15mm Superhero Gaming - A Christmas Crisis Session Report

I ran a holiday-themed 15mm Superhero gaming session for my daughters, nieces, and nephews last year.  It had been many months since since the last of our most recent three sessions - Rise of the Dead, Desert Rescue, and When Aliens Attack.  Below are the details for this holiday adventure....

A Christmas Crisis

At the North Pole, the mistletoe was hung, the elves were busy... and trouble was brewing.... Herr Kürbiskopf's hatred of Christmas - only exceeded by his love for Halloween - threatens the holiday itself. His dastardly plan - kidnap Santa and destroy his North Pole workshop so that Halloween will be the most popular holiday. The Repulsers superhero team has been called in to safeguard Santa, protect his workshop... and save Christmas.

Superheroes:
*America Girl
*Ice Princess (with Snowflake, her ice golem)
*Star Flare
*Blue Raven
*Major Blasto

NPCs:
*Santa Claus
*Santa's Elves

Villains:
*Herr Kürbiskopf

*Zombies

Aboard the Quinjet, the team (led by America Girl) discussed the mission and formulated a plan to inform Santa about the threat.  They will prepare his elves to mount a defense of the workshop and then engage and eliminate Herr Kürbiskopf along with his zombie horde.

Ice Princess warns Santa and his elves, who are very worried and consider abandoning the North Pole.  America Girl promises to protect them and and starts mounting a defense perimeter.  Meanwhile, Blue Raven eliminates the first few zombies encountered around the defensive perimeter.  Ice Princess, Star Flare, and Major Blasto engage the zombie horde, fighting their way to Herr Kürbiskopf.  They know if they can defeat Herr Kürbiskopf's and stop his sinister magic, the zombies will all cease their macabre walk toward the workshop.  After heavy fighting, America Girl engages Herr Kürbiskopf, defeating him and the zombie threat.

Christmas is saved and Santa is safe, along with his elves and his workshop. As a reward, Santa provides a gift to each of the superheros:

• America Girl is presented a single pulse glove, providing her with a new "Pulse Glove" ranged attack,
• Major Blasto is gifted a new transport shuttle, providing future air/space transportation for the team in future missions,
• Blue Raven is provided a new companion - a cyber-raven named Evermore,
• Ice Princess is granted karate lessons, allowing her to perform a new melee attack called "Frost Strike", and  
• Star Flare is handed the keys to a fighter jet, allowing her to provide in-air protection for Major Blasto's transport shuttle, give close ground support in ground engagements, and arrive quickly to future battlefields.

Best Moments:

*America Girl demonstrates her leadership skills by rallying Santa's elves to hold the line against the zombies.

*Snowflake the ice golem, no longer suffering from the effects of his "Melting" special rule, crushes zombies left and right.

*Major Blasto lures some the zombies to the center of a frozen lake, at which point Star Flare uses her magical flame powers on the lake surface, melting the ice. The zombies fall into the lake and then are trapped beneath the surface by the surface ice, which was quickly re-frozen by Ice Princess.

Ice Princess warns Santa and his elves about the imminent danger!

America Girl holds the line against the zombies....

The zombies march toward Santa's workshop...

Snowflake - in his element - crushes the zombie invaders!

Santa provides gifts for saving his elves, his workshop... and Christmas!

Blitz Bowl Season 2 - Official Errata and FAQ!

Games Workshop has released a Blitz Bowl Season 2 Errata and FAQ on its Warhammer Community website.  It answers a wide variety of rules questions and includes a few rule changes and clarifications.

The hosts of the The Crush! podcast were officially involved in the publication - and it shows!  Matt and Jody were authors of the Santa Cruz Blitz Bowl League’s rule changes which slightly tweaked and clarified things for both balance and fun.  Their changes were heavily influenced by both their expertise and experience with the game.  These rules tweaks and clarifications have now made it into an official errata for Season 2.

You can learn more and also hear Matt and Jody discuss the Blitz Bowl Season 2 Errata and FAQ document in their podcast's Episode 24: The Official FAQisode.  I highly recommend all of their podcast episodes - each is informative and fun if you love Blitz Bowl.  As the hosts are school teachers, the style and approach of each episode is professional, educational, and interesting.  It is one of the few podcasts I listen to in normal "1x" speed in order to savor every second....

Blood Bowl: Repainted and Re-based 3rd Edition High Elf Galadrieth Gladiators from Ebay

A few months ago, I got a great deal on Ebay for some 3rd edition Blood Bowl Dwarfs that I touched-up and re-based.  Then, just a few weeks ago I came across an entire High Elf Galadrieth Gladiators team, along with Prince Moranion, that were painted well and posted for a reasonable price on Ebay.  Seeing that they were painted in the same colors scheme as the Seattle Seahawks sealed the deal, and I purchased them.

After they arrived, I realized they were painted even better than I had thought from the pictures.  I did some slight touchup, added a few details (mostly highlights), and then dipped, re-based, and flocked each model.  With just a few hours of effort, I now have a nicely painted Elf team that matches the aesthetic of the rest of my Blood Bowl teams.  I'm very happy with the results, and even bought another (Orc) team from the same seller based on how these turned out.

Classic Warhammer Fantasy Miniatures: Dark Elf Army

Over the course of the last many months I've been collecting a number of painted units from Ebay with the intention of creating a small Dark Elf Warhammer Fantasy Battle army.  Most of them were painted to a good standard, and I simply needed to touch up each unit, adding some details, re-basing, and dipping (using my normal method) for some consistency.  I added the Dark Elf Assassin I painted a few months ago, and also added a Dark Elf Repeating Bolt Thrower that I painted up a couple of weeks ago.  Finally, I printed some appropriate banners from Kinko's, and the army was complete.  I'm very happy with the minimal painting time and cost.

The figures are a mix of Citadel and Marauder Miniatures from the mid-1980s to around the mid-1990s.  My favorites are the two Doom Drakes - proto-Cold Ones - that have a more primal and fun look, (at least to me).  Finding square bases of the appropriate size will continue to be a big challenge, but I've already started buying painted units from Ebay for small Chaos, High Elf, Dwarf, and Empire forces (when the price is right).

15mm Superhero Gaming - Stardust Character Sheet

An agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., Stardust is a trained martial artist and is extremely adept at various fighting techniques. She is also highly trained in disguise, espionage, infiltration, firearms, and computers.  Although she has no superhuman abilities, she is blessed with extraordinary agility and reflexes.  Stardust is also a skilled military tactician and is well known for bringing good fortune to each operation in which she takes part.

15mm Superhero Gaming - Reignstorm Character Sheet

Reignstorm is an enigma.  Where did she come from? More so - WHEN did she come from?  No one can say, except for her... and she isn't talking....  

All that is known is that her cybernetic body possesses enhanced strength and durability, and her techno-organic eyes give her enhanced eyesight, allowing her to see farther than a normal human and in the infrared spectrum.  It appears she is also able to interface her techno-organic body parts with other types of machinery, an ability that allows her to hack into computers, open electronic locks, and just maybe, somehow, travel through time.  She has indicated she is from one possible future.  A future with advanced technology and weaponry is certain.  She had indicated she would like to partner with The Repulsers, but to what end?  No one knows, because, again... Reignstorm is an enigma. 

Classic Warhammer Fantasy Miniatures: Giant Eagle

A few weeks ago I painted up yet another classic Warhammer Fantasy Battle miniature, this time sculpted by the prolific duo Aly and Trish Morrison.  This eagle was originally released in 1993 as part of Marauder's MB16 Elf Lord on Giant War Eagle boxset, and later released separately without its rider as a Giant Eagle.

This was an Ebay purchase, and it was my first time painting a bird (at least of this size).  I relied heavily upon the dry-brush method and finished it up the miniature with a matching 1990s-style base in green.  It was both fun and fast to paint up.

Blitz Bowl Season 2 Remaining Spoilers Revealed in Video Review

Joel Eddy at Drive Thru Games has released his review of Blitz Bowl Season 2.  The review reveals the last details about previously undisclosed Ball Cards and other Season 2 changes based on the preview copy he received.

 

 

I highly recommend this video review.  Joel does a great job of breaking down the box contents, highlighting the differences from the original Blitz Bowl rules, and displaying great images of the Team Cards, Ball Cards, and Coach Traits.

Blitz Bowl Season 2 Wood Elf and Nurgle Team Cards

Tonight the remaining two new teams were spoiled on The Crush podcast's Discord Channel by Joel from Drive Thru Games.

Spoilers for the Wood Elf Team:

Catcher (x1)
M8, T3+, A6+
Catcher's Instincts: If this player catches a thrown ball (not a hand-off or bouncing ball), roll a six-sided dice. This player can make a free Run action up to that many squares. 

Wardancer (x1)
M7, T3+, A5+
Wardance: When this player makes the Run action, they can ​move adjacent to opponents. If they enter or are on a square that contains the ball after moving adjacent to an opponent during this action, the ball bounces. 

Thrower (x1)
M7, T2+, A6+
Handling Skills: Whenever this player moves into a square containing the ball, they pick it up as though they were making a Run action. 

Lineman (x3)
M7, T3+, A6+

Spoilers for the Nurgle​ Team:

Bloater (x2)
M4, T5+, A2+
Immovable Bulk: If this player is the target of a Block action, the Shove result is treated as the Miss result. 

Pestigor (x1)
M6, T4+, A4+
Headbutt: If this player makes a Mark action and they have already made a Run action this turn, they can immediately make a free Block action. 

Rotter (x3)
M5, T4+, A3+

Combined with the previously released Lizardmen Team spoilers, we now know all three new teams for Blitz Bowl Season 2. 

The Wardancer on the Wood Elf team sports a brand new skill to the game ("Wardance"), and at first glance it looks extremely powerful!  And with two Bloaters (each with Armour 2+) for Nurgle, they are going to be hard to get out of the way.  Both team look like they will bring some fun new styles of play to the game.

Now we just wait for it's release on September 21st through Barnes & Noble.

Blitz Bowl Season 2 Coach Traits Spoiled!

Recently, NornQueenAlexis's YouTube Channel unboxed Blitz Bowl Season 2.  She flipped through the rulebook enough to show how Coach Traits work....  With some deciphering of the screen captures below, most of the details could be determined:

 

Gaining Coach Traits:

After playing a league game (not a finals, semi-finals, or quarter-finals match, both coaches will gain one Coach Trait.  Each coach rolls 2 eight-sided dice and compares that total score on both dice with the Coach Traits table to see what Coach Trait they have gained.  If the coach already has that Coach Trait, they can choose one trait they do not have.  That Coach Trait is then available to that coach until the end of the league, and should be recorded on their coach roster.  Each Coach Trait a coach gains gives them a special ability that can be used once per game.

Coach Traits (Roll of 2D8):

2 – # Training: Before a player on you team that is on the pitch makes a Run, Block or Throw action, you can choose another player from your team that is on the pitch or in the Dugout.  Until the end of that action, those players swap any abilities that are on their cards (for example, Safe Hands or Hulking Brute).
3 – # Kit: After making an Armour check, you can re-roll the dice.
4- Threatening Looks: Before an opponent makes a Block action, roll an eight-sided dice; on a 6 or better, that opponent must make a Sidestep action instead.  If they cannot make a Sidestep action, that opponent cannot make anymore actions this turn.
5- Bribe the Ref: Start the game with 1 point instead of 0.
6- Last Blast: During your last turn, if your team has fewer points than the other team, you can shuffle the Endgame Challenges that were not used to make this match’s Challenge deck, draw one and place it face up in front of you.  This challenge can be claimed by your team in this turn.  If it is not claimed, it is discarded.
7 – #: When your team takes a free action, roll an eight-sided dice; on an 8, take a free action with another player.
8 – Loud Celebrator: When you team scores a touchdown, it scores 4 points instead of 3.
9 – Well Prepared: You can choose which trapdoor the ball is placed on instead of having to randomize it.  If both coaches have this trait and wish to use it at the same time, they each roll an eight-sided dice, re-rolling any ties.  Whoever scores highest chooses which trapdoor the ball is placed on.
10 – Glory Hound: Your team scores 4 points for a Clean Sweep instead of 2.
11 – #: This trait is used at the start of the game, and lasts throughout the game.  You can have 4 Challenge cards in your hand instead of 3 before you have to discard any.  If you do have to discard any, you can keep 4 cards instead of 3.
12 – Threatening Reputation: A team must exceed your score by 11 instead of 10 to score a Sudden Death victory.
13 – Blinding Smile: When an opponent is chosen to make a free action, you can choose to roll a six-sided dice.  On a result of a # of better, that free action cannot be taken by that player.
14 – # Starter: When setting up your team at the beginning of the game, one player on your team can be set up on any square adjacent to a square from your team’s end zone.
15 – Inspiring Presence: After a player on your team makes a Block action, you can choose to re-roll the dice.
16 – Outrageous Cheat: When an opponent claims a Challenge card, you can choose to roll an eight-sided dice.  If the result of the roll is an 8, you claim that Challenge card instead.