peninsula. The mountainous Balkans and the trackless wastes of the Russian steppes and forests became excellent hunting grounds for the Kriegsclaw; in fact wherever the terrain was impassable for vehicles or the distances so great that fuel supplies were an issue – these agile creatures were in their element. Principally used for screening and reconnaissance roles, the Kriegsclaw were occasionally used offensively to assault an enemy's flanks (as in the Kursk encirclement) or to cover infantry withdrawals. Nazi Germany had harnessed the greatest primeval forces the world has known - it was the dawn of Jurassic Reich …






Dinonicus operate alongside tanks during Operation Barbarossa

Designed by Kosta Heristanidis and Mike Broadbent, these figures are part of our Pulpiations “pulp fiction” range and can be used alongside our “Dogface GI’s” or any number of 28mm World War Two ranges that are out there. Colour schemes are optional. We are looking forward to the heated internet forum debates over the correct camouflage colours to use, and telling us that the number of teeth we’ve given the Dinonicus is more appropriate to an Ausf C rather than an Ausf D.

http://eurekamin.com.au/news.php?newsid=EklZEuEuFATWHHLjGs

Thursday, 21 October 2010

Leviathans Update


I must admit its been awhile since I revisited this one, so I was delighted to find a new, free offering for this game: The Channel Campaign.  This is a good read and has lots of potential for Aeronef too of course. Find it here:
http://www.battlecorps.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=219&products_id=2594

You might also be interested in the latest interview with Catalyst Game Labs by Beasts of War, which they recorded at GenCon and discusses both Battletech and Leviathans.

Wednesday, 20 October 2010

15mm Figures For America's Splendid Little War


From Sculptor/Modeler/Author Chris Ferree, returns his original line of figures for the Spanish-American War in 15mm. First produced by Richard Houston over 10 years ago as part of the innovative "Battles In A Box" miniatures collections, the full line is once again available exclusively from TVAG.

Masterfully cast by Tom Dye of GFI/MiniFigs USA, the figures come from newly mastered molds and are as crisp and full of character as ever.

"Rough Riders!" consists of all troop types actually sent to Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippine Islands by the United States, and as they fought the defending Spanish forces. The Spanish are themselves well represented by the troops (as defined by recognizable uniform types) defending the last outposts of their former Empire.

And as combat with the Spanish ended, new foes appeared. Of these, the most colorful and exotic were Spain's perenial Philippine enemies, the Moros. "Rough Riders!" provides these fanatical warriors and their lethal weapons in spades.

Tuesday, 19 October 2010

Martians & Machine Guns

A big Huzzah to Andrew Sewell who this month has begun his own VSF Blog titled 'Martians & Machine Guns'.  His 6mm chaps are very nice and I'm looking forward to following his continued adventures into VSF silliness!
http://haarken.blogspot.com/

Monday, 18 October 2010

Dystopian Wars

The next major line from Spartan Games, this is scheduled for release in November 2010 with four great nations from this war ravaged world: Kingdom of Britannia, Empire of the Blazing Sun, Prussian Empire and the Federated States of America.

This is a game involving airships, land ironclads and of course mighty naval platforms.  Here is the Prussian "Storm Cloud Carrier"



http://spartangames.co.uk/dystopian_wars.html
and more here:
http://www.tabletopshoponline.de/blog/Dystopian-Wars-Intro/

Love or hate the rules, at least there will be more minis about!

Sunday, 17 October 2010

WTNW Core II Game

The ArmChairGeneral (Rob) well be running a demo of the When the Navy Walked: Core II rules at Borderlands Comics and Games on Wednesday October 20 from about 6:00-9:00 immediately following their Jacksonville Garrison meeting. He will be bringing enough for several games at once. He will also be trying out some of the new rules from the Martian supplement!

Friday, 15 October 2010

When The Navy Walked


When the Navy Walked - Core Rules 2 Note: Thank you for purchasing When the Navy Walked! You have the core book in the ground level of a new venture that I started because I wanted to be able to share my ideas. When the Navy Walked is more than just a game or an idea it is a springboard for imagination. The Victorian Science Fiction genre has always been one that attracted creative individuals. The rules in this book should allow you to have many fun battles using the Great Powers. Look for coming supplements such as scenario and army books that will be designed to expand the alternate universe and add rich elements to the game!

Blog dedicated to these splendid new rules and other items of interest:

Babbage Analytical Engine reborn!

Well Huzzah and Hoorah - Babbage's ingenious locomotive sized wonder may be constructed once again, breathing new steam into innovation!


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11530905

Bravo and thanks to DC for the heads-up!

Sunday, 10 October 2010

Warlord of Mars

Now as any good officer knows intel is paramount when up against pesky natives, especially when serving off planet. Now thanks to those good chappies at Dynamite Publications we have some more resource to help subjugate the bally Martians in the form of an intelligence briefing cleverly disguised as a comic book (no doubt to fool the French).


Warlord of Mars is apparently a prequel to those briefings from that Burroughs chappie and is available this month so get the man servant to pop out and pick up a copy, though make sure he puts it in a plain paper bag as it is unlikely the Memsahib will appreciate the fact that those dusky Martian maidens aren't so keen on wearing clothes and get the wrong idea, harrumph!

Friday, 8 October 2010

New French Land Ironclads from Brigade

What ho chaps! Jolly exciting news and pantograph imagery of the wonderful new model French land ironclads from those clever chaps at Brigade Models in their Maidstone factorium.

Release is imminent so dig out those bank notes and get your butler ready to pop along to the post office to buy a penny black and post an order to the Brigade chappies. At last we'll be able to recreate the damned thrashing we gave the Froggies at Caterham on our sand tables! Huzzah!

The pantographs show the new models alongside some Irregular French infantry and cavalry so you can assess scale and marvel in the wonderfulness of the new models.

Detendu class one land ironclad:


Immuablement class two land ironclad:


Vengeance class three land ironclads:


Glorieux class four land ironclads:


Blockhaus Roulant class five land ironclads:

We've also managed to sneak out some exclusive top hole news which we'll share with you once we have clearance from GHQ so keep your Babbage Engine warmed up and get your man servant to check back regularly you enjoy a good cheese board and fine port.

Wednesday, 6 October 2010

A Grand Century!

100 Followers - thanks Chaps!  Its nice to know one's work is appreciated

Chin-Chin!

Sunday, 3 October 2010

Steampunk House

Now this erudite Gent has really got the VSF bug - see what he has done to his house!
If only SWMBO was so accomodating...


http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2efHtO/steampunkworkshop.com/visit-steampunked-home

Saturday, 18 September 2010

Talk like a Pirate Day!

Yes its here again -and its something of a White Wine Sauce tradition to have a saucy pirate wench:

Have a yaarrrggghhh of a Day me hearties!

http://www.talklikeapirate.com/

Friday, 17 September 2010

WW1 Described In Terms As A Bar Fight


Sent to MAC by Mal Wright and as he said quite a good laugh.

Germany, Austria and Italy are standing together in the middle of
the bar-room, when Serbia bumps into Austria, and spills Austria's
pint.Austria demands Serbia buy it a complete new suit, because
there are splashes on its trouser leg. Germany expresses its
support for Austria's point of view.Britain recommends that
everyone calm down a bit.Serbia points out that it can't afford a
whole suit, but offers to pay for cleaning Austria's trousers.Russia
and Serbia look at Austria. Austria asks Serbia who it's looking at.
Russia suggests that Austria should leave its little brother alone.
Austria inquires as to whose army will assist Russia in compelling
it to do so.Germany appeals to Britain that France has been
looking at it, and that this is sufficiently out of order that Britain
should not intervene.Britain replies that France can look at who it
wants to, that Britain is looking at Germany too, and what is
Germany going to do about it? Germany tells Russia to stop
looking at Austria, or Germany will render Russia incapable of
such action.Britain and France ask Germany whether it's looking
at Belgium. Turkey and Germany go off into a corner and whisper.
When they come back,Turkey makes a show of not looking at
anyone.Germany rolls up its sleeves, looks at France, and
punches Belgium.France and Britain punch Germany. Austria
punches Russia.Germany punches Britain and France with one
hand and Russia with the other. Russia throws a punch at
Germany, but misses and nearly falls over. Japan calls over from
the other side of the room that it's on Britain's side, but stays there.
Italy surprises everyone by punching Austria.Australia punches
Turkey,and gets punched back. There are no hard feelings,
because Britain made Australia do it.France gets thrown through
a plate glass window,but gets back up and carries on fighting.
Russia gets thrown through another one, gets knocked out, suffers
brain damage, and wakes up with a complete personality change.
Italy throws a punch at Austria and misses, but Austria falls over
anyway.Italy raises both fists in the air and runs round the room
chanting.America waits till Germany is about to fall over, then walks
over,waves a fist at Germany while Britain knocks it out, then
pretends it won the fight all by itself. By now all the chairs are
broken, and the big mirror over the bar is shattered.Britain, France
and America agree that Germany threw the first punch,so the
whole thing is Germany's fault.While Germany is still unconscious,
they go through its pockets,steal its wallet, and buy drinks for all
their friends.

Nobody comes out of it looking particularly good.

Friday, 10 September 2010

Cyclops Land Wheeler

RAFM Miniatures are taking pre-orders for this rather wonderful looking Cyclops Land Wheeler from their forthcoming Ares Rising VSF line. Looks perfect for keeping pesky natives in line on Earth, Mars or Venus...


2025 EDIT: Sadly, RAFM ceased to be earlier this year. Hoping that Ral Partha will pick up their product lines in due course but not sure

An exploration of debauchery, vice and other reasons to be a man!

An exploration of debauchery, vice and other reasons to be a man!