Websites what I browse...

What I thought I'd do for this post is to reveal the secrets of my favourites list from my web-explorer. It's not a complete replication of all of the bitz and pieces that reside therein, but you might get a kick out of having a surf from here to one of these sites - who knows what you may find -

Starting with the 'BIg BOys' gaming companies -

http://dark-age.com/
http://www.games-workshop.com/

http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/

http://www.grindhousegames.com/pages/incursion-home

http://company.wizards.com/

http://www.infinitythegame.com/

http://www.malifaux.com/index.php

http://www.smartmaxstore.com/

http://www.flamesofwar.com/

http://privateerpress.com/

http://www.mercsminis.com/

http://www.westwindproductions.co.uk/

http://www.spartangames.co.uk/

Next the websites/blogs that bring news and views together....  

http://www.tabletopgamingnews.com/

http://www.miniwargaming.com/

http://www.belloflostsouls.net/

http://www.beastsofwar.com/

http://www.coolminiornot.com/


AND LASTLY - painting and gaming and hobby blogs from wherever I have ended up on the tinternet...


http://fromthewarp.blogspot.co.uk/   

http://thefrontlinegamer.blogspot.co.uk/

http://www.front-toward-enemy.us/   

http://space-wolves-grey.blogspot.co.uk/

http://www.talesfromthewarzone.com/  

http://toomuchmetal.blogspot.co.uk/

http://ratdorg.blogspot.co.uk/

http://handcannononline.com/

http://www.awesomepaintjob.com/

http://robhawkinshobby.blogspot.co.uk/

http://pressganger.blogspot.co.uk/

http://itslikewatchingpaintdry.blogspot.co.uk/

http://taleofpainters.blogspot.co.uk/

http://docsavagetales.blogspot.co.uk/

Happy browsing.

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Posted in: 40k,board games,CCG/TCG,Dark Age Games,Dystopian Legions,Flames Of War,Magic:The Gathering,Malifaux,stuff,Tannhauser,Warhammer Fantasy,Warhammer Invasion,Warmachine

Warhammer Invasion - first impressions.

So, to plead for mercy - given the inordinate amount of time it took to paint the Rune Priest - here's something I did earlier this week. I played through a couple of games of this LCG (Living Card Game) by Fantasy Flight Games.




...the box...

 


What it looks like on the table.

 

... And in fact, the games went really well. The rules are accessible and easy to use. The cards/tokens/counters are well made, as I have come to expect from FFG, and the art work on the cards was also pretty good overall (if not quite as 'artistic' as many Magic : The Gathering cards).

Essentially you play as a race with a set of 50 cards against an enemy (or up to 3 in the core box). Cards are split into Units/Support/Tactics types and you play them according to the number of resource tokens you have. The idea is to use your Units to destroy your opponents 'Kingdom' by dealing hit points and eventually setting two out of three zones on fire. You can in turn, defend with your units and use tactics/spells etc. as you go along... you get the idea...

You can mix allied races(e.g. Empire and Dwarfs), but reduce the likelihood of being able to use some abilities - like Magic TG. Each race has its own way of working, and you can build on these, or build other races up by buying other expansion packs (at around £8 or so - at Amazon etc.). The 'Orcz' are suitably thuggish and Chaos use corruption type abilities. The various expansions add new abilities to your forces and some introduce other races, like Lizardmen.

There were, of course, some quibbles over card interpretations but these were not game stopping, with a little give and take. There are also forums (as on the FFG website) where you can check out errata and rules clarification.

In the end each game took about an hour and there was a real sense of battle, and an ebb and flow to the game as it progressed. I was well beaten, but enjoyed the experience all the same. A very successful  foray into LCGs. The card abilities and gameplay ends up being a little less 'sophisticated' (and complex) than MTG, however the strategic thinking and careful combining of cards is all here.There is a lot of replayability too, with 4 sets of cards in the intro set. At around £25 to £30, a little expensive perhaps, but look around, I would absolutely recommend it. I am going to look out for the FFG Lord of The Rings LCG set which is due out soon and can be played solo.

Watch this space for more...  oh, and a set of the board game Catan has arrived...

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Posted in: LCG,Warhammer Invasion

New additions.

Well, this week has seen the arrival of a few items on my doorstep. Mainly because I've got a little free time and I aim to use it! So, Lone Wolf and Cub v. 22 - 24, BPRD 7-10, Warhammer Invasion LCG and The Warhammer 8th ed. rule book. There's more to come, but one thing at a time - sort of.

I read the Lone Wolfs (wolves?) and the series is moving dramatically to its conclusion. The story is as gripping as ever. The son and father in their meifumado (look it up!) and the final battles against their mortal enemy. Consistently, well paced and thoughtfully drawn. Yes, there is adult content, it's not for kids - but for a discerning reader it has incredible qualities and you soon forget that you have been looking at the glossary. It has meticulous attention to detail ; there is a real sense of place and the community. Also, despite the way in which Ogami Itto embraces death and destruction there is a real humble humanity about him that ensures our sympathies. I suppose that is the real point. It is not simply a tale of revenge.

As a quick added point I have just played through the first few starter sessions of Battle for Skull Pass. I have to say that it was all nice and easy. I really like the range of figures. Great for the price. I do realise I will have to adapt what I have learnt with the new edition but there you go... Any way, it all went OK. You do need trays for the figures though - compared to my starter efforts at 40K, movement is a right royal pain without them. Overall, I kept having to look at the stats but my 12 year old got them straight away. Shows something I guess!!
I did wonder about the Flee rule - I felt it might mean that low Leadership troops would be forever running away -but it didn't work out like that- perhaps only because of favourable dice rolls though. We shall see.
Nevertheless will move on to full starter scenario - then the 3 Advanced Scenarios on the Games Workshop website and let you know how they go. At the moment it seems quite accessible and I like the way you can get into the game before knowing the more complex rules.

I think you all ought to know I took back Final Fantasy XIII - I loved the graphics and the gameplay but it was more than my mind could take in terms of intellectual /time investment. I am ashamed to admit this. I really didn't understand the weapons upgrade system and I couldn't work out how to get really good. I hang my head. So I'm going back to Elder Scrolls : Oblivion for RPG and have bought Uncharted 2 to shoot stuff.

Time black hole approaches.

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Posted in: graphic novels,Lone Wolf and Cub,PS3,Warhammer Fantasy,Warhammer Invasion