Ten years and a thousand posts

Ten years ago today, Super Galactic Dreadnought saw its very first blog post, a nostalgia trip back to my youth and the influences that would shape my gaming. As you can tell from the name of this blog, I was enamored of the Starfleet Wars line of miniature spaceships that I saw in a magazine ad way back when. 

When I started this blog, I was a couple of years into my personal gaming renaissance--a return to regular miniatures and roleplaying after a decades-long drought caused by work, various moves, personal issues, and then law school. Those were great times, as I started playing D&D in a local campaign, met regularly at the local game store for some wargaming, and was in the middle of amassing my collection of spaceship minis.

This was reflected in my blogging--I had posts about games, posts about miniatures, posts about sci fi and fantasy. The output was pretty steady the first couple of years, with 200+ posts when I was in the zone. My posting frequency eventually dropped off, however, to just a few dozen a year for the past few years. That infrequency isn't for a lack of gaming, though--up until the pandemic, I was gaming weekly with a group of local players and running games at MillenniumCon on a regular basis. A lot changed over the years, with moves and job switching, but I think the main thing was that playing so often filled the void that blogging previously had done.

The year 2010 was a much different time, and back then I couldn't have imagined the current events we're living through in 2020. Now, with COVID-19 closing game stores and cancelling conventions, I'm reflecting on my blogging. The numbers worked out nice, and I was able to make sure that my 1,000th post occurred on the 10-year anniversary of starting Super Galactic Dreadnought. I have more than 220 followers, and this blog has over 2,500 comments (not counting spam). I want to thank all of y'all for reading and commenting. I'm thrilled that I can provide inspiration to other gamers, just as so many have inspired me. Here's to more blogging and more gaming in the years ahead!

A few of my favorite posts

With a few of my favorite starships.

I started this blog because I wanted to see more material about miniature starship gaming. I kept doing it (off-and-on) because I enjoy it. I'm obviously pretty happy with what I post to Super Galactic Dreadnought. Still, there are some posts that I'm especially proud of:

Interview with Starfleet Wars sculptor Scott R. Spicer

In order to learn more about the game and the minis I enjoy, in 2011 I emailed Scott Spicer, who worked with his father Ron Spicer to sculpt the Starfleet Wars models for Superior Models. Scott graciously responded with an essay about the creation of those fantastic sculpts that gave new insight into this line of miniatures.

In-depth examination of Starfleet Wars rules

I took a multi-part, up-close look at the rules that I had originally derided as too complicated. Turns out the game play is pretty elegant, and this review inspired me to run and play several games of Starfleet Wars, including a short-lived campaign.

Release of 5150: Star Navy rulebook

My very own  published starship combat rules, co-authored with Ed Teixeira of Two Hour Wargames. The Star Navy ruleset was the result of playtesting, revision, and more playtesting. I had a blast developing this game with Ed, and I'm really happy with how it came out. 

Running Holmes Basic D&D

I got to play the version of the game that introduced me to roleplaying--Dungeons & Dragons. I DM'd for a group of players who hadn't sat down for some good old-fashioned dungeon crawling for years--or even decades. I got to create and run my very own attempt at a megadungeon. Although it was only a few sessions, it was fun while it lasted.

Those are some of my favorites. Readers, what about you? Any posts on SGDN that really stood out for you?

More anniversary starship pics

As my weeklong celebration of Super Galactic Dreadnought's fifth birthday continues (previous pics here and here), have a look at some more photos of my assembled fleets:

This space station comes from the Battlefleet Gothic line of miniatures.

Another look at the iridescent Entomalian fleet. I still have some more of these to paint.

I like the details in this side view of my Terran Red Fleet.

But the ships look even more impressive from head-on.

I got lots of compliments on the paint job for my Shadow Fleet of ships from Garrison Miniatures.

Here's a detail shot of my Avarian fleet.

And a dramatic overview of the Aquarian starships.

I also have plenty of ships to comprise my Terran White Fleet.

The Capellan Raiders is my only fleet where I didn't do all the paint jobs. The two huge kitbashes (a gift from Don M) and the three Silent Death minis (via eBay) were already painted when I got them.

Here are some one-off paint jobs. I want to use these to run a roleplaying campaign where each character gets a ship.

Finally, the Flying Roadshow. I haven't used these in a game yet. Time to come up with a scenario ...

Hope y'all are enjoying these.

Blogiversary celebration continues

Thanks for all the kind comments on my five-year anniversary post. To continue the festivities, please enjoy some more photos of my various starfleets:

The pride and flagship of my Terran Red Fleet, the Victory-class Super Galactic Dreadnought.

Constellation-class Galactic Attack Carriers and a Formidable-class Galactic Battlecruiser from the White Fleet.

Transports of the Slannish Treasure Fleet (Star Frontiers and Stardate:3000 minis).

A Gryphon-class SGDN with Condor-class DNs and Nest-GACs form the backbone of my Avarian force.

The Carnivorans have their own SGDN, as well as a carrier and other capital ships.

Civilian transports came from the Star Frontiers and Stardate:3000 lines, with a few Citadel models thrown in.

The Aquarians have Stingray-class carriers with a Shark-class battlecruiser up front and a Leviathan dreadnought in back.

The Entomalian ships all have that distinctive insectiod look, including the Hive-class carriers and the Swarm SGDN,

The Flying Roadshow (Star Frontiers minis) is a combination acrobatic troupe and mercenary force.

The Vogon Construction Fleet is another mercenary unit with craft from a variety of sources.

Five years of Super Galactic Dreadnought!

This weekend marked the fifth anniversary of my blog (and like an idiot, I missed the actual anniversary date), which I launched with this blog post. So to celebrate, I amassed all my starfleets and took some photos. The group shot above is a little fuzzy, but I will be posting some detail shots in a weeklong celebration.

Meanwhile, here is a closer look at the fleets of the Five Powers--the original polities in the background for Starfleet Wars, the game and minis line that inspired me as a kid. I also had to share a closeup of my Terran ships, which are my favorite fleet, and the faction I started playing Galactic Knights with.

Thanks for reading Super Galactic Dreadnought, and stay tuned for more starship pics.