Halloween

Note to parents: getting your five year old son, no matter how badly he wanted it, a black and camouflage head-to-toe ninja outfit to go trick-or-treating after sun down is a baaaad idea. At least he had a flashlight, I could almost keep an eye on him.
We moved over the summer. We had so few trick-or-treaters at our old neighborhood that we actually drove back there and hit a few houses so they would have somebody! At our new neighborhood, it was like a block party, with gaggles of 30 people at a time moving up and down the streets, meeting each other multiple times as we criss-crossed the subdivision blocks. And they won't stop ringing the bell! Here's a tip: when it's 9:00 and the lights are all out, WE ARE OUT OF CANDY!! Besides, you look like you're 18, I wouldn't give you any candy anyway!

HistoryShots

I've always wanted the History of [U.S.] Political Parties posters from HistoryShots, and I see they have now some military history posters-- History of the Confederate Army and U.S. Army Divisions in World War II. Edit: If you like things like this, check out the classic graph of Napoleon's casualties during his Russian invasion, by Minard.

The Classic Solo Wargame

Historifigs is reprinting old articles by Joe Morschauser from their old Table Top Talk magazine. The Classic Solo Wargame looked like an interesting article. Definitely a classic article now, it's 40 years old!

Saxe-Bearstein

I just saw Saxe-Bearstein, a blog primarily about the construction of a fictional 18th century army. It has some nice other stuff, too, like this simple linear campaign system.

Books I'm Reading

So, part of my recent resolution was to read some books. Here's what I've read so far:

5150 Star Wars

Here are the 5150 rules for Star Wars I wrote up with input from my buddy Mik. It's mostly from ANH and ESB as those are the figures I have. I'd love to have any additions you come up with, as I probably won't stat up anymore than this since this covers most of my figures. After watching Clone Wars, though, I could see myself getting clone trooper and droid forces down the line... Anyway, you can see some pictures here of some playtest games Mik and I played.

Okay, nevermind

The resolution is out the window once I get my current batch of Trident 40mm AWI figures painted (and they're next in my queue). Check out the new releases I just got in an email!

Working around the shame

Well, one way to get around my resolution is to trade! I traded a buddy some VOR Union power armor for some of his old Harlequins, and am currently working a deal for some more Star Wars figures. I think this in the spirit of my resolution and no big deal.

Shame Update

Here's the update on my no purchases resolution-- sixteen days, two paychecks and no purchases! In all honesty, though, I did see a couple of deals I couldn't pass up, but they either got bid up on eBay so they weren't a bargain anymore, or shipping was a killer, or stuff like that. So far, so good, but it does seem that I might be tempted by a deal too good to pass up!

Interesting Art Forum

The Concept Art forums have some pretty inspirational stuff, including some well-illustrated large scale sculpting tutorials.

Great Stuff

Or at least interesting stuff. In the US, Great Stuff is an expanding insulating foam sealant. You can get a can for about $5. I've been wanting to try it out for a while, and finally got some and made some test pieces.

CISAPWADD

Yesterday was "Call In Sick And Play Wargames All Dang Day." A guy we used to game with came into town, and I took the day off to hang out a buddy's house and play some games with them. We did some Supersystem and then some Warmachine, but we mostly just fooled around and chatted. In the evening, the rest of the guys who didn't take the day off showed up and the guy from out of town wrapped up the Sci-Fi d20 Modern campaign we had been playing when he moved away. It was a pretty fun day, but I'm beat today.

Shrimproll

I just found shrimproll. Not too frequently updated, but some really nice pictures.

Very cool lava terrain table!

Now, here is one of the coolest looking terrain layouts I have seen, a Star Wars "lava" layout. And I don't even like Star Wars!!

5150 Star Wars

Here are some pictures from our 5150 Star Wars games last night. We're working on some rules we'll put out soon.

Why Pre-Painted Figures Will Dominate

Really, if we were able to look at the sales across all the pre-painted manufacturers, they may well dominate already, and here's why. For just over $100.00, I bought a substantial amount of figures, had them shipped to me, and will be running a game with them tomorrow. From purchase to play in about a week for about $1.00 a figure. You just can not beat that. I don't think they're going to drive the unpainted market out of business, as it certainly does not provide the same feeling of accomplishment or enjoyment that I get from painting and creating. However, considering it would have taken me, realistically, two years to have painted all these by myself, assuming I even finished, it opens up areas of marginal interest, like Star Wars for me. I would never have devoted the amount of time it would have taken to paint all these figures up, I'm just not that interested in Star Wars. But, hey, if $115.00 buys me enough figures to sit down and play with my son and my friends, who like Star Wars more than me, well, I'm going to do that.

The Pile of Shame

This is my pile of shame, everything I have bought since Historicon started. This is why I'm not buying anything else until the end of the year. I was doing well, painted up about half of everything I bought at Historicon, but then flipped out when my buddies liked 5150 and decided I needed more 25mm Sci-Fi! Then I had to put an Old Glory in order for them, as I'm the Old Glory Army mule, and of course I had to get a little something for myself. Plus, a bunch of eBay bargains. Yu Jing remotes for under $20.00, including shipping!? Can't pass that up. I'm keeping it all on my table when I can see it always and feel bad about it! Well, except the 40mm Trident AWI. I'm not ashamed of them, they're awesome!

New fonts

I increased the font sizes and changed the fonts for the site's layout. I'm trying to make the site a little easier to read. It's lately struck me as somewhat difficult to read. If you have any opinions about it, let me know. Thanks.

Dogblogging!

So, I was stepping away from setting the gaming table up for tomorrow night's Star Wars 5150 game, when I notice my dog, Bear. He's a twenty pound Schnauzer (or Schnoodle, the pound claimed). Both his front legs were bloody and wet!! He's had allergy problems lately, so I thought he had licked his legs to the point of being bloody. I got my wife out of bed (she had just went) since I thought I might need help with it...

Trident Designs 40mm AWI are Awesome!!

I just got my order of Trident 40mm AWI from MSC today, and I have to say, these are some exceptionally beautiful figures. I wasn't crazy about British Grenadiers, as I mentioned, but those figures REALLY wowed me. I can't wait to start painting these up! You can bet I will post pictures as soon as I do!

Sculpting Articles

Lyonstudio Miniatures has a collection of sculpting articles. I'm getting that itch again...

Star Wars Miniatures Singles

I bought some more Star Wars singles (PRE 10/1, of course) from Dragon Justice. They had good prices, cheap shipping and great service. Recommended.

I can't pronounce Aufklärungsabteilung but fortunately this new blog's text is in English, is readable and is very interesting. Added to the blogroll.

Star Wars Tatooine Terrain Pictures

There very inspirational pictures were part of an eBay auction a couple of years ago. A buddy turned out to have saved them, with the name of Mos Abra. It is a very creative and well assembled "Mos Eisley"-style Tatooine town done almost completely out of styrofoam packaging material.

MST3K

So, I subjected my wife to her first viewing of MST3K last night. She didn't finish it, as she wanted to go to bed early. At 9:15! She claimed she was tired, but I know she was simply on the verge of laughing out loud and could no longer contain her stoney veneer! Ah, women. Can't live with 'em...pass the beer nuts.

Lord of the Rings Battle Companies

LotR: Battle Companies adds an experience-based campaign framework to GW's LotR rules.