Tears From The Front: May 2019

This is for my war gaming and Role Playing exploits, settings include SF worlds, fantasy lands and Post-Apocalypse vistas, with a dash of historical goodness. It is a mix of solo and group game play. Commercial and D.I.Y. terrain making are also included in the Blog, with a few reviews of figures, TV shows and films. I support Green Climate Change Policies. A big round of applause for our emergency services and all those who are working, "Smashed it" for everybody staying in. Black Lives Matter.

Friday, 31 May 2019

Artwork - Nebulosity

Hi all,
Here's another one of my art projects, "Nebulosity".

Hopefully it will not be too long before astronauts of all nations are back on the moon to stay.

Regards all,

Ivor Cogdell

Artwork - Eagle Nebula 1

Hi all,
Here is the second of my artworks.

A special thanks to NASA and Hubble Space Telescope for all the enjoyment they have given us over the years.

Enjoy,

Ivor Cogdell

Artwork - The Warrior.

Hi folks,

I thought I would put some of my fantasy artwork on here to look at.

This was a watercolour piece completed 19 May 2008.

Ivor Cogdell

Monday, 27 May 2019

Notice Board 2 - Update 4

Hi all,
Larna, one of our Circle Battlegroup GM's was kind enough to give out some 15 mm figures that she had spare at the club last week and it encouraged me to treat myself to some Dwarf figures from Pendraken Miniatures to go with them, along with birthday pressies, Barbarians for Martin and Romans for Richard.
I have not tried painting at that scale yet, but once done I will pop them on here.

Any links or tips for painting at 15 or 6 mm, Please drop me a note in the comments section.

I found How I paint things -15 mm and 15 mm fantasy figures.

For instance, using models from one genre to another, e.g. 15 mm Pendraken Miniatures "Alien Bugs" as D and D "Carrion Crawlers" if your carrion crawler order is stuck in the post or "holodeck Simulations" - your modern characters in Fantasy / Historical locations.

Blog Maintenance Note: I have just added links and a quick addition to the Aftermath, to my Project Z posts and added a new section of "Art". These are some of the fantasy and science fiction images I have done over the years, in watercolour and acrylic. My work is not up to Alan Bean standard, but I enjoy doing it.

Terrain - I updated my "4Ground Ruined house corner type3", adding links to the various parts and where it finally appeared in a game.

On the slightly different topic of Role Playing Games, which often uses table top models, so I'm not too far off base. I want to give a Shoutout to Johnn Four and his roleplayingtips.com/blog/ He has lots of tips and freebies for the overworked GM, such as a free NPC tracker.

Another game / tool for the GM is "How to host a Dungeon" (C) 2008 by Tony Dowler.

Regards all,

Ivor Cogdell

Project Z Battle Report 3 - Campaign Pt.1

Hey folks,
I had another scrap over at Martin's place with our mate Richard. The table was set out for Project Z - Zombie Apocalypse Battle Report 3.

Project Z pt 1 - The Bunker.
Project Z pt 2 - The Wilds.

This time we are starting a campaign.

Ivor was sporting the Female Survivors again, Richard was Grooving On Down with the Biker Gang and Martin was shambling along with the Zombies.

The objective was to search the tavern. There are also circular "Loot Tokens" on the table. That's the good news, the bad news is that there are also four "Spawn Locations" to add d6 Zombies at the end of each turn. (Shown as dotted circles on the table).

Turn 1

Ivor's Female Survivors, coming on the table at the South East. (Random Roll by Martin).

Richard's Biker Gang. Coming on the table at the East. (Again Random edge rolled by Martin).

Game note : If the biker gang kill every body else on the table (instead of the zombies) they get all of the loot.

The immediate threat area for the Ladies. Spawn point just above the centre. Bikers to the NE.

The Inn objective on the other side of the river. Spawn Points in the wood and to the right of the Inn.

Richard and Martin.

Ivor (At the 3D Cinema).

The North East Ruin, Biker Guys to East. Spawn Point just below ruin.

The Ladies move towards the nearest Zombie Group.

Top view, One of the Ladies is stunned, two Zed stunned. One Lady out of ammo.

Biker Boss about to ram a Z.

VRROOOOM !

Z Squished under tyres.

Punch up with zed's.

To rub salt into salt into the wounds, here come the Bikers, EEK !

BRRRRRRRPPPP ! "MAISIEEEEE...Nooo. The Biker's let rip
with multple Uzi's. Out Of Ammo Tokens litter the area.

Sad to tell, the ladies were decimated, firstly little Maisie

bites the dust - shot by an evil biker who trod her teddy into

the sand, one more clawed by a zed and one girl goes

turncoat and polishes off another party member.

Ladies in deep trouble, with just a stunned zed to show for it.

The Biker's get in the thick of it and takes a wound (Red Marker)..

One of the ladies scouts ahead or rather flees the carnage.

The biker gets stuck in the thick undergrowth and has to retreat.

One biker scoops up the loot (bottom right)., while the others make an orderly retreat.

Whats this ? Some mercenaries have turned up. Are they going to help our damsels in distress ?

Here come more zed's. At this point we had 100 zed's on the table !

A close up at the back of the inn.

Zed's swarming or rather shambling out of the wood.

A lone biker keeps the horde at bay with a burst from his gun. (Now out of ammo and needs to reload).

Still trying to get out.

The bridge crossing and sanctuary.

The APC moves around to the front of the building

The zed's ford the river, seeking warm flesh.

The biker rejoins his comrades.

One of the two remaining ladies, unfortunately, her bazuka is a dud !

"Food !"

The Bikers lay down covering fire.

"UUURRRRGGGHHHH !"

"The entrance looks clear".

The APC moves up to the door of the Inn and the troops disembark. "Get
that door open without doing too much damage to it." "Yessir."

"You would'nt hurt l'lii ole me now, would you ?" BANG.... "Uuuhh......". Falls to the ground.
Thinks "Good job i'm wearing a Flak vest."

"We got 'er. OOh, where did they come from ?"

"Kill them !"

"you're not getting Mama today boys". Blam. Blam..

"Supression fire, then, in you go !

"Food here too !" Momma's (left) in more trouble.

"UNNNGGGGG."

"Food fresh ..."

"I'll just play possum a bit longer to make sure they have gone."

Splash, splash, splash.

"It's time to leave!" Everybody on the bikes !"

"Now's my chance to sneak away, the noise will attract the zed's".

Inside the Inn, the soldiers dispatch the two zed's, then make a quick search of the room and find a vending machine still intact. They rip it off the wall and make their way back to the APC.

"Alll aboard !" Clunk,Vrooommmm.........

"Urrg........." Crunch, Bump, Squish.........

"Charrrge.!"

"Time to grab that boat " Marcy breaks surface beside the boat. "I'm glad I was on the swimming team." "Pat, I thought you had died too.", as she swims toward the boat.

Close.

The Aftermath.
The Mercenaries obtained their objective, namely, "Get some Ciggs for the Boss", so they get some points. The Bikers got some loot and finished off four civilians, so they get some extra goodies when starting the next game too. The Ladies were having a bad hair day, to say the least. They will have to find some other group to join. Then they will seek revenge on the bikers.

We did enjoy that. It was noted that it would have been a totally different game if the the "dice gods" had put us in different locations, but it did ramp up the tension of the game for me. Everybody went home happy after a good game. Another great table design by Martin.