No RPG material today. I'm busy finalizing the last minute details of a benefit for a local gaming couple.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
[40K] Sometimes, the game is just pretty
I showed up to my 40K night the other day, and one of my regulars was showing off his new toys. He had amassed a very large selection of figures for a theme army and wanted everyone to see them.
Pictures don't quite do this justice- there's a lot of shine and reflection taking away from the detail and lovely work he put into this army- but I really want to showcase his work.
Long shot of the whole army.
A narrower look at the oncoming mass.
Hey look! Skimmers and dreads!
I love the feel of the army- the different poses really helps it have a personality.
Who doesn't love a wheelie?
The bank on this is just super cool.
Ever hear of flanking? Yeah, these guys have it.
Pictures don't quite do this justice- there's a lot of shine and reflection taking away from the detail and lovely work he put into this army- but I really want to showcase his work.
Long shot of the whole army.
A narrower look at the oncoming mass.
Hey look! Skimmers and dreads!
I love the feel of the army- the different poses really helps it have a personality.
Who doesn't love a wheelie?
The bank on this is just super cool.
Ever hear of flanking? Yeah, these guys have it.
Friday, December 2, 2011
[RPG] Chemistry
In RPG's, I've found that the single most important element for a game to go well is chemistry.
Chemistry is inexplicable to those outside the game. In many ways, it's like obscenity- "you know it when you see it". I've had some games that were hilariously fun and I couldn't wait to play- but people watching from the outside had no idea what was good about it. I've also had games that, on paper, were stellar. Well known GMs, great players, interesting plot- but when the group was together, the chemistry was terrible and the game fell apart.
Recently I've seen games with great starting chemistry lose steam because a member of the group had to quit, and I've seen dying games take on new life with the addition of a single player. I've been impressed by the fact that in most cases, the key to good chemistry is a SINGLE person with a dynamic personality. At least in my area, when you add more than one 'big voice', things kind of go off the rails.
There's no crystal ball as to whether a game will work with the people in it or if you need to do some quick chemical adjustment. Because chemistry is fairly important to me, I often sit in on a session or hang out with the group I am considering joining before I agree to play in a new game. I know other people do a sort of interview to figure out if the people they will be playing with 'fit their needs' and others just hope for the best.
What experiences have you had with group chemistry, and what advice do you have for those having problems?
 |
| Yes, maybe a little beverage helps.... |
Chemistry is inexplicable to those outside the game. In many ways, it's like obscenity- "you know it when you see it". I've had some games that were hilariously fun and I couldn't wait to play- but people watching from the outside had no idea what was good about it. I've also had games that, on paper, were stellar. Well known GMs, great players, interesting plot- but when the group was together, the chemistry was terrible and the game fell apart.
Recently I've seen games with great starting chemistry lose steam because a member of the group had to quit, and I've seen dying games take on new life with the addition of a single player. I've been impressed by the fact that in most cases, the key to good chemistry is a SINGLE person with a dynamic personality. At least in my area, when you add more than one 'big voice', things kind of go off the rails.
There's no crystal ball as to whether a game will work with the people in it or if you need to do some quick chemical adjustment. Because chemistry is fairly important to me, I often sit in on a session or hang out with the group I am considering joining before I agree to play in a new game. I know other people do a sort of interview to figure out if the people they will be playing with 'fit their needs' and others just hope for the best.
What experiences have you had with group chemistry, and what advice do you have for those having problems?
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
[40K] Works in Progress
On Saturday, our 40K league is hosting a Model Work Day. The idea is to allow a time to bring in models that need some work and learn from each other.
I'm thinking of bringing some of these guys
and trying to turn them into something like this
Am I up to it? Probably not. But I have a lot of bare basic Marines and some cool BT upgrade goodies, so we will see what happens.
I'm thinking of bringing some of these guys
and trying to turn them into something like this
 |
| Courtesy of Darkfuturegames.blogspot.com |
Am I up to it? Probably not. But I have a lot of bare basic Marines and some cool BT upgrade goodies, so we will see what happens.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
[RPG][WOD] Austin by Night: Vinnie's Journal, Pt 1
The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance - it is the illusion of knowledge.
Daniel J. Boorstin
I've been here for a couple of years now. I have begun to settle in. I've got a fairly good job that allows a lot of flexibility and has high expectations of leadership and accomplishment. I have a haven that does the job for now, and I've started to get noticed by the leadership.
I was asked by the Harpy to introduce myself to a certain number of people, offering my services and making myself accessible to them. I wasn't sure what was wanted at first, but I've learned that when you play the soldier, you don't ask questions. You just do things. After a little bit of work, it became apparent that the list in question was almost entirely Kindred, and it seems the Harpy is perhaps putting me in certain people's paths to see what happens. I understand that thought experiment all to well, and for now it serves my purposes.
I have spent quite a bit of time researching the Death Row Incorporated faction; and being very intrigued at how little I've learned. It makes me wonder if their own situation isn't similar to mine, with a valid reason for a blackout. Finding things out is very different now. I'm still getting accustomed to this "information age"; as it's called. The concept is unusual that information can be had with money, or for free. Favors and power used to be the currency, but I don't mind that I'm not obviously beholden to anyone at the moment.
My conversation with Varus (the Commissioner) was unsettling to me. In my past, direct conversations with authorities caused nothing less than difficult times. Different times and different approaches change the way I interact with those in power; and I'm still learning these ways. Beyond the directness of the conversation was the content, which I found curious. Purpose and direction are ever present in my Requiem, but laid deep under the surface of my interactions. Varus' bluntness was sharp and present; challenging my considerations and forcing me to examine the great experiment I'm undertaking.
I still have much to accomplish to near my goals; and every day is yet another opportunity to develop my potential.
Daniel J. Boorstin
I've been here for a couple of years now. I have begun to settle in. I've got a fairly good job that allows a lot of flexibility and has high expectations of leadership and accomplishment. I have a haven that does the job for now, and I've started to get noticed by the leadership.
I was asked by the Harpy to introduce myself to a certain number of people, offering my services and making myself accessible to them. I wasn't sure what was wanted at first, but I've learned that when you play the soldier, you don't ask questions. You just do things. After a little bit of work, it became apparent that the list in question was almost entirely Kindred, and it seems the Harpy is perhaps putting me in certain people's paths to see what happens. I understand that thought experiment all to well, and for now it serves my purposes.
I have spent quite a bit of time researching the Death Row Incorporated faction; and being very intrigued at how little I've learned. It makes me wonder if their own situation isn't similar to mine, with a valid reason for a blackout. Finding things out is very different now. I'm still getting accustomed to this "information age"; as it's called. The concept is unusual that information can be had with money, or for free. Favors and power used to be the currency, but I don't mind that I'm not obviously beholden to anyone at the moment.
My conversation with Varus (the Commissioner) was unsettling to me. In my past, direct conversations with authorities caused nothing less than difficult times. Different times and different approaches change the way I interact with those in power; and I'm still learning these ways. Beyond the directness of the conversation was the content, which I found curious. Purpose and direction are ever present in my Requiem, but laid deep under the surface of my interactions. Varus' bluntness was sharp and present; challenging my considerations and forcing me to examine the great experiment I'm undertaking.
I still have much to accomplish to near my goals; and every day is yet another opportunity to develop my potential.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
[40K] Falling Off the Wagon
This one guy, generously donated to me last year by none other than HOP's Idol contest winner, Von; is the one thing that's keeping me anywhere near the Emperor's Children at the moment.
I'm burning out on Marines at the moment.
I'll admit I was never a big fan of the Marines. The sameness of them made me frustrated. I mean, what's the difference between this
and this?
From a stat viewpoint, very little is different. They all have the same WS,BS and I - it's just a matter of which weapons and so on.
For some, that's a bonus. I've heard Space Marines called "Legos"- a basic building block that you can customize endlessly by adding or taking things away. Maybe it's true.
I just know that they are really cramping my style right now. I prefer some personality, some silliness, some "unknown" factors as a rule... and Marines are not it.
Except Brother Darius, who has been known to speak to me while I'm sleeping of the Glories of The Emperor. That guy takes his job wayyyyyyyyy too seriously, but man-he looks good doing it.
Stay tuned for a possible exploration of Eldar....
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
[40K] Grey Knights VS Blood Angels
This was the beginning of our new league. I decided to give it a whirl, and after a lot of debating, decided to play the Grey Knights (or "Cheese" as my buddy FunDave calls them).
I played against a guy I've known since the day I was introduced to gaming. He's new to the league, but has been stopping in to watch for almost a year. Our guys know him, but might not know his idiosyncrasies as well as I do.
He's an old grognard/neckbeard, one of those guys that takes perverse pleasure in reading, examining, questioning and just generally ingesting games of all kinds. He also discusses games in a strange hybrid of kvetching/arguing that many people could easily view as misanthropy. I've gotten used to it over the years and don't think twice about his rumblings- I sort of hear them on another wavelength.
Having effectively taken care of customers, I found a table and broke out my dudes, and my friend broke out his. His list was something like this:
Baal pred
2 las plas razorbacks
2 five man assault squads melta powerfist
and here's what I brought:
storm raven
4 terminators (troops) with a psilencer
1 Justicar Tharn
I was a little absentminded when we were setting up the table, and I sort of missed something important. Take a look.
Notice anything? (Besides my hand on the right.) Yeah, there's not a lot to see.
We rolled mission and deployment. He won first but held off and kept his guys in reserve, letting me go first. We had to score an objective, and his was behind a ruin. Mine was on behind a bunker to the way left from what you see here.
I moved forward towards the objective. He waited. I moved forward again.
I actually scooted around the ruin and sat on the objective. I thought I was in good shape, and I was trying to follow the "keep the guys in the armored box" rule I keep hearing.
Yeah. Then he rolled all 3 reserves on and the one that was flanking came in on the side my bird was on.
The bird got blown up- totally exploded. The guys inside- 3 lived.
Then my guys ran away because they lost more than 25% of their squad. And at least one of them got blown up by the barrage of shooting he threw at me.
And you know, I never learn. I charged right at those tanks- with just 2 guys.
The roll to hit. This was probably the only thing that made the night not entirely terrible on a game standpoint.
I got completely surrounded. And the psicannon just refused to die. He was pretty crafty. Thawn died - a lot.
Of course the rolls to pen weren't so good. Can't win 'em all, right?
The game came down to 2 Lasplas Razorbacks and a Ball Predator shooting Thawn every time he got up. And then he didn't, and my friend won.
Overall recap: My friend got lucky with his reserve and shooting rolls. I didn't suck as much as I have in the past. I still lost.
About my opponent: I sort of covered this in the bat rep above, but I like him and get along with him fine. I know other people find his tendencies to discuss things to death somewhat annoying.
What I learned: Trying new stuff is ok. Even if you lose.
In all seriousness, I was trying to apply some things I've watched or heard. I was debating between BT with a LRC and dudes inside or a StormRaven, and you know... I really wanted to play it. It was a birthday gift and I really like it. So I went with GK. I definitely need to read the Codex more thoroughly.
There's next week to try again at 500... I don't know what I'll bring yet.
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