Sam Fuson's Big Birthday Gaming Bash

   Last Saturday some of us from the HAWKS went up to Warhorse Farm in PA to help fellow HAWK, Sam Fuson, celebrate a milestone birthday in style; with a day of gaming hosted by his wife, Kathy, and himself.   Fifteen of Sam's friends gathered for the event. In the morning we ran three games, A Mexican-American War game using modified "Muskets and Tomahawks" rules, a Civil War game using "A Union So Tested" rules, and a Victorian Science Fiction ACW game using GASLIGHT rules (Which I ran).
 

My ACW GASLIGHT game featured a celebration of General Grant's birthday being interrupted by some Rebel raiders. Here we see the start of the battle as some army cooks pose with the huge birthday cake they baked, as assorted dignitaries look on.

As the Rebels attack, saving the wagon full of whisky becomes a priority for the troops!

The Rebels use their infernal mole-machines as well as other contraptions to crash the party.

The Mexican-American War battle.

Caldwell Clears the Wheatfield was the other game on the morning roster.

    Around midday, when the morning games ended, we took a break to feast on fried chicken coleslaw, and potato salad.  Then we all enjoyed some of Sam's two birthday cakes. :)  With full bellies, we began the afternoon's gaming session.  There were two games, a WWII Eastern Front battle using "Look, Sarge, No Charts:WWII" rules, and a Western Front battle, using "GAMER" rules.

Soviet and German forces clash on the outskirts of Berlin in this "LSNC: WWII" game.

A view of the WWII skirmish table using GAMER rules.

An American Anti-tank gun takes aim at approaching Germans.

The birthday boy himself (in cap) gives a short speech before blowing out his candles. 

   We all had a blast with good friends, good games, and good food.  Popular opinion was that this should become and annual event. :)

10mm Mage-King of the Lizardmen (Games Workshop Conversion)

   This week I completed the commander-in-chief figure for my Lizardman Army: The Mage-King of the Lizardmen.  For the base of it I used the Games Workshop Lizardman "Tetto'eko" figure, which I was fortunate enough  to get a good deal on from a friend at last year's Barrage convention Flea Market.

    To make the conversion from 28mm to 10mm I did a couple modification.  First, I cut the tall feathers off of each of the side partitions to reduce the overall height appearance. And then I simply didn't add the pair of pillars that are suppose to go on the deck, and the three that are mounted underneath. After I assembled the throne, I test fit different arrangements of Pendraken 10mm Lizardmen until I found a pleasing composition.  It was then just a matter of painting the throne and its occupants.

  I am pleased with how it came out.  I think the original model is just scale-neutral enough to make a convincing king-sized 10mm throne.

Reaper "Bones 3" Kickstarter: Only 3 Days Remaining!

  I just wanted to let folks know that the Reaper Bones 3 Kickstarter has just over 3 more days to go.  It's a great opportunity to get a lot of minis for a really reasonable price.  The Core Set has well over 100 minis, and there are a lot of great add-on sets as well.   If you haven't done so already check it out: Bones 3 Kickstarter

10mm Mind Eaters

   This past week, I completed a warband of 10mm Mind Eaters.  Recently, I painted up a pair of  Reaper 25mm Mind Eaters and mounted them  on a base for Bear Yourselves Valiantly to represent giant Mind Eaters.  You can see that post here.

    While working on these figures, I was struck by their passing resemblance to the adrenal/toxin sacs that come with various GW Tyranid sets; and I got the idea that some of these bits might make good in-scale 10mm Mind Eaters.  So I ordered a set of them off of Ebay, and painted them up.  I think they turned out pretty good.

    I statted them up so they have ranged attacks that do Morale results only, and gave them a modifier that penalizes any troops trying to close with them or stand against their charges.