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Showing posts from 2016

A few words

Whilst I am filled with carpaccio of beef, raw garlic and bloody good red wine, let me use it as an excuse to say that I love and respect all of you whom I have known since I was but a youth, and although some of you may think I hold you in disdain, I will say on the record that it is not the case, and that its my way of coping. You have all played your part in my life and I'm grateful and pleased to know you. To my DS3 and latterly FB friends I will say that I do indeed think of you as friends. Coming from someone who only interacts with people whom I find interesting, please reflect and accept my hand. And those of you who have got inside my defences since my forays into gaming in 1980 both as peers and GW 'untouchables' ( you know who you are) will probably know me well enough to know that you are as close as anyone in my blood family. Indeed some of you were regulars at the family manse in the 80s and are every bit my brothers and sisters. Some of you in SWS may als

WANTED: ENCOUNTER 2 RULES

If anyone has a copy of the old 'Encounter 2' sci-fi skirmish rules by Starfleet Studies or TTG, and would sell them to me for £10, please drop me a line. Thanks.

A Change In Scales

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As is now pretty obvious, I'm as addicted to railway modelling these days as I am wargaming, so it will come as no surprise to hear that I have this morning, just commissioned two new shelf layouts from my 'go to' builder, Steve Hornsey. As usual I am looking for something different and so, this time I have decided on narrow gauge 009 scale, which in short is OO scale scenics but track which is, in all but the spacing of the sleepers (if you use 'proper' 009 stuff) N scale. The first layout is going to be set inside the walls of a distillery, and the entire groundwork will be cobbled with the rails set into it - something that Steve portrays really well. It has a lot of potential for nice scenery and vignettes as materials, barrels to be filled and filled barrels being moved down to the road transport sheds. The second layout will be set in the 1920s on the estate of a member of the gentry. It will feature his Lordship's private station, engine and carri

Sheffield Wargames Society Committee Change

The AGM of SWS was held on 23 November 2016 An entirely new committee was elected as follows: Chairman - Tim Gow Secretary - John Armatys Treasurer - Graham Northing Show Secretary - Pete Scholey Publicity Officer - Cy Harrison It has been speculated that there is a high probability of  a show returning to Sheffield. My personal guess would be 2018 at a smaller venue, lasting one day. It can be seen that for the most part, this new committee could be seen as progressive and 'safe pairs of hands' and I for one, wish them well in their endeavours.

So Long To 2016... PLEASE!

I am really beginning to think that the sooner 2016 is out of the way the better. Real life keeps rubbing up against my hobbies in a none to friendly manner, and I confess it's beginning to really piss me off. Exactly a week ago now my wife's car was hit on the M1 between Leeds and Sheffield by a large articulated truck delivering to Aldi, which, carried her 100 or so yards along the motorway, spinning her sideways and depositing her into (and thankfully there was one) the hard shoulder. The driver accepted responsibility at the scene, and the police informed my wife that they did not expect her to be found alive, but, thankfully she was saved by being in a Skoda Yeti. She spent the next day at the hospital and was not brain damaged, nor was she a 'walk talk, die' case, but she is internally battered about and quite severely whiplashed. Let me tell you, relieved at her survival is not the world. And so, as she was not fit to make it on Saturday and had to also

Screaming Mob Miniatures Goes Live

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SCREAMING MOB MINIATURES HAS GONE LIVE! I am pleased to announce that Screaming Mob Miniatures has finally launched. The original sculpts were done back in 2013, but the realisation has been a long process due to my other commitments as a writer and miniature painter. Now, I am turning more of my time over to the manufacture of figures with the launch of the multi-genre Cultists range which in the initial release will allow you to field a theoretical 500+ variants, armed with everything from clubs to heavy support lasers. What's more there's a brilliant Grand Master borne aloft on a palanquin by two of his devoted followers. Heads are supplied at random with every pack, but we have also had two special head sprues created to allow you to portray your models with Plague Doctor masks or with the brazen features of followers of the tentacle-faced god. Remember that the first 50 packs sold in each code are discounted by 30% in what is known as the '

LARGE Dwarven Forge Collection

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I am looking for a new home for my Dwarven Forge collection The best laid plans of mice and me, and all that. Carrying them up and down two flights of stairs, with arthritis and the sheer time taken to put it all away means I am now looking at other ways of portraying sprawling dungeons. The price is £2000 for the lot. Alternatively I would part exchange for painted figures of any type or scale, as long as they are in army sized formations. I'd also consider a part ex on a large collection of Traveller RPG suff (classic A5 books) I'd certainly take a full set of Grenadier AD&D boxed mini sets as 50% in part exchange I'd be a looking at 50% cash to goods for part exchange. Classic Painted 2 x Catacombs set 1 x Catacombs Set 2 2 x Den Of Evil room set 1 x Den Of Evil expansion set 1 x Den Of Evil Additions set  2 x Realm Of The Ancients set 2 x Realm Of The Ancients Set 2 1 Room & Passage Set 4 x Narrow straight passag

50,000 Visitors & Counting

Just a very quick message to say thank you to you all for taking the time to visit the blog. Today I smashed the 50,000 visits mark. TTFN

Of Family Connections & Their Influence On The Hobby

Before gaming there was comics, LEGO, Airfix plastic soldiers, model kits and trains. Well, there was for me at least, but I suspect that those of us in this hobby of around shall we say 'mid century' in age pretty much followed similar if not identical roots. The supply of comics was the domain of Dad and maternal Grandad, who between them pretty much filled my week with at least comic every day, including from memory; Whizzer & Chips, The Beano, The Dandy, The Eagle, Battle, Action, Starlord, 2000AD, Warlord and the Commando, War Picture Library / Battle Picture Library and Starblazer full length mini-comics. Generally, Dad was the supplier of model kits with a simple system of calculation based on ' number of weeks without pocket money = kit purchase of higher value than the amount racked up between 1 and 3 weeks'. Dad also picked up the tab for my White Dwarf magazines from 1981, which was rather splendid and even got the local newsagent to source

I Failed My Spelling Test

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Last weekend after a personally harrowing week, I needed to really kick back and so, attended the 'Out Of This World' event in Sheffield, wearing my Death Eater (Harry Potter) costume. It was great to see families and kids in particular meeting their favourite heroes and villians and being able to interact with them. The highlight for me, was when this young lady (see below) playing Ginny Weasley, saw me walking towards her across Sheffield Peace Gardens, detached herself from her puzzled Dad, surged down the steps they were descending and shouted 'EXPELLIARMUS!' before I could even draw my wand from my belt. A Death Eater was taken down by a Hogwarts First Year. Oh the Ignominy... Her Dad took the following photo and apparently, she was talking about the encounter for the rest of the day. Mission accomplished, I'd say.

Of Screaming Mobs & Cheap Figures

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Screaming Mob Miniatures aims to bring fun, varied and affordable miniatures in traditional metal, to those of you who want to not just be able to play a skirmish game, but also field armies of 28mm warriors, thugs and ne'er-do-wells without selling a vital organ or making dark pacts with nameless gods. (Although, we would never discourage you from the latter!) Screaming Mob may be new, but is built upon the firm foundations of it's sister businesses  Conflict In Colour  and  S.N.A.F.U Scenics. I am a veteran gamer of almost 4 decades at the time of writing and I'm also the author of the well received gaming memoir  'Real Life's A Bu**er - A Tale Of Sex, Dragons And Rock 'N' Roll' . In the 1990s I also ran the Sheffield branch of the  Dungeons & Starships  chain of stores, so I have 'seen the elephant' as it were. I harken back to a time before blister packs and slotta bases, where  the models mattered more than the pac

It Was All The Fault Of A Frenchman...

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Yesterday was a busy day.... I took delivery of two shipments of Dwarven Forge scenery. The first was all older stuff from those fine people at Spirit Games whilst the larger shipment was from Dwarven Forge Europe comprising 9 large sets including 7 limited edition sets, and a single smaller set. Alas, as previously none of the 5 limited edition sets contained their numbered certificates, so I've had to get in touch with Dwarven Forge in the U.S to ask them to remedy this situation. I am now at the 41 large set mark and about 20 of the small peripheral extras, so I am most certainly at the level where I can get the display game up and running. I couldn't get time to open them as straight after a hard day of painting 1/1200th aircraft, I had to get on a train in the afternoon to go to Leeds where I was to be entertained by one Mnsr. J M Jarre in person. Now I have always loved Leeds. It used to have a branch of 'Games Of Li

Intervention May Really Be Required

I've just ordered some more Dwarven Forge dungeon sets, bringing my set total to 39. I really believe that this is indeed an addiction, and I need to slow down. Lord only knows how large a layout I can build, but it must be over 40 square feet of 28mm dungeon. And what's worse, I can still think of stuff to add.

WANTED: GRENADIER MINIATURES 'SOLID GOLD LINE' AD&D FIGURE SETS

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Ok, here's hoping that someone reading this blog, can help me in finding the old Grenadier Miniatures 'Solid Gold Line' of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons miniatures. I will pay £25 - £60 depending on whether I'm buying a small or large box. I'll pay via Paypal and will cover shipping from anywhere in the world to the U.K These are the sets I am seeking:

Damn You, Games Workshop!

Alright, I know I was the first paying member of the public in Games Workshop, Sheffield, back when all was sun, fun and Thatcher, but over the years I drifted away, because - and let's be candid here - they became like the embarrassing uncle at the family party. They, knew the music, but the dance was all wrong... No, let's be honest again, they started producing some shite. I was never really comfortable with Warhammer 40,000 (it wasn't '40K' back then) and the later, even darker background felt like a tight collar at a Summer funeral. I id however love the Imperial Army, Harlequins and the Genestealer Cults. The Genestealer Cults had a certain fascination, in that here were parasitic aliens, interbreeding with humans, and the human and hybrid offspring showing the same love and affection to these bug eyed monsters as they might a kindly human grandfather. Ok, I guess you'd have to think twice about the Werthers candies in the case of the bug eyed monste

Clerics For Warhammer 1st Edition

Clerics in WHFB 1st Ed Clerics are essentially the militant priests of whatever benign or malignant god they serve. Clerics Must always select WS as their primary skill and always have a BS  Clerics may wear any armour, use shields but may not used weapons with a bladed edge or stabbing point in combat. As Clerics draw their power direct from their deity, they do not expend energy to cast spells. They do however, need to test for fumbled spells. Failure has no other effect than the spell failing, primarily because their patron god is not watching them at the time, or is chasing a comely nymph whilst sipping draught ambrosia. Clerics may use a mix of standard and necromantic spells. The spells available to Clerics are as follows: Level 1 Blessing Cure Light Injury Bless Sword Magic Light Hold Undead Level 2 Aura Of Steadfastness Cure Severe Wound Banish Undead (Necromantic) Level 3 Banish Undead (Magic User) Walk On Water Level 4 Restore Life In addition, Clerics may petition their god

Thieves In Warhammer 1st Edition

I've been looking at the use of first edition Warhammer Fantasy BAttle for dungeon skirmishing. The rules are basically sound, but you only have the choice of Fighters or MAgic Users. With this in mind I've begun to work on additional classes to give variety and a more traditional feel to games. First up, I offer you the Thief class. You will see that I've split the skills into two groups. This is because a player has to choose whether they are primarily melee or ranged combat specialists, with one being higher. This also allows two distinct styles of thief class to be catered for. Thieves for WHFB 1st ed Thieves use WS to ‘roll to hit’ for successful use of the following thief skills: Fade into background Backstab Dodge Climb sheer surface BS is used for the following skills: Pick locks Disarm or arm trap Secure grapnel Locate trap Fade into background:  The thief blends in with the surroundings and may make a single move without

Anybody Looking For 28mm Marlburian?

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If anyone is interested I have a large, 28mm Spanish WSS army, using Ebor Miniatures... £320.00 which is a heck of a saving... Would consider trades for 'Grenadier Gold Line' AD&D miniature sets from the 80s. 12 x Infantry regiments (18 figs) 2 x Guard infantry regiments (18 each) 3 x Dragoon Regiments (12 horses and 12 riders each) 5 x Horse regiments (as above) 1 x Garde Du Corps regiment (as above) 2 x Guns each with 4 crew 12 12 Send me a message if interested (1) Spanish Garde Du Corps Cavalry  £23.00 each

Surrounded By Good Things, But The Lurgy Has Me In It's Foul Grip

As I type, I am in the 49th hour of a severe dose of the lurgy which has laid me low with all the symptoms of flu' and, left me feeling like the inside of a Kobold's loincloth at the end of a 12 day forced march whilst under pursuit by the local Ranger's. I feel like shit... Two days in a row, I've promised myself I'd take the rest of the week off, and recuperate, but as I have only lost 3 working days to illness since 2011, it's not something I can do easily. Thus, I've slogged on when really I should have stayed tucked up in bed . And to cap it all off, I just had the great idea of using my coffee machine to get some hot water fast, for my Beecham's Powder, only I forgot to take the previous coffee pod out first, and I am now drinking a remedy which tastes and looks like a urine sample from a Kenco coffee taster who spent last night lashed up on  bottles of 'Hooch'. Actually, it's not too bad, so if anyone reading this is a coffee t

Cocaine Is A Cheaper Habit - Really

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Well, after my splurge on 21 sets of Dwarven Forge scenery last week, my kid brother and I messed about with 3 sets yesterday, and we were really impressed with the look of it...  The layout below was  about 3 square feet in area: Anyway, I am really impressed with it and you really can't tell between the older resin stuff and new 'Dwarvenite' stuff. We also played with the LED lit parts too, and they brought forth 'OOOOOHHHs' and 'SQUEEEEEs' aplenty. Anyway, this lunchtime, another 4 sets arrived and I'm planning on another 4 this week. Then I think another 6-9 will finish things nicely. I can confirm for the record that in comparison, cocaine is cheaper and less addictive by an order of magnitude.

At The Edge...

I am an unashamed lover of all things 80s as is probably, exceedingly, obvious by now. After my recent epistle on the wonders of the toy and game stores we had in Sheffield, I was reflecting on what else I was being opened up to at the time I really got a handle on the whole gaming thing. I think it was late ’79 to early ’81 where I started to musically awaken as well as exponentially broaden my mind with the possibilities of fantasy and science fiction beyond the Saturday morning TV cavalcade and the seeming mountain of sci-fi and action comics that I partook of every week. I think it really all began with Adam & The Ants… OK, they looked pretty camp on reflection and with 35+ years of hindsight, but look, they were different and they had a sound which was different to most. There is a case, of course for drawing comparisons with  Bow Wow Wow, but given that both bands were Malcolm McLaren proteges, that’s hardly surprising. One thing which has stoo