Focusing on the roots of current tabletop gaming
with an eye toward the last century and before.
with an eye toward the last century and before.
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Showing posts with label Miniatures. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Miniatures. Show all posts
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Nostalgia Thursday - Chaos Wars (1987)
Thirty-two years ago, the super-simple four-page Rules According to Ral which were designed for Medieval combat were expanded into the thirty-page (approx) Chaos Wars (1987) for fantasy combat. Still a simple rule set by most wargaming standards but complex enough to present tactical options that mitigate dice rolls and remove a fair amount of the luck factor that plagues simpler systems. I picked this up from Wayne's Books through Amazon for about $20 and it included two of the Easy Reference Sheets, a sheet of Unit Stat Cards, and a Fall 1987 War Bulletin. Nice! A few months ago, I got the chance to play using these rules with Michael Shorten and you can read more about that fun time here.
Monday, September 9, 2019
Minis & Modeling Monday - Building a Miniatures' Storage Box
Over on the Doctor Faust's Painting Clinic YouTube channel, he takes another shot at "Building a (Beta) Better Miniature Storage Box." Enjoy!
A look at prepping and painting Miniatures,
crafting buildings and paper Models,
and other non-terrain stuff for the tabletop.
crafting buildings and paper Models,
and other non-terrain stuff for the tabletop.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
Wargaming Wednesday - Chaos Wars with Michael Shorten
A couple of Saturdays ago, I took a trip down to The Gift of Games, a fine FLGS in Grayslake, IL, where Michael Shorten was set up to run a Chaos Wars demo. Chaos Wars is a set of Medieval Fantasy miniatures rules originally put forth by Ral Partha Enterprises and now revived by Iron Wind Metals. They had started off being known as Rules According to Ral but have been updated a bit over the years. You can download the free rules from their website download section. the minis, you need to purchase but they're quite reasonable and have that Old School feeling to them, being true 25 mm figures, as you might suspect.
Tim has a clean shop that is a lot more open than the previous game store that utilized this space (Unique Gifts and Games).
Gaming toward the back with retail space in front and plenty of both.
He's got some fancy tables with inset play areas, too.
It was a little eerie seeing Chewbacca guarding the exit only a week and a half after Peter Mayhew had passed.
It was a rainy day outside but we were playing a minis wargame so all was right with the world.
Ed stopped by to check out the action.
And Chris, who also plays in Michael's regular D&D game popped in too.
When I arrived, Michael was just completing the set up and since the forces of evil happened to be nearer, I felt obliged to play them.
The way he had each unit on a 3 x 5 and the spell cards ready for casting made the demo quite smooth.
Michael sets a fine table with just enough terrain to make things interesting without hindering game play. One can't slow the goblins down with forest terrain anyway.
He has a great collection of figures, all painted and based to perfection. He sent a flying panther in to try and harass my wizard early on but my archers had some great dice and peppered it from the sky.
I played a little cat-and-mouse to get as much damage out of my artillery as I could without allowing my infantry, archers, or cavalry within range of his siege engines.
I used my quicker troops to draw some of his forces to my left . . . then ran full on to the far right side of the battlefield, bringing the forest into play for my goblins, while tempting him to divide his forces to either side of it.
As he moved forward, toward me, I rearranged my troops to try and gain some strength advantages.
With my cavalry and heavy orc troops to my left, and my goblins to the right (being supported my some ogres), I edged a little closer being careful to keep at least a single move away from his fastest units.
His open formation gave me a chance to try and steal a march on him and force some advantageous match ups for me.
When I finally got initiative, I moved my goblins through the forest and engaged his left, bringing my archers forward to do a little more damage to his cavalry. The archers were chewed up but not before some excellent rolling halved his horse.
As time ran down on our scenario, we were both taking heavy losses and some good dice either way could have sealed the deal for either of us.
Michael was kind enough to grant me a couple of minis from his unpainted figures box and I chose a couple of "flesh golems," or at least that is what I intend to use them as. Thanks, Michael Shorten, for being an excellent demo instructor and thanks to Tim of The Gift of Games for hosting the event!
Tim has a clean shop that is a lot more open than the previous game store that utilized this space (Unique Gifts and Games).
Gaming toward the back with retail space in front and plenty of both.
He's got some fancy tables with inset play areas, too.
It was a little eerie seeing Chewbacca guarding the exit only a week and a half after Peter Mayhew had passed.
It was a rainy day outside but we were playing a minis wargame so all was right with the world.
Ed stopped by to check out the action.
And Chris, who also plays in Michael's regular D&D game popped in too.
When I arrived, Michael was just completing the set up and since the forces of evil happened to be nearer, I felt obliged to play them.
The way he had each unit on a 3 x 5 and the spell cards ready for casting made the demo quite smooth.
Michael sets a fine table with just enough terrain to make things interesting without hindering game play. One can't slow the goblins down with forest terrain anyway.
He has a great collection of figures, all painted and based to perfection. He sent a flying panther in to try and harass my wizard early on but my archers had some great dice and peppered it from the sky.
I played a little cat-and-mouse to get as much damage out of my artillery as I could without allowing my infantry, archers, or cavalry within range of his siege engines.
I used my quicker troops to draw some of his forces to my left . . . then ran full on to the far right side of the battlefield, bringing the forest into play for my goblins, while tempting him to divide his forces to either side of it.
As he moved forward, toward me, I rearranged my troops to try and gain some strength advantages.
With my cavalry and heavy orc troops to my left, and my goblins to the right (being supported my some ogres), I edged a little closer being careful to keep at least a single move away from his fastest units.
His open formation gave me a chance to try and steal a march on him and force some advantageous match ups for me.
When I finally got initiative, I moved my goblins through the forest and engaged his left, bringing my archers forward to do a little more damage to his cavalry. The archers were chewed up but not before some excellent rolling halved his horse.
As time ran down on our scenario, we were both taking heavy losses and some good dice either way could have sealed the deal for either of us.
Michael was kind enough to grant me a couple of minis from his unpainted figures box and I chose a couple of "flesh golems," or at least that is what I intend to use them as. Thanks, Michael Shorten, for being an excellent demo instructor and thanks to Tim of The Gift of Games for hosting the event!
A closer examination of board and miniatures Wargaming.
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Tuesday, May 28, 2019
Terrain Tuesday - Constructing Forts and Towers w/ James Wappel
It's been a while since I posted regularly on this corner of the CMG Blog Triad, but the resourceful James Wappel has a new video on building towers and fortifications, and this needed sharing.
For purposes here, the term Terrain is used broadly to cover
3D tabletop pieces made from foam, felt, and other materials.
3D tabletop pieces made from foam, felt, and other materials.
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Monday, August 29, 2016
Minis & Modeling Monday - Glowing Ember Sword, Slate Black, & Orboros Tanith
Over on the miniwargaming YouTube channel, we're shown "How To: Paint a Glowing Ember Sword." Hot!
Also, on the miniwargaming YouTube channel, it's revealed "How To: Paint Slate Black." I'm floored!
Finally, on Doctor Faust's Painting Clinic YouTube channel, check out the video on "Painting Hordes Circle Orboros Tanith the Feral Song." Enjoy!
Also, on the miniwargaming YouTube channel, it's revealed "How To: Paint Slate Black." I'm floored!
Finally, on Doctor Faust's Painting Clinic YouTube channel, check out the video on "Painting Hordes Circle Orboros Tanith the Feral Song." Enjoy!
A look at prepping and painting Miniatures,
crafting buildings and paper Models,
and other non-terrain stuff for the tabletop.
crafting buildings and paper Models,
and other non-terrain stuff for the tabletop.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!
Monday, August 22, 2016
Minis & Modeling Monday - Fencing Frog Painting
Since Adam has been so busy painting this last week, here's three minis painting posts from Fencing Frog to investigate further. First, there's a "Reaper Giant" he posted about a week ago here.
Also, have a look at his paint job on a "Young Priest" here.
Finally, check out the work he did on "Three North Star Civilians" here.
Also, have a look at his paint job on a "Young Priest" here.
Finally, check out the work he did on "Three North Star Civilians" here.
A look at prepping and painting Miniatures,
crafting buildings and paper Models,
and other non-terrain stuff for the tabletop.
crafting buildings and paper Models,
and other non-terrain stuff for the tabletop.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Nostalgia Thursday - Vintage Minis
Over on alternative-armies.com, they have put out a line of Barbarians, "classic 25mm / 28mm fantasy miniatures," they report are based of minis from "Tabletop Games and Asgard in the early 1980's." See more here.
Also, on miniatures-workshop.com, the Lost Minis Wiki, someone recently pointed out an old favorite, a demon from the Dungeons Dwellers line, that a buddy of mine had and our group had to slay as a Balrog here.
Finally, on angantyrs-games-things.blogspot.co.uk, from a year and a half ago, there is a wonderfully detailed article on Martian Metals here.
Also, on miniatures-workshop.com, the Lost Minis Wiki, someone recently pointed out an old favorite, a demon from the Dungeons Dwellers line, that a buddy of mine had and our group had to slay as a Balrog here.
Finally, on angantyrs-games-things.blogspot.co.uk, from a year and a half ago, there is a wonderfully detailed article on Martian Metals here.
Focusing on the roots of current tabletop gaming
with an eye toward the last century and before.
with an eye toward the last century and before.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!
Monday, August 15, 2016
Minis & Modeling Monday - Fantasy Figs
Over on cheapfantasyminis.blogspot.com, 1Mac popped up after a summer hiatus with "Guards and Bandits and Bondic" here.
Also, on The Lost and The Damned some years ago, Mortis showed off his Skaven Army here.
Finally, on the Dungeonmaster Mark YouTube channel from earlier this year, as part of his GM Tips, he showed us how to "Make your own custom D&D minis." Enjoy!
Also, on The Lost and The Damned some years ago, Mortis showed off his Skaven Army here.
Finally, on the Dungeonmaster Mark YouTube channel from earlier this year, as part of his GM Tips, he showed us how to "Make your own custom D&D minis." Enjoy!
A look at prepping and painting Miniatures,
crafting buildings and paper Models,
and other non-terrain stuff for the tabletop.
crafting buildings and paper Models,
and other non-terrain stuff for the tabletop.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!
Monday, August 8, 2016
Minis & Modeling Monday - Picts Minis
Pict miniatures can be useful for wargaming in the late roman and dark age periods but are also a great stand-in for tribal folk in many fantasy situations. Over on swordandspacehips.blogspot.ca, Swords & Spacesuits has taken a "box of Warlord games Woodland Indian Tribes" and converted them into Picts here. This is particularly useful because of how many ways one can construct them.
Also, on northstarfigures.com, from Tanatus Miniatures, check out their line of Picts including some mounted figures here.
Finally, on landser.wordpress.com, have a look at and get details on this 28mm stand of Pict command here.
Also, on northstarfigures.com, from Tanatus Miniatures, check out their line of Picts including some mounted figures here.
Finally, on landser.wordpress.com, have a look at and get details on this 28mm stand of Pict command here.
A look at prepping and painting Miniatures,
crafting buildings and paper Models,
and other non-terrain stuff for the tabletop.
crafting buildings and paper Models,
and other non-terrain stuff for the tabletop.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!
Monday, August 1, 2016
Minis & Modeling Monday - Ships for Minis
Over on 9gag.com, "A guy made a Dungeons & Dragons pirate ship" here.
Also, on imgur.com, check out what happens "When [an] experienced prop maker becomes a Dungeon Master" here.
Finally, on the EonsOfBattle YouTube channel, this video doesn't show making full ships but rather "How to Create a Pirate Ship Base." Enjoy!
Also, on imgur.com, check out what happens "When [an] experienced prop maker becomes a Dungeon Master" here.
Finally, on the EonsOfBattle YouTube channel, this video doesn't show making full ships but rather "How to Create a Pirate Ship Base." Enjoy!
A look at prepping and painting Miniatures,
crafting buildings and paper Models,
and other non-terrain stuff for the tabletop.
crafting buildings and paper Models,
and other non-terrain stuff for the tabletop.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Wargaming Wednesday - Chainmail (1971) Revisited
Last Thursday I posted about a game of Chainmail (1971) that happened at Lake Geneva Games recently as a test run for next year's Gary Con IX. The scenario used was The Battle for the Brown Hills and, being Gary Gygax Day, I thought it might be nifty to look back on a battle report written by Gary on that very scenario. There have been a few blog posts elsewhere about it, so let's revisit those with the first being "The Battle for the Brown Hills: Chainmail Fantasy Rules" over on the Collector's Trove here. Tons of pictures there from a recent Gary Con using a sand table and the same types of Elastolin 40mm minis Gary would have used back in the day.
Also, on neuronphaser.com, there's an article from earlier this year discussing "Gygax’s Legendarium: The Battle of Brown Hills" here.
Finally, on Vintage Wargaming from 2012, a full look at "Battle of Brown Hills: early Chainmail Battle Report by Gary Gygax" here. And from the jazze1 YouTube channel, a video of a re-enactment of the event. Enjoy!
Also, on neuronphaser.com, there's an article from earlier this year discussing "Gygax’s Legendarium: The Battle of Brown Hills" here.
Finally, on Vintage Wargaming from 2012, a full look at "Battle of Brown Hills: early Chainmail Battle Report by Gary Gygax" here. And from the jazze1 YouTube channel, a video of a re-enactment of the event. Enjoy!
A closer examination of board and miniatures Wargaming.
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Monday, July 25, 2016
Minis & Modeling Monday - LotR Minis
Over on quendilsworld.blogspot.co.uk, they show us "Saruman addressing his armies" here.
Also, on sodemons.com, they share "Mithril Gold Fellowship Ents & Huorn" here.
Finally, on games-workshop.com, they still have some great LotR and Hobbit minis here.
Also, on sodemons.com, they share "Mithril Gold Fellowship Ents & Huorn" here.
Finally, on games-workshop.com, they still have some great LotR and Hobbit minis here.
A look at prepping and painting Miniatures,
crafting buildings and paper Models,
and other non-terrain stuff for the tabletop.
crafting buildings and paper Models,
and other non-terrain stuff for the tabletop.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!
Monday, July 18, 2016
Minis & Modeling Monday - LGG Painting & Terrain Day
I want to make sure that everyone is aware that the fourth Sunday of each month at Lake Geneva Games is now an afternoon for Miniatures Painting & Terrain Building!
We'll have some of the game space set aside for painting and crafting and all that fun stuff . . .
We can even supply some basic supplies and starter minis for new comers to the process. And you might even get some tips from others to help you along, if you like!
We'll have some of the game space set aside for painting and crafting and all that fun stuff . . .
We can even supply some basic supplies and starter minis for new comers to the process. And you might even get some tips from others to help you along, if you like!
A look at prepping and painting Miniatures,
crafting buildings and paper Models,
and other non-terrain stuff for the tabletop.
crafting buildings and paper Models,
and other non-terrain stuff for the tabletop.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!
Monday, June 27, 2016
Minis & Modeling Monday - Crimson, Rats, & Leaders
Over on lead-adventure.de, a retinue marches "At the Court of the Crimson King" here.
Also, on fencingfrog.blogspot.com, Adam shows off his "Challenge Entry: Giant rats for Frostgrave" here.
Finally, on 10mm-wargaming.com, they share the "New Command Personalities from Good Ground Miniatures" here.
Also, on fencingfrog.blogspot.com, Adam shows off his "Challenge Entry: Giant rats for Frostgrave" here.
Finally, on 10mm-wargaming.com, they share the "New Command Personalities from Good Ground Miniatures" here.
A look at prepping and painting Miniatures,
crafting buildings and paper Models,
and other non-terrain stuff for the tabletop.
crafting buildings and paper Models,
and other non-terrain stuff for the tabletop.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!
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