Liebster Thermidor?

Hi,

Natholeon, over at Natholeon's Empires, has been kind enough to nominate me for a Liebster this year.



For those of you unfamiliar with this happy custom, it's a way to promote smaller, less well known blogs.  The recipient answers a few questions, and in turn highlights / nominates a set of other blogs, the only catch being that they must have a follower count below 200.  Also, in order to avoid the dreaded wall of text, I'm including gratuitous pics of the massive session of SAGA with which marke suckered me into the game.  Big thanks to G-man for the pics, as I managed to forget to bring my camera.

10+ players?

We broke out the big table.

1.  Why did you start blogging?

A bit of peer pressure, and as a way to stay in touch with friends.  I'd just moved half-way across the country, left some good gaming buddies behind, and wanted to still be able to socialize with other geeks.  The blog was supposed to be an outlet for that.

More or less a free-for-all.  Goats, sheep, and heads were the trophies of the day.

2. If you could change one thing about the wargaming hobby, what would it be?

There's a tendency in the hobby to forget, sometimes, that it's a hobby, both in the historical camp and the non-historical.  While I'm all for historical accuracy, competitive spirit, and the occasional bit of ruthlessness, I think it's a mistake to use those as social weapons.  I've been astonishingly lucky in my face-to-face dealings with people in the hobby, and have yet to come across a really bad egg, but you hear stories, and the internet remains a mixed blessing . . . .

Not sure if Vikings, or Anglo-Danes.

3. What is best in life?

To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentation of their women.

Otherdave's Steppe horsemen, mysteriously transported to Aengland.

4. Do you want to live forever?

God, no.

I believe this was my band of cut-throat heroes.

5. Fame or fortune?

Gimme de cash!!!!

If you get the reference, you're a daisy.

6.  What miniatures are you proud of having painted?

Lots, over the years.  The ones I tend to be the most proud of are the ones on which I really try to stretch myself.  Ages ago, I read some painting advice that boiled down to two things:  slow down, and every once and a while, try to paint something better than you've ever painted anything before.  It was good advice.

Dibs on the cute one.

7.  How do you deal with burn out?

Based on the evidence of the last several months, moping about, binge-watching HBO series, and taking up new, non-mini or pre-painted games.

Anglo-Danes mass alongside the Skraelings.  Wait, what?!?

8.  Why is a raven like a writing desk?

I haven't the slightest idea.

They have sheep.  Who's got wood?

9. Star Wars or Star Trek?

Old Star Wars > Star Trek > New Star Wars.  But don't press me on the dividing line between RotJ and DS9.

Pechenegs, pechenegging.

10.  If you could only buy from one miniature company from now on, which one would it be?

Wow, that's tough.  If I have to pick one, I'd want to go with a combination of wide range of figs / scales, plus figures decent enough sculpts I'd want to paint them.  OG / Blue Moon, maybe?  There's nicer figs out there, but the only other mix of competency and range I can think of is Essex, and they're getting a little dated.

Someone has clearly overlooked the "rag-tag" descriptor.

11.  What is your favorite take-away?

Probably good/real Chinese.  One of the things I enjoy about living here is we're spoiled for choice on that particular front.

C-Bag's Skraelings.  They're awfully purty.

And with that out of the way, the Blog Roll!  In no particular order:

Their mouths, especially.

Eskice Miniature

Not actually sure of the member count here, as I don't see it posted, so I'll assume it's a hidden gem ;)  Something of a kindred soul when it comes to eclectic gaming (he runs a painting service, so all kinds of goodies are posted), and an entertaining read.

Can't seem to stop.

Breakthrough Assault

In contrast, BA is focused on 15mm WWII / modern gaming.  Terrific AARs, and loads of content.  Always look forward to his posts.

About 2 seconds after the Hirdmen wiped out a unit of berzerkers who attacked them.  This is how we learned that fatigue matters.

Camp Cromwell

Another AAR-heavy blog.  Basically the journal of an active club, and a great example of a blog that covers games played.

Nomads and their sheep.  What can you do?

Dartfrog's Adventures in 6mm

Inspiring go-to spot for small-scale wargaming.  If you like zillions of little figs, this is the spot for you.

Nomads sneak around the table, and enter on the other side, behind my guys.

Project Auldearn 1645

This is an absolutely wonderful example of what my blog will never be, which is to say, focused ;)  Terrific eye candy, historically immersive, and all kinds of media.  Great stuff.

My lads close up.

Les Figurines de Spock

And then there's Spock, who seems to have a new project every week, and what's worse, actually gets stuff done for them!

Got goat?

Palouse Wargaming Journal

I discovered Jonathan's blog via his Reconquista force, and been enjoying ever since.  His enthusiasm pervades throughout.

More of the organized vikings.

Adventures in Painting Miniatures

marke's blog (he of the SAGA extravaganza), and one of the most depressingly prolific painters I've ever met.  He gets things done.  *sigh*

What's the 9th c. equivalent of a smoke break?

Glory Eagles de l'Empereur

Nick the Lemming's blog.  Nick is more or less my club nemesis, and if you're ever looking for a highly coloured and tragically biased alternative version of a game's events, look no further than this perfidious Yorkshireman.

Remember those sneaky  round-the-table nomads?  Sent four guys in against them (my guys outnumbered 2:1!), and discovered what happens when vikings stack battleboard abilities.  Opponents die.  

And there you have it!

A pastoral dispute between organised and dis-organised Vikings.

TMtW