Thursday, December 15, 2011

Eastern Front Battle Photos

Greetings troops,

Tuesday evening, Steve and I were able to get some FOW Eastern Front action.  It was a fantastic battle that literally came down to one roll ... a snake eye by me.  Here are some photos of the game.  For the full AAR please visit WWPD: What Would Patton Do?

The field of battle ...

T-34/85s lining up ...

Initial forces assembling for the Russians

Tank Escorts riding in

Russian targets ... Grenadiers in the Woods

Lining up for tank escorts ...

Heavy losses for German troops

Heavy losses require the Germans to fall back

T-34/85s crash through the woods previously held by Germans

German PAK40s open up one T-34/85

Nebs adding a little dirt shower to the T-34/85s

A burning T-34/85. Escorts falling off defending to the last

PAK40s view of fire

T-34/85s pressing home on the decimated German Grenadiers

Captured Stugs used as decoys bringing up the rear

Hopeless ... They flee from the field after extreme losses

Pressing through the village

Not without a price ...

German Pioneers press in and take out 2 of the 3 decoys

Shifting to defend the new threat

Burning hulls

PAK40s bail numerous tanks ...

German Pioneers pressing towards new targets

2IC and Komissar are over-run by the speed of the Pioneer's attack


T-34/85s kill 3 out of 4 mobile PAK40s ...

Stugs from reserve are surprised by a lone T-34/85 ... the Soviet Hero kills 2 out of 3 in one action

German Pioneers still pressing into the rear of the T-34/85s formation

A bloody struggle begins in the village ... The Russians begin to fall one by one

The roll that caused the Russians to flee the field ... a close battle. 4-3 to Steve

It was a great game.  I am happy to say the rolls were amazing on both sides.  Great game Steve.  I look forward to getting my Russians victory.

Be safe, Keep the Paint flowing and the Dice rolling !!

Joe ... aka Mezz

Friday, November 25, 2011

Hospital Lockdown

     1 hour to go, coffee is low. Not his best status post to date but it will work. Truth behind it since the coffee was horrible but free. Nathan was about caffined out and leaned back into his chair. The shift was slow. This was a good thing in terms of life in a hospital but bad for his slow shift. Nothing to do leads to boredom which leads to naps. Nathan already had 2 naps recorded on his performance apprasials.

     Spinning around in his chair, Nathan reached out for his iPod to help finish out his shift. Without warning a thunderous noise arrupted from the bay containing the body of the paramedic. The coffee suddenly went to his bladder. The lack of sleep and caffeine overload must be getting the best of him. Shrugging his shoulders, he walked over to the body storage area and noticed the storage door open.

     Turning on the lights exposed more horrors. Numerous doors to various lockers were open with bodies laying in various positions. At that moment one body sat up with a look of anger and hunger. A moan let out with others responding with a sick chorus of similar moans. Nathan didn't need a second look before running. Pain shot through his leg with lightening speed. One of the bodies had latched onto his ankle with fierce strength. Nathan reached for a fire extinguisher and slammed it into the monster's head. Blood shot everywhere as Nathan repeatedly assaulted the beast in an effort to escape.

     The target finally released Nathan due to the fact that no head remained. Nathan dragged himself across the office and reached for the phone. Numerous shadows could be seen moving towards him.

     "Security, this is Bob speaking". Nathan couldn't speak fast enough. "Bob, get some help. Something is not right and we have bodies down here eating each other!". Bob looked at the phone and smirked. It wouldn't be the first time someone has called security on nightshift goofing off. He looked at the switchboard and saw it was the ring down line from the morgue. He couldn't remember ever getting a call from them before. He didn't get a chance to answer. A loud scream came from the phone and disconnected. Bob ran to the ER looking for the off duty police officer.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Night terrors ...

     Terror spreads fast.  Whether by word of mouth or be it by another media, panic always ensues. In this case, terror was a nightmare that came calling during the night !

     The nursing home was conveniently located in a neighborhood as the developers had planned.  Surrounded by numerous neighborhoods, families and a decent wildlife interface had allowed a major selling point for families wishing to place their loved ones into a skilled nursing facility.

     Night shift allowed the zombie plague to spread at an alarming rate.  By the time staff had noticed a problem, they were either victims themselves or wounded and running.  Those whom ran didn't realize that time was against them and soon they would be part of the problem.

      The first zombies to wander out into the neighborhoods didn't have to walk far to find victims.  The houses were less than 50 feet between each other.  Those whom left their doors unlocked fell victim first.  The ones whom had more secure residences were alerted to noise or barking dogs.  Screams filled the night.

     The 911 center began receiving numerous calls for service.  All lines both emergency and non emergency were lit up.  The supervisor stood up to advise the call takers of the situation but he could see that they were actively trying to answer call after call.

     "Sir, we are receiving numerous calls for service in the same service area. We may have a fight or something larger."  The dispatcher advised his supervisor and tagged another line to answer.

     The dispatcher watching over the service area began to dispatch units to the area of trouble.  At the moment there was more calls for service than units available to respond.

     Unit 282 was the first unit to receive and respond.  The officer knew this was an awkward call type in this area of the city.  Middle class homes and businesses mostly, not the type to be having a gang war starting in the street.
  • Officer 282 - Experienced
  • Abilities - Agility d6, Smarts d6, Spirit d6, Vigor d6
  • Skills - Fighting d8, Guts d8, Notice d8, Shooting d8, Stealth d6
  • Pace: 6
  • Parry: 7
  • Toughness: 6
     "282 to radio, you can show me in the area." the officer advised as he turned the corner.  He rolled down his window to be able to hear or see any suspects.  Oddly enough he heard screams. Numerous screams in the neighborhood.  "282 to radio, be advised numerous screams in the area. Upgrade all incoming units code 3 till I advise further."  Radio copied and informed the other units of 282's message.

     Officer 282 stopped his car and open the driver door.  An elderly gentleman wearing a hospital gown was limping towards his police car.
  • Elderly Male - Zombie
  • Abilities - Agility d6, Smarts d4, Spirit d4, Strength d6, Vigor d6
  • Skills - Fighting d6, Intimidation d6, Notice d4, Shooting d6
  • Pace: 4
  • Parry: 5
  • Toughness: 6
     "Sir, are you ok?" the officer called out.  The elderly male didn't answer but continued to limp forward.  Officer 282 figured the subject didn't hear him and proceeded to approach the man.  The patrol car's headlights were still on allowing the officer to approach and see approximately 10 feet in front of him.  Something wasn't right, the officer noticed  blood on the elderly males hands, face and gown  
  • Notice d8, rolled a 6. Needed a 4 or >
     Immediately the officer drew his weapon and advised the elderly male to halt. At that time the male glared at the officer and let out a horrific scream, blood and spit coming from his mouth.  The officer fired one shot and hit the male. 
  • Shooting d8, rolled a 1 and a 5 on Wild Die d6. Needed a 4 or >. HIT
  • 9mm Damage Roll 2D6, rolled a 2 and 5. Total 7
  • Zombie toughness 6 vs Damage total 7 = ZOMBIE DOWN 
     A burst of blood and bone sprays as the officer's shot hits the subject in the head.  The effect creates a crumpled mass of human.  The officer approaches and nudges the male with his foot. No movement.  "282 to Radio. Shot fired, male down. Roll fire to this location reference to man down."
  • Notice d8, rolled a 5 and 8 on Wild Die d6.  Needed 4 or >
     282 rolls the subject over and about screams.  He notices that this male is pale and cold.  His skin had numerous claw marks and bites all over his body.  Sections of flesh and muscle were exposed and hanging from his small frame.  An unpleasant feeling shot through his body.  A feeling of unknown and fear of what else is out in the dark screaming ... 

Friday, November 11, 2011

No hope ... plenty of fear

    



     The morgue was quiet on the night shift.  People think a hospital morgue is always a busy place but if that was so then the hospital wouldn't be doing what it was tasked to do, save people.



     The technician pushed the last gurney into its resting place to await the autopsy scheduled in the morning.  This poor paramedic was also tagged as a crime scene investigation.  The other victim or subject was parked next to him as well for the investigation.  The tables were locked and the technician went back to his computer to attempt staying awake.  Facebook was calling and the coffee was sub-par.



     The virus was moving before all these events took place.  The nursing home had numerous infections that they were not aware of.  Patients were already becoming moving dead.  The hospital was just the next chapter in a virus that no one was aware of but would be soon enough.  Night shift at the nursing home was as eventful as the hospital.  Sleeping patients and boredom are the normal pace. 


Room 10 was the first of the walking dead to stir. The elderly zombie got up and moved into rooms 9 and 8 without anyone noticing. The elderly were easy targets. The nightshift LPN heard a scream and looked up from her paperwork. Picking up her radio she walked down the dim hallway. It was not uncommon for these patients to stumble out of bed. Entering room 8 the LPN saw a patient hunched over the far bed. "Ok, let's get you back to bed." the LPN muttered as she placed her hand on his shoulder. The patient spun around and revealed its true form. The LPN screamed as the patient growled, blood all over his face and clothing. The LPN stumbled back and ran for the door. The door was useless as the other patient from Room 10 appeared. The LPN felt herself starting to blackout and knew she was better off as she slid into darkness.

Similar events were occurring throughout the nursing home. It wasn't long before the whole facility was zombie infested or food. 8 hours later the day shift would start to arrive and become the second round of victims. Unfortunately the nursing facility was located near neighborhoods. Zombies wander and wander they did.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Paperwork ?!?!

Greetings troops,


I would like to welcome you to the first installment of Zombie Friday - a weekly blog post set in a post apocalypse zombie world.  The story, rules and characters are developed with the Savage World Rules.


Sit back, grab a cold adult beverage and enjoy ...


Mezz


"You forgot the paperwork?!?!" - Nursing Home LPN

     Sirens and red lights cut through the night as the ambulance screamed down the empty road.  The initial call came out as a routine transport call from the local nursing home facility.  Routine meant a one unit response and didn't require a fire department unit to respond as well.  The call was upgraded to lights and sirens about a mile before the location.

     The Paramedic and his EMT partner arrived to find out the call was more than routine.  The elderly patient appeared to be having a stroke or heart failure.  The patient's skin appeared pale, skin cold to the touch and mouth gaping wide open.  The crew didn't waste anytime loading the patient to the stretcher and running past the nursing station.

"You forgot the paperwork!" The LPN shouted to the crew as they hurried by.

"Couple more minutes and we will need the funeral home Ms." shouted the Paramedic.
      The crew loaded the patient into the back of the ambulance and climbed in back to begin patient care.  The medic looked up and nodded to the front seat.  "Get us to the nearest hospital Jimmy. I will get things straight on the way en route to the hospital."  Jimmy nodded and climbed up front.  His partner had more years on the job than him so no questions were needed.  The ambulance surged forward.

     The medic began to get his equipment ready as the ambulance moved down the road.  A sudden toss and bang reminded Harry that his partner was still wet behind the ears regarding his experience.  "Jimmy, don't kill me getting us to the hospital." shouted Harry from the back.

     Jimmy rolled his eyes.  "Don't worry Boss, I got ya covered." Jimmy replied.  Harry had been riding him all day about his driving and lack of compassion for his partner in back.  Jimmy reached over and turned on the radio and adjusted the volume as Guns N Roses' Welcome to the Jungle started.  Welcome to the jungle indeed thought Jimmy as he hit the gas pedal.

     Harry reached over and turned on the EKG monitor.  He quickly placed the pads and leads on the patient and began to get his IV supplies ready to use.  He glanced up and did a double take.  The monitor was showing flat line.  Quickly he reached over and hit the button to charge the defib.  As the machine was charging he felt for a pulse.

     Without warning, the patient's arm shot out and grabbed Harry by the neck.  With an intense strength the patient began to pull the medic closer just Jimmy hit a rough patch of holes in the road.  Harry screamed as the elderly patient pulled him in and took a huge bite out of his neck.  Jimmy shook his head but didn't look back.  "I told you relax Harry, I got ya covered.  We will be at the hospital in 5 minutes."

     The ambulance arrived in the ER parking lot and backed up to the doors.  Jimmy ran to the back of the ambulance and opened up the doors.  The cold air was the only thing that kept Jimmy from passing out.  The back of the ambulance looked like a deer was field stripped.  Blood was everywhere.  The patient or what he could figure as the patient was in the corner with his head bashed in.  Harry was on the floor bleeding heavy.  He was placing direct pressure on the neck wound and breathing heavy.

     Jimmy ran for the ER staff to help.  Quickly they rushed Harry into the ER but it was too late.  Harry died within 10 minutes.  Both bodies were placed into the hospital morgue as the police began to investigate the ambulance and crime scene.  Unfortunately, the state's coroners office would have to come get the patients in the morning.

     8 hours ... it was all that was needed.  It was too late.



Thursday, November 3, 2011

Thank You !

Greetings troops,

I wanted to say thank you to my readers for sticking around while I got things straight with life.  I find it great to see that I didn't lose any followers during this time.  This is a nice sign that the followers enjoy the blog.

I plan on priming some items today since the weather is not too shabby here in Virginia at this time of year.  This includes a second squad (platoon) for my Russians and some American Armor to help the change of pace feeling you need while painting a Russian horde.

Also look to a Savage World developing story with post apocalypse zombie survival.  Thanks to the AMC hit, The Walking Dead, I am going to start a story line for the blog.  Plan on seeing a posting each Friday or every other Friday.

KEEP THE PAINT FLOWING AND THE DICE ROLLING !!!!!

Joe ... aka "Mezz"

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Hello ! Is it me your looking for ?

Greetings troops,

I have not forgotten about you ! Life throws curveballs and I am swinging like a pro.  Please be patient as more post will come once things work out.

Thanks for the understanding !

Joe ... aka Mezz

Thursday, August 18, 2011

I95 Guns of August Photos

Greetings Troops,

The I95 guys have posted 125 photos of FOW gaming goodness.

You can see them at this link : I95 GOA 2011

Enjoy ... be safe. Keep the Paint flowing and the Dice Rolling ...

Joe ... aka Mezz

Friday, August 12, 2011

Merchants & Marauders Review

Greetings Troops,

I have been looking at this game for some time now.  It has been receiving great reviews from numerous blogs and podcasts.  So here is a brief summary of the game ...

  • Published in 2010
  • For 2 to 4 players
  • Approximately 2 hours for game play
  • 5 different ships types for a total of 26 ship pieces
  • 230 game cards
  • 16 captain types
The other night I was able to join Steve and his friend Luke to set sail into the Age of Piracy. This was the first time I actually set hands on the game and its board pieces.  I was happy to see the pieces were well made, durable and look fabulous !

We all took our seats with our adult beverages (grog, if you wish to pretend) and picked our Captains.To make it interesting we drew our captain cards randomly without looking.  Once we had the Captain, we chose one of the two starting ships, a sloop or a flute.  Each Captain has a "home" port where you can call home and stash gold during your adventure.

Board Setup for 3 Players

Various ship pieces

My first Captain ...
My first Captain Felipe De Los Reyes was my first random Captain I chose.  He had decent stats and being my first Captain I was not sure whether to turn to piracy or trade on the high seas.  He would find out how cruel the seas would be soon enough.

My first ship, a sloop. In port ...
As you enter port you are allowed numerous options.  The first is buying and/or selling cargo.  The tile shown above is "favored" trade of the port, meaning if you sell this cargo you earn more gold than selling other cargo types.  This is a major advantage to playing the merchant class but also helps pirates figure out what cargo to keep after capturing ships.

You are also able to upgrade your ship with special items.  It could upgrade weapons, crews or other items that add bonus to your ship.  Ships can be bought or sold as well in port.

Rumors and Missions can also be picked up at port.  These gain your crew a bounty of wealth or glory points if completed.  Our games had some of these cards in play.  One of which I sent naval ships after Luke for revenge of taking out Captain Los Reyes. 

The board in action ...

My second ship after the glorious demise of my sloop

My flute in the port of Trinidad

My first Captain, and the cost of his demise ... by the hands of Luke the Pirate

Stat board for your ship

My second Captain of the first game.

Luke and Steve battle in the high seas
Battles between ships are fast and furious.  The rules are not hard to understand and most pick them up with ease after a couple of battles.  Luke was the bloodthirsty pirate and had the evil honor of attacking the most player Captains.  Not only can player Captains attack but NPC pirate ships and naval ships will actively hunt once on the board.

My Captain of the second game ... a merchant favored Captain
The beauty of randomly picking Captains is the challenge.  Stats definitely play a part in the game.  For example, my Captain of the second game didn't have the stats to attack at a whim. Although his Spotting stat and Influence helped with other missions.  I played him as a merchant, scoring 9 glory points. 

The board in action of the second game

The feel and mechanics of this game are on spot.  The board and pieces are well made and make the game work.  I had a blast.  It is definitely a game that should be on any gamers bookshelf. I can't wait to get more games in at the WWPD war room. Thanks again to Steve and Luke for an awesome game night !

5 out of 5 grog barrels !

Be safe ... Keep the Paint flowing and the Dice rolling !!!

Joe ... aka Mezz


Saturday, July 23, 2011

What D&D Character Am I ?

Greetings troops,

I came across a fun website which was shared by Dr. Willett's Workshop, a great blog that can be seen here.

His latest post involves a website that allows you to answer numerous questions to see what character you would seem to play in Dungeons & Dragons.  Be warned it is 129 questions but it goes fast.  Here is my results. You can find "What D&D Character Am I?" via this link.


I Am A: Lawful Good Human Ranger (4th Level)


Ability Scores:

Strength-14

Dexterity-14

Constitution-13

Intelligence-14

Wisdom-18

Charisma-12


Alignment:
Lawful Good A lawful good character acts as a good person is expected or required to act. He combines a commitment to oppose evil with the discipline to fight relentlessly. He tells the truth, keeps his word, helps those in need, and speaks out against injustice. A lawful good character hates to see the guilty go unpunished. Lawful good is the best alignment you can be because it combines honor and compassion. However, lawful good can be a dangerous alignment because it restricts freedom and criminalizes self-interest.


Race:
Humans are the most adaptable of the common races. Short generations and a penchant for migration and conquest have made them physically diverse as well. Humans are often unorthodox in their dress, sporting unusual hairstyles, fanciful clothes, tattoos, and the like.


Class:
Rangers are skilled stalkers and hunters who make their home in the woods. Their martial skill is nearly the equal of the fighter, but they lack the latter's dedication to the craft of fighting. Instead, the ranger focuses his skills and training on a specific enemy a type of creature he bears a vengeful grudge against and hunts above all others. Rangers often accept the role of protector, aiding those who live in or travel through the woods. His skills allow him to move quietly and stick to the shadows, especially in natural settings, and he also has special knowledge of certain types of creatures. Finally, an experienced ranger has such a tie to nature that he can actually draw on natural power to cast divine spells, much as a druid does, and like a druid he is often accompanied by animal companions. A ranger's Wisdom score should be high, as this determines the maximum spell level that he can cast.


Find out What Kind of Dungeons and Dragons Character Would You Be?, courtesy of Easydamus (e-mail)

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Comrades to Arms ! (11) - Russian Anti-tank Platoon WIP

Greetings troops,

On to the next project !  I am currently working on my Russian Anti-tank platoon.  I thought I would post some photos for your viewing enjoyment.  The main uniform is being done in Khaki, which is an alternate uniform color.  The hardest part with these guys is the two soldiers carrying the same anti-tank rifle.  It's a difficult thing to place and paint.  I haven't thought of a good method yet.

Here are some WIPs ... Enjoy











Keep the Paint flowing and the Dice rolling ...

Joe ... aka Mezz