State of the Gamers...

First, I would like to apologize for not keeping up with posts on this blog. 

Second, we have been having so much fun with Battletech that I didn't want to spoil it by typing anything. 

Third, I would like to talk about game stability, and how it affects both new and seasoned gamers. 

In any game and with any group you reach a point that is much like a critical mass. This mass starts its life on day one. Seasoned gamers are feeling the nostalgia high, but that is curbed by new gamers inability to pick up on the "world" in question. New gamers are excited for the game, but don't appreciate the lore. 

Each game is different but the conflict is the same. 

Responsibility for all of this, as always, falls to the GM. The balance of new material and inside humor/shared experiences is one of the most crucial and difficult parts of any game to maintain.  

Over the next couple of posts I'll be looking into what my experiences have been and what other new and seasoned GM's think. 

The Star is really coming together...

After three battles together our star of proud Jade Falcon mechwarriors has really come together. Most of us are trying new configs every session. Our new guys are really starting to pick up the basics and our veterans are getting out stride back. 

I wanted to take a minute and plug our game. The battletech universe has something for every gamer. If you want and immersive role play experience, there is the 'Time of War' RPG that details life outside of mechs. If you are looking for a massive war game there is 'Alpha Strike'.  For skirmish level games 'Classic Battletech' gives you a detailed account of the battles with more focus on squad level tactics.  The lore has to be the best part of Battletech. With the exception of the giants, dnd and 40k, there are no games that have the quantity or quality, let alone the sheer detail that Battletech does. 

While Warmahordes and DnD will always have a warm place in my heart Battletech has been and as far as I can see will always be MY game. 

Kudos to the guys...

I would like to take a moment to give thanks to the phenomenal group of guys that I game with.  I have never in my years of gaming/living heard of a group that has stuck together like us.  We have married, moved, spawned, and survived.  We still make great efforts to get together and not just game, but be each others friends.  Gaming has always been what we did, but I thank all of you for being true friends.

I'm looking forward to all of the future games!

Some sweet, sweet Birthday games!

Had some amazing game time this weekend. The guys all got together at Dirt Road Comics in Willow Springs. We played the second chapter in the sojourn that is our clan battletech campaign. Our Keshik did great and even outnumbered nearly 3 to 1 came out on top. We are using a modified version of the miniature rules. The battlemat is courtesy of Seige. Here are some of the telling pics from the game. 

All of the games...

The last couple of months have been good for the Hometown Gamers crew. The 5th Ed game is moving right along and we have made the strategic decision to start a 'B' squad with the NPC characters that have signed on the support the cause. All of us are exploring different roles in the second party. I couldn't be happier. I personally suffer from a need to play every combination of character, so two is helping the 'burn out' for me. 

And then there were Elves...

After some bartering on my part I have gotten a new Retribution of Scyrah army!  This army is nearly the size of my previous one and is 60% painted.  I'm excited to see how the elves play!

For love of the game...

In our groups history it has been feast or famine. By that I mean either we are gaming with good frequency or it is months between games. We have yet to adopt any higher tech methods for getting the group together and I think that may have to change. Video or just plain audio conferencing has become almost a norm in gaming today. There are some excellent tools out there to keep a good group together and in the coming weeks I'm going to post and test a few. 

Thanks 

Trolls, trolls, and more trolls...

And the trolls have been vanquished!  In the beginning of book 2 the Night Below we have encountered our first two underdark races the deep gnomes and two tribes of trolls. Now in order to establish some cred underground we are helping the gnomes out by vanquishing two nests of trolls. In the original 2nd ed this was much less worrisome series of encounters. In 5th Ed trolls have a little more than double the hit points and their regen has increased from a couple of hit points a round to 10 freaking hp a round and they fanatically attack anyone who wields fire. After 3 full sessions of troll slaying I'm happy to say they are dead and we are not!  I have never been so happy to move along. 

On another note I did have time to enjoy a game with my trolls. 50 pts vs Scotty's Retribution of Scyrah. Super fun game resulting in a Trollblood victory. 

New Year Gaming...

As is our tradition, we had a big evening of games and BS this last weekend. While some of us could not attend a good time was still had. We played a rare 50pt game and had a 25pt 4 person free-for-all. Community and culture development at the new, to Warmahordes, store is going great. It reminds me of how we used to have fun back in 3rd ed 40k. 

Leviathan's list was:  Thags 1, archangel, carnivean, scythean, ripper, warspears with UA, deathstalker, and a useless shepard 

Mine looked like this: Doomy2, Mountain King, Mulg, Earthborn, Full Krielstone+UA, Janissa Stonetide, Champ Hero 

Here is an epic, nay colossal pic!