Another Wizard

I finished another Reaper Wizard model this week...

I've been trying to be more disciplined about painting figures, so I started a new challenge I heard about. I can't find the links, but it's a simple enough challenge: paint one miniature a week. That's it. Just one figure a week, each and every week, for one year. That seems doable to me. So this is my first week....

Anyway, that's it for today. Until next time, carry on!

Count's Castle

Last week I said I received my Dwarvenforge Castles Kickstarter. Here are some shots of the Count's Castle being assembled in all it's glory...

Gate House.
The lighted LED torches are a nice touch.

Everything is modular.
The corner towers can be broken out to be free standing with the add-on I bought.

It's a lot of parts.
It took me a while to figure out how it all goes together, which is part of the fun.

Getting there!

Voila! The Count's Castle.
This an amazing addition to my collection.

Drone view.
The details are superb. We will be having much fun with this stuff for years to come.

My daughter's Reaper Druid takes aim from the parapet!

Well, that's it for this week. Until next time, carry on!

Castle in a Box

I received my Dwarvenforge Castles Kickstarter stuff the other day.

Main pledge and add-ons.
Couldn't wait to haul it to the basement.
Had to start unboxing in the kitchen.

It's a pile of stuff and this isn't even all of it.

All the add-ons unboxed and spread on the table.

Suspended Parapets set.

Small Tower Batter Bases.

Small Tower Breakout set.
(Allows you to make a free standing tower from a castle corner tower.)

Ruined Walls set.

Stone Bridge set.

Ruined Large Tower set.

Larger Tower Batter Base.

Large Tower Transition set.
(Allows you to add a Large Tower to the corner of a castle.)

Of course that is just all the add-ons that allow me to have some variety in my castle layouts. My main pledge was the Count's Castle...

Count's Castle boxed.

Next week I'll show you what this looks like when it's all put together.

Until next time, carry on!

Hexes and Counters

I had the original version of Squad Leader back in the late 70s and really enjoyed it. Somewhere along the line, I ended up selling my copy of the original and the two expansions I had. Why I do things like that, I'll never understand! Inevitably my interest circles back around and I regret selling off the collection.

Anyway, I picked up a second hand copy of the Advanced Squad Leader Starter Kit #1 recently. I discovered an extensive online community supporting the game and found some great tutorials for learning how to play. It's made for some very enjoyable evenings playing solo.

The iconic silhouette on the cover is what grabbed my attention.
Memories of days gone by. : )

The beginner's scenario.
I always loved these mission cards.

Old School hex and counter game.
I love the look of beautifully painted minis and terrain,
but something about the graphic art of this game appeals to me also.

It has some serious "crunch", but it flows well and is an enjoyable challenge.

Some argue that Advanced Squad Leader is more of a simulation of combat than a game. Not having been in combat, I cannot speak to this. But I do know it's complex and I'm enjoying that complexity. With the current trend in games to simplify everything, it is refreshing to experience a real mental challenge. I figure if I keep playing games like this, it will help stave off senility as I age! : )

I'm looking to pickup the other two Starter Kits when the publisher restocks them at the end of the Summer. I'm imagining further enjoyable evenings this Fall and Winter.

Until next time, carry on!