tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31930905743162703892023-11-15T23:03:15.219-08:00Ninja-Elbow: Neo Grognard My new hobby of wargaming and old hobby of role playing.
Gabe "Rollo"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03016277733204721238noreply@blogger.comBlogger162125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193090574316270389.post-64771492882339430952018-03-26T16:54:00.003-07:002018-03-26T16:54:17.698-07:00Houserules and my Beef With Them<br />
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As a life-long gamer (in my case – table-top RPG and
wargames for those that don’t know me) I’ve always heard this “Just house rule
it… “ when it comes to the question of whether a rule sounds like it’s not
working out. I’ve been hearing that since 198-something, it’s become a trope,
and it aggravates me. When I hear it as an answer to a rules-question now it
just seems condescending and trite.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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The latest 2 triggers to my aggravation were:<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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Did a big pike and shotte era wargame last weekend using the
Pikeman’s Lament rules by Mersey. A derivative of his X Rampant, they are
mostly well-thought out, elegant, and I like them save a few bits that are
dice-dependent and, if the dice go against you, will turn the game immediately.
A lot of the Grognards I play with love the rule-set so I play it too. Suffice
to say, I like to play and it was a fun game regardless of my teeth getting
kicked in.<br />
<br />
A rule, an ability of a specific unit, was played wrong but we went with it.
Later the host of the game brought up the rule in question on a Facebook
fanpage for the rule-set and, via the magic of modern social-media, the
co-author of the game himself chimed in. It was not as nice as one would think.<br />
<br />
To wrap it up the exchange on the FB page:<br />
1) We played the rule incorrectly.<br />
2) A question was asked to clarify what the book said (which indeed showed us
we did it wrong).<br />
3) Many had opinions and evoked historical context (my newest pet-peeve BTW).<br />
4) The writer of the rules chimed in, said what the book says is what it says,
then states it is mis-printed thus not the intent of the writers of the rules.
Further, how we played it wrong is closer to said intent.<br />
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The conversation went back and forth a bit and some feathers got ruffled.
Finally, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You guys should house-rule it
and play it how you like.</i>” Was the final answer … which is funny because we
want to play it as it’s written in the book but the way the conversation flowed
many came from the perspective that it was not Rules As Written; house-rule to
play the game by what the book says? Weird when you witness that.<br />
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The whole exchange showed me that when a mistake was found we were told to “house
rule it” and that was that. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mother-Fucker</i>…
I spent money on your rule book, why do I need to house rule it? You’re just trying
to shut me up and save face hunh? Sounds like a cheap and easy way out.<br />
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Next – post Dungeons and Dragons game this weekend I was doing some research
for the party re crafting items. Like they got some down time and want to make
horse shoes and arrows and stuff and what the rules are for that. I fell down a
rabbit hole and found many Reddit, forum, and blog post conversations that all
fell into the “just house rule it…” trap. In one of those conversations, date
stamped in 2015, someone called out the “just house rule it…” guy and asked him
(I assume gender via the forum name) “Why are you being dismissive about
another’s concern?” the reply opened with. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">House
Rule It Guy</i> answered that the original situation was not a big deal and
easy to house rule and the responder came back with:<br />
<br />
“The original poster thought it was Big Deal enough to post a question here
about it. It is a big deal to them. You say it’s not a big deal but then you
went through over a dozen posts here until you finally replied it was not a big
deal. Why did you do that?” … and I love that tact!<o:p></o:p></div>
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My main problems with house rules are a few:<br />
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1) Lack of consistency amongst groups or tables. When I buy rules for a game I
expect those rules to be followed everywhere I go. For me gaming is a social
activity (amongst others) and it is hard to enjoy myself when I go to a game
not knowing what is going on and not being able to take care of my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fun is a very important aspect of games but I
am not having fun if I am standing at a table not knowing what is going on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">AND</i> I have the rule book.<br />
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There is a full spectrum, in my opinion on the reason this happens. A prevalent
one is Host/Game Master power of adjudication. I’ve been involved in “home-brew”
role playing games where no one had a copy of the rules other than the GM. I
did not like that. Every single one of those games the GM was the over-bearing
omnipotent god that, in the end, decided all the player’s fates regardless of
any rule that was played before hand and I hate that. <o:p></o:p></div>
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On the other end of the stick were some historical wargames
I’ve been in where the modified rules were pretty dang modified and not even
close to the rule set they were “modified” from – nor consistent in rulings.
One game the cannon does 3d6 damage. The next game it’s doing 4d6. No
consistency.<br />
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The above two instances are more of the upper-level and I feel most house rules
are just there to keep things going. The issue is they seem to fail, Like
throwing on a Band-Aid when you actually could use a stitch or two.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Granted, there are degrees to this. In my game daggers only
cost 2 gold pieces but per the RAW daggers are 4 gold pieces. That is not a big
deal. It is not a house rule that would trip up a new person if they came to
the game not knowing the house rule. Critical attacks happening on natural
rolls of 19 or 20 house rule? That’s a big deal because that may usurp a whole
character concept if they did not know about the house rule.<o:p></o:p></div>
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2) The Big Brush-Off: Sometimes it just seems like people
say it to show you they don’t care. <br />
*<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Long, well researched, honest question
about rules as written</i>*<br />
“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">House rule it</i>.” << the answer you
get.<br />
It’s like being a player that house-rules everything is somehow a mark of skill
or experience. Very rarely is that so in my own experience but stating it marks
you as someone that has “imagination” and is in it for the fun!<br />
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I’ve been at this long enough to be able to tell when it’s an honest and
earnest “house rule it” or not. I find most replies like that are just a person
brushing people off. It’s kind of rude and trite.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I know, I was all negative and stuff and some may feel put
off by all this. Just remember that part of “fun” is consistency and fairness.
We play games with codified rules so that we can play with each other with said
consistency and fairness. Further, for some of us, rules are hard to learn and
memorize (me) and when we do get them memorized it’s nice to be able to use
that. It is very uncomfortable, and slightly embarrassing, to be standing at a
table not knowing what is going on or what to do. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I know of many people who do not “game” as they feel not
adequate enough to stand at a table. Many “bad experience” horror stories I
have heard revolve around a misunderstanding of what is a house rule.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Gabe "Rollo"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03016277733204721238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193090574316270389.post-298178194716297092018-01-10T12:58:00.001-08:002018-01-10T15:17:59.987-08:00End of Year 2017 List I have spent the last two weeks typing away into a doc that was to be a "2017 best of..." post and it evolved into so many different things it got ridiculous and I got overwhelmed and gave up on it.<br />
<br />
I played a lot of games, mostly Saga but plenty of X Rampant variations and some "bigger" games most of which are from Warlord sets of rules like Hail Caesar and Pike and Shotte, in 2017. Some of these games I painted pretty large amounts of models for. I cannot accurately tell you the number of games as I did not keep track in a log or some such and I'd have to check my blog, my Google calendar, a few Facebook pages, and a few other blogs to come up with that number.<br />
<br />
So, one of my reasonable resolutions for 2018 is to keep an actual log and/or journal of my games. Nothing too insightful - date, game, era, rule-set. If something extraordinary happens I'll jot it down.<br />
<br />
Suffice to say I've a few focused plans for 2018.<br />
<br />
Enfilade this year will be my fourth and I plan to be 100% "customer" at this one. I will not run one game of any kind. My plan is to play games and maybe volunteer some time at the Bring and Buy either while it's open or, if need be, as security after hours. That's my big 2018 Enfilade Plan.<br />
<br />
I want to host a big Battle of Lechfeld 955 game at Ambuscade III in December. That means a lot of Normans and Magyars. I've already got a lot of Normans. I have until December to paint up about 70 or so Magyars. I also plan to paint up more Normans than I have now as I have three different (and distinct) painting styles in my Norman collection as my style has evolved the more I did in the craft.<br />
<br />
If Battle of Lechfeld is well-received at Ambuscade III than I plan to run it at Enfilade in 2019.<br />
<br />
Also in the pipe for me are some plans for a modern era game using Black Ops rules. I've got bikers and SWAT miniatures in various degrees of not done to done. I'm also interested in some post-apocalyptic gaming.<br />
<br />
Even further up the pipe is my interest in some tricorn era models and game. Leaning towards American Colonial times and some mix of French and Indian to American Revolution. As of yet no solid plans there.<br />
<br />
Something that, if I applied myself, I could table soon would be my interest in the Winter War - Finland vs. Soviet Union. I've a good Finnish collection of models for some Bolt-Action that never took off. Just need some Soviet masses in winter coats to put on the table and be mowed down by skiing commandos and white smock clad snipers.<br />
<br />
2018 is also the year I've decided to run a Dungeons and Dragons campaign for the first time in 3-4 years... maybe longer?? I am running one of my old groups, The Blue Ribbon Company (all the original players from 2003 too!), on the infamous Curse of Strahd adventure. I hope to run it for a full year. This, too, will involve some minis painting. Right now I've trying my hand at some "scare crows", my idea being based off jack-o-lanterns. A blog entry will follow soon.<br />
<br />
So, a year from now, let's see what happened!<br />
<br />
I hope your 2017 was enjoyable for you and may 2018 be better.<br />
<br />
Edit 1: some spelling and grammatical errors - I have no doubt there is more.Gabe "Rollo"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03016277733204721238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193090574316270389.post-30239370372295290462017-12-18T10:49:00.002-08:002017-12-18T11:21:05.891-08:00Favorite Movies of 2017<div class="MsoNormal">
What I saw this year that really impressed me, I liked a
lot, or are significant in some way. As I like to do, some qualifiers I ask you
consider while you read this and maybe think about before you judge me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>First</u> – my two favorite genres of movies are war
movies and horror movies. Even then I have preference to specific sub-genres
that are better discussed face to face. Let’s just say I don’t like ALL horror
or war movies… some are dumb as shit-covered hammers but a good non-American-centric-based
historical war movie or a horror movie that usurps tropes? I’m down with those
like a cat likes cat nip. Mix the two and you’ve got my money!<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><u>Second </u>- Gretchen and I are members at the Hollywood
Theater. Obviously we are also movie fans. She is a bigger one than me but as a
couple we are known to be at movies a lot. We see a movie there at least once a
month, more than likely 2-3 times a month.</span></div>
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<u>Third</u> – I belong to a movie club. Cinema Babylon is not serious or anything but the core of the club is comprised of people I find to be smart and whose opinions I respect. We get together about two times a month and watch, mostly horror, many movies in various levels of bad-good. To get more details there you can go to <a href="https://universaldork.com/">Peter’s blog Universal Dork</a>.<br />
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Due to modern technology and my ability to view so many
movie in so many formats I did break it down into 3 different categories.</div>
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My Favorite New Releases 2017:<o:p></o:p></div>
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1) Dunkirk – An epic movie (PG-13) that had an interesting story-telling arc.
It also did away with the modern war movie tropes that Saving Private Ryan
ushered in – detailed shots of the horror of battle field wounds and carnage.
Not every guy that gets near an explosion gets blown in half and lives long
enough to be cognizant his legs are “over there”. That trope was effective in
it’s time but now every war movie is like that. Also, not a whole lot mentioned
about “Jenny” waiting for some soldier back at home.*<br />
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*Not all of us had a significant other back at home to give emotional weight to
our horrific loss when we get blowed in half and live long enough to see our
legs are 10 yards “over there”.<br />
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In Dunkirk you just get what’s going on in the moment – British troops got
stuck and weren’t sure how they were getting home. Then you get the non-linear
flow of the story that I really love when done right. You only see Nazis at the
end for about 30 seconds too. In my opinion I think WW2 Nazis get way too much
attention (in all aspects of WW2). <o:p></o:p></div>
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2) The Void – Fuggin straight-up Lovecraftian horror without
the official Lovecraft name; just like The Thing. You’ve got creepy cultists, protagonists
in siege-mode in a rural hospital, creepy 5 leg tentacle human faces monster
that changes shape after getting summoned in some fell ritual… all that good
stuff. I Loved The Void.</div>
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3) Get Out – Evolved my view of race-relations in America. Horror with a perfect
amount of humor thrown in to lighten it up some. Big plot twist – it ‘aint
slave-wanting-to-own right-wing nuts being the racists in this one!<o:p></o:p></div>
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*SPOILER ALERT*<br />
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…and the hot white girl is the worst one!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Cinema Babylon Movie Nights:<br />
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1) The Wild Hunt – LARPers go nuts and get real. The majority of the movie was
decent and interesting, mainly because of my own connection to SCA and
re-enactment and some of the themes in the movie I witnessed in real life. The
last 5 minutes hit a home run though – like I was all “this movie is good” to “Holy
Shit!! This movie is now AWESOME!!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Amazon/Netflix Exclusives:<br />
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1) Bone Tomahawk – came out last year but I caught it twice in 2017. I was thoroughly
impressed with this western horror movie about a lost Neolithic cannibal tribe.
Good but basic story and some truly cringe-worthy gore. The script touched on “Deadwood”
style language, not the cussing but the prose. Kurt Russel is always good to
me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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2) Siege of Jadotville – a fictional film depiction of a
modern historical event. I never heard of this before and afterwards I looked
it up and was, once again, reminded how stupid things like this can get. Irish
peacekeepers are sent to the Congo in 1961 via UN. They get attacked by secessionist
locals, Dutch settlers, and Rhodesian mercenaries and receive no aid as said
aid (Swedes, more Irish, and Gurkhas) got caught up in some other shit.</div>
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I’m actually thinking about wargaming this one if I can find 1961-era
miniatures befitting this scenario.<o:p></o:p></div>
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3) Babysitter – just caught this one last month. Fuck, that
was good and funny.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKCSSd3rnINIKICON7CqRUkubR6FRWbrGG10hy5nffgTW1jDxvK8aeFophzImHL6tw50ViwS8_LHVO-qhhkwdF5rT9oQRQoTdYujiZuSWxesTkOXfDtprjOB8uDlaTsG7IsAPbgul2b8/s1600/babysitter_netflix_bella_thorne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="825" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKCSSd3rnINIKICON7CqRUkubR6FRWbrGG10hy5nffgTW1jDxvK8aeFophzImHL6tw50ViwS8_LHVO-qhhkwdF5rT9oQRQoTdYujiZuSWxesTkOXfDtprjOB8uDlaTsG7IsAPbgul2b8/s320/babysitter_netflix_bella_thorne.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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BTW - I just re-watched <u>Rogue One</u> last night after watching it in theaters last year. That is one damn fine Star Wars movie. It might be my favorite one so far.</div>
Gabe "Rollo"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03016277733204721238noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193090574316270389.post-43487144198409185012017-11-03T13:30:00.000-07:002017-11-03T13:30:51.588-07:00The Player’s Job in Role Playing Games<div class="MsoNormal">
A follow up to my last blog post about being a GM. First,
some quantifications:</div>
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Player is a person playing a role playing game (RPG). Many RPGs have a
distinction between “player” and “game master” and I will use that.<br />
<br />
I cannot quantify the time I’ve spent GMing and being a player. For sake of
argument let’s say it’s pretty even 50/50. Consider that when you read what I
type. This will also be typed from a Dungeons and Dragons perspective but fits
into all of the RPGs I have played (though I can assume not all … but I have
not played all RPGs so I don’t know).<o:p></o:p></div>
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A player’s job is a little simpler than a GM’s job but it is,
in my opinion, <i>MORE</i> important than
the GM’s job. The player is the impetus to the game existing. Ultimately it is
the player’s story being told. The players have true control over the game and
I think that’s how it should be.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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What should the player bring to the metaphorical and literal
table?<br /></div>
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Stuff:<br />
1) The character(s) they are playing on paper.<br />
2) The rulebook that covers the mechanics of the character being played.<o:p></o:p></div>
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3) Dice for the rule-system being played.<br />
4) Pencil/pens.<br />
** modern technology is in account – 1-3 could be covered by a laptop or pad
and render 4 obsolete. <br />
<br />
On the side there is the whole miniature equation. Many systems use miniatures
as an enhancement and D&D 5e says they are not required but I find they
really are but it still could be run without. I’m also very miniature-centric.
If miniatures are being used than I strongly suggest the player provide the
mini and make sure it is suitable for the game being played – proper scale and
aesthetic and et al.<br />
<br />
I’d also like to note that if a player plays a character that has abilities
that allow them to bring in other playable entities like henchmen and summoned
creatures they should be responsible for those also. Luckily there are affordable
pre-painted and 2D (tokens) options available. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As I state in the GM-Job blog post the host (it may be a
player) has a duty to provide a comfortable space. The player should also not
rely on that and provide themselves some basics – snacks and drinks of their
liking, dressed properly, other comfort items they may need. Basic social etiquette;
I ask that the players I invite to my table provide for themselves things they
want. If there is to be a communal meal of some kind than that should be
communicated prior to the event.<br />
<br />
“Software” aka Things the Player Should Know:<br />
First, know the rules governing your character. Know how to play your
character, that’s on you. Also be willing to actually run your character. It is
under your control and part of doing this is also knowing the parameters you
are allowed to control your character in game. Hence “know the rules”.<br />
<br />
I’ve been in many games where players did not know how to run a wizard and they’d
ask the GM if their character can do the thing. I’ve never played a game, and
that’s a few dozen of them, where a character had to get permission from the GM
to act on their turn. Pretty much every iteration of Dungeons and Dragons says “<i>on your turn you can move and take an action</i>”.
It confounds me when I see this:<br />
DM – “Player, it’s your turn!”<br />
Player – “OK, can I cast a spell?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Then you get pure lack of basic rules like:<br />
Player – “Whoo I hit with my sword! How much damage does that do?”<br />
<br />
If you are playing, for the very first time, a 1st level character in a new
rule set? Sure. If you’ve got 2-3 sessions under your belt those answers should
be known by now. I’m not saying memorized, you just need to write it down on
the character sheet – most having spaces for that. People saying they are experienced
have no excuse.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Just know the rules, or have easy access to the rules,
governing the one character you play. No one else knows, or should know, what
your character can do. You run it, it’s your responsibility… frankly it is your
only responsibility. <o:p></o:p></div>
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By the way, when I’m GMing, I love rules lawyers. They know
more than I do and I often pick the player with the most rules knowledge and
ask them to be the Player Advocate – they can call me on any ruling I make and
we will discuss it using the books and the rules as written. Also, as I state
in GM Job, when in doubt just say “yes” and rule on the side of the players. In
the future, if it fits into the style of game, I plan to even hand out yellow
flags like in the NFL that players can throw down if they want a review of a
ruling.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Other than <i>Knowing the
Rules</i> a player must <i>Know the Table</i>;
in other words have a conversation with the GM or the group about the game that’s
planning to get played. Do you want to play in a relaxed Monte Hall-ish Keep on
the Borderlands? Do you want to be in an epic three year campaign that goes
from 1st to 15th level? Serious and gritty game or something kind of funny? Consider
what compromises you are willing to make just to play. Can you add something
other than just playing in said campaign? Paint some minis? Help run other
table functions like mapping, combat tracking, etc? Do other players want these
things?<br />
<br />
What is your party going to be like? A team or a bunch of chaotic neutral
buddy-fuckers? Do they know each other and does the campaign support this? Maybe
the players all want to play wizards from different schools and the GM needs to
know this to adjust to keep it fun.<br />
<br />
Communication is the jist. Communicate with the table; this is all under the umbrella
of social contract. <br />
<br />
Furthermore don’t blur the line between player and character. Don’t do things “in
character” to other “characters” against their will. That’s not cool. Unless
you are playing in a buddy-fucker campaign it is never cool, without the other
player’s consent, to steal the paladin’s sword and sell it in game. Being a
chaotic neutral rogue is not an excuse and no GM should award that in any way
unless it was agreed upon by the players to happen.<br />
<br />
This, obviously, delves into some deeper stuff and experiences I’ve had that
boils down to shitty players and the whole:<br />
Chaotic Stupid…<br />
Lawful Nazi …<br />
Stick In The Mud…<o:p></o:p></div>
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… trope that is very common.
Bottom line, like in real life, be a decent person and only do things to
other people with consent. Play any alignment all you want but there is no “Lawful
Ruin Other People’s Fun” in any ruleset I’ve seen. Even if mechanically you are
a stupid and evil character there are other things you can do to portray this
other than sell your fellow players out.<br />
<br />
This is also a part of Know the Table as you may find out in the conversation
that some people just don’t like having players at the table that do things
like this… so might be a good time to switch up your character concept of find
a table that you and your dick character will mesh.<br />
<br />
Anyways, this seems a bit simple but it is soooo important. Actually it’s
really common to be at a table and see none of these concepts come to fruition.<br />
<br />
In light of my last two posts I’ve decide to go into a fall hiatus in playing
D&D and to concentrate on some historical minis I’d like ot add to my
collection, namely some Norman Knights and crossbowmen so as to fill in gaps of
my “skirmish” level Norman collection and bring it up to “battle” level – the difference
between Saga and Hail Caesar basically. During this short RPG hiatus I will be
planning a Blue Ribbon Company campaign to be set in a 5e adventure like Curse
of Strahd or something. Stay tuned and thanks for reading.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Gabe "Rollo"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03016277733204721238noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193090574316270389.post-56478346868160974492017-11-02T12:07:00.000-07:002017-11-02T12:07:32.262-07:00The Importance of the Game Master In Running the Game<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a distinctive taste in my role-playing games. After
years of playing (since 1979) in good games, bad games, and mediocre games I
have defined what I am looking for in a game and in that time I kind of only
want to play in a game I will like. One thing is true throughout all the games
I have played (not just Dungeons and Dragons) and that is the Game Master is
highly important.</div>
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<br />
Parallel, I’ve recently discovered what will make me an old grouchy man and
empathize with old grouchy men worldwide. Basically, I’ve been around long
enough to have a solid knowledge base. Couple that with experience and wisdom
regarding a subject. Some of us, when we get into our 40s and 50s get this
solid knowledge base, wisdom, and experience but we have no outlet for it and
it gets frustrating. Not being able to communicate said frustration correctly
sometimes we look like old grouchy assholes. I just did this exact thing in the
world of Dungeons and Dragons.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Another note I’d like to highlight is that even a bad
rule-set can be fun and a great experience if the Game Master (GM) is doing
their job. Not even “well”, just doing it competently. So, in regards to “edition
wars” I’ve found the answer to be “<i>It’s
the GM</i>!” <br />
<br />
Without getting into details, the impetus of me quitting a recent game was due
to the Dungeon Master (DM) poorly running the game. The group was a new group
for me. I was exploring the idea of expanding my horizons of a peer group of
RPGers and got into this group knowing the DM was new. I thought that I could
maybe lend a hand and offer advice and experience to the group and the DM.
After the first month the DM kicked out the only other guy in the group that I
was friends with prior to the group forming and that was my second red flag,
the first being just seeing the lack of knowledge and ineptness the first few
games displayed by the DM.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The game dragged but I kept at it. Many more red flags
popped and I bottled my frustration. I even ran a one-shot to give the DM time
to “prep” but he never did any prep. <br />
<br />
This game finally ended for me this week when my pent-up frustrations came out
and I said some things that came out like I was picking on him. I tend to do
that. I, basically, called him out on his lack of ability to run a D&D
game.<br />
<br />
All that said it really high-lighted a few things:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
1) D&D Next aka 5e was marketed as making things simpler for the DM and it
did do so. That said the DM still has a job and needs to do it. Some people
took that marketing ploy a bit too seriously I guess.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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2) Ultimately the DM’s job is to keep things somewhat on
track. They need to know a lot of meta things like make sure some basic things
in and out of story make sense… especially if they are running a game that is
above the Monte Hall style of adventure – kick down door, kill monster, steal
loot.<br />
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<u>Now to the meat of this blog post – things I have found that
work for me when I run a game.</u><o:p></o:p></div>
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Know the Rules:<br />
A fundamental understanding of the rule-set you are using is very important. Many
will disagree and I have played in their games and they were poor games. Yes
there is the old adages of “<i>we’re having
fun</i>…” and “<i>it’s a game of imagination</i>…”
but it’s still a game and rules are part of it. </div>
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Rules are the interface we use to contact the imaginary
world we are playing in. It is your tool set. Analogy time – right now I am
typing this using many tools (computer, keyboard, software, English) but I am
speaking freely and using my imagination. The tools are not restricting me,
only my own abilities are.</div>
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<br />
A good rule-set breaks things down in the game into sections that show you how
players interact with the imaginary world. Normally you have your social
aspects, combat aspects, and special aspects. A GM will need to know the basic
concepts of player interaction in that world. Not ALL the rules, just a good
foundation of basics. When a player tries to find out where the thing is there
is a basic rule for that. When a player wants to stab a baddy there is a rule
for that. You should be able to get creative and deviate from the basic “roll
the dice, add your skill…” if you know that the basic procedure is to roll the
dice and add the skill. You have that fundamental to work off of.<br />
<br />
A good GM is also able to talk this out at the table in a clear manner. No need
to go off the cuff. Just explain to the player what they need to do to
accomplish the thing. The player should know this too (and being a good player
is another subject I might blog about).<br />
<br />
Speaking:<br />
A GM must be able to speak clearly in front of people. Yes, this may sound like
I’m being a dick but it is true. Basic verbal communication is very important.
I’m not talking special voices or being an actor, I’m talking about basic
ability to communicate ideas in front of 2-4 other people. For some people this
is difficult and it does not make them lesser but running a game might be very
difficult for them.</div>
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<br />I’ve been at a few tables where I heard:<br />
“You walk into a large cavern… it’s a small cavern with torches.”<br />
“They have four arms. Actually it’s only two arms.”<br />
“The cyclops looks at you with its two beady eyes…”<br />
<br />
Mistakes can be made but all the times I’ve experienced this it was pretty
consistent. GM fiat or hand-waving is noticeable, weak, and utter bullshit when
covering mistakes and only leads to more inconsistencies down the road. Just
say, “Whoops, did I say the cyclops had two eyes?” <br />
<br />
A GM does not need to be an architect to describe architectural aspects of a
pyramid nor a surgeon to describe a surgery. One can keep those things simple
and concise. The key is clear communication. It also helps to focus on the important
aspect, don’t waste time or energy on things that don’t matter.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Social Etiquette:<br />
Again, I’m probably sounding like a dick here. <br />
<br />
I’m a firm believer in The Havamal – a Viking poem lining out some philosophy.
It is heavy on social etiquette and especially on being a guest or hosting
guests. Not going to quote it here nor get into specifics but here are some
basics:<br />
Offer a comfortable place to your guests. A dry place to sit and a place at the
table for stuff.<br />
Have water available for drinking.<br />
Stay on schedule. Stay on task.<br />
Don’t waste the time of your guests who took time out of their lives to be your
guest.</div>
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<br />
<br />
Players have a role there too but, again, another subject.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Be Prepared to Run a Game:<br />
Being a GM will always have homework. How much is up to you and your players
and the game but one thing is consistent – have a plan. Kind of like rules if a
GM has a solid foundation of the adventure or story deviating from it and getting
back on track if need be is not much of an issue. <br />
<br />
This leads to…<br />
<br />
Say Yes to Your Players:<br />
Learn to say yes. Let go of your ego sometimes and let the players play. Stay
within the guidelines of your rules and within reason but <i>say yes more</i>. Learn the parameters of that too. Give the players
things they want.<br />
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This<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><br />
“I really wish my character had a magic sword.”<br />
“Well, the orc chieftain you just killed does have a shimmering sword in his
hand…” <br />
*that plain old sword just became a +1 magic sword.*<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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…but not this<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span><br />
“I want a flaming burst bow but only want to pay 30 gold pieces for it.”<br />
“OK.”<br />
*Player exploits and usurps the rules to get a 3000 gold piece magic bow for 30
in the name of creativity*<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p>I’ve been known to listen to the players talk about the
future of their characters, needs and wants and level progression or whatever.
I adjust my story (and the loot!) accordingly. After all it is their game to choose
to play in. Ultimately it is a story about them they are interacting with. I’ve
found that this makes players very happy so I promote doing so.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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You Are a Game Master, not a God:<br />
Yeah, that whole “<i>GM is Law</i>!” is
bullshit. Sure, a GM does have the responsibility to make authoritative
decisions but most people equate that to power over others. As I have learned
from people wiser than me <i>Whenever a
Person Can Apply Their Will Over Another, They Will</i>. It’s natural and
something a good GM should watch for and avoid. A GM has responsibility <i>not</i> power.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjML5Pj3HqhLzgAy106EhZgwtFddp-nPQSNEbq_K6gEpih9WJlsxi5oePZpXHYHjlkkX_6ZZPzGUjNEHpz45xIbLUiudn3hqxr5MZsp9WxSDXaSC6CZ53h2z80jLcMawksEtOYW6rBApQ/s1600/300px-Iamthegamemaster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="232" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjML5Pj3HqhLzgAy106EhZgwtFddp-nPQSNEbq_K6gEpih9WJlsxi5oePZpXHYHjlkkX_6ZZPzGUjNEHpz45xIbLUiudn3hqxr5MZsp9WxSDXaSC6CZ53h2z80jLcMawksEtOYW6rBApQ/s1600/300px-Iamthegamemaster.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7g3UUhSt2352YT8pStMvDpff8jbbvDTlRzTdkZspVbia9RUQSqseF8USF1o3SCmoVaZFrzEC4b9h2EgyMWR-K_iL9TxiTrlBSTz6u0evI4PrhOoOFbR_1pN8bIeJt6T_eKMcidfc4qHg/s1600/d20newcover-webres_1024x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="679" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7g3UUhSt2352YT8pStMvDpff8jbbvDTlRzTdkZspVbia9RUQSqseF8USF1o3SCmoVaZFrzEC4b9h2EgyMWR-K_iL9TxiTrlBSTz6u0evI4PrhOoOFbR_1pN8bIeJt6T_eKMcidfc4qHg/s320/d20newcover-webres_1024x1024.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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Stuff:<br />
This is America and we are responsible for our <i>stuff</i>. In this context I mean stuff you have for the game. Every
player has a basic list of things they are responsible for and in the case of
Dungeons and Dragons:<br />
1) The book that covers the basic rules<br />
2) Dice<br />
3) Your physical character on paper<o:p></o:p></div>
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4) Pens and pencils<br />
<br />
A GM has a bit more responsibility:<br />
1) The above +<o:p></o:p></div>
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2) The book(s) with GM rules governing the imaginary world
if not in the “basic” rulebook mentioned above<br />
3) A tome of some kind containing the actual adventure – hand written notes,
campaign book, etc.<br />
4) Not required but I tend to lean towards games that do use these – miniatures
and a mat or board to represent tactical values on the table while having
encounters. If this is so I ask that players provide their miniatures
representing their characters in the proper scale << I can help with
this.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Z2TJKhucvzqoALoeMTpip0FfouUjHgT-R90aYAVF3R9DkIZ16z3dN7YIM1BgcT97CkPjubN8wp213rKcglUeWFi6ADiXtSi5Ztt11r1JvDhu0RtG4lMmGwav4k_qWk9kpve_PvCxPMg/s1600/Intro-To-Games-Calender-Picture-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Z2TJKhucvzqoALoeMTpip0FfouUjHgT-R90aYAVF3R9DkIZ16z3dN7YIM1BgcT97CkPjubN8wp213rKcglUeWFi6ADiXtSi5Ztt11r1JvDhu0RtG4lMmGwav4k_qWk9kpve_PvCxPMg/s320/Intro-To-Games-Calender-Picture-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p> </o:p>Of course modern technological items can cover for these as
well.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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…aaaannnnd this here is page 5 on the word doc I’m typing
this all out on and I have to add some pictures yet! Haha!!<br />
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As you can see a lot of this is basic social contract stuff
(yes I used to read Forge Forums regularly as well as a few others and what I
used to expand my abilities as a GM). I was also going to write more on
resources like John Four’s DM newsletter and a few forum boards but that would’ve
added a few more pages here. <br />
<br />
I’d also like to add, and I have mentioned this before, all the above I know
because I’ve <i>NOT DONE IT</i> before and
really messed up some games. I’m planning on running a game next year and I am
already planning on not being perfect. That said I also plan to minimize any
impact of my mistakes on my players out of respect and gratitude, whoever they
will be.<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading and have some fun out there!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Gabe "Rollo"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03016277733204721238noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193090574316270389.post-3845456556569422462017-10-11T12:46:00.000-07:002017-10-11T12:46:18.510-07:00Bias-Based-Hatred as a Mechanical Trait or Flaw In Role Playing Games<div class="MsoNormal">
I play both historical wargames and role playing games. I’m,
currently, more of a historical wargamer but I have a D&D game once per
week now (5th Edition for those wondering).</div>
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<br />
One of the reasons why I never got into historical wargaming for years is the prevalence
of nazis. Not <i>WP skinheads goose-stepping
the halls</i> nazis but models and figures on the table getting pushed around nazis.
<br />
<br />
*note – when I type “nazi” both Word and Blogger apps correct it by
capitalizing it for me. <i>No</i>. I will go
through and give it the little “n” that the word deserves. <br />
<br />
I go to a lot of historical wargaming fan pages on Facebook, that and military
modeling. I also watch a lot of miniature painting tutorials on Youtube to
learn the craft. On top of that I have gone to gun shows, collector shows,
knife shows…. Places where militaria can be had. What do I find? Seems it’s 50%
nazi. <br />
<br />
Granted, nazis were a part of WWII. You go to the Bolt Action wargame Facebook
page and what is posted up about half the time? nazis. You’ve got the US,
Japan, Italy, Britain, Canada, USSR, and about 10 other countries that can be
represented with models and figures in the game but Germany gets a good 50%
share of it.<br />
<br />
Even worse you go to the military history modelers pages and even out of the
context of World War Two… so all of human history’s militaria … and half of the
model jobs are WWII Germany.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m not typing this to judge, nor will I solve any issue
here with this blog. I'm just pointing it out and noticing a thing. I was once told
that if a historical game con I go to were to allow “cos-play” or people
dressing up as a norm for the con, a good half of them would be in WWII German
uniforms. To me that’s weird. Not edgy, not historically accurate, not
accusatory but a pathological fetish of some kind.<br />
<br />
I was regaling Gretchen with the story of my last D&D gaming session. Part
of the anecdote consisted of a “street fight” our characters got into. One of
the newer party members (and new player) saw some druegar chasing some deep
gnomes down a street. The character, their “flaw” (a background trait in
D&D 5e) was “hates all gnomes”. So, he yelled racial epithets at the deep gnomes
like “Run you cowardly <i>deepys</i>!”<br />
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This resulted in getting the attention of the druegar that
turned and attacked us and an encounter was had. Sure, D&D is all about the
encounters and me relating it is not the point.<br />
<br />
Gretchen asked, “Why did the player have his character yell racial epithets at the
gnomes?”<br />
I answered, “It was his character’s flaw, he has to role play it.”<br />
She came back with, “Man… that’s so played out. Why do so many people role play
flaws as racism?” and she high-lighted a point that I recognized in historical
wargaming but not in RPG and my decades of exposure to them: When given the choice
to pick a flaw, it’s a good chance “<i>biased
hatred for X</i>” is the go to.<br />
<br />
I thought back to my own experiences in RPGing over the years and who I’ve
played with. There are quite a few instances of:<br />
“Oh, my character hates all elves.”<br />
“Since I hate all city-dwellers…”<br />
“My character was assaulted by men, so she hates men.”<br />
“Bah! Rich people suck and since I’m chaotic neutral…”<br />
“Me and my dwarven family are superior to all elves, humans, and halflings
because…”<br />
<br />
Whether flaws as a mechanic are mandated or not, the above is extremely common.
Rarely do you get a greed compulsion or partial deafness as a flaw. <br />
<br />
Some would say it is good that when mandated to pick a flaw one picks a form of
racism or biased hatred. I disagree. There are a lot of flaws available that is
not racism. Many games that mandate flaws list them and the player will look at
that list to ponder the choice. Check out Savage Worlds and the 50 or so disadvantages
you have to choose from in the core rulebook. I’ve played Deadlands and Savage
Worlds based systems about 4 times in my life and, invariably, there is a
player or two that picked the “racism” or “hatred” disadvantage. Obviously it’s
never “My character hates black people.” and the target is something softer or
fitting to the world being played but still, there is that shade of racism in
there and that was picked as a disadvantage over the other 38 choices.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I have my own theories on why this happens though none are “proof”
of any kind and some have their own biases wrapped up in them. Some of the less
troublesome of them are that bias-hatred is an easy way to play out a character
flaw; racism is not constantly “on” like a missing hand would be in a game
world; nazis have a lot of varying cool gear to model.<o:p></o:p></div>
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That said I do have more biased opinions of a darker nature
that I’d rather not post here as I don’t want them misconstrued in some way as that
has happened to me before because I lack an ability to word things right and
make my statements clear. I do want to add that in no way am I saying that
playing Germany in Bolt Action equates you to being a nazi. Nor does playing an
elf-hating human ranger in Dungeons and Dragons equate to being a white power supporter.
What I am saying is I think it’s weird how often that comes up in a game.<br /><br />With this blog I'd like to start that conversation - why the WWII Germans? Why biased-based hatred as the go to flaw?<br />
<br />Also I would like to acknowledge my wife, Gretchen Martin, as the person to shine a light on this. Thanks baby, it's why we're good together.<br />
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Gabe "Rollo"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03016277733204721238noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193090574316270389.post-2745549733922143132017-09-12T14:35:00.000-07:002017-09-12T14:35:12.617-07:00Dungeons and Dragons Books<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>Those things are EXPENSIVE now! Phew!!<br />
<br />
I spent the 90s playing other systems like Ars Magica, Bushido, and Deadlands
(these being my favorites). It was a great time to explore as TSR was kind of
bloated and over-bearing with the AD&D / 2e version of the game.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSPZ38adsk0NGGDvzjLqqYJyODAiWmQlv0SSwfbP1ZmnmLKGUIGT56Vay_ELhIGdQ-BGwdQ7fJWCsOt-OY_u7T7kxset9j68tJ5SBEh7cQQRgedi3MOKOm_qTtyDxu-7ga_7A3-4dbLU/s1600/ADnDPHB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="398" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSPZ38adsk0NGGDvzjLqqYJyODAiWmQlv0SSwfbP1ZmnmLKGUIGT56Vay_ELhIGdQ-BGwdQ7fJWCsOt-OY_u7T7kxset9j68tJ5SBEh7cQQRgedi3MOKOm_qTtyDxu-7ga_7A3-4dbLU/s320/ADnDPHB.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Actually wish I still had my old PHB.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlMpH37nPAIgZrY9ad7jaSoZqIERXYI9HQYaA9QqYmMJQ_PPmOzQmpqzSftuoV6-Ig6d1Zkic35Z7NT8e4Bm3rMOHeXRx91bgwky2HIdBL4udFpTZLqaLbJOXcyJpwJmWQ9M9sfzMcVA/s1600/Ars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="189" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlMpH37nPAIgZrY9ad7jaSoZqIERXYI9HQYaA9QqYmMJQ_PPmOzQmpqzSftuoV6-Ig6d1Zkic35Z7NT8e4Bm3rMOHeXRx91bgwky2HIdBL4udFpTZLqaLbJOXcyJpwJmWQ9M9sfzMcVA/s400/Ars.jpg" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ars Magica ... historical fantasy RPG. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJVp35JAGnHFmLvCESeuk2nXcCHwYPwv1beg7M2S_WpHD6iYIxbqXbKaHJroWdc13rdndfVwC5C9fH1IhYJtc1-ijYdJKR_n4-PYPf5mrpkOfK5ld-DpiNnyPAQivA56Ac6CC_lq5_xKs/s1600/Deadlands.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="584" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJVp35JAGnHFmLvCESeuk2nXcCHwYPwv1beg7M2S_WpHD6iYIxbqXbKaHJroWdc13rdndfVwC5C9fH1IhYJtc1-ijYdJKR_n4-PYPf5mrpkOfK5ld-DpiNnyPAQivA56Ac6CC_lq5_xKs/s320/Deadlands.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deadlands, father of the Savage Worlds rule system.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />3rd Edition Dungeons and Dragons came about in 2000 and I bought back into it –
the intro price for the three core books (Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s
Guide, Monster Manual) was $20, later to be raised to $25. By 3.5 Edition the
standard was $30. Being a guy of mediocre at best income I always found <
$30 to be a good price point for rulebooks needed to enjoy a game you love.<br />
<br />
I never bought a 4th Edition D&D book as I did not like the system. I did
buy-in to Pathfinder in 2010 and the Core Book was $50. Expensive but it was
also a combined Player’s Handbook and Dungeon Master’s Guide to parallel
Dungeons and Dragons. Supplemental books were $30-$40 for hardcovers but
soft-covers (like fluff books or all-important Adventure Paths) were around $20;
though a complete AP was about 6 issues so that’s $120 but that is over time.
All in all still quite affordable and I also saved money on PDFs I bought. A $20
was much easier to drop than a $50.</div>
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<br />From 3.x through Pathfinder I also, extensively, used SRDs available for free
on the net. My sense of honor made it so I was not comfortable doing this
unless I bought a core rule book though. I still do this BTW – I’m
uncomfortable with using “free” things from the internet unless I have bought
the hard copy first. Within reason of course, I’ve got to like the system and
want to support the company.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwjf4OMGUpf7395Jg-9ctBjDozSlbOyQSaBsN8Q3tT9tgyXqBN4lPzUgNlXEXSTkwTWw_9y52m3LXm9qmub_FBtedDR9XwlNzmGNb3Aaz6KpNy_NBrnAu9MguHeb5fK5j6it0JJBhENc/s1600/PF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="1200" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwjf4OMGUpf7395Jg-9ctBjDozSlbOyQSaBsN8Q3tT9tgyXqBN4lPzUgNlXEXSTkwTWw_9y52m3LXm9qmub_FBtedDR9XwlNzmGNb3Aaz6KpNy_NBrnAu9MguHeb5fK5j6it0JJBhENc/s640/PF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<o:p> </o:p>Further, I want to support brick and mortar stores that sell
these books. I like my Friendly Local Game Store… both of them as a matter of
fact. I don’t play Magic so that cash stream is closed off from me. Historical
miniature war-games are just not very feasible most of the time to stock on
shelves. I know enough about business to know the nuances there regarding that
and I don’t fault FLGSs not stocking historicals… thus another cash-stream cut
off from me.</div>
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<br />
This year I got back into role playing games after a two year break. I decided
to start playing Dungeons and Dragons Next aka 5th Edition*.<o:p></o:p></div>
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*I’ll expand on the actual product sometime later but here
is a condensed version of my thoughts on 5e: It’s fine. It’s not the
end-all-be-all of Dungeons and Dragons and not ground-breaking in any way. The
only thing missing is the ability to tinker with and customize a character and
that’s fine. It’s just another way to game.</div>
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<br />
After Xmas in 2016 I took some money and bought myself a Players Handbook from
Guardian Games. It was $49.95 ! Whewww!! <i>That’s
some money</i>. After a few months I felt compelled to buy the other two “core”
books (Monster Manual and Dungeon Masters Guide) and those, too, are $50 each. Definitely
not an impulse buy anymore and, even with a grown-man’s salary, quite a bite
into my gaming budget. <br />
<br />
Wanting a DMG for months now but not willing to drop a $50 on it I waited for a
used one to pop up at Guardian Games with no luck. I was saving it for later
this year but I did have a coupon for 20% off a purchase at Red Castle Games as
well as $8 in store credit there so I went there last weekend to get a DMG for
$32.<br />
<br />
Sure, I can find them regularly on Amazon for $36 and I am a huge fan of
Amazon. My consumer ethics got in the way of that though and I buy off Amazon
what is hard to search for in brick and mortars around me. Rustic iron nails? <i>Amazon</i>. Dungeons and Dragons books? <i>I know of 5 places, without research, that
sell them in my city</i>. Still, $50 each is pretty steep for three core rule
books. Unless I run across some deal it looks like the only “deal” I can make
is Amazon for the Monster Manual though.<br />
<br />
I’m glad I own dice and miniatures and tons of other stuff already. A lifetime
in the hobby has given me a good collection of usable game aids. If I was a kid
or young adult right now trying to get into the hobby? Sheesh… feel bad for you
kid.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, thanks for reading and <i>get off my lawn</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Gabe "Rollo"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03016277733204721238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193090574316270389.post-11888020899633454812017-09-05T13:00:00.003-07:002017-09-05T14:34:15.380-07:00Staycation 2017 Part II<div class="MsoNormal">
10 days off in a row and what did I do? Not much really. I
got some boring and busy stuff done but nothing important or
major. I guess that’s an OK staycation then.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Gretchen got a break from dinner-duty and I managed dinner
most of the nights. On top of that I did a load of dishes a day if not more so
our cupboards and silverware drawers were stocked! I also made some
from-scratch horchata for the first time and it was OK. Next batch I make will
be better now that I’ve got the mediocre one out of the way. I learned how to
make horchata by watching YouTube videos.</div>
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I also got a good deal on some new bedding for Gretchen and I but you get what
you pay for and the new bedding will take some getting used to. Nice comforter
though but it’s still hitting high 90s and 100s outside so enjoying the
coziness of a new comforter is off the list right now.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I did not plan to play any video games but I ended up
playing my way through the main scenario in Battlefield 1. I’m not a huge video
gamer, any kind of button combo perplexes me and I was having some trouble with
Battlefield 1 when I first got it last winter, but I set it on easy and figured
some things out and worked my way through it. It is both a fun and slightly
educating game (in that I looked up some things after getting inspired by fictional
and fantastical events in the game).</div>
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Speaking of YouTube, video games, TV, and the PS4 I did spend a lot of time
trying out some TV shows, getting in some good documentaries, and watching a
lot of instructional YouTube videos.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I watched the first episode of Comrade Detective. It was
good but did not immediately grab my interest. It is a parody/spoof , the story
being Channing Tatum and some other producer found the footage of an old 80s
Romanian (Communist-era) TV show. They digitally remastered it and added some
dubbing. There was some Cold War nostalgia for me in it and I think it’s very
imaginative of the makers of this thing. It’s on Amazon Prime if you are
interested.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Most of the documentaries I watched were about music and
also on Amazon Prime save the best doc I saw – <i>Who The F**k Is That Guy</i> which was on Netflix. It’s about Michael
Alago, the Electra A&R agent that was an under the radar but seminal aspect
in the growth of metal as we know it today. A gay Puerto Rican from the Bronx
he loved metal and got a job with Electra and signed major acts like Metallica
and White Zombie. The movie is about his
trials and tribulations and his importance in the scene. I always heard about
him – namely “Did you know a gay Puerto Rican signed Metallica?” – but never
saw his full story until the doc.<o:p></o:p></div>
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YouTube watching was 95% instructional videos. Cooking (the
horchata up above) was first and foremost. Then there was the obligatory
bushcraft and outdoor gear review videos. I also found some basic Western
Martial Art videos on basic spear thrusts that I practiced in the living room
Monday-Friday morning, about 10 minutes per day. </div>
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I did find some good videos on basic wood carving. I’ve got blocks of bass
wood, I’ve got a few carving knives, I’ve never whittled anything “crafty” with
it. I still haven’t but seeing some basics videos I know I’ve got all the
things I need to give it a good go. I just need to do it outside and outside is
just too hot … and as of last Friday too smoky and ash is falling around us
from the fires in The Gorge.<br />
<br />
One of the more interesting videos I saw was a 50 minute seminar Dave Cantbury
did at some expo-show thing. He talked about “tool-heavy sustainability” and,
as is the usual for me, I agreed with a lot of what he had to say. I know some
have misguided feelings about him and that’s fine but of all the outdoors gurus
out there he has taught me the most, surpassing Cody Lundin who is in
credibility mode right now (and justly so) in his suit against Discovery and the
producers of Dual Survivor.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Some of the big events during my staycation were:</div>
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Saga Club Day at Guardian Games on Saturday.<br />
Dungeons and Dragons on Sunday.<br />
Another Dungeons and Dragons game on Wednesday.<br />
Cinema Babylon on the following Saturday – in which I hosted Hardware and
Deadly Species. Two great movies if you ask me.<br />
Some beers and bread pudding with my friend Jason.</div>
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Things I did not get to but had hoped to do (and my excuse):<br />
2 dozen comic books to get caught up on. (lazy)<br />
Finish my Viking leggings/pants. (lazy and my lack of skill intimidates me
still)<br />
A hike in Forest Park. (it was too hot all week really)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Wash truck (lazy … and the forest fires in the Gorge just
dumped ash on us so I’m glad I did not waste the time or money)<o:p></o:p></div>
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BUT…<br />
… Yesterday being Labor Day, thus an added day off to my week off, and my last
day off before coming back to work, I did:<br />
Get caught up on my current favorite comic book Manifest Destiny.<br />
Finish my Viking shield… well… it is ready to be used on the battle field in
rebated steel combat at least. Still have some details to work out and give it
a smooth look.<o:p></o:p></div>
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All the above said I’m looking forward to some cooler temps
and a bit of rain, we need it. I hope to bust out the old pack this fall and
get one good overnighter in and bust some rust off my outdoor skills. Some of the
“Adventure Buddy” posts I have planned in the near future are a review on the Terävä
Jääkäripuukko knives in 110 carbon and 140 stainless as well as how my 2
transactions from the famed Finnish surplus store Varusteleka have gone.</div>
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On the Neo-Grognard side I hope to get a wet palette by end
of year and maybe I’ll show my well-painted and skill-heavy 54mm I will have
done before Xmas. I do have a Saga Tournament I am organizing coming up in
October and that will also be featured here. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Gabe "Rollo"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03016277733204721238noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193090574316270389.post-88018828075387144802017-08-16T16:19:00.000-07:002017-08-16T16:19:09.970-07:00August Painting Break<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>Kind of like summer vacation back when we were kids – I’m halfway through a
miniatures painting break in August.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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As I posted here I finished up those Scots Covenanters I
started after Memorial Day. I do have some items in the “que” I want to paint but
I’ve no deadline. Also, we’ve been getting some record breaking temps in
Portland the past few weeks (upper 90s and into the 100s) though some respite
this week (only in the 80s). I’ve got some DVD movies to catch up on and a
staycation to have the week prior to Labor Day.<br />
<br />
The “Saga Club” has taken off and the first play-day was a success at 7 people
showing up. We had 3 simultaneous games going and most of the players got 2
games in. The next one is August 26th and it’s looking like another 3 tables
with 7 people coming to play. Again, PDX-Metro Saga is for people that have an
army and want to play Saga. I cannot offer demos for PDX-Metro Saga days; this
monthly day is for playing. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Frankly, I’ve been running demos for 3 years straight now
and I’m not really the best person to be doing that. Time for other people to
take up the mantle, people that are much better suited than I – my rules
knowledge is basic at best and my temperament is “<i>getting old and grumbly</i>”. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p>Put 22 ozs of cider in me though, and if I’m in a good mood,
I will happily play 2-3 games!</div>
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Other things I am doing this month, not wargaming related:<br />
<br />
As I have mentioned I have not bush-crafted, let alone even went car camping,
in almost 2 years. It’s getting harder to do those things and what used to be
simple trips thought out in the last minute are now treks I need to plan for. I
used to be able to want to go camping Saturday morning, pack up the truck with
my pack and a cooler, and take off no more than 2 hours out of Portland. This
became more difficult a few years ago as the population has dramatically rose
and all my “spots” are now filled with people. Even car camping takes
reservations months, if not a year, out in advance.</div>
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<br />I’m not quite sure about what to do about it. During my staycation I do plan to
explore some of the local Portland trails though, like in Forest Park. I’ve put
together my old haversack kit and I’ll set off end of the month on a weekday to
see what is up and get myself back into some woods-bum action. At the least I’d
like to brew up a cup of coffee in the woods and have a smoke.</div>
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<br />On this tip I made an order for some outdoorsy gear from Varusteleka out of
Finland. Fast becoming my favorite online seller of MilSurp gear. My first
order from them was a Jaakaripuukko (hunter’s knife) in the 140mm stainless
steel blade configuration. If not out of stock I would’ve gotten the 110 carbon
blade. I also got a sheath for the knife. Altogether it was $80. I also got 2
Polish bread bags (due to my obsession with common items a soldier would
carry), a repro Finnish field cap from WW2, and some reflective decals.
Delivery, from Finland, was in 8 days for $9.99. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_v0rrxifPIwyxadsO0OtvT5txXwesuYmEFR9jeIGcuH9BLC1qldxZgL4X-e7AIN4961hv24NWEudBZix-B0D1lz-J02J6s1KY0r3i1R20AwV5OxSyl_p6yUXkxsqRzYpw_ZGBvi1sb7Y/s1600/IMG_2073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_v0rrxifPIwyxadsO0OtvT5txXwesuYmEFR9jeIGcuH9BLC1qldxZgL4X-e7AIN4961hv24NWEudBZix-B0D1lz-J02J6s1KY0r3i1R20AwV5OxSyl_p6yUXkxsqRzYpw_ZGBvi1sb7Y/s320/IMG_2073.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />I’ve lusted after the knife for a while and also really wanted to be a
Varusteleka customer since last year. I finally pulled the trigger due to some
videos that came out this summer about the knife and comparing it to other
knives like the Mora Garberg – full tang knives in the sub $100 range that are
heavy duty woods users. Garbergs are $99 and I’ve been wanting one all year but
my lack of woods-time prevented me. I also like the Jaakaripuukko aesthetic
better as well as the cool leather dangler sheath. That said I will get a
Garberg later I hope and I will compare the two knives.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My Dungeons and Dragons game is going strong. My paladin,
Sir Evanagrio de la Guerre, just hit 5th level! In D&D5e every 5 levels is
an “echelon” in power and prestige I guess? So hitting level 5 is a milestone.
I’ve a mini all painted and ready to be used for “higher level” Evanagrio but
he’s not quite there yet so I’m sticking with the current Evanagrio mini. <br />
<br />
Coincidently I just took one of those dumb online “which character are you”
tests via Facebook. Obviously a way to mine your data. I take few of those and
I normally get an answer I don’t like – always some 2nd-rate character and
usually the funny fat guy – but this one was for Game of Thrones and I got
Oberyn Martell. I thought “Cool, he was sexy and almost killed The Mountain,
though he ended up getting killed by The Mountain.” So I looked him up to see
if there was anything I was missing about his character (there wasn’t) but realized
this was exactly what my D&D character was! Cool, I love it when a
character I’m playing has a literature or show based parallel I can steal
from!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXlFV-0r1iV_-XUD3l0js-tnnXFUmKVMnq2zIwMAtbsPMwLgyQVWJFqyU_xGnvKBS1Xoib-Fc3kP-rO6JmxzmT68XUos-vZlTlvN5XxcGb3h4f9uljyoy5rF4qFN1St0EFBkiRfKNQsE/s1600/o-oberyn-facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="768" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXlFV-0r1iV_-XUD3l0js-tnnXFUmKVMnq2zIwMAtbsPMwLgyQVWJFqyU_xGnvKBS1Xoib-Fc3kP-rO6JmxzmT68XUos-vZlTlvN5XxcGb3h4f9uljyoy5rF4qFN1St0EFBkiRfKNQsE/s320/o-oberyn-facebook.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p> </o:p>Sir Evanagrio is a Paladin from a noble family. He is seen
as a hero by the common folk as he likes to defend them. He is a duelist –
loves single combat. He is from southern land thus has darker skin. Evanagrio
has a known lust for carnal action too. He’s also developed an insatiable urge
for vengeance against demons. </div>
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<br />
Other than using poison to gain unfair advantage, that is Oberyn Martell.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
The Viking recreation stuff is moving along. Hoping to start
a wool fabric hood (using the Skoldham find as my inspiration) this weekend. I
might also make a leather pouch for “mundane items” I need to carry with me
while dressed up – something to carry wallet, phone, and Swiss Army knife.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Got back into some shows after ending up getting bored with
TV earlier this year. Namely Game of Thrones after being out for 2 seasons of
it. I might have even blogged about it here?? Firstly one of the lawyers at my
firm started a GoT Fantasy League. Buy in was $5. Out of 16 teams I am solidly
right in the middle with my team of Grey Worm, Milisandre, Jaqen, and Yohn
Royce. So far, a pretty mediocre team with Grey Worm being my only star player,
and Jaqen probably being my poorest choice in that he might not even show up in
this season. I was hoping for more with Melisandre but looks like she’s out
too. At least mine are all alive!<br />
<br />
Second, the show got better. Every episode has had a major reveal or a plot
device realized. Also we have not seen one sexual assault. Past seasons those
were layered on top of each other each episode to the point of tedium. “Really?
You’re going to emotionally manipulate me with rape scenes again?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ve also realized (while watching Guardians of the Galaxy
2) that long and very dynamic CGI scenes cancel out in my brain after about 10
minutes and I just fall asleep. Awww … 46 years old and finally out of the
demographic!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoxpKCJyc_HVCc74jQexc8uVt1ljw00R1hQjTaCE2wZDgrhhn3wC9HSkIIFALmdxv6JUm2hV3j9SMcwfr_2GxX8MD4eYN8xSvODlSG_HWUl05aG6M8-UaTowfqwKelEThfIAoe5hiUaM/s1600/large_672482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1280" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoxpKCJyc_HVCc74jQexc8uVt1ljw00R1hQjTaCE2wZDgrhhn3wC9HSkIIFALmdxv6JUm2hV3j9SMcwfr_2GxX8MD4eYN8xSvODlSG_HWUl05aG6M8-UaTowfqwKelEThfIAoe5hiUaM/s320/large_672482.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Anyways, thanks for reading and sorry for this filler post! I plan to write
about my Cro-Mags patch and my history with them next. Stay tuned – so much
excite!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Gabe "Rollo"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03016277733204721238noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193090574316270389.post-72285368204461107012017-07-30T22:05:00.001-07:002017-07-30T22:05:35.303-07:00Scots Covenanters, ECW, The Last Foot Squad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Today I finished up the last of my Covenanter Foot Regiments. I now have 3 full "pike and shotte" foot regiments for any gaming I may want to partake of.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCNmJT1Av_kYYp3Fq2gH8u27dkfhxdX4zwhSROK1Lgbu5zQFuBejIxqAxKG-fRPO3nTdJ4-VDIlu7JBrvu1dUMoZlnwV_B_0BYjjypv2yPl4R0-rEKIvN2mjL2OJXGTXueXdC2cqBOMw/s1600/Last+Rifle+Squad+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCNmJT1Av_kYYp3Fq2gH8u27dkfhxdX4zwhSROK1Lgbu5zQFuBejIxqAxKG-fRPO3nTdJ4-VDIlu7JBrvu1dUMoZlnwV_B_0BYjjypv2yPl4R0-rEKIvN2mjL2OJXGTXueXdC2cqBOMw/s320/Last+Rifle+Squad+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeGogBsQd-kTemcKZga4NdH1zqQ3l3_rK0VL4Pc8CGyOcfE9g65OlkMS5zj38HLEagoSz4RFFuime02M6Fln-SGfZNKWLg_L2acj1pP22DjlppqQ9srdOE0oRh24tvYcCP125gOLfgRU/s1600/Last+Rifle+Squad+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeGogBsQd-kTemcKZga4NdH1zqQ3l3_rK0VL4Pc8CGyOcfE9g65OlkMS5zj38HLEagoSz4RFFuime02M6Fln-SGfZNKWLg_L2acj1pP22DjlppqQ9srdOE0oRh24tvYcCP125gOLfgRU/s320/Last+Rifle+Squad+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVsSQ23f4sBSTuhp9zDwxVM5j5Xc7vJjYN-J54oIPUdanoV4wsnFGtclYu-C90azksLUTcIsUG0Z8mm-huLbfoYkUwbu8IWvg-TYQbONR8WHQSf1JkDNYaKhyyho6UhOq-3ikryopG74/s1600/Last+Rifle+Squad+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVsSQ23f4sBSTuhp9zDwxVM5j5Xc7vJjYN-J54oIPUdanoV4wsnFGtclYu-C90azksLUTcIsUG0Z8mm-huLbfoYkUwbu8IWvg-TYQbONR8WHQSf1JkDNYaKhyyho6UhOq-3ikryopG74/s320/Last+Rifle+Squad+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-BBO-Bv3rh1BXvPvMWrdwpXzddgGMekgZbI3Akw-9cJID2aLygfUQ_tTwx2p5Qeh2QJaRYslfQuYfXM6urfAXQ_YvoP99hnb1MrUSgIYpOVqNK7wVw823COO5W8xj86GTjKQJwRUo-Y/s1600/Last+Rifle+Squad+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-BBO-Bv3rh1BXvPvMWrdwpXzddgGMekgZbI3Akw-9cJID2aLygfUQ_tTwx2p5Qeh2QJaRYslfQuYfXM6urfAXQ_YvoP99hnb1MrUSgIYpOVqNK7wVw823COO5W8xj86GTjKQJwRUo-Y/s320/Last+Rifle+Squad+%25284%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSXQG8000uR3Z7SIOXOdq8QZnY17LiLEqEhcCpC95FixDm4Qg6Tzgs2M2oY9N0L0aeveSq7yo7tmmIUZezhPISzfEn7XnsGDJx20wH23JZz35cKKzIKqQC3WmCL9mTYE1gEY2bTrGrbA/s1600/Last+Rifle+Squad+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSXQG8000uR3Z7SIOXOdq8QZnY17LiLEqEhcCpC95FixDm4Qg6Tzgs2M2oY9N0L0aeveSq7yo7tmmIUZezhPISzfEn7XnsGDJx20wH23JZz35cKKzIKqQC3WmCL9mTYE1gEY2bTrGrbA/s320/Last+Rifle+Squad+%25285%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjuxaY6nM1Anz3o78Tzjdj08_B0jznCTXXLgzSg4Wiughs1kZY2_jg2JDLrwwFm6KbYc4icPzOSPzhU04heNhRFdvIgVkl5ToTpDtywmLvGxPi2z_LweFVZEzLDxaVq_Coz1o_lazTwA/s1600/Last+Rifle+Squad+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjuxaY6nM1Anz3o78Tzjdj08_B0jznCTXXLgzSg4Wiughs1kZY2_jg2JDLrwwFm6KbYc4icPzOSPzhU04heNhRFdvIgVkl5ToTpDtywmLvGxPi2z_LweFVZEzLDxaVq_Coz1o_lazTwA/s320/Last+Rifle+Squad+%25286%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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All but one of the figures are from Warlord's Foot Regiment box set. The one that isn't is a Perry. Long story short I messed up modeling some of the plastic figures so had to fill the hole with the Perry guy. All of the bonnets were bought separately and added in lieu of the other hat choices Warlord gives you.<br />
<br />
The officer and sgt. I painted up based off some pictures in an Osprey book. I wanted to layer them a bit more but just wanted to be done as I have been working on the whole regiment since after Enfilade in May. So, 2 layers it was.<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KBFNytbnAwYfyo9lsjUlbySwnS0jTqxbGSnu-e6MyJGZINe8oXyGZvXXeOwspfulKcFTQMx4HK9bbF0hv0TTGX8LJ0_knUm10XAXQbHEdWve5N__8NSNOI9n3rwlNn3cCPLYwNgluvU/s1600/IMG_1923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KBFNytbnAwYfyo9lsjUlbySwnS0jTqxbGSnu-e6MyJGZINe8oXyGZvXXeOwspfulKcFTQMx4HK9bbF0hv0TTGX8LJ0_knUm10XAXQbHEdWve5N__8NSNOI9n3rwlNn3cCPLYwNgluvU/s640/IMG_1923.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here is the whole band. I'm going to do a separate stand for Ensign and Command.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now that I am done I am not in much of a hurry to paint up anything any time soon. Maybe 8 more figures to add to my Pagan Rus for Saga.Gabe "Rollo"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03016277733204721238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193090574316270389.post-77185556908794746362017-07-26T13:04:00.000-07:002017-07-26T16:20:45.349-07:00Every Day Carry<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a slight obsession with Every Day Carry aka EDC. It
blends with some of my other interests like disaster prepping (that’s more a “what
I do” as opposed to “interest”) and historical re-enacting.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4k0PyZSO9FdbAk9MYhmDcQ1N6OejrioYZE6pX_JxXIMbhW7xoWjuVhrAO5OcsHGXV_tA9q8a2f8nuSRHDhAnHtPnVcasllCWx3rikILb2brYAslfg9HIM3OSGulNi8xQLRNi-s7SF19Q/s1600/Everyday-Carry-Breakdown-103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="980" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4k0PyZSO9FdbAk9MYhmDcQ1N6OejrioYZE6pX_JxXIMbhW7xoWjuVhrAO5OcsHGXV_tA9q8a2f8nuSRHDhAnHtPnVcasllCWx3rikILb2brYAslfg9HIM3OSGulNi8xQLRNi-s7SF19Q/s320/Everyday-Carry-Breakdown-103.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modern EDC options</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5v0ameE-X_kK6M_srYkvUPmEc8FAUy4PHCUAMBZWwOLtdjt0WHV3N2GuDvRuMbemd0dopMICYf3W4dKDZ1PNpq1coOpnV9j-E-MADXGUvks_GBfxyHEwcadVd-zM1GyB_6jzwGuTI-A/s1600/OtziEDC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="800" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5v0ameE-X_kK6M_srYkvUPmEc8FAUy4PHCUAMBZWwOLtdjt0WHV3N2GuDvRuMbemd0dopMICYf3W4dKDZ1PNpq1coOpnV9j-E-MADXGUvks_GBfxyHEwcadVd-zM1GyB_6jzwGuTI-A/s320/OtziEDC.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Otzi the Iceman's EDC from 5000 years ago.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Thing is, my tastes lean more towards the mundane than cool
high-speed-low-drag tactical gear and guns. I’m a common man and have some
common tastes to live my common life. I do appreciate some of the knowledge I’ve
gleaned over the years from some of the pro-level tactical guys and I think I
have a good gauge on what I need for my life and what I don’t. It’s a fine
balance between:<br />
<br />
I need to be ready to repel another country’s army from my lands<o:p></o:p></div>
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-and-<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Glock 19 is the new standard for side arms<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8A3Mm723f9R2TVhiQTtY4oa4HktxfMcrwN-ND_jnw16eSiLLBzm35_1RpQaQGmiDHmkv78Nyc1nT8SPECsc2qSwP_1n5CEFuEZorV4KgF2-HD71EI8acT7dxbxBmPkIeVHctUy_nVD5U/s1600/Glock19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="1155" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8A3Mm723f9R2TVhiQTtY4oa4HktxfMcrwN-ND_jnw16eSiLLBzm35_1RpQaQGmiDHmkv78Nyc1nT8SPECsc2qSwP_1n5CEFuEZorV4KgF2-HD71EI8acT7dxbxBmPkIeVHctUy_nVD5U/s320/Glock19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Basically, I want to be able to take part in my own active
defense but I’m not fighting ISIS or China.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My interest in things in people’s and my own pockets is not
in guns though. I’ve always had a fascination with wallets, pocket knives,
watches, flashlights, change pouches… things of that nature. I don’t collect
either. Sure, I’m hunting for some pretty specific things like a good Sunday
Puukko or a pocket organizer but I don’t blow a ton of money on something when
I find what is working great for me and my tastes for “what is working great”
are pretty low compared to others.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYQV_tODobxTLgg1BINXsVAqnBtB3nxa3iALKBDsmjP9m32xpDYoEH7odLm7HprwH7Ly7LA9kHvOorNM-YMpWoSRSwV3Fm2ZRAcz3rdCy01cd1qMmdl8tlyhB2hOhmcpX9Sdehm909jQ/s1600/il_570xN.615331222_dwlt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="570" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYQV_tODobxTLgg1BINXsVAqnBtB3nxa3iALKBDsmjP9m32xpDYoEH7odLm7HprwH7Ly7LA9kHvOorNM-YMpWoSRSwV3Fm2ZRAcz3rdCy01cd1qMmdl8tlyhB2hOhmcpX9Sdehm909jQ/s320/il_570xN.615331222_dwlt.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gotta' keep them from flopping around in the pocket and tearing things up.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3Izww5iQFpV_H3KdZTN3uB7WftbW2ZKjoeWw6D_qTkWUAwCFVUvotZAxX7zx9zLZmVyOiuYEnZhhtGMLiHPSDARnEb8YHDk0R8VzGncXIQ-zBOFmvSkemZp9XbJqUFN68Fh7htxaLlE/s1600/SundayPuukko.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="233" data-original-width="400" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3Izww5iQFpV_H3KdZTN3uB7WftbW2ZKjoeWw6D_qTkWUAwCFVUvotZAxX7zx9zLZmVyOiuYEnZhhtGMLiHPSDARnEb8YHDk0R8VzGncXIQ-zBOFmvSkemZp9XbJqUFN68Fh7htxaLlE/s320/SundayPuukko.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really nice (to me) puukko knife</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
What I have in my pockets daily, 100% and if I don’t have it I made a mistake:<br />
1) A Coach wallet. Pretty fancy for a guy like me, the inlaws got it for me for
Xmas a few years back. It’s a little thick but it does its job (hold cash, licenses,
cards, bus pass, etc.) and the only real peculiarity for me is I like to have a
flip-out window for my bus pass and it needs to hold cash as I like to have
cash. I really appreciate this gift from the Parhams and, being a Coach, makes
me feel luxurious in a simple way.<br />
2) A hanky – the good old paisley endowed western hanky you can get at Fred
Meyer for cheap. Wipes up messes, soaks up sweat, first aid, blow my nose in
it. <br />
3) Keys on an old spring clip – I got the spring clip after graduating Navy bootcamp
in 1990. I remember my first day of liberty after graduation. Everyone wanted
to go out in a group but I needed some alone time so the first thing I did was
go to the PX* (first time I had money in my pocket for months) and I bought a
piece of pizza, a Dr. Pepper, a pack of cigarettes, a lighter, and that spring
clip for keys as I was told I might end up with some keys to care for. I sat
alone and ate that pizza and sipped the Dr. Pepper. Then I lit a smoke and
smoked it.<br />
4) Fenix E12 pocket light – my favorite flashlight right now. AA battery,
small, up to 100 lumens. Hit my sweet spot after I bought it and have had it
for 3-4 years now. Perfect for office and outdoors (and when outdoors I do
bring other lights).<o:p></o:p></div>
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5) Leatherman Juice XE6 – Gretchen got my name engraved on
it and gave it to me for Xmas. Handiest pocket tool I ever had (out of the 10
or so I own!)<br />
6) Bic lighter – for my smokes, for emergencies.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My iPhone is either in my back pocket with my hanky or a
jacket pocket or vest. Same with smokes but I don’t smoke often so a lot of the
time smokes are not on me.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZxZ4BH-prCXjd-WnxCnZXehPPah_YQqhv5fyy-dmO6fvVR5tGlyNDAt431Y1_TTQPdwYVX7SM-uSaovTu935CYNXgYpdL6uomxGe3QjzwRN_JMOjFVQ5ONIrddwh4hdGk8JAbKSdido/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZxZ4BH-prCXjd-WnxCnZXehPPah_YQqhv5fyy-dmO6fvVR5tGlyNDAt431Y1_TTQPdwYVX7SM-uSaovTu935CYNXgYpdL6uomxGe3QjzwRN_JMOjFVQ5ONIrddwh4hdGk8JAbKSdido/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On me, right now as I type.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkn1V-1XCVYzMOCKrwXbdeHALhrMSjVF3e2dXCO2kajjY94ASC5IJJiiEmXdJhS2xVdoMc5vG0WEY9A9e3uGYz5-ZpRW0ypcq5F_EbO_Jcnq1ZKeV4vOQWrksfq_9oI9TomRioHIzjvc/s1600/keys.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkn1V-1XCVYzMOCKrwXbdeHALhrMSjVF3e2dXCO2kajjY94ASC5IJJiiEmXdJhS2xVdoMc5vG0WEY9A9e3uGYz5-ZpRW0ypcq5F_EbO_Jcnq1ZKeV4vOQWrksfq_9oI9TomRioHIzjvc/s320/keys.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">$.79 cents in San Diego RTC Navy Exchange February 1990. I still use it daily.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAIHa2MMRGrIE7LfCumnhgP87CP8wrkRyO2PvI0zOmJHP4nd-rELmzhqhT-1UlHF-dNqyMTBJ21NXZRz2wV8mChSn5c5_XnqT8awfRi1rIy8Sm7TuVAvLtUTA-AGtbRq30_DkB3z2yQg/s1600/M2quals1990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="604" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAIHa2MMRGrIE7LfCumnhgP87CP8wrkRyO2PvI0zOmJHP4nd-rELmzhqhT-1UlHF-dNqyMTBJ21NXZRz2wV8mChSn5c5_XnqT8awfRi1rIy8Sm7TuVAvLtUTA-AGtbRq30_DkB3z2yQg/s320/M2quals1990.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There it is, lower left of picture, hanging off my belt loop. M2 quals, 1990</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjqctU74bt-RHkdKiwR5OCyR7YWUt5egeOnw9-HuzUiXMoXrSb1VP3VEhmeDfvkSTK_jSYH3jRA47Sd15UaBeuqg1Yx4n_zt2eRVmQmb9M_W-bHkxS1Cs-I3tbkay16-h0r_wmy73oFc/s1600/Timbuk2+bag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjqctU74bt-RHkdKiwR5OCyR7YWUt5egeOnw9-HuzUiXMoXrSb1VP3VEhmeDfvkSTK_jSYH3jRA47Sd15UaBeuqg1Yx4n_zt2eRVmQmb9M_W-bHkxS1Cs-I3tbkay16-h0r_wmy73oFc/s1600/Timbuk2+bag.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few years ago, it's a bit beat up now.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For work I also carry a commuter bag, an old Timbuk messenger. It’s getting
worn out so I’m looking to replace it but I’m in no hurry. My phone and
cigarettes go in the bag a lot. Also in the bag are some boo-boo kit items (bandaids, pain killers, Pepto and antiacids), hand sanitizer, some pens and pencils, ear buds (phone), a fixed blade knife, and a larger flashlight (Surefire of course!). In and out daily are lunch, reading material, a drink, and maybe socks.<br />
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<br />
I’m not going to talk much about a firearm. I have a concealed carry license
and many options to carry different pistols.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mXwsmXD6YH74a3KXWetgFFtkPiXPbop6ZjadpTBeuW8fdPju5foi3zSZAPCKePEp9SGNVp5OJeCkzepPdzx2zXLNGvG25dKXYI2dJlar-n669AthaDUny4lmRVYLqg7HoCYRbbjAVzE/s1600/Tactical-Everyday-Carry-Essentials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1087" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mXwsmXD6YH74a3KXWetgFFtkPiXPbop6ZjadpTBeuW8fdPju5foi3zSZAPCKePEp9SGNVp5OJeCkzepPdzx2zXLNGvG25dKXYI2dJlar-n669AthaDUny4lmRVYLqg7HoCYRbbjAVzE/s320/Tactical-Everyday-Carry-Essentials.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some people may think this is scary looking.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On Facebook and Tumblr I am subscribed to many different “EDC”
fan pages. 90% of the time I’m a bit meh about it as the masses into EDC are
more into pistols and fighting knives. Anything
not pistols and knives lean towards a <i>pistol
and knife</i> aesthetic and are too tacticool for my blood. Black guns and
coyote knives that look hooky and dangerous, chunky pens that also stab,
flashlights that can start fires, “grey man” bags with tomahawks and short
rifles, a back pack 90% of trauma kit … it’s quite funny sometimes as the
people carrying this stuff are not congruent to people who will be using this
stuff. Sure “<i>it’s better to have it and not need it yadda yadda…” </i>but I’ve got a <u>10 pounds of shit on me</u>
daily limit. I’m fine with what other’s carry I just won’t do it nor see a real
probable need and think the Greyman Tacticool look is rather obvious and quite noticeable
and exactly opposite of Greyman Philosophy. Thing is when I see the "scary stuff I know it's mostly aesthetics and color and not actually any more scary than other things.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdeQ-Zxn2QqCP4L4oOoqyJ8ZwOk1ues8GdllVdYFzbHONvR1Uu8PP_aXf3r9cdJLwFcPFbVxfCLtlcB3lGynAF-7YlRhE5PYcLl0bxYSbLJNnUs7kPE64quJcanCH8mJSWW0cYf0E2jTc/s1600/761bccfa734b5e3de632d851f66e67d7--boy-scouts-mans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdeQ-Zxn2QqCP4L4oOoqyJ8ZwOk1ues8GdllVdYFzbHONvR1Uu8PP_aXf3r9cdJLwFcPFbVxfCLtlcB3lGynAF-7YlRhE5PYcLl0bxYSbLJNnUs7kPE64quJcanCH8mJSWW0cYf0E2jTc/s320/761bccfa734b5e3de632d851f66e67d7--boy-scouts-mans.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just as effective tools, probably more expensive, not as scary looking. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Actually, a very wise man once taught me that a true greyman is “congruent” to
their surroundings and that has stuck with me since. Thanks ODA and I wish I
knew your real name. This is why my “philosophy” is to be me which is “<i>an office worker that likes heavy metal and
ice cream</i>”.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsKVWacIBFIYYpCY__7g2gfVZsmp7qAhMfC6uxuxkBuBkNGy55f1Dq336bVVBwt6DmdtA84Ma6kUnpM-6cAY7A_FFTVfw71-HdDffZa0z5GeRrmfEJSDqYeWcEA9fhpBsAysYVpYHIFM/s1600/Tacticool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="736" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsKVWacIBFIYYpCY__7g2gfVZsmp7qAhMfC6uxuxkBuBkNGy55f1Dq336bVVBwt6DmdtA84Ma6kUnpM-6cAY7A_FFTVfw71-HdDffZa0z5GeRrmfEJSDqYeWcEA9fhpBsAysYVpYHIFM/s200/Tacticool.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When you dress like this I immediately think "That guy has a gun or wishes they did." They think they are blending in. They are also just as fashionably minded as any other consumer out there but refuse to admit it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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What I like to see on blogs and FB pages and such are the quality things that
really tell you something about a person (other than <i>I’m Gonna Fight In A Fucking Big War</i>!). Like, a pocket knife that
looks like Grandpa hung out with them or an old Zippo that has an old Infantry
unit insignia. Maybe a watch with a clown on it or something. Other than the
personal things like that I also like real simple and elegant but highly functional
pocket carry items like a 2 or 3 pocket organizer (for pen, knife, lighter?) or
a pocket notebook and wallet combo. One thing I’ve always wanted was a hanky
with a simple map of Portland on it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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*Edit I typed PX and that's the land lubber Army name for it. We called it the Navy Exchange. I think that most people know what a PX is over an NEX. How true that is I don't know.</div>
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Gabe "Rollo"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03016277733204721238noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193090574316270389.post-49385145451567588882017-07-16T15:26:00.001-07:002017-07-16T15:26:22.884-07:00Works in Progress - Scots Covenanters, Modern SWAT, Paladin for D&D<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After watching Wizards Friday night at The Hollywood Theater (see previous post) I had a pretty easy weekend with some free time... not so the next 2-3 weekends. So I took some time to try to wrap up some miniature projects.<br />
<br />
First there is the slog, the thing I have been working on consistently for about a year now - English Civil War Scots Covenanters. I wanted a third foot regiment of pike and shotte, looking at 36 figures in 28mm. I bought a Warlord P&S infantry foot regiment box, added some Scottish bonnets to the order, and got to work in June.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyr4RVynphJYkKd-rVAls42d0BLdh4vRuxswreBMgLEuNgEF5_YpQZmEQZMfX7ZjODit4oSNhXjaZMiOlY1EGxnFi3QmrsEZESCOvjACzspPSFlrsEEE_aSuRj9E8qbkP6TURBuOizc4/s1600/IMG_1887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyr4RVynphJYkKd-rVAls42d0BLdh4vRuxswreBMgLEuNgEF5_YpQZmEQZMfX7ZjODit4oSNhXjaZMiOlY1EGxnFi3QmrsEZESCOvjACzspPSFlrsEEE_aSuRj9E8qbkP6TURBuOizc4/s320/IMG_1887.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCg7gAouDk1BUSKUXQIffBmG3lA0jxtKYuztGID47OHp8MsyjUeYK35ugyM4zDg9Wm3LpfDRZIgSpaC8LgEZ7gxQaYMjdOugFcua9Rb1qk_CRUr3I-gBcHClLPX5UmNO5A-ALg9ry_eIc/s1600/ScotsCovFIrstSteps+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCg7gAouDk1BUSKUXQIffBmG3lA0jxtKYuztGID47OHp8MsyjUeYK35ugyM4zDg9Wm3LpfDRZIgSpaC8LgEZ7gxQaYMjdOugFcua9Rb1qk_CRUr3I-gBcHClLPX5UmNO5A-ALg9ry_eIc/s320/ScotsCovFIrstSteps+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faces first!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_z_pO3qx-Y6GV7QCZj3Pm51AWd1NfnMRAwDw_gpf0QabE7vJZj4Xh8shJ42tEdh4_tiAHQGaVnfEz96-R3vLNoGW3mt_7wBdCCkAyTHN5KqmyCZuXr2BaX-74OT-oH2fjehXoXUAPJvs/s1600/ScotsCovFIrstSteps+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_z_pO3qx-Y6GV7QCZj3Pm51AWd1NfnMRAwDw_gpf0QabE7vJZj4Xh8shJ42tEdh4_tiAHQGaVnfEz96-R3vLNoGW3mt_7wBdCCkAyTHN5KqmyCZuXr2BaX-74OT-oH2fjehXoXUAPJvs/s320/ScotsCovFIrstSteps+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faces were based in a light brown. Then washed in Army Painter ink, Then heavily dry brushed in AP Barbarian flesh and highlighted in a a Vallejo Pale Flesh. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'm now on the last company of musketeers and looking forward to being done. The big difference on these figures over the other 2 regiments I painted last year is they are Warlord plastics (as opposed to Old Glory metals) and I'm multi basing them over single based on 20mm squares.<br /><br />The last year has been a haze of grey and blue paint!<br /><br />Next for show and tell are some Old Glory SWAT figures I picked up a few years ago. Painting them for some modern (Osprey's Black Ops) gaming in the near future. These figures painted up really fast as the pallet is very simple. So much so I did not like the blue and black they originally were so I threw in some dark grey on armor plates and tactical harness and popped some red onto lights and scopes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSmtEVc34YbcP93bPRjYaIHVCqBTSHLsboKNY_dmwMqBv7NLp4yRlLVvzAMXCFIRuIlH-PxTFR9w0UjjJScr4rLhctBFbQfb1j734cSc-ejVyR_Kwadgg9q7KnGuFit_cg-YuhYgRe5M/s1600/IMG_1883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSmtEVc34YbcP93bPRjYaIHVCqBTSHLsboKNY_dmwMqBv7NLp4yRlLVvzAMXCFIRuIlH-PxTFR9w0UjjJScr4rLhctBFbQfb1j734cSc-ejVyR_Kwadgg9q7KnGuFit_cg-YuhYgRe5M/s320/IMG_1883.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ytOTbhng-JyJmwaLBBK7RKn3VLB7PSIpm51xM6lKwdhkg36OxvRfHiR-x9Fo2W8Um4NWzt58pA_GjsRMPakbXXMYr4XCntzWHsQQEKKTGwtDpo3lvrw2sAU-CBW55VA2WYHRuaP7Zzs/s1600/SWAT+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ytOTbhng-JyJmwaLBBK7RKn3VLB7PSIpm51xM6lKwdhkg36OxvRfHiR-x9Fo2W8Um4NWzt58pA_GjsRMPakbXXMYr4XCntzWHsQQEKKTGwtDpo3lvrw2sAU-CBW55VA2WYHRuaP7Zzs/s320/SWAT+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a lot of experience in modern bases so tried a gravel and cement look. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Speaking of modern miniatures here is a female figure that I picked up from Hasslefree Miniatures a few years back. I like to have a stock of these in my storage trays. Not done and exercising my layering on a smaller scale as this mini is pretty tiny.<br />
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<br />For my D&D game, the one where I play a Paladin, this is my "higher level" figure for my character. He did find a sunsword so I decided to portray that in the figure and took it as a cue to try out "reflection" effect on the armor of the miniature. I think I did OK my first time out but I'm definitely not there yet.<br />
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I like to have a lot of monster miniatures laying around. I use them, mostly, as tools to practice painting and modeling techniques. This "brain eater" (aka Grell from D&D mythology) I'm using as a study in layering with watered down paints. The brain part was base coated in purple. I then painted the brains in pink. Then I layered in a watered down red and the effect was pretty good I think.<br />
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I'm sure I'll let y'all know when I'm all done with painting Scots Covenanters! Have a good week or whatever and thanks for reading.<br />
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<br />Gabe "Rollo"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03016277733204721238noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193090574316270389.post-29098251776672676922017-07-16T14:22:00.000-07:002017-07-16T20:48:22.648-07:00Wizards on the big screenThis weekend opened with getting off work and going straight to The Hollywood Theater for Wyrd War's special showing of Wizards on the big screen and the first time the sound track was released on vinyl... and the album being released at the show was of 200 special editions made, specifically, for the showing. Of course I got one.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmkZ1yKIvKfZAdYZf_5ABrhkPE50Cx8B3bGOudNTm0zs3w_bAIspqtmXBKxcoycd2sUds3LvIfBAxix0WZPb6PliE0R19oz6TqVWXT_NIc0OIwPRsi6keaLuy1giRpuZWtn6Csgy94t0/s1600/Bakshi+-+Wizards+1977+-+Weehawk+%2526+Avatar+Animation+Cel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1050" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmkZ1yKIvKfZAdYZf_5ABrhkPE50Cx8B3bGOudNTm0zs3w_bAIspqtmXBKxcoycd2sUds3LvIfBAxix0WZPb6PliE0R19oz6TqVWXT_NIc0OIwPRsi6keaLuy1giRpuZWtn6Csgy94t0/s320/Bakshi+-+Wizards+1977+-+Weehawk+%2526+Avatar+Animation+Cel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two of the protagonists Avatar (the good wizard) and Weehawk the elf hero.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxFFySG9FCeHRhpUfF9-cZM0hye8otwRKQkChG-o7nFt2QReZa-XSwApss8hTcboht_9kLXtD7Gk1XWv41O68jUDWavnoJyg8WYIYAHY3sZ8ew8Zq6r0JN9pvhelnI4xg3PwozrTRzuc/s1600/Wizards-Bakshi-squared.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="414" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxFFySG9FCeHRhpUfF9-cZM0hye8otwRKQkChG-o7nFt2QReZa-XSwApss8hTcboht_9kLXtD7Gk1XWv41O68jUDWavnoJyg8WYIYAHY3sZ8ew8Zq6r0JN9pvhelnI4xg3PwozrTRzuc/s320/Wizards-Bakshi-squared.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Antagonist Blackwolf, the evil wizard.</td></tr>
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I met my Dungeons and Dragons group before hand for a few drinks. Gretchen "called in sick" as she was not felling well and stayed home. Bummer as she really wanted to go and many of our friends were there.<br />
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Wizards is 40 years old having been released early in 1977. I was 5 or 6 years old when I saw it that year and it came out right before Star Wars. I remember it being one of the first movies I saw a commercial of on TV and telling my parents I wanted to see it. Being the 70s the MPAA (and studios) were not sure what to do with this movie. It got a PG. In hindsight I'm sure it was my first exposure to Nazis and what they did as it played a big part of the movie.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0clZjMMkHmIkRCU3YNt4Y6cKu3AwM33-5xszcVl7nk4YzcgZxbyKuiWQto38rEa_gvXYVHa_jApRIgCyVphdk3nkJLfXUjIHiFbrXD67Nah2LUasXBWkQpMK3NyVCoxsX2PLx20P2tE/s1600/bakshi-wizards-08-620x418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="620" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0clZjMMkHmIkRCU3YNt4Y6cKu3AwM33-5xszcVl7nk4YzcgZxbyKuiWQto38rEa_gvXYVHa_jApRIgCyVphdk3nkJLfXUjIHiFbrXD67Nah2LUasXBWkQpMK3NyVCoxsX2PLx20P2tE/s320/bakshi-wizards-08-620x418.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bad guys went straight up nazi.</td></tr>
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Ralph Bakshi made it, famous for other animated movies like Fire and Ice and Lord of the Rings. He is famed for use of Rotoscope - animating over live action film footage - and infamous for being a curmudgeon. He is part of my own mythology. The sound track was by Andrew Belling who was also at the show Friday and he did a great Q&A and I love that dude. He was very touched by seeing a sell-out crowd and said how amazed he was to see such a big audience for something he did 40 years ago.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKz1ZvCmtZ6LHOxOz9n87uuqGE_OsJzh6S9i4SojWbPhrKtchvGtvlV8LYQOk6A8xAx5OfM_cEStOoXd-skOXTRLxIWFl51UCz1HIDIHQosTw_-XCqV01ckTl7MV1Q9c8w4vfUOfBRyGI/s1600/wiz7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="843" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKz1ZvCmtZ6LHOxOz9n87uuqGE_OsJzh6S9i4SojWbPhrKtchvGtvlV8LYQOk6A8xAx5OfM_cEStOoXd-skOXTRLxIWFl51UCz1HIDIHQosTw_-XCqV01ckTl7MV1Q9c8w4vfUOfBRyGI/s320/wiz7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Famous "They got Fritz!" scene.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOO8IyUAogFt_ypnXXbl8ZOPd8DRrfsHrfULnxoKB8ePLOV9BGGde1cltoQS2XaNhAuUTIVsE-r7dR6Kt1tF0wxGsjQP6zXrfjNch_7U3s6uidELnX73pt3YvVUrdVu_UANCpQqqyU5c/s1600/Wizards-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="560" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOO8IyUAogFt_ypnXXbl8ZOPd8DRrfsHrfULnxoKB8ePLOV9BGGde1cltoQS2XaNhAuUTIVsE-r7dR6Kt1tF0wxGsjQP6zXrfjNch_7U3s6uidELnX73pt3YvVUrdVu_UANCpQqqyU5c/s320/Wizards-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some other animation from the beginning exposition part of a younger Avatar and Blackwolf.</td></tr>
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The movie sits in a weird spot in my memories from 40 years ago. I was at the age that my memories are breaking out of dream-like and into legit memories. Some scenes in the movie are engraved in my hardware while some were totally gone. For instance:<br />
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1) Battle scenes - I totally remember some of those scenes. Both the focus of some of the animation scenes as well as some of the Rotoscoped background scenes.<br />
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2) The character Elinor - I have zero memory of her. That said I have always like curvy women and maybe seeing this when I was so young is part of that? Also, see above comments on this movie being rated PG - hahaha!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3L3pPMNC5qqgGoJGrRdT8XeYDoppkZVYlBp9N-xPiTuChQnC9_SHOh-CH-VJqtSnIpt6iAd5r3eC8k_R6xr2Bj2LrcZrS4LlW5XPwwlwDHcZ1oiRuFe9zcDFgODy0unFYfI2VOthUZjI/s1600/CGc1I1sUIAAh_De.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="586" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3L3pPMNC5qqgGoJGrRdT8XeYDoppkZVYlBp9N-xPiTuChQnC9_SHOh-CH-VJqtSnIpt6iAd5r3eC8k_R6xr2Bj2LrcZrS4LlW5XPwwlwDHcZ1oiRuFe9zcDFgODy0unFYfI2VOthUZjI/s320/CGc1I1sUIAAh_De.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Other than a 4 minute scene when she put on a poncho Elinor is in the whole movie like this. PG or not? No judgement here.</td></tr>
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Another great gig put up by Wyrd War - Tiffany and Dennis and their kid - They do an incredible job of putting together really cool shit and I'm glad to call them my friends too. They are my people.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/WYRD-WAR-678766085539984/?hc_ref=ARS_KvO4pSrSbrcjC6iLn9P7NAA7vLEQNXssKwuwqZSPAj0viHb8us6e0IU0I_7h8Yk&fref=nf">Follow Wyrd War via their Facebook page</a>:<br />
And also see a video of Maria Karlin of Federales singing with Andrew Belling playing the ballad in the movie.<br />
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EDIT: 7/16/17 at 20:42:<br />
The Battle for Art Blog, by Dennis Dread of Wyrd War, <a href="https://dennisdread.blogspot.com/2017/07/wyrd-war-wizards.html">link is right here and you should click and look at it</a>.<br /><br />EDIT 2: Did I mention how cool and sweet Andrew Belling is? Exuded coolness.Gabe "Rollo"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03016277733204721238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193090574316270389.post-23821335784943906622017-07-10T15:37:00.001-07:002017-07-10T15:37:53.241-07:00“Saga Club”, Scots Covenanters, Dungeons and Dragons, and Future Projects<div class="MsoNormal">
At this year’s Enfilade a few guys referred to me as “Portland
Saga Guy”. Not offended or anything, nor did it go to my head like <i>I AM THE PORTLAND SAGA GUY</i>!!, but I took
it as a cue that I could get something Saga-centric in Portland going with some
help from a few others – namely Spencer. Like Uncle Ben said to Peter: "With great power comes great responsibility."</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I put a few e-mails and Facebook messages out that I was
going to create a Google Group and call it PDX-Metro Saga. Not a club, not a
league, just a group for active Saga players in the Portland-Metro area. The
goal is to get together for regular play once per month at Guardian Games.
Requirements being:<br />
1) You *<i>want</i> to play Saga once per
month.<o:p></o:p></div>
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2) You have a table-ready warband.<o:p></o:p></div>
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3) You have other accessories like dice and stuff.<o:p></o:p></div>
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4) You have a couple games under your belt… basically; you
played it once already and are ready to learn.<o:p></o:p></div>
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*<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Want does not equate to “required
to”; totally understandable that we are grown-ups with grown-up things to
attend to that have much more importance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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I got a surprisingly larger number of volunteers. Nothing
huge, like 40 people, but better than the <i>under
10</i> I thought I’d get. I was happy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our first official game day for PDX-Metro Saga is July 22,
Saturday, at Guardian Games. I am bringing my Pagan Rus war band. Others are
bringing Normans, Anglo Saxons, and Vikings. Some have decided to surprise us
and not tell us what they are bringing. It’s not required that you tell or not.
<br />
<br />
I’m excited for this day and hope there is a bright future for Saga in
Portland.<br />
<br />
I got in a game of Pikeman’s Lament at Spencer’s house a few Friday nights ago.
My first game I learned a lot. It’s easy for me to pick up as the rules engine
is Dan Mersey’s X Rampant. I’ve played that a few times and my knowledge base
there is solid in the basics. I like Pikeman’s Lament a bit more that Lion
Rampant and Dragon Rampant for a few reasons:<br />
1) 3 inch rule is reduced to 1 inch.<br />
2) Units activate a little bit easier thus less chance of a failed activation
roll and losing your turn – probably the rule I hate the most in not just X
Rampant engine but in gaming in general.**<o:p></o:p></div>
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3) A little bit of personality… or mechanical abilities… for
your officer, adding some role-playing… touching on my love for role-playing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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** <span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">I love X Rampant rules
engine. It is simple, elegant, has enough options to flavor up important things
but open enough to allow for all kinds of model options… it just hits a sweet
spot in all the games I have played. It’s all good except the failed activation
rule. This is not the place to get into it but I have many opinions on that
rule.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Spencer and I played with our English Civil War collections –
he with his Royal English troops and I with my Scots Covenanters. The game was
even until the Royal cavalry started shining and doing lots of damage to my
right flank, in a village and where my Lancers and a saker were deployed, and
my left flank, an open field were we both deployed the bulk of our foot
regiments. I was able to, finally, get my brave pikemen into the fray but it
was too late by then. Lesson learned was to protect your musketeers with those
pikemen.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3LwJ5C5vKJkmq8nApX6SJEinCB04t1WDveDMlLvvl6drDoA4vHyZ2x8aaBXjy8cL9I6JPxdOSv6I8tZc_3OVpz7icWtbuMwDLHeE1MHMRIcTqOc4fGyW0XEDDQLYKl5f0IL-qx-t60q8/s1600/Spencers+6-30-17+Lancers+in+Village.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3LwJ5C5vKJkmq8nApX6SJEinCB04t1WDveDMlLvvl6drDoA4vHyZ2x8aaBXjy8cL9I6JPxdOSv6I8tZc_3OVpz7icWtbuMwDLHeE1MHMRIcTqOc4fGyW0XEDDQLYKl5f0IL-qx-t60q8/s320/Spencers+6-30-17+Lancers+in+Village.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lancers going down the village road.</td></tr>
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IRL how it played out is I did not figure out what my pikemen could actually do
until the last half of the game and by them the English cavalry had done their
damage and chased off some of my musketeer companies. WHOOPS! Those crazy
Scots!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After posting this picture I realized that it feeds into that whole Scots / sheep joke mythology. For this I apologize. I like this picture of my miniatures though.</td></tr>
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Anyways, fun game and a fire has been lit up under my butt to paint up more and
play this game more with Spencer and whoever else.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dungeons and Dragons has picked up. After a long hiatus from
RPing, and an earlier campaign this year kind of coming to an end too soon, I
joined up with NE Portland RPG… sounds official and all but it’s just some friends
from Cinema Babylon running a game and they invited me in. We play in a dank
basement! It’s not that dank but it’s still a basement.<br />
<br />
Austin is the Dungeon Master and he’s running me, Peter, Dylan, and Andrew
through the D&D campaign Out of the Abyss. So far it’s been a lot of fun
and we’ve been playing weekly. My character is a Paladin from a country called
Amn (fantasy analogue of Spain). He is young and an idealist but his time
tromping through the darkness of The Underdark is grating on him a bit. He’s
already been slain by a demon, then risen and taking the Oath of Vengeance, turning
him a bit grim in his outlook. It’s all cool and shit. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCeWiFWo91L4wr626eVfkg4zIoFvYjUBJwg2EouYOKo5kPtTQGtcQdROAPPZRv1w2FTbDyIcGgq7AW4lTTtG7KIRRZDgF9fhSFzE2ZT1i5vaQEJBu1lRacS0a9ShdBx77YXcDIs3_VDo/s1600/dungeons-dragons-seeks-out-the-mainstream-with-its-new-adventure-out-of-the-abyss-0902-body-image-1441228195-size_1000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="1000" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCeWiFWo91L4wr626eVfkg4zIoFvYjUBJwg2EouYOKo5kPtTQGtcQdROAPPZRv1w2FTbDyIcGgq7AW4lTTtG7KIRRZDgF9fhSFzE2ZT1i5vaQEJBu1lRacS0a9ShdBx77YXcDIs3_VDo/s640/dungeons-dragons-seeks-out-the-mainstream-with-its-new-adventure-out-of-the-abyss-0902-body-image-1441228195-size_1000.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Demons! Oh my!!</td></tr>
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I’m not planning to really add much to my miniatures
collection this year, at least I don’t have any plans to buy a new rule set and
paint up a new army. My only plans right now are to:<o:p></o:p></div>
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1) Finish up my Scot Covenanters in my lead mountain.<o:p></o:p></div>
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2) Source and paint up a small war band of Mongols for Lion
Rampant.<br />
3) Paint some niche figures to round out existing war bands in Saga – some Varangians,
some Pagan Rus warriors, stuff like that.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OM9AaW0UqVW2T7vfBop5_x35nu96JpfenJWjzs-Jv7ieIy6zGMRm1wVEkqIoxtcOSIX7hyKe7Ug4yHZdYDlHEROmBOjbEw-vvRmMihRTP8eg2-wWGYgTzT-dwKZEGZhRy25Q8Ps-mg0/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OM9AaW0UqVW2T7vfBop5_x35nu96JpfenJWjzs-Jv7ieIy6zGMRm1wVEkqIoxtcOSIX7hyKe7Ug4yHZdYDlHEROmBOjbEw-vvRmMihRTP8eg2-wWGYgTzT-dwKZEGZhRy25Q8Ps-mg0/s1600/download.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm Rus because of the Santa hat and rectangular shield.</td></tr>
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I’m also going to be working on some 54mm and 70mm figures I have had for a
long time and need painting. That also includes working on some craft
techniques I normally don’t use while painting for my table top miniatures. It’s
about time for me to get out of my comfort zone and try some new stuff there,
though I do not have the time or space for an airbrush which is what a lot of
people suggest. That’s just too rich for my blood and out of my economic class!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reaper Miniatures Sophie in 70mm - and me working on some blending techniques.</td></tr>
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I have an interest in some modern-type games – Black Ops being the main one. In
my lead mountain are modern bikers and SWAT figures so I suppose I can paint
those up and get a couple squads going there. I have the rule book too so there
is nothing holding me back. I also used some birthday money in May to buy
Project Z for some post-apocalypse zombie fun. I’ve opened that box but have
not painted any miniatures though I have some miniatures usable for the game
already done up from past games I have played in the genre.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A little tradition I picked up last year, based off my “if Guardian is allowing
me to use their space to play war games for free I best drop a $20 every time I
go there” plan, was to by a Reaper Bones Tiik warrior or baron every visit.
Well, that collection has built up and now I’ve got about a dozen fish-dudes
looking for a job… Dragon Rampant anyone?</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fish people all grabby with those hands.</td></tr>
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Gabe "Rollo"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03016277733204721238noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193090574316270389.post-81339154961965688322017-06-28T15:18:00.002-07:002017-06-28T15:26:49.282-07:00Rise of the Dungeon Master – the comic book about the birth of Dungeons and Dragons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As I have mentioned before in every form of communication I have ever had
(speaking, forums, e-mails, Facebook… whatever) I’ve been playing Dungeons and
Dragons, or some form of table top role playing game, since 1979. I had breaks
1989-1993 (US Navy with a few exceptions for 2ed Oriental Adventures and White
Wolf’s Vampire), 2008-2010 (re-setting my own social life), and 2014-2016
(historical wargaming took over and I became very particular in the kind of RPG
I wanted to play).<br />
<br />
Many times either to myself or in actual discussion I have pined-away on how
Dungeons and Dragons fits into my life, how important it was, and how that has
manifested into the man I am today and who my peer group is.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Dungeon-Master-Gygax-Creation/dp/1568585594/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1497913125&sr=8-1">Rise of the Dungeon Master: Gary Gygaxand the Creation of D&D</a></i> is a graphic novel (aka comic book in larger
format book form) just released in May 2017 that tells the tale, in comicbook
form, of D&D and Gygax. Though the title does not suggest it, Dave Arneson
(the other guy that created D&D) is credited and is given a good amount of
time in the book.<br />
<br />
“I already knew all this stuff…” might be an easy thing to say and I just said
it and it’s true. I never read it in one medium though, never got the whole
story from beginning to end. Also, my brain retains comic book art better then
written word alone. This book was right up my alley! I’m also positive that
there is contention out there regarding the veracity of the story, there always
is and I can safely assume there is some here, I mean, it’s part of the lore
itself.</div>
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Written by David Kushner (past credits include 3 books on video games) and art by Koren Shadmi who is a New Yorker cartoonist and has credits for books Abaddon, Mike's Place, and In the Flesh. The writing is straight forward but not dry. The art is simple and cartoonish and by that I mean in a good way. Not one image was a mystery and the story was very clear.</div>
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To be sure to not drop a spoiler, I will go no further into the history or
mythology of Gygax, Arneson, TSR, Dungeons and Dragons … all that stuff. It’s
interesting and I’ll let you find out about it yourself.<br />
<br />
I <i>will</i> type about how this book
provoked thoughts and how I felt after reading it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Reading along this graphic novel I could easily place myself
along the D&D timeline. This is a sense of my active part of this whole
phenomenon. This is something new to me as I was not able to parallel my own
course with the life of a product until later in life and having the internet.
Reading through Rise of the Dungeon Master I could point out where I come in and
what part I played in that. Gave me some of that emotional-investment so
important to movies or TV shows.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A very poignant panel in the comic was the symbol of
building blocks or corner stones, in this context corner stone of nerd-culture.
The panel had stone blocks stacked upon each other and written on them were:<br />
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<i>Star Trek<br />
Comic Books<br />
D&D</i><br />
Some may think this is silly, honestly I do, but it’s true. True like Bruce
Wayne is rich. Granted, there are plenty other corner stones of nerd-culture but
those 3 work and are some of the ones known to non-nerd-culture as well.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qaFnwnn4NLviYBJ93AukdiyvDNUEeWZON3YNghaFXSy08mm_W3pQ7i3ikCITMdP0PgD0BYGSkutBIYvpahUUG4A42Wxcj1u4js3DhNcFRo8YWzwLlwnUBL4LHEEaEhKIG0-wnKcWQ50/s1600/811E14mDR2L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1351" data-original-width="995" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qaFnwnn4NLviYBJ93AukdiyvDNUEeWZON3YNghaFXSy08mm_W3pQ7i3ikCITMdP0PgD0BYGSkutBIYvpahUUG4A42Wxcj1u4js3DhNcFRo8YWzwLlwnUBL4LHEEaEhKIG0-wnKcWQ50/s640/811E14mDR2L.jpg" width="468" /></a></div>
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The comic also delves into the Satanic-Panic surrounding D&D too. That affected
me greatly in my own life so I felt a bit of co-misery there as well. I’ve
heard multiple parents of friends of mine refer to my Mom as an “oriental
sorceress” and me bringing Dungeons and Dragons into their homes via playing with
their children as some plot. This is for real and not hyperbole. Grown fucking
Americans, with jobs and homes and votes, literally called my Mom a sorceress
and thought D&D was part of some big devil-plot. On top of that accusing me
of living in a fantasy world…<br />
<br />
… Anyways…<br />
<br />
Like when I see a documentary film about punk rock or metal, or when I answer
random Star Trek trivia question I have no idea how I know, or when I see an
element in a Marvel Movie that I was first exposed to in a comic book I read in
1978, I feel like part of history. I also feel like an old man but in this
context it’s in a good way. It’s good to feel like a part of something no
matter how small your part in it was; a part of something that regardless of
how dumb, innocent, or wasteful it was back then is part of an acknowledged
history today.<br />
<br />
Another interesting point made in the book was one small scene where Arneson is invited to play in another DM's game and he accepts. The DM then "kills" Arneson's character and starts to brag about it like he defeated some top gun. This little nuance I see at all the cons I have ever went to and it's a 50/50 mix of some old guy talking about showing up Gygax or Arneson. I always think, "Really? That's what your narrative is? That's your tale to share?"<br />
<br />
Most Friendly Local Comic Shops have it though I hear stock is running low. Check there first before buying off Amazon. Amazon is buying Whole Foods for 100 Jillion Dollars right now so they don't need <i>ALL YOUR DAMN MONEY</i>. Give some to a local brick and mortar. I 'aint got anything against Amazon and I buy from them a few times a month but still, go to a local comic shop and buy stuff from them if you can.<br />
<br />
*All images used in this post are ones used on the Amazon site for this comicbook<o:p></o:p></div>
Gabe "Rollo"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03016277733204721238noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193090574316270389.post-56352451919706888012017-06-21T12:26:00.002-07:002017-06-21T12:26:35.982-07:00My Name<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>Gabriel Nopodon Martin<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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That is my full name. I just realized that many people don’t
know that. My own family, the white part, probably does not know that – my Dad
being an exception. A few close friends and my wife does and I think that’s
about it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Nopodon is my middle name. It is Thai, my Mother gave it to
me. “NOH’ Pa’ Dohn” is the pronunciation that I have heard and always used. From
my research it stems from a favorite court poet from one of the older Siamese
Kings. This is conjecture though as I was never able to find a citation on that
and I am in full understanding that people like to put all kinds of meaning in
a name, we’re human and always looking for deeper meaning and connection to
something grand. The only current person of note with the name is Noppadon Pattama,
a rather infamous politician and lawyer connected to the deposed Thaskin. Right
now I’m pretty good with “It’s Thai and my Mom liked it.” Google is not a good
place to find info on non-Occidental things without drilling extremely deep.
Vikings all day long, Siamese history you need to bring a lantern and some good
shovels.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A lot of our identities are wound up in our names. This is
standard through time and cultures. All kinds of nuances there. I believe our
given names are important, the ones given at birth. No woo woo behind it, just
important. Exotic and special or not, our birth names is about as much as we “own”
so we need to cherish that. When we die it’s what is left of us.<br />
<br />
I did try to obfuscate my middle name in the past. No shame and nothing embarrassing,
it’s more about going down that tunnel. I tired of the conversation starting
around 10 years old. On top of that there was a very real chance of getting my
ass kicked for being a “boat people” in Vancouver, WA in the 70s and 80s. Viet
Nam was still stuck in some folks’ craw and SE Asian immigrant-hate made it
worse. I was lucky in that many identified me as Hispanic and it wasn’t as bad
for them at the time. I mean – I’m kind of brown and my “public” name was “Gabriel
Martin” and most white folks equate that to Hispanic. Google “Gabriel Martin”
and see how many Hispanics pop up. <br />
<br />
This, in and of itself, poses problems in a white dominated society which I
will not go to far into here. Anecdote though:<br />
I got pulled over on my bicycle coming home from work in 2006. I ran a yellow
light. The police officer, reading my name on my ID, said to me, “Do you know
why I stopped you Mr. Martinez?” His mind super-imposed an “ez” to the end of
my last name. He thought I was Hispanic. Though it clearly said MARTIN on my
license and he was obviously literate his mind turned it into MARTINEZ. The mind
is an incredible and flawed thing. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So I avoided saying or explaining my middle name. I still do
unless the floor is open for a discussion. The only real use of it in my adult
life was being in the monastery in Thailand in 2000. The monks there asked me what
my name was and I told them Gabriel Martin. They messed around with that some
and then I told them my Thai nickname was “Oowon” which means “fat boy”. They
laughed but one of the other monks was already called that. Then I remembered I
have a Thai name, Nopodon. So they called me Pra-Nopodon. So far it is the only
time in my life my middle name was used. Surprisingly it felt good to answer to
“Nopodon”. It felt good that there was no discussion or explanation, it was
what people used to refer to me, I answered to it, and it finally felt like it
was mine.<br />
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Another big belief I have is the organics of a name. In that
I mean your name must be given. Nick name, legal name, whatever – choosing your
name just don’t sit right with me. Sometimes you just have to but it’s always
best for others (as long as they are reasonable people for your situation) to
give you a name. I scoff at professional athletes that pick their own
nicknames. If we all did that we’d all have nicknames like “Howitzer Fist” or “Silent
Death”. It’s good for your ego to have a little bit of a self-deprecating name.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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This whole bit is not a ploy to get anyone to call me
Nopodon, it’s more an admission of my own faults and felling about my own name.
A lot of this is also a realization of my own past now that I am in my “middle
age”. About as much of a mid-life crisis I’ll get I suppose. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Gabe "Rollo"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03016277733204721238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193090574316270389.post-43424771804523447202017-06-05T13:43:00.000-07:002017-06-05T13:43:15.570-07:00Enfilade 2017<div class="MsoNormal">
Sorry, no pics. I forgot to pack a charging cord for my
iPhone so the 78% battery it had upon arrival to Olympia, WA was all the
battery I was getting that weekend and I needed it to get ahold of Gretchen if
I had to. Plus, my old-ass iPhone takes pretty crap-tacular pics anyways and I
need to figure out my camera game as my nice snap-and-shoot is also dead.</div>
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Enfilade 2017, Memorial Day Weekend, the 26th one, at the
newly remodeled Red Lion in Olympia, WA and my 3rd one. Of all the different
kinds of cons I have gone to this is my favorite one and the litmus on “<i>Cons I Like to Go To</i>”. Without going to
deep it’s the <i>only</i> con I like to go
to locally.<br />
<br />
For those not familiar Enfilade is focused on (historical) war gaming. There is
not much else to do and that’s great. The hotel itself is kind of secluded in
that there is not a shopping center or some such nearby. A short drive away you
have the capital area but it’s definitely not in walking distance and if you
are not familiar with Olympia it might be hard to explore. When you are at that
hotel that’s what you have, it’s bar and restaurant and all. The convention
itself has games to play, a few vendors to shop, and many friends to be social
with.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Your days are split into periods, each period has scheduled
games by volunteer game masters and you can choose from 30-40 games per period.
Each period is 4 hours long and you’ve an hour in between periods to:<br />
eat<br />
sign up for a game in the following period<br />
go pee<o:p></o:p></div>
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wash your hands and face<o:p></o:p></div>
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buy something from a vendor<o:p></o:p></div>
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It all ends about 10:00-11:00 at night, enough time to hit
up the hotel bar for a few rounds, get to bed at a non-rockstar hour, and get
some sleep before getting up in time for a shower, a complimentary breakfast,
and back in the gaming hall by 9am.<br />
<br />
Here is what I played and in order and what I thought and how I did:<br />
<br />
Friday afternoon: Siege of Haengju – Imjin War (sp) hosted by Dean Motoyama<br />
Great set up by Dean and the figures were really well done. We played with a
Hail Caesar ruleset. Activations sucked for us (Samurai) so our initial attack
stalled out to the point where it was round 8 and the rounds had to be
extended.<br />
<br />
Dean had a great set up at his table and his miniature painting is a sight to
behold. I hope to be able to paint like that someday. When there was a lull in
action I’d pick up a mini and stare at it.<br />
<br />
Friday evening: I hosted Fight for York<br />
Using Saga I based (loosely) a scenario off William the Conqueror’s Harrying of
the North in 1069. William and a retinue of Norman knights, archers, and
crossbows with his Breton ally take on an invading rebellious force of Edward
and his Scots allies and some Dane mercenaries. I had 4 seats and 4 sign ups
but only 3 of the sign ups showed some I played the 4th seat (as Normans). We got
murdered! Scots and Danes took the day!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Spencer and I headed up to
the bar and found Alyssa Fadden and Victor Cina and we got a round or 2
with them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Saturday Morning: Car Wars Invasion (!!1111!!) run by Bobby
Kalahan and Gary Bohon<br />
Used to play Car Wars when I was a kid, all the way through high school with
some of my gamer friends in the 80s. Played another game of it in 1996 or
there-abouts. Been wanting to play it the past few years and even got the newer
reproduction SJ Games put out a few years ago. I LOVE THIS GAME – sorry to
squee that one out like that but it’s true.<br />
<br />
Great set up on rubber floor mats and some walls, looked like a real Car War
arena. We had tricked out Hot Wheels cars and stat sheets to go with them.
Speed chart was on a huge dry-erase board and magnets. Great set up and how I
always envisioned a “grow-up” version of the game should look. <br />
<br />
I did not plan for this nor mean to do it but I even ended up winning the game
via victory points (earned for crashes, laps, speed, etc.). Even cooler was the
awesome trophies they gave out, mine being of ridiculous size and gaudiness. <br />
<br />
That said a fire has been lit up under me to do the same in Portland… that is
to run some Car Wars games in the future.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Saturday afternoon: Hastings 1066 by Gary Strombo<br />
Using a Lion Rampant ruleset, Gary set up a beautiful table with his custom
terrain. I think he had around 400 minis on the table that he painted. Because
I do the same thing, I noticed all his shields were hand painted also. <br />
<br />
It was a classic re-fight of the Battle of Hastings though the “big plan” for
us (I was on the Anglo Saxon side) was to hold off until we knew we had the
Normans in a rout. I was on the Saxon right flank representing Gyrth Godwinson.
The Normans hit the opposite flank pretty hard but the Normans opposite me
(Odo) got bogged down in the marshy land. I stayed my ground on the hill as
Norman archers got within range and did some damage to my shield wall. I REALLY
wanted to launch into the Normans and I have a feeling so did they as a unit of
Norman knights waited in the wings ready to charge in as soon as I came off
that hill and into Odo’s infantry. Brian, playing Harold Godwinson, advised me
a few times to not do so. I followed orders and we won the day – changing history!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Spencer and I took a dinner break in the Red Lion restaurant
where I had an oyster po’boy sandwich and a Fishtail Ale.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Neither of us were signed up for a game Saturday night. For
me it was because I ran out of reserved seats (I had 3 and used them for the
above games). Honestly, I surmised that after playing and running the first 4
periods I’d be a little tired by Saturday evening so would either like it “off”
or to play something easy and relaxing. Then I noticed (month ago) that Mike
Garcia was running a Battle of Kalka River game – Mongols vs. Rus … which is a
direction I plan to go soon with my collection. I was too late though as all
the reserved seats were full.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
My “Big Plan” was to sit in anyways. If there was a no-show I would fill in. If
not I would watch for a bit and then go hit the bar early. Mike was using Lion
Rampant and, since I was just standing around, asked if I wanted to help him
judge so I said “sure” since I kind of know the rules. First lesson learned … I
only “kind of” know the rules.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anyways it all worked out and everyone had a good game and
his figures and terrain looked great – even getting a best of award for the
Saturday night gaming period.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The night ended with a round of beers with Pat Lowiger –
“Beer with Pat” as I call it. He cut a little early to get some rest and I
stuck around until midnight with Vitor Cina and a few others.<br />
<br />
Sunday morning I went and got breakfast with Spencer after a short visit with
“Chief” Andy Doty. We then headed into the game hall for the members meeting
which was cool as Alyssa and Victor were announced new Enfilade Board Members,
taking the place of Dave and Lloyd. We then started to wrap things up as we
wanted to be checked out and on the road by 12:00 noon and we were.<br />
<br />
I also brought some extra minis sitting in my Lead Mountain to sell at the
Bring and Buy. Not a lot of stuff but I did sell some Varangians, shields, and
some other small bits and made $20! Not bad for stuff I wasn’t using. The $20
got spent at the concession stand … where I was getting apples for free (since
I was buying burgers for lunch … gotta get into some good habits and I
appreciated those apples).<br />
<br />
Shopping was light for me this year – nothing at the B&B, and picked up
some resin terrain pieces from Monday Knight Games and a Car Wars Arenas set.
Just under $50 spent there.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Overall another great convention and my 3rd one in a row. I
love these things and plan to keep going until I can’t or they stop. My only,
very general, critique is I wish there was more stuff around the Red Lion hotel
like a mall or a little entertainment district. The hotel is a little secluded,
by the courthouse and some small office buildings and apartment buildings, and
since I do not know my way around Olympia I don’t feel comfortable going out on
a Saturday night and trying to find things to do away from the hotel like get
dinner and a few drinks. This is mainly in an interest to get my wife to come
along and she is not a war gamer at all and there is absolutely nothing for a
non-war gamer to partake of while there. I guess that’s OK and all but I’d like
to offer my wife the opportunity to go sometime.<br />
<br />
Things I might do different next year:<br />
1) I plan to, maybe, not run a game next year. I’ve gone to 3 Enfilades and run
games 2 years and volunteered at the Bring and Buy for 1.<br />
2) I do plan to volunteer at the Bring and Buy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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3) Bringing food. Red Lion’s restaurant is fine and I liked
everything I ate. I even liked the burgers at concessions in the game hall.
It’s also the second most amount of money I spent after the room.<br />
4) I hope to get my shirt size down to XL by next year. This year I was at XXL
while last year I was an XXXL.<br />
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Gabe "Rollo"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03016277733204721238noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193090574316270389.post-67126143683997821002017-05-22T16:32:00.000-07:002017-05-24T15:32:21.134-07:00Youtube Channel Saga ThorsdayVia Studio Tomahawk forums I found <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-gb6LDfCTA">Wisco Horndog and his Saga Thorsday videos</a>. I have been playing Saga for over 3 years ... 4 years? ... and consider myself experienced. I'm not tooting my horn or anything but I've quite a few Saga games under my belt though I can always use more experience. On top of that I never felt very good at "figuring out" any rule set until I am running it for years (Dungeons and Dragons 3.x for example). Still, time in and reading other opinions about something is the combo I need to learn something. I used to suck at it, now I think I am an OK player and would not feel completely outclassed at a tournament.<br />
<br />
Most Saga videos, over the years, have been really basic; unboxings and tabletop reviews. Frankly I hate those kinds of reviews for anything. Nothing is more of a waste of time to me than a review where somebody videos a new and shiny item they just got in the mail and surmise things it could do.<br />
<br />
Where was Wisco Horndog (funny fuggin name) 3 years ago!?! Wow! This guy and his guests really do a good job of breaking things down, the Saga battle boards that is.<br />
<br />
That brings me to a point I'd like to make and an epiphany I had and have discussed face to face wit ha few others. First, as I have mentioned before, my first 2 games in the genre of Historical Wargames was All the King's Men (in 54mm) and then Saga. I got into other games later. I kind of dove into Historicals feet first and with little knowledge of the generations the hobby has been around and it's history, sacred cows, and traditions. I'm learning about the nuances of the hobby and it's culture as I type this here blog entry.<br />
<br />
Bare with me here...<br />
<br />
<i><b>Saga is not a historical wargame</b></i>. Please, take this statement as just that, a statement. I mean no offense, I also do not mean to attract haters of the game in some shark-frenzy.<br />
<br />
It's got historical trappings - Dark Ages, figures in nasal helms and hauberks with spears and shields. They are called Norman and Norse Gael and Anglo Saxons. They have specific boards that have abilities that are congruent to the mythology of the culture named. Pagan Rus are connected to the cold Russian steppes so have all kinds of winter abilities. Byzantines are the Eastern Romans and have a military system to match thus Saga board abilities that match that. The diaspora of Vikings is a fast-moving and aggressive force and their battle board replicates that rather well in my opinion.<br />
<br />
BUT ... it plays more like a typical War-Ham-Ma-Hordes game. It at least leans that way. It's "fiddly" and there are distinct tactics you should be playing depending on the war-band you are playing. Not being aggressive with Vikings? You'll fold real fast. Charging straight in with your Bretons? You'll probably get crushed.<br /><br />Further - <i><b>Saga is not a beer and pretzels game</b></i>. It kind of acts like one. Games are under 2 hours most of the time. Small-ish board and not a ton of terrain needed. Around 40 figures per side. Easy to get said figures as there is no exclusive line.<br /><br />BUT... there are objectives, figure removal, scores, you can pull an ability combo at the right time and change the course of the game so there is <u>some gaminess</u>. One can torque and tinker with a build to exploit certain rules if so inclined.<br />
<br />
To me, and in my small amount of experience in wargaming, that is not a beer and pretzel game like Lion Rampant can be. Like many other games I have not experienced can be. You can get a game in under 2 hours though, that's really easy for some experienced players.<br /><br />On that note, and to bring back around full circle, that's why I love Rodge "Wisco Horndog" and his Saga Thorsday videos. He tells you what the function of a specific Saga Battle Board is and unpacks it to it's core and, since he's a War-Ham-Ma-Hordes guy (and I assuming, I know very little about him really) he can break down Saga like that.<br /><br />If you are inexperienced I recommend his videos as he and his guests go over a war-band's battle board, some abilities gets a "JUICY" comment, and that indicates to you it's something you should be doing while playing. He boils it down much better than I could ever do I think.<br /><br />Brings me to the point regarding my discovery a few years ago about finding the "rice" to you battle board... the ability that only costs you a common or uncommon dice and you should load up every round (other than the ability almost all war bands has that increases your attack pool). Here is a partial list off the top of my head from my own experience:<br />Vikings - Ulr<br />Normans - <i>maybe</i> Gallop<br />Pagan Rus - Standing Like Bears<br />Norse Gaels and Bretons - not sure yet<br />Scots - Hold the Ground and Counter-Attack<br /><br />Why do it this way? It speeds up the game #1 (a complaint about Saga I have seen - people take a long time pondering the battle board allocating Saga dice). It also gives you a base tactic that all other tactics will play off of. This helps me focus myself and speeds up the game for me.<br /><br />Anyways, most of you are getting ready for Enfilade 2017 as I post this so I'll cut it here. If you like Saga give Saga Thorsday a good watch and, even if you are expereinced, you may learn a thing or 2. I sure did.<br /><br />See you at Enfilade. If not, have a good weekend, Memorial Day is for those that passed before us, and I hope to run into you soon.Gabe "Rollo"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03016277733204721238noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193090574316270389.post-3174004318063565312017-05-17T15:00:00.000-07:002017-05-17T22:32:48.883-07:00Shield and Spear – Portland Saga Tournament 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjciHUKdf0BgbnetXejX-0ctGL1ukiYYw7bRc7hxt-f0OGFjTgDJxuLOfQrio4X9pr7rQq4jWVc8iafodBJ_IJO7nZMxvhwHnHHubT4XVkrB1U9-VJ8EF2nlxE7Z94mqhmCegFIAqgdh0/s1600/730df0481d6fc94ad1db13ccb8999ff4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjciHUKdf0BgbnetXejX-0ctGL1ukiYYw7bRc7hxt-f0OGFjTgDJxuLOfQrio4X9pr7rQq4jWVc8iafodBJ_IJO7nZMxvhwHnHHubT4XVkrB1U9-VJ8EF2nlxE7Z94mqhmCegFIAqgdh0/s320/730df0481d6fc94ad1db13ccb8999ff4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In October 2017 I am hosting a Saga tournament. 11:00 –
6:00, Saturday October 14th, at Guardian Games in The Level Up room upstairs
above The Critical Sip.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Entry fee is a $5-$20 donation going to<a href="http://www.hornsforthehomeless.org/"> Horns for theHomeless</a>, a non-profit I have been working with this year. Also accepted are
new(ish) outdoor gear like socks and gloves, tents and tarps, backpacks and
sleeping bags.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.hornsforthehomeless.org/</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some tournament rules:</span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dark Ages, Crescent and Cross, Arthur and Aetius war bands allowed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bring 7 points for your war band; you will be playing 6
points per game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Scenario based score, 3-2-1 (win-draw-lose) scoring – no
slaughter points.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Swiss Bracket; tie-breaker will be strength of schedule.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Scenarios will be revealed day of tourney; all of them will
be from Core and Crescent and Cross books.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I will be playing if there is an odd number of players – I cannot
win anything but I will play my best.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This is the basics for now – I might have a painting contest and I am
working on prizes from local vendors or </span>individuals<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> only as I want to support
my local gaming suppliers.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
Since it’s still pre-Enfilade, no need to RSVP but I’d like that to happen.
Keep up with news and developments here and on Portland Historical Wargames
Facebook page.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Rosecity.Bondi/">https://www.facebook.com/groups/Rosecity.Bondi/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Also you will find this advertised on the Ambuscade! blog:<br /><a href="https://ambuscadeportland.blogspot.com/2017/05/save-date-shield-and-spear-saga.html">https://ambuscadeportland.blogspot.com/2017/05/save-date-shield-and-spear-saga.html</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I will also be handing out small handbills that look the same as the Ambuscade! post at Enfilade this year.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>Gabe "Rollo"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03016277733204721238noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193090574316270389.post-11393227409148298162017-05-10T16:44:00.003-07:002017-05-11T18:50:52.490-07:00Guardian Games<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.ggportland.com/">Guardian Games</a> is my Friendly Local Game Store (FLGS). I’m
lucky to live in a growing city that offers me a few choices like Red Castle in
SE Portland in Foster-Powell and Portland Game Store in N Portland on
Killingsworth, which interestingly enough are both located in neighborhoods I
lived in the past… and if I still lived there they would be where you found me
all the time.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUC7Xi6_fPtY-knhLd7gYTXOplmIkn3GQBGWPmGBYdcMqRZogyzgkdknzh_cCHuQpEFPY9Soi2ciyazEsUPUqhLuYwf5_eBX6kGKXzxCBB5hzwKO8OSKrrni0pT0hyZnmom15Gu2oBKJo/s1600/ErinBerzelPhotography_5789-300x200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUC7Xi6_fPtY-knhLd7gYTXOplmIkn3GQBGWPmGBYdcMqRZogyzgkdknzh_cCHuQpEFPY9Soi2ciyazEsUPUqhLuYwf5_eBX6kGKXzxCBB5hzwKO8OSKrrni0pT0hyZnmom15Gu2oBKJo/s1600/ErinBerzelPhotography_5789-300x200.jpg" /></a></div>
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Alas, Guardian is HUGE comparably. They also have some historical products on
the shelves though they have a bit of almost anything I could ever want
gaming-wise: Historical miniatures, Osprey books, paint and craft supplies, fantasy
and sci-fi miniatures, any boardgame I could ever dream of, Dungeons and
Dragons and pretty much any other RPG, even some video games for my PS4. The
one thing they offer that I partake of mostly is a gaming space. Red Castle and
Portland Game Store do too but Guardian has, like product, a huge range.</div>
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The reason why this is important to me is that I live, with my small family, in
a small apartment. We do not have the space for me to run an RPG or wargame.
One goal I have in life is to have a home that has a garage/basement/extra room/backyard
I can put a nice shed in with a big table and shelves for gaming.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Guardian’s space offers me:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->A walk-in table for any kind of pick-up game,
let’s say on a Wednesday night I want to play Tanks with Jeff… we’d just go
meet at Guardian.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Reservations for any small event, either in the
general area or in The Critical Sip where beer can be bought. This is typically
how we do Portland Historical Wargaming monthly games. It’s free.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->I can also reserve a game room, from 4 people to
40 people. These do cost money. Ambuscade and my Saga tournaments are usually
up in the Level-Up room that has a capacity of 60 people (though that would be
tight).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Like I mention above, you can buy a beer in <a href="http://www.ggportland.com/critical-sip/">The Critical Sip</a>. You can also buy
snacks of all kinds, wine, cider, mead, Slime Jims, and a Coke. On top of that
many places will deliver food there and on weekends a burrito truck will park
in the parking lot. If that does not suit you there are many restaurants within
walking distance, Bunk Sandwiches being one of my favorites.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A little bit about them selling beer:<br />
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Here in Oregon our alcohol sales (and now cannabis) is
regulated by a state agency called the Oregon Liquor Control Commission aka
OLCC. Not to get too much into how I feel about them the OLCC is very strict
and complicated. To sell beer you must open yourselves to regulation by the
OLCC. Typically this is done by bars and restaurants and convenience stores.
Other places could sell beer too but it is just too much of a hassle for a
place to sell beer if selling that beer is not your focus … like a game store.<br />
<br />
I worked as a bouncer at many places over the years, almost all of those place
selling alcohol thus under the scrutiny of the OLCC. Further, in the late 00s security
at establishments licensed to sell alcohol had to also get an OLCC card like a
bartender would. I’m not sure if that was legally mandated or just suggested.
One of the things I was constantly on the lookout for was OLCC agents setting
up stings and sending in people with fake IDs or getting served without showing
an ID, there being no “you look old enough” law. The law, as I knew it since
the early 00s was that a person old enough to drink in an establishment must have
satisfactory proof of age to do so… ID. You can look like fucking Santa Claus
and if an OLCC agent sees you in a bar and you do not have ID the bar gets
fined. Last I checked it was $750. <br />
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So that’s why old guys get carded all the time in The Critical Sip, where they
sell beer and cider. It’s also why you can’t bring in your own water bottles or
other drinks. It’s not just for them to be able to maximize profit but also it’s
the law that, if broken, could cost them $1000.
Being as how beer sales is more a friendly service than a focus of
business one should kindly abide by such rules. It’s not them, it’s the OLCC.</div>
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The Level Up room and other rooms upstairs, since you have to go through the
Critical Sip to get to them, is also under the umbrella of OLCC service rules.
That is why, when you come to one of my Saga Tournaments, I will offer everyone
a bottle of water that I bought from Guardian.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
For those that do not know the lay out of Guardian here is a <a href="https://ambuscadeportland.blogspot.com/2017/05/where-exactly-is-level-up.html">link to Spencer's Ambuscade</a> blog where he just put up some directions and diagrams. I'll copy and past those diagrams here too:<br />
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I also have some very poor pictures of the actual room but I'm going to take some better ones next week, I had reserved a large table in Critical Sip for some pre-Enfilade Saga games and I plan to run up stairs to get a few panoramic shots of Level Up Room for Ambuscade blog.<br />
<br />
And to advertise it on my own blog - <b><i>Shield and Spear - Portland Saga Tournament</i></b>, will be held in The Level Up October 14th, 2017. Start painting that Dark Age Irish army now! More details to follow of course. Stay tuned on this blog for that. </div>
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Gabe "Rollo"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03016277733204721238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193090574316270389.post-59844273331248424152017-04-17T21:41:00.003-07:002017-04-17T21:41:27.360-07:00Hastings - Bayeux Tapestry plastic flats from RussiaThese were brought to my attention by Spencer last month. I went ahead and ordered a box (reasonable price and shipping) from the dealer in Russia via Ebay.<br /><br />54mm plastic flat figures based off designs on the Bayeux Tapestry's depiction of Hastings in 1066. A novelty for sure but, now that I have them, maybe not such a novelty any more.<br /><br />Got them today and here is the opening!<br />
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Box came in a padded envelope. Shipping was 5 weeks but ... y'know. I did check up on it last week and discovered there was a shipping number. Opened envelope and there was this nice box with not a lick of English on it. Kind of cool! Scale is apparent in pic.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Open it up like an ancient treasure chest full of treasure!</div>
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<br />
Figures are in a thin zip lock plastic bag.<br />
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<br />
A total of 11 figures in the box. No multiple poses, all of them were different. The pack is billed as "King Harold's Army".<br />
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<br />
I pulled 4 of them for a close up.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hmqd4MFlIzGP3JoS1bTJopSTI-tm0l1uXRRm4sub2mhFucjS2bLpnm5K7fNzQlYkh9l7-IMSpjXOcLnDbpUx6TAbxulmzXzaJEgNttwe2i0PaFYnZett73D9pK0zMsO8Ui90gt4OFPM/s1600/IMG_1968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hmqd4MFlIzGP3JoS1bTJopSTI-tm0l1uXRRm4sub2mhFucjS2bLpnm5K7fNzQlYkh9l7-IMSpjXOcLnDbpUx6TAbxulmzXzaJEgNttwe2i0PaFYnZett73D9pK0zMsO8Ui90gt4OFPM/s320/IMG_1968.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />They are molded with "opposite" sides? Is that what it's called? Like anatomically correct. Left arms are left arms, right arms are right... etc.<br /><br />These things are pretty cool and I plan to get more after Enfilade. They also make mounted Normans. I'll even do some kind of game with them.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bayeux-Tapestry-Army-of-King-Harold-Hastings-1066-Plastic-flat-toy-soldiers/152477916804?_trksid=p2047675.c100012.m1985&_trkparms=aid%3D777003%26algo%3DDISCL.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D40130%26meid%3Daba913deebd64bea8c19972c3d4f256c%26pid%3D100012%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D252805221230">Here is a link to the seller on Ebay.</a><br />Gabe "Rollo"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03016277733204721238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193090574316270389.post-7620356628428010692017-03-30T13:31:00.001-07:002017-03-30T13:31:20.424-07:00The Walking Dead – Watching Out of Loyalty<div class="MsoNormal">
Coming up on the season 7 finale this Sunday and hoping for
90 minutes of explosions and running and gunning and pacts being made and
heroics and stuff. It won’t happen and I accept it. I don’t like it but it is
what it is and that’s how it’s going to be.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t hate the show, it’s the only show I regularly watch
now. I’m going through an “old cranky man” phase and nothing on TV really
excites me. My mid-life crisis (I’m turning 46 soon) consists of wanting to
learn to do (craft) more things, Viking stuff, losing 100 pounds and getting
fit, rationally being able to protect my family, table-top (miniature war toy
soldier) gaming, collecting mess kits from military surplus, and getting back
out into the woods and camping. Then I want to get a record player and some
vinyl.</div>
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<br />
<br />
I still really want to buy a house too but that’s even bigger than my mid-life
crisis. Hey… at least I’m not freaking out over red sports cars and 24 year old
women and cocaine. I think the above list is reasonable.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Sitting down and burning up 6-8 hours a sitting bingeing some
TV show is just not in my wheelhouse anymore. It was but not now. I also just
finished (last year) the book The Revolution Was Televised. It is about the
Golden Age of TV and, though it’s purpose is not to do so, it turned me off
(tuned me out of?) TV today … satisfied I was there for the Golden Age that
just happened a few years back.<br />
<br />
I saw Deadwood, Breaking Bad, Sopranos, The Shield, The Wire, Battlestar Galactica,
and a few other shows on the Golden Age list and I was satisfied. Maybe I was
spoiled too. I feel good about those shows and proud that I chose to watch them
as they aired (mostly). I just really think the Golden Age is over and the new “norm”
is kind of played and lame.</div>
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<br />
I’m like a TV hipster!!<br />
“I liked The Wire before it became popular…”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
So, my problem with AMC’s The Walking Dead is many faceted
and a lot of it is my own fault:<br />
1) I love the comic book and I will never be able to not compare the two. <br />
2) The pace is slow. There is too much time spent on exposition.<br />
3) Too much time is spent on showing us emotional impacts of events.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
4) I feel pandered too. As someone once told me, “They are
opening up your head and dumping into it.”. Tropes are being used to illicit
canned emotional responses.<br /><br />At least there has been less sweaty and bloody Rick Grimes.</div>
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<br />
<br />
I’m still going to watch it though. I still like it. Fear The Walking Dead too
but I’m not too invested in that. At least it is not 100% tedious to me like
Game of Thrones was, and that is most likely due to the fact I identify as a
TWD fanboy and not a GoT fanboy.<br />
<br />
I do still have some TV guilty pleasures though – the ABC family comedies. Thirty
minutes long and funny, I watch Black’ish, Fresh Off the Boat, and Goldbergs.
As for TWD… I still REALLY love the comic books and still subscribe to them and
buy an occasional hardcover trade for my bookshelf.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Gabe "Rollo"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03016277733204721238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193090574316270389.post-59856636816851602662017-03-27T12:12:00.001-07:002017-03-27T12:12:45.316-07:00Sea Stories - Flying Fish and Sea Sick<div class="MsoNormal">
When I was a little kid my Father or Grandma or someone had
bought me a book about dinosaurs. I'm not sure if it was a used book or not, I
remember it had crayon scribbles in it and one of the pages was torn. Still, it
had color pictures of dinosaurs in it. My favorite was this 2 page spread of
prehistoric creatures of the sea. It had big toothy things with long tails,
long-necked Loch Ness dinos, giant fish eating smaller fish, a Megaladon, and
up at the top of the page were flying fish.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
My 5 year old brain was blown thinking that a billion years
ago there were fish that could fly.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fast forward to April 1990, I had been on the St. Louis for
a few weeks and we were rigging up to go out to sea and sail up to Yokosuka
Japan. A three day trip at most. I got a little drunk the night before and
handled my first sea and anchor detail well. I was feeling a bit hung over
though. I had a watch that night, my first at sea watch, and did not feel well
after supper. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next morning a storm brewed up and the seas became rough.
Found out my "hangover" was actually sea-sickness. Sea-sick is
horrible. This is how I felt:<br />
You are on a carnival ride. You have been drinking a little bit and you just
ate a bunch of candy, some corndogs, and a pile of elephant ears or Churros.
The ride is really spin-ny and you just gandered upon a guy vomiting into a
bucket of greasy pork chops and cigarette butts. You can smell that too. Then
you notice you stepped in dog doodoo and it’s all over your shoe. You put your
hand in spit.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That sick feeling? It'll go away when you get off the ride,
puke, and/or give it some time. You can also move away from the puke, wash your
hand of the spit, and take off your doodoo shoe.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not on a ship. There is no getting off that ride or taking
off the doodoo shoe. You also cannot just sit for a second, you've got to work.
The sea sickness gets worse too. Like really bad hours into it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I trudged through my day, other sailors either making fun of
me or concerned. I skipped breakfast and lunch but I had a Chief order me to
eat supper which I did. I ate some chili mac, a piece of bread, and a cup of
red drink affectionately known as "bug juice". I finished and stepped
out to the weather decks with my friend Kevin to get some air and a last bit of
sunlight.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I lost it all, all that food. I leaned over the side and
heaved. Some other Chief was nearby and he came to see if I was OK. My head is
over the edge and I'm just letting it all flow out including the red bug juice.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReRxqL-alskeBfGzMIIoSw2Qm8lwzxnElyM0PCbCVyyZ7GFbsEW8u6CSMlUgoWEwb4Gno6gkWl3HjTsh0pkPOqZiYaW0N7wXaYq_F3zxkU2iA4zpKsWTvi9QkafaU0nEZKLICsb93LCM/s1600/bugjuice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReRxqL-alskeBfGzMIIoSw2Qm8lwzxnElyM0PCbCVyyZ7GFbsEW8u6CSMlUgoWEwb4Gno6gkWl3HjTsh0pkPOqZiYaW0N7wXaYq_F3zxkU2iA4zpKsWTvi9QkafaU0nEZKLICsb93LCM/s320/bugjuice.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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"Oh shit, you're puking blood!!??" yelled the
chief.</div>
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"No, that's just red bug juice chief." Kevin told him. <br />
"Oh, OK. Make sure he cleans this shit up then." The Chief replied.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Just then, as my head was over the side of the ship and
about 35 feet up from the ocean, a school of flying fish, hundreds of them,
erupted from the wake of the St. Lou and flew away for about 30-40 yards. Then
they dove back into the deep.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBv3LeiW6pfdQtNvtFpjDmQsT_W8W0nl6ywoB2-GOFNnjS96BjV9zPXn7SV0tzQQ1fn0fSKNa5A4G7zJmsfg_AxC5eROelCkBz41pjMEH7F5-D1N-94MQYpMASXSMTCVRMQTRfyhpge4E/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBv3LeiW6pfdQtNvtFpjDmQsT_W8W0nl6ywoB2-GOFNnjS96BjV9zPXn7SV0tzQQ1fn0fSKNa5A4G7zJmsfg_AxC5eROelCkBz41pjMEH7F5-D1N-94MQYpMASXSMTCVRMQTRfyhpge4E/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
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I choked out, "Whoa! Flying Fish! **yerch**".</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Kevin and Chief look back at me, "Yeah, lots of them
out here."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me, "I thought they were extinct."<br />
Chief, "No you idiot… there's millions of them out here." And he
walked away laughing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJq2kAYDFa0yijzDc0-saQSsLgTwF9h__s67ap56hR1bVSlSKNHt1e1zE389QV9ivUns07ausQQZrFxa-1e5falZpwuex4Ddfd8f3oUrGF3KZ0lFK4ju9LglSOvNwTTmGC_OeJeE1dLU/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJq2kAYDFa0yijzDc0-saQSsLgTwF9h__s67ap56hR1bVSlSKNHt1e1zE389QV9ivUns07ausQQZrFxa-1e5falZpwuex4Ddfd8f3oUrGF3KZ0lFK4ju9LglSOvNwTTmGC_OeJeE1dLU/s1600/download.jpg" /></a></div>
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I dry heaved a few more times and this is how I learned that
flying fish were not extinct. Little did I know this was a beginning of my
love/hate relationship with these little fuckers. They would enjoy dying in
places I would have to clean them on the weather decks.<br />
<br />This was also the last time I got sea sick while in the Navy. I was fine the
next day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Gabe "Rollo"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03016277733204721238noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193090574316270389.post-37831479206890602812017-03-17T10:55:00.002-07:002017-03-17T10:55:25.357-07:00Bouncer Story - Saint Patrick's Day<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>Saint Patrick’s Day Memories:<br />
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It was a while ago, 2005 or 2006. I was single and dating a
lot. I met a woman on Craigslist and we decided to meet for a few drinks and
get to know each other. She said she liked dive bars so I suggested we meet at
The ‘Vern for a few beers on a Thursday or something. <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
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Little did either of us know that we agreed to meet at The ‘Vern
on Saint Patrick’s Day night.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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First, for the non-native Portlanders, The ‘Vern is a
classic dive bar. More the real kind and “Old Portland” than what you see
today. It was a punk rock hang out, whatever that means, for a while. It’s not
actually called The ‘Vern, it’s real name is “Dave’s Tavern” or something but
the TA of TAVERN burned out decades ago and it never got fixed so it’s just
called the ‘Vern now. I think it became “punk rock” because the jukebox was
decidedly punk over anything else. The place was kept up just enough to keep it
legal and even then… <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Secondly, I’m not a St. Patty’s day guy. Thought I was but I’m
not even a lick of Irish, nor Christian, nor do I care for that stuff. If anything
my white side is Scandi/Norman, and if any of my line comes from some Celtic
lands it’s as a conqueror and not a native. On top of that I see St. Patty’s as
an excuse for people to be drunk dickheads. I will assume responsibility for
that though as I am the one hanging around drunk dickheads. I’ve solved the
problem by not being a drunk anymore, nor being a dickhead tough guy, or even
going out to invite such shit into my life.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
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So there I am sitting at a table on a first date with some
woman I had never met before at the Vern listening to some Dropkick Murphy’s on
St. Patty’s day over some PBRs. Her name was Angie and she was pretty and new
to Portland and getting out and meeting people. I liked her but I knew right
off she was not into me and my kind and I called it right off to make things
more comfortable for us. She wanted to hang though and we were being friendly
towards each other and I was answering her questions about Portland.<br />
<br />
The bartender is a buddy of mine and he’s doing his duty (on top of serving on
St. Patty’s day) of making me look cool in front of a lady and spotting me PBRs
and saying cool shit about me. <br />
<br />
Everyone is being friendly when a group of “St. Patty Day revelers” loudly
walks in and is disruptive. They are lead by a “I’m from fuggin New Yowk!” guy
who can’t stop spitting. Those guys and Texans are the same. Texans spit on the
floor less though.<br />
<br />
Some other regulars are at the Vern and the bartender buddy gives me and some
of the other regulars The Look. The, “I’ve hooked you up and it’s payback time.”
Look. Apparently we’re going to get in a fight with the rowdies. The New York
rowdies get louder and tougher. The bartender asks them to tone it down some
and this is taken as a great offense and they get more asshole-ish. I’m keyed up
and am sure I’m on the floor soon. I do my shot and tell Angie, “Hey, this is
going to get stupid. Stay out of the way OK? Actually, you might want to leave.”<br />
<br />
“Oh shit!” she says, “are you going to kick those guys out?” Angie asks.<br />
<br />
“I’m not sure… I’m waiting…” then New Yawk Spit Dude throws a punch at one of
the regulars that was too close and squared off. <br />
<br />
Bartender jumps in and so do some of the other regulars and it goes south right
off. I wait for an opportunity to grab a dude and throw them out and it comes
and I do. Others follow. I end up squared off with New Yawk Spit Guy and we
tussle and head outside. <br />
<br />
“I’m from fuggin New Yawk Bro!” was his battle cry. We get outside and are
locked together like 2 fat bears fighting over mating rights. Somehow I trip
him up and he falls down and I back off to make sure none of his buddies are
closing on me. New Yawk Spit Guy tries to get up but some other Vern regular
runs up and kicks his head and knocks him the fuck out. He then takes off
because New Yawk Spit is now convulsing on the sidewalk doing the “I have no
idea I’m KOed” thing that freaks some people out. His buddies gather around him
and are now calling 911 on cell phones. I back off as I know it’s cops time.
Angie is walking down the street on her phone, that was the last time I saw
her.<br />
<br />
I thought I’d get busted for this one but plenty of people saw the one guy that
kicked New Yawk Spit in the head and KOed him. I did not know him. I was
scrutinized by cops and told to go home. New Yawk Spit got hauled off in an
ambulance and threats of suing everyone were made. Sympathy and empathy aside –
fuck that guy.<o:p></o:p></div>
Gabe "Rollo"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03016277733204721238noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193090574316270389.post-55074886674103677622017-03-14T13:04:00.001-07:002017-03-14T13:04:26.869-07:00Bretons and Enfilade 2017<div class="MsoNormal">
On my bench now are Bretons (mainly for Saga). I started
work on them a month ago and putting out about 4 figures a week, all mounted of
course as that’s the “flavor” of the figures; So more like 8 figures a week if
you break up horse and rider.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzFNfUWJg_I2UD3YrM6CPxExKgyHKRdyO4Ltq-0FHPRcTqJ_R95GNQnWKuX_sTaqF9JdLBTOlLYqqADDX87vavv376CGmCPcVn2Cvvb3kXz_hP0kLfkKnpGuEZa22Geh2YlobYq0OcqlU/s1600/france.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzFNfUWJg_I2UD3YrM6CPxExKgyHKRdyO4Ltq-0FHPRcTqJ_R95GNQnWKuX_sTaqF9JdLBTOlLYqqADDX87vavv376CGmCPcVn2Cvvb3kXz_hP0kLfkKnpGuEZa22Geh2YlobYq0OcqlU/s320/france.png" width="319" /></a></div>
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Historically Bretons are people from Brittany in what is now
western France. They migrated from Briton (Wales and Cornwall) during the
migration period and settled there and in Galacia (northern Spain). They kept
up their Celtic lineage and a nation grew.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJACBNbtk1CoJ_aSb92eTzLwlW0lYrpBzpHcydguBtGfL8lDjulOA4e3Il76cTvHXI1NZD-94RSDmP-iM2Jf82lklZwjamh8JZLRNL1UbJHZes_nygqm64dXI36BT2PTV7RPKxiSdiJU/s1600/9ac11a4de93425f0ca47b1f26a835789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJACBNbtk1CoJ_aSb92eTzLwlW0lYrpBzpHcydguBtGfL8lDjulOA4e3Il76cTvHXI1NZD-94RSDmP-iM2Jf82lklZwjamh8JZLRNL1UbJHZes_nygqm64dXI36BT2PTV7RPKxiSdiJU/s320/9ac11a4de93425f0ca47b1f26a835789.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Their “flavor” in Saga is mounted javelin throwing troops.
Their Saga Battle Board supports this. Right off the bat you’ve got mounted
troops with range capability and special tactics that boost that with some hit
and run type special moves thrown in for even more flavor. The range (mounted
move of L and shooting attack of M) coupled with some guerrilla tactics every
now and then gives them good flavor. The big counter to that is their lower
armor.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfeIjRuRUKRT4GBqgdTkTiMOzHPwVgG_IuHRM6iiE3kMMxEXQNNONtuLYXi-t-vcT6xJIxPP8GRdLJKkU0ZUlwre89TL9PN52fMM_vU1RqO-RjluS35SgVfrwYTMggmKEbCU0QYLsdv4/s1600/s-l500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfeIjRuRUKRT4GBqgdTkTiMOzHPwVgG_IuHRM6iiE3kMMxEXQNNONtuLYXi-t-vcT6xJIxPP8GRdLJKkU0ZUlwre89TL9PN52fMM_vU1RqO-RjluS35SgVfrwYTMggmKEbCU0QYLsdv4/s320/s-l500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgySqFWXteIk5XYKEjVHLQgM8ruR8aoRq-ELIQSnYpBiT1kgLnf83v4UzkXIJt6xL8lRCvWQhjRE_oOZutj76Q1z1YY2g5DKh2-73B9jDjlAim4WIZKsN9Cc_5gd-xwnYNs38j8Zkg1sI/s1600/P1020569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgySqFWXteIk5XYKEjVHLQgM8ruR8aoRq-ELIQSnYpBiT1kgLnf83v4UzkXIJt6xL8lRCvWQhjRE_oOZutj76Q1z1YY2g5DKh2-73B9jDjlAim4WIZKsN9Cc_5gd-xwnYNs38j8Zkg1sI/s320/P1020569.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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My interest in them is mainly due to my interest in Normans
(their neighbors to the east) and the relationship between the two. Seems most
of the time they were at each other’s throats and then in 1066 William brought
Rufus with him to England and the Bretons (re)established themselves in Briton
after some notable action at Hastings.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-upQFbBtLXeSc3yRqXQ5s5f-XLBtOb16zooZVxodOfV2tXXqocX7Ozf16m5dyKG2UZTuTQPKzJ-JSLAv3EFoSfKArSS0lAMeB3sNHFTvvcqYbTDuePBy2Vw_wu3t62wTNr32Rw3Xkj-E/s1600/2359822917_824b486a90_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-upQFbBtLXeSc3yRqXQ5s5f-XLBtOb16zooZVxodOfV2tXXqocX7Ozf16m5dyKG2UZTuTQPKzJ-JSLAv3EFoSfKArSS0lAMeB3sNHFTvvcqYbTDuePBy2Vw_wu3t62wTNr32Rw3Xkj-E/s320/2359822917_824b486a90_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRC5_v7fFKkYI6mAN4B_3AAy8lPIemxpVepulOrI57FWlLF54zRJryfTT3iZ8YjR-vVyyH26Ca6I8dnm_6IPQ3FUjoujVSoQo-ikEtVZbQeastgcq8Fhju2jZB1WabxhT-1juskA7cVEM/s1600/cavalry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRC5_v7fFKkYI6mAN4B_3AAy8lPIemxpVepulOrI57FWlLF54zRJryfTT3iZ8YjR-vVyyH26Ca6I8dnm_6IPQ3FUjoujVSoQo-ikEtVZbQeastgcq8Fhju2jZB1WabxhT-1juskA7cVEM/s320/cavalry.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Also piquing my interest was to run, yet another, Saga warband. Being a
quasi-completionist I wanted to have a faction or 2 for every book in the Saga
Dark Ages world. Saga Core I have Vikings and Normans. Saga Varjazi and
Basileus I have the infamous Pagan Rus. Saga Raven’s Shadow I have Norse Gaels.
Saga Northern Fury I have Scots and will soon have Bretons. That’s how much I
like the game!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Further, I can combine my Breton and Norman collections into
larger armies for other games I am interested in like Lion Rampant or Hail
Caesar. I can also do so with my Vikings and Norse Gaels and Scots. Pagan Rus
figures are a bit distinctive in both sculpt and bases (snow) so,
aesthetically, not the best to mix with. I am contemplating some future
projects with Mongols though so I can get into Medieval era Rus…<o:p></o:p></div>
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On my work bench, currently, are the first 4 of 16 Warriors
(or Soldiers as they are denoted on the Battle Board). To speed things up I am
doing the 16 figures in only 2 major colors and all the horses will be
base-coated in Army Painter’s leather brown primer. The figures are all
Gripping Beast thus all metal. I like the “pill” shaped 2” x 1” bases but I
have been moving to multi-basing some figures but that is another blog post
altogether.</div>
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<br />
My deadline (we all need deadlines right?) is end of May, Enfilade. I have
volunteered to host a fun little game Friday night called “Fight for York”
based off the 1069 Harrying of the North by William the Conqueror. Historically
there was not much of a battle, probably a lot of little skirmishes with one
side being over-powered compared to the other. It all culminated into some
pretty actions on the part of the Normans though a lot of evidence currently
are indicting that William’s harrying was not as bad as initially thought.
After all that William placed his friend (and cousin?) Alain Rufus, Big Breton
Guy In Charge, as the Duke of York or something like that. He then became very
rich and pretty powerful.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhNHwlIM1f54ydMMkPyUf9Aw8gpG630b6C063pzPJ1LV_pBV-4I4fcIqfQ7msSah18W56Jwm8oALs5szRVO4HRANvNDheMVNrsJCYRYyNviiy2I_KPi0qWe7CYVEPazypbq4IWRaPyxE/s1600/Alan-Rufus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhNHwlIM1f54ydMMkPyUf9Aw8gpG630b6C063pzPJ1LV_pBV-4I4fcIqfQ7msSah18W56Jwm8oALs5szRVO4HRANvNDheMVNrsJCYRYyNviiy2I_KPi0qWe7CYVEPazypbq4IWRaPyxE/s320/Alan-Rufus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My Big Plan is to play a small battle between William and
his Norman retinue of knights and archers with his Breton allies. They will be
tussling over a chapel that is just outside York against Svein and a group of
invading Danes (Vikings) and their Scottish allies. It will be for 4 players
and I am providing everything but the skills and gamesmanship.</div>
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<br />I reserved my room at the Red Lion Olympia, after my annual tripping over the difficulties of reserving rooms on line and then being advised by many to call it in. I've also signed up for a few games on the PEL but am holding out for a few periods though the longer I do that the more the games I'm interested in are filling up.<br /><br />Hope to see some of you there and hope to have a beer with you Saturday night if you are so inclined.<o:p></o:p></div>
Gabe "Rollo"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03016277733204721238noreply@blogger.com4