New painting experiment

I've seen plenty of videos and blog posts about using contrast paints, and while they give great tabletop standard results in a short amount of time, I don't want to pay retail game store prices for a few milliliters of color. So when Youtube's algorithm presented me with some videos about making your own contrast paints, I decided I will give it a shot. 

Armed with a craft store gift card from my wife (another great Xmas gift), I came home with some inks and matte fluid medium. With these three primary colors along with the medium brown (I already have some black and dark brown inks), I figure I can mix whatever hue I need. The recipe seems pretty simple: equal amounts of medium and water, along with the suitable mix of inks for my preferred color. 

If anyone else has made their own contrast paints, please let me know how it worked out for you.

At least one miniature a week

Last year was a shitshow, for so many reasons, and then 2021 said, "Hold my beer and watch this." No in-person gaming, of course, and I was not very productive when it came to minis or terrain or even this blog. So in order to motivate myself and keep my mind off current events, I decided I will paint at least one miniature a week this year. 

Here's the result for week 1: a female martial artist from Reaper that's been sitting primed in my closet for several years. It's not an award-worthy effort--I paint to a tabletop standard, where figures look good at arm's length or more--but it's done. Completing this figure to where it can go on the mat gave me a sense of accomplishment (and material for this blog).

My gaming buddies are able to crank out mini after mini, week after week, but it's harder for me. I don't know whether it's laziness or a short attention span, but my eyes are bigger than my concentration when it comes to painting gaming miniatures. So I'm gonna use this weekly showcase to get in the habit and inspire myself, and hopefully my fellow gamers.

I don't have to be a great painter of miniatures. I just have to paint. The more I apply pigment to figure, the easier it will become. See y'all next week.

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!

Interlude: vampire lair

Yosef, one of the players in our Frostgrave group, enjoys making terrain. In addition to creating most of the scenery for our FG scenarios, he puts together boards for other games, like this vampire's lair for another gamer.

The roof comes off to reveal a detailed interior. I especially like the stained-glass windows made with artwork printed onto transparency sheets. It's a cool piece. We're lucky to have him apply his talents to our gaming table.

About Rogue One ...

Go see it.

To analogize: If the original Star Wars movie* was The Dam Busters, then Rogue One is The Dirty Dozen. While the morality in original trilogy might have been black-and-white, in this joint it's very, very, gray.

I liked it better than The Force Awakens. Compared to that film, Rogue One doesn't feel like it's trying so hard to be a Star Wars movie. From a wargaming perspective, I'm sure you'll get plenty of scenario ideas from the many battles.

Like I said, go see it.

*A New Hope to all you kids who should get off my lawn!

Loot from MillenniumCon

As always, part of the fun of going to a game convention is getting stuff: Buying new products, receiving prizes for playing in games, and scoring bargains at the flea market. MillenniumCon was no different:

For playing an introductory game of Frostgrave, I received these playing aids, a couple of figures, and some terrain. More importantly, I met some local players who have a weekly game at Dragon's Lair:

From a vendor with tables stacked high with old Citadel Minis, I tracked down some additions to my Oldhammer skellies and some Halfling mercenaries to join my Bretonnians:

 

At Ed the THW Guy's table, I bought a couple of rules to try out, and for inspiration in my own designs:

At the flea market on Sunday, I couldn't resist this Star Wars diecast spaceship for one buck:

Also at the flea market, I found some more Bretonnians for my Oldhammer project, as well as Kings of War (and other games):

The same guy also had some movement trays, templates, and tokens:

Finally, another flea market vendor had some Warhammer 5th edition sourcebooks, which will provide inspiration:

Lots to keep me busy over the next few months.

Modern Appendix N: Your suggestions?

Dungeons & Dragons was heavily influenced by speculative fiction of the years prior to its creation--everything from classical mythology and folk tales, through the pulp stories of the early 20th century, to then-contemporary novels. These legendaria became known as Appendix N material, so named for the section of the AD&D Dungeon Masters Guide in which author Gary Gygax listed some of the many influences on his gaming.

There have been plenty of overviews of this source material--see here, here, and here, for example. And because that list of inspirational reading is decades old, folks have been suggesting additions to the literary canon.

Which brings me to my question: What are three relatively new (published within the past three decades or so) works that you would suggest to inspire fantasy gamers?

Here are my suggestions, all of which have great settings and, just as important, great characters:

• The Deed of Paskanarrion series by Elizabeth Moon: A sheepfarmer's daughter joins a mercenary company, setting her on a path to become a paladin--but not before numerous battles with opposing armies and even creatures of darkness. 
• Books of the Elements series by David Drake: Four citizens in ancient Rome Carce defend their empire from creatures of the Norse sagas, Native American legends, African mythology, and Indian folk tales, with pulp elements like Atlantean flying ships thrown in.
• The Desert of Souls by Howard Andrew Jones: Two officials in medieval Baghdad team up to stop a plot against the Caliph in a swashbuckling tale that combines 1930s action with 21st century sensibility--and a djinn.

Your turn: Suggest three works (series or standalone novels) that are inspirational reading for you and your gaming.

A long time ago ...

... back in 1977, Marvel Comics published a monthly Star Wars comic book, beginning with a six-issue adaptation of the movie, that ran for 107 issues before ending in 1986. 

In 2002, Dark Horse Comics started reprinting the series in trade paperback format. Reading through my collection in anticipation of the new movie coming out next month, I found a few interesting artifacts from the adaptation of the original movie (before it was ever referred to as Episode IV).

For one thing, the comic that made it onto newsstands contains scenes that didn't make it into the theatrical release, such as Luke witnessing the opening space battle between the Rebel blockade runner and the Imperial cruiser from the surface of Tatooine.

There's also the hero's encounter with his friend Biggs before the latter departs the desert planet to be seen again in the attack on the Death Star. In addition, the comic contained a much different version of Jabba the Hutt--humanoid, not slugg-like--in an encounter with Han Solo.

There are other minor differences in dialogue and terminology between the print and screen versions, but no big changes in the plot. I did find it interesting that the Rebels referred to the X-wing pilots as Blue Squadron instead of the Red Squadron familiar to moviegoers.

The first six issues were a fun start to a series that had some great writers and artists over the years, back before there was an Expanded Universe or any continuity other than the blockbuster movie called Star Wars.

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?

I'm back! (What do you mean, you didn't notice I was gone?)

Sorry about the lack of posts; my laptop was mostly dead for the past month.  I haven't done much gaming, or even worked on game stuff lately, because of travel and for various other reasons, but I'm still a gamer at heart. 

I did get a chance to play some OGRE every now and then, but I still haven't been able to keep the eponymous cybertank from destroying the command post.  I hope to report some progress soon.

I do want to mention that the Slumbering Ursine Dunes adventure kickstarter (which is a part of the Hill Cantons campaign) has just a few days left.  It's fully funded and well into the project's stretch goals.  Go check it out and pledge while it's still open.

Our new friend

The place we're living has this little guy hanging out in the back yard.  In this closeup, you can see the lizard posing on an iron bar about a half-inch wide.

He doesn't stick to a single outfit either--this reptile can change from bright green to dull brown in just a few seconds.  That can give him a bonus in melee when rolling for surprise.  What would you call him, in game terms?

Just paint

This guest post on Painting Matters: In Defense of Hobby Standards over at the Chicago Skirmish Wargames blog has generated a lot of discussion (as well as a fair amount of butthurt).  In it, the author argues that playing with painted miniatures is a hobby standard that gamers should embrace. Sure, not everyone has time to slap paint on their figures, but I agree that fielding an army that isn't  bare metal should be a part of the wargaming experience.

Just the other day, I was at my local game store and there was some kind of Warmachine/Hordes game day or tournament event.  I'm not really into that system, but it does have some cool-looking models.  However, at the store, it looked like half the players didn't have their forces painted.  Which was a shame, because there were also some nicely painted armies on the tables.

Now, I will never refuse to play an opponent who has unpainted minis--it's hard enough to find someone to game with as it is!  But still, most of the folks I play with have painted miniatures, and usually enough for both sides in a battle.  In fact, I can only recall once (at a Hordes of the Things tournament) where someone didn't have a painted army.  While I thought it was a shame that someone couldn't field a completed army, especially for a game like HotT that encourages creativity, I kept my opinion to myself.

So this post isn't to tell you that you're wrong for not playing with painted figures, but instead to encourage you to field a painted force.  For skirmish games it's simple: just get some cheap prepainted minis from the secondary market and you're good to go.  No need to retouch, but rebasing those Clix minis will make a world of difference.  And it works for other games as well.  That's how I built one of my HotT armies.

I'm not a great painter (tabletop is my standard), but with my spaceships I found a quick way to get them on the table: prime black, and then drybrush with various shades to bring out the model's details.

With larger units that you have to paint, it takes a little more time.  But a basecoat followed by other colors to pick out different parts of the figures will get you enough detail to withstand scrutiny at arm's length.  And remember, an ink wash followed by a quick drybrush is your friend.

Or, if you have more money than time, send those castings off and pay someone else to paint them.

However you end up doing it, if you work a little bit at a time to coat those unadorned bits of metal and plastic, you'll end up with a sense of accomplishment and a nice looking army.  So just paint!

Skeletons pic in Holmes basic

Because it's mentioned in this post on Zenopus Archives.  Thanks, ZA for all your painstaking work reviewing the Holmes basic manuscript.

Why do we play?

This thread on The Miniatures Page (which subsequently devolved into the usual "Someone is WRONG on the internet!") has an interesting theory on how our reasons for playing games can be classified by four categories, as show in the diagram above, which came from that thread.  From the original post:

• Immersion: The player enjoys being immersed in the game narrative, the pretending. They want to experience another time, cultural or challenge apart from real life.
• Cooperation: The player enjoys the social aspects of playing games, the camaraderie. It may not matter what game is played as long as there is good company.
• Achievement: This is about accomplishment, but not necessarily winning a competition. It can be mastering the game system, finishing that 2,000 figure army or setting up a beautiful table or painting an outstanding stand of miniatures.
• Competition: This is about winning. Tournament play looms large in this quadrant, but simply playing the game to win is a large part of the enjoyment. This doesn't mean 'win at any cost' or 'rules lawyering', but simply playing the game as a competitive challenge.

I play different games for different reasons.  For example, with Hordes of the Things, its for both achievement (building a cool-looking army) and competition.  But there is also the cooperative aspect of getting together with friends for a  tournament or campaign, and campaigns also result in a bit of immersion.

My spaceship games, on the other hand, are more for immersion and cooperation, although the achievement of running games and campaigns (as well as assembling and painting fleets) is also a big draw--but I don't care about winning that much, as long as everyone has fun.

So what draws you into gaming?  Is it just one thing, or a combination?  And does it change with the game?

The Pathetic Aesthetic ...

... or Oldhammer and the OSR.

Because I don't have enough gaming projects, I'm thinking about getting into Oldhammer (using older versions of the Warhammer rules to play games for fun instead of with a tournament mindset).  I'd say it's the minis equivalent of the OSR.

This is from last year, but Andy Bartlett's post on The Pathetic Aesthetic from the blog Known World, Old World encapsulates a lot of great points about the OSR and the Oldhammer movement.  A very thoughtful article that I urge you to check out.  And see robotforaday's post with similar thoughts on Going Old School at Where the Sea Pours Out.

Planet concept art

I've started working on spaceship gaming again.  This is a preliminary concept sketch for the large Styrofoam planet I'm planning to paint for use with my starship battles.  The color scheme is courtesy of my wife, who was quick to break out the colored pencils when I asked for her input.

 

Spaceship names from Heavy Metal soundtrack

The tunes from the movie Heavy Metal include some song titles that would make great names for ships in your sci-fi game, whether roleplaying or wargaming.  For example, I can imagine some Free Trader or Dreadnought with one of these designations:

• Heavy Metal
• Radar Rider
• True Companion
• Queen Bee
• Veteran of the Psychic Wars

What other song titles would make good starship designations?

As seen on SGDN!

So I guess this blog is famous now ...

I saw this Ebay auction for a bunch of Starfleet Wars/Galactic Knights ships. Reading the description, I found a pleasant surprise: A shout-out to Super Galactic Dreadnought!

Seller jtrexler79 lists the various models included in the auction, mentioning they're sold as-is.  And then the vendor name-checks SGDN:

If you're having trouble reading it, here's the relevant sentence (emphasis added):

• As you can see some are painted and some are a blank canvas for you to create ships like you see on the super Galactic Drednaught blog.

Thanks for the mention, jtrexler.  Anyone looking to buy some cool spaceship minis, go check this auction out, and tell 'em the Dreadnought sent you.  Now where's my royalties? :)

Hottlandia: Now with Forests!

Holdfast has updated his map of Hottlandia, the home to all our local Hordes of the Things armies, adding some forests to the terrain.

Now, if I can actually get some people together for some HotT gaming...

Everyone who runs a fantasy RPG either creates their own setting or uses a published one.  And some games, like Warhammer, have their own setting as well. But what about for other wargames?Anyone else have a custom campaign area for their battles?

Hottlandia

Awhile back, I suggested that it would be nice if all the local Hordes of the Things gamers would list their armies and generals, and provide names for their homelands as well.  Not for a by-the-book campaign, but just to provide a little more background for when two players have a quick round of HotT.

I got quite the roll of forces, along with names of generals and countries, which are reproduced below.  And local gamer Holdfast took this campaign seed a step further, providing the map above, so we can figure out where our armies lie in relation to one another.  I call this land ... Hottlandia.

ARMY                         TYPE                COUNTRY            
Order of the Scarlet Serpent Ancient Greek       Hellas
Scorpions of Dirz            Confronatation Dirz Desert of Syrharhalna
Sons of Muspel               Fire Creatures      Muspelheim
Spiders                      Giant Spiders       Arachnia
XIII Legion                  Imperial Romans     Nova Roma
Bug Army                     Nature Civilization The World Jungle
Space Invaders               Video Game Badguys  The Arcade
Lost Platoon                 40K Imperial Guard  Sector 53A
Dark Host of Nagarroth       WFB Dark Elves      Nagarrothi Raiders
League of the Scarlet Falcon WFB Empire          Province of Rhosynland
Maroons                      WFB Empire          Barony of Maroon
Middenheimers                WFB Empire          Middenheim
Nordlanders                  WFB Empire          Grand Barony of Nordland
Nulners                      WFB Empire          City State of Nuln
Ostlanders                   WFB Empire          Province of Ostland
Stirlanders                  WFB Empire          Grand County of Stirland
Non-Undefeated Gobbos        WFB Goblins         Drakwald Forest
Warhost of Ulthanas          WFB High Elves      Kindrallah
Nightmare Legion             WFB Skeletons       Necromunda
Crypt Guard                  WFB Vampires        The Black Forest

As you can see, there are a lot of repurposed Citadel armies on this roster, as well as recycled historical figures, prepainted minis, and converted toys. Not only does Hordes of the Things spark creativity, it lets you keep using old armies that were originally intended for other rules.

Now, I'm off to conquer Hottlandia!