11 March 2012

1/600 Fleet



Ready for any scenario in the upcoming game day. You have to
love large popsicle stick bases: cheap $$, large quantity, and
scalable in length to whatever ship you want. The white half
circles at the base front is the ship's ID. I still have probems
which is which.

08 March 2012

C21 Support

I reflected on the last game on how to improve. I am going to plan and make a 2 d6 stand
that will be magnetic (sticks to fender washer base). This will hold one die for the planes
speed, the other will be the special manuever die. I am going to make it out of plastic sheets.
I like the table top less cluttered.

Second is my adventure using a hex system for the C21 rules. I had to be "loose" on the
turns due to granularity of C21 )15deg turns to a 60deg hexside. If I do I'll make a turning
gauge, more to follow.

Third, the playing mat. Not a photo realistic terrain at 15,000ft but something that won't
be too visually cluttered. It will have both painted terrain and modular terrain to add giving
it a slight 3D affect.

04 March 2012

Perry Under Fire

Since the scenario didn't happen, I can show how it could have happened.



This shows the 1/700 Perry, splash markers, previous splash markers, and a big
fire marker.

C21 and Cincycon

Well after a long dry spell I got back into it. The Dayton Ohio convention
Cincycon was yeld recently. I hosted Dave S. (Naval Gazing) Taiwan vs.
China scenario. My daughter even helped...


After a 2 hour drive I arrived and setup the scenario....


 ....to find the first 20min no one had signed up to play. I was lucky a fellow
gamer Jim Yencer happened to arrive and wanted to play. The scenario
therefore was scrapped and I turned it into a game I could play in. I pitted
3 Chinese J-8, and 1 Su-27 vs. 2 Taiwanese Mirage 2000, and 2 Ching-Kuo.


This shows the bases, missile markers, manuever cubes, and speed chits. The
furball came down to the duel of...


(okay its a F16, I proxied it). All pilots were average. I also decreased the special
manuever DR #s, I felt they were a bit too high. The plane data cards I made
has 4 planes with all applicable data in a 8x5in layout. This reduces tabletop paperwork.
I used the free download program Page Plus by Serif. I converted the game to
hexes awhile ago.

Overall this scenario made me rethink things. I typically run Vietnam scenarios where
the planes were running around at 6-8 (hexes). This one average was 13. I forgot
ECM and the effects on missile locks. Plus with aircraft with average High to Extreme
maneuverability, I have to rework the hex equivalent.

This game allowed me to (finally) play and brush off the rust. Will I run more C21 games?
Maybe. A gamer from the St. Louis area Ray Runge hosted about 6 C21 games at
Origins last year. He said only 1 game had players.

I will be hosting another 1/600 naval game at the Pro or Con event in Michigin soon.

22 November 2011

Table Talk

Have you notice the large amount of WW2 Skirmish rules lately:
Iron Ivan Games: Disposable Heroes and Coffin for Seven Brothers
                           Disposable Heroes: Point Blank
Crusader Publishing: Rate of Fire
Great Escape Games: Rules of Engagement
Warhammer Historical: Kampfgruppe Normandy
Britton Publishers: Final Combat
Two Hour Games: Nuts!
TooFatLardies: I Ain't Been Shot Mum
Buck Surdu: Look Sarge, No Charts
Guts 'N Glory
Osprey: Force on Force (WW2 version)
Seems all rules are cyclic in nature. I have read many reviews on some.
So which one is good: both all and none. Generally I think if the players
"feel" it realistic yet somewhat playable, it will be enjoyed. I have probably
missed some rules. It comes down to what "I" am comfortable with to
host. It's like me hosting C21 Air War with modern CY6 available.
I have thought of doing a review myself on various sets of rules I own.
Finally taking time off this week. Hope to get something hobby wise done:
C21 Air War: prep&paint planes for China vs. Taiwan scenario
Flaklighter 1/600 PT boats: paint the Pac boats
K46 1/300 WW2 Air: Put together the first 2 scenarios for play.
SBG 1/6000 Modern naval: Paint some ships.
Ok, this all won't happen this week, nice thought though. I do plan to host
a game at Battle at the Crossroads in Feb12.

17 September 2011

Gaming in General

I was lucky and made it to ATC convention here in Ohio. I had only an hour
to stay before traveling to work so it was more a recon session. I was
disappointed for a fellow gamer who had a Friday and Saturday game.
First was a 1/6000 General Quarters III Fleet Action Imminent game, the
second was a 1/300 scale Point of Attack 20th Century Piquet rules. Both
had no players sign up. Luckily a friend was at hand to "play". It made me
think what makes a game "non-interesting":
1. Rules?
2. Scale?
3. Period?
4. All the above?
I related to his experience with my last few games pulling teeth for players.

I've sluggishly moved forward with hobby interests. I've cut down to a small
number of interests to pursue that requires $$ and time.  One is WW2 air
combat using Kamikaze 1946 by Marty Fenelon. The major difference with
this rule set vs. CY6 is K46 is more grand tactical. Similar in idea to C21 Air
War.The other is WW2 1/600 PT boat warfare using Flaklighter II.

Two conventions are around the corner: Pro or Con and Game Day Ft. Meigs.

03 July 2011

Table Talk

Ahh, its been awhile. Home and work..... you know the drill. Recently our Great Dane
of 10 years passed away. Luckily I was in town, my wife didn't take it too well.

I have not gamed since I hosted the Flaklighter game. I'm putting together the Taiwan
vs. China scenario Dave S. kindly gave me. The bad part is I ordered the planes in
April, and still only have 80% delivered. They are H&R planes which I believe the US
distributor is The Last Square in WI. I plan to run the game in Sep, great I have THAT
much lead time.

More to come.