JeffCon 2022 Recap

Due to COVID, just five of us could attend our annual long weekend of gaming the summer of 2022. Despite that, “JeffLessCon”, hosted in Sequim this year, was a good weekend of fun where we tried out a mix of old classics and new games. Games played included:

• Blitz Bowl (using a five player mat)

• Cartographers Heroes

• Cheaty Mages!

• Fantasy Realms

• For Sale + For Sale: Advisors

• Foundations of Rome

• Furnace

• Long Shot: The Dice Game

• Lords of Waterdeep

• The Mind

• Race for the Galaxy

• Smartphone Inc.

• Space Base

• Tournament at Camelot

• Unmatched: Buffy the Vampire Slayer

• War Chest

The Gaufre d' Or went to Lords of Waterdeep. Although it has been around for some time, it was the first time we had played it. Each player takes on the role of a secret lord of Waterdeep, a powerful figure in the city who has the power to recruit adventurers and send them on quests. The goal of the game is to earn the most victory points by completing quests and building buildings. The game is easy to learn and has a great mix of strategy and luck. You must carefully manage your resources, build buildings, and recruit adventurers in order to complete quests and gain victory points.

The Gaufre d' Argent went to Foundations of Rome. Foundations of Rome is an excellent city-building board game that puts you in the shoes of an architect competing to own land and build magnificent structures. The artwork and miniatures are incredibly detailed, and the game itself is easy to learn. The gameplay was fairly straightforward - players select from purchasing a new lot, building a new building in the shared city, or collecting income. The scoring system is unique, as players can gain glory not only for their own buildings, but also for those of their opponents. Foundations of Rome is a good game and one of the better city-building games I’ve played.

The Gaufre d' Bronze went to Marvel Champions. Marvel Champions is a fantastic deck-building game that really captures the feel of a Marvel superhero team-up. Each character plays differently and has their own unique abilities, which makes for a lot of interesting decisions. The villains are tough, but not unbeatable, and the different modules keep the game fresh. We found the rules a bit daunting at first, but then the game kept pace, if not a little long with four players. I’m still enjoying deck-building and playing it solo.

Blitz Bowl: Ultimate Edition Spoilers

More details are emerging about Blitz Bowl: Ultimate Edition as the game has already been released in other countries. It appears this version of Blitz Bowl has a large number of fundamental changes to the different teams and players.

For example, the normal Armour of a Human players is now 3+, while Orcs have a normal value of 2+; many of the changes to Armour values for different teams is likely is due to the new "Fouling" rule which allows attacks on prone players.

Touchdowns are now worth four points, the "Get On With It" rule is gone, and and there are a great number of changes to the different challenge cards.

A few other tidbits include:

• Black Orc Blockers and Saurus Blockers don't have any skills, but both have Block of 2. The Mummy also sports a Block of 2 with a nice skill (called Bonebreaker) which counts a Smash as a Kerrrunch!
• The Snotling Pumpwagon has a Block of 3, Throw of "-", and an Armour of 3+.
• The Chamelon Skink now has a typical Catcher skill (like the Human Catcher, etc.)

Blitz Bowl: Ultimate Edition Preorder at Barnes & Noble

Blitz Bowl: Ultimate Edition is now available for pre-order at Barnes & Noble's website and its official release date is Saturday, October 22, 2022.  Its price is $49.99, which is the same original price of Season 2 (which is still listed for sale at Barnes & Noble) and five more bucks than the original game (which is also still listed for sale at Barnes & Noble). Also, there is a maximum of two per order!

Fantasy Flight Games Announces Star Wars: The Deck Building Game

Today, on the last day of Gen Con, Fantasy Flight Games announced Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game at the very end of their Day 4 in-flight short. The stream ended without further details, leaving only a few images, including one of what appears to be the box cover. 

The game is designed by Caleb Grace, the lead developer of Lord of the Rings: The Card Game, and one of the three designers of Marvel Champions: The Card Game.

With no additional details, we'll need to wait for FFG to reveal more information about the game and a potential release date.

Blitz Bowl Ultimate Edition Leaked Images

Earlier this year, Games Workshop announced "Blitz Bowl: Ultimate Edition".  Leaked images have now been found showing some of the changes to the game, including what looks to be a new stat for blocking!

The leaked photos confirms that 19 teams will be included in the box, which means all but one of the 20 existing teams in Blood Bowl will have rules in this edition.  It appears that the individual player cards have been replaced with team cards which will have all the stats for every player on the team.

In addition to some stat tweaks to a few positions on the Human team (the Blitzer is now Move 7, and the Catchers is Move 8), the inclusion of a brand new stat for every team is getting much attention - what appears to be a block stat (of 1) in shown for both the Humans and Skaven.  This would allow certain players to roll a certain amount of block dice without the need of special text (see for example, the Black Orc).  This also opens up possibilities for even stronger positions or players, such as Ogres.  The fact that now three block dice (of a single color) are included in the game (instead of two block dice for each of the two teams) further supports the expectation that blocking rules have changed.

Further leaked images show a new "Rookies To Watch" card (which will help out inexperienced players) and the two pitches included in this edition.

If past timing is any indication, Blitz Bowl Ultimate Edition will release this fall. The original Blitz Bowl was first available for purchase at Gen Con 2018 (in August) and was later was available for purchase in early September 2018. Blitz Bowl Season 2 had an official release date of Monday, September 21, 2020.

Conan the Barbarian - 40th Anniversary Showing Movie Review

On May 14, 1982, Conan the Barbarian was released to theaters in North America.  To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the cinematic Arnold classic, Mezmaron's Lair helped host a private showing at the North Bend Theatre yesterday.

To me, this is Arnold’s best movie -- and it is still one of my favorite movies of all time.  Despite limited dialog and dated special effects, the movie still holds up after forty years -- the lack of CGI only adds to the movie's authenticity and grit.  I always underestimate how important and effective Basil Poledouris’s legendary score is to the film.   The pacing is generally good and Jon Milius' social commentary about the 1960s is... amusing.

In the beginning of the film, Conan's father tells a young Conan, "for no one - no one in this world can you trust - not men, not women, not beasts... [points to sword], this you can trust."  Despite this advice, after Conan's final victory, it is his father's broken sword that Conan holds aloft - his triumph (at the Battle of the Mounds) only possible due to his reliance on his companions and the actions of his (deceased) lover.  The best stories and movies provide a character not just with a great challenge and adversary, but embark the character on a journey of growth and evolution.

Tiki, Wood Golem: Reaper's Dark Heaven Legends

I finished painting up a Wood Golem, which I will proxy as a Treeman for my small Warhammer Wood Elves force.  The Tiki, Wood Golem miniature was sculpted by Jason Wiebe and is from Reaper's Dark Heaven Legends line.  I really like the small creature hiding in the hollow in his back.

I painted him in the same manner as the Dryads that I recently painted up.  I also added some pink highlights and flowers to match the rest of the force, including two new painted miniatures that I bought off Ebay (to which I simply added few details - mainly, the pink color scheme).

 

Tau XV25 Stealth Battlesuits

I recently finished painting up some Tau XV25 Stealth Battlesuits for use in One Page Rules (Grimdark Future: Firefight) and Warhammer 40,000: Fireteam.   

I wanted to build a squad of transparent troops to reflect the cloaking technology of the Tau.  I painted the other miniatures (markerlight drone and the a homing beacon) in a mottled pink camouflage pattern (using a small piece of sea sponge) to match the surrounding landscape, complete with pink flower tufts from Shadow's Edge Miniatures.

Games Workshop Announces "Blitz Bowl: Ultimate Edition"

On it's Warhammer Community page, Games Workshop has announced Blitz Bowl: Ultimate Edition, (along with a number of other games).

According to Games Workshop, Blitz Bowl: Ultimate Edition includes "two new teams are ready to tussle in a tumultuous try-out – six Human players form The Reavers, while six Skaven make up The Scramblers"

On close examination of the picture, it is hard to make out the main changes to the game, other than the inclusion of the Skaven as a team, the color of the plastics, a new format for the cards, a new board option (with fire pits), and pink dice.

Based on prior releases (that were first shown at the New York Toy Fair), we can expect Blitz Bowl: Ultimate Edition (and the other games previewed) to be released this fall.  The first Blitz Bowl was previewed at the New York Toy Fair on March 1, 2018.  It was first available for purchase at Gen Con 2018 (in August of that year).  It later was available for purchase (from Barnes and Noble stores) in early September 2018.  Blitz Bowl Season 2 was announced on February 22, 2020 and had an official release date of Monday, September 21, 2020.

One other thing to take note of is that while in the past these releases were "available in select independent retailers in the USA, Canada and Germany, including Barnes & Noble stores," there is no mention of Barnes & Noble in this year's announcement.  There have been rumors that the games previewed will be released through Games Workshop stores and not be limited to Barnes & Noble (and a limited number of other select retailers) that prevented many from buying them.

Team Yankee - Yugoslavian Aérospatiale Gazelles

My Team Yankee JNA (Yugoslavian) force is now complete after recently painting up two Aérospatiale Gazelle attack helicopters, which will join the T-55s, BTR-60s, and infantry that I have already painted.

Soko was a Yugoslav aircraft manufacturer based in Mostar. The company was responsible for the production of many military aircraft for the Yugoslav Air Force. Originally, twenty-one French-built Aérospatiale Gazelle were bought by Yugoslavia, but after that, the Soko factory started serial production. 

I plan to use the Iraqi rules in Oil War for them....

Classic Warhammer Fantasy Miniatures: Dryads

I recently again painted a few classic Warhammer Fantasy Battle miniatures, this time the Dryads sculpted by Trish Morrison back in the mid-1990s.  

I won these off of Ebay about a year ago and they had been sitting around primed Army Painter Leather Brown until a week ago.  I picked out some simple details, washed them with Army Painter Dark Tone, and then lightly dry-brushed them.  I aligned the style of their bases to join my pack of Wood Elves by added some pink flowers in an attempt to tie them all together.

Team Yankee - Yugoslavian Army Infantry

My quest to make a JNA (Yugoslavian) force for Team Yankee is getting closer to completion.  I recently completed painting up the infantry.  I painted them up quickly, using a dark gray-green spray primer and then dipping them using MinWax PolyShade: Tudor after adding some detail.  These will join the T-55s and BTR-60s I have already painted up.

I ended up using Plastic Soldier Company's 15mm Modern Russians, although they are not the best match historically, at 15mm they were close enough for my purposes.  Originally, I was going to use Battlefront's own East German miniatures as those more closely matched the helmet style used in Yugoslavia at the time.  However, I decided to create a larger force and instead painted those up a blue Cobra force from GI Joe.

I plan to use the Iraqi rules in Oil War for this force when finished, and I hope to get them on the table as soon as I add some Gazelle helicopters to round things out.

15mm Croatian Infantry

Almost a year ago I painted up some 15mm Polish Paratroopers for a custom game we will be playing, (based on both the One Page Rules and NetEpic rulesets).  To add another faction to the mix, I just finished some 15mm Croatian Infantry.

The 369th Croatian Reinforced Infantry Regiment was a unit of the German Wehrmacht that fought on the Eastern Front in World War II.  The regiment was raised from volunteers drawn from Croatia and was commonly referred to as the Croatian Legion (Hrvatska Legija). They became 369th (Croatian) Infantry Division (Wehrmacht).  They fought Tito until "desertions worsened particularly after the capitulation of Italy in September 1943".

The miniatures were all extras from my stock and are from a mix of various manufacturers, including Forged In Battle, Peter Pig, and Battlefront.  I worked to paint them up relatively quickly.  I based them on pennies, added sand, then primed them with a dark green color, which I then highlighted with a very grayish green.  After a few details, I dipped them using MinWax PolyShade: Tudor, (which is a little darker than my normal Royal Walnut Satin dip).

Unfortunately, I realized only after sealing them that I think I placed the red and white "checkerboard" patch on the wrong shoulder for each of them... but mistakes happen.  I'm looking forward to getting these on the table.  Next up are some 15mm partisans that will be used to either support the Polish Paratroopers, or act as its own force.

Flames of War 'Nam - Hot LZ

Due to Covid, it's been almost two years since playing a miniature wargame on the tabletop.  And, it's been almost five years since our last Flames of War Vietnam game, (back from before even the 'Nam book was released).  In 2016, we played the Fair Fight scenario, with Strom playing the Local Forces.  This time, it was my turn to take my (now fully painted) VC Local Forces army into battle for the first time.

We decided on the Hot LZ scenario, with Strom playing his US Air Mobile force.  My 50 point Vietcong force included:

• Two (maxed-out) Local Forces Infantry Companies (with rifles),
• One Anti-Air Platoon,
• Front Artillery Unit (with six guns),
• A Front Artillery Observer,
• Six Local Resistance Teams,
• Three Machine Gun Bunkers, and
• Five Booby Traps.

For the Hot LZ scenario we each placed one objective, and the winner was the player to capture the opponent's objective.  Strom placed his objective near the road and I placed mine in the village.  Some of the US forces started on the table (defending their objective), while the remaining units would come onto the board as reserves, delivered by helicopters.  The VC forces would enter the game, randomly, using Guerrilla Reserves.

 

 

My first Local Forces Infantry Company entered the table in the dense jungle, and engaged the US forces near their objective.  The forces traded fire, and each side took casualties.  The US forces called in artillery, and the strength of my force was slowly winnowed down over the course of the game.  Later, they would launch a futile assault on the objective. 

 

Meanwhile, my other Local Forces Infantry Company entered the table and secured my objective within the village.  

 

They were attacked by two US helicopters - a Huey and a Loach.  They took a few casualties before finally digging in.  They were later joined by the Anti-Air Platoon, which scored a victory by taking down the Huey with anti-aircraft fire.

The US touched down three transport helicopters, which soon landed a sizable US force outside the village.  It was a short slog into the village, and the VC forces would do their best to delay their movement toward my secured objective.  The village was now also occupied by Local Resistance (villagers), with questionable loyalties....

 

 
 

 

With the villagers observing for the VC artillery, fire rained down on the US forces as they marched toward the village.  We traded artillery fire back and forth, and both forces slowly took casualties.  The Loach avenged the destroyed Huey by eliminating my artillery observer unit, (which had unwisely tried to get a better view at the advancing US forces).

Booby traps delayed the US force's attempted march into the village, and then the VC machine gun bunkers entered the game....  The machine guns further complicated the US's efforts to attack.  My opponent's Navy SEALS would attempt to neutralize one of the bunkers, silently advancing in the jungle flanking around its firing arc.

Finally, my Local Forces Infantry Company which attempted to overtake the US objective after a failed assault finally failed its morale roll, and was destroyed.  It failed its roll to recycle and re-enter the game.

With both forces now well dug in around their own objectives and only limited ability on both sides to formulate any competent attack, the game could have lasted many more turns just trading artillery strikes until one force had the advantage.  But instead, we called it a draw, as dusk fell over the battlefield....

All in all, it was a fun game, and helped us become re-accustomed to the rules.  Unfortunately, we found the 'Nam rulebook to be not very well organized, but we soon had most of the special rules for our forces memorized.  Many of the rules questions we had were addressed in the official "Our Man in Saigon" FAQ document.  Although we will likely play Team Yankee ("World War 3") for our next Flames of War game, we are looking forward to future 'Nam games.