Dystopian Wars, and updates

Well, it's been a while since my last post, and I thought "What better time to update than right after Christmas?" So, what did I get this year on Jesus' birthday?

First, God gave us a wonderful white Christmas, with about four inches of snow falling on Christmas Day. Not enough to make live miserable like they are getting in the Northeast, but enough to make everything look like a postcard and for the kids to be able to sled in the backyard! Thanks God!

My kids got me a Nerf gun (the Deploy) and a bandolier with extra clips and ammo, to take our Nerf wars up a notch. I had been quite outgunned before that, as my daughter has the Nerf fully-automatic machine-gun while my son has several Nerf rifles, while I was limited to a single six-shot Nerf revolver. But now I was able to give as good as I got as the foam dart gunbattles got downright ugly! Of course, my advantage was short-lived as my parents got my son true nightvision goggles for Christmas! So now my favorite tactic (Death from the Dark tm) is rendered ineffective! Arrrggghhh! (Though I have to admit the goggles are incredible – nightvision technology made into a toy! We tried them out at my parent’s house, and from about 50 to 60 feet away you could clearly see someone hiding behind a tree in pitch darkness.)

And lastly, for Christmas this year I broke two of my gaming vows:

1. I asked for a new set of rules before completing an army for my last set of rules (Malifaux).

2. I asked for a new set of rules that had just come out, rather than wait for the next edition to be released and all the mistakes to be fixed.

You’re probably wondering what set of rules would be so tempting that I’d break not one, but two of my gaming guidelines. Dystopian Wars by Spartan Games!

I’ve been curious about Spartan Games since they came out with their Uncharted Seas fantasy naval combat game. I’d read and listened to several reviews of the game, and I was intrigued, but not enough to dive in and get the rules and a fleet or two. Spartan followed up with Firestorm Armada, a space combat game. I thought the models looked cool, but I was not even tempted as I am not a fan of spaceship battles. But seeing pictures of the ships for Dystopian Wars grabbed my attention very quickly.

Victorian-era sci-fi a la Jules Verne? Giant aircraft-carrying dirigibles unleashing death from above against twin paddle-wheeled behemoths on the ocean’s surface? Gargantuan walkers with Japanese temples on top crashing through the jungle to scatter smaller tanks and vehicles? These were more than enough to get me interested, and a review of the game on The D6 Generation podcast (Episode 70) was enough to push me over the edge. So I asked for, and got, the rules for Christmas from my awesome wife! Dave at Giga-bites Café got in an order just before Christmas and was kind enough to hold a copy for me that I was able to pick up on Christmas Eve.

I have not yet played a game (I am now in that wonderful stage of picking out my army, where everything is possible and I am not yet locked into any decision), but here’s my first impressions on the book. First off, the production value is extremely high. It is a perfect-bound soft cover rulebook in full color. The front and back covers are great, showing scenes of huge tanks, ships and aircraft battling. Inside, almost every page contains some sort of illustration to flesh out the background, or an example of play or a photo of a beautifully painted model.

The background section immediately sucks you into the alternate world in which Dystopian Wars takes place. The year is 1870 and the great empires of the world are at war, facing off with enormous war machines on land, at sea and in the skies. History in that world has several significant changes from ours, aside from the discovery of a new element that has enabled the construction of giant airships and weapons of tremendous destructive capacity. For one, the South has won the Civil War, resulting in the Federated States of America (FSA). In the east, Japan has emerged as the Empire of the Blazing Sun, while they Empire of Britannia holds colonies around the world. The Prussian Empire holds central Europe in its steel grasp, and prepares to face the Russia. Each of these powers has its own style of war machine, loosely based on historical fact. The Germans use massive dirigible aircraft carriers to ferry their attack planes into battle. The Japanese have sleek warships capable of firing waves of destructive torpedoes. And the FSA ships are reminiscent of the Civil War ironclads, with massive armored paddle wheels for propulsion.

The rules themselves are well-written and seem quite clear on the basic points, which I suspect comes from the fact they are, in essence, the third iteration of the same basic ruleset (following Uncharted Seas and Firestorm Armada). Once I get the chance to put together and army and take it to battle I’ll have a better idea of how the rules fit together as a whole and how the game plays. At the moment I am leaning towards the Prussians – that dirigible carrier is THE flagship model of the line, and is an instant centerpiece for a terrific-looking force. I usually try to collect two forces for my games (so that there is one for me and one for my kids if they choose to play), but here is where I am stuck between two options – the FSA and the Empire of the Blazing Sun. Both have great-looking models, and both have their strengths in the game, so I am quite torn. Stay tuned for updates on that front.

As far as other updates, my Malifaux jail has been languishing, with all work halted as I dealt with holiday preparations. Between making sure everything got done for Thanksgiving and then Christmas, and it being busier than normal at work, I am still stuck on painting the jail. I have been able to get some gaming-related tasks completed though. My son has decided to field a Gremlin crew, and I did get Rami LaCroix painted up for him. I'll post some pictures next time as soon as I get him based. I began the process of painting a Cult of December crew, but that is still in very early stages. And I did build a 3'x3' gaming table for Malifaux which just needs some finishing touches to be complete.

The Reading Table:

I finally finished Cavalryman of the Lost Cause: A Biography of J. E. B. Stuart. A very good book that explains in detail the causes and effects of Stuart's disastrous "disappearance" just prior to the Battle of Gettysburg. It is a balanced look at Stuart, describing his strengths as well as his weaknesses, and most of all showing how much more difficult it was to wage war in a time of uncertain communications. A bit dry at times, but a very enjoyable read.

After that I read Munson's biography, Munson: The Life and Death of a Yankee Captain, which went very quickly. This was a very interesting book for me to read. Growing up in New York, Munson was my hero. He was and is my favorite ballplayer of all time. But I was a kid, and much of the drama and tension of the clubhouse and in his relationships with George Steinbrenner and Reggie Jackson did not register at the time. All I cared about was watching him get another game-winning hit! So finally reading the whole story, and learning more about Munson the man, in addition to Munson the player, was very enjoyable.

Following that, I polished off Robert Leckie's Helmet for My Pillow, his account of being Marine in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. I've read many, many books about the European Theatre, but not nearly as many about the Pacific. Leckie's story is both unique and common - his experiences mirror those of countless young men of that time, yet his views on it and how they impacted him are his alone. For me, this book took a little getting used to, as Leckie's writing is a little more flowery and descriptive than I am used to in a military account. But it is definitely worth the effort, and I was very moved to read of the sacrifices that Leckie and his comrades made for our country.

Next up: Easy Company Soldier by Sgt. Don Malarkey, made famous by Band of Brothers. And before you start thinking the name of my blog is totally misleading, after that I have a pirate novel lined up: The Blackbirder by James Nelson. It is the second book in the Brethren of the Coast trilogy, after The Guardship. It's been a while since I read the first one, so I may have to go back and re-read it before I start The Blackbirder.

That's it for now - hopefully next time I'll have more pictures of current and completed projects to share (especially if I ever get my Malifaux jail completed!).

'Til next time.

On my reading table

This is what I've been up to in terms of reading:

I recently finished the final book in Jeff Shaara's World War II trilogy: No Less Than Victory: A Novel of World War II. I enjoyed it every bit as much as the first two (The Rising Tide and The Steel Wave). This one had a very different tone however. While the others seemed almost to reflect an Allied mentality of being on a mission or crusade, in this one the main non-officer characters seemed more, I don't know, human maybe, or perhaps a little darker. They definitely expressed their fears and their loathing for the German atrocities, and to me they were perhaps a bit less sympathetic, albeit maybe more honest. I guess the basic reality is that some fought out of a sense of duty and righteousness, some simply out of a desire to survive the conflict, and others out of a need to punish those who perpetrated one of the greatest evils in history.



After that I read Desmond Seward's The Hundred Years War: The English in France 1337-1453. Very quick read, general overview of the conflict. Seward paints the picture of the war in broad brush strokes, but stops when he gets to pivotal moments (Crecy, Agincourt, Poitiers) to give more detail. All in all a very good introduction to the political and military causes and realities of the war.



Right now, I am currently reading a biography of Confederate cavalry hero J.E.B. Stuart by Jeffry D. Wert: Cavalryman of the Lost Cause: A Biography of J. E. B. Stuart. I have not gotten into the Civil War years yet, but I've read about his childhood, his years at West Point and on the Western frontier as a cavalry officer. The author does a good job of blending Stuart's personal and professional lives. So far, though, Stuart's character has not yet been fully developed. I am looking forward to more as we get to the crucial years of his life.



Up next is a total change of pace: Munson: The Life and Death of a Yankee Captain. I grew up in New York, a Yankees fan in the 70s, and Thurman was my childhood hero. He was larger than life to me, and I remember clearly the day that he died. My mom called me in to break the news and it was like losing a member of the family. I am very eager to read Appel's take on Munson's life and career.


FYI, in the interest of full disclosure, the hyperlinks and images for the books will take you to the Amazon.com website entry for that particular title, where you can find additional information. Also, if you decide to buy the book, and do it through that link, I get a small kickback from Amazon.

'Til next time.

Pegasus Bridge

My gaming group is planning on doing some D-Day scenarios with Flames of War, and one of the situations we are planning to game is the British Airborne glider landings at Pegasus Bridge. To that end, I read Stephen Ambrose's excellent book, Pegasus Bridge.

Like his other books, the most famous of which is probably Band of Brothers, Pegasus Bridge is full of personal anecdotes that Mr. Ambrose got directly from participants (on both sides) during numerous interviews. It is one thing to study a historical event, and read that so-and-so did such and that. But to hear the individual tell what he did, in his own words, and from his own point of view, really brings the events in the book to life.

I knew the basic story behind the British mission to take the bridge from prior books, but the details in this book really gave the story an added dimension. From reading about Maj. Howard's fixation with physical fitness, to the way in which Howard trained his soldiers for night operations, to the training regimen followed by the glider pilots to prepare for that epic night, the book is full of information that, if anything, make the events of June 6, 1944, much more real.

In summary, I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in World War II history, and certainly it is a must-read for anyone planning on recreating this mission in miniature.

Now, back to carving some more Horsas - since due to this book I know I need a total of five, since the sixth landed far off at the wrong bridge and did not play a part in this mission.

Ahoy there!

Welcome aboard, mates! Plastic Pirates is my own little corner of the web, where I hope to share with you my thoughts, ideas, philosophies, projects, etc., related to gaming. Despite the title, the blog will not focus exclusively on pirates, although that will be a recurring theme. In a nutshell, I am a gamer/modeler/tinkerer from way back when Battletech was still called Battledroids, and Dungeons and Dragons came in a little white box! Needless to say, I have seen a LOT of changes in gaming during my years, not least in my own attitude and approach to the hobby.

What drew me in initially, and what is still my passion, is the rich background of the created universes where these games take place. I love to immerse myself in the fantastic histories and worlds created for these games, whether it is Dwarven armies battling Orcs in the Mines of Moria, pirate aces facing aerial militia in the air over Crimson Skies' America, or huge Battlemechs striding across the battlefields of the 29th century. Historical games also have a place in my heart - though mostly those recreating the epic and heroic struggles that seem to read out of the pages of our favorite adventure novels: the stand of the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae, Lt. Maynard's chase and defeat of Blackbeard off the North Carolina coast, the defense of Rorke's Drift by a handful of British soldiers faced with overwhelming numbers of fierce Zulu warriors, Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart making the ultimate sacrifice to protect the crew of Super 64 at Mogadishu, and dozens of other instances of bravery and gallantry beyond what one would expect. I think it is the idea that when faced with mind-numbingly small chances of success, there have been and are heroes in the world who will face it head on and not flinch that inspires me. I cannot read of the charge of Theoden and his Riders of Rohan at Pelennor Fields without being moved, yet it is much more meaningful to me when I think that there have been similar charges in reality, led by Pickett at Gettysburg, or Cardigan at Balaclava, for example. It is the fact that the fiction mirrors the reality of human passion and courage that stirs me. Even now, as I write this, I can hear rousing music and the clash of arms! And I believe that being able to play, even if just for an afternoon or an evening, the role of a hero, makes the participants more aware of the opportunities for heroism in our own world.

As far as the games themselves, to me the rules and the actual playing of the game are secondary to the creation of the illusion of a reality - whether it be all in the mind, as in a role-playing game, or the building of a tabletop battlefield. There was a time when I yearned to field huge armies of troops, meticulously painted and customized, on a detailed battlefield. However, the reality is that limitations of both time and money have kept me from advancing beyond the planning stage of such monumental forces. Therefore, I find myself concentrating more and more on the "skirmish" games, where an entire side's troops may consist of no more than 12 to 20 models. This will conceivably let me actually complete a battle-ready group of merciless swashbucklers, resolute Royal Navy marines, hardy Dwarven rangers, and so forth. As an added bonus, the smaller scale of these games makes them more accessible to my two most eager and convenient opponents - my children! Teaching them to enjoy the mental exercise of playing a strategy game, while at the same time imparting to them an appreciation for the human values necessary to face these situations in reality, is, to me, an integral part of raising and educating this next generation of gamers and citizens.

That is why most of my game-related blogging will deal with games of this type, primarily the wonderful Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game by Games Workshop, and its derivatives: Legends of the Old West, and Legends of the High Seas. In coming installments, I intend to detail some of my modeling projects, both in terms of figures as well as scenery (which in the case of the Pirate games includes the ships). In addition, I will share with you what games I have been playing, what books I have been reading, what project is currently underway on my work table, and whatever other musings, ramblings and delusions I think may be of interest. In a perfect world, I'd have the time to update the blog weekly, but in all honesty I think that every other week is a more realistic and achievable target. Occasionally the updates may be more frequent, and sometimes less, depending on what is going on in "real" life at the time.

Enjoy your visit, and please feel free to drop me a line with feedback. I will not promise to act on all suggestions, but I do give my word to take all comments seriously and give them thoughtful consideration. Thanks for stopping by!


Gaming:

A week ago Saturday, on the 19th, I went to a meeting of a gaming group not too far from me in Southern Maryland to play Battletech for the first time in umpteen years. Thanks John, Rob and Kyle for a great evening of gaming! I look forward to getting together with you guys more often! More recently, I have begun to teach my kids the Lord of the Rings rules. I am hoping that once they get the basics down, we can expand to the Wild West and High Seas and do some cowboys and pirates. At the moment, we are working our way through the Mines of Moria scenarios from the boxed Moria game, and the kids are picking it up quite easily, beating me more often than not!


Books:

Currently, I am in the middle of Angus Konstam's fine biography of Blackbeard, titled, appropriately enough, Blackbeard: America's Most Notorious Pirate. I have read several other books about the life and death of Teach, and I was pleasantly surprised at Mr. Konstam's approach to the subject. First, don't let the title fool you, the book deals with much more than just Blackbeard. Mr. Konstam goes into detail about the backdrop to piracy during the so-called "Golden Age," detailing the circumstances and events that led to a rise in piracy during that time. In addition, and to me this is the most fascinating part of the book, Mr. Konstam takes earlier works, such as Captain Johnson's A General History of the Pyrates, Robert E. Lee's Blackbeard the Pirate: A Reappraisal of His Life and Times, and others and attempts to reconcile the discrepancies in their timelines and accounts of Blackbeard's piratical career. One thing I appreciate about Mr. Konstam's writing is that when he makes an assumption, he states that it is in fact just that, an assumption, but he also explains the reasons for that assumption. Thus, when he details, for example, conflicting contemporary accounts of Blackbeard's whereabouts on a certain date, he brings in as many sources as necessary, as well as using common sense, to determine which is the most likely version of events. He also draws from two other authors whose works I have enjoyed tremendously, David Cordingly and Marcus Rediker, to set the stage for and detail the actions of a man who is arguably the most infamous pirate in all of history. As a longtime fan of Mr. Konstam's books on pirates, I can say this is his best effort to date. It is written in an energetic style that draws you in and makes you want to read more, even though we all know how the story ends! It is a fine addition to my piratical library, and, despite the fact I have not yet quite finished the book, I can whole-heartedly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in the "sweet trade!"

Recently I finished The Story of the Malakand Field Force by Sir Winston S. Churchill, and Crazy Horse And Custer: The Parallel Lives of Two American Warriors by Stephen E. Ambrose. Both are excellent books of frontier wars on opposite sides of the globe. Churchill's account, written in 1898, of the might of the British Empire facing the fanatical Pashtun warriors of the Northwest Frontier, is terrific. The campaign by the British to subjugate and punish the mountain tribes is detailed in a vivid and exciting style that brings to life the battles and difficulties faced by the field force. Admittedly, it tells only one side of the story, and does so with what would today be labelled as "politically incorrect" language and attitudes, but it is a compelling story that shows why the British military was so successful and efficient at keeping the peace throughout the empire. Ambrose's double biography of two of the American West's most famous antagonists, really brings to life these two most different, yet similar, men. I was very surprised at the ways in which their lives followed similar paths, in completely dissimilar cultures, leading them to the climactic showdown at Little Bighorn.

***** (five stars out of five) Blackbeard by Angus Konstam
*** (three stars out of five) The Story of the Malakand Field Force by Sir Winston S. Churchill
**** (four stars out of five) Crazy Horse And Custer: The Parallel Lives of Two American Warriors by Stephen E. Ambrose


What's on my modelling table:

A sea serpent conversion based on Mimring the dragon from the Heroscape: Rise of the Valkyrie master set. I have several copies of the game, bought primarily for the very cool hexagon terrain, and have no need for more than one of this unique dragon.... so, out came the razor saw! It needs basing, some putty work and repainting, and I think it will be good to go. Yes, I know Legends of the High Seas has no rules for sea serpents, but "Pirates!" from Flagship Games does! And, there are always house rules to incorporate them into LotHS if I want. The top image is a "before" view of Mimring, sans wings. The bottom image is after cutting it to a waterline model.









Lastly, a public service announcement:

When using a sharp blade, cut away from the body. Common sense, right? The type of tip you have read again and again to the point where you no longer pay attention to it, because it is so obvious. Well, maybe not that obvious for some of us...

I have been modeling for longer than many of you have been alive, so I am embarrassed to admit this, but last week I cut myself pretty badly because I did not follow that particular piece of advice. I was cutting a Lord of the Rings plastic cave troll off its base (which in and of itself is a whole other story, which I may share in a future installment) using a brand new Xacto knife blade. Well, the spot where the feet were glued down was hard to cut through, probably since I was cutting dried glue instead of soft plastic, and I was holding the little bugger in my hand and cutting down into it. (You can see where this is going, no?)

Suddenly the blade cut through the hard glue and into and straight through the plastic, and through the palm of my hand which was directly beneath the figure. After debating with my wife about how bad the cut was and whether or not it would require stitches (I am currently without medical insurance, so I was hoping to get by with some Band-Aids!) I went to the emergency room. Some stitches and a tetanus shot later, I was home, glaring at a plastic cave troll and kicking myself for being so careless.



So, kids, seriously, be CAREFUL with sharp blades and tools - they really can be dangerous in (and into) the wrong hands.


'Til next time, fair winds and smooth sailing!