What Santa Brought

A delicious grab bag of goodies for yours truly & son under the tree this year - far better than a lump of coal! You can see a definitely VSF theme going on here.  Review of the various books to come by let me just say that if you haven't yet discovered the Adventures of Lord Coxswain ("The Man, The Myth, The Muttonchops") I am sitting here chuckling away and now desperately searching for some appropriate figures...

Merry Christmas!

Warm Yuletide wishes to all!

1907 Artist's impression of what Santa would be driving a Century later

I hope you've been good this year!

Tsuba Miniatures

I just came across these lovely Russian and Japanese figures of RJW era, made by Tsuba Miniataures in Germany.  Just perfect for Victorian/Edwardian era VSF or colonial gaming.

I've wanted to do a Russian Company for IHMN and think that these might be a great way ahead, rather than Russian Civil War figs (nice as they might be for Pulp games).  I'll just need to find some models somewhere for the obligatory 'over the top' and/or weird characters.

And for those desirous of a Japanese force, these are very nice too:

Japanese Cavalry figures will be added to the range early next year and I hope some Russian mounted troops will follow shortly thereafter.
http://tsuba-miniatures.blogspot.com/

War Plan Red: Part 5

Thanks to Steve Blease, who recently blogged this video related to War Plan RED which I did a series of posts a few months ago.

Medal of Arbitrary Self-Importance

All I can say is... I Want One for Christmas!

The Society for Interplanetary Cooperation and Cross-galactic Overindulgence held its annual prize giving in Carlsbad, Prussia this past Tuesday.

While the event itself displayed much of its infamous pompousness, the officers of SICCO this year left a legacy worth highlighting.

The Medal of Arbitrary Self-Importance – so named because it cannot actually be awarded by a third (or even second) person – allows time-space revellers on all wave-lengths to award those blatantly best deserving – themselves.

We are in no doubt that this medal – left unattended in a public space such as a Turkish bath, Ale house or brothel in your vicinity – would quickly make it onto the chest of a deserving (in their mind) individual.

We would therefore very much like to dispatch one to your premises forthwith.

Perchance you, Sir/Madame, would be a splendid recipient of such an award? It’s in your hands!

Regardless of the chest it adorns, Dr Grordbort’s(patrons and sponsors of the award) would be only too pleased to serve!

Comes in metal gift box container measuring 95 x 135 x 40 mm (3.7 x 5.3 x 1.5 in).

https://www.wetanz.com/medal-of-arbitrary-self-importance/

A new Aerostat from Tobsen

Tobsen77 miniatures (who make all sorts of steampunky goodies - see here) have released a new model for the discerning aeronaught.  Smaller and sleeker than their earlier version and now armed with not one but two Maxims, its clearly the dirigible of choice for the new season.  Don't be caught in last year's balloonary!
http://tobsen77.de/products/dompfaff.php

Steam Powered Tanks

I came across this thread at the World of Tanks forum (via the Space 1889 Yahoo Group), which has some very interesting pic of developmental tanks which I hadn't come across before and the attempted application of steam for power.  Focused on US developments, its well worth checking out and has some great modelling inspiration.
http://forum.worldoftanks.com/index.php?/topic/236601-steam-powered-tanks/

For Queen and Planet!

For Queen and Planet: The Imperial Wars of Earth and Mars, 1845-1930

-- Simple Victorian Sci-Fi/Colonials mass combat rules!

I spied this set of rules on the inter web the other day, which like an interesting blend of a Colonial game with VSF options.  Haven't gotten a copy (yet) but will write some thought when I do.  Here is the spiel from Wargames Vault:

For Queen and Planet – Core Rules

The sweep of the red Sudanese desert, scattered with thorny trees and pierced by black basalt outcrops is the setting for this cinematic rule set. The whirling dervish, the fanatical Ansar and the lonely British foot soldier far from home are the combatants.

With these rules, you can take the role of the British commander tasked by the Queen with maintaining crown rule in distant, inhospitable lands or the local emir, committed to exercising his own free will over the natives who will fight with all their blood, sweat and tears.

Q&P is designed to balance the mass and ferocity of the local peoples against the technology and training of the Colonial powers and to provide a fair and reasonable struggle for both imperial General and local Emir.

This rule set includes:

• All rules necessary to play either a colonial or VSF version of the game.
• An alternative timeline for VSF genre play.
• Unit lists detailing British, British-colonial, Ansar, Beja and Cephalopod forces.
• A nine-scenario campaign that will allow you to play your way through the Mahdi’s initial rebellion against Egyptian garrison forces all the way through to the siege of Khartoum.
• A blank unit command sheet.

CAMPAIGN SCENARIOS

Each of the scenarios in this rulebook is written to be fought as a pure colonial battle, but it is very easy to add a VSF flare to any scenario or battle you fight with this rule system. I have included an addendum (in italics) to each ‘colonial’ battle to allow you to make it a VSF battle. Play balance will not be affected by converting colonial battles to VSF battles.

 The Rise of the Mahdi Scenarios:

1) First Battle of El Obeid - Dec 1881 Egyptian vs. Ansar

2) Second Battle of El Obeid (or Hick's Folly) - Nov 1883 - British lead Egyptians vs. Ansar

3) First Battle of El Teb (or Baker's Teb) - Feb 4, 1884 - British lead Egyptians vs. Beja

4) Second Battle of El Teb - Feb 29, 1884 - British vs. Beja

5) Battle of Tamai - March 13, 1884 - British vs. Beja

6) Siege of Khartoum - ~May 1884 - Ansar sieging British lead Egyptians

7) The Battle of Abu Klea - Jan 17, 1885 - British vs. Ansar

8) The Battle of Kirbekan - Feb 10, 1885 - British vs. Ansar

9) The Battle of Tofrek - March 22, 1885 - British vs. Beja/Ansar

http://www.firstcommandwargames.com/home.html

French Nefs re-released

Those chaps at Brigade Models have remastered their French Charlemane class Battlecruiser Aeronef and recast them with different variants of beautiful tumblehome hulls and period style hull guns.

I think they look just fantastic but now my exiting French fleet (here) can never compare and needs to be upgraded.  The naval arms race continues...

"Sky Galleons of Mars" to Return!

Exciting news indeed, from the guys who are doing the reboot of the Space 1889 RPG!  Early days thus far but expect a Kickstarter in the future to get this moving.  Details so far are:

• Classic rules to be used, though updated
• Classic Hex maps to be utilised
• All new range of miniatures- plastic in the starter with metal ones available individually
• English, German and likely other language versions

Watching with great interest!
http://raum1889.de/?p=602

USS Olympia

Recently I had the chance to sneak a peak at the USS Olympia at the Independence Seaport in Philadelphia.  Launched in 1892 she is a one of a class protected cruiser sporting 8 and 5 inch guns.  She is also a veteran of the Spanish-American War and is in beautiful condition.

Unfortunately, my camera decided to die earlier in the day so I have no pics of the occasion, but it was excellent  If you are in the area so drop down and see this lovely lady of the sea.
http://www.phillyseaport.org/olympia

Great Martian War on Film!

WoW, this is fantastic!  Really inspirational for players of All Quiet on the Martian Front too.


Great martian war from PLAZMA on Vimeo.

Thanks to http://www.history.co.uk/shows/the-great-martian-war and "Steam fantasy"for sharing the love on FB

Steampunk short film

Found this today and thought I'd share the laugh

Nemo's War takes shape

The second edition of this great game is taking shape at Victory Point Games.  The new artwork and counters look fantastic.  I'll be upgrading my first edition for sure!
http://www.victorypointgames.com/news/nemos-war-article/

The first real Aeronef

An interesting article regarding pre WW1 commentary on the impacts of technology, including airships. Very reminiscent of HG Wells in War in the Air

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2366435/Pictures-military-science-1913-America-feared-deadly-bomb-showers-battle-begun.html