Evolution of a New Project

As I mentioned nearly a month ago, I find that I can't force myself to game when I experience gaming doldrums. I just need to ride it out; inspiration will come and I'll be back into gaming.

I had a moment like that last night. It all began with:

We played a game of it last night (I did horribly, but still had fun). Anyway, Fortune and Glory is a pulp-themed adventure board game with a very Indiana Jones vibe to it (I discuss it a bit more here). As I was lying in bed, trying to get to sleep, I was thinking about this game and the setting. For some reason (perhaps because I played Jake Zane, the pilot) , my mind wandered to air combat games. Suddenly it hit me - I want to do a 1930s-style air combat project with imagi-nations.

This has set my brain percolating. I need to figure a few things out.

• Setting - I toyed with the idea of an alternate history setting (like Crimson Skies) but it did not make sense to me that ground transportation would lose out so dramatically, Instead, I created my own imaginary world, albeit with a 1930s technology level. I laid out my initial description of the setting earlier today.
• Rules - this may prove problematic because I have struggled to find a set of miniatures rules for air combat that I actually like and can play solo. It dawned on me last night that using a Song of Blades and Heroes style activation system may work. I played a trial game this morning. It has potential but still needs some work.
• Miniatures - I currently have some WW2 aircraft in 1/600 scale. However, given my imagi-nation approach, I'd like to get some more fanciful figures. I want to stay with 1/600 scale, though. That may be a tall order. I did find some P-26s and B-10s on Shapeways (which I can't find now :( ). I'll have to do some looking around, but I am considereing scratch-building.

Anyway, I am off and running with a new project.

Air War Over Aetheria

Aetheria is a largely mountainous world, with isolated valleys scattered across the globe. Due to its geography, ground transportation between valleys was very difficult. Ultimately, the Aetherians discovered the ideal solution to their problem - air transport.

Beginning with balloons,

An early balloon

the Aetherians would develop large dirigibles that could carry people and products from community to community.

Airships

Of course, these airships also became tools of war. The lumbering giants, filled with troops, could soar over the mountains to invade neighboring valleys. In response, small, fast, and nimble heavier-than-air craft were developed. These could intercept and defeat the airships, if they could get past the screens of aircraft defending the ships.

Because of its geography, Aetheria was divided into a host of smaller states (each controlling a valley). As air transport became more reliable, valleys became connected and larger states developed. Today, the largest of these states is a democratic polity known as the Confederation. Alas, it is not the most powerful. Its members are relatively autonomous so coordinated action is difficult. The most dangerous state is the Empire of the Iron Fist.

Flag of the Empire of the Iron Fist

Centered on a particularly belligerent state in central Aetheria, the Empire embarked on a policy of aggressive expansion, snapping up its weaker neighbors. This has aroused the ire of the Confederation, which is haphazardly preparing for war with the Empire.

A LARP Phase

With respect to my hobbies, I tend to experience phases, especially for my two favorite hobbies - gaming and LARPing. I'll get heavily involved in one and let the other slide a bit. This is happening now as LARPing is consuming my free time while my miniature wargames have fallen by the wayside.

A lot is going on in my LARP life. I have been elected "sheriff" of my local group. As a result, I've been busy planning and organizing games for our weekly gatherings. Some of the things I'm doing:

• Created flyers for our group
• Organized a tournament to select our group's new champion
• Created the battlegame scenarios over the past few weeks. These have included
• A tavern brawl and an ensuing riot
• Hunting a sea monster that was terrorizing the coast
• Ending a blight of undead
• Preparing for an althing to determine if our group wants to unite with the local kingdom

I am also changing my character (as I've mentioned recently) from a paladin-like warrior to a scout (i.e. a ranger). I've been researching the look I want (by the way, the Middle Earth Ranger forum is a great resource), planning acquisitions, and doing some crafting. For example, I recently built these 2 "throwing daggers."

I was toying with the thought of playing a miniatures game this weekend, but instead I may be preparing for a hurricane. Thanks Erika.

It's Official

My LARP character is definitely changing. Just sold off my "paladin" armor.

I have an aluminum chainmail haubergeon for body armor. I ordered some new, less-expensive bracers and greaves. Still to do: dye my tunic and get new gloves (although I am thinking of dying my white gloves, which I kept).

A New RPG Adventure

Although I haven't been playing any miniature games lately, I have run another RPG session tonight. The first part of my game report is over at Tales of the Templars.

My Evolving Look

OK, I am in a little lull with my miniatures gaming. I keep saying I should play a game but I am not motivated, I've learned that I just need to ride it out and not force anything.

I have been thinking a lot about my live action roleplaying (which I have called 1:1 scale wargaming). I have since changed groups and am now with Amtgard rather than Dagorhir. Amtgard has classes (like Dungeons & Dragons). Alas, my favorite class, paladin, is restricted in Amtgard to those who have earned an Amtgard "knighthood." As a result, I have been playing scout (i.e. ranger) instead. However, my current look just does not look ranger-like. I am in the process of changing my style. As I have been researching, I came across some pictures of me across the years.

At first, I really did not have a good idea of my character's background. I was simply slapping medieval looking pieces together, like this:

Cotton tunic with pants that are way too big on me

I then decided I wanted to be a Dark Age warrior from the time of King Arthur. Here I am at an event in 2010.

Same garb as a above.
The leather armor makes the outfit.

 I messed around with other ideas.

Greek-inspired garb.
Comfortable in the hot, humid, Florida weather

But issues with skin cancer have forced me to cover up. I also began moving toward a paladin character, so I switched to a white tunic.

A Dark Age paladin.
Same armor but now with a white tunic.

 Dagorhir and Amtgard allow fantasy characters so I began to embrace a more mythical version of King Arthur's time. Due to health constraints, I did not want to wear metal armor so I commissioned some leather armor designed to look a bit like plate.

Full blown fantasy paladin look

As you can see, the above kit does not really fit with my new ranger persona. Instead, I'd like to look more like this:

Robin Hood

Due to my skin cancer issues, I now wear a long-sleeved, SPF t-shirt under my garb. Unfortunately, having this under a tunic becomes uncomfortable in the Florida heat. For practices, I have taken to wearing a surcoat instead of a tunic. This way, I have one less layer covering my arms, which is way more comfortable.

Practice garb

I'm thinking of doing something similar for my new event garb. I found this surcoat on e-bay. The one on the right looks properly ranger-ish. The picture shows it over a black tunic but it is actually sleeveless. I could pair it with a brown, green, or even black SPF shirt.

I have some black hosen and decent shoes that I can re-purpose as ranger garb. I just need to work on my armor.