Monterey Jack Saves the Day

   I am speaking, naturally, of the eminent archaeologist of Arkham, not the cheese.

Monterey Jack interacts with Amazonian Locals

   We played another game of Arkham Horror this week. This time we added in the cards from both the King in Yellow and Curse of the Dark Pharaoh sets. Our Ancient One was Nyalarthotep. I drew Monterey Jack as my investigator, which is fine, because he is one of my favorites.

   This was one of the fastest games we have yet played. The Investigators triumphed by closing all the gates. Monterey Jack, after having a great deal of trouble in the Other Worlds (especially being delayed three times in the Abyss) used an Elder Sign to seal the final gate in the eighth turn of the game. And, thanks to the luck of the draw on gate locations, there were three turns in which a gate failed to appear because the location was already sealed with an Elder Sign. The Stars Were Not Right.

 

To Historicon or Not to Historicon, that is the Question

   I really enjoy going to Historicon. Over the past eight or so years, I have gone five times: twice in Lancaster, twice in Valley Forge, and once in Fredericksburg. Each time was fantastic fun. Played lots of well-produced games and tried many new rule sets, genres, and scales. Bought lots of toys, both in the dealer's room and in the flea market - oh how I love the flea market!!! Met lots of great people. Drank lots of Yuengling. And rum. That sort of thing.

   This year I am trying to be more frugal, however. It's not that I can't afford to go - I can. And with a friend along (I have a buddy who wants to go), the cost goes down because I can split the room and the rental car. So that makes it even less expensive, or, as I see it, leaves me with more money for purchasing toys.

   I already decided that I would not buy any minis until I had painted some of the ones residing in Lead Mountain. I think a two-to-one ratio of painted to purchased would be good. So, if I paint ten 15mm figures, I can buy five. Perhaps that should be my goal this year.

   Naturally, that means I need to get painting if I want to attend Historicon and buy things. Because I will buy things at Historicon, and I am not going to limit myself to Belle and Blade's videos and t-shirts! Maybe a painting and gaming goal needs to be reached by, say, the opening of registration, before I can go. Yes, that sounds good.

   I know you find this stuff riveting... I promise to have more gaming content next time.

Mentioned in a Magazine!

  Okay, this is kind of cool. At least, for certain values of 'cool.'

  I just got my copy of Wargames Soldiers and Strategy (WSS), Issue 76, which was dedicated to Victorian Science Fiction - "Adventures in the Age of Steam" as they put it. So there I am, just flipping through the issue, reading an article that serves as in introduction to VSF (or steampunk, if you insist) written by Gary Mitchell.And there, right at the end of the article on page 33, is a mention of The Aethergraph:

"The Aethergraph, for example, is a new online 'zine on the topic, complete with a mock Victorian-style newspaper presentation."

  Geek-out frenzy ensues. I'll be back later.

Top 10 Christmas Movies

ANOTHER WORLD FAMOUS

TOP TEN LIST

CHRISTMAS MOVIES

   These are my Top Ten Favorite Christmas Movies. To qualify, they have to meet the following very stringent criteria:

• They must have a Christmas theme in some way.
• I have to think of them, right now.
• I have to like them a lot.

   There is no real sense of order here. Happy Christmas!


10. Die Hard

Because nothing says "Our Savior is Born!" like a rogue cop whacking terrorists/bank robbers in a half-completed building in LA. 39 F-bombs, 19 dudes with mustaches, and 22 bad guys taken down with extreme prejudice. Yippee-ki-yay...


9. Lethal Weapon

Yep. Set at Christmas time. What is it with criminals in LA? Have they not learned the rogue cops all bust loose at Christmas?

8. Bad Santa

Billy Bob Thornton as the most grotesque mall Santa ever.

7. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Edmund Gwenn as the best department store Santa ever. Oh, and it has Maureen O'Hara in it, too.

6. Gremlins

Because it teaches you to follow the rules. Always follow the rules.


5. Trading Places

One of Eddie Murphy's funniest movies. Dan Aykroyd is is brilliant in it as well. "Is there a problem officers?" "Who's been putting their Kools out on my floors?" "Looking good, Lewis. / Feeling good, Billy Ray!"


4. Scrooged

A modern re-telling of Dickens's classic Christmas tale, starring Bill Murray. I remember taking a date to it, one of the first movie dates I ever did without chaperonage. We made out a lot in the back of the theater. Saw it again later, and enjoyed it.

3. A Charlie Brown Christmas

Charlie Brown, you're hopeless. Depressed by the rampant commercialism of Christmas, Charlie Brown is just trying to find his Christmas spirit. This is a movie I make my sons (now 16 and just shy of 19) watch with me every year. Highlight for me is Linus telling the Christmas story.

2. It's A Wonderful Life

The sappiest movie of all time? Perhaps. But I know I never really feel like its been Christmas until I see it and hear Jimmy Stewart saying "Zuzu's petals!"

1. A Christmas Story

Ralphie. Red Ryder BB Gun. Bunny suit. Leg lamp - "Fragile." I could say more, but I need to go watch it. Again.

Projects List, 2014

Just to keep a record of what I am up to, gaming-wise... to be included, there has to be either actual minis in-hand (painted or otherwise) or particular forces planned but not purchased (marked with asterisk). Finished, or nearly finished projects are in green. Not many of those.

Historical:

• FOW British 8th Army (Indian)
• FOW German DAK
• 15mm SCW Carlistas
• 15mm FOG-R TYW German (Catholic/Imperial)
• 28mm SAGA Vikings
• 28mm SAGA Welsh*
• 28mm Dark Ages Terrain*

VSF:

• Dystopian Wars Prussians
• Dystopian Wars Federated States of America
• Dystopian Wars Britannia (w/ Indian Raj and HEIC)*
• Dystopian Wars Terrain
• 28mm British
• 28mm German
• 28mm Russian*
• 28mm French
• 28mm Japanese*
• 28mm Martians
• 28mm Automatons
• 28mm Lizardmen
• 28mm Police (IHMN)
• 28mm Servants of Ra (IHMN)
• 28mm Lord Curr's Company (IHMN)
• 28mm Society of Thule (IHMN)
• 28mm Brotherhood Monks (EotD)
• 28mm Characters
• 28mm Victorian Zombies*
• 28mm Victorian Vehicles (Hansom Cab, Omnibus)*
• 28mm Terrain
• 15mm Martians
• 15mm Automatons
• 15mm Lizardmen
• 15mm French
• 15mm Texicans
• 15mm Papal States
• 15mm Japanese
• 15mm Terrain
• 6mm Germans
• 6mm British
• 6mm Martians
• 6mm Terrain
• Sky Galleons - Martians
• Sky Galleons - British
• Aeronef  - Italians
• Sky Galleons/Aeronef Terrain

15mm Sci-Fi:

• Chuhuac
• Human (Khurasan Federal Army)*
• 15mm Sci-Fi Terrain*

Misc:

• 28mm VBCW - Republic of Wales
• Warhammer Fantasy - Empire
• Doctor Who - 28mm Daleks
• Doctor Who - 28mm Doctor and UNIT*
• Doctor Who - 15mm TARDIS
• BattleTech
• Ogre Miniatures
• 6mm Quar (for Ogre or BattleTech Aliens)

While I am quite sure there are more things that I am currently forgetting, this is the majority of my miniatures-based gaming. Now, add in some RPG and boardgames, and you are looking at a pretty hefty load.

I'm mad. That's the only explanation. And now you know why I sometimes feel overwhelmed and never seem to feel as if I am making progress...