Geek Day Diary Entry #0: "A Wonderful Day of Geeking"

Dear Diary,

Today, our group participated in a mixed gaming day that brought together various groups of wargamers and roleplayers from the St. John's area. All proceeds from the door and the sale of junk food and raffle tickets went to the Canadian Diabletes Association. One of the main organizers of geekly functions in our area (primarily 40k) died very young because of diabetic-related complications not too long ago. I never knew him too well, but I was aware that he was a father and a fine human being, so hats off to the crew who initiated this fine day of geeking with a great cause.

Our group set up a table for Legends of the Old West. I provided the buildings and a few smaller pieces, while Marc and Chris E. provided the fine trees, hills, river, bridge, and crop fields. The Oklahoma backwoods never looked so good!


The backwoods sprawl out from the town. I'm thinking about investing in a rifle and moving to Assumption myself. Haven't told the wife yet.


Here's where we left the Assumption Vigilence Committee last time. Sherrif John Henry Mast stands out front, with his trusty deputies Jebediah Hunter (your left) and Gabe MacIntyre (your right). The gentlemen in black are the left overs of the vigilante guns-for hire, Eli O'Brien and Billy Jenson.


It's only a matter of time before a prosperous town like Assumption draws trouble. Major Eustace Pileforth and the remnants of the 17th Virgina Cavalry serve their own agenda (or rather, his agenda) - the war hasn't ended until the good Major says it has.


During the first engagment, the infamous Sundown Gang returns from their hideout in the Oklahoma backwoods looking for trouble... again!


Of Course, the Mast and his men won't stand for any such villainy within the town confines.


The men take up positions.


The outlaws cross the bridge. Bull Tucker and the Calamity Kid lead the way.


Eli O'Brien stamps out his cigarette and levels his rifle. The resounding "crack" startles the residents and sends the birds to flight. Bull Tucker takes the shot in the shoulder and hits the bridge. He crawls down by the riverbank to soak the wound.


George Scranton and Gentleman Earl keep coming, guns levelled, but within minutes, the shootout is over. Jeb Hunter shoots Scranton right between the eyes. His usually quiet brother, Bill, screams in frustration, but the hail of lawmen gunfire drives the outlaws back across the bridge and out of town.


The next engagement saw the arrivel of Pileforth's 1th cavalry meeting up with the Sundown Gang. Earl's men make their way behind the buildings...

...but the Virgina boys are ready for em.


The bulk of the southerners move in front of the Dry Goods store.


The insolent outlaws move through Gabe's backyard. Bull Tucker finds himself in with the swine. Ideal company in my opinion.


The rest of the pigs root near the fields.


The 17th continue their advance...


...and move up behind the saloon.


Then the gunfire erupts. No surprise, the calamity kid is the instigator.


The fists start flying.


Earl and company move up to join in the trouble.


By the time was all said and done, I think we played a total of five games of Legend of the Old West. The funny thing is, the same four I started with from the original night of gaming (John Mast, Old Gabe, Jeb, and Eli) were the only ones who survived the day. My posse earned some cash however (thanks to Gabe's skill at the card table), and I'll be bringing some fresh upstanding citizens into the posse (i.e. I have some painting to do).

I never got pictures of the latter part of the day. There was far more Old West action than pictures above, and Ken showed up later and started playing Warmachine. Anyway, Marc took LOTS of shots (Or Stu did, with Marc's camera), so I'm sure there'll be lots of photos at the General Store in the coming days.

Finally, there was lots more going on than our Old West gaming. I got a few shots around the venue before my camera died.

The great minds of wargaming converge.


A blurry Chris E. (leader of the 17th Virgina Cavalry) draws in the unsuspecting.


Stu spent the first half of the afternoon filing up his Foundry mountain men. They are some seriously sweet models.


The main 40k gang setting up their custom made table. They used the plastic city sprues to make a very impressive table.


Prizes were donated by local stores and businesses.


I was most interested in this Heavy Gear Blitz lot. I never won it. Poop.


I took a few shots of the 40k Apocalypse action. I have to commend the guys on the effort they put into this. They seemed to have a very fun afternoon.









There was also a game of Crossfire running. This is not a game I'm really familiar with, but Tim had a nice 20mm set-up going. I was busy playing Old West, but it seemed that two other guys were playing and he oversaw the proceedings. The table looked quite nice.





I have to say, hats off to the organizers. We had a wonderful time, and it was great to see so many geeks having a good time to support a worthwile cause.

Thanks for reading
JET

Muster of the Parthian Army

So here's how it went down. Stu and I prepared armies for playing Impetus. I did Romans and he did Parthians. As an ex-Baccus dealer (and a general collect-a-holic geek), Stu supplied me with various 6mm figures for the Roman army, all of my bases, and even a few models for the Old West project. Feeling guilty (and on a tight gaming budget for the coming months), I offered to base his Parthian army in pseudo-payment.

You'll notice that the pics aren't perfect, but they give the general idea. Here's the army arrayed for battle. Three games running and I haven't beaten them yet. Their day will come however. I think. Maybe.


Skirmishers armed with "short bow B" according to the rules. With an upgrade to VBU=3, they are just enough to harass my forces, and more importantly, they screen the advance of the cataphracts. Wiley bastards.


And speaking of cataphracts... ugh. I should have "lost" a few units while I was basing them.


A glam shot from the other side. I understand the reasons why people don't want to paint 6mm armies, but it's hard to deny how impressive they look sprawled out on the field (That wasn't a dig against you K - relax) They actually look like (egads, is it actually possible!) - an army. I love it!


For those who play Impetus, this collection is comprised of generals x 3, horse archers x 14, cataphracts x 6, and skirmishers x 4. For those who don't play Impetus, wake up! It is a truly fantastic game. If you want to actually feel like you are watching a battle unfold, this is the game for you.

Thanks for reading,
JET

P.S. Stu, I hope you are pleased with the final product. Now your army can look stylish while it runs mine into the ground. - J

The Day Trouble Came to Town

Last night we finally did it... Marc and I started the ball rolling and played our first couple of Legends of the Old West games. As Marc and I started our geek journey almost 10 years ago playing GW Necromunda, this game really took us back in time. I still haven't finished my buildings & fences, nor have we made a decision on the road issue, but nevertheless, it's my humble pleasure to present... The Day Trouble Came to Town. (brought to you in techni-color)

The street lies still...


...the calm before the storm...


And then they appear, the infamous Sundown Gang, defiling the peaceful streets of Assumption. Pictured below (L to R): The Scranton Boys - William (back) and George (front), Gentleman Earl Pickard - desperado leader of these ragtag wastrels, Jake Goodyard the "Calamity Kid," hailing from New Crossing, down Cheyenne way, and the infamous Jeremiah "Bull" Tucker.


If the Sundown Gang came looking for trouble, they were sure to find it. Assumption was built on the blood and hard work of honest folk. They surely weren't going to lie down and take what was comin like an ill-wed woman.

Second from the left; Sherrif John Henry Mast, and the dashing gentleman in the grey suit, his deputy Old Gabe MacIntyre. The gent in the buckskin jacket is Jebediah Hunter, a trapper and wanderer who thinks of Assumption as his home, even though he has no right lodging in the town proper. The men in black are Billy Jenson's men from out east, hired guns brought in through the earnings of the Assumtion Vigilence Committee. John Mast had heard that the Sundown boys were moving down south and was ready.


The Sherrif and his men move up past the jail...


While the rest of the Easterners move up the other side of the street.


Meanwhile, Earl, the Kid, and Bull Tucker advance toward the Gunsmith's. A cool breeze creaking through the roof tiles is the only sound until the Kid loses the little control he has. Earl tries to hold him back, but the guns start blazing, and then all hell breaks loose.


Now that the action had started, the Scranton boys move up and pull out the shootin' irons.

Jeb pulls back by the JP's house for cover as the outlaws lace the alleyway with lead.


The front of the Dry Goods Store streams with lead while the shopkeep holds up in the storage attic.


Sherrif Mast and company come to Jeb's aid. A violent exchange of fire takes place.


George Scranton runs headlong into Jimmy Rourke. Fisticuffs ensue. A few short minutes later, the scoundrels are driven out of town and the lawmen regroup.


In typical brash outlaw style, the Sundown gang returns at sundown no less, and stirs up more trouble.


The lawmen, beaten and battered, advance to deal with matters. Such is the fate of those who serve the law.


Gunfire erupts and lawmen start hitting the dirt. Old Gabe and Billy Jensen are taken down by outlaw gunfire.


Pistol whippin is the order of the day. Even Big Jim can't stand up to being ganged up on by cowardly outlaws.


Bill Scranton loom's around the corner, rifle ready.


One of the Rourke boys gets taken down by George Scranton. He dies instantly from a stab wound. Now, George Scranton is a murderer as well as a cattle thief.


Things are turning desperate. The other Rourke brother, unaware of his brothers grisly death, makes a last stand on the saloon porch with the Sherrif. "Should be make a run for the outsheds Sherrif?" The sherrif reloaded and replied unwaveringly, "Not on my watch Rourke. Not on my watch. Now gun'em down!"


Earl and the Kid, not satisfied with killing a few good honest men, continue up the street, bloodlust keeping them in the fight.


Bull Tucker takes down one of the easterners. Things are looking desperate for our heroes.


A final dramatic brawl takes place outside the saloon. Blows are traded and shots are fired.


And like every Western tale worth telling, it comes down to two men... one a lawman, one an outlaw, but in the end, just men. Whose to say that one mightn't have worn the other's shoes if circumstances were different, but such judgements aren't for me to make. All I know is what witnesses who remained hidden that day told me.

Apparantly, the two men stared at each other, each hating the other, and respecting him at the same time. They exchanged no words, but stared around the street, taking in the dead and wounded. Mast holstered his gun, knowing that he had lost many men, and Pickard, knowing that he had been victorious in one sense, realized that his gang had been greatly limbed and walked out of town, kicking his wounded men to their feet as he left.

As Mast leaned over to help Eli to his feet, he reportedly muttered one statement under his breath; "Next time, Assumption will defend Assumption..."

And that was that as they say. The game is great, and both Marc and I had a wonderful time. I'm going to finish up my terrain and some more models, because let's face it - we'll be playing a lot more of this game in the future.

Thanks for reading,
JET