Into Darkest Africa (IHMN AAR) 4/12/2014

This is some of the In Her Majesty's Name game that I ran with the St. Crispin's Irregulars in Anahiem at their Hobby Day. I didn't get a chance to take as many photos as I would have liked, as I was busy running the game for some of my friends.

Sweat dripped down the faces of the men in the British Expeditionary force as they peered into the haze. Little did they know that their fellow countrymen from the Queen's Rifles were also after the same goal. Off in the distance they heard foreign voices, and the howls of the natives. They wished now that they had stayed back at the base.

The three expeditionary forces began at opposite ends of the map. Each had the goal of unearthing the Sun Disc, a mysterious relic.

The British Expeditionary Force encounters dense native activity. Being tied up in combat the Steam Riflemen takes a shot at the Zulu.

Lady Hartinger's Expedition arrives at the first site. In her dainty voice she exclaims "Stand back, I'm going to try science!" The Egyptian military vigilance protects the scientists from the native hoard. After several attempts they shout "Eureka!" And hold aloft the golden artifact.

Meanwhile the Queen's Rifles are pinned down in the river by the Zulu.

The Queen's Rifles vanquish their native foes. Amid shouts of "Tally ho good chap!" They advance further into the jungle with the hopes of taking down Lady Hartinger and the Mad Doctor.

Upon spying the natives across the river, Clay Arkwright gets into position to lead the Queen's Rifles against the BEF. But the BEF's specialist Randy Dawes takes aim with his fearsome steam rifle.

Hartinger's Expedition runs off the board to the sounds of covering fire from their Egyptian troops.

The finale of the game, Lady Hartinger, Scientist Maxwell Zwigler and their native bearer escape with the spoils. Maxwell intends to use the sun disc to power his Solar Wave Magnetized Inductor.
THE END

Things I learned. The artifact should be in the center of the map to facilitate more of a struggle. I need to review the armor rules. I forgot that arc weapons ignore armor, And I'll be toning down the armor to make it more of a fight. The other possibility would be to add some more talents to make the soldiers better in combat.

Until next time, have a great game.
This is Kevin,
Over and out!

Not a house of cards

After arriving at the local craft store I stumbled upon cardboard houses with removable roofs. They were a few bucks each at the local craft shop. I hope to use them for the streets of Victorian London, or any other sort of industrialized 19th century city. Here are the houses before modification. 28mm figures are included for scale.

I've found some good brick textures online, I hope to print them out for the siding. I can make the windows with toothpicks. Another blog I saw gave me a good idea of using coffee stirrers for roof shingles. I probably won't have updates on the houses for two weeks or so. Since the next two Saturdays I'm running Into Darkest Africa IHMN. My scenario for In Her Majesty's Name. I'll update when there's progress on the houses.

I won't be able to cover the miniature table with a full blown city, but can at least cover it with a reasonable small town. Enough to give the zombies and the Bennett sisters somewhere to fight it out.

Have fun gaming!
Kevin

Miniature Mondays 02 Thrift Store Finds

After a trip to the local thrift shop to see what I could pick up for gaming on the cheap, I discovered these three gems. Here are three tree-like pieces which will find in very nicely in a jungle game. They were originally aquarium pieces. Even with a little paint added to them you can create foliage from another planet. Although I'll keep mine green for the jungle right now. They are shown alongside a 28mm figure for scale.

I'm planning on using these objects for objectives in the Darkest Africa IHMN scenario which I'll be running this Saturday. The players will be searching for a lost artifact which will be hidden at one of these locations for them to excavate. Thus the pieces are not only pretty, but functional as well. And anything that can be used for several things, in my opinion is worth having.

I find that usually when I least expect it, that's when I run across a gem of an item which can be used on the miniature table.

Kevin. Over and out.

Sleeping dragon Rising sun IHMN

This is the second expansion for In Her Majesty's Name released so far. Entitled Sleeping Dragon Rising Sun. It takes the game to the mysteries of the orient. According to Amazon its release date is June 17.



This is how Osprey's site describes it "China, the greatest empire the world had ever known, is weak and divided after a series of humiliating defeats in the Opium Wars, and the divine Empress’ court harbours many who deeply resent the westerners who inflicted and now take advantage of these losses. Japan, on the other hand, has embraced the West with open arms. After centuries of isolation the Japanese now march forwards and accept technologies that, a few decades before, would have been regarded as witchcraft. Possessed of the East’s most modern army, Japan now looks avariciously towards its neighbours. The next decade will decide whether the ancient empires of the East survive or are washed away, and every one of the Great Powers wants their slice." (Ospreypublishing.com)

I'm speculating that we'll see some new walkers and steam-powered goodness. Describing Japan as possessing the east's  most modern army, sounds like we might get another squad similar to the Prussians, strong leadership and Tough talent. If they bring any Japanese mythology into the mix, we could see anything from ghosts to kitsune, to oni. I for one would like to see some rules for zombies, because I could then use the system to play a Pride and Prejudice & Zombies themed game.

I'm anxious to see what new fangled gizmos and talents await in this tome. Still two and a half more months to wait.

Miniature Mondays 01: Cobblestone Basing.

So you've spent a great deal of time applying dabs of paint to the lead figure on your painting table, only to spend half a minute to cover what the figure is standing on. Dousing the base in white glue, then dunking it into some array of green flocking and kitty litter. It makes for good grass and rocks. If you've spent alot of time on the figure, shouldn't you at least invest similar time into the base? Basing is a way of giving the miniature a surface to stand on. Some people opt for the simple green flock, making the miniature look as though it is on AstroTurf, or on a golf course. I am guilty of the AstroTurf effect as well, because it's simple and less time consuming. But for this steampulp miniature I decided to try and create a base resembling the cobblestone or brick-like surface of the streets of 1880ish. Grabbing my trusty tube of Tamiya Modeling Putty, and a miniature to put on a street, I set about my task.

Smoothing the putty out was harder than I realized, but giving it an uneaven look might add more realism. Once the putty was on the base, I took a toothpick and smoothed it around, being careful not to get any on her feet.
I then scored the surface in a brick-like pattern with a hobby knife. The next step was to let it dry and then paint it with a series of light grays and dark grays. Here is the finished product, a pulp era femme fatale. The model is from ReaperMiniatures

Here are two other miniatures that would benefit from a similar treatment. The great detective and his trusty sidekick to roam around the streets of London in pursuit of Professor Moriarty.

With some putty and a knife a great base is born. With enough time and inspiration there is no limit to what you can accomplish.

I'll try to make "Miniature Mondays" a regular part of the blog. It will have something to do with the hobby of miniatures, whether it be an after action report, great finds for the gaming table, or something of another nature.

Have a great game!

Kevin

IHMN Hartinger's Expedition

Hartinger's Expedition is formed by the wealthy Lady Hartinger who likes to remain in the forefront of the scientific community as she did with the clockwork knitter. Upon hearing that Britain was mounting an expedition into the heart of Africa, she felt as though the name of Hartinger should not be left out of this expedition. With her close scientific friend Maxwell Zwigler, a scientist which expanded the work of Nikolai Tesla and the Egyptian military to protect the expedition. Lady Hartinger and her scientific endeavors seek out the heart of Africa.

Lady Victoria Hartinger
          Pluck 3+
          FV +2
          SV +3
          Speed +1
          Archeology +3
          Talents: leadership +2
          Equipment: arc pistol, Faraday Corset
Scientist Maxwell Zwigler
          Pluck 3+
          FV +1
          SV +2
          Speed +1
          Archeology +2
          Equipment: Electrostatic burst generator, short shotgun
Riflemen (6x)
          Pluck 5+
          FV +3
          SV +2
          Speed +0
          Archeology +1
          Talents: Bayonet Drill
          Equipment: military rifle & bayonet
Riflemen (4x)
          Pluck 5+
          FV +2
          SV +3
          Speed +0
          Archeology +1
          Equipment: carbine
Bearer
          Pluck 6+
          Archeology +3
          Talents: Medic

IHMN Queen's Rifles

The Queen's Rifles are a privately funded company which reports only to her majesty. When the Queen wants reliable, first hand information, the Queen's Rifles are her first choice.

Clay Arkwright
        Pluck 2+
        FV +3
        SV +4
        Speed +1
        Archeology +3
        Talents: leadership +2, lightning draw (fighting)
        Equipment: machete (count as fighting knife), pistol, brigandine.
Sir Rolland Masterson
        Pluck 3+
        FV +1
        SV +3
        Speed +0
        Archeology +1
        Talents: berserker
        Equipment: Steam rifle (treat as arc), chain shirt.
Riflemen (x6)
         Pluck 5+
         FV +2
         SV +3
         Speed +0
         Archeology +1
         Talents: tough
         Equipment: carbine, brigandine
Thomas Upton
         Pluck 4+
         FV +3
         SV +3
         Speed +0
         Archeology +1
         Talents: Marksman (pistol), Leadership +1
         Equipment: pistol, brigandine.
Bearer
         Pluck 6+
         Speed 0+
         Archeology +3
         Talents: Medic

IHMN British Expeditionary Force

The British Expeditionary Force are the first boots on the ground in the time of an emergency. Although in the current case, they are recently engaging in the exploration of darkest Africa to bring to the British empire, fame and riches.

Dexter Small
        Pluck 2+
        FV +4
        SV +3
        Speed +1
        Archeology +3
        Talents: leadership +2, duelist pistol
        Equipment: pistol, brigandine, knife.
Captain Robert
        Pluck 3+
        FV +4
        SV +4
        Speed +1
        Archeology +1
        Talents: inspirational, leadership +1
        Equipment: Steam pistol (treat as arc), brigandine.
Riflemen (x5)
         Pluck 5+
         FV +2
         SV +2
         Speed +0
         Archeology +1
         Talents: marksman
         Equipment: Military rifle, brigandine
Randy Dawes
         Pluck 4+
         FV +4
         SV +3
         Speed +0
         Archeology +1
         Talents: Stealthy, tough
         Equipment: brigandine, steam rifle (treat as arc)
Bearer
         Pluck 6+
         Speed 0+
         Archeology +3
         Talents: Medic

Remember Pearl Harbor

          72 years ago on this day America was attacked, plunging us into the depths of World War 2. It is a day that ought to be well remembered. An important part of our heritage as Americans. The attack showed how unprepared for the attack we really were. But then after that day it served as a rallying point, a moment in time that we as a country could look back upon and rally to as we faced the reality of war ahead. It was a day that will live in infamy. God bless the veterans and all who served our country during World War 2.
         
           In the miniatures game that I play "Check Your Six!" I'm painting up the axis. Right now in particular the Japanese. These are some pictures of my completed A6M2 Zeros, D3A1 Vals, and B5N2 Kates. The decals are from Scale Specialties (http://www.ss-sms.com/) who make wonderful sets of Japanese decals for 1st carrier division (Akagi, Kaga) 2nd carrier division (Soryu, Hiryu) and 5th carrier division (Shokaku, Zuikaku)

Mitsubishi A6M2 "Zero"

D3A1 "Val" Dive Bombers

B5N2 "Kate" Torpedo Bombers

Mitsuo Fuchida's Kate Bomber which lead the first wave on Pearl Harbor