Forgot to Mention

   I also purchased a set of the "Condition Cards" for Pathfinder. I think these may be the most useful purchase of all. Essentially, these are playing cards that describe the effects of the various conditions that can be inflicted upon a character or monster. For example, if they are blinded, or nauseated, or whatever. You can hand a card to the player and have them mark it with a die or tokens or something to countdown the duration if it's a temporary condition. Brilliant and simple. Love them, and I think they will really help the players to keep track of the effects.

Birthday Purchases

   Having just completed my 44th solar circumnavigation as of the 28th of last month, I found myself in possession of monies for which there was no immediate claim by my many creditors. So I went shopping online and bought myself some new toys. Not too much - mainly books to complete a collection (David Weber's Safehold series, in hardback).

  I did order a few gaming items, however, to include:

• Rise of the Runelords Items Deck, by Paizo. A deck of cards which have all the stats for some of the major items found (hopefully!) by players of the Rise of the Runelords Adventure Path. I hope these help the players and me.
• Critical Hit Deck, by Paizo. Instead of just doing double damage or something dull, you draw a card and that's what happens. Might be fun.
• Sandstone Cobblestone Roads, Intersections Pack, by JR Miniatures. Some pre-finished 15mm roads. I have some already, these are to expand the set and make intersections look more natural.
• An Osprey Men of War book on Germans in North Africa and the Balkans. I forget the precise title and issue number.
• TIE Defender for the X-Wing Game, by FFG. Just adding to the collection of Star Wars toys.
• About 30-35 of the new Ion Age 15mm Xin figures. I wasn't going to buy any new unpainted figures until I got more stuff I already have painted, but free shipping did me in. Still, only about $30 worth, including the really cool Jade Ape battlesuit.

   I hope to do some painting in the coming weeks. Then I will have something to report!

Finding a New Path?

   My son and his three best buddies have been playing D&D with me for about a year now. We don't meet regularly - the schedules of four teenage boys are a bit difficult to manage, especially with jobs, schools (three different) and girlfriends thrown in. But we manage, a bit.

   After looking over Pathfinder, we decided (i.e., I talked them into it) to give it a try. And so I plunked down some bucks, got the rules, the pawns, and the Rise of the Runelords Anniversary Edition Adventure Path. I'm currently reading through that book while we finish off the last D&D adventure (part of another Paizo-made path, the one from Dragon magazine that takes them to the Isle of Dread).

   Anyway, it's just (another) project started.

   *grin*

   I can't wait to drop this guy on them:

Blucher's First Outing at CLAWS

   This was the last weekend of January, actually. Jim purchased an entire set of minis, already painted, and the rules, on eBay from someone getting out of the game. The figures he picked up are 28mm, Foundry I think, and quite nicely painted and flagged. The big chunky group bases worked well with the visual aspect of the game and the level of command and control.

The British infantry advance boldly across the CigarBox battle mat.

The Man Himself, Napoleon, the Corsican Ogre, leads the French onslaught.

From the rear, like a good general.

A Bird's Eye View

  We used 15mm terrain, and that seemed to work well since it's more of an idea that "this area is built up" than "this building holds a squad". Again, scope of the game - it's not Flames of War.

   Two games were played, and the result was a French victory in one and a British victory in the other. Everyone playing seemed to enjoy it. It's an interesting system, and I have a feeling we will be seeing it again in the near future.

This is Winston. He's my new buddy. He's part of the reason I haven't done much game stuff lately.

Store Report: Gamers N Geeks, Mobile AL

It's been a while since I posted one of these, and I don't have a lot of time at the moment, but I wanted to get down my impressions of the store that bills itself as "Mobile's Gaming HQ", Gamers N Geeks.

The pros:

• Plenty of gaming area, especially for card games.
• They are adding in a LAN gaming area as well - I think it may be in operation.
• Well lit and clean.
• Provide snacks and drinks (for a charge).

The cons:

• Share space with a comic book store, but different registers.
• Very little on-hand game-wise, except for CCGs.
• Hours of operation online are incorrect - professionalism pet peeve.

Over all, I wasn't terribly impressed. It's not bad, but it sure isn't very good either. Call it about a 5 out of 10.