Table Talk

The 1/600 English Channel game at Pro or Con was a success. I had 4 players with
a variety of onlookers. My thanks to players who attended.

I just arrived from a weeks worth of business training and family vacation to
West Palm Beach Florida. It was indeed nice but the drive was looong= 2600 miles.

The next local gaming con is Drums at the Rapids in Perrysburgh OH on 19 May.
This is also the same day as my wedding anniversary.........I know you guys had
a quick thought of "maybe I can"......yeah right.

C21 Air War Turn

I made a very crude yet playable turn marker for C21. Since I use circular bases
it was easy to make. I glued the drawn template atop a piece of cardboard.

Just put the marker and turn to the turning rate. Simple. I have an idea for
square bases, soon to follow. I have considered building the "In Harms
Way" scenario from Larry's Game Room website (I think now gone). Recent
decline in local and convention players dampens that idea.

I have ordered some N.Korean ships from PT Dockyard for Dave S. scenario
in the Naval Gazing website.

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.

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.

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.

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.