The proof is in the pudding ....

Greetings troops,

For weeks it seems I have been stating pictures are coming.  Well I promised some photos and I will give you some this posting.  They are random photos from various games of Flames of War.

This week I am on family leave with the family.  Vacation was needed before I started school again in September.  Fun in the sun and various family activities have been great !

On the mini front, I have been working on the M10 platoon for my glider infantry and have one section about 90% done.  I have one more section to complete before moving on to the Combat Engineer platoon.

On to the pictures ....

Enjoy .... see I told you my camera is working now ...

Joe

Late Italy FOW

Greetings troops,

Last evening I was able to get a FOW game completed with my bud Steve, What Would Patton Do ? and Rob. I was not able to get any photos since my camera charger was charging at time of the game.  This is AAR is by Steve, click his link and enjoy !

I had a blast.  We finally got infantry vs infantry !!!!!

Joe

Greetings troops. Soon I will be posting photos via my phone while playing. Something new for the blog. Joe

Never fear ...

Greetings troops,

Just a quick hello.  My wife is picking up a charger for our digital camera. Our other charger is MIA and has not been found.  So as soon as it is purchased the sooner I will get some finished photos.

Keep on stopping by for the updates ....

Joe

Dies the Fire ....

Hello Troops,

Imagine if you will the following scenerio ....

Your sitting at a local bar.  Friends and patrons are enjoying a evening of music and spirits.  Suddenly the power goes out.  No biggie right ? Happens all the time in this day and age.  You would think that nothing but a power outage occurred.  Out of no where, a large sound comes from the sky.  Everyone rushes to the windows and watches in awe as a huge passenger plane collides into town.  Nothing but fires and the glow of burning jet fuel are visible.  People rush to assist as fire and police units are no where to be seen.  Phones are out.


The town turns into chaos.  Looting begins as police and rescue personnel are attempting to assist with the plane crash.  Police turn to stop the looting.  Looters and police draw down on each other with just clicks of the pistols.  No discharge ?


What is going on ?

This is how Dies the Fire by S.M. Stirling begins.  Its an "end of the world" as we know it and as the characters begin to refer to as "The Change".  No electric items work, no combustion works, as does gun powder.  It basically sets the landscape into a medieval setting.  People are scattering and those with any mind are leaving the cities and forming protection and new lives.  No one knows how or why "The Change" occured but right now survival is key.

This is the first book in the series by S.M. Stirling.  I will definitely be moving on to the next book.

On a gaming note, imagine the sky the limit.  Not only with game play, rules or world setting but with modeling and converting models.  My creative mind drools at the thought.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good scifi/survival book.

Keep on reading, painting and rolling dice .....

Joe

Books ?

Hello Troops,

Recently I filled everyone in about my latest read while I was on vacation.  Does any other troops have a book they like to read while in the foxhole ?  I am mostly a science fiction and fantasy guy myself.  I would also include modern conflict and spy like books as well.

So sound off and let the General know what interests his readers ....

Joe

Guns of August Tournament

Greetings troops,

I was able to get my first tournament under my belt this past weekend.  I carpooled with Steve and his wife Lydia to Williamsburg,VA for the Guns of August tournament.  I had a blast and truly couldn't ask for a better experience.  HUGE thanks to Steve and Lydia for carpooling and such, it was an awesome time.

We arrived around 8 am and began to set up for the tournament.  We had 3 Italy boards and 4 desert boards to battle on.  Jon, a fellow player came and set up a beautiful board for demo games if anyone wished to play and learn.  

One, if only downside of the tournament was the no show of 6 players.  Unfortunately it hurt the axis to allies ratio as we had 8 allies and 4 axis.  I was able to get one game against axis forces and then had 1 british player and 1 american.  But I still had a great time.

 The first game I had was against Bob, running Axis forces.  The first mission was free for all.  Both side went to work and pushed forward.  I was able to bail his lone Tiger tank with my M10s.  The Tiger stayed out of action due to failed bail rolls for almost 80% of the game.  I wasn't able to take it out of action though I placed many holes and dents in it.  My Stuarts surged in the middle and was taken out by Panzers fairly quickly.  My infantry had tanks push them left and right along with rockets raining down on my head.  It was a good fight and Bob won 5-2

Next game was against Mike and his British playing Hold the Line (No Retreat).  I got the unlucky roll of being the attacker.  Mike had 8 platoons, 4 had to be in reserve, 2 had to be in ambush and the other 2 placed on the board.  I had to enter the small side of the board with tons of open land to get across to engage, with the knowledge that 2 ambushes were out there.  Mike had his 8 gun battery placed and a team of heavy mortars.  He also had air support as well.  NEEDLESS to say I was slaughtered getting across the open terrain.  His airplanes couldn't miss, his artillery was on fire and his mortars were on fire as well.  I had my Stuarts ambushed and lost 2.  By the time I was able to get anything within range I was able to take some units out but not anything platoon size.  I lost 6 - 1 ....

My last game was against Aaron and his Americans.  It was an awesome game.  We dealt each others numerous moral checks !  Aaron passed 3 in a row just for one unit.  I was able to take out his contesting Shermans with my M10s who came out of reserve to assist.  I also rolled a reserve roll and brought in my Stuarts to help assist in contesting an objective.  The game was a blood bath .... 4-3 loss to Aaron.

Considering myself  humble, I was awarded the Best Sportsman Award which was a section of M10s ! I thank all whom voted for me.  I had a blast and met some great people .... I am looking forward to the next tournament for sure.

Well keep painting ..... and rolling dice !

Joe

Homeland Book Review

Greetings Troops,



I just finished my latest book choice.  I picked it out of the bookshelf of books I have lined up to read.  Its sad that I have so many books but I store the ones I have read and place the ones I haven't on the book shelf.

Homeland by R.A. Salvatore is the first of three books in the The Dark Elf Trilogy.  The books follow Drizzt Do'Urden, introducing his beginning life stories before leading into his first book appearance, The Crystal Shard.

Homeland follows Drizzt's unique situation and somewhat confusing childhood as he learns of the dark elfs ways and at the same time does not seem to understand and act like his brothers.

I am currently going to continue with the series and then jump into his other books.  Good reading ....

Till the next post .......

Joe