Roll4Con - July 2024

 

    Our local Gaming store in London, ON, The Game Chamber held a sort of a mini-convention on Saturday.  A lot of different games were scheduled and I took part in the afternoon offering of The Silver Bayonet hosted by my friend, David. First a few photos of the various game offered, most of with - I admit - I have no idea what the games were. (Photos courtesy of Beth, David, and Joe, with one or two by me.)

"The Boss" takes a hand.

Our game was set somewhere in Europe with a search for a lost esoteric volume of lore penned by a local friar. We had four teams: Joe represented the Spanish Inquisition... as expected! Dan led a French group, David captained a Dutch group, while I fielded my Austrians. My wife, Beth, kibitzed, researched, and rolled the dice for the monsters, since she was a neutral party! Just so you know, David provided all the troops and monsters (except for mine) and his painting is superb! He also provided the majority of the terrain. The table was a delight, as you'll see.

The field showing the reference library as well.

The view from David's seat. Joe was to his right, Dan across from him,
and me in my Tom Servo-esque finest. Beth took the photo.

Cardinal Fang, Cardinal Biggles, and an armed member of the Inquisition advance.

Cardinal Ximénez and another Inquisitor go for the clues.

French Dragoons of Dan's French troops.
Those are not "Roombas" to clean the table; they mark hits on the figure.

Grenadier Gefreiter Keller and Feldpfarrer, Father Miller of my Austrian force find a clue...
which brought on another revenant!

David's Dutch force including the Veteran Hunter, Sergeant Sickles!

David's Dutch infantry and his coachman investigate the house.
I'd never seen the coachman used before. David says he's worth the point cost!

Dan's Dragoon farrier/sapper (the axe is the give-away) hacks down a revenant.
("How does one kill what's already dead?" he inquired quizzically.)

My Austrians again.
The Dhampir, Leutnant von Hanraty and the Veteran Hunter, rifle-armed,
Feldwebel Beck of the Jäger Battalions hunt for clues.
von Hanraty bravely dueled the Inquisitions troops while Beck sniped.
Neither survived the encounter, (Ach, schade!)

Both Cardinal Ximénez and some Dutch troops chase Father Miller - who has the book! - but found him too fast for them.
See, you CAN run in a cassock!

The clerical chase from a different viewpoint.

David's troops met the big baddie of the day - a vampire.
Quite stylish in his own pale way!

The troops of the House of Orange face the terror of the day!
By the way, they got him!

Discretion IS the better part of valour!
See ya, boys!

Am I gloating? No! Never!
(Well, maybe a little.)
(By the way, this is a Trent model. The rest of the Austrians were Perry Miniatures.)

The centre of the table was a bit of a traffic jam at times.
The tuft of cotton indicates that the figure has fired their firearm and reloading is required,

Joe insisted I gloat in this photo. 

Among the unexpected details on the table was a rabbit among the cabbages!

We all know what this is supposed to be...

But is it really?

Who won? I came in last on the points given for finding clues, taking down monsters, or taking out opposing team members... but I got the book off the board which was the scenario's big thing. Joe, David, and Dan all had more points as listed in the victory conditions. I really don't think any of us cared who "won" since we all had a great time. We're all hoping to play this game again, using a different scenario. 

It's Been a While

Yes, it has been a while since I blogged. Any number of things have been going on and I've been distracted. I'd like to say "busy", but "distracted" would be more honest. Changes in household, changes in work and ministry, and changes in the other things I do are all there.

For instance, in my reenacting, I've been made "Battalion Adjutant." Sounds like a promotion, and I suppose it is. It has a lot to do with where to place people for parade and keeping some records. The Colonel asked me to do this partially because I don't move so well with the arthritis in my knees and this would keep me in the hobby. I kiddingly tell people that I was made an officer in my unit because I can cause less damage that way. Who knows?

My dear wife cracked a rib at a reenactment a few weeks ago. I was not present because I was officiating at a wedding. She's doing better, but is still sore at times.

My ministry continues and some changes might be in the offing. I cannot be sure and I'll keep all that to myself for the time being.

Painting? Yes, I have been painting and I enjoy it! Here are some selections.

Based on the videos from "Black Magic Craft", I did a spike trap
for possible use in D&D games.
I recommend you look up and watch BMC's videos on YouTube.

An odd-looking altar set for the Service.
I'll add it to a ruined church Andy gifted me with.

Barrels of stuff - Silver Bayonet table clutter

Adding some colour to my French troop for Silver Bayonet -
men of two of the Swiss Regiments in the Grand Armee.

Nosferatu-style vampires for Silver Bayonet.
I suppose these are vampires whose investment never paid out.

From a Silver Bayonet game with my friend, Mark - 
the leader and the supernatural investigator from my Irish rebel warband,
based on the '98 rebellion. 

The Table for Silver Bayonet
My Irish vs. Mark's Scottish warband

Some of the Irish
The Mayo-man (using Highlander stats), the leader, a deserter
from the Crown infantry, and the friar/investigator

The Mayo-man with his two-handed axe faces off the Scots leader.

The rest of the Irish - 
Insurgent rifleman, Junior officer, and rebel infantryman

I'd been wanting to do a naval warband for a while.
My local store just started to carry "Blood & Plunder" from
Firelock Games. I bought a box of the ship's crew which
included 16 multi-pose figures. Just the thing for Silver Bayonet!

A few more naval types including a junior officer in a bicorne head
that was left over from some British infantry officer in the bits-box.

From a recent game at the Hamilton Road Games Group in London
A game using A Fistful of Lead rules for the Wild West.
Beth ran an all-female gunslinger gang, but ended up losing to two other gangs.
A great set of rules that I'd recommend to anyone!

Things can get busy around the corral.

Some T'au "Pathfinders" with plasma carbines
A while back, my son and I played a game using the FFoL Sci-fi rules
for the 'Grimdark' setting. I wanted to make up my own SF warband and
since I like the T'au, there you have it. More on this later.

Andy and I continue our foray into the Seven Years War using Osprey's Honours of War rules.
We're still learning and it gives me a chance to unlimber my Russian army for the period.

A brigade of Cossacks
WARNING: Don't EVER do this! Cossacks are too brittle to stand alone as a brigade.
Individual regiments dancing around, messing with people's heads is great...
But a brigade of them is not a good idea!