Where have I been and what have I been doing?

 I am shocked to realize that I have not posted since the beginning of May, but I have a fairly decent excuse. Work. That terrible thing we must do to finance our hobby... in April my boss and my peer manager both left my company and I picked up both of their jobs.  Keeping the "grist mill" running., hiring new staff, and doing all that has kept me busy. 

I have gotten a few things done over the last few months hobby-wise, here is a montage.

Darkest Africa with Smooth and Rifled

Just a short game, worked pretty well but I think I am doing it wrong.  I think it might work well for Darkest Africa, reminds me of the Mark Copplestone rules from Wargames Illustrated in the 90's (I have a copy on my shelf) with leaders running around motivating troops.

Or I need to just accept it and use Sharp Practice 2.  Too bust to follow up right now, but will come back to this. 

Making a Hex Sheet

I made a hex play mat for my long planned WW2 Eastern Front Double Blind game I want to run at a convention. (See labels to right.)  I created and 3d printed a template I could use to mark out a 100mm / ~4 inch hex grid. 

You can find it HERE

Played some Pulp Alley

A couple of weeks ago, I got some Pulp Alley in with my wife's nephew.  Lots of fun, I ran Dr. Nefario, he had his cult.  We played Hidalgo fire and I lost two of my minions to snake bite trying to riffle through Lady Elaine's tent.  He won.  I need to play more though as rules were slipping my mind.

Printed Tanks and Played What A Tanker!

There will be more of this, I have printed up some 1/150 scale tanks (more on the painting table) to play What A Tanker!.  Played a game with the wife, it was a hit, you will see more of this...

Painted 10mm Korean War

More pictures coming, here is a preview.  I have a nice force of US Army and NKPA / CVF troops, time to start playing.  I am leaning towards Crossfire, I have not played in years.

Went on a cruise

Despite the global pandemic, we worked in our first cruise in over a year.  Mostly visited private cruise ship islands or stayed on the ship and took the steam in the spa. Did see this neat thing on the beach at St., Augustine, evidence of sea turtles...

Ok, I am going to try to get on at least a monthly update schedule.  I hope everyone in our community is doing well, stay healthy and roll dice!

Soviet Tank Corps is done!

I have finally finished all of the support troops for my Soviet Tank Corps.  Here it is in all of its glory.

Don't forget I have actually painted TWICE this amount for the double-blind game, one for the Soviet players and an identical set for the German table as units are spotted.  Overkill?  Probably, but that's how I roll...

Here is the Tank Corps with the subunits delineated, click to enlarge.  I am planning for 3 players for the Soviets, one for each Brigade with the Corps assets divided between them or run by a 4th player playing the Corps commander.

The Corps consists of:

• 2 x Tank Brigades consisting of
• 4 x units of T-34's
• 2 units of SMG Tank Riders
• I Motor Rifle Brigade consisting of
• 6 x units of Motor Rifle Infantry
• 1 unit of 45mm Anti-Tank Guns
• Motorcycle battalion consisting of 2 x Lighta nd 2 x heavy recon elements
• Corps attachments
• 1 x SU-76 Assault Gun Regiment
• 1 x SU-85 Anti-Tank Regiment
• 1 x SU-152 Assault Gun Regiment
• Attached Artillery (from Army Level)
• 2 x 76mm Battalions
• 3 x Howitzer Battalions
• 2 x Rocket Battalions
• Logistics units: Trucks to use as counters in the rules

I figure each player will have 6-8 units, which should make them a little more conservative.

Right now, as we speak, I am printing out markers to indicate units that are firing (so when I umpire, I can keep up with that and remove the markers from units that have resolved their fire) and motorized movement markers to indicate motorized infantry units that are not moving tactically.

The rules themselves are still percolating, I will not start playtesting the mechanics until I have both forces painted up.

Next in the painting queue are the two Panzer Grenadier Regiments for the Panzer division.  Stay Tuned!

Here is my Kanban Board progress:

3mm Eastern Front Painting Update, Soviet Motor Rifle Brigade

Despite my distraction with 3d printing and the holidays, I have made more progress.

Every Tank Corps had 1 Motor Rifle Brigade, which I will be representing with 6 x Bases of Infantry and 1 - 2 bases of 45mm Anti-Tank guns.  Infantry is not terribly photogenic, but I believe they will look great en-mass. 

You need a lot of Infantry for a Tank Corps or even a Panzer Division for that matter.  Not as sexy as AFV's, but a critical component of the combined arms team.  As I fiddle with the rules and hopefully start playtesting, I want to make sure that is represented.

Here is a single Brigade:

And both Brigades for the double-blind game:

And my updated Kanban Board, whoohoo!

Good gaming!

Double Blind game Progress, Hills

Slowly working away on the project still and continuing to make progress.  Here is my update Kanban Board!  To hear how it can help you, see this episode of Henry Hyde's Battlechat.

I purchased extra Kallistra hills, and now I have 2 identical sets to use with my Double-Blind game project.

 Here is how they'll look with troops

 And here is how they will stack up and be VERY portable for transport to conventions.

The Soviet Motor Rifle Brigade is about 1/2 way through, I hope to have it wrapped up the end of next week.

Good gaming!

3mm Eastern Front Painting Update, another Tank Brigade Finished!

As usual, real life has interfered with the important things, like gaming, but I have made some progress on painting up my double-blind game project, Guards Tank Brigade.  I have finished the second Tank Brigade for the Tank Corps, which since this is double-blind means I had to paint up TWO Tank Brigades.

Here is everything I have painted so far, Two Tank Brigades x 2.
• 16 Companies of T-34’s (mix of 76mm and 85mm guns), 64 vehicles
• 8 companies of SMG armed infantry (~ 160 figures)
Plus a few armored cars and trucks for logistics markers.
I need better lighting, but I think these are going to look good in mass. (Click to enlarge)

I am keeping my Kanban board updated:

Next up, is the Motor Rifle Brigade of the Tank Corps (X2).  I think I have a good technique down for the infantry, so I hope to have them done and table-ready in 2 weeks.
Until then, good gaming!

New Project putting 6 x 6 challenge on hiatus... 3mm Eastern Front

Now on to my new project…

I am officially putting my 6 x 6 challenge on hold after only two measly games.  Why?  Not because I am losing my enthusiasm for the hobby, but because it has been reinvigorated!  Participating in the double-blind game at Southern Front has inspired me to develop my own game to take to conventions next year.  While Mike’s game was tactical, I plan to do this at a little different level.

In summary:

• Eastern Front, 1942-44
• 1 Base will = 1 maneuver company or artillery battalion
• On a big 80mm x 40mm base because I like the look
• 1 small base = 1 recon platoon
• The rules will be very fast and inspired by 5Core Brigade Commander and Tank on Tank:East Front
• They will play on a hex grid, to facilitate laying out identical terrain and speed up play
• 1 hex = roughly 500 meters, with max 2 units in same he

Command friction will be the focus and will be provided by:

• Multiple players per side (this by itself adds a lot)
• Players will not know where the enemy is until spotted, recon is critical!
• Players will not necessarily know when they have been spotted, so they will not know what the other guy knows about them!
• Players will not know the exact results of their firing on the enemy
• Must play fast, fast, fast
• Some Logistics will be included as in an abstract manner

I have drafted rules and will post them after I have had a chance to do some playtests.

As a double-blind game involves painting twice the number of units you would normally, and I want a grand, sweeping look, I am using:

• 3mm Picoarmor
• Based on 80mm ovals (ovals look more like situation maps!)
• On a 4-inch hex grid

Here are some shots of my first completed units.  I am aiming to give each player 6 - 8 elements to command, so this would be one command.  It is a Tank Brigade, a little understrength, with 2 x T-34 battalions, a motor rifle battalion, an armored car platoon, and a couple of logistics markers plus a duplicate version to use on the German table.

 Close up of 1 Tank Brigade.  3mm is not that photogenic, but at gaming distances, they look like an areal photo.  And the vehicle look more tactically spaced than hub to hub games.

 Motor Rifle Battalion.  SMG's, for rifle companies, I will add Maxim machine guns to distinguish them.

A battalion of T-34's, slightly out of focus so as not to give intelligence to the Fascist invader.


As you can see when I am done, I will have big forces for face to face games as well.  I have gotten a good start, considering I am balancing family, work, and grad school.  Stay tuned and I will do weekly updates and I hope to get the rules exercised next month.

I am tracking my progress via a Kanban Board HERE

Good gaming!