New Games Workshop "Blitz Bowl" Pictures

Back in March, Games Workshop announced an introductory game named Blitz Bowl, using many of the Blood Bowl rules and models.  Recently, additional pictures have been spoiled, providing a view into the rules, the dice, and some of the gameplay.

Based on the new photos, it appears that the game is more than just Blood Bowl on a smaller scale.  The actions are different and the block dice results are slightly different as well.  There are Challenge cards and Bonus Play cards which appear to bring in objective-type goals into the game.

I'm excited to see what additional photos and previews are shown as the game gets closer to release.

15mm Superhero Gaming - Major Blasto Character Sheet

"One Man Army"...  "Death Incarnate"... "The Walking Armory"...  "Your Worst Nightmare"....  Major Blasto has been called many things, but this above all - "The Best Damn Soldier in the World".  This is the man who once killed four agents of Hydra with one grenade -- before the damn thing exploded.  His weapon of choice is his custom BREN gun - along with its Infinity Clip - which allows him to slow march, all while raining down an unending hail of bullets on anybody unfortunate enough to be considered his enemy.  Although he prefers to work alone, he has been persuaded by Nick Fury to accompany the Repulsers superhero team from time to time.  He feels the need to share some of the glory once in a while - just to be fair....

15mm Superhero Gaming - When Aliens Attack Session Report

I finally ran a large 15mm Superhero gaming session for my daughters, nieces, and nephews.  It has been a year or two since our last two sessions - Rise of the Dead and Desert Rescue, and I was excited to use all my Team Yankee modern 15mm scenery for the scenario.  Below are the details for this new adventure....

When Aliens Attack

In a small rural town, aliens have landed. Glowing purple crystals have appeared near the landing site of their flying saucer. With the Avengers in disarray after the events of their civil war, Nick Fury sent Taffy Man to investigate, but the superhero has not been heard from since entering the craft. Recently, a group of aliens assembled around one of the glowing crystals. Nick Fury has now assembled the Repulsers superhero team to rescue Taffy Man and stop any threat the aliens may pose.

Superheroes:
*America Girl
*Plasma Man (and Minions)
*Ice Princess (and Snowflake the ice golem)
*Star Flare
*Blue Raven
*Major Blasto

NPCs:
*Taffy Man
*United States Navy SEALs
*Local Policemen
*Townspeople

Villains:
*Aliens (Greys)
*Alien Guard-Creatures
*Alien Monster

Aboard the Quinjet, the team (led by America Girl) discussed the mission and split into task forces:

• America Girl / Plasma Man - enter the flying saucer to rescue Taffy Man and research the aliens
• Ice Princess / Star Flare - evacuate the town and protect its citizens
• Blue Raven / Major Blasto - engage the aliens and eliminate any threat they may pose

Due to their military training, America Girl, Major Blasto, and Blue Raven were able to parachute down while the rest of the team aboard the Quinjet landed in a airfield outside of town.

America Girl defeated the two aggressive alien creatures guarding the flying saucer and entered the alien craft. She found the captured Taffy Man and defeated the aliens guarding him. Taffy Man then informs her about the aliens - they are evil and seek the town's destruction! The glowing crystals will spawn huge monsters that will destroy the town, unless the aliens are stopped. Taffy Man also found out a secret hidden deep within the ship's computer - the alien monsters will melt when exposed to water!

While American Girl is aboard the alien craft:

• Major Blasto goes to a fast food restaurant and finds a group of US Navy SEALs, who he recruits to defeat the aliens,
• Blue Raven assumes command of the local police force,
• Ice Princess and Star Flare persuade the townsfolk to take shelter in a nearby building, and
• Plasma Man races to the scene of the landed craft and summons his Plasma Minions.

Just then - one of glowing purple crystals explodes, and from the rubble emerges an alien monster!  The aliens head to the next crystal, ready to summon another alien monster.

Once America Girl emerges from the flying saucer, she shares the information she obtained while aboard the ship. The team focuses on new tasks:

• America Girl and Taffy Man race to the scene,
• Major Blasto and the US Navy SEALs take up a good firing positions and light up the alien monster from atop buildings,
• Blue Raven and the police force engage the alien monster while on the bridge,
• Ice Princess summons her ice golem Snowflake to fight the alien monster,
• Star Flare destroys the remaining glowing purple crystals, preventing any additional alien monsters from being spawned, and
• Plasma Man and his Minions defeat the remaining aliens, (other than the alien monster).

Snowflake fights the alien monster, but the alien monster lumbers past him and crosses the bridge.  Although missing the chance to destroy the two bridges over the river, the team inflicts heavy damage on the alien monster.

Then a plan emerges - Major Blasto and his Navy SEALS take positions atop the water tower and draw the alien monster toward them.  They set explosive charges, and after a slight delay setting the blasting cap, cinematically jump from the water tower (and into a nearby corn field) seconds before the explosive blast releases a rush of water which finally defeats the alien monster.

Best Moments:

*The superheroes direct townspeople to take refuge in the nearby building -- which turned out to be a chemical factory and the intended target of the large alien monster.

*The superheros firmly, but politely commandeer civilian's cars in order to drive to the action sooner.
*Major Blasto explains his plan to throw a grenade into the crowded melee of aliens and superheroes, (and only at the last minute is persuaded against taking that action)
*The team considers having Star Flare make a flame attack on Snowflake the ice golem (familiar of Ice Princess) to melt him into water and damage the alien monster.

The initial setup of the table....

The town and its people, going about their normal day...

The townspeople, unaware of the danger that awaits them.

The flying saucer, guarded by two alien creatures.

Behind the police barricade some citizens get a closer look at the aliens.

Major Blasto interrupts a group of dining US Navy SEALs and recruits them into his squad.

Ice Princess summons Snowflake - her ice golem - to engage the alien monster.

America Girl finds the captured Taffy Man aboard the flying saucer, guarded by some angry aliens.

The team and the police retreat while attempting to defeat the alien monster as it heads toward town.

Major Blasto and the US Navy SEALs fire at the alien monster, drawing him toward the water tower.

Explosives destroy the tower, releasing a deluge of water near the alien monster. 

The water - deadly to the alien monster - destroys the alien monster and saves the town.

15mm Superhero Gaming - Nick Fury (MCU) Character Sheet

Recently I painted up a suitable (Marvel Cinematic Universe) Nick Fury for 15mm Superhero gaming.  The model is from Rebel Miniature's 15mm Civilian Hunter's Pack.

15mm Superhero Gaming - Doctor Who and the TARDIS

I recently painted up a suitable Doctor Who model for future superhero gaming. He is from Rebel Miniatures's 15mm Civilian Hunter's Pack 2.  I also painted up a TARDIS model that I took from the Risk: The Dalek Invasion of Earth boardgame, along with a number of Dalek miniatures from the same boardgame.

Star Wars: Legion - Boba Fett and Scout Troopers

Fantasy Flight Games has announced two new Unit Expansions for the Star Wars: Legion miniature game:

• Boba Fett, and
• Scout Troopers.

The biggest revelation is that Boba Fett is a new unit type called an operative.  Every army can have up to two operatives, (who work independently from an army's commanders).

 

Boba Fett Operative Expansion (SWL18) $12.95

 

Scout Troopers Unit Expansion (SWL19) $24.95

I'm looking forward to additional Unit Expansion previews over the next few weeks and am hoping for some operatives for the Rebel faction.

15mm Superhero Gaming - Aliens and Civilians

For future superhero gaming sessions, I bought some 15mm aliens ("15mm Science Caste (Greys) in Evaluation Mode" from Khurasan Miniatures) and painted them up recently.  I added a flying saucer (from the Mars Attacks: The Miniatures Game from Mantic), which seems to fit in nicely.  I also painted up some civilian miniatures from Rebel Miniatures to add to future scenarios using aliens, zombies... or other threats to humanity.

Team Yankee - Yugoslavian Army T-55s and BTR-60s

My quest to make a JNA (Yugoslavian) force for Team Yankee (using the rules for the East Germans) is getting closer as I complete the T-55s and BTR-60s.  I need to add tank commanders to a few command models and the armor component will be complete.

The T-55 tanks are from Plastic Soldier Company and the BTR-60 transports are from Battlefront Miniatures.  I primed them with Goblin Green from Army Painter, but primed the wheels black before gluing them on.  The tracks for the T-55s were first primed with the green, then hit on the top and bottom with black primer.  I hit each model with Army Painter Dark Tone that greatly muted the bright green.  I painted on the details before lightly drybrushing on dust and dirt using a light brown color.

When complete, the force will include 31 T-55s and 15 BTR-60s, and I plan on adding a number of infantry units to the force as well.

15mm Superhero Gaming - Blue Raven Character Sheet

Blue Raven is the newest member of the The Repulsers superhero team.  Trained by Black Widow herself, Blue Raven is a master gymnast, acrobat, spy, and tactician.  Her Raven's Claw - which can deliver electric shocks up to 30,000 volts - is capable of incapacitating almost any foe, while her Needle Pistol can expel a flurry of poisonous darts.  Despite her advanced technological weapons, she prefers engaging enemies up close, relying on her martial arts skills for attack and her remarkable agility and dexterity for defense.

Leaked Pictures of Upcoming Free Nations Releases for Team Yankee

A post at the Team Yankee forum over at No Dice, No Glory contains some leaked pictures showing the next releases for Team Yankee.  Free Nations will contain army lists for Canadian, French, Dutch, and Australian forces.

The French Starter Force Box "Durand's Devils" appears to contain three AMX-30 tanks and two Aerospatiale SA342 Gazelle helicopters.

The NATO Starter Force Box "NATO's First Line" appears to contain three Leopard 1 tanks and two PAH-1 BO-105P helicopters.

The best guess is that we will see these all released sometime in June or July.

Star Wars: Legion Officially Released

Earlier this week, Star Wars: Legion was officially released by Fantasy Flight Games.  Many have been anxiously awaiting its release since it was first announced back in August at GenCon.

First reviews have been very positive around the rules, but there has been some criticism about the each model's lack of customization.  Nine products are now released for the game:

• Star Wars: Legion Core Set
• Star Wars: Legion Dice Pack
• Star Wars: Legion Movement Tools & Range Ruler Pack
• AT-RT Unit Expansion
• Rebel Troopers Unit Expansion
• 74-Z Speeder Bikes Unit Expansion
• Stormtroopers Unit Expansion
• AT-ST Unit Expansion
• T-47 Airspeeder Unit Expansion

More unit expansions are to be released over the next few weeks and months. The Han Solo Commander Expansion and Rebel Commandos Unit Expansion have just been announced.  However, the previewed model for Han has been universally panned as not being representative of the character it portrays, and many of the Rebel Commando models appear to be simple modifications of the existing Rebel Trooper models.

The question now becomes how well will the game sell and how successful will it be at getting adoption by the community.

Team Yankee - Russians vs. British (64 Points)

I played Team Yankee against Strom a few weekends ago.  He used his Russians and I played my British FV432 Mechanized Company, along with some Chieftans.  Strom's airpower went unchallenged and it was a war of attrition with both sides taking heavy losses.  A few hours in we were considering calling it a stalemate, but we decided to give it a few more turns.

In the end, Strom captured an objective with his Hind Air Assault Battalion for the win.  The previous few turns he had slowly winnowed down my forces with his airpower and artillery.  He pinned the infantry unit guarding the objective.  When I failed my unpin roll there was no way I could contest his capture of it.

Games Workshop Announces "Blitz Bowl"

At the New York Toy Fair, Games Workshop announced another introductory game last weekend called Blitz Bowl.  Like Space Marine Adventures: Labyrinth of the Necrons, this game looks to be targeted more toward new-comers to the hobby.

On close examination of the picture, one can make out what looks to be a Skaven card.  This makes me excited for the possibility that different teams will be released for the game.  I would love a faster-playing version of Blood Bowl for game night tournaments and one-off games, with a variety of different teams to play.

Blitz Bowl is a new way to play Blood Bowl. The teams are smaller, the games are faster but the action is just as intense, as each player seeks to distinguish themselves in the eyes of Nuffle in the infamous Crush recruitment rituals in fast-paced skirmish games.

Games Workshop Announces "Space Marine Adventures: Labyrinth of the Necrons"

Games Workshop announced an introductory game called Space Marine Adventures: Labyrinth of the Necrons at the New York Toy Fair over the weekend.  Like the Battle for Vedros set, this game is targeted more toward new-comers to the hobby.

The Space Marines miniatures are from the Japanese Hero Figurine sets, and they include some of the more common Space Marine chapters - Ultramarines (blue), Space Wolves (grey), Salamanders (green), Blood Angels (red), and Imperial Fists (yellow).

The Necron figures are cardboard and the game looks to be fairly simple.  However, based on a close examination of the picture, one can make out "Do Not Open" on three packs of cards.  Might this indicate a more complicated campaign approach, or even a legacy-style game mechanic?

Space Marine Adventures allows 1-4 players to join forces and attempt to break into a Necron labyrinth. Choose your hero and use each character’s unique skills to battle various deadly hazards, not least of which are the Necron guardians themselves. The easy-build nature of the kits and intuitive game make it suitable for players aged 8 and over – good for anything from family games nights to a quick adventure for a regular gaming club. While this set is a great introduction to the 41st Millennium, each Space Marine in the set is also a unique and dynamic sculpt, making them great additions to an existing collection, too.

Disney Frozen Gaming - Attack of the Wolves

A few weekends ago my daughters and I tried out a custom tabletop game using a modified set rules based on the most recent version of Warhammer Quest.  The winter scenery I have makes for a great scene for Frozen, and so we played a scenario with Elsa, Anna, and Olaf facing off against the wolves that are known to inhabit the forest located outside of the capital village of Arendelle.

The Elsa and Anna miniatures are the Fire Elementalists from North Star Military Figures for Frostgrave.  I made the Olaf figure myself using greenstuff and wire.  My youngest daughter played Anna, my oldest Elsa, and I took Olaf.  The wolves were played by the game itself according to a script detailed on custom cards.

The story:

Elsa was startled by her sister entering the room unexpectedly. 

"What is it now?", she asked as she quizzically looked at her sister.

"It's Nona Greta - she's sick!".  Anna looked worried.  "...and the doctor says that in order to cure her he needs a special elixir that he left in her house on the edge of the forest!  I know that house - I can find it and be back in 10 minutes!"

Elsa glanced outside the castle window.  "It's getting dark Anna...."

"I know, we need to hurry!" Anna replied.

"Anna - you know the Kristoff and Castle Guard left on their training exercise two days ago - we'd be all alone without support or protection.  What about the wolves?"

"Its a danger that you and I are going to need to face, Elsa."

Just then, Olaf entered the room, and added, "I can help out too!"

With that, Elsa confidentially said, "Let's hurry!"

The game uses custom-made sheets based on the rules from the new version of Warhammer Quest.  Elsa is the best at combat, Anna has the ability to heal, while Olaf is able to provide support via his ability to stun his opponents.  The direwolves are fast and increase their number of attacks while other direwolves are near.

The objective was to have Anna enter the house, find and obtain the elixir (needing a roll of 6+), and then return to the castle walls before any hero character was defeated by the wolves.  The direwolves entered the table from the forest on the far side of the board.

Luckily, Anna was able to make it to the house and quickly find the elixir.  However, on the return trip to the castle, the wolves all attacked the party at once.  The first round of combat was dangerous, and Anna, Elsa, and Olaf each had only a few wounds left afterwards.  But with Elsa's magic, Anna's healing actions, and Olaf's stun ability, enough healing was performed and damage done to the wolves to reduce their numbers in subsequent turns and provide a respite from their future attacks.  After a few rounds, all the wolves had been defeated, (and they each respawned on the far side of the forest).

The three successfully made it inside the castle as the next pack of wolves approached.

As Anna and Olaf hurried off to deliver the elixir, Anna looked down at the wolves from the castle walls as they approached... they turned and fled into the night as darkness fell on Arendelle....