Showing posts with label Conventions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Conventions. Show all posts

Friday, June 27, 2025

Origins Game Fair 2025 Purchases

 

    These naturally colored pottery pieces from A Critical Hit are ready to use & authentic looking
I was very restrained in my purchases in the sprawling dealer area of Origins Game Fair. Granted, there were a lot of booths I wasn't interested in -- jewelry, role-playing games, fancy dice, etc. However, I was trying to stick to my silly mantra of having my purchases not exceed my sales at a convention. With no flea market, this meant the Origins Consignment Shop. I put in three items, which would have totaled $155 if all three sold. Sadly, only the 3-D printed Alien Grays sold. That meant I was limited to $58.50 in purchases (my profit after the 10% consignment fee), if I followed my rule.

    Unlike the pottery, I will paint these pallets up to make them look more like fresh wood
I wandered through the dealer area on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I thought I'd scout things out and make my purchases the last day. However, I couldn't hold back and bought about $20 worth of stuff from A Critical Hit -- one of my favorite places for 3-D printed scatter. I also stopped by to look at Beldolor Studios, who makes very interesting 3-D printed anthropomorphic animals and other oddities. Their miniatures are a gray resin that seems a bit more sturdy than typical 3-D printed minis. Last year, I'd picked up five of their Gatorfolk. This year, I was looking at the various types of Fishfolk. The roughly 28mm size ones were $8 each (cheaper than the $10 listed on their website), and the bigger ones were at least $15. I decided to wait till Sunday when I would find out how many of my store items had sold before making any purchases.

    Pike (armed with a pike!) from Beldolor Studios -- the images of their figs are from their website
There are also lots of board game dealers at Origins, which makes sense as board games seem to outnumber miniatures there in the gaming hall. However, I make my board game purchases very carefully -- or at least I try to! Nevertheless, I have made some unwise purchases over the years. In fact, one of those was in the consignment shop -- GMT's Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East. We had played it three times before decided it was simply too long of a game with too convoluted of systems (despite its 7.2 out of 10 rating on Boardgamegeek). Plus, it is a simply brutal game with players hammering each other with event cards, some of which quite literally take a player out of the running for winning the game. Since there wasn't a game I'd researched prior to the convention and was looking for, I wouldn't be buying any board games.

    Beldolor Studios also had a pike armed with a trident in their line of 'Fishfolk'
There were a lot more dealer booths that had accessories for miniatures this year. Besides A Critical Hit, there were ones that carried paints, flocking, and other interesting items. Warlord Games, was there -- a legitimate historical miniatures vendor. Jon Russell from Warlord interfaces with the Origins staff to promote miniatures at the convention, and especially historicals. However, I don't currently play any of the games he had brought miniatures for. Plus, I think I have set myself a hard enough task if I hope to have my "Painted" exceed my "Acquired" by the end of the year! Lately, I have bought a lot of miniatures with the Vietnam and Fantasy projects. The last thing I needed was a random box of plastic figures for a game I don't play. I really appreciate Warlord Games being there, though. I just didn't need anything from him this year (last year I bought some terrain at his booth, though). 
    I also picked up this Bass Fishfolk -- I love the details and originality of their resin 3-D prints
Sunday rolled around and I was disappointed to be bringing back home with me two of my three items that did not sell. I did stop by Beldolor Studios and picked up three of their Fishmen and two other miniatures from their "Misprints" box that looked fine to me. With those minimal acquisitions, I kept my dealer room expenses under my meager profit from the consignment store. Historicon is coming up in a month, so I will get a chance to shop in a dealer room that fits my tastes much better soon! They also have a real flea market, which hopefully I will do well in again, funding more purchases!

    3-D printed, two wheeled cart for only $4 from A Critical Hit - I probably should have bought more!

I've adjusted my Acquired vs. Painted totals below with what I bought at Origins. I am also adding in  scatter and terrain that I painted up, but probably won't do a post on. However, I am not putting in the 10 Vietnam figures I have finished, as I will definitely do a post on them. So, the MINIATURES Acquired vs. Painted should actually be better. Soon...

MINIATURES Acquired vs. Painted Tally for 2025

  • Miniatures acquired in 2025: 237
  • Miniatures painted in 2025: 117 

TERRAIN Acquired vs. Painted Tally for 2025

  • Terrain acquired in 2025: 21
  • Terrain painted in 2025: 41

SCATTER Acquired vs. Painted Tally for 2025

  • Scatter acquired in 2025: 115
  • Scatter painted in 2025: 106

    I liked these park benches, too, though I will likely touch up the wood on them and maybe the metal

    I loved how these crystals from A Critical Hit looked when I flocked them last time, so I bought more

    Image is poor, but these 3-D printed toilets will doubtless show up in the yard of one of my trailers!
 
    From their "miscast" bin, I picked up one of these very large Eldritch Deer from Beldolor Studios

    From their "Extinct" line, this Thylacine is also known as a Tasmanian Tiger - another $2 'miscast'

Monday, June 23, 2025

Promoting Historical Miniatures at Origins 2025

    My Viking Raid on Anglo-Saxon town was one of dozens of historical minis games Great Lakes ran
Our local Great Lakes chapter of the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society (HMGS GL), has committed to running a slate of games at the multi-genre convention Origins Game Fair each summer. As part of our outreach to promote the hobby, we figured that among the 19,000+ attendees reported this year, there might be some board gamers, role players, card gamers, or Fantasy/Sci-Fi gamers who would be interested in our games. Last year was the first time we had our own "area," under the new Origins system, and we really think that is the best way to go. We schedule and lay out our own games, entering them into the Tabletop Events system and making our own floor plan. That way, we can make sure GMs don't have to constantly set up and take down their game each time they run it. 

    Steve V donned a Napoleonic era bicorne and ran his 'Decision on the Danube' twice at Origins
Luckily, our membership secretary Jenny T volunteered to take on the role of organizing the slate of games for the summer show. This year, she recruited and assembled a nice variety of games from our accommodating GM volunteers. I believe we were happy with the turnout of players in our games. For example, I ran my Viking Town Raid scenario six times (for 6 players each round) and had only two open spaces out of 36 throughout the whole show. Virtually every game was pre-registered nearly full, or full, and we were able to take walk ups to fill the slots of any open ones or no shows.

    Not the typical faces you see at a historical miniatures event at some conventions...!
Judging by the faces around the tables, we figured correctly in most cases, as our players did not always look like the typical attendees to historical miniatures conventions. Half or more of my games included kids under 18 enjoying raiding the Anglo-Saxon town with their father! Just as importantly for our chapter, we had many people walk up to our information desk and ask what HMGS is all about. We signed up a half dozen new members or renewals of "lost sheep" (as I call former members who have lapsed). Doubtless, there will be more who took our information, or copies of our chapter's bimonthly magazine, The Herald, that will join in the coming days. We gave out lots of flyers for our flagship convention, Advance the Colors, Oct. 10-11, in Springfield, OH.

    Tim Peaslee's lovely WW II Peleliu game (run by Cody F & Tim D) attracted players like a magnet
I think the Great Lakes effort at Origins continues to be a success. Each year, our presence becomes more well known and established. We had a number of players  that had signed up for one or more of our games last year who said they looked forward to joining again this year. Many of them also remember our "glory days" at Origins, back when member Steve Smith ran the entire miniatures hall. At that time, Origins was a huge recruiting event for our chapter. We have not grown back to that size, of course, in just two years. However, we are steadily growing at Origins and getting more players. Most importantly, we continue to show the banner of HMGS Great Lakes (literally, as you can see in the background of some of these photos!). Our chapter's mission is to promote historical miniatures. And as I always say, Origins is fertile recruiting ground among those who are already gamers. 

    Nick G drove up from West Virginia to run 2 games, including this 'Caesar at Alesia' event
Folks seemed to have a great time. I had a number of players tell me that my game was their favorite of the convention so far. It is always gratifying to hear things like that. The other Great Lakes GMs that I talked to said their players also seemed to have fun and that their games went well. Happy players make repeat players, right? And hopefully new members or attendees to our conventions!

    Jason & Henry S ran a 28mm Bolt Action tournament, in addition to numerous Learn to Play events
Now that I have run my Viking raid scenario using Sellswords & Spellslingers more times than I expected, I am going to give it a rest. I ran it once as a playtest for my Sunday night group, twice at Cincycon, once at DayCon, twice at Buckeye Game Fest, twice at Drums at the Rapids, and six times at Origins Game Fair. After 14 times, I need a break...ha, ha! Unlike last year, I probably will run a couple games in the evening at Advance the Colors. Kirk from Miniature Building Authority wants me to run a zombie game on Friday night using his amazing, 3-D printed multi-story office building he sells. Players would be racing through the building to get to the top floor and catch a helicopter out before the city is overwhelmed by zombies. So, it would be a mix of cooperative and competitive (not enough seats on the chopper?). I may even use my Mean Streets rules for that. The players could control the surviving members of a street gang who refused to believe police orders to get out of town. Now, they're fighting to get to safety.

    Jay & Jeff T ran a 15mm 'Armored Predators' North African tank battle throughout the convention
Since Kirk will be packing up that terrain piece on Saturday, I will have to run something else that night. Maybe just something simple, like a 6-player game of Lion Rampant? That wouldn't require a lot of bulky terrain, so I may do that. We'll see. As far as my painting desk goes, I am working on the last two batches of U.S. infantry for my Vietnam project. Once they're done, any work I do on that project will be just on terrain until after Historicon, as all the figures I bought will be painted up. What miniatures will be I work on in the meantime? I honestly have no idea...ha, ha!

    The Saga Ohio crew (Lee, Joe & Rusty) ran two tournaments, a Doubles event & Medieval one

MINIATURES Acquired vs. Painted Tally for 2025

  • Miniatures acquired in 2025: 232
  • Miniatures painted in 2025: 117 

TERRAIN Acquired vs. Painted Tally for 2025

  • Terrain acquired in 2025: 21
  • Terrain painted in 2025: 40

SCATTER Acquired vs. Painted Tally for 2025

  • Scatter acquired in 2025: 93
  • Scatter painted in 2025: 100

    One of our younger GMs, Jason S, ran an interesting English Civil War battle set in the U.S.
  
    Art N ran 'Barbarians on the Road' - an ambush of a Roman column several times at Origins

    Bill W ran two aerial games, including this World War I 'Wings of Glory' event

    A regular GM at Great Lakes shows, Abel D ran a 28mm Test of Honor samurai game

    Todd S gave our games a slight 'What If...?' twist with 'Martians Spotted' game set in the 1980s

    James H was an HMGS Midwest member who joined our area with his WW II game

    Nice brought his WW II Midway game back again this year, as U.S. plans try to save the Yorktown 
 
    Bill W got a chance to teach new players the popular WW II aerial rules, Check Your 6!

    A last-minute addition to our area was an ancient Hail Caesar game run by Vince B,  from Canada

    I had a blast running my Viking Raid scenario twice each day to groups of fun & enthusiastic players


Wednesday, May 21, 2025

'Loot' from Drums at the Rapids 2025 (mostly from RRB Minis & More)

    One of the prizes I won from RRB Minis & More - a very cool 3-D printed multistory urban building
I ran my Viking Raid game at Drums at the Rapids, but I was the one coming home with the loot! Normally, there were only a couple vendors at Drums, so I didn't really expect to come how with a lot of new stuff. However, I did take items to sell in the flea market at Fort Meigs. I did very well and sold most of what I took up -- more than enough to pay for my hotel, meals, and purchases. But even more significantly, most of what I was bringing home were prizes from RRB Minis & More. Owner Rich Brown had run a contest for scenarios for any of the rules sets he carries. Mine was the winner (my campaign rules for Zombie RV, which are a free download on his site). When he first told me that I won, I was surprised...even more so when I saw home much he gave me!

    The rear of the building -- I love the door upstairs to the rooftop...great sniper position for games!
As I said, Rich was very generous. He gifted me a huge amount of 3-D printed stuff from a new line he is carrying. It is all from the Kickstarter 20th Century Urban Environment. Check out the link -- this is some great stuff! If you like anything you see, feel free to contact him so he can print it out for you. Some of it was exactly what I was looking for. A few things I already have, but still, this was a very generous prize. The centerpiece was a multistory building with attached garage (I think it is meant to be attached, but it could also be a separate building). The doors open, roofs come off, and it is all very modular. I know I probably have enough urban buildings for now, but I'm going to be hard pressed to resist getting this one painted up and ready for the tabletop. I think my favorite part is the second story door leading to the flat rooftop with parapet. I can see this being a favorite "sniper position" in games using the building. It also game with some ladders which I will likely attach on the outside as a fire escape or another way up onto the roof. 

    The one story garage which I believe is made to be attached to the multistory building
The garage looks very much like a building you would see in an urban area. Maybe it is a "hole in the wall" automobile repair shop? I might paint it up that way. The garage could just as easily stand alone as its own building. It is modeled partially damaged on its sides, which gives it more versatility. If you sandwich it between two other intact buildings, though, you will never see the damage. Standing alone, it is a damaged building - perfect for post-apocalyptic or a city in ruins. One building, two uses. Although I will paint it up separately from the multistory building, it will be in a similar style so that it can be attached, if I choose. 

    The rear of the garage -- if you look through the left window, you can see the damaged side
The things I was really excited about when Rich showed me this kickstarter last year were the rooftop scatter items. The water tank, air conditioning ducts, skylights, and even doorway to the rooftop are all very generic and very useful. I had actually been looking for these types of items, so when Rich shared the Kickstarter website with me, they were the first thing I asked about. Likely, they will be the first things painted up, too. They should fit on any flat roofed building, which most of my Sarissa Precision city buildings are, thankfully. They should also paint up fairly quickly, too. I look forward to getting them finished and onto the tabletop in my next game of Mean Streets gang warfare or Zombie RV.

    3-D printed air conditioning ducts, skylights, water tank, etc., available from RRB Minis & More

If you have seen my games, you may have noticed that I don't have any stoplights in my urban setup. Initially, I had been going back and forth about how to scratch-build them. However, since then, I have picked up a couple varieties. Rich's prizes add in a third variety. I will have to set all three out and decided which ones I like better. One selling point for Rich's will be that I should be able to order as many as I want from him. I like the street lights, too -- a somewhat ornate, elongated globe. Very fancy! Of course, I would need a LOT more than two to replace my dozen or so scratch-built ones that I made a few years ago. The Stop, Yield, etc. signs are nice and will be useful, as well, as is the phone box. I already have a lot of plaster traffic cones already painted up, so I will likely not spend time on these soon. I'm not sure what the black cylindrical items are...they look familiar, but their purpose on a street is eluding me right now.

    Street scatter that Rich included in my gift box -- traffic lights & signs, streetlights, & even cones!
Rich also included some other trash -- literally! I love the collection of three garbage bags. I also like the dumpster with the separate working lids. The sawhorses are nice, as well, as are the barrels, trash cans, and even barrel fire. I already have some of these items painted up (same with the fire hydrants), but the manole covers or sewer access points are new to me and a great idea to paint up and throw onto a street on the tabletop for that little bit "extra." That's the awesome thing about scatter terrain like this. It makes your tabletop come alive. It is those little extras that draw people in and make them want to play a game on your tabletop. I highly recommend picking up some of this inexpensive scatter to take your display to the next level. 
    The goodies keep on coming -- love the collection of garbage bags, dumpster, and sawhorses!
Can you believe I'm still not done with what Rich included in the gift box? I was excited to see the three wooden pallets. I almost bought some at Cincycon this past March from A Critical Hit. However, my tub was already pretty full, so I decided to be frugal. Yes, I could make pallets with bass wood. Why, though? For a wargamer, time is money, too. These will take next to no time to get onto the table. Plus, they will be far less fiddly than cutting pieces of bass wood, arranging them, and gluing them together. I'll happily spend a small amount for 3-D printed ones. Along with the traffic lights, they will likely be my first order of additional stuff from the samples he sent me. The park bench is nice, as is the dead tree (it will join my growing dead forest). I have to admit that I have no idea what the four tiny red things are...hopefully Rich Brown will see my post and comment on what they are supposed to be. The brick rubble is good -- post-apocalyptic gamers can always use more rubble!

    Pallets! I regretted not buying these from A Critical Hit at Cincycon...now I have a source for them
I actually did buy some things from RRB Minis & More, too. He didn't bring his store, but did bring along some stuff to add in the flea market. GMs attending Drums at the Rapids are encouraged to bring flea market items to set on one of the tables or shelves along the outer wall of the main gaming area. I've been doing it for years, so I was glad to see Rich brought some things I could purchase to pay him back some. I bought printed copies of three of the rules sets he carries. I already had the PDF of Mice-at-Arms, but always like having a printed copy when I play a game. I had been meaning to download Frogs of the Fen (supplement to go along with the rules), but hadn't gotten around to it. Rich has been running his Sci-Fi rules, Fictioneers: Legacy Fantastic Sci-Fi Warriors rules for a few years at various conventions. My friends who have played them all have enjoyed the games, so I figured I would pick them up.

Rich told me he wasn't aware he could have brought his store and been a vendor. Doug of the Colby Street Irregulars usually recruits a couple for each show. So, there was a communication breakdown there, as I'm sure others would liked to have picked up some stuff from RRB Minis & More. The one vendor who was there were my friends James & Rusty from Fireland Games. They brought their collection of Saga, Bolt Action, and more figures, as well as various other items. One thing that they do that is a great service for gamers is they open up the plastic boxes and sell individual sprues. Sometimes, you don't need 30 of a figure type and five or six fit your needs perfectly. James says it has been a successful marketing strategy for them.

    Picture from the Gripping Beast website of one of the two trolls I bought from Fireland Games
Readers of my blog know I actually prefer metal miniatures, but am willing to paint plastic or 3-D printed figures, too. When I saw these 28mm metal trolls from Gripping Beast online, I knew I wanted to have a couple. I asked James at DayCon if they could get them and he said yes, and ordered the two for me. So, my purchase form Fireland Games was already "set" when I arrived. I am looking forward to the second edition of Dragon Rampant to be released in October. Fireland Games will be ordering me a copy (contact them if you want one, too). Our Sunday night gaming group enjoys the Rampant series of games. They are quick, easy-to-learn, and provide a great multiplayer game that can be finished in a couple hours. Just to give you an idea how quickly the system moves, my friend John L (owner of JS Wargamer Printing) recently ran a six player Xenos Rampant game (the Sci-Fi version). Each player controlled 40-50 points ("normal" size is 25) and it finished in a little more than two hours. If you haven't played any of the Rampant games, I highly recommend them!

    Meet my second 28mm Gripping Beast troll I got from Fireland Games -- his name is Gorka

I am telling everyone that 28mm Fantasy will be next year's project. My 28mm Vietnam is this year's, and I am adamant about not making a major purchase to start a new one before next year. Two trolls are not a major purchase. And um...neither is the box of Gripping Beast metal Orcs I'll buy when Fireland Games puts in their next Gripping Beast order. Nope, nope -- no new project! "Move along, folks, nothing to see here...!" The final picture is of three cups worth of Hirst Arts plaster pieces that Rusty brought along to get out of his basement (his wife's instructions). He wanted to give me everything he brought, which would have been about 50 of these cup's worth -- not just the three I filled up. I did not need that much, though, but there were some pieces I could use. Rusty refused to accept money for them, which just goes to show how good of guys they are (or how much he wanted to get rid of it all...ha, ha!).

    My three cups worth of Hirst Arts plaster blocks -- the doors were nice, and I can always use stone
So, how do I count all of this to add to my tallies, below? The two buildings are easy -- they're "Terrain." The scatter...wow. Do I really count each individual traffic cone? That seems excessive. And I certainlyi can't count each Hirst Arts block! Maybe the traffic cones should count those as one, to quote Gimli the Dwarf? Either way, I'm about to go seriously in the "red" on my Scatter counts of Painted vs. Acquired. And I was doing sooo well!! Luckily, I am catching up on miniatures as my Vietnam figures are going quickly. Still, it is only May. I have more than seven months to make up these totals! And who can look an amazing gift horse in the mouth, like what Rich gave me? Still, I think I need to start working some of these scatter pieces in fairly quickly...!

MINIATURES Acquired vs. Painted Tally for 2025

  • Miniatures acquired in 2025: 145
  • Miniatures painted in 2025: 85 

TERRAIN Acquired vs. Painted Tally for 2025

  • Terrain acquired in 2025: 21
  • Terrain painted in 2025: 23

SCATTER Acquired vs. Painted Tally for 2025

  • Scatter acquired in 2025: 93
  • Scatter painted in 2025: 60

Sunday, May 18, 2025

Some Pictures from Drums at the Rapids 2025

    Lagertha, Ragnar, & another Viking raider break into the Anglo-Saxon church in search of loot
I enjoy going to smaller local conventions as much as I do the bigger wargaming shows. In fact, the atmosphere at these shows tends to be more friendly and intimate, with a greater feeling of camaraderie. One annual convention that I have made it to every year since its first is Drums at the Rapids, hosted by the Colby Street Irregulars. It is held in the Visitors Center of Fort Meigs, a reconstructed War of 1812 fort in Perrysburg, OH (Toledo area). My local Historical Miniature Gaming Society chapter (Great Lakes), has helped sponsor it since the beginning.

    Tod Kershner's 'Assault at Ft. Meigs' recreates the 1813 battle that was fought at the actual fort site

    Tod's lovely 54mm figures and easy-to-learn rules reenact the U.S. assault on the British lines
In an effort to save money, I have begun driving up Friday morning and staying only Friday night in an area hotel. Saturday, we attend the con, game until we are tired and ready to go home, and then drive back. It's a good way to cut costs but still enjoy both Friday and Saturday of a show. We've begun doing the same thing at Cincycon, which is held every year in March. In addition, Drums has a free flea market on the shelves or tables along the wall -- just set your stuff and folks interested in buying something come to you. No booth to man or table to sit behind. Just do your gaming and pocket the cash your fellow attendees bring to you!

    My friend Abel Delacruz made the trip up to Toledo to run his Samurai game using Test of Honor

    Players enjoy Abel's cinematic terrain and the quick--playing rules simulating samurai warfare
As always, there are fun games being run at the show. I set up my Viking Town Raid and ran it Friday evening and Saturday morning. My good fortune continued and it filled up both times. I had good groups of players both games, and even had one repeat player on Saturday determined to get more loot than he did on Friday night. That was helpful because he could assist other players in figuring out what the defenders would do when the card came up for all of the enemies on the table to activate and attack. 

    Rich Brown teaches new GL member Andrew how to play 'Chivalrous Bum' quick-play rules

    Two attendees at Drums 2025 play the Horse & Musket adaption of the rules called 'Frizzen Bum'
Saturday saw one of the rare times that the Viking raiders made it into the church and looted its treasures. In fact, Lagertha ended up winning based on her last-turn looting of church silver, stealing the victory from the player controlling her husband Ragnar, who had a big lead most of the game. Everyone said they had a good time and I think that Ganesha Games will likely sell a good handful of copies of Sellswords & Spellslingers based on the number of folks who took pictures of the rules cover or copied down the game's title.

    Tanks assault Martian walkers in Dave Elmore's 'All Quiet on the Martian Front' game

    'Here they come...!' Martian tripods bear down on the enemy in one of Dave's2 runnings of his game
I finally got a chance myself to play in demos being run by Rich Brown of RRB Minis & More. He brought along his friend Kyle, and the two were hopping all day Friday explaining the four games they brought along and set up. Both are based on a set of rules by David Bezio (Zombie RV fame) and are meant for Westerns, called Saddle Bum. Rich and Kyle enjoy the system so much that Rich has adapted it for Medieval (Chivalrous Bum) and Horse & Musket (Fizzen Bum). Jenny and I sat down to a game of Chivalrous Bum and well, she kicked my bum and good in the game! David had sent me a copy of Saddle Bum for feedback, but I had never played the rules before. They are very simple and easy to learn. 

    Mad Max style post-apocalyptic warfare in Justin Lynch's Gaslands game, which ran both days

    Players at Drums enjoyed Justin's atmospheric board and the fun, quick 'Gaslands rules'
I saw some attendees cycling through both of his games trying them out and (I believe) purchasing the rules. The two variants are available for download on RRB Minis & More's website. I also purchased his printed copies of Bezio's Mice-at-Arms and Sci-Fi game, Fictioneers. I have been wanting to give the anthropomorphic animal themed mice battle rules a try, but haven't gotten around to it yet. And every time Rich is running Fictioneers at a convention, it seems I'm busy running my own game at the same time!

    Convention Director Doug Johnson also found time in his busy days to run the Battle of Omdurman

    Even though it wasn't on the schedule, players requested an encore of Doug's 'Toledo War' game
Drums has always been a great convention for socializing. It is good to see old friends and connect with folks I see only at conventions. This year was no different. In the old days -- 10 years ago or so -- it was quite the party, with more than a dozen gathering at the local chicken wings place over beers. Nowadays, it is much more sedate. Jenny and I had fun hanging out with Rich and Kyle at Frickers and chatting about our respective game groups. I had told myself that once I retire I would make it to more conventions. I've found that has not been the case, this year. I'm attending pretty much the same ones I attended when I was teaching. 

    My own Viking raid game had a full table on both Friday night & Saturday morning

    So many mounted Saxon hearthguard defenders appeared they formed a 'horde' under to the rules!
However, I have been floating another idea. I would like to make the rounds of the local game clubs in various parts of the region and show up on their meeting days. Rich and Kyle have a game club in the far northeast of Ohio -- Hubbard Ohio Gamers Guild. So do Rusty and James, whose Fireland Games were the one vendor in attendance. There are several in the Cincinnati area, as well as Chilicothe, and other places. So, if you would like to have Jenny and I stop by some weekend when you're gaming, let me know!

    Trench lines & tanks defend Earth against Martian attack in 'All Quiet on the Martian Front'
 
    Two medieval knights meet in chivalrous combat on a bridge in one of Rich Brown's games

Anyway, Drums was a good time, as usual. I hope you enjoy the photos of the game. I'm continuing to make good progress on my 28mm Vietnam project. I have another batch of U.S. troops in the flocking stage, and two more sets of five in the pipeline. As far as terrain, I've started on some more jungle terrain scatter pieces. They're about halfway through the process, so look for photos of them soon. Until then, hope you're getting in some good gaming yourselves...!

    Saturday morning, and my Viking Raid game is set up and awaiting a new group of Viking players

    Saxon hearth guard from a shieldwall to protect the church from Viking raiders at Drums

MINIATURES Acquired vs. Painted Tally for 2025

  • Miniatures acquired in 2025: 143
  • Miniatures painted in 2025: 80 

TERRAIN Acquired vs. Painted Tally for 2025

  • Terrain acquired in 2025: 19
  • Terrain painted in 2025: 22

SCATTER Acquired vs. Painted Tally for 2025

  • Scatter acquired in 2025: 54
  • Scatter painted in 2025: 57