Sunday, June 29, 2014

Wait for it. . .


Yup. The Forest Edge Strips are done! Over twenty-four feet of woodsy goodness completed.

What's next? I plan to make some "rough" wooded sections with boulders and cliffs. Then I have some more Jenkins figures to paint and varnish.

And there's some local talk about organizing some HOTTs games. . . that will most likely inspire some new armies.

See ya!

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

My dad probably won't see this post, but don't worry, I wished him a Happy Father's Day personally. While thinking about my father today, it occurred to me that if it wasn't for him, this blog wouldn't exist. No, not for the obvious reason - that without Dad, there would be no me - but because he introduced me to wargaming. Indirectly.

When I was a kid in the 60's and 70's, my father built models; classic cars at first and then WW2 aircraft. So I built models, too, and we built some together. In the 70's Dad began collecting WW2 "militaria," mostly Luftwaffe medals, badges and uniforms. So I got the WW2 bug, and then became interested in military history, in general. He didn't collect for long, but he met some interesting people while collecting, and I got to meet some of them, too.

One of these interesting people, seeing my wide-eyed interest in WW2, GAVE me 4 Avalon Hill boardgames.





I couldn't get into D-Day, but I played the others over and over well into my high school years. And the rest, as they say, is history. 

Thanks, Dad!

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Not Leapster. . . Liebster!


"All" my friends have a Liebster Award . . . now I do, too! Thank you, Sean, for the nomination, here. Sean said I could just accept the award and not play by the rules, but of course, I'll play.

The rules are:
  • Link back to the blog that nominated you
  • Nominate 11 (or pick a number) other blogs with 200 or less followers
  • Answer a couple (or more) questions
So. . .

Link back to Sean: check.

Nominate other blogs with 200 or less followers: check. The first couple are good guys I've met in the "Analog World:"

Curio Clashes 
Essjam's World

Some other blogs I enjoy (and I have no idea if they've been "Liebstered" already): 

Lead Gardens - Big Toys and Hexes, not always at the same time
Here's No Great Matter - Ancients - Command and Colors: Ancients and Lost Battles, two games I like - plus other goodies
Chicago Skirmish Wargames - Inspiration while I contemplate skirmish gaming (and I lived outside of Chicago for a while as a kid)
Iron Mammoth's Studio - LOVE the model-making

And on to the questions. . . and check.

Why did you start blogging?

My blog is two years old now. I realized I wasn't gaming very much due to a geographical move and busy new job, but was still thinking - and building - about playing games. Seemed like a good way to "feel" involved in the "community" until I actually "went analog" again. Or maybe it just feeds my vanity : )

If you could change one thing about the wargaming hobby, what would it be?

There's too much choice - scales, periods, rules, models! Okay, so I wouldn't actually change this, but I have noted (along with others) that this golden age of choice has led to fragmentation within the hobby as we all decide which rules to play for which period, and then which scale of model we like. It's hard to get semi-like-minded individuals to agree on everything. And the abundance of choice also leads to decision paralysis as we decide - or don't decide - on the combination of factors that get us playing what we want to play - and then hope something shiny doesn't appear to dissuade us half-way down our chosen path. Or maybe it's just me. . .

What is best in life?

Love. It's that simple.

Fame or Fortune?

Fame has too big a down side. I think I could live with Fortune's downside.

What miniatures are you most proud of having painted?

My HOTT Undead Upgrades

How do you deal with burnout?

I don't. I don't burn out. Real life always interrupts before I approach burnout.

Why is a Raven like a writing desk?

This question became a learning opportunity as I couldn't figure it out. . . so Google took me to Wikipedia where I learned that Lewis Carroll first posed the question in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Carroll later admitted that the riddle had no intended answer when originally invented. So, we'll move on. . .

Star Wars or Star Trek?

Star Trek. I'll hazard no explanation.

If you could only buy from one miniature company from now on, which would it be?

For 15mm, Xyston. For 54mm, John Jenkins. For 28mm, Foundry, if I'm forced to choose, but this is where my rant on choice earlier starts to break down. . .

What is your favorite takeaway (take-out)?

Literally, I think the only two places that I have gotten take-out from in the last several months has been Subway and Five Guys' burgers. I'm losing my taste for fast food.

What do you like most (or least) about blogging?

I like the interaction with people. I hope I get an opportunity to meet some of these on-line characters someday : )

See ya!