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revford blog
Bounce the flux grid
The Doctor Returns
Wed, 07 Apr 2010 10:20:48 GMT
Yes, The Doctor made a fantastic return to the telly last Saturday, it's available here on the iPlayer:
No spoilers, other than "It's Great!", just go watch it. :-}=
BLAM in Wargames Illustrated
Sat, 30 Jan 2010 09:55:53 GMT
There is a write up with photos of BLAM 2009 in the latest issue (268) of Wargames Illustrated.
A few photos of my stuff made it into the magazine, my TARDIS console, The Doctor, Katie, Vic and K9 from our Doctor Who game, as well as my Goa'uld and a few Jaffa and from the Stargate 1895 game.
More photos of the minis are available here:
I'll try and get some shots of the full TARDIS interior up soon.
Also I wanted to make sure and credit Rattrap Productions for the rules we used for Doctor Who, The Brokers of Death used the .45 Adventure rules with the Amazing War Stories supplement.
One last note on the Stargate credits, that Goa'uld is a Priest model from the Crocodile Games Wargods range.
Things I learned about running a game at BLAM
Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:56:22 GMT
During our game of Doctor Who at BLAM 09, "The Brokers of Death", and whilst playing some of the other excellent games put on by our fellow Lead Adventurers, I picked up on a few things that I'll change when we come to run another Adventure outside our normal gaming group.
Firstly I learned that while both .45 Adventure and Doctor Who are extremely popular on The Forum, it seems there isn't much crossover between the two groups. Here is a diagram to explain:
The lesson being not to assume that because a certain set of rules or setting are popular, that everyone will know what's going on.
Also try to keep things simple and set things up so they require no prior knowledge other than info you can give people on the day. In less that 3 minutes.
One thing I think we got right was simplifying the NPC character stats down to a single line, from the full sized tables used in Rattrap games. Those tables are great for players who are experienced in playing the game and want to see all the options available, but would be unmanageable for RPG type games with massive supporting casts.
A single player character or guest star NPC looks like this:
Bobalobalobalobert Vesta
Raxacoricofallapatorian (Grade 2)
| Location | Base | DR | Wound Level | |||||
| Head (1) | BR=3 | 4 | BR=3 | BR=1 | Unconscious | |||
| Torso (2-4) | BW=3 GT=6 | 4 | BW=6 GT=6 | BW=6 GT=6 | BW=5 GT=4 | Unconscious | ||
| Arms (5-7) | HT=5 SH=4 | 4 | HT=5 SH=4 | HT=4 SH=4 | HT=3 SH=3 | HT=2 SH=2 | No attacks Cannot carry | |
| Legs (8-10) | DG=3 SP=5 | 4 | DG=3 SP=6 | DG=2 SP=5 | DG=2 SP=3 | DG=1 SP=1 | Crawl only | |
A murderous merchant from the Vesta family, looking to sabotage that conference by killing of his trade rivals.
Skills
Pugilist (+2): Models with this ability are expert in some form of boxing. Models with this ability get +2
to their SH score and attack with no weapon in close combat as though they have a club. They do not, however, have the 1" range of the club. This
cannot be taken in conjunction with Martial Arts.
Compression Field: Raxacoricofallapatorians can capture, skin and wear people as disguises. This takes two turns to complete once the victim has been killed in close combat. Once worn, the disguise is perfect and only detectable by the gas exchanger giving off a smell of Calcium Decay.
| Weapon | Close Combat | Short | Medium | Long | ||||||||
| Claws | 0" | +2 | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Where a group of extras look like this:
The Station Staff
Unlucky Employees of the Conference Centre
| Name | Quirk | BR | BW | GT | HT | SH | DG | SP | |
 | Captain Michell | Tired Veteran, ex-police took this as a quiet semi-retirement. Armed with a Heavy Laser Pistol |
3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
 | Murray | Bored with this job, too smart for it. Armed with a Laser Pistol. |
6 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
 | "Doc" Pepper | Station Engineer, jobsworth. Armed with a Laser Pistol. |
4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
 | Bernard | Slow of wit but quick and nimble, runs a lot as he's always late. Armed with a Laser Pistol. |
2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 |
 | Mike | People assume he's dumb because he's big, but he's not as daft as he looks. Armed with a Laser Pistol. |
3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
 | Sandra | Another jobsworth and a snob to go with it, mean. Armed with a Laser Pistol and rubber gloves. |
3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Weapon | Close Combat | Short | Medium | Long | ||||||||
| Laser Pistol | 0" | -1 | 5 | 10" | +2 | 5 | 18" | - | 5 | - | - | - |
| Laser Pistol, Heavy | 0" | -1 | 5 | 12" | +2 | 5 | 20" | - | 5 | - | - | - |
All extras, unless otherwise noted have DR 4 in all locations which is normal for unarmoured people. Extras use the standard hit locations, any hit to the head or torso is a kill, any to the arms or legs leave them wounded and unable to go on.
Also included is a picture of the model and a character quirk to give them a little personality.
This really speeds up NPC use and generation and lets us run lots of characters without too much trouble.
Extras are similar to the 1/2 Grade or Hordes of Mooks rules from .45 Adventure, but even simpler and for people who are basically just moving and reusable encounter markers.
The game only had three NPCs with a table of stats, Weird Des the cheap Merc running security, Professor Goatse the Vorlon and our villain The Raxacoricofallapatorian. Everyone else was a one liner.
For K9, I removed the parts of the table that didn't apply, he doesn't have Arms or Legs, then moved the skills he still needed from them around the table:
K9
Robot Dog (Grade 2)
| Location | Base | DR | Wound Level | |||||
| Head (1) | BR=5 HT=4 | 5 | BR=5 HT=4 | BR=4 HT=2 | Deactivated | |||
| Torso (2-6) | BW=3 GT=6 | 5 | BW=3 GT=6 | BW=2 GT=5 | BW=1 GT=5 | Deactivated | ||
| Motor (7-10) | DG=3 SP=5 | 4 | DG=3 SP=5 | DG=2 SP=3 | DG=2 SP=2 | DG=1 SP=1 | Immobile | |
The Doctor's faithful robot dog K9. The retro robot rover's computer mastery makes him a ever helpful companion.
Skills
Mechanic: Models with this ability know the inner working of machines and vehicles. By spending an
action and making a successful BR test, a mechanic can repair a non-working machine. If the item happens
to be an invention (see rules for Inventors) then the model must roll using half their BR score.
Language: Models with this ability have learned many different languages, both those still used and those long dead. When faced
with deciphering a language related clue, warning, etc, models with this ability must pass BR test to decipher it correctly.
Devotion: Models with this ability would take a bullet for the hero (master). If the model with this ability is within 3" of a
Grade 3 model that is wounded, the wound can be transferred to the devoted model instead (it is transferred to the exact same
location). If the wound kills the Devoted model, then the Grade 3 model can expend one Hero Point and take an immediate action
(even if the model already acted this turn or the model would not act yet because of its DG score).
Undying Loyalty: Models with this ability are devoted to the person they follow. As long as their hero (or master) is around
they won't run from a fight. Models with this ability never take a morale check as long as a friendly Grade 3 model is conscious
and still on the board.
Computer: K9's onboard computer allows him to access any computer system by plugging himself into it, once connected he can
access any information, disable systems or copy data on a BR check.
Laser: K9 has a small built in Laser, this is undetectable until deployed as his own energy signature hides the weapon.
| Weapon | Close Combat | Short | Medium | Long | ||||||||
| Laser | 0" | +2 | 4 | 10" | +5 | 4 | 18" | +3 | 4 | - | - | - |
As I was running as late as a late thing, I realised that the sheet I took with me still said Legs instead of Motor, but you get the idea.
Now that I think about it, I should have applied this logic a bit further and simplified the sheets even more, The Doctor and Katie don't need a HT score, as it's used for shooting for example.
In the best games players either didn't need to look at reference sheets at much after the first few turns, or even at all. Simpler sheets with no unimportant information will really help with this.
On Props and Hats, it should be a wig or hat for everyone, or none at all, they can be of various levels of silliness but it would stop people worrying too much about who has to wear ridiculous looking costume and who doesn't.
Both Props and Costume bits for everyone next time.
Last note is timing, I'd guessed, based on the games we'd played in the past that the scenario would take about 45 minutes for experianced players, or an hour for people new to the system. It actually took around 2 1/2 to 3 hours for a game.
This was mostly down to people having long conversations with all the extras, which is good in a way as that was the point of the game, to have a story based adventure rather than a shootout, but I think next time I'd cut the number of Extras down so Heroes can get to the Guest Stars faster, also find a simple way to mark out who is a Guest Star and who is an Extra. Maybe a sign with the story title, Starring and Guest Starring notes with pictures of the Stars and Guest Stars.
And that's about all I can think of for now, other than have everything ready by August so we have
plenty of time for any last minute changes.
I'll post up the full set of Encounter Cards, Guest Star and Extras stats soon. For now our Heroes are available here:
No Zak and Crazy Tuesday
Sun, 19 Jul 2009 19:12:56 GMT
Just a reminder for the Tuesday people, Zak and Crazy are away this week so no FarStar game.
In it's place I'll put together another Doctor Who .45 Adventure.
As far as I know, The FarStar should resume 2009-07-28 and the hunt for Moff Sarne can resume.
What I Painted in Week 1 of July
Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:12:17 GMT
My new plan, rather than posting each individual model I paint, will be to do a post a week with all the stuff I've painted. And with that plan here is week one of July.
More Dark Ages villagers for The Doctor or SGR to meet on their adventures. From Gripping Beast.
A Scruffy Ronin from EM4.
Another Dalek, this time it came from a board game found in a charity shop.
Star Wars minis from Wizards, the second Jawa is actually a Micro Machines Evil Emperor. The Cyborg in Gold had is gun removed, arm rotated and a briefcase built from parts of a 1:72 Huey Rocket Pod and a GW Imperial Guard Autocannon.
Here we have the latest additions to Weird Des's Gang, The Weirdos. Two Converted Heavy Weapons Men, based on a Slick from East Riding with a Minigun from an EM4 Robot.
Also new for the Weirdos are two Armed Launches, 25mm Armed Splinters from Old Crow, simply the best finish on a resin cast model I've ever seen, first class.
The remaining troops for our 'Nam NVA Platoon, all 1:72 plastics from Italeri.
From Artizan a pair of downed RAF Pilots, ready to be smuggled back to England by The Resistance.
Based on a great idea from Ironworker on the Lead Adventure Forum, Barrels made from plastic bottle tops. Dead simple and look good so I'll be making a ton more of these. Some are singles and some are grouped into stacks.
And that's all for this week, I've a few other things started including Nam villagers, a new TARDIS and a second hand spacecraft for the Jawas but I'll include them in the week I finish them.
Now it's time to finish setting up the Doctor Who game for tonight.
What I Painted In June
Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:34:12 GMT
I've been working away on other projects and I've not been keeping up to date with posting the things I've been painting, so this is a catch up post and I'll get on with posting new stuff as soon as I can.
We have here Cybermen, Daleks, Judoon and Raxacoricofallapatorians. All from the now seemingly discontinued Micro Universe range.
Viscount Severn, Heir Apparent to the Earl of Wessex, aka Vic, one of our new TARDIS crew. The mini is Vincent from the Heresy SciFi range.
And finally, a Duros Explorer, a repainted mini from the ready painted Star Wars Minis range by Wizards.
All of these are headed for Doctor Who .45 Adventures.
Doctor Who for BLAM
Sun, 17 May 2009 16:46:12 GMT
BLAM is coming up again soon, I couldn't find enough junkies for the Dealers game to work so it's a change of pace and I'm thinking Doctor Who .45 Adventures.
With that in mind, here are a couple of newly painted minis for the event, first Katie, The Doctor's new companion. I decided to create a new character for BLAM rather than use an existing one. The mini is from Artizan's side of the Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang range.
Alongside Katie we have Professor Goatsie, a solicitor attending a space trade conference on a distant moon. His mini is a Vorlon from the Mongoose Babylon 5 range, now sadly out of production.
The Doctor Returns Tonight in "Planet of the Dead", BBC One, 18:45
Sat, 11 Apr 2009 10:37:17 GMT
Nuff Said.
The Eighth Doctor
Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:00:14 GMT
Inspired by the surpisingly good New Eighth Doctor Adventures from Big Finish, here is Paul McGann in miniature as The Doctor.
It's a change from all the soldiers I've been painting, somehow odd to see a mini not covered in dirt and camo paint.
Mini from Black Tree Design.
Dalek Squad
Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:13:36 GMT
Another Dalek Squad, this gives me nine Plungers and three Grabbers of basic Daleks, for three Squads.
Along with the Supreme Dalek and Davros, it's shaping up to quite a nice force.
I'll add another Squad later, maybe another Character Dalek in an alternate colour scheme, I can't decide between Red/Gold and Blue/White at the mo.
The Eleventh Doctor
Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:55:24 GMT
1735, BBC One, Tomorrow. A special show to introduce the man, or woman, to take the role of the Eleventh Doctor.
A bit of a surprise here, I'd expected to find out during an on-screen regeneration at the end of the year. Maybe the BBC don't think the secret can be kept that long in the information age, it is better to have a big TV special about it than to learn it online or in a newspaper.
It's all very exciting anyway.
The Next Doctor
Fri, 26 Dec 2008 11:50:58 GMT
The latest Doctor Who Christmas Special is now up on the iPlayer, The Next Doctor.
Good Fun, a great theme and cool monsters, nothing earth shattering, just a really solid fun. You couldn't ask for a better start to Russell T Davies final run at the helm.
I've mixed feeling about RTD standing down from the head of Doctor Who position, since the return in 2005 we've had some of the best Who stories ever, the comeback has been an undeniable success with him at the console.
At the same time, the best Episodes since the return have all been written by Steven Moffat, so I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens with him in control.
I guess we've been spoiled with so many good people putting our favourite show together.
The Next Doctor
Doctor Who Confidential
Doctor Who: The Chimes of Midnight part 4
Sun, 21 Dec 2008 20:57:01 GMT
The conclusion of The Chimes of Midnight, an Eighth Doctor Radio Adventure is up on the iPlayer now.
Doctor Who: The Chimes of Midnight 4/4
iPlayer Roundup
Sun, 07 Dec 2008 14:52:39 GMT
A few good things on the iPlayer at the mo.
The latest episode of the excellent [spooks], best of the series so far. Harry is accused of being an FSB mole.
As series two of the Eighth Doctor New Adventures is over, the Sunday Doctor Who radio spot is now filled by a four part story, The Chimes of Midnight. Set before Lucie joined the Doctor, for this adventure the Doctor is accompanied by Charley.
Doctor Who: The Chimes of Midnight
Alongside the Radio 7 Doctor Who, we have repeats of some of the more recent television adventures, well worth a look is the superb Blink.
As well as more stories from established favourites, the BBC have given us a few new shows to take a look at.
First up we have a remake of Survivors, the first episode was a bit weak, like a zombie movie without the zombies, but it picked up a bit from there so I'll give it a fair shake through the rest of this series.
Survivors 101
Survivors 102
Survivors 103
And finally for now, a new Detective show, Wallander. Set in modern Sweden, but with a UK cast and performed in English. We have a documentary setting the scene and the first two episodes.
Who is Kurt Wallander?
Sidetracked
Before the Frost
Doctor Who: The Zygon Who Fell to Earth
Sun, 23 Nov 2008 22:03:50 GMT
Episode 6 of the new 8th Doctor radio adventures is now up on iPlayer.
I've not had a chance to listen to it yet, so I can't tell you what it's about. The series has been fun so far so I expect this to be more of the same.
Doctor Who: The Zygon Who Fell to Earth
Doctor Who: Grand Theft Cosmos
Sat, 22 Nov 2008 23:04:25 GMT
Almost forgot to post this one. Best be quick as it's going to be replaced with a new episode tomorrow night.
The Doctor and Lucy get involved in a heist on a train.
Doctor Who: Grand Theft Cosmos
Doctor Who: The Skull of Sobek
Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:46:34 GMT
A sanctuary in a desert of blue sand and a powerful artifact from a lost civilisation.
It's Series 2, Episode 4 of the New Eighth Doctor Adventures.
Doctor Who: The Skull of Sobek
Doctor Who: Brave New Town
Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:38:38 GMT
The Doctor and Lucy land in the strange ruins of 1991.
Doctor Who: Max Warp
Fri, 31 Oct 2008 21:16:09 GMT
The 8th Doctor adventures continue on Radio 7, this time it's a crash on a space version Top Gear that threatens to restart a galactic war.
Undone, Doctor Who and more 7th Dimension SciFi on iPlayer
Sat, 18 Oct 2008 01:41:06 GMT
Lots of good SciFi on BBC Radio 7 at the moment, in a slot called 7th Dimension, including a new 8th Doctor adventure on Sunday, so it's well worth keeping an eye on the Radio 7 section of the iPlayer.
The complete first series of Undone, a fun SciFi/Comedy from BBC Radio 7 is also now available on the iPlayer.
Undone 101: Mind the Gaps
Undone 102: Unappreciated
Undone 103: Unrivalled
Undone 104: Unfamiliar
Undone 104: Unravelled
The second series is due to play next week.
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