Shadowbrook

part 2

After some little while we came upon our destination. 

We saw how pleasant the place looked, much cleaner than many similar places.

People going about their business without apprehension despite the tidings of woe we had been foretold of.

We came upon the Blackstar Inn, our lodgings for the duration of our investigation.

A rather surly fellow stood at the door, hired to stop trouble no doubt.

We spoke and he said we were expected and welcomed us. His name is Brutus, well named I'm sure.

We took the three rooms at the front of the inn.

Our goods, such as they are, were taken to our rooms and we settled in the tavern for ale and food. We spoke of things in general and looked forward to a good nights sleep. Tomorrow the men will wander the town to see how things look while I will go to the preacher for his story.

Shadowbrook

 Caleb ''Come, Friends. We must be off to Shadowbrook. Evil signs and portents have have been reported by the church elders there''

Gideon ''I knew it was too good to last, Caleb. This past year has been the quietest for a generation. I hope I'm still up to it!''

Caleb ''Experience like ours helps us through the dark, Gideon. And who else is going to do the churches bidding in these parts?''

Gideon 'You don't have to be right all the time you know.''

The cart hired and loaded, with Abraham the driver to take care of it, the band set off for Shadowbrook to see what disturbs the peace of mind of the church elders there.

Joshua ''I don't know about you but this crossroads and woods feel a bit off.''

Noah ''Anyone else thinks we should dig around for evidence of Devil's pacts?''

Caleb 'We don't want to bring suspicion on us before we even start investigating though it might come soon enough''

(Event card drawn and nothing happened)

With that the Caleb led the them on.

Joshua ''And this bridge gives me the collywobbles too!''

They could all feel it. That off-putting feeling of something lurking in the dark tunnel of the bridge.

Uriel 'Lucky it is daylight then''. ''Let's be about it'' 

He slapped the driver on the shoulder and the cart jerked forward towards they knew not what.

The bridge is haunted. (Event card drawn but nothing happened.)

Uriel ''That went well, then''.

Gideon ''I have no doubt we will be back here to find out what darkness occurred here and what haunts this place''

And the band trooped on to Shadowbrook and its dark secrets.

A reminder of Shadowbrook and its environs

Witchin' Hour/A Touch of Evil

 I've done numerous buildings last year and this for the Witchin' hour/Touch of Evil game I'm cobbling together.

I'd like some more but storage is a problem.

Narrow house  and Market Hall

I have two narrow houses and one wide house plus 3 cottages. 

Blacksmith

The Black Star coach house/tavern

Pop in my dears!

The Manor House. Needs a lick of paint as I just finished building it on the 6th

The shops

I was thinking of having two or three streets on the table but I'm re-thinking it. Looking at a map of Stony Stratford (Buckinghamshire) it was mainly one street. The houses/businesses had long enclosed spaces behind, we might call them gardens if that suffices.

That would make it easier. and cheaper, to do.

I have some of the wattle fences from Renedra for separation of these gardens but will likely need more.

The manor house might be useful for the civic buildings like the court if characters find themselves going there for some reason.

Besides the buildings I've photocopied some of the cards to use in the game. Copied because I'm going to give the board game to one of my sons when I've seen how my patchwork game goes.

17thc map of Stony Stratford

7TV

Hi!

I attended my first 7TV Games Day yesterday at Gamers Paradise in Newport Pagnell., Buckinghamshire. Local to me so it was essay to attend.

A great day if rather on the warm side despite various fans being deployed.

It was the first time in 40 years I've played against an opponent because, as you know, I'm primarily a solo wargamer.

7TV is a game that is based around gaming a TV series so you have a cast, set and script with acts 1-3. There is a chance to use props and star quality abilities to improve your chances of beating the opposite cast.

Each cast has a star, co-star and extras. It's possible to have several co-stars but it means you have fewer cast members due to the points cost for each member. 

It was to be 3 linked episodes over the day using the same cast throughout.

My cast:-

Front row from left: two Mercenaries (extras), Flora Vel Secret Agent (star),  Loyal Sidekick (co-star), Rookie (extra).

Back row from left: Sharpshooter (extra), Mercenary (extra), Scientist (extra), Reporter (extra), Two Agents (Mulder & Scully extras).

The cast generated 8 plot points and suffered from not having any figures act as a unit, where you move several figures for 1 point instead of a point for individual figures.

Two of the opponents had units and saved points for extra dice in attack or defence.

One cast had 3 co-stars and another, Transformers, had higher health statistics meaning they were much harder to kill.

All lessons learned!

First game against the Transformers. We started in opposite corners.

A wider view of the table before my second, and last game, on the set.

This being the first game I was lucky to down one of the Transformer cast to equal the game in the final act!

The score was 3-3. 

I was pleased as punch!

The second episode against a cast with 2 units of schoolgirls(rear left and right) who moved very slowly but generated 6 plot points between them!

Flora and the Rookie moving towards the star of the opposite cast. He survived, Flora was incapacitated ( she was down and out).

I had a lot of casualties in this game and had to roll to see if my cast would be axed. We survived!

The score was 6-3 to the opposite cast

The third episode. Mulder and Scully lead the way and took down a trooper. The Rookie almost did well to capture the Red Baron ( the figure with the red hair and dressed in Red Bull outfit). The mercenary took down Captain Blue, just visible near the tail of the helicopter, a high point in the game.

Flora swept forward a little too late to claim victory in the episode. 

In the last game the cast lost 5-3 though we did down a co-star.

Other sets in use that day:

Ghost Busters table

This Russian post-apoc table was voted best set

I'm tempted to do it again!

7TV

Hi!

I thought I would try out a game of 7TV using Children of the Corn cast and the 17thc equivalent of Department X or similar.

I just love the corn doll and pumpkin headed figures I bought so they had to be in mix. I am using 6 (not the number pictured).

I used a witch for Lady Winterly and a cult leader for Yvonne De Vries.

I added some cult members to give a figure of 30 rating.

For the good guys I used:

Intrepid adventurer.

Stalwart sidekick 

Rugged Veteran (I will use Henchman 'throw' for him also)

Town Watch, 4 men (Guard detail using the guard stats as they have polearm weapons).

It almost went well for Lady Winterly and Yvonne de Vries. 

The coven leader captured two guards with her powers. But the Corn Dolls were mashed by Intrepid Adventurer, Stalwart Sidekick and Rugged Veteran leaving her defenceless and she got chopped down.

With so many down they failed their checks and the cast were axed. Game called because they were never going to come back from so bad a loss.

The prop cards drawn were not much use to either side.

On the Paint Table and off

Hi!

Another photo drop of recently painted figures.

The following are the figures bought especially for 7TV games.

Hazel Delicious will star as Flora Vel

Agent Hinks from Sally 4th (sally_4th_miniatures) in the 'classic movie miniatures page'. 

Crooked Dice Miniatures (crooked-dice.co.uk)

Two well known agents to be renamed. Possibly

Ace reporter Paige Turner and scientist yet to be named

Some names just come to you in a flash of inspiration. Paige Turner was one of those. 

Flora Vel came after some discussion with my wife and that came with a little twisting of words and a  flourish. I've even names for the people who will play the characters in the TV series, like Hazel Delicious! You have to have realism!

Figure from the Cthulhu Mythos

I took advantage of the Bad Squiddo (badsquiddogames.com) Kickstarter to get some extra figures, principally, for A VBCW.

A bit of clandestine work for these figures possibly.

Although there is more to come I still have figures lapping gently, like the ocean on a calm day against a beach, at my door.

Seven figures to come along with two small cottages. Not counting the five Midlam Miniature (midlamminiatures) figures actually in the process of being painted. Drip, drip keeps the lead mountain down. But still need the bases finishing!

Thank you for dropping by.

On the paint table, and off it!

Hi!

I have been painting too much recently trying to catch up on things I'd like to do wargaming wise. The months in the US obviously didn't help in that respect. But I'm diligently hacking through plastic, resin and white metal.

I've just finished the Japanese figures I took to the US. 

Due to concentrating on the painting I have quite a few bases to complete in the coming week.

I also finished the US cavalry for my Tombstone Tinderbox Wild West.

My thinking changed slightly on these and I'm having to revisit basing for 8 figures. That would give me leeway as to their use. Because? 

I bought Pony Wars, the rules for warfare on the plains of America.

Not 'by the two's'

There should be 30 figures of each but 3 riders have gone absent without leave. I assume the prospect of death on the plains isn't something they thought about before joining.

I'll be looking to raise a tribe or two of the plains to stop the encroachment of settlers and miners and their minders, the US cavalry

Plenty more to publish, especially some buildings which I'm happy with.

Thank you for dropping by