"He" was trying to get as much gaming as possible

which is always fun!! Overall Warmachines is mostly enjoyable and fun. Let me just add, that Styker, the masterful strategist, held the upper hand throughout the game with a "pick-em off" at a distance, and combined firepower strategy. Despite having 2 fully functional Warjacks and a healthy mage, Jon was able to stem the finishing charge AND defeat both warjacks and severely maul the Cyrix mage, with only 1 ultra powerful guy (dead). Perhaps it was luck or what-not but Mono-e Mono, the combination of the spear and stat reducer spell, plus 7 focus points is quite unbreakable. The only part of warmachines I didn't like is having to deal with all the to-hit modifiers etc which is a common issue in most/all??? Miniature games.

Magical, Magical Warmachine

Met up with Jael at this cool game store in Oakland -- they've got a big mezzanine level with tons of tables, all for free gaming. In fact there is more gaming space than store space. Several of the tables are full-on wargaming setups, complete with really well-sculpted terrain. On this bloody field of battle I did teach unto Jael the ways of WARMACHINE and lo, I was smited.

Me: Cryx. Johnny: Cygnar. It started out small, with my channelers pelting ineffective spells at him, and then turned into a mammoth fracas in the center of the board with every single warjack involved except for one of my bonejacks, who had his legs broken in the first, like, two seconds of the fight. He kept moving 1" towards all the other fighters, nursing his hurt paws. Aw, it was cute. Anyway, the mammoth dogpile ended up with every 'jack wrecked or disabled except for one of my bonejacks, who was almost disabled and couldn't do anything but ineffectual Bash attacks, and his Ironclad, who just couldn't get into the fight because Deneghra kept using Shadow Bind on it. (Her weapon effect -- it's a real bitch.) SO, our warcasters went toe-to-toe. This was a heartbreaker. I had Deneghra at full health, Stryker was down five points. He had a full round of attacks, but couldn't quite finish the job. That left me with a full round of attacks. It was my fight to lose and... I lost it. Couple of crap dice rolls. At the end of the round he had only four health left, but it was clear which way this fight was going. He pulled out his pistol and put one right between her eyes. Admittedly, she probably deserved it. Because, she is a woman.

Anyway, he wanted to play again, which I took as a good sign! Yay for my minis itch finally being scratched! Unfortunately I didn't have time for another game but hopefully we can go again this weekend. This was also my first time using my Cryx. They are definitely less straightforward than Khador. They have much more spellcasting flexibility, but their spells are not as direct or powerful.

Funny comic strips here!

I got dentisted, hard.

Feh, my fugging mouth! I hate going to the dentist. I think that the experience, on the whole, is about as close as one can realistically get to medieval torture chambers without being abducted by a serial killer.

KinderKamp:

As for the camp, it's on like Donkey Kong! We got set back by a day because our intended destination had a barfing kid, but it seems that all is well (we hope), so we're going to head out tonight for San Dog. I'm planning on showing up at the camping site sometime Friday afternoon-ish and I'll be staying until either Saturday night or Sunday morning is my guess.

Rude-ay:

I'm going to keep periodically bugging you for some sounds.. so beware. =)

Aaaaaaronious:

Looks like things are shaping up for my trip to Oakland/SanFran in October. Some buddies have organized a luxury box and everyone has successfully chipped in, so I'll be there the weekend of the San Diego game (SD themed post, throughout!), which off the top of my head I believe is October 16th. I was thinking of flying in Thursday night, hanging out with y'all when I'm not at the game. The only other events I know of are a group dinner planned for Saturday night and a buddy of mine wants to go to some BBQ place for lunch. If you're up for either the more casual lunch or the more hearty dinner event, let me know! (And let me know if that weekend looks to be a good one for you?)

Weeeee!

Late,

~Cap'n O.

Nice! Picked up some pikemen, eh? I looked them up in the book, they look pretty sick! Terrain will definitely make a big difference. Without it the ranged guys are pretty tough, especially that Khador behemoth. Ah, that "smoking boots" incident still makes me laugh.

Enron, Johnny and I got in some good minis action ourselves -- we broke out Necromunda and had ourselves a good ol' Rumble in Dome Bronx. Johnny's Goliaths started strong, but my Orlocks came back and took all of his guys out of the fight but one. With his team decimated, and my whole team walking wounded, it was just a matter of who failed the Bottle check first. Ultimately my guys chose to exercise discretion in the face of the seemingly invincible, lone missile launcher-toting Goliath. It was a close game though. Good times! And me and Johnny's old teams were still in the box.

We didn't have time for Warmachine, but I hope we can break it out next weekend. I put in a little time with the minis today and got everything assembled. Just have to base a couple guys and glue on one sword and everything's ready! I'll probably prime them this weekend, and hopefully start painting the next.

Yay, metal men!

Gabba Gabba Hey Peter Jennings is Dead

So Denis and I played a rousing micro game of Warmachine on sunday to great enjoyment! I think that the game will play out significantly different when a) the board is larger than 2'x2', and b) there is terrain. As it was, the two sides faced off in two battle lines, and moved toward each other. The Big Cygnar warjack charged and smashed the skull of the Khador pikmen leader, the rest of the unit then surrounded the warjack and prodded it with their 2" range melee attack like natives surrounding an elephant. Many potshots were taken at the Khador destroyer, who lumbered on launching ineffectual mortar shots. Eventually, one balsy wee Cygnar warjack tried charging the Destroyer, failed, and was engaged by the hand to hand Khador warjack after Sorscha used her freezing feat. After spending 4 focus points, the heavily damaged (and frozen)Cygnar jack was thrown into some Cygnar fighting men, crushed them, and became a slag heap from the toss damage. Sorscha then moved into LOS between her hulking jacks in front of her, cast a wind blade spell at the Cynar warcaster, then finished the job by blowing him away with a well placed hand cannon shot.

All in all, a really fun game that is simple to play, and relatively fast as well. I look forward to playing again soon! Jon! Spray paint all your Cryx stuff black, then drybrush them lightly with grey, then paint the eyes green or read, maybe some skin color, maybe some metal bits with silver, and you will be done and ready to rock! Do it!

I picked up an airbrush and am trying to learn using it on my Khador stuff. It looks very "military" and "tanky". I like it so far.

Also, Denis and I have a two week timeline to finish painting and basing the DBA armies, so that means another miniatures game ready to play! Denis commented that this must be some kind of gaming record for the group!

Hockey is returning and I couldn't be happier!

AARON: Are you coming camping or not? I'm gonna say no, but please blog or call one way or another you pecker.

Doze nutzecles!

Aron, seeing that you are the main candidate for vice-presidency for the sloshing party, r u stepping up to the platform? I'm good to hang out one of these days. Jon: five - one - Oh - Seven - for - for - niner - dos - nine - three. That's my mommas house. My cell phone has been disconnected and I don't have your cell #.

As for the schedule this weekend, Saturdays bad, I'm flying down to Arizona to look at some housing properties. I heard it's pretty hot down there (real estate wise) and might buy a new track home.

I'll be back early sunday morning, so Sunday looks good for me, but I'll probably be dead tired. Nonetheless, it shouldn't take too much brain cells to drink and play games.

Oi!
Jawel

Hey Johnny and Enron: How 'bout getting together for gaming this weekend? Either day is OK for me -- Jael how about you? Either day better? Oh, and give me a call. My phone died on me a couple of months ago and I don't have your number anymore.

Back at home after a pretty great week of overeating and gaming. Denis, Eric and I had a more successful run at Arkham Horror and also finally got to play Warmachine. Man what a great game. Thanks for helping me live the dream, Denis.

OK, back to Harry Potter.

E-to-dah-Hizzle:

You are correct, sir. I'm down for at least one night, maybe two. Just to clarify, when are things getting started, and when are they ending? We kicking it off on Friday night and going through Sunday afternoon, or.. ? Should I bring the SUV to the camp site to sleep in? Or, should I show up at your place a little early so I can help you guys set up (you want me to prepare some food before hand or cook at the camp-site, maybe?) ... do we want to go in a single car, or take both for more toting of items to the destination? Is parking space more of a premium/issue, or ability to bring stuff with? I'm down with whatever, and totally able/available to help out.. just let me know what works best for you guys and for the situation in general. I should be down in San Diego by about Wednesday night at the latest, and available by Friday-ish for Texas-chainsaw partiness and excessive re-playing of that Descendants track you crazy guys love so much.

Campdate

Eric: In
Ryan: In
Art: In, maybe for a night
Rudy: Out, but maybe a day
Jonny: Out
Jon: Out
Denis: Out
Aaron: *tumbleweeds* (which I assume is out)
Mike: Out (Italy)

So there you have it, any of this changed or wrong?

Rock out with your cock out.

BTW.. Rud-ay..

I sent you an email to the old email addy I had on file for you. If that's not correct, send me a new email? a_nikisch (at) yahoo-dot-commie

Camping/Vacation Update:

Now looks like a strong possibility that the fam will be taking a trip down to San Diego next week during the week and that I'll be cleared for a side-trip up to the camp-fest with y'all, even. So, pencil me in! Weee!

(I'm not going to have any camping gear or whatnot.. will a sleeping bag suffice, you think, or am I going to be eaten alive by miscellaneous sand-bugs?)

Ah, a nice day of gaming. The 10d6 crowd came by and we played two games of Shadows Over Camelot (lost horribly the first time, won the second time -- used the traitor deck, but everybody drew Loyal). Played some Virtua Tennis, a bunch of Soul Caliber matches on my Dreamcast -- man, those games are so awesome. I looove Soul Caliber.

Finally, we busted out Eric's copy of Arkham Town Horror Fight. The downside of this game is that it's pretty complicated, and is long. BUT, it's also really fun with great atmosphere and the mechanics are very cool. Since we started late we all wore down quickly, but if you dedicated an afternoon to it, and knew that you were getting into a longish game, I think it would be really great.

Update: I've been thinking about it and I take it all back, the game is totally lacking some important shit, please read and sign my important petition:

------------------------------

DEAR FANTASY FLIGHT GAMES, LTD.

We are writing to express our serious displeasure with your new board-game, "Arkham Horror." While your game goes a long way towards capturing the mytho-terrorogical feel of HP Lovecraft's stories about "Call of Cthulhu," we are extremely disappointed to see that you have failed to include the following archetypal elements of the Lovecraft experience. We, the undersigned, will not rest until you have incorporated the following into the game, AT NO EXTRA COST TO YOUR CUSTOMERS.

1. There should be a location, "Prostie's." The encounters at this location should require the players to jam shotguns into the prostitutes' mouths. Also, there should be a mechanic so that players can trick other players into utilizing the services of this establishment, against their will.
2. There MUST be a new character added, "A. Smoxakahk." I do not remember what he does.
3. You must also add a character named "Dewey Lewis." He should have special rules to reflect his successful career as a trumpet musician. Also a hit location system MUST be added so that this character is always being shot or clubbed in the right leg.
4. You have failed to include Lovecraft's famous Vietmanese character, Van. This character should sell "magic shirts." (Which work.)
5. Although the game is long, it is not NEARLY long enough. The rulebook should be over 300 pages long with copious handouts. The game should take hundreds of hours to complete. Unless the party goes to visit at least 50 friends or contacts, all of whom turn out to be horribly murdered, IT IS NOT HP LOVECRAFT'S CRHULHU.

Thanks to you heartless sons of bitches for fucking up this game so badly for all of us. I hope you're fucking ashamed. Fix this shit or we, the Internet, are going to be so pissed.