Dungeons and Dragons Starter Set

For my birthday my sister  bought me the Dungeons and Dragons starter set.  So I thought I would do a little blog about.  It comes in a great box and has really nice artwork. Inside you get a packet of all the dice you'll need to play.  a D4, D6, D8, D10, D12 and a D20.

Not sure of they come in different colours but you don't get a choice any I could see when buying so I guess not.  They are a little small for my liking but a decent starter set none the less.

You get a basic rule book covering the core rules of the game and certain spells for the pre made characters that come in the set.

The rules are explained really well, the text and layout is nice and clear.

The next book you get is the campaign book that the starter set is based around. This contains a ready made adventure called the Lost Mine of Phandelver.

This gives you everything you need to run an adventure.  I've not read this fully as my D&D playing friend says he might use this as my first foray so I don't want to cheat.  If we do I'll do a write up of that. If not I'll make a separate post.

Last of all in the box are pre made character sheets. Nice hard wearing paper and well laid out.

There are 2 human fighters, an elf wizard, Halfling rogue and a cleric dwarf. These characters all have backgrounds hinting at links to the pre made adventure . This to me is the only really down side of the box. I really don't like the pre made characters, I can see why they've done it as an introduction to D&D to be fair but to me D&D is about making your own character and I feel they could have gone down that road more so than pre made characters.  I also wished that had included some blank character sheets in as well but these are easy enough to find online.

So overall I am very impressed with the starter set and can not wait to play!

Cruel Seas a new Warlord Game.

At the recent Warlord open day they displayed and allowed people to play their new upcoming  naval game Cruel Seas. It's based mainly around smaller boats Torpedo boats etc. It looks very cool I have to admit.

Photos were were various Facebook posts about the game. The ships look really good and there is always something amazing about fleet engagements (that's why I like Star Wars Armada) !

Sprues for some of the ships

Above are some sprues that were out for people to see.
Really like the look of this so will follow closely!

Sir Robin ' the Brave' Barres War Band

Sir Robin ' the Brave ' Barres

Sir Robin wanted to be a jousting champion.  A world famous jousting champion unfortunately Sir Robin was not a very good jouster.  He was much better in melee based events but he refused to enter and concentrated on the jousting.  His constant failures but unwillingness to quit earnt him the nickname ' the Brave'.  When the jousting season ended Sir Robins funds were quite depleted so he elected to join the crusades to gather more wealth and more fame .

Alamar Payne

Alamar met Sir Robin on a road through France. Bedraggled and sleeping in the local woods Alamar had been caught with the Tavern owners wife. The tavern owner was not happy and Alamars wife also was not impressed and he was through out of his house and then found by The Tavern owner who exacted his own punishment on Alamar.  Sir Robin found Alamars situation amusing and offered him a place in his retinue.

Gregory Dinas

Gregory was a body guard for another jousting knight and when the season ended he was let go. He quickly signed up with Sir Robin to go to the  Holy land

Gawain Nash

Gawain was a pilgrim to the Holy land. After a year wondering the Holy Land,  Gawain was ready to defend the Holy sites. He met Sir Robin and begged to join his retinue so he could take the fight to the heathens. Sir Robin took him on straight away

Joachim Browne

Joachim was Sir Robins servant when he was jousting. He likes tinkering with gears and mechanisms  so was drawn to the crossbow he now carries .

Wolfgang Bigge

Wolfgang was also Sir Robin's servant.  He is an eagle eye with his hunting bow which he used to hunt food while Sir Robin was travelling from jousting tournament to jousting tournament. He has now turned  his now to the art of war. 

British Bolt Action

I was having a look at the geek shelves a few days ago especially my shelf containing my British bolt action army. Mixed with my k47 Brits I have quite a lot!

I have 40 odd basic infantry, SAS squad, light mortar and PIAT teams.  Officer and snipers.  Also 2 squads of airborne troops with officers and MMG, PIAT, and light mortar teams. Also a 6 pdr anti tank gun.  For vehicles I have 2 Bren Carriers, SAS armoured jeep,  M5 half track,  Sherman, Cromwell and 3 Konflikt 47 walkers .
So I'm all sorted for infantry really. Just trying to think what else I would need to round my army off? Possibly a medium mortar and a 25 pounder artillery piece.

British 25 pounder model

3" Inch Mortar model

Vehicles, I think I need another transport. This will allow me to run an armoured platoon. There is a truck available in the British army book that can hold 30 odd infantry. Though this appears to be rather difficult of a model to track down so I may have to purchase the smaller version and proxy it. This combined with the transports I already have should hold all my infantry.
Armoured vehicles,  I'm a massive fan of the Bren Carrier model but not sure I need more (but you never know!).  Tanks there are only a couple left for the late war period I have my army based on. I don't fancy the Churchill tank but I do like the Sherman Firefly so might aim to get one of these. Konflikt 47 wise  I would want a tesla tank. Now Warlord allow you to buy the turret separately so that could an definate option. I really want the not yet released British Heavy walker. It's called the Merlin and the concept art I have seen looks amazing.

Concept artwork of the Merlin

Other than that for the British there isn't much I fancy that has been released. There are the war dogs but I'm in two minds about those but they might make a good Christmas pressie off someone.  Future releases that I know I want would be the British Grenadiers. Armed with assault rifles, Tesla guns and rift tech. These would add a bit more rift tech to my Brits.  So even though I started this ramble saying I had lots of models but it turns out I need lots more! ☺

Sir Gregore 'Firebrand' DeMorts War Band

Sir Gregore 'Firebrand' DeMort

Sir Gregore came to the middle east as a young man at arms. Hungry for war and glory. After several years and many many battles Gregore had made quite a name for himself. In one battle he saved the life of a renowned knight who knighted Gregore when they returned to their camp. From then on Sir Gregore fought with fury and tenacity to gather glory, fortune and further himself. Gregore will always be seen at the head of a force charging into battle.

Dietrich Wulfstrum

Dietrich Wulfstrum was and still is Gregores best friend. As soon as Gregore was knighted Dietrich joined him as his loyal second in command. Raised in the forests of Germany, Dietrich grew up swinging an axe  and  always charges into battle with a 2 ganded axe. 

Marcus Ward

Marcus grew up in the south of England and desperate to avoid a life of fishing he snuck aboard a ship full of New crusaders. When he was caught  he managed to talk his way into being a man at arms for one of the crusading knights. On the journey he was trained to fight, the knight who had took him on didn't think he would last long in battle but Marcus proves himself.  After his patron was killed in battle Marcus entered Sir Gregores service.

Francis Lemer

Francis is a fresh levy from France. Full of religious fervour and zeal.  On his journey once He had heard of Sir Gregore, Francis  wanted to join his retinue.  Sir Gregore impressed someone had heard of him and wanted to join him gladly accepted Francis's services.

Agomer D'mach

Agomer is Sir Gregores most recent recuitment. Sir Gregore pulled Agomer out of a rather vicious tavern brawl after seeing his reckless bravery and offered him a place with his band.

Pirate Kickstarter!

The guys at Dead Earth games are developing a new pirate game and the first lot of miniatures have gone to Kickstarter. Some really great sculpts available.  I'm in for an elf pirate. Check out the Kickstarter here 

This is the elf I'd like

Operation Red Herring (Konflikt 47 Battle Rep)

Tonight's battlefield

Operation Red Herring was a go! The British para force moved into final positions ready for the attack command (See mission brief here). There was a brief panic when 2 german trucks drive past towards the factory 

The 'Herring Cannery' goes about its day to say business

The Dastardley Professor Lange directs operations

The British force await the command

The British Lieutenant gave the word and the paras started to move up

Paratroopers push into the woods the last but of cover before the factory

Professor Lange moves to open the Totenkorp pens for the next delivery

Lt Jenkins signalled the light mortar team to launch smoke infront of the bunkers

Smoke goes slightly off target

Professor Lange opens up the pens

The SAS squad rush forward to some carelessly left logs close to a bunker

The on watch German MMG team hears a clanking and out of the woods steps a British Guardian walker.  HMG bullets ricochet off the bunkers rim.

"Achtung Tommie Robotor!!"

The British Snipers spot the movement in the top of the bunker

"Got him Colin, take your shot "

Lt Jenkins blows his hunting horn and a squad of Paratroopers burst from the woods.

"Up and at em boys!!"

Professor Lange on hearing gunfire realises somehow the cursed British have seen through his factories cover of being a cannery. He sends a squad of Totenkorps between the bunkers to block the road and be between him and the British

"geh meine Kreationen!"

Another squad of Paratroopers burst out the words hoping to cover the cleared ground without taking to much fire

"BLOODY MOVE YOU LOT!!

"Sarge can not believe we made that!"

The Totenkorps moved down the only road towards the British force

"Gehirn!!"

The Guardian walker "Daisy" spotted the Totenkorps and flexed  it's fists

"Come on then let's have it!!!"

The Guardian walker plough forward and smashes into the Totenkorps. A swift and bloody fight erupted but there was  only really going to be one winner

Daisy crushed the Totenkorps like grapes

Daisys crew member with their blood up pushed forward. A plume of smoke trailed from the nearest bunker and a Panzerfaust took out the walker slicing through its armour like a knife through hit butter

"Boom!!!!"

The SAS squad down a man had reached the bunker line but was caught in the open and gunned down all except the NCO.

SAS fail to make cover in time

Professor Lange cursing the walker as it tore his precious creations to pieces  but his curses were turned to and evil cackle as a Panzerfaust struck the accursed machine and blew it up.  From the door way of the factory he urged the Totenkorps from the pens forward . He does not notice the squad of Paratroopers pushing up the left flank.

"voraus!"

The British Paras on the left flank creep on behind a low wall.  The paratroopers on the right flank were having a hard fight as the Totenkorps shuffled towards them.

"Sssh Keep it down lads !"

The column of Totenkorps heads towards the British Paras

Lt Jenkins pushes up to the remaining SAS  man's position with snipers providing cover fire .

"Push on chaps!"

"Got the blighter!"

After failing 2 order tests Lt Jenkins moves up encourage the lone SAS man

"Come on chap! Pour it on the buggers! !"

This seems to help and together they take out the NCO of the last sqaud defending the factory but at the last minute another German jump in front and takes the bullet. The NCO  let's out a sigh of relief before a sniper bullets takes him out. The squad seeing this panic and make a run for it.

"NCO down!"

On the right flank the paratroopers had TotenKorps coming at them and a bunker full of germans to their left. Deciding shooting would give them more of a chance they broke to open ground and half their number were gunned down! The rest had seen enough and retreated.  The light mortar crew tried to drop a mortar on the factory in the hope of hitting Professor Lange but missed and were wiped out by the watching German MMG. 

Technically at this point the turn limit was reached and we rolled no extra turn. So my opponent took the scenario win as I had not made it into factory. However we both felt the story was not finished as both sides had been mauled but several things could  still happen and we are all about the cinematic story so we agreed to carry on.

The Paratroopers still untouched in the rushes the Totenkorp factory door where Professor Lange was cowering.

"Dies ist eine Konservenfabrik"

The Tommies were not convinced and a swift punch rendered Professer Lange unconcious. (We had decided at the start if Professor was took out in close combat he would be captured).

"Good Morning Lange! "

Sniper tries a shot through the bunkers biewing slit and out the rest door taking out a zombie but he missed.

Outside the SAS man realised the danger of the incoming TotenKorps. He urged Lt Jenkins to get away and as the officer backed away the SAS man turned and emptied his captured MP40 at the TotenKorps taking down 2 but the rest tore into him.
Here we stopped as it was late. We decided that the Paratroopers would have managed to get the factory destroyed and Professor Lange captured as the snipers had the Germans in the bunker covered leaving only a Squad of TotenKorps left outside.  We deemed a squad of Paratroopers should be able to outwit a squad of TotenKorps.  However as the British were so badly mauled getting home would be no simple  matter. So now I am thinking of a scenario for our next game with the British trying to get back to their lines .

"YOU KILLED MY FRIENDS! ! AARRRGH!!

Lt Jenkins spotted the paratroopers waving from factory. Lt Jenkins signalled on his radio
*Fisherman i repeat Fisherman!! Wait one. Jerry can I say again Jerry Can" he put the radio back in his radio man and turned round the the men.
"Lets go chaps!  Arthur no poking the TotenKorps!!"

The British have Professor Lange but can they make it back to their lines??